A SCOTTISH university rector has launched a fundraiser to help her appeal a decision to remove her from the governing body after she called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
Despite an independent investigation led by Morag Ross KC concluding that removing Stella Maris from her roles at St Andrews University was “disproportionate", the institution's bosses decided to keep in place her removal from the governing body and her role as a trustee.
Maris has now launched a legal fundraiser to help her appeal the decision.
Her fundraiser aims to raise £18,000 to cover legal expenses, court fees, and other associated costs.
Any excess funds from the fundraiser will be directed toward supporting other cases of "state repression against Palestinian advocacy" in the UK.
Maris sent an email to students in November 2023 in which she called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and condemned Israel's actions.
Her appeal was filed with the Chancellor of the University in August with the support of the European Legal Support Centre and she is awaiting a decision.
Maris has already garnered much support from students on campus, more than 500 academics from universities across 17 countries, the BRISMES Committee on Academic Freedom, and the University College Union (UCU), all calling for her reinstatement.
In September, more than 17,200 people signed a petition calling for the university to drop its action against her.
The Palestine Solidarity Campaign and the British Palestinian Committee also wrote to the university to highlight the level of concern its decision has generated.
Maris said: "This is not just about me, it is about protecting the right of students and academics to express political views without fear of institutional retaliation.
"I have been removed because I called for an end to war crimes against Palestinians. I will not apologise for standing on the right side of history and I will not be silenced."
A university spokesperson said: “It is false and misleading to imply that Ms Maris was discharged from University Court because she spoke out against Israeli aggression in Gaza. The facts are that she was discharged because she repeatedly and knowingly placed herself in breach of her legal responsibilities as a Court member and charity trustee, not for expressing her political views.
“Court commissioned an independent investigation from Morag Ross KC, as she was then, to examine whether the Rector’s actions and activities were compatible with the responsibilities and standards placed on her as a member of Court, and the legal requirements of a charity trustee. Court unanimously accepted the findings of that investigation in full.
“Over a three-month period, exhaustive efforts were made to reach a resolution with Ms Maris which would have allowed her to remain a member of Court. Ms Maris was asked to acknowledge that some aspects of her behaviour had fallen below the standards expected of a Court member, to agree to be bound by the same obligations and commitments as other Court members, and to apologise for the distress and fear experienced by some of the students she represents.
“Ms Maris, however, has repeatedly declined to clearly acknowledge and accept Ms Ross’s finding that she breached her responsibilities. She also declined to take up Court’s offer of facilitated discussion with an independent external mediator.
“Court’s decision has no bearing on Ms Maris’s freedom of speech, which has been acknowledged by the Court at every stage. Ms Maris remains with the role and title of the Rector, and the University has continued to offer her support to enable her to carry out her pastoral responsibilities towards the students she represents."
