ST ANDREWS University has been accused of “political censorship” after rector Stella Maris was removed from the institution’s governing body for accusing Israel of genocide.
Maris – who has criticised the move - has also lost her position as a trustee after she sent an email to all students in November calling for an immediate ceasefire.
An investigation was launched by Morag Ross KC following the email which concluded on Thursday that it would be “disproportionate” to dismiss Maris.
But the university court – St Andrews’ governing body – said it had acted because Maris repeatedly declined to accept Ross’s conclusions which suggested she had made some students “fear for their safety”.
Ross also described Maris’s statement as being “unwise and ill-judged in respect of some its content,” suggesting she did not act “in the interests of the university”.
In her message to students, Maris - an ex-student - described Israel’s attacks on Gaza as “genocidal” and condemned practices including “apartheid, siege, illegal occupation and collective punishment”.
She also denounced “war crimes” by Hamas, “notably the taking of hostages and deliberately targeting civilians”.
A former fellow student of Maris described the decision to remove her from key roles as “unconscionable,” while the move has been deeply criticised by experts and commentators.
Idrees Ahmad, associate editor of New Lines Magazine, said on Twitter/X: "Shameful act of political censorship from @standrewsuniv.
Shameful act of political censorship from @StAndrewsUniv. In a cowardly move it removes its first black rector because she made the factual observation that Israel practices apartheid. Imagine an institution of higher learning going to war against reality itself! https://t.co/iS48c2aVln
— Idrees Ahmad | idreesahmad.bsky.social (@im_PULSE) August 1, 2024
“In a cowardly move it removes its first black [female] rector because she made the factual observation that Israel practices apartheid. Imagine an institution of higher learning going to war against reality itself!"
Chris Doyle, director of the Council for Arab-British Understanding (Caabu), added: “An outrageous decision. The rector described the horrific situation.
“It is those who removed her who should be resigning with immediate effect. I have yet to see concerns for Arab students who feel scared when so many endorse Israeli atrocities.”
The decision was described as “absurd” by genocide researcher Arnesa Buljusmic-Kustura.
She added on Twitter/X: “It is recognised by international law that Israel is an apartheid state. Are we meant to lie to make Zionists comfortable now?"
Ex-student Laura Bennie said she was in university halls with Maris, describing her as “professional and principled”.
“Stella was a senior student of my halls in my first year. She is unfailingly kind, professional and principled,” said Bennie.
“To be stripped of these responsibilities for stating beliefs in line with many students of the university, including some of those from the Jewish Society who spoke at a vigil in October, is unconscionable."
Maris said she was “disappointed” by the decision, claiming it “shows a lack of respect for the role of the rector in speaking independently for students” and also “sets a dangerous precedent for freedom of speech in higher education”.
Adding that she fully intends to appeal the decision, the rector said: “It is clear that I have been removed from university court because I called for an end to Israel’s war crimes against Palestinians, and I will not apologise for doing so.
“As a young, neurodiverse black woman with limited financial resources, I have faced the full force of the university, including a KC [King’s Counsel] investigation, all because I made a statement supported by the overwhelming majority of students, calling for an end to a genocide.”
Maris, who only took up the post of St Andrews University rector on November 1, 2023, will stay on in the role until her term expires in October 2026.
However, Ray Perman, the senior lay member and chair of the university court, said they had “unfortunately now reached the point where university court has concluded that she is in serious and persistent breach of her responsibilities and can no longer sit as president”.
He said the court stressed “this decision has no bearing on Maris’s freedom of speech, to which she is entitled”.
Perman added: “As the chair of university court, I wish to offer an apology to all students, and others, who were upset or feared for their safety as a consequence of the rector’s handling of this matter, and those who were subsequently upset by the rise in tensions and disagreements which ensued.”
A university spokesperson said: “These comments are based on the notion that the rector was discharged because she spoke out against Israeli aggression, and that is not the case.
“The University Court has made very clear that the rector is entitled to freedom of speech.
“She was discharged because she repeatedly declined to accept the findings of an independent external investigation which established that she had breached her responsibilities as a court member and charity trustee, failed to act with courtesy and respect, and by her actions and activities made some of the students, who it was her duty to represent, fear for their safety.”
