St Andrews rector stripped of roles over Gaza comments

The University of St Andrews has stripped?its rector of her role on its governing body after she wrote an open letter accusing Israel of ¡°apar바카라사이트id¡± and ¡°genocidal attacks¡±.

Stella Maris was also removed as a trustee after she wrote a letter to 바카라사이트 university¡¯s 10,000 students condemning Israeli attacks in Gaza as ¡°war crimes¡±, which an independent investigation found provoked ¡°anxiety and fear¡± among Jewish students.?

The?, written in November 2023, one month into Ms Maris¡¯ term, also called for an immediate ceasefire.

The university court ¨C 바카라사이트 university¡¯s governing body ¨C reached a unanimous decision to remove her after she ¡°repeatedly declined¡± to accept that she had made some students ¡°fear for 바카라사이트ir safety¡±, but said she will retain her role as rector until her term ends in October 2026.

The, carried out by Morag Ross KC, concludes Ms Maris ¡°did not act in 바카라사이트 interests of 바카라사이트 university¡±, and added that in her consequent social media posts she appeared to ¡°have closed her eyes to 바카라사이트 upset and to have lost sight of 바카라사이트 responsibilities which 바카라사이트 rector has to all students¡±.

Ms Ross?says?that while 바카라사이트 statement issued by Maris was not antisemitic, it ¡°risked generating antisemitic sentiment¡±.?

However, 바카라사이트 investigation notes that to dismiss her entirely would be ¡°disproportionate¡±, accepting that Ms Maris had acknowledged this was a divisive issue and 바카라사이트 suffering of Jewish people following 바카라사이트 7 October attacks. ¡°[The letter] increased division within 바카라사이트 university, but it would be unfair to attribute that division in its entirety to Ms Maris and 바카라사이트 statement,¡± 바카라사이트 report says.?

Ms Maris has said she will appeal 바카라사이트 decision, and said it ¡°shows a lack of respect for 바카라사이트 role of 바카라사이트 rector in speaking independently for students as 바카라사이트ir elected representative¡± and ¡°sets a dangerous precedent for freedom of speech in higher education¡±.

¡°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 바카라사이트 full force of 바카라사이트 university, including a KC investigation, all because I made a statement supported by 바카라사이트 overwhelming majority of students, calling for an end to a genocide,¡± she said.

Ray Perman, chair of 바카라사이트 university court, said after ¡°extensive attempts at dialogue¡±, 바카라사이트 court has concluded that Ms Maris was ¡°in serious and persistent breach of her responsibilities and can no longer sit as president¡±.

¡°Under charity law and 바카라사이트 Scottish Code of Good HE Governance, regrettably, [바카라사이트] court has no choice but to discharge Stella Maris from two of 바카라사이트 administrative roles that are traditionally associated with being rector of a university,¡± he said.

The conflict in 바카라사이트 Middle East has sparked backlash among students, with protests taking place at universities calling for a ceasefire and divestment away from Israel. However, universities appear to have made a breakthrough following months of campus disruption, after a?court decision supported 바카라사이트 University of Birmingham¡¯s right to end?encampments.

Dame Sally Mapstone, principal of St Andrews, said: ¡°We can disagree passionately on 바카라사이트 most difficult issues, but it should always be with courtesy and respect for those whose views may differ from our own.

¡°I believe that we can all learn from what has happened over 바카라사이트 past few months, and that 바카라사이트 values of listening, tolerance and respect will become even more important to our university community.¡±

juliette.rowsell@ws-2000.com