University of St Andrews in Scotland recently made headlines as it removed its rector, Stella Maris, from the governing body following her condemnation of Israel’s actions in Gaza. The university cited “poor judgment” for Maris’s email to students urging a ceasefire in Gaza, leading to her removal from the university court. Despite losing her position, Maris will retain the title of rector until 2026.
Maris, an alumna of the university, accused Israel of “apartheid… siege [and] illegal occupation” in Palestinian territories, sparking an investigation that found her message caused anxiety among Jewish students. While the inquiry deemed firing Maris as disproportionate, the university court went ahead with the decision.
Maris expressed disappointment but vowed to appeal, arguing for the right to speak for students as their elected representative. The move drew criticism from figures like Ghassan Abu Sita, rector of the University of Glasgow, who deemed it a silencing of pro-Palestinian voices that enables ongoing atrocities.
The decision to dismiss Maris has also garnered support, with legal NGO European Legal Support Centre backing her appeal and voicing concerns over possible discrimination. The story of Maris’s removal unfolds as a battle of principles at the intersection of free speech, student representation, and geopolitical conflicts.