A UNIVERSITY rector who won an appeal against a decision to remove her from the governing body has accused the institution of “an attack on freedom of speech” despite bosses insisting otherwise.
Stella Maris lost her formal powers in the governing body of St Andrews University last year following a backlash over comments she made in 2023, where she claimed that Palestinians had been subjected to “practices such as apartheid, siege (and) illegal occupation”.
The university's bosses decided to keep in place her removal from the governing body and her role as a trustee despite an independent investigation, led by Morag Ross KC, concluding that removing Maris from her roles was “disproportionate".
Maris has now won an appeal against the decision and told The National she “fundamentally disagrees” with the assertion from university bosses that the punishment dealt to her was not about free speech and “only ever about governance”.
“I’ve always said it is a freedom of speech issue and considering the outcome that we have seen I think it is fair to question the methods and communications they used to justify a decision that was ultimately overturned,” she said.
“I fundamentally disagree with the assertion that it was not a freedom of speech issue. It wasn’t adjudicated on those terms officially, but I think the public and the media coverage and the way it was received has made it clear a lot of the wider public see it as I do, as an attack on freedom of speech and expression.”
Maris was dismissed from the governing body at St Andrews and lost her role as a trustee after she sent an email to all students referring to "genocidal attacks" by the Israeli government, shortly after she was elected as rector in October 2023.
An investigation said that it would be “disproportionate” to dismiss Maris from the governing body, but the university court said it had acted because Maris repeatedly declined to accept Ross’s conclusions which suggested she had made some students “fear for their safety”.
Maris launched a fundraiser to appeal against the decision and this week, former LibDem leader and university chancellor Menzies Campbell ruled in her favour.
Maris has opened up to The National about “the sense of isolation” she felt in fighting university bosses with limited resources at her disposal, adding she felt she had to hide this vulnerability for fear of appearing weak against an “incredibly powerful” institution.
“It’s been very difficult and even now it’s difficult to communicate the struggle that has been the last year and a half,” said Maris.
“They were definitely there, but in a position like this, especially when going up against an incredibly powerful institution with seemingly unlimited resources to my none, I felt like I couldn’t show signs of weakness because I thought they would be exploited.
“The sense of isolation, the disparaging comments I received and emails from people who felt empowered to criticise me [did impact me], particularly the racist and misogynistic comments that came out, people saying I was clearly a DI [diversity and inclusion] hire and I should be deported.
“Even now people have gotten an impression of my behaviour from that time that is inaccurate and so still feel justified in saying this is a fluke. It is not and I’m excited to get back to supporting and ensuring the good governance of the institution that I care deeply about.”
Asked about why she felt she needed to highlight her views on Israel’s assault on Gaza, Maris said she wanted to establish a platform for those who did not have a voice.
Maris gained 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.
When she was dismissed from the governing body, she said she felt there was a perception from some that the issue could be “swept under the rug” but she was determined to fight.
“I really hope it does send a message that it is not as easy as some might have thought to silence certain voices,” she went on.
“I did not have access to the same level of resources [as the university], I felt very isolated during that time, and I do think there was an expectation that through some perception of my vulnerability as an individual with limited resources, that it would be a simple matter of sweeping it under the rug.
“But I think every time I said no and didn’t allow the pressure campaign to work, it was with the understanding in my head that I maintain my view and I am on the right side of history."
She added: “Regardless of anything else there is no justification for the starvation of millions of people, for the slaughter of thousands of children, and it does not make someone a terrorist supporter to point that out, to point out the implications of international law, but also to express solidarity with the Palestinian liberation movement.”
St Andrews University said following this week’s ruling that the university court is “carefully considering the Chancellor’s decision and taking advice from counsel”.
It added: “This issue was never about free speech and only ever about governance. Ms Maris remains rector of the university and has done so throughout.”
The university has been contacted for further comment.
