The debate over the role of Rector at the University of St Andrews has continued after she was asked not to attend winter graduation ceremonies.

Earlier this year, Stella Maris was removed as a trustee after a row following her statement criticising Israel and condemning ‘genocide in Gaza’.

The University have now responded and say it frustrating that Ms Maris chose to focus on herself instead of the students who were graduating.

It also says Ms Maris’ claims she was removed because of her views on Israel and Gaza are ‘completely untrue’ and revealed she had called Jewish students who contacted her ‘weird’.

The rector had released a statement earlier today sharing her views on the decision not to invite her, and revealed she had received an email in November telling her it was ‘inappropriate’ to attend.

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She said: “As Rector, I have always considered it my duty, as well as an immense privilege, to be present for the student community, from the Opening Ceremony that welcomes you to St Andrews to the graduation ceremonies that celebrate your success.  

“I deeply regret to inform you that I have not been invited to attend the winter graduation ceremonie over the next few days.

“Due to the on-going process of appeal, I have been compelled to initiate judicial review in the decision made by the University Court. As a result, the Principal has informed me that she believes it would be ‘inappropriate’ to extend me an invitation to the graduation ceremonies or associated events. I have challenged this decision, as I believe it represents a continued and unjustified restriction on my ability to carry out my responsibilities as your elected Rector.

“While I am deeply saddened and disappointed by this decision made by the Principal, I remain immensely proud of all your achievements. Your time at St Andrews has prepared you to lead, innovate, and inspire, and I have no doubt you will go on to improve the world in countless ways.” 

The university have since hit back and say she was actually removed from the role because she ‘repeatedly and knowingly placed herself in breach of the code of conduct for members of Court’.

It also states that Ms Maris was misleading people with her claims she was removed because of her views on Israel and her refusal to apologise, as well as taking legal action against the university were just some of the reasons she was being removed.

A University of St Andrews spokesperson said: “It is disappointing that Ms Maris has chosen to focus on herself on a day on which the university and everyone associated with it is celebrating the achievements of our graduates. She was informed weeks ago that she would not attend Graduation, but chose to wait to until the ceremonies were underway to complain. The Rector does not have an automatic right to attend Graduation.

 “It is concerning that Ms Maris and her advisers continue to repeat the false assertion that she was discharged from University Court because she spoke out against Israeli aggression in Gaza.

“That is completely untrue, Ms Maris and her advisers are well aware of that, and we believe it is a claim which is intentionally designed to mislead.

“The Rector was discharged because she repeatedly and knowingly placed herself in breach of the code of conduct for members of Court, and her legal responsibilities as a Court member and charity trustee.

“The independent report carried out by Morag Ross KC (as she then was) found that the Rector had breached her responsibilities by her use of social media after she made her statement. In response to Jewish students who messaged her seeking reassurance, she called them ‘weird’ and used social media to invite supporters to attack the University, of which she was a serving member of Court.

“Ms Maris, who was elected Rector on a personal promise to support and ‘show empathy to all St Andrews students’, chose to make these remarks and to act as she did at a time a few weeks after her election and when reported instances of antisemitic attacks and abuse were rising significantly across the UK.  Assaults had been reported on two Jewish students in St Andrews, and Ms Maris was aware of these.

“Court accepted the findings of the investigation in full, and over three months made exhaustive efforts to reach a resolution with Ms Maris which would have allowed her to remain a member of Court.  

“Regrettably, Ms Maris declined Court’s requests to reach a resolution including the offer of a facilitated discussion with one of the UK’s leading mediators.  She repeatedly refused to apologise for the discourtesy she had shown the students who she was elected to represent. She has still not offered any meaningful apology.

“By her repeated refusal to engage constructively with the efforts Court made to find a resolution, Ms Maris knowingly placed herself in persistent and serious breach of her responsibilities both as a Court member and charity trustee.

“If a trustee is in persistent and serious breach of their responsibilities, the law states that fellow trustees must take action to resolve the breach, and if that is not achieved, to remove the trustee from office.

“Ms Maris is currently engaged in legal action against the University. In these circumstances, the Principal considered it was not appropriate to invite her to attend Graduation, which should be a day focused on the achievements of graduates. She was informed of this on 18 November."