The (Lord) Rector of the University of Glasgow is one of the most senior posts within the institution, elected every three years by students. The theoretical role of the rector is to represent students to the senior management of the university and raise issues which concern them. In order to achieve this, the rector is the statutory chair of the Court, the governing body of the university.
![](http://up.wiki.x.io/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a8/Glasgow_University_Tower_-_geograph.org.uk_-_289598.jpg/220px-Glasgow_University_Tower_-_geograph.org.uk_-_289598.jpg)
The position's place in the university was enshrined by statute in the Universities (Scotland) Act 1889, which provided for the election of a rector at all of the universities in existence at the time in Scotland (being St Andrews, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh). Students of the University of Dundee also elect a rector.
The latest rectorial election was concluded on the 26th of March 2024, and featured four candidates: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah, Susan McCabe, Paul Sweeney MSP, and Lady Rita Rae, who was seeking re-election.[1] Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah, who received over 80% of the votes, was consequently installed as rector on the 11th of April 2024.[2]
Former rectors
editStudents have not always voted for working rectors; anti-apartheid activists Winnie Mandela (1987–1990) and Albert Lutuli (1962–1965) were elected on the understanding that they would be unable to undertake the position's responsibilities, while Mordechai Vanunu (2005–2008) was unable to fulfil his duties as he was not allowed to leave Israel and Edward Snowden (2014–2017) was not expected to fulfill his duties due to an ongoing self-imposed exile in Russia. However, other recent Rectors have been elected on the presumption they will be working rectors, e.g. Ross Kemp (1999–2000), who resigned from the post after the Students' Representative Council voted to request his resignation, such was the extent of student dissatisfaction with his performance. At the Rectorial election in February 2004, no nominations for the post of rector had been received. Upon the end of Greg Hemphill's term, the university was left without a rector for the first time in the position's history. The University Senate set another election date for December, when Mordechai Vanunu was elected. The post was left vacant for a second time at the end of Aamer Anwar's term in March 2020, with the scheduled Rectorial election postponed until March 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The previous rector was Lady Rita Rae, who was the first woman to hold the position in a standing capacity in the University's history.[3] However, during her term she faced heavy criticism from the student body due to her alleged absenteeism, which she denied.[4][5]
Nations
editUntil 1977, for Rectorial election purposes, the university was divided into four 'nations' based on the students' birthplace, originally called Clidisdaliae, Thevidaliae, Albaniae and Rosay, and later as Glottiana, Loudoniana, Transforthana and Rothseiana. Three of the 'nations' consisted of defined areas in Scotland, with Loudoniana consisting of students from all other places.[6]
List of rectors
editYears | Name | Nationality | Biography |
---|---|---|---|
1648–1650 | Robert Ramsay | Scotland | Clergyman |
1690–1691 | David Boyle | Scotland | Lord Clerk Register |
1691–1718 | Sir John Maxwell of Nether Park | Scotland | Commissioner for Renfrewshire in the Scottish Parliament |
2001–2004 | Greg Hemphill | Scotland | actor and alumnus |
2004–2005 | Position vacant | ||
2005–2008 | Mordechai Vanunu | Israel | Israeli nuclear technician and whistle-blower (Absentee) |
2008–2014 | Charles Kennedy | Scotland | former Leader of the Liberal Democrats and alumnus. |
2014–2017 | Edward Snowden[7] | United States | computer professional/intelligence whistleblower (Absentee) |
2017–2020 | Aamer Anwar | Scotland | Lawyer, human rights campaigner and alumnus |
2019–2020 | Position vacant | The 2020 election was postponed for a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic | |
2021–2024 | Rita Rae, Lady Rae | Scotland | Former Senator of the College of Justice |
2024-present | Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah | Palestine | War surgeon who operated in Gaza during the Israel–Hamas war |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "University of Glasgow - University of Glasgow Rectorial Election 2024". www.gla.ac.uk. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
- ^ "UofG Rector Installed". www.glasgowunisrc.org. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
- ^ "Lady Rita Rae appointed Rector". www.gla.ac.uk. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
- ^ Horne, Marc (19 April 2024). "Lady Rae accused of being 'absentee rector' at Glasgow University". ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
- ^ "Lady Rita Rae: An interview with the Glasgow University rector". University of Glasgow. 15 November 2023. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
- ^ Historical perspective for Glasgow
- ^ Edward Snowden elected as rector of Glasgow University