St Andrew's University rector in bullying row banned from campus for SEVEN years

Published: 14:56 EDT, 29 October 2026 | Updated: 14:56 EDT, 29 October 2026 The outgoing rector of St Andrews University has been told to stay away from its campus for seven years.Stella Maris has been told she must seek permission before attending public events at any St Andrews University buildings after bullying complaints against her were upheld.The former student of the prestigious university branded the decision ‘utter nonsense’ and said she is ‘disgusted’ by how she has been treated.Ms Maris sparked backlash in late 2023 when she accused Israel of committing ‘genocidal attacks’ in Gaza.One month after she took up the university’s most senior elected post, Ms Maris said Palestinians had suffered ‘apartheid’. She also condemned the actions of Hamas.An investigation into her comments – carried out by Lady Ross, then Morag Ross, KC – found she had exercised ‘poor judgment’, warning her words could encourage anti-Semitic behaviour. Stella Maris has been told she must seek permission before attending public events at any St Andrews University buildingsSince then, Ms Maris has twice been removed and reinstated to the university’s governing court.On Wednesday she received a letter ordering her to stay away from the university without permission until October 2033.The Fife institution said five complaints raised by a senior university official were deemed ‘consistent with bullying’ in an independent report. They said Ms Maris’s conduct was ‘sufficient to merit dismissal from Court’.St Andrews University has accused Ms Maris of intimidating staff and student representatives at the students’ union during an incident in July. The university court also ruled that social media posts made by Ms Maris breached their ‘ethical standards’.Ms Maris was accused of making ‘unsubstantiated allegations’ about the university’s leadership team. The letter to Ms Maris said her behaviour ‘would not be acceptable in any modern workplace from any employee’.But the outgoing rector disputed this, accusing the university of ‘institutional bullying’.She said: ‘I believe I have been subjected to sustained dehumanising and discriminatory treatment by individuals entrusted with upholding the university’s values.‘I reject the court’s findings and the legitimacy of proceedings whose fairness I have consistently challenged.’St Andrews University said it had ‘issued a letter of censure to its outgoing rector’.A spokesman said: ‘The letter was issued by St Andrews’ supreme governing body after an independent investigation found Ms Maris had behaved in a way “consistent with bullying” towards a member of university staff.’Allegations made by Ms Maris against the university remain under independent inquiry.