University Censures Outgoing Rector Stella Maris

Updated: Oct 31

On 28 October 2026, the University of St Andrews announced that they issued a letter of censure to Ms Stella Maris, the current Rector. Maris will remain Rector until October 31st, when the office will transfer to recently elected Arthur Bernoff. 

In a press release, a representative from the University stated that, following an independent investigation, Ms Maris was determined to have “behaved in a way consistent with bullying towards a member of University staff.”

“It was also found that the Rector had intimidated and caused distress to staff and student representatives at the St Andrews Students’ Association in an incident there in July 2026,” the statement continued.

The University listed Maris’ offences as determined by the Court’s investigation, claiming that she “failed to treat staff, student representatives and other members of the university with respect, behaved in a way consistent with bullying, and breached her legal responsibilities as a Court member and charity trustee,” among other allegations.

The Court noted that these breaches of conduct impacted the "stress levels, morale, family life, holidays, workload and wellbeing” of several staff members, student representatives, and members of Court.

They addressed this in their official letter of censure, of which Maris posted a screenshot on her social media. It said:

“The behavior outlined above would not be acceptable in any modern workplace from any employee. That you have behaved this way as a trustee and a member of Court, and toward members of staff to whom you owe a duty of care, is particularly reprehensible.”

Though the Court felt that Maris’ behaviour was “sufficient to merit her dismissal from Court,” they agreed that, with her term coming to an end on 31 October 2026, they would issue a letter of censure “providing a formal and documented record of her conduct” rather than moving to dismissal.

Maris, who posted the Court’s letter in full on her social media, responded to their accusations of misconduct, writing in her caption:

“The University of St Andrews senior leadership and the majority of the court members are cowards, bullies, and fundamentally racist. 

“You have treated me abominably, you have acted unlawfully and this action is simply an attempt to punish me for daring to call your behaviour out. Racism isn't a minor inconvenience, it is violent and it is vile. You don't get to treat me like garbage and expect me to stay quiet about it. This is a stain on the University of St Andrews, and a repudiation of any commitment you pretend to have to equality, diversity, and inclusion.

“It is in the interests of the public that I call you what you are.”

This censure is not the first instance of conflict between Maris and the University, but is instead the result of ongoing tension, which can be traced back to Maris’ initial dismissal from Court in 2024.

The Court informed Maris in their letter of censure that they had “asked that action be taken to preclude [her] from accessing University premises” to “protect staff from harassment.” The Court has also requested that Maris be required to “seek permission in writing to attend any university events.”

Maris told The Saint that she “categorically” rejects the allegations put against her by the University, regarding their press release as a “further act of institutional bullying, harassment and retaliation against me for challenging what I believe to be racism, disability discrimination, bigotry and serious abuses of power within the University.”

She continued: “Perhaps most revealingly, Court's censure expressly cites my public allegations of racism and my criticism of University governance as evidence of misconduct. I believe this demonstrates precisely the discriminatory and retaliatory culture I have spent three years challenging.”

“As a Black, autistic woman, I have experienced the University's treatment as profoundly dehumanising. My own safety, wellbeing, dignity and professional reputation have been subjected to consequences that remain unaddressed, while those responsible repeatedly present themselves as the victims of my attempts to secure accountability.

“I do not accept that allegations become true because a powerful institution publishes them, or that disagreeing with senior officials amounts to misconduct. Nor do I accept that an institution can credibly claim to champion equality and inclusion while using its authority and resources to punish someone for alleging discrimination.”

Image Courtesy of St Andrews University