University news

An historic contest to become Rector of the University of Glasgow has been put into motion this week after its nomination court received applications from both the current rector Charles Kennedy and Scottish writer Alison Louise Kennedy to run for a three year term in the post.

History will be made whichever candidate wins: A L Kennedy would be only the second woman to be elected Rector, the last woman to hold the post being Winnie Mandela in 1987-1990. And Charles Kennedy would become the first Rector to hold two consecutive terms since Benjamin Disraeli who was in the office 1871-1874 and 1874-1877.

Voting will be conducted online from 9am on 21 Feburary till 6pm on 22 February. Any student of the University of Glasgow is eligible to participate and will be able to register their vote from a computer with an Internet connection, anywhere in the world.

The University of Glasgow is one of five Scottish universities which elects a Rector. Since the Universities (Scotland) Act of 1858, the Rector has been elected by the matriculated students of the University and not only represents them but is also, ex-officio, the Chairman of the University Court, the body which administers the resources of the University.

Charles Kennedy is currently MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber, and Rector of the University of Glasgow. He led the Liberal Democrat party for six years and has recently been a vocal critic of tuition fees, voting against the recent measure to increase them in Westminster.

Alison Louise Kennedy is a Scottish writer, teacher and stand-up comedian and winner of numerous literary awards including the 2007 Lannan Literary Award, and the 2007 Costa Book of the Year Award. In the same year the University of Glasgow also awarded her an honorary Doctorate of Letters degree.

Glasgow University Students' Representative Council represents the interests of students registered at the University of Glasgow to the University and nation. The representative function is augmented by the delivery of services aimed at enhancing the student experience while at Glasgow. Council comprises up to 37 elected students who meet throughout the year.

The Rector of the University of Glasgow is elected by the matriculated students of the University and the main role of the Rector is to represent the University’s students.

The Rector has a number of key duties representing students. He/She is expected to attend meetings of Court, the governing body of the University, to work closely with the SRC, and to bring student concerns to the attention of the University’s managers.

The Rector is the ‘ordinary president’ of Court in the words of the Universities (Scotland) Act 1858 and is entitled to chair Court meetings.

Further information about the position of Rector, and the history of those who have held the post can be found at: http://www.universitystory.gla.ac.uk/officer/?id=6.

Further information contact:

Luke Winter
VP Media and Communications
vp-comms@src.gla.ac.uk
Tel: 0141 339 8541
or 07989 111 856

Martin Shannon
Senior Media Relations Officer
University of Glasgow
Tel: 0141 330 8593 

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First published: 27 January 2011