Rector of the University of Glasgow facts for kids
The Rector of the University of Glasgow is one of the most important jobs at the university. Students at the university choose the Rector every three years. The Rector's main job is to speak up for the students and share their ideas and concerns with the university's leaders. To do this, the Rector leads meetings of the University Court, which is the main group that runs the university.
The role of the Rector was officially created by a law called the Universities (Scotland) Act 1889. This law made sure that all the old universities in Scotland at that time – St Andrews, Glasgow, Aberdeen, and Edinburgh – would have a Rector elected by their students. Students at the University of Dundee also elect their own Rector.
The previous Rector, Aamer Anwar, who is a lawyer, decided not to run for the job again. The elections to choose the next Rector were delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. They finally happened in April 2021, and Lady Rae was chosen to be the new Rector.
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What Does the Rector Do?
The Rector's main role is to be the voice of the students. They make sure that student ideas and problems are heard by the people who make big decisions at the university. The Rector also leads the University Court, which is like the university's board of directors. This gives the Rector a direct way to influence how the university is run and to make sure students' needs are considered.
Famous Rectors and Their Challenges
Sometimes, students have chosen Rectors who couldn't actually do the job in person. This often happened because these Rectors were famous activists or important figures who faced challenges.
For example:
- Winnie Mandela (1987–1990) and Albert Lutuli (1962–1965) were elected because they were important anti-apartheid activists. They couldn't travel to the university to do the job.
- Mordechai Vanunu (2005–2008) couldn't leave Israel to fulfill his duties.
- Edward Snowden (2014–2017) was in exile in Russia, so he couldn't come to the university.
These Rectors were chosen to show support for their causes, even if they couldn't be there in person.
However, other Rectors were expected to be active in the role. For instance, Ross Kemp (1999–2000), an actor, resigned after students were unhappy with his performance.
There have been times when the university didn't have a Rector. In February 2004, no one ran for the position, leaving the job empty for a while. It also happened again in March 2020 when the election was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
How Students Used to Vote
Until 1977, for Rector elections, the university divided students into four groups called 'nations'. These groups were based on where the students were born in Scotland. There were names like Glottiana, Loudoniana, Transforthana, and Rothseiana. The Loudoniana group included students from all other places outside the specific Scottish areas. This old system showed how students from different parts of the country participated in choosing their Rector.
Some Past Rectors
Many interesting and important people have served as Rector of the University of Glasgow over the centuries. They came from different backgrounds, including politicians, writers, scientists, and activists. Here are just a few examples:
- 17th Century:
* 1648–1650: Robert Ramsay, a clergyman. * 1690–1691: David Boyle, a Scottish nobleman.
- 18th Century:
* 1783–1785: Edmund Burke, a famous philosopher. * 1787–1789: Adam Smith, a well-known professor and author of The Wealth of Nations.
- 19th Century:
* 1836–1838: Sir Robert Peel, a former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. * 1871–1877: Benjamin Disraeli, another former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. * 1877–1880: William Ewart Gladstone, also a former Prime Minister.
- 20th Century:
* 1914–1919: Raymond Poincaré, who was the President of the French Republic. * 1945–1947: Sir John Boyd-Orr, a doctor and Nobel laureate (someone who won a Nobel Prize). * 1971–1974: Jimmy Reid, a trade union activist known for his powerful speeches. * 1996–1999: Richard Wilson, a Scottish actor.
- 21st Century:
* 2001–2004: Greg Hemphill, an actor. * 2008–2014: Charles Kennedy, a former leader of a political party. * 2017–2020: Aamer Anwar, a lawyer and human rights campaigner. * 2021–present: Rita Rae, Lady Rae, a former judge.
As you can see, the role of Rector has been held by many different kinds of people, showing the university's connection to wider society and its students' interests.
