Rector of the University of Dundee
Encyclopedia
The Rector of the University of Dundee is elected by the matriculated students of the University
. From 1967 (when the University gained independence from the University of St. Andrews) to 2010 the Rector was automatically a full member of the University Court (the University Governing body). The Rector also had the right to appoint an Assessor, who was also a full member of the University Court. Following changes made to the University Charter in August 2010, the Rector must choose to either take up full membership of Court or appoint an Assessor who has full voting rights. If the Rector chooses not take up full membership of Court, he retains the right to receive Court papers and attend its meetings but not to vote. The present holder of the position is Mr Brian Cox, CBE
. Brian Cox has chosen not to take up full membership of Court, and his Assesor, Mike Arnott, therefore has full voting rights on Court.
Aside from his official duties to the university, the Rector is charged with the responsibility of representing the students of the University who elect him for a three year term. The Rector is officially installed in a ceremony soon after his election by the University's Chancellor or, in his place, the Vice-Chancellor.
of Scotland dates back centuries and is one of the oldest offices in academic governance in Scotland
. To this day, it only exists in the ancient universities of Scotland and at Dundee, which inherited some of the traditions and governance structure from the University of St Andrews
.
The modern Rectorship evolved and was given legal status under the Universities (Scotland) Act 1889. Prior to 1967, the University of Dundee was an integral college of the University of St Andrews
and styled as Queen's College Dundee or University College Dundee. The Rector of the University represented students at all the consituent colleges of St Andrews, including Queens College, Dundee. Therefore before its independence, the Rector of the University of St Andrews
was Rector and the appropriate official for covering what was to become the University of Dundee.
On gaining independent university status in 1967, the position of Rector of the University of Dundee was created under Article 5 of the university's Royal Charter which states:
Since 1967, there have been twelve Rectors of the University of Dundee, three of which have served two consecutive terms. Notable is the legend of unconfirmed certainty that a hamster was once nominated for the post. Its acceptance of the nomination was allegedly made with an ink-paw print, which was not permitted by the University on the grounds that true consent could not be assured and duress may have been involved. This legend may be based on the confirmed story of Mervyn who was nominated for the position in 1971, but rejected by the returning officer. Due to a dispute over the validity of the 1971 election result, an unofficial second poll was organised by the Students' Association, and Mervyn was permitted to stand in this. Although Mervyn did not win he beat Paul Foot
for third place.
with Rectorships at the Universities of Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen
and St Andrews
. Together the Rectors combine to form the Scottish Rectors Group.
Rectors also appoint a Rector's Assessor, who may carry out their functions when they are absent from the University. In many cases, such as the terms of Lorraine Kelly or Tony Slattery, the relevant Assessor carried out the majority of the Rector's functions - both only rarely attended court meetings in person, although Kelly was notable for participation in many fund raising and charitable activities connected with the University.
If an election is tied between two candidates, then the Chancellor has the deciding vote on the matter. Neither staff members at Dundee nor students matriculated at any university are eligible to stand The election is always held in either January or February if the election is not precipitated by a resignation during the Rector's term of office, and on a day appointed by the Senatus Academicus in consultation with the Students' Association
..
The installation is usually held two or three months following the election. In the past the ceremony was held in the Caird Hall
in the City Centre, however, recent ceremonies have been held in the University's own Bonar Hall - the last ceremony was expected to take place in the smaller Ustinov Room of the Bonar Hall, but had to be changed at the last minute to a lecture theatre in the new teaching block as a result of unexpected demand. The installation itself is made by the Chancellor (or Vice-Chancellor if unavailable) with the formal introduction of the Rector to the students being made by the President of the Students' Association. Following a meeting with the Lord Provost
of Dundee, the Rector will be 'dragged' in the University's carriage
from the City Chambers to the University by one of the sports teams in a parade, often stopping off at public houses along the way for refreshments.
Installation: 16 October 1968
Sir Peter Ustinov
- actor, writer, dramatist and raconteur. Ustinov was the first Rector of the newly independent University. Ustinov was first elected in February 1968 after a vigorous and colourful campaign. He received 489 votes, against James Cameron's 303, Prof C.N. Parkinson 288, Rev D C Caskie 272 and David Steel, MP 183. The turnout was high with 1535 students voting out of an electorate of approximately 2100 students. Ustinov appointed Brigadier FA Hibberd, CBE, TD, DL as his assessor. In the February 1971 Rectorial election, Ustinov narrowly defeated Michael Parkinson, the Broadcaster by 8 votes. He is remembered fondly at Dundee, his name having being given to a significant room in the University's Bonar Hall. which houses a sculpture of him. Peter Ustinov was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws (LL.D) degree by the University in 1969 - the only Rector to have received this honour during his term of office.
Served two terms.
Installation: 25 October 1974
Sir Clement Freud
- writer, broadcaster, Liberal
politician and Member of Parliament.
Was later elected Rector of the University of St Andrews
.
is a Liberal Democrat
peer and former MP for Caithness and Sutherland
.
was the Member of Parliament for Dundee East (1974 to 1987) and leader of the Scottish National Party
at the time. Wilson was outspoken against government education cuts of the time. Gordon Wilson was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws (LL.D) degree by the University in 1986.
has been the Liberal Democrat
MP for Gordon (1983-present), and was the President of the Liberal Club at the University of St Andrews.
Served two terms.
Installation: 29 October 1992; 1 November 1995
Stephen Fry
- comedian, author, actor and filmmaker. His Rectorial Address was entitled "Think of a lobster" and urged students to delay obsession with the mundane. In standing for election, he apparently declined a similar offer of nomination (made before Dundee's) from the students of the University of St Andrews.
He is fondly remembered by the University, with the main bar in the Students' Association building named after his novel The Liar and is often considered one of Dundee's best Rectors. Stephen was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws (LL.D) degree by the University in 1995.
- actor and comedian. He was installed as Rector shortly after the death of his father and following a well publicised period of mental health problems, which went on to challenge his Rectorship. He found some of the demands of public events difficult to handle and eventually stopped attending the University Court meetings.
The tabloids famously carried a story about him crashing his car whilst under the influence of drugs. His explanation, to a room full of students in the Tav Bar, revolved around a cat and some chemical fumes. This led to calls for his resignation.
He appointed Jason Wassell as Rector's Assessor who, in Tony's absence from Dundee, became his spokesperson on a number of University issues.
Stood against television presenter Richard Whiteley
, Conservative Member of the Scottish Parliament Nick Johnston
and Stirling University lecturer Dr Abd al-Fattah El-Awaisi. David Hasselhoff
was forced to decline his nomination as he could only commit to visiting the university once a year Fred was a popular, positive and supportive rector who has continued to take a personal interest in the university. Fred was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws (LL.D) degree by the University in 2005.
Installation: 28 April 2004
Lorraine Kelly
- East Kilbride - born television presenter. Beat Lesley Riddoch
and David Shayler
to the post. Her Rectorial Address can be found here. Lorraine Kelly was awarded honorary Doctor of Laws (LL.D) degree by the University in 2008.
Election: 16 February 2007
Installation: 26 September 2007
Craig Murray
- former British Ambassador to Uzbekistan, graduate of the university and twice President of the Students' Association
at Dundee. He resigned over differences with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
relating to the use of torture and extraordinary rendition in Uzbekistan. Murray was elected by students on 16 February 2007 by a vote of 632 to 582, beating competition from former Scotland rugby
captain and British Lions
star Andy Nicol
.
The Rectorial Installation of Craig Murray took place on the 26 September 2007 in the new Heathfield teaching building. In his Address, the new Rector discussed the structure of education in Scotland, creating a university environment better adapted to the needs of undergraduates and the status of ancient university government
, including a commitment to campaign for the incorporation of the position of Rector at all universities in Scotland.
Informal Installation in Student Union: 25 October 2010
Formal Installation at Caird Hall: 17 November 2010
Brian Cox, a Dundee-born Hollywood actor and member of the Royal Shakespeare Company
who also helped to support a fundraising campaign for the University's £21million Sir James Black centre, beat Robin Harper
, Green
Member of the Scottish Parliament
for the Lothians
and Nikolai Zhelev, a Professor at the University of Abertay Dundee
and the Bulgaria
n Honorary Consul to Dundee. Cox received 1034 votes to Harper's 315 and Zhelev's 273.. Brian Cox was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws (LL.D) degree by the University in 1993.
University of Dundee
The University of Dundee is a university based in the city and Royal burgh of Dundee on eastern coast of the central Lowlands of Scotland and with a small number of institutions elsewhere....
. From 1967 (when the University gained independence from the University of St. Andrews) to 2010 the Rector was automatically a full member of the University Court (the University Governing body). The Rector also had the right to appoint an Assessor, who was also a full member of the University Court. Following changes made to the University Charter in August 2010, the Rector must choose to either take up full membership of Court or appoint an Assessor who has full voting rights. If the Rector chooses not take up full membership of Court, he retains the right to receive Court papers and attend its meetings but not to vote. The present holder of the position is Mr Brian Cox, CBE
CBE
CBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
. Brian Cox has chosen not to take up full membership of Court, and his Assesor, Mike Arnott, therefore has full voting rights on Court.
Aside from his official duties to the university, the Rector is charged with the responsibility of representing the students of the University who elect him for a three year term. The Rector is officially installed in a ceremony soon after his election by the University's Chancellor or, in his place, the Vice-Chancellor.
History
The position of Rector in the ancient universitiesAncient university
Ancient university is a term used to describe seven medieval and renaissance universities of the United Kingdom and Ireland that exist today. Six of those universities are currently located in the United Kingdom and one in the Republic of Ireland...
of Scotland dates back centuries and is one of the oldest offices in academic governance in Scotland
Ancient university governance in Scotland
The ancient university governance structure in Scotland is the organisational system imposed by the Universities Acts, a series of Acts of Parliament enacted between 1858 and 1966. The Acts applied to what were termed the 'older universities': the University of St Andrews, the University of...
. To this day, it only exists in the ancient universities of Scotland and at Dundee, which inherited some of the traditions and governance structure from the University of St Andrews
University of St Andrews
The University of St Andrews, informally referred to as "St Andrews", is the oldest university in Scotland and the third oldest in the English-speaking world after Oxford and Cambridge. The university is situated in the town of St Andrews, Fife, on the east coast of Scotland. It was founded between...
.
The modern Rectorship evolved and was given legal status under the Universities (Scotland) Act 1889. Prior to 1967, the University of Dundee was an integral college of the University of St Andrews
University of St Andrews
The University of St Andrews, informally referred to as "St Andrews", is the oldest university in Scotland and the third oldest in the English-speaking world after Oxford and Cambridge. The university is situated in the town of St Andrews, Fife, on the east coast of Scotland. It was founded between...
and styled as Queen's College Dundee or University College Dundee. The Rector of the University represented students at all the consituent colleges of St Andrews, including Queens College, Dundee. Therefore before its independence, the Rector of the University of St Andrews
Rector of the University of St Andrews
The Lord Rector of the University of St Andrews is a university official chosen every three years by the students of the University of St Andrews...
was Rector and the appropriate official for covering what was to become the University of Dundee.
On gaining independent university status in 1967, the position of Rector of the University of Dundee was created under Article 5 of the university's Royal Charter which states:
- "There shall be a Rector of the University who shall be elected by the matriculated students of the University in such manner and for such period as may be prescribed by the Statutes."
Since 1967, there have been twelve Rectors of the University of Dundee, three of which have served two consecutive terms. Notable is the legend of unconfirmed certainty that a hamster was once nominated for the post. Its acceptance of the nomination was allegedly made with an ink-paw print, which was not permitted by the University on the grounds that true consent could not be assured and duress may have been involved. This legend may be based on the confirmed story of Mervyn who was nominated for the position in 1971, but rejected by the returning officer. Due to a dispute over the validity of the 1971 election result, an unofficial second poll was organised by the Students' Association, and Mervyn was permitted to stand in this. Although Mervyn did not win he beat Paul Foot
Paul Foot
Paul Mackintosh Foot was a British investigative journalist, political campaigner, author, and long-time member of the Socialist Workers Party...
for third place.
Current status
As mentioned above, the position exists in common throughout the ancient universities of ScotlandAncient universities of Scotland
The ancient universities of Scotland are medieval and renaissance universities which continue to exist until the present day. The majority of the ancient universities of the British Isles are located within Scotland, and have a number of distinctive features in common, being governed by a series of...
with Rectorships at the Universities of Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen
Rector of the University of Aberdeen
The Lord Rector of the University of Aberdeen is the students' representative and chairman in the University Court of the University of Aberdeen. The position is rarely known by its full title and most often referred to simply as "Rector". The Rector is elected by students of the University and...
and St Andrews
Rector of the University of St Andrews
The Lord Rector of the University of St Andrews is a university official chosen every three years by the students of the University of St Andrews...
. Together the Rectors combine to form the Scottish Rectors Group.
Rectors also appoint a Rector's Assessor, who may carry out their functions when they are absent from the University. In many cases, such as the terms of Lorraine Kelly or Tony Slattery, the relevant Assessor carried out the majority of the Rector's functions - both only rarely attended court meetings in person, although Kelly was notable for participation in many fund raising and charitable activities connected with the University.
Election and installation
Rectors are nominated by the gathering of fifty signatures by students. Close to the Rectorial Election, the Students' Association traditionally hosts a hustings debate, known as the Hecklings, in which all nominees get a chance to put forward their case. The nominees also traditionally make an appearance on the university campus during the election day to canvass for last minute support, assisted by a campaign team of students. The election is organised by a member of the Senatus Academicus, usually the Academic Secretary.If an election is tied between two candidates, then the Chancellor has the deciding vote on the matter. Neither staff members at Dundee nor students matriculated at any university are eligible to stand The election is always held in either January or February if the election is not precipitated by a resignation during the Rector's term of office, and on a day appointed by the Senatus Academicus in consultation with the Students' Association
Dundee University Students' Association
Dundee University Students' Association is the students' association, legal representative and students' union for matriculated students of the University of Dundee....
..
The installation is usually held two or three months following the election. In the past the ceremony was held in the Caird Hall
Caird Hall
The Caird Hall is the principal concert auditorium in Dundee, Scotland.Built between 1914 and 1923 and named after its benefactor, the jute baron James Key Caird, the Caird Hall regularly hosts the Royal Scottish National Orchestra....
in the City Centre, however, recent ceremonies have been held in the University's own Bonar Hall - the last ceremony was expected to take place in the smaller Ustinov Room of the Bonar Hall, but had to be changed at the last minute to a lecture theatre in the new teaching block as a result of unexpected demand. The installation itself is made by the Chancellor (or Vice-Chancellor if unavailable) with the formal introduction of the Rector to the students being made by the President of the Students' Association. Following a meeting with the Lord Provost
Lord Provost
A Lord Provost is the figurative and ceremonial head of one of the principal cities of Scotland. Four cities, Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow, have the right to appoint a Lord Provost instead of a provost...
of Dundee, the Rector will be 'dragged' in the University's carriage
Carriage
A carriage is a wheeled vehicle for people, usually horse-drawn; litters and sedan chairs are excluded, since they are wheelless vehicles. The carriage is especially designed for private passenger use and for comfort or elegance, though some are also used to transport goods. It may be light,...
from the City Chambers to the University by one of the sports teams in a parade, often stopping off at public houses along the way for refreshments.
1968 - Sir Peter Ustinov
Served two termsInstallation: 16 October 1968
Sir Peter Ustinov
Peter Ustinov
Peter Alexander Ustinov CBE was an English actor, writer and dramatist. He was also renowned as a filmmaker, theatre and opera director, stage designer, author, screenwriter, comedian, humourist, newspaper and magazine columnist, radio broadcaster and television presenter...
- actor, writer, dramatist and raconteur. Ustinov was the first Rector of the newly independent University. Ustinov was first elected in February 1968 after a vigorous and colourful campaign. He received 489 votes, against James Cameron's 303, Prof C.N. Parkinson 288, Rev D C Caskie 272 and David Steel, MP 183. The turnout was high with 1535 students voting out of an electorate of approximately 2100 students. Ustinov appointed Brigadier FA Hibberd, CBE, TD, DL as his assessor. In the February 1971 Rectorial election, Ustinov narrowly defeated Michael Parkinson, the Broadcaster by 8 votes. He is remembered fondly at Dundee, his name having being given to a significant room in the University's Bonar Hall. which houses a sculpture of him. Peter Ustinov was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws (LL.D) degree by the University in 1969 - the only Rector to have received this honour during his term of office.
1974 - Sir Clement Freud
Installation: 25 October 1974
Sir Clement Freud
Clement Freud
Sir Clement Raphael Freud was an English broadcaster, writer, politician and chef.-Early life:Freud was born in Berlin, the son of Jewish parents Ernst Ludwig Freud and Lucie née Brasch. He was the grandson of psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud and the brother of artist Lucian Freud...
- writer, broadcaster, Liberal
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
politician and Member of Parliament.
Was later elected Rector of the University of St Andrews
Rector of the University of St Andrews
The Lord Rector of the University of St Andrews is a university official chosen every three years by the students of the University of St Andrews...
.
1980 - Lord Mackie of Benshie
George Mackie, Baron Mackie of BenshieGeorge Mackie, Baron Mackie of Benshie
George Yull Mackie, Baron Mackie of Benshie CBE DSO DFC is a former British Liberal Party politician. He was elected Member of Parliament for Caithness and Sutherland in 1964. He lost his seat in 1966, when he was defeated by Labour candidate Robert Maclennan. Maclennan eventually became a...
is a Liberal Democrat
Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the...
peer and former MP for Caithness and Sutherland
Caithness and Sutherland (UK Parliament constituency)
Caithness and Sutherland was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1918 to 1997. It elected one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election....
.
1983 - Gordon Wilson MP
Gordon WilsonGordon Wilson (Scottish politician)
Gordon Wilson is a former leader of the Scottish National Party and current leading figure in the campaign to ban same-sex marriage in Scotland...
was the Member of Parliament for Dundee East (1974 to 1987) and leader of the Scottish National Party
Scottish National Party
The Scottish National Party is a social-democratic political party in Scotland which campaigns for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom....
at the time. Wilson was outspoken against government education cuts of the time. Gordon Wilson was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws (LL.D) degree by the University in 1986.
1986 - Malcolm Bruce MP
Malcolm BruceMalcolm Bruce
Malcolm Gray Bruce, MP is a Scottish Liberal Democrat politician. He is the Member of Parliament for Gordon. He has been the chairman of the International Development Select Committee since 2005.-Early life:...
has been the Liberal Democrat
Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the...
MP for Gordon (1983-present), and was the President of the Liberal Club at the University of St Andrews.
1989 - Paul Henderson Scott
Paul Henderson Scott is a Scottish cultural and historical commentator and a veteran Scottish National Party member.1992 - Stephen Fry
Installation: 29 October 1992; 1 November 1995
Stephen Fry
Stephen Fry
Stephen John Fry is an English actor, screenwriter, author, playwright, journalist, poet, comedian, television presenter and film director, and a director of Norwich City Football Club. He first came to attention in the 1981 Cambridge Footlights Revue presentation "The Cellar Tapes", which also...
- comedian, author, actor and filmmaker. His Rectorial Address was entitled "Think of a lobster" and urged students to delay obsession with the mundane. In standing for election, he apparently declined a similar offer of nomination (made before Dundee's) from the students of the University of St Andrews.
He is fondly remembered by the University, with the main bar in the Students' Association building named after his novel The Liar and is often considered one of Dundee's best Rectors. Stephen was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws (LL.D) degree by the University in 1995.
1998 - Tony Slattery
Tony SlatteryTony Slattery
Anthony Declan James "Tony" Slattery is an English actor and comedian who has appeared on British television regularly since the mid 1980s, most notably as a regular on the Channel 4 improvisation show Whose Line Is It Anyway? As a film actor, both comedic and serious, his credits include The...
- actor and comedian. He was installed as Rector shortly after the death of his father and following a well publicised period of mental health problems, which went on to challenge his Rectorship. He found some of the demands of public events difficult to handle and eventually stopped attending the University Court meetings.
The tabloids famously carried a story about him crashing his car whilst under the influence of drugs. His explanation, to a room full of students in the Tav Bar, revolved around a cat and some chemical fumes. This led to calls for his resignation.
He appointed Jason Wassell as Rector's Assessor who, in Tony's absence from Dundee, became his spokesperson on a number of University issues.
2001 - Fred MacAulay
Fred MacAulay - Scottish comedian and graduate (accountancy) of the university.Stood against television presenter Richard Whiteley
Richard Whiteley
John Richard Whiteley, OBE DL , usually known as Richard Whiteley, was an English broadcaster and journalist. He was famous for his twenty-three years as host of Countdown, a letters and numbers arrangement game show broadcast most weekdays on Channel 4...
, Conservative Member of the Scottish Parliament Nick Johnston
Nick Johnston
Paul Nicholas Johnston is a Scottish politician.-Early life:He is the son of Joseph Leo Johnston and Winifred Vera Neale. He went to North Kesteven Grammar School in North Hykeham, Lincolnshire....
and Stirling University lecturer Dr Abd al-Fattah El-Awaisi. David Hasselhoff
David Hasselhoff
David Michael Hasselhoff is an American actor, singer, producer and businessman. He is best known for his lead roles as Michael Knight in the popular 1980s US series Knight Rider and as L.A. County Lifeguard Mitch Buchannon in the series Baywatch...
was forced to decline his nomination as he could only commit to visiting the university once a year Fred was a popular, positive and supportive rector who has continued to take a personal interest in the university. Fred was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws (LL.D) degree by the University in 2005.
2004 - Lorraine Kelly
Election: 27 February 2004Installation: 28 April 2004
Lorraine Kelly
Lorraine Kelly
Lorraine Kelly is a Scottish television presenter, journalist and actress, best known as a presenter for TV-am, and later GMTV and ITV Breakfast, on Lorraine.-Early life:...
- East Kilbride - born television presenter. Beat Lesley Riddoch
Lesley Riddoch
Lesley Riddoch is a British radio broadcaster and journalist who lives in Perth.-Early career:Lesley Riddoch was born in England in 1963, spent her childhood in Belfast then moved to Glasgow in 1973 where she attended a local fee-paying private school...
and David Shayler
David Shayler
David Shayler is a British journalist and former MI5 officer. Shayler earned notoriety after being prosecuted under the Official Secrets Act 1989 for his passing secret documents to the Mail on Sunday in August 1997 that alleged that MI5 was paranoid about socialists, and that it had previously...
to the post. Her Rectorial Address can be found here. Lorraine Kelly was awarded honorary Doctor of Laws (LL.D) degree by the University in 2008.
2007 - Craig Murray
Installation: 26 September 2007
Craig Murray
Craig Murray
Craig John Murray is a British political activist, former ambassador to Uzbekistan and former Rector of the University of Dundee....
- former British Ambassador to Uzbekistan, graduate of the university and twice President of the Students' Association
Dundee University Students' Association
Dundee University Students' Association is the students' association, legal representative and students' union for matriculated students of the University of Dundee....
at Dundee. He resigned over differences with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, commonly called the Foreign Office or the FCO is a British government department responsible for promoting the interests of the United Kingdom overseas, created in 1968 by merging the Foreign Office and the Commonwealth Office.The head of the FCO is the...
relating to the use of torture and extraordinary rendition in Uzbekistan. Murray was elected by students on 16 February 2007 by a vote of 632 to 582, beating competition from former Scotland rugby
Scotland national rugby union team
The Scotland national rugby union team represent Scotland in international rugby union. Rugby union in Scotland is administered by the Scottish Rugby Union. The Scotland rugby union team is currently ranked eighth in the IRB World Rankings as of 19 September 2011...
captain and British Lions
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
star Andy Nicol
Andy Nicol
Andrew Douglas Nicol , is a former rugby union player and the first British player to lift the Heineken Cup as captain of Bath Rugby...
.
The Rectorial Installation of Craig Murray took place on the 26 September 2007 in the new Heathfield teaching building. In his Address, the new Rector discussed the structure of education in Scotland, creating a university environment better adapted to the needs of undergraduates and the status of ancient university government
Ancient university governance in Scotland
The ancient university governance structure in Scotland is the organisational system imposed by the Universities Acts, a series of Acts of Parliament enacted between 1858 and 1966. The Acts applied to what were termed the 'older universities': the University of St Andrews, the University of...
, including a commitment to campaign for the incorporation of the position of Rector at all universities in Scotland.
2010 - Brian Cox
Election: 12 February 2010Informal Installation in Student Union: 25 October 2010
Formal Installation at Caird Hall: 17 November 2010
Brian Cox, a Dundee-born Hollywood actor and member of the Royal Shakespeare Company
Royal Shakespeare Company
The Royal Shakespeare Company is a major British theatre company, based in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England. The company employs 700 staff and produces around 20 productions a year from its home in Stratford-upon-Avon and plays regularly in London, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and on tour across...
who also helped to support a fundraising campaign for the University's £21million Sir James Black centre, beat Robin Harper
Robin Harper
Robin Harper FRSSA is a Scottish politician, and was a Member of the Scottish Parliament for the Lothians region. He was co-convener of the Scottish Green Party...
, Green
Scottish Green Party
The Scottish Green Party is a green party in Scotland. It has two MSPs in the devolved Scottish Parliament, Alison Johnstone, representing Lothian, and Patrick Harvie, for Glasgow.-Organisation:...
Member of the Scottish Parliament
Member of the Scottish Parliament
Member of the Scottish Parliament is the title given to any one of the 129 individuals elected to serve in the Scottish Parliament.-Methods of Election:MSPs are elected in one of two ways:...
for the Lothians
Lothians (Scottish Parliament electoral region)
The Lothians was one of the eight electoral regions of the Scottish Parliament from 1999 to 2011. Nine of the parliament's 73 first past the post constituencies are sub-divisions of the region and it elects seven of the 56 additional-member Members of the Scottish Parliament...
and Nikolai Zhelev, a Professor at the University of Abertay Dundee
University of Abertay Dundee
The University of Abertay Dundee, usually known simply as Abertay University, is a modern university in Dundee, Scotland.- History :The University of Abertay Dundee was created in 1994, under government legislation granting the title University to the Dundee Institute of Technology...
and the Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
n Honorary Consul to Dundee. Cox received 1034 votes to Harper's 315 and Zhelev's 273.. Brian Cox was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws (LL.D) degree by the University in 1993.