Defence analyst elected rector of St Andrews University

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 17 Oct, 14:02 · Archive

Arthur Bernhoff, a Ministry of Defence analyst, has been elected rector of the University of St Andrews.

Arthur Bernhoff, a Ministry of Defence analyst and St Andrews graduate living locally, has been elected rector of the University of St Andrews. He secured 3,135 votes in the fourth round of voting. Brian Baumgartner, the US actor known for playing Kevin Malone in The Office, finished second with 1,553 votes. Scottish Green MSP Q Manivannan came third with 1,243 votes.

Bernhoff has pledged to be a "present, listening, and effective" rector and will take up his post on 1 November. A rector is elected every three years to represent student interests on the university court.

The election achieved turnout of just under 45 per cent, almost double the turnout at the last rectorial election in 2023 and the highest response to a rector's election in recent history. Earlier in the week, Monty Python co-founder John Cleese had urged students not to vote for Manivannan over controversial comments the MSP made in a podcast last year about rape, which Manivannan said had been "maliciously" edited. Manivannan apologised for any hurt caused.

How it is being reported

• Defence analyst beats US Office star and MSP for university rector jobUS Office actor Brian Baumgartner finished second, while Green MSP Q Manivannan came third.BBC Scotland · 17 Oct, 13:39
• Green MSP Q Manivannan and The Office star lose bids to become St Andrews rectorActor Brian Baumgartner, best known for playing Kevin Malone in the US Office, came second while Q Manivannan was third out of six candidates.Daily Record · 17 Oct, 11:02

In this story: Arthur Bernhoff · Brian Baumgartner · Q Manivannan · John Cleese · University of St Andrews · Scottish Green Party

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