Senate business committee decision

The University of St Andrews will not revoke an honorary degree it awarded to Cardinal Keith O’Brien in 2004.

The University’s Senate Business Committee yesterday dismissed a request from a member of staff who had called publicly for the degree to be rescinded.

After discussion, Committee members agreed there was no case to recommend to Senate that the degree be revoked, and that it considered the matter closed.

SBC recognises that universities award honorary degrees in good faith on the basis of evidence available to them at a point in time, that revocation cannot change or ameliorate the wrongs of the past and that, notwithstanding the very real hurt and loss caused by the actions of the honorand, it would be no more than an empty gesture.

The Committee also formally recorded its disapproval of the inappropriate manner in which the request had been brought into the public domain before any decision had been reached by SBC in what could be interpreted as an attempt to prejudice the decision-making processes of the committee.

Issued by University of St Andrews Press Office. Contact Steve Bargeton on 01334 46 7310 or [email protected]. The Press Office can be contacted on [email protected].