| Comment | It's kind of complicated - looking at the previous rector election, I wouldn't say most of the candidates are 'celebrities'. Aamer Anwar and Lady Hazel Cosgrove are rather distinguished lawyers, for instance, but I don't think most people would recognise them.
I suppose part of the logic of it is, if you want someone who's not really well-known to represent students, you already have the student unions. But what makes the position of Rector unique is that there is this tradition of having more notable people (although student rectors aren't unheard of, such as Gordon Brown), who can use their general position to represent students in a way that other students couldn't. Charles Kennedy, for instance, was very active and popular amongst students, and I don't think it would be unreasonable to say that he was able to bring about change in part due to his status as a well liked and respected politician. |
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