On 22 October 1962, Chief Luthuli was elected by students at Glasgow University as University Rector for that year. In his book Rectors of Glasgow University, 1820 - 2000, Donald Wintersgill describes the election as "exceptional" and explains that Luthuli was chosen as a "point of principle" to highlight student opposition to apartheid. It was one of the highest turnouts for the Rector election for decades. Luthuli won the election with 62% of the votes. The election itself was a heated affair, as this report in The Times newspaper makes clear. Sadly, and in spite of many pleas from Glasgow University, the South African Government refused Luthuli permission to travel to Scotland to give his inaugural address.
For more information about Chief Luthuli's role as Glasgow University Rector, visit the Glasgow Guardian Digital Archive. Search for Luthuli or Lutuli to read more.
