Over the summer, comments from Manivannan re-emerged in which they spoke about the “demonisation of rape” and claimed that rape existed on a “spectrum”.
asserted
rape → re → spectrum
Manivannan, who uses they/them pronouns, announced they would put their hat in the ring in the race to become St Andrews rector, alongside Brian Baumgartner, the actor best known for playing Kevin Malone in the US version of The Office.
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they → use → Office
They are among six trying to win the student vote.
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They → try → vote
Writing on social media, Mr Cleese urged students at the Fife university not to back the Green MSP.
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Cleese → write → MSP
He said: “As a former rector of St Andrews University I respectfully urge its students not to support someone who tries to understate the appalling psychological effects of rape.”
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who → say → rape
Writing on their Instagram, Manivannan said: “For our wee bubble, I’m running to be the University of St Andrews’ new Rector.
asserted
I → write → Andrews
Alongside the space I occupy as an MSP, I will bring a chance for our wee town to grow and thrive while rectifying the many injustices being permitted in our name (including to our current rector Stella Maris).”
Ms Maris, who is not running, has been involved in a dispute with the St Andrews after she was removed from from the university court over comments she made on the Israel-Gaza war, although she won an appeal nine months later.
asserted
she → occupy → appeal
As part of their promises to students, Manivannan has pledged to prioritise better buses for students in Glasgow and Edinburgh, more student activities, affordable homes while seeking to end “insecure staff contracts” and supporting Scottish students “alongside queer and racially minoritised students”.
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Manivannan → pledge → students
Manivannan, from India, recently announced they had been awarded a graduate visa, having been elected to the Scottish Parliament on a student visa.
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they → announce → visa
The graduate visa will only last until 2029, with the anthropologist, poet and politician planning on applying for a global talent visa at that point.
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anthropologist → last → point
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They completed their doctorate in international relations at the University of St Andrews earlier this year.
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They → read → Andrews
Manivannan identifies as non-binary and is one of the first two openly trans MSPs at Holyrood, alongside fellow Green Iris Duane.
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Manivannan → identify → Duane
They have since attracted some controversy, including reports suggesting they may have sought to portray themselves as being disadvantaged, despite coming from a wealthy family.
uncertain
they → attract → family
Manivannan has described themselves as a “queer Tamil immigrant”.
asserted
Manivannan → describe → immigrant
Their comments on rape were criticised by the Scottish Rape Crisis Alliance, which accused the MSP of trying to “minimise” sexual violence.
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which → criticise → violence
Manivannan spoke of the “demonisation of rape”, and said: “It is a spectrum – none of which is any worse or less or more worse, but it is a spectrum of things that constitute that one homogenised word, rape.”
asserted
that → speak → word
They also said there were “different modes” of consent and rape.
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They → say → consent
The MSP went on to say that the idea of a rapist being a “big, big, burly man” was “not necessarily unfounded” but said it was “misconstrued” because “any individual is capable” of rape.
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individual → go → rape
Apologising for the comments, they said: “I am horrified that my comments were selectively edited in order to mislead people and misrepresent me, but I also accept that my language was abstract in the first place and for that I take full responsibility and am sorry.
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I → apologise → responsibility
“During the interview, I categorically stated that rape in every context is equally serious and harmful.
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rape → state → context
“This section of the interview was maliciously left out of clips — with the rest being misrepresented and widely shared out of context, despite my repeated clarifications.
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rest → leave → clarifications
“I also made the point that rapists do not fit a single stereotype and that many men are relatives or known to their victims.
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men → make → victims
“I recognise that the words in the clip shared, without the full context of the conversation, have caused considerable upset.
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words → recognise → upset
“For that I apologise.
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I → apologise → that
I will always stand with, and for, victims and survivors.”
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I → stand → victims
The Aporia
