Fur flies as students fight for Buttons the cat to become new rector

A GROUP of over 60 students at the University of Aberdeen are fighting for a cat to become the new rector in the wake of disillusionment with the election process.

The bid to have Buttons the campus moggy put up as a candidate has already been officially rejected by the election co-ordinator because the cat is not human.

Now hundreds have supported an online campaign to have Buttons reinstated as a runner in the race to become rector.

It comes just two months after the university was at the centre of an “abuse of power” row as it ratified a decision to scrap the rector election over allegations of “dirty tricks” by the campaign for Maggie Chapman, co-convenor of the Scottish Greens.

A re-vote was called for after at least one other candidate wanted Ms Chapman, the current rector, removed from the ballot in a row over hundreds of campaign posters being torn down.

There were complaints a smaller number of posters were also removed by other candidates but it was claimed Ms Chapman’s campaign was the worst offender.

The satirical nomination for Buttons explains that he is a white cat who lives on campus and campaigners decided he is the “right individual to represent the interests of the student body”.

They said the reasons to vote for Buttons were that he lived locally, engages with the students daily and is “fluffy and friendly”.

“Buttons stands for change,” said the campaign group. “Vote for cats, not bureaucrats.”

But Phil Hannaford, the election returning officer, has ruled that Buttons does not meet the requirements under the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator guidelines to be a charity trustee.

Election co-ordinator Nicholas Edwards told the campaigners: “Both the returning officer and I appreciate Buttons’ interest in the role and wish him well in his future endeavours.”

More than 300 people have signed an online petition, started by campaigner Alex Kither, to gain support for an appeal against the decision.

He said: “We have been given 24 hours to make an appeal to the elections committee and have decided to open the petition in the hope of getting enough students engaged to prove that it is necessary for Buttons to be nominated as candidate for the sake of student interest, democracy and fluffy feline friendliness.”

Vote for cats, not bureaucrats