University of Glasgow Elects Edward Snowden as Rector for Three Years

The University of Glasgow has elected Edward Snowden to serve as their Rector for the next three years, according to a press release sent to TheBlaze on Tuesday.

In this image made from video released by WikiLeaks on Friday, Oct. 11, 2013, former National Security Agency systems analyst Edward Snowden speaks during a presentation ceremony for the Sam Adams Award in Moscow, Russia. AP Photo

The online election conducted Tuesday and Snowden's win was announced at Bute Hall, on campus, shortly after polls closed at 5pm.

"We are delighted to see Edward Snowden elected as the new Rector of the University of Glasgow," said Chris Cassells,Snowden’s spokesman for the Rectorial election campaign. "We have a proud and virtuous tradition of making significant statements through our Rectors and today we have once more championed this idea by proving to the world that we are not apathetic to important issues such as democratic rights."

"We would like to thank all other candidates as well as the students who nominated them for promoting an exciting and relevant debating atmosphere over the last few weeks," he added.

The Rector is elected by the students of the University and not only represents the students but is also, ex-officio, the Chairman of the University Court, the body which administers the resources of the University, the press release states.

David Newall, Secretary of Court at the University of Glasgow, noted that it was "a record turnout for a Rectorial Election and I warmly congratulate Edward Snowden on his success. I would also like to thank Charles Kennedy for the contribution he has made to the University over the last six years.”

Snowden, a former employee with the CIA and NSA who leaked the greatest number of U.S. and foreign classified secrets in history, is one of the most wanted men by U.S. law enforcement.

In the spring of 2013, Snowden gave caches top secret documents from the National Security Agency, where he worked as a contractor to several journalists. He later got asylum from Russia and continues leak information regarding how the U.S. conducts national security operations.

His revelations, revealed the global surveillance system used by the NSA to monitor terrorists and how the U.S. has secret authority that allowed the NSA to collect telephone, Internet and location records of people throughout the world.

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