TV star Lorraine Kelly says she is “fuming” at the financial crisis that has engulfed Dundee University.
The presenter, who was university rector between 2004 and 2007, has also criticised the former principal for his role in it.
Lorraine says she has kept a close eye on The Courier’s coverage of events at the university in recent months, as revelations have emerged about its huge financial deficit and hundreds of potential job losses.
During a visit to the city on Friday for an event, Lorraine revealed her “anger and sadness” at the crisis, and the role played by Professor Iain Gillespie.
The former principal resigned by text in December as the crisis deepened.
This week he told MSPs he was incompetent but not corrupt when questioned about his leadership.
Former rector Lorraine Kelly ‘angry and sad’ at Dundee University crisis
Reflecting on the events that have unfolded, Lorraine said: “I was really angry and now I’m angry and sad.
“There were a lot of members of staff there who were saying ‘There’s something not right’ and nobody was listening to them.
“It must have been so frustrating for them.
“We’re seeing the prospect of jobs going, and at one point it looked like the university wouldn’t survive.
“This would be a disaster – not just for the university, but for the whole of Dundee and this area.
“When I was rector (representing students), I saw how incredibly important the university was to the city.”
TV presenter slates Iain Gillespie’s conduct, baffled that ‘nobody called him out’
A damning report last week criticised Prof Gillespie’s role at the university, which faces a £35 million deficit.
The report also slammed several other leaders at the institution.
Lorraine said: “What I don’t understand is how that was allowed to happen for so long, how one person was allowed to behave like that and nobody called him out.
“They’re calling him out now, clearly. That was a really interesting meeting that they had for three hours.
“I don’t understand how that happened. It baffles me that nobody in authority would be listening.
“That can’t happen again, we can’t have that happening again.”
The Scottish Government has given the university a £40m bailout, but how the money is spent will be closely monitored at Holyrood.
However, Lorraine fears that with so much public cash being ploughed into helping Dundee University recover, it could mean less for other projects.
She added: “What’s happening now is that there’s scant funds for the city, and now they’re going to be used to bail out the university, because they have to.
“Then you look at other places around the city that are shutting down.
Lorraine Kelly unequivocal that Dundee University crisis ‘can’t happen again’
“It doesn’t make any sense at all. I’m fuming about it, actually, especially as I was rector and at that time the university was thriving.
“It was always number one for student approval and it is a good place to be.
“Everyone who has studied there knows that.
“How that was allowed to continue, I just don’t understand.
“It makes no sense to me. There’s a lot more we need to find out and it can’t happen again.”
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