Famous former Dundee University professor Dame Sue Black has spoken out against the possible redundancies facing the institution’s Chaplaincy centre.
All three staff members who run the University Chaplaincy were told that their roles were at risk of redundancy following the announcement of a further 190 job cuts.
Rev Dr Fiona Douglas, the University Chaplain, said the news was “devastating.”
Dame Sue Black – Baroness Black of Strome – reached out to the Jute Journal on Friday after being contacted by incoming DUSA President Tom Christison. She spoke out against the threats of redundancies facing those in the chaplaincy.
A world-renowned forensics expert, Dame Sue is the current President of St John’s College, a part of Oxford University.
Prior to this, she was Professor of Anatomy and Forensic Anthropology at the University of Dundee for 15 years, from 2003 to 2018.
The news of the chaplaincy redundancies shocked her.
Replying in a comment to the Courier’s original article, Dame Sue said: “Only this week, I wrote to the principal to say what a terribly difficult job he was having to do, but how grateful he must be for the support and wisdom of the Chaplain and her chaplaincy staff.
“Perhaps I now know why I did not receive a reply. I simply cannot believe what I am reading.
“The golden rule of crisis management is that you do not remove frontline humanitarian support in a crisis and Dundee is in crisis.
“If staff and students ever needed the support of the chaplaincy, it is right now. Please do not take that lifeline away from them.
“Making those posts redundant should resonate at the core of the human conscience of the senior management.
“Chaplaincy is not something ‘nice’ to have, it is literally, lifesaving.”
In an email to the Jute Journal, she added:
“I was deeply distressed to learn that the University Chaplain and Chaplaincy have been placed at risk of redundancy.
“There is no doubt that the university is facing a period of profound challenge, but one of the clearest lessons from crisis management is that frontline pastoral and humanitarian support should be protected, not diminished.
“At times of uncertainty, anxiety and upheaval, it is precisely these services that help sustain the wellbeing, resilience and sense of community on which institutions depend.
“I therefore urge the senior management team to reflect carefully on this decision and to remove the threat of redundancy.
“The Chaplain and Chaplaincy staff provide invaluable support to students, staff and the wider university community, regardless of faith or background.
“Their work fosters compassion, inclusion and human connection at a time when these qualities are needed more than ever.
“If there was ever a moment when the university required the presence and support of its Chaplaincy, it is now.”
A university spokesperson said: “Staff in the chaplaincy centre have been informed their posts may potentially be at risk under the current proposals.
“These are proposals, not final decisions, and are all subject to the collective consultation process which has now begun and will be running over the coming weeks with the campus trade unions.
“It is the intention, under the proposals, that we would move to a different model of pastoral support so there would still be provision to staff and students.”
