A MAJOR Scottish university donor suggested that a multi-million-pound bequeathment could be in danger due to the institution's rector’s comments on Israel.
Stella Maris was dismissed from St Andrews University’s governing body and stripped of her role as a trustee after she accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, a position held by international experts including Amnesty International.
It has been revealed that the Wolfson Foundation, a large donor with close links to Israel, suggested that it may pull a £2 million grant for St Andrews to explore green hydrogen technology over the rector’s remarks.
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The Courier first reported that a probe by Morag Ross KC said the charity was “very concerned” by Maris’s comments, though the name of the charity was initially redacted.
The National has also seen documentary evidence that it was the Wolfson Foundation which threatened to pull funding.
The charity was established in 1958 by Isaac Wolfson, a Scottish businessman, and also funds projects in Israel through related family trusts.
Ross had written in her investigation: “The principal had to consider potential financial consequences.
“She explained to me that a major project plan had been put in serious jeopardy because the prospective funder, the Wolfson Foundation, had been very concerned about information relating to the university and the statement made by Ms Maris.
St Andrews University claimed that a threat to pull £2m in funding had not influenced management.
A spokesperson for the university told The Courier: “No donor has influence on university governance, and it is mischievous and disingenuous to suggest otherwise.
“The university has clear regulations governing the receipt of donations.
“There are some facts here that will not change and are consistently overlooked.
“The rector was dismissed from the Court for breaches of governance after she issued her statement.
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“The court’s decision had nothing at all to do with the statement itself and all parties know this to be the case.
“The independent report found that Ms Maris was ‘rude and discourteous’ to Jewish students that she represents and has consistently refused to apologise to them or even to meet them.
“The rector signed a declaration that as president of the court, she would abide by the university court’s code of conduct and charity law, but subsequently claimed, in writing, that she was independent of the university’s administrative and governance structures, despite presiding over court, the university’s supreme governing body.
“These two positions are incompatible.”
