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| Plymouth University agrees to spend £150,000 on seven chairs | Plymouth University agrees to spend £150,000 on seven chairs |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Plymouth University has agreed to spend £150,000 on seven chairs for graduation ceremonies, it is understood. | Plymouth University has agreed to spend £150,000 on seven chairs for graduation ceremonies, it is understood. |
| The university's senior management team commissioned the handcrafted chairs by furniture designer John Makepeace. | |
| In an email seen by the BBC, the university's PR department warned this could cause reputational damage. | In an email seen by the BBC, the university's PR department warned this could cause reputational damage. |
| Professor David Coslett, deputy vice chancellor, said the university hoped to pay for the chairs through "private donations and charitable foundations". | |
| Prof Coslett said Plymouth University's annual graduation week attracted more than 25,000 students and guests and injected about £700,000 into the city's economy. | |
| "The planned commissioning of new graduation furniture is the next stage in the development of our graduation ceremonies," he said. | "The planned commissioning of new graduation furniture is the next stage in the development of our graduation ceremonies," he said. |
| Investigations | Investigations |
| The design and cost of the chairs are yet to be confirmed, but sources have told the BBC the project is due to cost more than £150,000. | The design and cost of the chairs are yet to be confirmed, but sources have told the BBC the project is due to cost more than £150,000. |
| The news comes as the university undergoes separate investigations into the conduct of chairman William Taylor, and vice chancellor Wendy Purcell. | The news comes as the university undergoes separate investigations into the conduct of chairman William Taylor, and vice chancellor Wendy Purcell. |
| Mr Taylor, a retired judge, has stood aside after claims of sexual harassment were made by a number of women and students. | Mr Taylor, a retired judge, has stood aside after claims of sexual harassment were made by a number of women and students. |
| The claims were submitted by Prof Purcell, who is currently suspended while a separate investigation is held into her conduct. | The claims were submitted by Prof Purcell, who is currently suspended while a separate investigation is held into her conduct. |
| The university is yet to reveal the reason for her suspension. | The university is yet to reveal the reason for her suspension. |