Sir : Mr Rupert Jackson's delight (Letters, 7 June) in
his own undergraduate verbosity is rather charming. Unfortunately, the ability to wax eloquent seems to have been divor- ced from the ability to exercise a little reason and commonsense.
'Co-education will not radically affect student morality,' he informs us. To put temptation in the way of those young men and women aged between eighteen and twenty-five whose thoughts naturally turn to activities non-academic, is not, according to Mr Jackson, going to affect their extra- marital sexual behaviour. If he really be- lieves this, I can only conclude that Mr Jackson's ivory tower must be more sub- stantially fortified against the intrusions of the real world than mine.
The question of choice for the prospective university entrant (presumably as to whether or not he or she wishes to have an under- graduate sexual partner ready at hand day and night) is scarcely more plausible. For sixth=formers can already go to co-residen- tial universities if they so wish, without forcing the ancient centres of learning to abandon the tradition of centuries to satisfy the latest whim of the 'permissive society'. If Mr Jackson dislikes Cambridge as it is he should go elsewhere.
P. A. Bown
69 Liberty Road, Glenfield, Leicestershire This correspondence is now closed—Editor,
SPECTATOR.
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