Universities bad year
Sir: How rare and refreshing to read so san an article as 'Bad Year for the Universities' by Donald Watt (August 18). All I should like to add is that Professor Eysenck failed in his public duty by refusing to make charges against those who assaulted him at his LSE lecture. He surely weakened the freedom of universities by taking no action.
One is becoming regretfully inured to the outpourings of egregious nonsense poured out by ' high-ups ' in the university world but surely the apotheosis °Much nonsense was reached last week by the reported statement of the ViceChancellor of Birmingham University that "in the interests of more rational and better administration" students should be given an "equal say in the appointment of vice-chancellors." Whatever may be true about his own position, may one ask how he has reached such a general conclusion? Is it claimed that students have either the experience or knowledge that enables them to assess the special qualities required by a successful vice-chancellor (in terms of public relations and administration as well as of contacts with students) or that students should be asked to engage themselves in what one has always understood was the delicate process of confidential soundings that precede the appointments of vicechancellors? Or perhaps it is proposed that in future all such posts should be publicly advertised, with the rider added, "only candidates known to be acceptable to students need apply "?
H. Justin Evans Glebe House, Church Stretton, Salop
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