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As THES readers will have noted from the recent listing of top-ranking institutions in 70 subjects in the UK, Thames Valley University was one of the three jointly top-rated departments of linguistics and the only one of the three with a strong orientation towards applied linguistics.

In the rationalisation of TVU in the wake of the university's well-publicised mismanagement, this centre for internationally acclaimed research, scholarship and professional outreach is threatened with closure. On behalf of the three organisations we represent, we protest in the strongest terms against this closure. We urge fellow linguists to join us in our protest.

Jill Bourne

President, British Association for Applied Linguistics

Patsy Lightbown

President, American Association for Applied Linguistics

Chris Candlin

President, International Association of Applied Linguistics