51³Ô¹Ï

Alan Ryan sensibly suggests that "British academic life has become unviable". On other pages, the School of Oriental and African Studies advertises for a director of a project on endangered languages with "a salary and benefits that are commensurate with a senior academic post that are competitive within higher education", salary negotiable from ?41,500, inclusive of London allowance.

Directly opposite, the University of Lincoln seeks a higher education planning manager, salary circa ?45K, plus relocation.

On the next page, the University of Bristol wants a director of academic affairs with a salary "in excess of ?60,000" and a director of student administration ("c.?45,000").

Are these advertisements and Ryan's column related? I think we should be told.

D. A. Trotter
Department of European languages
University of Wales Aberystwyth