Today’s letters to The Courier.
Sir, It would be wrong to make a case for merging Abertay and Dundee universities simply because one body had some temporary problems at senior management level (John J. Marshall, September 28).
It would be equally wrong to take forward the merger on the basis of a hurried analysis and communication from the Scottish Funding Council.
Neither of these two points should blind us to the prospect of a new, more accessible, innovative and vigorous university.
Any merger proposal always creates anxiety and suspicion. People are not just worried about job security, relocation and, in this case, a possible dilution of degree quality and variety.
Yet one of the problems in Scotland’s public sector is the plethora of public bodies (sometimes striving for the same thing) and the public perception of duplication and waste.
Does anyone really believe that it is not possible to streamline the management and organisation of both universities?
Does anyone really doubt that, with good planning, the best facilities from both bodies can be maintained but managed in a way that does not constantly reinvent the wheel?
Can a new university help maintain access to students from low-income backgrounds and yet still be path-breaking in terms of teaching quality, research and international reputation?
These are the relevant questions. They should not be obscured by the way this matter has been handled by government and the funding council.
Bob Taylor.24 Shiel Court,Glenrothes.
Heavy price of Abertay rows
Sir, Having read J. J. Marshall’s column (September 28), I must take exception to his suggestion that Abertay University somehow deserves to be wiped out as an independent educational establishment because of the events within court earlier this year.
Unfortunately, the only people who will suffer from the result of a merger or ”takeover” are the staff and students of the university who had nothing to do with these earlier court decisions.
I would suggest, however, that there does appear to be some form of vendetta within the corridors of power at Holyrood to ”get at” the perpetrators of the court fiasco.
George Fyfe.9 Tayview Road,Liff.
Inconsistent about free speech
Sir, Dr David Flynn (September 27) needs to develop his argument.
He says he believes in freedom of speech, agrees that it is a right, yet insists the public has the right to be protected from those who use this right to stir up hatred for extremist ends. This is true, and is the reason we have laws which are anti-racist and anti-sectarian, among others.
His original letter refers to ”people arrested in Birmingham on suspicion of terrorism … convictions in Manchester for persons recruiting for al Qaida and … the protest held by an Islamic group at the United States Embassy on September 11.”
The first two of these groupings have been or are being dealt with by the legal system. The third he describes as immoral, abhorrent and disgusting.
While it may have been all of these things (although it may also have been a reminder to us that the repercussions were an illegal war and the deaths of many thousands of Iraqis), in the absence of arrests it would seem that nothing illegal took place.
So Dr Flynn and like-minded others were offended. This may be understandable and regrettable, but does not confer a higher level of right and does not allow him to insist on the loss of another’s right to freedom of speech.
But that is not all that Dr Flynn proposes. He asked why the government allow such people to live here, and suggests that they be removed. No doubt among such people there will be Britons: Moslem, white, Arab, Asian, and non-nationals. Non-nationals can already be deported if they break the law, so I wonder which British nationals Dr Flynn believes should be deported.
Steve Dron.Muirfield Crescent,Dundee.
Protecting vital landscape
Sir, In response to Mr Bowles (September 27) may I reassure him that the Association for the Protection of Rural Scotland has existed since 1926.
It works to protect and enhance Scotland’s rural landscapes and to promote effective planning.
We are assisting those who are opposing inappropriate developments in Courier country.
Our membership is open to all at ruralscotland.btck.co.uk/JoinUs.
John Mayhew.Director, APRS,483 Lawnmarket,Edinburgh.
Get involved: to have your say on these or any other topics, email your letter to letters@thecourier.co.uk or send to Letters Editor, The Courier, 80 Kingsway East, Dundee DD4 8SL.