Today’s letters to The Courier.
Sir, As an alternative to it being swallowed up by Dundee University, Abertay could return to its former status, as the country is in dire need of tradesmen and not more graduates with degrees which often lead to unemployment.
Prior to becoming a university, Abertay was an excellent college of technology and its upgrading was largely due to empire-building by members of its staff and no other reason.
Ian M. Malcolm.2 Morton Crescent,St Andrews.
Unrealistic date to complete talks
Sir, Abertay Dundee Association of the University and College Union (ADUCU) cautiously welcomes the assurance given by the First Minister that there will be ”no forced merger” between Dundee and Abertay universities.
However, we are very aware that the minister has also intimated that he ”requires” the two universities to come up with proposals (an agreement), that could still include a merger, to share services and cut costs. We understand from the Scottish Funding Council that this should be completed by the end of the month.
Without further clarification and/or elaboration about what is ”required”, it is difficult to engage with these requests.
ADUCU will be campaigning vigorously to get such a clarification over the next few weeks. We fear merger by the back door.
ADUCU would like to make it clear that we have no problems in sharing our academic provision, as an independent institution, with any other higher of further education institutions in Tayside or Scotland.
But it must be shown that there are sound educational reasons as to why collaboration should go ahead. And the institutions involved (their staff and students) must agree to such collaboration.
Any proposals that are forced will be opposed.
There is still an expectation that there will be agreements on close collaboration between both institutions and at a speed that makes it impossible to consult with staff and students, never mind the wider Dundee interest.
ADUCU fears that this can only lead to a decrease in student numbers across Dundee, redundancies, and wider social and cultural problems for Tayside.
Andrew Samuel.ADUCU,University of Abertay,Bell Street,Dundee.
Dedication to duty vital to nurses
Sir, John Cameron (September 29) should remember that one day he may require the services of those in the nursing profession whom he seeks to denigrate.
Is he saying that doctors, lawyers and teachers are also not really professional people?
As a retired minister of the church, he has obviously never truly understood dedication to duty and obedience to one’s ethics, the prime principles of my (now former) profession and of those others mentioned.
Beth Boylen.40 Fintry Place,Broughty Ferry.
Local apples not on the shelves
Sir, I planned to buy some eating apples in Tesco. I left empty-handed.
Where are all the delicious home grown apples?
All that were on offer at the store were from New Zealand, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Chile and France.
There were broccoli and beans from Kenya.
Surely now that fruit and vegetables are in season and of excellent quality, we should be able to support local producers.
Beth Sherrard.Rhianon,North Corston,By Kettins.
Research can be checked
Sir, Craig Borland (September 24) requests further details of research showing that social outcomes are better for children of married parents than non-married parents.
A source that brings together other sources is ”Stand for the Family”, by Sharon Slator (2010). There is a list with references identifying origins for each point.
There is also a UK study, ”Broken Homes and Battered Children”, by Robert Whelan (1994).
This found that children living with both biological parents who were married experienced significantly lower rates of maltreatment, abuse and neglect than children in other family types.
Daryl Watson.Bingham Terrace,Dundee.
Fish for food, not for sport
Sir, I have read the headline: ”Anglers praised for heeding call to catch and release” (September 24). I have no problem with fish being caught for food, but surely to drag a living creature by a hook in its mouth for sport is barbaric.
Who knows the fear and pain suffered by a fish, just so that an angler can boast to his friends.
Sporting? I don’t think so.
Doreen Dingwell.10 Baldovie Place,Dundee.
Strange spending priorities
Sir, Perhaps a mathematician could explain the Government’s logic in daily borrowing money beyond Midas’s wildest dreams, whilst pouring billions of pounds into wars and foreign aid.
The English playwright John Fletcher wrote: ”Charity and beating begins at home”. At least he got one of them right.
Aptly enough, this quotation is from a play entitled ”Wit without money”.
John R. Murdoch.4 Aldour Gardens,Pitlochry.
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.