Sir, I read with interest your front page report (June 2) that Brookes University is planning a major building modernisation programme, which may be an admirable aim in itself. However, it strikes me as somewhat insensitive to announce this major new redevelopment at a time when, as reported on page eight, Brookes is threatening to dock 100 per cent pay of lecturers taking part in a national examination boycott.

Perhaps this raises the question of how does one educate students fit to undertake world-class work', to quote Pro Vice Chancellor Prof Raftery? I would have thought it essential to attract and retain excellent staff who already find it difficult to cope with living costs in our dear city'.

A student-centred campus with informal spaces presumably with various cafeterias to increase the University's income is fine, but I wonder whether these spaces will be used for Socratic dialogue which, considering the cuts already imposed on the teaching calendar, might ultimately make formal tuition unnecessary?

Further, should Brookes really compete for international students and students capable of world-class work? In earlier years, Brookes was renowned for its teaching excellence, while still seeking to give an opportunity to those students originating from a more modest background, often first-generation university students. Sadly, these days seem to be over and Brookes may be in danger of following the mantra that presentation is more important than content. As a life-long student of literature I feel compelled to warn against hubris, which precedes a tragic downfall.

H J Hahn, Emeritus Professor, Oxford Brookes University