WE read with amused concern your article "UMIST joins NUS quitters" (THES, August 21). Not only did it demonstrate a total inability to understand why UMIST has taken the sensible decision to disaffiliate from the National Union of Students, it also forgot Scotland. Our institutions are far apart, but ignoring St Andrews, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee does seem to be quite an oversight.
Our institutions train officers, provide services and represent students as well, if not better, than any NUS affiliate for years. We commend UMIST Students' Association for realising that Pounds ,000 is a lot to pay for poor services and indifferent representation.
The NUS is not only bad value for money, it is frequently detrimental to students' interests, as its collapse over tuition fees and grants shows. We would encourage institutions to disaffiliate: doing so will save them money, increase their representational muscle and improve the range of services they can offer.
Nick Bibby, President, St Andrews University Students' Association.
Ed Beal, President, Dundee University Students' Association.
Ewan Lamont, President, Glasgow SRC.
John Fellows, President, Edinburgh University Students' Association