3.5 for you, 5.6 for me

Readers have let the eye-opening story on vice-chancellors' average 4.9 per cent pay rises pass without comment ("Uni boss's pay tops Pounds 250,000", THES, January 28).

It goes without saying that vice-chancellors should be profoundly ashamed of themselves for taking a higher percentage rise than their staff to whose pay claim most of them reacted in so weasel a fashion. May I make a point of expressing my special disgust at the disgraceful hypocrisy of Howard Newby, chair of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals, who campaigned vigorously against a pay rise of any more than 3.5 per cent for university staff but has taken a rise of 5.6 per cent for himself - to bring his salary to Pounds 114,000.

Howard Moss President, Association of University Teachers, Swansea