With all of this exciting job gossip, perhaps vice-chancellors don't have the time or energy to think about much else. Last week UUK held a meeting to discuss whether the group can survive in its current form - an important strategic issue, one might think. In fact, 12 of the 19 Russell Group heads didn't even bother to attend the meeting, and almost 60 per cent of vice-chancellors were unable to express a firm opinion about which of the three options might be best.