Doing the write thing

I could not agree more with letters last week that called for Lancaster University to keep a sense of proportion in dealing with the case of an academic who wrote a letter to a student's mother - that is exactly what Lancaster did.

Geraint Johnes had the university's full support in defending his department against criticism that we considered baseless, and he never faced disciplinary action. A standard letter was sent to him to emphasise the need for regard to student confidentiality after the student complained. The press reports have misrepresented the situation.

Fiona Aiken, University secretary, Lancaster University.