Uncle Sam still popular

I read the article on 2006 entry figures ("Ucas data give hope to troubled subjects", October ) with some alarm but also some scepticism. While one cannot argue with raw data that show an apparent drop in the number of entrants for American studies programmes, the statistics themselves do not reveal the full picture.

Recruitment remained buoyant at flagship institutions, modules with American content are pivotal on many courses in English, history, politics, film and media and international relations, while the subject's future development - its postgraduate recruitment - remains healthy and work produced at all levels is vibrant and at the cutting edge.

Graham Thompson
Treasurer, British Association for American Studies