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In an era in which the commitment to academic freedom is too often seen as a hindrance to effective managerialism in our universities, it is refreshing to find a vice-chancellor - Peter Knight of the University of Central England - who is prepared to reaffirm the fundamental importance of unhindered scholarly activity ("When the book is worth a sentence", THES, March ).

I trust that if wholly misguided criminal proceedings are taken against this courageous vice-chancellor for defending the university library's right to stock a book about the controversial photographer Robert Mapplethorpe the whole academic profession will rally to his side.

Robert M. Page. Lecturer in social policy and administration. University of Nottingham