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WHO DOES the Russell Group think it is kidding? (Fees split Russell 17, THES, December 6) Up and down the country over the next few weeks university governing bodies will be asked to establish the authority, if required, to impose a top-up fee for 1998. But the Russell group has stated that it is only beginning to examine the possibilities. This from the same group which has responsibility to maintain quality while claiming that the money is just not there to achieve it.

Where is the national debate about what top-fees will do to our universities? For the past few years the serious debate has focused on various income-contingent systems, but universities will be considering an up-front tuition fee. While the Government and the political parties say wait for Dearing, the universities are putting in place the ability to impose the worst-case scenario on students.

If the Russell institutions opt to establish the authority for these up-front levies then potential applicants and their parents need to be informed, not by the small print in a university prospectus but by a national campaign to let them know that the annual fee will be at least Pounds 1,000 and certainly more in the following years. The universities should be aware that their respective student unions are not prepared to accept such a destructive proposal.

If top-up fees are introduced, including a price to be paid on entry and during study, it will be catastrophic for the whole sector. Entry fees would bring a whole new meaning to the term drop outs, a huge extra burden on students when they can cope with it least and a new screw on the already disadvantaged.

Hugh Sims

University of Manchester Union The Aldwych Group

(The group campaigns against moves towards fees by the Russell Group)