Stress rises after PR denial

Wishful thinking was in evidence at De Montfort University after The Times Higher 's exclusive story about the level of stress among its staff. The university's PR man told the Bedfordshire on Sunday newspaper:

"This is a non-story." The statement inflamed lecturers' union Natfhe, which said in a newsletter: "Feedback from members clearly indicates the opposite." And far from putting the local paper off the scent, the comment sparked an opinion piece lambasting the university's complacency and a letter from a DMU staff member insisting that "stress is an all-too-real story".

diary@thes.co.uk