V-c opts not to meet the parents

Steve Smith, vice-chancellor of Exeter University, was not at last week's graduation ceremonies for chemistry and languages students - the areas hit in last year's departmental cull. Those who had hoped to have a rant about why the university had dropped the subjects were doubtless disappointed. But an Exeter spokesperson insisted Professor Smith was not hiding under his desk. He said Professor Smith stood in for the chancellor, who was sick, for some of the ceremonies, but he is a very busy man.