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We are dismayed by the proposal of the University of Glasgow to eliminate German, Czech, Russian, Italian and Polish from its curriculum ("Polyglots plot as Glasgow letter screams foul over axe", 17 February).

Not only are we concerned for our colleagues at Glasgow, we are also gravely disturbed by the irrevocable damage this would do to Glasgow's reputation, to students there and to the future of the humanities and liberal education. In addition, the plan contradicts the House of Lords' stated views that advanced language skills and knowledge of other cultures are vital to the UK economy and its intellectual and cultural life.

Glasgow's reputation would undoubtedly suffer as a result of its being unable to provide students with skills that comparable universities provide, and the UK would be the loser in terms of global competitiveness.

Paul Allen Miller, chair of languages, literatures, and cultures, University of South Carolina; Jacob Blevins, McNeese State University; Ronald Bogue, University of Georgia; Jason Brooks, Penn State University; Jeffrey Di Leo, University of Houston-Victoria; Maria Mabrey, University of South Carolina; Elaine Martin, University of Alabama; Henry Morello, Penn State University; Nichole Simek, Whitman College; Donald Wehrs, Auburn University; Zahi Zalloua, Whitman College