Spelling it out

You have solved our problem of professorships acquired in old and new universities (Whistleblowers, THES, November 19). Your "new" title of professer should apply only to those in "new" universities, while "old" universities continue to use the "old" spelling. The difference in intent would be as carefully signalled as when the Royal Society of London elected Margaret Thatcher a fellow some years ago, under a "new" category of "excellence".

Hugh Torrens Professer, school of earth sciences, University of Keele