9 NOVEMBER 2002, Page 56

From Professor A. Banoyee

Sir: Boris Johnson in his interview with Commissioner Patten perpetuates the common British misconception that American universities 'don't rely on state funding'. In fact, the majority of them do. Though the best universities there are private ones, several state universities — California, Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania to name a few — are of a very high rank. Some of the most eminent Americans in different walks of life graduated from taxfunded state universities.

A. Banedee

Walton-on-Thames, Surrey