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Universities are between a rock and a hard place (“Unis are ‘too focused on money’, says ombudsman”, April 12). They need money to run a huge number of students with high testosterone paying huge fees, and these students expect an effective return on investment. Unis can’t fulfil the desires of stakeholders – staff, students and government with different agendas. Add in international students new to Australia and the Australian university experience, culture, etc, and you have the perfect recipe for disaster. Strangely, unis run courses on conflict, finance, human resources and budget management, but they can’t manage themselves. These students will work in industries and I wonder what they will contribute with their experiences in studies with no faith in their courses. Mukul Desai Hunters Hill
The story about universities prompts the response that we’re all too focused on micro commentary rather than the bigger picture. In case we hadn’t noticed, our civilisation is on a slide. Money focused universities is just a micro view of the max picture. We are so distracted with all the fatuous detail we are deluding ourselves into some sort of mindless lemming march over a cliff. Will someone please wake us out of this completely catatonic silliness? Perhaps that is what the backstory of Trump’s ascendancy is ultimately all about? Where is the planned wellness blueprint towards our future? Addressing the big picture, or is it just too hard? Neville Williams, Darlinghurst
Universities require proper funding if they are to improve our students in under-graduate, graduate or research, and better our country. How is our ombudsman going to do his job if he doesn’t have funding. Let him go without funding and see if he stays the course. Allan Fozzard, St Ives
Absent presence
Sometimes it’s the actual presence in the household of inadequate fathers that can be the problem (“The missing men in manosphere doco”, April 12). Fathers who are there but not there, which in itself gives a seemingly okay picture of happy family roles but in essence makes for a disturbingly dysfunctional role model of what a father and manhood looks like to a child – especially a son yearning for guidance of his place in the family of things. Arguably the absence of a father figure but the presence of a “good” mother or a wise male mentor (these beings do exist) is often better than a father who is never really emotionally present with their child, often exhibiting the role of a gaming focused, depressive and misogynistic male, fuelled by the manosphere. Judy Finch, Taree
Having recently viewed Louis Theroux’s documentary, I read Parnell Palme McGuinness’ analysis of it with interest. For her, the missing fathers of the men who are interviewed are the “key contributor” to what the subjects of the documentary are peddling as masculinity “without having good role models themselves”. This may well be, but the message I took away was a bit different. It seemed clear that for all these influencers’ pronouncements about “exerting control in relationships because that’s what women really want”, these are ideas they themselves don’t actually believe in; they are simply in it for the money (sponsorships through advertising) that this particularly odious notoriety brings. I think all of us, not only Theroux, are uncomfortable “on the sidelines of this world”, where men exploit other men and place women in danger, not because of beliefs in a philosophy about masculinity, but for a buck. Kerrie Wehbe, Blacktown
PCIT benefits
The enormous benefits of the PCIT (Parent-Child Interaction Therapy) program are clear and dynamic (“One-way mirrors, earbuds and an end to meltdowns”, April 12). Incorporated into schools with purpose-built facilities, and including teachers as well as parents and children, the program appears to be turning children’s (and their family’s) lives around. Interestingly, fathers or close male role-models are not specifically mentioned, the necessity for child development, later highlighted by Parnell Palme McGuinness in her analysis of Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere. Further study and program implementation is essential across the state. Janice Creenaune, Austinmer
Bankrolling bias
The double standard from One Nation is hard to miss (“Byelection candidates clash over Facebook post”, April 12). Apparently it’s fine for them to be bankrolled by Gina Rinehart, but not for Michelle Milthorpe, an independent candidate in Farrer, to have support from grassroots group Climate200. It’s a bit rich. Amy Hiller, Kew (Vic)
Naming rights
I was fortunate to become a grandmother in my early 50s and couldn’t wait to be given a traditional name by my darling granddaughter (“No more nanna: Grandparents choose their own monikers”, April 12). I wanted to emulate and carry on the heritage of my own precious Grandma. There are plenty of people who can call me fun names, but it’s an exclusive club, of six, who can use this special title. I suggest people need to get over their fear of ageing – it brings so many wonderful experiences, crowned by grandparenthood. Of course, if you’re searching for that name that reflects your youthfulness, Bottoxy or Filly could both be fun. Elisabeth Goodsall, Wahroonga
When I became a grandparent fourteen years ago I too chose not to be called Nanna, the name I chose has become a name used by close members of my family – daughters and their husbands. A very happy CC. Carol Horton, North Sydney
Spud talk
In the 1970s, the food writer and restaurant critic Leo Schofield referred to the ubiquitous foil-wrapped baked potato, typically served with sour cream and chives, as the “dreaded Idaho potato” (“Hot potato! The classic jacket is back”, April 12). From that point on my parents, with tongue in cheek, have always done the same. Lisa Clarke, Watsons Bay
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