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Many universities built and expanded in the wake of the Robbins report (1963) are now feeling the strain. Of the five lifts that greet the entrant to King's College London from The Strand, none is working. For most of the past year only one or, on occasions, two have functioned. There are other lifts that usually (but not consistently) work. But if you are disabled and work on an upper (or lower) floor, don't count on it.

This is one of the world's best 25 universities. By the start of next term, there will probably be some improvement to cater for the thousands of students enrolled here. But certainly not the functioning of all five lifts. King's is not alone in facing this problem: as colleges and universities throw open their doors to MA students from all over the globe, I trust they will have checked the hinges.

David Nokes, Professor of English, King's College London.