David Coates currently holds the Worrell Chair in Anglo-American Studies in the Department of Politics & International Affairs at Wake Forest University in North Carolina. He has previously studied, taught and guest-lectured at a series of universities on both sides of the Atlantic, including long and enjoyable spells spent teaching and researching at the universities of York, Leeds and Manchester in the UK. He has never, however, taught at any university remotely similar to the one described in Thighs - at least not yet. But given the hostile public policy towards universities these days, it can only be a matter of time!.