Sir, The arrogance of Barney Williams (Boat race hero's night in cells, April 7) is typical of what residents in this city have become used to from some members of the University. Nowhere in your report does Mr Williams offer an apology for the damage he and his friends did to public and private property in the course of their "exuberant celebration".

He "thinks" there is "a part" of him that is concerned that his arrest was a waste of police time and he is respectful of them and grateful to them for saving him from a night in the gutter, but he wishes that it had not happened. I'm sure he wishes he hadn't been arrested, but as he thinks he had "legitimate grounds for celebration" it's hard to believe he thinks the police were right to do it. If I found my bike vandalised in the Broad on the morning of Wednesday, April 5, I'd see whether I had 'legitimate grounds' to sue for criminal damage.

No one is going to argue that Mr Williams' accomplishment at the Boat Race was not worthy of exuberance, but this does not have to involve the sort of mindless vandalism we have begun to expect from teenagers (especially some three days after the event).

The impression one gets from his 'apology' is that he believes he and his friends had the right to damage property and befoul the city in which they have come to study and live, by virtue of winning a race for the university.

He would do well to remember that all the people who come to study at Oxford are the guests of those who make a home here.

Ashley Smith, Grandpont