Sir, - Michael Longley (June 25th) can be assured that Classics remains a foundation for teaching and research at Queen's University.
The university's academic plan, which has been overwhelmingly adopted by Senate and Academic Council, secures the future of ancient history and Byzantine studies. The teaching and study of classical texts in their original language and in translation remains an important feature of academic life at Queen's in these areas. And, in the School of English, the Classic tradition remains an important area of study - from the earliest beginnings of literature through to the present day.
Queen's will no longer offer pathways in Latin and Greek languages at undergraduate level, but purely because there is absolutely no student demand for these subjects. In this, the fault lies not with Queen's but with a school sector that no longer produces a supply of young people who want to study these subjects at Queen's. - Yours, etc.,
Prof GERRY McCORMAC, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Stranmillis Road, Queen's University, Belfast 7.