Sir, - I feel compelled to continue to express my interest and anxiety about the Queen's University Belfast proposals to dismiss 107 lecturers and to close down four faculties, namely Italian, Hebrew, Statistics and Geology. I consider these proposals unjust and cruel.
In my 40 years' experience in grammar school teaching I have appreciated very much the teaching skills and the human and pastoral interest of the staff of Queen's University for the students that we and the parents sent to them. To us as teachers, and to the parents, the teaching and human interest in the students are much more important qualities than research work which, important as it may be, is of interest to post-graduate people.
We feel very grateful that the staff at QUB have put the intellectual development of their pupils, and their social and human problems as students in first place, and have devoted their time to the young persons passing through the university each year. I am sorry that many lecturers in Queens are now going to be penalised for putting the development and care of the students as their top priorities.
I have grave doubts also about the way in which the research assessment body works. I do not think it is fair or comprehensive; it missed much research work by the 107 lecturers, which is complete and pending publication. I know that there must be many other people in Northern Ireland and elsewhere who are equally concerned about the treatment proposed for the 107 dedicated lecturers.
I suggest that these "Concerned Friends of the Queen's University of Belfast" should get together by sending their names and expressions of interest to some of the 107 lecturers or 125 signatories of the letter of protest August 29th, who have served them and their children well, or to myself or to members of the Senate. I would like these people to speak up and express their views on this very important matter which is indeed a crisis for the very worthy and unique approach to students which the Queen's University has shown over many years. - Yours, etc., Rt Rev Monsignor Denis Faul,
PP Carrickmore, Retired Headmaster, St Patrick's Boys Academy, Dungannon, Carrickmore, Co Tyrone.