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Principal asserts public debate over Classics proposals ‘will only worsen situation’
Principal Professor Paul Layzell has waded into the discussion on the Facebook group Save Classics at Royal Holloway this morning. The Principal stated that some had misunderstood the College’s proposals which, he says, do not seek to ‘close Classics’.
“Classics has a strong tradition at Royal Holloway, and I believe it plays an important part in the academic portfolio of our institution,” he writes. “It is for this reason that we are currently exploring options to ensure that we can continue to include Classics in our programme of teaching and research. It is our intention to retain it in a form that is sustainable in the long-term.
“I had hoped that we would be able to have those discussions within our community, rather than in the public domain. I am concerned that public debate will only worsen the situation; prospective students could easily misunderstand our proposals to sustain Classics with the incorrect impression that ‘closure’ was imminent. Such an impression would almost certainly result in the failure to attract students, with dire consequences.”
However, a number of notable figures in the Classics world were quick to counter the Principal’s comments. Richard Rawes, a lecturer in Greek at the University of Edinburgh said that “The principal’s feeling that he would prefer discussion to remain within the college is understandable.
“However, perhaps it reveals that he does not understand the significance of Royal Holloway’s Classics department within a broader UK Classics community.”
Bobby Xinyue, a recent graduate from the Classics department stressed the wider ramifications of the College’s actions: “As many before me have already pointed out, I hope Prof. Layzell realises that these proposals have caused concerns internationally and not just within the Classics community.
“In my view, it would be appropriate if the new management of RHUL could do some research again on just how important RHUL Classics is to the academic world. Yes, academic world. I can comfortably say this because I did BA Classics (not Classical Studies) at RHUL, a one-year student exchange with University of Sydney, a Masters in Latin Language and Literature at University of Oxford, and currently, my PhD at UCL.”
Times Higher Education is covering these events and by Monday there will be a forum for discussion for staff and students on www.rhul.ac.uk.
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