We would like people to write their own personal letters of support, but we understand that it might be useful to offer advice and suggestions on how to go about it.
Your letter will have most impact if it includes the following points:
* why you think Classics should be kept at Leeds
* what you think the consequences of closing Classics at Leeds would be
* why you are personally concerned.
Some important facts on which you might draw are that Classics at Leeds:
* is the only remaining Classics department in Yorkshire and Humberside
* offers 9% of the undergraduate places available for the study of Classics in the UK
* admits around 73 single honours and 30 joint honours students for undergraduate degrees each year
* has around 15 students on the MA degree and 11 studying for a PhD
* ranks 8th among UK universities for the number of taught postgraduates per member of academic staff
* ranks 7th among UK universities for the number of research students per member of academic staff.
Who we are and what we offer:
* a busy and research-active group of scholars who speak and publish regularly in Classical forums both nationally and internationally, with strong representation on professional Classical bodies nationwide
* a vibrant research culture, featuring national and international speakers at regular conferences and seminars hosted by the department
* an online journal publishing scholarly articles
* a strong record of attracting research funding for both individual and major collaborative projects
* a large and lively postgraduate community with their own research seminar and forthcoming conference
* a thriving undergraduate curriculum, with an overall satisfaction rating in the National Student Survey consistently above the Leeds University average for the last three years (87% satisfaction in 2009-10)
* a major contribution to a thriving and diverse Faculty of Arts at Leeds
* regular widening participation activities, bringing the benefits of active engagement with the study of Classics to local schools and individuals.
Sending your letter:
In the letter itself please identify the Vice-Chancellor, Professor M.J.P. Arthur, as the addressee (e.g. ‘Dear Professor Arthur’). BUT we ask you to send your letter direct to us at the Department, using the following address:
Classics@Leeds
Department of Classics
University of Leeds
Leeds
W. Yorks
LS2 9JT
This is so that we can keep track of the volume of letters, and choose the right opportunity to present your letter to the Vice-Chancellor.
Thank you for your support.
I went to a local comprehensive school. I decided to study Classical Civilisation on a whim: although my A levels were in English, Geography and Maths, I was enticed by the idea of being able to study an ancient culture in its entirety - without having any prior knowledge of the subject or of the languages. Leeds was one of the few universities that allowed me to take such a course.
ReplyDeleteI have since studied in the States, gained my PhD (in ancient Greek literature) from Cambridge, taught in Bristol, Reading, Nottingham and Christ Church at Oxford. I'm now a Lecturer in Classical Studies at the Open University. I think that it's a fair assumption that this rather ordinary kid from a local comprehensive would NOT have been able to do so much had it not been for the Classics department at Leeds.
At a time when class distinctions are in danger of becoming entrenched by virtue of the economic crisis, universities should resist the pressure to downsize perceived elite subjects like Classics - if they do, then, for sure, they will be the preserve of the elite.
Save Classics at Leeds. It's for everyone.
Hi there,
ReplyDeleteI'm one of the student engagement coordinators here at Leeds Univeristy Union. I heard about this campaign, and can I suggest you contact Mike Gladstone, the Education Officer M.E.Gladstone@luu.leeds.ac.uk, who represents students rights to the University. If you haven't already spoken to him he will be able to help you.
Good Luck!
I have a doctorate in Engineering. This was highly augmented by the fact I was able to study Latin at A Level - after all, the Romans were fantastic engineers. The Romans "built" Britain - Watling Street and the Roman Baths, which still exist today, are a fantastic monument to that fact. I have a 5 year old daughter, who is just starting to understand the huge part Romans, and the Classics, played in making Britain "Great". We need our Classic academics to carry on the work in understanding Britain's history and its impact on today's society - so I urge all to support the motion to Keep Leeds Classic. Amy Quinn Ph.D.
ReplyDeleteI am a lawyer with a degree in classics. I did not study at Leeds, but I do live there. My study of Latin and Greek has massively influenced the way I write, which is, of course, very important indeed in my job. My degree gave me insight into English Literature, philosophy, politics and art. Learning to read Latin and Greek is hard work, but deeply rewarding. I am so very sorry to learn that Leeds is abandoning teaching ancient languages. As a commentator has already observed, it will tend to mean that only the highly privileged will have access to these aspects of our culture. A tragedy.
ReplyDeleteIn Llanelli Girls' Grammar School I got an 'A' in A level Latin, needed for a French degree at Southampton University Spent a year at the Sorbonne, where Latin also was called for. Had done GCE Greek in a year in the lower Sixth, just two of us with Miss Evans in the back of the hall: both got over 90%.
ReplyDeleteLatin and Greek changed my life; the excitement of discovering ideas, drama and philosophy at 16. classics has opened doors socially in Europe and showed me the debt we owe Greece and Rome in western thinking. My daughters did not have acess to classics in their Yorkshire comps helas! For Leeds to abandon classics will be to demote itself from upper echelons of scholarship and reduce the prestige of the university, apart from the consequences of the loss of these subjects to future students.
This post was very useful to me it contains all information that was needed to Clarify all confusions regarding the subject. I express my appreciation to you for this post.
ReplyDeleteBuy Dissertation Online
I have pursued a career in many diverse art areas: Cinema Manager, Photographer, Actor and film maker. What I notice in my work and when I talk to others, is that my Classical Civilisation degree gives me the wisdom and perspective on my work, my art, my lifestyle choices as well as on modern economical, environmental and global peace issues.
ReplyDeleteIn a world that is year by year becoming more unstable and a Britain that is becoming a more American capitalist/money orientated world - I can't think of a better subject to inform me for the big decisions the planet needs to take in the future. After all we are still not learning the lessons we should have learned two thousand years ago.
There were few places offering this subject when I looked over ten years ago. I decided to take it because I wanted to know about the foundations of Europe and was the opportunity to study history, literature and philosophy in one subject - all of which I am passionate about.
The definition of Classics is that it is a red brick subject, one of the originals of you will. That is for a reason. It's substance, it's value, it's importance to the modern world is insurmountable. It is everything, it is what we have done as human beings. It makes you look at yourself, the world around you withe perspective and wisdom. I think it should stay.