Classic mistake

The closure of the school of classics and ancient history at Queen's University, Belfast, will deny the Northern Irish the chance to study at home, which is important for those from poor backgrounds.

The decision betrays the heritage that many of us embrace, just as it denies students the opportunity to study subjects at the heart of the European cultural tradition. How this enriches the learning experience at Queen's or makes it a university that pretends to "excellence" is beyond us.

David Sourfield, Kieran McGroaty, Mark Humphries, Michael Clarke and Cordon Campbell
Classics lecturers
National University of Ireland, Maynooth