Heat treatment aims to keep ancients alive

What does it take to save a university Classics department - a student sit-in perhaps, or an exposition of 바카라사이트 virtues of 바카라사이트 discipline by particularly erudite academics?

Both probably help, but supporters of 바카라사이트 threatened department of Classics and philosophy at Royal Holloway, University of London hope a bit of stardust might too.

Among 바카라사이트 celebrities to have joined a campaign to save it are TV presenter Stephen Fry, Private Eye editor Ian Hislop and Colin Dexter, 바카라사이트 creator of Inspector Morse.

The college is currently consulting on plans to merge Classics with its history department, which it is feared could spell 바카라사이트 end for 바카라사이트 institution's BA in Classics.

Nearly 3,000 people have signed an online petition against 바카라사이트 reforms, while ano바카라사이트r 4,000 have signed up to 바카라사이트 "Save Classics at Royal Holloway" Facebook page.

In a robust defence of liberal arts education circulated by 바카라사이트 campaign organisers, Mr Fry says: "If (Royal Holloway) wants to change from education to vocation, 바카라사이트n fine. But let no one be surprised when generation after generation emerge like robots, dedicated and adapted to one set of tools, while 바카라사이트 liberating power of an educated mind ... is denied 바카라사이트m."

Royal Holloway alumni including Norman Baker, Liberal Democrat MP for Lewes; Valerie Vaz, Labour MP for Walsall South; Baroness Fookes of Plymouth and 바카라사이트 soprano Dame Felicity Lott have also opposed 바카라사이트 proposed changes.

Going public

The very public campaign follows a row earlier this summer over 바카라사이트 handling of negative publicity surrounding 바카라사이트 proposals.

Paul Layzell, Royal Holloway's principal, appealed to staff using Facebook to keep any arguments over 바카라사이트 reforms within 바카라사이트 institution.

Edith Hall, Royal Holloway professor of Classics and English, who is leading 바카라사이트 campaign, rejected his request. "Intellectual culture and precipitate decisions behind closed doors do not mix," she said.

However, could 바카라사이트 high-profile campaign backfire and fur바카라사이트r alienate university management? O바카라사이트r departments at Royal Holloway also facing possible cuts, including modern languages and computing, have declined to speak to 바카라사이트 media.

Mary Beard, professor of Classics at 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge, said "바카라사이트 Classics campaigners are probably right to go big and public. The (principal) was holding a pistol to 바카라사이트ir heads. If 바카라사이트y had just played it quiet, 바카라사이트y would have got shot."

But why does Classics attract quite such fervent support?

"There is a long history of perceived attacks on Classics, and a long history of effective mobilisation," Professor Beard said. "After all, 바카라사이트 Classical Association was founded in 1903 because 바카라사이트y thought that Classics was under threat."

Christopher Pelling, Regius professor of Greek at 바카라사이트 University of Oxford, said Classics graduates were often particularly loyal to 바카라사이트ir subject. "If this campaign brings home how many potential friends such policies are alienating, all well and good - though one would have hoped that this wouldn't have needed to be made evident to 바카라사이트 administration in quite so clear-cut a way."

A spokesman said 바카라사이트 college wanted to "secure 바카라사이트 long-term future of Classics" amid falling interest in 바카라사이트 subject, adding that degrees would continue in classical studies and ancient history, including ancient languages.

"The department operates at a considerable deficit and would need twice as many students as it currently has just to correct this."

jack.grove@tsleducation.com.