A chara, - I read with more than usual interest the letter that you published from my distinguished colleague, Dr Sean D. Barrett (October 22nd). It is difficult to fault his analysis of the Thatcherite blight that is at present affecting the British university system, and whose malign results are so evident in the destruction of true academic values at Queen's.
It would be comforting to think that we have escaped such bureaucratic and managerial interference in the pursuit of academic excellence at Trinity, but sadly this cannot be said to have been the case. For a number of years now we have had to endure the iniquitous effects of a contract system in the employment of young scholars that inhibits the open pursuit of truth and encourage servility and petty ambitions. Scholars, and especially young scholars, will not speak out fearlessly unless they are protected by tenure. Otherwise they will be ruthlessly eliminated by the managers whose own careers (for the most part) are not similarly at risk.
Great works of scholarship are not the product of one or two years of dedicated effort, but rather of 20 or 30. Like manuscripts, they are to be weighed and not counted. One seminal article (or even one letter to The Irish Times) can be worth more than several books. All this ought to be obvious, but it is not obvious to managers and accountants. Now it seems that the system of appeal to the visitor (the bulwark of our academic freedoms at Trinity for generations) is under threat from a statutory board that adds arrogance to maladministration. Perhaps you should let your nice Mr Myers loose on these matters too. I for one applaud his courage. - Is mise, Gerald Morgan,
Arts Building, Trinity College, Dublin 2.