Chapel Challenge

In response to ‘How to breathe new life into Cambridge’s chapels’ (19/02/2025)

Dear Varsity,

Your article distorts the purpose of college chapels. Chapels aim to bring the college together, but only for the corporate offering of Divine Service. They have and can be used for secular activities or for interfaith activity, but any non-Christian use is and must remain secondary and ancillary to the raison d’etre of a college chapel, which is to worship the Christian God.

Jeffrey Fong

Girton, Alumnus

Lecture love

In response to ‘Is attending your lectures really worth it? ’ (26/02/2025)

Dear Varsity,

Regarding English lectures: perhaps because the article refers to Trinity and John’s students (a rare sight in lectures; maybe they have additional support with reading or more guidance in supervisions?), the writer is under the illusion that all Englings find lectures unnecessary. Lectures are often helpful and stimulating in giving me essay inspiration, as I’m sure other regular attendees find. The decentralised system does sometimes make lectures infuriating when they’re on last week’s essay topic, but surely attending lectures to add to your supervision reading will only boost your understanding of texts and contexts for exams/dissertations?

Amy Richardson

Lucy Cavendish, English

Lecture lamentation

In response to ‘Is attending your lectures really worth it? ’ (26/02/2025)

Dear Varsity,

I'm a history graduate from the University of Southampton (1976). I remember most lecturers being boring and the efficacy and efficiency of the lecture very low in contributing to my academic development. It was far more effective to read lectures which had been written down. The most effective way of learning for me was in small seminars with a subject specialist in which we could learn and discuss latest developments in our chosen field and read and discuss people's essays on the subjects they had chosen in agreement with the teacher. I learnt a lot by researching and collecting material in my essays and then receiving friendly criticism and comment on them from fellow students and staff who I respected. In retirement I have derived great benefit from "virtual" attendance at online lectures and Zoom meetings of particular relevance, put out to the public on YouTube and Zoom from reputable Universities and by, for example, "The Cathedral Theology Network" organised by Chichester Cathedral.

Seminars, not lectures, any day!

Timothy Jackson

University of Southampton graduate

Architectural digest

In response to ‘Cambridge’s ivory towers and great gates’ (21/02/2025)

Dear Varsity,

I feel like the article really falls flat in what exactly it’s trying to argue – the tagline is that the writer is discussing that “Cambridge’s ancient architecture can feel like it would rather keep some students out than let them in,” but her consensus is the opposite. She successfully explores the paradox between old and new in a polarising space where we would rather keep the status quo than change. But she does very little to explore the negative impacts of this “town and gown divide” riddled in our architecture. The article was well written but misses the mark.

Niamh Cafferty

Clare, Law

Ode to Ovid

In response to ‘Why we should teach Latin in state schools’ (27/02/2025)

Dear Varsity,

I was lucky enough to study Latin at my comprehensive school. This had three advantages, in my view: 1) You learn about grammar, which helps with studying any language. 2) The vocabulary provides a guide to the meaning of many words in modern English and, of course, the Romance languages. 3) If mastered, it gives access to ancient, medieval and other writing in the original text. These days, though, we must also consider the added benefit of learning something about Ancient Roman history. For example, Donald Trump’s rise to power and governing style vs. those of Julius Caesar.

Janet Lesley

Alumna

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