Madam, – In articles on the election for the Provostship, Seán Flynn and Pamela Duncan (Education Today, October 12th) stated that “the Trinity selection process is too much of an inside job” and “no one expects an external candidate to take the post”. Even “the odds are firmly against an external appointment”.
Indeed Flynn suggests that an outsider might not even enter the race, because “candidates still have to find 12 nominations, an all but impossible task for an outsider.” The reality is quite different.
I would like to assure all who are interested that the college welcomes distinguished external candidates, as it has in the past, and such people will have no difficulty in securing the support of 12 nominators.
The challenge for each candidate is to convince the electorate that he or she is the best qualified. This is an exacting test for a demanding position.
The stronger and wider the field the better for us all. – Yours, etc,