The Saint
Editor's Blog
From the Editors - Going the extra mile?
Posted November 30, 2009
As you may have read in the last issue, this time of year marks a transition in the editorial staff, here at The Saint. As one group of editors steps down to focus on pressing academic matters, so another steps forward to throw their time and effort into the production of a student newspaper.
Since the beginning of the semester, these pages have been full of varied adventures outside the lecture theatre. Whether it is volunteering in Zambia, kayaking around the UK, or planning an assault on Mount Everest there are St Andrews students out there doing all of them.
We at The Saint are all too used to setting time aside for work that won't necessarily result in a degree (though, admittedly, the extent of our physical endeavours usually totals popping across the road to grab a sandwich from Tesco). But we're also aware of the benefits organisation, working in a team and that simple feeling of achievement when we spot someone reading our paper on the street.
Extra-curricular activities can be a strain: editing a newspaper and fulfilling parental duties over the same Raisin Weekend is a complex operation. But with employment opportunities seemingly thinner on the ground than ever, it is increasingly those new skills gained from work done outside the library that might just offer you the edge against the multitudes of other candidates. Just see this week's lead Feature for an example of how gaining something in addition to a degree can open up a literal world of employment possibilities.
This is not to undermine the importance and value of academic qualifications. Indeed, the University itself is increasingly recognising the importance of students contributions to the Students Association, or other societies. The possibility of including such activities on a students report card as they graduate has even been raised.
It is clear, though, that throwing yourself into student activities has become more important than ever, and it is in this spirit we are always looking for new contributors, whether writers, copyeditors or members of our business team.
And then, having achieved something extra from your University career, added a little spice to your CV, and done something you can look back proudly on then perhaps its time to get your teeth into that dissertation too
Gilmour Girl
4 March 2010 - Issue 140
If you werent at FS:X, this probably wont interest you. Even if you were, Im promising nothing. Basically, occasions when I am released from my 4th year cage have to be documented, and FS was one of those occasions. Over the past 4 years events have tended to blend into one DJ-riddled, wrist-banded blur. When the vast majority are held in Kinkell or a marquee, or Kinkell, or a marquee, it makes it kind of hard to stand out. However, the shows are probably my favourite event genre because they do just that. Any event that supplies Jack Wills boxers and condom filled goodie bags is always going to be a winner. I think they call it universal appeal.
It was demonstrated perfectly by the three types (wristbands aside) of FS:X attendees. In decreasing moral order: those that come for the charity (citation needed), those that come for the fashion, and those that come for the after-party.
The charity thing is cute, but I think we all know that its kind of the event-equivalent of celebrity overseas adoption. You cant claim its a selfless act of compassion. Those in need would benefit a lot more if you just gave them money. If you really want to be convincingly ethically superior you should probably be marching up and down with placards outside, not on a champagne campaign inside.
Next, there are those that attend for the fashion. Easily picked out from the crowd by their carefully constructed and often highly questionable statement outfits, or because they spend most of their night posing for cameras that no one ever sees. They are also known as those that think they are going to get scouted/papped at an abandoned paper mill in Guardbridge or ridiculously deluded.
In my experience most people (or most people worth knowing) fall into the final category. This excellent ratio, coupled with the incessant beat of the show soundtrack and free flowing beverages, means that the after-party tends to kick off before the first half has even finished. Or was that just me?
People very quickly become more interested in their drinks and refilling them, than whats happening on the catwalk (disclaimer: this genuinely says very little about the quality of the show, and a lot more about prevalence of alcoholism in our society). Theres just something about having over a 1000 people buzzing in a venue that looks like an air raid shelter in the middle of a construction site. It breeds a desire-to-drink-desire-to-dance atmosphere. There is also a heavy need to take a lot of photos of the models, of your friends pretending to be models, of people who definitely arent your friends, pretending to be models. I somehow managed to take over 300 photos in 5 hours, which equates to approximately 1.1 a minute, which equates to put your camera down. Now.
One thing I wish I hadnt put down was a packet of cigarettes. This would have been much less important if it hadnt been acting as my purse for the evening. The result: loss of a driving licence, a debit card, a matric card, £40 and 19 cigarettes, before we even hit the intermission. At least Id given the Jack Wills condoms to a friend for safekeeping.
I guess when you manage to claw your way out of dissertation depression for a night, you have to take the bad along with the good. And if the good promises to be as good as it was on Saturday then the bad really isnt a problem.
Whistleblower
Posted October 29, 2009
"You've got to hold and give, but do it at the right time, you can be slow or fast, but you must get to the line," so rapped John Barnes in perhaps modern footballs finest hour (or four minutes if you want to be pedantic).
OK, so I might be exaggerating somewhat, but the infamous 'John Barnes rap' - a thirty second or so interlude in New Orders 1990 World Cup song, 'World In Motion' - came to my mind when another John Barnes effort was brought to my attention. Written and released before the 1988 FA Cup final between Liverpool and Wimbledon, the 'Anfield Rap' features a number of the Liverpool squad, including Barnes, Alan Hansen, Steve McMahon and Jan Molby, rapping about the lack of Liverpudlian accents in the team at the time.
With a number of classics, including the Chas and Dave inspired Tottenham 1981 FA Cup song 'Ossie's Dream' and England's 'This Time, We'll Get It Right' for Spain 82, the late seventies to early nineties proved a golden era for footballer-sung-pre-tournament/cup finals football songs.
This is not to say it has all been good of course. A number of footballers were mistakenly willing to try their hand at non-football related songs. Check out Kevin Keegans 1979 'Head Over Heels in Love' and 1987s 'Diamond Lights' by Glenn Hoddle and Chris Waddle - dont get your hopes up.
However, there has been a sad decline in the genre. Few club songs released in the past decade or so have really got the pulse racing and encouraged a trip to HMV (or the iTunes store these days). Manchester Uniteds 1995 single, 'Move Move Move,' just shows an embarrassed squad clearly thinking never again.
Since the late 90's the onus has been on an increasingly professionalised football song market. This move has not been entirely unwelcome, especially when it produced Lightning Seeds classic 'Three Lions on a Shirt' - although perhaps not so big north of the border.
Things quickly went downhill, however. Scotland's official song for World Cup 1998 was 'Del Amitris' rather drab 'Don't Come Home Too Soon'. 'Embraces World At Your Feet' was another single that had fans everywhere dreaming of the days when footballers did these tongue-in-cheek songs so well.
Perhaps the decline in footballer participation is a sad indication of the declining relationship between players and supporters. Will we ever see the likes of the unpretentious and brilliant John Barnes rap again? Sadly, I think not.
All, however, is not lost. With an ever increasing gap between players and fans, in true DIY tradition, it's left to those who make the club what it is to do what the players can't. For proof of this, check out the more than commendable effort by Cardiff City's fans before the 2008 FA Cup Final - 'Do the Ayatollah'. Great football songs are back.
