The Saint
Miss St Andrews postponed indefinitely
Jasmine Wheelhouse
St Andrews first Miss St Andrews competition has been postponed by the Students Association, due to it potentially promoting the objectification of women.
The event, due to be held in Venue 1, was set to follow the success of Mr. St Andrews, which took place during RAG week earlier this year, for which participants could either nominate themselves or be nominated by others. A number of halls of residence had already held Miss Hall competitions, and several different societies had put forward nominations for the event. Although the number of entrants is unknown, the event had been well-anticipated by a sizeable section of the student body.
After the initial advertising for the event had been sent out, concerns were raised at the recent Students Association AGM as to why the Association had chosen to back such a controversial event that could be viewed as a beauty pageant.
The event would have consisted of a number of rounds, including a spelling competition, an evening gown round, a talent competition and a round involving wearing an outfit evocative of their time at St Andrews.
In comparison, the Mr St Andrews competition is often comprised of a considerably less civilized sequence of challenges, and usually features copious amounts of whipped cream and bare flesh.
One member of the Students Representative Committee (SRC), who was also going to be a judge of the competition, questioned why Mr. St Andrews should be allowed, if Miss St Andrews is not.
The same member of the SRC objected that the other half of the Students Association (the SSC) had not been consulted, and was going ahead as though it had been backed by both halves of the Association. In controversial issues such like this, both the SRC and the SSC must be consulted.
The event has since been postponed by the Students Association, as, after having received a number of objections by different members of the Association and student body, it has been seen as potentially controversial.
Andrew Keenen, the Students Association President, said, the event will be reviewed early next semester, as will Mr St Andrews.
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