[hankhank]

(Original post by Square)
is hankhank just a well articulated troll?

Not really - my questions and comments were never intended to incite a frivolous debate. By my reasoning, I made a relevant inquiry into the political climate at St. Andrews - something which is of great importance to me, and I hope, to others too.

In so doing, I elicited a couple of off-hand replies, both of which lacked sincerity and forethought. I simply took the time to respond with a few thoughts of my own.

As I understand it, this is the very purpose of internet forums: to provide a medium through which issues of public interest can be debated.

My use of the forum is entirely in-keeping with its intended purpose, and I suggest that your charge of "Troll" was rather "Troll-ish" in and of itself.

[Square]

(Original post by hankhank)
Not really - my questions and comments were never intended to incite a frivolous debate. By my reasoning, I made a relevant inquiry into the political climate at St. Andrews - something which is of great importance to me, and I hope, to others too.

In so doing, I elicited a couple of off-hand replies, both of which lacked sincerity and forethought. I simply took the time to respond with a few thoughts of my own.

As I understand it, this is the very purpose of internet forums: to provide a medium through which issues of public interest can be debated.

My use of the forum is entirely in-keeping with its intended purpose, and I suggest that your charge of "Troll" was rather "Troll-ish" in and of itself.

Well here is the impression I got; you came across pretty arrogant by stating your presumptions about the university (a haven for tory middle class since birth darlings or along the same lines). If you had taken the time to maybe investigate further into the town and the university you would find that your view is very much unfounded, yes there are a lot of people you might consider to be middle-upper class, but why be so hateful towards based entirely on their perceived political views or upbringing? especially if you haven't met any of them?

You seem to come across as the typical left wing 'holier than thou' student, demonising those who disagree with your prejudiced views.

This is why your post attracted so many sarcastic replies.

[hankhank]

(Original post by Square)
Well here is the impression I got; you came across pretty arrogant by stating your presumptions about the university (a haven for tory middle class since birth darlings or along the same lines). If you had taken the time to maybe investigate further into the town and the university you would find that your view is very much unfounded, yes there are a lot of people you might consider to be middle-upper class, but why be so hateful towards based entirely on their perceived political views or upbringing? especially if you haven't met any of them?

You seem to come across as the typical left wing 'holier than thou' student, demonising those who disagree with your prejudiced views.

This is why your post attracted so many sarcastic replies.

Prior to joining the forum, I had no real assumptions (beliefs accepted as true without proof) regarding the typical St. Andrews student. Only after reading what was on the forum [e.g. http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=884970 - "The typical St. Andrews stereotype"] were my presumptions (beliefs based on reasonable evidence) formed.

I have, contrary to your assumption, taken the time to "investigate further into the town and the university", and the anxiety I felt over the results came to form the basis of my first question.

There was little hatred within my previous posts, just a glimpse of the enduring frustration I feel when confronted with the apathy amongst the student body. Is this simply a caricature? Possibly. I too recognise the plurality of political perspectives within our burgeoning middle-classes. Yet it is important to understand that caricatures are founded upon essential truths.

As for your glib assessment of my own political leanings, I refer you to my above frustrations. My interests are situated in the field of critical theory, so whilst others (both on the Left and Right) may be content with solving the problems within our current system, I look to question the very order of the world, and who's interests the power relations of today serve.

I have never demonised those who disagree with me, but have instead worked to uncover their assumptions, the discomfort of which led to the aforementioned sarcastic replies.

[ChemistBoy]

(Original post by Jormungandr)
Yes, this is true. As far as I know, we left in the early 2000's as a result of the NUS's complaints at our giving a degree to Ayatollah Khamenei.

The St Andrews Students Association was never part of the NUS. It has always been part of CHESS, a coalition of mostly Scottish ancient universities. The three major objections to NUS membership have always been the dominance of sixth form colleges in NUS Scotland, the very expensive membership fees and the exclusive purchasing arrangements. Also the degree was awarded to former Iranian president Khatami a rather different person to the Ayatollah you mentioned.

[Jormungandr]

(Original post by ChemistBoy)
The St Andrews Students Association was never part of the NUS. It has always been part of CHESS, a coalition of mostly Scottish ancient universities. The three major objections to NUS membership have always been the dominance of sixth form colleges in NUS Scotland, the very expensive membership fees and the exclusive purchasing arrangements. Also the degree was awarded to former Iranian president Khatami a rather different person to the Ayatollah you mentioned.

I stand very, very corrected. Thank you.

[mwfancy]

(Original post by hankhank)
I'm starting my post-grad studies in September, and am wondering what the presence of the Left is like at St Andrews. Is it, as I suspect, a haven for tory-since-birth middle-class darlings? Are there any active socialist - or even marxist - reading groups or societies?

any info. will be much appreciated.
cheers

Most of my political beliefs would be called left, or more likely radical. I hope that the conservative presence isn't totally vast here, but I can't complain if it is - my own damn fault for taking the offer. But I pretty much hate anybody that identifies with left or right beyond shorthand categorization. As far as when looking at the actual group of people/self identified leftISTS, I have nothing to do with it (yeah, so that doesn't leave many people left to hang out with).

I never wanted to go to a university that was dominantly and self-consciously left or right. I originally thought St A's was a little more right than left, but fairly mixed. I think that may have been wishful thinking now, it may be a lot more consevative than the sort of 60/40 or 70/30 I envisioned?

[hankhank]

(Original post by mwfancy)
Most of my political beliefs would be called left, or more likely radical. I hope that the conservative presence isn't totally vast here, but I can't complain if it is - my own damn fault for taking the offer. But I pretty much hate anybody that identifies with left or right beyond shorthand categorization. As far as when looking at the actual group of people/self identified leftISTS, I have nothing to do with it

I think you're quite right to be uncomfortable with a direct Left/Right dichotomisation. It is, as has long been argued within truly dissident circles, an ideological smokescreen concealing the real distinction: between neo-liberals and ( & neo-conservatives) and communitarians.

But if I created a thread asking "are there any dissident communitarian groups at St Andrews, or do you all uncritically sustain the neo-liberal status quo?" I wouldn't recieved much of a response. It was a crude yet necessary simplification.