St Andrews Radio

Kate Kennedy Statement in Full (Bubble TV Video Below):

The Kate Kennedy Club learnt at 10pm on Monday, 20th February that the SRC passed a motion to form an organisation called the Kate Kennedy Fellowship. This was the first time that the Club had heard of such a plan and we are yet to receive any official communication on behalf of the SRC or University to confirm its existence. This Fellowship would be a new and distinct entity and would be separate from the Kate Kennedy Club, which will continue to exist independently.

The Kate Kennedy Club has existed in its current form since 1926 and has long upheld relations between the town and gown through our charitable work, student events and the Spring Procession. For many years the Procession has enjoyed female participation and in 2003 we created the Kate Kennedy Procession Committee which is open to townsfolk and students of both genders. This move was embraced by the University and has worked well in subsequent years.

The two members who regrettably resigned their membership from the Kate Kennedy Club yesterday evening never brought their proposal to the Club until the decision had already been made to establish this Kate Kennedy Fellowship. We have always sought to engage in dialogue with the University and student body, however both the Principal and the SRC have repeatedly refused our attempts in the past. Even tonight, in the midst of these events, we attempted to speak with the Principal but she refused talks with our Committee.

We have always been open to discussing our membership practices and will continue to consider these proposals within the Club in the future. We look forward to welcoming the town and students to the Kate Kennedy Procession on April 14th and the May Ball on May 6th. We hope that the University will not attempt to prevent us from putting on these special events that the townsfolk and students have enjoyed for over eighty-five years.

Editor's Note: The SRC passed a motion to support the formation of the Kate Kennedy Fellowship, not a motion to form the Fellowship.

The Fellowship announcement is available to listen on demand here.

Bubble TV's footage of Kate Kennedy Club President Thomas Pye: