Editorial: Freshers' Magazine 2024

As a new dawn breaks and masses of on-the-shoulder red gowns parade through the town, St Andrews welcomes its latest intake of undergraduates: the ‘Class of 2028’. And on your sixth day of Freshers’ Week (yes, really!) you’ve found little old me. Might I introduce myself as St Andrews’ own Miranda Priestley, David — one of The Saint’s Editors-in-Chief. Alas, I am, however, akin to Andy (I really hope you’ve watched The Devil Wears Prada) as this is my inaugural spiel and I’m very much new to this job; and yet to master the art of getting a latte delivered to the office by a member of the Editorial Board.

I should begin by telling you all about The Saint and its revered reputation as a St Andrews institution for the past 27 years, but that all seems a bit boring doesn’t it? As you’ll come to read, us journalists love giving unsolicited advice but newsflash (call me Fiona Bruce) the truth is we’re all just making it up. There is no ‘one key fits all’, and adding to that phrase, you’ll experience many metaphorical doors slamming in your face over the course of the future four years. But the key (I know!) is not to dwell, keep soldiering on because before you know it, you’ll be like me — writing these words upon my final year at St Andrews. And I can only hope that I take my own advice as being both a final-year student and Editor-in-Chief of St Andrews’ flagship newspaper probably won’t always go hand-in-hand. Unequivocally, a “gird your loins'' moment! 

Now, before I head off and let you carry on, I just wanted to write a little bit about The Saint — I know I said I wouldn’t. The past year has been a testing time for this newspaper financially and in March, we were forced to run a fundraiser in order to keep it afloat. But, thankfully due to the generosity of so many people, we are privileged to be in a far better financial situation and have enthusiastically produced the magazine which you hold in your hands. We’re pretty darn good at what we do and while we have awards aplenty to show it, the magic of this newspaper rests in the cogs that keep it going. Whilst me and Riley (who you’ll meet in our first issue) bear the title of Editor-in-Chief, we would be nothing without our amazing team — who you can apply to be a part of! So, every other Thursday from 3 October, please take a copy and support us — but be quick, we’re quite popular these days!

That’s all.

David, 

Editor-in-Chief