Gordon Ramsay to run for Rector

[bleh]

Happy to sign a nomination, just say where and when to go.

[exnihilo]

Quite the post, benesq. Quite the post.

[Steveo]

Wouldn't the pastoral side be more within the role of Rectors assessor, to a certain degree?

A good Rector needs a good assessor.

[Al]

Whether or not Gordon Ramsay would make a good Rector, it is hardly fair to state that his candidature would "cheapen" the role. The role of Rector was cheapened a long time ago. Funnily enough, it happened about the same time that students decided that electing someone famous was far better than electing someone who could actually do the job properly. Or even someone who would attempt to do the job properly.

[exnihilo]

If you want to talk about cheapening, look at what Glasgow did recently, elected a Rector who can't leave his own home. Useful.

If you vote for Gordon, and if he wins, you're getting a Rector who knows in great detail what the job entails (because I told him), you're getting a Rector who declined before because of time constraints but now accepts, you're getting a Rector who will come to St Andrews and who will speak out. You're also getting a Rector who is a very determined man and a very successful businessman, who happens to have also acquired a very high public profile. You might even recall that I stood last time because I thought celebrities useless, I haven't changed my mind, and it's not his celebrity that makes me so sure he'll be good, it's his abilities.

[loula]

LIGHTEN UP!

Quoting benesq from 13:46, 24th Sep 2005
Ah, roll on the superficialisation of the post of rector if you will, but don't expect to do it easily. If you really believe that having nothing but a carefully crafted celebrity persona installed as rector will do anything but detract from real issues, then please grow up. Get wise.
An angry man who runs a mean kitchen is not qualified to deal with the pastoral side of the role of rector or with the role of chairing court or with indeed maintaining the function of a "working rector". No matter how much you think a "name" will be effective in standing up for student issues, the man will be drinking, eating and playing golf with Lang et al if he is elected. Ramsay stand up to clever minds and influence the course of a very large institution or rather the number of groups that makes up our University? I know he won't. Don't sell out the position of rector and the students of the university for years to come with a "name". He will make the role superficial as indeed his own attributes are outside of cooking and throwing tantrums. Take yourselves seriously, take the University seriously, but don't take this joke of a candidate than anything other than a purveyor of food.

[hr]

Lions and tigers and bears...Oh my!

[Rosanna]

Whatever. I'm in...sign me up Tobias!

[David Bean]

I agree with Tobias - dismissing a candidate whom someone personally acquainted with both he and the role (Tobias having been a former Rector's Assessor) believes would be good, on the basis that they're a 'mere restaraunteur', smacks of a particularly unhelpful brand of snobbery.

[hr]

I'm your Guardian Angel.

[David]

what about boris! was he not contacted?

[chalk]

As mentioned already, the Rector has a ceremonial role to play and chairs The Court, but it is the Assessor who does all the graft.

Giles Coren would be good, but will he stand?

[Lindsay]

[img]http://www.gaddgedlar.com/cthulu.JPG[/img]

[hr]

Think of me long enough to make a memory...

[Duggeh]

Brilliant photo of orudge.

[hr]

IMAGE:www.macintyre42.plus.com/images/tubular100.jpg
Duggeh: Master Of Cerimonies
[hr]
[s]http://www.macintyre42.plus.com[/s]

[Al]

Quoting chalk from 15:49, 24th Sep 2005
As mentioned already, the Rector has a ceremonial role to play and chairs The Court, but it is the Assessor who does all the graft.

Giles Coren would be good, but will he stand?

Nobody mentioned that but you. Probably because it is wrong.

And is it worth risking another Coren Rectorship?

[Cain]

somebody else championing Giles? Huzzah indeed.

From his restaurant reviews in The Times

There were English strawberries - pale-pink and honey-coloured, not red as those year round rotters from abroad
always are. And so sweet, it was just silly. To eat an out-of-season polytunnel strawberry in lieu of one of these is like screwing a cabin-boy in a ginger wig because you miss your wife.

doubt he'll stand though.

[hr]

I hold an element of surprise

[Eliot Wilson]

Or stand then withdraw, like his sister.

[hr]

Bill and Ted beat the Grim Reaper at Twister

Bill: "You played very well, Death, especially with your totally heavy Death robes."

Death: "Don't patronise me."

[Guest]

Quoting Al from 09:24, 25th Sep 2005
[And is it worth risking another Coren Rectorship?

What happened last time?

[Used to be a registered user]

At least Gordon might take it upon himself to better the far from nutritional hall meals.

[Al]

Quoting from 09:35, 25th Sep 2005

Quoting Al from 09:24, 25th Sep 2005
[And is it worth risking another Coren Rectorship?

What happened last time?

By all accounts, Alan Coren didn't have the greatest attendance record at meetings of Court.

[orudge]

Quoting Duggeh from 01:48, 25th Sep 2005
Brilliant photo of orudge.

Aw

[hr]

http://www.owenrudge.net/
http://standrews.facebook.com/profile.php?id=37103734

[BenEsq]

Quoting David Bean from 19:45, 24th Sep 2005
I agree with Tobias - dismissing a candidate whom someone personally acquainted with both he and the role (Tobias having been a former Rector's Assessor) believes would be good, on the basis that they're a 'mere restaraunteur', smacks of a particularly unhelpful brand of snobbery.

I hardly think that smacks of snobbery Mr Bean, I would argue it is you being arrogant if you beleive that me thinking critically about the merits of a someone who is arrogant themselves as a chef for the role of rector. Mr Bean, what I find particulary unhelpful is people that when in a role are unable to provide the 'bread and butter' or hard graft. Oh, and unlike (it would seem) your KK supporting self, I do not support 'looking down' on anyone.

Quoting loula from 17:13, 24th Sep 2005
LIGHTEN UP!

I can assure you that I appreciate a joke, but not if they're run seriously for an elected position.

Quoting chalk from 15:49, 24th Sep 2005
As mentioned already, the Rector has a ceremonial role to play and chairs The Court, but it is the Assessor who does all the graft.

So it has been, but simply because something has been done for even a notable length of time does not necessarily mean that it is either helpful or subject to change. What harm is there in having both a rector and assesor that is willing to put toil in carrying their task?

Quoting Al from 15:41, 24th Sep 2005
Whether or not Gordon Ramsay would make a good Rector, it is hardly fair to state that his candidature would "cheapen" the role. The role of Rector was cheapened a long time ago. Funnily enough, it happened about the same time that students decided that electing someone famous was far better than electing someone who could actually do the job properly. Or even someone who would attempt to do the job properly.

Students did not decide to elect famous celebrites for rectors in the 1960s, they realised that far more desirable to them would be to have a 'working rector'. I agree that anytime anyone is elected to a position because of name recognition sans credentials the position will be cheapened. Mere student Gordon Brown was perceived to be and was in practice an effective rector for Edinburgh in the 70s not because of his name, but as a result of his being in tune with student issues and being able to channel them effectively.

Quoting exnihilo from 16:54, 24th Sep 2005
If you want to talk about cheapening, look at what Glasgow did recently, elected a Rector who can't leave his own home. Useful.

If you vote for Gordon, and if he wins, you're getting a Rector who knows in great detail what the job entails (because I told him), you're getting a Rector who declined before because of time constraints but now accepts, you're getting a Rector who will come to St Andrews and who will speak out. You're also getting a Rector who is a very determined man and a very successful businessman, who happens to have also acquired a very high public profile. You might even recall that I stood last time because I thought celebrities useless, I haven't changed my mind, and it's not his celebrity that makes me so sure he'll be good, it's his abilities.

Do you believe in progress? Funny concept to generalise really, I always thought. I mean, there are so many interpretations and differing slants to be had as the concept is applied to differing things. Just to clarify what I'm talking about, progress in the wealth of a nation can be at the expense of the progress on environmental issues, for example.

In application to the role of the Rector of our University, do you think it progress to
defer to the opinion of a someone who has not been a student here in quite some time? I mean no disrespect, I'm sure Mr Joss knows a great deal about the role of both rector and assessor - as it was years ago. I also know that many students who are here now have their own new ideas about the roles - how they feel it could be more relevant to them and the issues they have now.

Does Ramsay strike you as the person with abilities like sensitivity, genuine care for the distress of a student or any involvement in lobbying or representation? Run him as someone who 'knows' what he's doing second hand. Run him because you've no one else with a 'name' to run. Run him against someone with well over over twenty years at the top of their game. Run him against someone who'll put student welfare, student concerns at the forefront of the agenda. Run him against someone who will bring competency, effieciency, experience of representation and lobbying people at the highest level. Run him against someone who cares about ethics. Run him against someone who will seriously challenge Lang and his overly business orientated agenda. Run him against someone respected by politicians. Run him against someone who has already chaired more meetings than Ramsay ever will. Run him against someone who actually cares more and has built their reputation on doing so. Run him Mr Joss, run your 'name', and we'll run more than that against him.

[hr]

Lions and tigers and bears...Oh my!