Kate Kennedy Club

The Kate Kennedy Club is a private and selective Gentlemen's Club at the University of St Andrews. The Club exists solely to ensure the Survival of the ancient Kate Kennedy Procession.
The Kate Kennedy Procession
The Kate Kennedy Procession traces its roots in lore to the mid fifteenth Century, when the niece of Bishop James Kennedy, the founder of St Salvador's College, would visit her Uncle in the Springtime of each year. The citizens of St Andrews would gather on the day of her arrival to celebrate her youth and beauty. In time, the procession developed into a celebration of the rites of spring.
By the late nineteenth century, the Procession had descended into a decadent and drunken affair organized by students. As a result, the Procession was altogether banned by the University in 1881.
In 1926 two students of University of St Andrews, Donald Kennedy and James Doak, inspired by J. M. Barrie's Rectorial address on "Courage" and with the assistance of Principal Sir James Irvine revived The Kate Kennedy Annual Procession. The Procession was to be organised solely by the Kate Kennedy Club, a stipulation by the University Court and the Principal.
The Club's History
Evidence of The Kate Kennedy Club's existence first appears in the mid-nineteenth century. A written entrance exam dated 1881 still belongs to the Club. However, Principal Shairp banned the Club along with the Procession in 1884, when their activities were considered too debauch and a detriment to St Andrews academic culture.
In February 1926 one or two enthusiasts who had long hankered after a revival, outlined their proposals to the principal and made promises in return for permission to restart the festival of Kate. It was run as a historical progression, though far from completely illustrative of St. Andrews history by reason of lack of funds. Yet it was a beginning and with every year was considerably extended. In 1926, the great problem was to ensure that Kate should never again be liable to banishment, that rules and regulations should clearly define future activities of the Procession.
Currently the most visible highlights of the Club's calendar include the Kate Kennedy Procession, the Kate Kennedy Charity May Ball (the largest student ball in Scotland), the Kate Kennedy Charity Pantomime and the Kate Kennedy Charity Opening Ball. The Club also organises less well-known events, such as a commemoration of the martyrdom of Patrick Hamilton, a torch-lit procession in honour of John Honey and the Silver Arrow Archery Competition, the oldest archery competition in Scotland.
As of April 9 2009, Dr Louise Richardson, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of St Andrews university, declared that the Kate Kennedy Club will no longer be recognised by the university due to its exclusion of students based on gender. The 2009 Procession, however, was put on as planned on 18 April 2009 and widely attended.
Aims
The Kate Kennedy Club exists to preserve the Kate Kennedy Annual Procession and has three aims:
#Maintaining the traditions of the University and town of St Andrews.
#Upholding and improving Town and Gown relations.
#Raising money for local Fife charities.
Membership
Each March, current members select nine first year males, called "Bejants" to invite into the Club. The selection follows two interviews, which first year male undergraduates are invited to study for from the Club's archives. The first interview is relatively casual and refereed to simply as "the Preliminary Interview." Twenty Bejants are then invited to Long Leet, the second round of interviews, which are challenging and unusual in character. The nine "most-promising" Bejants are finally invited to join the Club.
The membership also invites male tertians and magistrands (third and fourth year students of the University of St Andrews) into the club, who they deem to have been exceptional leaders and contributors within the University. Membership to the Club may never exceed sixty, though in recent years the actual number rarely surpasses 35.
Alumni of the Kate Kennedy Club remain members for life.
Club Dress
Members of the Kate Kennedy Club receive their club regalia upon election. Each member is presented with a Club tie, bowtie, and trews. The colours of the Kate Kennedy Club tie are derived from the Crest of Bishop Kennedy; pearl with a red over black strip. Club trews, tartan trousers, are Kennedy Modern.
The Kate Kennedy Club in the Press
"University bodyswerves row", BBC News
*http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/1905346.stm
"St Andrews: Home to the well-heeled student", BBC News
*http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/883457.stm

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