About Andrew Cusack
Writer, web designer, etc.; born in New York; educated in Argentina, Scotland, and South Africa; now based in London. read more
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Sentenced to life…
The University of St Andrews Students Association has apparently decided to reward my tireless efforts towards the embetterment of my fellow St Andreans with Honorary Life Membership of that body. I find it rather nice and very amusing, not to mention ironic, being as a central part of said tireless efforts has been waging intellectual warfare against the Students Association. I asked those in the know (chiefly my former secretary, Miss Alexandra Jennings, who formerly held positions in the Association) and apparently I’ve been on the list to receive one since second year, except they’re only given to graduating magistrands (that’s fourth-years, ye laymen) so I had to wait until now for it. I assume it is in recognition for my foundation of the Mitre, the first quality student newspaper at the University of St Andrews in some many years. Alas, the Mitre was laid to rest owing to my dissertation work, but it just might be revived by the legendary Jon Burke and some of his crew next year. (Watch this space!). The ever-charming Miss Alexandra Harrod will also receive an Honorary Life Membership, so at least I’ll have someone to chat with at the ceremony next week. I wonder if I get to adoptd H.L.M as postnominals?
A degree
Speaking of postnominals, I’ve finally earned myself some. As of just a few days ago I am now Andrew K. B. Cusack, M.A. (Hons). The Universitas Doctorum Magistrorum et Scholarum Sancti Andreae apud Scotos has seen fit to award me with the title of Magister Artium, or to be more precise a Master of the Arts (Honours, Second Class, Division II). This degree is more commonly referred to as a 2:2, nicknamed a ‘Desmond’ after the former Archbishop of Cape Town, Desmond Tutu. I am very glad, even a little surprised, to be getting my degree on time in the allotted four years, but I must confess I am mildly disappointed with the 2:2. Evelyn Waugh was famously of the opinion that one should get either a First or a Fourth. Fourths have since been abolished on the grounds that they might hurt someone’s feelings, and thus Seconds became 2:1’s, Thirds became 2:2’s, and Fourths became Thirds. Firsts, naturally, remain Firsts, and chiefly go to two categories of persons: 1) Complete bores who do nothing but sit in the library, studying, revising, and doing lots of work, and 2) Interesting and rather clever people who say to themselves “Hmmm… think I’ll go for a first” and do. 2:1’s, then, have rather become the standard degree, awarded to most students. I, as stated, have been awarded the 2:2, which is the St Andrews equivalent of the Gentleman’s C. It shows you were either too busy with either your own individual research outwith the academic curriculum or you just couldn’t be bothered to waste your hours on academic work. I think I’m guilty on both counts. The Third, then, is the lowest of the low, but has a certain cachet about it for that. Certainly a number of stupid people get thirds, but then a number of clever folks do as well, and they have every right to wear it as a badge of honour. At any rate, I’m very happy to have my degree at all, and an M.A. to boot. Beats all those lousy BAs and BScs my camarades back home are receiving. My graduation exercises (a mere formality, which disgusting modernists like Nicholas Vincent neglect to attend) take place the Thursday of next week, and a large delegation of the Clan Cusack are hopping the pond for the event. Rather looking forward to it, actually.
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My very best congratulations, Andrew!
Well done Andrew! Have a great time next week – I’m sure you deserve it.
I think we shall start calling you Desmond. And I hope we will get some nice photos of the graduation and your family posted here next week. Can we count on you for that, Desmond?
Hmmm… don’t think Desmond flies. You could try calling me “His Grace the Archbishop of Cape Town” but it might be socially awkward.
Andrew,
Congratulations, see you at the end of the week. Looking
forward to a fine week of
touring Scotland. You did good.
Uncle Matt
We can’t wait to see you at the end of the week!!! Congratulations! We are so very proud of you and Finn can’t wait to meet his uncle(s)!
Congratulations Andrew, I look forward to seeing you next week.
Congratulations to you, sir!
Way to go Andrew!! Thats what I like to see the 2:2, the nice meaty part of the curve. Not showing off and making others look stupid, and not being a complete waste of space. I know you could have been a first but you wanted to fit in. See you soon. Congrats!
*sigh* Not the Archbishop So-So degree. Those Anglicans just want to ruin the future of the Catholic Church. Though I must say Young So-So does have a certain ring to it. Congratulations and I hope your family has a safe journey.
Congratulations Andrew. We look forward to seeing you at the Oyster Bar.
Many thanks everyone!
Mrs. P, So-So is the monkey sidekick to Peter Potamus, as depicted here.
I loved Peter Potamus!
Hey, are you up for a rollercoaster ride at Playland with Mr. P?
Congratulations Andrew
Wastrel? I think not.
See you this week-end.
I must heartily congratulate you on the one hand, but then on the other, I feel you have slighted me greatly, in that the two things you insulted in that witty writing are 2:1’s and BSc’s. Both of which happen to be what I am acheiving at the moment! I see no other choice but to either change my degree or give up working for a bit and aim for a 2:2, what would you say?
Cousin Jasper’s advice to Charles Ryder in ‘Brideshead Revisited’: “You want either a First or a Fourth. There is no value in anything in between. Time spent on a good second is time thrown away.”
That’s the relevant part. Here’s more, just because it’s funny: “Clothes. Dress as you do in a country house. Never wear a tweed coat and flannel trousers – always a suit. And go to a London tailor; you get better cut and longer credit … Clubs. Join the Carlton now now and the Grid at the beginning of your second year. If you want to run for the Union – and it’s not a bad thing to do – make your reputation outside first, at the Canning or the Chatham, and begin by speaking on the paper .. keep clear of Boar’s Hill … Don’t treat dons like schoolmasters; treat them as you would the vicar at home … Beware of Anglo-Catholics – they’re all sodomites with unpleasant accents.”
Congratulations!
Are you going to post some photos on here?
Congratulations Andrew. Many fine men have graduated from our alma mater with a 2.2, and been all the better for it. I for one would have been disappointed if you had achieved a 2.1.