AN article featuring “anti-Scottish and anti-women” stereotypes is at the centre of a row at an ancient Scots university.
The piece, entitled Och Aye The Noo and Au Revoir, was published by The Saint, a student newspaper at St Andrews University.
Its editors have been branded “pathetic wee trolls” by former presiding officer and SNP MSP Tricia Marwick (below).
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She said St Andrews students were “poor souls who failed to get into Oxbridge” and said they “display every prejudice”.
The article likened a “menopausal” Scotland and England to a “middle-aged couple living in the suburbs” with Wales as the “family dog”.
The author said devolution had the countries in “separate bedrooms since 1997”.
Scotland had been turned into the “ultimate Braveheart tribute act (sponsored by Heineken 0.0, naturally)” by Nicola Sturgeon (below). The article further said the First Minister had made “hell a place on Earth”.
Other jokes were made about the rate of drug-related deaths in Glasgow and Scotland’s “deep fried gloom”.
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Stefan Hoggan-Radu, an SNP council candidate for Fife, called the article “disgusting and misogynistic” and called on the university to take action.
The National understands a member of the paper’s staff has resigned over the story.
A spokesperson for St Andrews University said: “The Saint is entirely independent of the University, receives no support either financial or in-kind from us, and is accountable and liable for its own editorial decisions.
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“It has the same rights and responsibilities as any other independent newspaper.”
The Saint published a statement expressing its “regret” over publishing the story, which has since been retracted.
The story remains live on the paper’s website with an editorial note reading: “The Saint recognises the offence this article has caused. The author’s intent was to satirise those who participate in an ill-informed manner in the Scottish independence debate.”
The Saint declined to comment further when approached by The National.
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