St Andrew's College, University of Sydney

St Andrew's College was incorporated by Act of Parliament and received Royal Assent from Queen Victoria on 12 December 1867. The St Andrew's College Act 1998 replaced the St Andrews Incorporation Act 1867. This change meant the Principal may be a member of the laity and the religious affiliation of councillors was broadened to include all Protestants. Adam Thompson became the first Principal of St Andrew's in 1872. He was a graduate of the University of Edinburgh who had come from his Hawick parish to Sydney in 1861. The College Council first met in 1870 and the first 16 students began their studies in 1874, even before the Main building was completed in 1878. Increasing demand for places led to the opening of additions to the College in 1892 (Sulman Wing), and in 1907 and 1914 (Vaucluse extensions). The student population increased to 140 in 1953 when the Reid building was completed, to 200 when the Thyne building was opened in 1966 and again to 272 when the Hanks Building was completed in 2007. Whilst the Theological Hall of the Presbyterian Church in New South Wales, now the Presbyterian Theological Centre, was without home, St Andrew's College allowed its members to live at the College (until it relocated to Burwood in 1983). In 2001, the College Council resolved to admit female undergraduates for the first time, with the first such students taking up residence at the commencement of the 2002 academic year. Its motto Christo, ecclesiae, litteris is Latin for For Christ, for the church, for scholarship. St Andrew's College is home to 336 male and female undergraduate and graduate students and resident Fellows. All of the undergraduate students are members of the Students' Club, and the Junior Common Room. These are governed by an elected body of students, the House Committee. The College is also home to 22 graduate students who are members of the Senior Common Room. They contribute to the College's extensive tutorial program. Residential members of the Senior Common Room are allowed to compete for selection on the College sporting teams. There are also University academics who reside at the College and are members of the Senior Common Room. Heresy Conviction Controversy Scottish born Peter Cameron was appointed Principal of St Andrew's College in 1991, and thus became a minister in the Presbyterian Church of Australia. In 1993 while serving as Principal, Cameron was convicted by the Presbyterian Church of Australia of Heresy. He was charged for disagreeing with the first chapter of the Westminster Confession of Faith (which as a minister of the Presbyterian Church of Australia, he was required "firmly and constantly to adhere thereto and to the utmost of [his] power to maintain and defend") by questioning the writings of Paul in the New Testament. The charge related to a sermon that he preached on 2 March 1992 called 'The Place of Women in the Church' to 300 members of a Presbyterian women's organisation. In the sermon, Cameron supported the ordination of women to the ministry, criticised the Church's hard line on homosexuality, and attacked fundamentalist Christianity in general (Jensen, nd) (de Maria, 1999) Modern Controversies The college, along with other University of Sydney colleges, has encountered a reasonable amount of criticism in recent years over student behavior and culture. Hazing has been a major target of media allegations. Alcoholism, sexism, and racist sentiments as well as a general attitude of entitlement have all been said to be part of the college's culture. In response to these allegations, The college responded to the Broderick Report with a cultural renewal plan (2018-2019), focusing in particular on hazing, alcohol misuse, sexual misconduct, and harassment. Despite this, there have been allegations that many of the same problems continue to exist at St Andrews. In May 2020 graffiti stating "nothing has changed" and "end rape on campus" appeared on the walls of the college in response to continued reports of hazing, sexism, and white nationalism. The college lambasted the defacement of heritage buildings, though acknowledged that "there is nothing unfair about the view that there is more work to be done and new issues to be investigated". In 2021 there were continued media accusations, with claims that the college featured an environment of privilege in which students were partying and disrespecting rules throughout the July COVID-19 lockdown. The student head of college reportedly called the inability to travel between home and college at will throughout the lockdown "stupid", stating that they would attempt to bypass the restrictions. == Buildings ==