Edward ‘Teddy’ Woodhouse
Radford, VA
Ma(hons) IR
Current DoRep
‘Teddy just sounds cuddlier‘ is one of the first things I have ever heard DoRep Woodhouse say. It wasn’t out of context, I did ask what Teddy was short for–turns out it’s Edward, I did not see that coming. Also, there were too many Ed’s in his first year class… but this caveat is less adorable.
Teddy describes himself as a typical North American stereotype: an IR student. ‘It’s kind of depressing really, out of five Sabbs [Sabbatical officers], three of us come from North America, and all three of us did IR.‘ St Andrews is truly an institution of great traditions, and I’m sure their dinner parties are intellectually stimulating as well!
The path towards matriculation was relatively organic for Teddy. He attended a ‘Scottish studies’ summer program at the University, ‘basically it was an excuse to come to Scotland for a month, with the odd lecture…I fell in love with the place and now I’m here!’ Over the last four and a bit years, his love affair remains strong, though it has evolved. ‘If you asked my in second year what my favorite thing was, I’d say the close-knit community…just big enough that you can always meet someone new, but at the same time you know enough people to feel a part of the community… Now, the thing I value most is how the very international city–woah’, he stops himself seriously, ‘you can’t call it a city. Ever.’ With a laugh he continues, ‘… it forces you to broaden your horizons. Growing up, southwest Virginia was my world, then in Connecticut it was the east coast… then the atlantic…gradually I learned more about other cultures…I found the confidence to know that I can do whatever I want anywhere in the world.’
Though he might disagree, confidence doesn’t seem to be a thing that this laid back Rep has to worry about, as he left home at 15 to attend a boarding school 600 miles away from home at Choate in Connecticut. ‘It’s very similar to St Andrews in its independent streak. The people that go to Choate and St Andrews are very independent.’ Choate taught him the importance of a ‘balanced extra-curricular life’, as Teddy puts it. So when he came to St Andrews he made sure to have one volunteering activity, one activity he loved and one sport- ‘nothing that was crazy athletic, because this [pointing to his body] doesn’t run. Ever…unless nachos are going on sale.’ He chose Lifesaving as his sport, and stuck with it all four years. He brilliantly summed up what I’m sure you’re all thinking, ‘the British have somehow created a competitive sport out of it?!’ He was also involved in Star Radio, and fondly remembers a hard hitting expose on the best nachos in town, ‘we actually assembled. Lets not joke: color coded rings, secret handshakes, top secret stuff…’ To no one’s surprise, the Whey Pat emerged victorious. He also served as a class rep in Film Studies and IR.
Despite having been away from home for almost ten years, Teddy stays in close contact with his family and Skype’s them weekly. Like many international students he faces the awkward roots-and-wings dilemma, ‘there are things I always miss about the States, and when I go to the States, there are things I miss about the UK. It’s weird to be in this middle place…’ A bitter-sweet and very common St Andrean problem.
It became apparent early on that Teddy is much more comfortable talking about his role as an elected official rather than his personal life. This has nothing to do with the top secret nature of his after hours activities–well, it might, I’m not sure– but more to do with his incredible involvement and dedication to the union. ‘…You go to bed thinking about the Union and you wake up thinking about the Union… it shows how much we care, but it’s also really exhausting!’ Teddy is so dedicated, he was prepared to Race2 Berlin this year if 2,000 students voted in class elections. The voter turnout was admirable but unfortunately fell just short. ‘I did Race2 Paris in my first year… I loved it, and I wouldn’t trade the memories for anything, but I’m not sure I’d want to do it again!’
Life as a Sabb has the potential to be quite lonely, but luckily for Teddy this years Sabbs knew each other before elections. ‘Once we were elected we hung out on a regular basis…we would book out library study rooms before exams… and take really frequent–like every 30 minutes–breaks to say “Oo, oo!! I want to do this in the Union!” Or, “I want to do that!” Just bubbling with enthusiasm.’ He stresses that this passion hasn’t ebbed as they learn more about their roles and the reality of Union life. One of the things that he has learned is it isn’t practical to have a weekly bouncy castle in Venue 1. My faith was shattered upon hearing this apocalyptic revelation…alas, we shall all persevere in spite of these great obstacles. Aien aristeuein!
The life of a Sabb is certainly hectic, ‘we’re required to work a minimum of four hours a day, but that’s a joke. We work much closer to 10.’ Teddy’s role is known as the ‘meeting Sabb’, as he’s constantly running around talking with members of the University about teaching, learning and the student experience. He explains that his main function is to cover education, well being, equal opportunities and democracy, though education takes up about 75% of his time. He also serves as the lead student representative of the University’s Learning and Teaching Committee (LTC), working along side the Post Grad. Rep, Directors of Teachings, Deans, and the Proctor. ‘When questions like, “what are the library priorities for students this year?” come up, that’s where I come in.’ Teddy’s position is the top of a representative pyramid consisting of class reps, and school presidents, allowing him to get different levels of information from all over the University and pass it along. ‘DoRep was far and away the only position I was qualified for,’ he says pseudo-seriously. ‘I was never on committee councils, so I couldn’t be Kelsey (DoSDA); I can’t stay up past midnight, so I couldn’t be Dan (DoES) and the things required to be the President are skills I just don’t have.’ Knowing one’s strengths are important.
When asked how Teddy spends his free time, he struggles for answers. ‘Sleeping, trashy TV, nachos…what else do I do? Do I do anything to make my life worth while!?’ He asks with the slightest hint of fear. ‘Lets say I go to the Bop, go crazy every night–I don’t drink, but say I’m drunk every night…and I moonlight as a DJ in Dundee- Fat Sam’s.’ Teddy’s (actual) scene is laid back: he likes nachos, friends, TV (he preordered season two of Borgin- a Danish political drama- because he couldn’t wait!) and board games. As a student, he liked to take in films at Dundee Contemporary Arts, ‘they get amazing, interesting films you won’t get in St Andrews… clearly my inner film student is still there, lurking.’ When I pause to think of my ‘Rapid Fire’ questions he exclaims, ‘Oh God! I’m so boring you have no more questions!’ before laughing again. There’s a quiet confidence behind his jokes– he knows he doesn’t need to go out every night to feel cool. And everyone knows Scrabble is where the party is at!
Unfortunately for you hopefuls out there this DoRep is taken! He says his favorite part of being in a relationship is having someone to eat nachos with, ‘dream date is going to a movie and eating a bowl of nachos…it’s less embarrassing than doing it by myself!’ but this answer only came after my horror at his first answer of ‘foot rubs.’ He also values a partner that can challenge him and help him grow into a better person- as long as it doesn’t involve going to the gym. Like past ‘Cutie’, Rosa, Teddy had an un-traumatic coming out. In fact, he basically didn’t come out. ‘I’m incredibly lazy, and I was lazy coming out. Technically, I never ‘came out’ to my parents, but they know Ondrej, they’ve me him…we all know. I’m so lazy I didn’t care about hiding it… I guess I was too lazy to stay in the closet so I just fell right out!’
Rapid Fire
Favorite place for a drink: Whey Pat
Favorite restaurant: Whey Pat for the nachos. Always the nachos. The nights I go to the Whey Pat and ask for a pint of diet coke and a bowl of cheesy nachos and they say ‘sorry, we’re out’ I have tears down my face; uncontrollable fits of- I don’t know, I’m like this… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZ7lI6Ic9cw It’s just brutal. Throwing chairs, flipping out…
Big night out or quiet night in: Quiet night in! Maybe with Bananagrams
Fun Fact: I can think of a fun fact… I swear I can! I’m a national silver medal life saver, does that count? We are the best university team in Scotland. We are also the only University team in Scotland…
Biggest fear: Those awkward situations where you arrive really early or late to a meeting and have to whip out your phone and pretend to be really busy and important. I am also so afraid of people realizing that I have incredibly intense conversations with myself walking down the street. [Enter Chloe Hill, Union Association President] ‘It’s true! He talks to himself all the time! I really don’t think you should publish this, it makes you look really scary. And its just–he doesn’t just chat, he also has these hand gestures and everything!’ [Teddy] So you’ve noticed it? [Chloe] Yeah! Usually I just pretend you’re on the phone and it’s fine, it’s fine.
His last words, ‘Ladies hit me up!… for feedback on the teaching quality of your modules! I’d like to know how it’s going!’ So please, don’t hesitate to contact him at DoRep@st-andrews.ac.uk! Thank you so much to Teddy for taking the time out of his day to talk to us! I wish you many happy bowls of nachos in the future. And thank you Chloe for your entertaining cameo!