Editing University of Glasgow (section)

==Student life==
Unlike other universities in Scotland, Glasgow does not have a single students' association; instead, there exist a number of bodies concerned with the representation, welfare, and entertainment of its students. Due to the university's retention of its separate male and female students' unions, which since 1980 have admitted both sexes as full members, there are two independent students' unions, as well as a sports association and the students' representative council. None of these are affiliated to the [[National Union of Students (United Kingdom)|National Union of Students]]: membership has been rejected on a number of occasions, most recently in November 2006, on both economic and political grounds. A student-run "No to NUS" campaign won a campuswide referendum with more than 90% of the vote.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.glasgowstudent.net/files/nus_motion_111006.pdf |title=Microsoft Word – Glasgow University SRC Council Motion.doc |access-date=22 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728092723/http://www.glasgowstudent.net/files/nus_motion_111006.pdf |archive-date=28 July 2011 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>

In common with the other [[ancient universities of Scotland]], students at Glasgow also elect a [[#Rector|Rector]].

The university has an eclectic body of clubs and societies, including sports teams, political and religious groups, and [[role-playing game|gaming]] societies.

===Students' Representative Council===
[[Glasgow University Students' Representative Council]] is the legal representative body for students, as recognized by the [[Universities (Scotland) Act 1889]]. The SRC is responsible for representing students' interests to the management of the university, to [[Local government in Scotland|local]] and [[UK Government|national]] government, and for health and welfare issues. Under the Universities (Scotland) Acts, all students of the university automatically become members of the SRC; however, they are entitled to opt-out of this. Members of the SRC sit on various committees throughout the university, from the departmental level to the Senate and Court.

The SRC organizes Media Week, RAG (Raising And Giving) Week, and Welfare Week, as well as funding some 130 [[Student society|clubs and societies]].

===Unions===

{{Main|Glasgow University Union|Queen Margaret Union}}
[[File:Wfm glasgow university union.jpg|thumb|right|The Glasgow University Union's building at No. 32 University Avenue]]
In addition to the Students' Representative Council, students are commonly members of one of the university's two [[students' union]]s, the Glasgow University Union (GUU) and the Queen Margaret Union (QMU).<ref>[http://www.gla.ac.uk/publications/factsandfigures/studentorganisations.html University of Glasgow – Facts and Figures 2005 – Student organisations and activities]. Retrieved 22 April 2006  {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070312212400/http://www.gla.ac.uk/publications/factsandfigures/studentorganisations.html |date=12 March 2007 }}</ref> Unlike many other student unions in the UK, membership to either GUU or QMU is not automatic and students must apply, for free, to become a member of either. Students are also permitted to be a member of both. These are largely social and cultural institutions, providing their members with facilities for debating, dining, recreation, socializing, and drinking, and both have a number of meeting rooms available for rental to members. Postgraduate students, mature students and staff were previously able to join the [[Free Hetherington|Hetherington Research Club]];<ref>[http://researchclub.gla.ac.uk Hetherington Research Club] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060422231636/http://researchclub.gla.ac.uk/ |date=22 April 2006 }}. Retrieved 2 November 2006.</ref> however, large debts led to the club being closed in February 2010.<ref>{{cite web|title=Scotland's only postgraduate club closes down|url=http://www.glasgowguardian.co.uk/news/scotlands-only-postgraduate-club-closes-down/|work=[[Glasgow University Guardian]]|date=22 February 2010|access-date=21 March 2010|archive-date=28 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100228084407/http://www.glasgowguardian.co.uk/news/scotlands-only-postgraduate-club-closes-down/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=35 jobs axed as cash-struck university club shuts down |url=http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/editor-s-picks-ignore/35-jobs-axed-as-cash-struck-university-club-shuts-down-1.1008975 |work=[[Evening Times]] |date=24 February 2010 |access-date=21 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130501220440/http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/editor-s-picks-ignore/35-jobs-axed-as-cash-struck-university-club-shuts-down-1.1008975 |archive-date=1 May 2013 }}</ref> However, in February 2011, students gained access to the old HRC building, situated at 13 University Gardens (Hetherington House) and "reopened" it as the [[Free Hetherington]], a social centre for learning and lectures, as well as protesting the shutting down of the club. Attempts to evict this occupation resulted in complaints of heavy-handed policing and much controversy on campus.<ref>{{cite news|title=Glasgow University eviction of students 'heavy handed'|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-12819114|access-date=31 March 2011|work=BBC News|date=22 March 2011|archive-date=22 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110322190907/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-12819114|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-14866868 |title=Inquiry condemns Glasgow University sit-in eviction |work=BBC News |date=10 September 2011 |access-date=16 November 2014 |archive-date=20 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180820055500/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-14866868 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The separate unions exist due to the university's previous male-only status; the GUU was founded before the admission of women, while the QMU was originally the union of [[Queen Margaret College (Glasgow)|Queen Margaret College]], a women-only college which merged with the university in 1892. Their continued separate existence is due largely to their individual atmospheres. The GUU's focus is mainly towards people involved in sports and debates (as among its founders were the [[Glasgow University Sports Association|Athletic Association]] and [[Glasgow University Dialectic Society|Dialectic Society]]), the QMU is one of Glasgow's music venues, and has played host to [[Nirvana (band)|Nirvana]], [[Red Hot Chili Peppers (band)|Red Hot Chili Peppers]], [[Biffy Clyro]] and [[Franz Ferdinand (band)|Franz Ferdinand]].

In 1955, the GUU won the [[John Smith Memorial Mace|Observer Mace]], now the [[John Smith (Labour Party leader)|John Smith]] Memorial Mace, named after the deceased GUU debater and former leader of the British Labour Party. The GUU has since won the mace debating championship fourteen more times, more than any other university. The GUU has also won the [[World Universities Debating Championships]] five times, more than any other university or club in the series' history.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://flynn.debating.net/wudcfin.htm | title = World Debate Website | access-date = 22 October 2008 | last = Flynn | first = Colm | year = 2006 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120731131540/http://flynn.debating.net/wudcfin.htm | archive-date = 31 July 2012 | url-status = dead | df = dmy-all }}</ref>

===Sports association===
Sporting affairs are regulated by the [[Glasgow University Sports Association]] (GUSA) (previously the Glasgow University Athletics Club) which works closely with the Sport and Recreation Service. There are a large number of varied clubs, including Squash, Gaelic Football, Basketball, Cycling, Football, Hockey, Netball, Martial Arts and [[Glasgow University Boat Club|Rowing]], who regularly compete in BUCS competitions. Students who join one of the sports clubs affiliated with the university must also join GUSA. However, there are also regular classes and drop-in sessions for various sports which are non-competitive and available to all university gym members.{{Citation needed|date=December 2018}}

===Mature Students' Association===
The community of [[mature student]]s—that is those students aged 21 or over—are served by the Mature Students' Association located at 62 Oakfield Avenue. The MSA aims are to provide all mature students with facilities for recreation and study. Throughout the year, the MSA also organizes social events and peer support for the wide range of subjects studied by the university's mature students.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gla.ac.uk/services/maturestudentsassociation |title=Glasgow University – Mature Student Association |publisher=Gla.ac.uk |access-date=22 January 2011 |archive-date=24 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101024092413/http://www.gla.ac.uk/services/maturestudentsassociation/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Media===
There is an active student media scene at the university, part of, but editorially independent from, the SRC. There is a newspaper, the ''[[Glasgow University Guardian]]''; ''[[Glasgow University Magazine]]''; [[Glasgow University Student Television]]; and [[Subcity Radio]]. In recent years, independent of the SRC, the Queen Margaret Union has published a fortnightly magazine, ''[[Queen Margaret Union#Publications|qmunicate]]'',<ref>[http://www.qmu.org.uk/category/qmunicate QMU.org.uk – Qmunicate] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071112213138/http://www.qmu.org.uk/category/qmunicate |date=12 November 2007 }}. Retrieved 22 April 2006.</ref> and Glasgow University Union has produced the ''G-you'' magazine, formerly known as GUUi.<ref>[http://www.guu.co.uk/index.php?W21ID=170&SK=a469d5186aa3ca7de65bcdb0843760f6 Glasgow University Union website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070313093052/http://www.guu.co.uk/index.php?W21ID=170&SK=a469d5186aa3ca7de65bcdb0843760f6 |date=13 March 2007 }}. Retrieved 22 April 2006.</ref>

===Mountaineering Club===
'''Glasgow University Mountaineering Club''' is an outdoor association whose membership is composed of students and staff.  Its origins are known from the late 1930s when students were already meeting on the [[Arrochar Alps]]; however, the club was officially constituted at the university in March 1941.<ref>Scottish Climbing Clubs: A Survey. II, Scottish Mountaineering Club Journal volume 23, 1942, 299–300.</ref>