View source for Glasgow University Students' Representative Council

{{Short description|Students' union in Scotland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2017}}
{{More citations needed|date=July 2010}}
{{Infobox Students Union
| name                       = Glasgow University Students' Representative Council
| image                      = [[File:GUSRC-logo.png|250px|Logo of the Glasgow University Students' Representative Council]]
| motto                      = 
| established                = 9 March 1886
| institution                = [[University of Glasgow]]
| president                  = Pablo Morán Ruiz
| sabbatical officers        = '''VP Education''' <br /> Heri Busquier Cerdán <br /> '''VP Student Activities''' <br /> Angelica Wilson <br /> '''VP Student Support''' <br /> Iris Duane
| location                   = [[Glasgow]], [[Scotland]]
| members                    = c. 38,000
| allialiated                 = [[Coalition of Higher Education Students in Scotland]], [[National Postgraduate Committee]], [[Aldwych Group]]
| free_label                 = Address
| free                       = McIntyre Building, University Avenue, Glasgow G12 8QQ
| homepage                   = [https://www.glasgowstudent.net www.glasgowstudent.net] |
}}

The '''Glasgow University Students' Representative Council''', also known simply as the '''Students' Representative Council''' or by the acronyms '''GUSRC''' and '''SRC''' is a student union at the [[University of Glasgow]]. Unlike at other universities in the United Kingdom, the University of Glasgow operates a unique system, with four separate and independent bodies providing services to the student body. In contrast with the [[Glasgow University Union]], [[Queen Margaret Union]], and [[Glasgow University Sports Association]], which provide social and sporting facilities for their members respectively, the SRC is responsible for representing the views and interests of the student body to the University.

The Students’ Representative Council is recognised as the only representative body at the University under the [[Universities (Scotland) Act 1889]] and subsequent enactments. The other student bodies have limited representation on University Committees to enable the University to support their work, but the SRC is the only representative body and consequently the only student body to hold positions on the [[Ancient university governance in Scotland|University Senate]]	 and [[Ancient university governance in Scotland|University Court]]. Upon enrolment at the University, all students automatically become members of the SRC, although they are entitled to opt-out of this membership.

In addition to its representative function, the Students’ Representative Council runs events for students at the University. These include the University’s [[Student orientation|Freshers’ Week]] (in collaboration with the other student bodies) and its Freshers’ Fair; welfare initiatives; support for 300 clubs and societies; and housing and funding the University's [[Glasgow University Guardian|Glasgow Guardian]] newspaper and other student media.

Originally located in Pearce Lodge, the SRC is now housed in the McIntyre Building on University Avenue.

==History==
The Students’ Representative Council was founded on 9 March 1886. Despite its contemporary independence from the Glasgow University Union, members of the Union founded the SRC in order to lobby the University to fund the creation of a building for the Union they had founded the previous year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.guu.co.uk/about|title = Since 1885}}</ref> In 1890, the University agreed to construct the John McIntyre Building, now the offices of the SRC, for the Glasgow University Union.

Prior to the establishment of the Students’ Representative Council, the only official representation of the student body was carried out through the [[Rector (academia)#Scotland|Rector]] and clubs established to support Rectorial campaigns, such as the Peel Club.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.universitystory.gla.ac.uk/biography/?id=WH1019&type=P|title = University of Glasgow :: Story :: Biography of Sir Robert Peel}}</ref>

In 1932, the Glasgow University Union relocated to its own building at 32 University Avenue, where it remains today, with the John McIntyre Building then housing the all-female Queen Margaret Union. At this time, the SRC was housed in the Pearce Lodge, the former gatehouse of the University's old site on the High Street which had been reassembled at Gilmorehill. After the Queen Margaret Union relocated to its current location in 1969, the SRC’s offices moved into the then-John McIntyre Building. The building was later renamed to simply the McIntyre Building to reflect that John McIntyre’s gift of £5,000 (equal to around £300,000 in 2010<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/currency/results.asp#mid|title=The National Archives - Currency converter: 1270–2017}}</ref>) was donated in memory of his wife Anne.

In February 1982 it banned the ''[[Daily Record (Scotland)|Daily Record]]'' for being sold.<ref>''Daily Record'' 6 February 1982, page 3</ref>

===Notable former officers===
A number of former Students' Representative Council officer bearers have gone on to careers in politics and public service, including:

*[[Jamie Hepburn]], [[Member of the Scottish Parliament]] (Senior Vice-President)
*[[Angela Constance]], [[Member of the Scottish Parliament]] (President, 1991–92)
*[[Alasdair Allan]], [[Member of the Scottish Parliament]] (Senior Vice-President, 1991–92)
*[[Ron Donachie]], actor (President, 1976–77) (as Ronald Porter)
*[[John Lamberton Bell]], minister and hymn-writer, [[Rector of the University of Glasgow|Rector of the University]] (President, 1974–75)
*[[Donald Dewar]], [[First Minister of Scotland]] (Honorary Secretary, 1959–60)
*Sir [[William Kerr Fraser]], [[Civil Service (United Kingdom)|civil servant]], [[Chancellor of the University of Glasgow|Chancellor of the University]] (President, 1951–52)
*[[Robert Gibson, Lord Gibson]], Member of Parliament and Chairman of the [[Scottish Land Court]] (President, 1910–11)
*[[Robert Horne, 1st Viscount Horne of Slamannan|Sir Robert Horne]], [[Chancellor of the Exchequer]] (President, 1892–93)
*[[Liam Fox]], [[Member of Parliament]] (General Representative, 1981–82)
*[[John Nicolson]], [[Member of Parliament]] (General Representative, 1982–83)
*[[Nicola Sturgeon]], [[First Minister of Scotland]] (General Representative)
*[[Alistair Carmichael]], [[Member of Parliament]] (Unknown, 1982–83)
*[[Alberto Costa (British politician)|Alberto Costa]], [[Member of Parliament]] (President, 1995–96)

== Representation ==

The SRC comprises 53 representatives, four of whom are general representatives and two of whom are first-year representatives. Elections to all positions are held annually in the spring, with a secondary election in the autumn to fill any academic or welfare positions left vacant and to elect general and first-year representatives.<ref>{{cite web |title=Elections |url=https://www.glasgowstudent.net/about/elections/ |website=GUSRC |access-date=30 June 2020 |language=en}}</ref> In addition to the elected members, the Presidents of the [[Glasgow University Union]], [[Queen Margaret Union]], and [[Glasgow University Sports Association]] are invited to attend meetings, as is the immediate Past President of the SRC.

The following is the council for the 2024/25 academic year:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.glasgowunisrc.org/representation/council/|title=Council|date=21 September 2024 |website=www.glasgowstudent.net |access-date=21 September 2024}}</ref>
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'''[[Sabbatical Officer]]s'''
* President - Pablo Morán Ruiz
* Vice-President (Education) - Heri Busquier Cerdán
* Vice-President (Student Support) - Iris Duane
* Vice-President (Student Activities) - Angelica Wilson

'''[[University of Glasgow#Faculties|Undergraduate College]] Convenors'''
* Arts - Aimée Storer
* Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences - Pak Lam Su 
* Science and Engineering - Max Thomson
* Social Sciences - Daniz Alasgarova

'''[[Postgraduate]] Convenors'''
* Arts - Yuanyi Zhong
* Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences - Vacant
* Science and Engineering - Vacant
* Social Sciences - Ayush Garg
* Research - Kieran Roberts (Engineering & MVLS) and Misha Campello Gramelius (Arts & Social Sciences)

'''General and First Year Representatives'''

* General Representative - Sarah Millar
* General Representative - Eoghan Morris
* General Representative - Mariama Sowe
* General Representative - Sachin Talkokulwar
* First Year Representative - Alina Chauhan
* First Year Representative - Leo Wong

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'''Welfare Officers'''
* [[LGBT|LGBTQ+]] Officer - Naomi Gillies
* [[Minority group|Race Equality]] Officer - Leen Alhusaini
* Gender Equality Officer - Natasha Pooley
* Age Equality Officer - Suzanne Blackburn
* Disability Equality Officer - Nicola Smith
* [[International student|International Students]]' Officer - Andreia Castro
* Charities Officer - Vacant
* Environmental Officer - Saskia Drijver-Headley
* Mental Health Equality Officer - Batseba Asmelash
* Widening Participation Officers - Amy Hutchison & Hannah Watters
* Home Students Officer - CJ Adebayo Omoaka

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'''School Representatives'''
* Business School - Yan Song
* Chemistry - Vacant
* Critical Studies - Úna Dale
* Computing Science - Bhavisha Jatin Dholakia
* Culture & Creative Arts - Vacant
* Engineering - Nemish Laddad
* Education - Freya Brown
* Geographical & Earth Sciences - Diego Harrison
* Humanities - Freya Dinning
* Law - Chantelle Atsegoh
* Infection and Immunity - Gerardo Guio Archila
* Mathematics & Statistics - Ellie Hughes
* Medicine, Dentistry and Nursing - Ebrahim Rezaei
* Modern Languages & Cultures - Duncan Calvert
* Physics and Astronomy - Vacant
* Psychology & Neuroscience - Somaria Maharaj
* Social & Political Sciences - Yohan Komery
* Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine - Laura Thompson
* Cardiovascular and Metabolic Health - Vacant
* Molecular Biosciences - Elizabeth Barnett
* Social and Environmental Sustainability - Vacant

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University departments are responsible for organising the election of individual class representatives, who are supported in their duties by the '''Vice-President (Education)''' and their college's convenor.<ref>[http://www.src.gla.ac.uk/about/studentreps/115 SRC : About SRC : Student Reps]</ref> The academic convenors sit on various committees within their Faculty and are ''[[ex officio]]'' members of the [[Academic Senate|Senate]]. The four sabbatical officers are also accorded membership of the Senate, while the President and a Court Assessor (elected by the Council) are entitled to sit on the [[University Court]]. The Council also elects representatives to numerous university committees, including the Health, Safety & Well-being Committee, the [[Glasgow University Library|Library]] Committee and the [[Academic dress#British academic dress|Academic Dress]] Committee.

The SRC is also home to the [[Lord Rector of the University of Glasgow|Rector of the University]], elected by the students to represent them. This is achieved primarily through the Rector's role as chair of the University Court. The incumbent Rector is [[Ghassan Abu-Sittah]], a plastic surgeon and activist. Abu-Sittah was elected in April 2024 and will serve until April 2028.

Glasgow University SRC is represented at a national level by the [[Coalition of Higher Education Students in Scotland]] (CHESS), the [[National Postgraduate Committee]] (NPC), and the [[Aldwych Group]].

== Services ==
The SRC provides the following non-representative services to students at the University:
* Advice Centre - free and confidential advice
* GU Volunteering - opportunities for students
* Jobshop - a job vacancies service
* Secondhand Bookshop - students can buy and sell course texts
* Nightline - an anonymous, confidential telephone support and information service
* Photocopying - photocopying service available for students at the University

Until 2004 the SRC ran a shop selling stationery, newspapers, snacks and University merchandise. It was housed in the "HUB" building beside the university library, now refurbished as the [[William Kerr Fraser|Fraser]] Building.

== Media ==
The SRC also partly funds and houses four student media groups. They retain [[editorial independence]] from the SRC whilst benefiting from its support. Many of those involved in the SRC's student media have won awards for their work and gone on to find a career in the media.

These groups are:
* [[Glasgow University Guardian]] - fortnightly newspaper
* [[Glasgow University Magazine]] (GUM) - termly magazine
* [[Glasgow University Student Television]] (GUST) - broadcast online and via screens around campus
* [[Subcity Radio]] - [[web radio|internet radio]] station

The SRC previously referred to the media as "publications" and until 2004 the SRC website glasgowstudent.net was run as a fifth media group. There are other student run media groups at the University, housed within the unions, including [[Glasgow University Union|G-YOU]], published by the Glasgow University Union, and [[Queen Margaret Union#Publications|qmunicate]], published by the Queen Margaret Union.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

* Archives relating to the Glasgow University Students' Representative Council are maintained by the [[Archives of the University of Glasgow]].

== External links ==
* [https://www.glasgowstudent.net Glasgow University SRC]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050124212224/http://chessonline.org.uk/ CHESS]
* [http://www.npc.org.uk NPC]

{{University of Glasgow}}
{{Aldwych Group}}
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[[Category:1886 establishments in Scotland]]
[[Category:19th century in Scotland]]
[[Category:University of Glasgow|Students' Representative Council]]
[[Category:Students' unions in Scotland]]