Strathclyde Students' Union
MottoBe Part Of It
InstitutionUniversity of Strathclyde
Location51 Richmond Street,
Glasgow, Scotland
Established1964
PresidentEva Curran
Other sabbatical officers
  • Vice President Community: Justyna Kardasz
  • Vice President Inclusion: Yu-Chu (Kathy) Doong
  • Vice President Education: Charlie Wilson
  • Vice President Welfare: Rachael Okoh
  • Vice President Sports: Molly McHugh
Membersc. 22,000 total
AffiliationsNational Union of Students
Websitehttps://www.strathunion.com/

55°51′43″N 4°14′49″W / 55.862°N 4.247°W / 55.862; -4.247

Strathclyde Students' Union (Strath Union) is the representative body for students of the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland, since its founding in 1964.

History

Founded in 1964, the University of Strathclyde Students' Association was formed when the Students' Associations of the Royal College of Science and Technology and of the Scottish College of Commerce amalgamated.[1] In 1989 it merged with the University of Strathclyde Sports Union.

The original Strath Union building at 90 John Street in the late 1970s

The original Students' Union building was located at 90 John Street on the western side of the John Anderson Campus, adjoining onto the rear of the Royal College, James Weir and Thomas Graham buildings.[2] It was opened in 1959,.,[3] and also incorporated a steam power plant to provide heating for the Royal College and the later additions of the James Weir and Thomas Graham buildings. The 1959 building as originally constructed was a five-storey structure, however, an additional five mezzanine floors were constructed in 1976 as part of a neighbouring extension to the Thermodynamics laboratory of the James Weir Building, effectively creating ten levels in total.

On August 20, 2021, the historic 90 John Street building officially closed[4] in preparation for the Association moving to new accommodation on the campus-based within the Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell Wing of the Learning and Teaching Building (which was created out of the former Colville Building). The new facility is based across two main levels, with the main entrance at 51 Richmond Street, in space that was originally Civil Engineering laboratories and a car parking area.

New Strath Union Building

It opened on 10 September 2021[5] The fate of the original 90 John Street building has yet to be decided, although demolition seems unlikely as the power plant for the entire "island site" is located within it.

In November 2021, the Association hosted former President of the United States Barack Obama during the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, where he was bestowed an Honorary Life Membership of the Association by then Strath Union President, Benn Rapson.[6] During his visit a meeting of the Obama Foundation was held on Association premises.[7]

Governance

Strath Union Student Execs, 2022/2023

The day-to-day running of the building is done by the Executive Committee who also serves on the trustee board alongside student volunteers elected by a cross-campus ballot. There are six sabbatical officers: a president and five vice-presidents (covering diversity, education, support, volunteering & development, and sports & wellbeing).[8]

The main policy-making bodies of the Association are the Policy Forums, which meet frequently throughout the year passing policy through to the Policy Council of elected representatives which meets to discuss proposed policy.[9]

Student Reps represent their fellow class colleagues to communicate issues, concerns, and opinions of students to University staff and vice versa.[10]

Mature Students' Association

Mature students (someone who is 21 years of age or older at the start of their course) represent almost 20% of the Strathclyde student population, including undergraduate, postgraduate, and international students. Strathclyde’s Students' Union also has a successful Mature Students' Association, located on Level 2 of the Livingstone Tower. Facilities include; Common room, tea/coffee, microwave, toaster, fridges, tuck shop; desktop computers, printer, photocopier; quiet study room, and lockers. The main aims of the Mature Students' Association (MSA) are to provide all mature students with a support network of both friends and fellow students as well as somewhere to study and relax. The MSA is run by Convenor/s and/or committees who are elected yearly by the membership and liaise with the University and the USSA President on behalf of their members.

Clubs and societies

There are over 100 clubs and societies available for students to choose from, each designed to suit the hobbies, courses, beliefs or other interests that students have. A new club or society can be formed if there are at least ten interested members.[11]

Re-Act Theatre , the student theatre group of Strathclyde's Student Union, are known for their performances each semester; which have included Macbeth, One Man, Two Guvnors and The Crucible. Students with an interest in photography, wanting to pursue this passion and meet other photographers join the Strath Photo Club.[12] The Art of Living Strathclyde Society, affiliated with the Art of Living Foundation which is a not-for-profit, educational and humanitarian NGO engaged in stress-management and service initiatives.[13] The LGBT Society runs different events throughout the year including social events, film screenings, political campaigns and trips to local LGBT friendly venues. Events are also organised specifically to coincide with the LGBT History Month.[14]

Presidents

The full list of past presidents of the University of Strathclyde Students' Association is as follows:

Current
Years of office Name
2023/24 Eva Curran
Past
2022/23 Adam Morrow
2021/22 Benn Rapson
2020/21 Kayla-Megan Burns
2018/20 Matt Crilly
2017/18 Calvin Hepburn
2016/17 Raj Jeyaraj
2015/16 Gary Paterson
2014/15 Gary Paterson
2013/14 Kwaku Adjei
2012/13 Malcolm Moir
2011/12 Charandeep Singh
2009/10 Philip Whyte
2008/09 Neil Campbell
2007/08 Gurjit Singh
2006/07 Colin Moore
2005/06 Katy McCloskey
2004/05 Jamie Davidson
2003/04 Ian Robertson
2002/03 Michael Strachan
2001/02 Patrick Grady
2000/01 Jo-Ann Robertson
1999/00 Alasdair Currie
1998/99 Paul Thomson
1997/98 Kirsty O'Brien
1996/97 Douglas Stewart
1995/96 Liam McMonagle
1994/95 Dave Richards
1993/94 Vicki Jones
1992/93 Stuart Millar
1991/92 Gianpiero Celino
1990/91 Mark Covell
1989/90 Colm O'Dwyer
1988/89 Frank J. Hotchkiss
1987/88 Jennifer A. Marchbank
1986/87 Alison J. Peden
1985/86 Vince McGlennan
1984/85 Bruce M. Wilson
1983/84 Alistair G. Reid
1982/83 D. Smith
1981/82 Tam McTurk
1980/81 J. Boothman
1979/80 C. I. Ross
1978/79 James MacFarlane
1977/78 R. Watt
1976/77 I.F. Brown
1975/76 Donald Colvin
1974/75 Dougal Rowan
1973/74 Stewart McIntosh
1972/73 Trevor Muir
1971/72 Paul Talbot
1970/71 Douglas J. Henderson
1969/70 Shahid S. Khan
1968/69 John B. Benson
1967/68 Peter Jones
1966/67 D. D. Short
1965/66 J. Watson
1964/65 J.M Barraclough
1963/64 M. Abrahams
1962/63 Thomas W. George
1961/62 Leonard J. Paterson
1960/61 William K. Greenock
1959/60 James C. Mitchell
1958/59 Malcolm D. MacIntyre
1957/58 William MacFarlane
1956/57 Derrick Stocker
1955/56 William H. Taylor
1954/55 William D. D. Cameron
1953/54 Lindsay B. Aitken
1952/53 James Donnelly
1951/52 I. P. Freely
1951/52 Robert J. Stewart
1950/51 James W. Fullarton
1949/50 Fred Hall
1948/49 G. Gordon
1947/48 J. C. Higgins
1946/47 A. Graham
1945/46 George Gibbs
1944/45 Matthew Linning
1943/44 T. C. Henderson
1942/43 Robert Anderson
1941/42 Robert R. S. Young
1940/41 William Walker-Love
1939/40 Normal F. Peat
1938/39 Brian D. Delaney
1937/38 A. Fleming
1936/37 William Steel
1935/36 Hugh G. Koch
1934/35 Thomas R. Samson
1933/34 Ian T.G. Tullock
1932/33 Allen W. M. Coombs
1931/32 Robert D. Buchanan
1930/31 J Anderson Stewart
1930/31 John D. MacKinlay

References

  1. Harrison, Margaret. "Records of the Students' Association of the University of Strathclyde". Archives hub. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  2. "John Anderson Campus" (PDF). University of Strathclyde. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 March 2016. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
  3. Peters, Victoria. "Royal College of Science and Technology Students' Association". University of Strathclyde Archives. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  4. Gilmour, Lauren. "Strathclyde University union closes its doors ahead of move". Glasgow Times. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  5. Gilmour, Lauren. "First look at Strathclyde University's new student union in Glasgow". Glasgow Times. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  6. Mitchell, Nicole. "Barack Obama visits Glasgow's Strathclyde University for COP26". Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  7. McIlkenny, Stephen. "Barack Obama in University of Strathclyde visit during COP26". The Scotsman. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  8. "Student Executive 2017-18". University of Strathclyde Students' Association. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
  9. "Policy Council". University of Strathclyde Students' Association. Archived from the original on 31 January 2016. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
  10. "Why do we have Student Reps". University of Strathclyde Students' Association. Archived from the original on 31 January 2016. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
  11. "Clubs & Societies". University of Strathclyde Students' Association. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
  12. "The Strathclyde Photo Club". Facebook. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  13. "The Art of Living Strathclyde Society". University of Strathclyde Students' Association. Archived from the original on 15 August 2016. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
  14. "LGBT". University of Strathclyde Students' Association. Archived from the original on 2 March 2016. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
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