Editing University of Glasgow (section)

===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>