Glasgow University Sports Association (formerly Glasgow University Athletic Club) is a student organisation at the

University of Glasgow , image = UofG Coat of Arms.png , image_size = 150px , caption = Coat of arms Flag , latin_name = Universitas Glasguensis , motto = la, Via, Veritas, Vita , ...

responsible for the promotion of sport and physical activity around campus.

History

The Glasgow University Athletic Club was founded on 20 April 1881 and its constitution approved by the

Senate A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...

ten days later. Its founding aim was to "promote all forms of Athletic Exercise", an aim which continues to this day. In 1903, a women's section was established at Queen Margaret College, the women's section of the University. The Athletic Club provided representation on behalf of all students five years before the foundation of the

Students' Representative Council {{Unreferenced, date=July 2014A students' representative council, also known as a students' administrative council, represents student interests in the government of a university, school or other educational institution. Generally the SRC forms par ...

, which now fulfills this role. Along with the

Dialectic Society Dialectic ( grc-gre, διαλεκτική, ''dialektikḗ''; related to dialogue; german: Dialektik), also known as the dialectical method, is a discourse between two or more people holding different points of view about a subject but wishing ...

and

Medico-Chirurgical Society The Medical and Chirurgical Society of London was a learned society of physicians and surgeons which was founded in 1805 by 26 personalities in these fields who had left the Medical Society of London (founded 1773) because of disagreement with th ...

, the Athletic Club was instrumental in founding the

Glasgow University Union Glasgow University Union (GUU) is one of the largest and oldest students' unions in the UK, serving students and alumni of the University of Glasgow since 1885. The GUU organises social affairs for its members, provides catering and entertainm ...

in 1885, and the two maintain a close relationship. In 1996, the Club became the Glasgow University Sports Association, a name intended to encapsulate better the work done by the organisation.

Activities

The Association provides financial, administrative and representational support to individuals and groups involved in sport and recreation at University of Glasgow. The highlight of the Association's year is the GUSA Ball (or Annual Awards Dinner and Dance) in February, a black-tie affair at which Blues, Half-Blues and Awards are presented to successful athletes and teams. Previous Blues winners include

Sir Menzies Campbell Walter Menzies Campbell, Baron Campbell of Pittenweem, (; born 22 May 1941), often known as Ming Campbell, is a British Liberal Democrat politician, advocate and former athlete. He was the Member of Parliament (MP) for North East Fife from 1 ...

and Rebecca Cooke.

Affiliated Clubs

There are 52 sports clubs at the University affiliated to the Sports Association, which assists them financially and in obtaining transport, equipment and publicity. * Aikido * American Football * Athletics * Badminton * Basketball (men's and women's) * Boat (Rowing) * Bowling (staff) * Boxing * Canoe * Cheerleading * Cricket * Curling * Cycling * Fencing * Football (men's and women's) *

Gaelic Football Gaelic football ( ga, Peil Ghaelach; short name '), commonly known as simply Gaelic, GAA or Football is an Irish team sport. It is played between two teams of 15 players on a rectangular grass pitch. The objective of the sport is to score by kic ...

* Golf * Gymnastics * Hares and Hounds * Hockey (men's and women's) * Judo * Karate * Kendo * Lacrosse *

Mountaineering Mountaineering or alpinism, is a set of outdoor activities that involves ascending tall mountains. Mountaineering-related activities include traditional outdoor climbing, skiing, and traversing via ferratas. Indoor climbing, sport climbing, a ...

* Muay Thai Boxing * Netball * Potholing * Riding * Rugby ( men's and women's) * Sailing *

Shinty Shinty ( gd, camanachd, iomain) is a team game played with sticks and a ball. Shinty is now played mainly in the Scottish Highlands and amongst Highland migrants to the big cities of Scotland, but it was formerly more widespread in Scotland, an ...

* Shorinji Kempo * Ski and Snowboard * Skydive * Squash * Surf * Swimming & Waterpolo * Tennis * Trampoline * Triathlon * Ultimate Frisbee * Volleyball (men's and women's) * Wakeboarding * Weightlifting * Yoga

Facilities

The Association works in partnership with the University of Glasgow Sport Service, which maintains the University's sports facilities. The Stevenson Building (or 'Stevie') on the University's main site in Gilmorehill houses a fitness suite, squash courts, sauna and six-lane 25m swimming pool, while the Garscube Estate near

Bearsden Bearsden () is a town in East Dunbartonshire, Scotland, on the northwestern fringe of Greater Glasgow. Approximately from Glasgow city centre, Glasgow City Centre, the town is effectively a suburb, and its housing development coincided with t ...

, where the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine is based, offers a further fitness suite, six grass and two all-weather pitches, three tennis courts, a cricket oval and extensive grounds for walking and running. Students who join the Sport and Recreation Service also become members of GUSA, and therefore have access to all university sports facilities. The Association's offices are located at 62 Oakfield Avenue on Gilmorehill, opposite the Stevenson Building.

Management

The Association is managed by the GUSA Council, a body of 12 members elected in the Spring. The Council comprises the Executive (made up by the President, Vice-President, and Secretary), nine Convenors (Club Sport, Events, Health & Fitness, Finance, Publicity, Alumni, Travel, Welfare and Fundraising & Outreach). The position of President is a sabbatical post, for which the holder takes a year out from their studies and is paid by the University. The current 2022/23 President is Vivek Pandya. Members of University Staff are also appointed to the Council to represent the Association to the management of the University. These are the Honorary President, Honorary Treasurer, Honorary Vice-President and

Court A court is any person or institution, often as a government institution, with the authority to adjudicate legal disputes between parties and carry out the administration of justice in civil, criminal, and administrative matters in accordance ...

and

Representatives. The current Honorary President is Professor Frank Coton, Vice-Principal for Learning and Development.

References

External links

GUSA website
{{University of Glasgow University of Glasgow Sports clubs in Scotland Students' unions in Scotland Sport at the University of Glasgow University sports venues in the United Kingdom University swimming in the United Kingdom