Glasgow University Union Membership Handbook 2018-19

Members’ Handbook 2018-2019

GLASGOW UNIVERSITY UNION

We Have More Fun!

Contents Principal’s Foreword

3

President’s Welcome

4

The Board

6

The Union Explained

8

The New Building

10

The Committees

11

D*** F*****

18

the

2

Staff

20

The Kitchen

21

Membership

22

Getting Involved

23

Produced by Owain Campton, Convener of Libraries.

Principal’s foreword Dear GUU Members The University of Glasgow is among those ancient Universities that can both look back on a long and proud history, while thriving at the cutting edge of contemporary learning, teaching and research. Shaped by our past, we are influencing thought and discovery today, to shape the future.

Integral to what makes our University special are our students and Unions and societies that support, entertain and develop them. And the GUU is core to this agenda. Like the University it enjoys a proud and distinguished past but has equally recognised the need to evolve and develop to meet the changing needs and expectations of our student community.

As the handbook reveals, the GUU continues to offer a whole host of services, events and activities that are geared to help make your student experience among the best in the UK. Of course it doesn’t matter how special the buildings, or how varied the activities are, neither will take off and breathe with dynamic life if you don’t take part, play your part and participate! University is certainly about lectures, labs and the library! But it’s also about so much more and as the Union is there for you, you should be there for the Union and get involved. Enjoy it and support it, for aside from the fun and opportunity to hone existing, or develop new skills, the Union is a place where you can meet a diverse community of fellow students, broaden the mind and make friends that will last a lifetime.

I hope that as you enter into this new term and the academic year of 2018-19, you will discover more of what the Union can do for you, and what you can do for the Union, to make it a place that welcomes and values our fantastic and richly varied student community.

Enjoy this handbook, experience for real something of what it has to offer, and in so doing may your time at Glasgow be extra special, memorable and fulfilling.

Anton Muscatelli Principal

3

President’s Welcome

Hello and welcome to the Glasgow University Union!

Sitting at the foot of University Avenue we are proud to be the hub for the student social life Campus! With four amazing committees, and a board full of dedicated students, we are all here to make your time at University as memorable and fun as possible.

Having sat on the board of management now in three positions; as a PSM, Honorary Secretary, and now President, I’ve seen first hand all the union has to offer. From challenging your intellect and wit in our Parliamentary debates, or writing for our magazine, G-YOU, there are plenty of activities to complement your courses while at Uni. Alternatively, we have many activities throughout the year that you can come and unwind at, be it our open mics on a Friday, Quiz on a Monday or by getting involved with D*** F***** committee and painting away your study stress throughout the week.

On the flip side, if you just want to fully let your hair down we are the only place to be. We house the notorious Beer Bar, which offers a truly unique social experience. Or if going out for a wee boogie is more your scene, then we have the two biggest club nights on campus. HIVE on a Thursday, and SWITCH on a Saturday. These serve as a student go to for class tunes and pints of fun; and with three rooms and the beer bar juke box you can have your pick of the music you want to dance the night away to! On top of that, with Board Members being trained to deal with near anything a club night can throw at them, we seek to provide a safe and fun atmosphere for all.

If you start to feel as much a home in the Union as I have by the end of your Freshers’ Week, then you should consider applying to join a committee or run for board, so you too can help maintain its wonderful atmosphere for future students.

Union membership doesn’t just allow you to access all of this, but it also brings you into a 133-year-old family, a group of friends that will be there for you Look forward to seeing you soon, and remember: We Have More Fun Ailsa Jones President 2018-19

4

THE BOARD

Harry Coloe

ENTERTAINMENTS

Jemma Macfarlane

LIBRARIES

GAMES

DEBATES

The Conveners

Keri Anderson

ASST. HON SEC

Ailsa Jones

HON SECRETARY

PRESIDENT

The Executive

Ryan Christy

Owain Campton

Present Student Members

6

Michael Campbell

Magnus Strachan

Kate McMahon

Matthew Miller

Morgan Harrold

Sam Brewer

Sarah Findlay

Alexander Farren

Aoife McCarron

Kieran Will

Matilda Handley

You may think they just swan about in polo shirts with radios, pretending to be important and occassionally skipping the beer bar queue, but the student Board of Management are all elected to positions by you, the members, to run the Union on your behalf and make it the best place to be on campus.

Here’s a run down of what each position does, to keep you in the know.

President:

This is the person in charge of the Union and its Board of Management.

Responsible for everything inside the Union as well as being the spokesperson when communicating to both the public and the university.

Honorary Secretary: This role organises the financial side of things for events

as well as the daily operating of services. They are also responsible for all matters of discipline and general running of the building.

Assistant Honorary Secretary:

Organises the Union’s Board of Management and minutes all board meetings. This role is also responsible for taking care of affiliation packages for all clubs and societies within the university. This person would be the first point of contact for those looking to affiliate.

Convener of Debates:

This person organises the debates committee and all show debates within the Union. They also send debates teams all across the U.K. and world, as well as organising all competitions we hold throughout the year.

Convener of Games:

Run by the Games Convener, the games committee is responsible for the weekly Beer Bar Quiz on a Monday, as well as looking after the games machines and Billiards Hall tables. In February they host the Unions “Month of Games” which has a whole bunch of various competitions.

Convener of Libraries:

The Libraries Convener heads up the Libraries Committee. They are in charge of maintaining the Union libraries, and producing the Union’s official magazine, G-YOU. Recently they have taken over Groundings, the undergraduate academic journal. They also run a number of events through the year including “Open Mic Slam Poetry”.

Convener of Entertainments: The Entertainments Convener runs the weekly

open mic night on a Friday, as well as organising special promo special open mics throughout the year. They also are responsible for booking all the killer acts for Freshers’ Week, D*** F*****, and the weekly club nights!

Present Student Members (PSMs):

This group of board members make up a number of operational committees that help the day to day running of the union.

These range from kitchens, in charge of running the Union’s Cafes and Servery, to PR, who make sure everyone on campus knows the awesome events we have going on. The PSMs are your point of contact for any queries you might have.

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The Union Explained

Glasgow University Union is more than just a building at the foot of University Avenue. It is a collection of many things: students, bars, activities and facilities, each with their own identities. In much the same way that different authors have different styles, so too are the different parts of the Union equally individual.

The Basement

The Beer Bar is home to the best selection of draught beer at the best prices in the West

End, and is the heart and soul of the Union. This is the place to meet with friends both during the day and at night, and is especially popular for the post exam de-stress. Enshrined in gold leaf on the walls are all the winners of some of the competitions within the Union dating back to 1969. The Basement also contains the male, female, and gender neutral toilets along with access to the new extension.

Ground Floor

On this floor you can find the Servery, providing a range of food from Subway to home cooked meals from the new Union Kitchen. When looking to take a break, the Coffee Shop in the Drawing Room is the go to place for hot chocolates by the roaring fire in winter and cold smoothies in the summer. The final room on this floor is the Dining Room, this is mainly used for events such as club dinners.

First Floor

Here you will find the Debates Chamber, home to parliamentary and show debates, as well as DJ sets during our parties throughout the year. The reading room not only contains a bar so that everyone can grab a Pint of Fun on our busiest nights, but is also home to plenty of sofas - perfect for group work or simply lounging about on a study break. On this floor you can find the offices for the Exec, Conveners, and our wonderful PSMs. The Elliot and Bridie libraries can be used throughout the day, both containing books, past papers, historical archives of university publications, and crucially tea and coffee during the exam periods.

Top Floor

Here you can access the Gallery of the Debates Chamber, where you can crowd in to watch our guest speakers exchange verbal blows with our show debates. Across the landing you can find the Billiards Hall. Recently refurbished, the hall, which also contains a bar, is for both playing snooker or pool and watching sport on any of the three TVs. There is also a raised area containing comfortable chairs and sofas.

So there you have it, a whistle stop guide to your Union. With something for everybody, this explains why the Union remains so popular with both past 8 and current members!

The New Building HIVE After the demolition of the old HIVE a new HIVE was born from the ashes - continuing to be the home of campus nightlife.

Our custom-built club space has a 16 metre- long bar, the best sound system in Scotland, and of course, the return of the much loved podium.

The Well Along with HIVE, the extension is home to The Well. Complete with bar, The Well offers another dance floor along with different music to what is on in HIVE, and a state-of-the-art lighting system.

Base Bar The Base Bar is another fantastic addition to the extension. It not only serves as a segue from the old building to the new, but has seating and space to stand after getting your drinks from the bar. It can also be used as a social space for associated clubs and societies.

G12: The extension isn’t just about night life. We understand the difficulties of student life and so, as a remedy, G12 serves only the best Starbucks coffee during the day and is a chill alternative place to sit and study. This is also where the editorial team of our magazine, G-YOU, meet to host their open contributors meetings on a Monday evening.

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THE COMMITTEES There are four standing committees at the Union: Debates, Games, Libraries and Entertainments.

Each oversees a specific part of Union life, and together create a Union that has something for everyone.

DEBATES

Since the Union’s Founding in 1885, debating has been an integral par of Union life. In the Debates Chamber you can view the trophies that GUU Debating has brought the Union over the years, including five World University Debating Championships (more than any other University aross the globe), eighteen John Smith International Maces (more than the next top five UK and Ireland Universities combined), as well as the 2017 European University Debates Championship. These, along with other trophies, can be seen in the numurous cabinets on the second floor. These accolades all come together to secure the Glasgow University Union’s place as the most successful institution in Scotland, and one of the most prestigious in the world.

Besides being a chance to challenge your intellect and show off rhetorical flare, these are great opportunities to travel across the UK, and the world. Most importantly all costs of travel and accommodation are covered by the GUU, making debating open and accessible to everyone who wants to get involved.

Five times a year GUU debating holds its famous Parliamentary debates. Lasting from 3pm of a Friday to 3am the following morning, parliamentaries are battles between five clubs, of different political philosophies, in which each aims to show why their line is superior, in order to lift the Parliamentary trophy at the end of the Year. The Parliamentaries are also hubs of social activity within the GUU, typically being taken less seriously than the Inter Varisty Debating, members will often be found with a drink in hand giving speeches that range from comical prose, to rhetorical rap, giving this twelve hour event a unique and fun feel.

Throughout the year we host fine dinners, throw socials, and a range of other events that make debating one of the best social spheres on campus, where members truly make friends for life. All of this is run by our Debates Committee, which is headed by the Convener of Debates. Through the years the society has seen a number of famous faces grow their debating skills in the crucible of the Debates Chamber, with the likes of Andrew Neil, John Smith, and the much adored Charles Kennedy all giving their maiden speeches in this unique space.

However, what this society truly prides itself in is bringing in students with no prior experience of debating and growing them from the ground up, and fostering them into a family that will support them through the next four years of their studies at the University.

So should you want to become the next world debating champion, or just want to socialise they will welcome any who comes along to speaker training, on a Tuesday at 6pm in the Bridie Library.

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GAMES The Games Committee run a wide range of events focused on providing all GUU members as much fun as possible. Be it our weekly pub quiz, our action packed Big All Day Games Event (B.A.D.G.E) or any of our events throughout the year, the Games Committee have an event for you!

From darts to dodgeball, pub quizzes to scavanger hunts we not only put on action packed events but provide some great prizes too! Kegs of beer, food vouchers and cash are up for grabs year around! Come down to the GUU and chat to our black shirted committee - wanna play!

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LIBRARIES

The Libraries Committee takes care of both Union libraries, the Bridie and the Elliot, but their chief charge is in the production of all Union publications. This primarily includes the Union’s official magazine, G-YOU, and recently the Union’s new academic journal, Groundings.

G-YOU is an opinions magazine with sections on politics, culture, arts, science, and sport. All the content, bar the Alumni Column, is produced by students and tailored towards a student readership. Open meetings are held on a Monday at 5pm in the G12 Cafe, allowing anyone to come along and pitch ideas and get involved in writing for the magazine. Weekly, they release multiple new articles a week including Spotify playlists so you have a soundtrack for everything from studying to pre-ing. After every issue they also throw a launch party for the magazine, to show their thanks to all their contributors for their hard work.

With music, drinks and food, these parties are always great craic.

This summer the Libraries Committee also took on Groundings, an undegraduate academic journal in the social sciences and arts. It offers an unparalleled experience for students to edit and organize the peer-review of undergraduate essays, or alternatively submit their own work for publishing. Perfect for those who seek to continue in academia past their undergraduate HIVE dancing days.

They also regularly throw events that are slightly different to the usual Union shindigs. Between Open Mic Slam Poetry, Cocktails and Boardgames, and a planned art exhibition, there really is something for everyone. Like the G-YOU Facebook to keep up with all their content and competitions!

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ENTERTAINMENTS Do you enjoy live music and entertainment? Fancy yourself a techy wizard? Or love to organise and run events? Then the Entertainments committee is for you. Here at GUU the entertainments committee (or Entz as they are more commonly known) are the ones who organise and run all the wonderful live entertainment that the lucky students are provided with.

From booking acts for huge events such as Freshers’ Week and D*** F***** to the weekly running of Open Mic, we offer something for everyone, creating unmissable and unforgettable nights.

15

PR COMMITTEE PR Committee is in charge of making sure you know what is going on so you don’t miss a beat. If you are an energetic outgoing person this committee might be the one for you. They can be seen putting out leaflets, and plastering posters out and about around campus. They also help in designing the Union’s PR material as well. So if you are interested in graphic design, check them out!

D*** F***** COMMITTE

This Committee is split in two, one half - The Painters who create all the wonderful artwork used during D*** F*****. The other half - The Builders who build the props and the giant boards and frames used by The Painters.

If you are artistically talented then The Painters is the group for you. If you vaguely know how to hold a hammer The Builders group is the one to join.

SPONSORED SOCIETIES

This year, we’ve introduced sponsorship for clubs and societies.

We’re sponsoring two clubs, who will be putting on events and socials throughout the year! One of these clubs is Glasgow University Ski and Snowboard Club (GUSSC) - one of the biggest sports clubs on campus and organisers of the massive annual ski trip, which has a surprise location. Some of their famous socials include Pub Golf, Subcrawl and Cheese and Wine!

“GUSSC is known as one of the most fun clubs to join on campus. It’s as much about the social side as the sport and the ski trip is always legendary!

“We’re so excited to be partnered with GUU this year. All our members love the union and what it stands so we’re buzzing for the year ahead. Look out for our unmissable events!”

- Mikey Addison, GUSSC President 17

D*** F***** Daft Friday, commonly referred to as D*** F*****, is the Union’s biggest and most amazing event of the year, celebrating its 110th anniversary in December this year. Held in honour of GUU’s President, this end-of-term ball is a party like no other, running from 8pm till 8am, as traditon dictates.

As mentioned before, a committee works from September to December to decorate the Union in a mysterious theme, which is such a massive secret that the main Unon building shuts in the final week before D*** F*****, to hide the amazing work the committee undertakes. Don’t worry the Beer Bar is still open for those post exam pints!

Past themes have seen the Lion King take over the turrets, Lord of the Rings cover the walls, and a twelve-foot Darth Vader dominate the entrance hall. Last year we saw the Union transform into the mysterious world of Wonderland, with the Mad-Hatter, Alice and the Queen of Hearts all in tow.

Dressed up in your finest black-tie, your ticket shall grant you entry to 12 hours of not only the secret theme, but also the biggest guest acts on campus all year, a swing band, a ceilidh, a casino, string quartet, acapella singing, karaoke, and much more, culminating in a FREE breakfast for those who make it through the night. With past guests acts including CHVRCHES, Newton Faulkner, Bombay Bicycle Club, Arcade Fire, Frightened Rabbit, and guest DJs including Basshunter and Bondax, this event is truly the most special in your semester.

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The Staff

Anne Marie Bennett - AMB is our General Manager, so she manages... well pretty much everything...She is the boss, and all the board members try their best to keep on her good side. She always wants to see the best for the Union.

Stevie and Claire - Stevie, our Bars Manager, and Claire, our Commercial Manager, oversee the sale of all the Union’s lovely alcohol as well as the Kitchen, Shop and Drawing Room Cafe, and make sure all the bars are running smoothly. Stevie also heads up the organisation of our club and all its bars!

Gemma - As the Functions Manager, Gemma organises and runs the Union’s bookings and functions. Gemma may be rather familiar to some students, as she is the point of contact for society bookings and the like.

Grace, Kathleen, Sharon - Senior Administrative Assistant, Internal Services Manager, and Accounts Assistant respectively, this trio can be found in the Front Office, and deal with all the Union’s dollar. You might even see Grace doing a karaoke stint on one of our club nights too!

Linda - A team leader and our most recognisable face in the Beer Bar, Linda’s well known for always being up for a chat when you’re buying a pint. A student favourite, Linda has been with us for many years and we can’t imagine the Beer Bar without her!

You’ll definitely get to know these folk at some point or other, but everyone here at the G.U.U. is friendly and always looking out to keep the Union a safe and fun environment for you!

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The Union Kitchen

Fully refurbished in 2017, The Union Kitchen is a modern, smart spot to have meals on campus. Either dining in, eating off our own china with the Union crest, or enjoying the meal on the go, the Union makes meals easy for students. If you decide to tuck in at the Union, the buffet area and the Drawing Room are both popular places to eat.

The staff are always welcoming, with Jameel, the talented head chef striving to make healthy, varied and tasty food at a good price.

As a university student, a tight budget and eating well can be tricky, but The Union Kitchen has low prices, that are extremely good value for money. The menu can vary from light snacks and toasties, to stir fry and the always popular burgers. The menu changes weekly, with updates shown on site as well as on the Union Facebook page. Each week we will have a different dish “From the Wok” as well as “One Good Bowl” such as stew or chicken and leek pie. The Union Kitchen also always offers a vegan alternative and gluten free meals, to cater for all culinary options. Tacos Tuesday is a popular weekly event, and there are other specials like a Chinese menu during Chinese New Year.

Bon Appétit, we hope to see you soon.

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MEMBERSHIP Membership of the Glasgow University Union not only means you become part of a 133 year old family, but also confers certain benefits that no other student on campus can enjoy.

The GUU is home to the two main social hubs on campus: HIVE and the Beer Bar. Whilst non-members are allowed to use these facilities the experience is enhanced for those willing to sign up. Membership includes a points based system for buying drinks, so you can save up and spend your points on drinks and reduced entry for HIVE or SWITCH. The social experience of the Union also extends to our special nights, such as D*** F*****, for which you’ll need a membership card in order to get one of the highly demanded tickets!

But the GUU isn’t just a nightclub and bar. It’s also a place for personal development outside of your degree. Our four committees: Debates, Games, Libraries, and Entertainments all require membership to apply for and they give unrivalled experience in CV filling skills such as teamwork, project managment, and inter-personal relationships.

Membership also gives you certain rights within the Union that you wouldn’t have otherwise. Whilst we don’t expect people to break the rules we appreciate that they make mistakes. If you find yourself breaking our rules, membership will mean you have the right to attend a disciplinary hearing to fight for your side of the story. If not, then the decision is left entirely up to the Board of Management whose only disciplinary action is to declare someone is persona non grata - which means they are banned from the Union indefinitely.

The best thing about membership is that it is completely free, so all the above benefits lead to an enhanced student experience that costs you nothing.

Applications for membership are accepted from freshers’ week onwards in the porters box!

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Getting Involved

The Union has many ways in which you can get involved, primarily through our committees which include: Debates, Games, Libraries (G-YOU Magazine), Entertainments, D*** F***** Committee, PR Team.

If you are interested in getting involved, keep a look out for our Committees Fair after Freshers’ Week. This is a great chance to meet all the committees and find out more about them. Applications can then be picked up from the Porter’s Box and returned there after completion.

Although Debates and Libraries only recruit at the end of the year, Games and Entertainments do accept applications all year round, although they fill the majority of their committee spaces at the end of semester two. This year all committees will be bringing on Freshers at the start of semester one, so if you are a first year and keen to get involved look out for applications being released sometime after Freshers’ Week!

It is a massively fufilling experience, that allows you to see a little more the internal runnings of the Union.

Throughout the year our magazine, G-YOU, accept contributions for the online and physical magazine, so if you are keen to write while at university drop the Libraries convener a line to find out more.

We have space for everyone to get involved so feel free to come to our events and speak to our conveners! Alternatively email them at; Libraries (G-YOU) libraries@guu.co.uk Debates debates@guu.co.uk Entertainments entertainments@guu.co.uk Games

games@guu.co.uk PR Team

communications@guu.co.uk If you feel you would like to become more involved within the Union, we have elections for the Board of Management in March. If you would like to find out more feel free to speak to any Board Member.

For more information and updates, follow GUU on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

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KEY DATES 13.10.18 27.10.18 13.10.18 6.3.19 7.3.19 17.3.19 22.3.19 17.5.19

OKTOBERFEST HALLOWEEN D*** F***** HUSTINGS ELECTIONS ST. PATRICK’S DAY HOUSE PARTY BEACH PARTY

Weekly Events

Monday

Tuesday

//G-YOU Contributors @5pm, G12

//Debates Training

@6pm

//Beer Bar Quiz

@8pm

Thursday //HIVE

Till 2am

Friday //Open Mic

/GUUNION

Saturday @9pm

Opening Hours

The Union

The Libraries Beer Bar Billiards

The Union Kitchen Drawing Room Cafe G12 Cafe

Wednesday

//SWITCH

Till 2am

8am - Late 8Am - Late 10am - Late 12pm - Late 10am - 7pm 10am - 5pm 9am - 7pm

@GUUNION

@GUUNION

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