SRC to hold referendum on divestment

The vote will be indicative, but will shape the SRC’s position in future discussions on University investments. 

The Student Representative Council (SRC) will hold an online referendum between 9am on 26 March and 5pm on 27 March, with results announced the following hour. 

In an email sent to all students, SRC President Pablo Morán Ruiz said that the vote will be indicative, and won’t directly shape University policy. It will, however, shape the SRC’s position in future discussions. 

Students will be asked, “Should the University of Glasgow stop investing in companies that earn more than 10% of their revenue from the arms and defence industry?” They will have the opportunity to vote “yes” or “no.”

The email also told students that they will have the opportunity to join a “yes” or “no” campaign team, to “help share the debate, submit campaign statements, and have access to a small budget for materials.” 

This news follows a divestment consultation open to all students and staff. This found that 70% of those surveyed were in favour of University divestment from the arms industry. 

In November, the University Court voted not to change their investments. Since then, the University of Glasgow has seen a major increase in direct action protests, following a Glasgow Against Arms & Fossil Fuels (GAAF) statement, calling for “bolder action” from students. 

Campus has seen the James McCune Smith Learning Hub (JMS) allegedly vandalised, and multiple buildings occupied, as well as regular demonstrations. These actions are a message to the University about the growing desire for divestment from the arms industry. 

Full details of the referendum can be found here. 

Published 8 March 2025