The University of St Andrews Students' Association is the organisation which represents the student body of the University of St Andrews.[2] It was founded in 1885 and comprises the students' representative council[3] and the Student Activities Forum (formerly the Students' Services Council).[4][5]
The University of St Andrews also has an Athletic Union.
Management
The Association is run by a student-majority Board and five sabbatical officers, each responsible for a separate aspect of student life: the Director of Wellbeing is in charge student welfare and programmes that run within the sector along with student democracy; the Director of Education is responsible for education, postgraduate studies and employability; the Director of Student Development and Activities supports the many student societies, as well as being involved in the provision of careers advice and personal development planning; the Director of Events and Services organises the major events of the year, such as Freshers' Week and the Graduation Ball, and regular Union club nights, as well as liaising with sponsors; the Association President is the overall leader of the Association and responsible for its image and strategic planning.[8] The Board comprises seven student members and six non-student members. The student members are the four sabbatical officers and the Senior Officers of the SSC and SRC. Under the Universities (Scotland) Acts, all students of the university automatically become members of the Students' Association, however they are entitled to opt out of this.
Building
Younger Hall, where the Union's musical activities take place
The Students' Association Building (informally known as the Union) is located on St Mary's Place, St Andrews. Union facilities include several bars and the university's Student Support Services. In 2013 the Students' Association Building underwent a refurbishment.
The Barron Theatre was a 55 seat[10]black box theatre on the university campus. It was one of only three entirely student-run theatres in the UK.[11] It was operated by the Mermaids Performing Arts Fund,[12] a subcommittee of the Students' Association, notable alumni of which includes Deidre Mullins and Siobhan Redmond. In January 2020 it was announced that the theatre would be closed, despite major pushback from the student body. A campaign was launched called Save the Barron that garnered support from the student body and 2,800 signatures, but the decision for the student-run venue to close was not reversed.[11]
As a replacement for the Barron Theatre, the university granted Mermaids a residency in the Lawrence Levy Studio Theatre in the now University-operated Byre Theatre. The Studio is now colloquially known as the Barron @ the Byre and hosts many of Mermaids' smaller performances throughout the year, alongside the Union StAge and the larger A.B. Paterson Auditorium in the Byre Theatre.
