The result follows a period of intense protest and repression, reports Georgie, a student at the university

Back in November 2024, the University of Glasgow’s Court voted against divesting its £6.8 million in arms companies like BAE Systems and Leonardo, despite an overwhelming vote by staff and students in a consultation organised by the university.

Since then, a student activist coalition involving groups such as Glasgow Against Arms and Fossil Fuels (GAAF), Glasgow University Justice for Palestine (GUJPS), the Stop the War Coalition (STWC) have led a number of rallies, pickets and sit-ins on campus, culminating most recently in an encampment on Library Hill. They named it the Dima Al-Haj liberated zone in memory of a former Glasgow student who died alongside her family in Gaza in November 2023.

The university met student protests with intensifying repression. The police presence peaked at the occupation of the Charles Wilson Building on 19 March, with eighteen police officers blocking the entrance and access to food and water. These tactics of intimidation are uncalled for and remain unsuccessful as actions have continued to escalate, but, as ever, remain peaceful.

Students have been camping out each night since Monday, 23 March, to stress the urgency of the Palestinians’ situation after more than 500 days of genocide. The students outlined their demands, which include severing all ties with arms companies, and urged a vote for divestment in the Student Representatives’ Council (SRC) referendum on whether the university should ‘stop investing in companies that earn more than 10% of their revenue from the arms and defence industry’.

At the encampment, furthermore, six students have been on hunger strike since Wednesday, 19 March, and they say they only received a response from management after six days to say they would have access to the counselling service (already provided to all students) by way of medical attention.

The encampment’s central location has allowed for high levels of interaction between students. Many of these have supported the campers through discussions and rallies, providing them with food and supplies, and holding a number of events on the grass. This has allowed staff and their trade unions to get involved too and made a major impact on life on campus.

The high point came yesterday when the SRC referendum result was announced. A whopping 8,668 votes ‘Yes’ to divestment against 1,038 who voted ‘No’. This is an incredible victory after a vibrant campaign which also used social media like Instagram very effectively to put the word out. The pressure is now on the University of Glasgow leadership to listen to its students: will they?