Glasgow University Scottish Nationalist Association
Encyclopedia
The Glasgow University Scottish Nationalist Association (GUSNA) is a student organisation formed in 1927 at the University of Glasgow
which supports Scottish independence
.
GUSNA is important historically as it predated many pro-independence organisations including the Scottish National Party
itself. It is the forerunner of the National Party of Scotland
(NPS), which it played a key role in forming, which is itself a forerunner of the modern Scottish National Party.
who had previously been involved in the Glasgow University Labour Club
.
GUSNA was thrown into prominence in the early 1950s when a group of its members (including Ian Hamilton
who would later become a well known Queen's Counsel
) took the Stone of Destiny
from Westminster Abbey
on Christmas Day 1950. This caused a huge scandal amongst the British establishment and it wasn't until April 1951 that the stone was found by the authorities.
GUSNA has, almost since its inception, tried to play an active part in the life of Glasgow University with its members regularly being involved in the Students' Representative Council
as well as regularly nominating candidates for the election of the Rectorship of the university.
Notable GUSNA Rectorial candidates of the past have included Robert Cunninghame-Graham
and John MacCormick (who with Ian Hamilton as his campaign manager was successful in being elected). More recent candidates have been Pat Kane
, Dorothy-Grace Elder
, Ian Hamilton
and the noted writer and artist Alasdair Gray
.
GUSNA is a constituent member of the SNP Student Wing, the Federation of Student Nationalists
(FSN) and played a leading role in the FSN's formation in the 1960s.
Prominent former members of GUSNA have included Winnie Ewing
and Neil MacCormick
MEP (son of John MacCormick). The current president is Calum MacLeod.
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
which supports Scottish independence
Scottish independence
Scottish independence is a political ambition of political parties, advocacy groups and individuals for Scotland to secede from the United Kingdom and become an independent sovereign state, separate from England, Wales and Northern Ireland....
.
GUSNA is important historically as it predated many pro-independence organisations including the Scottish National Party
Scottish National Party
The Scottish National Party is a social-democratic political party in Scotland which campaigns for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom....
itself. It is the forerunner of the National Party of Scotland
National Party of Scotland
The National Party of Scotland was a political party in Scotland and a forerunner of the current Scottish National Party.The NPS was formed in 1928 after John MacCormick of the Glasgow University Scottish Nationalist Association called a meeting of all those favouring the establishment of a party...
(NPS), which it played a key role in forming, which is itself a forerunner of the modern Scottish National Party.
History
One prime mover in the formation of GUSNA was John MacCormickJohn MacCormick
John MacDonald MacCormick was a lawyer and advocate of Home Rule in Scotland.-Early life:...
who had previously been involved in the Glasgow University Labour Club
Glasgow University Labour Club
Glasgow University Labour Club was formed in 1946, and has served as a training ground for a number of prominent Labour politicians of the twentieth century. Membership is open to all matriculated students of the University....
.
GUSNA was thrown into prominence in the early 1950s when a group of its members (including Ian Hamilton
Ian Hamilton QC
Ian Robertson Hamilton, QC is a lawyer and Scottish Nationalist. He is best known for his part in the removal of the Stone of Scone from Westminster Abbey in 1950.- Early life :...
who would later become a well known Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
) took the Stone of Destiny
Stone of Destiny
Stone of Destiny may refer to:*Stone of Scone, the coronation stone of Scottish monarchs**Stone of Destiny , a 2008 film directed by Charles Martin Smith...
from Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
on Christmas Day 1950. This caused a huge scandal amongst the British establishment and it wasn't until April 1951 that the stone was found by the authorities.
GUSNA has, almost since its inception, tried to play an active part in the life of Glasgow University with its members regularly being involved in the Students' Representative Council
Glasgow University Students' Representative Council
Glasgow University Students' Representative Council was founded on 9th March 1886 and recognised as the legal representative body for students of the University of Glasgow by the Universities Act 1889. The SRC is responsible for representing students' interests to the management of the University...
as well as regularly nominating candidates for the election of the Rectorship of the university.
Notable GUSNA Rectorial candidates of the past have included Robert Cunninghame-Graham
Robert Cunninghame-Graham
Robert Bontine Cunninghame Graham was a Scottish politician, writer, journalist and adventurer...
and John MacCormick (who with Ian Hamilton as his campaign manager was successful in being elected). More recent candidates have been Pat Kane
Pat Kane
Pat Kane is a Scottish musician, and half of the pop duo Hue and Cry with his younger brother Greg.Independently of Hue & Cry, lead singer Kane writes on politics and culture...
, Dorothy-Grace Elder
Dorothy-Grace Elder
Dorothy-Grace Elder is a journalist and a former Member of the Scottish Parliament.She first came to the public eye in the 1970s as a television journalist, on BBC Scotland's news programme Reporting Scotland...
, Ian Hamilton
Ian Hamilton QC
Ian Robertson Hamilton, QC is a lawyer and Scottish Nationalist. He is best known for his part in the removal of the Stone of Scone from Westminster Abbey in 1950.- Early life :...
and the noted writer and artist Alasdair Gray
Alasdair Gray
Alasdair Gray is a Scottish writer and artist. His most acclaimed work is his first novel Lanark, published in 1981 and written over a period of almost 30 years...
.
GUSNA is a constituent member of the SNP Student Wing, the Federation of Student Nationalists
Federation of Student Nationalists
The Federation of Student Nationalists is the student wing of the Scottish National Party , representing students in Scottish higher education...
(FSN) and played a leading role in the FSN's formation in the 1960s.
Prominent former members of GUSNA have included Winnie Ewing
Winnie Ewing
Winifred Margaret 'Winnie' Ewing is a Scottish nationalist, lawyer and prominent SNP politician who was formerly a Member of Parliament , Member of the European Parliament and Member of the Scottish Parliament...
and Neil MacCormick
Neil MacCormick
Sir Neil MacCormick, QC, FBA, FRSE , or just Neil MacCormick, was a legal philosopher and Scottish politician. He was Regius Professor of Public Law and the Law of Nature and Nations at the University of Edinburgh from 1972 until 2008...
MEP (son of John MacCormick). The current president is Calum MacLeod.