In March of this year, Eilidh McQuillan was elected as President of Glasgow University Sports Association (GUSA) for the 26/27 academic year. Eilidh’s key roles for the term include the general oversight of her council, upholding strong student representation, and maintaining partnerships and connections not only throughout the University but also through a wider sporting community.
At the beginning of the semester, Sports Editor Ruby Loxley sat down with Eilidh to discuss her plans and initiatives for this year.
RL: How are you feeling about the current running of GUSA at the minute?
Eilidh said there is a fresh new council with new volunteers this year bringing “new life in the organisation.” These “passionate council members” are ready to instil big changes this year for the sports association.
RL: What events and plans are you most looking forward to running and organising with your team this year?
The council are looking to add a lot to the organisation this year with Eilidh mentioning a few such as, “renaming the summer hardship fund to the access to sport fund. As previously this targeted students who were facing short term financial hardship. It is now set up to support students who struggle to access sport through financial hardship.” GUSA is also looking to collaborate with other sports presidents for more of a focus on gender based violence and misogyny within sport.
The new GUSA president also discussed more support for club executive members in areas such as applying for club of the year and end of year colours; “so students who have not done this type of stuff before are not being disadvantaged.”
She also hopes to push a “big focus on inclusion, positive culture, and how we can foster that in Glasgow.”
RL: With women in sport being such an important topic at the minute, how does it feel to be a female leader within such a big sporting environment?
“It’s really exciting, I’m obviously so passionate about women in sport! I’m excited to bring my perspective into all of that, and inject some different life into it.” ‘Girls night in’ and’ Women in Sport week’ is also being planned by GUSA, hoping to take place towards the end of October. In the past five years, the GUSA President position has been filled by a man and Eilidh says she is “bringing a unique women’s perspective into the role.” Despite the majority of the council being women, McQuillan described how “this inclusive environment doesn’t just have to come from women, it can come from men … we can work together to achieve a really positive, inclusive environment, I think that’s a really good thing!”
RL: What should students most be looking forward to this year? Is there anything you would say to 100% keep your eye out for?
On a final note, we discussed the exciting events GUSA has to offer students. Eilidh said, “GUSA Ball is always a highlight of the year … 900 students in the Hilton is just chaos, in the best way possible. This is what I’m most looking forward to.” The University also has “5 teams competing in Premier Leagues in BUCS”, so definitely watch out for these fixtures! The team is also looking to expand Glasgow Varsity for 2026, so students should “keep an eye out for extra tickets.”
