University of St Andrews Students' Association

They organised activities like weekly dances, known as "Hops," and subsidised meals known as "Dines," which became the precursors to modern traditions like the Friday night Bop and the Scott Lang Dinner.

These Unions served as vital community spaces, especially in an era when social norms often dictated separate spheres for men and women.

A significant transformation occurred in 1973, when both organisations moved into the purpose-built premises on St Mary’s Place that remain home to the Students’ Association today.

The Sabbatical Officers reflect this dual heritage: the President and Director of Education focus on representational roles linked to the SRC’s origins, while the Directors of Events and Services (DoEs), Student Development and Activities (DoSDA), and Wellbeing (DoWell) oversee the social and extracurricular dimensions of student life.

The Association operates a range of subcommittees and groups that allow students to get involved in specific aspects of university life.

Some of these include: The Students’ Association operates under the strategic guidance of a Board of Trustees, ensuring that the organisation remains financially sustainable and adheres to its constitutional aims.

The Association fosters a strong participatory culture, encouraging students to take an active role in shaping their university experience.

In early 2023, it was discovered that the building had been built with RAAC, a material that is no longer considered suitable for construction, and the Club 601 was closed for an 18-month renovation period in which the roof was completely redone.

[24] It was operated by the Mermaids Performing Arts Fund,[25] a subcommittee of the Students' Association, notable alumni of which includes Deidre Mullins and Siobhan Redmond.

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.

The residency is now colloquially known as the Barron @ the Byre and hosts many of Mermaids' student-written and experimental performances throughout the year, alongside the Union StAge and the larger A.B.