By Fraser Brown

Soon Christmas lights will be going up in the Union, societies will be holding festive bake sales, and rates of club rejections from people having sgian-dubhs will skyrocket as ceilidhs and kilts flood the streets of Glasgow.

My Christmas present to Strathclyde students? I’m glad you asked. I am going to represent you effectively, remain visible, active, and continuing to strengthen my accountability… Is that not enough? Okay, I’ll let you in on hat the Union’s doing for students going into the New Year.

The real Christmas gift for you all is the Strategic Alliance Framework. I and the other Executive Officers have signed a one-year agreement with the University on a series of visions and
goals we will work towards achieving by June. You can find it on the Strath Union website, and I have been raving about it over on my Instagram. This is a sector-leading agreement that no
other Union/University have within their organisations, and we as students should take full advantage of that. It is not talked about enough, and we are putting in the work to make sure more students and University staff are aware of the commitments made by both Executive teams. Some great work is on its way!

The 25th November to 10th December was the 16 Days of Action Against Gender-Based Violence in the Union, and we collaborated with Unions/ Associations across Glasgow to allow students to attend any campus’ events, and to ensure it is true community collaboration to stamp out gender- based violence. Our Fight for the Night march organised by the Union demonstrated the Glaswegian community come together to speak out against gender-based violence and those who use it to further their own prejudice and malicious political agendas. ‘Not In Our Name’ perfectly encapsulated this.

Christmas decorations are going up in December around the Union, and if my present is the Strategic Alliance Framework, the Terrace’s is £2.75 drinks. The Twelve Hours of Christmas
at the Terrace is our annual party for the end of term, and Famous First Words are back. Come to the Union one last time on the 19th December before its shut, and we’ll see you in the new year. You can even gift me a pint of Jubel?

And as I sign off, I want to spread this one last word of holiday cheer: please stop opening the fire doors at Roasters to leave the Union,
it’s too damn cold.

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and see you all soon,

Fraser