A Freedom of Information request obtained by Hillhead Review has revealed that the clean-up cost following the alleged vandalism of the James McCune Smith Learning Hub (JMS) is £6014.40 so far.
On November 26, Glasgow University Justice for Palestine Society (GUJPS) shared what they claim to be an “anonymous submission”. The video showed a single figure spraying the building.
The word “divest” was written across the glass facade, relating to the ongoing student campaign for the University to sell their shares in the arms trade.
No culprit has been publicly identified by Police Scotland or the University of Glasgow.
GUJPS “speculate” that the alleged vandalism was related to the University Court meeting, which took place on the same day. Hillhead Review understands that the University’s investments in the arms trade was not on the agenda.
The clean-up cost incurred is so far smaller than the £6382.20 caused by the vandalism in February 2025.
Hannah Taylor, then 24, and Catriona Roberts, then 22, sprayed red paint across the JMS glass facade before glueing themselves to the ground in front of the building. They were acting as part of the pressure group Youth Demand.
Both women were cleared of Malicious Mischief by the Glasgow Sheriff Court in November, just two weeks before the second spray-painting of the University building.
Hannah Taylor, a Masters student of Mathematics, was fined a proportion of the clean-up cost in a settlement with the University. Her six week campus ban was lifted on 26 March 2025.
The University of Glasgow has been contacted for comment.
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