Freshers’ Week 2025 at the University of Glasgow opened with controversy after the Queen Margaret Union (QMU) said they were allegedly asked to remove a Palestinian flag by a member of staff before taking part in a group photo of the student unions.
QMU President Lucy Stobie said the Union displayed a Palestinian flag during the event to highlight their Freshers’ Week charity, Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP).
“We brought our Palestine flag to the Welcome Address today,” Stobie said. “We’re raising money for Medical Aid for Palestinians as our chosen Freshers’ Week charity this year. We want to visibly show that the QMU don’t condone the genocide.”
After the address, the University’s communications team reportedly attempted to organise a group photo of the student unions. According to Stobie and other union members, staff asked the QMU to put their flag away or else leave the photo opportunity.
Rather than comply, QMU committee members and freshers’ helpers collectively walked out in solidarity and declined to participate in the photograph.
After leaving the Gilbert Scott building, while running a takeover of the University’s official Instagram account, QMU followed up by posting an image at their union building with the Palestinian flag on display. Over the Instagram story, they wrote: “We will not remain silent @uofglasgow.” The post was visible both on the University’s account as part of the takeover and on QMU’s own channels.
As of publication, the post remains live on the University of Glasgow official Instagram story.
According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health on the 3rd of September, over 64,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the war with Israel escalated in October 2023. Many of these deaths are women, children or elderly people – roughly 30% under-18 by one recent count.
Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP), provides both emergency medical aid and long-term health support. In 2024, MAP provided medical care to around 650,000 people in Gaza, including access to emergency services and day-to-day healthcare. They also delivered 12 million litres of safe drinking water through WASH (Water, Sanitation & Hygiene) programmes to displaced communities suffering shortages.
A University spokesperson said: “The University of Glasgow upholds the right to freedom of expression, including the right of staff and students to engage in peaceful demonstrations. However, we do not tolerate activities which interfere with the rights of others to go about their business in peace.
“As an institution we stand against hate or harassment of any kind. We regularly communicate with all our staff and students about the need for tolerance towards each other, and we reiterate this call for all members of our community to be respectful to each other at all times.”
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