Robyn Woof, Edinburgh University’s Student Association (EUSA) Trans and Non-Binary liberation officer, has resigned from her post following the appointment of Simon Fanshawe as the new rector of the University of Edinburgh.
She has also resigned from her role in the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee (EDIC).
In her resignation statement, which she read aloud at the EDIC meeting, Woof stated:
“It is quite clear to me that it’s impossible for me to achieve anything campaigning against transphobia through the university’s official processes so I am resigning in protest and will instead begin a campaign of direct action.”
She cited the appointment of the new rector as a reason for her resignation.
Citing other reasons for her resignation Woof said: “the university’s EDI structures in general do nothing about trans rights at the university except intentionally preventing progress.”
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She further stated:
“The university has intentionally blocked me from carrying out my role using the student disciplinary process, security, senior management.
“This [EDI] committee, particularly our chair, has repeatedly refused to discuss the issues with transphobia properly in this committee, insisting they are more appropriate for the non existent LGBT subcommittee.”
The Student conducted an investigation into the creation of the LGBT subcommittee, which has failed to find a suitable convener since it was first proposed in 2019.
The previous convenor of the committee stepped down following reports that he had helped to organise a “gender-critical” book launch in October 2023.
Woof cited this as a reason for her resignation in her statement, saying that the convenor had “refused even to publicly make a commitment to supporting existing trans rights.”
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In a comment to The Student, Woof also mentioned that the university “rejected my calls and staff members calls for proper discussion of the events around the screenings at EDIC and said it should be left for the subcommittee.”
The University of Edinburgh has declined to comment.
“Bristo Square, winter day 05” by byronv2 is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0.