The bullying was horrific. And this is a woman who stood her ground in a male-dominated workplace, she does not complain about trivial things.
Ann is a formidable woman who could have done so much with the students, especially the women's societies, but they refused to even talk to her.
A spokeswoman for the university said the rector was a voluntary, unremunerated position accountable to students and staff. She said: “Their role may often require them to understand and respond to different perspectives within what is a large and diverse community, and we understand that this can be challenging. Of course, rectors can and do express their views on issues within or outwith their university role.
This is an insult to Ann. She respected other perspectives and sought nothing but respectful dialogue with the students. Indeed, her initial "crime" was asking, with carefully chosen words, for a respectful debate about GRA reform. That was enough to have her labelled a transphobe, a bigot and hateful.
“We are fully committed to freedom of expression and published a statement on this important issue last year. It is inevitable that in such an environment, different ideas within our community will conflict with others. However, we expect debate to be conducted at all times in a respectful manner.”
One side in this debate seems to be supported by the university's leadership team and one is not. One seems to get support to hold events and one does not.
As far as I'm concerned, they ought to consider staff being threatened by students to be a serious issue, but to my knowledge no disciplinary action has been taken.
I have friends who work there and the atmosphere for women daring to disagree - however mildly - with the doctrine of gender identity and the policies based on it is grim.
Regardless of what that statement said, it's deeds that count, not words. And by that measure Edinburgh University is failing badly in my view.