WITH the constant flow of elections in recent years across Britain, you would be forgiven for allowing the prospect of rectoral elections at universities pass you by. 

But for one ancient institution in Scotland, the opportunity to inject a brand new voice into the upper echelons of representation is one facing tens of thousands this month.

The role of rector at the University of Glasgow is to be the voice of those on campus, to “champion their cause.” 

But despite being founded in the 15th century, students here have only once before seen themselves spoken up for by a woman, when Winnie Mandela was voted in in 1987. 

Now, 30 years after Winnie left her role, students are being given the chance to mark a new first by electing the first trans woman to such a position in Scotland, and possibly the whole of Britain.

A writer and activist, Elaine Gallagher is no stranger to election, having run for a Westminster seat just three months ago for the Scottish Greens. But she is far from a career politician. 

Having grown up “middle class” in Greenock and moving down the Clyde to Glasgow, Gallagher worked at the Ministry of Defence when she transitioned in 2013. 

Since leaving her role, realising she would never be promoted, she has struggled to find work, cobbling together a living writing as a freelance. 

Now, having come into politics in her fifties, she feels her experience of living on the breadline and mistreatment by bigots will resonate with students more than candidates from the political class, who often dominate elections at all levels.

“I’ve been unemployed for more than five years,” she says. “I have tried to make a living by freelance writing. I’ve stayed in Glasgow but I’ve struggled to pay rent, to find a job, struggled to eat properly.

“I know exactly what it’s like for young people who are underfunded and don’t have access to the bank of mum and dad, and are having to make their way in an economy that is transferring their future income into the pockets of landholders.”

Alongside her experience of social issues, tackling bigotry and challenging power structures comes easily to Gallagher. 

As a trans woman, she has faced hostility in the past — although not within this campaign. 

But for those with bigoted and preconceived notions of queer people, Gallagher hopes to prove a point.

“The thing about trans representation is like the dancing bear a lot of the time — people don’t expect people who are different to actually be able to do the job,” Gallagher explains. “They’re just surprised they can do it at all.

“People who are biased against trans people are doing so for completely fallacious reasons. It’s a fallacy that anybody who is different is obviously strange, or a creep, or a threat. 

“If I’m standing there in defiance of the people who don’t like the fact that I have this about me and just doing the job, that means others like me get an example that I can get to that position.”

In 2017 young people across Glasgow mobilised to prevent far-right provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos from taking up the position of rector at an ancient university, with bigoted comments and anti-trans rhetoric common in messaging.

Five candidates are currently battling it out to win over the 31,000 electorate, but the landscape of discussion and candidates is drastically different. 

Beyond Gallagher, there are elected SNP politicians, including slavery-reparation activist Graham Campbell, as well as one of Scotland’s most senior judges — Lady Rita Rae. 

One distinct difference that Gallagher has noticed this time around is a more accepting messaging coming from candidates.

She adds: “The amount of abuse flying about towards trans people and queer people in general was quite appalling. But none of that abuse has surfaced. You would think being who I am I would be a lightning rod for it. But none of that has happened.

“It is turning into a popularity contest about who is coolest. You’ve got people like Graham [Campbell], and people are voting for him because of racism on the campus.

“Someone who has experience of real life, of poverty, of trying to find a job and of discrimination. Those things would make a good rector and resonate with students.”

Voting for students opens online on March 23, with results announced the following day. 

When the winner is announced, will Gallagher, and the University of Glasgow have made history with their choice?

“What I’d want to do is disregard the fact that I’m trans,” said Gallagher. “Do the job well — and by that example demonstrate to bigots that trans people are not a threat to cisgender women. 

“The level of trust a generation of young women at this university put in me has to demonstrate that.

“Being trans doesn’t matter. You look at the ability of someone to do the job, not how they fit into an arbitrary gender mould.”