Thomas Franklin

Candidate for President

Thomas Franklin.


STUDENT/SOCIETY SUPPORT

Food, drinks and SU events are far too expensive. I shall investigate the problem and reduce the cost where it’s feasible to do so.

For societies, I shall also increase funding where possible. Society executives have the energy, ideas, and motivation to improve their societies, but restricted funding has hampered them.

SU REFORM

The SU’s communication and services have been inefficient for both students and societies: e-mails are left without a response, not relaying information to students efficiently, and focusing too heavily on using only one method for informing about events. I will carry out an audit of the SU’s communication systems, streamlining and simplifying them.

ACADEMIC FREEDOM

In order to demonstrate a commitment to academic freedom, it will be my aim that Royal Holloway adopts the Chicago Principles– a commitment to the creation of lasting ideas, through intense inquiry and informed argument.

I shall also endeavour to prevent campaigns that would undermine the agency and expertise of academics in regard to their curriculums.

FREE EXCHANGE OF IDEAS

For any community to flourish members, must not be afraid to share their thoughts, opinions, and beliefs– regardless of how incorrect, ill-informed, or offensive they may be. In order to think, is to risk offence, to outlaw offence is to attack thought. As a result, my aim is to create spaces that facilitate the free exchange of ideas.

WHY I AM STANDING?

The primary reason I’m standing is that I wish to improve the experience for students in Royal Holloway. Currently, societies and students are shackled with the overbearing SU which seeks to control their education; while failing to give student-led societies sufficient support to achieve their goals. However, it is not enough to merely state the problems as anybody can do this. Thus, I am running because I want to fundamentally change the structure of the SU to make it more accountable to you the student and to ensure a better experience for all. Given the social and administrative pressures on students across campus, I have determined that to not speak out would be of greater cost to our great university, than for someone like me to not speak out and see this institution be degraded further.