Vote for Change. Vote for Justice. Vote for Jaswanth.

In this evolving educational landscape, it's vital that our student council acts decisively to meet your needs. Our campaign promises tangible, impactful changes for every student. Here's our vision:

1. Skills and Career Development: Creation of Skills Hubs
   Empowerment Through Networking: We're launching Skills Hubs on campus to build a vibrant community for professional growth, where students can network, share knowledge, and enhance their employability through workshops, guest lectures, and real-world projects.


2. Mental Health and Well-being: A Commitment from Day One
   Resources at Your Fingertips: Recognizing mental health's importance, we pledge to provide immediate access to resources and mentorship, fostering a supportive environment that prioritizes your well-being alongside academic achievement.


3. Accommodation and Part-Time Job Assistance: Balancing Life and Work
   Housing Made Easy: We'll offer comprehensive support to find suitable housing, alleviating the stress of house hunting. Work While You Study: Through partnerships, we'll facilitate access to part-time jobs, allowing you to balance study and work effectively.


4. Financial Management and Literacy: Towards Financial Independence
   Educate to Empower: Financial literacy is crucial. We will host workshops and provide resources for smart financial management, from budgeting to investing. Incentives for Smart Spending: Introducing a Finance Card for students, enabling investment of round-off amounts into assets or community projects, rewarding prudent financial decisions.


5. Local Connectivity and Social Integration: Becoming a Part of the Community
   Engage and Integrate: We aim to make every student feel at home, promoting involvement in local events and cultural exchanges to foster a sense of belonging and celebrate our diverse backgrounds.

Your Vote Matters

This manifesto is our pledge to you. Beyond initiatives, it's a commitment to ensure every student not only succeeds academically but thrives personally and professionally.

Vote for change. Vote for justice. Vote for Jaswanth.

Let's unite to create a student council that reflects our diverse needs and aspirations. Your vote is powerful—let it be heard.

Hi, I'm Muscab Salad, and I’m running to be the President of the Students Union.

I have been a student at Royal Holloway now for four years and have loved every minute of it.

I have a passion for representation and have served my community as the Black and Global Majority Community Officer for the past year and served all students, by being one of Royal Holloway’s delegates at the National Union of Students (NUS) in 2022/23, representing you all on a national level. 

I am well aware that students can often feel without a voice and unable to create change. As president, I will utilise the experiences I have gained in my past roles to ensure that no voice goes unheard.

If elected, I will:

1. Represent all students regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation.
2. Lobby the university to provide a more improved, reliable, and frequent night bus service. Student safety should be the SU’s main priority, and people should be able to get home safely late at night without having to pay extortionate prices!
3. Improve the services offered to International Students, with more helpful support around visas. As President, I will ensure international students are not overlooked.
4. I will also work with commuting students to make sure that they feel as though their interests are being fully represented by the SU.
5. Improving university nightlife is one of my key priorities. As president I will ensure themed nights actually play the artists they are themed around. I will also introduce toast at Toast. Stations with toast and a number of toppings all for an affordable price will become your new favourite way to end a Monday night. 
6. A complete shake-up and reform of the SU security.
   • Require cultural competency training.
   • Improve CCTV around the SU.
   • Allow Campus Connect to be an alternative form of entry to the SU all year.

I want the SU to be more than a night out. I will ensure it fulfils its primary purpose - a union for students, that fights for student interests and is always on your side!

Salad, it's good for you!

Esteemed Members of the Royal Holloway Community,

I extend my heartfelt greetings to you all. My name is Nidhinraj Kurumthottathil, and it is with a profound sense of dedication and warmth that I present myself as a candidate for the position of Students' Union President. As an Artificial Intelligence student, my academic journey is complemented by deep involvement in the arts, sports, social initiatives, and numerous UK-based volunteer services. Additionally, I actively participate in courses on wellbeing and diversity. This is underpinned by the honour of having received the highest national award for volunteering and leadership.

This rich tapestry of experiences has equipped me with a unique perspective that I am eager to bring to our beloved Royal Holloway community, with a focus on ensuring safety, championing equality, and empowering female students, thereby fostering a campus environment that is both inclusive and secure for everyone.

Our Collective Journey Toward Inclusivity and Wellbeing

Wellbeing:
The mental and emotional health of our students is paramount. I advocate for enhanced support systems, particularly focusing on the unique challenges faced by female, LGBTQ and disabled students, to ensure a nurturing environment for all.

Enhancements for a Better Campus Experience I propose a series of practical improvements to enhance our campus life, including:

• Complimentary Electric Vehicle shuttle for convenient campus navigation.
• Introduction of a free cab service between Royal Holloway and Egham.
• Increased support for students facing extenuating circumstances.
• Improved lecture materials and a part-time-friendly timetable.
• Secure anti-theft bike pods and more parking spaces
• Financial planning assistance for those in need.
• A more student-friendly SU Store.
• Female prioritised queue system.

Leveraging AI for a Progressive Campus
With the background in Artificial Intelligence, Our goal is to transform our campus into the premier fully digital and AI-integrated campus in the UK, thereby enhancing our standing in the academic community and global ranking.

In Conclusion, With Sincerity and Hope
I invite you to join me on this transformative journey. Together, we can cultivate a Royal Holloway that stands as a beacon of warmth, inclusivity, and vibrancy. Your support for my candidacy is a step toward a bright, inclusive future.

With my deepest respect and sincere gratitude, I humbly ask for your vote.

Hello, I'm Nisha, and I'm running to be your next SU President!

Experience:
As the current VP of Wellbeing & Diversity, I have already established strong relationships within both the university and the SU.  I also have experience Lobbying and improving student experience one example of this was the implementation of Wobble Week this year!  

My priorities for 2024/25: 

Inclusivity and belonging on campus.
I want to ensure everyone feels like they belong on campus therefore I plan to collaborate with student groups to develop accessibility guides for inclusive events.

I also aim to introduce new concepts like Word Week and Culture Day, dedicated to celebrating diversity and increase the recognition of cultural and faith celebrations.

Additionally, I'll work with the VP Wellbeing & Diversity to build stronger student communities for underrepresented groups of students and advocate for more social events and spaces for these students.

I will also introduce international student experience workshops to improve the experience of international students and implement more social events and activities on the London campus.  

Student Safety & Wellbeing
Ensuring student safety and wellbeing is vital. Therefore, I will implement termly security reviews to address concerns promptly and provide training for security personnel on spiking awareness, EDI, and consent.

I will also focus on improving safety measures on campus (e.g., lighting) and better public transport options for students.

Additionally, I will work to implement the recommendations from the wellbeing review, including increased counseling services and bookable appointments.

I will also advocate for improvements to the GP surgery, so its services align with our growing and diverse student population.

Your Education
I will continue to refine the Extenuating Circumstances policy so that it fully supports students. I will also ensure transparency regarding academic misconduct and academic rights.

Additionally, I will introduce free extra learning opportunities such as language classes and enhance career support and planning through your degree.

I will also work to bridge communication gaps between departments to ensure students who require reasonable adjustments or who are on combined honors degree receive adequate support. 

In summary, I want to create a campus where every student feels safe, supported, valued, and heard!

Over the last six months I have shown that I am committed to enhancing student experience and making meaningful changes for all students!

I would love to continue this work as your next SU President! 

Hello! I’m Sharanya and I’m running to be your SU President. I’m the current Vice President Education and have lobbied for student interest throughout the year, whilst simultaneously building strong relationships within the University and the Students’ Union. I’m passionate, determined and I’m the girl that has (and will) get things done.

Here are my aims for 2024/25:

Student Safety:

• Lobby the University and the Students’ Union to adopt a harm reduction approach towards drugs and alcohol abuse – ensuring that no student is too scared to get help.
• Implement mandatory Sexual Health and Consent Education, as well as EDI training for students and staff in collaboration with Academics Against Assault and in line with OfS Guidelines.
• Ensure SU Security have refresher trainings in cultural competency and that stoppers and drink covers are never ‘running out’ within venues. Complaints must be responded to efficiently and change must be implemented in a visible and transparent way.
• Campaign to open back gate and improve lighting on campus and in the Egham and Englefield Area

Celebrating students:

• Implement a points-based rewards scheme that recognises our student groups achievements throughout the year (instead of just at Colours or Societies awards) The scheme will lead to prizes such as extra funding for the student group, free summer ball tickets or vouchers for Tesco or lidl.
• Celebrate diversity on campus by holding a #OneWorld week. Encouraging students to wear cultural clothing across campus and hold a showcase where students perform, eat and learn about other cultures.

Campus Facilities:

• Lobby for better facility allocation for student groups (so they’re prioritised and given earlier hours and more room/facilities over external groups)
• Refurbish and expand our gym
• Create a Commuters Hub – a common room where commuting students can go during the day
• Increase parking spaces on campus

Student Experience:

• Launch a policy inquiry into the international student and commuter student experience.
• Reduce prices within SU shop and across campus
• Create a Commuters Hub – a common room where commuting students can go during the day
• Implement free breakfasts to help with cost-of-living pressures

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed representing students the past 6 months and have shown how I can make change both locally and nationally. I’m ready to represent Royal Holloway students as your SU President and be the girl that gets things done.