Tell us a bit about yourself, your role and your time at Exeter.
Hey! I’m Thomas, your next Communities & Equality Officer! I’m here to make sure nobody’s left behind when it comes to being able to participate in our community and feeling like they belong. My predecessor and the other officers have helped set up things like peer support groups and the Gender Expression Fund, and I plan on continuing their work of collaborating with you on things you find important!
Some little things about me are that I recently completed my English & Creative Writing degree and that I’m from the States! I love all things involving the arts!
Favourite spot in Exeter (or on campus)
Anywhere my friends are!
If you could recommend one thing the Students’ Guild offers for students to get involved in, what would it be?
Everyone’s said societies, but it’s really true! It’s a great way to find community and make friends with a similar background or interests! It’s also a great way to try new things, which I highly recommend! Any time in life is a good time to try something new, but now is a great time with the huge variety of groups we have. You’ll find that there’s not a big expectation for commitment too, unlike if you were to sign up for a class or something. The Guild also gives you the tools to get a society started if you want to start one as well!
Top study tip?
My advice is definitely more Humanities-based, but here it goes! For modules with essays, quickly look over all of the weeks’ topics and see what might be most interesting/important to you! It’s better to have an idea (doesn’t have to be solid) of what you want to do a deep dive into instead of having each week’s topic being a surprise. That way, you know which week’s readings to prioritize and what you can do wider reading in. Also! You may convince yourself that it’s “safer” to do a well-researched topic that’s not interesting to you, but it’s often better to write about something you’re genuinely passionate about. You’ll find yourself doing better quality research and writing, and you’ll often be surprised to find professors that are also passionate about the same things you are!
What’s one thing at uni you couldn’t live without?
Whimsy. Tomfoolery. Gaiety, even.
What’s your perfect day in Exeter?
Reading, writing, drawing, and spending time with friends! Steven Universe is a big comfort watch for me on rainy days
What’s one piece of advice you would give to students?
You can choose who to give your time to. Find the people that aren’t embarrassed to be with the authentic you! Be open, too; you’ll never know who you’ll meet! And of course, kindness goes far. You may not remember every name, but you’ll always remember how someone made you feel.
Why did you decide to campaign to be an Officer?
I really wanted to give back to the community that I’ve enjoyed all these years! As a queer, neurodivergent, and minority student, I understand that every community has its own needs and that I’ll never fully understand every community, but I believe in Radical Allyship. That means getting others into the room to make change and helping create an environment where people feel informed enough to lift others up. Every year, I hear from friends how they’ve been let down. I want to make sure everyone is heard, and that we can make tangible change that can be felt. Let’s work together in this new year!
What do you like to do in your spare time?
Oh, you know. Twiddling my toes, collecting cool rocks.
