Our first issue of Campus Celebrity brings you Lesley Campbell, a fourth year political science student from Ajax who is also the coordinator of the Women’s Issues Network here at Western. Having gone to an all girls school for seven years, Lesley says “I’ve always been passionate about women’s issues but this is the first forum I’ve had to actually voice my opinions outside of the classroom.”
Lesley’s interest and appointment to WIN resulted from a little bit of curiosity and luck. Lesley originally applied for the position of the ‘I Know Someone’ coordinator but was turned down. “I was told by the VPCI that I should look into WIN because they thought I might really enjoy it. So I did and I looked into it and the more I read the more certain I was that this is for me.” So Lesley applied for the job and the rest, as they say, is history!
In the past, WIN has been concerned with activism on campus whereas “now our goals are more about reaching out to students and letting them know that we are here for them. We deal with anything and everything like domestic violence and eating disorders, basically any issues that are affecting women today outside of the classroom.” Lesley stresses one of WIN’s major goals is to provide an alternative forum for students to talk about real life issues affecting us. This is a great opportunity for everyone at Western because the unique thing about university is that we are presented with so many chances to get involved and talk to different people and WIN is one of those forums that truly caters to every issue outside of the classroom. “Really our goal is to get people involved and to get people aware of the issues; we’re still about activism but we’re also about serving and servicing the student body.”
Having been an outsider to WIN until this year, Lesley has had to learn a lot really fast. Lesley has a few plans for the new direction she wants to take WIN in; “One of the main changes that I’m looking to make is to rebrand WIN. Traditionally we’ve been labeled a feminist group, which is fine, but I think the word feminism scares people and I’d like to try and re-brand what feminism means, especially on campus here at Western, and a big part of that is male outreach.” Having appointed a male outreach coordinator, WIN hopes to get as many guys on campus involved to make them understand and care about the issues. Lesley explains, “it shouldn’t just be women talking about issues that affect them, but also talking to the people who affect those issues.” One issue Lesley is very passionate about is sexuality. After the lecture in first year about “no means no,” the issue of sexuality goes out the window. Lesley plans to continue this discussion, “WIN, in combination with Pride Western, is hoping to tear down hetero-normativity and especially talk about sexual scripts on campus – this notion that women are submissive and that we’re not allowed to enjoy sex. Why can’t we embrace our sexuality and embrace it the same way that men can?”
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It is evident that Lesley is passionate about women’s issues as well as the students on campus and wants them to know that “there is a place where you can go to really be heard and be truly passionate about issues that affect you, or they don’t affect you but you want to change things anyway.”She also “want[s] them to know that they can make a difference and that we’re a great resource for them and I hope that they truly take advantage of us.” Lesley hopes that this year more people will get involved and find out what WIN is really about. WIN is about more than feminism, it’s about issues that affect us as women every day. Some of us may be the victims of sexual harassment, some might have succumbed to an eating disorder, while others might be dealing with issues of sexuality. Lesley’s goal is to“ tear down this notion that we’re just a feminist group and we just sit around in a circle and talk about not shaving our legs. That’s not it at all and I want them to know about that misconception and kind of straighten the record.”
If you want to get involved with WIN this year, and I encourage you all to do so, WIN has a lot of exciting events planned throughout the year. In October and November, WIN will be providing self defense lessons as well as a social at The Spoke aimed at defeating the stereotypical notions of sex, allowing women to make the first move and taking control of their sexuality. There are also bi-weekly events and movie nights aimed at providing students with a place to hang out and talk about any issues they may be having. WIN also invites professionals from the London community to talk about issues such as domestic violence and eating disorders in what’s called ‘Hope’s Garden’ and has a new initiative this year called Art Therapy. They are also in the process of planning events such as a movie festival featuring movies you won’t see anywhere else and of course, there’s always the WIN anti-fashion show during WIN week in August.
Her Campus Quiz
What has been your favorite class and why?
Last year I took an introductory psychology class called psychology of sex and it was really neat because it was like sex with Sue for like a whole year and you got graded on it!
Your future career plans?
Well I’m currently in the process of applying to law school, I’m thinking family law. I think I’d be suited to deal with people and help them through the worst times of their lives.
Your role model?
I have the classic answer, my mother, for obvious reasons, everyone looks up to their mom and we have a great relationship. But I also look up to Ellen DeGeneres, she’s totally made waves in society more so than I think she’s actually realized, I just think she really took a stand for her beliefs. I admire how she uses her power for good.
Best memory at Western?
There are so many! There was one night in first year where a group of us stayed up until four in the morning and just talked about anything and everything. It’s funny the things that stick out to you in your mind, there was a group of us and we were just talking, getting to know each other and we’re still super close.
Your Relationship status?
I’ve been in a relationship going on four years, we started dating just at the end of grade 12 and we’ve been together ever since.
Any other on campus activities?
I’m a member of the political science association, I’m also a part of the social science club and I’m also a part of the Toronto maple leafs fans at Western.
Any Pet peeves?
I actually have a really big pet peeve; when someone is like “I’m so mad/sad” and you’re like why and they answer “I don’t want to talk about it”. Why would you bring it up if you don’t want to talk about it? you’re lying to yourself, you want to talk about it!
Your Dream job?
Working at Toronto Maple Leafs sports and entertainment contract lawyer – I would probably assume I would get free tickets in there somewhere!
Your Dream husband?
Some who lets me be who I am and someone who could tell me new stories even when we’re eighty.
If you could have any super power, what would it be?
I think it would be invisibility because you could use that for good but it’s also sometimes nice to just turn off the world.
If you could have dinner with anyone, who would it be?
As a political science student I think it would be Bill Clinton, which sounds so random but I just think he would be a very interesting person to get to know. He was literally caught cheating yet convinced his wife to stay with him, convinced his close cabinet to stay with him, convinced the nation to not hate him and had huge support from the international community. How do you do that? I just think it would be neat to get to know someone like that.