One of Camosun’s own has been elected provincial women’s liaison for the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS).
Madeline Keller-MacLeod, the Lansdowne campus executive for the Camosun College Student Society (CCSS), will be in charge of “helping to facilitate the work that women students are doing across BC,” she says.
Keller-MacLeod, who is studying political science at Camosun, was elected at the CFS-BC general meeting in January, and her one-year term started May 1. She will be paid a $325 per month honorarium plus travel expenses to organize campaigns and support other student societies in the province on issues that affect women.
“I’m a proud feminist and I want to help women find ways to empower themselves,”she says. “I ran for the position because there isn’t gender equality in this world, this society, and this culture, and achieving equality is something I’m very passionate about it.”
The CFS is a national student organization representing postsecondary institutions across the country. Camosun, also known as CFS Local 75, traditionally has one seat on the CFS-BC board, but this year they have three: Keller-MacLeod as women’s liaison, current CCSS external executive Megan Marshall (who goes by her traditional name, Tl’ehskwiisimka) as CFS-BC aboriginal students liaison, and CCSS sustainability director Clare Horwood as the Camosun CFS-BC representative.
“I’m happy to see three strong women from Local 75 sitting on the CFS-BC executive,” says Keller-MacLeod, “and to see that the CCSS is getting more representation on the board. We work really hard for our students and bringing that work to the provincial executive is valuable for the entire movement.”
CFS-BC chairperson Katie Marocchi isn’t surprised that Camosun now has three spots on their board. In fact, she says Camosun has a rich history with the CFS and has always been very involved in the national student organization.
“Camosun has really active and involved elected representatives and, in addition to working on educational issues, they’re also interested in social justice issues, and that enriches campus culture and directly addresses issues that impact students,” says Marocchi. “It’s pretty cool, because not a lot of locals have that amount of representation.”
Keller-MacLeod says she plans to represent Camosun, the place where she got her start in student activism just two years ago, the best that she can. This will include campaigns that she says will directly impact women on campus, as well as around the province.
“I feel like I can do a good job of liaisoning with student groups throughout the province. I love learning about what work others are doing on issues that affect women and I would like to enhance any of the work the locals are already doing,” she says.
One of the campaigns Keller-MacLeod wants to tackle during her term with the CFS-BC is challenging sexism within postsecondary trades programs. And with Camosun having a trades-centric campus at Interurban, she can start by raising awareness close to home.
“There are many women within trades who deal with sexual harassment on a daily basis and there are not enough safe spaces where those students can speak out and receive support,” she says. “If I could provide support for women who have experienced sexism and want to come forward, I would consider that a success.”
Keller-MacLeod got involved with the CFS after being with the CCSS for just under a year. She says getting involved in student politics and activism has been a great learning opportunity and has helped her grow as a person.
“I haven’t always been interested in student activism. I was brought into the student movement really quickly and it’s kind of taken off from there. I was really impressed by the people and what they are working towards,” she says.
As for her new position, she couldn’t be more pleased. And she wants to bring some fun to the struggle, too.
“I’m really happy about it and I am excited to help facilitate the work that feminist students are doing across BC,” she says. “Working to advance equality can get heavy so I’m hoping to help people advance gender equality while having fun at the same time.”