There’s more to life than classes at UCLA

Monday, September 28, 1998

There’s more to life than classes at UCLA

PROFILE: Student gets involved in community service, political
issues

By Kaitie Pappert

Daily Bruin Staff

Kelly Archbold is a fourth-year women’s studies student. She is
a director for the community service organization Women and Youth
Supporting Each Other (WYSE), a member of the Affirmative Action
Coalition and a part of the Women’s Studies Student Council.

What does WYSE do?

We work with middle school and high school girls in San Fernando
and West L.A. I work with high school girls, about 15 of them, in
San Fernando. They’re all juniors in high school and we talk to
them about things like sex, drugs, teen pregnancy, and we also have
them do community activism kind of things. They work with
fifth-graders, put together a magazine, and they’re going to do a
seminar for their high school peers talking about teen pregnancy
and birth control.

Do you get involved with political activities at school?

Yeah, I’ve been participating with the Affirmative Action
Coalition, in the protests that occurred in the spring. I was one
of those who got arrested.

What was it was like to get arrested?

It was fine. It was really exciting to be with all those people
and the way we were really excited about something and were totally
committed to it. It was a thrill to be around so much positivity,
with all those people. It kind of sucked going through the whole
arrest process, but no charges were filed, so it’s OK.

What made you decide to get involved in these activities?

This might sound cheesy, but I believe in the causes. I’m a
women’s studies major, which I feel is a political major anyway.
This is what I want to do with my life, fighting these things,
working for organizations. It’s not necessarily like I do it just
to do it, it’s like I have to do it. I’d feel bad if I didn’t.

Do you feel like the reason why you have these causes is because
you have been discriminated against?

I don’t know why I have these causes. I guess I was brought up
in a liberal household. I went to a diverse campus in elementary
and middle school in Long Beach, and I think that exposed me to a
lot of things and a lot of issues that I personally didn’t have to
deal with as a white, middle-class woman.

What kinds of issues?

In high school I went to a predominately white high school, but
in middle school I remember issues of race, class, and so I
remember starting to think about things like racism at a young
age.

I was always really interested in fighting against it. Fighting
injustices in society has always been something I’ve been into.
That’s why I chose my major; that’s why I joined these
organizations and involved myself in these protests. I feel like I
have to do it.

What have been some of your favorite experiences while you’ve
been here?

I’ve loved doing all of the protests and actions; it’s exciting
to be around so many different people.

What impact would you like to make while you’re here?

I think(I’d like to make my impact) through WYSE – it’s most
important that the UCLA volunteers that I work with feel good and
try hard.

I’d like to make an impact among them and provide them with the
space where they can do amazing work, and make this work good and
positive for them. Also, working with the young women – they’re not
UCLA students, but that’s just been a huge thing.

How have these activities had an impact on you?

I’ve seen how much can be done with young women, just in terms
of providing them with knowledge and giving them support, and
becoming their friends and mentors. I’ve also seen how much
activism and change young people can make. I really enjoy working
with young people, they always impress me with how much they know
and do.

The activism on campus, I’m not as big of a part of it, but I
feel like I can make an impact there, too, being in the protests,
being a person who is visible – that people can see and talk
with.

What would you like to change about Los Angeles and UCLA?

I guess I’d like to see more dialogue among people. I don’t want
to say that a lot of people are totally apathetic, but at the same
time, I wish we could have more forums and more discussions rather
than people always clashing against each other. You see it a lot
with the whole USAC bashing.

UCLA is a microcosm of the city. We can set an example of how
things could be.

I just wish people could care more about talking with each other
and trying to figure things out, but I don’t know how you’d do
that. I guess I’m just hopeful, that’s all.

What have you learned while you’ve been here?

I feel like my eyes have been so opened through the women’s and
ethnic studies courses that I’ve taken. I’ve learned so much about
other people, people who are different than I am, and problems and
issues in society that I wasn’t aware of. I’ve also learned a lot
of ways, working with WYSE and being in protests, to address these
issues.

I’ve learned a lot of information, but then, I’ve also learned a
lot of strategies and ways to go about changing the things that I’m
upset about.

If you could impart any wisdom to others, what would you want
people to know? What would you want people to do?

I believe in the goodness of all people, and I just feel like
there is so much misunderstanding in our world that causes so much
hate and violence and problems. I guess it goes back to wishing
people would talk more, having the dialogue with each other,
because I feel like we could all understand each other, but we
can’t figure out how to do it. Don’t be scared to try new things,
get out of what is familiar and challenge yourself, and you will be
rewarded.

I think coming to college you get out of the comfort zone, not
being at home. But, being at UCLA can be a comfort zone.

Other than taking really great classes, the best part of UCLA
has been what I’ve been involved in, and so I’d encourage people to
get involved in things, whatever they may be. For me, it’s been
more political and community service based.

Get more involved, get out of the classroom a little bit, and
add to your studies a little bit. Whatever you choose to do, just
live and not be so stressed by everything and keep reminding
yourself what is really important in life.

Kelly Archbold

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