Meet this week’s Campus Celebrity: Audrey Johnson! Audrey is a sophomore Women’s Studies Major and Queer Studies Minor from Brookline, NH. She is currently the Chair of Alliance, the Program Assistant at the Women’s Studies Program, and Intern for Queer Studies, and a Student Facilitator for Safe Zones.
Read on to hear more about our amazing Campus Celeb!
What is your favorite thing about UNH?
The people. It’s always about the people for me, no matter where I go. In Jon Krakauer’s book Into the Wild, the author describes the journey of Christopher McCandless into the Alaskan wilderness to find himself and the meaning of life. A few weeks before his death, McCandless scribbled an epiphany into the margins of a book: “Happiness only real when shared.” That has always stuck with me. I think the essence of life is in those human connections.
What are you most passionate about?
I am extremely passionate about social justice, with an emphasis on LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, etc.) rights. I love to learn about all the little variations and exceptions to the rules. We’re forced into these rigid boxes of men and women, gay and straight, but that’s not the reality of the world. We would all be so much freer if we deconstructed this black-and-white kind of thinking and celebrated all our little differences. That vision is what keeps me going.
What do you think makes you a campus celebrity?
I wouldn’t call myself a “celebrity,” although I’m flattered! I think I just follow my heart and that gets noticed. The nature of my work is very personal, so it’s natural to form close connections with a lot of people. I think I stand out from the crowd (for better or worse, depending on who you ask) because I am outspoken and uncompromising in my beliefs.
Who would you pick for next week’s campus celeb?
Amanda Plante