Tuesday, August 31, 2010
www.msureporter.com
Minnesota State University, Mankato
With great change comes great recognition LGBT director named one of 100 Women We Love by Go Magazine ELENA SHUFELT
news editor
Jessica Flatequal isn’t just loved at Minnesota State anymore. She’s loved throughout the nation. Flatequal, director of the LGBT Center at MSU, has been named one of GO Magazine’s “100 Women We Love.” Included in the list are progressive lesbian women around the nation who really make a difference. The majority of women who made the cut are regular citizens who work in organizing, education or are entrepreneurs. A number of celebrities are on it as well though, including Ellen DeGeneres, Jackie Warner and Melissa Etheridge. Flatequal said she is very passionate about making LGBT people in the community feel like they can live in smaller towns like Mankato instead of moving to larger areas where they might
feel more accepted. “I am walking on a path that so many activists in Mankato have done to get to the point where we’re at. I’m a piece, right now, of what has been 30-plus years of activism in Mankato,” said Flatequal. John Lee, an intern at the LGBT Center, said he thinks Flatequal being recognized by GO Magazine could bring a lot of positive attention to the center on a national level. “I think she is phenomenal in the position that she’s in. I think she has a gift for the work that she does,” Lee said. Lee said he wishes there was a way to measure the impact Flatequal has had on MSU and the surrounding community. He said she has a great deal of heart and truly cares about what is best for students and other LGBT people. Julia Kelener, program advisor for the LGBT Center,
Flatequal / page 7
wale agboola• msu reporter “A lof of it is just about helping people come out and feel safe. Also, helping the folks in Mankato to realize that there are LGBT people here...” Flatequal said. She was recentled named one of GO Magazine’s 100 Women We Love for her work with LGBT individuals in the south central Minnesota region.
Flooding continues The Reporter Students raise money to
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Voices............................ 5 World & Nation............... Study Break.................10 A&E...............................11 Sports..........................15
contribute to help efforts GRACE WEBB
staff writer
Over the past two weeks, the country of Pakistan has been hit by what has been called “the biggest catastrophe of the era—” massive flooding that has left one-fifth of the country underwater. Millions have lost their homes as floods slowly built up since mid-August, swelling into a fever pitch that destroyed rural areas and is now also threatening urban centers. More than 20 million people have been displaced and at least 1,500 people have died. The UN recently released a report saying that the number of people suffering from the floods could exceed those affected by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the 2005 Kashmir earthquake
and the 2010 Haiti earthquake combined. Despite the magnitude of this colossal disaster, it seems that few campus students even know it is going on. The Pakistan Student Association is trying to change this by setting up a table in the CSU, where there is a donation box and information about the terrible floods ravaging Pakistan at this very moment. “Our main goal is to get everyone here to realize how large a disaster this is and get as much help and support as possible,” PSA President Amer Mushtaq said. “I have still not been able to come out of the shock,” said Salman Hakim, an international
Flood / page 7
ONLINE: Video coverage of Lady Gaga Night INSIDE: Free language classes starting (3), four MSU teams face cuts in 2011-2012 (15) @ Rounders and Mayor Brady’s press and new English profs hope to ignite conference from 12 p.m. today Photo Tease #1 Text department’s growing film program (13)