Seattle considers historic law barring caste discrimination

from February 21, 2023

Minnesota State schools students on school studying tips Furry friends help to de-stress students

By DEEPA BHARATH

The Associated Press

One of Kshama Sawant’s earliest memories of the caste system was hearing her grandfather — a man she “otherwise loved very much” — utter a slur to summon their lower-caste maid.

 CONFERENCE from page 1 she teaches English as a second language. She said she came to educate herself on practices to create spaces for her Black and BIPOC students and for students outside of her classroom.

“Bringing ideas of Black joy and racial justices into all content areas. Math, science, there were a lot of language pathologists today. Finding out how to integrate experiences and joy into different areas, not only in Black spaces.”

 PREPARE from page 1 what to do in an active shooter situation, MSU security plans to partner with Blue Earth County and the city of Mankato’s emergency manager to conduct an active shooter drill during the summer of 2024.

“Practicing is a great learning exercise. It’ll teach us what went right and what went wrong,” Sandi Schnorenberg, director of campus security said.

With most mass shootings ending before the police arrive on the scene and MSU security not armed, their role would be supporting the police department and being the eyes in the sky as intelligence in an active shooter situation.

Equipped with roughly 200 cameras across campus, security would try and locate the

The Seattle City Council member, raised in an upper-caste Hindu Brahmin household in India, was 6 when she asked her grandfather why he used that derogatory word when he knew the girl’s name. He responded that his granddaughter “talked too much.”

Now 50, and an elected of-

MSU sophomore Nana Mensah attended the conference for the first time and said, “I love it so far. I feel included, I feel heard, I feel educated.”

Hailing from Africa, Mensah was interested in discussions about the cultural separation between Black Americans and Black Africans.

“Me, being an African, I feel in the Black community there is a separation between Black Americans and Africans. So, this being ‘Pan African,’ it’s not just a Black American attacker and inform police of their whereabouts.

Law enforcement’s first priority in an active shooter situation is to stop the attacker. After the campus is secure is when medical assistance would commence.

In implementing the “run, hide, fight” strategy, people are encouraged to educate themselves on something as simple as identifying their exit points.

“Take a few seconds to think ‘If I had to get out of here, where are my exits and where can I go if I had to hide?’ We all need to start thinking about that more,” Schnorenberg said.

Campus security opted into the Allied Radio Matrix for Emergency Response (ARMER), which is an 800 MHz statewide talk group that al- ficial in a city far from India, Sawant has proposed an ordinance to add caste to Seattle’s anti-discrimination laws. If her fellow council members approve it Tuesday, Seattle will become the first city in the United States to specifically outlaw caste discrimination. thing, every single Black person originated from Africa. To me it feels like one people learning the same thing and growing the same way, that’s what it means to me,” Mensah said. “I had so many questions about why, in the Black community, there is a separate division between Black Africans and Black Americans, and she actually elaborated on it.” lows emergency groups to communicate and listen to each other on an encrypted channel.

MSU students got free attendance to the annual conference and the public attendees purchased access for $50.

“Having those partnerships has been huge. If they (police) come to campus we want to know and they might not have time to tell us beforehand,” Schnorenberg said.

Regarding prevention, campus security meets with a behavioral consultation team and brings up concerns for specific individuals who display signs of grievance.

“Want to know what is going on with them and figure out how to get them some help,” Schnorenberg said. “We can prepare to run, hide, fight but also we want to identify those people who may commit an act of violence and stop it ahead of time.” hold and being able to influence your community with your piece is inspiring,” Ziegweid said.

Others who’ve spent many years in Speech and Debate can relate to the benefits of joining a club that draws you out of your comfort zone.

Alex Menne, state champion in prose interpretation, said she has learned a lot about herself during her time on the team.

“The biggest thing is self-confidence. It takes a lot of courage to stand in front of people and talk about vulnerable things and know in the end it’ll all be okay,” Menne said.

Having something for everyone and anyone, Brunner encourages anyone to give Speech and Debate a shot.

“There’s a rumor out there that this is something people can’t do. People start at all levels and here it’s a place for everyone,” Brunner said.

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