THURSDAY NOVEMBER 14, 2019
Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan visits MNSU Stories of challenges, hardships of overcoming invisbility at American Indian Night MARIA LY STAFF WRITER Minnesota’s Lt. Gov. Penny Flanagan spoke about the importance of native leadership in her keynote address during Minnesota State University, Mankato’s annual American Indian night on Monday. American Indian night not only celebrated Native American Heritage month but also honored American Indian students graduating in the 2019-2020 academic year. Flanagan addressed the graduates, “We are so proud of you and know that you are fully living, there are so many people cheering you on and want you to be successful and believe in you, and I just want you to know my job is to hold that door open at the capital, for whatever you see in your future.” Flanagan talked about her own personal journey into her role as Lt. Gov. of Minnesota as it was never her intention to become a leader in government. Flanagan grew up in St. Louis Park with her mother who provided shelter for them using a section 8 housing voucher and kept them alive by relying on food stamps and government
MNSU President Richard Davenport speaks at the American Indian Night held in the Centennial Student Union Ballroom Monday, Nov. 11, 2019 in Mankato, Minn. (Jack Linell / MSU Reporter)
medical assistance. Throughout her life she lived as what society called, “those people”. Flanagan said, “A lot of
it was for my community and what I was supposed to do with that education, to give back and pay it forward.” After her time at the Uni-
“She never thought she was going to win, but none-the-less went door to door to the homes of “those people”, advocating for the issues that are important to the community.”
Correction In last issue’s article on Queer Prom, there were some mistakes that were made. The organizers listed were incorrectly stated to be the LGBT Center and Women’s Center. The organizers of the prom were Sexuality and Gender Equality, Black Legendary and Queer and Black Motivated Women. The director of the LGBT Center’s name, David Gardner, was also mispelled.
path kind of found me.” Her path did not open up for her until she started school at the University of Minnesota when she entered
times down at the capital, we hear leaders talk about ‘those people’, well I am those people, and those people deserve to have a seat at the table. I share that with you because it was not my dream, it was not this little girl’s dream to grow up and become the second most powerful person in the state of Minnesota, that was not my path. My
her lecture room and saw an American Indian professor who looked like her, talked about her community, and who they were and where they came from. It was the first teacher who told her she was smart and encouraged her to take graduate courses as an undergraduate. She said, “I knew that my education wasn’t for me, but
IN THIS ISSUE: Liberian Night............................................. Page 2 First ASA Olympic Games........................... Page2 Football Undefeated................................. Page 10 Nocturne................................................... Page 13
versity of Minnesota, she worked in a job where her roles sometimes ranged from attending parent teacher conference meetings with nervous families to helping mothers flee a batterer in the middle of the night. Her start in politics began when she noticed that native children and their families were not given the opportu-
nities they needed in public schools in Minneapolis. She worked with Judy Farmer, a member of the school board at the time, to find someone from the native community to run for the board. She had very little luck and quickly realized that not a lot of native people wanted to be involved with the government. After attending an event at the American Indian Center, and advocating for the position, she was approached by some people who suggested she run for the board. She never thought she was going to win, but nonethe-less went door to door to the homes of “those people”, advocating for the issues that are important to the community. Flanagan said, “Again I am those people, and those people are the most affected
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WEATHER OUTLOOK: THURSDAY (11/14)
FRIDAY (11/15)
SATURDAY (11/16)
SUNDAY (11/17)
MONDAY (11/18)
PRECIP. CHANCE: 2%
PRECIP. CHANCE: 5%
PRECIP. CHANCE: 9%
PRECIP. CHANCE: 13%
PRECIP. CHANCE: 25%
Mostly sunny & cold.
Not as cold, some sun.
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