MACALESTER COLLEGE STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Proposal for sustainable events work study position

Associate Dean of Students Lisa Landreman and Associate Director of Health Promotions Lisa Broek visited the meeting to talk about sexual violence prevention. They reported that in 2013, out of 390 students surveyed, one in 10 experienced sexual touching without consent. And overall in 2013-2014, six Mac students reported sexual assault, and one involved penetration. Lisa Broek also talked about new health promotions initiatives like the Consent is Mac Tumblr.

Rick Beckel ’15, an MCSG member, discussed the sustainability task force’s idea to create a student work study position within MCSG that is responsible for monitoring org behavior to make sure MCSG is funding sustainable events.

Aware Asia introduced their org charter. The goal of the org would be to foster intellectual discussions on political and cultural issues in the Greater Asian Region.

Fishing Club also introduced their charter. They hope to be a recreational club that can help students learn and experience fishing.

Discussion was tabled about funding an Undergraduate Academic Journal and film showing put together by JCPA.

TWIN CITIES

Thousands gather to protest Washington NFL team name

A significant group of over 3,000 protesters, the largest yet to protest the racist team name of Washington’s NFL franchise, marched through Minneapolis and demonstrated outside TCF Bank Stadium before the football game on Sunday. The protesters, estimated by the Minneapolis Police Department at 3,200 and by organizers at over 5,000, placed new pressure on the Washington organization to end their use of the franchise’s current offensive nickname.

Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges joined concerned activists from over 10 states and across Minnesota in denouncing the team’s continued use of the nickname, remarking, “I have a message for the Washington team: The clock is ticking on your name … it is more than an insult. It’s hate.” Activists, including members of many Native American tribes from around the country,
chanted “Change the Name!” through the day, and held signs saying “I am not a Mascot.”

Organizers said they hope to protest and advance their cause at every remaining Washington NFL game this year.

PROGRAM BOARD

Program Board seeks Winter Ball Hosts

Program Board will be showing “Guardians of the Galaxy” tonight at 8 p.m. in John B. Davis Lecture Hall, located in the basement of the Campus Center.

Program Board will have a surprise for students on Thursday, Nov. 13 in the space between Carnegie and Old Main. The event begins at 11 a.m. and ends around 1 p.m.

Program Board would also like to share the roles and responsibilities of Winter Ball hosts, who — in exchange for keeping a look out for students at Winter Ball and attending a meeting beforehand — will receive free passes to the event. Winter Ball hosts must be sober for the entire event. Interested students should email [email protected] for more information.

TWIN CITIES

Invasive zebra mussels penetrate further into lakes

Zebra mussels, one of the fastest proliferating aquatic invasive species in Minnesota, have been found in yet another metro area lake. The mussels, which are native to lakes in southern Russia, were first found in Minnesota at the Duluth/Superior harbor in 1989 and have been spreading steadily ever since.

This past week, mussels were found in Lake Independence in the west metro, and they were discovered in Lake Waconia and White Bear Lake the week before that. In early August, the mussels were spotted in two other area lakes, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is attempting desperately to stem the spread of this harmful invasive species. A lack of funding for further watercraft inspectors and treatment programs has not helped the cause.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Wellness Wednesday on leaving the Mac bubble

This week at the Health and Wellness Center, there will be a What the Health event focused on men’s health. The event will take place in the lobby of the Leonard Center at 4 p.m. on Wednesday. This week’s Wellness Wednesday will take place from noon until 1 p.m. and will feature Pam Leland speaking about leaving the Mac Bubble. Wellness Wednesdays are held in the Wellness Lounge of the Leonard Center.

DEPARTMENT OF MULTICULTURAL LIFE

Twentieth annual Cultural House Poetry Slam tomorrow

On Saturday, Nov. 8, the 20th annual Cultural House Poetry Slam will take place in the Hill Ballroom at 8 p.m. The Cultural House Poetry Slam is a unique celebration of spoken word traditions in communities of color, and draws attention to those traditions’ political functions.

On Tuesday, Nov. 11 at 6:15 p.m. in the Cultural House, an installment of “In the Kitchen with . . .” will be held with Macalester’s Middle Eastern and North African Association (MENAA).

An Allies Project training session for new allies will be on November 13 from 3 to 4:45 p.m. To register for this workshop, contact Karla Benson Rutten, director of the Lealtad-Suzuki Center, at [email protected] for more information.

TWIN CITIES

Vikings star Peterson pleads no contest, avoids trial

On Tuesday, much-maligned Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson pleaded no contest to a Class A misdemeanor charge of reckless assault in exchange for a sentence without jail time. Judge Kelly Case ordered Peterson to perform 80 hours of community service and pay a $4,000 fine, a pittance for the troubled running back who continued to receive his weekly $691,176 salary while away from the team.

Case also ordered that Peterson’s court file be sealed, which could complicate efforts by the NFL to enact their own punishment on him.

The plea included no reference to domestic violence or child abuse, and Peterson was not made to say anything about his actions. Any attempt to revoke his jail bond due to Peterson’s alleged Oct. 8 confession that he had smoked marijuana was also squashed as a part of the agreement.

Peterson is now free, but any attempt to return to the playing field after missing nine games this season could be stopped by the NFL and Commissioner Roger Goodell, who reserve the right to extend his absence with disciplinary measures.