February 16, 2024

Volume 92 • Issue 16

Flowers foster friendship

February 16, 2024

FSUgatepost.com

Sophia Harris / THE GATEPOST (Back left) Jeury Barbosa, Wilmani Castillo, Jaylen Haynes, Marquel Caesar, and Joshua Lopez giving flowers to show their appreciation to, (front left) Irma Brizuela, Margarita Feliz, Susana Morales, Karen Garcia, and Valeria Perez Osorio. (Not Pictured but who helped purchase flowers: Jaimoni Simmons and Jeremy Gonzalez).

‘Refer a Ram’ program offers $4,000 scholarship

By Adam Harrison News Editor FSU has introduced a new program, “Refer a Ram,” which awards incoming Rams $1,000 a year if they are referred to the University by alumni.

This program will be in effect for students admitted for the Fall semester. It’s part of an effort to recruit and retain more students, according to Shayna Eddy, associate dean of admissions and director of undergraduate admissions.

The former “Refer a Ram” program provided students “the opportunity to waive the $50 application fee for prospective undergraduate and graduate students with a simple referral.”

Referred students would be promptly contacted by the Admissions Office and would receive priority consideration after submitting their applications, according to the FSU website.

Vice President of Development and Alumni Relations Eric Gustafson said “We are excited to expand our “Refer a Ram” program to offer a scholarship to students who are recommended by our alumni and then enroll at FSU.” In addition to the prior benefits, referred students will be awarded $1,000 per year for four years, totaling $4,000 over the course of earning a bachelor’s degree.

It is not available for those who are currently students at FSU, even if they have gotten a referral previous to enrolling, Gustafson said.

The scholarship is only offered to prospective Rams before they apply, which includes both first-year and transfer students.

Gustafson said, “Referrals need to occur before the student is accepted to attend FSU. Ideally, alumni are referring students at the start of the admissions process.”

Unfortunately for some incoming first-year students of the Fall 2024 semester, the timing of the rollout for this scholarship is coming after many students have already applied and been accepted through early action.

Fortunately for those incoming first-year students, “We are extending the scholarship to students who have already been accepted to attend in

News SNOW pg. 3 AMAZON pg. 5

Opinions TURN AROUND pg. 7 AMERICAN DREAM pg. 7

Sports

See ALUMNI Page 4

CIE collaboration with the Danforth Art Museum brings Black artwork to campus

By Ryan O’Connell Associate Editor In April 2022, almost two years ago, the Center for Inclusive Excellence (CIE) installed 15 works of art into its lobby.

The artwork, all student made, was installed as part of a permanent collection celebrating the diverse identities of student artists at Framingham State.

Peppered across the CIE’s lobby, paintings, ceramics, and sculpture connect the center to the student body.

Underrepresented groups are spotlighted by their artists, with many being

students who identify as immigrants, Black, LGBTQ+, and more.

For the month of February, five more pieces have been added to the CIE, as part of a temporary display, in coordination with the Danforth Art Museum at Framingham State University.

Although these five new pieces aren’t permanent, nor student made, they contribute to the same goal as the student art purchase from 2022 - providing minority student groups an opportunity to see themselves represented on the Framingham State campus.

Director of the CIE Jerome Burke said the plan for the art exhibition

Dylan Pichnarcik / THE GATEPOST WOMEN’S BASKETBALL pg. 9 came after the success of programming ICE HOCKEY pg. 10 the center organized for Hispanic Heritage Month, Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, as well as from his overall goals for the CIE to be a representative space.

Burke said the CIE engaged in a partnership with the Framingham Heritage Center during Hispanic Heritage Month to highlight Hispanic contributions to the community of Framingham.

He said after Hispanic Heritage onth he began planning for upcoming heritage months in the spring, such as Black History Month, February, and Women’s Maddison Behringer / THE GATEPOST History Month, March.

See ART LEND Page 15 STUDY ABROAD pg. 11 DIVERSITY DIALOGUE pg. 14

Arts & Features

INSIDE: OP/ED 6 • SPORTS 9 • ARTS & FEATURES 11

NEWS

2 | FEBRUARY 16, 2024

Editorial Board

Gatepost Interview

Editor-in-Chief Sophia Harris

Allison Chisholm

Associate Editor Ryan O’Connell Interim Associate Editor Maddison Behringer News Editors Kaitlin Carman Adam Harrison

Associate Director of Academic Success at CASA

By Dylan Pichnarcik Asst. News Editor

By Alexis Schlesinger Editorial Staff

Asst. News Editor Dylan Pichnarcik

What is your academic and professional background?

I graduated from Framingham State in 2011. I have an undergrad degree in sociology and a minor in psychology - and then I worked at Framingham State parttime for about a year. I then, went to grad school at Merrimack [College] to get my master’s in higher education in 2013.

Since then, I’ve been in CASA (Center for Academic Success and Achievement).

Opinions Editor Izayah Morgan Sports Editor Adam Levine Asst. Sports Editor Riley Crowell Arts & Features Editors Raena Doty Jack McLaughlin

Did you know you wanted to return to FSU after you graduated?

Yes, I think I had decided later in my undergraduate career that going into Asst. Arts & Features Editors higher education was something that Bella Omar I wanted to do. I came to Framingham Owen Glancy State. I started as an education major Francisco Omar Fernandez Rodriguez because I thought I wanted to be a classroom teacher. Then I thought about it Photos & Design Editor more and I decided, “Oh, I don’t think I Adrien Gobin really want to do that.” But I still wanted to work in education. Then, seeing difAsst. Photos & Design Editor ferent folks on campus and the jobs that Alexis Schlesinger they did, I thought working with college students was something that I could reIllustrations Editor ally be good at and enjoy. I always wantBen Hurney ed to work in education and then I decided higher education was something Asst. Illustrations Editors I wanted to do when I got my master’s Emily Monaco and was looking for jobs. Working at a David Abe state school was really important to me because I felt that I got such a great edStaff Writers ucation at Framingham State. So while I Dorcas Abe was definitely open to working at FramJesse Burchill ingham State, I definitely wanted to stay Dante Curry within the state system. But the stars Liv Dunleavy aligned and there was a job available in Marcus Falcão CASA. So I applied and got it! So I was Paul Harrington happy to come back.

Emma Lyons Andrea O’Brien Carly Paul Kyle Walker Heather Nutall Sophia Oppendisano Kristel Erguiza Izzy Gage

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Advisor Desmond McCarthy Asst. Advisor Elizabeth Banks

What is a unique program currently offered by CASA? We host a lot of different programs. Obviously, part of my job is overseeing all of the tutoring that happens here in CASA - so professional math and writing tutors who are available during all the hours that CASA is open, and our student subject tutors. We also offer supplemental instruction, which is course-specific. We also do things that I am not directly involved in. Some of my other colleagues do a lot of work around students who are in their first semester of college - and we @T first-generation do some programming.

HE ATEPOST So I can’tGhighlight the best thing here, but I think that’s kind of the beauty of it.

There’s something for everyone - whether you want to receive tutoring in a cer-

Courtesy of Framingham State tain subject area, you want to be a part of some of the Generation One initiatives, or whether you want to work in CASA, or even just utilize the space.

What is one aspect of your job that is unique?

Something that is a little bit newer, I think, is that I oversee all of the Rams 101 first-year seminar peer mentors.

This past fall was the first year that we offered all Rams 101 first-year seminar sections. So we had 27 sections in the fall. That’s been a newer part of my job the last few years which I think is unique. I like working with them because I’m hearing what’s going on in their classrooms and giving them some information to share with their first-year students to help them get acclimated to Framingham State. In this position, I get to work with a lot of different students.

There’s not one particular subset of students that I work with. I work with students who are high-achieving academic leaders who are tutors for us, or mentors.

I also work with students who are still trying to find their way in college and might be on academic warning their first semester. I have good conversations with them to help them try to set goals for the future - to help them achieve that. So I think that’s also unique.

What is something students would not expect about you?

I think probably that I’m a reality TV junkie. We talk about it as a staff, but I love The Real Housewives and “Below Deck” and all of those silly shows. That’s probably something people might not

expect. I like to cook and bake.

Are there any new programs that are going to be implemented in the future?

A lot of things are just ongoing. I think one of the things that will be coming up over these next couple of weeks that students should keep an eye out for is on their Starfish accounts. We help coordinate something called early academic alert. So faculty have the chance to voice any early concerns that they may have about a student’s progress. So I would really encourage students to sign into their Starfish and look for what we call flags. What we would hope for is students would then have conversations with their faculty members. If they did raise a flag, if it’s about attendance, or if it’s about missing assignments, that then opens the door for the students to have a conversation so that they can get back on track. Then in CASA, we do a lot of student outreach around Starfish flags so if a student hears from us, or if we invite them in for an academic coaching meeting, [students] know that it’s not meant to be punitive. We really just want to hear about what’s going on and help them set goals to overcome those things. So that’s the kind of stuff coming up over the next couple of weeks - that they’ll be hearing a lot about.

CONNECT WITH DYLAN PICHNARCIK dpichnarcik@student.framingham.edu CONNECT WITH ALEXIS SCHLESINGER aschlesinger@student.framingham.edu

Police Logs T TH EGATEPOS

100 State Street McCarthy Center Room 410 Framingham, MA 01701-9101 Phone: (508) 626-4605 Fax: (508) 626-4097 gatepost@framingham.edu

Saturday, Feb. 9.

12:42 Suspicious motor vehicle Athletic Field Parking Checks OK and advised

@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

Monday, Feb. 11.

01:22 Alarm (Fire/Smoke) Corinne Hall Towers Assignment complete

Monday, Feb. 11.

01:24 Alarm (Burgular/Building) Innovations Center Assignment complete

Wednesday, Feb. 12.

23:50 Panic alarm Corinne Hall Towers Assignment complete

NEWS

FEBRUARY 16, 2024 | 3

FSU calls first snow day of semester

By Dylan Pichnarcik Asst. News Editor Students and faculty were notified that FSU would be closed due to a forecast of a significant winter storm at 12:20 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 12 for the following day.

After a decision was made to cancel classes, Dan Magazu, director of communications, and University Police were notified so the announcement could be made public via FSU Alert the University’s emergency notification system.

The National Weather Service forecast that Framingham would receive five to eight inches of snow.

According to Dan Giard, executive director of facilities, “A crew of 18 to 20 snow blow, sweep, and plow roads.

We have about half a dozen [maintainers] that plow, while the rest of them are shoveling entranceways and sidewalks. … We’re just trying to keep campus safe.”

Giard also said that maintainers treated the roads and sidewalks around campus with salt prior to the start of the storm.

Along with the work performed by the Department of Facilities, Giard said Facilities has a contract with a

operations of FSU halted, only essential personnel were required to report to work. One of the largest departments asked to report was Sodexo.

While Dining Services prepared meals for students and those who remained on campus, their operating hours were reduced from their normal weekday schedule.

Typically, the McCarthy Dining Commons begins serving breakfast at 7:30 a.m. and lunch at 11:30.

On Tuesday, the Dining Commons began serving breakfast at 9 a.m. with breakfast and lunch offerings throughout the day.

Ucook and Magellan’s remained open following regular weekday hours.

Ram’s Den Grille and Sandellas, two locations that offer à la carte meals, adjusted their hours. Both opened at 6 p.m. and closed at their regular weekday times.

Dunkin’, ‘The Snack Bar’, and the faculty and staff dining room remained closed throughout the day.

Other facilities used by students such as the library and the athletic center were also closed. Facilities did perform their daily cleaning and maintenance tasks even though the buildings were closed to the public.

Due to the forecasted weather Uni-

Dylan Pichnarcik / THE GATEPOST A treated sidewalk leading to Crocker Grove on Feb. 13. tractor company to help maintain the larger parking lots on campus during severe winter weather.

With classes canceled and the daily

Weather

versity Police issued a parking ban via email for all vehicles on campus. In the message, resident students were directed to move their vehicles to the

Dylan Pichnarcik / THE GATEPOST A snowman built outside of Horace Mann Hall on Feb. 13.

Union Avenue Parking Lot. Commuter students were granted permission to use the designated commuter lots, Maynard, and Salem End, as usual but were required to remove their vehicles from campus by 11:30 p.m. Monday evening.

Essential personnel who were required to be on campus during the ban were directed to park their vehicles in the covered portion of the Lower Normal Hill Lot. The vacant lots - A-Zone, Bement, Adams, Maple, Athletics, Church, McCarthy, Upper Normal Hill, O’Connor, and Linsley - were plowed by maintainers of the Department of Facilities, Giard said.

With classes canceled and most of the facilities used by students closed, many students engaged in outdoor winter activities.

“I went sledding and drank hot chocolate!” said Lydia Marunowski, a resident student.

Resident students Kelsey Gendro and Meghan Johnston also went sledding.

Some spent the day inside. Olivia Alexander, a resident student, said, “I slept and rotted away.”

Other students spent time inside their residence halls to avoid the cold, including Gabriella Florio, a junior.

“Since everything was closed, I just spent time with my roommate,” she said. “We made fun drinks. … I didn’t want to go outside because it was cold.”

The decision to cancel classes al-

lowed commuter students to remain off campus on Tuesday.

Meghan Spargo, a sophomore commuter student, “did pretty much nothing,” she said. “I was happy I did not have to come in. I probably wouldn’t have anyway.”

For students, there were opportunities to leave campus. According to the Student Transportation Center (STC), the Ram Tram and parking lot shuttle service ran during their normal weekday hours, beginning at 3 p.m.

The decision to cancel classes is “the result of many people on our campus consulting with each other,” said President Nancy Niemi. This includes Dale Hamel, executive vice president, the Department of Facilities, and President Niemi. The process is similar for classes scheduled for the evening.

However, Provost Kristen Porter-Utley is also involved.

Niemi said that above all, the safety of students, faculty, and staff is “paramount to our considerations” in closing the University - and giving the community time to coordinate their schedules.

“There will be someone who will always think we will have made the wrong decision,” Niemi said. “I will always stand behind thinking about our community first.”

At the end of the storm, fewer than five inches had fallen in Framingham.

CONNECT WITH DYLAN PICHNARCIK dpichnarcik@student.framingham.edu

Forecast provided by the National Weather Service www.weather.gov

Sunday night Feb. 18 Mostly clear, with a low around 25. Breezy, with a southwest wind around 20 mph.

Monday night Feb. 19 Mostly clear, with a low around 15. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph

Tuesday night Feb. 20 Partly cloudy, with a low around 20. Southwest wind around 10 mph.

Wednesday night Feb. 21 Mostly cloudy, with a low around 30. Southwest wind around 10 mph.

Monday Feb. 19 Sunny, with a high near 35. Breezy, with a west wind 15 to 20 mph

Tuesday Feb. 20 Sunny, with a high near 40. Northwest wind 5 to 9-10 mph

Wednesday Feb. 21 Partly sunny, with a high near 45. South wind 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday Feb. 22 A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 45. South wind 10 to 15 mph.

FRAMINGHAM STATE UNIVERSITY’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1932 | FSUGATEPOST.COM

4 | FEBRUARY 16, 2024

NEWS

Alumni Continued from Page 1 the Fall,” Gustafson said. These students will be eligible for a referral until the 2024 Fall semester begins.

The scholarship is earned by obtaining a referral from an FSU alum before applying.

Alumni have been sent both a postcard and an email describing the scholarship and referral process. “We will also be including information on the program in the spring alumni magazine. Our plan is to promote the program every year to alumni,” Gustafson added.

Like most school-distributed scholarships, the purpose of the “Refer a Ram” scholarship is to increase overall student applications and admittances to FSU. Associate Dean of Admissions Eddy said, “The nice thing about this scholarship is the students have someone they can speak with about their experience at FSU,” which would hopefully influence their view on applying to FSU, and positively affect their impression of what life at FSU would look like for them.

Gustafson said this scholarship is intended to encourage prospective applicants to seriously consider FSU and also increase recruitment of students who alumni believe would be “great” fits for FSU. Eddy said the “Refer a Ram” program is available to all prospective students. “Currently, there are no requirements for the scholarship,” compared to minimum GPA requirement, need-based, or major-specific scholarships.

Alumni are able to refer anyone they believe would be a good student at FSU, which includes family, friends,

and anyone else they think would be a good fit in the community. An alum can refer as many potential students as they want because there is “no limit … except for alumni who are also FSU employees,” he said.

“It is intended for anyone that an alum knows who they think would be a great FSU student. So, they can refer students who they know well, but who are not related to them,” Gustafson said.

To refer a student, the alum will have to provide information that includes the alum’s name, email address, and graduation year.

This is in addition to information about the student being referred that includes their name, classification (first-year or transfer), semester they are applying for, the school they most recently attended, relationship to the alum, and the student’s email or birthday.

The options for the relationship to the alumni range from relatives to coworkers, to “other”, so there are no restrictions on who they are allowed to refer.

This is the only step necessary to create a completed referral, and when the student applies and is accepted, they will automatically receive the $1,000 scholarship for their first year at FSU. Eddy said this year will be used as a baseline of data for future years to determine how many scholarships will be given out, and how effective this scholarship will be in influencing prospective students to apply to and enroll at FSU. For students who are considering applying to FSU, the “Refer a Ram” scholarship is a simple and easy way to

The Admissions Welcome Center at FSU. cut $4,000 off the bill.

Freshman Jenna Freeman said they should be creating more scholarships for students who are already here and need the money instead of scholarships for incoming students.

“I just feel as though if you already go here, you should be able to get that $1,000 instead of new students.

It should be for commuters or people who are already here,” she said.

Sophomor Hanay Moralen thinks the scholarship is “definitely a good idea. Plus, the alumni already know how the school works, so if they’re referring the person that comes here, it’s obviously because they think that person is a good fit for the school.

“I have some of my friends who have siblings and they’re going to start their college application process soon.

So if I had graduated, I would’ve done a referral for them,” she said.

Moralen could have used this scholarship and benefited herself if it had come out when she applied to FSU. “Some professors from my old school came here, so that would’ve been nice,” she said.

Freshman Aaron Joshua believes the scholarship isn’t fair for students who don’t currently have any relationships with graduates, specifically Generation One students.

“Seems a little favorable towards anyone who is a child or relative of alumni here … unless they can make friends with an alumni from here,” he said.

Senior Haley Hadge said she thinks it’s a great idea. “If I was currently in high school and I learned about it, then I would do it.

“The more financial aid and benefits that you can give to students in need,

Dylan Pichnarcik / THE GATEPOST the better. And getting them to go to FSU if they want to go to college, too - that’s a great opportunity!” she said.

Junior Rachel Rafferty thinks it’s a great idea, and that it would increase recruitment to the school. “I think that it encourages more former students here to tell other people about the education that they got at FSU and the opportunities they got from going to FSU.” She added, “It encourages students to come here and check it out. I know there are a lot of flashier schools than ours, so having those people can give that word of mouth that would help our enrollment here. So I think it’s great!”

Freshman Sarah Snyder said thinks it’s a good idea, but said the scholarship should be made available to current students.

“It makes sense, but at the same time, if you already go here, you should still be able to use it. Who couldn’t use a good scholarship?” she asked.

Sophomore Bruno Barbosa said, “It will help with gaining students, I think it would ensure more students would come here due to it being less expensive because of the $4,000 in four years.

“On top of that, you can get more scholarships and save more money.

Incoming students would enjoy that. I think it’s a good idea.”

To access the referral form, alumni can go to the FSU website in the undergraduate admissions section, use the search bar, or type in this link: https://admissions.framingham.edu/ register/legacyalumni.

CONNECT WITH ADAM HARRISON aharrison3@student.framingham.edu

Kyle Walker / THE GATEPOST

@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

NEWS

FEBRUARY 16, 2024 | 5

Meet cosmologies, the new on-campus Amazon locker

By Kaitlin Carman News Editor Framingham State University’s brand-new Amazon locker, installed across from the Rams Resource Center, was open and operational on Jan. 23.

Amazon contacted the Facilities Department and discussed the possibility of the locker installation in September. It was approved in December and installed on Jan. 20, according to Maureen Fowler, director of environmental health & safety.

It is a free service that Amazon is providing FSU resident students.

Fowler said, “The FSU Storeroom receives many Amazon packages daily.

The Storeroom staff currently delivers those packages to the Residence Halls in a bulk delivery each day.

“With the installation of the lockers, we hope that students can get their packages more quickly,” she added.

To designate packages to be shipped there, students must select the Amazon Locker - cosmologies - on 100 State Street, according to Fowler.

If a non-resident designates their order to be delivered to the locker, they will be unable to access it and it will be returned to Amazon.

To retrieve orders from the locker, resident-shoppers must scan a barcode provided in a confirmation email.

Students will still be able to use the FSU Storeroom to receive their mail and packages. However, Amazon packages directed there will be delivered on the next business day.

Designating orders to the locker

will prevent any additional delay as it is accessible 24/7.

Fowler reminded students via email that “All FSU purchase orders must be delivered to the FSU storeroom.” They cannot be sent to the locker.

The Storeroom is open Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. but is closed from 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. daily. It is also closed on holidays.

“If you are using an FSU purchase order, please do not use the lockers.

Items purchased with a purchase order need to be delivered to the Storeroom,” according to Fowler.

Students are unable to visit the Storeroom to pick up their packages.

They must wait until it is delivered to their dorm, she added.

The locker’s outdoor location under West Hall was specifically selected for delivery driver accessibility, shelter from inclement weather, power supply access, and security camera surveillance, according to Fowler.

She said, “The Amazon representative was shown areas outside of other residence halls, and inside and outside of McCarthy Center, and the location

by Maynard Road Parking Lot at the rear of West Hall was the preferred spot so deliveries can happen most efficiently.”

Leena Elbayoumi, a sophomore, said the locker will positively impact resident students as they “don’t have to go home to get their packages.”

Emma Dobbins, a freshman, said, “I think it’s good because, I know personally, I’ve tried ordering from Amazon and it’s kind of confusing to put your dorm building in [for delivery instructions]. Now you can just put

Amazon locker behind West Hall. [it] as the Amazon locker and it’s a lot easier.”

Before the locker’s installation, she avoided the one-day-delayed delivery from the FSU storeroom by refusing to order packages to be delivered on-campus: “I avoided ordering here and just ordered it at home.”

Lauren Mazzarella, a junior, said, “I think it’s a more efficient and easy way to get your packages. It’s a little bit easier than the mailroom. Because it has certain hours, it’s hard to get mail.”

SGA Senator Billy Hubert said, “I think it’ll allow students to have easier access to their Amazon packages.

“The one time I ever used the Storeroom, I never got my letter. My mom sent me one like freshman year and I never saw it. I don’t know what happened to that,” said Hubert.

According to Marlee Griffin, a

Maddison Behringer / THE GATEPOST junior, when she tried to order an Amazon package to be delivered to the locker, she did not have the option to select it. She had it delivered to the Amazon locker at Whole Foods instead.

Griffin said, “I have a lot of mixed opinions about Amazon. I really don’t like using their services because of how poorly they treat their employees but I think it could reduce the load for the people in charge of [delivering Storeroom packages].

“I think it could make it more streamlined for the rest of the packages that aren’t Amazon stuff. But yeah, it’s a mixed bag of feelings.”

For any additional questions or concerns, please contact Maureen Fowler at mfowler@framingham.edu CONNECT WITH KAITLIN CARMAN kcarman@student.framingham.edu

FRAMINGHAM STATE UNIVERSITY’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1932 | FSUGATEPOST.COM

6 | FEBRUARY 16, 2024

OP/ED

:

THE GATEPOST EDITORIAL

Our Presidents’ Day Feb. 19 is Presidents’ Day. Officially, Presidents’ Day is intended to be a celebration of the presidents of the United States, and the birthday of George Washington - but to most of us, it’s just a bank holiday.

Instead of spending this Monday like any other day off from school, consider celebrating the student presidents at Framingham State University.

Student organizations, no matter the size, all feature a group of dedicated student leaders behind their operations. These students handle a lot of difficult work that often goes unseen by the typical student - or even their group members.

All members of a club’s eBoard help it to run, but club presidents are critical to providing students places to gather and exercise their interests - such as creative writing with The Onyx, dancing with the Afro-Caribbean Dance Group, or community building with Black Student Union or Brother 2 Brother.

Presidents of these organizations, and many others, orchestrate club meetings - creating agendas and setting goals each week. This is important as it provides the club structure and a routine, and gives other members frequent opportunities to collaborate and work together to sponsor events, develop programs, and undertake advocacy work on campus.

These larger events are usually beneficial to the entire Framingham State campus, and can be a place to see stunning fashion design, as in Fashion Club’s annual fashion and trashion shows, or theatrical performances, as in The Hilltop Player’s semesterly plays, musicals, and improv shows.

Club presidents also work directly with The Center for Student Experience & Career Development (EXP) to organize these events for everyone’s enjoyment.

This administrative work includes purchasing supplies, reserving spaces to host events, and creating posters or other advertising materials to be posted on bulletin boards or published in The Gatepost - all of

Fall 2023 Club Fair on Larned Beach.

which is time-consuming.

Organizations such as Student Government Association (SGA) advocate for students, help smaller clubs both form and grow, and allocate money to student groups as needed in a professional manner.

This is incredibly important to all clubs on campus, as without students at the forefront of club decisions, it would be difficult for student voices to be so easily heard and addressed.

SGA also leads Big Budget, a major financial undertaking at which student activities dues are divided among existing and proposed student organizations. This year’s Big Budget saw $376,972 distributed to student groups.

The Gatepost would like to thank SGA and especially its president, Evelyn Campbell, for their professional conduct during what was no doubt a challenging decision-making process, and its continued dedication to the health and development of all the University’s student groups.

Framingham State Activities Board (FSAB) organizes large-scale events for the entire student body on a regular basis, such as themed Bingo giveaways, casino nights, stuff-a-bear stations, and Sandbox, the largest event of the year.

Events such as Sandbox have been an annual part of the student experience at Framingham State for decades. The organizations behind them, such as FSAB, are run by students who dedicate time and resources to upholding this campus tradition.

Student leaders - not just presidents - all contribute their time and energy to creating and maintaining a welcoming and accepting environment on campus - an environment that makes it fun to be a Ram, and a place where everyone feels they belong.

So this Presidents’ Day, celebrate the presidents on our campus.

Next time you’re at a club meeting, or enjoying an event on campus, be sure you show appreciation to the dedicated leaders who helped put it all together.

P(ee)SA: Flush!

Dylan: *Powders his nose*

Sam: Are we forgetting to flush today, Dylan?

Dylan: *GULP* He’s right behind me, isn’t he?

Maddison Behringer / THE GATEPOST

Have an opinion?

Feel free to email it to: gatepost@framingham.edu Opinions should be about 500 words.

Anyone can submit.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Ben Hurney / THE GATEPOST @TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

OP/ED

FEBRUARY 16, 2024 | 7

Turn around, step forward

By Alexis Schlesinger Editorial Staff When I talk to my mom about things from the past, she always tells me there’s no use in hanging onto them. She says I think too much.

“I understand, but thinking about it is just going to make you feel worse.

It won’t solve anything.”

I’m sure at least some of you reading this have seen the quote that reads “everything I let go of has claw marks on it.”

That’s how I used to feel about a lot of things in my life. Like any teenage girl, I’ve been through breakups, had friends leave me, missed opportunities.

My first breakup left me torn up. I just couldn’t believe it had happened, even though he had me crying over him for months leading up to when he finally dumped me. I couldn’t let go of the good times.

We were still “friends” for a few months after we broke up. About a week after we had broken up, we talked, and started eating lunch together with our mutual friends like normal.

But it wasn’t right.

I couldn’t let go of my feelings for him, and hanging around him all the time didn’t help. Unable to get over my ex, I lost my chance with someone else really amazing, someone I really liked.

I drifted apart from them after what happened between us. I still think of both of them often.

Flash forward to starting college. I had gotten especially close to a group

of friends the summer before my first semester.

I was scared to leave them behind, especially since I happened to be dating one of them.

However, a few weeks into my first semester, I learned to lean into the change. I learned that I didn’t need to hold so tightly onto what once was.

Loosening my grip on the past helped me realize what was right in front of me. I started meeting new people and trying new things, and I felt more fulfilled than I ever had in my life.

Feeling stable and content in my new community, I was able to find the guts to finally break up with my now ex-boyfriend. It was something I had almost done months ago, after what happened one night at our friend’s house.

I just didn’t want to be alone. I was scared that letting go of him would leave me without my closest friends.

In a way I was right. Some of them chose him.

But I was OK. I was honestly surprised at myself for being able to let go of things. But I had my friends, and I had a community. I was still fulfilled and happy, if not more so. Letting go hadn’t harmed me the way I thought it would.

This isn’t to say that letting go is synonymous to throwing away. You keep small parts of your people and your experiences with you. You might keep them in your memories, or next to your heart. You might keep them in the Polaroid on your mirror, or the beads in your pocket.

That being said, I’ve learned there’s no reason to give yourself rope burns dragging a lassoed stone.

I encourage you to turn around.

Turn your back completely, for just a moment, without being afraid that what’s behind you will disappear.

Your past will not cease to exist.

It doesn’t have to be easy. It’s OK to look over your shoulder.

You can acknowledge the footprints you’ve left in the wet cement.

To quote my favorite band - “With melancholy, and a little grief, we might find peace … I am lucky to have lost you.”

Courtesy of Alexis Schlesinger

The ‘American Dream’

By Izayah Morgan Opinions Editor Black History Month is here and it is a time when Black history, inventions, and liberation are celebrated. It has been an event since the ’70s and helps teach people the history that went on throughout the United States.

This is critical when our own education system misinforms us and fails to teach us about African Americans and the struggles they went through.

I’ll tell a personal story about its importance.

Up until middle school, I never got the “talk” about how people who looked like me were in chains for 400 years. I did not learn about how even after slavery ended, Black people were still barred from everything in society and thought of as less than human.

Ignorance is bliss.

It took until my junior year of high school when I started to learn about the atrocities of America. Not just slavery, the overt discrimination, but systematic destruction of our communities. The covert assassination of our political leaders, redlining, housing discrimination, over-incarceration.

Is this the “American Dream” I was promised? The systematic destruction of people who look like me? Yet somehow Black folks are expected to achieve something that was not de-

signed for them.

I decided to join the Black Student Union in my high school in junior year, and it was one of the best decisions I ever made. Combined with the U.S. history class I was taking at the time, I was able to contribute not just to my community but also to my ideal version of the “American Dream.”

It was during the COVID-19 pandemic, so lockdowns were in full effect.

However even through Zoom, I felt an impact on the community. We would do food drives, collect food from students and staff, and donate it to those in need.

We did not need money to do it. We needed to value ourselves so that we could value our community.

The “American Dream” did not have folks who looked like me in mind.

Black Student Union taught me that, my community taught me that, and Black history taught me that.

Black history taught me that loving myself will lead to me loving my community, and eventually lead me to loving the country. Black history taught me about my “American Dream.”

My “American Dream” does not place money at the bottom of my hierarchy. Money does not equal success.

Money is a tool, not a value in itself.

We have been confused that having more money justifies injustices against our fellow man.

Courtesy of Izayah Morgan Black history has taught me to appreciate community, despite what has been done to it, and it will always thrive as long as we continue to talk about its value.

Take a moment to appreciate everything that Black culture has brought to this country. The music, dance, trends, slang, media, art, and love. There’s been so much love that Black organizations have given not just to me, but

to millions of other Black folks in this country.

This month is to highlight Black folks who have been disadvantaged since they stepped out in this country.

Even after this month Black history won’t stop. Because Black folks have never had the privilege of not fighting.

Every single one will continue to fight, to recognize.

Recognize their “American Dream.”

FRAMINGHAM STATE UNIVERSITY’S INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1932 | FSUGATEPOST.COM

OP/ED

8 | FEBRUARY 16, 2024

Campus Conversations

By Bella Omar and Alexis Schlesinger, Editorial Staff, and Kyle Walker, Staff Writer

“What did you do on your snow day?”

“I mainly just slept. I did a little work, but I just took it as a relaxing day.”

- Kaiya Cummings, junior

“I played ‘Madden NFL’ and drafted Jayden Daniels to the New England Patriots with the third overall pick.”

“I sat in my bedroom for a little bit and started to rot.”

“The same thing as Stephanie because she’s my roommate.”

- Stephanie Rodriguez, freshman

- Shirley Palma, freshman

“I literally just played video games with my roommate, and I did chemistry.”

“I went home because I don’t have class on Wednesday, so I was able to stay home for two days.”

- Isabelle Berube, freshman

“I did some work. I was also hanging out with my friends. I had dinner, and I called my mom.”

- Madelyn Agudelo, freshman

@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

“Work. School work.”

- KyAsia Peete, sophomore

- Dillon Riley, junior

- Colby Hatch, freshman

“Nothing.”

- Noah Fields, junior

“I basically just did homework and studied.”

- Shanay Morales, sophomore

“I worked as the SDA in one of the buildings, I just kind of stayed there all day.”

- Logan Crow, sophomore

“Absolutely nothing, to be completely honest.

A lot of procrastinating.”

- Matthew Boivin, junior

SPORTS

FEBRUARY 16, 2024 | 9

Women’s basketball clinches conference title during nine-game win streak

By Adam Levine Sports Editor

Dylan Pichnarcik / THE GATEPOST Michelle Moreno dribbling the ball during victory over MCLA Feb. 10.

The Framingham State Rams dominated another week of MASCAC matchups with a 75-30 victory over the MCLA Trailblazers Feb. 10 and an 88-58 victory over the Worcester State Lancers Feb. 14.

Framingham is currently on a ninegame win streak, which helped secure them the MASCAC Regular Season Title.

The Rams dictated the pace of the game from the first whistle against MCLA. Led by veteran fifth-year Flannery O’Connor, the Rams started the game by scoring 15 unanswered points in 5 minutes.

O’Connor scored 13 of those points, single-handedly scoring the first 11 of the game.

She finished with a game-high 21 points and 12 rebounds in just 21 minutes of play - a decrease from her 29.7 minutes per game for the season.

After the win, O’Connor said, “I think it was all around a great win and I think we did well.”

She added the game was a good opportunity for the entire team to gain experience in MASCAC matchups.

The Rams dominated the first half and held a 45-6 lead at halftime, only allowing 4 and 2 points in the first and second quarter, respectively.

Framingham took their foot off the gas in the second half. The Rams’ starting five played only 3 minutes in the third quarter and sat out for the entirety of the fourth quarter, making space for the freshmen to take the court.

By the end of the game, all 14 members of the team scored a point.

Freshman Bridget Capone led the freshmen in minutes played in the matchup against MCLA, recording a career-high 18 minutes.

Capone said it was a “great experience” and she continues to learn by playing with veteran teammates.

“Being able to play with those girls that are so good and have so much experience makes us better - it makes being on the team even better,” she said.

Framingham’s stellar first-half performance propelled them to a 75-30 victory over MCLA. The Rams earned another MASCAC victory with an 88-58 win over the Worcester State Lancers Feb. 14.

This was Framingham’s second-highest scoring game, falling second to their 97-56 victory over nonconference opponent Curry College Dec. 9.

Junior Katie Haselton led the Rams in their most-recent victory.

Haselton scored a game-high 20 points, tying her season high. She also recorded nine rebounds, which tied her season and career high, previously set during their 74-52 win over Westfield State Jan. 3.

Haselton said her performance came from “really just continuing to go 110%, focused while remaining calm, taking what the defense gives me without forcing anything and taking it strong to the hoop.”

She said, “Throughout this season, I’ve taken whatever role coach wants from me and I’ll do it to the best of my ability. Every single one of us has im-

Framingham State Women’s Basketball, 2024 MASCAC Regular Season Champions

Dylan Pichnarcik / THE GATEPOST

portant roles that have resulted in our dominant season. We just all have to do our jobs!

“I just focus on stopping the other team from putting the ball in the basket and our offense will flow from our defense,” Haselton added.

As was the case with their win against MCLA, the Rams outscored the Lancers during every quarter. The Rams beat the Lancers 88-58.

On the same night, MASCAC-rival Bridgewater State dropped their matchup to Westfield State.

Bridgewater’s loss dropped their MASCAC record to 10-2, which secured the MASCAC Regular Season Title for the Rams.

This is Framingham’s third title in four seasons. They earned the title during the 2019-20 and 2021-22 seasons. Each of these seasons, the Rams went on to win the MASCAC Tournament.

Haselton said, “It was awesome for us to win the MASCAC Regular Season Title again, but we still have business to take care of.

“We are confident moving forward.

We all have the same goal and just continue to work hard and give our all every single day,” she added.

Gwendolyn Carpenter, another veteran fifth-year player for the Rams, said she feels she took on a “leadership role in showing our team the right way to win” this season.

Carpenter currently leads the team in minutes per game (35.0) and assists per game (7.1). She also ranks first in the MASCAC in assists per game and second in the MASCAC in 3-point percentage (38.6), trailing only teammate Chloe Rayko (40.8).

Carpenter said, “Leading both on and off the court has been important in our chemistry as a team this year, and it shows in our performance.”

The Rams host the Fitchburg State Falcons in a MASCAC matchup for their final game of the regular season Feb. 17.

Framingham beat the Falcons 83-41 in their previous matchup Jan. 24.

As the MASCAC Regular Season Champions, the Rams received a firstround bye and will host one of the tournament semifinal games Feb. 22.

Carpenter said, “To win a regular season title is huge! Especially when it comes to tournament seeding and home court advantage, it was really important for us to win the important games.”

The Rams proved dominant in home matchups and currently hold a perfect 10-0 home record. As the top seed for the MASCAC Tournament, Framingham will host all of their games.

“We have been preparing for the tournament since we started playing conference games in the beginning of January. We all have the same goal in mind and are looking forward to next week!” Carpenter said.

Dylan Pichnarcik / THE GATEPOST Flannery O’Connor shooting a layup during victory over MCLA Feb. 10.

FEBRUARY 10 FRAMINGHAM STATE 75 MCLA 30 FEBRUARY 14 FRAMINGHAM STATE WORCESTER STATE

88 58

Stats sourced from fsurams.com and MASCAC.com

CONNECT WITH ADAM LEVINE alevine5@student.framingham.edu

FRAMINGHAM STATE UNIVERSITY’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1932 | FSUGATEPOST.COM

10 | FEBRUARY 16, 2024

SPORTS

Men’s ice hockey falls in overtime conference loss Sophia Oppedisano Staff Writer The Framingham State Rams lost 3-2 to the MCLA Trailblazers in overtime Feb. 15.

The Rams now hold a conference record of 8-10-2 and clinched a spot in the MASCAC playoffs earlier this week.

Framingham currently ranks fifth in the MASCAC and is vying for a fourthplace finish to secure a home game to begin the playoffs next week.

The past month has proved difficult for the Rams in their conference matchups with only one win, two ties, and two losses. The loss to MCLA is the third game to go into overtime in those past six games.

The Trailblazers applied immediate pressure on the Rams, forcing a physical game from the first puck drop.

MCLA struck first with a goal only one minute into the game.

The Rams were the first to go to the penalty box for interference 10 minutes into the game and the Rams killed the penalty.

Brent Scott scored the first goal for Framingham 15 minutes into the period, assisted by Jeremy McDonald and Scott Bugarin.

MCLA took two penalties in the late minutes of the period for boarding and tripping. The Rams were unable to score on either power play opportunity and the first period ended tied 1-1.

The second period began with another MCLA tripping penalty 5 minutes into the period and the Rams did not score on the power play.

Goalie Trevor Stenberg took pressure in the defensive zone and made several huge saves for the Rams. Stenberg saved 27 shots on goal by the Trailblazers.

The Rams and Trailblazers took coincidental penalties for unsportsmanlike conduct and cross-checking, respectively, halfway through the second period. Both teams played short handed with four-on-four until the penalties expired.

Head Coach Michael Bailey said the penalties “definitely derail the game when you’re playing short handed or

Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST Sam Larkin taking a shot during 3-2 overtime loss to MCLA Feb. 15.

four-on-four.

“But when you’re out there in the heat of battle, guys have to protect themselves and sometimes, you know, it’s harder to be disciplined in that case,” he said.

Devante Dixon scored for the Rams at 17:32, assisted

by Robert Bernier and McDonald.

Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST The second periMatthew Nuzzolilo skating during loss to MCLA Feb. 10. od ended 2-1.

The third period began with anoththeir home ice. er coincidental penalty as both teams “One thing we’ve done all year is were sent to the box for roughing at stay positive. You know, try and take 5:50. the positives of the game, not get down MCLA scored 10 seconds into the on each other and just stay focused on coincidental penalty kill to tie the working hard the next day in practice game 2-2. staying upbeat,” Bailey said.

The Trailblazers and Rams took a Collazo said, “The boys have to third coincidental penalty only sec- bounce back on Saturday, and hopeonds after the penalty kill at 7:49. fully, we can respond.”

Both teams combined for 20 penalty minutes.

“In a game like that, we just kind of FEBRUARY 10 got to keep our heads up and we can PLYMOUTH STATE 3 rise to the physicality of the game,” said Framingham’s Ashton Collazo.

FRAMINGHAM STATE 1 The game went into overtime tied 2-2 and MCLA took the game with a FEBRUARY 15 goal halfway through the overtime period, winning 3-2.

MCLA 3 “The guys played well tonight. They FRAMINGHAM STATE 2 played hard. They gave a heck of an effort. We just used way too much ener- Stats sourced from fsurams.com gy up and then, come overtime, we just and MASCAC.com didn’t really have a lot left in the tank,” Bailey said.

CONNECT WITH The Rams look toward their final SOPHIA OPPEDISANO regular season game against MASCAC soppedisano@student.framingham.edu opponent Fitchburg State Feb. 17 on

Men’s basketball finds hope in freshman class despite losing streak

By Adam Levine Sports Editor The Framingham State Rams lost 67-59 to the MCLA Trailblazers Feb. 10 and 92-67 to the Worcester State Lancers Feb. 14, dropping both matchups of the week.

The Rams now hold an overall record of 5-19 and a conference record of 0-11.

Despite their now eight-game losing

Dylan Pichnarcik / THE GATEPOST JD Okafor dribbling the ball during loss to MCLA Feb. 10.

@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

streak, Head Coach Donald Morris Jr. is optimistic about his freshman class.

“I think our freshmen are great. …

They don’t see that in two years they’ll be better than they are right now,” Morris said.

He said every day this season has been about being “better than the day before - Did you compete better than you did the day before?”

Morris said, “I think we do have good pieces. I just don’t think they are pieces that are ready right away to take that step.”

Framingham’s standout freshman, Joshua Saint Jean, ranks second on the team in minutes per game (29.8) and has started all 21 of the games he has played.

Saint Jean said Morris recruited a large freshman class this past summer.

“He wanted us freshmen to help build this program for the long run.”

Saint Jean played 39 minutes in the loss against MCLA and recorded a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds.

Korbin Gann, one of the three freshmen who started in the game against MCLA, said playing freshmen means a lot to the program.

Gann said, “When I was talking with Coach [Morris] when I was getting re-

cruited, his big pitch was that he wanted to play freshmen, that he just wanted to change the program and build.

“We have a lot of talent as freshmen and we’re trying to use upperclassmen to help us now,” he added.

After the loss to MCLA, Morris said the team has to work on defense at practice.

“We’re doing a poor job keeping the ball on one side of the floor. We didn’t do a bad job on the helpline at times, but we’re so worried about shooters that we’re all hugging the weak side and that’s where the problems are occurring,” he said.

During Framingham’s loss, MCLA’s star-player, Quentin Gittens, scored a career-high 36 points. Gittens is currently averaging 19.6 points per game, which ranks second in the MASCAC. Morris said the team practiced for Gittens for over a week. “In the second half, we did a bad job because we let him get a full head of steam coming up the floor.”

The Rams host the Fitchburg State Falcons in a MASCAC matchup for their final game of the regular season Feb. 17.

In their last matchup, the Falcons beat the Rams 61-59 in the final seconds of the game Jan. 24.

Morris said after their loss to the Lancers, the Rams still have a chance of making the playoffs with a win over the Falcons. The Falcons and Rams would be tied with one MASCAC-win each and the final playoff spot would be decided on a tiebreaker between the teams.

Saint Jean, who missed the last matchup against the Falcons due to an injury, said the team will “try to win this game - play as hard as we can because it’s our last home game.”

FEBRUARY 10 MCLA 67 FRAMINGHAM STATE 59

FEBRUARY 14 WORCESTER STATE FRAMINGHAM STATE

92 67

Stats sourced from fsurams.com and MASCAC.com

CONNECT WITH ADAM LEVINE alevine5@student.framingham.edu

FEBRUARY 16, 2024 | 11

ARTS & FEATURES

Students share how studying abroad changed their life

By Adam Levine Editorial Staff Elizbeth Walker caught the travel bug in high school when she traveled to England, where she would later return for college.

Tim Reed said traveling abroad was overwhelming at first, but his first experience at independence provided him with life-long skills that will take him further than Italy.

Maddison Behringer said studying abroad in Dublin, Ireland enriched her global perspective. “I’ve also learned many valuable people skills from traveling and interacting with so many new people, especially in places like this,” she said.

Sofia Wilson, who studied abroad in Portugal and India, said that being able to connect more with her own culture and one so different from her own provided her with the opportunity to connect with people from all around the world.

All of these students, and more, had their lives changed by studying abroad through Framingham State’s Office of International Programs.

Study-abroad programs can take place during the fall, winter, spring, or summer terms and are for course credit, according to the University’s website.

Faculty-led study tours are opportunities that take place throughout the year and can last anywhere from one to three weeks. These study tours can count toward academic credit or can be “purely experiential learning opportunities,” according to the University’s website.

Elizabeth Walker ’23 Walker traveled to England during the fall of 2021.

She said she studied at the University of East Anglia (UEA) in Norwich, England during her junior year, but she knew coming into FSU as a fresh-

man she wanted to study abroad.

Walker said she traveled to London during her senior year of high school and caught the “travel bug.”

She said, “Studying abroad is such a unique opportunity that you’re not really going to ever have again in life, so I was really interested in doing that in my undergrad career.”

Walker said she began planning for her trip during the Spring 2021 Semester.

She said she didn’t live on campus that semester and prepared for her abroad experience virtually.

Walker said the first step was applying to UEA. Once she was accepted, she began to fill out her paperwork.

She said the last step in her planning process was choosing her courses. She only took three courses instead of four because UEA and FSU have different credit systems.

Walker said she took an American voices class, a course titled “Empire and After: Globalizing English,” and a course titled “Language and Society.”

She added Language and Society was “probably my favorite class, or one of my favorite classes, I had in my undergraduate career.”

Walker said her classmates were mostly from the UK, but there was a large international study-abroad population at UAE. She said she lived in a flat on campus with 10 other students, five of whom were international studyabroad students - none of whom were also from the United States.

“I feel like it sounds so cliché when people talk about studying abroad, but it truly was life-changing,” Walker added.

She added although living in a different environment was “daunting,” it was “personally rewarding.”

Walker said despite her hesitations caused by post-COVID-19 travel regulations, she traveled to the other

Courtesy of Maddison Behringer

countries in the UK. She said she planned trips on her own to Edinburgh, Scotland; Cardiff, Wales; and Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Walker said her favorite memory of her semester abroad was from her trip to Edinburgh when she inadvertently experienced a ceremony for Armistice Day, which celebrates the end of World War I. She said she saw military professionals dressed in kilts and a ceremony of people playing bagpipes.

Walker said it was unexpected, but “it all just lined up so perfectly.”

Tim Reed ’24 Reed studied abroad in Florence, Italy during the Spring 2023 Semester through Lorenzo de’ Medici (LdM) The Italian International Institute.

Reed said he had a trip planned to Italy during his senior year of high school, which was canceled to COVID-19 restrictions.

He said Italy has always been a place he wanted to visit.

“I knew that studying abroad was something I was interested in,” Reed said. “I wanted to get worldly experience and see a lot of different things when I had the opportunity to - which during college is the best opportunity.”

Reed said he began the process of planning his semester abroad nearly a year and a half before he left.

He said his process began by going to the Office of International Programs to “get those ideas generated” about his semester.

“You have a lot of meetings throughout that period until you actually leave,” Reed said.

He said there are a lot of “moving pieces” and “it can definitely get overwhelming at certain points if you aren’t an organized person or if you don’t really have too much knowledge” about the forms involved.

He said the study abroad office

Courtesy of Elizabeth Walker helps you “piece by piece.

“They talk throughout everything - whether that be financials, the advising of classes, the transfer of credits, and just the overall experience of what to expect and how to prepare for it.

“I would say working with the office was very beneficial and very smooth,” Reed added.

He said, “The semester before, that’s when you start doing a lot more of the paperwork and the more logistical aspects of it.”

Reed added by the end of the semester before the trip, everything should be set up and “you’re ready to go.”

He said, “You just can’t do it all at the last second.”

Reed said when he was abroad, he gained a “new perspective on [his] environment - the things around you, the people around you, and your view of yourself.”

He said being abroad is very much about being on your own.

“You learn how to be independent and really push yourself out of [your] comfort zone,” Reed said. “I would say that’s the biggest thing with study abroad - you’re pushing yourself so far out of your comfort zone that when you return, it just turns you into a more developed and more wellequipped person.”

Reed said he tries to recommend studying abroad to his peers. “I sell it as much as I can.”

He added, “If someone is telling me about how they’re thinking about it, I try to tell them to jump on it.

“For me, it’s been probably the most important and best part of my college career so far because it’s just a semester in a completely new place with new people. And you really learn about yourself,” Reed said.

See STUDY ABROAD Page 12

FRAMINGHAM STATE UNIVERSITY'S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1932 | FSUGATEPOST.COM

12 | FEBRUARY 16, 2024

ARTS & FEATURES

Study abroad Continued from Page 11 Maddison Behringer ’25 Behringer studied abroad during the Fall 2023 Semester in Dublin, Ireland, and London, England.

Behringer said she always wanted to travel abroad in college. “I wanted to make sure my college had a studyabroad program.”

She said her first step was attending the study-abroad fair her freshman year and beginning to have a conversation with the staff of the office.

Behringer said she chose to study abroad during her junior year because it worked out best with her workload in the Honors Program and with her major.

“I wanted to go to London because my friend who goes to a different university was also studying abroad and she wanted to go to London, so we kind of planned that together,” she said.

Behringer said, “The program I picked aligns well with my major and the courses would be easily transferable.”

She said she took “Media, Gender and Identity” and “Irish Culture, Society, and Identity” while in Dublin for the first six weeks of the semester and then took “Contemporary British Theatre” and “British Art History: The Golden Age” in London during the second half of the semester.

Behringer said “Media, Gender and Identity” and “Contemporary British Theatre” count toward her major, “Irish Culture, Society, and Identity” counts as a general education credit, and “British Art History: The Golden Age” counts as an elective.

She said there were no other students from FSU in her study-abroad program.

Behringer said, “I’ve learned a lot.

I’ve been able to become a lot more independent.”

She said she learned more about both of the cultures she’s experienced,

especially Ireland’s deep history.

She added her favorite aspect of her study-abroad experience was the people she met.

“I’ve loved all the people I’ve met so far,” Behringer said. “I met some genuinely awesome people through my program.”

She said her favorite memory has been traveling to Howth, Ireland with a group of her friends.

Behringer said they went on a cliff walk and hike overlooking the ocean.

“It was a beautiful view, and it was such a lovely day.”

Sofia Wilson ’25 Wilson said she participated in both a faculty-led and a study-abroad program.

She said she participated in the 2023 J-term India trip and studied abroad in Portugal during the summer of 2023.

Lisa Eck, chair of the English Department, is the founder and co-leader of the India J-Term trip.

The India J-term trip is just one of many faculty-led trips offered at FSU, but it is the only program to run since the COVID-19 pandemic shut down study-abroad programs.

Eck most recently co-led the trip with Rachel Lucking, assistant dean for campus engagement, during the 2023 J-term. Twelve students participated in the trip.

“I’m dead serious about not going and being a tourist in India,” Eck said.

“I think there are right and wrong ways to even be a traveler.”

Wilson said she chose these trips rather than a full semester studyabroad program because of her “strict academic plan.”

She said, “I decided to do winter and summer because that way I could still go abroad and get the experience without having to take my whole semester off and put me back a semester for graduation.”

Wilson said she began planning for

Courtesy of Sofia Wilson

@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

her trip to India during spring 2022.

“It was well-informed,” she said.

“Because it was faculty-led, I had a lot more help with it.”

Wilson said the pre-departure planning consisted of filling out paperwork, making payments, and packing.

“I had to figure out what I needed to pack - which was kind of difficult,” she said. “It was really cold at night and kind of hot during the day.”

Wilson said she thought the trip was “introspective.

“I liked reflecting on it and being out of my comfort zone,” she added.

Wilson said traveling to India was a “huge adjustment” at first because of the timezone and being so far from home.

“I really liked India,” she said. “I thought that the people I met there were really nice - I loved the food and the environment.”

Wilson said her favorite memory during her trip to India was walking with her peers on the trip and the kids from the village to a church near the farm the students stayed on in Kalimpong.

She said the church was lit up with Christmas lights. “We all just hung out and looked around the church a n d took pictures on the roof area outside.”

Wilson said, “It was very fun because I’m not sure we were supposed to be there.

“But it was fun to hang out with people that were close to my age and just mess around, explore the area, and get to know what some of the kids in the village were doing - where they went to pray or where they went to hang out,” she added.

Wilson said she began planning for her study-abroad summer 2023 trip to Portugal during Fall 2022.

She said she chose Portugal because, at the time, she was a Portuguese major and also because part of

her family lives there.

Wilson said, “I wanted to get more exposure to parts of my culture and more exposure to the language, so that I could be a little more fluent in it.”

She said she took “Intermediate Portuguese 1” and “History, Art, Culture in Contemporary Portugal” at Universidade Católica Portuguesa in Lisbon.

Wilson said her trip to Portugal was a “much more personal experience.”

She said, “I went up north a couple of times to visit my family and my grandmother. It was really nice to be able to communicate with them a little more fluently than when I had seen them before.”

Wilson said, “It was nice to go and not only get the academic experience and live independently in Lisbon, but it was also nice to get back in touch with a part of my culture that I don’t really get to see much of.”

She said the biggest difference she noticed between a faculty-led program and a study-abroad program was the amount of “direct help” she received.

“When you go with faculty members, you’re most likely living in the same place, or you have very close access to them,” Wilson said. “They usually have experience with going to that place.”

She said when she went to Portugal she was “a little more independent.”

Wilson said, “People should look into study abroad, even if it’s for a month or a couple of weeks.

“It’s worth it and you’re not really going to get to do it again as easily in the future,” she added.

[Editor’s Note: Maddison Behringer is Interim Associate Editor for The Gatepost.]

CONNECT WITH ADAM LEVINE

alevine5@student.framingham.edu

Courtesy of Tim Reed

ARTS & FEATURES

FEBRUARY 16, 2024 | 13

Innovation Center hosts JVF Solutions reopening celebration

By Bella Omar Asst. Arts & Features Editor

Fishing for family

By Raena Doty Arts & Features Editor

For resident students, it can be hard to live without their beloved pets for the first time - but Autumn Ray, a sophomore studio art major, was lucky enough to be able to bring her fish with her to her second year on campus.

Her fish, a betta named Angelcake, lives in a 10-gallon tank in the corner of her room, one facet of her “plant-y and weird” aesthetic, as she described it.

She said having a fish on campus helps her keep on task when she’s managing her schedule.

“It helps me organize my tasks and do everything that I need to do. So I’ll feed the fish and I’ll be like, ‘OK, I fed the fish, now it’s onto my other routines,’” she said.

Ray said Angelcake is not her first betta fish, and both of her fish before him have been named after food - Cheese and Mustard - and although a friend named Angelcake for her, they stuck with the theme of food.

Aside from Angelcake, though, Ray is missing a lot of members of her family - including her three sisters.

She said when living with three sisters “you never have anything that’s your own. And then you move out and you’re like, ‘Holy crap, I can’t just go ask my sister for an iron.’ I have to go buy my own so I can use it.”

When she first moved to FSU, she missed some of the energy of having her sisters around, she added.

“I would just sit in my room my first semester and have videos on in the background because I was just not used to that level of quiet. There was always noise in the house, but now there’s nothing in my dorm, so I’ll always have something on to keep me from going insane,” she said.

Still, she said there was one thing she likes above all else about living in the dorms - “privacy.”

To anyone who doesn’t know what to expect about living in a dorm, Ray said, “It’s a lot of fun,” but it also comes with a lot of responsibility.

“You’ll have your freedom, but you’ll have your own responsibility - to keep your room clean, to do your laundry because no one’s there to remind you to do it,” she said.

Ray said having a room with lots of different decorations, with shelves and rearranged furniture and a fish, can be a lot of work to keep up on, but she chose to have many decorations intentionally.

She added in her freshman year she tried to have minimal decorations aside from her own drawings.

This year, though, she wanted to have more of her belongings in her room, even if that makes it harder to clean.

“I feel more at home,” she said.

Surrounded by friends and family, James Feudo reopened JVF Solutions at the FSU Entrepreneur Innovation Center Feb. 8.

Feudo founded the web design agency in 1998 as a side hustle after working as a web design instructor at Bentley University.

By 6 p.m. the center had filled with colleagues, other members of the Innovation Center, family, and old friends - with Framingham’s Mayor Charlie Sisitisky also making an appearance. Guests filled their plates with egg rolls and other hors d’oeuvres, made by Feudo’s wife.

After everyone was seated, Stephanie Hirshon, deputy director of the MetroWest Chamber of Commerce, greeted the crowd and delivered a speech “to celebrate JVF Solutions,” she said.

“We’re thrilled to recognize James and his team for all that they do for their clients, fellow chamber members, and the community,” Hirshon said. “It is amazing to see everyone here tonight celebrating James and what he has accomplished.”

James has also worked with nonprofits such as Read to a Child, in addition to his work as a chamber member when he isn’t assisting businesses “with any challenges they may have,” said Hirshon.

Hirshon then announced that JVF Solutions had won the Small Business of the Year Award, only two years after James’ Ambassador of the Year Achievement in 2022.

James and several members of the Chamber of Commerce and JFV Solutions then presented and officially cut the ribbon to commemorate the reopening.

Joe Marrella, health and wellness coach and family friend of James Feudo, said James is “unbelievable - he’s a hard worker, relentless. … He’s always there to help other people.”

JVF Solutions works with a diverse array of entrepreneurs nationally, but they demonstrate commitment to the MetroWest culture by discounting services to local businesses.

The agency also takes on interns like David Abe, a junior business & IT major at FSU. Abe has worked at JVF Solutions for about a year and a half developing and managing websites, social media, and general media production.

“Finding JVF was sort of a perfect storm.

I was looking for a small business to intern at, where I could learn what it took to run a business, on a day-to-day basis. My friend was interning at JFV then and told me about it. At the time they needed a videographer and photographer who had equipment and had some experience, so they took me on to fill that role,” said Abe. He added one day he wants to “open my creative design firm and museum to platform more underrepresented populations to democratize access to resources often unavailable to people with less capital.

“My favorite part about working with JVF is the opportunity to learn and grow each and every day. Working for JVF is by no means easy and sometimes it is not forgiving, but I know every day that I go in I will work on something that will expand my knowledge base and make my real-world skills more robust,” Abe added.

Fernanda Araujo began her internship with JVF Solutions three weeks ago.

“It allows me to create things,” she said.

“They are all very open minded.”

[Editor’s Note: David Abe is an Assistant Illustrations Editor for The Gatepost.]

CONNECT WITH BELLA OMAR

bomar@student.framingham.edu

CONNECT WITH RAENA DOTY

rdoty@student.framingham.edu

Courtesy of Autumn Ray Courtesy of David Abe

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ARTS & FEATURES

Diversity Dialogues invites Lawrence Watson for discussion

By Jack McLaughlin Arts & Features Editor The Center for Inclusive Excellence, in collaboration with the Henry Whittemore Library, hosted the first Diversity Dialogues event of the semester Feb. 15.

The theme for the discussion was “Reparations,” and featured special guest speaker Lawrence “Larry” Watson.

Student Engagement Coordinator Kathleen Barnard introduced the attendees to Watson, an activist and music educator at Berklee College of Music. His other accomplishments include being the founder and artistic director of Save Our Selves Production, an activist group.

“He has performed all over the world and has sung for a number of world leaders, presidents, and officials,” Barnard said.

Watson began by talking about his relationship with Framingham State, and how he would visit for events in the past.

“It was wonderful to return. And I would like to, on a personal note, say that you all have inspired me to come out of semi-retirement since COVID,” he said.

He expanded on this by saying the COVID-19 pandemic was difficult for him and his family, and explained this event was “one of the first times that I’ve branched out, and I want to thank you all for that.”

Watson talked about the event and how his goal for it was to be informal and interactive, and mentioned that he hadn’t spoken for less than an hour for 25 years.

“But I’m going to be very succinct and try today to cover a variety of issues,” he said.

In the spirit of making the event more interactive, Watson explained and then performed a song in flatfoot singing, which he described as standing up with both feet flat and singing.

Watson sang a piece of music, and talked about how he performed that

particular piece before an audience of 250,000 people in Boston after Nelson Mandela was released from prison.

He said there is “no better way to talk about reparations than to talk about Nelson Mandela.”

Watson said Afrikaners’ study in America caused them to go back to South Africa and “put into place one of the most inhumane, perilous systems that he endured for 27 years.”

Next, Watson wanted attendees to look at the full lyrics for “The Star-Spangled Banner,” and specifically wanted to focus on the song’s

“When you say the American people, you are not talking about Black people. We know they’re talking about white folks.”

- Lawrence “Larry” Watson Founder and Artistic Director of Save Our Selves Production third verse.

He had an audience member say a line from the verse aloud - “Their blood was washed out their foul footsteps pollution. No refuge could save the hireling and the slave.”

Watson said that he uses this line in the classes he teaches, and said his students analyzed the lyrics to try justifying them.

He then discussed a series of injustices in recent history to Black people being unfairly treated. Black people being unfairly arrested and treated by the police were key points, and he also talked about how Barack Obama invited white police officers for a beer summit.

“I called it beer for blood, because Black mothers who lost their children didn’t get invited to the White House as a means of trying to ease the pain and the pressure of it all,” he said.

Attendees at the Reparations Diversity Dialogue with Lawrence Watson Feb. 15.

@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

“So I’m happy to be here today, but I wanted it to be interactive to give you all some sense of the long history of this term - reparations.”

He explained that the classic definition of reparations is to repair and offer compassion when someone has done something wrong.

Watson continued by telling an anecdote of his mother growing up in South Carolina, where she told him that Black people couldn’t purchase Juicy Fruit gum in stores, and had to instead buy Beechnut.

“As Micheal Jackson says,

‘Let that marinate for a m o ment.’ That’s just the beginning of some of the insidious craziness that they grew up under,” he said.

He said that the examples that he discussed are examples of mistreatment that have been going on for years so the audience can properly understand how long Black people have been fighting for a proper apology.

Next, Watson asked the audience if they had participated in phone surveys regarding the “American public.”

After this, he explained how these surveys prioritize the opinions of white Americans and mostly ignore Black people.

“When you say the American people, you are not talking about Black people. We know they’re talking about white folks,” he said.

He used this example to make the

Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST

point that surveys like this “fight against any notion of reparations, to change the language and to now use terms that are coded.”

Watson told another story about his recent experience watching the new movie “Origins,” which he explained focused on the Indian caste system but was surprised to find that there was not any mention of the British involvement in that system being instated.

This upset him while watching, but he continued to watch the movie with his friends who noticed he was frustrated with how the movie was representing these ideas.

“I think everybody should see it to see how rhetoric and how even the best well-intentioned Black folks, Black women who produced that film and wrote it, are missing the point,” he said.

He then talked about his friend, Harvard Professor Derek Bell, who told his class that racism is permanent, which was something that shocked his students.

“He said, ‘It’s like ivy that grows on the side of a building.’ He said, ‘You cut it down and what happens a month later? It grows back,’” Watson said.

Watson then discussed his piece “Reparations,” in which he described the lyrics for it as “a whole breakdown, as a jingle of the reparations movement.

“I hope one day, if I ever get the funds, to put it into a children’s book as well as to put it into a jingle,” he said.

After this, he played a performance of the song for attendees to watch.

When the performance was done, he opened the discussion to attendees to ask questions or continue any points he made in the conversation.

One attendee wanted to further the discussion Watson began with discussing caste in the film “Origins.”

Watson expanded on his view on it by further talking about caste systems and their relevance in our society.

“Everybody is a part of caste, and caste is a system of oppression based on a variety of things. All I saw in the movie was Black people and dark Indian people who didn’t know they were Black,” he said.

“My objection regarding the movie [was] that there wasn’t enough time looking at root cause analysis, which should have been Europe,” Watson said.

He ended the discussion with final thoughts on the caste system and how important figures in the Civil Rights Movement did not deny caste.

“I don’t think Malcolm X or Marcus Garvey ever denied caste. I don’t think they saw a contradiction between caste and race, but it seems like everybody’s trying to get away from anything that has to do with Africa and dark-skinned people,” Watson said.

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ARTS & FEATURES

FEBRUARY 16, 2024 | 15

Art lend Continued from Page 1 He said he thought about “how we could make sure the space is always vibrant and engaging, and how we could make sure that there’s always something happening that would be attracting an audience.

“One of the things I wanted to do was think about activities that didn’t necessarily always mean that there would be people leading on it,” he said.

The gallery is an activity which doesn’t require an organizer and helps contribute to the around-theclock engagement of the CIE, he said.

“It’s one of those things where, 9 a.m. or 5 p.m., you’re able to come by at your own convenience and really enjoy the artwork,” he added.

Burke said the five pieces in the CIE were all created by Black artists, and help celebrate them as well as put them in places where they will be seen. Historically, he added, Black artists have not had as many opportunities to be showcased.

“If we are supposed to look at the history of Black artists, generally, they weren’t invited into public spaces, they weren’t allowed in certain museums,” he said.

“There have always been cases where a Black artist had to be innovative and creative and literally thinking of jumping hoops and hurdles to have their work be shown,” he added.

Burke said as a university, the campus community should always be looking for ways to put Black artwork on display, and that art is a form of cultural heritage.

He said the exhibition is also about empowerment and representation.

He added he hopes students see themselves in the artwork and feel motivated to pursue their goals, and BIPOC students will feel convinced their accomplishments will be on display someday.

Burke said he also thinks the exhibition is important in challenging social biases in who is “allowed” to enjoy art.

He said, “We oftentimes see these in movies … that you have to be from a certain socioeconomic background to enjoy artwork, and I wanted to remove that barrier as well.

“Art shouldn’t only be for a certain class of people. Art shouldn’t only be seen or accessed or viewed by only a certain class - it should be something that is enjoyed by everyone.”

Burke added he believes artists generally want to see their work on display for everyone, and having it in a public space like the CIE helps remove any barriers. There’s not even the physical barrier of glass, he said.

“We want to really, truly remove that,” he said.

Burke said he collaborated with Rachel Passannante, collections manager at the Danforth, in order to get artwork selected and installed in the CIE. He added although the current installation will only be in the center until late February or early March,

he’s already hoping to have another showcase lined up after it.

“We’re really hoping to have a revolving door and a continuing partnership with the Danforth,” he said.

Passannante said the process of selecting art for the CIE began a little over a month ago, and was used to strengthen the sense of community in the center.

She said the five art pieces lent to the CIE varied widely in style, era, and medium, with works having been created in the range of the 1960s to 2021.

She added the most recent piece was included in the Danforth’s 2022 Juried Exhibition, and later gifted to the museum.

Passannante said she and Jessica Roscio, the curator at the Danforth, suggested artwork to the CIE based on constraints such as what would fit in the space, what could be easily transported between the two locations, and the requirement of belonging to a Black artist.

“We sent him [Burke] over a list of, actually five works, and he said he wanted them all,” she added.

Passannante said this isn’t the first time art has been lent from the Danforth to a department on campus.

“We’ve actually been really lucky that a lot of FSU staff members have been reaching out,” she said. “We’ve been including some work in offices around campus - we have some in the president’s office, we have some in Ann McDonald’s office.

“So it’s been great with that word of mouth. … We’ve been more than happy to work with them.”

Passannante said the Danforth was excited to support Black History Month by lending artwork to the CIE, and that the museum is also hosting some programming of its own this February to support Black History Month.

She mentioned the Danforth’s permanent installation of Meta Vaux Warrick Fuller’s work, an African American sculptor who lived and worked in Framingham for most of her life. The exhibit features an array of Fuller’s artwork and a recreation of her workspace.

Passannante also said the museum hosts “Drop Into Art,” a public program geared toward teaching young children about art, which plans to use Fuller’s work as an example in its exercises during a future session.

She added she’s excited to continue working with the CIE, and lending art for other celebrations of culture.

“We’re really excited to keep this going for the history months that we can participate in,” she said. “And hopefully we can keep doing this for the foreseeable future.”

Iz Shields is one of four diversity peer influencers in the CIE - student workers who help the day-to-day operations of the center - from staffing the desk to organizing some of its programming.

Shields, a freshman American Sign Language major, said their work is focused on diversity, equity, and inclu-

sion, and believes that’s what the CIE is all about.

“I know those are big buzzwords, but in general [bringing] those two things to campus events and just residents in general - a lot of those things you have to be intentional about,” Shields added.

“You can’t just say you support this and do this, you have to put forth action and show those things, and the CIE does that on campus,” they said.

Shields said the CIE accomplishes this by having those conversations and staging events with the goal of highlighting cultures and identities that haven’t been represented historically on college campuses.

tration, and is employed as a graduate assistant with the CIE. She said her work consists of researching topics for the CIE, creating promotional materials, and preparing the space for events hosted there.

She said the paintings were installed in order to “remember [Black artists] and remember the rich history that they contribute to.”

Hassanin said she is most interested in “Side View,” a black-and-white photograph capturing its photographer through the side-view mirror of her car.

“Maybe it’s just because I really like journalism, or people who are taking pictures, because I actually believe

Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST Attendees at the Reparations Diversity Dialogue with Lawrence Waton Oct. 17.

They said all of the artwork lent from the Danforth comments on racism or disparity between the Black community and other groups, particularly “The Sunflower Quilting Bee at Arles” by Faith Ringgold.

The lithograph depicts seven historic Black women, including Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, and Madam Walker, among others, as well as one fictional Black woman, Willia Marie Simone.

Simone is a character Ringgold created and featured in 11 other quilts that alongside “The Sunflower Quilting Bee at Arles” forms “The French Collection.”

The series depicts her, a painter and mother of two, traversing art in Europe during the 1920s, according to a 2022 article by The New York Times, “Faith Ringgold’s Path of Maximum Resistance.”

The women are all standing in a sunflower field, holding a quilt with sunflowers embroidered onto it. To the right is Vincent Van Gogh, not touching the quilt the women hold.

Shields said, “It’s showing that I’m not sure if it’s Vincent Van Gogh specifically or all white artists, I don’t know if he did something specific - but white artists in general, their effect in the art community and how that has affected Black artists, and their means of putting their art into the world.”

Basma Hassanin is pursuing her master’s degree in hospital adminis-

that whoever takes the picture gets to tell the story,” she said. “The way they take the picture is the way the whole world will see what’s happening.”

Hassanin said everyone sees art differently, but believes people all sort of think about the same underlying message in a work.

She added she is from Egypt, and feels like she can relate to Ringgold’s piece as a woman.

“Until the ’60s, no one cared if you were a woman in my country. And even until this day, we are still fighting over women’s rights. It’s sad to think about,” she said.

“The paintings make you read about people who … were suffering, and yet they could do something beautiful,” she said. “So that’s the inspiration - everyone faces challenges, but the question is, ‘What are you going to do with that?’”

Hassanin said she enjoys working at the CIE, and that it’s a “safe place.”

“The first time I even read about the CIE, they kept saying ‘this is a safe place, this is a safe place.’ I really did not understand that until I joined them,” she said.

She added, “They do have a safe space - it’s not just words - you know what I mean?

“They do care.”

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roconnell1@student.framingham.edu

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ARTS & FEATURES Spread by Photos & Design Editor Maddison Behringer

Maddison Behringer / THE GATEPOST “Miss Prather’s Class” by Winfred Rembert, loaned by the Danforth Art Museum, on display in the Center for Inclusive Excellence Feb. 15.

Maddison Behringer / THE GATEPOST “The Sunflower Quilting Bee at Arles” by Faith Ringgold, loaned by the Danforth Art Museum, on display in the Center for Inclusive Excellence Feb. 15.

Maddison Behringer / THE GATEPOST “Madonna and Child” by Allan Rohan Crite, loaned by the Danforth Art Museum, on display in the Center for Inclusive Excellence Feb. 15.

Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST Lawrence Watson, right, speaking at the Diversity Dialogues: Reparations event Feb. 15.

Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST People cheering for Lawrence Watson at the Diversity Dialogues: Reparations event Feb. 15.

Maddison Behringer / THE GATEPOST “Side View” by Sonya Tanae Fort, loaned by the Danforth Art Museum, on display in the Center for Inclusive Excellence Feb. 15.

@The Gatepost | FSUgatepost.com

Maddison Behringer / THE GATEPOST “Red Bird” by Sacha Tebó, loaned by the Danforth Art Museum, on display in the Center for Inclusive Excellence Feb. 15.

Maddison Behringer / THE GATEPOST Artwork on loan hanging in the CIE for Black History Month Feb. 15.

ARTS & FEATURES

FEBRUARY 16, 2024 | 17

‘The Iron Claw’ - beautifully devastating

By Jack McLaughlin Arts & Features Editor To go to a movie and not know anything about it beforehand is one of life’s most refreshing activities. It doesn’t happen often, and when it does there’s a chance the film will surprise you in ways you didn’t expect.

When I heard there was an A24 movie about professional wrestling with rave reviews, it seemed like a no-brainer, so I went in expecting nothing but professional wrestling and Zac Efron.

“The Iron Claw” emotionally suplexed me in ways I was not prepared for, and quickly rose to be one of the best films I saw last year.

The film is based on the events of the Von Erich family in the 1980s, a dynasty of fearless wrestlers, and the story tells the rise and crushing fall of the family.

This is a terrific example of a film that vastly exceeds its genre and can be enjoyed by anyone who doesn’t typically watch a movie centered around sports.

I’ve never paid attention to or cared about professional wrestling, but the magic of strong performances, directing, and writing turned me into the biggest pro wrestling fan for two hours and 12 minutes.

The sequences of wrestling are executed perfectly. You always feel the weight of each move, and they are quick and don’t take away from what’s most important - the characters.

Zac Efron is the emotional core of

the family, playing the main character and caring of each other. It always Kevin Von Erich. His performance here feels like they have the best interests for them, which makes the is far beyond what viewers exsecond half of the movie all pected from him when the more painful. they first When this movie saw him begins to take darkin “High er turns, it starts to School feel like this horrible Musical,” car wreck that you and he can’t seem to get completely away from. You keep dominates thinking, “There’s the role. no way this gets any H i s worse, right?” and character as soon as you think is forced that, something oneto helpups it in the most awlessly watch ful way possible. as the story With that being unfolds, and said, the best way to it takes a lot of experience “The Iron talent to pull off Claw” is not to do your this level of emohomework on the Von tional complexity.

Erich family. If you know It’s truly a shame his close to nothing about performance was not this movie except that it’s acknowledged by the about professional wresAcademy Awards this tling, keep it that way. year - it was one of It enhanced the the best leading experience so much performances of Marcus Falcão / THE GATEPOST that it took me on a 2023.

As the film goes on, you will be- late-night trove through Wikipedia come more connected to each of Kev- after I got home from the theater to in’s brothers, who are all performed find out what was included and exspectacularly. Of the supporting cast, cluded from the film.

There’s a quote from the film’s diJeremy Allen White and Harris Dickinson do an amazing job as Kerry and rector, Sean Durkin, about the creative choice to exclude one of the David respectively.

The chemistry among the brothers brothers, Chris Von Erich, from the is fantastic - they’re all so supporting film saying that his inclusion would

have been “one more tragedy that the film couldn’t really withstand.”

I found that information mindblowing the night I read it. It felt like the film already wasn’t holding its emotional punches, and knowing it did added to the tragedy of this story.

Without question, “The Iron Claw” is beautifully shot, with lots of darkly lit scenes contrasting with vibrant sunny ones that perfectly capture this tragedy with glimpses of light throughout.

This was by far one of 2023’s best films, and its neglect from any Oscar nominations is baffling, but that doesn’t stop it from being as incredible as it is.

Rating: A A heavyweight classic

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‘The Holdovers’ - a Boston winter classic

By Kristel Erguiza Staff Writer

as “Election” and “Downsizing.” Released on Oct. 23 with praise from critics and a high rating on Rotten Alexander Payne’s newest movie, Tomatoes, “The Holdovers” is another “The Holdovers,” follows Dominic movie that tugs at your heartstrings Sessa as boarding student Angus Tul- the more you watch it.

Stuck at his boarding school, Barly, a convincing Paul Giamatti as Professor Paul Hunhan, and Da’Vine Joy ton Academy, during winter break, Randolph as Mary Lamb, the school Angus Tully had been wanting a break from his rude and demeaning classics cafeteria manager.

Payne has directed movies such teacher, Paul Hunhan, reeling to go on vacation with his mother and her new boyfriend.

Not getting to leave campus because his mother couldn’t pick up the phone, hijinks ensue with Professor Hunhan and Mary, and many memorable and emotional moments between Angus and Paul. These three main characters have heartwarming moments together while traveling around Boston and staying at Barton, going to fellow Professor Lydia Crane’s (Carrie Preston) party.

Dominic Sessa’s breakout performance as the reluctant Angus gained such a soft spot in my heart. Especially as a student from Massachusetts, he really understood Boston in a way that not many actors do, having been in his school’s theater program at Deerfield Academy.

Da’Vine Joy Randolph’s captivating David Abe / THE GATEPOST and emotional performance as Mary

Lamb, reeling from the death of her son Curtis, had me on the edge of my seat, with tears of sadness whenever she’d talk about him. Her comedic timing in this movie was insane, when making Angus laugh at Paul’s weird little habits.

The cinematography and shots were very intriguing, with the color palette being very somber and sad. It really gave a nice depiction of winters here, and how annoying it might get to not be with family during the holidays.

Going to AMC Theaters and sitting down with a bucket of popcorn, not knowing what I was getting into was actually the best thing in the whole world. This movie is akin to “Dead Poets Society,” but honestly, it’s so much better than that.

Set in places where I’d always visit with my siblings, it painted such a beautiful portrait of Massachusetts.

Having not as many people in the theater also helped, making the movie feel more special to me while I was sitting there munching on my popcorn.

One performance that felt special was Paul Giamatti’s as headstrong Professor Paul Hunham. The scene where he gives Mary and Angus a copy of “Meditations” by Marcus Aurelius

made me laugh so hard. Considering it was my first Giamatti film, it made me want to watch more of his films.

Overall, If you’re looking for a heartwarming, sentimental movie to watch during the wintertime with your loved ones, “The Holdovers” is sure to make you feel the Christmas spirit that Boston brings.

Rating: A I’ll be reading my copy of “Meditations” every winter now!

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ARTS & FEATURES

‘American Fiction’ is factually great

By Owen Glancy Asst. Arts & Features Editor Of all the 2024 Best Picture nominees, “American Fiction” directed by Cord Jefferson has one of the most interesting premises.

The story follows Monk, a Black author, sick of the success of Black stereotypes in American literature. In response, he writes a book under an alias that leans into every stereotype so heavily it could only be interpreted as a joke. However, the book becomes an extremely popular best seller and award winner.

While that explanation may have been long winded, it’s necessary to understand what makes and breaks “American Fiction” as a film.

Its biggest strength is Jeffrey Wright’s performance as Monk. This is possibly the best performance of Wright’s career, and he brings such a powerful and emotional energy to the film that makes his detached character feel empathetic.

Wright’s isn’t the only powerhouse performance, as Sterling K. Brown also delivers a surprisingly great performance as Monk’s brother Clifford.

He plays the role of a self-destructive man who revels in his freedom despite understanding that it’s destroying him. I was convinced he was in the right during certain scenes.

The film is split into two distinct halves - one, a family drama centered

around Monk and Clifford, the other, the inner conflict between Monk’s hatred of his new book and his twisted pride in it.

While the film simply wouldn’t be whole without both of these halves, there is a clear dip in quality whenever the film decides to focus more on Monk’s family drama.

The biggest conflicts here are his relationships with his mother, brother, and new girlfriend. None of these characters, aside from Clifford, are all that interesting and their conclusions are made extremely apparent straight from the start.

The obvious goal of the film is to use these apparent conclusions to show how disconnected from the family Monk is by making him oblivious to them until their individual conclusions. However, this fails if the audience doesn’t like these characters.

Monk is where these problems really stem from. During many of his scenes with his agent where they are dealing with his book’s success and how to proceed with it, Monk is an incredibly charming character.

His attempt to blatantly play into Black - specifically Black American - stereotypes is hilarious, and seeing him slowly start to dip into these stereotypes in his personal life is intriguing. However, all this charm and character seems to completely disappear from Monk once his family or girlfriend come on screen.

It may sound like Monk is the problem in these scenes because his character gets worse, but it’s in fact the exact opposite. Monk’s character is actually so good in these scenes, he feels out of place.

In attempting to escape stereotypes, he has instead become one he never imagined he would, one that has nothing to do with his race and rather everything to do with who he is as a person. He becomes the stereotypical “disconnected genius” who can’t relate to normal people. This story is so good and so compelling, propelled even further by Wright’s performance, that the majority of the other characters seem boring in comparison.

While I do wish many of them weren’t as stereotypical as they are, the mother and Monk’s girlfriend especially, it’s mostly their performances that leave me wanting more.

Wright and Brown do so well in comparison to their peers that it’s almost laughable. Some of this is obviously due to the writing - these writers clearly liked some characters more than others - but Wright and Brown own this film.

“American Fiction” is a hard movie to talk about, especially given that I’m trying to avoid spoilers. Of all the films from last year, it isn’t the most colorful - that’s “Barbie.” It isn’t the most unique - that’s “Poor Things.”

And it isn’t even the best written both “Killers of the Flower Moon” and

“Oppenheimer” are better in comparison. But its strengths are undeniable.

This film excels at being an incredibly funny, and an incredibly poignant story about the casual racism of the American public and how these stereotypes still affect people to this day.

It will undoubtedly become a modern classic, and deserves to be recognized as an essential piece of what made 2023 such an incredible year for film.

Rating: B+ Poignantly portrays white guilt

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Jamming with Jack vol. 2

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Puzzles

ARTS & FEATURES

ACROSS 1. ___ of the Apostles 5. Taj Mahal’s city 9. Pop like a bubble 14. Pequod, for Captain Ahab 15. U.S. leader 16. Neighbors of radii 17. Christmas candy shape 18. When a future butterfly is in a chrysalis 20. Puccini work 22. Hello, in Honolulu 23. Selfless ballers 26. Place to be pampered 29. Digital ___ camera 30. Exclamation of frustration 31. Poked holes in, as soil 33. Charity supporter 35. Nix 36. “Nicely done!”

41. Rainbow goddess, or a flower 42. UCLA athlete 43. Throw back tequilas, say 47. Canine cry 48. 401(k) alternative 51. Insect in a colony 52. They’re drawn in conflict 55. It’s for a real sucker!

56. Makes changes to 57. Rant and rave in public, or what the ends of 18-, 23-, 36and 52-Across do 62. Falco of “Nurse Jackie” 63. Hindu teacher 64. “Sorry to ___ that” 65. Brews such as stouts 66. Offer to a hitchhiker 67. “Orinoco Flow” singer 68. Not so much

FEBRUARY 16, 2024 | 19

5. Tinder, for one 6. The “me” in “Despicable Me” 7. Settle a debt with 8. Showy shrub 9. 15-Across whose middle initials were H.W. 10. Big name in beauty products 11. COVID vaccine molecule Puzzle solutions are now 12. Succumb to gravity exclusively online.

13. Capital of Togo?

19. Folk wisdom 21. HS course that covers Supreme Court cases 24. Bowler’s place 25. Greeting from a crow’s nest 26. Baby book first 27. Cats, dogs and such 28. Hoopla 32. Shakespeare’s river 33. “Spill the tea!”

34. Burglarize 36. De-crease?

37. Heart of the matter 38. Eurasia’s ___ Mountains 39. Like 24-karat gold 40. Biathlon gun 41. Journalist ___ B. Wells 44. Procure 45. Covers with black gunk 46. Upper lip hair, for short 48. Sitting at a stop sign, say 49. Laces again 50. Evaluate 53. Youngster who may love Olivia Rodrigo 54. Best imaginable 55. Big rig 57. Controversial flavor enhancer: Abbr.

58. Blow away 59. Kit ___ (candy bar) 60. No, in the Senate 61. Pitcher’s stat

DOWN 1. Broad neckties 2. Union station?

3. Karaoke singer’s liability 4. Whale variety FRAMINGHAM STATE UNIVERSITY'S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1932 | FSUGATEPOST.COM

PHOTOS

20 | FEBRUARY 16, 2023

Frosty Fun Spread by Photos & Design Editor Adrien Gobin

Alexis Schlesinger / THE GATEPOST Snow covered bench outside Crocker Hall Feb. 13.

Maddison Behringer / THE GATEPOST A dusting of snow on the Sam the Ram statue in front of Dwight Hall Feb. 13.

Alexis Schlesinger / THE GATEPOST Snowman outside Horace Mann Feb. 13.

Alexis Schlesinger / THE GATEPOST Snow outside Crocker Hall Feb. 13.

Maddison Behringer / THE GATEPOST Statue: Cells I covered in snow Feb. 13.

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