April 5, 2024

Dryer ignites in Towers Hall, causing evacuation

By Dylan Pichnarcik Asst. News Editor

The fire alarms in Corinne Hall Towers were activated due to a resident’s clothing igniting in one of the dryers in the laundry room on Monday, April 1. Residents were evacuated shortly after, according to a report by the Framingham Fire Department (FFD).

According to the University Police report, University Police Officer Kelvis Nako was the first to arrive on scene, followed by Sergeant Robert Barrette. Lieutenant Matthew Brown was the officer in charge of the FFD unit dispatched to campus.

After the building was evacuated,

students were directed into Hemenway Hall for the duration of the emergency, the University Police report said.

According to the FFD report, the cause of the fire was either an overheated motor or the unit being overloaded by a resident. The exact cause has yet to be determined.

Brown’s report stated that smoke had filled the laundry room and was circulating throughout the building up to the 11th floor.

He said smoke circulated throughout the building because of an open door on the third floor. The report did not identify which door was not closed.

FFD extinguished the flames, which were contained to the dryer unit. FFD then removed the clothing from the

dryer and soaked it with water outside the building, according to Brown’s report.

Two ambulances were also on scene to assist two students.

According to the FFD report, two students who “had leg injuries that occurred during evacuation” were transported to the hospital.

According to the University’s police report, however, the students did not sustain injuries from the evacuation. Rather, the injuries were from playing basketball.

The students were issued taxi vouchers to return to campus from the hospital, according to the University

Kianna Bauer named 2024 Phenomenal Woman recipient

By Andrea O’Brien Staff Writer

Kianna Bauer, communication dispatcher for the University Police Department, was named the 2024 Phenomenal Woman for her dedication to the FSU community through her outreach events with SHAPE (Sexual Harassment & Assault Prevention and Education).

“Being phenomenal is a connection between all who identify as women - it is a sisterhood of knowing the struggles, knowing the pressure, and demanding better,” said Bauer.

The 17th annual Phenomenal Woman event was held in the McCarthy Fo-

rum in celebration of Women’s History Month and the many phenomenal women in the FSU community.

The first winner of this award was recognized in 2007 and since then, female students, administration, and staff members have won this award. Over 40 women across campus are nominated each year by their FSU peers.

The Phenomenal Woman ceremony is hosted by the Dean of Students Office and is inspired by the poem “Phenomenal Woman” by Maya Angelou.

The ceremony began with an opening statement from Rachel Lucking, assistant dean for campus engagement, followed by a greeting from President Nancy Niemi.

According to Niemi, 62% of the fulltime employees at FSU are women and if you include part time faculty, that percentage increases to 65%. Sixty percent of students this year, graduate and undergraduate, identify as female.

“Here at FSU, women are a vital source for our students’ success, and we are so lucky. I am so lucky to be amongst phenomenal women,” said Niemi.

Melinda K. Stoops, former FSU administrator for 14 years including roles as assistant dean, dean of students, and associate vice president for student affairs, gave the keynote address.

Drag Queen Patty Bourrée at Drag Bingo, hosted by SGA and FSAB on April 4.

Gatepost Interview Mirari Elcoro

Professor of Psychology

By Sophia Oppedisano Editorial Staff

What is your academic and professional background?

As an undergraduate, I studied psychology and I went to school in Venezuela. I went into psychology thinking that I wanted to be a therapist, but I came across other areas of psychology along the way that grabbed me. And I started getting very interested in experimental psychology, and specifically, the experimental analysis of behavior working in the lab with animals, and more interested in experiments and research. Then, fast forward, I pursued graduate studies in the United States at West Virginia University, specializing in behavior analysis, experimentation and research.

You grew up and studied in Venezuela. What kind of experiences do you think you bring to Framingham as a professor?

Our education as an undergraduate really was meant to prepare you for the workforce. We had a five-year program. The first three years were the foundational - more laboratory - classroom courses, and we essentially had two years of internships. We did internships outside of the university, in hospitals, in offices, in counseling centers, in schools, so I had a lot of professional experiences that not only prepared me for the workforce, but gave me a pretty good idea of what it would be to be a school psychologist, a clinical psychologist, and not just by reading it, but by being in the settings and by interacting with these professionals. … Other things that I think I bring to Framingham - we don’t have a lot of Latinx immigrant professors. So I bring that into the mix and I do have a lot of interactions with students from Latino, Latinx, Latina backgrounds, and there’s a connection there, right? There’s a connection and I’ve had more than one student tell me, “You’re a Latina, you’re an immigrant, and you got a Ph.D., so you’re a model to me in the sense that I can do these things, too,” with students who share some aspects of identity, but also with students who may not necessarily be from that particular background. … I think that that experience in terms of education, but also lived experience, using a different language fluently, I think it also opens up a lot of exposure.

I think it’s one of the things that drew me, too. I think that there is almost this dual interest in helping others and that interest in getting to know yourself. I find a lot of students practicing a lot of introspection and asking questions like, “Well, why do I do the things that I do?” and trying to explain their own behavior, but there’s also this motivation of helping others and being of service to others. There are some students who are interested in research, but I think that there’s a really big interest in what would be the applied side of things, whether it is as a social worker, or a clinical psychologist, or a therapist.

What do you think are some of the big issues students are facing today?

financial pressures, mental health, and support that may not be there. This is an issue that affects us all, not only students, but we are bombarded with information every single day of our lives and that in itself is just draining. So the challenge of organizing your time in the face of all this influx and setting boundaries, not only to do the work, but to take care of yourself - which is something that I know nobody taught me to do. So it is a big challenge, and the idea of self care can sometimes be disregarded. We are in a very tense political environment. I think that even if we think about not being politically involved, we inevitably are. There are a lot of tensions due to this political polarization in our country and I think that that makes things difficult and it’s difficult sometimes to feel happy and hopeful and driven.

How do you practice self care?

Well, one big thing, and I do notice when I don’t do it, is I practice yoga pretty regularly. And that’s big for my physical health, but also my mental health and it’s time away from computer screens and thinking about work. So, I practice yoga. I try to get outside. I cook for myself as many times as I can and I try to have meaningful conversations with people I care about.

What is some advice you would give to your students?

Take some time to value and nourish personal relationships at the University: classmates, professors, staff members, administrators. Sometimes, mentoring can be very intentional as in you are assigned a mentor, but to seek mentors because sometimes, we have these mentors who appeared in my life, or friends who are sometimes a kind of mentor, so to speak. Mentoring relationships … it doesn’t necessarily need to be your assigned advisor. It could be professors where something resonated. It could be classmates where something resonated. It could be you went to talk to somebody in an administrative office. It could have been in a meeting with somebody in the Dean of Students Office. To value and to nurture that is a way of mentoring because we all need mentoring throughout our life.

What aspects of the psychology major do you think draw students in?

Many of my students have more than one job and school. So how do we view the academic experience because I have tried my best to adapt my perspective. I expect my students to be excellent, but I also realized that my Psychology of Learning class that you’re taking may not necessarily be your top priority right now, because you have two or three jobs to keep, responsibilities at home, and mental health challenges. So I would say issues with many jobs to keep because of

Board of Trustees to receive and review strategic plan in May

By Kaitlin Carman News Editor

The Board of Trustees discussed the University’s strategic plan draft, Trustee chair nominations, approving this year’s honorary degree recipient, and highlighting equity in policy impacts during their March 27 meeting.

Linda Campanella, consultant for strategic planning, said the strategic plan draft is in the works.

“We’re on track to present that to you as a completed executive-team-endorsed draft in May before it goes to the DHE (Department of Higher Education),” she said.

She described the strategic plan as an aspirational vision for the University in 2029.

Campanella said, “There’s a great excitement and energy and desire to be this voice for the region and a real leader in social impact - blurring the line between town and gown and being a force for transformative change in students’ lives but beyond campus in the society, actually.”

She said they want to establish the University as an “intellectual hub, an invaluable resource to the community, and a beacon for faculty and staff and certainly, prospective students who want to create a better, more equitable, and more sustainable world.”

Equity, diversity and social impact are key factors that are evaluated as new proposals are brought before leadership, according to Campanella.

In regard to program development, she said there is both focus and excitement around highlighting opportunities that Framingham State and a few other universities offer - particularly paid internship opportunities for undergraduate students.

Beth Cassavant, chairperson of the Board of Trustees, said, “We recognize through this plan that students’ success after graduation is very much dependent on their ability to be successful in the world outside of Framingham State, whether that’s in the MetroWest - or back where they may be at home, giving students those skills by internships and those types of experiences - that’s really embedded in here and I think it’s exciting to think of those things.”

The ability to achieve strategic planning goals depends largely upon enrollment stability, revenue diversification, and strategic investments, according to Cassavant.

She said, “It’s imperative that the whole campus understand that these fiscal realities are going to guide decision-making in priority setting those fiscal realities along with the reality that the University cannot do or be all things.”

The board unanimously approved Dr. Alisha Moreland-Capuia to receive an honorary doctorate of humane letters for the commencement ceremony on May 19.

Moreland-Capuia founded and directed McLean Hospital’s Institute for Trauma-Informed Systems Change. She is an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School and an author whose research focuses on reducing

$100,000 gift to establish an unre stricted endowment fund for the Dan forth Museum, a $26,000 gift toward student scholarships, a $15,000 gift to the Danforth, and a $10,000 gift to the Endowed Scholarship Fund.

Chemistry departments both received donations of brand-new equipment. He said, “They were very excited to get their hands on some great equipment that they didn’t have to pay for.”

launch of the Refer a Ram program has received “some pretty good response” from alumni after receiving a total of 45 referrals. Students who are referred to the University by an alum will have

unnecessary human suffering.

She was nominated by a student on the Commencement Committee, according to President Nancy Niemi.

Niemi said it is “highly appropriate” to select her to receive the degree because of her work in mental health and trauma.“I can’t think of a better person to give a degree to and for our students and graduates to hear.”

Eric Gustafson, vice president of Development and Alumni Relations, said this year, the University has raised $2.17 million.

Gustafson said since the last Board of Trustees meeting, they received a

Weather

Sunday night April. 7

Partly cloudy, with a low around 30. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Monday April. 8

Sunny, with a high near 60. Northwest wind around 10 mph. Solar Eclipse 3:29 p.m. 90%

Monday night April. 8

Mostly clear, with a low around 40. West wind around 10 mph.

Tuesday April. 9

Mostly sunny, with a high near 60. Northeast wind 10 to 15 mph.

creating gym equipment sign-out

He also discussed the upcoming SGA elections. Candidate Night will be held on April 9 and the election will be

He said, “We do have a few openings on our eBoard including secretary, vice president, and of course, student trustee. … So all of these spots have candidates for them and I’m excited to see where the future of our organization

A motion to nominate Anthony Hubbard as Board of Trustees’ chairperson and Clair Ramsbottom as vice chairperson for AY 2024-25 was passed with two abstentions - from Hubbard

Cassavant said the board is “very grateful to both of them for their willingness to step into those roles.”

Ramsbottom said, “We’re seeking to understand the student experience of being on an anti-racist campus in an anti-racist community. How does this translate into a live reality?”

She added the racial demographics of Framingham State are changing more quickly than those of the state of Massachusetts.

“So the second-largest population in Massachusetts is Latino or Hispanic. I think that’s important for us to keep in mind as we think about our role as we talk about our strategic plan,” said Ramsbottom.

Additionally, she said Framingham is close to being classified as a Hispanic-serving institution.

Ben

their $50 application fee waived and will be awarded $1,000 per year for four years, totaling $4,000 over the course of earning a bachelor’s degree.

[Editor’s Note: See “Refer a Ram” article]

Student Trustee Ryan Mikelis reviewed the work SGA has accomplished over the course of AY 2023-24 with the board, including the implementation of baby-changing stations in the Athletic Center and Dwight Hall, the installation of a ramp outside CASA, raising mental health awareness, and

To be labeled as such, a University’s demographics must be comprised of at least 25% Latinx students, and to be a minority-serving institution, over 50% of students must be non-white, according to Ramsbottom.

She said the percentage of white students is currently at 52.8%.

Ramsbottom highlighted the importance of assessing policy impacts from an equity lens and invited Lorretta Holloway, vice president of academic enhancement, to share an example of such an assessment and how the University responded.

Holloway said her office purchased laptops for the Laptop Loaner program, which is run by the Division of Student Success and funded by donations.

“But what it turns out is that there are disproportionately students of

See BOARD OF TRUSTEES Page 4

Forecast provided by the National Weather Service

www.weather.gov

Tuesday night April. 9

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37. East wind 5 to 10 mph.

Wednesday April. 10

Partly sunny, with a high near 55. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the afternoon.

Wednesday night April. 10

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40. South wind around 10 mph.

Thursday April. 11

Mostly cloudy, with a high near 60. South wind 10 to 15 mph.

Hurney / THE GATEPOST

(Left) Iris Godes, Kristen Porter-Utley, Ryan Mikelis, and Lorretta Holloway at the Board of Trustees meeting on March 27.

Board of Trustees

Continued from Page 3

color and low-income students who are borrowing the laptops. We’ve also learned that if a laptop isn’t returned and is counted as lost - it is counted as lost for a bit and then is counted as stolen,” she said.

As a result, she said police had to get involved and sometimes even showed up to a student’s residence to retrieve the “stolen property” per the lost-inventory policy.

“If you think about what that looks like and how many communities that look like me do not have that relationship with law enforcement, that is not an experience we want our students to have,” she said.

The University’s solution was to purchase laptops that cost less than $1,000, because anything less than that is not listed as inventory. Nor is it enforced by that particular lost-inventory policy, according to Holloway.

“We pulled all of those laptops out of rotation and had them recommissioned by IT and, with donations, bought laptops. … We just have other ways to address laptops that aren’t returned,” she said.

Trustee Diane Finch said she finds equity and student gaps “contrapuntal” as there are variances within demographic groups. For example, she said the data shows Black male commuters not performing as well as Black male residents, yet it is the opposite situation for Latinx students.

“It begs the question, ‘What’s happening here? What are those support systems?’” she asked.

She suggested looking at Historically Black Colleges and Universities

and their equity-minded approaches. “They’ve been doing this forever with their Black populations.”

Jeffrey Coleman, vice president for diversity, inclusion, and community engagement, said cultural nuances are important and should be considered when interpreting data.

He said, “One of the cultural nuances is that a lot of your Latino students have to be close to family because they’re the translator for mom [or] grandma, and so going to college is not

ilies and support systems.

During the Academic Affairs and Enrollment Management report, Iris Godes, dean of strategic enrollment management & chief enrollment officer, addressed the FAFSA delay that colleges and universities across the country are struggling to navigate.

“A lot of people will wait to come to the [accepted student] events before they deposit, and then this year, they don’t have financial aid anyway. … I would anticipate over the next three

necessarily considered supporting the family immediately.

“And going away to college could be perceived as abandoning the family, so they’re going to need to go back home and provide support in that way,” said Coleman.

He said situations like this can explain why Latinx commuter students might have a better academic performance than those who are resident students and are away from their fam-

had 6,000 - so we’re kidding ourselves if we think that people are going to deposit not having their financial aid. So the big question is, ‘When will these go out?’”

Because of these delays, many families across the country are “skipping out” as they are unsure of whether they will be able to afford college without aid, according to Budwig.

Anne Roberti, executive director of English Language Programs and Community Education, presented Basma Hassanin as the graduate student in the spotlight.

She received her B.A. in Pharmaceutical Sciences in 2014 from Ain Shams University in Egypt and worked at Sigma-Tec as a quality assurance specialist, and later as a lead specialist at NAOS Solutions.

Hassanin said, “For all international students, life can be lonely. To immerse myself in the community, I searched for jobs.”

to four weeks, we continue to see a decline in deposits and then hopefully, once we start rolling out the financial aid, which is targeted to get going the week of April 22 … we will start to get them [financial aid packages] out,” said Godes.

According to Trustee Nancy Budwig, there is a decrease in deposits compared to previous years. “We have close to 4,000 … that have been delivered here. … Last year at this time, we

She has worked with the University Police since 2022 where she is now a team lead. She worked with the English Language Programs and has served on two hiring committees as well as the Graduate Education Council. Additionally, Hassanin was awarded a graduate assistantship and is working for the Center for Inclusive Excellence (CIE).

“The CIE’s mission is to foster an environment for safety and inclusivity - where everyone feels a sense of belonging - and I’m not just saying this … I’ve seen this firsthand. They are truly remarkable at what they are doing.”

CONNECT WITH KAITLIN CARMAN kcarman@student.framingham.edu

Ben Hurney / THE GATEPOST

(Left) Dale Hamel, Jeffrey Coleman, Eric Gustafson at the Board of Trustees meeting on March 27.

$1 million allocated to students enrolled in ‘in demand majors’

By Sophia Harris Editor-in-Chief

Framingham State was allocated $1 million from the Board of Higher Education’s Office of Student Financial Assistance to support students enrolled in ‘In Demand Majors’ on March 29.

Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars was also allocated to FSU as part of the MassGrant Plus Expansion Program in March.

According to the Board of Higher Education Massachusetts In-Demand Scholarship Program, “This program was created by the Massachusetts Legislature in the 2024 Fiscal-Year budget to support economic development in the Commonwealth by providing financial assistance to residents who are pursuing programs of study that will help address the Commonwealth’s workforce needs.”

This expenditure is required by June 30, said Dale Hamel, executive vice president.

According to the program description, awards for eligible applicants can be allocated up to the full cost of tuition and fees as well as an additional $1,200 allowance for books and supplies.

The Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development identified majors that would increase the economic development of the Commonwealth by using annual reports on labor and market conditions.

These In-Demand majors are included but are not limited to STEM and Education fields, according to the program information.

In order to qualify for this scholarship assistance, students enrolled at Framingham State must have completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), have a GPA of 3.0 or above, and have declared a major in an in-demand field, according to Hamel.

The funds will be released “hopefully by the end of the semester,” according to Hamel, Iris Godes, dean of strategic enrollment management, and Caitlin Laurie, director of financial aid. These funds are also available for both part-time and full-time undergraduate and graduate students who are currently pursuing an education as an in-demand major at FSU, Laurie said.

She said, “Typically, these funds are restricted to undergraduate students, so this is huge for our graduate students who meet these requirements.”

Hamel said, “We’re very, very excited about this. And we’ll be doing an

initial analysis of how much we can provide to each individual student that’s eligible onto their account.”

He added, “You could be eligible by simply submitting a FAFSA and if you happen to be in one of these majors.”

He said, “We’re going to hopefully broadcast or reach out to people who are eligible but haven’t submitted a FAFSA.”

Hamel said, “We’re going to do as much work as possible to identify eligible students. And in many ways, we’re hoping students don’t have to do anything if they’re eligible because if they have completed the FAFSA and made the GPA - it will happen.”

Godes said students with the most financial need and highest academic achievement will be prioritized for these funds first.

Currently, 89% of students at FSU receive financial aid, according to Laurie.

Hamel said, “If you have not applied to FAFSA yet, apply now to become eligible for these scholarships.”

He added, “There’s no guarantee it’ll be available the next fiscal year.”

Two-hundred-and-fifty-thousand dollars was also allocated to Framingham State as part of the MassGrant Plus Expansion Program.

This is an expansion of the original $2.2 million which was applied to students’ fall and spring semester bills for the 2023-24 academic year. The aid was intended to help students with tuition, fees, and supplies.

The MassGrant Plus expansion is part of Governor Maura Healey’s $62 million expansion of the MASSGrant Plus program that passed on Nov. 16.

Laurie and Hamel applied for an extension of this grant to meet additional student needs.

Laurie said, “I did an assessment of our students and I also looked at summer enrollment patterns and made a case to ask for an additional $250,000 to support our students who take our classes because we do have quite a few courses to enroll in over the summer and if they meet the criteria of having either being Pell-eligible, or in

the Pell-adjacent group, they will be awarded these funds.

“We wanted to make sure that we’re getting as much money as we possibly can for our students,” she added.

Godes said, “We encourage people to register for summer courses. … This grant will be allocated to students who are enrolled in summer classes.”

Students eligible for these funds are those who are Pell Grant recipients and who are taking two or more summer classes.

These funds will also be allocated to middle-income students - defined as those whose families earn between $73,000 and $100,000 - who enroll in three or more summer courses, according to Laurie.

Framingham State is offering 181 summer courses for summer AY24 with a mix of in-person, hybrid, and remote models, according to Hamel.

Hamel said the original appropriation provided by the Fairshare Act has not changed. Rather, the Office of Student Financial Assistance did not allocate all of the original funding that had been appropriated.

Godes said, “I think Framingham State has done an outstanding job in spending every dollar we possibly can to support our students.”

According to an emailed April community update from President Nancy Niemi, “This additional funding provides crucial support to our neediest students and their families. I’m deeply grateful to the Healy-Driscoll administration and our local delegation at the State House for this crucial support.”

In an email to The Gatepost, Niemi said, “We are fortunate to be able to offer more resources to our students so they can complete their learning with significantly less debt. I am glad that the Commonwealth understands the investment we make when we help our students work towards becoming Framingham State University graduates.”

Gatepost Archives

Executive Vice President Dale Hamel in his office.

Dylan Pichnarcik / THE GATEPOST

Caitlin Laurie, director of financial aid.

Towers evacuation

Continued from Page 1

Police report.

At the time of the incident, David Case was the resident director on duty and handled directing students in and out of the building during the initial evacuation and subsequent return to the building.

Drew Hendrigan, a resident of Towers interviewed at the time of the incident, reported seeing “a girl limping down the hallway [during the evacuation]. Now, she is in the ambulance.”

After the flames were extinguished, FFD began ventilating the building and resetting the fire alarms and elevators, according to both University Police and FFD.

Oak Blum, a Towers resident, said, “It smelled a bit like an electrical fire. I’m a little worried about that because of all the rundown stuff in Towers in general.”

Alexis Davin, a Towers resident, said, “I was in my bed and I was freaked out because I started smelling smoke. I was scared at first when I saw the smoke in the laundry room.”

According to Glenn Cochran, director of residence life and housing, residents should “make sure the lint traps are clear. … There’s a list of things you shouldn’t put in dryers,” he added. “Things like rubber content and lighters. … If gasoline spills on clothes, do not put them in the dryer.”

Cochran said he does not fault any student for the fire and there would be no additional cost to residents to replace the dryer.

According to Cochran, the washers and dryers in all of the residence halls

By Adam Harrison News Editor

The Danforth Art Museum and School received a $100,000 donation from Katherine and Robert Eyre on Feb 26. Museum Director and Curator Jessica Roscio said both Katherine and Robert serve as Trustees on the Danforth Art Alliance, which is the Danforth Art Museum’s volunteer board.

“They have been supporters of the Danforth, our mission, and our connection to the University for a few years now,” she said.

President Nancy Niemi said in an email, “The Eyre family’s generous donation to the Danforth Art Center at Framingham State University is a gift to the future and a significant statement about the importance of arts in the lives of our community.”

The museum will be naming its permanent collection the “Katherine and Robert Eyre Gallery” in honor of the donors, she said.

The donation is an unrestricted endowment, which means the museum is able to use it however it sees fit.

“As the first gift to be specifically designated for an unrestricted endowment fund since the institution became part of Framingham State University, we celebrate its power to benefit the initiatives of the museum and art school,” Niemi said.

Roscio said she is incredibly grateful for the Eyres’ support for the

on campus are maintained by CSC Service Works, a coin-operated laundry equipment supplies company based in New York.

According to Dan Giard, director of facilities, CSC’s role is to maintain the machines throughout the year

and provide servicing in the event of a damaged washer or dryer when a service request is placed by Residence Life.

Since FSU holds a license with a private company to maintain the machines, they are not maintained by Facilities, according to Giard.

He said, “We don’t have much to do with the dryers and washers because they are leased. They annually clean all the ductwork, so we don’t even handle that.”

According to Giard, the only role Facilities played was removing the burnt unit the following day. He was notified Monday night and “stayed tuned” for what work he and his staff would have to perform. After the removal of the dryer, maintainers cleaned the laundry room.

Giard said if he received a call from CSC, he would refer them to Residence Life to handle all issues related to the laundry machines.

Resident assistants will work to remove all door stoppers so in the event of another fire, smoke will not circulate throughout the building, Cochran said.

Some buildings on campus have magnetic door stoppers that will close in the event a fire alarm is triggered. However, when door stoppers are placed in front of doors, they are unable to close, which can cause smoke to travel, according to Cochran.

FFD was on scene with eight vehicles, including two ambulances, for approximately one hour and twenty-two minutes. Residents returned to Towers prior to their departure.

museum. Over the last two years, they have “provided funding for our Curatorial Fellowship, which is awarded yearly to an FSU student interested in pursuing a career in the museum field.”

In addition, they also donated funds for an upcoming Danforth advertisement campaign with WBUR, a public radio station owned by Boston University, which will begin in early April.

She said the donation will be used to create an endowment for the Danforth Art Museum and School, and used to run general operations.

“As a newly endowed fund, it will also be matched at 50% through a current state program. Our endowed funds are held by the FSU Foundation, an independent 501(c)(3),” she said. A 501(c)(3) is an organization “organized and operated exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, testing for public safety, literary, educational, or other specified purposes … [and is] tax exempt,” according to the IRS website.

Roscio said because the $100,000 is held by the FSU foundation, the funds cannot be used immediately. The Danforth will receive a small percentage of the funds each year.

“This fund will primarily serve to support the Danforth’s future, and having an endowment which grows each year is yet another step towards the organization’s long-term sustainability,” she said.

The museum “hosts around seven

Cochran said, “In our case, the vents were cleaned professionally in December. Usually, it’s once a year.”

unique exhibitions, maintains a 3,700 piece collection, offers a wide range of public programming, and operates a community show for children, teens, and adults,” and these funds will aid with the operation and upkeep of these events, she said.

Roscio said although the museum and art school don’t provide resources directly to students, they provide several opportunities for FSU students, including the potential to work as a part of the Museum Visitor Services Staff or to become involved with the new Museum Ambassadors Tour Guide Program, as well as other internship opportunities.

“We also offer classes and workshops for students of all ages in our art school,” she said. She said she encouraged students to submit ideas and input on how to

improve the museum.

“We always welcome students to be in touch with us to share their ideas and learn more about the Danforth,” she said.

Roscio said the best place to get started is on the Danforth website at danforth.framingham.edu.

“If you haven’t visited the Danforth, please do! We are located across Route 9 on the Framingham Centre Common.

“Admission and membership is always free for FSU students, and we have opportunities available for students who are interested in learning more about a career in the arts,” she said.

Dylan Pichnarcik / THE GATEPOST

Photographs by Walker Evans in the Danforth’s permanent collection.

Maddison Behringer / THE GATEPOST Framingham Firefighters enter Corinne Hall Towers on Monday April 1.

OP/ED

THE GATEPOST EDITORIAL

Advocate for yourself during advising

Academic advising season is upon us again, and many students have already begun by selecting courses and scheduling meetings with their advisors.

This process can be anxiety-inducing as students find out which classes are or are not being offered, determine whether they need another general education course, or sign up for a class they are retaking.

The Editorial Board of The Gatepost understands how tedious this process can be, but there are a few steps you can take to mitigate any stress you might have.

This advice applies whether this is your first or last time registering for classes.

The first step is determining when and how to meet your advisor and together, figuring out how each class is bringing you one step closer to graduation.

The next step is to determine which classes are being offered the following semester and what an ideal schedule would look like for you.

If you have family or work obligations outside of school, let your advisor know! They might be able to ensure these accommodations can be met depending on what classes you need.

You can contact your advisor through their email, or by making an appointment with them through Starfish. If you have trouble contacting your advisor, the chair of your department is also available for academic advising.

It may seem as if some of the classes you need to graduate cannot be changed, but there is sometimes some leniency in requirements. Talk to your advisor and department chair about the potential for a course substitution or the ability to take an independent study.

There is almost always another option.

Next, learn the format of the courses being offered. This is also crucial in developing next semester’s schedule.

If you enjoy the freedom of an asynchronous class but need help motivating yourself to complete the necessary work on your own, opt for a hybrid class instead. Hybrid classes provide a lot of freedom in your schedule, but you still meet and check in with your professor at least once a week, helping you stay on track.

Before you meet with your advisor, ask yourself what your learning style is. The Center for Academic Success and Achievement has links to videos explaining different ways to think about you learn and work. CASA also provides a link to a form from their website page in which you can provide a phone number and ask any question you might have

about learning on campus.

If there are two classes being offered under one domain requirement, pick the class with a professor with whom you are familiar. Take advantage of knowing what a professor’s teaching style is like and what their expectations are for students. It might make all the difference when midterms and finals come around.

The professor possibly already knows your learning style and can point you in the direction of success. Plus, building a stronger connection with a professor can be extremely helpful when you need to ask someone you trust and admire for a letter of recommendation.

All of these small decisions might seem minute now, but every class you take brings you one step closer to an internship, graduate school, or a job after college. You want to be sure you are picking your classes intentionally - not just to fulfill requirements.

Come up with questions for your advisor before meeting with them. Don’t go into the appointment blindly.

Here are some questions you might ask:

What are the options for fulfilling this requirement?

Are there any prerequisites I need to be taking for future classes?

How do I prepare for an internship in this department?

Am I able to add a minor or concentration to my degree?

These are just a few of the questions that could be posed during your advising appointment - but you can ask as many questions as you want!

Your advisor is not only available to you during advising periods. Do not worry about “bothering” your advisor. It is their job to support you throughout each semester you are at FSU.

It is important to develop a good relationship with your advisor and department chair. They will most likely be with you throughout your entire collegiate career and want to support you however they can.

That being said, if you are not enjoying your classes at Framingham State this semester, you might want to consider pursuing another major. You can also make an appointment with the Advising Center and ask if a different degree path might make next semester more enjoyable, educational, and rewarding.

Do what works best for you. This is the key to having a successful academic career.

Advocating for yourself is the best service you can provide for yourself during your advising appointments!

Letter

Moving into your new college dorm is truly a privilege. For those living at Framingham State, having one’s own space gives them a sense of independence. Even if they do not live in a single room, being able to live on campus with another person can be an exciting experience.

Aside from the excitement from moving into a new dorm, another kind of excitement arises - you now have a room which you can decorate anyway you would like. Understandably, some dorms in Framingham State don’t have a good initial feel to them because they feel lifeless and plain-looking.

Some dorms with their white shiny brick walls make you feel like you are confined in a prison cell. On the bright side, there are numerous ways that you can turn your dorm into a nice, lively, and well-decorated space.

Some good ideas include hanging up some of your favorite posters on the wall, bringing in a little bit of greenery, and hanging up string lights or neon light strips on your wall. Other good ways to decorate your dorm room include lining your bed with plenty of pillows and plushies or hanging suncatchers in your window.

All of these ideas are great ways to decorate your dorm because they breathe a lot of atmosphere into your room. However, there are some important tips you need to know before decorating your dorm room.

First and foremost, never bring any kind of decorations that you suspect will be questioned by RAs in the residence halls. This is especially important since RAs conduct room inspections throughout the break periods and can identify objects that are not allowed in any residence halls.

While the list is long, notable examples of unallowed decor include lava lamps, oil lamps, candles, incense, and other forms of decor that are flammable or can become a health/ safety risk.

Always be sure to read the packing list and residence hall agreements provided by Framingham State to understand what is not allowed in residence halls.

Secondly, overdecorating your walls is not necessarily a good thing, as it may become overwhelming to look at, take a long time to set up, or become a hassle to undecorate at moveout day.

Next, sticking with a good color scheme will make your room appear to be chromatically satisfying because of the good balance between colors, shades, and tints. Decorations that follow a specific color scheme can make the environment feel more balanced.

As room selection period is coming to a close, it is important to plan out how you may decorate your room for next year. For returning resident students who may have seen and picked a room already, this is especially important as their choice of room determines the amount of decorating that they can do.

In short, making sure your room is decorated in a specific manner can make you feel more welcomed and relaxed on campus, as well as being invited to an inspiring environment where you can study and sleep without problems.

Stephen Johnson Class of 2027

You matter, so do your words

By Krya Tolley Staff Writer

Throughout my life, I have heard many people describe others as “so OCD” or as “bipolar,” but that never really made any sense to me.

I personally know what those terms actually mean, and it has always frustrated me when people would use them as comedic anecdotes or as serious insults. This can impact both the way people experience their own mental health and the way others view those with mental illness.

For myself, I would have reached out for help with my own mental health concerns earlier had I known the true meaning of the words people have been casually throwing around.

A significant misuse of language surrounding mental health occurs on social media.

Having conversations about mental health online is a double-edged sword. On one hand it can show more people how to help themselves and those around them when things get tough.

But on the other hand, it has allowed misconceptions to spread rapidly about different conditions, symptoms, and those who experience them.

In the end, this has made conversations about mental health more difficult for everyday people hoping to seek out help.

I know I have a tough time discussing my own mental health, even with my best friends and family, but that

could be helped by making sure we don’t use diagnoses as insults or as personality quirks.

If we all choose our words more carefully, people like me might be more willing to have important conversations with those around us and get the resources we need to improve our wellbeing.

Most of the people I know have TikTok accounts, where information spreads extremely quickly. There has been a trend of using the phrase, “my intrusive thoughts won” as a caption to videos made of people acting silly and doing funny things they wouldn’t usually do.

As great as the entertainment value of these videos may be, they can actually be harmful for those who experience intrusive thoughts due to anxiety disorders like Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

Intrusive thoughts are typically incredibly distressing to the person who is having them and very rarely do they actually perform the thoughts they have.

This misconception both stigmatizes and delegitimizes the experiences of those with OCD.

OCD is generally seen by those with little knowledge to be only about cleanliness, when it is actually a multifaceted disorder with an array of symptoms. Many people struggle to find out they have OCD because of the way the disorder has been misconstrued by popular media.

Letting go is a let down

By Emily Monaco Editoral Staff

“I know you care, but you have to let it go.”

People become student leaders because they care - at least most of the time that’s the case. The hard part comes when you care too much.

You can care too much about a commitment, and forget to take care of yourself.

When I was younger, I was told that if I quit something I cared about, I was weak and shouldn’t give up.

There’s a point where you should quit, and I’m not happy with that being the solution to bettering your mental health.

It doesn’t make sense to give up something you love so much.

When you don’t have resources to help you overcome these obstacles or support you, it restricts you to drastic decisions.

A common saying is that everything is good in moderation.

What you want and what you need are two separate things and while something can be perfect for you, sometimes you have to let go of it.

I think that’s stupid.

Learning to let go is a very important lesson because sometimes it’s your only option.

While you can simultaneously appreciate the lesson you’re learning, you are also allowed to think it is extremely stupid.

When I saw the videos about intrusive thoughts trending and getting millions of views, it felt like people were benefiting from making fun of something I and many others have struggled with.

When people use the phrase “I’m so OCD” in reference to being hygenic, it invalidates the people who experience the difficult symptoms that aren’t related to cleanliness.

Without knowing the proper symptoms of OCD, people who have intrusive thoughts can be left feeling alone and helpless. Having a concern that you left the stove top on and going to recheck it is something many of us have done.

mind a lot or someone who is seen as moody, not only is it incorrect, it is also incredibly harmful. It contributes to the negative feelings people have about those with mental illness and reignites stereotypes about those with Bipolar Disorder that shouldn’t exist.

If I hadn’t felt so afraid of what it would mean for me to have Bipolar Disorder when I was younger, then maybe I would have accepted the help I would eventually receive much sooner.

What makes an intrusive thought different is if you checked it 10 more times before leaving your house and then getting halfway to your destination just to turn around to check it again.

This hypothetical situation was not so hypothetical for me a few years ago.

Bipolar Disorder is another highly stigmatized mental illness.

When people use bipolar as an insult for someone who changes their

Overall, using proper language when we talk about important topics such as mental health is essential. It helps those living with mental illness as well as their support networks and encourages people to get the treatment they need and deserve.

Lessening the stigma around mental health is beneficial for everyone and we can all contribute to lessening the stigma by refusing to misuse important terminology in our everyday lives.

Many people with mental illness everywhere would appreciate it.

I know my younger self would, too.

It’s easy in a college setting to blur the lines between professionalism and interpersonal relationships - that’s where a lot of enjoyable experiences can turn into something that drains you mentally and emotionally.

Taking a step back is so hard because you know that you’ve poured your heart into something for so long. I sought help and tried utilizing the resources available to me but to no avail. I was unable to get the support I needed to continue in my leadership role.

Knowing that the only way that you’re going to find peace is by leaving something you love is like leaving an abusive relationship.

I can’t take credit for that last part, someone very close to me said that. They were right.

As someone who’s left abusive relationships, I’m going through pretty much the same withdrawals I did when I had to leave an ex-partner.

I tried to create a collaborative space and to be amicable, but without getting the support I needed, I had to leave.

As of late, student leaders have not been getting the support they need, making it hard to stay motivated.

What’s important to remember is that you have other things you care about. I am learning how to love myself all over again, and exploring other things I enjoy.

You’re allowed to think it’s stupid, but sometimes you really just have to let go. It might be unfair and unjust, but sometimes taking a step back helps you

breathe, steady your mind, and pour energy back into yourself.

I put my heart and soul into being a student leader because I was relentlessly bullied growing up. I wanted to create a space where people felt like they belonged - they always had a place to be. A place where they had a welcoming community ready to embrace them with open arms.

For a while, I felt like I belonged, and I felt confident enough in my ability as a leader to work to create that space.

a major hit that I decided I just had to quit everything entirely.

I lost something that I had been a part of since the fall of 2020. A club on a computer is not easy, especially when it’s the kind of club that puts on productions. When I finally got on campus everything instantly clicked, and I finally felt like myself.

Until I felt I didn’t. I felt unwelcome and tried to assert myself, but without a mediator or an advisor, everything changed very quickly.

I felt boxed in the corner and I didn’t know where to go. So little by little, I decided to leave some of my leadership roles. I continued to work the best that I could until one day I couldn’t do it anymore.

My mental wellbeing had taken such

Something that has been a part of your life and your identity which is suddenly dropped because of conflict is like mourning a death. A part of you dies.

Sometimes you have to let go and that’s stupid. Believe me, I think it’s the dumbest lesson in the world, but in the real world, it’s something people have to do a lot of the time. Stand up for what you believe in. Don’t stop fighting, but if it’s really starting to hurt you it’s OK to just take a step back.

Don’t forget to take care of yourself, because as a leader you show others that putting yourself first is OK.

: The Great Dryer Fire of 2024

Hear

*3 Days Earlier*

Campus Conversations

By Sophia Oppedisano, Editorial Staff and Izabela Gage, Staff Writer

“What class are you most excited for and why?”

“My internship - because I’m going to be doing things that involve my future career.”

- Trystan Plaisival, senior

“My introduction to hospitality class because I just switched my major and I’m excited to see what that major entails.”

- Maddie Orff, freshman

“Environmental law and policy because I get to graduate after I take it!”

- Joe Siegel, senior

“Probably my internship because I’m excited to get actual work experience. I have an internship at the Framingham Y, so that should be fun.”

- Brady Lucas, junior

“My directed study with Jennifer De Leon. I think that’s going to be really fun.”

- Ella Reddin, senior

“I’m student teaching so I’ll be at school full time, and I’m excited to be with all the kiddos.”

- Emma Vogler, senior

Ben Hurney / THE GATEPOST

*Here lies Lefty The Sock.*

about that Towers dryer? I heard it was because of Jean, what a liar.

NOT cool dude. He was my pal. Cut from the same cloth!

Regan Fein defines life as a student-athlete

By Adam Levine Sports Editor

Regan Fein cutting a piece of the basketball net after winning the 2024 MASCAC Women’s Basketball Tournament.

Regan Fein, a senior health and wellness major with minors in biology and education, wears many hats - or more accurately, uniforms - at Framingham State University.

Fein said she came to the University to play lacrosse, but is graduating this May as a three-sport athlete - playing on the women’s soccer team her senior year, the women’s basketball team beginning her sophomore year, and the women’s lacrosse team for the entirety of her career.

Playing a total of eight seasonsincluding the 2024 women’s lacrosse season - Fein has built a résumé of accolades, achievements, and awards.

Fein, a three-time captain of the women’s lacrosse team since her sophomore season, was named to both the 2023 and 2022 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Women’s Lacrosse All-Conference First Teams.

She began the 2024 women’s lacrosse season ranking in the top 10 on three of the University’s career leaderboards. Fein was ranked second in assists (91), third in draw controls (184), and seventh for points (154).

After playing just five of the 10 games this season, Fein has recorded 10 goals, 10 assists, 20 points, and 28 draw controls. She became the first player in the program’s history to record 200 draw controls, breaking the all-time record.

Fein has also moved up in the career record for points to sixth place (174). She is 22 assists away from setting the new program record and 12 goals away from entering the program’s top 14 for goals scored.

Regan was also named to the 2022 Women’s Basketball Sportsmanship Team and six All-Academic Teams

- three times on the Winter/Spring Team and three on the Fall/Winter Team for every season as an athlete - an award for those who maintain at least a 3.2 grade point average during eligible seasons.

She was also a member of the women’s lacrosse 2021 MASCAC Regular Season Championship team and 2022 MASCAC Tournament Championship team, and the women’s basketball team during the 2021-22 and 2023-24 seasons, during which the team won both the MASCAC Regular Season Championship and MASCAC Tournament Championship.

Fein sets an example for student-athletes at the University as to what it means to be a student-athlete - balancing success on the pitch, court, field, and in the classroom.

Originally from North Attleborough, Fein said she was a three-sport varsity athlete at North Attleborough High School, balancing life on the soccer, basketball, and lacrosse teams.

She said, “It was a little bit easier” being a three-sport athlete in high school because the seasons did not overlap with practices and games.

Fein said she did not plan on play-

practices and games, and prioritizes coursework in between classes and her athletic commitments.

Fein said her most hectic season as an athlete was this past fall, balancing practices and games for women’s soccer, preseason practices for women’s basketball, and fall ball games and practices for women’s lacrosse.

“Fall was probably my busiest, which is ironic because I think I was the least stressed during the fall,” she said.

Fein said there were some days she had six hours of organized team practices. She had morning practices at 6:00 a.m. four times a week for women’s lacrosse. Then, she would go to classes, followed by a two-hour practice for women’s basketball two to three times a week, and then practices or games for women’s soccer.

She said the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) requires student-athletes to take one day of rest a week. She said she dedicates her Sundays to relaxing to give herself mental stability and rest her body.

Fein said the athletic trainers would text and email her, reminding her to take Sundays off to relax.

Her experience on the women’s soccer team taught her humility and how to take a step back to ask questions, Fein said.

She said, “Each sport has taught me a very different level of how to work with other people,” whether “you are the leader or you’re the learner.”

Fein said for any of her peers struggling as a student-athlete, “You’re going to be OK. You’re going to be OK when it comes down to it. … It really does just boil down to finding the right amount of time per day to try to get done with your assignments. And if you’re struggling, reach out to those professors. A lot of them are very compassionate - sympathetic - when it comes to being a student-athlete.”

Her advice for high school students preparing for life as a college student-athlete is to enjoy it while you can.

Fein said, “I wouldn’t say, ‘Don’t worry.’ I would say, ‘Don’t let it go by too fast.’ Focusing on the things that are going to happen a month from now stops you from enjoying what’s going on right now.

sized” by the school.

“I’m not normally one to toot my own horn… but I pride myself on being very well organized and staying on top of my work, whether it is on the field or off the field,” she said.

Fein said balancing life as a student-athlete is about time management and communication - specifically with her professors, coaches, friends, and teammates.

She said she spends approximately four to five hours a week dedicated to sports outside of organized team

“I like to tell people that each sport here has taught me a very different perspective on how to collaborate with other people,” Fein said.

According to Fein, her experience as a captain for the women’s lacrosse team since her sophomore year has taught her leadership.

Her experience on the women’s basketball team, on which she did not receive much playing time, taught her off-court leadership and how to bring a positive attitude to her team, she said.

“Enjoy the present. Every minute you get with your teammates on the court or on the field is valuable, so don’t just let it go. … I guarantee you a year from now, I’m going to be looking back wishing I had one more minute with them - so enjoy it,” she added.

Head Women’s Lacrosse Coach Casey Bradley ’20 is in her first season as the head coach, but said she met Fein before through her involvement as an alumna of the program.

“Regan was always a name that pretty much every alumni knows as a great player for the program,” Bradley

She said she remembers her first interaction with Fein after being hired. Fein was a captain the previous season and was the only one already named for the upcoming season.

“She’s a go-getter - came right up to me and she’s like, ‘OK, I’m so excited. Let’s get to work,’” Bradley said. “That was pretty much on day one.”

Bradley said Regan is a “leader through and through.

“Regan is a total workhorse. She comes to practice every day - she is fired up. She’s coachable. She’s a leader. She’s vocal. She does really big things for the program as a whole, but also the girls in general. She is someone that they certainly look up to and when things are going wrong, Regan is someone that they look up to to turn things around. She’s just an all-around great athlete, but she’s also a really good kid,” she added.

Bradley said during the fall season, Fein joined the women’s lacrosse fall ball practices at 6 a.m., while also balancing women’s soccer practices and women’s basketball preseason practices. “She just kind of went with the flow and she did it.”

She said Fein’s positive outlook has impacted her attitude as a coach. “When things aren’t going so smooth-

See REGAN FEIN Page 11

Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST

Adam Levine / THE GATEPOST

Regan Fein

Continued from Page 10

ly, Regan really puts in an extra effort to be loud and stay positive. As a coach, that can help us.”

Bradley said the women’s lacrosse program has “benefited greatly by having Regan as a part of it. And it’ll be tough to replace someone like Regan when she graduates.”

Kristine Brown, an assistant athletic trainer at FSU, said she has known Fein since “day one.”

Brown is the trainer primarily assigned to assist the women’s basketball and women’s lacrosse teams and attends their practices and games.

She said she has supported multiple two-sport student-athletes over the course of her career, but Fein is the first three-sport student-athlete she has had the “pleasure” of working with.

Brown said it was “ultimately her decision” when Fein joined the women’s soccer team during her senior year, but “I cautioned her because I was concerned about injuries.”

She said, “She does try to do a good job taking care of herself - it’s difficult. You have to worry about overuse, but I think, given the workload that she’s put on her body, I think she’s done a really good job.”

Brown said Fein has a “terrific work ethic.

“She takes her sports seriously. She has a great personality. She can fool around and have a lot of fun, but when she’s on the field, she’s hyper-focused in whatever sport she’s doing or whatever drill they’re doing,” she added.

Brian Souza, a professor of nutrition and health studies, said Fein has taken many of his courses in the department to fulfill her health and wellness major.

He said Fein is a “great community member to have in the classroom” because she participates in discussions.

Souza said being an athlete can help one’s career trajectory in these fields because “there is more likely inherent enjoyment and interest in those fields since they’re relevant to performance in sports.

“You see the same thing in a class. If you’re engaged and you enjoy it, you’re going to be more apt to discuss, do the work, and have thoughtful things to say about the material,” he added.

Hailey Baker, a junior health and wellness major, is a member of the women’s soccer team and the women’s lacrosse team. She said she first met Fein while she was in high school and attended a prospect clinic hosted by the women’s lacrosse program.

“She’s one of my teammates and she’s also become one of my very close friends on campus,” Baker said.

She said Fein is hard-working both as an athlete and a student. “She just sets those goals for herself and wants to achieve them no matter what it takes.”

Baker said, “[Fein] always has a lot of energy - a lot of positive energy,” and always tries to put everybody else’s needs before her own.

She said Fein is “very dedicated” to the sports she plays and “always puts in the extra work - is always trying to improve herself and improve her team.”

Fein is a leader on the teams she plays on, whether or not she holds a leadership position. “She is very knowledgeable about the sports she

plays and she’s always trying to help her teammates, help herself, and she’s just overall a vocal leader. And she performs like a leader as well,” Baker said.

She said Fein is just as focused as a student as she is as an athlete.

“She is always on the bus doing her

ing. She just fit in so well with everyone that it looked like it was natural to her,” Baker said.

She said, “Seeing all the work she puts in makes me want to be better. It inspires me in a sense to put in the extra work.”

homework. … She is always pushing herself to be better in the classroom as well,” Baker said.

She said she has played on the women’s soccer team for two seasons and helped encourage Fein to join the team.

Baker said she and her friends told

Brooke Phelps, a senior political science major and a captain of the women’s lacrosse team, said she has known Fein all four years of her college experience. They lived in the same residence hall freshman year.

Phelps said they first met over Zoom as a team due to COVID-19 restric-

“I like to tell people that each sport here has taught me a very different perspective on how to collaborate with other people.”

- Regan Fein

Three-Sport Student-Athlete

Fein to join the team to “get a few more bodies on the bench. But it actually ended up happening so it was kind of a surprise to all of us, but a good surprise.”

She said seeing Fein on the soccer field after knowing her as a teammate on the women’s lacrosse team was strange at first.

tions, but during her first in-person interaction as a teammate, Fein was “ super, super intimidating because she was outgoing. She didn’t seem scared to talk to anybody. … She was talking to anybody and everybody and she was obviously really good at lacrosse.”

She said it did not take long to get over the “intimidation” once they

“I knew that she was always a soccer player, but it was weird actually experiencing it with her, especially because we both walked onto the soccer team. Neither of us ever had a plan to play once we got here, so it was just excit-

110% in every aspect of her life.

“I think everybody should be that as a student-athlete - giving it your all no matter what,” she added.

Phelps said Fein “lifts everybody up” during practices and games. “She’s always high energy, so she tries to bring everybody up with her.”

She said Fein has “brought me out of my shell” during her four years as a student at FSU and has helped her become more outgoing, especially as a teammate on the women’s lacrosse team.

“It’s really, really cool that she is a three-sport athlete her senior year of college. That is outstanding and you don’t see that every day, so I think that should be highlighted,” Phelps said.

Flannery O’Connor, a fifth-year student, a captain of the women’s basketball team, and a health and wellness major, said she has known Fein for three years.

O’Connor said Fein is “one of my really good friends, a teammate, and a classmate.”

She said, “Regan is probably one of the most caring people I know. … She just wants to make everybody laugh and feel special and heard.”

O’Connor said she and Fein take the same courses for their health and wellness major. “Either she’s taken the class before me or I’ve taken a class before her. But as of recently, we’ve been in a lot of them together. … She is always the person raising her hand, answering the professor’s questions, or asking for clarification.”

She said Fein “really understands the information because she’s really passionate about it.”

O’Connor said she first met Fein while working at the women’s lacrosse games during Fein’s freshman year, but they became closer when she walked onto the women’s basketball team the following season.

She said, “I knew she was just a ball of energy. She seemed really excited to be there and she caught on really quickly. She needed a day to know everybody’s names and to know the plays that we were going through, so I was pretty impressed with those skills.

“And she was pretty good at basketball after not playing for a couple of years,” O’Connor added.

She said on the women’s basketball team, Fein is “the reason for our energy every single game. There’s not a second when I don’t hear her screaming her head off or starting all the cheers.”

O’Connor said she and Fein’s friends jokingly say Fein has a “literal sports store in her trunk.”

She said, “She is probably one of the most gifted athletes I’ve ever met. I’ve never seen somebody be able to just pick up two sports that weren’t their main sport and actually excel at them.”

O’Connor said Fein is “definitely a little bit of an inspiration in multiple ways,” and seeing her balance three sports with her academics has “definitely helped open my eyes.

started talking and Fein is now one of her best friends.

Phelps said, “If I’m going to describe [Fein] as anything, she’s hard-working in all aspects of her life. From school to sports to social life, she is giving her

“I’m like, ‘Wow.’ I mean, if Regan could do three sports, then I could probably maybe get my homework done before practice,” O’Connor added jokingly.

Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST

Regan Fein and her team celebrating after winning the 2024 MASCAC Women’s Basketball Tournament.

Adam Levine / THE GATEPOST

Regan Fein defending an opposing player during the fall 2023 soccer season.

Women’s lacrosse extends win streak with first shutout

By Izabela Gage Staff Writer

Women’s lacrosse secured another conference win against Fitchburg State 21-6 March 30, and a 19-0 shutout win against UMass Boston April 2.

Framingham’s win streak extends to eight games and they currently lead the MASCAC with a 2-0 conference record and a 8-2 overall record.

This was their highest scoring game yet with a score of 21-6.

The Rams started assertively with eight goals in the first seven minutes.

Goalkeeper Isabella DiMare only let in two goals in the first quarter.

Framingham met and exceeded Fitchburg’s goals by scoring four and brought the score to 12-2 by the end of the first.

The Rams opened up the second with three goals before the Falcons could score.

Fitchburg netted two more while Framingham came up empty-handed for eight minutes.

Attacker Hailey Baker was able to alleviate their goal drought with two minutes left in the second.

The Rams’ determination stayed consistent for the third when they scored four goals.

Framingham’s defense remained tenacious and DiMare kept the net untouched, not allowing the Falcons to net the ball for the entire quarter.

The fourth was quiet with neither team scoring for the first nine minutes. Fitchburg finally netted one goal but freshman attacker Ella Yeaton counterbalanced with her first collegiate goal with one minute remaining. Their shutout win against UMass

Boston is their highest point margin in a win so far at 19. This marks DiMare’s first career shutout with nine saves.

It was an electric game from the very start. Molly Lanier, midfielder, scored 40 seconds into the match. This was the beginning of the nine goals scored in the first quarter alone.

The Rams cooled down and scored three goals in the third. The Beacons had one shot on goal for the entire quarter, which was saved by DiMare.

In the third, both teams had six shots on goal. Four of Framingham’s were netted, contrasting UMass Boston’s zero. The first goal tallied was only 36 seconds in by midfielder Rachel Erickson.

By the end of the third, Framingham had a 16-0 lead.

Framingham did not let up for the last quarter of the game. They went three-for-three, netting all of their shots.

The Beacons had five shots on goal, but DiMare saved four of them, the other being a wide shot.

Erickson has tallied 200 career draw controls and has moved up to the second all-time position for draw controls behind teammate Regan Fein, who set the record this season.

Hannah Guerin broke the program record for career points at 289 March 20 but has pushed to set that higher at 301 career points.

Defender Maggie Grout passed Head Women’s Lacrosse Coach Casey Bradley in career caused turnovers and moved up to the fourth all-time position for the program.

Grout said being boosted to fourth has “definitely increased my excitement and confidence as we move fur-

ther into our season. It also pushes me to work harder and continue to do my best every practice and game to help my team also get better and continue our winning streak.”

Nineteen of the 21 players on the roster played in the win against Fitchburg and 20 in the win over UMass Boston, which was all of the available players due to injuries.

This is the sixth out of the 10 games this season Bradley has played all of her available players.

Yeaton said Bradley “trusts our team and has full confidence in our skills. She is also able to read her players very well and knows what every one of us is capable of.

“She is so passionate about the game and that is what I believe drives our team. She is so into this position and is determined but also supportive of the players and that’s had a large impact on us,” Yeaton added.

Grout said, “Because Coach Bradley used to play here, it brings a unique perspective that other coaches would not be able to have. She knows what it is like to be a student-athlete at Fram-

ingham.” Bradley said the team is “ready for our MASCAC play. Our confidence and energy are high right now. They’re doing some awesome things right now, both individually and as a team.”

The Rams host Salem State for another conference matchup April 6.

“We are ready to show the league what we are capable of,” Bradley added.

MARCH 30

FRAMINGHAM STATE 21

FITCHBURG STATE 6

APRIL 2

FRAMINGHAM STATE 19

UMASS BOSTON 0

Stats sourced from fsurams.com and MASCAC.com

CONNECT WITH IZABELA GAGE igage@student.framingham.edu

Matthew Berry joins business class as expert guest speaker

By Adam Levine Sports Editor

Matthew Berry, writer, columnist, and fantasy sports expert, joined Business Professor Alex Rikleen’s course, “The Business of Fantasy Sports,” as a guest speaker on Zoom April 2.

Rikleen is teaching this course for the fifth consecutive spring semester and it is a required class for the sports management major and an elective for the minor.

He said this is a unique course he created and, to his understanding, there is only one similar course in the country, but it is not offered as fre-

quently as his.

Rikleen began the class with an introduction to the unit - the industry of analysis - and how sports analysis differs from fantasy sports analysis.

Fantasy sports are games, based off of real sports, in which a fan poses as a team’s general manager and field manager to build a roster to create a team with the greatest statistical production, according to Britannica.

Berry’s extensive résumé in the industry includes his role as the senior fantasy analyst at ESPN for 15 years and, most recently, the host of “Fantasy Happy Hour” and “Fantasy Football Pregame” on NBC Sports and an

analyst on “Football Night in America” and “Sunday Night Football Final.”

Berry is also a The New York Times best-selling author - “Fantasy Life: The Outrageous, Uplifting, and Heartbreaking World of Fantasy Sports from the Guy Who’s Lived It” - and founder of numerous fantasy analysis sitesincluding his current venture “Fantasy Life.”

Berry and Rikleen led a conversation about the ongoing growth of the fantasy sports industry, Berry’s role in it, and how students can learn from him.

“I’m incredibly grateful for the world of fantasy sports - to the game of fantasy sports. It’s given me, honestly, almost everything. … I believe that it’s my job to leave fantasy sports in a better place than I found it because it has given so much to me,” Berry said.

He said his move from his position at ESPN to NBC was both to take a step forward in his career and also to grow the game of fantasy sports.

Berry said, “The more that fantasy sports grows, the more popular it becomes. There’s a trickle down effect to me.”

Part of Berry’s career advice is “get good at what you’re doing and people will find you.”

He said no matter the field you want to go into, the most important advice

is becoming good at that role and being ready for the opportunity to monetize it and pursue it as a career.

“At some point, all of you watching this and listening to this, you will get your shot. … And when you get your shot, you want to be ready for it,” Berry said.

Rikleen said, “I hope listening to Mr. Berry describe all the different directions he’s building his many businesses helped the students to realize the opportunity provided by the fantasy and betting industry - this is a massive space that is still mostly unexplored. That combines well with his other main message, that if interested and motivated students pick their niche and focus on ‘getting good,’ they will be able to make it.”

Marketing Department Chair Michael Harrison said, “Having a guest speaker who is renowned in the Fantasy Sports industry reinforces what Professor Rikleen teaches in the class and hopefully generates a sense of excitement for students. Getting that real-world perspective can be an invaluable learning opportunity for students.”

CONNECT WITH ADAM LEVINE alevine5@student.framingham.edu

Dylan Pichnarcik / THE GATEPOST

Hannah Guerin attacking the goal during shutout win over UMass Boston April 2.

Dylan Pichnarcik / THE GATEPOST

Matthew Berry speaking to “The Business of Fantasy Sports” class April 2.

ARTS & FEATURES

Porsha Olayiwola this year’s Miriam Levine speaker Poet laureate of Boston reads new work at English Department event

By Ryan O’Connell Associate Editor

The English Department hosted its annual Miriam Levine Reading in the Heineman Ecumenical Center with Porsha Olayiwola, poet laureate for the city of Boston, as their guest speaker April 2.

English Professor Jennifer De Leon introduced Olayiwola and said she is “a writer, performer, educator, and curator who uses Afrofuturism and surrealism to examine historical and current issues in the Black, women, and queer diasporas.”

De Leon added Olayiwola is a World Poetry Slam Champion and founder of the Roxbury Poetry Festival, a biennial event celebrating the medium.

She said Olayiwola has held residencies at Brown University and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, and has been featured in publications such as the Black Warrior Review, The Boston Globe, and Netflix, among others.

De Leon said Olayiwola is also her friend and colleague, and used their connection to highlight the importance of networking as a young writer.

“It’s very important what you learn in the creative writing classroom, but it’s also as important - the relationships that you build outside of the class,” she said.

She added, “Your classmates, professors, instructors - but also the visiting writers and authors. Because you really don’t know when you’re going to see them again - it’s a small world; it’s an even smaller writing world.”

Following De Leon’s introduction, Olayiwola read her poetry, and said the work shared at the reading was all new or unfinished.

She first read “An Ars Poetica of Sorts,” which highlighted the disconnect between positive feelings she wants to write about as a poet and global injustices she can’t help but write about.

“I want to write a poem, and it could be about anything,” she read.

“But I’m sure no matter what I write, it will be about Gaza. … I want to write about the merciless red of an apple, how it glistens in the light like blood, but I’m sure it’ll just be a poem about Congo,” she read.

Olayiwola read she wished she could write about “the time I raced the sidewalk, or the double rainbow I saw with my lover one afternoon, arched over Boston like a prayer.”

Instead she was sure it would “unravel itself” into something about Sudan, Chicago, politics, the election, the housing crisis, she read.

“I want to write about something beautiful. Something devastatingly breathtaking, like maybe the time my mother met my lover’s mother, my two mothers,” she read.

“And they smiled and held hands and gossiped in the corner of the room like they were building a new world without worry, cheesing like two pigtailed schoolgirls on the playground up to the best kind of good,” she read.

Olayiwola said she’s been slightly obsessed with sonnets and love in general, and read four of her own “Black Sonnets,” which all discuss moving through the world as a Black person and Afropessimist.

The first sonnet, “Sometimes the Tide is so low you can see the Steeple”

“The poet says ‘skinny black trees,’ and all I think is Black. Skinny Black kids. Skinny Black legs dangling off the side of lips like lollipops. Skinny Black limbs, skinned knees, Black with hope,” she read.

The fourth and final sonnet she read from the “Black Sonnet” series, “Legend Heavy,” is about love, and Olayiwola’s soon-to-be wife, she said.

The sonnet was inspired by Nicole Sealey’s “Legendary,” which also discusses love and the desire to get married. Sealey’s sonnet ends every line

was inspired by the recent TikTok discussion about the history and danger of Lake Lanier, in Georgia, she said. Olayiwola added online discussion of Lake Lanier revolves around the high number of people who drowned in it and the existence of a Black town which was flooded in order to create the lake.

She said the title was a quote from a TikToker who said the steeple could be seen above the waterline at lower water levels.

The second sonnet, “Before He was Deported, My Father Taught me to Fish Like a Man,” described fishing with her father at a young age, and further the rage she felt at his deportation.

“Man girl learning to eat, to cast a line, like how the country did - split a border between my father and I,” she read. “It took years to learn how to unlearn anger. I wanted only to lie in the blood of my father.”

Olayiwola said the third sonnet was inspired by a line in one of her poetry student’s semester portfolios.

“I have one particular student who wrote really great work, the presentation was stellar. But at one moment in their presentation they said something - and I just started writing a poem,” she said.

with “white” - Olayiwola said every line of hers ends with “Black.

“I want to be married in church, and black. Not like tradition, no, it must be black. Black dress, black suit, black roses and cake, black,” she read.

Olayiwola read “Sometimes I Eat” next, and prefaced by sharing her relationship with food and hunger.

“I identify as a foodie, I’m always thinking about food,” she said. “But I’m also thinking about desire, hunger and desire. And what it means as queer, Black, and fat, and how we conceptualize desire and a body that is not traditionally desirable.

“Once, out of anger, I told a lover I wanted to gobble her up,” she read.

“Sometimes I play with my food, because I am enamored with the sound. … Nails, toes, licked, even the eyeballs, like bad apples, ravish and ravish ready - sweetie pie, you are not a term of endearment,” she read.

Olayiwola said her next poem was a contrapuntal - two independent poems which can be read together to form a new interpretation when aligned next to each other.

She also gave a brief history of Margaret Garner, the subject of her contrapuntal, a woman who was a slave and fled up the Ohio River with her four children and husband during

the Antebellum Period.

Olayiwola said before the family could reach a free state, they were captured by slave catchers, and Garner killed one of her children rather than let her go back into slavery. Following this, she was put on trial and sold further south down the Mississippi to Louisiana, she added.

“Margaret Garner Crosses the Ohio River in the Voice of the Ohio River,” the first poem, highlights the opportunity for freedom it presented to escaped slaves.

“Folk stay gunnin’ toward me like I’m the second coming,” she read. “Wade through me like a hymn. A prayer. A river of Jordan. A gateway fleeing the Dixie.”

The second piece, “Margaret Garner Crosses the Ohio River, Only to Get Caught and Sold Down the Mississippi, in the Voice of the Mississippi River,” contrasts the hope of the Ohio and describes the death and destruction of the slave trade.

“Like I’m some type of pistol, folk stay running from me. … I thin the bloodline. I devein the country with the kitchen shank. Mississippi saw them downriver. There is no sympathy for a child gone to Queen Sugar,” Olayiwola read.

The final poem, “Margaret Garner Crosses the Ohio River, Only to Get Caught and Sold Down the Mississippi or the Mother Stands Trial for Murdering Her Children, in the Voice of Margaret Garner,” reads when combining the first lines of the first two, or the second lines, and so on.

“I thin the blood line with purpose,” she read. “The country with a kitchen shank, … there is no word for a mother who has lost sympathy for a child gone to Queen Sugar.”

Olayiwola closed with an unfinished, untitled poem also inspired by a TikTok user’s post.

“I had been following this terrible terrible drama about a woman who realized her husband was unfaithful, and then began to tell the story about how they met,” she said.

“All the flowers he sent made my office look like a morgue,” was the line that inspired the poem, she said.

“This office bouquet makes me think about the time before the end of the end of my last relationship. Before I could properly lay us to rest. Before we could be considered past,” she read.

“How my soon-to-be ex-lover, former lover, found the receipt in my email inbox at 3 a.m. and she woke me, screaming, asking, ‘How could I?’ hollering midnight like a banshee, like a sobbing lover wilting at a … funeral,” she read.

Meghan Spargo / THE GATEPOST

Porsha Olayiwola reading her poetry at the Miriam Levine Reading April 2.

BSU and SGA work toward hair equity on campus

By Raena Doty Arts & Features Editor

The Black Student Union (BSU) hosted a meeting titled “Hair Talk with BSU & SGA” April 2. The meeting was hosted with the goal of gathering student opinion about inaccessibility to diverse hair care products on FSU campus and developing creative solutions to fix the issue.

The meeting started with Student Government Association (SGA) President Evelyn Campbell introducing why she reached out to BSU and what she hoped to get out of the meeting.

Campbell said she was made aware of the inaccessibility of hair products for Black hair types through an anonymous post on YikYak, and because SGA doesn’t have a diversity and inclusion officer currently, she reached out to BSU herself to see if she could find ways to address the problem.

She added some potential solutions are to create a hair care vending machine using a currently empty vending machine in O’Connor Hall or to expand The Snack Bar into including non-food essentials like hair care products.

Raffi Elkhoury, SGA vice president, also suggested working with the Rams

Resource Center, and wanted to know what price students might be interested in buying the products for. He suggested potentially looking for donations from alumni, but added this solution may not be very sustainable.

One attendee said some FSU alumni have gone into creating businesses

around in a circle and share their hair care routine or products they like, which also prompted discussion about what might be offered by the University if something like a hair care vending machine were to be made.

Some attendees pointed out that products other than cleaning prod-

that sell hair products for diverse hair and it may be possible to partner with these businesses for donations or as host to pop-up shops to increase accessibility of these products on campus.

Antonne Tony, BSU president, prompted everyone in the room to go

ucts like braiding hair, bonnets, and hair picks would also be helpful.

Several attendees said braiding hair is especially needed because the nearest shop is a 45-minute drive from the FSU campus and sells hair at a more expensive price than other vendors.

Tony said access to diverse hair

products is important for creating an inclusive FSU environment.

“If you’re really about inclusion, then you actually push the boundary to make sure we’re all included,” she said.

The meeting ended with a demonstration of a highly recommended product called the Unbrush from Kay King, BSU social media coordinator.

After the meeting, Tony said students of color at FSU waste time and money on basic needs, and FSU providing these needs would make the campus more equitable.

“Students consume a lot of time and money going back home or finding people or places nearby that could work or could not work,” she said.

Tony added she appreciated that Campbell reached out because it gave her an opportunity to talk publicly about this issue that students of color have been aware of for a while.

“I do feel like FSU overlooks issues like this. It may be small to them, but it’s kind of big to us,” she said. “I just hope in the future FSU uses this as a mechanism to really dive into if they’re really inclusive or not.”

Annual Fresh Check Day event raises mental health awareness

By Heather Nuttall Staff Writer

Framingham State University held its sixth annual Fresh Check Day in the McCarthy Center Forum on April 3. The event brought together various organisations from the local area to connect with students through discussions of suicide prevention and mental health.

Fresh Check Day, supported by the Jordan Porco Foundation, is an event held annually in colleges across the country. It aims to build connections between students and mental health resources in an interactive way, according to their website.

The recent event at FSU featured booths run by the University’s SEALS Peer Health Educators, as well as representatives from Call2Talk, Program RISE, and FSU’s Counseling Center, among others.

Each station centered a different area of support. One booth focused on support for veterans, whilst another - run by the FSU softball team - asked students to consider the benefits of exercise to boost mental health. Students also had the chance to interact with therapy animals from Pets & People Foundation.

Pamela Lehmberg, the coordinator of Wellness Education at FSU, said the event had been a great success.

“If you look on their website, you’ll see hundreds and hundreds of different colleges do it at some point during the year because it’s a fun way, a festive atmosphere, to destigmatize talking about mental health, and to

provide resources and information for students on how to help themselves or others,” she said.

Lehmberg added that students are more likely to utilize mental health resources if they have already interacted with them.

“We tried to get quite a few of our local partners here to talk. Even just meeting someone from Call2Talk or from Program RISE, it just means

to people from them so they’re more approachable,” they said.

Barrett described various ways to boost mental health in the community, including reaching out to friends and going for walks, and added the Wellness Center runs a mile-long walk every Friday.

“It gives time for people to mine their emotions, talk with each other - really, genuinely connect outside

you’re a little more likely to use the resource if you need it,” she said.

Cas Barrett, a SEALS peer health educator, also listed this as one of the benefits of the event.

“I really like this event in particular because I think it combines a lot of different important resources that we tend to sprinkle throughout all our other events, and it gives people time to sit with those resources and speak

of the internet and all the stress that goes on in the world,” they said.

Maggie McNeill, program manager at Call2Talk, said that it is important to open honest conversations about mental health.

“We really teach and underscore the importance and value of listening, which is something that oftentimes we find seems so easy it’s hard, so just be there, be non-judgemental and

empathetic, and be there to support your people,” she said.

McNeill added, “I think there’s been a lot of progress made, but there still can be even more had in terms of destigmatizing mental health and reaching out for support.”

Amy Young Sadler, a harm reduction specialist and MSW clinical intern at Program RISE, spoke on the importance of destigmatizing conversations around substance use.

“I think you can think about your language regarding substance use when you’re discussing it. Try to be as kind and gentle as possible, and realize that it’s not a moral failureit’s not something that is wrong with someone, it’s just an aspect of their life,” Sadler said.

Sadler explained for students in particular, it’s important to create safe spaces where friends can feel comfortable reaching out.

“No one needs to be the monitor of anyone’s behavior, but if you know that your friend is using substances then just let them know you want them to be safe,” Sadler said.

Sadler added, “Whether you want to encourage them not to use alone, or encourage them to have fentanyl testing strips, or make sure they have Narcan - it’s really just about checking in on your friends and letting them know that you’re a safe person to share what they’re going through with.”

CONNECT WITH RAENA DOTY rdoty@student.framingham.edu

Raena Doty / THE GATEPOST

Members of the Black Student Union at the meeting “Hair Talk with BSU & SGA” April 2.

Meghan Spargo / THE GATEPOST

A therapy dog from the Pets & People Foundation at Fresh Check Day April 3.

Jazmany Reyes explores new design pursuits

By Bella Omar Asst. Arts & Features Editor

This past February, Jazmany Reyes, former FSU fashion student, got on a bus to Manhattan to begin his internship with fashion brand Mueret Tolegen and create his debut runway collection, titled “Passion.”

With help from Parsons School of Design student Kyla Geyer, Reyes put together a stunning 10-piece collection of wearable, feminine piecesshown at the Coco Cabana.

The collection was inspired by Reyes’ hometown’s struggle with gentrification in Chelsea.

“I want there to be a way to kind of preserve the history and the people there, because we have such a big Latino population in Chelsea, Massachusetts - it’s only two square miles long and there’s about forty to fifty thousand Latinos that live there.

“I want to make this next collection actually about gentrification because I come from Chelsea, Massachusetts. And Chelsea, Massachusetts has been kind of falling victim to that. In the past maybe five years, five to 10 years, it’s been transformed a lot,” he said.

With such short notice Reyes “made about 10 samples in 10 days or less” and sent them off to Geyer, he said.

“I would go for my internship at 10 a.m. I would be up at 7 a.m. because I lived in Jersey City. … And then I would go to my internship from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. And then from 5 p.m. to midnight, I would go to the Par-

thing is hand draped. Everything is done by me. Currently, I’m doing everything by myself. So whatever you see online and all the designs, everything is done by me completely by hand, and I take a lot of pride in that because I know a lot of the design

“Everything is handmade. Everything is hand draped. Everything is done by me. Currently, I’m doing everything by myself.”

- Jazmany Reyes Fashion Designer

sons School of Design, and I’d go to this sewing studio over there and just work and just work on designs,” he said.

Everything featured in “Passion,” from pleated skirts to structured tops, was carefully crafted, he said.

“Everything is handmade. Every-

world right now is going to a manufacturer,” he said.

Prior to his career at Framingham State, Reyes has always explored the arts through creation, he said. He added he “started in high school. I kind of just was self teaching myself everything. I was doing little sewing

projects for myself here, and they kind of just started with making little bags and little tote bags and stuff like that. And then everyone was kind of just like sewing masks and I was sewing masks for a while,” he said.

He studied fashion merchandising at Framingham State to enter the industry in a practical way, he said.

“I was going to do visual advertising or fashion merchandise or fashion advertising. And then I kind of stuck with that up until junior year, until I went to Italy. And after I went to Italy and I did my intensive fashion design course over there, I fell in love with design,” he said.

The classes he took at Framingham State gave Reyes skills that he has carried into his recent pursuits - classes including “principles of apparel construction. I would also say almost all of my fashion merchandising classes - they all helped me. I will say that omni channel helped me a lot with Professor Ruirui Zhang. Also, merchandising and retail buying with Dr. Hae Won,” he said.

In anticipation of the spring summer 2024 season, Reyes is working on my new collection and right now I am so excited!” he said.

CONNECT

WITH BELLA OMAR bomar@student.framingham.edu

Phenomenal Woman

Continued from Page 1

Stoops now serves as the associate vice president for student health and wellness at Boston College.

When deciding what to discuss in her address, Stoops said she began by reading Maya Angelou’s poem, “Phenomenal Woman.”

Stoops recited the first line of Angelou’s poem in her address: “Pretty women wonder where my secret lies / I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size / But when I start to tell them, they think I’m telling lies.”

Stoops said, “I love that she starts off right away with a challenge of the status quo. In this case, a challenge of society’s definition of beauty, a challenge of stereotypes.”

During her keynote address, Stoops quoted a tweet from Ariana Huffington following the death of Maya Angelou. In her tweet, she referenced Angelou’s quote, “Nothing can dim the light which shines from within.”

Many of the attendees came dressed in purple, a color which is significant to the Women’s Suffrage movement and, more recently, to International Women’s Day, celebrated on March 8.

LaDonna Bridges, dean of student success and persistence, gave a short speech about the color purple and its ties to feminism and celebrating women.

“Purple is associated with royalty, luxury, nobility, power, and ambition throughout the ages. It represents creativity, extravagance, dignity, grandeur, independence, pride, peace, magic, and mystery. So, wear your purple proudly,” said Bridges.

The 2024 Phenomenal Woman nominees were announced by David Baldwin, director of human resources; Jay Hurtubise, associate dean of students, community standards, outreach and support; Ben Trapanick, executive director of human engagement; and Glenn Cochran, associate dean of student life.

This year, a total of 46 women were nominated.

Nomination forms are sent out to the campus community in early February and nominations close about a month prior to the ceremony. A secret committee then reviews the nominations and selects the final recipient, according to Lucking.

The selection committee considers the following criteria for a Phenomenal Woman nomination – grateful and not accepting of the status quo, serves as a role model or leader to women in the FSU and local community, sup-

After the presentation of the nominees, Lucking was joined by the 2023 Phenomenal Woman recipient, Joanne Britland, to announce the winner of this year’s award, Kianna Bauer.

“Being presented with the 2024 Phenomenal Woman award means that SHAPE is recognized, understood and valued at our University,” said Bauer.

She recently received a bachelor’s degree from FSU in sociology and anthropology and will be furthering her

ports and encourages women around them, moves forward despite challenging circumstances, impacts or has impacted your life, and demonstrates confidence in daily life, according to Lucking.

“Sometimes, there’s a lot of debate, and then other times it’s pretty clear who the winner will be based on the quality of the nomination,” said Lucking.

responsibilities in our department, but also the FSU community.”

Another nominator wrote, “She is determined, organized, and wants to make FSU a better place. I formally met her when she began working in the Dean of Students Office for her internship where she focused on developing SHAPE programming.”

Bauer said, “Being in this room, everyone can definitely feel the energy of what a phenomenal woman is.”

Meg Nowak Borrego, dean of students and vice president for student affairs, gave closing remarks and showed a video of women reading Maya Angelou’s “Phenomenal Woman” poem.

Senior Ryanna Coelho, a nominee, said the energy at the ceremony “felt so special.

“I just feel like we’re all phenomenal women. Just being able to celebrate women in general is such a special thing. It almost has me speechless being here,” said Coehlo.

Nominee and Biology Professor Rachel Avard said, “So many of us were nominated and when the winner was announced, everyone’s immediate reaction was ‘I am so happy for her,’ and I think that is the heart of what a phenomenal woman is. It’s that support and that comradery.”

Rhonda Spindel, nominee and revenue accountant in the Business Office, said it “felt nice to be appreciated and recognized.”

Lauren O’Neill, associate director for career development, said she was “honored to have been nominated and recognized by the colleagues that I respect so much.

“It feels good knowing that the work we are doing in career development is going noticed and appreciated, and that feels better than words can say,” said O’Neill.

Junior Kaylie Valente, a nominee, said, “I thought it was amazing to see how FSU honors their majority-female community in such a fun way.

“There are so many phenomenal women on campus and the fact that I was recognized as one is one of my proudest moments,” she said.

Senior Willow Versackas, a nominee, said, “The nomination means everything to me, and I’m grateful to have been recognized amongst so many other amazing women.

“As a queer, gender-nonconforming person, it’s wonderful to be recognized and represent acommunity I love so much. I love being a part of the FSU community and I have so many wonderful women at FSU to thank for helping me through college,” said Versackas.

education through her recent acceptance into a graduate program, also at FSU.

Lucking read some of the comments Bauer’s nominators wrote about her.

One nominator wrote, “I am pleased to write this nomination letter for Kianna Bauer as I’ve had the opportunity to truly know her as a full-time employee. She is talented and truly dedicated to not only daily duties and

During her greeting, President Niemi said, “To look at this room, and the women that do amazing things every day, we have the honor and joy of not only working with each other, but also making educational opportunities happen for every one of our students, no matter how they identify.”

Meghan Spargo / THE GATEPOST

(Left) Rachel Lucking and Kianna Bauer at the Phenomenal Woman ceremony March 27.

Meghan Spargo / THE GATEPOST

(Left) Meg Nowak Borrego, Kianna Bauer, and Nancy Niemi at the Phenomenal Woman ceremony March 27.

Spring/Summer 2024 trend predictions

By Bella Omar Asst. Arts & Features Editor

Despite the gloomy weather, warmer temperatures are quickly approaching - and with that comes new seasonal trends. The recent fashion zeitgeist has pointed toward cowboy getup and comfortable silhouettes for this summer’s wave of fashion.

Denim and more denim!

Beyoncé’s latest release, “Cowboy Carter,” is the perfect green light on the revival of western style, particularly denim - and in abundance! Darker washes and slouchier silhouettes coming into play make styling full denim ensembles look and feel effortless. This trend isn’t limited to “The Pioneer Woman” esque denim button downs either - the recent runways of designers like Masha Popova and Givenchy have both utilized denim bralettes, cargos, and other new takes on the material.

Flatter footwear

As popular ’70s pieces make a comeback, it only makes sense that the chunky Nike Air Force 1’s that we’ve held so close for the past few seasons are being replaced by slimmer vintage staples, such as the Adidas Samba and Asics Onitsuka Tiger. These sneakers come in a wide array of color and styles, making these chic shoes an easy add to anyone’s closet. A particularly interesting collection is the series of Adidas Sambas designed by the masterful Grace Wales Bonner.

Sheer fabric

Sheer fabrics such as lace and mesh have been spotted on runways and red carpets alike this past season and are on track to be fully embraced by fashion-forward people everywhere this upcoming summer. Florence Pugh in a red Valentino number for the “Dune: Part Two” carpet recently is a prime example of how leaving so little to the imagination can be done so elegantly. Lace maxi skirts and tops have already trickled onto the front pages of popular retailers such as Pacsun and Urban Outfitters, setting up their young fanbases for new ways to layer.

“Pajama” pants (Studio Seven, Linen, Slouchy Trousers)

Wearing your pajamas in public is taking on a new, chic-er look this summer by replacing fleeces with crisp linens. Brands like Studio Seven who specialize in these boxer-like pieces have popularized the trend on social media - with fast fashion brands in tow mimicking the designs. This breathable fabric, in tandem with the low-rise, relaxed fit makes these pants the perfect warm weather go-to.

Fringe

Another nod to Americana Western style, fringe details are going to be seen on everything from jackets, to vests, to pants. Ann Demeulemeester, Schiaparelli, Bottega Veneta, and several other labels’ collections in the past year have featured fringe in dramatic floor-length variations, adding drama and texture to very wearable pieces like baggy jackets and slip dresses. Naturally, fringe suede jackets and vests are bound to be this year’s festival season uniform and subsequent summer staple.

Big bags

The reign of the Jacquemus Chiquito and similarly tiny bags that can hold nothing more than a credit card and a lipgloss is over, with larger-than-life slouchy purses taking the stage for this summer and likely well into the fall and winter seasons. These sack-like bags are the perfect relaxed accessory to add practicality and interest to any summer look. Bottega Veneta’s iconic woven totes are ever growing in popularity and brands like Victoria Bekham and Max Mara put out several ginormous purses in their respective SS24 runway collections.

“Avatar:

The Last Airbender”balance was not restored

By Adam Levine Editorial Staff

Netflix’s “Avatar: The Last Airbender” - a remake and reimagining of the original animated series of the same name released by Nickelodeon from 2005 to 2008 - was something I have been anticipating for months - maybe even years.

Personally, I hail the original animated series as the best animated series of all time and it is one of my favorite shows. I have rewatched it in full twice within the past two years and every time I learn more and fall in love with it again.

My anticipation was high, despite the previous live-action adaptation - M. Night Shyamalan’s “The Last Airbender” released in 2010 - which is largely considered a disgrace to the franchise.

After finishing the series, there were two additions I loved, and there was one change I tolerated - at first I liked it but looking back I have mixed thoughts on it.

Other than that, the only three redeeming factors of the series were the action sequences, some of the acting performances, and when the end credits finally came.

While the series fell very, very short of its source material, I recognize it was following in the footsteps of arguably one of the greatest television series of all time.

Unfortunately, Gordon Cormier as Aang, Kiawentiio Tarbell as Katara, and Ian Ousley as Sokka all fell short in their main character performances.

In the end, it was Dallas James Liu’s and Paul Sun-Hyung Lee’s performances as Zuko and Iroh, respectively, which stole the show. As individuals, their performances stole every scene they were in. But their dynamic together stole the entire show.

The series began with one of the two pleasant additions - a flashback to the Fire Nation’s rise to power. We see Fire Lord Sozin’s (Hiro Kanagawa) tactical genius with his use of espionage to attack and wipe out the Air Nation.

The action-packed and drama-filled opening sequence displayed Netflix’s portrayal of bending in action and made me hopeful for what the show would be.

Unfortunately, my hope dwindled fast.

not enough.

While in Omashu, the major storylines of King Bumi (Utkarsh Ambudkar) and Omashu, Jet (Sebastian Amoruso), and Teo (Lucian-River Chauhan) and The Mechanist (Danny Pudi) were intertwined, tangled up, and all completely missed the mark.

King Bumi’s reimagining from Aang’s fun-loving best friend, still a hundred years later, to a bitter king was a realistic adaptation which intrigued me at first. After reconsideration, King Bumi is a crazy, rock-eating king who should not have been changed.

The other pleasant addition to the series was giving depth to Zuko’s character by providing backstory to the troops he commands on his ship. Without revealing the details, a seemingly minor aspect of their unit’s backstory gave layers of appreciated depth to Zuko.

For sake of nit-picking every change between Netflix’s adaptation and the original, I will skip to one of the most frustrating changes to the show - Sokka and Hahn’s (Joel Oulette) relationship in the Northern Water Tribe.

They instantly become friends and Hahn actively seeks out Sokka’s advice to help defend the tribe from the Fire Nation’s attack. This took away from part of Sokka’s character development as a warrior, but also as the leader we know and love from the character.

The show clearly struggled between being different from the original source material while also appealing to its longstanding fanbase.

I will watch the next two seasons to see how this all ends, but I will be happy when it’s over.

CONNECT WITH BELLA OMAR bomar@student.framingham.edu

Episode 3 - “Omashu” - felt to be the most forced and overpacked episode. While I was happy they attempted to include various side storylines, it was evident the limitation of eight episodes was

Rating: CAnd it all changed when Netflix attacked

CONNECT WITH ADAM LEVINE

alevine5@student.framingham.edu

David Abe / THE GATEPOST

‘Where is the Friend’s House?’

By Owen Glancy Asst. Arts & Features Editor

Many countries have a rich and expansive catalog of films that define their place in the medium’s history. The obvious ones like the U.S., France, South Korea, Japan, and the United Kingdom have long enjoyed time in the spotlight of both film history and the casual movie-going audience. You’d be hard pressed to find someone who doesn’t know of at least one film from all of these countries.

Ask that same person if they know any Iranian films, however, and I doubt you’ll get the same response.

Iran is a country with just as rich a film history as many of the modern giants like South Korea. However, most people are unaware of Iranian film, and even those that are often find it hard to pick that first film to watch. This is where Abbas Kiarostami comes in.

Kiarostami is the most popular and prolific name in Iranian cinema, and for good reason. His films stand out as being some of the greatest works in the history of the medium, especially his 1987 masterpiece, “Where is the Friend’s House?”

Taking place in the small village of Koker, this was the first film in what would become the Koker Trilogy, a series of films all set in the titular town and directed by Kiarostami.

The story follows Ahmed, a young boy who realizes that he accidentally took his friend’s notebook home with him, without which the friend cannot complete his homework. Afraid his friend will be expelled if he misses another assignment, Ahmed decides to track his friend down to return the notebook before the day is over.

This is by no means an epic story - the consequences are fairly smallbut to Ahmed this is the most important moment of his life so far. It’s that perspective of a great journey that makes the film so compelling.

I’ve never seen a film that so perfectly understands not only what it’s like to be a child, but how being a child is perceived by those around them. Unlike many films about children, which often feel the need to prop up their young protagonists as heroes or bigger parts of the community than they actually would be, this film makes every interaction and small little detail about how children

‘Late Night With The Devil’

By Jesse Burchill Staff Writer

“Late Night With The Devil” saw its theatrical release on March 22 after debuting at the South by Southwest Film Festival in 2023.

Set in 1977, this horror film stars David Dastmalchian, known for his roles in the “Ant-Man” films and various DC Comics projects, as Jack Delroy, the host of Night Owls with Jack Delroy.

In order to boost his show’s dwindling ratings, Delroy hosts an occult-themed episode on Halloween night with one particularly special guest - a young girl named Lily, the sole survivor of a Satanic cult’s mass suicide who now bears a connection to the demon she calls “Mr. Wriggles.”

As leading man, Dastmalchian finally manages to shine after years of supporting roles. His mannerisms, inflection, and sense of humor make Jack Delroy feel like a genuine latenight host. His love of his deceased wife Madeleine and his sincere grief over her death permeates the film and provides several of its more heartwarming moments.

This makes Delroy’s affable demeanor on air contrast even more with how he behaves off camera - beleaguered and stressed when the show is not live, chiefly concerned with improving the ratings, and fed up with people trying to control the show and dissuade him from going forward with learning more about Lily and Mr.

are portrayed feel realistic.

Ahmed is absolutely the focus of the story here - there can be no doubt about it. But the camera chooses not to focus on him, oftentimes being more interested in capturing the bigger picture. It keeps us grounded in the realism of his journey while still making it feel significant.

The cinematography is only one piece of the puzzle though, as the production design goes a long way in giving the film the unique atmosphere it has. These towns feel simultaneously bustling with activity and somehow very empty. This community is so tight-knit, it feels like everyone knows everyone else. That sense of community is what makes Ahmed, and on a greater scale, the children’s roles in it feel so realistic.

Throughout the film, Ahmed routinely tries to get the help of different adults in his quest, but it never seems to work out. From his mother telling him not to leave the house, to his grandfather demanding he go run him errands, to the random people he encounters on the street brushing him off or giving him blatantly wrong directions, it is made abundantly clear how these adults view the children of Koker.

There isn’t any malice in their actions, but there isn’t love either. The film walks this emotional tight-rope between love and hate and it makes for this moral gray that covers the

adults throughout the movie.

Life has undoubtedly not been kind to many of these characters, and as such, they know that Ahmed’s mission is inconsequential. However, because they are so jaded, they fail to remember how important those nagging little issues with your childhood friends felt to you. It leads to these adults giving half-baked advice and compliments that only serve to further increase the difficulty of Ahmed’s journey.

Frankly, this perspective makes this essential viewing for anyone looking to see an accurate yet entertaining portrayal of childhood in film. So why isn’t this more popular? Well, a lot of that probably has to do with how the public views foreign films.

Admittedly, this has gotten better in recent years, but the cinema of countries like Iran still has not caught up to the public consciousness, and that is a genuine shame.

“Where is the Friend’s House?” is a masterpiece that should be seen by everyone, regardless of how familiar with film and its history you are.

The only place to stream this film is on the Criterion Channel - otherwise you must buy the physical release.

- do not adjust your set

Wriggles.

These two sides of the character make Jack Delroy quite a unique and compelling protagonist and one who is genuinely entertaining to watch. Lily herself, played by Ingrid Torelli, also left a good impression.

Halloween show to debunk its various presentations.

Initially, Haig seems to be rather affable in his repeated dismissals of the paranormal and cordial in his explanations of what “really” happened. However, as time goes on, he

Her history with the cult and Dr. Rose-Mitchell provides a strong aura of mystery, her frequent staring at the cameras is incredibly off-putting, and her introduction segment is downright chilling. Torelli’s performance as Lily, particularly during the séance, is creepy in a way that strongly evokes “The Exorcist.”

However, the standout supporting actor is Ian Bliss as Carmicheal “The Conjurer” Haig, a stage magician turned skeptic who has made it his life’s mission to disprove the paranormal. He has been invited to Delroy’s

proves to be increasingly insufferable, denying that anything that happens is genuinely paranormal even when things get worse and worse. He grows more and more disrespectful to- ward Lily and her experiences with the cult and Mr. Wriggles, and pays dearly for it in the end. One could say that Ian Bliss completely steals the show, outshining everyone else including Dastmalchian.

As a horror film, “Late Night” manages to prove its mettle with a slowburn buildup to its supernatural elements. As the show goes on, the film

develops an anxious and unsettling atmosphere. As events get more and more intense, you worry about how things are going to turn out.

The fact that the entire movie is filmed exactly like an episode of a ’70s talk show, VHS filter included, makes the horror all the more effective.

Narratively, “Late Night With The Devil” brings together multiple familiar aspects of the horror genre and blends them brilliantly in a presentation that would fit perfectly as a genuine late-night showing, with an ending that brings several details back together perfectly in a memorable twist. This film will have you hooked from the beginning and will refuse to let you go.

Rating: A+

A late night nightmare

Emily Monaco / THE GATEPOST

CONNECT WITH OWEN GLANCY oglancy@student.framingham.edu

Puzzle solutions are now exclusively online.

Drag Bingo

Meghan Spargo / THE GATEPOST

Kori King during her performance at “Drag Bingo” April 4.

Meghan Spargo / THE GATEPOST

Drag queens Patty Bourrée (far left) and Kori King (far right) explaining a tie breaker to students at “Drag Bingo” April 4.

Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST Bingo set up at “Drag Bingo” April 4.

Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST (Left) Kori King and Patty Bourrée presenting the prizes at “Drag Bingo” April 4.

Maddison Behringer / THE GATEPOST

Patty Bourrée performing for the crowd at “Drag Bingo” April 4.

Maddison Behringer / THE GATEPOST Students with (left) Patty Bourrée and Kori King at “Drag Bingo” April 4.