April 12, 2024

NECHE Committee announces preliminary findings

By Sophia Harris Editor-in-Chief

The New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) committee communicated their preliminary findings to the Framingham State community on April 10.

Alexander Enyedi, president of SUNY Plattsburgh and chair of Framingham State’s NECHE visiting team, presented the findings.

The committee was made up of eight evaluators from various New England Universities.

The evaluators included Yvonne Kirby, associate vice president, planning & institutional effectiveness for Central Connecticut State University

for Standard 2; Mary S. Alexander, former provost and vice president for academic affairs at Western Connecticut State University for Standard 3; Jeffrey St. John, vice chancellor for academic and student affairs at the University of Maine for Standard 4; Jules Tetreault, associate vice president for student affairs and dean of students for Southern Connecticut State University for Standard 5; Barbara Prudhomme White, a professor and NECHE liaison from the University of New Hampshire for Standard 6; Keva Wright Berry, director of finance for academic affairs at University of Southern Maine for Standard 7; and Kimberly A. Sorrentino, director of assessment, accountability, and accreditation at the University of Con-

necticut for Standard 8 and Standard 9.

NECHE decides the effectiveness of an institution as a whole using nine standards for accreditation, according to the NECHE accreditation handbook.

The standards are “aspirational expectations” that must be at least “minimally” met, according to the handbook.

These standards include missions and purposes; planning and evaluation; organization and governance; academic programs; students; teaching, learning, and scholarship; institutional resources; educational effectiveness; and integrity, transparency, and public disclosure, according to the NECHE website.

Panel discussion introduces students to library careers

By Raena Doty Arts & Features Editor

National Library Week, celebrated in 2024 from April 7 to 13, is a chance for libraries to connect with and educate their communities. The Henry Whittemore Library hosted an array of events to celebrate, and invited students to join a panel discussion event titled “Library Careers Are for Everyone!” April 9.

The Massachusetts Commonwealth Consortium of Libraries in Public Higher Education Institutions (MCCLPHEI) hosted the event. Six librarians who work in or studied at Massachusetts institutions spoke about their

careers and offered wisdom for anyone interested in library work.

Emily Alling, associate dean for library services at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, moderated the panel. She said MCCLPHEI hosted the event because they wanted to connect with future colleagues and give information to anyone interested in careers.

“We hope that hearing from our panelists tonight will help show you that there are as many paths to library careers as there are people working in libraries and help you envision yourself working in a library,” she said.

“I also encourage you to seek out the people who work in your libraries, who I’m sure would be happy to chat

with you,” she added.

Jesselyn Dreeszen Bowman, a doctoral candidate at the University of South Carolina, said they started their career working on French Google Maps and pivoted in the direction of corporate tech life before they burnt out of that career and moved into a position as an assistant librarian, when they decided to get their master’s degree in library science.

They said their last job was as a public service librarian at a boarding high school, which meant they were in charge of the circulation desk, processing loan requests, creating programming, and more.

(Lefti) Storm Davis, Luke Yubeta, Spencer Lintonsmith, Jillian Meeker, Brent Scott, Nicole Sheehan, and Kelley Debellis observe the solar eclipse on April 8.

David Abe

Emily Monaco Staff

Dorcas Abe

Jesse Burchill

Liv Dunleavy

Kristel Erguiza

Izabela Gage

Paul Harrington

Dan Lima

Heather Nuttall

Andrea O’Brien

Kyra Tolley Staff

Meghan Spargo

Rachel Tolmach Staff

Marcus Falcão

Kyle Walker

Elizabeth Banks

Gatepost Interview

Robin Kurkomelis

Administrative Assistant to the Dean of Students

By Izabela Gage Staff Writer

What is your academic and professional background?

I have a B.A. in English from the University of Southern Maine (USM), and I am two classes shy of a B.A. in Music from USM. My instrument is the violoncello. I received my master’s degree in human resource management from FSU in 2019. I started as a biology major, but I took a Shakespeare course at USM and changed my major to English and I developed an interest in early women writers and composers. Professionally, while earning my degree, I worked as a university librarian and thought I would utilize my English degree by becoming a music librarian. I then worked at the L.L. Bean flagship store during the summer of my first year at USM. I was lucky that I had numerous opportunities to try out different outdoor activities such as kayaking and fly-fishing and was handpicked to write the retail newsletter and coordinate the seasonal events. When I received my degree, I relocated to Boston and worked in administrative positions at an investment bank, the Boston Symphony, and as an agency recruiter. It was through these positions that I was introduced to human resources and changed my focus, and began to work in that industry. … After taking a break to be an at-home mom for our daughter, I returned to the workforce at FSU in an administrative position for The Gatepost. I left after a year and a half to work for CASA. In the spring of 2015, my family was ready for me to return to the workforce full-time, and since I liked FSU, I applied for the open full-time administrative assistant role in the Dean of Students Office and got the position. I have been here for almost nine years.

What do you enjoy about working in the Dean of Students Office?

so I am trying to be that person who students can go to, ask questions, etcetera.

How do you think your previous roles around campus help you better support students?

All of those roles have been in student affairs and it has been helpful to understand our students and how all of the offices work together and the processes involved. As a result, the transition to the dean’s office was very seamless.

What do you think are some of the largest issues students face? Getting back into social interactions following the isolation many of us felt during the COVID-19 pandemic. I feel it has become easier to text or email instead of having a face-to-face conversation and it can be hard to make that transition and get used to people again. Many of our students are Gen One, and like me, juggle both academics and how to pay for school, so they are working one or more jobs, or have to put academics on the back burner. I was that student, and it took me almost nine years to complete my undergraduate degree, and I understand the challenges they face and I work hard to assist them to find the resources they need.

on campus?” Overwhelmingly, students have smiled and said things like, “It will be OK,” “Get engaged,” and “I didn’t know I would like [college] so much.” I echo that feedback and share that, yes, it is OK to feel nervous and have a learning curve. It is good to recognize those feelings and learn how to navigate them and realize it is a process. I also encourage students to take care of their well-being, meet lots of people, attend everything they can, study hard, get help when they need it, and realize that faculty and staff are here to help you succeed and celebrate you! Finally, don’t forget the support that brought you here.

What are your interests?

My job title is administrative assistant to the dean of students, and part of that role is receptionist for the office. I always say that all of your jobs have transferable skills, so it is important to do the best job you can at whatever you are doing - you never know where it will lead you. Being a librarian and working in retail, you become used to greeting people and asking questions about how you can be helpful - that’s what I do now. I want to be helpful to students and a resource for people who have questions and don’t know where to go, or how to navigate work or school. I always wished I had a “Robin” when I went to school,

What is some advice you have for students?

I always ask my student workers after they have worked for me for a few weeks, “What advice would you have given your first-year, first-day self when you arrived

I love art, especially Gustav Klimt, Elliott Puckette, and Charles Rennie Mackintosh and I enjoy learning more about local artists. One of the things I learned was that I love hiking and in 1991, I was one of two L.L. Bean women to summit Mt. Katahdin in the winter and then returned that summer to Baxter State Park to complete the last 100 miles of the Appalachian Trail. My genuine love, however, is biking. I have completed numerous trips up and down the coast of Maine and Massachusetts. Even with all of my outdoor interests, I love city living and on my bucket list is to bike and hike in the Netherlands, live in a boathouse, and learn to play the viola.

SGA revises constitution

By Kaitlin Carman News Editor

SGA approved changes to its constitution and addressed what they deemed to be inappropriate behavior at Drag Bingo during their April 9 meeting.

Vice President Raffi Elkhoury said, “I was deeply upset by the incident that I’ve heard occurred as the FSAB Drag Show - unacceptable and inappropriate behavior occurred and we do not stand for it.”

FSAB President Ben Hurney said, “I want to express sympathy to anyone who was uncomfortable and to clarify as well that going forward, we are not working with that vendor.”

The drag queens were told to “keep it PG and unfortunately, that didn’t happen,” said Hurney.

In the future, there will be clear communication and a “level of respect” for the students they are performing for, he said.

Hurney reminded students of

resources they can seek in response to the event, including SHAPE, the Counseling Center, off-campus counseling, the Community Standards Office, the Dean of Students, and the 24/7 service line that is partnered with the University, called Advocates - Psychiatric Emergency Services.

Hurney asked that any comments or complaints regarding the event be emailed to FSAB@framingham.edu or the Student Experience and Career Development Office.

The group then turned to address constitutional changes. Elkhoury said the first is that “all active student organizations, excluding the Student Government Association, designate representatives to serve on SGA.”

Second, club representatives will not be voting members, according to Elkhoury.

He said, “It makes sense to put them on the executive branch since the legislative branch consists of the senate and also the voting members of the eBoard.”

Both changes were passed unani-

Weather

Sunday night April 14

A chance of showers between 8pm and 3am.

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45.

Monday April 15

Mostly sunny, with a high near 70. West wind 10 to 15 mph.

Monday night April 16

Mostly clear, with a low around 40. West wind 10 to 15 mph.

Tuesday April 17

Mostly sunny, with a high near 70. West wind 10 to 15 mph.

mously.

The third addition dictates the way in which these club representatives will be appointed. Elkhoury said they

to Sandella’s rewards program.

He said, “When it comes to the stamp cards that they have over at Sandella’s, they only exist for Burritos,

“I do want to point out, it might be interesting as we pursue the idea of having senators for specific roles to maybe have like a senator in each class. But that’s not anything set in stone.”

-

Raffi Elkhoury SGA Vice President

are exempt from SGA election and regulation processes as their appointment is up to each club’s discretion.

The motion passed unanimously.

Club representatives will also be required to attend SGA meetings. Elkhoury said, “SGA as a whole will be meeting biweekly - every other weekbut every other meeting will alternate between being a club representative meeting and regular [meeting].”

It is now the SGA president’s responsibility to provide club representatives with the meeting schedule and inform them of the rules and regulations pertaining to their new roles, according to Elkhoury. The motion passed unanimously.

The final constitution change concerned the removal of class officer positions. Elkhoury said there were no class officers last year, and they have not “done anything” since the COVID-19 pandemic.

The motion passed unanimously.

“I do want to point out, it might be interesting as we pursue the idea of having senators for specific roles to maybe have like a senator in each class. But that’s not anything set in stone,” added Elkhoury.

SGA President Evelyn Campbell said historically, Candidates’ Night has taken place two to four days before election day, giving candidates only a few days to run their campaigns.

Campbell said the changes to the bylaws will “allow candidates, as soon as their campaign is released via email by [the] EXP office and/or their advisor or election chair - whoever emails them - that they can start their campaign, as long as they are following campaign regulations.

“It was a proposed change for time so that candidates have more time to allow [the] student body to know who was running and why,” she added.

The motion passed unanimously.

During the SGA open forum, Senator Cesar Matos addressed limitations

but I don’t see any reason why that can’t be expanded to some of the other items that they have on their menu.”

Matos said he intends on communicating this concern to Sodexo to see if they can increase the number of stamp-earning items.

Senator Raena Doty said the General Education Advisory Board is conducting a survey that, as of Tuesday, will be live for two weeks.

They want “student opinion on the implications of different models that the Advisory Board has been putting together over the last few months. And basically, what those different models will mean and how that will affect student life,” said Doty.

Doty reminded attendees that these changes will not impact currently enrolled students.

Student Trustee Ryan Mikelis discussed the March 27 Board of Trustees meeting.

He said the trustees were “very impressed by us [SGA] as a whole” in regard to their accomplishments on campus this semester.

Mikelis said the trustees are aware that spots are filled for eBoard and that “Jeremy [McDonald will be] stepping into the role of Student Trustee - or at least is expected to” as Mikelis is graduating at the end of the semester.

[Editor’s Note: Ben Hurney is an Illustrations Editor and Raena Doty is an Arts & Features Editor for The Gatepost.]

CONNECT WITH KAITLIN CARMAN kcarman@student.framingham.edu

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

Tuesday night April 18

A chance of showers.

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Wednesday April 19

A chance of showers.

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

Wednesday night April 20

A chance of showers.

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45.

Thursday April 21

Mostly cloudy, with a high near 60.

SGA candidate announcements and positions for AY 2024-25

By Sophia Harris Editor-in-Chief

The Student Government Association (SGA) announced who is running for elections for the 2024-25 academic year at their April 8 meeting.

Evelyn Campbell, a junior honors student majoring in communication arts with a double minor in English and marketing, is seeking reelection as SGA president.

during capital planning projects, and advocated for bus stops at the Salem End Lot.

She added SGA has also worked to create more programs that align with SGA’s diversity and inclusion efforts.

Jeremy McDonald, a junior political science major on the pre-law track, announced his candidacy for student trustee.

expect at FinCom, and what they should do after,” she said.

Liv West, a sophomore, is re-running for Outreach and Events coordinator.

During her candidacy speech she said, “This past year has been a very eye-opening experience, in a good way.

“When I stepped into this role I wanted to create real impactful change,” she said.

“This year acts as our rebuild year and we re-establish what it means to be a part of SGA and our commit-

She said SGA has “had more partnerships with the Center for Inclusive Excellence and affinity groups this year than we’ve had in previous years. We’ve had more initiatives to allow a lot of students to have access to equal resources. We’ve also rebuilt our relationships with our administration to encourage collaboration and prob-

lem-solving.”

During her speech, she said, “We will work to diversify SGA by creating tailored senator positions - for example, a representative from each different college, different demographics, and club representatives.”

“When I came across SGA at the student organization fair I knew this was a place where I could make a difference,” McDonald said.

He said while being part of SGA he found his true passion for being an interface between students and the administration.

From his time spent on the All University Committee, he was allowed to join the strategic planning commit-

tee, which is in charge of developing a plan for the University.

He said, “Here was a place where I could make a difference.

“As the sole student on that body, I made sure that the voices of student government were heard and incor-

She said, “I love being a part of SGA and being able to advocate for other students.

“I like being part of a change that brings people together and I love doing events,” West said.

Raffi Elkhoury, a senior, is running for senator - stepping down from his previous position as vice president.

“SGA has been the biggest part of

my college experience since I came here and I’m excited to keep up the good work,” he said.

Iz Shields, a freshman, is re-running for a senator position.

Shields said they are running because “I really enjoyed it, it really

“This year acts as our rebuild year and we re-establish what it means to be a part of SGA and our commitment to it.”

- Evelyn Campbell SGA President

ment to it. My amazing team and I have learned what works for us and what does not work for us. We’re very excited to see the changes in the fall. I also wanted to create a team that had common goals and actively worked toward them,” she said.

Campbell said that during her presidency, SGA advocated for a ramp during an SGA safety walk which was subsequently installed outside of CASA, was integral in the funding of baby-changing tables across campus in multiple different buildings, advocated for new gym equipment

She said she is currently working with the Black Student Union to “create a space on campus for more affordable haircare products.”

César Matos announced his candidacy for vice president of SGA.

He said he is running for vice president because of his love and admiration for Framingham State.

Matos said, “If you could all just look at me for the person I am, for the human that stands behind this podium today, really just consider me to be your vice president for SGA for next year.”

porated into the most fundamental documents for the direction of this institution,” he said.

McDonald added, “I know that I will have big shoes to fill when Ryan [Mikelis] graduates, but I plan on stepping into that role and advocating for students of this beautiful institution in the same way that I have during my time here.”

Aimee Takouda, a junior sociology major, is re-running for SATF treasurer.

“I want to have workshops to help clubs know exactly what they should

made me feel a lot more connected to the community on campus and I was able to meet a lot of my friends” because of SGA.

Ballots were open April 11 between 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. for election day.

Results will be determined Thursday night and candidates have until Friday April 12 to formally accept.

Gatepost Archives

Evelyn Campbell, Candidate for SGA President

Sophia Harris / THE GATEPOST Iz Shields, Candidate for SGA Senator

Sophia Harris / THE GATEPOST Raffi Elkhoury, Candidate for SGA Senator

Sophia Harris / THE GATEPOST César Matos, Candidate for SGA Vice President

NECHE

Continued from Page 1

These standards outline that a university has a “clearly defined purpose that is appropriate to a higher-learning institution, has assembled and organized those resources to achieve its purpose, is achieving its purpose, and has the ability to achieve its purpose,” according to the handbook.

The accreditation initiative for Framingham State is led by Mark Nicholas, assistant vice president for assessment, accreditation, and strategic planning, and co-chaired by English Professor Alexander Hartwiger.

The visiting team was on Framingham State’s campus from April 7 to the 10th.

At the meeting Enyedi said, “This is the final official session of the Framingham State University comprehensive evaluation visit.”

He said, “The exit report is simply a time for our team to share its general findings with the campus, and it’s not a time for questions or answers.”

Enyedi added, “The team’s formal report will be provided to the institution in approximately six weeks following this visit, and you’ll have the opportunity to review it for any factual errors.”

He said, “In nine weeks following this on-campus visit, FSU will receive the final team report.”

Framingham State will have an opportunity at that time to provide a formal written response to the report, and it will also be shared with the Commission of Higher Education.

In the next semester following this NECHE visit, President Nancy Niemi and Enyedi will meet for approximately 75 minutes with the commission.

Enyedi said they will discuss the self-study, the team’s findings, the institution’s response, and any relevant subsequent events that have impacted the institution.

Following this meeting, Enyedi said, “The commission then deliberates and takes action on the institution’s accreditation status and sets any additional reporting needed on issues related to the nine standards. A notification letter that summarizes the commission’s decision will ultimately be sent to FSU.”

In an interview with The Gatepost Niemi said, “What they said was in line with a lot of the assessment that all of us have done of our institution.”

She added, “The process is almost as important as the end result.”

Standard 1 - Mission and Purpose

Enyedi said FSU meets the standard for mission purposes.

He said, “The team appreciates and commends the anti-racism framework and the numerous initiatives that are underway on campus to achieve this laudable goal.”

Enyedi added the team also “commends the faculty and staff for their commitment to the University and in particular, their support for student success.”

He said, “At yesterday’s open forum sessions, the team heard repeatedly you describe FSU students, that they are earnest, that they are real, talented, resilient, passionate, and extraordinary. Students who all benefit from your passion, your expertise, and your

investment in each of them to ensure they have a bright future.”

Standard 2 - Planning and Evaluation

Enyedi said FSU’s strength is that it has a “strong history of creating strategic plans that include fiscal planning and resource allocation, as well as incorporating input from a variety of constituents that go well beyond the administration and the Board of Trustees.”

He added, “These various strategic plans provide a strong narrative describing the current state of Framingham State and clearly make an argument for why the institution needs to advance in specific areas.”

Enyedi said the concern or opportunity recognized for this standard is FSU “would benefit from strategic plans that include well-defined and measurable metrics, as well as clarity on what success looks like. Developing baseline data and utilizing benchmark information from peer or aspirational institutions will inform the creation and attainment of realistic, quantifiable goals.”

He added that progress toward these goals should be “tracked and communicated to the University community” regularly.

Standard 4 - the Academic Program

Enyedi said the observed strength by the team is, “The portfolio of the undergraduate and graduate programs has been consistent with the institution’s mission and reflects the ample faculty engagement in curriculum development and program implementation.”

He added, “There is broad confidence among the faculty about their role and voice in the area of governance.”

He said the concern or opportunity that was observed by the team “is they feel the programs that do not possess a capstone experience at this time may not provide a well-defined context in which to assess students’ mastery of program learning outcomes.”

Enyedi said, “Access to a capstone or its equivalent is recommended to ensure that a sizable minority of FSU students, who do not currently take a capstone, engage in a culminating experience in which their command of program outcomes is evaluated.”

Standard 5 - Students

Enyedi said the strength that was observed was, “FSU is to be commend

“It was evident that the Student Affairs and Student Success staff have a high level of commitment and passion for holistic student success for the undergraduate students.”

- Alexander Enyedi Chair of Framingham State’s NECHE Visiting Team

Standard 3 - Organization and Governance

The strength the team observed is FSU has a “strong tradition of shared governance, which is evident in its contracts, its practices, and the collegiality among the faculty, staff, and administration,” Enyedi said.

He said, “The collective bargaining agreements, minutes from committee meetings, and the Department of Higher Education’s guidance on the actions of the Board of Trustees make it abundantly clear that shared governance is a core ethic of the University and certainly in public higher education in Massachusetts.”

Enyedi said, “Conversations with students, faculty and staff and administrative leadership confirmed that Framingham not only fosters shared governance, but also routinely reflects upon their processes, seeking opportunities for improvement and implementing changes when warranted.”

He said, “There is a pervasive sense of collegiality such that even when concerns about the process were expressed, there were also suggested pathways to finding solutions at Framingham State.”

He added, “There is a strong commitment to serving students from all backgrounds, and faculty and staff expressed a deep admiration for the talent and grit of those who are serving today.”

well-being of their students is palpable. And it’s observed in the casual interactions among faculty and students within the common areas of the McCarthy Center and in interviews in which both students and faculty were present, and how they speak about each other in forums that were separate from the faculty, staff, and student groups.”

Enyedi said, “There is an observed mutual respect and meaningful relationship among the students and the faculty academic staff matching the sentiments the team heard and interviews with a wide array of administrators, faculty, staff, and students. With good reason, the collaboration and learning across the institution is a point of pride for Framingham State University.”

The concern and opportunity the team observed is that “there are inconsistencies in the faculty and academic staff policies identified by the Division of Continuing Graduate Education,” Enyedi said.

Standard 7 - Institutional Resources

Enyedi said Framingham’s strength is the “ transparency in the budget process that is fully welcomed by the campus community.”

The concern and opportunity that was found by the team was “the apparent reliance on continual or continued increases in the state appropriation and that these may be overstated,” he said.

Enyedi added, “It will be imperative that the university closely monitor projected enrollment goals to fully stabilize its budget and reduce the utilization of funds reserves for balancing future budgets.”

ed on the deployment of cross-functional work groups to develop a new strategic enrollment management plan.”

Enyedi added, “This plan and input from all stakeholders in its development.”

The concern and opportunity that was noticed by the team is that “a deeper understanding of the retention initiative, targeted student recruitment groups and success metrics associated with the plan will need to be further articulated.”

Enyedi added, “It was evident that the Student Affairs and Student Success staff have a high level of commitment and passion for holistic student success for the undergraduate students.”

“The student assistant team is a perfect example of an integrated approach to supporting the whole student in a collaborative endeavor. As the institution looks to the future, there will need to be continued focus on the intentional integration of services and support for all students. That includes your graduate students, international students, and your online learners,” Enyedi said.

Standard 6 - Teaching, Learning, and Scholarship

Enyedi said the strength the team observed is “the faculty and academic staff at FSU are markedly dedicated to student success. Their enthusiasm and attention to the education and

Standard 8 - Educational Effectiveness

Enyedi said the strength of this standard observed by the team is FSU’s “general education assessment work, including FSU and value of critical thinking assessment projects, and the redesign of the general education program to explicitly link the general education program learning objectives to the general education curriculum.”

He said the concern or the area for improvement the team found was that “all academic degree programs, including international graduate programs, should be included on the program review and assessment cycles and for programs to clearly document the changes that have occurred because of the assessment process.”

Standard 9 - Integrity, Transparency, and Public Disclosure

The strength that was observed by the team is “FSU’s internal audit of the website, which led to the ongoing website redesign project and public disclosure of the institutional and programmatic assessment,” Enyedi said.

He said an area for improvement is for the FSU website “to include information on loan default and repayment rates, licensure, exam pass rates, instructional and international locations, and the programs or courses that are not available in a given year.”

OP/ED

THE GATEPOST EDITORIAL

We need more ‘FaceTime’

The 2024 total solar eclipse passed Framingham State on Monday, April 8 with approximately 93% coverage.

In the moments preceding and following the peak of the eclipse, the college saw a huge number of students, faculty, and even staff stop what they were doing to gather outside on the lawns of May, Crocker, and Dwight halls.

The sense of community was palpable, as hundreds came to celebrate the rare lunar phenomenon together.

And while it was an amazing experience, there’s still one question we can’t get off our minds at The Gatepost:

“Why on Earth don’t we spend more time together like that?”

In a period where interconnectedness is at its peak, with communication devices in our hands at all times preloaded with multiple ways to communicate with people from all over the world…

Why do community events like the eclipse viewing feel so rare - and why do we feel more lonely than ever?

It is largely because of the amount of time we spend on our phones and other devices.

According to an article published by WJAR, a RI-based news station and an NBC Television affiliate, the “average American spends 4 hours and 37 minutes staring at their phone every day. That adds up to one day a week and eventually 12 years of our lives spent staring at our phones.

“The average Gen Z survey respondent said they spend 6 hours and 5 minutes a day on their smartphone,” according to the same article.

Subsequently, technology has rapidly heightened people’s feelings of loneliness, with one study cited in a report finding, “People who used social media for two hours or more daily were more than twice as likely to report feeling socially isolated than those who were on such apps for less than 30 minutes a day,” according to an article published by CBS News.

So what does this mean for us, when social media apps such as TikTok create precise algorithms to match our particular interests and needs?

It means learning to resist our phones, and to make time for the real world.

Screen time can be a literal addiction. And like any addiction, it isn’t easy to quit - especially not all at once.

Try setting up a screen time limiter on your

device to keep you from scrolling for hours. Even if the amount you set isn’t restricting a significant amount of time, the guilt of adding an extra 15 minutes might help you more than you’d expect.

Avoid using your phone before bed, especially short-form video content, as it can keep you glued to your device when you should be winding down.

Instead of using Instagram for 30 minutes before bed, try listening to a podcast, or playing white noise on your phone. This can give you the stimulation of your phone without it having 100% of your attention.

And finally, remember it’s always easier to quit something when you have something else lined up to take its place. Try drawing instead, or head to the athletic center. No matter what, you’ll feel more accomplished doing anything other than spending a few hours on TikTok.

Put your phone down and start interacting with people in person!

Face-to-face interactions, even if brief, will make you feel more connected to your community over time.

Think about the eclipse. Although there were plenty of phones out during that time, it was nice that we were all outside together. The most important part is the fact we shared a moment that some of us will never see in our lives again.

And we were able to share that as a university.

But these shared interactions don’t always have to be because of momentous events like the eclipse. It could be talking about current events while waiting in the Dunkin’ Donuts line or attending a schoolwide event like Sandbox on May 3!

However you choose to interact with your community, try to do it without looking at your phone - even if it is just for five minutes.

The sun is coming out and the temperature is finally starting to rise. Maybe take a walk around campus with some friends and count how many budding flowers you can find - or play a game of pick-up frisbee on Larned Beach.

Try to get some “FaceTime” with your peers this last month of the 2023- 24 academic year. Try something new, play outside, or just take a walk.

It doesn’t really matter what you decide to do - just don’t keep adding to those 12 years of your life spent looking at your phone. We only have a month left of the semester. Make these college moments count!

Have an opinion? Feel free to email it to: gatepost@framingham.edu

Opinions should be about 500 words. Anyone can submit. We look forward to hearing from you! The

‘Love & War in Your Twenties’

By Sophia Oppedisano Editorial Staff

Everyone wishes they could be a 20-something again.

The thing is, you spend every second of your 20s wishing to grow up. It’s a perpetual cliché we hear from any adult that thinks we’re willing to listen - “Oh, it’ll go by so fast! Don’t take it for granted.”

The idea that these are the “glory days’’ is highly overwhelming and, at times, suffocating. Odds are that if you’re reading this, you are enmeshed in the cyclical nature of the day-to-day structure of college living.

Not to mention, the world is awfully scary right now. It’s easy to settle, to cringe away from the doubts that are raised by stepping out of your comfort zone.

I’ll be the first to tell you, I love being comfy. A cup of tea and a book are among my favorite ways to spend my time. However, I have found that my happiness is often derived from disrupting that comfort.

When I discovered this, I started playing into my urge to be spontaneous. I surrounded myself with people who had seen more of this world than I have and asked them all the questions I could think of.

And it took some time, but I got to this point where I understood that I did not want to take my life for granted.

So I took matters into my own hands.

I got a passport and went to France. I took a highly spontaneous 14-hour road trip to North Carolina alone. I salsa danced with strangers on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. I ran around the Dominican Republic learning Spanish on the fly and looking at the most beautiful landscapes I’ve ever seen.

Each experience marks a memory, a story that is unique to me, something that tethered my soul to a feeling of exhilaration.

Even after all of that, I recently embarked on my favorite adventure - the one that taught me that this world is more vast than I could ever conceive it to be - an impulsive East Coast road trip with my best friends.

We vaguely told our parents our plans, packed our stuff in my car, and left.

Just because we could.

There are moments from each place that spark warmth in my chest when I recall them.

Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day at a house party in Hightstown, New Jersey, singing karaoke and sitting on the front steps with my best friend while the party continued on in the house. We learned more about each other than I ever thought possible.

Throwing darts in a dingy college bar in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. I hit my first bullseye to win the game while my favorite Zach Bryan song played.

Frolicking around Broadway in Nashville, Tennessee, drinking too much Corona and watching March Madness over nachos and slow dancing to a crooning live version of “Tennessee Whiskey” in a bar with the man I love.

Driving through the Appalachian Mountains on our way to Washington D.C., eating protein bars and playing question games to pass the time while the scenery rushed by around us.

I pondered how I had finally found souls kindred to mine.

Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t all perfect. We cried, we fought, we were tired and cranky and sometimes the car felt awfully small. But none of us would change a thing if we could go back and do it again.

So, why am I telling you this?

This isn’t supposed to be easy. Not every day is going to feel like one of your “glory days.” We all want to be happy, to feel appreciated, to feel excitement and know love.

I couldn’t imagine my life without the other two members of my golden trio I took this trip with, but I won’t lie, it took me a long time to find them.

Being in your 20s is difficult, it is taxing, and it almost always feels unrewarding.

But I am urging you to take a deep breath and look around you. Happiness and fulfillment live within you. You will find your passions, your people, and your purpose.

Ask questions, think big, get in the car, and drive. You will find that the world is big enough for you to find your place even when you think you never will.

Besides, more often than not, love and joy always find you when you aren’t looking.

A letter from the Editor-in-Chief to the FSU community and the NECHE accreditation team:

For the past year, I have been reporting on the progress of Framingham State’s reaccreditation by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).

This process happens every 10 years when a group of evaluators comes from across New England to visit an institution and assess what it, as a university, is doing correctly and what it could improve in the future.

Accreditation is a process all universities must undergo in order for students to receive federal financial aid.

For Framingham State, this year is the year.

Throughout this past year, I have written many articles updating the community on the progress of the reaccreditation process.

The articles that I have written include “Framingham State’s 10-year accreditation review scheduled for 2024,” published on October 28, 2022; “Accreditation committee preparing to compile report,” published on May 5, 2023; and “NECHE team preparing for visiting accreditors” published on January 26, 2024.

Eight evaluators from universities across New England arrived on Sunday, April 7 to enjoy dinner in the McCarthy Center Forum and start their three-day visit.

I was one of two students invited to attend the dinner in my role as Editor-in-Chief and undoubtedly because I have gotten to know the chairs of FSU’s accreditation team fairly well over the course of so many interviews.

I introduced myself to each of the eight accreditors and said to some that I was excited to report on the upcoming open forums on behalf of staff, faculty, and students.

An open forum for staff members was held on April 9 from 10:00 a.m. to 10:50 a.m. in the McCarthy Center Forum, which a reporter from The Gatepost attended in person, although a Zoom link was also provided.

An open forum for faculty members was held on April 9 from 1:00 p.m. to 1:50 p.m. in the McCarthy Center Forum, for which a Zoom link was also provided.

An open forum for students was held on April 9 from 2:00 p.m. to 2:50 p.m. in the McCarthy Center Forum, and again, a Zoom link was provided. These meetings were set up in order for members of the community to voice their opinions on what is going well at Framingham State and what the institution could do better.

Not only was I told verbally I would be able to attend these meetings, but also the meeting details for the open forums were sent to The Gatepost email inbox by Academic Affairs on April 4 at 10:03 a.m. and April 8 at 7:02 a.m.

The Gatepost was sent the same email all faculty and staff at Framingham State received, with the subject line, “Open forum with the visiting NECHE team.”

The email stated, “There has been incredible campus involvement thus far in the self-study process, and we encourage your continued participation by attending the relevant open forum session and lend your voice to

the discussion of becoming a stronger institution.”

The purpose of my letter is to address the claims that have been made about The Gatepost’s attendance at the open forums.

When I arrived at the faculty meeting - after receiving two invitations by email and being told I would be able to attend - I was blocked at the door from entering the room by the campus NECHE co-chairs due to a last-minute decision.

The administration had 10 years to plan out the intricacies of these meetings. With a timeline like this, how can any decision be made at the last minute?

Because I had the Zoom link to the meeting, which was included in both of the emails I was sent, I went to my office and joined the meeting online because as a journalist, I believed I had a right to report on these meetings as they were open forums with a significant level of attendance concerning the reaccreditation of a public university.

I joined the meeting through The Gatepost Zoom account so it would be clearly visible that a student journalist was in attendance.

Later in the day, an administrator sent an email to the faculty who attended the open forum informing them that I had been in attendance and recorded the meeting for factual accuracy in my reporting.

Following this email, a faculty uproar ensued, even though nothing controversial or surprising was said during the meeting.

This situation arose because of inadequate planning, last-minute

decision-making, and poor communication - not because The Gatepost engaged in clandestine behavior, as some seem to believe.

I understand that some faculty were upset when they learned the meeting was attended by a journalist and recorded because of what they were told about the nature of the meeting.

I am as frustrated and upset as they are.

I am not responsible for the miscommunication and series of missteps that occurred. However, out of respect for the faculty and staff, I am choosing not to use any of the information from the staff, faculty, or student open forums my staff and I gathered in the reporting on the NECHE visit this week, even though this means my coverage of one of the most important events at Framingham State this year will be considerably abbreviated.

I made this decision even though I have been assured by the Student Press Law Center that I have a right to use this material in my reporting because there can be no reasonable expectation of privacy at large public meetings.

The irony of this situation is that during the faculty forum, professors conveyed that FSU’s greatest strength is its respect and love for students. If I had reported anything from the faculty meeting, it would have been that the professors in attendance claimed this is a core value of theirs.

Faculty vitriol in response to this episode, including from some who were in attendance at this very faculty forum, would sadly seem to indicate this is not always the case.

Sophia Harris, Editor-in-Chief

SPORTS

Ally Moran ‘circles’ career milestones

By Sophia Oppedisano Asst. Sports Editor

Framingham State softball pitcher

Ally Moran is making her mark in the circle this season, becoming the winningest pitcher in softball program history April 2.

Moran, a senior, is in her final season pitching for the program and recorded her 53rd win against Bridgewater State, shattering the previous record of 52 wins by alumna Kelsi Gunarathne ’19.

She recorded her 55th win with a 9-1 victory over Massachusetts Maritime Academy April 7.

Moran said the record was not on her radar until she recorded her 50th win in Florida March 19.

“When we were in Florida and I got the 50th win, my dad said to me, ‘You know, if you get three more wins, you can do something pretty cool - you’re breaking a record,’” she said.

Moran is one of the two full-time members of the pitching staff for Framingham this season along with senior Caroline Hughes.

After recording 10 wins already this season, Moran noted the work that goes in between games.

“We’re going to be pitching - whether it’s light or working on certain spins - working on stamina, we’re throwing most days. … That’s definitely what

contributes most to how we perform in games,” she said.

Originally from Wilmington, Moran is no stranger to the effort of this kind of pitching regimen.

“I think out of my four years in high school, I pitched in every game,” she said.

During her senior season, Moran met Head Coach Larry Miller and attended a clinic at Framingham State.

“I was deciding between a couple of schools, but I think I always knew in the back of my head that I wanted to come here just because I really liked the coaching staff and I really liked the school. I think that was what led me here,” she said.

Miller said, “Ally is a true competitor - she has developed into a truly well-rounded college pitcher. She’s a team player who is always up to take the ball, and her stats over her four seasons are starting to show it.”

Since arriving at Framingham, Moran has appeared in 91 games and boasts career stats of a 1.99 ERA, 343 strikeouts, and a WHIP of 1.18.

She has also appeared as the starting and winning pitcher in the most recent MASCAC Tournament Championship game wins for the program in 2022 and 2023.

The team’s early success this season is guiding them in the direction of their third consecutive MASCAC Championship appearance, where Mo-

ran hopes to secure the three-peat.

“It’s a lot of fun and it’s also very nerve-wracking. Every year, it’s nerve-wracking no matter what we look like going into it, but it is a lot of fun, and I definitely enjoy it,” she said.

Moran said while the ultimate goal is the championship, she wants her last year with the program to be about having fun with the team.

She said she admires her teammates’ genuine camaraderie and love for the game.

“We were very successful at winning in the past and that’s not really what it’s all about. It’s about loving your teammates and loving being at practice and doing what you’re doing,” she said.

As of press time, Moran has recorded 55 wins and is on the precipice of shattering yet another record for career appearances. The current record for appearances (99) is held by Gunarathne ’19. Moran has made 91 appearances and with 18 regular-season games remaining in the season, she is on track to set another record and reach the milestone of 100 career appearances.

“She’s had a wonderful career - she will go down as one of the most successful pitchers in program history and her impact on our program will be missed when she graduates this spring,” Miller said.

Stats sourced from fsurams.com and MASCAC.com

CONNECT WITH SOPHIA OPPEDISANO

soppedisano@student.framingham.edu

Coach Miller hits coaching milestone as softball shines

By Adam Levine Sports Editor

Framingham State softball improved their overall record to 10-10 after dominating four MASCAC matchups, but dropped two games to Babson.

The Rams rose to first in the MASCAC standings after handedly sweeping conference opponents Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) and Massachusetts Maritime Academy April 6 and 7, respectively.

Framingham’s 9-1 five-inning mercy victory over Mass. Maritime, the first in their doubleheader, marked Larry Miller’s 200th win as head coach of the FSU softball program. He is only the third head coach across all FSU sports to reach this milestone.

“Milestones are great! They are an opportunity to reflect and celebrate the positives of the journey through my time here. We’ve had a lot of great moments as a program in those 200 victories, so thinking back to some of those has been nice,” Miller said. He said he often talks about how there will always be a winner and a loser. “Winning isn’t everything and it doesn’t define you, but we strive to be a program that wants to be driven by winning - we want to be a championship-caliber program every year and that mindset and hard work and dedication from our student-athletes results in milestones like this one.”

Miller said the people - his coaching staff and athletes - have most contributed to this milestone.

He said, “One of the best pieces of advice I received early on in my career is to surround yourself with good people. Our campus and athletic administration are very supportive of our program and have been present at many of our big days.

“I am super fortunate to have had a tremendous coaching staff through the years with a lot of consistency in that -

they really help balance me out,” Miller added jokingly.

He said, “But at the end of the day, it’s the athletes. The students who come here for the opportunity to pursue their degree and play the sport they love buy in and commit to the level of expectation and commitment to the game and program that we ask of them and go out and excel on the field.

“I’ve been blessed to work with many incredible softball players, but some even better people in my 10 years here, and I’m excited to see what this team and then the next generation of Rams has in store!” Miller added.

Miller’s coaching milestone only emphasizes the team’s overall success this season.

During their four-game stretch of MASCAC matchups, the Rams beat MCLA and Mass. Maritime in four consecutive five-inning mercy victories.

Shortstop Brooke Grassia led the Rams’ commanding offense during their four-game win streak over the weekend. She recorded seven hits on 14 at bats, which included seven RBIs. This earned her MASCAC Player of the Week April 8.

Grassia said being named MASCAC Player of the Week is “awesome,” but the most important part of the week was improving the team’s MASCAC record to 5-1.

“It’s cool, but it’s more fun to come home with some wins with my teammates,” she said.

Catcher Eliza Carignan, a freshman, earned MASCAC Rookie of the Week April 8 and joins outfielder Marina Cadena as the two Rams to receive the honor this season.

Carignan said the honor is “exciting” after batting only one-for-six the previous week in Framingham’s doubleheader against Bridgewater State.

Third baseman Makayla Rooney said the team’s success this weekend came from being productive in their at bats and coming together as a team to make the right plays.

Most recently, the Rams dropped both games in their doubleheader against Babson College, a top-ranked Division III team in New England, April 9.

Framingham travels to Worcester April 13 and Salem April 15 for two more MASCAC doubleheaders.

Rooney said playing against Babson helped prepare the team for their upcoming conference matchups. “I think we’re ready.”

Grassia said, “It’s a good time of the season - it’s right in the middle. We’re doing our thing, everyone’s doing their thing, and they’ll be good games.”

Stats sourced from fsurams.com and MASCAC.com

CONNECT WITH ADAM LEVINE

alevine5@student.framingham.edu

Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST

Gwendolyn Carpenter at bat during game against Babson.

Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST Ally Moran pitching during game against Babson.

Hannah Guerin claims two lacrosse program records

By Izabela Gage Staff Writer

Women’s lacrosse senior attacker Hannah Guerin broke two program records this season.

In the game against Keene State College March 20, she broke the program record for career points at 289. While competing against Salem State University April 6, she scored five goals, which helped break the program record for career goals at 211.

Guerin said, “My teammates and coaches are the reason breaking the records was possible. I am so thankful to have been a part of such a supportive, motivating, and hardworking program these past four years.

“The accomplishments I have made throughout my career at Framingham are a direct result of our team’s constant hard work and dedication - not only to the game, but to each other. Our ability to push each other in practice and constantly support one another on and off the field is what makes us successful,” she added.

Guerin’s success as a Ram began during her rookie year. She has an 82.8% shots-on-goal average throughout her career, with an improved 86.6% average for this season. With these averages, she has been able to tally 316 career points and 215 career goals, and the season is not over yet.

She has been named the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Con-

ference (MASCAC) Women’s Lacrosse Player of the Week three times this season and earned a spot on the Offensive Women’s Lacrosse Weekly Honor Roll April 8.

Guerin took the title of MASCAC Offensive Point Leader her sophomore and junior years. She took second place in her freshman year, falling short by just five points. She is at the top of the conference this season with an ongoing 80 points.

Guerin earned 2022 MASCAC Offensive Player of the Year and was named to the 2022 and 2023 MASCAC All-Conference First Teams.

She said she feels “unbelievably lucky to have been a part of this program for the past four years.

“Being able to leave as a program record holder is definitely special to me, but the teammates and coaches I have had along the way will be what I remember first when I look back on my time at Framingham. I know it wouldn’t have been possible without them. The culture we have as a team and as a program is truly special,” Guerin added.

Head Women’s Lacrosse Coach Casey Bradley ’20 said, “Guerin has such a passion for the game of lacrosse. When she’s on the field, it almost looks like it comes so easy to her.”

Bradley said she does not think Guerin pays attention to records or points. “She just goes out there and plays her game. She plays with con-

fidence and believes in herself and it leads to her success.”

Guerin graduates this year and leaves the Rams as an inspiration for all of the women’s lacrosse players behind her.

Bradley said, “Guerin’s record-breaking career will inspire her teammates and future Rams who may not have the chance to play with her, but will certainly know her name.

“Guerin producing this way at this level shows young women what you can do with hard work and your love for the game,” she added.

Guerin believes that her entire senior class will “leave an influential mark on this program” and they are “all so proud to have been a part of it.”

As a graduating senior reflecting on her record-breaking career at FSU,

Guerin said, “I hope to leave Framingham as a positive role model, not only for the people I have played with, but also for the players that come after.”

Guerin advises future Rams to “work hard, have so much fun, and never take a second for granted.

“It truly is an experience of a lifetime,” she added.

“I will forever be grateful to have been a part of something so extraordinary, and I can’t wait to watch the program continue to grow and succeed,” Guerin said.

Women’s lacrosse continues to win

By Adam Levine Sports Editor

Framingham’s women’s lacrosse team powered through another week of games, beating the Salem State Vikings, a MASCAC opponent, 19-1 on April 6, and the Eastern Connecticut State Warriors 22-5 on April 10.

They now hold a conference record of 3-0 and an overall record of 10-2 and extended their win streak to 10.

The Rams’ dominance is well-rounded, with three record-breaking performances and countless players quickly rising in the program’s leaderboards.

Framingham handedly defeated Salem 19-1 on April 6 with standout performances from a half-dozen players.

During senior Captain Regan Fein’s

highly anticipated return after five games off the field, she assisted on three goals.

Senior Julianna Guzi and junior Hailey Baker each recorded a game high of four assists, which was Baker’s season high. Guzi’s and Baker’s recent performances moved them up to third and fourth, respectively, in the MASCAC ranking for assists.

Junior Molly Lanier shot a perfect 100% for the first time this season, pocketing all four of her shots.

Rounding out Framingham’s victory over the Vikings were senior Hannah Guerin’s and junior Captain Leah Green’s performances, recording five goals and one assist and six goals and one assist, respectively.

The Rams’ goalkeeper, Bella Di-

Mare, earned MASCAC Defensive Player of the Week April 8 for her performances in the 19-0 shutout win over UMass Boston and the 19-1 win over Salem State.

Green led the Rams to an impressive 17-point victory over the Warriors April 10 with one assist and a record-breaking nine goals in one game.

Framingham led 10-4 until Eastern Connecticut cut the Rams’ lead to five halfway through the second quarter. This was the final time the Warriors scored before the Rams closed out the game with a 12-0 scoring run.

Green scored five goals in the first half of the game and propelled Framingham to an early 10-point lead.

She then scored the first goal of the third quarter in the first 3 minutes. This tied her personal best of six goals in a single game.

Teammate and fellow attacker Hannah Guerin assisted Green for her seventh goal of the game, breaking her personal record three minutes later.

The Rams led 17-5 and began to draw the shot clock out and slow down the pace of the game.

Despite their slower pace, Green scored a third consecutive goal and tied the program record for most goals scored in a game with eight. Her teammates celebrated with her on the bench when they recognized her personal accomplishment.

In the closing minutes of the game, Green finished her historic performance with the last goal of the victory and wrote her name in the program’s record books with the most goals scored by an individual in a game.

In the end, Green said it is an exciting accomplishment, but “it was an awesome team win. I was assisted by really awesome teammates, so I really couldn’t have done it without them.”

Senior Rachel Erickson scored three goals and assisted on three others during Framingham’s win against Eastern Connecticut, marking a season high for assists. Her performance moved her to fifth in the program’s career leaders for goals.

“It’s good, but it’s all my teammates. It’s a team effort,” Erickson said.

Her consistent impact on the Rams’ offense has been a huge factor in their current 10-game win streak.

She said, “Believing in ourselves and knowing what we’re capable of is taking us to new heights, and I’m excited to see where else we’re going to go this season. I feel like we all have confidence in each other, and that’s huge for us.”

The Rams host Connecticut College for a non-conference matchup April 13 before finishing the season with their final three MASCAC matchups - Bridgewater State, Worcester State, and Westfield State.

Senior Captain Brooke Phelps said the team is confident going into the final stretch of the season, and each win so far has continued to build onto that.

Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST

Rachel Erickson setting up for a draw control during 22-5 victory over Eastern Connecticut April 10.

Izabela Gage / THE GATEPOST

Hannah Guerin picking up a ground ball during 22-5 victory over Eastern Connecticut April 10.

Women’s track and field sprints to success

By Riley Crowell Asst. Sports Editor

The Framingham State Rams placed fourth at the Regis Spring Classic at Regis College April 8.

This fourth-place finish marked the highest placement for the Rams this season, following a tenth-place finish at the Corsair Classic March 30, and a ninth-place finish at the Springfield College Classic April 6.

Framingham’s women’s track and field team has a new look this season, returning only eight members from the 2023 roster and promoting former Assistant Coach Mark Johnson to head coach.

Johnson said, “We’ve made a number of adjustments to our day-to-day training - everything from our dynamic warm-up routine when we start practice, to the depth of workouts we’re doing throughout the week.”

Johnson noted this year, he’s aiming to take a more individualized approach to training.

“Not all runners, jumpers, and throwers are the same, so making things more tailored to each athlete has been a main focus,” he said.

Junior Alyssa Caputo, who has been with the team since her freshman year, detailed the impact Johnson has had on her and the rest of the team.

Caputo said, “I’ve had a great connection with Mark, and if you meet him, you can tell how much he cares about his athletes. He has brought the girls on the team closer together and prioritizes each athlete’s mental health.

“I think having Mark as our head coach has instilled more confidence in the girls on the team. Because of and hard work, the letes on our team keep get better ter as pro added.

Capu the MASCAC four different javelin, discus mer throw.

Caputo in her events spite injury in the way. son, I have get stronger the new big focus keeping best shape care of my

She Athtine

ing her healthy and able to compete.

Caputo said, “I have the best trainer in the world, Kristine, who has been working with me every day to improve my strength and keep my pain to as minimal as possible. I personally love Kristine and I admire the way she cares about her athletes.

“I would say my focus leading up to the championship would be to continue doing treatment with Kristine to make sure my body is prepared to perform my best,” she added.

The Rams have been shining this track and field season, with a large number of athletes turning in impressive performances.

“Through three meets, we’ve had 13 athletes qualify for the MASCAC championship, 17 athletes perform career personal bests in an event, and have seen 4 of our school records fall,” Johnson said.

Freshman Jamie Moniz has broken FSU records in high jump, triple jump, and the 400-meter run.

Her recent success earned her MASCAC Rookie of the Week April 8.

Moniz said she was surprised to earn this honor.

“Coming into freshman year has been an adjustment, especially playing two sports. I think upping my training and lifting has gotten me to where I’m at!”

Junior Megan McAuliffe, a newcomer to FSU track and field, has made an immediate impact on the team, becoming the first high jumper in school history and qualifying for the MASCAC championship in high jump.

McAuliffe, a track and field athlete in high school, described her mixed emotions about deciding to start competing in track and field again. “I was super nervous about making friends and not being as fast or jumping as high as I used to, but I’ve learned to not be so hard on myself and just enjoy the sport that I missed.

“That’s been so much easier being surrounded by such great, supportive teammates,” she added.

Framingham, underrated by their peers, has used that as motivation to improve and succeed this season.

Johnson said, “Looking at the MASCAC coming into this season, the preseason poll had our team ranked fifth out of six, so all season, we’ve had that on our whiteboard.”

Among the personal achievements and consistently improving team placements, the track and field team is feeling confident going into the rest of the season.

“I have a good feeling championship this year all the talent we have team, I think we can well,” Caputo said.

Johnson said, “We strong and dedicated we’re looking forward tunity to turn some 26th at the conference onship, and show ev who the FSU Rams

McAuliffe said, “The FSU com should be on for lots of from the field team. with more and more records broken.

“Any one of these girls is willing to give it their all and I think big things are coming with that energy,” she added.

Softball

Adam Levine / THE GATEPOST Kelsey Gendreau running during 2023 season.

Emily Monaco / THE GATEPOST

Emily Monaco / THE GATEPOST

ARTS & FEATURES

A once-in-a-lifetime experience - shared together

By Francisco Omar Fernandez Rodriguez Asst. Arts & Features Editor

This past Monday, hundreds of students gathered outside Framingham State, eclipse glasses in tow, to experience a once-in-a-lifetime event together.

A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the Earth and the sun. The moon obscures the view of the sun either totally or partially if at all depending on where you are on Earth.

Solar eclipses are rare events, especially for a specific area. The contiguous United States won’t see another total solar eclipse until 2044, though Alaska will witness one in 2033. The next one at all is in 2026, visible in certain parts of Europe and Greenland. Being able to see any kind of solar eclipse is a significant and memorable experience.

The solar eclipse’s path of totality is where the moon completely blocks the sun. The sky becomes dark, as though it’s dusk or dawn. During the April 8 eclipse, this path stretched across North America, from Mexico, through the United States, and up to Canada.

However, Massachusetts was not on the path of totality, so what Framingham State University witnessed was technically a partial eclipse. This is when the moon blocks some or most of the sun, but not all of it. Due to Massachusetts being relatively close to the path of totality, the moon covered almost all of the sun here.

Because of how rare total solar eclipses are, many people traveled to states on the path of totality. However, even a partial eclipse is an uncommon sight to behold - but it must be done safely.

In order to look at a solar eclipse, it’s safest to wear special glasses designed specifically for solar eclipse viewing. As always, looking at the sun without sufficient protection for your eyes can cause permanent eye damage. The sun’s rays can burn retinas, which can cause impairment of vision. Even with the glasses, one shouldn’t stare at the eclipse for too long. Cameras can also be damaged without proper sun protection.

These solar eclipse glasses were handed out by the Christa McAuliffe Center in the McCarthy Center Lobby on the day of the eclipse, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., as well as general safety information about viewing the eclipse.

The Christa McAuliffe Center provided a safe viewing of the solar eclipse on the lawn in front of May Hall from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Safety glasses were available at the event as well.

Many students and faculty gathered on the lawn, either sitting on

the grass and blankets or standing. The sky was somewhat cloudy, but it didn’t cover the eclipse.

There also were sunspotters, devices that projected the eclipse onto a sheet of paper. This allowed people to view the eclipse without looking at the actual sun.

At the event was the Planetarium and Media Technology Manager of the Christa McAuliffe Center Ross Barros-Smith. He was letting people use his Cassegrain telescope - set up with a full aperture solar filter - to safely look at the eclipse.

He explained, “This drastically cuts down on the amount of light passing through the telescope, which makes it safe for us to use with just our eyes.”

Barros-Smith said viewing the solar eclipse was a mutually fun event for everyone. He added, “People who

wouldn’t “put it in terms of difficulty.” He said the primary feeling was “one of enjoyment.”

Cesar Matos, program facilitator and team mentor for the PTM program at the Christa McAuliffe Center, said, “A lot of planning went into today’s event.”

Matos said, “The eclipse was amazing. Frankly it changed everything around us.”

President Nancy Niemi was at the viewing as well. She said holding this event was important because it brought people together.

She said, “We’re celebrating something that we can all share. I wish we could do this every week.”

She said she finds the eclipse fascinating, but she doesn’t know much about it. She added “That’s why we have such a wonderful planetarium

“People who rarely look up at the sky are gaining a communal experience by sharing what is a fairly rare astronomical phenomenon together.”

- Ross Barros-Smith Planetarium and Media Technology Manager of the Christa McAuliffe Center

rarely look up at the sky are gaining a communal experience by sharing what is a fairly rare astronomical phenomenon together.”

When asked if the event was difficult to put together, he said he

of folks who do know. … So we all get a little more interested and a little more educated about astronomy.

“I hope everybody remembers what they were doing today - remembers this community and how much they

enjoyed it,” Niemi said.

University Police Community Resource Officer Andrew Frimpong, said, “This was an absolutely magnificent feat of mother nature. I loved every minute of it.”

Tadiwa Chitongo, ’23, said, “I was not the biggest fan of space as a kid, but seeing the eclipse is really cool.”

Billy Hurbert, senior, said seeing the eclipse in person was “wicked cool.”

Dillon Riley, junior, said he noticed a change in temperature while standing outside to view the eclipse.

Noelle Simonelli, sophomore, said, “I think this is pretty cool.” She added she is going to be 78 by the time this happens again, “so this is definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

Emma Brosnan, junior, said, “This is definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience, so it’s really cool we are all out to see it today.”

Sophia Cameron, junior, said, “This is really cool! I am so happy that I got to see it!”

Ella Reddin, senior, said, “I think this is just amazing - definitely a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Sarah Gatti, junior, said, “This was really exciting. I was really excited to be able to see it at school!”

AJ Reinhardt, junior, said, “This was really cool. I’m really happy I was able to see it.”

The eclipse reached its maximum point at 3:49 p.m. Only a crescent-shaped sliver of the sun was still visible. CONNECT WITH FRANCISCO OMAR

Alexis Schlesinger / THE GATEPOST (Left) Ross Barros-Smith and President Nancy Niemi looking at the April 8 solar eclipse through a Cassegrain telescope.

Library careers

Continued from Page 1

They said their last job was as a public service librarian at a boarding high school, which meant they were in charge of the circulation desk, processing loan requests, creating programming, and more.

Bowman’s most recent project is their doctoral dissertation, which they said is about how trans communities in South Carolina access information “at a time of rampant mis- and disinformation about transness in the media.”

They said jobs as school librarians can be very physically demanding and they wish they hadn’t put so much stress on their body, and working at a boarding school can be very time consuming.

On the other hand, they said they highly value the ability of librarians to build relationships with students.

“It’s all the fun parts of teaching without the grading or having to discipline anyone, so you can swoop in and be the cool librarian,” they said.

Isabel Espinal, the humanities research services librarian at UMass Amherst, said she wasn’t sure what she wanted to do with her undergraduate degree in romance languages and Latin American studies, so she took a career aptitude test that recommended she work in a library. At the same time, a local library was advertising the need for bilingual employees.

She said every day looks different for her, but she spends a lot of her time responding to emails, attending events, and working with people to teach them how to do research.

Espinal said her library has several

issues she wants to solve. One is that there isn’t a lot of space for books to be shown publicly, another is that a lot of students don’t feel the space is very inclusive, and the last is that there were several rooms in the library going unused.

To solve both of these problems, she wanted to create two community reading rooms - one focused on Indigenous peoples and culture, and the other focused on Latino peoples and culture.

She said some students of color at UMass do not necessarily feel like the campus - both the library and beyond - “meets their cultural needs.

“They don’t see themselves in the spaces anywhere, and so I feel like if we do this, we could even be a good model for other places on campus,” she said.

Sara Hertel-Fenandez, the library director at the Belding Memorial Library in Ashfield, said she worked at a library during her undergraduate degree.

She said, “The more I worked in libraries, the more I loved it,” and chose to stick out the career.

She said Belding Memorial Library is a very small library in a rural area open only three days a week right now and four during the summer, but the staff - made up of only herself and two part-time employees - “punch way above our weight in circulation and how much people use the library.”

Hertel-Fernandez said currently her library is working with a local county jail to give prisoners access to library resources like library cards and early literacy classes for caretakers currently in prison.

ian at the Boston Public Library, said she worked in a library in high school and studied English literature during her undergraduate degree before she decided it wasn’t very useful to study literature for her career in libraries and switched her major to humanities and social sciences.

She said in her day-to-day job, she’s likely to encounter people of every age even though her position is geared toward teens, and involves a lot of programming, partnering with community organizations, and working with students in schools.

She said she’s currently working on a project called the Teen Youth Summit where Boston Public Library (BPL) and Boston Public Schools (BPS) are trying to increase collaboration between youth service librarians in the BPL with BPS librarians.

She said she loves working with teenagers and seeing them develop into working adults.

“One of my biggest joys about working with teens and the teen advisory board is watching them transform from these shy wallflowers to these really amazing leaders,” she said.

Morris added it can be difficult to be a woman of color in the field of librarians.

She said even though she works at a small library, she feels it’s important for her library to do this work “because so many carceral facilities are located in rural communities.”

Hertel-Fernandez said her job involves a lot of support for aging populations, which can be both challenging and incredibly satisfying.

“Thinking of them as an exciting population ... has been a real source of joy,” she said.

Oscar Lanza-Galindo, a consultant for leadership and management in the Massachusetts Library System, taught Spanish and math in a high school for years before doing his master’s in intercultural service leadership and management, and during that time he also worked in a library. His experience helped him to decide to pursue library science further.

He said two days in his job never look quite the same, and he’s able to take skills learned in his earlier jobs, as well as his undergraduate degree in journalism and philosophy, and apply them to a totally different field.

Lanza-Galindo added he’s currently conducting national-level research about leadership skills in today’s workforce and “rewriting that for a library environment,” but in a way that will benefit even people working outside of libraries.

He said he’s been challenged by trying to make the library field more equitable as a man in a position of leadership and also a person of color, and change is happening “but we still need more progress and more growth.

“I want my legacy to be something different,” he said.

Magda Morris, a young adult librar-

“BPL is a little different, but still has some of the same systemic challenges with both racism and sexism and other -isms,” she said.

Rachel Wells, the reference librarian at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, said she initially wanted to work at Disney World when she completed her undergraduate degree in public relations, so she went to drive a safari truck in Animal Kingdom.

She added after a year she found she didn’t like it as much as she thought, so she chose to pursue a master’s degree in library science after a family friend inspired her.

Wells said as a librarian at the National Baseball Hall of Fame, she works in the only publicly accessible part of the institute, which means she gets to talk to a lot of interesting people including researchers looking into baseball history and people in bars calling to settle arguments.

She said even though it may sound boring to a lot of people, she was very excited to undertake a recent project of creating a catalog of all of the library’s materials, which had never been cataloged in the museum’s history.

Wells added she loves the forward-facing part of her job, especially when people come to her to find out about family members who played baseball.

“I’ve had a lot of people cry in front of me, but for good reasons, which is fantastic,” she said.

CONNECT WITH RAENA DOTY rdoty@student.framingham.edu

Raena Doty / THE GATEPOST

(Left) Patrick Gerrity, Olivia Florestal, and Ashley Wixon, Henry Whittemore Library circulation desk employees April 11.

Artists discuss being part of ‘Two Different Worlds’

By Jack McLaughlin Arts & Features Editor

Artists Jasmine Chen, Saberah Malik, and Stephen Marc were invited to a discussion titled “Creating Two Worlds: Contemporary Artistic Diasporas” hosted in the Alumni Room and over Zoom April 10.

The event was sponsored by Arts & Ideas as part of their series titled “Courage + Resilience.” This discussion was also made possible in conjunction with the Division of Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement, along with the Danforth’s Paul B. Rosenberg Fund for Museum Education.

Katherine Tako-Girard, staff assistant of the Danforth Art Museum, began the discussion by introducing the panel, which was moderated by English Professor Sandy Hartwiger.

Saberah Malik was the first to be introduced. Based in Rhode Island, her artwork has been featured in exhibitions across the U.S., and she is currently one of six artists in the Danforth’s exhibit “Harvest, Foraged, Found.”

Jasmine Chen was introduced next. She had spent her childhood moving between China and America, and her artwork was described by Tako-Girard as reflecting “the struggle to make sense of place and identity by making connections across time, societies, and places.”

Stephen Marc was introduced last. He is a documentary street photographer and digital montage artist, who has also published several books of his photos. In 2021, he was the recipient of the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellow in the field of photography.

Malik spoke first, and began with her admiration of universities.

“I love the idea of higher learning, curiosity, the excitement of possibilities,” she said. “I love being here, with or without my backpack.”

Malik then directed the audience toward the presentation, where she wanted to show them “the colors of where I come from,” she said.

The presentation featured bright patterns, with a geometric and floral infusion that identified with it being a part of her.

She went on to describe her creations as “inherently delicate, yet very sturdy luminous sculptures,” and said that “it is a very meditative rhythm.”

Next, she showed an art piece made of a series of empty bottles. She described the importance of the bottles, and how they represent how she accesses memories.

“I also bottle up memories of my progression through life - what is it that I can hold through these symbolic memories?” she asked.

After this, she showed audiences how she incorporates stones into her art pieces. She talked about how stones “are a witness of evolution,” and said she changes the textures of the stones to recreate “the thoughts

that I see around me.”

Malik then showed a piece that she created during the COVID-19 pandemic. The piece consisted of transparent, colorless apples. She said, “Color made no sense for a lot of people at that time - including myself.”

She said her artwork consists of a lot of what she witnesses in nature, and shows the importance of “the hierarchy of living things.

“It’s not just an inanimate object like a bottle or a stone - it’s very much about the living, breathing things around us. And it’s also about things

It was when she began writing her dissertation on the Chinese stock market that she grew depressed and as a response began to paint, she said.

“I started doing a self portrait. It took me nine hours the first day,” Chen said.

After her success, she began making paintings of nature, and said each time “I would be so surprised that I pulled it off.”

Chen became interested in portraits, and said her childhood experience of being exposed to portraiture a lot is what drew her toward it. She

“I am very fortunate that I have photographs that I can share as a byproduct of an experience.”

- Stephen Marc Documentary Street Photographer

that change,” Malik said.

Chen spoke next. She talked about how artwork is her second career, and said that she went to school for applied math and economics. Her talk was focused on her journey on becoming an artist, while her artwork was displayed in a slideshow behind her.

She said she first came to Massachusetts in 1990, determined to be a good student with a focus on math and science, and was not initially interested in taking an art class.

“I wanted to be serious and be self-reliant and have a career,” Chen said.

Her work paid off, and she attended Harvard University where after graduation she worked in asset management at 30 Rock in New York City, she said.

She lost her job as a result of the financial crisis of 2008, and described her situation at this time as “the artist life.

“You don’t get paid much, but you get to sustain your life,” she said.

specifically cited a portrait her father drew of her as a direct source of inspiration.

“I don’t know if that’s where that comes from, because I don’t think that portrait is around, but I remember every detail,” she said.

After this, Marc spoke next. When speaking on his work in photography, he said his experiences “are far more important than the photographs.

“I am very fortunate that I have photographs that I can share as a byproduct of an experience,” he said.

When producing work for Arizona State University and Columbia College in Chicago, he wasn’t given any instruction on what the subject was, which gave him the chance to follow ideas he was passionate about.

“The work takes different forms depending on the different kinds of things that I’m investigating,”

Marc said.

Next, he showed two pieces that he worked on for Chicago’s Red Line station on 79th Street. For both of these pieces, he said that he presented the

work in hopes he would get them commissioned.

“I present the work to try to get the commissions - explain to them what I want to do and then I go into the community to create the work,” he said.

When making pieces for communities, Marc said he hopes that the residents where his work resides don’t see him, but the group he is creating it for.

“My goal is if I do a project for a community, I want it to get to a point where they don’t see me anymorethey see the piece as theirs,” he said.

Marc spoke on how he paces his projects, and when he feels as though they are ready to be finished.

“When it comes time to stop a project, it’s not like I have a definitive stop. I just find that my project has been going for a while,” he said.

“What’s really important as an artist is to figure out what your normal pace is when pursuing work,” he added.

The event concluded with a conversation with moderator Sandy Hartwiger to give the artists the chance to dive deeper with their works.

The artists were asked how the event’s title connects to themselves individually and through their work.

Marc answered this by explaining that the “two worlds” idea of the event reminded him of hearing stories of living in segregation through his family and having his childhood split between being in Champagne, Illinois and Chicago.

Chen said that it’s very easy for her to see that she belongs to two different worlds after immigrating to America from China.

“Everybody belongs to multiple worlds,” she said.

Malik said they don’t think about the idea of being in two worlds, and rather sees her experiences as being in the moment.

“It’s just who I become and who I am and it just flows,” Malik said.

CONNECT WITH JACK MCLAUGHLIN jmclaughlin7@student.framingham.edu

Maddison Behringer / THE GATEPOST

Jasmine Chen speaking at the “Creating Two Worlds: Contemporary Artistic Diasporas” event April 10.

Senior capstones begin again, six featured

By Ryan O’Connell Associate Editor

The Mazmanian Gallery featured six studio art majors’ capstone projects, including works of illustration, painting, ceramics, and mixed media, in the first of two senior thesis exhibitions April 10.

Caroline Tornifoglio, concentration in painting, had two pieces displayed. “Object” appears in the show as a conglomerate of different materials, but she said it didn’t always look that way.

She said this piece was created from 23 cutouts of fashion models sourced from magazines sent to Framingham State around 1970. She added these were models and magazines her grandmother may have looked at as an FSU student studying home economics around the same time.

“It’s a bummer they don’t do home economics anymore,” she added.

Tornifoglio said she flipped the cutouts upside down, sprayed adhesive to them, and stuck them to life drawings she had done in a previous class. She said she then aligned them in a pleasing order, and then sewed them together by their limbs.

She added the cutouts turned into the version of “Object” on display after their “walk in Boston.

“That was the alternate exhibition that we had to do, where you had to show your work somewhere else. And it could last anywhere from five minutes to until they tell you to [stop],” she added.

Tornifoglio said it was raining the day of her walk, which led to the figures warping and twisting in interesting ways. She added it got tangled up during the walk too, and she likes it more this way anyways.

She said “Dislocated: Object” - the photo collage of the individual pieces of “Object” - tries to mirror the spirit of the source project.

“I took a bunch of photos and then arranged them in a way that tries to capture the same essence as the thing - I called it ‘Object.’ Because I think it’s funny,” Tornifoglio added.

She added she isn’t really interested in fashion, despite its focus in the two pieces.

Tornifoglio said it took her some time to finalize the idea for her capstone, and her work changes often.

“I move around a lot. I dog sit and baby sit, I’m always moving houses and traveling so I have to bring what I’m doing with me, and it usually changes,” she said. “Everything always kind of changes. I think it’s inevitable.”

She added even now, she isn’t settled.

“I would have loved to have hadobviously - more time, more photos, more hands, more brains and resources,” she said. She added the restrictions of a semester-long project make that difficult, however.

Daniel Munoz, concentration in illustration, said his capstone project is

a set of five paintings based on photographs sent by family members in the Dominican Republic. He added he asked for the photos to be “normal.”

Munoz’s paintings in the gallery are mostly oil paint, he said, but also use clear tar gel mixed with black acrylic paint in order to create the thick, raised brushstrokes seen in his collection.

He said the bold black brushstrokes “are a style that’s derived from a lot of Dominican paintings,” which he saw a lot of growing up.

“That’s where a lot of my inspiration came from,” he added.

Munoz said he was glad most of his family members instantly recognized the style influence. “It was a good mo-

“This is way out of my comfort zone,” he said. “But I still think it was a good experience overall. And I’m glad I can be around other peers who are in this space as one.”

Gabi Prego, concentration in printmaking, said her capstone project consists of paintings and ceramics, and is about the ocean - specifically its textures.

She added she also focused on the rising acidity of the ocean due to human pollution, which she feels strongly about.

Prego said she’s been an artist since high school, yet she’s still discovering what she wants to do. “I try everything - I like mixed media, but I do stick to printmaking and ceram-

ment of interaction with them that we don’t really have that often,” he said.

Although all of the paintings in his capstone are of buildings and architecture, he said he wouldn’t label himself a landscape painter.

“I dabble in a lot of illustration, character design stuff. I’ve done a lot of charcoal stuff that I enjoy and a lot of oil painting stuff that I enjoy as well. But I don’t let any one of them really dominate my life too much,” he said.

Munoz said he settled on the idea for his capstone after his professor, Brian Bishop, instructed the seniors to create a work that meant something to them individually.

He added later he began the project and the transition from creating for a more generalized audience to an audience of friends and family.

He said this shift allowed him to make more specialized style choices, such as adding the tar gel.

“I didn’t really intend for it to matter to anyone else, really,” he said.

Munoz said he has a lot of family members in the Dominican Republic, but that they don’t communicate as much any more.

“We visit occasionally. It’s not as frequent,” he said. “I kind of wanted to use this assignment to make that bridge. We don’t talk as much, but I wanted to interact with them more.”

Munoz said the capstone showing is the first exhibition he’s been featured in.

thought it’d be fun,” she said. “And I wanted to do something that pops.”

Barbosa said sourcing the ideas for the rough drafts of each poster was the most difficult part of the process. After she got an idea, however, the rest was easy, she said.

She said this is her first time in a gallery. It was intimidating at first, she said, but now thinks it was a fun process.

Barbosa added she’s proud of the time she put into her capstone, and has no regrets about the finished project.

“I finished I think like four days before I had to put it out,” she said.

Sabrina Longo, concentration in illustration, made four “zines” - short, miniature magazines - alongside stickers of her art and a small installation for reading her work as her capstone project.

Longo said she spent most of her focus on the content of the zines, until her professor mentioned people might also enjoy a space to sit and read them.

“And that’s how it kind of formed into a little nook, like a reading hideaway,” she said.

Longo said for the content of the zines, she focused on personal challenges and issues which have made her life more difficult.

“Different things that people wouldn’t know if they even worked with me,” she said.

ics,” she said.

She said she’s most proud of one of the ceramic pieces on display, featuring heavily textured renditions of coral reefs, marine biology, and the nature of the ocean.

“It took me a long time, and it turned out really good,” she said. She added it took about three weeks to complete the one ceramic.

Prego said her favorite painting in the collection is one of pink waves on the beach. She said she used a large mixture of different mediums to achieve the raised texture of the waves, which she likes.

She said she enjoys the way her collection looks on the wall, and overall thinks she did “good enough.

“I would’ve tweaked certain things,” she said. “Not doing ceramics, because it’s time pressuring. I love it, but I just didn’t know it was going to take so long.”

Nicole Barbosa, concentration in graphic design, submitted eight movie poster designs as her capstone project, all using a vibrant color palette and advertising original titles.

She said she made one poster for eight different genres of film - drama, thriller, horror, adventure, comedy, fantasy, sci-fi, and animation.

Barbosa said she chose to do the movie posters because she “wanted to do something fun” for her capstone.

“I know I do graphic design, but I wanted to work more with illustration. … I like drawing and stuff. I just

She said writing a story so personal felt a little difficult, but mostly just different.

“It wasn’t my normal stuff. I like to do illustration, I like to illustrate other stories,” she said. “So this was kind of like my story.”

She said seeing it now in the gallery, she likes it.

“It’s out of my comfort zone but I also know it’s very relatable and people seeing it … might have the same issues, and that’s a good thing, a relatable audience,” she added.

Longo said she’s working on illustrating a children’s book and a dummy book in her Advanced Illustration class. A dummy book, she added, is a book of rough sketches made to send to publishing companies.

She said she wished she could have put more on the walls surrounding her exhibit and spent more time around the installation.

“It’s hard to know what you’re going to have, even when you go and explore the empty gallery,” she said.

Longo said when she started the capstone, she was most interested in learning a new form and was interested in zines from the start. She added she enjoyed the medium and would like to make more of them in the future.

“I really liked them - I liked the accessibility of them, and the touchable art in a more digital world,” she said.

Maddison Behringer / THE GATEPOST

Attendees at the Mazmanian Gallery senior capstone reception April 10.

Meghan Spargo / THE GATEPOST

Hayley Gaskin interacting with “Comorbidity” by Sabrina Longo at the Mazmanian Gallery April 10.

Meghan Spargo / THE GATEPOST Students attending the Mazmanian Gallery April 10.

Maddison Behringer / THE GATEPOST Artwork series by Daniel Munoz at the Mazmanian Gallery April 10.

Maddison Behringer / THE GATEPOST “our blue ocean” by Gabi Prego at the Mazmanian Gallery April 10.

Maddison Behringer / THE GATEPOST

(Left) Professor Anna Flanagan talking with Caroline Tornifoglio about her piece “Dislocated: Object” at the Mazmanian Gallery April 10.

Signs of spring in FSU’s rooftop greenhouse

By Andrea O’Brien Staff Writer

While many plants on campus are brittle and dead after the cold winter months, on the top floor of Hemenway Annex, over 30 species of plants are sprouting and growing in FSU’s rooftop greenhouses.

There are two separate greenhouses located in Hemenway Annex 634. The first room on the right is being used by research scientist and visiting lecturer Jessamine Finch, according to Cheng-Chiang Wu, assistant professor of biology and botany.

“Dr. Finch has been using that greenhouse for some studies, either for her own or for her mentor students to study germination of native plants,” said Wu.

Students also participated in a campus sustainability program mentored by Biology Professor Aviva Liebert, for which they cultivated plants in the greenhouse for the pollinators’ garden in the back of O’Connor Hall, he said.

Wu said he appreciates the generous support he has received from the Biology Department so he could purchase plants for the teaching lab.

As a graduate of Harvard University, where he got a Ph.D. in organic and evolutionary biology in 2018, Wu was able to bring some plants from Harvard as gifts for the collection in the greenhouse.

The second greenhouse contains a variety of plant species, including succulents, cacti, roses, lily pads, aloe vera plants, and prickly pear cactus fruits.

This greenhouse is kept as warm as possible as it is meant to be a “semi-tropical” greenhouse, according to Henry Dickie, a junior biology major and student greenhouse worker.

To regulate the temperature, the thermostat is connected to a vent system inside the greenhouse so a temperature range can be set by opening or closing the vents based on the temperature it needs to be at for the plants, said Dickie.

The staff keeps this greenhouse at 80-85 degrees Fahrenheit, he said.

Rachel Sharon, a senior biology major with a concentration in wildlife and environmental biology, is also a student greenhouse worker. She said she comes to the greenhouse about twice a week to check on the plants and water them.

“That is also in combination with Henry and Dr. Finch. I would say the plants probably get checked on at least every other day,” said Sharon.

She explained the number of times a plant gets watered depends on the plant.

Some of the plants need a lot of water so they are checked and watered at least every other day, while others, such as the aloe and cactus plants, are really “drought tolerant” so they are watered “maybe once a week, sometimes not even because they just

don’t need it,” she said.

“Everything else is in between. I just look at them and assess them based on how their leaves look and

Another plant Sharon pointed out is the “bird of paradise” flower.

“Its flowers are kind of sad looking right now, but the fresh bird of par-

their general vibe,” she said.

Sharon transferred to FSU from Mount Wachusett Community College where she took classes in horticulture and greenhouse management. She also worked for the Stearns Farm in Framingham.

adise flowers looks like a bird that is called the ‘birds of paradise,’” said Sharon.

“It’s a South American plant. I feel like whenever somebody gets a tropical bouquet, this type of flower is in it,” she said.

“Because I have that experience with plants, I can tell how they are doing,” said Sharon.

Among the plants currently in the greenhouse, Sharon said her favorite one is the “sundew” plant, which is carnivorous, native, and found mainly in bogs.

are enough to kill someone,” he said.

“This is a very dangerous plant. That is why we no longer have dozens of them,” he continued.

One of the larger plants in the greenhouse didn’t have a tag on it, so no one knew exactly what species it was. However, a student from South America who came into the greenhouse recognized the plant as a “scarlet eggplant,” said Dickie.

“I’m going to go out on a limb and say that it’s not related to an eggplant, but when it roots, which it doesn’t have the conditions to do here, it is a fruit that looks like an eggplant,” he said.

While there are currently over 30 species of plants in the greenhouse, the space was at its peak around 2014-2015, said Dickie.

He said when they built the lab building, they had set up an automatic watering system since no one could be in there, and it failed without anyone realizing.

“It pretty much went from a filledto-the-brim, tropical greenhouse with countless invaluable plants, including some that were highly endangered, to almost nothing except for the cactuses, so that was unfortunate,” he said.

Sharon said she wishes more people on campus knew about the greenhouse.

Junior Eílish Heffernan said, “I had no idea there was a greenhouse on campus, and I’m in Hemenway every day. But I think it’s an awesome initiative and I’d like to hear more about it in the future.”

Senior Morgan Reen said, “I never knew there was a greenhouse on campus, but I’d be curious to check it out and see what’s in there. I definitely think it’s a cool idea.”

Sophomore Anita Loughlin said, “I have heard of the greenhouse, but I’ve never actually seen it. I’d be interested in seeing it and I think it should be more known across campus. I feel like it would be a breath of fresh air to get to see all of the plants growing in there.”

Sharon said, “I think it’s a really undervalued resource for the Biology Department and the University as a whole because it’s really great and it’s nice to be in here, especially in the winter when it’s so cold.”

She said she hopes the University will be able to improve the greenhouse even more in the coming years.

The greenhouse also contains a jimsonweed that is a “very dangerous plant,” according to Dickie.

“If given a big enough space, this plant will grow to be multiple feet in diameter and height. I will say, there was a toxin on every inch of this plant, and just 10 of the seeds from it

Wu said although the greenhouse needs a long-awaited renovation to make it more sustainable, economical, and useful for the learning and research needs of students, “not many higher-education institutions have greenhouses on campus nowadays, so we are fortunate to have one here.”

CONNECT WITH ANDREA O’BRIEN aobrien3@student.framingham.edu

Courtesy of Henry Dickie

Courtesy of Henry Dickie

Grande’s new album about reflection and perseverance

By Kristel Erguiza Staff Writer

If you were pestered by fans about your every move, especially in regards to your love life, what would you have to say to that? Ariana’s Grande’s newest album “Eternal Sunshine” is the answer to that question.

“Eternal Sunshine” displays a sense of self love and determination, with tracks that emphasize it! Similar to her albums before, it has themes of love, a doomed relationship, and the self love that comes after. This album reminds me of “Thank U, Next” in that it includes these themes and pivots more into Grande learning to understand herself more and wanting better for herself.

As a mainly pop album, it includes elements of R&B and a lot of synths incorporated throughout, with many string instruments and spoken word parts from astrologist Diana Garland, and Grande’s grandmother, Marjorie Grande, known as Nonna on the track “ordinary things.”

Released on March 8 and getting its namesake from the 2004 movie “Eter-

nal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” she creates a music video in homage to the movie, which is one of my favorite songs, “we can’t be friends (wait for your love),” with Evan Peters as the ex in the relationship, and Ariana as the main character.

The first track audiences heard was the electronic dance hit “yes, and,” giving audiences an answer to the rumors surrounding her love life. Coming from a divorce, she uses the lyrics, “Your business is yours and mine is mine.” I thought this was very clever of her to talk about how she perceives the media and how others feel about her romance with Broadway’s “Spongebob Squarepants” actor, Ethan Slater.

The second song, “bye” talks about her leaving a relationship that left her in tears. I found this very uplifting, giving me a sense of newfound self awareness within my personal relationships.

The fourth track, “saturn returns interlude,” is a 42-second clip from Garland talking about the meaning of a Saturn return. Combined with laughter from Grande toward the end,

it shows a new beginning of her 30s.

My favorite part of this album is how cohesive it is. There are truly no songs I would skip because they’re just all so raw and real to the point where it had me watching reviews on TikTok about the album and many had praised Grande’s songwriting and professionalism throughout her releasing this album and the drama that surrounded it.

With honest lyrics such as, “Our shadow stands in a parallel plane, just two different endings you learn to repair,” (“i wish i hated you”) she paints a picture of a regretted failed relationship, wanting the audience to understand her point of view throughout the song, and that despite it ending, there can be re- flection attached.

Another lyric I found interesting was, “It’s breaking my heart to keep breaking yours again, this situationship has to end,” which is very poignant and is very relevant to the dating scene in our generation.

In her seventh track, “true story,” she confronts what the media has been talking about - her alleged infi-

‘Solo Leveling’ barely misses its mark

By Owen Glancy Asst. Arts & Features Editor

It’s no secret that anime often adapts the stories told in the pages of manga and light novels, two mediums that very naturally lend themselves to animated adaptations. American comic books similarly have had many animated adaptations, which have become some of the most iconic films of the last decade.

South Korean manhwa can be considered a mix of manga and comics, often having more similar plot details to manga, but being entirely in color like many American comics. In recent years, manhwa has finally been given the attention it deserves, especially in the world of anime.

“Tower of God” (2020) really ushered this in, and now four years later, we’ve received an adaptation of perhaps the most famous manhwa, “Solo Leveling.”

Written by Chugong and drawn by the late Sung-Rak Jang, “Solo Leveling” is undoubtedly an extremely popular manhwa, mainly due to the incredible art and action scenes. While the story is simple enough to be easily translated into an anime, it’s this incredible art that makes this such a difficult work to adapt.

So how did the folks at A-1 Pictures do at adapting this?

The characters and story are all intact from the manhwa, and arguably enhanced. The addition of extra scenes that give context to certain character relationships make them go from archetypes to real people.

Obviously, the story is still in its early stages, especially in regards to the protagonist, Sung Jin-Woo. He is still basic and simple, very much a

self-insert character made to make the viewer see themselves in him so that when he inevitably becomes overpowered, it allows the viewer to 2017.

Anime has come a long way in terms of action animation. “Demon Slayer” shocked the world with its

delity of her newest boyfriend, Ethan Slater, and how everyone had been beginning to see the cracks in her personal and private life. The lyric “This is a true story about all the lies you fantasize about you and I” alludes to what audiences had been thinking about her, she keeps this track sounding like early 2000’s R&B, with her humming in the song reflecting it.

This album proves to be one of her best, with the audience getting to hear about her heartbreaks and lessons learned along the way, as well as insight Grande gets to show the audience throughout her lyricism.

Rating: A-

This album will give me ‘Eternal Sunshine’

CONNECT WITH KRISTEL ERGUIZA

kerguiza@student.framingham.edu

pared to its incredible source material and its competitors, it is lacking.

It may sound like I hate this anime, but in reality that could not be further from the truth. It was the only show I kept up with in the winter 2024 season, and I consistently had fun with every episode. However, much of this comes from having read the original source material. To a new viewer, this show is just another power-fantasy with some fancy animation.

That is exactly what makes this adaptation so disappointing to me, because I know that “Solo Leveling” becomes so much more than its initial chapters. The odds were very stacked against this show, and it came up just short of expectations, mostly due to circumstances outside of the production team’s control.

Nothing would make me happier than to tell you all about the excellent things inevitably in the show’s future if they keep at this pace, but you’ll just have to take my word for it.

Even if “Solo Leveling” doesn’t go past above average in any particular area, for those seeking a solid, consistently fun watch it is a must-see.

Rating: C

Needs to grind some more levels

DavidAbe

‘Monkey Man’ - a sleek tale of revenge

By Jack McLaughlin Arts & Features Editor

Highly acclaimed actor Dev Patel can now comfortably claim the title of a successful director after his debut feature “Monkey Man” released last week.

The film was originally doomed to be exclusively released on Netflix, but was saved after being acquired by Jordan Peele’s production company Monkeypaw and was given the theatrical release this spectacle truly deserves.

Patel stars as Kid, a young man who barely makes ends meet competing in an underground fighting ring, where he fights opponents while wearing a monkey mask.

An opportunity arises for him to act out his long-plotted revenge against the rich elite who terrorized his village and killed his mother during his childhood.

And Kid does so, in the most gruesome way possible.

It felt like “Monkey Man” was going to be compared to the “John Wick” films before it came out, which is fair given the basic premise of revenge with flashy action.

Where these two films differ, however, is that “Monkey Man” has a much more compelling lead with a more interesting character arc.

Unlike the perfectly threatening John Wick, Kid starts off completely out of his element. He’s terrible at fighting and repeatedly loses, but it makes the story feel more impactful - he isn’t a remarkable fighter right away.

A decent portion of this is spent on watching Kid grow as a fighter. The scenes of him stumbling around these crazy moments of action is incredibly entertaining, and it makes his eventu al training and growth that much more impactful.

The action feels re warding because of this. There isn’t a lot in the beginning and middle, and the absolutely insane finale is the ultimate payoff.

a main character ominously standing in an elevator as its doors open - stick out because of the fantastic cinematography and use of color.

The story’s inspiration stemmed from Hindu deity Hanuman, who represents strength and courage. This is an important theme that is constantly reinforced throughout.

Where this film also differs from most action flicks is its injection of political themes that drive the plot forward. Its inclusion here is done excellently, and while Kid is mercilessly killing his opponents, it comes from his traumatic experiences with those more powerful above him.

The visual flair of this film also lets it stand apart from the other entries in this popular genre. Shots that would have no thought in most films - like

Kid progressively embodies these traits until he is strong and courageous enough to go up against the oppressors of his village from all those years ago.

For an action film, all of the acting is only decent - with the exception of Patel.He plays this role with such a strong on-screen presence, and his minimal dialogue completely sells that.

The main antagonists are incredibly flat by comparison. They lack any depth or subtleties - they are written to be disliked with little to zero redeemable qualities.

And for a film like this, that’s completely acceptable. Not every movie needs a villain who is written in a way that the audience can un- derstand their point of view. The antagonists here are portrayed as ruthless and evil, and it makes every fight

against them feel that much better when Kid comes out on top.

Patel, and by extension the crew behind “Monkey Man,” underwent a lengthy and grueling production to get everything right.

Between filming during intense COVID-19 restrictions in India, and injuries happening on-set - such as Patel breaking his hand in the first action scene filmed - it is a miracle that this film got finished and is now available to a mass audience.

Exceptional films in the action genre don’t come often. There is usually a difficult balance that needs to be made between an interesting story and exciting action scenes.

“Monkey Man” manages to strike the balance flawlessly.

Rating: A Utterly bananas

CONNECT WITH JACK MCLAUGHLIN jmclaughlin7@student.framingham.edu

Ben Hurney / THE GATEPOST

5. Scads

6. Letter after sigma

7. “The Situation Room With Wolf Blitzer” channel

8. Was involved in some decision making.

9. Water branded with square-shaped bottles

10. Singles

11. What a toddler may need after a spaghetti dinner

12. ___ up (totals)

13. ,,,

17. Primary

21. New York Knicks’ arena: Abbr.

24. Garment for a Diwali celebration

25. Super nitpicky

26. Complete series

27. Athlete’s best effort

28. Late-night fridge visit

29. Very excited

30. No more than

31. Male deer

32. Angelic ring

33. “Double Stuf” cookie

37. ___ up (admit fault)

38. Highway division

39. Star quarterback Marino

41. Colorful indoor playground feature

42. Kicked out

44. Drops on a lawn

45. Tool for tightening

46. Defrost

49. Underground molten rock

50. Theater attendant

51. Citi Field baseball team

52. Pal

53. “___ 911!” (comedy series named for a Nevada city)

54. French friend

55. Water around a castle

56. “See ya!”

59. Employ

60. Caramel color

Puzzle solutions are now exclusively online.

Maddison Behringer

Maddison Behringer / THE GATEPOST (Left) Joanne Planas Segarra, Shyanina Lissaint, and Suraia Soure sitting out side of May Hall to watch the solar eclipse April 8.

Maddison Behringer / THE GATEPOST Vistors looking at a sunspotter during the solar eclipse April 8.

Maddison Behringer / THE GATEPOST Office Andrew Frimpong looking through a telascope during the solar eclipse April 8.

Alexis Schlesinger/ THE GATEPOST Christa McAuliffe Center staff watching the solar eclipse outside of May Hall April 8.

Alexis Schlesinger / THE GATEPOST Students gathering outside of May Hall to watch the solar eclipse April 8.

Maddison Behringer / THE GATEPOST

Maintainer Graciola Lage, Cecilia Escaleira, Maria Goncalves, Marva Goddard, Adele Ferreira, and Aradenia Majia watching the solar eclipse April 8.

Alexis Schlesinger / THE GATEPOST (Left) Ryan Mikelis and Evelyn Campbell enjoying the solar eclipse on the May Hall steps April 8.