Fire in Miles Bibb displaces students
By Dylan Pichnarcik News Editor
By Kaitlin Carman Asst. News Editor
Officials say Miles Bibb Hall sustained more than $100,000 in damages after a fire started in a student’s room.
Miles Bibb was evacuated and temporarily closed on Aug.16. Framingham State University Police (FSUPD) and the Framingham Fire Department (FFD) are investigating the incident in order to determine the cause of the fire.
The early-arrival residents on campus who occupied Miles Bibb were temporarily moved to Linsley Hall while repairs were underway.
By Raena Hunter Doty Arts & Features Editor
The Henry Whittemore Library hosted the unveiling of the new Native American land acknowledgement mural Sept. 4.
The mural was created with the goal of recognizing the Indigenous Nipmuc people as the original inhabitants of the land that is now Framingham State University and building bridges with the Nipmuc community.
Four student artists - Andreas Chaniotakis, Marcus Falcão, Jaclyn Gattonini, and Zoe Holland - painted the mural with guidance from Marc Cote, chair of Arts & Music. They collaborat-
The fire started in a student’s room on an upper floor of Miles Bibb, causing water damage throughout the building, according to the FSUPD police report. Information about the student has not yet been made public.
Officer Richard Reuss of FSUPD, who was the first to arrive on the scene, heard the fire alarms at approximately 1 p.m. in Miles Bibb while assisting with traffic control for early move-in, according to a report he filed on Aug. 17.
At the time, students authorized to move in were a “small number of people,” primarily “residence [life] staff and athletes,” said Glenn Cochran, director of residence life and housing.
According to President Nancy Niemi, the responsible individual’s identity cannot be released as any records regarding students are protected under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
Niemi said she was briefed on “the whole situation since it happened.” She added, “I’m checking in with folks as needed to make sure that everything is being resolved.”
According to Reuss’ report, the individual who occupied the room in Miles Bibb Hall was seen on security camera footage leaving his room at approximately 12:54 p.m., returning around 1:55 p.m.
ed with members of the Nipmuc community throughout to ensure a respectful depiction of the tribe.
Jeffrey Coleman, vice president of Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement, welcomed the guests to the event.
He explained that land acknowledgements recognize the original stewards of lands that have since been colonized.
“The development of a land acknowledgement should be motivated by genuine respect and support for Native peoples,” he said, and added it’s important for land acknowledgements to involve the Native peoples they’re supposed to honor in the process of the
development.
“We desire that this land acknowledgement mural represents the confirmation of continued connections and working relationships with the Native Nipmuc tribal community,” Coleman said.
President Nancy Niemi gave the University greeting.
She said the power of art is evident in the way it is used to control and dominate marginalized peoples, and because of this, it also can be used to do good.
Niemi emphasized the power of collaboration between people of different cultures and ages.
Alexis Schlesinger / THE GATEPOST
Sam the Ram poses with some new friends in the McCarthy Dining Commons Sept. 18.
E ditorial Board
Editor-in-Chief
Sophia Harris
Associate Editors
Maddison Behringer
Ryan O’Connell
Copy Editor
Emma Lyons
News Editor
Dylan Pichnarcik
Asst. News Editors
Kaitlin Carman
Adam Harrison
Opinions Editor
Izayah Morgan
Sports Editor
Sophia Oppedisano
Asst. Sports Editors
Riley Crowell
Izabela Gage
Arts & Features Editors
Raena Hunter Doty
Francisco Omar Fernandez Rodriguez
Asst. Arts & Features Editors
Owen Glancy
Bella Omar
Photos & Design Editors
Adrien Gobin
Alexis Schlesinger
Asst. Photos & Design Editor
Meghan Spargo
Illustrations Editor
Ben Hurney
Asst. Illustrations Editors
David Abe
Emily Monaco
Staff Writers
Jesse Burchill
Liv Dunleavy
Kristel Erguiza
Paul Harrington
Dan Lima
Antonio Carlos Machado
Travis Plummer
Kyra Tolley
Staff Illustrators
Ronnie Chiu-Lin
Charlotte Fabrizi
Marcus Falcão
Kyle Walker
Advisor
Desmond McCarthy
Asst. Advisor
Elizabeth Banks
Gatepost Interview Robert Totino
Vice President of Finance, Technology, Administration and Chief Financial Officer
By Kaitlin Carman Asst. News Editor
What is your educational and professional background?
I went to Northeastern [University] from ‘85 to ‘90. It’s a five-year program … for an undergraduate degree for accounting and a minor in management. … I did take a break for a while. I did become certified as a certified public accountant in the eyes of the State of Massachusetts. That was from ‘90 to ‘93 … to have the required amount of training in the Commonwealth to become certified as a CPA. I took some time off from my education to raise a family and work full-time. I did go back for my master’s degree. I was a little bit older. I was roughly 44 years old when I started my master’s in business administration at Suffolk University. It took me five years, nights and weekends, to complete that. And then, after a three-year break, I went back to Northeastern to start my Doctor of Education Degree in 2018, and I graduated in July of ‘23.
After 30 years at Wentworth University, how has the transition to FSU been so far?
As far as the change from my prior position at Wentworth - where I was the CFO - to being the CFO here, I really am excited about this change after 14-plus years in my prior organization in that role. I have a much larger portfolio of responsibilities here, where not only do I oversee the Business Office, which was what I would do in my prior job, but I also oversee information technology here, facilities, capital planning, transportation and a few other areas as well. So, it really is a challenge that I have accepted with open arms, and I am just overly excited at the subject matter experts who work with me, who oversee those multiple areas that report to me - they’re just wonderful people and they’re just a joy to work with on a daily basis. So, I’m very excited where I am.
What attracted you to FSU?
can be an entrepreneur, you can work in government - there’s many different industries which are direct pathways from the degrees which FSU offers. So I believe that is so important for families and students who are looking to understand, you know, “If I am going to commit four some-odd years of my time toward a degree, I want to make sure that my time - my family resources - are well put to use.” I believe in many ways, the FSU degree sets up a wonderful foundation as a launchpad for students to move their professional careers forward. … Another thing that attracted me to FSU is the affordability and accessibility - that a higher-education degree is within reach - financially, that is. Understanding the budget and how resources are allocated appropriately amongst this wonderful institution, is something that I take near and dear to my heart, so that each of the divisions and each of the departments within those divisions can carry out what they need to do to assist each and every student on campus.
What is an interesting fact about you that students might be surprised to know?
One thing that I loved doing growing up, which I haven’t had time to do the last 20 years - but I did it through my elementary and secondary schooling and into college as well - is puzzle making. I love making puzzles. … They’re just wonderful ways to have people socialize and come together and just break from the stress of the day and just focus on the puzzle. It was very relaxing to me as a hobby through my early fundamental years. I’m glad that there’s an adult appreciation for it here on campus, in many of the in a few offices that I’ve seen, where I think various departments have the same mentality - that it’s a nice way for people to come together and be around others.
Do you have any advice for students?
in McCarthy to hang out, there are resources, which hopefully students know of. And if they don’t, there are ways for them to find out, to help themselves academically, financially, and in other ways, to be a successful student here at FSU. I think that’s what has been such a wonderful experience for me to seethe commitment, the dedication by so many individuals, faculty and staff, to assist students to move their educational endeavors forward. I think that’s my biggest takeaway - that every student should know that if you might not know where to turn, you can maybe turn to a Resident Assistant. You can turn to an academic advisor. You can visit the folks in CASA. There are many individuals who are ready and able and willing to help our students to move their professional baccalaureate endeavor along.
I’m very attracted to the mission and vision of the institution, which, in a way, I am paraphrasing, but it sets students up for career success. The education programs here lead to professional degrees. They lead students into professional positions, which can be in education, you
In my first month here, I have seen and talked to so many wonderful people who want to help our students. If it’s Lorretta Holloway, if it’s Meg Nowak, if it’s Patrick Laughran - there are so many wonderful, dedicated faculty and staff who want to assist our students to succeed. And if it’s joining a club, if it’s being a student athlete, if it’s meeting up
Police Logs
Monday, Sept. 16 2:45
Domestic Disturbance, Horace Mann Hall Arrest(s) Made
CONNECT WITH KAITLIN CARMAN kcarman@student.framingham.edu
Monday, Sept. 16 11:16 Trespass Tow, Salem End Road Lot Vehicle Removed/Tow Thursday, Sept. 19 9:23 Assist Residence Life, State Street Advised
Thursday, Sept 19 5:32 Patrol Check, Chestnut Street Check Completed
Courtesy of Robert Totino
Miles Bibb Fire
tiles and a considerable amount of wa
the room and admitted that he had marijuana, rolling paper and a grinder in his room, but only smoked outside the building.”
The prohibited items were confiscated by Residence Life staff, he added.
The individual was provided the opportunity to give a written statement. “He wrote approximately one paragraph before he said he couldn’t write anymore,” according to Reuss.
Tampering with smoke detectors is a violation of the FSU RAMS Student Handbook and Massachusetts General Law, chapter 148 section 27A.
According to Cochran, the individual is subject to a “community standards hearing” through the Dean of Students’ office.
According to the student code of conduct, found in the RAMS Student Handbook, “The use, possession, sale, distribution, or manufacturing of any illegal drug is prohibited” as well as “the illegal or unauthorized possession, sale, use and/or abuse of any prescription or nonprescription drug.”
The handbook also prohibits the “possession or use of drug-related paraphernalia.”
Chrisos said, “We have insurance on the building and it does cover this, but there is a deductible, so it doesn’t cover everything. We have a $100,000 deductible on all our buildings.”
According to Cochran, “It [the fire] happened on a high floor so the water went down the elevator shaft, on the walls, and down floor by floor all the way down to the ground floor.”
He said maintainers handled the initial cleanup before the MSCBA contracted World Wide Drying Center, a company that specializes in water, fire, smoke, and mold repairs.
He added, “Approximately 70 rooms had moisture readings on them. They [World Wide Drying Center] set up fans and dehumidifiers and they came back for three days re-testing, re-reading … marking the walls with blue tape where moisture readings had been taken.”
According to Chrisos, “There won’t be” a risk of mold forming in the future.”
She added, “That’s why we got World Wide Drying out right away. [They] remove the wet drywall, they do moisture readings, and replace anything that is wet and then they dry out the interstitial spaces between the walls.”
The individual attempted to “re-enter the room but leaves as the smoke in the hallway is getting thicker ... standing with the door open until 1:56:33 p.m.,” according to Reuss’ report.
“The first strobe from the fire alarm activation is seen on camera at 1:56:53 p.m,” he added.
Reuss said there was water coming out of the door to the student’s room and “approximately one quarter inch to half an inch of water was on the floor at this time.”
After FFD arrived, Reuss and the Area Director on duty, David Case, “did a tour of the 6th floor” and discovered water in two rooms.
Reuss added he noticed “water flowing down through the elevator shaft.”
Upon the arrival of an additional fire company, Reuss was asked to “accompany her [Fire Lieutenant] and her company to the first floor fire pump room.”
When Reuss got to the first floor, he said he saw “water coming out of the elevator shaft and pooling on the floor.”
He added, “I also noted water coming out of room 111… I opened the door to room 111, which is a telecom room, and noted damage to the ceiling
Sunday night Sept. 22
Partly cloudy, with a low around 50. North wind around 10 mph.
Monday Sept. 23
Partly sunny, with a high near 65. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
ter going into the building, along with a strong odor of smoke.”
Although no official charges have been filed against the student, Reuss stated that Detective Denise Duguay interviewed the individual whose room was the fire’s point of origin, adding he was read his “Miranda Rights once the recorder started.”
According to Reuss’ statement, the individual did not call FFD or FSUPD after witnessing the fire “as he ‘guessed’ that FSUPD would be responding as the fire alarm was sounding.”
Reuss stated the individual “admitted to climbing onto his bed and dresser and covering the smoke detector with a plastic bag, as he was concerned that the alarm would go off every time he lit a candle in the room.”
Additionally, the individual “stated that he lit the candle prior to leaving” so “his room would smell of ‘teakwood’ from the candle,” according to the student’s statement.
Photos were taken at the scene, some of which depicted the “smoke detector covered by a bag … along with a candle and various smoking products,” Reuss added.
He wrote that the individual “was asked about the smoking materials in
Meg Nowak Borrego, vice president of student affairs and dean of students, would neither confirm nor deny whether the individual in question was an RA at the time of the fire, is still enrolled, or if the individual could be facing criminal charges for damages.
As for the estimated cost of damages, Nowak Borrego said, “I believe it’s
Students who were displaced by the damage moved into Linsley Hall. Cochran said, “There were 55 people displaced - that’s early arrivals, the area director, Joe Barbagallo, and his wife.”
Niemi said, “I was glad that it was before the year started, only because there were fewer people on campus.”
She added, “That doesn’t negate the
“We understand this was not something that was pleasurable - to be relocated for a period of time - but we’re trying to do our best as a campus community to understand that students were impaired by the situation.”
- Robert Totino Executive Vice President & CFO
still being determined, but it’s over $100,000.”
The Massachusetts State College Building Authority (MSCBA) holds the titles for the buildings on campus. MSCBA also holds the insurance to the buildings, according to Janet Chrisos, executive director of the MSCBA.
Monday night Sept. 23
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50. North wind 1 to 5 mph.
Tuesday Sept. 24
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 65. North wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east in the afternoon.
fact that it affected the folks here, so I was glad we had a place to put them [Linsley].”
Continued on Page 4
Forecast provided by the National Weather Service www.weather.gov
Tuesday night Sept. 24
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Wednesday Sept. 25
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 65. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday night Sept. 25
A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Thursday Sept. 26
A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 70. Chance of precipitation is 30%
Ben Hurney / THE GATEPOST
The second floor hallway of Miles Bibb.
Continued from Page 1
Miles Bibb Fire
Continued from Page 3
According to Robert Totino, chief financial officer (CFO) and vice president of finance, technology, and administration, students impacted will be given a credit “for the burden that they were under.
“We understand this was not something that was pleasurable - to be relocated for a period of time - but we’re trying to do our best as a campus community to understand that students were impaired by the situation,” said Totino.
Dawanee Phanthavong, a sophomore early-arrival student was notified “a couple hours [after the fire] that we would have to move to Linsley until further notice.
“I was in Linsley until Sept. 7 because my room was right next door to the room that caught on fire,” she added.
Phanthavong also said the conditions in Linsley were not ideal.
“The room had cobwebs everywhere, dead bugs, and one of the AC units didn’t work. Our bathroom did
not have a showerhead. We emailed Residence Life to see if they could do anything, but they said that all of the rooms were deep cleaned beforehand,” she said.
She said she was later moved to another room in better condition.
Jaimee Lowe, a sophomore early-arrival student, lived in Linsley for one week. She said on the day of move in, “Once I parked my car, I walked back to Miles Bibb and heard the alarm and then had to wait outside.”
She added the conditions in Linsley were “not great. We were told that there was air conditioning but it barely worked, there was tile that was stripped that looked like there was black mold on the floor, and our shower didn’t work.”
Lowe said the Office of Residence Life “treated me the best they could. They answered all my questions.”
Lexi Beattie, a sophomore, was scheduled to move in to Miles Bibb on Sept. 3. She was “notified on Aug. 28 about the fire through an email from Residence Life.”
Beattie and her roommates lived in
Linsley from Sept. 3 to Sept. 10. She said the conditions in Linsley were “not horrible, but it wasn’t an ideal situation in comparison to living in Miles Bibb.”
Justinne Quinanola, a sophomore early-arrival student, “was told it was only going to be a weekend.” She added, “I was notified on Aug. 16 because I was moving in.”
Quinanola lived in Linsley for a week and a half. She added that Linsley “was dirty and there was a rat in my room.” She did not report either of these issues to Residence Life.
Quinanola’s experience with Residence Life “was fine and they seemed really stressed and like they were doing whatever they could.”
She said, “I felt like the whole situation was dealt with quickly as it happened so close to our move-in date.”
Tabatha McRae, a senior early-arrival student, was relocated to Linsley after the fire. She said it was “frustrating to experience. I was ready to come back to school and then I had to move somewhere else.”
McRae added Linsley felt isolated
from the rest of campus. “It felt weird, almost like I was in a psych[iatric] ward.” She was housed in Linsley for one week.
She did not notice any damage or unsanitary conditions inside of Linsley Hall.
McRae added she has “emailed them multiple times” about receiving compensation for her time in Linsley, but has not received a response.
Niemi said, “We take [safety] seriously. We’re responsible for making sure that everybody on campus is safe and protected.”
Members of the FSU community can contact FSUPD through an anonymous tip line by texting “FSUTip” to 67283 to report any unlawful activity. FSUPD can also be reached 24/7 at (508) 6264911.
CONNECT WITH DYLAN PICHNARCIK dpichnarcik@student.framingham.edu
CONNECT WITH KAITLIN CARMAN kcarman@student.framingham.edu
Fund proposals discussed at first SGA meeting of the year
By Adam Harrison Asst. News Editor
The Student Government Association discussed student concerns and Menorah Club’s funding request on Sept. 17.
Vice President Cesar Matos looked to approve the minutes from the previous meeting and yielded the floor to open forum.
Senior Raena Doty, a sitting member on the General Education Advisory Board Committee, said they are discussing the implementation of an overlay for a potential diversity requirement.
“We really want student voices on defining what this diversity requirement will mean,” she said.
Doty said the committee is trying to require every student to have a formalized learning environment for diversity.
She said if any student has “a vested interest in that, I am definitely a person to talk to about that.”
Senior Tony Sims said the paved area between Horace Mann Hall and May Hall is unsafe for students due to cars speeding and no way for students to cross.
It presents “significant risk” because of “people speeding through there, which could lead to unfortunate accidents,” he said.
Sims said he would be interested in the possibility of installing a speed bump in the area, or creating a crosswalk.
Senator Raffi Elkhoury said he emailed Dan Giard, director of facilities operations, Office of Facilities & Capital Planning, and that will “provide an update at our next meeting regarding what he says.”
A crosswalk was painted in the area by Facilities at around noon on Wednesday, Sept.18.
President Evelyn Campbell discussed expectations for officers and senators, as well as SGA as a whole, and said, “The main purpose of us is to advocate for student voices and
bridge gaps between the administration and the student body to better the life here for everyone.”
Matos said his responsibility as vice president is to oversee the student affairs committee meeting (SAC), and oversee the clubs and organizations on campus.
Jeremy McDonald, student trustee, said his role is to “come to student government, bring the voices that you all have to the Board of Trustees and to represent them and their voices back to student government.”
Aimee Takouda, treasurer, said her responsibility is to go over club funding requests.
“If they [student organization] come up short of the money they need, like getting events funded, they come to us,” she said.
Liv West, outreach and events coordinator, said she plans events, makes flyers, and works on social media.
West said she runs an outreach and events committee meeting 10:3011:15 on Wednesdays.
“If you have any good ideas and want to see specific things on campus, you should really join,” she said.
Matos said the secretary and diversity and inclusion officer positions are still unfilled.
Advisor Meghan Larkin said the Menorah Club requested $999 dollars for the construction of a Sukkah that will stand during the holiday of Sukkot.
The Sukkah is a temporary shelter “that Jews build and use during the Jewish festival of Sukkot. They are symbolic shelters that the Israelis lived in while wandering the desert after leaving Egypt,” she said.
Larkin said the club will have four separate events using the Sukkah. The events are building the Sukkah, holding a group luncheon, a joint-club event, and deconstructing it.
Elkhoury said SGA has voted against funding the Christian Fellowship’s request for prayer cards because they were not open and accessible to all students.
“I’m pretty sure that that’s the precedent SGA has on this issue … because I don’t think we should approve this event if we didn’t approve that one,” he said.
Jeremy McDonald said he spoke with Ann McDonald, executive staff, office of chief of staff and general counsel, and secretary to the Board of Trustees, as well as President Nancy Niemi, and “brought up this issue. They both were of the opinion that open and accessible - especially with Ann’s legal background - would apply to an event like this.”
This includes how they allow every student to attend the events “despite the fact that not all would practice Judaism, or have necessarily [an understanding of] the significance of the structure,” he said.
Sims said SGA should give this request consideration “if there’s a legitimate demand for this, so long as they agree to be open to everyone, regardless of religion, non-religion, and anything else.”
Elkhoury said, “My bigger concern is that you don’t want to approve one religious event, and then not approve another. So I don’t want to approve a religious event, and then come the end of the semester, we’re out of money.”
McDonald said the responsibility is on the finance committee to determine how much money to give out.
Takouda said the finance committee will ask the representatives questions regarding the event, and determine if they should receive their funding.
“We have numerous questions, like, ‘How do you make your event accessible to the campus?’ ‘Who’s going to be there?’ ‘How many people do you estimate will be there?’” she said.
Sims suggested SGA offer Menorah Club the means to fundraise if they don’t approve their funding request.
Matos said he has looked for what other schools have done in regards to funding religious or religiously affiliated groups.
He said, “Oftentimes, it doesn’t seem like they do fund them, but instead rely on the club’s means to fundraise for themselves.”
“When it comes to that being practical in terms of allowing the club to take on events and coordinate gatherings together, I feel like being able to have funds is an important part of any organization or club,” Matos said.
Student Anna Julia Riberio said although the event would be accessible and open to everyone, not as many would attend because the religious tradition doesn’t apply to them.
“The religious clubs are open for everyone, but even so, there are separate groups because not everyone who goes here has the same religion,” she said.
Student Alix Ayoup said the estimated number of students attending the event should be factored in the decision.
“I think the amount of inclusion from people both outside and inside the club should be considered,” she said.
Sims said SGA should treat all clubs the same, and they shouldn’t have different standards for religious and nonreligious clubs.
“I think that could be misconstrued as something that we really don’t want to be construed as,” he said.
Elkhoury said, “I think we should treat all clubs the same.”
He said this club was formed at the end of Spring 2024 semester, and this is their first event.
“So if they’ve never even put on an event before, we should all consider whether we feel comfortable giving them $1,000 for an event that might get zero attendance,” he said.
[ Editor’s note: Raena Doty is an Arts & Features editor for The Gatepost. ]
Remembering JJ Facey
By Sophia Harris Editor-in-Chief
Framingham State student and soccer prodigy Jason Facey, Jr. died suddenly last month from a previously unknown medical condition.
Eighteen-year-old Facey died on August 19 after his first soccer practice at FSU from hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM).
HOCM is a significant cause of sudden cardiac death in young people, including well-trained athletes. It can be difficult to diagnose and unfortunately, HOCM is often not diagnosed until a significant cardiac event has occurred. The condition often results in obstruction of blood flow in the heart, the family’s GoFundMe states.
Framingham State Men’s Soccer Coach Adam Gabbard said he has known Facey since he was around eight or nine years old through coaching soccer. He said Facey started playing for the club he was a coach for as well as the New England Revolution Academy.
“He was constantly in and out of programs that I worked for, and I always stayed in contact with him throughout his high school career, just kind of knowing at some point when I got an opportunity to be a head coach, he was definitely one of
the guys on my radar,” Gabbard said. “Not even just for his playing ability, but the type of locker room guy he is.”
Gabbard said ever since he met Facey through coaching, he was looking forward to the day when he could watch him play in college.
“He truly represented the perfect type of student athlete that any school would want. A great, great, great guy. Always in a great mood. Always willing to help everybody,” Gabbard said. “It’s definitely a big loss, not only to our program, but to his family. He was certainly somebody who would literally touch everybody, as he has.”
Gabbard said Facey had “every good quality” a person could have.
He said Facey’s death was a big shock to the FSU community and men’s soccer team.
He said the men’s soccer players have been leaning on each other for support and offering to support Facey’s family as well.
“After a huge tragedy that nobody anticipated, it’s been, obviously, tough, but the support of the community and everybody in the area has been really helpful,” Gabbard said.
Gabbard said the entire men’s soccer team attended the services for Facey. At every game since his death, the opposing team has offered a moment of silence for Facey and the
“He truly represented the perfect type of student athlete that any school would want. A great, great, great guy. Always in a great mood. Always willing to help everybody.”
- Adam Gabbard
FSU Men’s Soccer Coach
grieving players.
He said the coaching staff and the team have appreciated the kindness from other universities and athletes.
“The support has been great from the entire soccer community.”
Facey’s parents and sister attended the first FSU home soccer game of the season.
“At least for me, knowing him for so long and as the head coach, I still think about it every single day. That really hasn’t changed and I don’t know when that will change,” Gabbard said.
Facey’s family has organized a GoFundMe to raise money for HOCM awareness.
The GoFundMe page states, “JJ was beloved by all who knew him. He was kind, athletic, courageous, inspiring, gentle, smart, loyal, loving, handsome, bright, STRONG, competitive, humble, dedicated, honest, gracious, family-oriented, outgoing, brave, polite, calm, patient, vibrant, charming, funny, happy, stress-free, impactful and always lived life to the fullest. His smile would light up a room. Why so many words? Because he was so many of these to so many people. An amazing young man who exemplified all of these things we have described above.”
The page states, “His condition was treatable but not known due to the lack of required heart checks in any youth, athlete or not. We will fight to ensure that not another boy, girl, man, or woman falls victim to this treatable heart condition.”
It reads, “There are so many individuals like JJ unaware of this heart issue. Our goal is to ensure all children, not just athletic children - have access to preventative treatments such as EKG (electrocardiogram) and an ultrasound of the heart to discover any deformities or maladies in the heart.”
If you are interested in donating to the cause visit, https://gofund.me/ ce247735
Courtesy of Floyd A. Williams Funeral Home
Courtesy of Floyd A. Williams Funeral Home
OP/ED
THE GATEPOST EDITORIAL
Set yourself up for success
Welcome back, Rams!
The Gatepost Editorial Board hopes you had a restful and rejuvenating summer! Coming back to school - whether this is your first year or your final semester - can be stressful and overwhelming.
We have compiled some resources you may not have heard about yet to help ensure you have a successful semester. For a complete list of resources and phone numbers, please consult our sidebar on page 6.
One of the resources that can be used to learn about the latest happenings and news on campus is the student newspaper, The Gatepost.
This newspaper is independently and entirely student run. We report on everything from Board of Trustees meetings, to the reviews of the latest movies, to the homecoming football game, and everything else related to Framingham State. The staff of The Gatepost strive for detail-oriented, unbiased, and fair reporting.
Self-care and wellbeing are important for reducing stress. Recently added resident rejuvenation rooms can be found in every residence hall and offer a place of peace and quiet to get away from the chaos of college life.
The rejuvenation rooms can be reserved by going to the security desk in your building and asking the attendant to sign out the rejuvenation room key card.
If you aren’t a resident student, you could also reserve some time in the Rams Renew Space at the Henry Whittemore Library, which features light therapy, a massage chair, a bluetooth speaker, coloring pages, and more.
If spending time alone isn’t what you’re looking for, you could participate in the weekly Rams Refresh, a group meditation and mindfulness session held every Thursday, 1:45 to 2:15 p.m. in the Center for Inclusive Excellence, located inside O’Connor.
The Rams Refresh is run by S.E.A.L.S peer health mentors. S.E.A.L.S provides a variety of health and wellness resources through outreach on campus - including therapy animal visits, weekly tables in the McCarthy Center, and more. The weekly tables in McCarthy edu-
cate on a number of topics, ranging from getting better sleep to STD prevention.
S.E.A.L.S also stocks the Self Care Vending Machine on the third floor of the McCarthy Center. This vending machine allows students to access ibuprofen and acetaminophen, menstrual products, face masks, condoms, and more free of charge, even when the Health Center is closed.
For when you’re on-the-go or unable to make it to the McCarthy Dining Commons before closing, consider Rams on the Run before DoorDash. If you have a dining plan eligible for Rams on the Run, you can go to Sandella’s in Miles Bibb and choose up to four items, including a drink, in exchange for one meal swipe.
Even when Sandella’s isn’t open on the weekends, you can still access Rams on the Run at the entrance to the McCarthy Dining Commons.
If you ever find yourself in need of supplies such as non-perishable food, toiletries, or winter clothing, the Rams Resource Center (RRC) is here to lend a hand. The RRC is located underneath West Hall, next to the Maynard Parking lot, and is open to any student, faculty, or staff member in need.
While you’re on campus, if you find areas where you believe improvements can be made, consider attending the Student Government Association’s (SGA) open forums - every other Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. - and raising the issue to student leaders.
You should also attend SGA’s semesterly Admin Forums to address the concern directly to administrators who are responsible for improving our campus and student life.
Along with all of these resources available to you as a student, the most important component of your success is the peers in your community. Make connections, join clubs, and create study groups in order to meet classmates and make new friends.
These resources can help you succeed throughout this year, but you have to make a conscious effort to utilize them.
Good luck!
Phone bans - more problem than solution
By Raena Hunter Doty Editorial Staff
In August, The New York Times published an article called “Why Schools Are Racing to Ban Student Phones,” describing new measures put in place to curb phone usage during school hours.
As a college student planning on going into the education field, I feel uniquely qualified to comment on this. I strike a balance between the two groups - teachers and students, who are often posed in diametric opposition to one another - because I identify with both.
Reading this article, I understood where the teachers’ frustration with phone use is coming from and why there’s a push to legislate that phones go in pockets or backpacks or lockers.
But as a student and a future educator, I don’t believe legislation is the right way to solve the problem of phone dependence.
Don’t get me wrong - I believe phone dependence is a serious issue. Most of all, I’m concerned about my own phone dependence. I take active measures to combat this, including using apps to limit screen time and doing my best to keep it out of sight and out of mind.
But if I didn’t recognize my problem, I’d feel violated by someone telling me what to do with my time and property.
Phones aren’t just totems of distraction and vehicles for apps like TikTok and Cookie Clicker. Phones are a means of connection.
As an out-of-state student, I would be entirely disconnected from my family without my phone, not to mention my friends who live in different states and even countries.
It’s logical for me to feel an emotional connection to my phone - and I have to assume that’s true of high school students as well.
The digital generations have been told for our entire lives that phones equal safety. An unanswered text can conjure images of worst-case scenarios. Students don’t want to leave their loved ones in suspense or fear that something went wrong in the middle of the school day - a distinct possibility given the state of gun violence in the country.
Teenagers already often feel out of control in their lives. How many teenagers can’t drive? Don’t have money? Don’t feel secure in the modern political or economic landscape?
Controlling them more will be met with resistance. This makes sense. When forcing them not to use their phones, the most you can ask for is their apathy toward their own lack of agency. And apathy doesn’t make for a good educational environment.
Again, I acknowledge that phone dependence is an issueeven for myself, I’m constantly seeking solutions. But that’s the key - I’m engaged in finding solutions and view it as a positive change.
I don’t mean to make you think I have any answers. I don’t. All I know is this is a multi-faceted problem that will take many small changes, and banning phones isn’t one of them.
We need to make teenagers love learning more than they love spending time on their phones.
We need to make education relevant to their lives.
We need to stop young children from developing phone dependency in the first place - and for that we need to empower parents to have more time and energy to spend with their kids instead of working constant overtime to afford the skyrocketed price of housing and higher education.
If allowing high school students a sense of agency and peace isn’t enough to convince you that banning phones in schools is a bad idea, we also need to allow phones in school because of the simple fact that phones are a part of daily life and students need to learn how to have phones - and other technology - without allowing them to be a distraction.
Most jobs use phones or laptops in some capacity. Quarantining high school students away from distractions will mean they don’t develop good habits for when they enter the workforce. Although I don’t think high school should be all about workforce preparation, it certainly needs to be a component.
Teenagers are people. They’re young people. They’re people who don’t always have the best impulse control. They’re people who are learning to navigate the world - basically, they’re just like anyone else. They deserve dignity and sympathy, and banning phones extends them neither.
Is phone dependence a problem? I would say yes.
But bans are not a solution.
Campus Conversations
“What campus resource has helped you the most?”
By Izayah Morgan, Opinions Editor and Liv Dunleavy, Staff Writer
“The dining hall. Having a place I can go to to get food is really helpful and I am able to have three meals a day.”
-Aidan Lee, freshman
“CASA has helped me the most. They make sure I stay on top of my game, gave me a good schedule, and kept me out of trouble.”
-Alexandre Francois, sophomore
“The gym. I got stronger.”
-Jeury Barbosa, sophomore
“Being able to use the library as a quiet place to study. As a commuter student, I have breaks in between my classes and a lot of homework to get done. So just being able to go there and work is great.”
-Emma-Claire Vanderslice, freshman
and
“Probably the library. It gives me a spot to get my work done. It’s been a really helpful resource for me.”
-Matthew DeCarney, freshman
We’re not who we used to be
By Izabela Gage Editoral Staff
I have never been one to believe in second chances.
Forgiving someone who hurt you is difficult to overcome. Regaining that trust isn’t a simple process either. I’ve never understood the act of letting go of the pain and allowing them to walk back into your life so easily.
Like everyone else, I’ve been hurt by close friends, past significant others, and even family members. I’ve never really given second chances to anyone who wanted one. My mind was closed off to the idea of forgiving and forgetting.
The anxiety of giving a second chance and being vulnerable again, just to end up in the same pain I had already experienced, was terrifying.
I have grown to realize second chances aren’t always black and white. They are never guaranteed, but they can be earned.
In my past experiences, I didn’t give second chances because no one worked hard enough to build trust again. People ended up giving up when they got bored of my nerves and anxiety.
None of them had earned it or proved they wanted to fix their mistakes. They gave empty apologies to lift the guilt off of their shoulders, in hopes the words “I’m sorry” would
easily heal the wound they made.
The right person will work toward your forgiveness. They will prove they deserve your trust again if they truly want it.
Apologizing and acknowledging mistakes is a simple but huge step toward rebuilding what the relationship used to be.
Trying a friendship or relationship again means removing the aspects that made it fail in the first place. It means understanding the actions one made that hurt the relationship. It’s acknowledging the mistakes made and the pain caused - wanting to help heal the heart you broke.
This is everyone’s first time living. No one makes the correct decision every time - it’s expected that we’ll mess up a time or two. We wouldn’t be human if we were perfect.
Forgiving is a beautiful thing, and rebuilding a bridge that once was burned is healing. It might take a while, there’s no need to rush the process, but the right person will make it worthwhile.
Change is necessary to regain trust. You can’t have the same variables and expect a different outcome. The bridge will be different the second time, but that means it’s improved.
I now believe forgiving does not go hand and hand with forgetting. My brain holds onto the memory of the
hurt because it altered my life in one way or another.
However, I choose to forgive. I choose to let go of the anger, sadness, confusion, and pain. Without letting go, the weight of those feelings will break the rebuilt bridge effortlessly.
The right people, who are willing to accept their mistakes and learn from them, are worth the second chance.
Not everyone will take accountability for their actions and put in the effort to fix what they did.
If you’re lucky enough to earn a second chance, don’t mess it up. Don’t destroy the rebuilt bridge, it’s worth more than the one that got burned. The third chance might never come around.
“The gym because it is free
it mentally helps students when you’re stressed to go to the gym.”
-Cece Gonzalez, freshman
Courtesy of Izabela Gage
Bold , italicized , a coward’s lie
By Alexis Schlesinger Editorial Staff
Just like my peers, I have grown up in an “age of technology.” Though there are a lot of great things about it, it can have a lot of negative impacts.
Now, by no means am I here to preach to you about the dangers of “too much screen time” - that is not what I take issue with.
My problem is with a trend I’ve noticed since I began participating in social media - the strange phenomenon of people posting things for others to see without naming them.
It is never in a pleasant context.
The main goal of this type of post seems to be getting a point across to a specific person, as accurately as possible, without tagging them or including their name.
This never made sense to me.
As someone who has very strong social and emotional perception, I find it very easy to recognize when I am the target of this. It has happened a couple times in the past few years.
The strangest part of this trend is that the people perpetuating this behavior do so on their private social media - private stories on Snapchat, close friends stories on Instagram, etc.
Social media, and technology in general, has simultaneously made this generation more bold and more cowardly.
I don’t necessarily believe in “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all” - that’s impossible. What I do believe in, however, is “If you can’t say it to my face, don’t
say anything at all.”
Maybe the reason you can’t say something to someone’s face is because you are scared of them. It could be you want to form a meaningful connection with them later on despite your feelings now. Maybe they’re your coworker or someone your friends adore despite your hatred toward them.
Unfollow them on social media. “Hate following” is such a strange thing that our generation takes part in. Similarly, remove yourself from shared spaces in real life. You don’t have to force yourself to interact with people you don’t like. Compromise. Ask yourself, “What is the point in purposefully making yourself miserable by viewing another person’s life
Regardless of your reasoning, posting something nasty with the intention of it reaching them “without being too obvious” is pointless.
Here are things you can do instead:
Resources
FSU Police Department - (508) 626-4911
Blue Lights
-Located all over campus
-If you are ever felling unsafe you can press the call button and it connects to FSU PD
FSU Tip Line
-If you have information that you believe the FSU Police should know but you want to share it anonymously, text the FSU Tipe Line
-Text the tip including the word “FSUTIP” to 67283
Parking Office
-Framingham State University Police McCarthy Center -(508) 626-4911
ID Office
-In the Lobby of University Police McCarthy Center -(508) 626-4899
Health Center - Foster Hall - (508) 626-4900
Self Care Vending Machine - McCarthy Center
Amazon Lockers
highlights?”
That is precisely what our social media pages are, our highlights. You will not find any satisfaction or happiness in continuing to keep up with
- Under West Hall Across from Rams Resource Center
Student Transportation Center - (508) 215-5920 IT Help Desk
- Henry Whittemore Library
- (508) 215-5960
Fitness Classes
- Schedule for group exercsice class available on Athletic Dept. website
Rams Resource Center
- Under West Hall across from Amazon Locker
- Contact through the Dean of Students (508) 626-4596
CASA
- Pierce Hall Annex
- Provides tutoring and academic coaching Disability/Access Services
- disabilityservices@framingham.edu.
Nutritionist - Leah Forristall, RD, LDN is available to give students consultations on varying nutritional needs - leah.forristall@sodexo.com
someone you refuse to root for.
Consider starting a journal or a diary, as some thoughts are best kept private. Posting nasty things about people that are generally well-liked isn’t going to leave you with a great reputation.
Another key point of social mediapeople are always watching.
Consider seeing a therapist. If you feel upset by another person, this is a great outlet to let all your feelings out. Talking to a living, breathing person who is there to listen to your feelings and help you process them will be good for you.
I don’t want to come off as a hypocrite. The purpose of this article is not to criticize any particular person, but to criticize the general phenomenon of “hate following” and “vague posting.”
However, if you do feel called out, maybe you should re-evaluate your actions.
I think we would all be a lot happier if we worried less about other people. Start being more concerned with how you can live an easier life, a less miserable life. You will enjoy yourself more if you don’t base your satisfaction on other people’s misery.
There is more to enjoy in life than the downfall you wait to watch, but may never come.
I will leave you with this. If you cannot say something to someone’s face, then they have already won. Don’t be a loser. @ me.
Dining Commons - McCarthy Center
- Mon. - Thurs.
Breakfast: 7:30am - 10:30am
Lunch: 11:30am - 2:30pm
Dinner: 4:30pm - 7:30pm
UCook: 11:00am - 9:00pm
Magellan’s: 7:30am - 7:30pm - Fri.
Breakfast: 7:30am - 10:30am
Lunch: 11:30am - 2:30pm
Dinner: 4:30pm - 7:00pm
UCook: 11:00am - 9:00pm
Magellan’s: 9:30am - 7:00pm -Sat. - Sun.
Brunch: 9:30am - 2:30 pm
Dinner: 4:30pm - 7:00pm
UCook: 11:00am - 9:00pm
Magellan’s: 9:30am - 7:00pm
Ram’s Den Grille - McCarthy Center
- Mon. - Fri. 11am - 11pm
- Sat. - Sun. 6pm - 11pm
Snack Bar - McCarthy Center
- Mon. - Thurs. 8am - 6pm
- Fri. 8am - 3pm
Dunkin’ - McCarthy Center
- Mon. - Fri. 7am - 3pm
Sandella’s - Miles Bibb Hall
- Mon. - Fri. 11am-10pm
- Ram’s on the Run
Red Barn Café - Henry Whittemore
Library
- Mon. - Thurs 8am - 2pm
- Fri. 8am - 1pm
Ramsey Bags
- Get text notifications if there is ever leftover catering and you can get some for free
- TEXT fRAMilyeats to 82257
Infographic by Associate Editor Maddison Behringer
Courtesy of Alexis Schlesinger
SPORTS
Volleyball leads conference, sets sights on success
By Izabela Gage Asst. Sports Editor
Framingham State Volleyball hosted a doubleheader against Western New England University and Elms College Sept. 7.
The Rams unfortunately lost in three straight sets to the WNE Golden Bears with scores of 25-14, 25-12, and 25-15.
Framingham State tallied 18 kills, with middle hitters Natalie Reynolds and Sabrina Stadelman totaling seven and six kills, respectively. Outside hitter Jaimee Lowe totaled five kills. Stella Bailey, a setter, racked up 19 assists.
Captain Carly Beaulieu defended the back row with 12 digs, and Lowe contributed with nine of her own.
Lowe said the team is “keeping the mindset to push each other and work hard to get the MASCAC champion title again.”
“We’re improving our consistency - that’s the name of the game for us right now,” said Bailey.
The Rams came back for redemption against the Elms Blazers and swept them with scores of 25-12, 2522, and 25-14.
Reynolds stayed consistent with 10 kills on 19 attempts for a hitting percentage of .421. Outside hitter Sarah Medeiros supported and tallied eight kills on 16 attempts with only one error for a .438 attack percentage. Lowe supported the team with another four kills.
Defensive specialist Anneli DiVirgilio dominated defense at the start with nine digs and two aces. Beaulieu came in with six digs and a team best of six aces at the end of the game.
Lowe contributed five digs and four aces to the game.
Bailey tallied 21 assists, besting her own performance in the game against WNE. She also put up seven digs to help with defense.
Stadelman said, “We’ve really come together as a team, communicating. I feel like we’re getting closer and working better together.
“We’re all pushing each other, and holding each other accountable but also encouraging each other,” she added.
After their win against Elms College, the Rams went on to defeat Mitchell College on their home court Sept. 12.
The Rams traveled to face Husson University and Mount Holyoke College in a non-conference doubleheader Sept. 14. They won against Husson three sets to one before falling to Mount Holyoke three sets to two.
The Rams fell to Suffolk University 3-2 in their most recent matchup Sept. 17.
Lowe said, “We have worked extra hard these past couple of practices to push each other on and off the court, and we are motivated to keep building as a team.”
DiVirgilio and Reynolds earned MASCAC accolades Defensive Player
of the Week and Offensive Player of the Week, respectively, Sept. 16.
The Rams sit atop the MASCAC rankings as of press time with an overall record of 3-5.
Regarding their record, Bailey said, “Last year, we were ranked fourth in the MASCAC preseason poll and we were able to win. So we’re OK with that slow start because we can feel it starting to ramp up right now.”
When asked about what they are improving for their upcoming first conference game, Beaulieu said, “We practice like we play, so we’re always giving 100%.”
She added, “It’s been a huge mo-
tivation with trying to get better and knowing what we can improve on in practices, and bringing that to games.”
The Rams travel to Roger Williams University for a doubleheader Sept. 21. Game one will be against Roger Williams before they meet their first conference opponent, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, for game two.
Stats sourced from fsurams.com and MASCAC.com
CONNECT WITH IZABELA GAGE igage@student.framingham.edu
Field hockey welcomes Bella Kondi to coaching staff
By Sophia Oppedisano Sports Editor
The Framingham State field hockey team has named Bella Kondi to their coaching staff as co-head coach in partnership with Allie Lucenta, the MASCAC 2023 Coach of the Year.
Kondi is a program veteran, having played four seasons with the Rams and receiving three consecutive all-conference selections. She served as a team captain for three of her four seasons with the program.
Kondi anchored the Rams’ offense in 2023, notching 32 points with seven goals and 18 assists. Four of her seven goals were game-winning.
Kaylee Beck, a captain for the 2024 Rams, played alongside Kondi for two years and said she is a “hard-hat player,” which Beck described as a player that exudes the principles and sportsmanship the team has come to value.
“It’s like being a ‘come-with-me’ teammate, and if I could describe Isabella Kondi as anything - it would be the hard-hat,” Beck said.
“When I came onto this team, I just immediately gravitated toward her and I feel like everyone did because she just has that presence about her,” she added.
Athletic Director Thomas Kelley noted Kondi’s “competitive nature”
and said, “She’s going to step [the program] up - with the two of them [Kondi and Lucenta], somebody’s always out recruiting, and that’s the lifeblood of every program.”
Kondi graduated from Framingham State with her graduate degree in May and was officially hired in August when it was proposed that she would be co-head coach alongside Lucenta.
The staff is rounded out by assistant coaches Holly McGovern and Hannah Wilkins.
Lucenta is entering her seventh season with the Rams and has served a pivotal role in rebuilding the program, guiding it to its first conference tournament appearances since 2009.
Kelley said, “I just talked to Bella last week, and she’s been out on the road [recruiting]. I’m very happy with what’s going on with that program, and Allie’s done a fantastic job. We need to do a little more recruiting to get to that next level.”
Kelley said when the department hires alumni, “there’s that connection to the institution, there’s that loyalty, and there’s the love for the school, and I think that drives you harder sometimes.”
Kondi played in the MASCAC championship game last season, which the Rams lost to Worcester State. The shift from player to coach has not dimin-
ished her drive to come back and win the title this season.
“As a player last year, I had this mentality of, ‘I’m going to do whatever I possibly can for this team to do exactly what it needs to get where it needs to go’ - like, ‘I’m going to drive this team as hard as I possibly can,’” Kondi said.
“I’m not out on the field anymore. I can’t be the spark,” she said. “If I’m able to lead [the team] in a direction to want to accomplish [winning a title] and see it come to fruition, I’d start crying with absolute joy - because I think it would mean that I’m doing what I need to do, I’m exactly where I need to be, and these girls are exactly where they need to be.”
Kondi said her goals for her first season as a coach include a MASCAC title, but “I want these girls to fall in love with the game.”
The team currently holds a record of 1-2 with conference play commencing Sept. 20.
The Rams play at Fitchburg State and Eastern Connecticut State Sept. 20 and Sept. 25, respectively. Their next home game is Sept. 28 against Salem State.
“Ultimately, we’re trying to just go one game at a time and achieve as best as we can. I feel like as a coach, that’s a clean slate,” Kondi said.
Stats sourced from fsurams.com and MASCAC.com
CONNECT WITH SOPHIA OPPEDISANO soppedisano@student.framingham.edu
Dylan Pichnarcik / THE GATEPOST
Jaimee Lowe going up for a spike against WNE Sept 7.
Bella Kondi Field hockey Co-Head Coach Courtesy of Bella Kondi
Fall Sports 2024 Need to Know
By The Gatepost Sports Team
Men’s cross country
By Sophia Oppedisano Sports Editor
The men’s cross-country team rounded out its 2023 season with a fourth place finish out of seven teams at the MASCAC championship meet.
Patrick Walsh, the Rams’ top performer at the meet, put up a fourthplace finish on the 8K course. He also earned a spot on the 2023 MASCAC All-Conference Team, which is his third consecutive MASCAC honor.
Walsh, now a graduate student, is returning for the 2024 season as the lone captain of a team brimming with young recruits.
Head Coach Mark Johnson said the program recruited “one of the strongest men’s freshman classes that we’ve ever brought in,” and Walsh’s role is akin to a “big brother.”
“He’s been there, he’s done it, he’s put in the time and effort and led by example,” Johnson said.
The team has grown from its seven athletes last season to 11 with the new recruits.
The first-year class includes Vincent Gauthier, who was named MASCAC Rookie of the Week Sept. 10 and
Women’s soccer
By Kyra Tolley Staff Writer
The Framingham State women’s soccer team finished the 2023 season with a 1-12-2 overall record and a 1-51 conference record.
Victoria Potter, a senior, was named a MASCAC All-Conference player during the 2023 season and is returning to the field this 2024 season as a captain alongside senior Megan McAuliffe.
The Rams have Michael La Francesca coaching in his inaugural season as head coach for the program and they have begun their season at 0-5. They have yet to start conference play.
The MASCAC 2024 preseason poll ranked the Rams in sixth place out of eight teams.
La Francesca spoke of Potter and McAuliffe’s “leadership” and “knowledge of the history of the program.
“My captains and seniors just have been a breath of fresh air,” he said.
McAuliffe said, “We started from a really good place and I think that every practice we have, we build on what we
Aaron Courlette - the Rams’ top finisher in the 5K event at the Hartford Invitational Sept. 7 and the Keene State Alumni Meet Aug. 31, respectively.
The Rams earned the fourth-place spot in the MASCAC preseason poll, an improvement from a steady fifth-place prediction the past two seasons.
“We are a team on the rise,” Johnson said.
The Rams will travel to the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth for the Corsair Invitational meet Sept. 21.
Johnson said the meet will be a good “indicator” for where the team stands in the conference.
“We have an incredible group of athletes who come in day in and day out to show the conference - we are the Rams,” he said.
Volleyball
By Izabela Gage Asst. Sports Editor
In the 2023 season, Rams volleyball ended with a 21-11 overall record and a conference record of 4-3.
They claimed the MASCAC Tournament Champions title, beating Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 3-2. They concluded their season with a loss in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to Ithaca College.
On top of their MASCAC Championship title, sophomore Natalie Reynolds earned the 2023 Rookie of the Year accolade, which helped her gain a spot on the All-Conference Second Team alongside junior Stella Bailey.
Framingham State took second place in the 2024 MASCAC preseason poll out of eight teams, right behind Westfield State, which they beat last year in the MASCAC Semifinals 3-2.
Sophomore Jaimee Lowe said, “Last year’s team set the standard for our program. We are working hard to meet those expectations and show that we want it more than the other team on the other side of the net. Our mindset is to put ourselves in the best position to win the MASCAC again.”
Football
By Riley Crowell Asst. Sports Editor
have and our new players are bringing in more and more skill.
“We care the most about character and who we are as a team - it’s not necessarily about the losses. It’s about how we act after the losses,” she added.
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) is set to be the Rams’ first conference game of the 2024 season at home Sept. 21.
La Francesca said, “We feel that with all the competition we’ve had so far, we’ve been making adjustments and we feel ready for our first conference game coming up on Saturday.”
In 2023, the Rams shut out MCLA for a 2-0 win early in the season.
“I’m very confident that with the youth on the team and the talent that they have, playing them [MCLA] first is going to light a fire. [The new players are] going to get what it’s like to play in our conference and this will inspire them to keep going because we have a lot coming after that,” McAuliffe said.
The Framingham State football team finished the 2023 season with a 5-4 overall record and a 5-3 conference record.
Framingham State football currently holds a record of 0-2, with losses to Husson University and Vermont State University-Castleton.
The Rams are led by 17th-year Head Coach Thomas Kelley, who possesses a 125-73-1 record at the helm of the Framingham State football program.
Framingham was ranked fourth out of 10 teams in the MASCAC preseason coaches’ poll.
The Rams roster consists of 27 upperclassmen and 70 underclassmen, 53 of whom are freshmen.
As an incoming freshman, Sabrina Stadelman said, “It’s a challenge to live up to. But I’m so glad to be part of a team that works hard at every practice. Always giving 100% effort is a big thing for us. I love being part of that.”
The Rams started the season with a short losing streak of 0-3, which they broke in a sweep against Elms College Sept. 7.
When asked about breaking the losing streak, junior captain Carly Beaulieu said, “It definitely has set a fire under all of us.”
As of press time, the Rams have a 3-5 record and play against the Roger Williams Hawks and the University of Massachusett Dartmouth Corsairs in a doubleheader at Roger Williams University Sept. 21.
Kelley said, “It’s a very young team, the coaching staff is fairly new, the roster is probably 80% brand new, so it’s kind of a fresh start. I’m excited to get a bunch of young guys and see what we can do with them.”
One of the aforementioned freshmen is starting quarterback Treyvon Fields.
Fields threw for 167 yards on 15 completions against Husson, with two passing touchdowns and zero interceptions.
Fields followed up that performance by throwing for 124 yards on 12 completions against Vermont State-Castleton, with two passing touchdowns and one interception.
Kelley said, “He’s athletic, he’s a very bright young man, and he’s pick-
ing up the offense. The future is really bright for him.”
Despite the slow start, Kelley said he remains confident in his team and their ability to fix their mistakes, especially as a young roster.
“They work hard until the final whistle. There’s a lot of things that are fixable,” he said.
“When you’re coaching, challenges are always coming your way, I think the players are up for the challenge,” he added.
Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST Cathryn Cooney in the game against Lasell Sept.5.
Travis Plummer / THE GATEPOST
Elijah Nichols during game against Vermont State-Castleton Sept 14.
Fall Sports 2024 Need to Know
By Riley Crowell Asst. Sports Editor
The Framingham State men’s soccer team finished the 2023 season with an 11-8-1 overall record and a 4-3 conference record.
Framingham State men’s soccer currently holds a record of 0-4-2, losing games against Trinity University, Suffolk University, Hartford University, and Gordon College, and drawing with University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and Clark University.
Framingham is led by first-year Head Coach Adam Gabbard.
The team was ranked fourth out of eight teams in the MASCAC preseason coaches’ poll.
Gabbard said, “I think fourth keeps us hungry. We’re not too high, we’re not too low. It’s exactly where we need to be.”
A standout performer for the Rams so far this season has been sophomore forward Joao De Aquino. De Aquino has scored 5 goals in 4 games for Framingham this season, and won MASCAC Offensive Player of the Week Sept. 9.
“Joao is a big-time player for us, a kid with so much potential that I’ve known about for a little bit now. I actually played against him when I was [coaching] at Bristol Community College last fall,”Gabbard said.
De Aquino spent his freshman year
By Sophia Oppedisano Sports Editor
The field hockey team concluded its 2023 season with an overall record of 11-10 and a loss in the MASCAC Championship game.
The Rams are already gearing up for redemption this season to claim the conference title they narrowly missed.
The Rams took third place in the MASCAC preseason poll after placing
at Massasoit Community College in Brockton before transferring to Framingham this year.
Gabbard said, “I texted him after they announced he was player of the week and said, ‘Joao, great stuff! Congrats on your first player of the week’ … and he said, ‘Coach, this is only the beginning.’”
The Rams possess an exceptionally young roster this season, with 13 underclassmen and only one senior.
Gabbard said, “Our older group has done a great job - in particular, Bryce Borletto-McCray, he’s our captain this year, and Lachlan Forgan is our alternate captain.
“They’ve done a phenomenal job taking these younger players under their wing, and there’s no doubt they’ll continue to do so,” he added.
Despite the slow start, Framingham remains confident and eager to prove themselves this season.
Gabbard said, “What people can really expect is that kind of ‘Never say die’ attitude. We’ve got a bunch of hungry older guys and younger guys who want to prove themselves at this level.”
Women’s cross country
By Sophia Oppedisano Sports Editor
The women’s cross-country team concluded its 2023 season with a third-place finish out of seven teams at the MASCAC Championship meet.
The Rams were led by an eighthplace finish from Kate Buban in the 5K event. She was followed by teammate Meghan Johnston, who finished 14th.
Buban, a sophomore, and Johnston, a junior, are two of the Rams’ captains for the 2024 season. They are joined by junior Lydia Marunowski.
Head Coach Mark Johnson said this is the first time in his career he has named a sophomore as a captain.
Buban swept the women’s cross-country MASCAC honor of Rookie of the Week every week of the 2023 season. She was subsequently named MASCAC’s Rookie of the Year and named to the All-Conference Team.
She is starting her season with the honor of MASCAC’s Runner of the Week Sept. 10.
“To me, honor means having respect and admiration from others. I put the time and effort into running on the daily. It’s nice to see my hard work paying off,” Buban said.
The Rams boast a young roster with an absence of seniors, although the Rams posted strong showings in their
first two meets and were ranked third in the MASCAC preseason poll.
Johnson said this is the highest the women’s team has been ranked in the poll in recent years.
“It’s nice that some of the other coaches at other schools are starting to acknowledge that we’re a building program,” he said.
Among their three first-year recruits is Grace Avery, who was named MASCAC Rookie of the Week Sept. 3. She competed in the two-mile course with a time of 13:43 at Keene State Aug 31.
Avery said the MASCAC honor “motivates me to compete more with not only other teams, but myself. It allows me to push myself every day and I have found myself showing up to practice every day with a smile on my face.”
The Rams are back to competing Sept. 21 at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth for the Corsair Invitational 5K, where the seven MASCAC teams will be competing.
Buban said she is “hopeful that both the men’s and women’s teams will turn some heads. I am looking forward to a fun and successful season.”
second in the poll last season. The Rams are seeded behind the reigning MASCAC Champions, Worcester State, and Westfield State, which the Rams beat in a double-overtime win to earn their spot in the championship match against Worcester.
Senior captain Kaylee Beck said the ranking will serve to “kick our team
into overdrive.
“It’s going to make us think, fine, we’ll just have to beat you again,” she said.
Among the returners for the Rams is sophomore forward Ashley Malmquist. It was Malmquist who secured the Rams’ spot in the championship game last season with the overtime
game-winning goal in the semi-final.
Malmquist earned MASCAC Rookie of the Year and All-Conference First Team honors after putting up 32 points including a team-high 13 goals and six assists last season.
Returning to the helm for the Rams is Co-Head Coach Allie Lucenta, who earned MASCAC Coach of the Year at the conclusion of last season. Lucenta will be joined this season by Co-Head Coach Bella Kondi.
Beck said the coaching staff is a “great oiled machine” and “they all bring something different to the table.”
Kondi said the coaching staff is aiming for a winning record, player recognition, and ultimately, a MASCAC title.
“I would like to have some more recognition of our players because we have so many utility players,” she said.
The Rams return to the field for games at Fitchburg State and Eastern Connecticut State on Sept. 20 and Sept. 25, respectively.
The team returns home for conference play and a mental health awareness game against Salem State Sept. 28.
Football falls to Vermont State-Castleton in home opener
By Riley Crowell Asst. Sports Editor
The Framingham State Rams lost their home opener to the Vermont State-Castleton Spartans 32-13 Sept. 14.
Framingham’s loss drops their record to 0-2 after a 56-14 loss to Husson University Sept. 7.
Vermont State-Castleton entered the matchup 1-0, following a 14-12 victory over Norwich University Sept. 7.
The Rams came out of the gates hot, stopping the Spartans on their first drive.
Framingham’s offense then put together a 61-yard drive, capped off by a 25-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Treyvon Fields to wide receiver Elijah Nichols, to take the lead 6-0.
Unfortunately for the Rams, the momentum from the touchdown immediately swung Castleton’s way, as they blocked the extra point attempt by kicker Matthew Farley and returned it to the end zone, cutting the Framingham lead to 6-2.
The Spartans took that momentum and ran with it, scoring a touchdown on a pass from quarterback Wes Cournoyer to wide receiver Caezar Williams to take a 9-6 lead over the Rams in the first quarter.
The second quarter was uneventful
for Framingham, as they were forced to punt on all three of their offensive drives.
Vermont State-Castelton took advantage of the quiet effort from the Rams’ offense, finding the end zone once again on a pass from Cournoyer to Williams, to extend their lead over the Rams to 16-6 at halftime.
Halftime proved to be a needed reset for Framingham. They received the ball to start the second half and Fields connected with Nichols once again on a 29-yard touchdown pass, cutting the Spartans lead to 16-12.
Farley converted the extra point, bringing the score to 16-13.
It was all Spartans the rest of the way. The remaining Rams offensive drives resulted in two punts, a fumble, and an interception.
A 30-yard field goal by Vermont State-Castleton kicker Eydan Linares extended their lead to 19-13 with 3:04 remaining in the third quarter.
Cournoyer and Williams connected on a 7-yard pass for their third touchdown of the game, extending the Spartans’ lead to 26-13 with 8:34 remaining in the fourth quarter, following a successful extra point from Linares.
The final points of the game were scored by Castleton with 3:33 remaining in the fourth quarter, as running back Christian Keeling found the end zone on a 10-yard rush, bringing the
Spring 2024 Recap
final score to 32-13.
Framingham’s head coach, Thomas Kelley, said, “I thought it was a game we could have won.
“That was a team that had a lot of grad students, a lot of seniors and juniors, so there’s a lot of experience there,” he added.
The Rams have shown promise in both games so far, but have struggled with consistency.
Kelley said, “We still haven’t played 60 minutes of football in the first two weeks.
“We’ve got to coach harder. Players have to pick up the intensity a little bit. We just haven’t played a full game yet, and it’s not going to get any easier,” he added.
Penalties were a massive difference maker in the game. The Spartans were only penalized twice, for a total of six yards, whereas the Rams were penalized nine times, for a total of 84 yards.
Kelley said, “They played mistake-free football, while we’re still getting our nine to ten penalties a game. So we’ve got to clean that up. And that’s my fault and my responsibility.
“We’ve got to mature. Hopefully sooner rather than later, because we don’t have time to be young. We have to figure it out, or it’s going to be a long month,” he added.
The Rams travel to University of Massachusetts Dartmouth for a MAS-
CAC matchup Sept. 20.
Travis Plummer / THE GATEPOST Makoto Uchikawa during the game against Vermont State-Castleton Sept 14.
Stats sourced from fsurams.com and MASCAC.com
CONNECT WITH RILEY CROWELL rcrowell@student.framingham.edu
ARTS & FEATURES
Mazmanian Gallery hosts ‘Drawing in HMart’
By Francisco Omar Fernandez Rodriguez Arts & Features Editor
On Sept. 11, a reception and short lecture for the “Drawing in HMart” exhibit was held by the Mazmanian Gallery.
At the gallery were refreshments during the initial reception. Afterward attendees were led to the Faculty and Staff Dining Room to hear the artist, Cathy Della Lucia, give a lecture about her work and experiences.
Professor of Art and Director of the Mazmanian Gallery, Ellie Krakow, introduced Della Lucia with a short biography.
She said Della Lucia is a sculptor born in South Korea who focuses on themes of “impermanence, unbelonging, and the construction of identity, drawing on her experience as a transracial adoptee.”
Della Lucia has exhibited her work in the U.S., Denmark, and South Korea, Krakow said. She added Della Lucia “holds a B.A. in studio art from Xavier University and an M.F.A. in sculpture from Boston University.”
She said Della Lucia is “a beloved former visiting lecturer from Framingham State University and currently is an assistant professor at Boston College, teaching sculpture and 3D design.”
Della Lucia began sharing her experiences. After going to graduate school and attempting to find a teaching position in Ohio, she received no offers and returned to Boston, she said.
Eventually, she got an email from Framingham State, which led to her interview and her first teaching job in Boston, she added.
She said she worked alongside Krakow, who was teaching sculpture at the time. She had guidance both in teaching and in doing creative practices in an expensive city like Boston.
Della Lucia said the clay-like sculptures on display in the Mazmanian Gallery actually do not have any clay in them, though that was not the intention.
During her process, she found a balance between using clay and using wood, she said. Clay was faster, but messing up could mean failure for the whole piece, she explained. But while she had to learn how to use wood, and it was much slower, it could be fixed, she said.
“If you work with ceramics you know that failure is a natural part of the material, of the medium. You’re almost a collaborator with failure,” she said, adding wood could be glued back together, or recut. “Sure, it was moving, but it wasn’t going to move beyond my control.”
She also discussed working with wood, porcelain, and clay in the same
pieces. The clay parts are done beforehand, while the wood is built around the clay.
Della Lucia explained the history behind “Privacy Gate with Invisible Leg,” presenting pictures of the piece to the audience. She said it was “born out of frustration.”
Due to the location of her studio, she explained she needs to walk outside frequently. Doing so in that area can be unsafe due to “some unsavory humans.” She said she thinks about how she’s a young Asian woman working by herself.
“How do I exist in this space?” she asked.
It is an area where men catcall her, Della Lucia said. “It’s something that you work up, you work up and you know it’s coming, and they’re a block away, and I start to get angry, and I’m already angry, working my way up to it.” She said it makes her feel extremely uncomfortable.
There was one time, she said, when she was dressed in an all green jumpsuit with work boots and messy hair.
“And the guys turn to me, he goes, ‘Oh, you a bad bitch,’ and it was just so unexpected. I expected something else, but it made me laugh out loud.”
She said both of the men laughed, and they continued on their day, but it was like the shattering of a gate or even armor mixed with the built-up frustration.
The sculpture, or gate, relies on a wall in order to stand up at all, she said. It symbolizes a “private public place,” such as a standard public bathroom, she added. They have some privacy, but people can still see through the cracks and such, she explained.
Later on, Della Lucia shared a piece she said is based on her experience at a golf course. Her friends had started
going, but she felt extremely out of place. She added it’s a sport where the athletes are expected to wear collared shirts and clean shoes, which was different from what she was used to.
“It’s being an adult, and feeling like you’ve established yourself, and then being reminded in these spaces that you don’t belong, right?” Della Lucia said.
She showed another piece, one that she said she inherited from the woodworker who first taught her. She wanted to create a sculpture that would go with this unfinished piece - they would need each other to stand up.
One piece was even made as a result of a fight at a yellow light, she said. “I was upset for a long time and I wanted to draw that out, get all that anger, all the things you wish you could say in a fight, and I put it into the sculpture right there.”
Della Lucia discussed how she uses digital technology in her work. She said she found ways for it to help her work faster and to help her pieces grow. She also uses digital fabrication, she added.
By programming a laser cutter to match the gradient of a grayscale photo, the laser “can etch some real depth into the material itself,” she said.
She usually starts her pieces by drawing. Some examples she showed were done at the grocery store, she added. One detail that she focuses on are fish with no tails, she said.
There was even one of the inside of her fridge, she said. “This is the inside of my refrigerator, and I wanted to show you this so you can actually see they’re not just totally random drawings. There is decision making on what to follow, what not to follow.”
Afterward, she’d enlarge the drawing, which helps her learn more about
it, she said.
She showed a drawing of ground beef. She said it was not a drawing over the beef, like much of her drawings are, but just a reference to it.
During the process, she tries to find a form that “translates” accurately, she said. Around this point the sculpture shifts, and the drawing is lost, she added.
Della Lucia said the pieces on display in the gallery are actually parts of one larger work. It was created with the idea of the “part of the whole” relationship existing both within one piece and across different shows, she said.
The piece in the gallery is about a relationship with food, she added. She said it’s also about drawing in order to better navigate, observe, and understand.
“It’s drawing to understand time, of setting time, setting boundaries, pacing, as well as to draw connections between different spaces and different times,” she added.
Della Lucia said it’s important that her sculptures can easily come apart and be put back together.
“It’s knowing through touching, it’s knowing through doing, fumbling through making, and it’s the discovery of what happens when things collide and they don’t fit perfectly together,” she said.
The exhibition will be available for viewing until Oct. 25 in the Mazmanian Gallery.
CONNECT WITH FRANCISCO OMAR FERNANDEZ RODRIGUEZ ffernandezrodriguez@ student.framingham.edu
Raena Hunter Doty / THE GATEPOST
Attendees discussing the installation “Drawing in HMart” by Cathy Della Lucia in the Mazmanian Gallery Sept. 11.
Daniel Greene gives timeline of American knowledge throughout the Holocaust
Curator of the ‘Americans and the Holocaust: What Did Americans Know?’ exhibit gives keynote address
By Ryan O’Connell Associate Editor
Daniel Greene, the subject matter knowledge expert at the United State Holocaust Memorial Museum and curator of the “Americans and the Holocaust: What Did Amer- icans Know?” exhibit gave a keynote presentation about domestic reactions to the Holocaust, Sept. 18.
The traveling exhibition, which is only visiting 50 libraries as part of its 2024-2026 tour, will stay at FSU until Oct. 11.
Greene said the goal of the exhibition is to ask difficult questions, and if attendees leave troubled by some of the questions they have, that’s a good outcome.
“I’m not up here to tell you exactly what to think about this history, but to tell you that it is important to think about this history,” he said.
Greene said the main question the exhibition set out to answer was “What did Americans know about the persecution and murder of Europe’s Jews in real time during the 1930s and ’40s, and when did they know of it?”
He added this led into the more difficult question: “Why didn’t rescue of Jews trying to escape Germany and other Nazi-occupied lands become a priority for the U.S. Government, or for most Americans?”
Greene said Americans’ responses to the Holocaust cannot be understood without first understanding domestic conditions prior to WWII.
He first started with a photo of a blind WWI veteran taken in the 1930s, and said the U.S. at the time was a very isolationist nation which regretted involvement in the first World War.
He added the United States was also a nation of mounting white supremacy, noting the pageantry and violence the Ku Klux Klan used in order to restrict the idea of who could be an American.
America was also still segregated, and struggling with the effects of the Great Depression, he said.
Greene added only after the U.S. began war production did the country begin to recover economically, and also began to start fearing immigrants for the perceived threat of taking American jobs.
“We are a nation of immigrants. We are a land of refuge - that is a story that Americans tell themselves that has some truth to it,” he said. “And we are also a nation that closes our doors to immigrants.”
He added both of these are true, and he wants the exhibition to encourage attendees to think about these two contradictory truths, and how central immigration is to both America and its response to Nazism.
Greene said that in 1933, following Hitler’s rise to power, the advanced democracy of Germany crumbled quickly. American newspapers widely reported on the collapse of the German democracy, as well as antisemitism in Germany, he added.
He also shared a Time Magazine cover from July 1933 captioned, “Say it in your dreams: THE JEWS ARE TO BLAME.” The article, he added, explains to American readers that Nazis attribute all the ills of Germany to Jews.
“Now, there’s a danger in looking at something like this, now 90 years later, and saying, ‘Oh, we should have known.’”
Greene said it isn’t fair to say Americans should have predicted genocide,
He said Roosevelt typically did not like to go on the record with reporters, but the week following Kristallnacht, he told reporters at a press conference he wanted to be quoted on the topic.
Greene said he ended his address, printed in many papers, with: “I myself could scarcely believe that such things could happen in a 20th century civilization.”
He added however that when a reporter asked if he would be increasing the number of Jewish refugees entering the country, Roosevelt replied they were “not contemplating that.”
Greene explained immigration laws in the U.S. were extremely restrictive at the time, and were designed to keep Jews and other “undesirable” groups out of the states.
but it also isn’t fair to say they didn’t know how Nazis were treating Jews.
A 1938 public poll of Americans by The Gallup Organization, he said, reported 54% of Americans thought persecution of the Jews in Germany was “partly their fault.” Eleven percent of Americans thought it was “entirely their fault,” he added.
Greene said 1938 was also a turning point due to the Nazi annexation of Austria, and a nationwide, state-sponsored terrorist attack against Jews, Kristallnacht.
The attack saw 30,000 Jewish men arrested and sent to concentration camps, as well as thousands of synagogues and Jewish shops destroyed, he said.
Greene said this was big news in America, and “no matter what newspaper you picked up in November of 1938, you would see headlines [referencing the attack].”
He added this headline also stuck around for two or three weeks at some newspapers, which was rare.
Greene said the exhibit also should inspire questions about presidential leadership, pivoting to the action and inaction taken by President Franklin D. Roosevelt during the Holocaust.
dowed paperwork requirements, and an extremely small pool of available visas per birth year - even smaller for southern and eastern European countries which weren’t considered white.
Greene said even as the war began in Europe following the invasion of Poland in 1939, America was committed to neutrality.
He said this anti-Nazi, yet neutral stance was held until the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.
Greene said opposition to war came most notably from Charles Lindbergh, a famous American pilot who had given advice to the Nazi’s air force on several occasions prior to wartime. Lindbergh made Roosevelt out to be a warmonger, he said.
Greene said Lindbergh threatened increased antisemitism if the U.S. joined the war, and promoted conspiracy theories such as that Hollywood and the press were secretly controlled by Jews.
Greene said Americans learned about the Nazis’ final solution from a 1942 telegraph. The State Department initially dismissed it as a rumor, but began investigating the claim after requested by Rabbi Stephen Wise.
Three months later, the State Department told Wise the rumor was true, but would not publicize the information, Greene said. Wise then told the Associated Press in Washington, D.C., at which point the story became national news.
“If you were paying attention - if you were a person who paid close attention to the news - you could follow this story in real time,” he said. Greene said for Americans the war was about protecting Christianity, the U.S. Constitution and freedoms, and American children. They did not go to war to save Jews, he said.
He added Roosevelt committed no effort to having Congress loosen or change these immigration laws.
“We see this as a moment that is very common in our response to Nazism, which you could kind of boil down to ‘sympathy without action,’” Greene said.
He said this extended to the public as well.
According to a Gallup poll taken two weeks after Kristallnacht, 94% of Americans disapproved of the Nazi’s treatment of Jews, he said. He added, however, that 72% of Americans also said more Jews should not be welcomed into America.
Greene said there were some Americans who did advocate for Jewish refugees, such as Dorothy Thompson, a journalist and writer who recognized the bureaucracy of immigration paperwork was leading to thousands of deaths, and Eleanor Roosevelt, who promoted legislation to accept 10,000 Jewish children into America per year - which was never accepted by Congress.
America also had other harsh restrictions, he said, such as no legal status for refugees, no right to asylum, a slew of expensive and short-win-
In April 1945, American soldiers arrived at concentration camps, and for the first time, visual evidence was provided to the United States, he said. Greene added Dwight Eisenhower, supreme allied commander, wired back to Washington, D.C. after seeing the camps firsthand, “Everything that we’ve read to date has been an understatement.”
In May 1945, Americans had an expected and appropriate celebration of the end of the war, Greene said. An eight-page spread of images taken at concentration camps was published in Life Magazine the same month, he added.
Despite this, results of a poll taken in December 1945, asking Americans if more, fewer, or the same number of European immigrants should be accepted into the country each year, yielded negative results, he said.
Only 5% said “more,” while 37% said “fewer,” he added.
Greene said, “And yet on this question our response to refugees and our response to immigrants - which is so central to American mythology and so central to our self definition as Americans - we actually don’t see any movement as a result of this history, at least immediately after.”
CONNECT WITH RYAN O’CONNELL roconnell1@student.framingham.edu
Ryan O’Connell / THE GATEPOST
Daniel Greene presenting his keynote speech for the “Americans and the Holocaust” exhibit Sept. 18.
ARTS & FEATURES
Mural
Continued from Page 1
“In the act of co-construction, the art becomes much more than the work itself,” she said.
“Framingham State University is committed to being an integral part of the surrounding communities, and this mural that we celebrate today is surely a remarkable public example of this,” Niemi said.
Steven Goler, chief of the Nipmuc Tribe, gave his blessings for the mural after its unveiling.
He said the Native Nipmuc people “were displaced, but we survive.
“Our roots are deeply embedded into Natick, into Framingham, and I’m honored - we’re honored,” Goler added.
He led a prayer and thanked everyone for their attendance.
Cote described the process of the mural’s creation, which he said started when Coleman reached out about the possibility of a project like this. He also thanked Rebecca Hawk, FSU’s tribal relations community liaison, for facilitating the conversation.
He said this type of experience helps students become more confident in their skills as artists, and that the mural involved a lot of student research and learning.
Cote pointed out a few of the most prominent aspects of Nipmuc culture that are depicted in the mural, including “connection to nature, connection to water, connection to land, respect for wildlife, the maternal society, and respect for elders.”
Cote said to honor the history of the Nipmuc tribe, who were sent to Deer Island during King Philip’s War in the late 17th century, the student artists depicted an island covered in dark clouds on the right of the mural.
He added, “But to the right side of the island, there’s a bit of light - a bit of sunshine - on the shore to suggest the positivity of the future of the Nipmuc Tribe and what happened since that time and to show that ongoing vitality.”
Cameron Greendeer, an Indigenous person from the Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin, performed solo, singing and drumming a traditional song from his tribe.
He said he was honored to perform at a ceremony honoring another Indigenous tribe, and that he was especially glad to see representation of Native peoples in higher education, “considering most of us, as Native peoples, have the lowest rates of higher education and lowest rates of high school graduation.”
Greendeer said his song was a round dance song, which traditionally involves the audience holding hands and standing in a circle.
“This is bringing that spirit back to us, so that we’re all doing this together,” he said.
He said the songs he was performing were never written down, but rather passed on through memory from one person to another.
“Some of these songs are hundreds, if not thousands of years old,” he said.
Greendeer said storytelling is also often passed along orally instead of
through writing, and he doesn’t want to share much of his Native language with an open audience because he would rather share those traditions with his children and his community.
Shawnee Turner, the medicine woman for the Nipmuc Tribe, danced to his second song, a dance that Greendeer said was an “eastern blanket style of dance.” He said it is “a very graceful dance, and it’s a very powerful dance.”
Greendeer said he uses his performances to try to educate people about the persecution that Indigenous peoples face, “but also to give you guys some moments of triumph for us as Native people.”
He said he mentioned the lack of education in Native communities to raise awareness about the issue, and he himself struggled to graduate high school and only went to college at Bridgewater State University when he saw his wife, a member of the Wampanoag Tribe, studying for her Ph.D.
Maria Turner, chairwoman of the Nipmuc Tribe, gave the closing remarks.
She thanked everyone who worked on the mural for all their hard work, and said the Nipmuc people have resided in Framingham and surrounding cities for a long time.
Maria Turner highlighted some of the progress the Nipmuc people have made toward regaining sovereignty for their tribe, including a recent vote to open up a dam, which would allow fish to repopulate the water and the ecosystem to grow back to its natural state.
She said she is always amazed by people complaining about coyotes in their backyards - though she admitted that she does too - because “we’ve encroached on their territory. We’re moving all the trees in the woods so they can’t hide from us anymore.
“We have to remember that,” Maria Turner said.
She said she worked in the Department of Children & Families for 25 years and now, working for the Mash-
pee Wampanoag Tribe, she’s doing a lot of the same work helping with situations involving abuse and neglect.
Maria Turner said a lot of Indigenous children are dying young from suicide and overdose, and they also get exposed to their parents going through these same issues, causing them to be raised by family members.
She said though common discourse has pushed for people not to think of college as their only choice, Indigenous communities have another factor complicating the issue of education - they’ve often not been allowed in higher education.
“You don’t have to,” Maria Turner said, but Indigenous communities should have access to postsecondary education “so we can move ourselves out of this plight that we’re in.”
She added therapy can also be a powerful tool for Indigenous people, “and we as a people have to learn to trust that process, and a lot of us need to go into that process, so we can help our sisters and brothers and cousins and allies and friends and communities to thrive.”
Maria Turner said the mural event “really rejuvenates us.”
Jerome Burke, director of the Center for Inclusive Excellence, gave thanks to everyone who helped out, and reminded the audience of what the mural is for.
“Let us carry forward the lessons we’ve learned today about the rich history and vibrant culture of the Native American communities, particularly the Native Nipmuc tribal community,” he said.
“This mural is not just a culmination of months of hard work, but also a symbol of our ongoing commitment to recognizing and honoring the Native peoples who have shaped this life,” Burke said.
[ Editor’s note: Marcus Falcão is a Staff Illustrator for The Gatepost. ]
CONNECT WITH RAENA HUNTER DOTY rdoty@student.framingham.edu
Raena Hunter Doty / THE GATEPOST
(Center) Shawnee Turner, medicine woman of the Nipmuc Tribe, at the mural unveiling.
Raena Hunter Doty / THE GATEPOST Shawnee Turner, medicine woman of the Nipmuc Tribe, doing an eastern blanket dance at the Native American land acknowledgement mural unveiling.
By Antonio Carlos Machado
‘BRAT’ ‘Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree’
duction. Alongside a cast of long-time
scribed as pure euphoria.
The highlight of the album is the pro -
By Emma Lyons Editorial Staff
Music artist Hozier has already been in the public eye after his album “Unreal Unearthed,” released August 2023. Hozier has maintained his stay in his fans’ headphones throughout the summer with the surprise releas es of two EPs, featuring songs scrapped from his original al bum.
His latest EP, “Unaired,” re leased in August, capped off the summer in a big way - despite only having three songs.
The first song, “No body’s Sol dier,” origi nally teased on TikTok, has caused a raucous response from fans, outpouring excitement and sup- port for this new EP. The song comments on the feelings of seeing war in the media and being unable to help. It features his trendier
MACHADO amachado4@student.framingham.edu
sound, heard in other songs like “Eat Your Young” and “Nina Cried Power.”
“July” brings listeners into the smooth swaying melodies of Hozier’s music. With soft vocals, the song connects the singer’s love interest to the warm month of July. Clinging onto the reminder that “July with it better days than the harsh winter prior.
Hozier rounds out the EP with the duet “That You Are.” He pairs lilting guitar melody with soft, haunting vocals from himself and Bedouine, a Syrian-American
Though a short EP, “Unaired” connects deeply to the music found in its paired EP and album. It echoes the feelings of summer while making bold political statements grounded in current events. It is a must-listen for any Hozier fan.
By Owen Glancy Asst. Arts & Features Editor
Ever since its release in 2022, “El den Ring” has taken the gaming world by storm with its massive open world, wide variety of heart-racing fights, and legendary difficulty. Despite the vast amount of content the game has to offer, fans couldn’t stop clamoring for more and on June 20, we finally got that with the game’s DLC, “Shadow of the Erdtree.”
After adding nearly 100 hours to my already 750 hour play time, I can con firm that the DLC is pretty good.
This is such a mas sive and complete package that it starts becoming difficult to even classify it as a DLC. Both the pacing and sheer size make this far closer to a sequel than a mere expansion. From the towering Scadutree seen on high in the Gravesite Plain, to the lightning-coated Jagged Peak, it’s
impressive how much variety the developers were able to cram into a space less than half the size of the main game’s overworld.
These scenic vistas aren’t just for show either - they’re populated by some of the most creative enemies and bosses FromSoftware has ever created. These boss fights are the real cream of the crop though. From the iconic standouts like The Dancing Lion and Messmer, to sleeper picks like The Golden Hippo and Midra, every single boss is so engaging and challenging that I had a hard time finishing every fight because I simply never
While this DLC is indeed hard, and it definitely is more blatantly unfair than the base game in some areas, it is more than worth powering through to that final climactic battle against one of the game’s most iconic foes.
By Jesse Burchill Staff Writer
Released on July 19, “Twisters” is a disaster movie and standalone sequel to the 1996 genre classic “Twister.”
Starring several up-and-coming stars, the selling point of “Twisters” is the tornadoes its characters follow. The film focuses on two storm chasing teams - one composed of scientists testing tornado-tracking tech, and the other of YouTube stars creating channel content - as they hunt down a tornado outbreak in Oklahoma.
who are focused more on fame rather than science. The film manages to subvert this expectation as well - the team actually uses the money they get from their channel to provide disaster relief to those who suffer losses from natural disasters, and the leaders of both teams actually become friends by the end.
Some viewers may expect a disaster movie to focus more on the action and destruction rather than throw its weight into the characters. However, “Twisters” manages to pull off both from the very start by showing just how dangerous tornadoes really are, with our main heroine losing three close friends in a twister chase gone wrong and dealing with this trauma for the rest of the film.
Furthermore, the team of YouTube stars at first appear like glory chasers
As a disaster movie, “Twisters” does not hold back on the fright factor of the titular forces of nature. The tornadoes on display here are depicted as nightmarish behemoths that destroy pretty much everything in front of them and are nigh-impossible to escape. This makes every scene they’re in as spine-chilling as the last, yet oddly beautiful thanks to spectacular VFX.
An ultimately wonderful exercise in the art of the summer blockbuster, “Twisters” is riveting, nail-biting, and heartwarming in equal measure.
Ben Hurney / THE GATEPOST
‘Hades II’ ‘Smiling Friends’: Season 2
By Raena Hunter Doty Arts & Features Editor
“Hades” is easily one of the best video games in the world, in my opinion.
“Hades II” blows it out of the water.
I went into this early-access game worried about what mightor might not - be there on account of its un finished status.
But not only did my fears prove unfounded - they were thoroughly smashed with the wealth of content already available before the game’s official release, much more than the original game even now.
explanation, and most of those explanations add to characterization, worldbuilding, and ambiance.
And the new mechanics are fun! I couldn’t put the game down when I got it - I put an embarrassing number of hours on it in the first week.
If you have played “Hades,” early access is absolutely worth it - though I can’t blame you for holding off, because every time I start a new attempt, I always get frustrated that I can’t play straight through to the end - it’s that good.
By Paul Harrington Staff Writer
Are you looking for a show akin to the 2000s era of Cartoon Network with inter net-inspired meta humor?
If so, “Smiling Friends” is just what you need.
The show follows the adven tures of Smiling Friends Inc., a nonprofit business com posed of Pim Pimling, Charlie Dompler, Glep, Alan, and Mr. Boss, as they try to make their clients turn their frowns up side-down.
“Hades II” isn’t a cut-and-paste copy of its predecessor mechanically, nor does it feel like it’s trying to one-up the story that built the foundation for this one’s success.
Any change in mechanics from the first game has a reasonable, in-universe
By Alexis Schlesinger Editorial Staff
Maude Latour’s first album is now officially ours. This up-and-coming “glitter-gel-pen” pop girl has been releasing singles and EPs since 2018, and finally released her first album this summer, “Sugar Water.”
Latour uses this beautiful album to illustrate her journey through love, heartbreak, and acceptance. She dedicates the album to her friends, her partner, and all the lessons she learned about loss and the beauty of love. Maude Latour says she wrote this album “during the 7th year after a loss.” Her ability to use such intense emotions so much later on in her life, and so intelligently at that, is something that can’t go unrecognized.
If you haven’t played “Hades,” now is the time to start. The story, art, mechanics, and music are everything everyone says and more, and you’re in for a nice dose of sequel. Game of the summer - and the game hasn’t even had its full release.
CONNECT WITH RAENA DOTY
rdoty@student.framingham.edu
song about dreaming of truly being with someone - to the intimacy of the title track “Sugar Water,” and to the final track “Bloom,” which takes us into a worship of another human being.
Personally, I relate pretty heavily to this album - specifically the line in “Sugar Water” where Maude explains to listeners she is “chilling with her girl in peace.”
This album is perfect for anyone who vibes with glittery, girly, pop music, but would much prefer an emotional journey over some of the more typical “I hate you and your ex” music that circulates these days. “Sugar Water” is the perfect sweet mix of queer love, empowerment, and emotional intelligence in the face of loss.
fluid and pleasant. It’s apparent when watching, the people involved in the production of the show take pride in the work they do and have fun while doing it.
The first season, which aired in 2022, was greeted with praise, memes, and the demand for a second season.
The episodes are packed to the brim with eccentric stories and outlandish settings that you would imagine when on psychedelic drugs.
The animation style of the show is
By Liv Dunleavy Staff Writer
The album as a whole has an incredible range of emotions, from the first song “Officially Mine” - a bright, bouncy
“Smiling Friends” does a lot with a little - the episodes are only 10 minutes long. So much happens in such a short
The experience of watching “Smiling Friends” episodes live at midnight during the summer will forever be un-
Fans would post on social media as the episodes aired, allowing you to see their live reactions
The late nights spent watching the episodes live felt like it brought me closer to the show. One could even argue it
So, watch “Smiling Friends!”
CONNECT WITH PAUL HARRINGTON pharrington@student.framingham.edu
witty man named Calvin to assign retired IFs to new kids in hopes of giving them a new purpose.
She guesses this is her goodbye to childhood - if she’s able to rehome these IFs then she will be able to stop seeing them, because she’s not a kid anymore - but Bea learns there’s more to an imaginary friend than just
Maybe we all have ly when we were 12 and wanted more independence. But I feel so much for Bea and each IF that lost their kid to the woes of adulthood. This movie made me emotional in ways no movie has in a
Losing your imaginary friend might not affect you as a college student, but if I could put myself back into my 12-year-old mind I
discovers she can see imaginary friends (IFs), and finds herself on a quest led by a
WITH OLIVIA
Emily Monaco / THE GATEPOST
David Abe / THE GATEPOST
Henry Whittemore Library holds opening ceremony for Holocaust programming
By Ryan O’Connell Associate Editor
The Henry Whittemore Library held a reception to announce the opening of new programming related to American knowledge of the Holocaust during WWII Sept. 12.
The programming includes the traveling “Americans and the Holocaust” exhibition lent by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM), a collection of artwork based on Holocaust survivor memories and a film interview with Dorka Berger née Altman, a survivor of the Auschwitz concentration camp - both by FSU Art Professor Leslie Starobinand a group of The Gatepost articles detailing campus life during WWII.
Library Dean Millie Gonzalez introduced the programming at the reception, beginning with the “Americans and the Holocaust” exhibit.
Framingham State University, Gonzalez said, is one of 50 libraries selected by the USHMM and the American Library Association as part of its 2024-2026 traveling exhibition. The exhibit will remain at FSU until Oct. 11.
The exhibit, which she said “examines the motives, pressures, and fears that shaped Americans responses to Nazism, war, and genocide from 1933 to 1945,” first started in 2013 with research from USHMM historians.
She added the research was guided by a 1979 mandate the USHMM released which outlined the need for American reflection on its role
throughout the Holocaust.
Gonzalez said “Americans and the Holocaust” explores four main questions: “What did Americans know? Did Americans help Jewish refugees? Why did Americans go to war? And how did Americans respond to the Holocaust?”
She said she hopes the exhibition provokes new questions and reflection opportunities - both in terms of the history of the Holocaust and “our
’40s, and we desperately need it now.”
Rabbi Sam Blumberg said on Sept. 14, “Jewish communities around the world will read Deuteronomy 22.
“If you see your fellow’s ox or sheep gone astray, do not ignore it. The text teaches us, you must bring it back to the person who has lost it, even if the person who owns it does not live near you,” he said.
“We are not permitted to - in the words of 11th century French com-
“As [the exhibit] makes its way into the hearts and minds of our greater community, it is my prayer that we might open our eyes to see the hard truths of the past.”
- Sam Blumberg Rabbi
roles and responsibilities today.”
President Nancy Niemi spoke next, saying she thinks it’s appropriate FSU shares the exhibit with the community of Framingham, as an institution whose mission is “to serve our community through education.”
She added it’s FSU’s job to teach students how to lead and interpret the world so they can act against evil and create good.
“We need our students and we need each other to have this capacity,” she said. “We needed it in the 1930s and
mentator Rashi - ‘to close our eyes tight as if we do not see,’” he added.
In other words, Blumberg said,moral living means facing the truth,especially when it is inconvenient. He added moral living means being in service to “the other” even when it is uncomfortable.
“As [the exhibit] makes its way into the hearts and minds of our greater community, it is my prayer that we might open our eyes to see the hard truths of the past,” he said.
“And most of all, that it helps us to
open our eyes, so we can work to build a more just, a more moral, future,” he added.
Art Professor Leslie Starobin said, “Twenty years ago, as recollections of the Holocaust began to fade, I sought out refugees and survivors, including relatives of my own family and friends.
“I interviewed them about their journeys of hope and plight, and as a visual storyteller, I composed still-life montages from the things they carried and passed down to their children and grandchildren,” Starobin added.
She discussed Dorka Berger née Altman, her mother-in-law’s younger sister, who spent four and a half years in Auschwitz and is still alive today at 91. Berger is the subject of one of Starobin’s still-life montages, as well as an interview detailing life in Auschwitz.
“Yesterday I spoke to Dorka,” she said. “Her message to us, which I excerpted from a recording I made of her in 2019, is perhaps more poignant today than it was five years ago.
“And all those who want to deny the Shoah - that’s a Hebrew word to reference the Holocaust - everyone will know how to answer, from the original source, from a person who went through it. These things have happened,” Starobin said.
She added, “It’s forbidden that the world will forget, so it will never happen again.”
CONNECT WITH RYAN O’CONNELL roconnell1@student.framingham.edu
GP MIX:
(Center) Shawnee Turner, medicine woman of the Nipmuc Tribe, at the Native American land acknowledgement mural unveiling Sept. 4.
The curtain falling, revealing the Native American land acknowledgement mural painted by student artists Sept. 4.
Maria Turner, chair woman of the Nipmuc Tribe, delivering the closing remarks.
Photos by Arts & Features Editor Raena Hunter Doty
Spread by Associate Editor Maddison Behringer
Fair Frenzies
Spread by Photos & Design Editor Adrien Gobin
Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST (Left) Kate Buban at the Job and Internship Fair Sept. 18.
Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST Students at the Job and Internship Fair Sept. 18.
Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST (Left) Jena Johnson enjoying the Pokemon Go club table at the Student Organization Fair Sept. 19.
Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST Comic Book Club members talking to students at the Student Organization Fair Sept. 19.
Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST
Members of Cosplay Club (left) Aili Schiavoni and Rileigh Kelley at the Student Organization Fair Sept. 19.
Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST Afro-Caribbean Dance Group with President Nancy Niemi at the Student Organization Fair Sept. 19.