fRAMily Foliage
$65,000 spent on Larned switchgear repair
By Dylan Pichnarcik News Editor
A new switchgear in Larned Hall has been installed after three weeks of the building running on generated power.
The installation cost was $65,000, according to Robert Totino, vice president of Finance, Technology and Administration.
Totino said Larned stopped running on generated power on Sunday, Oct. 13 after a replacement switchgear was installed by ABB - ESSCO.
On Saturday, Sept. 21, a switchgear failure in Larned Hall caused a power outage to the upper campus for up to 19 hours. The upper campus is considered to be all buildings on the east-
ern side of State Street. This includes Larned, Corinne Hall Towers, Peirce, and Horace Mann residence halls, as well as the academic and administrative buildings.
On Sept. 27, ABB attempted to repair Larned’s switchgear, but they were unable to do so.
On Sunday, Oct. 13, the upper campus power grid was brought down from 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. so the installation of a new switchgear could be completed by ABB with the assistance of the Office of Facilities, according to Director Dan Giard.
Giard said ABB sourced a replacement switchgear from another electrical contractor.
Totino said, “I believe that was
roughly $65,000 cost for the work that was done solely on Sunday.” He said that amount includes labor as well as the equipment.
In addition to the cost of the repairs on Sunday, Giard said approximately $1,000 a day was spent on fuel for the generator in Larned, which will total between $20,000 and $30,000.
“It’s closer to $100,000 to put a price tag on that whole job,” Giard said.
Larned ran on generated power from Sept. 21 to Oct. 13 for a total of 22 days.
According to Giard, the money to complete the project will come from the Facilities Department’s annual budget. “I’m sure we’re going to be over budget this year,” he said.
Panel discussion gives context for U.S. polarization
By Raena Hunter Doty Arts & Features Editor
The Center for Inclusive Excellence (CIE) hosted a two-part Diversity Dialogues series about voting. The first event, titled “The Global Pulse of Democracy: U.S. and International Insights,” took place in the CIE Oct. 10.
The panel discussion hosted two FSU professors - Giuliano Espino, professor of political science, and Jonathan Martin, professor of sociology - and David Smailes, former professor of political science. Each talked about issues within democracy and voting.
Jerome Burke, CIE director, said the
event was a “unique opportunity to gain insight into the state of our governance from a global perspective and to understand the key forces shaping the future.”
Espino started his segment of the event by saying that there may be differences in how people understand democracy, “but one thing that is inherent in democracy is some form of compromise at the end of the day.
“There is going to be debate and discussion between different and competing world views, but for a democratic society to function, there has to be some baseline level of understanding that allows for this compromise,” he added.
He said one potential threat to democracy is high levels of polarization, where people tend to strongly agree with one side of the political spectrum and disagree with the other end. This creates a situation where not much compromise is possible.
“The more polarized a society gets, the less a democracy can function. If government becomes about winning, if government becomes about giving your team as many ‘W’s’ as you possibly can because you don’t want to help the other side … democracy becomes very difficult,” Espino said.
May Hall at sunset on Oct. 17.
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
Sarah Daponde
Liv Dunleavy
Bella Grimaldi
Paul Harrington
Taylor Kimmell
Dan Lima
Antonio Machado
Anthony Pintado
Anthony Sims
Kyra Tolley
Michael Trueswell
Staff Photographers
Meg Dame
Travis Plummer
Staff Illustrators
Ronnie Chiu-Lin
Charlotte Fabrizi
Marcus Falcão
Advisor Desmond McCarthy
Asst. Advisor
Elizabeth Banks
Gatepost Interview Michael La Francesca NEWS
Head Women’s Soccer Coach
Phone:
By Bella Grimaldi Staff Writer
What is your academic and professional background?
I have a bachelor’s in finance from Suffolk University, and I have a master’s from Anna Maria in public administration. I am the Director of Finance and Operations for Medfield Public Schools.
What brought you to Framingham State?
I made a transition last year from coaching high school after 22 years, and was an advisor to the head coach at Lasell College. I enjoyed it so much that when this position opened up, which was really close to home, I felt that I could help out this program. In the past, I’ve taken over programs that have been struggling and love to see them grow and to me, it’s taken professional training and adapting that [to the program]. And I always love to see how the progression of improvement happens. Then the other thing I would say is, when I met these guys [the soccer players] over here, they were so welcoming, and I knew where I needed to be.
What is your background with soccer?
I’ve been coaching soccer since I was 20. I started coaching youth programs, and then I got an assistant and JV high school coach job at a private school. And then after a couple of years, I became a head coach at another high school. I’ve also coached at the regional level. I coached at the club level. Now it’s called ODP, but it was more of a developmental program. I have coached at all levels, which has been fine. I have my high school certification, goalkeeping certification, league certification, region al certification, and national certification. I can coach at pretty much all levels excepprofessional.
What is something that students would not expect or know about you?
My first language was Italian. I didn’t speak English until I was in kindergarten.
What are some of your hobbies? Besides coaching, I enjoy cooking. I love to make pizzas and bread. I love to be outside and have time with my family. Stress relief is spending time in the kitchen, cooking. Then my daughter and I have a little garden that we cultivate, which is another little hobby.
What is your favorite aspect of being a coach at Framingham State? Seeing players develop and getting to know so many wonderful players. Everyone’s different, but the most important thing to me is growth - both on the field and in the classroom. Being able to see that growth - it’s, to me, the best thing about coaching.
What is your goal for the women’s soccer program? It’s to be the best program in the MASCAC conference.
What advice would you offer students at Framingham State?
To follow their dreams first, and to never sell themselves short. Whatever they set their expectations at, it might be high, but it can be achievable if they can believe and if they work hard.
CONNECT WITH BELLA GRIMALDI igrimaldi@student.framingham.edu
Police Logs
Monday, Oct. 14 11:05 Noise Complaint, West Hall Assignment Complete
Tuesday, Oct. 15 2:34 Alarm, Fire Miles Bibb Hall False Alarm
Wednesday, Oct. 16 8:48 Found/Lost Property FSUPD Report Taken
Wednesday, Oct. 16 10:00 Alarm/Trouble Signal, Corinne Hall Towers Building Check
Courtesy of Michael La Francesca
Ben Hurney / THE GATEPOST
SGA picks ‘Greater Good Charities’ for hurricane-relief fundraising
By Izayah Morgan Editorial Staff
SGA voted to fundraise for Greater Good Charities - a hurricane-relief organization - and discussed accessibility issues on campus on Wednesday, Oct. 15.
Olivia West, event coordinator, sent out links to possible hurricane-relief donation websites. SGA members were allocated five minutes to check their emails and ask any question if they had any.
Senator Anais Vazques said, “I looked at the email before the meeting and was reading about the three organizations that she [West] had put a link to, and after reading all of them, Greater Good Charities seemed like the best option.
“Because they are also helping agricultural and domesticated animals, I think that’s awesome. They’re assisting beekeepers by supplying bee pollen substitute, sugar, and syrup to them.”
Senator Raffi Elkhoury said, “I think that they are doing a lot in terms of how easy it is to get donations. Somebody can just scan a QR code and donate. The Greater Good one was significantly easier than the other ones, which asked for email, phone numbers, and a lot of personal information.”
Senator Alix Ayoub agreed as well.
SGA approved Greater Good Charities as the organization for which they and other student groups will fundraise.
Ana Julia Ribeiro was appointed as the SGA diversity and inclusion officer.
President Evelyn Campbell praised Julia’s addition to the eBoard. Campbell highlighted Julia’s previous experience in leadership positions.
During open forum, Ayoub raised concerns on behalf of multiple friends about challenges they are facing due to their disabilities.
“I have two friends [who are deaf] having the same thing where they were given bed shaker alarms … and
Ribeiro said, “I have seen the inside of schools and how segregation still exists in our society … and that’s why I believe I can give a voice to people.”
“I have seen the inside of schools and how segregation still exists in our society … and that’s why I believe I can give a voice to people.”
- Ana Julia Ribeiro
SGA Diversity
and Inclusion
Officer
they would go off in the middle of the night. One of the friends said it got to the point that if she were alone with no other roommates, she would leave the door unlocked so that if there were a fire, we could come get her,” Ayoub said.
Ayoub also has a friend who uses a wheelchair who has described her residential accessibility issues as debilitating. The friend was told when she moved into her residence hall that each floor would be accessible. However, she has to go to one floor to use the bathroom and another floor if she wants to take a shower, which is not ideal.
Campbell responded, “The second issue would be more of a residence life issue. I’m not sure who deals with the bed shaker, but I can look into it.”
Senator Tony Sims said, “I’m the president of the Chess Club and we meet in Club Room II. I have found it very frustrating to get students in the door when that door is always locked.
“I think having the ability to unlock it during a specific time as a member of eBoard would be very helpful in a sit-
Sunday night Oct. 20
Mostly clear, with a low around 50. West wind 1 to 5 mph.
Monday Oct. 21
Sunny, with a high near 80. West wind around 5 mph.
Monday night Oct. 21
Clear, with a low around 50. Light west wind.
Tuesday Oct. 22
Sunny, with a high near 75. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Tuesday night Oct. 22
Mostly clear, with a low around 50. Light south wind.
Wednesday Oct. 23
Mostly sunny, with a high near 75. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
uation where Club Room I is occupied and I have to have my events in Club Room II.”
Matos suggested that Sims should bring the concern up to Campus Police and the Center for Student Experience office as they have the ability to handle that issue.
Matos discussed a problem they had been facing regarding obtaining a meal plan during the semester. “ I was not able to get a commuter meal plan because there was an arbitrary rule that did not allow commuters to get meal plans beyond the add-drop period for classes.”
Matos discussed the issue with Acting General Manager of Dining Services Michael Newmark and he quickly allowed Matos to purchase a meal plan.
“So my friends who are residents, I will no longer be depleting your guest swipes,” Matos said.
[Editor’s Note: Tony Sims is a Staff Writer for The Gatepost.]
CONNECT WITH IZAYAH MORGAN imorgan@student.framingham.edu
Wednesday night Oct. 23
Partly cloudy, with a low around 50. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Thursday Oct. 24
Partly sunny, with a high near 65. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
Dylan Pichnarcik / THE GATEPOST
(Left) Meghan Larkin, Cesar Matos, Evelyn Campbell, and Jeremy McDonald at the Oct. 15 SGA meeting.
Switchgear
Continued from Page 1
Giard said the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM) “might reimburse us some of the money.”
DCAMM works “with state agencies to create and manage forward-thinking, sustainable buildings to meet the needs of the citizens they serve. We are partners with fellow agencies to help them meet their strategic needs with fiscally responsible building and real estate solutions,” according to its website.
Totino said he worked with other administrators and ABB to determine a time that would be least impactful for students to bring the upper-campus power grid down and “make the campus aware, faculty, staff, students, but especially the resident students on a long weekend, to let everyone know as quickly as possible.”
He added, “I am deeply appreciative of the patience of the community.”
Notification about the power shutdown on Sunday Oct. 13 came through an email from the Dean of Students sent on behalf of Giard.
An additional email from the Dean of Students was sent on Friday, Oct. 11 reminding students of the power shutdown.
A final message was sent through FSUAlert at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 13 stating, “Power has been restored to the University at this time.”
According to Totino, the Switchgear in Larned was installed in 2013. The replacement unit is “expected to have a longer useful life.”
Iz Shields, a sophomore resident, said, “All of the power outages are really frustrating, although I made it through just fine.”
They added, “It’s not something I expected to do so many times this semester. It makes things like homework harder because you have to haul all your stuff to McCarthy for hours or get ready in the morning. You have to do it in the dark.
”For me, I store insulin in my fridge on campus. It is a medicine necessary for me to stay alive and it has to stay refrigerated. When the power goes out, it can really only be out for so long until the insulin spoils,” Shields said.
Lexie Carlucci, a sophomore, said she went home on Sunday because she “didn’t want to deal with it.”
Carlucci added she was happy the switchgear was repaired “because I know in my Ecology Lab, it was affected because of the power outage. We had an oven going and our soil didn’t get fully dried out.”
Spencer Pearson, a senior, said the power outages have been “pretty tough.” Pearson said it was surprising that the work was completed within the allotted time. “I was glad that at least it came back at around the time they said it would.”
Lily Wojciechowski, a freshman, was not on campus during the power shutdown on Sunday but said during previous shutdowns, she “dealt with one for a few hours, then my roommate and I both decided to go home.”
Wojciechowski added it was difficult for her to do homework during the outages.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2024
HCFW LAUNCH * DUCK QUEST * FIREPIT & HOT CHOCOLATE * FAMILY RECEPTION * FLOOR LORDS BREAKDANCE GROUP * ANNUAL MOONLIGHT BREAKFAST *
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2024
DUCK QUEST, PART 2 * GEN ONE RECEPTION * HONORS RECEPTION * BIPOC FACULTY, STAFF, and STUDENT BRUNCH * FAMILY NETWORK MEETING * CLASSROOM EXPERIENCES * MEN’S SOCCER * FOOTBALL * FALL FEST: STATE STREET BLOCK PARTY * MCAULIFFE CENTER PLANETARIUM SHOWS * FIELD HOCKEY * DINNER & IMPROV *
Miss: Duck Quest Prizes
Swag
DeanofStudents@framingham.edu with questions.
Gatepost Archives
Larned
Excellence in diversity recognized at Framingham State
By Sophia Harris Editor-in-Chief
By Dylan Pichnarcik News Editor
Framingham State University has been recognized with the 2024 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award.
The award was from the Insight Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education. Framingham State has won the award seven times, including the latest recognition.
Insight Into Diversity magazine specifically highlighted six areas in which the University is performing exceptionally well, such as FSU’s focus on retention, persistence, and graduation rates for underrepresented students. This includes programs such as Gen-One Next Level and the University’s Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP) model, which is an NSF-funded initiative to promote and advance BIPOC faculty who are early in their careers.
It also highlighted Framingham State’s Inclusive Excellence Faculty Fellows program coordinated through the Division of Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement (DICE), the University’s hiring process which requires applicants to include an equity and inclusion statement in their materials, and continued diversity training for students, faculty, and employees.
Vice President of the Division of Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement Jeffery Coleman said every year, the organization sends out a “very extensive application” for institutions. He said DICE usually reaches out to divisions across campus to compile information about their specialties to submit to HEED.
He said the magazine gets “a lot of traction” typically from people who are CDOs or diversity offices at universities all over the country. Cole man said people “open it up because they see these cutting-edge top ics that everybody’s talking about.
“We look at it and kind of see what’s going on nationally. What do we need to be aware of? How do we apply that to what’s going on on our campus?” he asked.
ed, affirmed, and welcomed regardless of who they are, and that we embrace all of their intersecting identities.”
He said the organization was “ very complimentary of our abilities to continue doing work around DEI, particularly when nationally, there are a lot of attacks around this type of work.”
Coleman said the award serves as a benefit to the University because “it’s something that we can use to attract people to come and work here from all over the country. We can use it to attract students to come here because they can see that they will be support-
President Nancy Niemi said it is wonderful for Framingham State to be acknowledged through the HEED award. She added the previous awards indicate that FSU has been consistent with its work on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
However, she said, “While the award is nice, it’s really the work that we’re doing that makes the real difference.”
Niemi highlighted some areas in which the University has improved or continues to improve over the years, including increasing the percentage of faculty who identify as BIPOC to just under 25%. This is due in part to the University’s AGEP alliance model, which promotes and advances BIPOC faculty, which HEED highlight-
ed.
“It really is our job across the University, not just in the DICE office, but all of us, to think about, ‘How are we intentionally building in regular opportunities for students, faculty, staff, cross sections of all of those, to think about how our racial, ethnic, gender, social class, diversity strengthens us? What do we still need to learn? What do we need to learn as a group? What things come up that we didn’t even know about that we need to learn about? How do we talk? How do we talk about that?’” she asked.
Junior Jose Resto said he is impressed by the HEED award. “I think it’s great that FSU can have a lot of diversity amongst all the students that are enrolling here.”
Junior Jerell Grooms said, “When I walk around campus, I feel welcomed. I feel comfortable, more so than if I went to a less diverse school.”
Junior Abrianna Ouellette said when she heard about FSU winning the HEED award, she felt “proud to be a Ram.”
Junior Zen Crosby said they “love it when our school does something cool,” but added more could be done to promote diversity events to the campus community.
CONNECT WITH SOPHIA HARRIS sharris9@student.framingham.edu
CONNECT WITH DYLAN PICHNARCIK dpichnarcik@student.framingham.edu
Laundry charges now included in student housing fees
By Antonio Machado Staff Writer
As of Fall 2024, laundry charges in residence halls are now included in the tuition and fees each student pays.
The Massachusetts State College Building Authority, which oversees residence halls in the nine state universities, decided not to renew its contract with CSC SystemWorks, the previous laundry machine vendor, and instead pursued a new laundry provider, Fowler Laundry Solutions, said Dean of Students and Director of Residence Life Glenn Cochran.
With the change in laundry companies, all of the state universities now provide free laundry to resident students. “We were all able to get more favorable financial terms by having the system all go that way,” Cochran said.
Cochran said 89 new washers and dryers were installed throughout the residence halls.
“They did a wholesale swap out over the summer and took out all the old machines and put in new ones - the new machines look nice and like they were installed well,” he said.
Cochran said he has confidence in the new laundry company and the number of new machines. “There are industry standards on the ratio of users to machines, and we’re well within the range as long as the machines are used only by residents,” he said.
Framingham State now pays annually for the laundry services, which are covered by student housing fees. “We get charged $41,000 for the free
laundry, and then that’s paid for out of rent, so it factors in the cost of housing,” Cochran said. “When you consider the number of residents we have and the cost per person, it feels like it’s cheaper for people in general.
“Last year, we made $22,000 revenue in laundry. This year, we’re paying out $41,000 in expenses for laundry, so it is a $60,000 swing,” he said.
directly to them. “There should be a phone number or a QR code that could be used, but there are instructions on how to report it in each of the rooms,” said Cochran.
Students who face issues with using the app to report a broken machine should report that directly to Residence Life, said Cochran.
Althea Norcross, a sophomore, is
“There’s already enough stress going on for college students. Why should we need to stress about money to do laundry?”
- Sasha Charmant Senior
Cochran is satisfied despite the financial swing, stating, “I am happy. I think it is working out well, and it also makes it so people aren’t carrying big, huge baskets of laundry home on weekends, which is such a hassle and not a pleasurable experience.”
The machines and laundry app are all under the direct jurisdiction of Fowler, so when a machine breaks down, students should report the issue
excited about the new payment system. “I love it so much! Last year, I used to have to go home and do laundry there, but now I can just stay here. It has saved me so much time and money on gas,” she said.
Freshman Cristela Cean said, “It’s not totally free because it’s still included in our tuition, but it’s nice. It’s definitely much cheaper than paying every time.”
Sophomore Yisel Bedoya said she was pleased by no longer having to use quarters to do laundry.
“Not everyone can afford to pay for laundry on a weekly basis, and we already pay quite a bit for dorming, so I think it’s nice to not have that small expense that adds up over time,” she said.
“I used to go home to wash my laundry because it was cheaper to do so, so I didn’t feel any need to do it here. Having it in the building is such a convenience because I don’t have to go the extra mile to get it done,” she added.
Seniors Liv Florestal and Sasha Charmant shared their enthusiasm for the improvements to laundry services on campus.
Florestal said, “The machines would eat up coins and I’d constantly lose money. You’d pay for a wash and the clothes would come back soaked but not cleaned.
“Whenever I’d go home, I’d bring a huge bucket of laundry with me because it was just more convenient,” Florestal added.
“Laundry was always free at Bridgewater [State University]. It felt like such a blessing. It’s so good that it’s free now,” Florestal said.
Charmant said, “There’s already enough stress going on for college students. Why should we need to stress about money to do laundry?”
CONNECT WITH ANTONIO MACHADO amachado4@student.framingham.edu
David Abe / THE GATEPOST
OP/ED
THE GATEPOST EDITORIAL
Sounding the alarm on smoking
Miles Bibb Hall sustained more than $100,000 in damages after a fire started in a student’s room, causing water damage throughout the building, according to an FSUPD police report.
Miles Bibb was evacuated and temporarily closed on Aug.16. The early-arrival residents on campus who occupied Miles Bibb were temporarily moved to Linsley Hall while repairs were underway.
On Oct.11, residents in Corinne Hall Towers experienced two building evacuations in the early morning hours due to students smoking in hallways, according to an email sent to residents from residence director Jaslyne Lemus-Avila.
The email stated that “this behavior is unacceptable and has a large negative impact on our community.”
Smoking inside a Framingham State building is prohibited because it poses a fire safety hazard and will lead to student conduct charges.
The email went on to state, “We know that many of you are extremely frustrated with these incidents and have had your lives disrupted. We are committed to working with our community members to address these issues.”
The Gatepost editorial board agrees that this behavior shows a complete disregard for your peers and neighbors.
The behavior that caused two fire alarm evacuations in the span of a couple of hours is childish and shows a lack of regard for the resources of the FSUPD and the Framingham Fire Department.
you are doing.
Campus policies aside, there are several compelling reasons why students should not smoke in the dorms: health risks, fire hazards, roommate conflicts and impacts on the residential environment.
The health risks not only impact the smoker, but can harm those exposed to secondhand smoke. In a place where we all live so closely together, why risk the health of others?
Smoking in dorms also increases the risk of fire, which we are sure is clear to you by now, but unattended cigarettes or smoking devices can ignite materials that could be highly flammable. This poses a danger to everyone in the building.
Violating these common-sense rules can lead to disciplinary actions, fines, or even eviction from housing.
Smoking can also create an unpleasant living environment for not only roommates, but other people in the building, especially if you are doing it in the hallway or other public spaces. This can lead to conflicts and tension among residents - specifically if you are making them evacuate all of the time.
Smoking can also cause unwanted odors and stains. Both cigarette and marijuana smoke leaves a lingering odor that can permeate furniture, clothing, and belongings. This can lead to costly cleaning or loss of security deposits when moving out.
Embracing embarrassment
By Alexis Schlesinger Editoral Staff
Walking to the office, I silently wave at a friend of mine. I have my headphones on. There are two people walking in front of me. My friend audibly says hello back to me. The students in front of me don’t realize I’m behind them.
“We weren’t even waving at her.”
They make a face and laugh.
Even if she was talking to them, what’s so embarrassing about greeting people as you walk past?
It’s raining. I sit in the dining hall at lunch. The table next to me is discussing the weather.
“Are we doing umbrellas? I feel like I haven’t seen anyone with an umbrella around here. I don’t want to be the only person carrying one. I’m going to look stupid.”
It’s an umbrella. It’s meant to keep you dry.
Nobody is going to judge you for not getting your clothes wet.
Everyone around me is so worried about doing the wrong thing. You can’t wear certain clothes, can’t openly enjoy certain media. You can’t be friends with certain people.
You can’t be too loud. You can’t be too quiet. Don’t have strong opinions but don’t be a people pleaser either. You’re rude. You’re a doormat. Don’t talk about yourself too much. Don’t ramble about your interests. You have to be interesting though, you can’t be boring. You can’t have certain hobbies though, some are kind of weird.
My peers worry about things like posting too often on Instagram, and when they do post it won’t get enough likes.
How embarrassing is that?
Not very.
It’s ironic that we are worried about not getting enough attention, while simultaneously being afraid that all attention is constantly on us.
It is much easier said than done to start disregarding other people’s opinions. Even disregarding what we think their opinion might be can be difficult.
You can practice this type of philosophy - the idea that you don’t need to be embarrassed by mundane things. You can start with little things in your life.
This careless behavior has to change - especially after your peers suffered because of the consequences of a costly fire only a few months ago.
When will we learn?
What it boils down to is selfishness. If students want to legally take part in smoking off campus, that is their decision. But do not make it everyone else’s problem when your actions create a significant inconvenience for hundreds of people.
Smoking in the hallway, out in the open, takes it one step further, not even trying to hide what
As a community, we have to look out for each other, and that means putting the lighter down. This also means reporting any suspicious issues you might be witnessing, such as smoke or the smell of it.
In residence halls, you may contact the resident director, the Security Desk, the RA on Duty, or FSU police at 508-626-4911.
If you would like to provide anonymous information to FSU Police, send a text message to 67283 containing the word “FSUTIP,” followed by a space, and then your message. Do better in the fire department.
It can even be in private. All you really need to do is allow yourself to exist in a way that feels true to you. Collect things regarding your interests. Actively participate in your hobbies - pick up a new one even. Start building your closet to be filled with pieces that make you happiest, even if you aren’t ready to wear them out yet. Change little things that you do when you’re not alone. Tell that joke to your friends even if you think no one will laugh. Wave at your vague acquaintances. Ask people how they’re doing instead of stopping at hello and moving on. It comes to a point where it’s almost rejection therapy.
I’ve found that nine times out of 10, I haven’t even been rejected when taking chances.
I don’t fear embarrassment, but I can’t say it’s been easy for me to start living this way. I’ve grown into it.
I also can’t say it’s uninspired.
I met one of my favorite coworkers at summer camp a few months ago - her name is Ellie. We are incredibly similar in personality, style, morals, and life philosophy.
Getting to know Ellie, there was one thing distinctly different about her than anyone I had ever met.
Ellie is fearless. Every time I would hang out with her, she would stop girls on the street to compliment their hair, their clothes, their smile. She would ask any question she wanted. She would make any comment she wanted. It was beautiful.
The way people would light up. The way anyone would answer her questions to the best of their ability. The way nobody second guessed anything she said.
I suppose my point is that I am inspired every day both by people’s fear of embarrassment, and their apathy toward it, and I hope someday many will learn to be inspired the way I am.
It is freeing.
Let’s talk about domestic violence
By Kaitlin Carman Editoral Staff
While covering Voices Against Violence’s Purple Passion 5K for a news article, I had an incredible opportunity to speak with volunteers, participants, community leaders, and quite a few of Framingham State’s Faculty - Officer Andrew Frimpong, Kim Dexter, and Meg Nowak Borrego to name just a few.
After hearing their stories of support, survival, and the importance of raising awareness of domestic violence, I found myself fighting back waves of emotions that, for years, I have been struggling with myself. It means a lot to know that there is truly such a strong network of support both on campus and within the community.
I think a lot of people do not truly understand how prevalent domestic and relationship violence is. It is not just in T.V. shows and movies. According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline’s website, “An average of 24 people per minute are victims of rape, physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner in the United States - more than 12 million women and men over the course of a single year.”
For all you know, your sibling, parent, friend, neighbor, classmate, student, or coworker could be struggling with domestic violence.
I did.
on Facebook, Snapchat, and Instagram. The harassment was relentless, so I blocked him, and immediately felt a heavy weight on my chest and a churning sensation in the pit of my stomach.
I was terrified.
I knew immediately that something was very wrong, and something was telling me to not go home.
I parked at Walmart and sat in the car with my sister in silence for a couple hours. We could not shake this feeling of fear. I called and asked my neighbor, Mike, if he would make sure that my ex had not gone to my house.
I told him not to tell anyone what he was doing because I was embarrassed to be that afraid. He checked every room
was so afraid and caught up in the moment that I told the dispatcher or officer who answered the phone that I did not want to press charges. I was afraid it would make things worse and I was humiliated at the thought of other people knowing about my situation.
Going to look for evidence with the Framingham police officers, my closet was empty, but a note that had not been there previously said, “I love you … I am in the closet.”
Immediately after, the police found him hiding in my bedroom crawlspace.
I believed then - and to this daythat if he was not found by police and arrested that night, that he was going to rape and kill us.
received counseling before and after leaving that relationship.
It upsets me to think about the events that took place that night. However, I think it is really important that survivors share their stories.
By breaking the silence, we can break the stigma surrounding domestic violence, encourage victims to seek support without judgment, and advocate for policies and fundraisers to provide them with support and services, and promote healing.
Thank you Voices Against Violence, Framingham State University, and SEALS for promoting such a caring and supportive environment for students, faculty, and citizens who might
I tried to brush off some of the red flags. At first, some only seemed minor or questionable. “Maybe I am taking this the wrong way?”
It quickly shifted from fearing to have an uncomfortable conversation with my partner about unhealthy behaviors to fearing for my life.
The night I found the courage to end our relationship, I was at the mall with my sister. That night was the first night home alone ever, as our parents were spending a night down in Cape Cod for a wedding.
I did it over the phone, out of fear that he would physically harm me if I did it in person.
He started blowing up my phone - dozens and dozens of texts, back-toback missed calls, and spam messages
and closet and found nothing.
I asked him to check it again with us once we came home.
Every room was still clear. Then we got to my bedroom, I opened the closet and saw his arm sticking out of a blanket.
He was hiding and waiting.
In horror, I pretended to not see it, slowly shut the door, and mouthed to my sister and Mike to get out and get Mike’s father.
When we returned to my house, he came down from my room. In fear for my life, I grabbed a kitchen knife and screamed for him to leave. Which, with the help of Mike’s father, he reluctantly did.
I locked the doors after he left and called the police from Mike’s house. I
Despite being briefly incarcerated and being served with a restraining order, he would not leave me alone. He violated the restraining order over a dozen times, stalked me, and left gifts and notes on my car when we were away.
Then he tried to break in again.
A neighbor called the police after they saw him trying to break into our kitchen window. Dozens of officers arrived, chased him over a fence and through the cemetery next to my house.
Looking back on these events now, I am glad that I called the police that night and got the help that I needed. I wish I had been more knowledgeable about resources like Voices Against Violence. I believe I could have created a safer exit strategy with a professional and perhaps
be struggling with intimate partner violence. The support you have shown both on campus and within the community has such a profound impact on the lives of many. It is because of you that I feel empowered and compelled to share my story.
Voices Against Violence provides invaluable resources to victims and their families. Thank you for all the work that you do. I will be participating in the Purple Passion 5K next year.
If you or someone you know is struggling with domestic violence, please do not suffer in silence. When you are ready, please contact Voices Against Violence at 1 (800) 593-1125 or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1 (800) 799-7233.
Campus Conversations
By Alexis Schlesinger and Francisco Omar Fernandez Rodriguez, Editoral Staff
“What is your favorite place to eat on campus?”
“I like the dining hall because it has a lot of different options and many different flavors.”
- Aleks Rocha, freshman
“My favorite is Sandella’s because I like the food.”
- Lexie Carlucci, sophomore
“Might surprise some people but I do like the McCarthy dining hall.”
- Jakob Adamson, senior
“Probably the Grille… They probably make the best food, you could go there later too, after class, after if you have work or something… And I like their food a little better than Sandella’s.”
- Wilmani Castillo, junior
“I like the atmosphere of Sandella’s, but I appreciate the variety and options that we have in the dining commons.”
- Azucena Thibault-Munoz, senior
“I would say the dining hall. I know it’s kind of boring but there’s always so many options so I know I’m always going to find something that I like.”
- Ashley Fiorenzi, junior
“This year it would be a tie between Rams’ Den and Sandella’s because I like the smoothies at Sandella’s but Rams’ Den is just convenient because it’s open later. ”
- Kat Wilder, junior
“Probably the Grille and I go there with my team after practice.”
- Shaelagh Green, freshman
“The dining commons because … I don’t have any dining dollars or anything.”
- Richard Nguyen, freshman
“I’m probably just gonna stick to the dining hall, just because everything’s there and I can grab stuff.”
- Angie Demce, sophomore
“The Grille, I like the Grille the most.”
- Marquel Caesar, senior
“Probably UCook, because I can make my own food.”
- Nico Calderon, senior
SPORTS
Shot stoppers - a dive into the art of goalkeeping
By Riley Crowell Asst. Sports Editor
By Kyra Tolley Staff Writer
Soccer is an action-packed sport, featuring fancy dribbling, collaboration to move the ball up the field, and fast-paced shots hitting the back of the net.
But of each team’s 11 players on the field, just one of them is the last line of defense, tasked with stopping the combination of teamwide and individual brilliance from the opposition - the goalkeeper.
Goalkeepers are responsible for keeping the defense organized, clearing the ball, starting counterattacks, and most importantly, keeping the ball out of the back of the net.
With every shot flying in from a different angle and at a different speed, keeping the opposing team off of the scoreboard can prove to be a difficult job, but that’s what makes the position so valuable.
Goalkeeper Ty Holden, a junior on the men’s soccer team, said he began playing soccer and goalkeeping at age 5. He said, “Nobody wanted to be a goalkeeper back then. … I just took the position and fell in love with it.”
Holden’s favorite goalkeeper is David Raya, who plays for English Premier League club Arsenal and the Spain national team. He said, “I actually trained with him during the spring. So, David Raya would probably be my number one.”
Holden’s favorite save that he made came when he was playing in England for Hartley Wintney’s U21 team three years ago. He said, “In my first game with the club, I made a penalty save, which kept the game at 3-2. We ended up going on and tying the game 3-3.”
He said he works on distribution the most in practice, as it is vital for the style of play Framingham wants to implement. “Coach likes to keep the ball moving from the back, no matter where [the ball] is and how fast it’s going.”
Holden said being a goalkeeper is challenging, but the rewards outweigh the negatives. “It comes with its ups and downs, but the ups are way higher than the downs. When you make a cra-
zy save, it’s a great feeling.”
He said the most challenging thing about being a goalkeeper is his height. “I’m not tall at all, so it kind of comes down to athletic ability and training.”
Holden takes part in multiple pregame drills to get ready for games. He said, “Crosses for me are probably the best thing in the warmup, just because I’m short and getting up there for crosses is a good warm-up for the game.
“We do some volleys back and forth. We practice grabbing the ball through our legs, rather than on one knee,” he added.
Holden noted that it can take a toll on goalkeepers mentally when they make a mistake or have a bad game, but that keeping the right mindset can make that easier. He said, “I think for any player, it’s easy to get caught up in the past, but you just have to keep a clean slate. It’s all about what you can do in the future, not what you’ve done before.”
Goalkeeper Mikey Walker, a freshman on the men’s soccer team, said he began playing goalie in middle school. “I started in the fifth grade - my stepdad got me into it.”
Walker said his inspiration for being a goalkeeper is Manuel Neuer, who plays for German Bundesliga club Bayern Munich and the German national team.
He said his favorite save occurred when he was playing club soccer. “I made a top-corner save that skimmed my fingertips. I would say that would be [my] best.”
Walker’s favorite thing about goalkeeping is turning back the shots from his opponents. He said, “I love shot stopping. I love saving the ball.”
He said the most challenging thing about goalkeeping is the distribution of the ball to his teammates.
Walker likes to keep a clean slate mentally going into every game. He said, “I just forget the past. There’s no need to worry about the past when you can just move forward from the game before.”
Men’s soccer Head Coach Adam Gabbard said goalkeeper is a unique position. “In the soccer world, we all say goalies are a little bit crazy. You’ve got to have some loose screws.”
He said a mix of leadership and skill
is what he looks for in a goalkeeper. “We love to have a goalkeeper that’s incredibly vocal and communicating with everybody in front of them, which is a really important part of the position.
“It’s important for our keepers to not only be able to save shots and do all the things that a normal keeper would do, but also be able to play with their feet - almost be our first attacker,” he added.
Gabbard reflected on his team’s goalkeeping situation, in which three different goalies have started three or more games this season. “I think we’re in a little bit of a unique situation. This year, we have two younger goalkeepers and then a transfer who’s new to the group.
“However, I think these three guys have leaned on each other a lot and haven’t been afraid to communicate,” he added.
Gabbard said the biggest sign that a goalkeeper is improving is playing with more confidence and not letting mistakes get to them. “The big thing is just that they’re confident and they trust the guys in front of them.
“I think our guys have done a really good job to build each other up when they do concede. … That’s been a big part of our ship staying afloat so far. We’ve done a good job building each other up when there are mistakes,” he added
Goalkeeper Madison Magone, a junior on the women’s soccer team, started playing soccer at age 5 and began goalkeeping in the second grade.
Magone said her younger sister is also a goalkeeper. She enjoys watching her play and tries to emulate the good aspects of her game.
Magone’s favorite save came against Clark University earlier this season. “[The ball] was going in the upper 90 and I got my arm right up and dove for it.”
She said she practices correct form and technique for diving. “We work on reactions or tips over the net. It just depends on if we have a game the next day.”
Magone’s favorite pre-game warmup is explosive diving. She said, “It helps me feel like I’m ready for anything. I’m on my toes - just ready.”
The most challenging part of being a goalkeeper for Magone is timing. She said one mistake in timing can result in a goal for the other team.
Magone said her leadership can influence her team’s organization because she has the best view of the field.
“If I’m not directing people or letting them know they have someone there, it could really impact the game.”
She said she doesn’t let prior results impact her mindset for future games.
“I try to go in with a blank slate every time because each game is a new start.”
Magone said she has overcome her shyness to become a vocal player and leader on the field. “I actually have to be very confident back there in order to control the box. I’ve worked on that a lot.”
Sept. 5.
Women’s soccer Goalkeeper Coach Alexandra Narlee said, “[Magone] has shown improvement in her confidence, particularly in how she’s reading the field and identifying opportunities for players to provide better coverage for her - really taking ownership of her position as a keeper.”
Women’s soccer Head Coach Michael La Francesca said, “She’s getting sharper. She’s making better decisions. Her soccer IQ is getting stronger, and those are all signs of a good goalie.”
La Francesca said what he looks for in a goalie is a “modern goalkeeper.” He described “a player that not only can play with their hands and understand the angles of attack, but also who can play with their feet and can distribute the ball with their feet just like a regular field player can.”
La Francesca said tough games can be hard to forget for goalkeepers and emphasized the importance of a positive outlook. “Our theory is about keeping them in a positive mindsetstaying focused on the positives and not dwelling on mistakes.
“The mind controls the body. If the mind feels good, the body feels good,” he added.
The most important characteristics Narlee looks for in goalkeepers is their openness to improving, communication skills, and being able to take leadership on the field.
Narlee detailed the typical drills a goalkeeper will perform at an FSU practice. “Small dives, jumping, high balls, things like that. Then we go into more of a realistic gameplay situation … putting them in a position that they might be in for the game and applying those movements to a faster pace.”
To keep her goalkeepers confident after a mistake, Narlee said, “The number one thing is to always tell them, [The ball] got through 10 other people first.”
Stats sourced from fsurams.com and MASCAC.com
CONNECT WITH RILEY CROWELL rcrowell@student.framingham.edu
CONNECT WITH KYRA TOLLEY ktolley@student.framingham.edu
Meg Dame / THE GATEPOST
The women’s soccer team applauding goalkeeper Madison Magone (right) during player introductions Oct.12.
Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST Mikey Walker kicking the ball
Women’s soccer raises money for ‘Move for the Movement’
By Izabela Gage Asst. Sports Editor
Women’s soccer fell to the Westfield State University Owls 5-0 in a home game Oct. 12. This loss brings their overall record to 2-10-1 and their conference record to 1-2-1.
The Rams promoted an impactful donation opportunity for this game, partnering with “Move for the Movement,” a fundraiser that holds annual dance exhibitions to raise funds directly for the “Road for Recovery” program, said Rose Flynn, director of “Move for the Movement.”
Flynn said, “The ‘Road to Recovery’ program for the American Cancer Society is a service for people who do not have the ability to make it to treatments. They can use this program and they have volunteers who come and drive them to and from their treatments.”
She said, “I’m a 13-year survivor. … When I was diagnosed, I was only 44 years old.
“I went to my local hospital where I was diagnosed, and they told me that my treatments were going to require something bigger than what they could offer, so they directed me to Dana-Farber [Cancer Institute].”
She said, “I found that everyone, my friends and my family around me, all wanted to be positive. So everyone told me, ‘You’re going to be OK’ and ‘You’re going to be fine.’
“But I would call the helpline at the American Cancer Society, and they always let me cry. They always told me that they were there to listen and that they would offer help if I needed it. All I wanted was someone to listen to me and let me vent, and they were that person.”
Flynn said when she started “Move for the Movement,” she wanted it to benefit the American Cancer Society but was unsure how to make it happen. “It took many years for us to work out all the kinks.
“When I was going through my radiation treatments, my husband worked full-time. We had two children who still had lives to live, so my friends really picked up the slack. I had 36 rounds of treatment, and I had to be transported every day into Boston, and they took that up, and that’s how we chose ‘The Road to Recovery’ program,” she said.
“Cancer touches everyone - young, old, male, female, athlete, non-athlete. It would be a wonderful accomplishment to make it end, but without funding for research studies and awareness, that’s not going to happen.”
She said, “I have dancers who have been there the full 12 years and a lot of them will say, ‘This is something that I don’t ever want to let go of but I’m graduating. How can I come back to help you?’ And I am touched because I don’t see myself as a motivator. I do it because I would love for this thing to go away. It bothers me to see children and even adults watch people they love go through it.”
Senior Captain Megan McAuliffe said she has been volunteering for “Move for the Movement” for the last nine years and she was the one who decided to partner with the organization.
Flynn said she and McAuliffe’s
mother are really good friends.
McAuliffe said, “The director, Rose Flynn, is like a second mom to me. She has done such an amazing job contributing to the American Cancer Society in the last 12 years and I wanted the Framingham women’s soccer team to make our contribution as well.”
Flynn said, “Megan was the person who reached out to me, so she should get the accolades for that.
“I was completely honored to have her team members and coaches say, we would like, as a team, to attend one of your shows. I was floored. I was like, ‘Wow, you’re actually going to recognize dancers as athletes.’
She said, “I’ve often thought about asking football, ‘Let’s partner up - let’s see if we can raise money.’
“When Megan brought it up, she said, ‘I’d like to do this. Would ‘Move for the Movement’ be interested in being part of it?’ It just floored me that she wanted to because people don’t typically look at dancers as athletes. So I just didn’t think anyone would re-
a step back and look at the bigger picture.
“As a sports organization, we are lucky enough to have a platform and I’m happy that we can use it for a good cause.”
McAuliffe said, “The sports industry has a platform people are drawn to and excited by. It’s the perfect opportunity to talk about important issues.
“I think athletes and sports teams, especially at a collegiate level, have a really big voice to advocate for health issues,” she added.
Flynn said she would love to have more partnerships with Framingham State Athletics in the future. “This was my first time ever doing it. I would love to see something like this happen again.
“I would love to have more sports pick us as a benefactor for their pink games. I don’t know how to go about that, but if I have the coaches’ information, I would love to reach out to them every year and say, ‘Hey, I would love to become part of one of your
ally want to do it, but Megan embraced it and took it on herself,” she added.
She said, “These dancers who perform are athletes. The dancers work hard and they have just as much passion and determination as anyone else, and I was just fortunate enough to be a dance mom.
“It seems that everyone who comes to one of our shows [says], ‘I didn’t know this is not a dance recital. This is a professional production.’ And that’s my goal - to have it as a professional production,” she added.
According to Flynn, “Move for the Movement” is on its way to surpassing $350,000 in donations over the past 12 years. “We do six dance shows a year, and each show has about 300 to 500 dancers. No two shows are the same, and over 5,000 dancers will cross the stage to perform.”
Head Coach Michael La Francesca said raising awareness for breast cancer means a lot to him. “My mom passed away from breast cancer 16 years ago. So since I’ve been coaching for the last 16 years, we’ve always had a day where we remember everyonenot just the ones who lost their lives, but everyone fighting the cause.
“I love that the tradition continues here at Framingham,” he added.
Senior Captain Victoria Potter said, “As athletes, we often get caught up in our sport and it’s critical that we take
their fourth goal of the game before the end of the first half.
Framingham substituted Magone for freshman Kailyn Bearce at the start of the second half.
Freshman Bella Grimaldi opened the second half with a shot on goal, but was unable to find the back of the net.
The Rams earned a corner kick, but the offense was unable to take advantage of it.
Westfield earned their fifth and final goal of the game a minute later, with a strike to the bottom right corner of the goal.
Freshman Hailey Ring charged from the central line and took a shot on goal, but the Owls’ goaltender stopped it from reaching the net.
Westfield gained possession of the ball, but only managed a wide shot before the action slowed down.
The Rams attempted to tally a goal 8 minutes later on a free kick by sophomore Tarynn Smith, but it was saved.
The ball fell back in front of the goal, where junior midfielder Sarah Campbell guided it into the net, but it was disallowed after being ruled as a handball.
Ring fought back on offense, attempting to put the Rams’ first point on the board with another shot, but the Owls held up defensively.
The Owls took another three shots before the end of the game, but none were on goal. The Rams struggled to see any openings on the net for the remainder of the game.
Potter said, “As a team, we are moving some things around in order to create more offensive opportunities. We will also be focusing heavily on mock gameplay in practice.”
Framingham totaled eight shots with six on goal, contrasting with Westfield’s 18 shots with 10 on goal.
pink games, if you would like to have us,’” she added.
McAuliffe said the game was a great chance to debut their new pink jerseys.
The Rams’ started the game strong, with two shots on goal in the first 3 minutes, both saved by Westfield’s goalkeeper.
The Owls took over the pace of the game and put their first goal on the board 6 minutes in.
Two minutes later, Westfield earned a corner kick but missed the opportunity to score again.
The action slowed down until the Owls tallied another shot on goal, but junior goalkeeper Madison Magone stopped it before it passed the goal line.
Westfield took another shot 30 seconds later and the ball slipped just over Magone’s reach and they earned their second goal.
The Owls tallied four more shots, only two of which were on goal. Both were saved by Magone.
The next 5 minutes quieted down until Westfield went on the attack and netted their third goal.
Neither team created any opportunity on goal for a total of 9 minutes.
Senior Hailey Baker ended the calm with a shot on goal that was stopped by the Owls.
Less than a minute later, Westfield took control of the ball and scored
Grimaldi said, “We’re focused on progress and positivity. We’re trying to make sure that we keep making opportunities and getting openings.”
Westfield earned five corner kicks, with Framingham only tallying two.
La Francesca said, “This game is something that I wish the outcome was a little bit different. … But the team fought and never gave up, and that’s all I can ask for.”
The Rams host the Worcester State University Lancers in a conference game Oct. 18.
[Editor’s Note: Bella Grimaldi is a Staff Writer for The Gatepost.]
Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST
The women’s soccer team commemorating their pink game supporting “Move for the Movement” Oct. 12.
RAMS ROCK THE RIBBON
Spread by Photos & Design Editors
Adrien Gobin and Alexis Schlesinger
Photos by Photos & Design Editor Adrien Gobin, Asst. Sports Editor Izabela Gage, and Staff Photographer Meg Dame
Volleyball stands strong against Mass. Maritime in conference matchup
By Sophia Oppedisano Sports Editor
The Framingham State Rams defeated the Massachusetts Maritime Academy Buccaneers three sets to one in a hard-fought conference match Oct. 16.
The Rams entered the match in the loss column, coming off a sweep at the hands of conference opponent Westfield State Oct. 11.
Sophomore Natalie Reynolds led the Rams’ charge with 14 kills on 43 attempts, and freshmen Sabrina Stadelman and Sarah Medeiros contributed a combined 44 kill attempts.
However, the Rams would fall short in three straight sets. A nail-biter third set had the Rams at a 24-22 lead they could not hold on to, allowing Westfield to edge out a 26-24 victory.
Seeking redemption, the Rams hosted the Buccaneers for their third conference match this season.
The match began in favor of Mass. Maritime, as the Buccaneers shut down a comeback attempt from the Rams.
Framingham crept back from an 18-9 deficit on the backs of Reynolds, Medeiros, Stadelman, and sophomore Emma Dobbins, all of whom contributed kills.
Ultimately, the Buccaneers won the battle 25-22.
The Rams rallied in the second set, capitalizing on Buccaneer attack errors and securing the set in a decisive
25-17 win on a kill by Dobbins.
She recorded a personal season-high 10 kills on the night, along with two blocks and two digs.
Junior Captain Carly Beaulieu started the third set with a service ace, one of three she contributed to the set.
Freshman Hope Verhoeven followed with a kill, one of her seven of the night, before Reynolds came up big in the front with two back-toback kills, assisted by junior Captain Stella Bailey, making the score 5-3 Rams.
Framingham’s offensive efforts brought the score to 14-9, and Mass. Maritime called a timeout - the reset the Buccaneers needed to find their stride and match the Rams’ effort.
ing in excitement. Reynolds, Dobbins, sophomore Jamie Moniz, and freshman Madysen Cedrone made kills to assist the Rams in a 25-22 win.
Verhoeven clinched the set with a kill assisted by Bailey, one of the Rams’ biggest cheerleaders.
Bailey, always one to offer an excited word of encouragement to her teammates on the court, came up big in the front with a personal season-high 48 assists. She also contributed a service ace and seven digs. Both teams brought the energy to the fourth goahead set for the Rams.
With the score at 21-19, Framingham made their final attack and the match concluded with a service ace from sophomore Anneli DiVirgilio to make the final score 25-20.
The ace was one of two from DiVirgilio, along with her 19 digs.
Assistant Coach Chelle Manganello said the win showed off the team’s communication skills and gave the coaching staff some insight into what lineups are working to keep the Rams in the win column.
Manganello said the conference is getting “more competitive,” and the team is figuring out how to rise to the occasion in conference matchups.
Bailey said, “It was a bit of a tough game. … Everything has to be 110%. We have to move our feet to every ball. … We need to work hard for everything. Once [we] recognize that, we start getting better,” she added.
Bailey said the team must continue to support each other moving forward because “everything is for each other.”
Attack errors on Framingham brought the Buccaneers within an inch of taking over the set, shortening the Rams’ advantage to 19-18.
The Rams fought for every point on the board, their frustration often evident, but with celebrations increas-
Reynolds continued her offensive charge with seven of her season-high 18 kills contributing to the final set. Her performance featured a sneaky off-speed tap of the ball over the net.
The Rams fought hard to run away with the lead, but attack errors cost them, and the Buccaneers refused to let up.
The Rams’ conference record is 1-2, and their overall record is 6-13 as they prepare for a non-conference doubleheader against Bay Path University and Anna Maria College Oct. 19.
Stats sourced from fsurams.com and MASCAC.com
CONNECT WITH SOPHIA OPPEDISANO soppedisano@student.framingham.edu
Field hockey falls in fast-paced conference game against Fitchburg St.
By Taylor Kimmell Staff Writer
The Framingham State Rams faced off against the Fitchburg State Falcons in a conference matchup Oct. 16.
Right out of the gate, Fitchburg brought offensive pressure. The team shot down the field and attempted a goal 15 seconds in, and another 28 seconds in. The first goal was shot wide, while the second was blocked by freshman goaltender Rowan Whittaker.
This immediate action from the Falcons would not deter the Rams. They fought back and earned a corner, which resulted in a goal by freshman Finley Hogan with an assist from senior Captain Kaylee Beck.
Minutes later, the Falcons fought back with another shot on goal, one that was again saved by Whittaker.
At the 7-minute mark, the Rams barreled down the field, scoring once again on a hard shot from senior Captain Emma Bailey.
The tide began to turn just 5 minutes later, as the Falcons found the back of the net, bringing the score to 2-1 with the Rams still clinging to the lead.
Framingham State regained possession of the ball, earning another corner less than a minute later. Freshman Mikayla Malmquist attempted a goal, which was blocked by Fitchburg goalkeeper Jenna Morse.
The second quarter began with another attempt on goal by the Falcons, which was blocked by Whittaker.
It was an evenly paced game for the next few minutes, with shots from both teams and more impressive saves on defense.
The third quarter began much slower than the previous two. There were no notable moments for the first 3 minutes of the second half.
It started to go downhill for the Rams when at 33:11, the Falcons netted the tying goal.
About 3 minutes later, the Falcons scored again, taking the lead over the Rams.
The Rams came back with a corner. Bailey fired off what looked to be a perfect shot, but unfortunately, it sailed through the air just inches above the net.
Framingham State earned three consecutive corners, but was unable to use any of them to their advantage.
The final quarter began with a shot from Malmquist about 5 minutes in that sailed just wide of the net.
Minutes later, the Falcons put another ball in the net, scoring their final goal of the game on a corner.
Fitchburg State attempted one more goal, but their efforts were shot down by a diving save from Whittaker.
The Rams took one last shot, but Fitchburg State’s goaltender would not relent.
The game ended in a loss for Framingham State with a score of 4-2. Framingham totaled 13 shots and played out 9 penalty corners.
Graduate student and Captain Angelina Serra noted that in games against teams like Fitchburg State, with players who are constantly in motion, the Rams specifically prepare to keep up. “Fitchburg is probably the fastest team in the MASCAC. … During the drills in practices leading up, we really just give it all we have and go as fast as we can.”
/ THE GATEPOST
Serra believes the team improved offensively since their last game against Fitchburg State on Sept. 20, creating many more opportunities to score and playing at a faster speed.
Sophomore Allison Harmuth said, “We have improved on our positioning and utilizing each other to get the ball down the field … as well as taking free hits much faster, which earned us a lot of advantages.”
Fitchburg has developed a reputation within the conference as a strong team. They left this game with a 5-0 conference record.
Junior Natalia Roehr said, “We honestly just told ourselves to play them like it’s the first time again, like it was 0-0. … We just have to come in, come out fast, and catch them off guard. We really did that in the beginning.”
Whittaker said that as a goalten-
der, it is hard to deal with negativity at times. She said, “I have to keep myself in a positive mindset - hungry and ready for the next play.
“It’s difficult to deal with overly aggressive behavior from opponents, but I try my best to ignore them and continue playing my game,” she added.
Most recently, the team lost a difficult battle to Westfield State on Saturday, Oct. 12.
The Rams are hopeful for a win against Salem State on the Vikings’ turf in another conference matchup Oct. 19.
Stats sourced from fsurams.com and MASCAC.com
CONNECT WITH TAYLOR KIMMELL tkimmell@student.framingham.edu
Meg Dame / THE GATEPOST
The Rams celebrating during game against Mass. Maritime Oct. 16.
Izabela Gage
Natalia Roehr (front) during game against Fitchburg State Oct. 16.
ARTS & FEATURES
Ritmos dances for Hispanic Heritage Month
By Raena Hunter Doty Arts & Features Editor
By Sarah Daponde Staff Writer
The Center for Inclusive Excellence (CIE) hosted a Taste of Culture event Oct. 15 to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.
The event featured Latin American cuisine and a small dance lesson in some Caribbean styles, held by Massy Paulino, director of Ritmos Dance Studio, which works to preserve Latin American culture.
Jerome Burke said the CIE did quite a bit to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, including setting up a small bodega display in the center, partnering with the Danforth Art Museum to display art by Hispanic artists in the center, and tabling across FSU’s campus.
He said since he took over as the director of the CIE, he’s tried to implement more programming to respond to the student desire to see events like Taste of Culture.
He added the Taste of Culture series started last fall, during his first semester as the CIE director, and since last year’s events were so successful, they continued the series as it was.
“If it’s not broken, not gonna fix it,” Burke said.
He said the series stems from a student desire to see events that reflect their heritages and identities.
For this month’s Taste of Culture event, Burke said he wanted to make the event fun, but also educational.
He said though having fun is important, he wanted to make sure attendees understood “what these dances mean, how these dance forms are a sign of liberation, how these forms of expression are a sign of community and strength.
“A lot of times we do these dances and we’re just sweating and we’re having fun, which is good, but there are a lot of meanings if you are able to drill down,” he added.
Ritmos Dance Studio, based out of Worcester, works with communities in the area to educate others on Latin American styles of dance and their cultural importance.
Paulino began the workshop with a brief history on styles of dance that originated from the Dominican Republic, Cuba, and Puerto Rico.
She began with merengue, both a style of music and the national dance of the Dominican Republic, which she said originated in the late 1800s.
Paulino said there are two theories on how merengue dancing originated, adding that one seemed more probable than the other. One theory - the one less likely to be true - was about a soldier returning from war and dancing with a limp. She said the second theory was merengue was based
on European ballroom dancing and transformed into a new style of dance by Afro-Dominicans.
She added the artist most commonly associated with merengue is Juan Luis Guerra who popularized it in the U.S. after studying at the Berklee College of Music in Boston.
The next style of dance Paulino introduced was bachata, which also originated in the Dominican Republic, she said. This style was considered more scandalous than merengue
single night.
She said even among countries in the Caribbean, there were many styles caused by cultural intermingling between people from different places.
“Imagine showing up to Puerto Rico, and having an instrument that they’ve never seen before and they’re like, ‘Hold up, wait, we’re going to figure out how to use this.’ And then they start influencing one another,” she said.
Paulino said this is the origin of
when it first appeared in the late ’60s.
Paulino said it became popular in what she described as “underground brothel areas” due to the dictatorship of the time. She compared it to “Dirty Dancing” and Elvis’ controversial dancing style.
Bachata became more accepted and widespread in the 1980s and 1990s, as more immigration brought this style of dance to a larger community, she added.
She said artists like Romeo Santos, Prince Royce, and Usher were notable for helping popularize bachata, fusing it with other styles of music, such as jazz and rhythm and blues.
Paulino said the next dance would not be from the Dominican Republic, and she focused on the Caribbean because there were too many styles of dance to demonstrate all of them in a
salsa dancing, which started in Cuba under the name “son,” when the African diaspora made it to the Americas and shared their instruments, including the conga.
She said son dancing became popular in Puerto Rico, which is where a lot of people say salsa originates. Then when a lot of immigration started and Caribbean people started moving to the U.S., particularly New York, different cultures adapted it and it became known as “salsa.”
Paulino added, “It was son - but son influenced by Puerto Rico, influenced by the Dominican Republic, influenced by everything else that came along the way.”
She said there were two different types of clubs at this time - those in which Latin American musicians were playing and those in which jazz mu-
sicians were playing. Paulino added that hearing the jazz instruments brought a new influence to the Latin clubs.
“Now we add the bass, now we add the keys, now we add so many new instruments,” Paulino said, describing how salsa artists have added jazz to their style of music.
She said this point in time was when the style began to be formally known as “salsa,” because it was a mash-up of all different types of music.
One artist who had been performing salsa before it even had a name was Celia Cruz, a Cuban musician, Paulino added.
She said salsa is a good example of what happens when many cultures mix together.
When it was time for Paulino to demonstrate how to salsa, she said, “It is like we’re dancing on a track,” to describe the in-line motion of the dance.
In an interview after the event, Paulino said she’s been involved with Ritmos - which is Spanish for “rhythm” - since she was a child and she learned dance with the studio. She took on the role of director in 2010.
She said Ritmos holds classes for Latin American styles of dance, and they also do a lot of work outside the dance studio.
Paulino added Ritmos holds workshops with schools and attends events at local Hispanic Heritage Month functions. Their work includes advocacy to make Hispanic culture accessible to everyone.
She said the studio tries to make sure to remember that “movement is not something that can only happen when you’re able-bodied.”
Paulino added any type of body can dance and she wants to make sure Ritmos is “inclusive of everyone.”
She said her favorite part of her job at Ritmos is seeing new dancers. “I like seeing where it clicks for people,” she added.
Paulino said she enjoys teaching people types of dance they can take with them to many different places, whether it be a quinceñera, a family party, or a dance club.
She added a big part of her passion for teaching people to dance stems from her own background as a clinical social worker and dance movement therapist.
“I always want to make sure movement and mental health are being tied together,” Paulino said.
CONNECT WITH RAENA HUNTER DOTY rdoty@student.framingham.edu
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Massy Paulino, director of Ritmos Dance Studio, at the Taste of Culture event Oct. 15.
Polarization
Continued from Page 1
He said he first became concerned about polarization because, during the months preceding the 2020 presidential election, 30% of both Republicans and Democrats said political violence could be justified if the other side won.
“And, of course, we know what happens after the 2020 election. Jan. 6th, and by that I mean all that lovely - and by ‘lovely’ I mean awful, disgustingstuff,” he said.
Espino said since then, further polling has shown a decline in the belief of justifiable political violence across all parties, but it’s still at about 20%.
“When 20% of the population thinks political violence could be necessary, you don’t need a majority on board,” he said. “In fact, most social change - for better or for worse - usually starts on the fringes and margins of society. Sometimes you don’t need a majority, you just need a strongly committed minority.”
He said one issue possibly contributing to American polarization is what the U.S. surgeon general called a “loneliness epidemic.”
Espino said 60% of Americans have reported feeling deeply lonely in the past month, and added, “People that are lonely, people that feel socially isolated - they have lower overall levels of societal trust.”
He said some people seek to solve issues of loneliness by finding communities, and oftentimes polarized political groups present an attractive “in-group” to belong to, at the expense of polarizing against the “outgroup.”
Espino asked what people can do to cure the loneliness epidemic, and said, “I don’t know. I don’t have an answer. I wish I did. But, because you can start addressing a problem, you need to know that a problem exists.
“When we talk about democracy, there’s all of these things that deal with the functions of government and government policy. But I also want people to be aware there are all of these more nitty-gritty, societally ingrained issues that can have spillover effects to democracy and polarization and political violence,” Espino said.
Smailes began his discussion with a few disclaimers - there is no one solution, not everyone will want to participate in the effort to make the world better, and he speaks from a position of privilege.
He started by comparing the COVID-19 pandemic to another historical pandemic - the 1919 Spanish Influenza pandemic. During this time, both masking and lockdowns were common and controversial.
Smailes added there were many people with similar responses to the Spanish Influenza as there were to COVID-19, including people who capitalized on the situation, denied the pandemic, and panicked in response.
He said, as Espino had said, that people tend to act “more or less out
of fear” when in situations that cause isolation and loneliness like the Spanish Influenza, and this was evident at the time.
Smailes also emphasized the death toll caused by the Spanish Influenza pandemic, which, even though it lasted less time, killed more people globally and a higher proportion of people in the U.S. than COVID-19.
He asked the audience to think about reactions to the outbreak of COVID-19, which included panic buying, often without regard for what
King Jr. held beliefs which might be this “glue.”
He said King believed there are three ways to identify if a law is unjust - if it’s immoral, if it applies to the minority but not the majority, or if it applies to a minority but that minority gets no representation in creating the law.
Smailes said this is one ideology that may bind people together in a common belief to lower political polarization.
He said people should try to reen-
“I also want people to be aware there are all of these more nitty-gritty, societally ingrained issues that can have spillover effects to democracy and polarization and political violence.”
- Giuliano Espino Professor of Political Science
others were going through.
“We didn’t have much regard for anyone else. We really thought only in terms of what’s going to be best for me. And that feeling of being disconnected from everyone around us, that loneliness that, again, Espino is talking about very much fueled this reaction to COVID,” Smailes said.
He said democracy and civil society requires some amount of trust and a “sense of connectedness” to the community.
He added the COVID-19 pandemic made people feel like “there was no one or nothing out there that we could rely on,” and this feeling reveals
gage with the community to create a sense of connectedness, and recommended participating in local government.
He added the people of the town in Ohio where he lives now have joined together to not only raise supplies for donation to places affected by Hurricane Helene, but some individuals even delivered the supplies to the South directly.
“We create for ourselves, at times, this connection that we feel,” Smailes said. “The difficult part is sustaining that all the time. Making that a regular part of our lives. That’s the part that’s missing.”
“We create for ourselves, at times, this connection that we feel. ...The difficult part is sustaining that all the time. Making that a regular part of our lives. That’s the part that’s missing.”
- David Smailes Professor of Political Science
a lot about contemporary society.
Smailes connected this feeling to a speech Abraham Lincoln made in 1839, before his presidency, where he described a “civil chaos” that would eventually lead to the Civil War. Smailes said this is “exactly the same concern we have today about political violence.”
He added Lincoln’s concern was that someone would take advantage of this fear to incite violence, and this perseveres today.
Smailes said there is a persistent want for a singular political ideology that can bind people together and make them less likely to turn to political violence, and said Martin Luther
and propaganda.”
He said these acts are common within the current political climate in the U.S. in general, but there have also been several changes within the last few years that point to problematic shifts in culture.
Martin showed many statistics showing waning trust in the government, such as a poll that showed 64% of people in 1964 who believed the government wanted to benefit all people, versus only 29% in 2018 who believed the same.
Another poll showed in 1964, 29% of people believed the government was run by “a few big interests looking for themselves,” and in 2018, 76% believed the same.
One poll showed that in 2010, a majority of people began to believe that a third major political party was necessary to represent the interests of the people, and by 2014, this majority became more distinct.
Martin said this might be because people believe the U.S. government has become oligarchical - meaning only a small number of people have power - which was found in a 2014 study.
He showed research demonstrating that most change cannot happen without wealthy members of U.S. society endorsing the change, meaning that small fringe groups fighting for change may not be able to drive it.
Martin said, “Clearly, there’s been a breakdown in democracy. And the way I define democracy is not just as a process including the ability to vote, but [whether] the outcomes serve the interests of the vast majority of people. If not, we’ve got a problem.”
He said statistics show most people do not believe the government is serving their interests, meaning democracy is failing people.
“This state of affairs isn’t natural or just the way it is,” he said.
Martin showed examples of presidents - George Bush and Joseph Biden - admitting on some level that the voters they pander to are ultimately their rich voters.
He said because campaigning for office generally costs so much money, the third parties generally desired by the population don’t tend to be viable, because they can’t raise enough money in the first place.
Martin said his presentation would try to explain the rise of “anti-democratic politics in the last several years.”
He said the concerns about the state of democracy in the U.S. have existed since long before the 2024 election cycle, and these historical concerns may provide context for today’s political climate.
Martin said today there are a lot of non-democratic acts performed by politicians across the political spectrum and supported by their bases, including “election interference, obstruction of justice, demeaning minorities, political violence, disrespect for the use of law, [and] the use of lies
“A potent case can be made that the recent decline in democracy is tightly connected to the kinds of problems I’ve been talking about,” Martin said. He added, “When people feel deeply alienated from the governmentwhen they feel insecure and anxious in their everyday life and it becomes harder to get ahead or stay in place and they don’t see any truly viable political outlet for that frustration in mainstream politics - many of them are willing to back more authoritarian politicians who are willing to challenge the status quo by any means necessary.”
Kevin Kennedy hosts workshop on generative AI
By Francisco Omar Fernandez Rodriguez Arts & Features Editor
Instructional Technologist Kevin Kennedy hosted a workshop on using generative AI to assess course documents, such as the course syllabus.
Kennedy said he used Copilot and ChatGPT to assess a syllabus and assignment from two very different classes - a first-year writing course and a technical writing course - because they have different audiences.
He asked the same questions to both AIs, he said. Some of the questions were about whether the text would be confusing depending on the student’s situation - whether or not the student was a freshman, an upperclassman, a first-generation student, or if English isn’t their primary language.
He also used the AIs to see if the document was inclusive, asking, “How can I make this more culturally or politically inclusive?”
During a previous attempt at this, three months prior, the two AIs gave very different results, but he’s now getting practically identical feedback, he said.
While the AIs weren’t great at identifying biased language, they did highlight possible assumptions he could be making about his students, he said. These assumptions focused on the students’ understanding of technology and academic language, and the students’ access to technology, he added.
Kennedy said there is a focus on being as clear as possible with academic terminologies and practices. “Terms like annotated bibliography to peer review and self reflection might be unfamiliar to students who haven’t been exposed to academic jargon before,” he added.
The AIs’ responses were occasionally contradictory, and sometimes they said there was too much description, and other times they said there
with the professor, the AIs said that might be intimidating for students but didn’t provide any suggestions or alternatives, he added.
The answers for what might be confusing to freshmen versus upperclassmen were different, he said. For freshmen, the AIs focused on what might be unfamiliar, and for upperclassmen they focused on what might be different from other course documents they’ve seen, he added.
wasn’t enough, he explained.
Kennedy said this is likely because AIs use information from the internet, and there are very different ideas on what a good syllabus and assignment looks like. There are also different views on what students might need, and students in real life have different needs. Because of this the contradictions aren’t necessarily a bad thing.
The AIs were good at identifying possible anxiety triggers, but they didn’t always provide good solutions, he said. When a course document said a class required one-on-one meetings
For first-generation students, the AIs gave answers similar to what they gave for freshmen, but homed in even more on unfamiliar academic terms and practices, such as office hours and knowing how to ask for help, he said.
Next, he did a demo on using Copilot to assess a course document. He said Copilot is his first recommendation for these types of documents because of how it protects privacy.
The system itself works similarly to ChatGPT, and has recently been streamlined and simplified, Kennedy said. He showed how to attach a file,
Taste OF Culture
and typed one of the questions into the chat box.
He said it helps to give the AI a role, such as a college freshman or an English major - otherwise it might give a generic response that has almost nothing to do with college.
He asked Copilot if his syllabus has any language that might evoke anxiety, and it pointed out the heavy workload and strict deadlines. It also focused on the segment on academic honesty, which is clearly strict and might cause anxiety. Kennedy said this might mean he should talk about it more.
Collaborative work was brought up as a cause for anxiety by the AI. While he definitely doesn’t plan on getting rid of group work, he might look into making the language as inclusive and clear as possible, he said.
Then Kennedy encouraged the audience to practice using an AI to assess their course documents. When registering for this event, it was strongly recommended to have a course document and AI ready to practice with.
The participants generally agreed using generative AI to assess their syllabi could be helpful in identifying anxiety triggers and insensitive language.
CONNECT WITH FRANCISCO OMAR FERNANDEZ RODRIGUEZ ffernandezrodriguez@ student.framingham.edu
Spread by Photos & Design Editor Adrien Gobin
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Maddison Behringer / THE GATEPOST
Maddison Behringer / THE GATEPOST
The Center for Inclusive Excellence held a Taste of Culture event on Oct. 15 to honor the end of Hispanic Heritage Month and celebrate Hispanic culture.
Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST
Kevin Kennedy at the event about generative AI Oct. 15.
ARTS & FEATURES
‘The Wild Robot’ not only survives, but it thrives
By Francisco Omar Fernandez Rodriguez Arts & Features Editor
“The Wild Robot,” DreamWorks Animation’s latest animated film, was released Sept. 27. It is the last to be animated entirely in-house as they plan on relying on outside vendors in the future - maybe that’s part of the reason why this movie looks so beautiful.
The film was written and directed by Chris Sanders, who has previously co-directed “Lilo & Stitch,” “How to Train Your Dragon,” and more. The movie is based on the book series of the same name by Peter Brown.
7134, eventually nicknamed Roz. She is accidently activated by curi ous ani mals on an island un
inhabited by humans after a dangerous storm hits her company’s cargo ship.
After failing to find any customers amongst the wildlife, she spends many days in a hibernation state, listening to the animals and learning their language. At first, this doesn’t do much to make them hate “the monster” any less.
While escaping from a bear, she accidentally crushes and kills most of a geese family. A single egg is left, which Roz protects. She keeps it safe from a fox named Fink, who tries to
Once it hatches as the runt - meaning it probably wouldn’t have survived naturally - Roz is told by a mother possum that the runt needs to learn how to swim and fly by fall to stand a
Fink decides to “help” Roz as a “geese expert,” after realizing Roz can protect him in return. Eventually forming a new family, Roz and Fink take care of the baby bird, naming him Brightbill.
Lupita Nyong’o stars as Roz. She is known for her other starring roles in “Us” and “A Quiet Place:
Roz has very limited facial expressions as a robot, so her emotions are primarily shown through her voice. Nyong’o avoids shifting from emotionless robot to emotional person, never quite losing
Roz’s robotic-ness throughout the film.
Pedro Pascal voices Fink, and Kit Connor voices Brightbill. If it isn’t obvious by now, the rest of the cast is full of relatively famous actors as well.
The animation of this movie looks amazing. I’m unfamiliar with animation styles, but it seems similar to “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish,” and it has a nice painted aesthetic. Using this art style, there are some seriously beautiful scenes that are gorgeous on the eyes.
Without going too far into the movie, the characters undergo a jour- ney of belonging and found family. Roz, Fink, and Brightbill’s bonds are tested as they face a physically dangerous and emotionally hurtful world. They must be able to do more than they were programmed to, as the movie puts it.
Everyone is trying to find where they belong. As a robot, Roz obviously doesn’t fit in well on a wild island. Despite this, she does her best not only to survive but to protect Brightbill and Fink from the many, many predators looking for their next meal. Throughout all of this,she proves that kindness can be a survival skill.
Despite how dark the story could potentially be, it remains a children’s movie by pushing most of the deaths into the background through dark humor intended to go over children’s heads. There were moments where I was left speechless at what was im-
‘Look Back’ - an hour well-spent
By Owen Glancy Asst. Arts & Features Editor
For anyone even remotely familiar with anime, “Chainsaw Man” is surely a name you’ve at least heard before. It took the world by storm when it first started serializing in 2018 and put the name of its creator, Tatsuki Fu jimoto, on the map.
Since then, Fujimoto has created two one-shot manga - “Look Back” and “Goodbye Eri.” These quickly became two of the most popu lar one-shots in the medium’s history, with “Look Back” receiving an ani mated film adaptation this year.
This is a truly beautiful movie, in nearly every way. The visuals are so subtly smooth and gorgeous, it almost feels as if the characters are real peo ple. Weather is also animated really well here with each day of rain, snow, or sunshine feeling almost too real. I could feel myself getting colder in the winter scenes toward the end of the film, and that is no small feat es pecially for an animated film.
The animation is second to the sto ry, however, so it’s a good thing that this is one of the most compelling sto ries told in the medium of animation. It tells the simple tale of two girls, Fujino and Kyomoto. Fujino is the artist for her school’s student newspaper and revels in the popularity it brings her. However, when another
girl named Kyomoto runs a comic that is far better than hers, Fujino begins to push herself to become better than Kyomoto, only to discover Kyomoto is actually her biggest fan.
Fujino’s desperate attempt to get better at drawing definitely bears fruit,
thing that I write. If you have even one artistic bone in your body, this movie will hit you like a truck.
plied, but not outright shown.
However, it did not avoid death entirely - crabs and worms were fair game to be broken apart and eaten on screen.
As much as I loved this film, I can’t completely ignore the few negatives I found. The pacing in the beginning felt slow, but that makes sense for this type of story. By the halfway point, though, the story starts introducing and almost speeding through new characters and plot points as it sets up its otherwise incredible and emotional finale.
It’s not glaring if you’re just watching the movie for fun, like you should, but it was noticeable enough for me to see and now critique. Regardless, it didn’t take me out of the experience.
Sanders has already confirmed that a sequel is in the works.
“The Wild Robot” is exciting, hilarious, uplifting, and heart-wrenching. I can’t recommend it enough.
ffernandezrodriguez@ student.framingham.edu
be sure to bring tissues.
but her efforts seem laughable when compared to Kyomoto’s skills and natural talent. Despite this, she still manages to keep drawing and to become friends with Kyomoto. The two inspire each other with Fujino helping Kyomoto become more sociable and to fit in
is at the film
is so excellent. There are only these two characters, so if this felt disingenuous or boring, the entire film fails. Thankfully, this is one of the most realistic and heart-breaking relationships in all of film. In the interest of not spoiling anything, I won’t elaborate on where this relationship goes, but just
All of the film’s strengths I’ve listed pale in comparison to one thing - the runtime. “Look Back” is only 58 minutes long, which is the perfect length for the film to make its point and then end before it becomes too much. This may come as a disappointment to some, but to people like me who love shorter movies, this is perfect.
“Look Back” is an emotional tour de force that delivers a short yet powerful story that is guaranteed to resonate with anyone who has ever tried to be good at anything in a short and incredibly polished package.
For those who may have reservations about watching this because it’s anime or because it’s so short, please give it a watch. What you’ll find is a film that will resonate with you on such an emotional and personal level that it’s hard to forget it even weeks after watching it.
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ARTS & FEATURES
‘Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story’ - a flying success
By Jesse Burchill Staff Writer
Released in theaters on Sept. 21, the documentary “Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story” tells the story of actor and disability rights activist Christopher Reeve, who is most famous for playing Superman in the 1978-1987 film series about the character.
Reeve took on the hobby of horse-riding after training to do so for a 1985 film role. He continued the hobby for the next decade until May 1995, when he was thrown from his horse at an equestrian center, becoming permanently paralyzed from the neck down.
The documentary is presented by Reeve’s children Alexandra, Matthew, and William. They speak on their relationship with their father before and after he was paralyzed. It features several of Reeve’s friends, including actresses Whoopi Goldberg and Glenn Close and disability rights activist Brooke Ellison, the first quadriplegic Harvard graduate, who described how she was inspired by Reeve, who in turn directed a biopic about her in 2004.
By Owen Glancy Asst. Arts & Features Editor
The late 1940s were arguably the most difficult period in history for the nation of Japan. The aftermath of nuclear devastation as well as American occupation in nearly every facet of Japanese life made living in Japan extremely difficult. This was especially true for the many Japanese filmmakers of the time.
The American armed forces that occupied Japan imposed strict censorship rules on films made in Japan. This ranged from disallowing nudity to forbidding the depiction of Mt. Fuji. Essentially anything that could represent traditional Japanese imagery - from katanas to bowing - was considered taboo.
This left a massive hole in the industry as this essentially meant the only kind of film that would pass the American censors was the shomin-geki, meaning “common people genre.” While there are great films from this period - “Late Spring” especially stands out - there was a distinct lack of variety in the genres being used.
Eventually, the censors’ grip over the industry would loosen, leaving room for a bold new cinematic voice.
At the 12th Venice International
It was sad to observe the aftermath of Reeve’s accident and how it affected both him and his family. Reeve felt a great deal of guilt over the accident’s occurrence, and his wife Dana struggled with the loss of physical intimacy they once had, but they made sure to be there for each other and their kids.
After the accident, Reeve connected with his children on a more personal level than the physical activities they used to do together before. He taught his son how to ride a bicycle despite his disability, and came to see his life as a continuous timeline rather than “before” and “after” his paralysis.
The movie shines a light on Reeve’s disability activism post-injury, something I knew very little about before. It was genuinely beautiful to learn about Reeve’s activism efforts for basically the first time.
“Super/Man” covers Reeve’s appearance at the 1996 Academy Awards ceremony, where he spoke on what cinema had taught him and the medium’s importance in displaying social issues. Reeve’s longtime friend, beloved comedian and actor Robin Williams, got a van designed to help
Film Festival in 1951, Akira Kurosawa’s “Rashomon” was screened without the director’s permission after an unremarkable run in the Japanese box office. The film would go on to win the Golden Lion, a prestigious award given to the best film shown at the festival. This would nearly single-handedly put Japanese cinema on the map, with film festivals and award ceremonies prioritizing Japanese films for the rest of the decade.
It cannot be understated how incredible it is that one film caused such an explosion in interest for an entire country’s body of artistic works. That has really only ever happened once in film history with “Rashomon.”
With so much history behind it, “Rashomon” often can seem pretty intimidating to people who haven’t seen it. Combine that with the heavy subject matter in which four different people recall their versions of a heinous crime, and most tend to stay away from this film, appreciating it from a distance.
Anyone who has not seen “Rashomon” is doing themselves a great disservice.
Even now, the way “Rashomon” is shot is absolutely breath-taking - the heavy rain pouring down on the titular dilapidated shrine, the shots of the sun as seen through the leaves, and the frantic camera work as blades meet in combat.
Kurosawa was essentially creating new filmmaking techniques that Japan had never seen before, and what’s insane is how well he did this. The camera is doing things in this film that would still be considered bold to this day.
It’s not just the camera though, as the performances really bring this
Reeve get there - Reeve felt he needed to appear for the sake of those in a situation similar to his own, and received a standing ovation.
Reeve would later become a major supporter of the Stifel Paralysis Research Center, which focuses on treating spinal cord injuries and improving the lives of paralyzed individuals. He succeeded in getting the Center a $10 million grant after meeting with then-president Bill Clinton. The Center was later renamed the Christopher Reeve Foundation in his honor.
On Oct. 10, 2004, Christopher Reeve passed away from heart failure. The news and media honored Reeve after his death, and many still saw him as a hero. Dana kept Reeve’s fight for the disabled going after his death, leading the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation until her own death from lung cancer on March 6, 2006.
The film ends as the camera flies through space with archival footage of Reeve as his children speak on how they found meaning after the deaths of their parents. They’re currently board members on the Chris- topher & Dana Reeve Foundation, con-
film home. Legendary actor Toshiro Mifune got his first big break in this film after impressing Kurosawa with an overthe-top audition. Mifune is at the top of his game in this film as ruthless criminal Tajomaru, a role he plays with such a malicious and wild energy that you can’t help but be transfixed by him every time he’s on screen.
Mifune was not alone, though, as Machiko Kyo also absolutely devours every scene she’s in. Going from a helpless damsel in distress to a manipulative femme fatale, Kyo is a heavily underrated part of the film that ties everything excellent about it together.
tinuing the project of helping those living with paralysis to this day.
“Super/Man” is a touching, powerful, and humanizing reflection on Reeve’s life and legacy as an actor, father, husband, and activist. It does not skimp on showing the fallout of Reeve’s paralysis on himself and his family, but also shows how they refused to give up. The film ends on a fitting conclusion - the last shot of the first “Superman” movie, with Reeve flying through the atmosphere and winking at the camera.
Rating: A
You’ll believe a man can fly!
CONNECT WITH JESSE BURCHILL jcelardo@student.framingham.edu
ed characters, but it also brings the audience in, allowing them to feel like they’re untangling this web of lies and exaggerations alongside the characters.
The film’s biggest innovation, however, was in how it told its story. Rather than a linear form of storytelling, the central conflict is told through four different points of view, with the specific events of the story being different every time.
This not only allows us to see different sides of these multifacet-
“Rashomon” is a film best experienced with as little knowledge of the plot details as possible - go in completely blind. What you’ll find is a film whose history is incredibly rich, but whose content is even richer.
‘Rashomon’
Ben Hurney / THE GATEPOST
By Anthony Pintado Staff Writer
“BRAT,” Charli XCX’s biggest boom into the public eye, was the saving grace of summer 2024. A breath of fresh air in the music industry, she overcame multitudes of talent and let the world know she was here, gracing us with her iconic pop and electronic roots.
Hence why the world was ecstatic when Charli announced the continuation of “BRAT,” “Brat and it’s completely different but also still brat.”
The difference? Each song included in the album would have a different featuring artist.
She teased fans by posting billboards around the world with different artists on it, each billboard having the names written backwards. This
left fans speculating, seeing the likes of Bon Iver, Lorde, Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, and more on this album deemed to be incredible.
These songs were altered in ways to highlight the featured artists, which boomed this album into new heights, but also left it grasping onto the original title “BRAT.” This album is the definition of conceptual brilliance. It was a creative and innovative project that had potential to be some of Charli’s best work to date.
However, it fell short.
The record was extremely well-produced and had genuine thought put into it, but it lacks impact - par- tially due to its ties to “BRAT.”
The tracks are altered so heavily some could stand as a single or on a different album. While it’s amazing that the songs are changed to highlight the artist, it strips the original charm of “BRAT,” leaving certain tracks feeling lackluster and uninspired compared to the original songs.
This affected many of the songs, from “I think about it all the time featuring bon iver,” to “I might say something stupid featuring the 1975 & jon hopkins,” which were tired attempts at experimenting with great artists attached to them. Both songs are great examples of tracks that could stand alone as good songs but fall to the outstanding origins of “BRAT.”
Not every track is a let down, with some tracks soaring and making the album worthwhile. Standouts such as “Talk talk featuring troye sivan,”
“Sympathy is a knife featuring ariana grande,” and “Everything is romantic featuring caroline polachek” help to create the vision that Charli XCX had for this album. The songs are different enough from the original and highlight the featured artists, but they stay in the same lane as “BRAT.”
What was expected of the entire album, we only got in a few songs. It was lackluster and grand all at the same time.
While “Brat and it’s completely different but also still brat” was well-produced and thoughtful, it was a missed opportunity for Charli XCX. It didn’t have the impact that “BRAT” had, which makes an already fine album look even worse. The featured musicians, while great artists, did not add anything exciting and the altering done for these artists only made the album stray further away from what made the original so special.
Sadly, it was an underwhelming release that added nothing special to the legacy Charli created for herself with the release of “BRAT.” To put it best, she was not “bumpin’ that.”
Rating: C-
This was not so Julia
Charlotte Fabrizi / THE GATEPOST
ARTS & FEATURES
Puzzles
ACROSS
1. Make a choice
4. Instrument that may have 47 strings 8 Crossword diagrams
13. “We ___ the World”
14. Stuntman Knievel
15. Subside, as rain
16. Certain sib
17. Gun, like an engine
19. Reynolds Wrap maker
DOWN
1. “Champagne Supernova” band
2. Ctrl+P
3. Peevish
4. Frau’s partner, perhaps
5. Get even for
6. Whoop it up
7. It was downgraded in 2006
8. Knight of soul
9. Take a match to once more
10. Pairs in tabloids
11. Pair
12. Spot for a soak
18. Turn a ___ (make money)
21. Convention center event
22. Gal pal, in Guatemala
25. Walk like a crab
27. Manhattan whiskey
29. Triage ctrs.
30. Leading the pack
31. List of top songs
32. Soup served with chopsticks
34. “Grey’s Anatomy” network
36. Many a belly button
37. Aristocracy
38. Speedometer meas.
41. More tranquil
44. Where Honolulu is
20. *Webcasted music medium (In this answer, note letters 10-8)
23. Charon’s river
24. *Glass-halfempty sort (... letters 7-5)
26. Historic start?
28. Lenten seafood entree in Britain
30. Greeting from a crow’s nest
32. Napoleon or Snowball, in “Animal Farm”
33. Acronym a er a long online paragraph
34. Yellow n tuna
35. *Dreaded class start time for many undergrads (... letters 7-4)
39. Golfer Ernie
40. Wagers
42. “ e Matrix” hero
43. Asana in yoga
45. Peninsula by Massachusetts Bay
47. Cry of insight
48. *“Everything is frustrating!” (... letters 8-4)
51. Shacks
55. Do a 180 ... or what each starred clue’s answer contains
57. Muscat native
59. “Catch my dri ?”
60. Lawyer’s association
61. Make’s partner, in the auto industry
62. Raison d’___
63. It is “a lie that makes us realize truth,” per Picasso
64. Futures analysts?
65. Gets into, as clothes
66. “Snowden” org.
46. Blocks dropped in Roadrunner cartoons
47. ___ State University (Mississippi HBCU)
49. Part of FAQ
50. Slow tempo
52. Papal name, or like Rome
53. Former Russian sovereigns
54. Simmons competitor
56. Has to repay
57. Chanted syllables
58. Tavern owner on “ e Simpsons”
Puzzle solutions are now exclusively online.
Setting Up For Success
The Career Development Office held an “Internship Discovery Fair” in the McCarthy Forum on Oct. 16. Representatives from many companies that have upcoming internship opportunities were present. The office also provided stations where students could develop different parts of their professional identities. These stations included a LinkedIn headshot booth, résumé reviews, networking and elevator pitch practice, and a free career closet.
Meghan Spargo / THE GATEPOST
Spread by Associate Editor Maddison Behringer
Maddison Behriner / THE GATEPOST
Alexis Schlesinger / THE GATEPOST
Meghan Spargo / THE GATEPOST
Maddison Behringer / THE GATEPOST