February 8, 2019

THE GATEPOST Framingham State’s independent student newspaper

Volume 87 • Issue 14

February 8, 2019

FSUgatepost.com

FSU faculty, staff, and students gather outside the McCarthy Center on Monday, Feb. 4 to show support for students in light of the recent hate crime.

Corey McFeeley / THE GATEPOST

Hate crime reported on campus “How to Be Less Stupid about Race” FSUPD investigates “racially biased” vandalism

Author Crystal Fleming visits FSU

By Bailey Morrison Editor-in-Chief

By Tessa Jillson Interim Arts & Features Editor

By Nadira Wicaksana News Editor A student reported “racially biased” graffiti to FSUPD after a Horace Mann women’s bathroom stall was vandalized on Feb. 1.

The crime occurred between the hours of 8 a.m. and 10 a.m., according to FSUPD. Sgt. Martin Laughlin said FSUPD is investigating the vandalism as a hate crime. “We’re looking at this as a hate crime because it is going after a specific group.”

According to Laughlin, the perpetrator(s) wrote “die black b***h” on the side of one of the stalls.

He said, “There are cameras in the general Horace Mann hallways.

So, our officers looked through that footage.”

Laughlin added, “We were able to identify [people] and obtain names. Now, just because they are on the camera does not mean that

News

they are immediately guilty. … We are trying to do our due diligence to find people/persons who committed this act.”

He said the dorms are a “student safe haven and we do want to give the students privacy, as it is their home away from home … but given the circumstances, we are making a valiant effort to let students know that we are out there.”

FSUPD will “reach out” to the community if there are any updates that can be shared without “tarnishing the case,” Laughlin said.

John Santoro, deputy chief of FSUPD, said in an email given to The Gatepost by Millie González, interim chief officer of diversity, inclusion, and community engagement, that 14 female students were observed and identified entering and exiting the bathroom during the timeframe.

In the email, Santoro said eight of the residents have been interviewed regarding the graffiti as of press time.

See HATE CRIME page 3

Opinions

Crystal Fleming, author and educator, discussed her new book “How to Be Less Stupid about Race,” focusing on how individuals can use their knowledge about race and racism to mobilize and change society, to a packed audience on Mon. Feb. 4 in DPAC. Fleming acknowledged how much it means to come together to discuss uncomfortable conversations about race and racism after the incident that happened on friday and after the incidents that have happened all over the country.

“Not on my watch. Not on our watch will we allow these things to happen and not stand up against it,” she said.

When Fleming was younger she said the learning environment she grew up in didn’t teach her about race or racism.

She was raised by her mother who, and the classes she took in school, decide to not address rac-

Arts & Features

ism. But, in her mother’s case, it was in order to protect Fleming.

“She wanted me to believe that I could do anything. ... She didn’t want any racist ideas about being black, being a black girl, to hold me back,” she said.

Fleming said she had no intention of studying sociology and race until she took FSU sociology professor Ira Silver’s Intro to sociology to fulfill a requirement at Wellesley, where she began as a biology major.

She said the class read a book that changed her life. The book, “Ain’t No Makin’ It: Aspirations and Attainment in a Low-Income Neighborhood” by Jay MacLeod, was about a study conducted in the Boston area analyzing the experiences of young boys in working class neighborhoods dealing with racism and class oppression.

What was interesting, Fleming said, was that the white boys in the study who didn’t care about school and the boys of color in the study who focused on their school work

See CRYSTAL FLEMING page 10

Sports

SGA pg. 4

EDITORIAL pg. 7

ROBBIE’S COMIC CORNER pg. 11

HOCKEY pg. 14

HOUSING SECURITY PILOT pg. 5

COMIC pg. 9

KINGDOM HEARTS III pg. 12

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL pg. 15

INSIDE: OP/ED 7 • ARTS & FEATURES 10 • SPORTS 13

2 | NEWS

THE GATEPOST

Editorial Board

Gatepost Interview

Editor-in-Chief Bailey Morrison

Kaitlyn Selman

Associate Editor Jillian Poland Interim Associate Editor Corey McFeeley News Editor Nadira Wicaksana Interim Arts & Features Editor Tessa Jillson Asst. Arts & Features Editor Robert Johnson Jr. Entertainment Correspondents Brennan Atkins Noah Barnes Opinions Editor Lizzy Stocks Sports Editor Matt Ferris Asst. Sports Editor Liam Gambon Design Editor Cara McCarthy Asst. Design Editor Kathleen Moore Interim Photos Editor Ashley Wall Asst. Photos Editor Donald Halsing Staff Writers Jordan Bacci Mikael Brown Evan Lee Jon Lee Tom Maye Kayla Otten Lauren Paolini Patrick Peterson Gordon Rupert Kate Shane Carlos Silva Cam Turner Julian Vazquez Natalia Voloboy Caeley Whalen Staff Copy Editors Caroline Lee Staff Photographers Ryan Feinblatt Allie Gath Jenna-Nicole Richard Margaret Richardson Michael Upton Advisor Dr. Desmond McCarthy Assistant Advisor Elizabeth Banks Administrative Assistant Gwenyth Swain 100 State Street McCarthy Center Room 410 Framingham, MA 01701-9101 Phone: (508) 626-4605 Fax: (508) 626-4097 gatepost@framingham.edu

@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

FEBRUARY 8, 2019

Sociology professor Conducted by Lauren Hapcook Staff Writer Transcribed by Nadira Wicaksana News Editor What is your educational and professional background?

I have a bachelor’s of sociology from the University of Michigan, a master’s of sociology from the University of South Florida, and then a Ph.D. in criminology from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia.

Are you currently working on any projects?

I am - too many, for sure. I finished my dissertation in May, so now I am kind of piecing that apart and submitting some articles from that. I’m in the process of imagining writing a book from that. When you work on something for three years, you tend to want to be done with it and never see it again, but I’ve been convinced by some people I really respect to revisit it and write a book.

I’m also working on a new project with youth justice organizations that are fighting for abolition and fighting against prisons and police, so I’m in the midst of the early stages of that project.

What is your greatest accomplishment?

I got an article published last year in “Youth Justice,” and that was my first solo article. I had help, obviously, but it was a really big accomplishment because it had gotten rejected at two places before it got published, which is very standard.

Most articles get rejected a couple of times before they get accepted.

I think people should know about that. This was last year, spring of 2017. Since then, graduating was also an accomplishment, but it doesn’t stand out as much.

What was your favorite undergraduate experience?

When I was an undergrad, I did something similar to the Inside-Out program and went to a minimum-security prison and led a debate club.

So, we got to come in and facilitate it. We didn’t get to choose what they

Police Logs Sunday, February 3 12:26 Disabled Motor Vehicle Maynard/Salem End Rd. Report Taken

Corey McFeeley / THE GATEPOST

talked about, but it was a really great experience. I don’t think U of M did it very well, but I got a lot out of it because I got introduced to a lot of the horrific conditions of prisons particularly the corrections officers telling us that the people we were interacting with were really violent, horrible people, and they were not.

They were just people. So, it was a really good foray into that, I think.

What has your experience at Framingham State been like so far?

It’s been really great! We only live two miles away from campus, so that’s pretty cool. My husband works in this department, too - he’s new, too. It’s been very nice. The faculty is very welcoming and fun, and they love to do stuff together, which is actually not very common. The faculty - particularly the crim faculty - here are very critical and very social justice-oriented, and they really take a structural approach to understanding crime and punishment. There are people who take one approach, and there are people who take another approach, and the approach that’s taken here really aligned with my approach.

So, I felt like I would really fit, and I have, so far. ... I was really shocked by the number of students here who work almost full-time. I had to reorient my teaching, because classes are not always number one. Working is a very important component of life here that I did not have at my previous institution. That makes me sad, because I wish we lived in

Sunday, February 3 13:26 Alarm (False Residential) Towers Hall Clear

a world where students didn’t have to work and just had to focus on classes. It makes me mad that students have to do that, but I’m trying to see the positives of that as well.

So many students have different perspectives and different life experiences, and that’s really cool to have in sociology and criminology classes. I was privileged enough that I did not have to work while I was in undergrad - my mom fully supported me. So, I had to quickly reorient away from my experience from when I was in school and try to connect more with how my students go to school right now, which requires me to be very flexible and understanding and empathetic - and you should be, anyway.

What is one interesting fact about yourself?

I have a full sleeve of tattoos they’re flowers and birds and butterflies. I have roses for my grandma. I have three hummingbirds for my mom, my grandma, and myself.

My grandma’s obsessed with hummingbirds. I have a sunflower for my mom. I have a butterfly with a skull face for my husband. I have an “Alice in Wonderland” quote - it’s where the Mad Hatter is talking to Alice, saying, “Have I gone mad?”

And Alice says, “I’m afraid so. You’re entirely bonkers. But I’ll tell you a secret - all the best people are.”

Do you have any advice for FSU students?

Communicate with your professors. Most of the time, we are far more flexible than we let on. We need to know if you’re struggling - we need to know so we can help.

Also, just keep an open mind because you might think that you want to be on one path, and then you might branch out and take another class and realize that you’re actually really passionate about something else. You might think that you want to be pre-med, and then actually fall in love with sociology.

CONNECT WITH LAUREN HAPCOOK lhapcook@student.framingham.edu CONNECT WITH NADIRA WICAKSANA nwicaksana@student.framingham.edu

Monday, February 4 11:17 Protestors/Demonstration McCarthy Center Assignment Complete

Wednesday, February 6 08:24 Motor Vehicle Accident Welcome Center Report Taken

FEBRUARY 8, 2019

THE GATEPOST

Hate crime Continued from pg. 1 According to Santoro, extra foot patrols have been conducted in Horace Mann following the incident.

Abigaelle Daniel said she was on her way to take a shower the morning of Feb. 1 and discovered the graffiti. She sent a picture to her resident assistant (RA) and informed another RA in the building.

She said the only person who checked in with her after reporting the hate crime to the police was her RA. “I feel like [FSU] can take more action to prevent these situations from happening.

“Racism is alive, and if we keep acting like it doesn’t exist, situations like this one that just occurred, and the ones last year, are going to keep happening,” she added.

Daniel said all students must take the hate crimes seriously. “We need to stand up and take more action to fight against situations like this no matter the color of your skin or your race.”

She said, “When there are events on campus that pertain to situations like this one, it shouldn’t always be the same people attending them. There needs to be new faces.

We need to find a way to reach out and change the hearts and minds of those who say they don’t care about these situations or say it’s not that important.”

Daniel said she no longer feels safe on campus, but “I keep my

faith in God and always pray for my safety, as well as everyone else’s.”

Carlvens Daniel, Daniel’s older brother, posted a picture of the graffiti on Facebook. It has been shared on Facebook over 175 times.

This vandalism follows a string of six hate crimes that occurred in the fall 2017 semester.

President F. Javier Cevallos said while University administrators and FSUPD officers cannot prevent students from vandalizing the dorms, he believes continued education of students, faculty, and staff will “eradicate” the mentality that “racist behavior” is acceptable.

Cevallos said, “It seems like we are constantly going in a circle. As an institution, we are doing things and convening immediately in response. We continue to host educational events. … Education is the solution. … It’s hard to say what else we can do.

“Unfortunately, there is always an individual who, for whatever reason, believes it is OK to write such painful and nasty comments.

It is a very unfortunate and sad situation,” he added.

González said her division has been working on several initiatives to “combat racism” following the hate crimes in 2017.

She said her office is planning to host an open forum that will be led by student groups with administrators in attendance to listen to student concerns.

On Feb. 1, González attended a floor meeting on the third floor of

NEWS | 3

Horace Mann, where the vandalism occurred. She said, “It was a very emotional meeting.”

González said, “We take feedback from students, faculty, and staff to heart when something like this happens. It really erodes trust in everyone on campus if their needs are not met, specifically regarding communication.”

She said it has been “interesting” trying to determine the best way to communicate information with students. “The most important thing is going to the specific location to see how the students are doing.”

On Feb. 4, the Bias Education Response Team (BERT) met to discuss the recent hate crime and how the panel could address it. “There is a lot going on behind the scenes as everything unravels so quickly,” González said.

BERT is a committee comprised of faculty, administrators, and students, who respond to incidents of bias when they are reported through the online bias incident form. González said though the hate crime was not reported through the online form, the committee convened anyway to discuss solutions.

Also on Feb. 4, English professor Kelly Matthews organized a demonstration with approximately 15 faculty members outside the McCarthy Center. They held up posters affirming their support for students and wore pins stating, “FSU Faculty Against Hate.”

Matthews emailed her colleagues over the weekend following the notification of the hate crime and invited them to gather where they would be visible to students.

Matthews said, “We tried to show that we heard what students were saying last year when they said they need to see and hear professors saying that this is wrong, and we’re standing up against any form of hate speech, intimidation, racism, and other types of bias.”

Sociology professor Virginia Rutter was also among the faculty members present at the demonstration.

“We are very concerned about making sure students - especially students, but everyone in the community - know this should not be normalized, that we need to keep speaking up, speaking out, and working to change the culture.”

On Feb. 5, history professor Maria Bollettino’s class, “Slavery, Race, and Rights,” penned a petition to members of the administration.

The petition urged administrators to require “students, faculty, and administrators and anyone involved at Framingham State University to complete workshops in person and trainings having to do with anti-racism, bias incidents, and diversity.”

Stephanie Najemy, a junior and student representative for BERT, said she brought the petition to the

Continued on pg. 6

Photography...

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4 | NEWS

THE GATEPOST

FEBRUARY 8, 2019

SGA seeks to improve campus environment and club relations

By Donald Halsing Editorial Staff During Open Forum at their meeting on Feb. 5, SGA shared concerns regarding the recent hate crime on campus.

Senator Lexi Dello Iacono said, “I don’t really feel like it’s being addressed properly.”

She said she saw a post on Facebook about the incident with comments such as, “Definitely not going [to FSU] anymore!”

She added this response is “such a bad image on us, and I don’t think administration is aware of that happening on social media.”

President Ben Carrington added, “From the student body perspective, it is very frustrating.”

Carrington said there have been multiple hate crime incidents on campus in his four years as a student. He added SGA will “keep administrators accountable. … We really want to see what’s being done to help out our students.” Carrington plans to reach out to University Police, Student Affairs, and Residence Life.

Also during Open Forum, Senator Olivia Rothwell said she noticed 4:30 p.m. was “prime time” for student travel and there is only one driver available for the RamTram. Senate Chair Stephanie Bennett - who is also a Student Transportation Center manager - suggested emailing transportation@framingham. edu to get the “best response” regarding her concerns.

Senator Amber Magin reported that a speaker in one of the smaller athletic rooms has been “down for … a month or two,” but multiple Facilities requests to repair the speaker remain unresolved. Carrington said “multiple clubs use that room heavily” and he would “see if SGA can help take care of it.”

Carrington also said he has been working on several initiatives to make the McCarthy Center a “more vibrant place,” including the installation of an information kiosk and a mural outside the faculty dining room.

In comparison to other college centers, which he called

SGA President Ben Carrington showed off a draft of the SGA newsletter.

the “heart of the campus,” Carrington described the McCarthy Center as a “multipurpose room.”

He anticipated the mural will be painted by students from the art department and the kiosk funding proposal will be seen by SGA next week.

Senator mailboxes in the SGA office have been replaced with a club resource area where student organizations can find “any materials they need,” according to Carrington. Senator Matty Ben-

members of Fashion Club had attended to present their request.

Bennett, who is the IGNITE club president, and SGA Vice President Alex Backer, IGNITE club treasurer, presented a funding request for a film screening of “Miss Representation,” co-hosted

by M.I.S.S. and Young Democrats Association. The film screening will be held on Mar. 8 in recognition of International Women’s Day. SGA allocated $584.10 for

“From the student body perspective, it is very frustrating. ... We really want to see what’s being done to help out our students.”

- Ben Carrington, SGA president

the event. Bennett commented, “There’s going to be a lot of people, with three clubs involved.

That’s amazing!”

SGA also motioned to purchase a new “flame-retardant” bench for their office with money from SGA’s “general” fund, which currently holds approximately $51,000. The bench will cost $988.

Later in the meeting, senators expressed concerns regarding proposed changes to the University’s alcohol policy.

Carrington said Jay Hurtubise, director of community standards, chose to re-evaluate and propose changes to FSU’s alcohol policy because his office was already in the process of changing marijuana policies in response to recent changes to state laws regarding legalization of marijuana usage.

Student Trustee Ayanna Ferguson voiced confusion about the meaning of “commuter guest restriction.” Carrington said he believes the language of the proposal prevented commuter students in violation of the policy Donald Halsing / THE GATEPOST from entering residence halls for a specified period.

SGA President Ben Carrington discussed initiatives to improve campus life.

@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

net “would like to see SGA work more with clubs.”

Carrington also presented a draft of an “SGA newsletter” and discussed the potential for an “engagement week” among SGA and campus clubs.

Fashion Club’s and Brother2Brother’s funding requests were tabled until next week, although

Donald Halsing / THE GATEPOST

Secretary Allie Flood said she served on the committee that drafted the new policy and was “extremely opposed” to language that defines “weekends.”

The proposed sanctions prevent students in violation of the policy from entering residence halls from Thursday at 6 p.m. to Sunday at 6 p.m. Senators were concerned about students who have Friday classes or classes that run until 6:20 p.m. on Thursdays being able to access their rooms before the restriction takes effect.

Parliamentarian Adam Scanlon said “the [current] punishment of giving somebody homelessness for a week is not really beneficial.”

Matty Bennet was concerned the new policy had the potential to “literally ruin people’s academic careers.”

Senator Abigail Salvucci, a resident assistant, said parts of the proposal “need to be fixed.” However, she said “having different levels within it will make it a better community on campus.”

Ferguson reported to the senate about the “very quick” Board of Trustees meeting on Jan. 30.

She said the Rams Resource Center is “very well utilized,” and a motion was made by the Board of Trustees to allocate more funding for renovations for the Danforth Museum, which remains under construction.

Ferguson reported from the Board meeting that the trustees also identified reasons students have transferred out of the University over the past two years.

Some answers included moving closer to home, financial insecurity, and students feeling “uncomfortable” on campus. The final reason was: “They got into their first-choice school.”

In other news: • Matty Bennet received the U-Rock award.

• SGA sang “Happy Birthday” to Ben Carrington.

CONNECT WITH DONALD HALSING dhalsing@student.framingham.edu

FEBRUARY 8, 2019

THE GATEPOST

NEWS | 5

FSU joins pilot program to combat youth homelessness

By Nadira Wicaksana News Editor As of January, Framingham State is part of a new program called the Massachusetts Student Housing Security Pilot, aimed at providing homeless youth with shelter and resources.

Gov. Charlie Baker, accompanied

by Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito and Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders, visited campus on Thursday, Jan. 31 for a press conference to announce the launch of the Baker-Polito administration’s new program.

Baker emphasized the importance of the narratives of homeless youth in his talk to the audience. He noted there are some 500 to 1000 homeless youth in the Commonwealth, and most likely more, since not every homeless youth will officially disclose their status.

“The simplest way I can describe what we heard from them [homeless youth] is to say that when you talk about food insecurity and homelessness - they’re generic terms.

When they speak their own particular life stories, they’re not generic,” Baker said.

He added, “When they talk about being homeless at the age of 15, and literally trying on their own to build a path forward and a life for themselves, it’s not generic anymore it’s incredibly personal and hugely powerful.”

Baker and Polito convened the Interagency Council on Housing and Homelessness in October 2015, co-chaired by Sudders and former secretary of Housing and Economic Development Jay Ash. Sudders said the council and the administration itself have increased their focus on homeless youth following studies from the HOPE Lab that found almost half of all Massachusetts community college students face some degree of food and housing insecurity.

State colleges and universities across the country participated in a study conducted by the HOPE Lab at the University of Wisconsin, which explored student homelessness and hunger.

Sudders, a first-generation college student like many of the homeless students present, talked about the struggles of relying on university housing - especially when the dorms closed for the holidays and summer. She said, “Homeless youth and young adults should have the same opportunities provided to them as others to help them succeed.”

According to the University website, FSU is one of eight public institutions in the Commonwealth involved in the pilot program - four universities and four community colleges.

The four-year institutions - FSU, Worcester State University, Bridge-

Gov. Charlie Baker speaks to the media following the press conference.

water State University, and the University of Massachusetts-Lowell - each partnered with its local community college. The program supports a maximum of five students per partnership, according to a Feb. 1 MassBay press release.

Support includes housing, meal plans, and other student services from their respective college or university.

FSU President F. Javier Cevallos said there are currently five students participating in the program between FSU and MassBay - three

homeless. I hope that we are able to continue to help young people who find themselves in situations like these.

“Listening to the stories of these students today - it’s heartbreaking,” Cevallos said. “All of a sudden, a parent might have died, and they are thrown into this crazy world.”

FSU’s Residence Life department works to provide housing assignments for the students participating in the program. Glenn Cochran, director of residence life and associate dean of students, said his de-

“I hope that we are able to continue to help young people who find themselves in situations like these.”

- F. Javier Cevallos, FSU president

FSU students and two MassBay students.

The University website states potential program applicants must be enrolled full-time in a participating institution, be a degree-seeking candidate in good academic standing, and be age 25 or younger. Applicants can be referred by campus staff or community service providers, or apply themselves.

Cevallos said, “I think it’s something that’s a great idea. We actually started last year, before this pilot.

We had a MassBay student who was homeless and we offered that particular student housing.”

He added, “It was good we were able to find housing for this student, and I’m glad we are able to provide this opportunity, but it is so sad that there are still five students who are

partment is “really working hard on the logistics and making the pieces fall into place.”

He added, “This has been an ongoing effort since the beginning of last summer. I was asked to go to the first meeting about it ... and it’s been a great project to be a part of.”

Michelle Yestrepsky, coordinator of student support initiatives, serves as the University’s “single point of contact” for FSU students who face housing or food insecurity.

She said her team is “working to coordinate the housing pilot program and to provide support to the student participants.

“My hope is that this program will help students to thrive as they work to pursue their educational, career, and personal goals.”

The mass.gov press release also

Corey McFeeley / THE GATEPOST

states the proposed plan includes $3 million in grant funding for 10 community organizations throughout Massachusetts. The grantee for the MetroWest area is the Southern Middlesex Opportunity Council, which has received $272,340.

“Funds can be used for housing, transportation, education, and case management support,” the press release states. There is also a winter response for youth without housing during severe weather, as well as support initiatives for undocumented and unaccompanied youth.

Yolanda Ortiz, director of the Tempo Young Adult Resource Center in Framingham, spoke about her own experiences as a homeless youth and how community organizations helped her and other youth with similar experiences to move forward in life and pursue their educational and career goals.

Ortiz said with state funding, her organization has helped over 50 young adults with rental assistance, connections to primary care, mental health support, and vocational training.

MassBay student Gabriel, who declined to disclose his last name for privacy reasons, is an FSU dorm resident. He said the program has made a “drastic change” in his life.

“Your mindset really changes when you don’t have to worry about food or transportation,” he said.

“I’m able to focus on school now.”

Gabriel is studying information systems and technology at MassBay and plans to continue his education at FSU. Cevallos said he is “grateful” to the Baker-Polito administration for the support and resources it has helped to provide.

He said, “We are always looking for ways we can do more to support this population.”

CONNECT WITH NADIRA WICAKSANA nwicaksana@student.framingham.edu

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6 | NEWS

Hate crime Continued from pg. 3 committee following the class. She said the class brainstormed different ways to educate the community. “These workshops and trainings would be important because they would be face-to-face, in-person trainings, and workshops. It’s more effective this way versus via e-mail.

She added, “Trainings and workshops over email are not effective. … Overall, students wanted something to be done about this recent incident, but didn’t know what to come up with.”

Najemy said, “The petition would help to at least start something that could possibly lead to more ideas from more people, or at least create unity within the FSU community.”

González said she plans to bring the student petition to other administrators.

Amadine Muniz, a junior, signed the petition. She said Bollettino “mentioned how a petition from students would be a good way for us to get attention from the administration for our concerns.”

Muniz said she signed the petition because “I’ve tried to understand the limits that the school might have as to how much they can realistically do to catch someone that does something like this.

However, I understand people’s outrage over the incident, and I would think that the school would be open to incorporating sugges-

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THE GATEPOST

tions from students.”

Bollettino said many FSU faculty and administrators have advocated for “meaningful” anti-bias training, but that “opinions differ, however, regarding the form that anti-bias training should take.

“I believe that in-person workshops will better communicate our dedication to inclusive excellence and inspire greater self-reflection

process of applying for schools, and I saw it in the media.”

She suggested that students and administrators sit down together for more conversations so that students’ voices can be heard. “I am not blaming the school for anything that has happened or how they approached it. I just think something bigger should be done about this.”

“I believe that in-person workshops will better communicate our dedication to inclusive excellence and inspire greater self-reflection on the part of individuals than online modules.”

- Maria Bollettino, history professor on the part of individuals than online modules,” said Bollettino.

She added there are trainings that are optional through the Center for Inclusive Excellence, as well as online, but believes a required in-person training would be more impactful.

Nahijah Maitre, a freshman who signed the petition in class, said, “This campus needs a bit of a change. I’m a freshman and currently, this is my second semester.

I wasn’t here when the first hate crimes happened, but I was in the

Mabel Mathias, another freshman who also signed the petition, said, “The school administration needs to combat these hateful actions that keep happening here because nothing so far has seemed to have an impact.”

Senior Emily Petro, who signed the petition in class, said, “Feeling safe and welcome on FSU’s campus is imperative to the overall wellbeing of this community. I, however, recognize that I have a very limited viewpoint as a white woman. I wasn’t a target of those words. But

FEBRUARY 8, 2019

what I do know is that kind of behavior is unacceptable, and we as a student body must act. A poster saying, ‘No Hate,’ is not enough, frankly.”

Other students expressed similar concerns regarding the University’s response to the latest hate crime.

Ben Carrington, SGA president, said, “I can say that as a student of four years here at FSU, I’m upset that there have been yet again more hate crimes. I and other students want to see more action from the FSU administration. We need to do everything we can to protect our students and to make them feel safe.”

Zhana Davis, a junior commuter and transfer student, said she found out about the graffiti through Facebook. “It was shocking. To think that black people are still being targeted, especially at an educational institution, is quite sad.

Davis said she initially came to FSU for the ASL program, and now regrets the decision because she feels unsafe as a person of color on campus. She said the hate crimes of 2017 factored into her decision not to live on campus. “I feel like I am one step closer to being a victim of these hate crimes.”

CONNECT WITH BAILEY MORRISON bmorrison1@student.framingham.edu CONNECT WITH NADIRA WICAKSANA nwicaksana@student.framingham.edu

FEBRUARY 8, 2019

THE GATEPOST

OP/ED Framingham, you’re boring commuters to tears

By Tom Maye Staff Writer No one told me the college experience would feel like waiting at the doctor’s office.

Framingham State is, by many accounts, an exceptional school. Our history spans centuries, our professors are some of the most passionate people I’ve ever met, and once 6:30 p.m. or so hits, campus comes alive with a variety of extracurricular opportunities.

But between that time and classes, there’s one glaring problem.

Save for homework and academic clubs, or perhaps twiddling your thumbs while waiting for your next class, there’s little for commuters to do. It’s a snoozefest - looking out the window in Hemenway Annex, you can almost make out the visage of tumbleweeds rolling across the lawn.

Commuters deserve better, given how crucial they are to Framingham’s business model. With the usnews.com Best College Rankings claiming that “54 percent of students live off-campus,” at FSU, and declining rates of student enrollment, according to Director of Communications Dan Magazu, - creating more midday events and activities would help retain the students FSU depends on.

As most clubs and activities are at night, a commuter’s hectic schedule often hampers them from participating. Junior Toni Resendes said her busy part-time job prevented her from joining nighttime clubs, and as a result, she felt “left out” from the broader campus culture. “I feel like I have a different experience compared to a resident student,” she said.

Fifth-year undergrad Julia Beaure-

gard puts it more bluntly: “It feels like the residents are only friends with residents and commuters are only friends with commuters,” she said. And while she expressed strong interest in getting involved on campus, the lack of midday opportunities that would accommodate her schedule left her feeling alienated from residents, who have spaces like residence halls and nighttime clubs to connect with each other.

For a school that prides itself on its affordability, working while going to school should not be prohibitive to campus involvement. FSU markets itself as the “fRAMily,” but the inconvenient times of social offerings on campus makes many commuter students feel estranged.

Of course, making more midday events doesn’t mean that everyone will go. We all have different classes schedules, so the logic of keeping clubs later in the day does make sense. And, I won’t pretend to speak for all commuters. “I feel that if you truly want to be a part of something, you can make it work,” junior Katie Brewer said.

But the disconnect many commuters note is still concerning, and a concerted effort to offer social and recreational opportunities at better times for them would make significant strides in solving this issue.

I’m not saying Framingham should overhaul its entire extracurricular system. Still, a few more midday events on a regular basis would instill a sense of school connection and pride FSU deserves. For commuters, let’s make campus more than just a place to go to-andfrom class.

Let’s give them more to look forward to.

OP/ED | 7

THE GATEPOST EDITORIAL

A comprehensive response to racism

Hate crimes around the country are on the rise, and the FSU campus is no exception. Racist graffiti was found in Horace Mann since the fall of 2017.

Black women - the targets of the recent hate crime and many students of color expressed concern regarding the administrative response and the safety of students of color on campus, as reported by The Gatepost in the coverage of the recent hate crime.

But the administrators, for the most part, seem to earnestly believe their collective response is enough for students. In an interview with The Gatepost, President F. Javier Cevallos said he thinks the administrators are doing all that they can, but students don’t seem to feel the same way.

During the Q&A of Crystal Fleming’s talk, “How to be Less Stupid about Race,” sophomore Carlos Barbosa said administrators were not responsive to student concerns.

Perhaps administrators could take to heart the three action steps Fleming had for addressing racism: 1. Remedy our racial ignorance.

2. Organize for collective action.

3. Get comfortable with the discomfort of disturbing racism.

Fleming argued racial ignorance can be combated through ongoing educational opportunities for students. Comprehensive education is the key here.

We shouldn’t be applying bias training like a band aid when hate crimes happen.The University should take the tactics they’ve already employed - the talks, administrator dialogues, in-person bias training and education - and make them consistent features on campus.

When the administration hosted a “unity workshop” and dialogues following the 2017 hate crimes, sometimes only five or six students showed up - and that’s including Gatepost reporters. And it seems as if the same faces are showing up at these events up again and again.

So, let’s make the culture of active anti-racism so ubiquitous that it isn’t something students need to opt into or make time for. Let’s not have these community discussions be the sole burden of campus affinity groups. It needs to be a consistent, unavoidable education.

Several years ago, FSU had a mandatory diversity course requirement within the GenEd system that was deemed unnecessary and removed when the current GenEd system was implemented.

This GenEd requirement must be reintroduced.

For impressionable college students, it seems like a no-brainer to expose young people to courses that challenge the status quo of the American educational system and teach about the structural elements of our society that have helped racism endure.

In the past, there has been collective action and education on our campus regarding issues of racism events not planned in response to incidents of hate, but as moments of social education for the community.

In 2016, faculty members across campus created and participated in the Black Lives Matter teach in.

Throughout the week, 76 professors included aspects of the African American experience in their courses.

A total of 135 classes participated in the teach in, as reported by The Gatepost.

Three hundred students participated in a forum following the teach in where they shared the impactful experiences they had in their classes.

Events like this can’t be a one and done.

The University can and should play a huge part in creating a holistic education, but students also hold the burden of participating - and not just students of color. The administration can make classes mandatory, but they can’t make students engage or learn.

Students should meet any good faith efforts from the University with a willingness to engage in order to face that discomfort Fleming identified and eradicate a culture that accepts racist behaviors.

Only through our community’s collaboration and investment can we change our campus environment.

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8 | OP/ED

THE GATEPOST

FEBRUARY 8, 2019

The Grande problem with appropriation

By Robert Johnson Jr. Editorial Staff

Some gifts aren’t worth getting

By Kay Ann Staff Writer Hey guys!

It’s Kay again, here to drop some knowledge about sex education.

Today we are going to be talking about the “monster under the bed” of sexy-fun-time: STIs. I know that this is a totally unsexy topic, but we really have to talk about it, especially because a college campus has the tendency to become an STI playground.

Even though “the clap” sounds like a fun dance move, it’s not. It’s the slang term for Chlamydia, which is the most prevalent STI on campus, according to the Health Center.

There are many STIs that have many different symptoms, and some of them are so mild that the person who has it won’t even notice!

That’s why it’s important to get tested often, and if something feels off with your genitalia, stop by your doctor’s office ASAP. A good rule is to go every six months if you’re sexually active.

According to the CDC, the most common STI in the world is HPV, also known as Human Papilloma Virus, and the scary part about it is that men can’t be tested for it.

Yep - half the population can’t even be tested for it. That makes the spread and contraction of it so easy. HPV is a very common STI because of this, and can be a very serious infection, some strains of it can cause cervical cancer in women. Luckily, the Gardasil vaccine exists, and it protects against most of the cancerous strains.

According to Planned Parenthood, anyone under 45 can receive the vaccine but the first round is recommended between the ages of 11 and 12.

HPV can sometimes just clear up on its own, but still seek advice from your doctor if your annual exam comes back with abnormal results.

Many STIs can be cured with a quick course of antibiotics, like chlamydia and gonorrhea.

Modern medicine is the real MVP. There are a few STIs that don’t have a cure, like herpes. Herpes, commonly found around the mouth or genitals, is an infection that causes patches of red sores around the affected area during times when your immune system is compromised, and though the symptoms can be managed, there is no “cure,” according to the CDC. The best way to keep your naughty-bits in great condition is to prevent STIs before they happen. Sadly, most STIs don’t have a vaccine that prevents them, but they aren’t unpreventable.

CONDOMS - use them. Every time. Most STIs are caused by skinto-skin contact, so having your partner wear protection is the best choice. Even if you see no visible symptoms and your partner swears they’re “clean,” don’t slip up. Remember how many STIs don’t show symptoms?

Also use protection if you’re going to put a penis in your mouth or your butt, because those places are not immune to STIs. You can also get an STI from a mouth or a butt, so wrap it before you tap it.

I know what you’re thinking.

“My partner has a vagina. What do I do?”

Fear not friends. There is a thing called a dental dam, like a condom for the vulva and labia. These can be a little tricky to find, but luckily you can make one out of a regular old penis condom. Just snip the tip, cut up the side, and unroll your new sheet of protective plastic.

I’ve seen other “hacks” on the internet where you can use plastic bags or cling wrap. DO NOT DO THIS. Those items are porous and will allow any bacteria or viruses to be transferred. Condoms and dental dams are the best way to protect yourself when giving or receiving oral.

Some STIs can be transferred if contaminated genital fluid gets into an open wound, so if you want to put your fingers in a vagina and you have a paper cut, invest in some latex free gloves. I know it sounds weird, but who doesn’t want their hand to look like a sex toy? It also protects you and your partner.

The Health Center has all the condoms and dental dams you could ever need for free, so make sure to pay them a visit. They also offer free STI testing!

Keep our campus clean, guys. Sex is always more fun when it’s safe and worry free.

Be safe this Valentine’s Day. [Editor’s note: Due to the unfortunate stigma surrounding women discussing sex, the author of this column has requested to use the pseudonym “Kay Ann.”]

@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

Let me get one thing out of the way, right now: I love Ariana Grande’s music. I think it is some of the finest stuff of the 2010s, and her evolution as a post-Nickelodeon starlet to international pop diva is one of this decade’s most inspiring triumphs.

However, one thing I do not love, especially as of late, is her cultural appropriation to sell her music.

In anticipation for her upcoming album, “Thank U, Next,” she has released three singles, one of which being the titular track, along with two others: “Imagine” and “7 Rings.”

Now, the title track’s single cover art is “Mean Girls” - like in its nature - various newspaper clippings that inform the listener of the song’s name, doused in her signature pink, with a deep red lipstick mark on the upper left to top it all off.

“Imagine,” her next single, adds a “fascinating” new characteristic to her cover art game: simplified Chinese characters that translate to the title of the song.

Uh-oh.

It doesn’t even end there along with a Parental Advisory label in English, a sticker that’s no stranger to Grande songs of the “Sweetener” era, there is also a Parental Advisory label in Japanese Katakana.

“7 Rings,” Grande’s latest single, also does the same thing with the Parental Advisory labels, but “7 Rings,” as you’re about to learn, is a circus of cultural appropriation.

The music video for the single introduces a title card sequence with a music video exclusive logo for the song, with a mix of Japanese Katakana and Hiragana.

Note how I haven’t made a single mention of the song itself, just the visuals.

Then, the pop diva goes into a trap-inspired number.

Whew.

For those of you keeping score, that’s five counts of Asian languages and one big use of a genre innovated and dominated by African American rappers to promote her brand.

I suppose that now’s a good a

time as any to remind you that Ariana Grande is, in fact, white.

It is completely understandable as to why one would think otherwise, as Grande herself has acknowledged her Hispanic-sounding last name. But Grande said it best during her 2016 episode of Saturday Night Live, “That’s a very common mistake, I’m actually just very, very Italian.”

The question now becomes: “Why?” Why is she doing this for “Thank U, Next?”

She didn’t have to do this for any album prior, so what’s the reason for doing it now?

She’s an international pop star with a massive Japanese following - in which she has a Twitter account, @ariana_japan, to communicate with that part of her fanbase - which is just ridiculous in my eyes.

Yet, the appropriation does not end there.

Grande’s latest run-in with cultural appropriation happened at the end of January, after getting a tattoo in Japanese Katakana to tribute the success of “7 Rings.”

However, the tattoo artist incorrectly translated seven rings so the tattoo read “Barbeque grill.” Grande, in an effort to correct the mistake, added on additional Japanese characters which created “Japanese barbeque finger.”

Truly a double whammy of our time.

If anything, this should be a warning for Grande.

There is no need for her to do these things to sell her music.

Summer 2018’s “Sweetener” was a smash hit, and not a hint of appropriation can be found.

It made it all the way to the top of music charts across the world.

“Thank U, Next” is another album in Grande’s continued journey to recover from the rough patch that summer 2017 created, with some updates to her sound to boot, but if she wants to avoid criticism from the likes of Princess Nokia and music scene veterans such as Soulja Boy, she better go back to her old ways sooner, rather than later.

FEBRUARY 8, 2019

OP/ED | 9

THE GATEPOST

Created by Gordon Rupert

Campus Conversations

What other action do you think the university should take in the wake of the hate crimes?

By Jordan Bacci and Ashley Wall

“Basically, the school should be informing people.”

-Alexandra Shields, freshman

“I think they should have an assembly addressing the issue.”

-Franchesca Rodrigez, freshman

“The people who did this who need this education aren’t going to these [antiracism] events.”

-Christina Lambropoulos, senior

“I think student voices should be involved. The emails are just PR.” -Christian Buterbaugh, freshman

“Definitely do more than last time. Maybe send an email saying this isn’t what we stand for because people didn’t learn.”

-Knile McDowall, freshman

“I feel like we should have class forums that are mandatory so everyone has to talk about it.

-Armaj Alexander, freshman

Op/Ed submissions reflect the opinions of their authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of The Gatepost or its staff.

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THE GATEPOST

10 | ARTS & FEATURES

FEBRUARY 8, 2019

ARTS & FEATURES

Crystal Fleming Continued from page 1 essentially ended up in the same place.

Fleming said while reading the book, she learned “the reality of structural barriers. The realities of inequality.

“When we realize that our society does have structured inequality, unfairness, injustice, [we realize] that we can do something about it. And what we can do involves collective action,” she said.

Silver said, “It's hard to imagine a better time than right now to be asking Crystal Fleming to come to our campus to share her messages with us. … I think Crystal probably put it best in the introduction in her book, ‘How to Be Less Stupid about Race,’ when she asks, ‘How can the same country, that twice voted for an Ivy League educated black president, end up electing an overt racist who can barely string together two coherent sentences?’”

Fleming said she was motivated by the 2016 election cycle to write the book.

“I was just really flabbergasted with the level of racial ignorance across the political spectrum,” she said.

After writing her first book, “Resurrecting Slavery,” she said she knew she wanted to do something for the public, instead of writing another academic book.

That's when Fleming began writing “How to Be Less Stupid about Race,” targeting people who want to better understand racism and fight against it.

When she started the book, she realized there was far more racial stupidity than she could address.

She said, “This would probably be a part of an endless series. How to be less stupid about race volume one of a billion.”

Fleming asked attendees to raise their hands if they’ve ever taken a class specifically about racism.

The majority of the people in the room did not raise their hands.

“That's the reality for the majority of people in the country,” she said.

One race theorist, Charles Mills, argued that by simply living in a racist society, one will absorb ignorance, said Fleming. Mills said ignorance is reinforced because classrooms don’t have students studying race and racism.

Fleming said many people disagree when it comes to race and often think that we’re “beyond race” since we live in post-civil rights era.

“Oftentimes, when we notice we have engaged in racist behavior or we have absorbed racists biases,

@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

Crystal Fleming talks about her book, "How to Be Less Stupid about Race." it’s normal to not want to address that,” she said.

Fleming said one of her favorite anti-racist activists, Jane Elliot, came up with an anti-racist lesson plan after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., teaching her students about prejudice and racism, which she used for the next 40 years.

Fleming said even after decades of working on this project, Elliot caught herself thinking racist thoughts.

“We live in a racist society. So it means the work is ongoing. ...

You have a responsibility when you notice [bias] to do something about it. It doesn't make you a bad person to realize you have biases.

It may make you a bad person if you don’t do anything about it,” she said.

During her talk, Fleming addressed Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam’s recent scandal. A yearbook photo surfaced which allegedly depicted Northam and another student in KKK robes and blackface.

Northam initially apologized for the photo, but later claimed it was not him in the photograph.

Fleming asked, “What do you think it means about his school, that this was acceptable?”

Fleming discussed several fallacies during her talk.

The “political fallacy” pertains to people assuming racism is a Republican or Democratic tendency. She said it didn’t matter that Northam is a Democrat - he is still racist.

“Now, in case you thought people of color cannot be racially ignorant - God gave us Kanye West.

Kanye told us that hundreds of years of slavery was a choice,” Fleming said.

Another fallacy people fall into

Ashley Wall / THE GATEPOST

is the “prejudice fallacy,” or the whites over people of color. It's conflating of racism with person- not a mistake that people of color al bias and prejudice. Racism is are not represented in politics the not just about someone's personal way they should be. It’s by design, feelings on race or their identity, and if we’re going to change it, she said. we have to take responsibility in Fleming pointed out that Mar- shifting our culture,” she said. tin Luther King Jr. knew the cenFleming stated three action tral importance of addressing ra- steps to correct these fallacies. cial ignorance, specifically white The first is to “remedy your own supremacy. racial ignorance.” Fleming sug“You may be surprised how of- gested taking a course on racism ten you can hear conversations or making an effort to do ongoing about race and never hear the work to address your own blind term ‘white supremacy.’ … White spots. supremacy is an embedded part, The second step is to “organize and a structured part, of our cul- for collective action” or work with ture,” she said. allies.

The third fallacy Fleming exThe third step is to “get complained is the “KKK fallacy.” It fortable with the discomfort.” suggests that people think white Fleming said no matter how many supremacy is only the KKK or times she talks about racism, she Neo-Nazis. Fleming defined white still feels uncomfortable. supremacy as the “social, political, During the Q&A, sophomore and economic dominance by peo- Carlos Barbosa said he is involved ple socially defined as white.” in efforts to cultivate change, but Fleming said MLK pointed out believes “the administration at the problem lies within the white Framingham State has failed us as moderate. students.”

She said he argued that “white Barbosa asked Fleming, “How supremacy is not maintained by do we keep the fight going when the KKK. It’s maintained by ordi- the resistance is very subtle, but nary people who reproduce the unfair?” racist status quo.”

Fleming suggested Barbosa She cited numerous studies re- should take the fight to the media. garding the racial wealth gap.

“Sometimes, students don’t Fleming said whites have 81 know their own power,” she said. times the wealth of their African “There was a time when it was American neighbors. To compare illegal for a girl like me to read. the gap, she pointed out the Earth There was a time when it would be is 81 times more massive than the impossible for a woman of color to moon. become an educator.”

“The racial wealth gap is the Fleming said, “However you're fruit of white supremacy, and it’s feeling about this climate, I want getting worse,” she said. to remind you that it is possible to “It's not a mistake that we have change our society and that you a racial wealth gap. It's not a mis- have a role to play.” take that education resources are concentrated in white communities. It’s not a mistake that we CONNECT WITH TESSA JILLSON absorb implicit biases that favor Tjillson@student.framingham.edu

FEBRUARY 8. 2019

THE GATEPOST

ARTS & FEATURES | 11

Kickstarter:

The future of comics

By Robert Johnson Jr. Asst. Arts & Features Editor

The Favourite

ADMIT ONE

Director Yorgos Lanthimos always blends suspense and humor in a way that isn’t jarring. “Killing of a Sacred Deer” and “The Lobster” are both excellent examples on how comic relief should be used in film. “The Favourite” starring Emma Stone as Abigail, Rachel Weisz as Lady Sarah, and Olivia Colman as Queen Anne must be added to the list as Lanthimos effortlessly blends these two extremes.

The movie has been nominated for 10 Oscars - two for Stone and Weisz as best supporting actress, and one for Colman - for best leading actress. Needless to say, the acting in this movie is phenomenal. This may even be Stone’s best performance to date.

The plot is loosely based on historical events with an eerie and entertaining presentation. The writing presents itself to be a rags-to-riches story, but it quickly spirals into something more sinister.

Stone’s character reflects what we think to be a cheery and optimistic maid who just wants what is best for the queen.

Weisz’s is portrayed as a woman who cares about the queen, but can be brutally honest and, at times, harsh.

The contrast between the two characters’ love for the queen is clear, and this brings up a “friendly” rivalry to earn her love. We find out that the relationship between these two and the queen is much deeper than we were initially led to believe.

The movie provides an interesting perspective on Queen Anne and how she is as a woman, rather than a queen.

While a queen is supposed to have ev-

erything in the world, Anne seemingly has nothing that matters to her.

While the underlying theme of sexuality is prevalent throughout the film, it's not the foundation of the film itself.

It's not thrown in for the sake of lazy representation, and the characters are not defined by the gender they are attracted to, which makes the characters feel more genuine.

Aside from a handful of oddly placed fisheye lens shots, the cinematography in the film is gorgeous. Many of the shots featured natural lighting, and scenes glowed from candlelight and sunbeams shining through the palace windows.

The sound editing in the film ensures all the music and sound effects serve a purpose and are not just put in because they can be. It reinforces the idea that sound can be just as important to a story as visuals.

While some viewers may be taken aback by its somewhat darker humor, it never escapes the realms of reality.

This movie has a couple of scenes that some viewers may find disturbing, as the movie doesn’t shy away from depicting sexual assault.

It’s a shame that this movie wasn’t as profitable as it deserves to be, as it seems to be made from a place of passion rather than greed.

But hey, maybe it will receive the respect it deserves once the Oscars roll around.

CONNECT WITH BRENNAN ATKINS AND NOAH BARNES Batkins@student.framingham.edu Nbarnes@student.framingham.edu

Grade: A “The Favourite” earns its title.

ADMIT ONE

By Brennan Atkins & Noah Barnes Entertainment Correspondents

For comics, 2018 was quite a big year.

With cinematic experiences like “Black Panther” and “Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse” dominating movie theaters across the world, Marvel had a pretty good year, and that’s not even getting into the comics.

DC Comics was no slouch, either - they put in their fair share of work by releasing “Aquaman” and “Teen Titans GO! To the Movies” in theaters, putting up respectable numbers in viewership and revenue.

However, DC’s movie efforts did not translate to their comics - series like “Doomsday Clock” and “Dark Nights: Metal” continued their runs that started in 2017 to great praise, but acclaim from critics does not exactly translate to sales.

In December, 2018, DC faced a massive wave of layoffs, dropping writers, artists, and colorists from the company to maintain their budget for 2019, which, as of now, is lower than what DC is accustomed to, according to their annual report.

It should go without saying that Marvel won this year.

Or did they?

While DC Comics struggled to find their footing throughout late 2018, Kickstarter-funded comics found much success in the market, funding new and imaginative concepts under the shadow of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Camilla Zhang, the comics outreach lead at Kickstarter, shared her 2018 report, “Comics on Kickstarter Keep Hitting New Highs,” regarding the comics category of the website, sharing some impressive statistics in the process.

Sixteen million dollars was pledged toward all projects, which is a 26 percent increase from 2017, and $15.3 million of that went to comic-related projects that have succeeded in the funding process, equating to 1,457 projects - a 70 percent success rate!

The “Big Two” - DC Comics and Marvel, for those uninitiated - have a gatekeeping problem when it comes to hiring talent, and very few independent comic creators ever get the chance to see what it’s like to write, draw, or color for those media juggernauts, unless you work absurdly hard to get there or get picked by the slimmest of chances.

Kickstarter comics, in a way, bypasses that recognition requirement.

In an era when comics are more accessible than ever, Kickstarter is a fantastic place for new creators to find the footing the “Big Two” refuse to give any geek on the streets, especially in a post-1960’s comic landscape.

Take C. Spike Trotman’s Chicago-based company, Iron Circus Comics, for example.

Trotman, a person of color, is one of the most recognizable figureheads on Kickstarter, and, as a result, she is a champion for the service’s treatment of indie comics.

Last year, Iron Circus Comics proposed 19 projects on Kickstarter, and all 19 projects got funded, bringing Trotman’s grand total, across her years on the service, to $1.25 million, as of Dec. 28, 2018.

Obviously, she knew how much of a big deal that was, given that she wrote the “$1.25 MILLION” in all capital letters in a Tweet. I would, too.

Kickstarter projects by indie creators bring a new flavor to the industry - one that lifts the voices of underrepresented groups in society. We need more of that than another generic “Superman” reboot - you have 80-plus years of that stuff to get through, anyways.

CONNECT WITH ROBERT JOHNSON JR. awilloughby@student.framingham.edu

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THE GATEPOST

12 | ARTS & FEATURES

FEBRUARY 8, 2019

Kingdom Hearts III

By Noah Barnes Entertainment Correspondent After over a decade of waiting, it’s finally here!

The “Kingdom Hearts” series, directed by Tetsuya Nomura, is a hack-and-slash RPG developed by Square Enix and Disney featuring a mash-up of both companies’ specific aesthetics. On paper, a “Final Fantasy” and Mickey Mouse crossover sounds atrocious, but the series quickly gained a cult following since the first game came out in 2002.

“Kingdom Hearts III” is the eighth entry in the “Kingdom Hearts” franchise - aside from remakes, IOS/Android games, and HD rereleases. As a dedicated fan of the franchise, I obviously had to check it out.

But was it worth the wait?

“Kingdom Hearts III” is a thoroughly entertaining ride for veterans and newcomers alike. However, the level of enjoyment between fan and beginners is a fine line, as it

clearly favors the fans.

For those looking to get into the franchise, or for those who’ve only played the first two games, you likely won’t understand what’s happening. This is due to “Kingdom Hearts III” relying on the story of every game that came before it.

There’s very little explanation ingame for those who haven’t kept up with all the other games.

It can be quite jarring for people who haven’t played all of the games prior. However, for dedicated fans who’ve pushed through each game, this lengthy experience will deliver in almost every way, featuring both heartwarming and heartbreaking conclusions to all your favorite characters.

This entry clearly recognizes how absurd its own explanations are, and it adds its own level of appeal to the game’s presentation.

Speaking of presentation, this game is pure eye candy. Players will get to visit the worlds of their favorite Disney characters, each world its own visual flair. You can

visit the mall with Buzz and Woody from “Toy Story,” cook with Remy from “Ratatouille,” and so much more. The worlds are bigger than ever, and fleshed out with content.

The combat is satisfyingly over the top. For example, you can summon actual theme park rides to take down your opponents. Even when your attacks do little-to-no damage, you can’t help but activate them any chance you get, because it just looks amazing.

Unfortunately, while entertaining, it’s also exhaustingly easy.

Even on the hardest difficulty, I died less than 10 times. There’s never really any challenge - even the final boss feels almost effortless.

There’s little end-game content to challenge yourself with once you’ve beaten the story - only a small handful of tasks that also aren’t very hard.

The music, like most Square Enix games, is top notch.

Fans of the franchise, Disney fans, or people just looking for a

48. Pat-down org.

50. Brand-new 51. Jumped over 56. Say hi, in slang 57. Environmental sci.

58. Small demons 62. Ignore the advice at the starts of 17-, 23-, 39- and 51-Across 65. ___ leches cake 66. It may hit a bull’s-eye 67. Transported 68. Sleeveless garment 69. Most draftable 70. Move surreptitiously

DOWN

ACROSS

1. “Oh! Susanna” instrument 6. Seek divine guidance 10. Hoof sound 14. French for “love” 15. Bar mitzvah, e.g.

16. Use a peeler 17. Check all the boxes, theoretically 20. Apt name for an emcee 21. “You said it, brother!”

22. Greek fable writer 23. Gross, financially 26. Unfulfilling occupations 29. Money put aside, for short 30. Siri, to Amazon 31. “Aw, shucks!”

34. Blend together 38. Allow 39. Grateful response to a surprise party 42. “Eureka!”

43. At a ___ for words 45. Appear menacing 46. Baseball’s Hank

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1. Soothing stuff 2. Mine, in Marseille 3. Cozy corner 4. Diner song player 5. End of UNICEF’s URL 6. “Coming soon” ad teaser 7. Jockey or cowboy 8. Make amends 9. Kobe coin 10. Test for some IRS workers 11. Moment of forgetfulness 12. Snacks that can be dunked 13. Crook, in cop lingo 18. Clumsy fellows 19. Late-night great Jack 24. “Buy It Now” website 25. Little 26. Food court’s place 27. Nile queen, familiarly 28. Billionaires’ planes 31. Ben and Jerry, e.g.

32. “Four score and seven years ___ ...”

33. Mojito alcohol 35. Basset’s floppy features 36. Slipper or sneaker 37. Ranch employee 40. Lemony Snicket’s evil count 41. Mentally sound

fun, visually pleasing game, will surely be satisfied in what “Kingdom Hearts III” has to offer. However, a lack of content and difficulty, and such a huge focus on story over combat, is what makes this a “satisfying entry” rather than a “great game.”

Grade: B“‘Kingdom Hearts III’ is ‘Simple and Clean,’ but not for everyone.”

CONNECT WITH NOAH BARNES Nbarnes@student.framingham.edu

44. Most crusty, perhaps 47. Account checker 49. Practice boxing 50. Not-so-cute fruit 51. French wine valley 52. Santa’s little helpers 53. “King Lear” daughter 54. Pale yellow colour 55. Spike Lee’s “She’s ___ Have It” 56. Samsung product 59. Oliver Twist’s request Puzzle solutions are now 60. Tree known for its scent exclusively online.

61. Big first for a baby 63. Bachelor’s last words 64. “SNL” networkh hero 49 Sycophant 50 Michael Jordan’s underwearbrand 53 “Janie’s Got ___” (Aerosmith classic) 54 Minnelli of “Cabaret” 55 Resting on 57 Internet access initials 59 Android alternative

THE GATEPOST

FEBRUARY 8, 2019

SPORTS | 13

SPORTS Men’s Basketball drops third straight game

By Carlos Silva Staff Writer On Saturday, Feb. 2, Framingham took on the Salem State Vikings in a conference game.

After Tyri Hampton hit a baseline jumper two minutes into the game to give the Rams a 6-4 advantage, the Vikings fought back with a 14-4 run capped by a Matt McCune 3-pointer to make the lead 18-10 with 12 minutes left in the first half.

The Vikings extended their first-half lead to as much as 17 points as the two teams headed back to the locker rooms at halftime with the Vikings up 43-28.

The Rams came out strong to begin the second half with a 9-3 run to cut the deficit to only 10 points with another Hampton baseline jumper.

That’s as close as the Rams would get to the Vikings for the rest of the game.

Even with Manny Payton’s game-high 23 points on 8-for-13 shooting, the Rams fell by a longshot score of 91-70.

After the loss, the Rams drop to 4-5 in the MASCAC conference and 5-16 overall.

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On Feb. 6, the Rams traveled to Westfield State to take on the Owls in a MASCAC game.

Unfortunately for the Rams, the game was out of reach from the beginning, as the Owls were able to grab a double-digit lead just about 10 minutes into the game. Westfield never relinquished this lead.

The Owls went into halftime with 17-point lead over the visiting Rams, led by Chris Prophet’s 20 points.

The Owls finished with six players as double-digit scorers.

Prophet ended the game with a team-high 30 points, Moody Bey had 15, Vawn Lord scored 14, Jauch Green Jr. chipped in 13, Maurice Collins had 11 and finally, Malik Pouncey scored 11 points of his own.

Prophet shot 8-of-15 from the floor, including 7-of-12 from 3-point range and added five assists and three steals.

The Rams were led by Payton, who again topped the team in scoring with 31 points on 13-of-23 from the floor. Payton was the only Rams’ player to score in double-digits on the night.

Hampton and Khaneil Bruce were close, as they both scored 9 points each.

The 100-70 loss brings the Rams’ losing streak to 3 games and puts them at 4-6 in the MASCAC and 5-17 overall on the season.

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CONNECT WITH CARLOS SILVA csilva14@student.framingham.edu

Donald Halsing/ THE GATEPOST Trevor Manyak (20) dribbles the ball up the floor for the Rams.

Donald Halsing / THE GATEPOST Matthew Rohelia (24) looks to pass the ball to teammate Manny Payton (2).

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

14 | SPORTS

Ferr or Foul Patriots’ defense prevails

By Matt Ferris Sports Editor If you like field goals, then Super Bowl LIII was a game for you.

For the rest of us, this year’s Super Bowl may have been the most boring game in its 53-year history.

A game so boring, the biggest highlight was Rams’ punter Johnny Hekker breaking the record for the longest punt in Super Bowl history.

In a defensive battle, the New England Patriots held on to beat the Los Angeles Rams and claim their sixth title in the last 17 years.

In the lowest-scoring Super Bowl in history, the Patriots outlasted the Rams 13-3, in a game that had just one touchdown over 60 minutes of play.

Patriots’ wide receiver Julian Edelman was named the Super Bowl MVP for his 10 catch, 141 yard performance.

While a lot of attention is focused on Tom Brady, who collected an NFL-record sixth title on Sunday, nobody is giving any praise to the real hero - the Patriots’ defense.

Sure, six rings is historic and no doubt impressive, but if it weren’t for New England’s defense, the Patriots would have stood zero chance against the Rams.

The Patriots’ offense looked shaky, producing punt after punt and only scoring 13 points all night.

But thanks to stellar defensive play by the Patriots, 13 points was all they needed to earn the victory.

Going into the night, many expected it to be high-scoring game, considering it consisted of two top-five offenses and two defenses ranked in the bottom half of the league.

However, we got the complete opposite.

We saw two offenses that couldn’t move the ball down the field, and two defenses that looked like the best in the league.

But besides the Rams’ punt unit, the Patriots’ defense was by far the most impressive unit on the field.

Going into the game averaging over 420 yards and just under 33 points a game, the Rams were completely blindsided by the play of New England’s defense.

The Patriots held the Rams to just 260 yards and 3 points.

You might ask, “How did the Patriots do it?”

The answer is simple: they were much better prepared.

New England was one step ahead of the Rams all night and seemed to know what was coming before it happened.

Patriots’ head coach Bill Belichick put together a fantastic game plan to counter the Rams’ explosive offense, and the players executed it perfectly.

Rams’ star quarterback Jared Goff did not look comfortable all game, as the Patriots dialed up many different looking blitzes that confused him all night.

New England also completely shut down the Rams’ run game, which very few teams have been able to do all year.

The Rams, who average 140 rushing yards per game, only mustered up 60 yards on the ground Sunday.

The two major standouts for the Patriots were linebacker Dont’a Hightower and cornerback Stephon Gilmore.

Hightower contributed just two tackles, but also chipped in two sacks.

Gilmore made five tackles in the game, and came up with the game-winning interception in the fourth quarter when the Rams were threatening to tie the game.

One thing is for sure: the Patriots and their fans owe a huge “thank you” to the defense.

Without them, the outcome of Super Bowl LIII probably would have been very different, and odds are the Rams would have been hoisting the Lombardi trophy instead.

Sure, Brady and Belichick both earned their sixth titles, a historic accomplishment, but a lot more credit and praise needs to be given to the Patriots’ defense, the real MVP of Super Bowl LIII.

CONNECT WITH MATT FERRIS mferris2@student.framingham.edu

@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

FEBRUARY 8, 2019

THE GATEPOST

Ice Hockey remains in bottom of the MASCAC

By Liam Gambon Asst. Sports Editor The Framingham State Rams hosted Worcester State on Saturday, Jan. 2 in a MASCAC matchup.

The game was tied at 1-1 deep into the first period, but was postponed with 4:20 remaining in the period due to an issue with the goal and the pegs.

The game will be continued at a later date.

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The Rams’ next game came against the Fitchburg State Falcons in another MASCAC matchup.

The Falcons took control of the game early as Kyle Hillick netted a power-play goal in the third minute of the opening period. The goal was assisted by Nick DiNocala and Sascha Figi.

Figi scored a goal of his own on another power play in the 19th minute of the first period to put the Falcons up 2-0.

In the 10th minute of the second period, Patrick Germain scored the Falcons’ third goal of the game, despite the team being shorthanded.

Fitchburg kept up their dominance in the final period, as they scored three goals off the sticks of Ryan Murphy, Christopher Vicario, and Hillick. The three goals wrapped up the scoring for the game, as Fitchburg defeated Framingham 6-0.

The Rams were heavily outshot in the game, 55-32. Framingham goalie Adam Calabrese was forced to make 49 saves on 55 shots.

Framingham also struggled on the power play, going 0-for-6 on the night and giving up a short-handed goal.

The Rams’ inability to prevent shots and their struggles in the faceoff circle contributed to their eighth straight loss.

Framingham is now 2-17-1 on the season and remain winless in the conference at 0-12-1.

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CONNECT WITH LIAM GAMBON lgambon1@student.framingham.edu

Corey McFeeley / THE GATEPOST Brandon Hamner fires the puck into the offensive zone for Framingham.

THE GATEPOST

FEBRUARY 8, 2019

Players of the week

Women’s Basketball’s slide continues

fsurams.com

Emily Velozo scored 17 points and collected 10 rebounds in Women’s Basketball’s 77-76 loss to Westfield State.

fsurams.com

Manny Payton dropped 31 points and grabbed six rebounds in Men’s Basketball’s 100-70 loss.

SPORTS | 15

fsurams.com

Tiphani Harris scored 15 points and 10 rebounds in Women’s Basketball’s 77-76 loss to Westfield.

Ashley Wall / THE GATEPOST Mallory DeFeo (35) grabs a rebound for the Rams as Liana Cunningham (2) and Abbey Battaini (22) look on.

By Mikael Brown Staff Writer The Rams battled the Salem State Vikings at home on Feb. 2.

With 12 unanswered points from Salem State early on, the Rams trailed 14-6 at the end of first quarter of action.

After almost eight minutes of scoreless action, Emily Velozo hit a 3-pointer to awaken the Rams.

The Rams outscored the Vikings 15-10, cutting their deficit to just 4 points heading into the half.

Velozo was the leader for the Rams with 6 points, two rebounds, and two steals in the first half.

The Rams came out of the locker room strong, going on a 10-0 run capped off by a Julia Sanborne jumper with a little more than four minutes left on the clock, making the score 32-24.

The Vikings held their ground and cut their deficit to 3 points late in the third quarter.

Shortly after, Velozo scored back-to-back clutch buckets from the charity stripe to put the Rams ahead by five going into the last quarter of action.

The Vikings slowly chiseled away at the Rams’ advantage, tying the score at 42-42, with just three minutes left in regulation.

Salem State went on an 8-0 run with less than two minutes left in the fourth.

Abby Battini drained a last-minute 3-pointer to cut the Vikings lead to five.

Unable to convert on their opportunities at the free-throw line, the Rams fell to the Vikings 53-47.

The Rams were plagued by a bad shooting percentage, going just 17-for-82 from the field and 3-for-26 from behind the arc.

Velozo, Mary Kate O’Day, and Tiphani Harris were the only ones to contribute double-digit points in the matchup.

Harris also contributed 15 rebounds to collect a double-double.

With the Vikings’ late push to defeat the Rams, Framingham falls to 14-7 and 6-3 in the MASCAC.

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In the Rams’ next matchup, they traveled to Westfield State to take on the Owls on Feb. 6.

This was a battle of the top seeds in the conference, with the Westfield State Owls coming in at second place and the Rams in third.

Framingham got off to a hot start in the first quarter, going on an early 12-3 run.

The Owls showed their strength from behind the arc, hitting four 3-point shots to make it a one-point game with two minutes left in the first.

The Owls then took the lead with a couple of last-minute charity-stripe shots.

The Owls imposed their will on the Rams, ending the first quarter with a deep 3-pointer to put them up 19-17.

The Rams shot 42 percent from the field and 20 percent from the line in the first.

In the second quarter, the Rams got off to a good start and slowly chipped away at their deficit.

Camille Desrochers hit the first 3-pointer of the day for the Rams to make it a four-point game with less than two minutes in the half.

Julia Sanborne was a key factor for the Rams in the first half, using her size advantage to dominate down low and collect nine rebounds.

The Rams continued to battle the Owls with the lead going back and forth.

Going on an 8-0 run, the Rams cut the deficit to just one point late in the third.

Harris gave the Rams a 3 point lead with a basket from behind the arc.

Trailing 73-65 with just over five minutes to play in the fourth, the Rams went on an 11-3 run capped by a Desrochers 3-pointer with seven seconds remaining.

In the final seconds, Westfield called a timeout and advanced the ball. The Rams went for the steal and were called for a foul, putting the Owls at the line.

After missing the first free throw, the Owls hit the second.

The Rams inbounded the ball and Velozo drove to the basket and attempted a layup that would have put the Rams ahead, but the ball rolled off the front of the rim as time expired.

Harris had 15 points and 11 rebounds in the game for another double-double.

Velozo was the leading scorer of the game with 17 points to go along with nine rebounds and three assists.

The Rams fell to the Owls 77-76, dropping them to 14-8 and 6-4 in the conference.

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CONNECT WITH MIKAEL BROWN mbrown17@student.framingham.edu

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

16 | PHOTOS

THE GATEPOST

FEBRUARY 8, 2019

NAtioN

On Feb. 5, New England Patriots fans lined the streets of Boston to celebrate their team’s victory over the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII. Photographs by Corey McFeeley/The Gatepost FRAMINGHAM STATE UNIVERSITY’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1932 | FSUGATEPOST.COM