April 18, 2025

Warm weather workday

Softball dominates Worcester State in doubleheader sweep

By Sophia Oppedisano Sports Editor

The Framingham State softball team took two wins in a doubleheader against conference opponent Worcester State University on their home turf April 14 with stunning performances from graduate student Makayla Rooney and sophomore Eliza Carignan.

With under a month of regular season play left, Framingham is second in the MASCAC conference standings. They are currently deadlocked with Westfield State University with matching 5-1 conference records, but Westfield bests Framingham with their overall record.

In game one against the Worcester Lancers, the Rams were quick to strike.

After the Lancers opened scoring in the first inning with a run on a wild pitch, leadoff hitter Brooke Grassia, a senior, quickly put the ball in play to get on base for the Rams.

Grassia advanced to second base on a fielder’s choice, and a tough strikeout for Rooney for the second out brought Carignan to the plate.

She scorched a shot over the head of the Lancers’ shortstop for a double that brought Grassia in to score.

Freshman Isabella MacDonald grounded out to end the inning tied 1-1.

After a quiet second inning for both teams, the Rams lit up their bats again in the third.

Senior Abby Behrikis was hit by a pitch, and Grassia connected with a pitch low in the strike zone for a single.

Freshman Ellie Etemad-Gilbertson hit into a fielder’s choice that advanced the runners to second and third, and Carignan collected another two RBIs on a single to center field.

Dean Susan Dargan

By Dylan Pichnarcik News Editor

When Framingham State University was founded in 1839 as the Lexington Normal School, it was the first public institution with the mission of teaching female educators. It would take 186 years for the FSU of today to take shape and 148 years for it to welcome Susan Dargan, dean of the College of Education and Social &

By Dylan Pichnarcik News Editor

The Center for Inclusive Excellence (CIE) hosted “The Trump Presidency So Far,” a forum for members of the FSU community to share their thoughts on the current political climate, on April 14.

The event was moderated by CIE Director Jerome Burke, retired Political Science Professor David Smailes, and Sociology Professor Jonathan Martin provided presentations about the Trump administration and recent actions taken by it.

Smailes’ presentation focused on what he believes the Trump administration’s interpretation of the United States Constitution is and the areas that are being affected.

He said to understand the Trump administration, “We have

set to retire after 38 years

Behavioral Sciences (ESBS).

Now, 38 years later, Dean Dargan is saying goodbye to FSU, as she will retire on June 30.

A native of MetroWest, Dargan grew up in Natick and graduated from Natick High School in 1977. From there, she earned a bachelor’s degree from Simmons University and a master’s and a Ph.D. from Boston University.

Dargan said she also had plans to go to law school af-

ter her undergraduate degree but decided to wait “because I really loved sociology and I wasn’t sure I wanted to go to law school so I lived in L.A. for a while, came back and went to grad school for sociology.”

Dargan said while at Boston University, she took classes with Howard Zinn, an author, professor of history, and political activist.

She said he was “phenomenal.”

INSIDE:

Maddison Behringer / THE GATEPOST

(Left) Junior Carmella Cole and junior Adriana Croteau working on classwork on April 14.

Alexis Schlesinger / THE GATEPOST

(Center) Bruce Bucci doing the limbo at the ASL Ball on April 14.

E ditorial Board

Editor-in-Chief

Sophia Harris

Associate Editors

Maddison Behringer

Ryan O’Connell

Copy Editor

Emma Lyons

Asst. Copy Editor

Allie Mosher

News Editor

Dylan Pichnarcik

Asst. News Editor

Bella Grimaldi

Opinions Editor

Izayah Morgan

Sports Editors

Izabela Gage

Sophia Oppedisano

Asst. Sports Editors

Taylor Kimmell

Kyra Tolley

Arts & Features Editors

Francisco Omar Fernandez Rodriguez

Owen Glancy

Asst. Arts & Features Editors

Sarah Daponde

Liv Dunleavy

Bella Omar

Photos & Design Editors

Adrien Gobin

Alexis Schlesinger

Illustrations Editor Ben Hurney

Asst. Illustrations Editors

David Abe

Ronnie Chiu-Lin

Emily Monaco

Staff Writers

Jesse Burchill

Raena Hunter Doty

Kristel Erguiza

Paul Harrington

Dan Lima

Antonio Machado

Anthony Pintado

Anthony Sims

Michael Trueswell

Staff Photographers

Eliana Buono

Meg Dame

Julien Fernandez

Oné Green

Staff Illustrators

Charlotte Fabrizi

Marcus Falcão

Advisor

Desmond McCarthy

Asst. Advisor

Elizabeth Banks

By Bella Grimaldi Asst. News Editor

Gatepost Interview Deborah McMakin

Professor of Psychology

What is your academic and professional background?

I went to Framingham State, actually, as an undergrad in psychology, and I went to George Washington University to get my master’s in special education and [human] development. I worked at Wayside Residential after I graduated. While I was going to Virginia State, I worked in special education with kids who were experiencing emotional behavior problems, mostly due to trauma. I really fell in love with doing group work with them, not so much teaching in the con tent area. I went back to school a couple of years later at Boston University and got my master’s in political social work. And that’s actually when I saw my mentors from Framingham State - at a craft fair at Keefe Tech. I was selling jewelry to help me with grad school at BU, and I saw one of them, Bridgett Galvin, who just recently retired. She asked if I wanted to teach as an adjunct at Framingham State. So I taught one course in the spring of 1998 and then continued teaching as an adjunct, and then started to go to school to get my doctorate in education at UMass Lowell.

learning about learning is really important. Meaning that Framingham State is about fostering lifelong learning, especially with the gains of technology and how quickly things change. The best thing I can do is to try to help students un- derstand

teaching dynamics. I have a cohort specialization from Boston University, and I got to teach research methods using psychology as a science. And I enjoyed teaching research methods. I love teaching development. I really love teaching research methods because psychology is a science, and I love teaching communication skills and human relations. And then one of the other things I really do love, that’s not specific to the psychology department, but I had the opportunity to teach with the Inside-Out prison exchange program. Framingham State has an Inside-Out prison-exchange program - 10 students who are not incarcerated take a class for credit with 10 students who are incarcerated. And we’ve been at MCI [Massachusetts Correctional Institution] Framingham, [Middlesex] Jail and House of Corrections - it has been an incredible experience for me.

What are your hobbies, or something students wouldn’t expect about you?

What brought you to Framingham State?

When I was looking at colleges, I really liked Framingham State because it was a small school. I was a generation one student, and I was very worried about not doing well in college, so I thought there was a lot of support - I thought it would be difficult for me to fail at Framingham State. I felt really a sense of support here. So I loved it here. I got to be an orientation leader. I was also in the S.E.A.L.S. as a peer educator.

What’s your teaching philosophy?

I really believe that everyone is a teacher and everyone is a learner. I learn a lot from my students, and what I try to learn from my students are better ways to communicate in the area that I am teaching. I also believe that

Weather

Saturday, April 19 Partly sunny, with a high near 80.

Sunday, April 20 Mostly sunny, with a high near 60.

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the learning process. Whether it’s through a professional career or being a parent or caregiver, or good partner - so people are a good member of their community - they know how to learn new things - to do that right - to be civically engaged and be an active member of their community and find a purposeful and fulfilling life. I think learning how to learn is really important, along with all the things that I’m teaching related to psychology as a discipline and science.

What led you to teaching psychology?

I was invited to teach in the psych department by my mentor, and I started teaching a class in child development for future educators, which was a great fit for me. My master’s is in special education and human development, so that was a great fit. And then from there, I was invited to teach additional courses. So I taught

Monday, April 21 Mostly sunny, with a high near 60.

Tuesday, April 22 A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 60.

I love to dance, so I try to take dance classes whenever I can. I really love all of dancein terms of what I love to watch, I really like modern dance. Another hobby that was unexpected is I’m playing softball in a coed league. I’m usually out in the outfield, and now I’m learning how to play second base. I also do a West African drumming class.

What advice would you give to students at Framingham State?

The advice I would give them is to remember that they are capable of more than they know. So, although things really feel overwhelming, once they get through the most difficult moments this semester, my advice is to just try to remember those times when they completed a task or a project, or collaborated with other people in a way that they could.

CONNECT WITH BELLA GRIMALDI igrimaldi@student.framingham.edu

Wednesday, April 23 Sunny, with a high near 70. Northwest wind around 10mph.

Thursday, April 24 Mostly sunny, with a high near 70. South wind 5 to 10mph.

Wednesday, April 16 10:36 K-9 Community Outreach, Northeastern University Call / Assignment Complete

Courtesy of Deborah McMakin

SGA holds elections for AY 2025-26 positions

By Bella Grimaldi Asst. News Editor

Cesár Matos was elected as SGA’s president for AY 2025-26 in a campus-wide election held on April 15.

The results of the election for president, senators, and other eBoard members were announced on April 17 via SGA’s Instagram account.

Voting took place on April 15 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Ballots were accessible through RamLink and the link in SGA’s Instagram bio.

Luke Yubeta was elected student trustee. This will be Yubeta’s first year serving on SGA.

Khoa Bùi won reelection as Student Activities Trust Fund (SATF) treasurer.

Alix Ayoub won reelection for outreach & events coordinator.

Ana Julia Ribeiro won reelection for diversity and inclusion officer.

Shawn Brooks, Adnan Sajid, and AJ Vasquez won reelection as senators.

Members of SGA will be officially sworn in on May 6, the final senate meeting of the academic year.

would focus on empowering the student body.

“Every student deserves a clear path from the classroom to their future career, and I’ll make sure SGA is a part of building that path. But none of this works without our students - none of this works without you. SGA isn’t just the title - it’s supposed to represent you, your ideas, your needs, and your money,” he said.

Matos added as vice president, one of the goals he focused on was expanding opportunities for student internships.

“I worked toward this goal because I believed in the empowerment of the individual student and the potential that our students have in our community and the community that surrounds us,” he said.

Matos said he wants to bring

a change in culture because he believes there is a lot of apathy about events on campus.

He said as president, he is looking forward to connecting with members of SGA and empowering them to take ownership of their role.

During his speech, Yubeta said, “I hope to work with our

to take on the student trustee role by familiarizing himself with the position and taking on running the Admin Forum and panels.

He is a member of the University’s men’s ice hockey team and the student finance coordinator for the Center for Student Experience and Career Development.

Current SGA Treasurer Bùi gave his speech next.

He said, “I will work to build a stronger, more passionate University spirit. A spirit that celebrates who we are, who we believe in, and what we can achieve together.”

He added, “Financial support isn’t just about numbers - it’s about enabling ideas, uplifting student voices, and creating experiences that will be remembered long after our journey

here.”

Bùi said in his second term, he wants to improve school spirit and make class registration more streamlined and clear for students.

Current Outreach and Events Coordinator Ayoub said, “One of the things that I want to do next year is to be able to carry on the

These candidates include current Diversity and Inclusion Officer Ribeiro, current Senator Vasquez, current Senator Brooks, and current Senator Sajid.

In a video posted on the SGA Instagram account, Ribeiro shared her experience coming to the U.S. and how diversity and inclusion have impacted her.

In a separate post, she said, “I’ve faced exclusion for being culturally different. I’ll fight for a campus where every student feels heard, valued, and supported - no matter who they are or where they’re from.”

Vasquez said, “I’m all about practical solutions, open conversations, and making sure student concerns actually lead to change.”

Brooks said in a post, “I’d like

to come back and help around campus once again.”

Sajid said he wants to make an effective change for students at the University.

He added his goal when originally joining SGA was to add more Halal food options for Muslim students.

“I myself am a Muslim stu-

“I’ve faced exclusion for being culturally different. I’ll fight for a campus where every student feels heard, valued, and supported - no matter who they are or where they’re from.”

- Ana Julia Ribeiro

According to the SGA’s Instagram, the positions of SGA vice president, secretary, and publicist are vacant. There are also 27 vacant senate seats.

On April 14, SGA held its annual Meet the Candidates Night to open election season.

SGA President Evelyn Campbell opened the meeting by saying the event would look different from how it has in previous years, with candidates giving a one- to three-minute-long speech. After speeches concluded, students would have time to meet and speak with the candidates.

The first candidate was current SGA Vice President Matos. Matos said as president, he

student population to understand what tools we need in order to be successful academically, and grow our knowledge of the resources we have to be accomplished professionals as we enter the workforce.”

He added he intends to keep an “open mind and listen to the concerns” of his classmates.

Yubetta said he hopes to “create new programs and policies that can help our students in ways that we may currently be lacking.”

He added he is looking forward to building a bridge between students, faculty, administration, and the Board of Trustees.

Yubeta said he has prepared

legacy of the fRAMily and to be able to make new changes and have new goals with all the people that I serve with and all the people in their organizations and clubs across campus.”

She added she is looking to have more unity both between SGA and the University’s community and within SGA itself.

Ayoub said she is working with Matos on new ideas for projects and ways to format projects to make them more comprehensible for the campus community.

Four of the candidates could not make it to the meeting to give their speeches in person. Their speeches were posted on the SGA Instagram account.

dent who attends Framingham State, and we have very limited food options at the dining hall, at the grille, at Sandella’s, at pretty much any place there is to eat. That’s one huge change I really wanted to make,” said Sajid.

He said he realized during his time on SGA he could make changes not only for Muslim students, but for all students.

Sajid said, “My goal as a senator in the next 2025-2026 year is to incorporate and add options, not just for obviously Muslim students, but for all the students. I’d like to make changes that are beneficial for everybody.”

CONNECT WITH BELLA GRIMALDI igrimaldi@student.framingham.edu

Dylan Pichnarcik / The Gatepost SGA Events Coordinator Alix Ayoub.

Dylan Pichnarcik / The Gatepost SATF Treasurer Khoa Bùi.

Dylan Pichnarcik / The Gatepost SGA Student Trustee Luke Yubeta.

Dylan Pichnarcik / The Gatepost SGA President Cesár Matos.

UCC discusses amendments to proposed GenEd model

By Sophia Oppedisano Editorial Staff

The University Curriculum Committee (UCC) held a twohour open forum to discuss amendments to the proposed general education (GenEd) model at an extra meeting held via Zoom on April 11.

UCC Chair Michael Greenstein moderated the meeting and began by reintroducing a proposed amendment from previous UCC meeting to consider adding three overlays - technological literacy, creative experience, and civic literacy, as defined by the Massachusetts Department of Education - to the GenEd model.

Before opening the floor for discussion of the amendment, Greenstein requested the committee use the language of “University requirement” rather than “overlay.”

According to Greenstein, the change in language is for clarity, as “what [the General Education Advisory Board] is actually proposing is a University requirement, not whatever an overlay actually is.”

He added an “overlay” means “next to nothing” for people who were not at the University when overlays were used in past GenEd models.

The language in the amendment was subsequently changed from “overlay” to “University requirement.”

UCC member and Philosophy Professor Joseph D’Andrea said the three proposed University requirements might complicate the proposed GenEd model for students because they are structured in a manner that gives each of them a different set of standards to meet, as opposed to the way the core requirement standards are met by students.

“I’m wondering if we’re serving ourselves and our students well by creating something that is increasingly complicated. I really just want to pause before we add these sorts of University requirements,” D’Andrea said.

Lisa Eck, chair of the English department, said she wanted to “express enthusiasm” for the three proposed additions of technological literacy, creative experience, and civic literacy because she believes “they start to express our values and they start to speak to the mission statement,” specifically the area of the mission statement that stipulates the University will prepare students for a dynamic workplace.

Eck said despite her enthusiasm, she is “left with a lot of questions about implementation” of the three proposed University requirements.

“My big question is about how technological literacy will affect our digital humanities minor, which, right now, lives as a quantitative reasoning class - I think that’s where it belongs. … It’s all about career readiness for humanities students, and if it just gets kind of tucked into the distribution model, or even gets met through majors and minors, I find it very difficult to think about being a student navigating this and definitely, being a chair planning for this,” Eck said.

The distribution model Eck was referring to in the proposed GenEd model is two arts & humanities courses, two social science courses, and two STEM courses.

Greenstein said the three new proposed University requirements would be independent of the distribution requirements.

Eck said she “likes the themes” of the University requirements, but if they do not “incentivize” students to take GenEd courses, then she is “less in support of them.”

UCC member and Dean of Arts & Humanities T. Stores said, “Getting into the weeds about specific learning objectives is to be delayed. … What I think we’re aiming at here is a general model that we can then work to hash out some of these details going forward. … The details are to be determined in the next phase.”

UCC member and English Professor Kristen Abbott Bennett motioned to table the amendment “until the GenEd model, broadly speaking, has been voted up or down and we have a better idea of what shape these University requirements will take.”

Greenstein said the motion to table the discussion was “technically… a motion to postpone this discussion,” and asked for someone to second Bennett’s motion.

UCC member and Biology Professor Aline Davis seconded the motion, and it passed with no opposition.

Greenstein asked if anyone had any questions or comments they would like to raise before he shifted to the next item on the meeting agenda, which was a broad conversation about the core requirements, including the RAMS first-year seminar courses, writing, math, and world languages.

Maria Bollettino, chair of the history department, raised a clarifying question about the purpose of the learning objectives and the ways in which the General Education Advisory Board (GEAB) will determine them, how they will be used by UCC, implemented by faculty, and assessed overall as being effectively met by students.

GEAB Chair and English Professor Patricia Lynne said, “We will be working on a specific assessment plan that has been added to the APR for the position of GenEd chair, with the idea that there will be yearly reporting that will go out assessing the GenEd program to UCC, to the administration, to the campus community as a whole.

The specifics of the shape of that are not definable right now because we don’t have them.”

Lynne said it is the intention to have learning objectives be required of the courses.

“The purpose of this is in part so that the next time GenEd review comes up, there is a body of data that can be used to drive that decision-making,” she said.

“One of the problems that the current model has is that we have these lovely learning objectives that have a passing relationship to the model, and we can assess them, but for example, for some of the requirements, we don’t have enough classes to ensure that all students are actually meeting [the learning objectives],” she added.

Following Lynne’s response to Bollettino’s inquiry, Greenstein shifted focus to the RAMS 101 GenEd required course.

Psychology Professor Kimberly Arditte Hall, coordinator of the RAMS 101 program, in-

dicated the RAMS learning objectives are currently being updated in Subcommittee B with “mostly wording, not conceptual changes.”

Lynne confirmed GEAB knew the learning objectives for RAMS were being updated, “but the timing didn’t work out, and we would expect, frankly, that whenever the objectives are under review by one of the other groups that they would be updated in the catalog as those are approved.”

A concern was raised by UCC member and Art Professor Timothy McDonald over the language in the RAMS course description, which was being projected on the screen and read, “All entering first-year students are required to take a first-year seminar.”

McDonald asked about the implications of that language for transfer students.

Greenstein said the only way a student can waive the RAMS course is if they are not coming in as a first-year, first-time student.

Greenstein, Hall, and Angelina Barrett, UCC’s student representative, also discussed when it would be most appropriate for students to retake a RAMS course should they fail in their first semester.

Hall said it would be advised that the student take the course again in the spring, and Barrett agreed that course of action would be best for first-years to be better connected with the University community.

Greenstein then moved on to a discussion about the writing core requirement.

Davis said, “My only question is - I believe it is a total of 14 learning objectives for this course, and that seems a little high for me.”

Greenstein voiced his agreement with Davis.

Lynne responded to their concerns, saying, “We’ve been teaching with these 14 learning objectives attached to Composition II for nine years. We are about to review them, but these are things that we actively teach. We can simplify them for the purposes of general education, if that is preferred, but that’s not going to change what we teach in the class.”

Davis indicated her concerns are related to “the amount of artifacts that you may need to collect to assess all of these different things.”

Lynne said the learning objectives are going to be revised next year to account for AI, and they may be simplified pending the decisions of the First-Year Writing Committee.

UCC then moved on to discussing the math core requirements.

Initially, the learning objectives were designed for a quantitative reasoning core, not mathematics, but this changed late in the process when GEAB decided to establish a math core, prompting the need to create new learning objectives for math.

Psychology Professor Anna Flanagan brought up the issue of adding STAA 127, Statistics for Social Sciences, to the math core.

Flanagan said STAA 127 meets the learning objectives for the math core and “we believe that it fits the statement that the specific core math course that students must take

will be dependent on major requirements.”

Flanagan also noted that students are not allowed to take STAA 127 and STAT 117, Introduction to Statistics, because the courses are “so similar that you can only take one of them, so therefore, we are requesting that our course also be included as an option in the math core.”

GEAB member Michael Krul, chair of the mathematics department, said a faculty survey GEAB distributed indicated more faculty “wanted math to come from [the math department]. That’s what GEAB voted on and put forward with this proposal.

“I want students taking statistics from experts in the fields where they’ll be applying those statistics. … I just don’t think that STAA 127 is appropriate for a mathematics core,” he added.

Robert Donohue, a psychology professor who has taught STAA 127, said he reviewed the language the math department used to constitute a math core course, and with the exception of the geometry learning objective, STAA 127 met all of the criteria.

Donohue said whether STAA 127 and STAT 117 are similar enough in content that a student cannot take both courses does not change because of changes to the GenEd model.

“The descriptions haven’t changed, so now saying, ‘OK fine, you can take both because it’s convenient to our cobbling together the GenEd model,’ I do not think really flies in terms of what should be the reason you can’t take two courses and get credit for them. So that argument, I think, is flawed,” he added.

UCC member and Math Professor Matt Moynihan said he is not in support of adding STAA 127 to the core requirements. “Broader than that, I think we need to identify the principles by which we establish a core. [It’s the] same argument that we should have consistency with writing. If we are saying [it is] any course that meets learning objectives - great. I’m sure there are some other departments that would be able to and possibly love to develop a firstyear writing course,” he added.

Moynihan said one thing that is difficult about raising this particular point is that it sounds as though “we shouldn’t have writing in the English department - and I actually want that. I want all of our STEM majors to get out of Hemenway and … encounter faculty they are not encountering through their major.”

Eck acknowledged the point that had been brought up comparing the math core to the writing core and said the English department is “tasked with a lot” in teaching the Composition II course because “everybody needs this core skill.

“We are teaching a skill that’s not an English course - it’s a writing course that’s foundational for the next four years of college, and we are teaching very specific skills. … I believe that math should stay in math, but I also see that you can meet the math core through different courses. … Whereas with writing … it’s been our experience that everyone needs the core skills we’re teaching. So I think this idea that it has to be the same just doesn’t bear out in See GENED Page 5

GenEd

from Page 4

practice,” she said.

UCC member and Biology Professor Rachel Avard said even though she has to “fight daily” to break her students out of the habits they learn in Composition II to write effectively in their science courses, she would never argue that she does not want her students to take Composition II.

“I feel largely the same way about this math. I think that while it’s great for students to be taking a specific stats class within their own department … I don’t think that we can say that a stats class that’s not being taught by a statistician is going to be covering the broad range of content that’s covered by a stats class from someone who specifically is an expert in stats, and that’s how I feel about composition,” Avard added.

Following Avard’s comment, there was a broader discussion about what Bennett referred to as a “subtext” in the conversation about expertise, which she said is “under siege from outside of our institution, and I really want to respect it from within our institution.”

Bollettino asked how the committee is defining expertise and

changed at the very end, hence why this late addition. … Once GEAB proposed that math have the math core, it was definitely like, ‘Well, we’re going to have to write some math core,’ which we never had to,” he said.

UCC member and College of STEM Dean Lauren Nolfo-Clements agreed with Bollettino, saying, “Having learning objectives that all students have to abide by that are just created by a single group of individuals does not help us move into the future or diversify our offerings.

“I agree that we’ve got to look at this from a little bit of a broader view. What do students really need? … I know we’ve all been in this situation advising students, and a student says, ‘Why do I have to take this class?’ and we should all be able to say exactly why they’re taking the class and how it applies to what they’re going to be doing for the rest of their life,” she added.

Moynihan said he believed the “discussion has gotten bigger than the specifics we’re looking at,” and motioned to accept the learning objectives for the math core.

“ T he old learning objectives that were in the original propos-

that is not English.”

Moynihan and D’Andrea also spoke in favor of keeping world languages in the core requirements.

“I just think we are stepping in the wrong direction in a world in which diversity is needed if we remove language from the core - I really believe that,” D’Andrea said.

Greenstein acknowledged the statements in favor of world languages and asked if anyone wanted to motion to remove world languages from the core requirements.

Godes made the motion to remove world languages from the core, and the motion was seconded by Davis.

As Godes began to speak on her motion, Greenstein interrupted to squash the motion because there was no representative from the world languages department present at the meeting.

Greenstein asked for a motion to postpone the discussion until the UCC meeting scheduled for April 25.

Godes motioned to postpone the discussion, and the motion was seconded by Bennett.

The motion passed unanimously.

motion.

Greenstein acknowledged the time and noted the committee was running out of its allotted time for the meeting. “This is going to be another long discussion. I don’t foresee us being able to complete the discussion,” he said.

He noted the ending time of the meeting and Bennett made a motion to have the final UCC meeting take place on May 2.

The motion was seconded by Moynihan.

“We need to have an end point, and we have a lot of obligations, besides this committee, in May, to our students in particular, and I think those obligations should be prioritized,” Bennett said.

Davis said she agrees with ending May 2 as long as it does not rush the process. “If we are not done, we are not done. So that’s the only thing I want to say - I have no problem with May 2, as long as there’s not all of a sudden this chaotic push to try and get things through if we’re not done with it.”

D’Andrea said he believes the end of May would be a more appropriate stopping point than the end of April.

Moynihan defended the mo-

“It is important as a core ideal of our general education at Framingham to assure that students have some experience with speaking in a language that is not English.”

- T. Stores

Dean of Arts & Humanities

who it is being afforded to. “For instance, when we get to determining learning objectives for the civic literacy requirement, who’s going to get to determine who has expertise around civic literacy, and will those departments be privileged to be able to teach core courses or University requirements around civic expertise?” she asked.

“I want us to be careful here and figure out to whom we are extending expertise and why, and will that same extension be offered with every single requirement in this model?” she asked.

Greenstein called the meeting back to a focus on the math core requirement because “we do not have an amendment on the floor, and unless I hear someone on the committee suggest amending the core with a second, I think that we have discussed this extensively.”

Bollettino asked about how the core learning objectives are being determined, as she is seeing each department develop and define learning objectives for the four core courses. “Is this what we want to be doing?” she asked.

Krul clarified that English and world languages submitted their learning objectives to GEAB, which approved them because those classes were being taught by an individual department, while the math core was originally going to be quantitative reasoning.

In the current model, there are no math core learning objectives.

“At the time that learning objectives were constructed, it wasn’t math - it was [quantitative reasoning], and that

al were the general quantitative reasoning requirement that was satisfied as your second math course in college, not your first math course. The updated ones that the math department put together were specifically designed to focus on a core math experience,” he added.

Avard seconded the motion.

The amendment passed 15-2.

Greenstein asked that the learning objectives for the math core requirement be changed to those that were written by the math department.

Greenstein added he would like to continue the discussion about “what it means for a course to fulfill the learning objectives, and having components of the core be broader than just math taught by math, English rightfully taught by English, and world languages taught by world languages. … But I would like to discuss world languages specifically as it’s presented in the proposal, before we continue that broader discussion, because world languages are part of it and we’ve been so far ignoring them.”

UCC member and Vice President of Enrollment Management Iris Godes, who raised concerns regarding requiring world languages at a UCC meeting on March 14, reiterated she believes world language requirements should be specific to certain majors.

Lynne noted GEAB voted specifically to pull world languages from the core.

Stores disagreed with Godes. “It is important as a core ideal of our general education at Framingham to assure that students have some experience with speaking in a language

Greenstein then shifted to finishing up the “broader core discussion” and the issue of whether core classes should be taught within a specific department or if they can be met by any course that meets the requirements of the learning objectives that are proposed in the model.

Bennett clarified whether the committee would be making that amendment for every course. “It seems irresponsible to me to say every course ever because we don’t know what the future holds. So I’d be happy to make a motion to vote on this for the math core and the English core,” she added.

Greenstein said, “I think there have been a number of people who rightfully pointed out we should treat all the core classes equally. So presumably it would be math, English, and world languages, though I simultaneously understand that it’s highly unlikely any department other than world languages would be teaching courses in another language.”

Bennett then asked which department would be overseeing adherence to the learning objectives if they are not being taught by “conventionally expert departments.”

Greenstein said the chair of GenEd, currently Lynne, and the Office of Assessment would be in charge of assessing adherence to the learning objectives “in some way.”

D’Andrea then motioned to have core requirements be able to be met by courses from any department, provided the courses meet the learning objectives.

Nolfo-Clements seconded the

tion. “I also want to say I have no intention of rushing this. I just feel if we’re not done by May 2, we won’t be done in May at all. At some point, we either have to vote on it or send it back to GEAB, which is also something we could do, and I think we should make that call,” he said.

Greenstein agreed there needs to be a final deadline for the committee to vote on the proposal or send it back to GEAB.

Bennett said, “I think this is more complex, and I think we’re getting valuable work done at these meetings, but I don’t see it ending. … I also do not want to rush it, but I also don’t want to feel rushed if we say we’re going till the end of May, and we’re all making all these sacrifices to go to extra UCC meetings.”

Stores said they support continuing to have meetings in May because they believe the committee has made “slow” but “important” progress.

“It’s a few Friday afternoons. … I think this is important work that needs to get to a stop date, but I do think that going to the end of May is not an unreasonable request,” they said.

Bennett’s motion to schedule the final UCC meeting on May 2 failed 3-11.

“We’ll discuss at the end of the next meeting what future meetings will look like,” Greenstein said.

The next UCC meeting will be held as an open forum on April 26 on Zoom.

Trump administration

to understand their particular interpretation of the Constitution, and in particular the executive power of the president.”

According to Smailes, the Trump administration has taken traditional areas of activity for a president “to a much greater degree than any president ever has.”

And the Trump administration has begun to put into effect an understanding of executive power that “goes well beyond what other presidents have argued,” he said.

Smailes said in the field of political science, this is defined as a unitary presidency.

He said a unitary presidency is the idea that “the President, not Congress, is fully in control of the federal government” and any law passed by Congress that restricts presidential authority can be ignored by the president.

Smailes said the unitary presidency is put into effect through executive orders enacted by Trump.

According to Smailes, executive orders are issued to express how presidents want their administration to operate.

“What these orders can do is create new policies. It’s a way of doing things without having to go through Congress,” he said.

Smailes said there are two ways to challenge executive orders.

Orders can be challenged in court, and as of press time, there are at least 86 rulings that have temporarily blocked actions taken by the Trump administration, according to an article published by The New York Times.

The second way is through congressional action.

According to Smailes, Trump has also begun dismantling agencies Congress has power over, not the President.

He said proponents of the unitary presidency theory believe Congress does not have the power to tell a President

what to do.

Smailes said two agencies that were affected by Trump were the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

He said the USAID is independent of the government, but the Trump administration “wanted to demonstrate their power over independent agencies in the government.”

Smailes said Trump went after the IRS, an agency under the Department of the Treasury, in order to assert presidential power over a department.

Both agencies were also chosen with public opinion in mind, according to Smailes.

“Most of us, frankly, had never heard of USAID before they went after it. And many didn’t really know what it did. So, it was a pretty safe target,” he said.

He added, “There are also not very many people who are going to run to the streets to defend the IRS.”

After Smailes’ presentation, Martin invited attendees to raise concerns or ask questions.

Senior Deanna Girard, an education major, said she was concerned about Department of Education funding.

Senior Sofia Wilson said she was concerned about LGBTQ+ rights and climate justice, and how they are being impacted by the current administration.

Sophomore Regan LeBlanc said she was concerned about gun violence and climate change.

Computer Science Professor David Keil said he is concerned about dictatorship and war.

Freshman Millie Johnson said she was concerned about human rights.

Leah Manzella, assistant director of the Counseling Center, said she is worried about how to counsel students whose identities are being threatened. “It feels really helpless to be in a position where I theoretically am there to help. It feels help-

less,” she said.

Martin then discussed Trump’s actions and how they have been shaped by social conditions and forces as well as institutions that “have shifted politics to the right over the past several decades and have made the Trump era what it is.”

He said the growing class inequality in the U.S., particularly after the Great Recession and stock market crash of 2008, “encouraged some people to be open to a strong anti-establishment sounding message from Trump, even if it was highly distorted by misinformation.”

Martin said Trump could not accomplish what he is currently doing without the support of the Republican Party, which currently holds the majority in Congress. The Supreme Court, which recently ruled Trump could not be held criminally accountable for actions as President, is also responsible.

On the other side of the political aisle, Martin said the Democratic Party’s anti-establishment messages have been “weak.”

Martin said prior to and during the Trump era, the Democratic Party has not offered a “bold, appealing, pro-working class agenda, especially regarding economic problems.”

He added, “They’ve been somewhat better on cultural issues, but they’ve been particularly weak when it comes to economic problems.”

Burke then reopened the floor to attendees to share their thoughts.

Sociology & Criminology

Professor Zeynep Gönen, who is an immigrant to the U.S., said she has lived through similar circumstances before. She said she is impacted every day by the Trump administration.

Burke said that as an immigrant, he is also concerned with executive orders concerning immigration.

Johnson said she was concerned with the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (S.A.V.E.) Act.

She said she is fearful about getting married and having to keep her legal name so she can vote and that members of her family will not be able to vote.

According to an article published by USA Today, the S.A.V.E. Act would require anyone who is registering to vote to appear in person at an election office with original or certified documents that proves their identity and citizenship status. For most Americans, that means showing a passport or birth certificate.

When registering to vote, citizens would be required to bring both a Photo ID or driver’s license and a birth certificate or a record of naturalization - and all names on each document must match to be considered valid to allow for voting registration, according to the USA Today article.

Smailes responded to Johnson and said it is important to keep in mind the difference between what is not constitutional and what is policy that an individual opposes.

Currently, the S.A.V.E. Act is moving through Congress and is not a part of the constitutional process, according to Smailes.

“The S.A.V.E. Act, as a matter of policy, is something that we all have to evaluate,” he said.

Mathematics Professor Mohammad Salmasi asked that more meetings like this forum be scheduled.

He said, “We live in an environment where we can have objective discussions. So we have an obligation toward our society as faculty and students to be at the forefront of not only resistance, but also arguing and discussing. And I encourage that we take that responsibility seriously.”

Dylan Pichnarcik / THE GATEPOST

Jerome Burke at “The Trump Presidency So Far” discussion on April 14.

THE GATEPOST EDITORIAL

Don’t run the risk this marathon Monday

Every April, the city of Framingham plays host to runners from around the world who travel to run in the historic Boston Marathon - a feat of physical and mental strength and a global tradition unlike any other.

For those who may just be locals and worked so hard to qualify, it is often an act of pride to represent their cities and towns and run the Boston Marathon for themselves and their families.

This is especially true in light of the Boston Marathon bombing that happened at the finish line 12 years ago.

While remembering the bombing allows our communities to come together, the pervasive shadow of the tragedy produces significant risks.

The Gatepost Editorial Board wants to encourage students to enjoy this Marathon Monday. However, we also want to advise caution if you choose to go offcampus.

Though no credible threats have been reported, law enforcement will be closely monitoring areas where high volumes of spectators tend to gather, according to WCVB News.

It reported there will be 30,000 runners and approximately 500,000 spectators gathered along the route, creating a number of safety risks for students.

Because of the rush of adrenaline as well as crowds of spectators and friends, students often choose to day drink to celebrate.

With any major event, things can quickly get out of control, especially with crowds this large.

FSU does not host a marathon event, although the route runs along Union, Speen, Waverly, and West Central Streets, which are as close as two miles from campus.

For students who are of age, drinking

Letter to the editor

Thank you for your editorial of April 11th about the proposed General Education model. Throughout our process, GEAB’s has taken as a guiding principle that students should have the power to chart their own path through a wellrounded education, so your feedback is appreciated during these revision and approval processes. We would like to address a few of the points raised in that editorial. First, comparing our proposal to the programs at Salem State and Fitchburg State overlooks a key difference: those universities use 3-credit courses while we use 4-credit courses. For approximately the same 40 credit hours, Salem requires 14 courses (12 Gen Ed courses plus two “overlays” in advanced writing), and Fitchburg requires 17 (14 Gen Ed courses plus three “overlays” in integrative learning). We only have 10 courses available to meet our accrediting body’s 40 credit hour minimum. If we required as many courses as our sister institutions, many majors would not be possible in four years, and those programs – and their students – would rightly object. Your editorial also implied that Salem and Fitchburg favor the Arts & Humanities. However, at Fitchburg, only about 42% of Gen Ed courses are solidly housed in the A&H, and only about 36% at Salem. Our proposal houses 40% of the requirements in the A&H: first-year writing, world language, and two open A&H courses. Further, our proposal anticipates a slight increase in the number of students taking A&H courses. Analysis of the last two years’ data shows that roughly 36% of students fulfilled General Education requirements with A&H classes. Under the proposed model, that number would rise to 40%. While those courses would no longer be spread throughout the model, more students would be required to take A&H classes. Note that First-Year Writing is included in both the 36% and 40% calculations. Several times over the last month, the GEAB has been accused of slipshod work on this proposal. Noth-

off-campus is permitted. However, it is important to be aware of the risks.

According to an official Boston Police bulletin obtained by ABC News, the date of the marathon is emotionally and politically charged because of symbolic religious holidays and anniversaries of significant American tragedies such as the Columbine High School shooting massacre on April 20, 1999.

“The significance of these holidays and key dates may be viewed as an opportune time for acts of violence for many threat actors,” the bulletin said.

These potential threats make it incredibly important for students to be aware of their surroundings, especially if they choose to consume alcohol.

If you are walking to see the marathon, be sure you are with someone you can trust to be aware and look out for each other’s safety. If you have a ride dropping you off close to the route, arrange to have a designated driver who is willing to responsibly pick you up at the end of your day.

Keep in mind the legal limit for blood alcohol concentration is 0.08% - which is often reached after approximately four drinks for men and three drinks for women, according to Campus Health at the University of Arizona.

If you choose to drink from an open container, have an eye on those around you and do not hand your drink to strangers or anyone you do not trust in order to avoid drink spiking.

Keep alert, stay hydrated, and have fun. But understand that large events will bring even larger risks.

While there will be a police presence, you still have to look out for yourself and your friends.

Stay safe.

ing is further from the truth. Our decision to propose open electives in three distribution areas aligns not with our colleges, but with the requirement from NECHE, our accrediting body, that we show “a balanced regard for what are traditionally referred to as the arts and humanities, the sciences including mathematics, and the social sciences” (Standard 4.17). More importantly, we made an intentional decision to afford students more control in their education. Currently, students often choose Gen Ed courses by picking from a list of courses that don’t conflict with major requirements. This approach is not about breadth or career-readiness or any of the other goals of General Education. This is expediency. Our proposed model would encourage students to explore a broader range of courses within each distribution area, selecting based on personal interests and learning goals. This shift would necessitate more advisor involvement, and we recognize the need for additional training and guidance. Our approach is not an easy way out or a negligent effort, but rather a position born of respect for our students as adults capable of taking ownership of their education. Throughout the nearly two years we have worked on this model, we have repeatedly requested input from students through focus groups, forums, and surveys, and we are grateful for your thoughts as the model continues its review by UCC.

Sincerely, Members of GEAB

Joseph Coelho

Susan Dargan

Rebecca Dowgiert

Vincent Ferraro

Alexander (Sandy) Hartwiger

Michael Krul

Laura Lamontagne

Lori Lavigne

Patricia Lynne

Stefan Papaioannou

David Restrick

Amanda Simons

This isn’t Trump’s country to take

By Izayah Morgan Opinions Editor

This year has been a shake up year for many to say the least. Trump is taking the Constitution to an extreme which I haven’t seen any president do in my short lifetime. The criticisms for Democrats and their response is valid and has room at the table.

According to The Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, 56% of men aged 18-29 backed Trump over Harris, while 58% of women aged 18-29 backed Harris. This is due to multiple factors.

Social media sites such as TikTok have a focus on fixation and promotion of videos that have the most engagement. So, the videos that are going to get some of the most engagement are extreme or lack nuanced political takes. If men and women have different social media pages it’s easy to see why it stays that way.

Also we have to look at the time it took for former President Biden to drop out of the presidential race and give former Vice President Harris a sliver of the time compared to her political opponent. That resulted in a unique disadvantage that hasn’t happened before in recent American political history.

Not to mention the recent acts that have limited access to care that women can get for their bodies. All these issues intersect with each other and play into the divide. All these and more factors lead to many Americans not showing up at the polls due to apathy.

The Democratic party has “failed” them.

It’s not all doom and gloomU.S. Sen. Cory Booker set a record recently with a Senate speech that went on for 25 hours until he was physically unable to continue to show Democratic supporters that they are trying to stand up to the current administration.

While a beautiful and important thing for him to do, especially at Sen. Booker’s age of 55, it doesn’t address young people in the best way. To me the best way to grab young people is to show up to the

places where they are at.U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders made a surprise appearance at the music festival Coachella. Sanders is one of the leading progressives in the nation, especially when it comes to criticism of the current administration.

His speech just like Booker’s was impactful and showed that there are people trying to stand up to the current administration.

According to the New York Times, U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sanders have held rallies all across the United States attracting tens of thousands of people.

Every place isn’t just a Trump breeding ground. Florida, thought to be a red state, still had 4.6 million people vote for Harris. In Texas 4.8 million people voted for Harris, in comparison the 6.3 million voted for Trump. Trump doesn’t have a chokehold on the country as people think.

Every day, Democrats in the House, Senate, and Supreme Court are fighting against Trump and his adminstration.

According to PBS, the Supreme Court has rejected some of the Trump administration’s moves.

People of the Democratic party are fighting back - people are fighting back even if it doesn’t seem like it to many.

To combat the overreach of power from this administration we must keep being active.

To help combat the issue of people not voting and reinforcing apathy in elections, we have to be where the people are. Being at Coachella, one of the biggest music festivals of the year, and standing for hours to present your frustrations with the current administration, are a couple of the best ways to reach people.

Again, Sen. Sanders and Sen. Booker are 83 and 55 years old, respectively. Sanders at 83 is going to a festival of young people to rally them and get them to understand their power. Booker, while yes having a background in football, is 55 and standing for over 20 hours.

If you want to reach people, don’t do the minimum, do what they need.

RE: Letter to the editor

We appreciate the General Education Advisory Board’s detailed response to our April 11 editorial regarding the proposed General Education (GenEd) model and Dr. Patricia Lynne’s correspondence with The Gatepost regarding projected enrollment in Arts & Humanities general education courses, should it pass.

However, we remain concerned about the lack of clarity around key components of the proposed GenEd model.

At last week’s University Curriculum Committee (UCC) meeting, for example, there was still debate regarding whether World Languages will be included in the GenEd core. If World Languages is excluded, then the projected enrollment calculations for Arts & Humanities GenEd courses are directly impacted.

Another example: at the April 11 meeting, it was suggested that Philosophy classes would also be part of Arts & Humanities under the new model.

This means students will be asked to choose to take only two courses from an even wider array of humanities options. There is no guidance as to what students should take, which is concerning because there is such an extreme range of possibilities.

Framingham State simply does not have enough students for this expanded list of humanities

Feel free to email it to: gatepost@framingham.edu Opinions should be about 650 words. Anyone can submit. We look forward to hearing from you!

the

GenEd courses to run. Similarly, the structure and function of the proposed “overlays” have yet to be discussed. It has not yet been determined what the overlays will be or whether students will be allowed to satisfy them through their majors or minors. At this point, the model is significantly underdeveloped.

As we said in last week’s editorial, The Gatepost editorial board believes areas such as civic literacy, creative expression, and quantitative reasoning are not just academic categories - they are cornerstones of a 21st-century curriculum that develops well-rounded, engaged, and informed students and citizens.

We must respectfully disagree that a GenEd system should simply provide a menu of choices without articulating values or priorities. We hope the ongoing revision process will truly support students and reflect the values of the institution.

Sophia Harris, Editor-in-Chief

of the newspaper’s Editorial Board. Signed Op/Eds reflect the opinions of individual writers.

Campus Conversations

“What’s your favorite end-of-year project you’re working on?”

By Emily Monaco, Editorial Staff

“I am working on the upcoming fashion show. I have an independent collection full of garments that I’ve been working on in my own time, and then a separate collection of garments that I’m doing for an independent study with one of my professors.”

- Aili Schiavoni, junior

“We have to read story times in my audio podcasting class.”

“I’m writing a paper on pay equity in women’s professional sports.”

- Rosco Palmer, sophomore

I’ve been working on sewing my bag.”

“I’m not excited about it, [but the] history of costumes.”

- Peter Rubini, freshman

I’m writing a 10-page paper on a book that I really enjoyed reading.”

- Makayla Cupid, freshman

- Marlín Polanco, sophomore

- Penny Pasto, sophomore

Ben Hurney / THE GATEPOST

A night in the rain shows women’s soccer’s resilience

By Izabela Gage Sports Editor

Gray clouds loomed over Maple Street Field at 8 p.m. on a Monday night in April, draping the turf in a chilly, silvery haze. Droplets of rain fell to the ground, soaking cleats and layers of athletic gear.

The temperature hovered around 30 degrees, an unwelcome factor for any outdoor activity.

Yet, laughter from members of the women’s soccer team rang out through the locker room over the Macklemore songs coming from the JBL speaker as they laced up for another practice.

Despite the weather’s best efforts to discourage any activity, the players’ energy was still palpable.

The cold was no problem - the Framingham State women’s soccer team doesn’t take a timeout for poor conditions.

These athletes train through it all - sun, sleet, or rain.

And in doing so, bonds are formed not only on game days but in these unforgiving moments of numb fingers and toes and tense, cold muscles.

Freshman Bella Grimaldi said playing in the rain is “like playing soccer in a water park.”

The team split into two lines and started with calisthenics to warm their bodies for the twohour practice.

From there, they grabbed a soccer ball for each line and started two-touch passing drills. After 7 minutes, they transitioned into fast, one-touch drills.

Laughter followed each step and every pass. Jokes came easily, and so did their enthusiasm. Frustration was left behind.

Junior Cathryn Cooney, one of the incoming captains for the 2025-26 season, said, “I think playing in the rain helps us work on our resilience and first touch. It gets slippery, but we know not to give up and help encourage each other and keep up the positive energy. It’s contagious!”

On the edge of the field, freshman goalkeeper Savannah Goba stretched and warmed up on her own, an injury keeping her sidelined from full-speed play.

Despite her recovery journey, Goba’s spirit remains unbroken. As the rest of the team ran agility drills across the wet turf, she set up cones for two-touch soccer drills.

Socks were soaked from the constant misting. Arms were draped over shoulders during water breaks. Extra jackets were being handed to any teammate who wanted another layer of warmth.

The tough practice became a rhythm - not punishment and not endurance for endurance’s sake.

On this field, perseverance and presence counted more than speed or strength. Whether benched by injury or leading a drill, every player contributed to the collective energy.

Cooney said playing in the rain or other unusual conditions is more memorable than playing in perfect circumstances. “There are some games I will never forget because of the weather and

being so cold. … It bonds us all and makes us closer because we know we’re all in it together. The same conditions help with our resilience and grit.”

This sentiment was shared by every player, despite their soaked shirts and pairs of sweatpants.

Grimaldi said, “Playing in bad weather is a bonding experience … because it’s something we have to work together to over come. It makes practice more fun.”

The conditions were not ideal, but each player showed up any way, knowing every teammate would do the same.

Sophomore Melissa Romeiro said, “The rainy practices are honestly the ones that stand out the most. You don’t al ways remember the calm, sunny days, but you remember be ing completely soaked, freezing, and still giving it everything. It’s those tougher moments that bring us closer and re mind us how much we care about the game and each other.”

Junior Grayson Tellier, the other incoming captain for the 2025-26 season, said, “Practicing in unfavorable conditions is a struggle, but it doesn’t feel that way with our team at all. We are all such a closeknit team, more than we have been in my past years here, and it makes everything more fun.

“We have an amaz ing coaching staff that is always pushing us to be our best, and we all lift each other up as well,” she

added.

Freshman Aubrey Waterman said practicing in bad weather is not fun, but “I love that my teammates and I are still able to laugh and joke around. That is what makes it worth it.”

Romeiro said, “We’re all out there getting soaked and slipping around, but instead of being annoyed, we usually end up laughing and making the most of it. It’s one of those things that turns into a shared memory and brings a lot of good energy to the

wouldn’t do. Sometimes, we do push-ups, and I’ll do them with them,” he added.

Water bottles were packed up, and cleats sloshed across soaked turf. No complaints, just talk about what they were planning on doing after practice.

The team walked back to the locker room together with their gear slung over their shoulders, still grinning.

Tellier said it can sometimes be hard to find the motivation to play in unfavorable weather conditions. “For the most part, it’s all about mindset. If you go into a practice with bad weather and a bad attitude, it’s going to stick for those two hours. … It’s a privilege to be on a team, raining or not, and you just have to make the most of it.”

Romeiro said practice feels more meaningful when they get through the tough weather. “It pushes me to focus more and work harder, and by the end of it, I feel proud of myself and my team.”

Waterman said, “My motivation comes from my teammates. I am always looking forward to seeing them at practice.”

Only their teammates would share the soreness that followed the next day.

More importantly, however, was the shared silent understanding that developed during each stormy practice. Adversity didn’t isolate anyone here - it unified them.

On days like this, victory wasn’t measured in goals or statistics. Success came in the form of resilience and laughter reverberating across the field.

As practice drew to a close, the team huddled together, and their circle was close and loud

Head Coach Michael La Francesca’s voice cut through the cold. “Play for the little kid you used to be when you started

Cooney said, “Coach is our biggest motivation 100%. It trickles down to all of us and helps us motivate each

La Francesca said, “It’s all about a coach’s personality. So, I’m very outgoing and sometimes a little vocal in a positive

“I don’t expect them to do something that I

Tellier said, “I think our practices in the rain are always more fun. At first, we are a little annoyed with it, but as the practice goes on, we get used to the conditions. We make the most of it and don’t let the weather bring our moods down.

“It helps us figure out how to work better together and fix little mistakes, and we all help each other out,” she added.

Waterman said, “It is important to understand how to play in wet and slippery conditions. You have to be more mindful of how you play the ball to your teammates. In the rain, the play is a lot faster, so being conditioned enough is also important.”

Cooney said the team brings energy to every practice regardless of the weather. “It’s like a big dance party, and we are all just so happy to be together. It takes our mind off the bad weather.” No scoreboard can capture that - but maybe that’s exactly what makes it matter more.

Tellier said, “Whether we are accidentally slipping everywhere or making funny mistakes, it does bring our moods up, and that’s something people might not realize from an outsider’s perspective.”

[ Editor’s Note: Bella Grimaldi is the Assistant News Editor for The Gatepost. ]

Izabela Gage / THE GATEPOST

Izabela Gage / THE GATEPOST

The women’s soccer team about to start an endurance drill at practice April 14.

Softball

Continued from Page 1

MacDonald followed with a single that got Carignan over to third base, and freshman Jocelyn Pepe sliced into a pitch for a single to score Carignan.

The third inning ended with the score 4-1.

The Lancers gave freshman pitcher Audrey Gauthier some trouble in the fourth inning.

Gauthier had been a little shaky with three walks in the first three innings, but countered any signs of struggle with five strikeouts.

The Lancers tallied a single and a two-RBI triple to tie the game 4-4.

Unwilling to falter, Gauthier effectively quieted the Lancers in the fifth inning, and the defense backed her to effectively put a stop to any scoring opportunities for Worcester in the final two innings.

Carignan continued to be a force with another double in the fifth inning to bring in Rooney.

Pepe tallied her second hit of the day with a single that brought in freshman Gianna Paolino to make the score 6-4.

Rooney, who had been having a quiet game, knocked a solo home run in the sixth inning to solidify the Rams’ 7-4 win.

Carignan went 3-3 with two doubles and four RBIs, and Pepe and Grassia both went 2-4 with Pepe tallying two RBIs of her

own.

Carignan’s batting average currently stands at an impressive .415 over her 24 games played.

She said part of her success comes from her walk-up song “Somethin’ Bad” by Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood, as well as the enthusiasm of her teammates.

“When I go up to the plate, I go up relaxed but confident. My walk-up song gets me going every time, and I love how my teammates cheer me on,” she said.

Carignan’s success continued in game two against the Lancers, when she scorched her third double of the day in the first inning to bring in Rooney, who had knocked a single to get on base for the Rams.

Starting pitcher Sydney Bednarz, a freshman, kept Worcester quiet through the first two innings, and the Lancers notched their first run in the top of the third inning on a throwing error by the Rams to tie the game 1-1.

The Rams refused to relent to the Lancers’ pressure in the bottom of the third, and Grassia led off the inning with a single. Rooney doubled to center field to bring in Grassia and then scored herself on a wild pitch.

Carignan followed with a single of her own, and Pepe stepped up to bring them both in with a home run.

The Rams led 5-1 after three innings.

Worcester mounted a comeback in the top of the fifth inning when freshman Julianna Ch-

isholm replaced Bednarz in the circle.

Bednarz got through four innings with only three hits and tallied a strikeout during her performance.

The Lancers combined for six runs off five hits and two errors from the Rams’ defense to put themselves in the lead 7-5.

Framingham responded with singles from Etemad-Gilbertson and Rooney before Carignan reached first base on a fielder’s choice, which resulted in Etemad-Gilbertson being tagged out at third.

With runners on first and second, MacDonald represented the winning run at the plate.

She singled to center field, and an error by the Lancers’ center fielder sent the ball rolling all the way to the center field fence. Rooney, Carignan, and MacDonald were all waved home by Head Coach Larry Miller to once again take the lead 8-7.

MacDonald leapt into Rooney’s arms as she crossed the plate, and the Rams were able to hold off the Lancers with Gauthier back in the circle for the win.

Carignan said the team is used to adversity, but “our perseverance always comes through, and we never give up. We are known to be comeback kids when we get down.”

Rooney went 3-3 with an RBI, and Carignan and Etemad-Gilbertson both went 2-4.

Etemad-Gilbertson was named MASCAC Rookie of the Week April 14 for her 3-5, two RBI performance against New England

College April 10.

Most recently, the Rams split a doubleheader against nonconference opponent Johnson & Wales at an away doubleheader April 17 with an 8-4 loss and a 5-3 win. They will be back against conference rival Westfield State for a doubleheader April 19 at Westfield.

Stats sourced from fsurams.com and MASCAC.com

CONNECT WITH SOPHIA OPPEDISANO soppedisano@student.framingham.edu

Women’s lacrosse sails past Buccaneers

By Izabela Gage Sports Editor

By Taylor Kimmell Asst. Sports Editor

The women’s lacrosse team defeated the Massachusetts Maritime Academy Buccaneers 20-3 with an 8-goal first quarter contributing to the decisive win April 16.

This win makes them undefeated in the conference so far with a record of 3-0, and brings their overall record to 7-6.

The Rams won the first draw of the game, but that didn’t stop the Buccaneers from initiating the action and scoring the first goal of the game 2:50 in.

Junior Kelley DeBellis won the following draw and took a shot on goal, but it was blocked by Mass. Maritime’s defense. Freshman Maddie Bosma picked up the ground ball, and after Framingham reset their offensive at-

tack, she scored her first goal of the game.

Possession of the ball went back and forth for the next 4 minutes until Captain Maggie Grout, a senior, earned a free position shot from a foul, and took the lead for the Rams 2-1.

Only 20 seconds later, Bosma scored again after DeBellis won yet another draw control.

The Buccaneers gained control of the ball on the next draw, but a foul on the Rams caused a turnover, and senior Kaleigh Houlihan picked up the ground ball. Twelve seconds later, Captain Leah Green, a senior, found the back of the net, assisted by senior Hailey Baker.

Within 17 seconds, Grout scored two goals, and another goal from Green followed 27 seconds later.

Mass. Maritime netted the ball, but Baker responded with a goal off a free position shot with 18 seconds remaining in the first quarter, bringing the score to 8-2.

Freshman Emma Kendzulak started off the second quarter with her first goal of the game only 52 seconds in.

After both teams held up defensively with four turnovers each, Bosma rocketed the ball into the net, assisted by Houlihan.

Bosma lit the fuse with her goal, triggering an explosive stretch of three more goals from Baker, Grout, and Kendzulak in the following two minutes.

The next 6 minutes of the game quieted down, with neither team being able to break through the other’s defense.

Green scored her third goal of the game, assisted by Baker, ending the first half 14-2.

The Rams remained diligent on the defensive end during the third, never allowing the Bucca-

neers to find the back of the net.

On defense, goalkeeper Allison Wurms, a freshman, saved two of the three shots she faced on net, a strong defensive wall helping to hold off shots from Mass. Maritime’s offense.

After two successful clear attempts by their defense, FSU scored a goal from Green with an assist from Baker.

A foul on Green by Mass. Maritime’s defense resulted in a free position shot which gracefully found the back of the net, increasing the Rams’ lead to 16-2 at the 8-minute mark. This goal marked the 200th of her career.

DeBellis won the following draw control, allowing a shot from Grout, which bounced off the post.

The Buccaneers attempted to bring the ball back down the field, but a defensive play by Haleigh Cyrus, a freshman, put the Rams back on offense.

Green scored once again a minute later on an assist from Grout, following a free position attempt for Framingham and a green card on Mass. Maritime.

Grout won the following draw control, and the Rams remained on the offensive until DeBellis scored unassisted.

Mass. Maritime won the next draw control, attempting one shot, which sailed wide of the net before Cyrus caused a turnover. The Rams cleared the ball with 9 seconds remaining and ran down the clock for the remainder of the quarter.

FSU lost the first draw control of the final quarter. Fortunately, strong defense and a ground ball pickup from Brooke Drass, a sophomore, resulted in a goal from Bosma on an assist from Baker.

A battle for offensive control ensued during the following 9 minutes - a goal from freshman

Lily Malloy with an assist from Lye breaking the stalemate. With just a minute and a half left of the game, Mass. Maritime scored, the game ending with a score of 20-3 in favor of Framingham.

Bosma scored four goals out of four shots on goal in the 20-3 win against the Buccaneers. With a shot percentage of 100, her freshman season shot percentage has improved to 64.3.

DeBellis won nine out of Framingham’s 18 draw controls. “Sometimes, I don’t really have a set plan. … I’m pretty new to the draw this year, so I get nervous sometimes, but I kind of keep telling myself that when I walk onto that draw, I’m the better player - I’m winning this draw.”

The Rams face the Bridgewater State University Bears for another away conference matchup April 19.

DeBellis said she is excited for their upcoming conference games. “When we start on a strong note, we’re setting that bar, and we want to keep reaching that goal. We keep telling ourselves, ‘There’s more to come and we have to keep pushing ourselves and exceeding that level,’ and that’s what’s gonna help us win games.”

Kendzulak said, “Being undefeated has our team playing the best we can to keep our winning streak. As long as we don’t give up and work our hardest, we have a good chance of winning the MASCAC.”

Stats sourced from fsurams.com and MASCAC.com

CONNECT WITH IZABELA GAGE igage@student.framingham.edu

CONNECT WITH TAYLOR KIMMELL tkimmell@student.framingham.edu

Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST Ava Gray throwing the ball during win against Worcester State April 14.

Izabela Gage / THE GATEPOST

(Back) Maggie Grout passing the ball to Lily Malloy in 17-4 win against Anna Maria April 2.

ARTS & FEATURES

Ramsey raised the Woof at his 2nd birthday party

By Sophia Harris Editor-in-Chief

On a sunny day filled with tail wags, belly rubs, and puppy kisses, over a dozen comfort and service dogs gathered with their handlers, students, and community members to celebrate a very special occasion on April 14.

The second birthdays of two beloved comfort dogs, Ramsey and Sakura, were hosted by MetroWest K-9 and supported by Framingham State University.

Canines came from across Massachusetts to honor these dogs’ important work and spread awareness about the growing role of therapy dogs in law enforcement, education, and public service.

The party was a joyful celebration not just of Ramsey’s birthday, but of his recovery from a serious medical scare that nearly took his life.

“I thought it was a great event,” said Shawn Deleskey, corporal K-9 for University Police. “We had a great turnout. Ramsey’s buddies from all over the state showed up.”

Ramsey’s birthday bash featured treats galore, including a custom cake baked in the campus cafeteria, pup cups for the pups, and pizza and drinks provided by MetroWest K-9. More importantly, it brought together a tight-knit community that has rallied around Ramsey through thick and thin.

Few knew just how close Ramsey came to tragedy following his routine neutering procedure. After the surgery, Ramsey suffered a rare and dangerous reaction to a common medication, Carprofen. What started as persistent stomach issues quickly escalated into a life-threatening condition: telescoping intestines, a complication requiring immediate emergency surgery.

“I got the call no pet owner wants to hear,” said Deleskey. “They told me if we didn’t operate right away, it could have been fatal. Thankfully, the University supported the surgery, and Ramsey pulled through. We had pet insurance, and after a bit of a fight, most of it was covered. But it was scary.”

The emotional weight of the experience made this birthday more than just a party - it was a celebration of resilience.

“To see him back to 100%, wagging his tail, doing what he does best, it meant everything,” Deleskey said. “He’s been to 12 events this month alone. It’s like he never missed a beat.”

Ramsey’s impact on Framingham State and beyond is immeasurable. As a comfort dog, he’s redefined what it means to be a police K-9. He doesn’t track suspects or sniff out contraband. He heals hearts.

Whether he’s trotting across campus, visiting students, or traveling across the commonwealth, Ramsey’s mission is connection, Deleskey said.

“There’s always been patrol dogs in law enforcement, but I think comfort dogs have really carved out a space now. Mental health matters,” he said. “These dogs do something different. They build relationships.”

Deleskey’s bond with Ramsey began the moment he picked him up as a puppy and drove him home from Vermont. “He was just a little peanut,” he recalled. “Quiet in the car, totally content. That was the beginning of something special.”

Today, Deleskey sees Ramsey not just as a working dog, but as an extension of himself. Together, they represent a new kind of policing - one grounded in empathy, support, and service.

And none of it would be possible without the community behind them.

“This program only works because of the support I get. From the chief and deputy chief to the president of the University, the business office, my fellow officers, and especially Kianna [Bauer, University Police Department Administrative Services manager] - she’s instrumental. She helps behind the scenes with everything from billing to organizing events. There are so many people making this possible,” he said.

One of the birthday dogs, Sakura, is an EMS crisis response dog working across multiple counties, including Middlesex and Norfolk, said her handler, Chris Breault, with

“She started at just 8 weeks and 4 days old, and our first event was at Yale University,” said Breault.

“That was a pivotal moment. We were welcomed into the law enforcement community and realized the full potential of what she could do,” he said.

Officer Allie Love, from the Bunker Hill Community College Police Department, attended the event with Wiley, a comfort dog in training. “We’ve had Wiley for about seven months, and he’s been with the school just as long,” Love said.

Wiley is being trained through GOFI (Golden Opportunities for Independence) and already plays a meaningful role on campus.

“He walks around campus, comforts students, and even responds to calls with us. He’s been a huge morale booster for both the department and the community,” Love said.

Officer Tim Wilson brought along Cooper, the female comfort dog who has been working with the Boston Police Department since March of last year.

“She’s a citywide comfort dog who works with community service officers throughout Boston’s 11 districts,” Wilson said. “She attends community events, visits schools and senior centers, and supports nonprofits. Every day with her is different and fun - she just lights up every space we walk into.”

Cooper has a natural talent for working with children. “She’s really good with the little kids. They’re so happy and curious, and she just brings that joy wherever she goes,” Wilson added.

Officer Steve Fumicello, from the Harvard University Police Department, introduced Sasha, a female labrador retriever trained through the Puppies Behind Bars program. Sasha has been part of the department for almost three years and serves as the university’s first comfort dog.

Fumicello said he was happy Sasha got to celebrate Ramsey’s birthday.

Detective Stephen Sulli -

van, Northborough Police Department’s juvenile detective and school resource officer, brought Marshall, a comfort and therapy dog for the town of Northborough.

“He’s still in training to be certified, but he already accompanies me to schools, town hall, and the senior center,” Sullivan said. “We got him from Boonefield Labradors, and from the first moment he lay in my lap as a puppy, we’ve been inseparable.”

Marybeth Sacramone, a retired head of counseling at Wayland High School, brought Ricki Bear Golden - also affectionately known as RBG.

Named after Ruth Bader Ginsburg, RBG once served as the school’s unofficial “most popular counselor” and now provides support for Sacramone and her elderly parents.

“My favorite memory is watching her be completely free and muddy on the first day of my retirement. She’s more than a dog - she’s my partner,” Sacramone said.

Another dog, Frankie, from the Franklin Police Department, works in both therapy and search-and-rescue capacities. She has been with the department for two years.

“She helps find lost individuals - children or adults who’ve gone missing,” said K-9 Officer Dave Gove. “She’s incredible at calming down students. Just knowing they’ll get to pet the dog helps them regulate and return to class.”

K-9 Officer Gerald Perkins from UMass Amherst brought Alec, a highly trained explosive detection dog.

“We’ve been together for almost six years,” Perkins said. “My favorite memory is when Alec graduated from the State Police Fire Marshal School - it was the roughest three months of my life, but worth every moment.”

Alec, originally bred to be a seeing-eye dog, didn’t quite fit that role. “He would’ve dragged a blind person into the street for a hot dog,” Perkins joked. “But that drive makes him perfect for detecting explosives.”

MetroWest K-9.

Eliana Buono / THE GATEPOST

Lexi Beattie and Frankie from Franklin Police at Ramsey’s birthday.

Alexis Schlesinger / THE GATEPOST

Ramsey laying on the floor at his 2nd birthday celebration.

Continued from Page 11

Kim O’Neil brought Toshi, a therapy dog who works in schools, addiction recovery centers, prisons, and even models for Amazon dog hair vacuum ads. “Toshi’s everywhere,” O’Neil said, laughing. “She even does hospice visits and helps people going through really difficult times.”

Kianna Bauer said she and Deleskey coordinated the birthday party alongside MetroWest K-9. “We put this event together to give back to the school and community and to thank Ramsey for all he’s done through our community policing initiative,” Bauer said.

‘Ghost Dog: Way of the Samurai’

By Owen Glancy Arts & Features Editor

To anyone who regularly reads this column, it should be no surprise that Japanese cinema is one of the most varied and influential in the world, with its seemingly sudden emergence onto the world stage in the 1950s influencing dozens of future filmmakers in the 1980s and ’90s.

One of these filmmakers was Jim Jarmusch, an American independent filmmaker who alongside contemporaries like John Cassavetes and Wes Craven took American cinema in a bold new direction with their unique directorial styles that were uninhibited by the rigid studio system.

However, unlike his fellow filmmakers of the time, Jarmusch made films that were far more laid-back and relaxed, with many associated with the likes of Yasujiro Ozu rather than someone like Akira Kurosawa. This was until the release of “Ghost Dog: Way of the Samurai” in 1999.

By Bella Omar Asst. Arts & Features Editor

If it wasn’t made obvious enough already by the trendsetters in attendance at Coachella this year, folk- and bohemian-inspired fashion is back, and will be in full swing come summer. While it may be easy to type “boho chic” into the search bar of any quickto-cater fast fashion brand website, I implore you to consider this trend more thoughtfully, and more true to its diverse history. In 2025, you’ll find this style

She said Ramsey’s birthday cake was a work of art, crafted by Sodexo baker Lily Moyer, who even purchased boneshaped molds for the occasion.

Catering Director Tristan Fahey also contributed homemade pup cups filled with milk bones. “Their involvement made this day even more special,” Bauer said.

“What Ramsey can do on campus should be utilized by the entire community,” she said.

Many students also came to celebrate Ramsey’s birthday.

Sophomores Elaina Cardenas and Tara Brown shared their appreciation. “We’re stressed out about the end of the semester, and it’s so calming to be around animals that don’t worry about politics or

By this point in his career, Jarmusch had already established himself as a successful filmmaker, having made masterpieces like “Down by Law,” “Mystery Train,” and “Night on Earth.” However, these films are all fairly similar to each other. They all feature large casts, multiple main characters, and a higher emphasis on dialogue and the fascinating in the ordinary. Even in “Down by Law,” a prison break film, this “chill” atmosphere is always in place.

“Ghost Dog” does still have plenty of laid-back scenes, but it is otherwise Jarmusch’s most intense and action-packed film.

Taking influence not just from samurai films, but also from mafia movies, “Ghost Dog” is a delicate balancing act of blending influences from different cultures and films from all over the world. Maintaining this balance can be incredibly difficult, as leaning too far into one particular influence could block out the others and distort the auteur’s voice and muddy the viewing experience.

Thankfully, Jarmusch walks this act brilliantly due entirely to his mastery over pacing. Despite most of this film dealing with darker subject matters, Jarmusch knows exactly when to pull back. This “pulling back” both helps to humanize the characters as well

to be comfortable and seemingly effortless, a key feature being statement jewelry paired with muted, comfortable, flowing outfits. Tastemakers will be swapping fitted pieces for loose, ruffled, and even sheer tops and dresses - think Kate Moss’s infamous Glastonbury mini belted number.

Chloe’s fall 2025 runway completely embodied the ’70s signature materials and shapes which make it another perfect place to seek inspiration this summer. Ethereal lace and silk maxi dresses paired with casual fur accessories made each model appear like a certain member of the beloved British-American ensemble, Fleetwood Mac.

taxes. It’s healing,” Brown said.

Members of the campus events team, including Victoria Adeyemi, Angela Tiernan, and Andrea Zereski, expressed their pride in helping plan the birthday bash. “It’s nice to see people hanging out with Ramsey and showing him love - he’s definitely en - joying all the attention,” Adeyemi said.

The birthday bash wasn’t just about cake and party hats. It was a heartfelt recognition of the tireless service these dogs provide, whether comforting a stressed college student, supporting children in crisis, locating missing people, or detecting explosives.

As the celebration wrapped up, it was clear that the bond between handler and dog runs

as allow each individual influence to breathe.

The plot is influenced by mafia and samurai-revenge films, the characters all fit into Jarmusch’s chill vibe, and the setting is undeniably influenced by the Black-American filmmakers of the early ’70s.

By occasionally having a character-focused scene that takes a break from the plot, it allows the film’s Black influences and Jarmusch’s usual trappings to shine. By having a more intense and personal plot that focuses on themes of loyalty and “old vs new,” it allows the samurai and mafia influences to shine.

But a film cannot live entirely on its influences - they must serve as a foundation not the entire work. In this regard, “Ghost Dog” brings many fresh new ideas to both genres. The titular character Ghost Dog is obsessed with the “way of the samurai,” an obsession that becomes frighteningly real when it influences him to serve as the “vassal” of a mafia member named Louie, who saved his life when he was younger.

Ghost Dog lives by a code, but it’s one that is horribly against the times. He sends messages by carrier pigeon, unsheathes his guns as if they’re katanas, and is frighteningly loyal to his “master.” While noble, it’s clear that the rapidly changing world is

tablishment attitude of folk music and its coinciding culture stems from young people’s plight against their current government.

deep, and their impact on the communities they serve is immeasurable. Whether they’re wearing vests or party hats, these pups prove every day that comfort, safety, and healing can come on four paws.

For those who missed the birthday bash, don’t worry! Ramsey will be making more appearances soon. Delesky said he is already planning for the Touch-a-Truck event and bringing more dogs to campus for FSAB’s Sandbox this semester.

And as always, Ramsey will be there, ready to bring a little light wherever he goes.

CONNECT WITH SOPHIA HARRIS sharris9@student.framingham.edu

going to swallow Ghost Dog whole as he desperately fights against the tides of time.

This fight against time is one that the mafia group Louie belongs to takes up as well. They are almost cartoonish depictions of the mob, feeding into every stereotype created by films like “The Godfather” and “Scarface.” However this playing into stereotypes is implied to be something they do on purpose. The bosses are old men who are plagued by their outdated world views, with one being a racist and the other being obsessed with children’s cartoons from the early 1900s. While one of the three does seem ahead of the times, listening to hip hop artists such as Public Enemy, his actions often scream “old-fashioned.”

In Ghost Dog’s quest for revenge, he and Louie have to come to terms with the fact that the world is rapidly changing around them. This battle against a changing world is not only what makes the film so interesting, but also what makes it so relevant today. In the ever-changing climate of the modern world, it’s a good idea to take a breath, and just chill.

CONNECT WITH OWEN GLANCY oglancy@student.framingham.edu

mar during his extremely impactful Super Bowl halftime performance - a likely nod to the Black revolutionaries of the time who popularized the silhouette.

So when people participate in this trend by collecting mass-produced polyester pieces, the style loses its cultural significance and becomes tragically ironic as bohemian fashion, in my opinion, was never meant to express anything but breaking free from capitalist corporations such as Shein.

If you do decide that you want to add some Stevie Nicks inspired pieces to your closet this upcoming season, remember that it is important to do so in a responsible way that’s true to the style’s roots - support brands that actually produce their clothes ethically, prioritize second hand shopping and upcycle items you already own. The summer 2025 forecast: a 100% chance of folk revival rain

In recent memory, the last time we saw billowing cotton fabrics and suede boots consistently walking down any runway was probably sometime circa 2010 - so what has sparked this current resurgence? I would argue that this new-found appreciation for the authenticity and anti-es-

Despite popular understanding, bohemian chic was not invented by Coachella goers - the term “bohemian” originally referred to creatives and intellectuals in 19th-century France who rejected society’s rigid norms and whose style was made up of re-worked fabrics, loose-fitting silhouettes and layered looks all inspired by Romani and Eastern European cultures. This anti-capitalist fashion returned within the 1960s-1970s hippie counterculture, again rejecting materialism and embracing sustainability.

This era of history experienced mass social and political change, such as the Civil Rights movement, which had a huge influence on hippie fashion. This includes the iconic bell-bottom and flared jeans we associate with the period today, as seen on Kendrick La-

CONNECT WITH BELLA OMAR bomar@student.framingham.edu

Dargan

Continued from Page 1

According to Dargan, she taught at Boston University before coming to FSU.

Dargan began her career at FSU in 1987 as a part-time faculty member in the department of Sociology.

She was hired by the late Harriet Miller, a former chair of the sociology department.

“She was a wonderful person and really supported me. She saw something - she liked how I related to the students,” Dargan said.

Dargan then worked as a full-time tenured professor before becoming sociology department chair.

“I love the students here, so I really connected with them and I felt like I understood them a lot, in terms of just being from here. But also, just getting some of the challenges that they face in their lives,” she said.

After that, Dargan served as the inaugural dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences - a position she was appointed to in 2014. She has also served as interim dean of education and interim dean of business.

She said she has served as dean of ESBS for the last five years, a position she expected she would only be in for six years.

FSU’s faculty contract says that a faculty member can only serve as dean for six years before losing their tenure. In the midst of the start of a pandemic and the University’s provost stepping down, Dargan was asked to remain as dean.

Dargan said one of her jobs as dean is to connect with stu-

dents in her college who are struggling academically.

“I enjoy that because I feel like we make some progress. Sometimes, people have to say, ‘I’m taking a year off’ and sometimes they think if they take that year off, that’s it. That’s so hard for me, because I’m like, ‘You can come back,’” she said.

Dargan said prior to serving as an administrator, she has served as a professor and department chair in the department of sociology, and served as vice president of the faculty union for a number of years.

She said once she retires, she will spend time on Martha’s Vineyard, and then she will continue working at Providence College, where she currently teaches part-time.

Dargan said she would like to start research related to local Irish-American history, which is a “bridge” between history and sociology. She is also planning to research funding in public higher education.

Dargan said during her time at FSU, she was “very committed” to the faculty.

“I believe in supporting the faculty as much as we can. I believe they spend the most time with our students, and they have the most possibility to impact our students,” she said.

Dargan said she will miss her colleagues at FSU. “It’s a great place to work in terms of having people you can talk to. It’s a very down-to-earth place as opposed to some institutions which are quite elitist.”

She said while working at FSU, she has both been mentored by and mentored her fellow faculty.

“You mentor each other in various ways. People have strengths and you go to their

Department of Sociology & Criminology Honors

The Department of Sociology & Criminology recognizes the academic excellence of majors and minors in the fields of Sociology and Criminology.

Criminology Honors

Alicia Banson

Ava Barenski

Angelina Barrett

Matthew Barrios

Madeline Boucher

Isabella Cambece

Joeliel Casiano

Mia Durbano

Colleen Fitzgerald

Darcy Garcia-Marenghi

Caitlyn Gorman

Skylar Grenier

Aurora Kilrain

Makenzie Manning

Shalon Nesvacil

Jasmine Owusu

Maxwell Penn

Gabriella Redford

Jessica Ribeiro

Tiara Silva Sánchez

Brandon Ward

Sociology Honors

Nicolas Alvarado-Rodriguez

Alexianna Bennett

Gabriella Borr

Michael Case

Hunter Dansereau

Jaiden Doresca

strengths,” Dargan said.

Dargan said she would recommend to her successor, Stephanie Logan, to get to know the faculty. “They’re an amazing group,” she said.

She said Logan should “look for ways to get the College [of ESBS] to feel more like one college.”

Dargan said the areas of Education and Social & Behavioral Sciences are very different, even though they share similar research methods.

Sociology & Criminology Department Chair Vincent Ferraro, a faculty-fellow to Dargan, has been working with her since 2011 and said he has worked closely with her in both positions.

He said his relationship with Dargan is “fantastic. I can’t say enough good things about Sue Dargan. I’m heartbroken that she’s leaving, but very excited for her no doubt.”

He said he has benefited from Dargan’s guidance over the years and applied for the faculty-fellow position so he could work with her.

Recently, Dargan and Ferraro have been working on an “analysis of MTEL data and outcomes for students in the education program,” Ferraro said.

He said the research is ongoing, but anticipates their results will be “impactful.”

Ferraro said the results “certainly would not have been possible without her guidance.”

He said he will remember Dargan’s commitment to students, the University, equity and “always giving a voice to groups that need it.”

Caitlin Halig

Karina Nanco-Gonzalez

Alexandra Ponce

Amber Singh

Madison Skehan

Kyra Tolley

Ferraro said in his job he is “always thinking, ‘How would Sue respond to this?’ ‘How would Sue handle this?’

He said he hopes Dargan’s successor will maintain “the steady hand and steady leadership that Sue has modeled for the last decade,” and is “somebody who has the same commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and some-

body who can carry FSU toward its strategic plan in the years ahead.”

Psychology and Philosophy Professor Joseph D’Andrea said he has known Dargan since he began working at FSU.

He said when he became chair of the Psychology and Philosophy department, “the best part was working with Dr. Dargan.”

He said Dargan is an “extraordinary” leader and always had time to listen to concerns of the ESBS department chairs.

D’Andrea said, “She has shown me what a good leader is. The chairs had a lot of fun at the chair meetings she facilitated and we got a lot of work done too.”

“She is an ally to the students and the faculty members in her college,” he said.

D’Andrea said he hopes her successor will listen to faculty concerns “as well as she did. The chairs always knew she was in our corner.”

Provost Kristen Porter-Utley said Dargan “is a tireless and excellent advocate for students, faculty, and staff members at Framingham State.”

Porter-Utley said Dargan is an “incredible teacher-scholar, fantastic listener, creative problem solver, a wonderful and thoughtful colleague, and someone who works diligently with faculty and staff to ensure all our students have every opportunity to succeed.”

She said Dargan has served as a mentor to her and she will miss the opportunity to “just check in with” her when making decisions.

Porter-Utley said Dargan “is so well-respected. She will be remembered for her intelligence, considerate and creative approach to problem solving, her sincere and deep care for students, staff, and faculty, excellent work ethic, and her passionate advocacy for members of our community and the MetroWest region.”

CONNECT WITH DYLAN PICHNARCIK dpichnarcik@student.framingham.edu

Dylan Pichnarcik / THE GATEPOST

Susan Dargan standing by a bookshelf in her office.

Mazmanian gallery begins senior capstone showings

By Francisco Omar Fernandez Rodriguez Arts & Features Editor

The Mazmanian Gallery hosted the reception for the first of the annual series of Capstone Exhibitions. It showcases the work of graduating students from the Department of Art, Design, and Art History.

Andreas Chaniotakis said his work reflects his beliefs about the universe.

“I like to combine new information discovered by science and NASA into my art and think about the extent of creativity that can be in the universe,” Chaniotakis said.

“As we discover more exoplanets and actually get to look at things like that, we’re going to learn more about what the universe actually looks like on the planetary scale,” Chaniotakis added.

Inside the gallery, below his main work are the pieces that led up to it, he said.

His creative process involves drawing the same thing repeatedly until it works, he added.

“If I want to draw something new, or create a new idea, I’ll start small and work up to big,” Chaniotakis said.

He likes to start with pens because not being able to erase keeps him from worrying too much about the piece, he added.

He chose to create new art for this exhibition, he said. Everything shown was made throughout this semester.

“It was a lot of work, but it paid off immensely I think,” Chaniotakis said.

Everyone should go to the rest of the exhibitions as well, he said.

“And leave a doodle at the Doodle Station!” he added. The Doodle Station, part of his work, lets everyone add a doodle to it.

Emily Monaco said her work is centered around childhood. In the winter of 2024 she was inspired to start illustrating a children’s book.

For her capstone, she was torn between two ideas, she said. One was a large scale painting, and the other was the page illustrations, which she settled with.

The concept for the book was teaching children how to recognize and process emotions, she said. There are four different moods shown - joy, sadness, love, and creativity.

It was Art Professor Ellie Krakow who told Monaco she should make her wallpaper, she added.

“And I thought, oh my gosh, I could just recreate my grandma’s wallpaper. So that’s what I did,” Monaco said.

“I want it to be a slice of life, and a slice of a home - which is why it has the coat rack and the lamp and all the photography,” Monaco added.

At first she thought the process would be great, but then she realized there are deadlines, she said.

She didn’t expect the experience to be so collaborative, she added. She got helpful feedback from her classmates.

She felt like she grew as an artist, but by the end of it she

was burnt out, she said.

“I think it’s really important that art students have opportunities like this to display their work in a gallery setting,” Monaco said. It teaches them practical skills and it helped her figure out her career path,she said.

Ben Hur- ney, also known as Bench, said his original plan was to only make artwork about Sandbox, FSAB’s annual end-of-year festival.

“I was just gonna try to make Framingham State themed things in Renaissance medieval aesthetics,” Hurney said.

He tried to research what medieval aesthetics are, but the medieval time period lasted over 1,000 years across the world, he said.

He ended up focusing more on Renaissance fairs, which he also found more inter- esting, he added.

Hurney was surprised Renaissance fairs started as recently as the 1960s, and were inherently political, he said.

The fairs had an emphasis on teaching, which made sense for FSU because of our history as a normal school, he added.

“All art is political, but I wanted to be intentional with it,” Hurney said.

His class met with Krakow a couple weeks into the semester, he said.

“That same day she had decided when everyone was going and where in the gallery everyone’s going,” Hurney said.

He hoped he would get a specific corner and the first ex-

hibition, and Krakow somehow decided on that exact combination without knowing he wanted it, he added.

It was fun to see how it developed and filled the space, because he wasn’t sure how it was going to look at first, he said.

The knight, which now takes up most of his piece, was a “middle” addition, Hurney said. Until then, he was just working on the sweaters, he added.

[ Editor’s Note: Ben Hurney is the Illustrations Editor for The Gatepost. Emily Monaco is an Assistant Illustrations Editor for The Gatepost. ]

CONNECT WITH FRANCISCO OMAR FERNANDEZ RODRIGUEZ ffernandezrodriguez@ student.framingham.edu

Maddison Behringer / THE GATEPOST A scroll detailing Ben Hurney’s artist statement.

ARTS & FEATURES

24. Tony winner Leslie ___ Jr.

25. “Enter the Dragon” star Bruce

27. “M3GAN” actress Donald

28. Flat-topped landforms

30. Federal Reserve chair from 1987 to 2006?

32. U-turn from SSW

33. Like some lingerie

35. “No seats” sign on B’way

36. “I call dibs!”

38. Burr and Hamilton, e.g.

42. Texter’s “That’s wild!”

43. Family ___ (ancestral chart)

44. Attorney’s area

45. “Totally outdated”?

49. Olympic gymnast Comaneci

51. Cookie with a matcha ice cream flavor

52. “Uh-huh!”

53. Yearn (for)

54. There are 10 in a decade

56. Campfire residue

58. British noble

59. Fabric store purchase

61. Determined by genetics?

64. Backsplash installer

65. Had a debt

66. Fawn’s mother

67. Onesie fasteners

68. They can be “loose” or “tight”

69. Choose DOWN

1. Pop singer Rita

2. Luxurious 3. Fences in 4. Greek Z 5. U.K. record label

6. Charisma, in slang

7. Big auto parts retailer

8. Have some poutine, say

9. Amorphous shape

10. Shaving cream brand

11. Set up tents

12. National flower of Mexico

17. *Capital of Peru

21. Pot pie veggie

23. Name hidden in “civil engineer”

24. All: Prefix

26. Come next

29. Goopy stuff

30. Star pitcher

31. *Color of Kermit

34. Irate

37. Razr phone company

38. Canada ___ (ginger ale brand)

39. Mythical city of gold

40. Bit of precipitation

41. Convention freebies

43. Piece of clicking footwear

45. *“Yo ___” (“I am,” in Spanish)

46. Puts up

47. Prevent from escaping

48. Pop singer Lipa

50. Tons

55. Recipe part

57. Chopped, as wood

58. Tupperware toppers

60. Time sheet figs.

62. *Hair color for roughly 2-6% of Americans

63. So far

A SL BALL

Spread by Photos & Design

Editor Alexis Schlesinger

Photos by Photos & Design

Editor Alexis Schlesinger and Staff Photographer Julien Fernandez

ASL club hosted their annual ASL Ball on April 14 with guest DJ Deaf Tunez.