April 4, 2025
Goal!
Federal impacts discussed at All University Meeting
By Sophia Harris Editor-in-Chief
President Nancy Niemi discussed the impacts of federal administrative actions on the University and provided financial updates at the All University Meeting March 31.
Niemi said the University’s administration is “paying very close attention” to all of the recent executive orders and how they could possibly pose a threat to the University.
She reminded the community “that all of the executive actions that are coming from the federal government are not law.” She said she empathized with the community, but Massachusetts has filed lawsuits counteracting
the executive orders posed by the federal administration.
“We have the wherewithal and the right to counteract what comes out of executive actions and either watch carefully or, when appropriate, take action,” Niemi added.
Regarding the federal administration’s recent threats to university curriculum, Niemi said, “Academic freedom is key.
“Teaching, curriculum, speech, that is where we will draw that line. We will not acquiesce. Equity works in all its forms.”
Niemi reiterated Framingham State’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion work. She said it is embedded in all the work the Uni-
versity undertakes, whether it is in the classroom or through the heritage events the Center for Inclusive Excellence hosts.
“People on campus, they come in and feel that that is our commitment. Many have said that. Most importantly, we can feel it. The protection of our employees and our students is, of course, critical,” she said.
She added, “It’s scary - some of the things we’re seeing, many of the things we’re seeing are scary, but we are committed.”
English Professor Rachel Trousdale asked if there was action being taken by the Massachusetts Council of State
Author Joanna Rakoff discusses best-selling memoir at annual Miriam Levine reading
By Sarah Daponde
Arts & Features Editor
The annual Miriam Levine reading, hosted by the English Department, featured bestselling author Joanna Rakoff on April 2 in the Heineman Ecumenical Center.
Lisa Eck, professor and department chair of the English Department, introduced the event and welcomed attendees.
“It’s illegal to be bored as an English major,” said Eck.
Eck said the event was held annually to inspire students to go beyond creative writing classes and into the next steps of writing and publishing.
She said she wants students to have the courage to put their voice out into the world.
She then invited Jennifer De Leon, an English professor and friend of the author’s, to introduce Joanna Rakoff.
“It’s a special day when a student can meet a real-life author - especially one so talented,” said De Leon.
She said Rakoff was a winner of the Goldberg Prize for fiction, has had her work published in 20 different languages, and has been featured in the publications such as The New York Times, The Guardian, and Vogue.
“My Salinger Year,” Rakoff’s best-selling memoir, was adapted into a movie in 2021, added De Leon. Her
newest memoir, “The Fifth Passenger,” is about a secret in Rakoff’s family.
De Leon said Rakoff is always sharing tips and connections to help fellow writers. “Joanna is the most generous writer I know.
“To be in the presence of Joanna - or her art - is to be around a good friend.”
Rakoff then took the stage.
She said she was familiar with Levine’s work and that it was a pleasure to be this year’s reader.
She encouraged attendees to read Levine’s poetry, saying, “It’s always a wonderful thing.”
Asst.
Izabela Gage / THE GATEPOST
(Left) Sarah Lewis, Nicole Sheehan, Emma Scully, Gabby Foster, and Molly Lanier celebrating Foster’s first collegiate goal April 2.
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
Kate Norrish
Erina Operach
Anthony Pintado
Alexandria Rose
Emma Schor
Anthony Sims
Michael Trueswell
Celia Williams
Staff Photographers
Eliana Buono
Meg Dame
Julien Fernandez
Oné Green
Staff Illustrators
Charlotte Fabrizi
Marcus Falcão
Advisor
Desmond McCarthy
Asst. Advisor
Elizabeth Banks
Gatepost Interview Keri Ann Sather-Wagstaff
By Bella Grimaldi Asst. News Editor
What is your academic and professional background?
[I earned my] bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley, 1993. [I earned my] master’s degree from the University of Utah, 1998. [And I earned my] Ph.D. from the University of Utah, 2000. All of those are in math. [I had] faculty positions around the country, most recently at Clemson University in South Carolina, from 2015 to 2025 technically, although I was on leave since 2022. I was at the National Science Foundation (NSF) as a program director for two and a half years, 2022 to 2025, right before I came here. There, I was working on funding proposals from across the country focused on DEI work, specifically on intersectional gender equity and intersectional racial equity for students and faculty members.
What part of your role are you looking forward to most?
This role doesn’t have any student-facing focus at all, normally. … My role is focused on other aspects of the University and really engaging with faculty members. Part of my role is recruitment, retention of faculty members - especially faculty members of color and with other marginalized identities, and engaging with them - figuring out what the University should be doing to properly support them. Then, of course, diverse faculty gives visibility and mentorship for students from diverse backgrounds so just everybody wins in those situations. Without playing favorites, engaging and working to support the faculty is my highest priority.
What brought you to Framingham State?
The position at the National Science Foundation was temporary. It was a three-year position, and things got a little scary in the federal space, for sure. I started really soul-searching about what it was that I wanted to do. When I went to NSF, I had been thinking about leaving the academy because it didn’t seem to be aligned with my values of really truly supporting students and really truly valuing that diversity, equity, and inclusion. When I learned about the opportunity here, I did a whole bunch
Dylan Pichnarcik / THE GATEPOST
of research on the University. I knew Provost Porter-Utley from my work at the National Science Foundation, plus a few of the other folks here - Dean Sue Dargan, I was familiar with her. I was able to get a lot of information and realized I had been at research universities before. I’d never spent any time at a teaching-intensive institution. Really understanding the real commitment to the things that I value - student success, faculty success, and maintaining a diverse and equitable environment where people can flourish in an inclusive environment of belonging. I guess I lucked out in a lot of ways. This is the perfect job for me. I’m really loving it. I love the people that I work with. I love this institution. I’ve never been particularly proud of any of the institutions that I’ve worked at before, and now I actually wear my Framingham State pin when I have my blazer on or something like that. And I’m really proud to do that.
What are some of your hobbies, or something students wouldn’t expect about you?
I love to read, and I read fiction and nonfiction. Right now, I’m reading a beautiful novel by a transgender author whose name escapes me, but it’s called “Little Blue Encyclopedia (for Vivian).”
[ Editor’s Note: Hazel Jane Plante is the name of the author. ] I just finished Michelle Obama’s “The Light We Carry.” [I’m] looking for inspiration in these, once again, unprecedented times.
Police Logs
Monday, March 31. 10:42 K9 Community Outreach McCarthy Center Call/Assignment Complete
Tuesday, April 1. 7:37
Trespass Tow O’Connor Hall Parking Lot Vehicle/Removed Tow
Wednesday, April 2. 11:02
Before that, I read the “1619 Project,” the actual book, which has been on my reading list for quite some time. It felt like, “OK, now is the time.” I learned a lot. I love reading. I love listening to music. I have two cats who I love. I’ve been married to the same spouse - we’ll have our 30th wedding anniversary in six days. Lots happened in 30 years, and we’re an incredible team. They support me in ways that I never imagined being supported by a partner before. So I’m incredibly lucky. I love spending time with them. We’ve got some TV shows that we watch and shut our brains off, and then I love to do yoga as well. Something that students might not know about me is that I dropped out of college after my first semester, and I am a first-gen college student. I used to think I wasn’t ready for college, and I realized that college wasn’t ready for me. This was back in the 1980s before they had a lot of programming in place for first-generation students to succeed. I saw that firsthand. Things that we have here at Framingham State - I work with the RAMS 101 folks, and we have the gen one sections of RAMS 101 - and I’m just really impressed with the commitment that we have for supporting all sorts of different folks, like the first-generation students, like I was. It really lifts my heart.
Elevator Problem Larned Hall Call/Assignment Complete
Wednesday, April 2. 2:12
Medical Emergency Foster Hall Transport to Hospital
SGA discuss ‘Week of Culture’ vendors
By Dylan Pichnarcik News Editor
SGA Vice President Cesár Matos discussed issues senators had about a henna artist who worked at the “Week of Culture” event at the March 25 meeting.
Treasurer Khoa Bùi said some members of SGA believed the artist did not practice traditional henna art, which may have caused some students to be uncomfortable.
Matos said the artist did not seem “to be of a culture that practices henna art.”
He added, “When we first were looking at the work that they were doing, it seemed less related to henna art and more related to cartoon characters.”
On the day of the event, the eBoard and advisors had a conversation about the vendor, but the issue was not directly addressed with the artist, according to Matos.
Matos said, “We want to ensure that we include the vendor in the conversation rather than leave it be. We don’t want to ostracize them.”
Diversity and Inclusion Officer Ana Julia Ribeiro said SGA worked hard to plan each event during “Week of Culture.”
Ribeiro said SGA was not informed that the vendor practiced any other type of art besides traditional henna.
President Evelyn Campbell was not in attendance at the meeting so her report was delivered by Matos.
In her report, Campbell reminded senators about SGA’s upcoming election.
Nominations will take place during the week of March 31, campaigning will be held from April 5 to April 15, Candidates’ Night will be held on April 6 in the Alumni Room, and election day is April 15 between the hours of 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.
During his report, Student Trustee Jeremy McDonald said he will be going to the Academic Policy Committee as a member of the Student Athletic Advisory Committee to advocate for a policy which excuses student-athletes from class on game days.
McDonald said this policy does not currently exist and leaves students at risk of facing punishment for absences.
McDonald reminded senators about the Administrative Forum, which will
Dylan Pichnarcik / THE GATEPOST
take place on April 8 at the next Club Representative Meeting.
Dinner with administrators in the McCarthy Dining Annex will begin at 6:30 p.m. and will be followed by the Administrative Forum at 7:30 p.m.
McDonald asked senators to send him questions for administrators so he can provide a list to administrators who will be attending.
Bùi announced FinCom approved two funding requests from Alpha Omega and The Hilltop Players.
Alpha Omega requested $122 for pizza and salad at an upcoming seminar.
The Hilltop Players requested $108 for baking equipment for future bake
Weather
Sunday night Apr. 6
Showers likely. Cloudy, with a low around 40. North wind around 10 mph.
Monday Apr. 7
A chance of showers before 11 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 50.
Monday night Apr. 7
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35.
Tuesday Apr. 8
A chance of showers after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 50.
sales, which was approved, according to Bùi.
Senator AJ Vazquez said she contacted Dan Giard, director of Facilities, to request something be done about a flooded sink in the Art Club’s meeting room. The issue was taken care of by Facilities prior to the start of the SGA meeting.
She said she also contacted Giard to find solutions regarding the accessibility of student studios and meeting spaces in May Hall.
She said a solution was not possible because the May Hall elevator remains out of service.
Vazquez said a possible solution is to place a ramp in the area outside
where students access the basement meeting rooms. However, Giard said a ramp could not be placed there for safety reasons.
Outreach and Events Coordinator Alix Ayoub reinstated passing the U-Rock to SGA’s Member of the Week, which was awarded to Secretary Jazmany Reyes.
Ayoub said, “I’m recognizing Jazmany for all the work that he has done with all his secretary duties, especially since a lot of things have been thrown at him lately and he’s done an amazing job.”
CONNECT WITH DYLAN PICHNARCIK dpichnarcik@student.framingham.edu
www.weather.gov
Tuesday night Apr. 8
A chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 30.
Wednesday Apr. 9
Mostly sunny, with a high near 50. West wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Wednesday night Apr. 9
Mostly clear, with a low around 30. West wind around 5 mph.
Thursday Apr. 10
Mostly sunny, with a high near 54. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
(Left) Alix Ayoub, Ana Julia Ribeiro, and Khoa Bùi at SGA’s March 25 meeting.
All University Meeting
Continued from Page 1
University Presidents to coordinate their response to federal actions.
Niemi said, “I would like to say that we would all be together, and I’m hoping that will be the case, but I can’t tell you for sure.”
Anthropology professor and Interim President of the Massachusetts State College Association (MSCA) Benjamin Alberti said the faculty union is “planning actions and will have support for us as faculty, as a united group,” through the nine state colleges and universities.
Alberti asked Niemi, “What can you say to our workers and to our students to reassure them about your support for them and the University’s support for them, especially in the context of the fact that we are already fairly heavily worked in terms of doing service work, working toward our strategic plan and so forth?”
He added given that faculty, staff, and students want to continue working on their goals while sidelined by threats from the federal administration, “What can you say to reassure faculty and students who work here?”
Niemi acknowledged that “everyone is carrying that very heavy extra burden” and advised people to talk to their peers and find ways to help each other.
She added, “Letting each other know, first of all, that, ‘Hey, this is really, really hard at this moment. Can you help me? Is there something we can do to alleviate this other thing that I have to do?’ So being extra communicative, I think, is one thing, and also to not assume that the answer is no.”
Nutrition and Health Studies Professor Susan Massad asked if the University should distribute the “Know Your Rights” cards, also known as “red cards,” to all students.
These cards provide information on what individuals’ rights are in regard to immigration policies and what to say if approached by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer.
Assistant Vice President of Human Resources Kim Dexter said the cards are available all over campus, including in the Center for Inclusive Excellence and the Dean of Students office.
Dexter said through the Print Services gateway, anyone who would like to print the cards to distribute to students can do so.
Dexter said the cards are available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Haitian Creole.
Professor of Psychology and Philosophy Mirari Elcoro asked if there should be further supports set in place to protect students, faculty, and staff from immigration officials.
“What if, for example, one of our international students would leave the country and would have trouble coming back? This would be for not only our students but also our colleagues in various immigration situations. What would be the support connections that the University would be prepared to provide?” she asked.
Chief of Staff and General Counsel Ann McDonald said although the University is not at liberty to provide legal advice, “I think what we need to do is make people aware of what the threats are that we know of, or what the con-
cerns are that they might encounter.”
She added, “For any of us who’ve worked in this field for a long time, I think some of the things we’re seeing now we thought we’d never see.”
Dexter said the University is continuing to sponsor tenure-track faculty who need immigration support.
“For those faculty who we do sponsor, they have lines of communication with immigration firms,” Dexter said.
Vice President of Student Success Lorretta Holloway said, “We had to contact all our international students before spring break and recommend that they not leave the country because we weren’t sure that they’d be able to come back.”
She added Bunker Hill Community College recently canceled all of its faculty-led study abroad trips this summer due to the number of international students they enroll.
Niemi stated the University unveiled a new web page that details to incoming students what they will pay in tuition and fees to Framingham State. This calculation is based on family income.
She said, “Over half of our students paid nothing in tuition and fees.”
Niemi added the University will now offer a $1,000 renewable transfer student scholarship for students who hold a minimum 3.0 college grade point average.
“Free community college is still a factor, and we don’t have data in to see how that may or may not impact us, so we’re trying to work very hard to make those things work better and be more affordable,” she said.
In terms of expected funding for FSU from the state, Niemi said the University expects equal state-aid funds in fiscal year 2026.
She said if something happens “drastically” to the state’s budget, “if Medicaid cuts really come in big numbers, the state cannot afford to cover everything that happens, and so we could be looking at some impact on our budget.”
She said, “The only comfort I have in that is that the state universities are right there with us. It’s not like Framingham State would be at a disadvantage and everybody else wouldn’t be.”
Niemi added, “We’re watching, but right now, we’re moving forward because that’s what we need to do, and that’s what our students expect us to do, and that’s what we expect us to do.”
Chair of Nutrition and Health Studies Ann Johnson said, “We have had problems time and time again where our software systems have been upgraded without our knowing, and then all of a sudden, something comes online, and it’s very problematic.”
She said this is especially problematic during the advising period.
“I go in and see that all of our course descriptions and our prerequisites in there are wrong, and they’re different from what they were two months ago.”
Johnson added, “I know that HR has issues with data integrity in your software system. I expect FAFSA is probably going to be problematic given what’s going on at the federal level.”
Vice President of Finance, Technology, and Administration Robert Totino said the University is looking to address this in the next few months through the strategic initiative pro-
cesses with data governance.
He said Patrick Laughran, chief information officer, has requested two new positions for next year and this team will work cross-divisionally to update software on campus.
“I think when this really gets rolling in the next six to 12 months with data governance, we’re really going to start to see some wheels hum when it comes to everyone working together on data to move forward strategically,” Totino said.
In response to Johnson’s comments, Executive Director of Student Records & Registration Services Mark Powers sent an email Thursday afternoon stating, “At the recent All University Meeting, a concern was raised that all course descriptions in Banner were incorrect. We want to clarify that the course descriptions in Banner are accurate. However, late last week, we became aware that the course link view in DegreeWorks was displaying outdated course descriptions instead of
the most recent versions.
“Upon investigation, our office, in collaboration with IT, identified the issue in DegreeWorks and implemented a correction early Monday morning. We also want to emphasize that this issue was not related to the most recent Banner system security patch.”
Biology Professor Cara Pina commended the addition of the cost breakdown webpage for students and asked how FSU plans on communicating this information to incoming and current students.
Iris Godes, vice president of Enrollment Management, said most students know how much aid they are eligible for through the FAFSA process. She said the main purpose of the webpage is to remain competitive for prospective students in light of free community college tuition.
CONNECT WITH SOPHIA HARRIS sharris9@student.framingham.edu
Dylan Pichnarcik / THE GATEPOST
President Nancy Niemi speaking at the All University Meeting March 31.
Framingham State receives $1.3 million SUCCESS grant
By Bella Grimaldi Asst. News Editor
Framingham State University has received a $1.3 million grant to assist with student academic support, according to a press release from the University.
The grant was awarded through Supporting Urgent Community College Equity through Student Services (SUCCESS) and was approved by Gov. Maura Healey, according to the press release.
This is the first year this grant is being offered to state universities, according to President Nancy Niemi.
The funds will be used to expand support spaces for students and to hire new academic advisors and two new career counselors, according to the press release.
Niemi said the University’s plan for the funds was approved at the end of 2024. The University received the funds in March.
She said the University put together an action plan to show how the grant will be used and the impacts the University expects.
According to Niemi, the action plan was a collaboration among the University’s executive offices.
“We kept asking ourselves, ‘What can we do?’ One thing is, we can give more support for student tutoring and mentoring in the first years. So that’s one thing we did,” she said.
According to Robert Totino, vice president of finance, technology, and administration, the University was guided about how to use the funds by the Department of Higher Education.
Totino said, “We came up with what we thought was the best allocation between a mix of new personnel working in Center for Academic Success and Achievement (CASA), in career development, ITS, the Academic Affairs office, in a few other areas as well as training for certain staff members and faculty across the campus.”
He added, “We’re going to be putting some of that money to use to revitalize
$250,000 of the grant is allocated for financial aid. There is a $4,000 cap on financial aid provided by the grant.
He said the allocated funds will be used to help students “who might have an issue financially settling their bill for the Spring ’25 semester, and we’ve allocated some money for the Fall ’25 semester as well.”
Holloway said this financial aid is called the Clean Slate Program and has already covered $168,010.
The University identifies students’ eligibility for the aid based on certain parameters, according to Holloway. In order to qualify, students must be
“We kept asking ourselves, ‘What can we do?’ One thing is, we can give more support for student tutoring and mentoring in the first years. So that’s one thing we did.”
- Nancy Niemi University President
or adapt the second floor of the CASA office, which is called Peirce Annex.”
According to Lorretta Holloway, vice president of Student Success, a large portion of the grant will be used for the Peirce Hall Annex Renovation.
This renovation will provide CASA with more office space, according to Holloway.
According to Totino, approximately
enrolled in the undergraduate day division, be a Massachusetts resident, and have at least a 2.0 GPA unless they are a first-year student. First-year students must have at least a 1.7 GPA to be eligible.
“Students are raising their hand and reaching out, but also the aid office and Student Accounts Office, they’re looking at students who were maybe
dropped from registration,” said Totino.
David Restrick, director of the Advising Center, said the addition of the two new academic advisors will allow the advising team to be more available to students.
One of the new advisors will be focused on communicating and reaching out to students, said Restrick.
He added the two advisors will expand the advising staff from three to five and will increase the number of advisors available to incoming students during summer registration.
According to Restrick, this expansion will allow for an advisor to be a liaison to each of the four colleges within the University.
“For us, the SUCCESS funding, it really is about giving us that extra bandwidth,” Restrick said.
He added, “That means more personalized attention. … So it means that we can actually spend more time with each student, helping them explore their options, what they’re hoping to do, and helping them try to figure it out.”
Niemi said, “We are working on the assumption that we will have this funding every year because otherwise, if you’re always worried that you don’t have funding, you can be paralyzed. So we are working in the belief that we will get this funding each of the next five years.”
She added the University’s action plan aims to impact student retention, especially for second-year students.
Niemi said, “We have your back. We understand we don’t just admit you and then you’re on your own. … There are other struggles that students have, and we know that, and we want to help you through those so that you can learn successfully and you can go on and do the things you’re meant to do
with that learning.”
Freshman Keira Fecteau said academic support on campus has helped her.
She said, “I actually worked with Hannah Wilkins. I would definitely recommend her if anybody needs help - she’s great. She helped me get back on track, and set me up with an SPT, which is basically a student peer mentor.”
Sophomore Cory Murtaugh said he’s had a positive experience with student academic support on campus.
He said, “I’d recommend going to CASA if you want to get any support or help because if you are struggling in class and don’t like talking to teachers - talk to them.”
Sophomore Mac Johns said he thinks the University does a good job with academic support.
“Once they see that you’re not doing well in one of your classes, they’ll email you and you have your opportunity to try to get better in your class and improve your grade.”
Johns said he thinks it’s a good thing the University is providing extra financial support for some students.
Freshman Madison Carlson said the expansion of academic advising would support her greatly by providing her with a second set of opinions and more opportunities to study.
She said she thinks the University offering extra financial aid is a good idea that will allow more students to earn their degrees.
Junior Madison Magone said the University providing students with extra financial aid “is great. I think everyone deserves to have an education.”
Gatepost Archives
The entrance of the Center for Academic Success and Achievement.
McAuliffe Center awarded $95,000 grant
By Dylan Pichnarcik News Editor
The Christa McAuliffe Center has been awarded a $95,000 grant through The Community Foundation for MetroWest.
The grant will expand the “Perspectives on Earth - Team Mentorship and Internship” (PETM) which was established through the McAuliffe Center in 2019.
The PETM includes a paid summer internship program for up to 12 high school students in the MetroWest area, according to Irene Porro, director of the McAuliffe Center.
Porro said the PETM already receives some funding. However, the recent grant is a “major contribution” to supporting the program’s future.
PETM hosts up to 50 high school students from around MetroWest. Students come to the McAuliffe Center from January to April on select Saturdays to participate in five training sessions which expose them to the work they will complete if they intern with the McAuliffe Center, Porro said.
She said the program teaches students about topics in STEM fields, as well as about working collaboratively with others in a professional environment.
Students are also required to serve as presenters at the McAuliffe Center’s spring science festival, according to Porro.
After completing the program’s requirements, students can apply for a summer internship.
Porro praised the quality of the work completed by past interns. She said in the summer of 2022, a group of interns worked to address urban heat islands on campus.
A heat island is a large open area that is not covered by trees, and the heat generated in the areas can affect the local environment, according to Porro.
She said the group suggested FSU build a solar canopy in the parking lot.
Porro said at the end of the program she sent the report that the students produced to Dale Hamel, former executive vice president of Finance, Technology, and Administration. He said the project was already being discussed. This project was recently completed by the University.
The grant given to the McAuliffe Center will go toward supporting a full-time program coordinator, according to Porro.
Natalie Daly will continue her work as environmental and sustainability coordinator at the McAuliffe Center while also working to coordinate the internship program.
“I feel good about it. It’s really interesting to work with kids in high school,” Daly said.
She added, “It’s interesting how much background knowledge they have but also how much knowledge they don’t. There’s very interesting gaps in what they know, what they don’t know - from AP Environmental Science or from just their own lives - and then what they bring to us and what we can share back out to them.”
Daly said in the future, she hopes to expand the program to offer more internships for students.
Porro said having the ability to fund
a position dedicated to supporting the PETM is a “game-changer.”
Matthew Jose, senior program officer for action projects at The Community Foundation for MetroWest, said the foundation is a 30-year-old community foundation that primarily provides support to the non-profit sector.
He said the organization has tackled issues such as human services, hunger relief, arts and culture, and the environment.
The foundation partners with local corporations to fund and support its work in providing equity in education. The primary funder for its equity initiatives is MathWorks, a company based in Natick, Jose said.
He said, “One of the attractive parts of the program is that Irene [Porro] and her team’s outreach focuses on equity and providing accessible programming and paired programming to students from across MetroWest who need to
work during the summer.”
He added, “Keeping an internship paid over the summer allowed equity to be at the forefront of this kind of program, which is really one of the roots of what we’re trying to do.”
President Nancy Niemi said, “We’re very lucky. I think it’s great that we’ve gotten it. One could easily say, ‘You know, it’s a great facility already. So, why more?’ … I just think it helps us really enhance our work and our service for the community.”
Porro said she thinks there’s a direct connection between McAuliffe’s work and the center’s work. “We are doing it - not necessarily going to space ourselves, but bringing that experience … back here,” she said.
Freshman Aubrey Waterman said offering summer internships to high school students is valuable for anyone interested in space.
Freshman Hailey Ring said the
McAuliffe Center offering internships is “a great opportunity.” She said she would have been interested in taking part in the internship in high school.
Cesár Matos, a junior and program facilitator at the McAuliffe Center, said, “I feel like it’s a phenomenal program.”
Matos said working with high school students and “generally getting them involved in civil service is a passion of mine, and getting them to do it with the aim of green initiatives is an even better thing.
“Last year, I got to work with students who motivated me as much as I motivated them.
“Ultimately, it’s the most satisfying job that I’ve had so far. As Christa McAuliffe says, ‘I touch the future. I teach.’”
Dylan Pichnarcik / THE GATEPOST
An astronaut statue displayed at the Christa McAuliffe Center.
THE GATEPOST EDITORIAL
Rümeysa Öztürk doesn’t deserve detainment
On March 26, 30-year-old Tufts University doctoral student Rümeysa Öztürk was detained by the Department of Homeland Security, swarmed by ICE agents in plainclothes and unmarked vehicles.
Video footage showed Öztürk approached by six individuals with their faces covered who handcuffed her and detained her close to her residence in Somerville.
According to an article by AP News, a spokesperson from the Department of Homeland Security said Öztürk was detained as the result of an internal investigation that found she “engaged in activities in support of Hamas, a foreign terrorist organization that relishes the killing of Americans.”
The only discovered action taken by Öztürk cited as “anti-Israel activism” was a March 2024 op/ed in The Tufts Daily, co-written with three other students.
The op/ed itself does not reference Hamas, or assert Palestine should win the war in Gaza. Rather, it criticizes Tufts’ response to student protests, and makes the demand that the university acknowledge the genocide of Palestinian civilians in the West Bank.
The fact that Öztürk was detained - and subsequently shipped to an ICE processing center in Louisiana despite a federal judge’s order - all apparently because of a single op/ed - is sickening.
The action taken against Öztürk, a law-abiding student on a visa in the United States, for exercising the right to free speech and peaceful protest, is appalling.
The Gatepost Editorial Board hopes a legal challenge will eventually vindicate and free Öztürk and hold the current administration responsible for this disregard for due process and violation of the First Amendment.
The Student Press Law Center, along with 13 other free speech and journalism organizations, released a letter condemning Öztürk’s arrest as a result of her co-authored op/ed piece.
The letter states, “Such a basis for her detention would represent a blatant disregard for the principles of free speech and free press within the First Amendment,
and we call on Tufts University officials, Massachusetts lawmakers and federal authorities to take immediate action to secure her release.”
According to the letter, Öztürk’s article is not in violation of any Tufts University policies and she has been in “good standing” with the university. Öztürk’s attorney also said she is not aware of any criminal charges against her client.
The Gatepost Editorial Board believes Öztürk’s detainment is unconstitutional. A former Fulbright scholar in the United States on an educational visa should not have her legal status revoked over an opinion about what Tufts’ response should be to the Israel/Hamas conflict.
It is shocking that her apprehension by ICE happened so close to FSU.
Unfortunately, Öztürk’s detainment is not a one-off scenario.
On Wednesday, NBC News reported that 10 international students from Colorado universities have had their student visas revoked by the Department of Homeland Security.
Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University student, was detained in New York on March 8 because he allegedly led activities “aligned to Hamas,” the NBC article stated. International students all around the country are being targeted and having their green cards and visas revoked by the Trump administration.
The Gatepost Editorial Board believes these students have a right to live and learn in America, including at FSU.
FSU has printed and distributed “Know Your Rights” cards for students, faculty, and staff. These cards contain a script of what to say if you are approached by an ICE officer.
On our website, The Gatepost has published “Know Your Rights” cards in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Haitian Creole. We encourage our readers to print this information for personal use and to give to others.
All students should have the right to live and learn on their campus and to exercise their First Amendment rights.
Less retention, more satisfaction
By Raena Hunter Doty Staff Writer
Massachusetts enrollment in public universities declined leading up to and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, FSU has been highly focused on raising student enrollment and retention numbers.
Much of this work is highly commendable. Many barriers to success in higher education exist, such as high tuition, opaque admissions processes, and lack of support for students transitioning from high school to college. These barriers are especially high for anyone who faces economic hardship and first-generation students who may lack generational knowledge of higher education.
Certainly we should be working to remove these barriers. Especially in an age where diversity, equity, and inclusion are under attack, I don’t mean to argue for a return to the status quo of making processes intentionally more difficult as a way of gatekeeping education.
But as I look at FSU’s own rhetoric around student admissions and retention, I can’t help but feel as though we often set students up for failure.
Personally, I am on track to finish my degree within a “standard” four-year timeframe - in three years, actually. But the same can’t be said for any of my closest role models - my parents and siblings.
My mother never completed a college degree. She got pregnant with my oldest sister at 17 and went into the workforce to support her family, and though she returned to school in her 30s, she never finished because of the birth of her third child. Today, she’s a successful super vice president at a national company - not in spite of her lack of degree but because of her many varied life experiences.
My father dropped out of his classics major when he was in his 20s, and only returned for his bachelor’s in cyber security during his 40s. Today, he works as a security architect for Missouri’s largest energy provider, and he completed his master’s degree while working.
Of my four sisters, three went to college immediately out of high school, and only one managed to finish in four years.
The eldest, who struggled immensely in school her first time and didn’t finish in four years, went back for a master’s degree in her 30s with entirely new career goals. Today, she’s a therapist and finds immense satisfaction in her work.
The second eldest went to college for journalism and never worked as a journalist - she worked for an advertising company, then went back for her master’s and became an English teacher. Today, she works an administrative role at a private school that serves many students from low-income families.
My second youngest sister dropped out of college, where she initially wanted to get certified as a speech-language pathologist, then she wanted to get a degree in business so she could support herself as a photographer. Today, she’s a manager at a local credit union, where she’s consistently working her way up the ladder and constantly involved at her workplace and in the local community.
And my youngest sister, who didn’t go to college at all? Because she graduated in 2020, she narrowly missed the opportunity to graduate high school with a cosmetology license, but she put her two years of cosmetology school to use as a manager at a beauty supply store, then pivoted into retail at a small business. Today, she’s a manager at a St. Louis small business, and on the side she’s starting a nonprofit organization promoting fat positivity and body liberation in the greater St. Louis area.
I share these stories as a narrative of hope for anyone who feels uncertain or scared, but also as a reminder that no one knows where their life is going when they’re 18 years old. You can be convinced you’re going to work in a salon or translate Latin for a living - or whatever it was my father thought he’d do for a living with a classics degree - and be wrong. And it’s usually better to make that change, take that leap, than to sink your costs into a degree or career you don’t love.
So when we talk about increasing retention at FSU, I want to make sure we’re doing it for the right reasons.
Are we trying to break down barriers of access and ensure students aren’t leaving because they’re facing inequity?
Or are we cultivating a rhetoric that discourages the self-exploration and growth of students who are mostly fresh out of high school?
I commend the state of Massachusetts for making two years of community college free for all residents, because this reduces economic barriers to this kind of exploration and growth.
And next time someone drops out after their first semester, yes, we should assess and ensure there are no barriers holding them back from success. But we should also look at abolishing systems in place that punish students for dropping out, because it’s not inherently a failure or a shame to leave higher education - maybe they just discovered something about themselves.
That’s exactly what we should be encouraging.
Trans rights are human rights
By Jesse Burchill Staff Writer
Recently, there’s been a concerning rise in transphobic sentiments on a federal level.
As described by NPR in an article written by Juliana Kim, the National Park Service has erased the word “transgender” entirely from its Stonewall website, referring to the LGBTQ+ community as simply “LGB.” The site still recaps the events of the Stonewall riots and their importance, but completely ignores the presence of transgender individuals.
For context, the Stonewall riots started at the gay bar of the same name in 1969 in New York City, took place over several days, and paved the way for gay pride events and parades across the country in the present day. The riots were the result of a police raid on the building, and were the culmination of, as Kim’s article states, “years of raids, beatings and arrests endured by LGBTQ individuals.”
While the gay rights movement in the U.S. had been going on for years beforehand, the events associated with Stonewall brought it into the public eye like never before, and in 2016 the inn was designated a national monument by President Barack Obama.
Two of the most important figures in the riots were transgender women: Martha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera. The pair were close friends who were frequent attendees at the Stonewall Inn, and were heavily involved in Manhattan’s gay rights movements throughout the 1960s and ’70s. They were both involved with the Stonewall riots as well, with Johnson having become one of the riots’ most commonly-associated figures.
By cutting out any mention of trans people’s involvement in the Stonewall riots, the National Park Service is ignoring important information about how the riots got started.
Furthermore, passports have become a headache for transgender and intersex individuals as of late. For context, U.S. passports have a field for the sex of the person it’s issued for - M for male, F for female, and X for those whose gender identities fall outside the first two categories.
As described by an NPR article written by Jaclyn Diaz, President Donald Trump issued an executive order that federally recognizes only two biological sexes. She specifies that “the federal government now views ‘female’ as meaning ‘a person belonging, at conception, to the sex that produces the large reproductive cell’ and male as ‘a person belonging, at conception, to the sex that produces the small reproductive cell.’”
According to Diaz’s article, Trump’s executive order led the State Department “to eliminate the X gender as an option and to suspend its policy allowing transgender, intersex and nonbinary people to update the sex field of their passports” about a week after the election.
Diaz interviewed Erika Lorshbough, who stated that “intersex people, by definition, cannot fall into these categories,” that “some intersex people are assigned a sex at birth that doesn’t match their development later in life,”
and that the X gender marker allows for intersex people to be better represented.
Diaz’s article also chronicles the experiences of a transgender man named Louie, who applied for a new passport and tried to update the gender marker to match his gender identity shortly after Trump was sworn into office.
Louie’s new passport had the correct name, but still marked his gender as female. He said that he wasn’t surprised, but is still frustrated and is “rethinking his international travel destinations and is concerned about how even interactions in the U.S. with law enforcement, for example, could become a problem when his passport lists one gender and his other legal documents another.”
It’s very hard to see these recent events as anything besides explicit transphobia on a federal level, and it’s similarly hard to ignore that changes like these have been happening in swift succession since Trump was elected president earlier this year.
Furthermore, Trump’s declaration that restricts the definition of biological sex to only two types explicitly ignores the fact that such a perspective has been scientifically proven false, as evidenced by the existence of intersex individuals, people with Klinefelter syndrome, and people with pentasomy X. His passport policy has already sparked a lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union, which according to Diaz’s article “argues that the executive order and passport policy are unlawful, unconstitutional and ‘unmoored from
scientific and medical reality.’”
These events also cast a frightening precedent. For starters, as described in Diaz’s NPR article, the restriction of the X marker option effectively prevents trans people from reflecting their true gender identity on official documents, “forcing them to ‘out’ themselves every time they present their passports - heightening their distress and fear and adding unpredictable logistical and safety challenges for travel and even everyday life.”
Furthermore, erasing the influence of trans people in the Stonewall riots can easily lead to the erasure of trans people elsewhere and the erasure of other queer individuals from history, denying them the recognition they deserve.
Such people include not only Marsha P. Johnson and Silvia Rivera, but lesser-known individuals like American Civil War veteran Albert Cashier and American physician Alan L. Hart.
Cashier was born female in 1843, but assumed a male identity so he could enlist in the Union Army at age 19. He would live under his male identity for over 50 years after the war, doing so until his death in 1915. While the word “transgender” was first coined several decades after his death, the length of Cashier’s commitment to living under a male identity provides a strong implication that Cashier was indeed a transgender man.
Hart (1890 - 1962) was an American physician, radiologist, tuberculosis researcher, and writer who was a major figure in the testing process for tuber-
culosis. According to a Science American article written by Leo DeLuca, Hart revolutionized the use of chest X-rays for tuberculosis before major symptoms appeared, thus limiting the disease’s spread. This process is still being used today for the same purpose.
Hart was born female and is widely considered to have been a transgender man - he was one of the first trans men to undergo a hysterectomy in 1917, and lived as a man until his death.
Describing these people from history is meant to show how being transgender, genderqueer, or not cisgender in general is far from new. It is not a 21st-century “trend” or an inherent sign of being a social deviant or a “bad” person. The odds of individual trans people being “good” or “bad” people are the same as cisgender people.
If we do not learn from history, if we refuse to, then we’ll be doomed to repeat it to the detriment of many, including those within both the trans community and the larger LGBTQ+ community and others.
Those who fall under the transgender umbrella have existed long before the word “transgender” ever had, and are completely normal people just like anyone else.
Trans people have always existed, and will continue to exist no matter what. It’s important - now more than ever - to understand and accept them as who they share themselves as.
Marcus Falcão / THE GATEPOST
Campus Conversations
By Izayah Morgan, Opinions Editor and Emily Monaco, Editorial Staff
“What brought you to FSU?”
“Honestly, it was relatively close to home, but they also had a broad variety of categories for majors.”
- Donovan Heggs, freshman
“It’s close to home and not too far. It’s also really inexpensive because I live in Massachusetts.”
- Christina Varsamis, sophomore
“It’s a good distance from home but far enough where it’s more independent and the proximity to Boston.”
- Jadeline Hernandez, sophomore
“Their art program was really interesting to me and really affordable.”
- Tasha Webster, junior
“It was pretty close to home, and had the major I had.”
- Shane Lacombe, senior
“I had some friends that were already here, and they told me about WDJM and it sounded really interesting to me.”
- Kyle Walker, senior
SPORTS
Women’s track and field finds
Buban gets first place in 10K
By Sophia Oppedisano Sports Editor
The Framingham State women’s track and field team opened their season with phenomenal performances at UMass Dartmouth’s Corsair Classic meet March 29.
Overall, the team tied for 10th place out of 14 teams with Fitchburg State University, but the Rams had several star showings from both runners and players in the field.
Sophomore standout Kate Buban finished in first place in the 10K race with a time of 39:38.17. Buban is coming off an impressive 2024 season with the women’s cross country team, which included being named MASCAC Runner of the Week Sept. 10.
The honor came for Buban after a solid performance at the University of Hartford Invitational Sept. 7 in which she came in ninth place in the 3K race with a time of 12:02.6. The field at the invitational was made up of Division II and III runners - Buban was the second DIII finisher in the race.
Buban said coming off her cross country season, she feels stronger.
“I think I’ve found the balance between training high mileage and fueling and sleeping, and it’s all interconnecting,” she said.
Buban said her training schedule typically consists of anywhere from 50 to 60 miles per week.
“I got to some 70-mile weeks over break,” she added.
Her grueling schedule is hopefully going to lead to her successfully breaking the school record in the 10K, which Buban said is her ultimate goal for this season. With her time at the Corsair Classic, Buban is already only about 15 seconds off from breaking the 10K record of 39:23, which was set in 2023 by Casey McAuliffe, class of ’23.
Buban’s performance in the 10K gave her a new personal record in the event and qualified her for both the MASCAC Championships and the DIII
New England Regionals Championships, both of which will be held at the end of the season.
Head Coach Mark Johnson said Buban is only the fourth track athlete in program history to individually qualify for the Regional Championships.
“I was super excited to see Kate’s performance on Saturday! Day in and day out, Kate has truly been putting in the time and effort, so it was great to see her hard work pay off. … Her dedication and focus on continuous improvement have definitely helped set a standard for the team,” Johnson said.
Along with Buban, sophomore Jamie Moniz gave an exceptional first performance of the season. Moniz competed in the field in javelin, where she took seventh place out of 32 for her throw of 31.29 meters.
Moniz also competed in the triple jump, where she finished eighth out of 12 for her jump of 9.65 meters. Her performance in both events qualified her for the MASCAC Championships.
Moniz had a strong showing during her freshman season with the track and field program in 2024. She won the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 1:10.35 at the MASCAC Championships April 26 and added to her stellar performance with a third-place finish in the javelin, a seventh-place finish in the high jump, and a fourth-place finish in the triple jump.
She capped her rookie season by being the only member of her team to be named to the MASCAC All-Conference Team.
Veteran talent also shined in the field for the Rams as Captain Alyssa Caputo and Kaylee Beck, both seniors, competed in the shot put, discus, and hammer throw.
The duo had their best showing in shot put as Alyssa Caputo’s toss of 10.64 meters and Beck’s 10.14 meter toss solidified their sixth and seventh place finishes, respectively out of 30 competitors.
Alyssa Caputo took a fifth-place finish in discus with a 31.32 meter throw, and she and Beck placed 15th and 17th, respectively, out of 30 competitors in the hammer throw.
Beck, who was also a member of the Framingham State field hockey team, and has been participating in track and field since she was in eighth grade, said this season feels “bittersweet” for her.
“It’s kind of this weird, mixed feeling of excitement and nerves because this is really my last shot to complete the goals I want to complete,” she said.
This season, Beck wants to qualify for the Regional Championships for the hammer throw.
Beck said this is “a hard goal, but can be obtainable if I don’t let my nerves get the best of me within meets.”
Alyssa Caputo’s and Beck’s performances qualified them both for the shot put, discus, and hammer throw at the MASCAC Championships.
stride at Corsair Classic
“I hit qualifying for MASCACs in all my events, which I’m so grateful and blessed to have done - but personally, I know I could have done better, and I’m excited to go into the meet on Friday. It’s going to be really good weather, and we’ve been practicing really hard this week, so I’m excited to see what I can do, and I just hope my nerves don’t get the best of me,” Beck said.
Back on the track, Captain Meghan Johnston, a junior, qualified for the 1,500 meters at the MASCAC Championships with her 13th-place finish and a 5:15.03 finish time against 46 other competitors.
The 1,500 meters was also successful for junior Sarah Campbell, whose 36th-place finish and a time of 5:59.53 qualified her for the MASCAC Championships.
Freshman star Grace Avery also qualified for the MASCAC Championships for the 1,500 meters and her javelin throw.
Avery is coming off a very successful rookie season with the women’s cross country team as she was named MASCAC Rookie of the Week three times.
She placed 26th out of 47 competitors in the 1,500 meters and set a new personal record with her time of 5:32.69.
Two of Avery’s freshman counterparts, Amy and Alyssa Tansek, competed on both track and field and set personal records for themselves in their respective events of shot put and discus.
Additionally, they both set personal records for their performances in the 100 meters with 33rd- and 38th-place finishes, respectively.
Junior Tarynn Smith also set a personal record for her performance in the 100 meters.
Sophomore talent Lydia Marunowski, a captain, and Melissa Romeiro both set personal records in their respective events of the 200 meters and the 100 meters.
Natalie Grimaldo, also a sophomore, finished fifth out of 11 competitors in the 400 meter hurdles with a time of
1:11.88.
Other MASCAC Championships qualifiers include sophomore Cassandra Toth for her performance in the 400 meters, sophomore Camille Graffeo for the 1,500 meters, and freshman Ashley Caputo for both shot put and discus.
With the blend of veterans and young talent, Buban said the team is close-knit and even gets together for a team dinner each night on campus.
Beck said, “It’s so amazing to watch the younger talent walk through the door and see what they’re capable of and being able to help them with their form or even with their mentality and their attitude is so important to me. I love being there to help others and create connections with those younger teammates.
Johnson said this is the most dynamic squad “in team history” in terms of having an even number of athletes in each event group. “We’ve always historically been a track team of distance runners, with a side of other events, so it’s been fun and exciting filling out our team more.
He said the team has had a very positive presence “with athletes supporting each other across event groups, while working toward their individual goals.
“The bond and chemistry the team has this season, in my eyes, is one of the strongest we’ve had in my time here,” he added.
The Rams are hoping to bring their early success into their next contests at the Regis Spring Classic April 4 and Fitchburg State’s Jim Sheehan Invitational April 5.
“It’s been a great week of training, so I’m just excited to see everyone go, hopefully have a school record or two fall, and get a few more MASCAC qualifiers,” Johnson said.
Stats sourced from fsurams.com and MASCAC.com
CONNECT WITH SOPHIA OPPEDISANO soppedisano@student.framingham.edu
Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST
Kate Buban running during track and field practice March 11.
Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST
Alyssa Caputo throwing a discus at track and field practice March 11.
Women’s lacrosse opens conference play with a win
By Izabela Gage Sports Editor
By Kyra Tolley Asst. Sports Editor
The women’s lacrosse team defeated the Fitchburg State University Falcons 18-8 in their first conference game March 29.
This win evens their overall record to 4-4 and brings their conference record to 1-0.
Head Coach Casey Bradley said, “As coaches, we told them, ‘Stop putting so much pressure on yourselves, and just play the game that you love.’ Since then, we shifted our mindset and just went out there and started playing the game, and we’ve seen a lot more success.”
Attacker Alessia Lye was electric from the start and won the game’s first draw. This gave the Rams an advantage early on, and midfielder Molly Lanier found the back of the net only 42 seconds in.
After a save by goalkeeper Bella DiMare, Framingham cleared their defensive zone, led by attacker Hailey Baker, who sprinted downfield before setting up behind Fitchburg’s net.
Baker directly passed the ball to Lye, who then rocketed it to attacker Maddie Bosma, who was waiting in front of the goal. Bosma took a shot on goal and snuck right behind Fitchburg’s goalkeeper Dakin Kovatch’s defense into the edge of the net.
Just over a minute later, Fitchburg earned a free position shot of their own and finally scored.
DiMare tallied another save before possession of the ball was turned over to the Rams and Lanier found the back of the net to bring the score to 3-1.
Grout and Baker each earned a free position shot off of two Fitchburg fouls in the following 2 minutes and deepened the deficit to 5-1.
Freshman Emma Kendzulak received the ball and ran through the Falcons’ defense from the 8-meter arc and shot the ball right past Kovatch’s feet and into the bottom of the goal.
Lanier won the next draw, and the Rams set up a strong offense around the Falcons’ net.
Lye passed the ball to Lanier, who was on her way toward the goal, and she easily broke through Kovatch’s wall of defense, bringing the score to 7-1.
The Falcons picked up the pace in the following minute, scoring two goals in 26 seconds to wrap up the first quarter.
DiMare caused a turnover after a wide shot by Fitchburg’s attacker, Alexis Raymond, at the start of the second quarter. After clearing the defensive zone, Bosma scored Framingham’s eighth goal of the game.
The Rams tallied two more shots on goal, both saved by Kovatch, but the momentum never dwindled for the Rams as a yellow card was pulled on the Falcons.
Being on the extra man offense, Bosma found the back of the net unassisted.
Fitchburg scored their fourth goal, but midfielder Kelley DeBellis, a junior, was unrelenting and scored one for Framingham only 13 seconds later.
The Rams received a green card and the Falcons were able to break through the strong defense and score on the extra man offense.
With 2 minutes remaining in the first half, Grout and Lanier were able to strengthen Framingham’s lead with one goal each, bringing the score to 12-5.
To start the third quarter, Fitchburg won the initial draw control, but Bosma quickly caused a turnover and put Framingham on the offensive.
After a turnover by each team, sophomore Lindsey Cox picked up the ground ball and cleared it from the defensive end to DeBellis, who sprinted 50 yards upfield to initiate an attack for the Rams.
Bosma then received the ball inside the offensive zone and shot and scored
ing, pressuring Wurms into dropping the ball while she was far outside her crease behind the net.
The subsequent ground ball was won by Fitchburg, which allowed them to capitalize on offense by scoring their sixth goal of the game.
Framingham quickly responded by winning the following draw and Fitchburg received a yellow card, giving the Rams a free position shot while being a man up.
Lanier drilled the ball into the bottom left of the net, which brought the score to 14-6.
Just seconds later, the Rams attacked again. Bosma won the draw and immediately set Baker off to a steady charge around the back of the net.
She passed the ball to Kendzulak, who shot the ball to score the 15th
Framingham’s 13th goal of the game.
Lanier won the next draw control, triggering a passing sequence that allowed Baker to whip the ball into the offensive zone from behind the net, but it flew out of bounds.
With the Falcons now in possession, they used up almost the entire shot clock before senior Kaleigh Houlihan caused a turnover and started Framingham’s drive up the field.
Baker picked up the ground ball and ran toward the net, but was tripped up, giving the Rams a free position shot that was ultimately saved by Kovatch. Fitchburg swiftly moved the ball up the field with only a few long passes needed to clear Framingham’s defense and get a shot off, but freshman Allison Wurms, who replaced DiMare in the net, was there to save the shot.
The Falcons’ offense was unrelent-
ries within the games, which help us keep the speed going.”
Bosma tallied four goals in the action-filled win against the Falcons, and she now has 11 career goals as a freshman.
Bosma said she works on keeping herself accountable. “Don’t always shoot the first shot. Be smart.”
Bradley said, “I think with Maddie, you see her week after week have that mentality of ‘OK, I can do this.’ … I think the upperclassmen have been huge with that because they give feedback - they celebrate the little things that Maddie does, and they celebrate the big things that Maddie does as well.
“When you have a group of kids who really believe in you, that’ll start to make you believe in yourself,” she added.
For the second time this season, Lanier earned MASCAC Offensive Player of the Week March 31.
Lanier said, “I always strive to play at my best intensity, and the support and talent of my team allows me to do just that, so I owe all my success to them.”
In the 2-0 week for the Rams, she finished with nine goals and four assists for 13 points with 18 draw controls.
Lanier has officially risen to third place for career draw controls in the history of the women’s lacrosse program. She started the 2024-25 season in sixth place with 178, but has already tallied 44 in the beginning half of the season.
DiMare started this season in fifth place for all-time career saves, and she has now earned a third-place spot with 68 saves so far. As of April 2, she has an current total of 314.
Grout has begun to make her mark on the program early in the season as well, as she has officially moved up from fourth place to third all-time in career caused turnovers, with a current total of 81.
She said she is more determined to win the MASCAC Championship for her senior year. “I know the feeling of winning it and losing it. … Everyone has this big drive to win, so I think we’re going to do everything we can to take home a MASCAC this year.”
Most recently, the Rams beat the Anna Maria Amcats 17-4 on April 2.
This win brings their overall record to 5-4, while their conference record remains at 1-0.
point for the Rams.
Just 1:06 later, Grout scored off a nimble pass from Lanier with a strong downward swing of her stick.
To wrap up the quarter, Grout scored once again, running from the center of the offensive zone toward the right side of the net to get a shot off from a difficult angle.
The score heading into the final quarter was 17-6 in favor of the Rams.
During the fourth quarter, the Falcons scored their seventh goal, despite Wurms’ efforts.
Baker responded with a goal less than 3 minutes later off a free position shot that she slotted into the upper-right corner of the net.
The final 5 minutes saw the Falcons scoring once more to close out the game 18-8.
Bradley said, “We find small victo-
The Rams are back in action for an away game against conference opponent Salem State April 4.
Bradley said, “I’m just excited to get really into the depth of the conference play. … Our mindset preparing for the conference has been having that mindset of everything we do has to be 100%, practicing how we play, and just going out there confident and wanting to outwork each team.”
Stats sourced from fsurams.com and MASCAC.com
CONNECT WITH IZABELA GAGE igage@student.framingham.edu
CONNECT WITH KYRA TOLLEY ktolley@student.framingham.edu
Izabela Gage / THE GATEPOST
Molly Lanier (left) and Hailey Baker (right) celebrating after a goal in win against Anna Maria March 29.
Softball splits games with Bridgewater and UMass Boston
By Taylor Kimmell
Asst. Sports Editor
Framingham vs. Bridgewater
The Framingham State Rams opened MASCAC conference play splitting games with the Bridgewater State Bears March 28.
The Rams were bested in the first game 8-3, but came back for an 8-4 win in the second.
Game one proved to be fast paced from the first pitch, with Bridgewater’s first at bat resulting in a run and a hit.
Captain Brooke Grassia, a senior and second baseman, was first on base for the Rams, on a walk, then stole second on a wild pitch.
Contact from shortstop Abby Behrikis, a senior, advanced Grassia to third base, which placed her in a position to score. On a sacrifice fly from catcher Jocelyn Pepe, a freshman, FSU plated its first run of the game.
A fielding error from the Rams during the second inning yielded three runs for the Bears, only two of which were made up when Grassia and Ellie Etemad-Gilbertson, a freshman, scored.
No more runs were recorded for either team until the fifth inning, when a double from Bridgewater brought two runners home.
Bridgewater followed up a silent sixth inning with three hits and two more runs in the seventh. The Rams were unable to decrease the deficit, and the game ended 8-3 in favor of the Bears.
Combined, pitchers Audrey Gauthier and Julie Chisholm, both freshmen, accumulated six strikeouts during the first match.
Gauthier said in terms of her strategy on the mound, she “constantly tries to attack the zone early and get ahead in the count.”
Bridgewater opened game two with a home run in the first inning.
After holding the Rams scoreless during the bottom of the first, BSU plated one more run at the top of the second.
Framingham’s first run of the game came from Pepe, who scored on a single from first baseman Ava Gray, a freshman.
The Bears came out strong at bat in the third inning, scoring two more runs before a catch from center fielder Gianna Paolina, a freshman.
FSU flew past Bridgewater in the bottom of the third. A double from Grassia and a single from left fielder Isabella MacDonald, a freshman, put both players in scoring position, with a single from Behrikis bringing in Grassia and a single from third baseman Eliza Carignan, a sophomore, bringing in MacDonald.
Pepe popped a ball up to center field, with her sacrifice fly resulting in a run from Beherikis. On the next play, an RBI single from Paolino brought Carignan home.
MacDonald’s on-base percentage so far this season is 0.429, an impressive number for her first year.
MacDonald said her best plate appearances tend to be those she goes into with a clear mind.
“From Florida to now, I have been able to recognize the changes I needed to make, and have already seen a change in performance with much more successful at bats,” she added.
Following Framingham’s four runs, Bridgewater struggled to make contact, connecting on only one pitch for the remainder of the game.
Freshman pitcher Sydney Bednarz, backed by a solid Rams’ defense, held back BSU’s offensive attempts.
At the bottom of the sixth, Etemad-Gilbertson and Grassia made it on base with singles. MacDonald hit a double to the outfield, bringing in one run.
On the next play, Carignan doubled, the hit scoring both Grassia and MacDonald, ending the game 8-4 in favor of the Rams.
These games against BSU were the first conference matches of the season for the Rams, helping to give the team a sense of how they should prepare coming into the season.
MacDonald said, “The results of our first match helped us see the reality of what we will face in the conference.”
Framingham vs. UMass Boston
In a doubleheader against the Beacons of UMass Boston, the Rams came
away with a 4-2 loss and a 3-0 win April 1.
UMass brought in one run during the first inning of game one.
Framingham’s first at bat resulted in a double from MacDonald on a hard shot to center field and an RBI single from Carignan.
During the second inning, UMass scored another run on a sacrifice hit down the third base line. The Rams, however, were unable to tie up the score.
Framingham’s fielders quickly ended scoring for the Beacons during the third inning with a caught fly ball and a double play.
The Rams’ next at bat led to a run from MacDonald on a single from Pepe.
No runs were scored during the next two innings, the stalemate broken when in the sixth inning, a UMass runner crossed the plate as a result of a fielding error from FSU.
On the next play, a runner scored on another player’s single to deep right field.
With FSU unable to make up the ground, the game ended 4-2 in favor of the Beacons.
The first inning of game two yielded no results, with no hits, runs, or walks for either team.
Coming into the second inning, Framingham was on top of their game defensively. Right fielder Marina Cadena, a sophomore, caught two hard line drives, while Bednarz struck a batter out swinging.
A single from Cadena brought in a run from Etemad-Gilbertson, ending the inning with FSU in the lead.
Grassia threw out two runners, and Etemad-Gilbertson caught a foul ball in left field, keeping UMass from plating any runs during the third.
The Rams added two more runs to the scoreboard in the bottom of the third inning. Grassia and MacDonald reached the bases on singles, then advanced to third and second base, respectively.
Hits from Etemad-Gilbertson and Pepe sent the two runners home, bringing the score to 3-0 as the third inning came to a close.
Framingham’s fielders held UMass scoreless for the remainder of the game, allowing them only one hit over the course of four innings.
The Rams tallied four hits during that time, but each runner was left on base.
At the conclusion of the seventh inning, Framingham stood victorious with a score of 3-0 over UMass Boston.
The Beacons came into the game with a record of 15-0, before FSU dealt the team their first loss of the season.
Grassia credited the Rams’ success to simply “wanting to win.”
She said, “It doesn’t really matter who we’re playing or what any records are - the bottom line is that we hold ourselves to a standard where the expectation is to play good, solid softball and come out with a win.”
The positive results of both of these tough games can be attributed to the team’s time in Florida over spring break.
MacDonald said with the team composed mostly of freshmen, the week of games and team bonding helped the Rams figure out a better game strategy. She said, “Being in Florida, it gave us a time to see where all of our players did best.”
Grassia said the trip to Florida was the “perfect ending to a long preseason.”
She said, “We work so hard in the gyms, getting in as many swings and reps as we can where everything is controlled. … The 10 back-to-back games allow the freshmen to figure out what the speed of college softball is like and for us all to see each other really in action.”
As the season progresses, Grassia said the team will continue to work hard, showing up to practice and playing better and better opponents.
She said, “We are a very young team with multiple freshmen starting in the field, and everything will fall into place. I am confident that if we keep our winning mindset and push ourselves to be the best we can, we will have great games going into the conference.”
The Rams’ next game will be against MCLA for a conference matchup April 5.
Stats sourced from fsurams.com and MASCAC.com
CONNECT WITH TAYLOR KIMMELL tkimmell@student.framingham.edu
Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST Sydney Bednarz pitching in doubleheader against UMass Boston April 1.
Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST
Ava Sillings making contact with the ball in doubleheader against UMass Boston April 1.
ARTS & FEATURES
Board of Trustees discuss law careers
By Francisco Omar Fernandez Rodriguez Arts & Features Editor
The Board of Trustees hosted the “Careers in Law” panel discussion in the CIE on April 1.
Thomas Severo, a professor in Political Science, Law, and Global Studies, began the event with the bang of his gavel. He introduced himself as the moderator of the panel.
The panel was made up of members of the Board of Trustees and they were happy to share their experiences in law school and their careers, he said.
“I wanted to say also, I’m very grateful for another opportunity to use my gavel,” Severo said.
He introduced Ann McDonald as “our general counsel, chief of staff, and secretary to the Board of Trustees here at Framingham State.”
She thanked everyone for coming, and Student Trustee Jeremy McDonald for helping coordinate the event with Akiko Takamori, secretary to the Board of Trustees.
Ann McDonald introduced the rest of the panelists, starting with Anthony E. Hubbard, managing senior legal counsel for CVS Health and chair of the Board of Trustees.
Next she introduced Susan Puryear, interim associate vice president for research administration at the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Last, she introduced Antonia Soares-Thompson, director of racial justice initiatives at the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office.
“So I suspect we will all have very different perspectives, given that our work is very different in the law, and I look forward to the conversation,” Ann McDonald said.
Severo said he, Takamori, and Jeremy McDonald developed questions that should highlight their different career paths and their day-to-day lives.
Severo asked the first question, “If you could give one piece of advice to students who might be considering law school, what piece of advice might you give?”
Hubbard said his peers had a competitive advantage because they were mainly English majors.
With the course grade depending on the final exam, people who could write effectively and get their point across likely did very well, he said.
Puryear said it’s OK to go to law school without an exact career path in mind.
But it’s important to go into the process of attending law school “with a clear sense of your passions and your interests because those are going to be your guiding stars,” Puryear said.
Soares-Thompson said she was
never a good reader or writer, which made learning how to write the way law school required challenging.
Despite that, the challenge is worth it because the degree opens up many opportunities, sometimes not even about law, she said.
The biggest challenge is deciding to go, she said.
A year ago, she would’ve said that taking a specific major might not matter, she said. But in the current climate, taking certain majors to get specific skill sets is more important.
Ann McDonald said it’s important to follow passions and to think about what to do after law school.
Also, don’t believe what T.V. shows about attorneys show because they’re not realistic, she said.
“So if you’ve watched ‘Suits’ or some other show like that and you’re like ‘Yeah, that’s what I want,’ yeah, that’s not what it is, so be prepared,” Ann McDonald said.
Severo added pop culture usually only shows one part of the law - litigation, and even litigators don’t do that much litigation.
He asked the next question, “If there’s anything in particular, something that maybe you wish you had known before you started your law school journey, what might that be?”
Ann McDonald said she was an “English major wannabe” because when she told her guidance counselor she wanted to be an English major in order to teach, she was told to be an education major.
Law school involves volumes of reading and writing, so knowing how to write well would be helpful, she said.
The LSAT - the exam students take before going to law school - is a standardized test with analytical and predictive components to it, she said.
“I can remember being in law school a couple of times and going, ‘Oh, this is kind of like that LSAT question,” Ann McDonald said.
Soares-Thompson said she wished she knew she didn’t have to be perfect.
She grew up with immigrant parents and was first-generation, making undergraduate school already difficult, she said. But the people around her said she should go to law school if she was passionate about it.
She didn’t do well on the LSAT, but she supported her law school application in other ways, she said.
“You don’t have to be perfect, but you have to be willing to do the work,” Soares-Thompson said.
There will be time to figure out where to practice, and that could be where perfection comes in, she added.
She used to be a criminal defense attorney, but now she’s a prosecutor, she said.
Puryear said she wished she knew picking the right school matters.
“What I mean is you need to choose the right school for you,” Puryear added.
She first went to Harvard Law School and stayed for two months, she said. But it didn’t feel like the right school for her at that point in her life, so she left.
She returned to Harvard and got an MA in education, she said. Then she decided to return to law school, now with a new perspective.
She ended up going to Stanford, Puryear said. She actually enjoyed her time at law school.
“There are different schools that can support people in different ways,” Puryear said.
Hubbard said when he went to law school he was younger than most of his peers because he was in a program where he did three years of high school and three years of college.
He wasn’t old enough to drink when he went into law school, he said. He felt like his peers had life experience they could bring to the law that he didn’t.
He found it was very theoretical for him, while the others were really applying what they learned, he added.
He wished that he could have postponed going to law school, Hubbard said.
Severo asked about their day-today experience in their current careers.
Soares-Thompson said she works with assistant district attorneys who prosecute crimes in the community.
“My specific focus is on hate crimes, so I oversee all of our civil rights violations and hate crimes,” Soares-Thompson said.
They work in trials and they interact with witnesses, victims, and police officers, she said.
They work with topics such as immigration and DEI in the courtroom frequently, she said.
Ann McDonald said there was a period of time when she didn’t practice law, while serving as an administrator in higher education. She’d say the law informed her work, she added.
She wasn’t practicing law until she came to FSU and served as general counsel, she said.
Her typical day is too crazy to explain well, she added.
“My best way of describing it is, I always tell people it’s mental gymnastics,” Ann McDonald said.
She goes from meeting with executive staff to trustees to claims or cases, and writing procedures, she said.
She decided to stay on campus in order to help avoid student crises, she added.
Puryear said she oversees research support operations. She supports uni-
versities in applying for grants from the government, companies, and nonprofit organizations.
People who work for her also help the faculty with managing the money and dealing with compliance issues, she said.
Law school helped her analyze and process information, she added.
“We refer to it as issue spotting. So you look at a situation or a fact pattern, or a conflict, or an opportunity, or a challenge, and how do you really look at it from a variety of perspectives?” Puryear said.
Hubbard said he was passionate about capital formation in law school. He focuses on corporate law and avoids litigation.
“It’s, to me, backward looking. It is cleaning up messes. It’s like, there’s a spill on aisle nine, and now here comes the litigators coming to clean it up, because it can go on forever,” Hubbard said.
He focuses on mergers and acquisitions in his CVS job, he said.
His brother was recently talking about the Celtics being sold for $6.1 billion, he added. Hubbard works on deals larger than that.
After the food arrived, they decided to limit the responses to only one person per question. Jeremy McDonald asked, “How did you decide to pursue an alternative to the traditional legal practice?”
Soares-Thompson said going to a firm right out of law school is traditional and high paying, but she didn’t choose that.
She went into public interest as a public defender, she said. While growing up with immigrant parents, she had the perspective of the underdog.
“My perspective was always to fight for those that were seen as different,” Soares-Thompson said.
Going to law school was always about public interest, she added. Now, she’s a prosecutor who is changing how their communities are treated.
Jeremy McDonald asked, “What skills outside of legal knowledge have become most important to you in your career?”
Puryear said communication is a helpful skill both verbally and in writing.
Writing in law school is a different type of writing, she added.
It is the skills from law school that makes someone “an amazing prosecutor, or corporate attorney, or general counsel, or whatever it is that you’re going to do with your career,” Puryear said.
CONNECT WITH FRANCISCO OMAR FERNANDEZ RODRIGUEZ ffernandezrodriguez@ student.framingham.edu
Miriam Levine
Continued from Page 1
Rakoff was also a judge for this year’s Howard Hirt Literary Awards for Prose, a writing contest hosted for FSU students, she said.
“So impressed by the maturity of the work and the incredible sophistication … of the students,” Rakoff said.
“I was kind of a loser when I was a senior in college,” she added.
She said she began her writing journey as a poet, but was unsure of what she wanted to do with her writing.
“I was not sure what I wanted to do with a lot of things that interested me. I just wanted to do big things,” Rakoff said.
She said she wanted to have a “remarkable life,” but was reluctant to take any big risks.
“I knew that I wanted to do something creative and I secretly wanted to become a writer,” she said.
Rakoff said she originally never wanted to publish a memoir. She was a private person and came from a family in which secrecy was a big part of their culture.
Thinking the safest way to be a writer was to wait until she was an English professor with tenure to publish, Rakoff said she went to study for her master’s degree in London. But one day, she said she spontaneously left school and went back home to her parents’ house.
From there, a friend got her involved in a film project at Columbia University. A movie was being shot, featuring Barbara Streisand.
She said she thought she would be interested in screenwriting, but ended up hating it.
She was working 21-hour days and everyone was stressed, said Rakoff.
After finishing with the film industry, Rakoff said she “stumbled into” publishing.
Her friend worked at Random House and, one day at a party, Rakoff asked her if she liked her job. “And she sort of took this to mean, ‘get me a job in publishing,’” she added.
“Next thing I knew, I had a job in publishing,” said Rakoff.
She then read an excerpt from “My Salinger Year,” which took place in 1996 when she was 23 years old.
The memoir was written about her position at a literary agency where she worked as an assistant.
The agency was an unusual place to work, said Rakoff. There were dim lights and everyone used typewriters and drank whiskey.
“It was not an unusual place if you were a character in ‘The Great Gatsby,’” she added.
Reading from her memoir, Rakoff said on her first day of work, her boss told her that people would frequently call and ask her for Jerry’s home address and phone number - and to never tell any of them Jerry’s home address or phone number.
“I had no idea who Jerry was,” said Rakoff.
“This was 1996 and the first Jerry that came to mind was Jerry Seinfeld,” she added.
Rakoff said it was not until she read the names of the books that had been published by authors represented by the agency that she realized Jerry was
She said one morning she picked up the phone and heard someone shouting, “Hello?” to her repeatedly and then finally, “It’s Jerry!”
Rakoff asked the audience if they had read Salinger’s work and if they liked it, which got a mixed response of
“I knew that I wanted to do something creative and I secretly wanted to become a writer.”
- Joanna Rakoff
Bestselling Author
J.D. Salinger. Salinger stopped answering his own fan mail and the task then fell to Rakoff, she said.
“One day, the office manager came over to me with these giant bundles of letters - I mean, truly giant - and dumped them on my desk,” Rakoff said.
She then read another excerpt from her memoir about answering this fan mail, beginning, “the cover, the font,
nods and head shakes.
She then opened the room up to questions.
One attendee said he loved her sense of humor and asked her what her topmost tip for getting published was.
She said she was asked to do a panel earlier this year where she talked more about her road to being published.
“If you are … just writing your best
the wrong reasons, such as wanting to publish to get famous, she added.
“I think the desire to publish has to come from an ingrained - almost DNA-level - need to be part of a cultural conversation,” Rakoff said.
“There are much easier ways to be famous - you could be on ‘The Bachelorette,’” she added.
She said her road to writing her memoir began with journalism, writing for magazines and newspapers.
She added that she wrote for “an obscure newspaper that you may or may not have heard of called The New York Times.”
Rakoff said journalism taught her to write objectively.
She said she published an essay about answering Salinger’s fanmail and many editors asked her to turn it into a book.
“I said no,” Rakoff added.
Her agent agreed with her and said she should focus on the novel she was currently writing instead.
She said her agent told her, “You don’t want to be known as the Salinger Girl.”
Rakoff said she was interviewed by newspapers and magazines about her essay after Salinger passed away.
“So I was still known as the Salinger Girl,” she added.
Rakoff said the BBC then asked her to turn her short essay into a radio documentary and convinced her by agreeing to help her find out the identity of someone who had written Salinger an anonymous letter she thought was “wonderful.”
She said the documentary took her nine months to make and the script she had written for it was circulated in the British publishing industry.
“Sometimes, we feel like we have to sit down every day and write 1,000 words … but sometimes, things are happening in our brain and … it just comes out fully formed because you’ve been working through it without realizing.”
- Joanna Rakoff
Bestselling Author
the binding…” Rakoff said her boss told her many times Salinger would never call her personally.
work, you’re probably going to get published,” said Rakoff.
The trouble comes in when someone is trying to publish their work for
A publisher from Random House contacted her and asked her to turn it into a book, she said. Rakoff said no again, but the publisher persisted. He met with her agent and her agent urged her to finally write the book, she said.
Still being reluctant, Rakoff’s editor told her to write 20 pages and then decide.
“And so I did, and I was like, ‘this feels good and I’m ready,’” Rakoff said. “I’m like the reluctant memoirist.”
She said the tone and style of the book fell into place and she was able to write it over a period of six months.
“Sometimes, we feel like we have to sit down every day and write 1,000 words … but sometimes, things are happening in our brain and … it just comes out fully formed because you’ve been working through it without realizing,” Rakoff added.
At the end of the event, attendees were invited to purchase copies of “My Salinger Year” and “The Fifth Passenger,” and Rakoff was available for signing.
‘GoldenEye’ is still golden
By Jesse Burchill Staff Writer
This year marks the 30th anniversary of “GoldenEye,” the 17th movie in the James Bond franchise. It’s the first Bond film since 1989’s “License To Kill,” marks the first appearance of Pierce Brosnan as 007, and is considered to be one of the franchise’s best installments. “GoldenEye” is to some extent considered as having revitalized the James Bond franchise, reviving public interest and bringing a new face to the character.
him as involved with the Janus crime syndicate. Bond is assigned to investigate, but the new M (Judi Dench) warns him to keep things strictly professional, and to not let Trevalyan’s death cloud his judgment.
To achieve his revenge on the Brits, Trevelyan is planning to empty out the Bank of London and fire the GoldenEye satellites’ EMP weapons upon England’s capital to cause global financial upheaval.
titular satellite plot. Bean perfectly encapsulates his character’s hate for Bond and MI6, and is eerily convincing as a criminal mastermind.
The story sees James Bond face off against the Russia-based Janus syndicate, which is planning to wield the GoldenEye satellite system to perform a terrorist attack on the city of London. Along the way, Bond discovers that the syndicate has a far more personal connection than he first thought. begins in 1986 and sees Bond and fellow agent and close friend Alec Trevalyen sneaking into a Soviet chemical facility, only to be cornered by its leader Colonel Ourumov, who executes Alec. Only Bond manages to escape, with an epic motorcycle jump that leads into a flying airplane.
The following investigation leads Bond to discover Janus’s secret GoldenEye project, which involves the titular pair of satellites, and an electromagnetic attack on the Bank of London. Along the way, Bond discovers that Janus and its GoldenEye plot are run not by Ouromov, but by Alec Trevelyan, who survived the ’80s mission with facial scarring and is currently plotting a potentially devastating revenge mission against both MI6 and Bond himself.
Trevelyan reveals to Bond that he’s held a long-simmering grudge against the British government for their
Pierce Brosnan stars as an effortlessly cool 007, while also portraying his driven and aggressive side. Brosnan’s take on Bond retains the character’s status as a well-known flirt and womanizer, who is utterly loyal to his country and comrades and always maintains his professional edge and physical talent.
Furthermore, it’s clear that Bond does indeed feel guilt for his mistakes whilst both on the job and off. When Trevelyan mocks a captive Bond in the third act for his numerous failures as both an agent and as a hopeless romantic, Brosnan succeeds in communicating how his former friend’s words sting without a single word, while jabbing back at the pettiness of Trevelyan’s plan for the Bank of Lon-
Dame Judy Dench makes her debut as Bond’s boss M, a role she’ll play for the rest of Brosnan’s movies and into the Daniel Craig era. Dench has much less screen time in this movie than in her later appearances, but makes the most of her appearance with her quick wit and her authoritative presence. She isn’t afraid to call Bond out on his famous womanizing behavior, calling him “a sexist misogynistic dinosaur, a relic of the Cold War,” while also emphasizing that she still won’t send her agents out to die on a whim.
It might be fairly obvious that Trevelyan turns out to be the big bad, even to first-time viewers. Regardless, Sean Bean leaves his mark as one of the franchise’s most recognizable villains - and easily the most famous from Brosnan’s era.
Famke Janssen appears as Xenia Onatopp, a spectacular “femme fatale” character working for Janus, with a sadistic streak a mile wide and no remorse for the slew of terrible acts she commits. Onatopp gleefully takes part in the slaughter of Natalya’s coworkers, and has a reputation for murdering men she sleeps with via slow suffocation, even attempting to pull this act on Bond at one point.
For those who know Janssen as Jean Grey from the “X-Men” movies, the role of Onatopp is a stark contrast in a way that makes Onatopp one of the scariest characters in the movie.
Gottfried John appears as General Ouromov, a chilling military presence who’s willing to betray his own country for personal gain. He works as a good foil to Onatopp, given his more serious nature and apparent dislike of how much Onatopp enjoys committing murder. John’s performance is rooted in a sense of stoicism and a false sense of duty to Russia, and the ambiguity of Ouromov’s true motivations for working with Trevelyan grants the character a very interesting position in the film’s story.
The movie’s main plot begins in the present. Ourumov is now a general in post-Soviet Russia and MI6 suspects
Union, after they surrendered to Britain after the end of WWII. Britain sent them back to the Soviets, where many were executed.
Trevelyan’s parents were among them, and he still remembers when his father murdered his mother and then killed himself in front of Alec to escape Stalin’s death squads - both a sympathetic backstory and a history lesson.
Izabella Scorupco stars as resident “Bond Girl” Natalya Simonova. A computer programmer, Natalya is sympathetic, intelligent, and used to work for the GoldenEye project before Janus tries to cover its tracks by destroying the research station she works at. Surviving thanks to pure luck, Natalya knows much more than MI6 on the GoldenEye project, provides Bond with invaluable information on it, and aids in its defeat and rescues Bond in the end from the destruction of Trevelyan’s base. While there are still some awkward moments between them as seen by a modern-day lens, Bond and Natalya’s relationship is actually one of the healthier ones that 007 has had over the course of his eight-decades-long career on screen, especially when compared to “The Man With the Golden Gun,” “A View To A Kill,” and much of Sean Connnery’s era in the 1960s. Sean Bean features as main villain Alec Trevelyan, the true mastermind behind the Janus syndicate and the
Alan Cumming appears as Boris Grilshenko, a Janus agent and computer programmer. Hilarious and full of himself, Grilshenko proves to be a truly unsettling character in a performance that’s far removed from Cumming’s more famous comedic roles. It’s hard to see the same actor who’d go on to play Nightcrawler in the second “X-Men” movie come 2004.
“GoldenEye” is certainly a departure from the seriousness of Timothy Dalton’s duology and the humor of Roger Moore’s era, but still delivers on the action and adventure one would normally expect from a James Bond movie. For example, along his journey, Bond drives an actual, fully operational tank through the streets of Saint Petersburg to pursue General Ouromov and rescue Natalya, with hilarious collateral damage along the way. Toward the end, Bond and Trevelyan have one of the most acrophobia-inducing fights in the whole franchise.
In the end, “GoldenEye” proves to be a highly entertaining spy movie. Pierce Brosnan truly delivers as 007, and his multilayered performance tells us why he’s remained as a fan favorite for the face of Bond.
Marcus Falcão / THE GATEPOST
‘Equinox
By Owen Glancy Arts & Features Editor
There’s a strange assumption surrounding the work of Japanese filmmaker Yasujiro Ozu, one that often causes many people who would otherwise love his films to pass up on them. Many assume that Ozu’s films are boring because they are nearly all family dramas.
Obviously, this could not be further from the truth. Ozu’s films use the mundane setting of everyday Japanese life to tell poignant, relatable stories that often put spotlights on and criticize typical family dynamics.
Of all of Ozu’s films, most would expect me to cover something more popular such as “Late Spring” or “Tokyo Story,” but even though those films are amazing, I’ve found myself enamored by the first Ozu film I ever watched - his first ever color film released in 1958, “Equinox Flower.”
The film follows Wataru Hirayama, a father who likes to think that his views on marriage are very liberal and ahead of the times, a thought that is challenged when one of his daughters confesses that she plans
to marry a musician.
“Equinox Flower’s” simple, yet engaging plot is one of the big reasons why this film works so well despite being over 65 years old. Wataru genuinely wants to give his daughters the best lives he possibly can, and in a way that does not encroach on their
seemingly conflicted, his inner turmoil makes sense because of just how human it is. No matter how “with the times” or “liberal” someone is, most people find that they have at least one belief considered “outdated” that they just can’t let go of.
That all being said, the film’s cen-
own freedoms and desires. However, he cannot help but be stuck in many of his old ways, some of which are restrictive to the freedom of his daughters.
This hypocrisy that Wataru displays throughout the entire film is something that deeply connects to many of the people watching. Despite how odd it sounds that this man is so
tions.
A.BCH
@abch.world on Instagram
tral conflict would not work if the actor playing Wataru didn’t bring his A-game. Thankfully, Shin Saburi brings far more than his A-game here and brings both Wataru and the film to life. As an Ozu veteran, it’s clear that the two have a deep understanding of Saburi’s acting strengths and how to best direct him to bring those out in every scene.
Nearly all of the women in this film are excellent as well, with Kinuyo Tanaka in particular giving a phenomenal performance as Kiyoko Hirayama, Wataru’s daughter who acts as the other main character of the film. Her performance, similarly to Saburi’s, is so real and genuine in a way that can only be seen in an Ozu film. Her quick-witted nature makes it harder and harder for Wataru to continue denying her what she wants the longer the film goes on.
Despite their differences, you absolutely can tell that these two are related - Wataru and Kinuyo are similarly stubborn.
Like I mentioned earlier, this was Ozu’s first color film, and it does not feel like it was. The colors are so vibrant, but not so overwhelming that it distracts from the simplicity the film thrives on. Instead, the vibrant colors serve to create a version of the real world in which the little problems plaguing average everyday families are the most important and dramatic parts of society.
With his cinematography and his colors, Ozu creates a world that still has problems, but one that still feels idealized and “homey.”
“Equinox Flower” is a film that, while not as big in scope or in plot as many of its contemporaries, has the emotional weight and complexity to allow it to stand out amongst giants.
CONNECT WITH OWEN GLANCY oglancy@student.framingham.edu
By Bella Omar Asst. Arts & Features Editor
As the weather warms and your feeds begin to flood with links to this season’s round of fast fashion items, I implore you to take a pause before clicking. Spring and summer basics like T-shirts and jeans should not need to be replaced on an annual basis, contrary to what you may be seeing on social media. Our clothes are an investment and should be treated as such by choosing where we find them carefully, if the time really has come to refresh a few wellworn pieces. The following brands are leading sustainable fashion by example, producing their garments mindfully, sustainably and in limited amounts - all while maintaining a level of unique style that has landed them on this list of my recommenda-
This Australian-born brand has been consistently hitting the mark on sustainable production since its conception in 2017. Every thoughtfully released collection has been full of quality basics such as 100% GOTS certified cotton T-shirts, linen button ups, denim jackets and more. Each product’s page includes a completely transparent description of its fabrication and production - allowing customers to rest easy knowing that every part of their purchase was milled, made, and designed ethically in Australia. Staying true to their “less is more” production philosophy, the brand aims to extend the lifespan of each piece by offering complimentary repairs and detailed care instructions. In fact, A.BCH is so committed to reducing their carbon footprint, they ceased production of new clothes entirely in 2024, now offering remaining pieces and fabrics from past collections.
Nol Collective
@nolcollective on Instagram
and artisans that are local to Palestine, utilizing traditional techniques that make all of Nol’s pieces that much more special. Palestinian hand-embroidery known as tatreez, with its deep history of political struggle and resistance, is featured
ing artisan studios left in Palestine,” according to the brand’s about page. With everything from thoughtful graphic T-shirts to hand-embroidered sets, all showcasing the long and important history of Palestine, The Nol Collective is one to explore.
RE/DONE @shopredone on Instagram
Less is more: circular brands with the best basics CONNECT
Palestinian brand The Nol Collective was founded by Yasmeen Mall and produces inspiring and ethical pieces that are perfect for everyday wear. They partner with family-run businesses, women’s cooperatives,
in some of my favorite pieces from the brand such as the Nura hand-embroidered top and skirt. This craft is sourced from dozens of embroiderers throughout the West Bank. Nol also works with traditional handwoven Majdalawi fabric that is a 100% cotton fabric which has been a pillar of traditional Palestinian dress for centuries. “Hailing from the Gaza region, from the demolished town of Al Majdal, this Majdalawi fabric was handwoven in one of the last remain-
If you’re in the market for denim, Sean Barron and Jamie Mazur’s Los Angeles based brand RE/DONE is a great option for sustainable pieces. Founded in 2014, the brand’s mission has been to reduce waste by upcycling and redesigning vintage denim into beautiful, luxury pieces from heritage brands such as Levi’s, Dr. Scholls, Hanes, and more. Since then, RE/DONE has upcycled over 200,000 pairs of vintage Levi’s, saving 1.75 million gallons of water in the production process. With over half of their sales volume being upcycled and recycled, RE/DONE has positively pushed the fashion industry as a whole toward more circular production. As they are constantly innovating new ways to reduce waste and promote eco-conscious shopping, such as adding their vintage marketplace page, RE/DONE customers can always have something to look forward to.
Flower’
David Abe / THE GATEPOST
Emily Monaco / THE GATEPOST
This concert gives me j-hope
By Liv Dunleavy
Asst. Arts & Features Editor
Jung Hoseok - more commonly referred to as his stage name j-hope, and to ARMY as Hobi - has been on the North American leg of his world tour “Hope On The Stage Tour,” (HOTST) and as an attendee, I can confidently say if “Arson” was what he was going for, he has been definitely leaving a trail of fire in his wake.
I attended day two of the Brooklyn, New York shows, and let me tell you, spoilers be damned, this was easily one of the most memorable concerts I’ve ever attended.
From outfits I can only describe as, “Oh God please help me,” and a setlist that could bring the roof down if you would just GIVE me a minute - HOTST was not to be messed with. ARMY showed up and showed out, many dressed in j-hope’s unofficial (but kind of obviously official) color palette of red and black, and some fun themed outfits that could only be Hobi inspired.
If I bet a hundred dollars for every hamburger and Sprite costume duo at a show, I’d be rich.
Jung Hoseok is not a man who does things carelessly. Everything - the stage design, props, transitions, and attire, all the way down to his beltwhich we WILL talk about - was meticulously planned.
‘Assassin’s
By Izayah Morgan Editorial Staff
Every song had the crowd on their feet and screaming, and no, we don’t just sing along or stand still at a j-freaking-hope concert - everyone was dancing, chanting, and screaming our ARMY hearts out.
The energy in that stadium was palpable. I was sweating and crying at the same time and I felt like my skin was buzzing and the euphoric feeling of seeing our hope, our sunshine, after it’s been so long - it is a true privilege to say I was breathing the same air as Jung Hoseok.
The transitions were like whiplash, from sobbing to “on the street (solo version)” straight into watching a dance battle of his backup dancersmy confusion had me literally just viciously wiping the tears off of my face to chant and clap because I have to admit they were tearing that floor up.
His decision to perform an unreleased song from his new album also caught me off guard - except it didn’t because he performed it the night before so we all just acted surprised and also we died because what the heck was that!
“Mona Lisa,” his newest released single, is not only a banger but also changing the BTS hierarchy as we know it! Put that man back in his box! He’s going insane!
At this point I’m not calling him j-hope. That’s just Jay now, because I’ve lost all hope. He revealed to us his
new belt buckle in a way that I don’t believe is safe for work. Sir, this is a sports arena.
All jokes aside, I am glad Hobi is venturing into more genres of music with his new albums, because I love his singing voice and his most recent singles have shown his vocal talent that ARMY has been deprived of.
J-hope said during his fake first ending ment, “I have to say I’ve missed this moment. I was thinking earlier when I was on the bed, it felt like it was at home. The funny thing is I couldn’t believe it my- self so I laughed to myself - that’s how comfortable I am and how happy I am to be here with you.”
We have been apart for what felt like a really long time. ARMY and Bangtan’s relationship still holds strong, but we miss them. It showed how fiercely we care when j-hope performed BTS group songs and every soul in the room was participating in the fan chant.
After the encore, and the final sing along of “NEURON (with Gaeko & YOON MIRAE),” the tears were flowing for most in the room.
Jung Hoseok has shown us so much of himself since 2013. We have discovered ourselves through his music and he has learned about himself through our love.
“Like the name of this tour, I am at my happiest when I’m on the stage,”
he said during his fake ending ment, and smiled so brightly the sun was outshone for a moment.
It was a lot, emotionally, to be in a room with all of these people who I love so much. Experiencing a BTS concert is one of the most joyous moments of life. I have been lucky enough to experience it and I hope to again.
“I’ll tell you again, we’ll never ever give up forever. I’ll say it again, we’ll always be alive to move us,” when the concert came to a close, j-hope and ARMY sang in unison.
Creed’ comes back from the shadows
Ubisoft, the director and publisher of “Assassin’s Creed,” has had a rough patch for the past couple of years, to say the least. While some of their recent games have been standouts to me such as “Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown,” they have not been financially successful - with their stock falling from a 2021 high of $20 a share to as low as $2.23 a share.
“Shadows” has had a couple of delays as well, going from a November release date to February to its release in March. This launch and success of this game would determine Ubisoft’s future, and I’m proud to say it delivered on my expectations.
The opening sections introduce you to our two playable protagonists - Yasuke, a former African slave who becomes a samurai working under Oda Nobunaga, and Naoe, a shi- nobi who has ties to the assassins we know and love.
After the opening sections, which had an interesting setup for Yasuke and a heartbreaking setup for Naoe, the game opens up. This allows you to explore with Naoe in the vast open worlds that Ubisoft has been known for in recent years.
It takes five to 10 hours to unlock Yasuke, who plays more like Eivor from “Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla” than Naoe, a shinobi who plays like
the older assassins, such as Evie Frye from “Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate.”
The open world is beautiful and big, and it presents many points of discovery for you to explore at your own pace. The game’s story, with both highs and lows, takes about 30 to 40 hours to complete if you skip all the open-world stuff.
I quite enjoyed Yasuke’s story with satisfying voice acting from his voice actor. Naoe, on the contrary, had moments of poor voice acting, outright making me change the voice acting from English to Japanese.
The main story starts off strong,
especially in the introduction, and then has high moments throughout. Overall, the journey was long but that had more to do with my brain waiting to check off every box, which was satisfying.
One part that makes it more enjoyable is the gear collection system which allows you to customize the individual pieces of your loadout less than previous titles in the series, but makes each piece more meaningful.
The game allows you to raid grand castles, and if you kill all the daimyos
in the area you’re rewarded with a legendary piece of armor which changes the way you play. Early in my journey, I found a legendary piece of armor for Yasuke that allowed me to block previously unblockable attacks, changing how I played completely, and made me play more aggressively than before.
I played on PlayStation 5 and the game looks amazing. It’s easily the best-looking “Assassin’s Creed” and one of the most beautiful games to release in this generation.
The delays, while painful at the time, really were worth it. They gave Ubisoft the time to polish the game ensuring a smoother release and much more time to market. They also gave me a chance to save up for the game as well.
“Shadows” is a worthy addition to the franchise in my eyes and arguably in my top five of all “Assassin’s Creed” games.
Ben Hurney / THE GATEPOST
Ronnie Chiu-Lin / THE GATEPOST
Puzzles
ACROSS
1. Goes behind a curtain, say
6. Soothing succulent
10. Concert boosters
14. Pass into law
15. Bring in, moneywise
16. Lisa’s brother on “The Simpsons”
17. Nora Ephron’s estimates?
19. Jacob’s twin, in the Bible
20. “Barbie” actor Simu
21. Female deer
22. Orders Grubhub, say
24. Margaret Thatcher’s pledges?
28. W-9 org.
29. Cheap beer originally brewed in Milwaukee, for short
30. Got together
32. Sporty Mazda model
35. Ring loudly
37. It’s a long story
38. Steve Austin’s championship trophies?
41. Happy Meal collectibles
42. Charitable offerings
43. Embraces
44. That, in Spanish
45. Attempt
46. Reed of the Velvet Underground
47. Quentin Tarantino’s butt?
53. “Stay healthy”
54. “___ sells seashells ...”
55. Beats by ___
57. “Search Party” actress Shawkat
58. Emile Zola’s exit?
62. Difficult situation
63. Many a message from a “Nigerian prince”
64. Puppy’s protests
65. Tennis great Arthur
66. Eyelid irritation
67. “Gross!”
DOWN
1. Get better
2. Type of belly button
3. Informal “Wow!”
4. Heart chart: Abbr.
5. Name that sounds like a hearty dish
6. Famed fabulist
7. Kind of beam
8. Mined material
9. Group of actors
10. Drives the getaway car, say
11. Message with many recipients
12. “Hallelujah!”
13. “Set phasers to ___”
18. Ice cream brand since 1928
23. Voice, as grievances
25. Falafel holders
26. Lunchroom platter
27. October birthstones
31. Sunbathes
32. Dole (out)
33. Kind of triangle
34. “Indeed, I can do that”
35. Sea anemone, e.g.
36. Stately tree
37. Type of dark beer
39. Negligent
40. When doubled, a toddler’s train
45. Up to, briefly
46. MGM co-founder Marcus
48. Rib
49. Test for purity
50. Herb commonly used in coq au vin
51. Revered people
52. Blow like a volcano
53. “Roll Tide!” school, informally
56. Online marketplace with crafty wares
59. Play a role
60. “The Fountainhead” author Rand
61. Vote of approval
Puzzle solutions are now exclusively online.
Spread by Associate Editor Maddison Behringer
Julien Fernandez / THE GATEPOST
Elia na Buono
liana Buono