THE GATEPOST Framingham State’s independent student newspaper
Volume 87 • Issue 12
FSUgatepost.com
December 7, 2018
Donald Halsing / THE GATEPOST
FSU students were visited by therapy dogs, including Shiver, a Samoyed.
News DANFORTH pg. 3 SGA pg. 6
Opinions THE IMPERFECT ENSEMBLE pg. 7 DON’T MOCK THE NEW BLOOD pg. 8
Arts & Features BEST OF 2018 pg. 12-13 STATE STREET STYLE pg. 14
Sports WOMEN’S BASKETBALL pg. 18 HOCKEY pg. 19
Ashley Wall / THE GATEPOST
Framingham State digests results of food study at reveal event
Board of Trustees discusses potential Title IX changes
By Nadira Wicaksana News Editor
By Jillian Poland Associate Editor
The results of the three-yearlong Framingham Food Study were revealed on Friday, Nov. 16. The panel presentation was led by co-principal investigators Cara Ebbeling and David Ludwig, co-directors of the New Balance Foundation Obesity Prevention Center. They work in the endocrinology department of the Boston Children’s Hospital, which performed the study in partnership with FSU.
The main conclusions of the study were that low-carbohydrate diets help to maintain weight loss, but most people who go on diets end up regaining the lost weight within one to two years, according to the panelists. Ludwig said, “This is the largest and longest feeding study to test the ‘Carbohydrate-Insulin Model,’ which provides a new way to think about and treat obesity.” Also known as FS(2), the study was funded with an $11 million
The Framingham State Board of Trustees heard about faculty concerns and potential changes to Title IX policies during its meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 28. The Board began by welcoming new trustee Hope Bielat, who has a master’s in public policy from Harvard University and a Ph.D. in political science from Boston University. “I’m really excited to be a part See FOOD STUDY page 5 of this board. I really believe in the mission of this school,” Bielat said, “so, thank you.” Eric Gustafson, vice president of development and alumni relations, man settlement on Mars.” updated the Board on the UniverYari said her fascination with outsity’s fundraising progress. He said er space began when she was young they have raised “just about” $1.2 and living in Mexico. “When I was million this academic year toward two, my mom would dress me in their $2.5 million goal and are exan astronaut onesie complete with pecting a “nice burst” in giving for NASA patches. … I was known as the month of December. ‘the little astronaut.’” Gustafson also said the UniverShe said she was inspired by the sity is finalizing the details for a stories of Yuri Gagarin, the first “scientific equipment gift.” human to go into outer space, and He added, “We’ve built a connecFramingham State’s own Christa tion with a local company that’s goMcAuliffe. ing to hopefully donate brand-new As an immigrant from Mexico, scientific equipment to us. … They Yari said she struggled at first to
A one-way ticket to Mars By Andrew Willoughby Arts & Features Editor Yari Golden-Castaño and R. Daniel Golden-Castaño, two candidates to be members of Mars One’s crew to create the first human settlement on the red planet, spoke about their potential mission on Dec. 5 in O’Connor Hall. The event was hosted by Framingham State’s English Language Program. According to its website, Mars One is a private organization which “aims to establish a permanent hu-
See MARS page 15
See BOARD OF TRUSTEES page 4
INSIDE: OP/ED 7 • ARTS & FEATURES 11 • SPORTS 17
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THE GATEPOST
Gatepost Interview
Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief Bailey Morrison
John Palabiyik
Associate Editor Jillian Poland News Editor Nadira Wicaksana Arts & Features Editors Zach Colten Andrew Willoughby Asst. Arts & Features Editors Tessa Jillson Robert Johnson Jr. Entertainment Correspondents Brennan Atkins Noah Barnes Opinions Editor Lizzy Stocks Columnist Thom Duda Sports Editor Matt Ferris Asst. Sports Editor Liam Gambon Design Editor Cara McCarthy Asst. Design Editor Kathleen Moore Photos Editor Corey McFeeley Asst. Photos Editors Donald Halsing Ashley Wall Staff Writers Jordan Bacci Mackenzie Berube Lauren Hapcook Adé Lasodé Evan Lee Jon Lee Kayla Otten Lauren Paolini Patrick Peterson Gordon Rupert Kate Shane Cam Turner Julian Vazquez Natalia Voloboy Caeley Whalen Staff Photographers Ryan Feinblatt Allie Gath Amanda Martin Jenna-Nicole Richard Margaret Richardson Oscairy Tavares Michael Upton Staff Illustrator Shayna Yacyshyn Advisor Dr. Desmond McCarthy Assistant Advisor Elizabeth Banks Administrative Assistant Gwenyth Swain 100 State Street McCarthy Center Room 410 Framingham, MA 01701-9101 Phone: (508) 626-4605 Fax: (508) 626-4097 gatepost@framingham.edu
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DECEMBER 7, 2018
Marketing and hospitality professor By Nadira Wicaksana News Editor What’s your educational and professional background? I have a B.A. from Istanbul University, and I actually studied ancient languages and cultures. After Istanbul, I started to work. There’s a huge gap between my B.A. and master’s - about 20 years. In 2009, I applied for my MBA, specializing in hospitality at DeVry University in Texas. I went there for a couple of years. After I finished there, I started to teach a little bit in hospitality and I applied to Texas Tech University for my Ph.D, specializing in hospitality again. My area is hospitality administration. What brought you to Framingham State? I had been applying for jobs for almost a year - I had so many options, but Framingham State had something unique for me. They are opening a new hospitality department, and I specialize in the business of opening hotels and restaurants. I said, “Well, this is a new opportunity - a new start for me.” So, I applied for the job, and what they were looking for was someone more from the business side - someone who’s worked in hotels and restaurants, has experience with openings. And I think it was a perfect match. I noticed that the area is great. It’s good for my kids and for their education. Boston is one of the cities I like in the United States. And Boston has some good flight connections with Europe, and I have family members in Europe, so I thought it was a perfect place. So, I said I’d take it. It’s a state university, a good opportunity, and there are so many new things to me. What do you think are some differences between studying in Turkey and the United States? The biggest difference is the financial impact that affects the students. I remember when I was doing my B.A. ... my job was being a student. Here, I see that school is not the students’ first job. They have to work and study. It sounds great because they are having the
Police Logs Thursday, November 29 17:48 Medical Peirce Hall Medical Case
find it. It’s not easy to find someone you can be happy with and have kids together. It’s funny - I think it’s easy to move up in business or academics, but it’s harder to accomplish this.
Nadira Wicaksana / THE GATEPOST
work experience and studying, too, but they still have so much in student loans. When I finished my degree in Istanbul, I didn’t have to pay anything - not even a single dime. I was working in school for four years, but for my personal expenses. I got really good support from my family, from the state, from the government, so I didn’t have to pay. I wasn’t really worried about financial issues. That is one thing that really affects students [here]. In Turkey, it looks like students are more successful because school is the only thing we expect from them. But here, I see they have a lot of responsibilities. That’s why I see students coming to class late, or they don’t come to class - they might be working. I kind of feel sorry for them sometimes. What do you think is your greatest accomplishment? I believe my greatest accomplishment is my family. I have a really great, supportive family. I have been married for exactly 20 years, as of a couple of weeks ago. Most of my time I spend with my family. ... Even if it’s stressful here, if it’s a busy day, I can go home and it’s like I’m in a completely different world. My kids can speak a couple of different languages, and so does my wife. I think family ties are such an accomplishment. Whenever I tell this to people, they usually get surprised - they expect it’s business or academics. ... But having a really peaceful and supportive family really is an accomplishment - not everyone can
Friday, November 25 09:37 Tresspass Tow Normal Hill Parking Lot No Action Taken
Monday, December 3 06:01 Safety Escort North Hall Service rendered
What languages do you speak? My first language is Turkish. From my grandparents and parents, I learned Greek. I’m fluent in English. When I was working in Turkey, we had so many customers from Germany. I’m not fluent, but I can communicate a little bit in German, a little bit in French. We are also very close to Arab countries, the Middle East, so I can communicate and understand basic Arabic. Recently, I’ve been learning Chinese. I can’t speak it well, but I’m going to teach in China, so I’ve been trying to learn. I’m probably not going to become fluent, but I would at least like to communicate a little in their language. I think it’s one of my skills - I can learn quickly with languages and cultures. That’s my first degree, too. I studied Latin, even though we don’t use it in daily life. I also studied cuneiform. It was 25 years ago, so I can’t read all the scripts right now, but I’m familiar with all the structures. We used to compare modern languages and languages we don’t speak anymore. It’s like a map - it truly helps me to understand cultural development and relations. What is your advice to FSU students? My biggest advice is to be a lifelong learner. You have to be a learner. ... You have to be curious. You have learn about cultures - why do we do things, why do we think things, why do we speak different languages? What I always say to students is the moment they think they know something, it’s when they start to know less. When we get someone in a job interview who thinks they know everything, I think - this person is not hireable. This person is not trainable. They are not open to learn. I advise that you keep learning every day. CONNECT WITH NADIRA WICAKSANA nwicaksana@student.framingham.edu
Tuesday, December 4 14:15 Attempt to Locate Hemenway Labs Checks Ok
DECEMBER 7, 2018
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Spring art courses to be held at Danforth Art Grand opening planned for April By Jon Lee Staff Writer Ceramics and sculpture courses for the spring semester will be held at Danforth Art, according to Marc Cote, dean of the college of arts and humanities. The equipment for these courses, kept for many years in the basement of May Hall, will have a new home on the first floor of the Jonathan Maynard Building, located across Route 9 overlooking the Framingham Centre Common. The total cost of renovations and materials will be “close to” $6 million, said Dale Hamel, executive vice president. He noted, however, that certain work will occur after the museum itself is “actually completed,” including the installation of exterior lighting for parking lots and a pedestrian-accessible sidewalk that will connect to Grove Street. To make this possible, the University borrowed $2.5 million and also received approximately $800,000 from the Massachusetts State College Building Authority. The remaining amount - approximately $2.7 million - came from “various sources of funds,” including the College Operations Budget and “remnant funds” from completed projects, said Hamel. Rebecca Moffatt, a senior art history major, said, “This is a great opportunity for the art history majors as we now have another, closer, option for an internship.” The Danforth Art collection will be on the second floor, though the museum will only show a portion of its works at any given time. Hamel said the collection is appraised at $7 million. Cote said, “It’s a smaller space than the old one, and so they are really measuring by centimeters.” Danforth community art classes will be held on the third floor. These courses are non-credit-bearing and open to Framingham residents of all ages. Community classes cost $360 and meet once a week for three months, according to the Danforth website. Enrollment is currently open for the winter session, which will begin Jan. 22. Cote said while the Maynard building has been under renovation,
Creative Commons The Jonathan Maynard Building is located across Route 9 on the Framingham Centre Common.
“They have actually been having those classes on our campus in the interim, in May Hall. “They wanted to keep some sense of continuity with the museum school classes, and they’ve been doing pretty well. They [the classes] are pretty well populated.” Danforth Art was previously housed in downtown Framingham, but was forced to relocate last year due to a faulty boiler, as reported in an Oct. 2017 Gatepost article. Classes were cancelled for five months. The vacated basement of May Hall will become student studios. Yumi Park, assistant professor of art history, said that right now, “Our senior students do not have their own space where they can work,” despite the fact that May Hall is open 24 hours a day. The studios will provide a space of which students have ownership, but where professors can also see what they are working on. “Having more space for the seniors,” she said, “that is going to change everything.” Ellie Krakow, assistant professor of art and coordinator of the sculpture concentration, said the woodworking equipment in the new fa-
cility is the part she is “most excited about. “We are going to get a full woodshop, with a table saw, and a miter saw, and a drill press - all sorts of equipment we haven’t had,” she said. Framingham State’s acquisition of the Danforth will provide practical experience for students interested in museum studies or a career as a curator. Erika Schneider, professor of art history and museum studies coordinator, said, “Having the Danforth is key to developing and advancing the museum studies minor.” Schneider said the walk to the new building is only 10 minutes. She acknowledged that the Facilities and Capital Planning Operations department will need to keep the Route 9 footbridge clear of snow and ice, but added, “The benefits far outweigh rain and snow.” The RamTram will also add a new stop at the Danforth, according to Cote. While students and faculty are looking forward to the possibilities, they also foresee potential stumbling blocks. Kelsey Goossens, a senior studio art major, said, “One downside of
the switch is that painting and printmaking will remain in May Hall, dividing the art department.” She said there are “benefits” to students and teachers working in close proximity and the “physical distance between the studio concentrations could be a drawback.” Richard Davies, an art education graduate student, agreed. He said, “The only thing I’m concerned about is collaboration.” He described himself as a “multimedia-type artist” who incorporates “sculpture and other mediums” into his work. Goossens, who will be graduating this winter just before the new facilities open, said, “It’s certainly frustrating that I will not be able to use them, as I have been working in May Hall with limited resources for the past four years. “That being said, I am ecstatic that Framingham State is investing in the art department.”
CONNECT WITH JON LEE jlee18@student.framingham.edu
Forming a New Club? IMPORTANT REMINDER FROM SILD: All processes for new clubs forming must be completed prior to February 1st in order to be active in Spring 2019. Questions regarding new club formation? Please contact Brendan Fraser, bfraser@framingham.edu.
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DECEMBER 7, 2018
Board of trustees Continued from pg. 1 have equipment that’s barely used that comes offline and it’s in great condition to come over here and be something that we have in our labs.” Later in the meeting, Kim Dexter, director of Equal Opportunity, Title IX, and ADA compliance, and Meg Nowak Borrego, dean of students, presented about changes to the Title IX guidelines that could be brought about by U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos. Title IX is a federal law that requires colleges and universities receiving state federal funding to combat sex-based discrimination, harassment, and violence. Title IX guidelines outline how sexual assault cases are handled on college campuses. Nowak Borrego said Devos has “asserted that there is a lack of due process for respondents - the person being claimed as responsible for assaulting another person. I can say that most people who work in this area of higher ed disagree with that assertion.” In 2017, DeVos issued new Title IX guidance that had “minor” and “manageable” changes, according to Dexter and Nowak Borrego. Nowak Borrego added, “A lot of our campuses were already doing it.” But a few weeks ago, said Nowak Borrego, they received a 140-page document from the Department of Education outlining changes that “are significant.” The document has not yet been formally released, but when it is, colleges and universities will have 60 days to comment and potentially impact the ultimate outcome. Dexter said this document signals a “major shift in all of our procedures and responses” to sexual assault cases on campuses. The most significant change would be a move from a single-investigator model for handling sexual assault cases to a hearing format with required cross-examinations, “creating a very courtroom-like atmosphere in a university setting.” This shift could require additional staffing and training. Dexter said, “With all these changes that are occurring, know that we’re on top of it. We’re monitoring it closely. We have teams of folks here who are making sure that we don’t let anything slip through the cracks.” Irene Porro, director of the Christa McAuliffe Center, introduced Alexis Gomez during the meeting’s Student Spotlight. Gomez studies graphic design and works as an intern for the Christa McAuliffe Center. Gomez shared stories from an academic trip abroad, passed out
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Andrew Willoughby / THE GATEPOST Kim Dexter (right) and Meg Nowak Borrego (left) present potential changes to the Title IX policies to the Board of Trustees.
examples of design work he has completed for the center, and thanked Porro for “molding me into a professional.” Later in the meeting, Linda Vaden-Goad, provost and vice president for academic affairs, gave a presentation titled “Budgets, Enrollment, and Curricular Considerations” about using data to increase enrollment and revenue. She discussed how combining data about the different majors with strategic planning can “determine the best ways to invest” in the curriculum. Following this, Jeremy Spencer, dean of enrollment management, explained the process of hiring a “predictive analytics vendor.” He said Enrollment Management is looking to work with a vendor to create an “adaptive model” that will let them track students from application to matriculation in order to determine what “flips” a potential student that is, what makes a student decide to attend Framingham State. They hope using this model will allow them to accurately predict the University’s final matriculation numbers based on the characteristics of the pool of applicants they have in the spring, Spencer added. They also want to evaluate how changes in the amount of financial aid offered to students over time might be affecting the number of students choosing to enroll in the University, said Spencer. Spencer said in 2011, if the FAFSA determined that a student’s expected family contribution was $0 and the student accepted all loans and gift aid offered to them, then the direct cost for that student to attend
the University would be as a close as possible to $0. “Fast forward to the present, that same student takes out all aid and they’re given a bill of roughly $4,800,” Spencer said. He added they want a vendor to evaluate whether this is affecting enrollment because “we could make some assumptions, but we don’t want those assumptions to be faulty.” He said with all this information, the University can take a “rifling approach versus a shotgun approach” to enrollment that maximizes the use of their resources. The Board approved a resolution to allow the University to borrow up to $1.455 million to fund its contribution to the $5.8 million project to update campus infrastructure. The commonwealth of Massachusetts has already agreed to fund $4.3 million of the project, which will include electrical work, heating and cooling overhauls, and other tasks. During public comments, Robert Donohue, FSU psychology professor and president of the Framingham State chapter of the Massachusetts State College Association (MSCA), said he had come to inform the Board of “a serious impediment to Framingham State fulfilling its mission.” The MSCA is the union for faculty and librarians at state universities and colleges. As employees of the state, they bargain their three-year contract with the Board of Higher Education (BHE). The Council of University Presidents (COP), of which FSU President F. Javier Cevallos is a member, also participates in the bargaining.
After a prolonged bargaining period, the parties came to an agreement in the spring, almost a year after the previous contract had expired. The commissioner of the BHE has yet to send the contract to the governor for approval, though it was legally due by Aug. 15. Donohue said, “The commissioner of the Board of Higher Education and the Council of State University Presidents are requesting that I and the Massachusetts State College Association be complicit in the violation of Massachusetts General Law Chapter 150E, section 7.” He added, “My request to this board is that you stand on the side of rule of law. I ask the Board to direct President Cevallos to publicly reject the Council of Presidents’ official position placing the commissioner of the Board of Higher Education above the law. “What model of responsible citizenship do we provide our students by rejecting rule of law?” he added. Cevallos, speaking about the remarks after the meeting, said, “I sent a letter to the campus community about this a few days ago. … That letter has everything that I can add.” In the letter, Cevallos said the COP supports the contract as it was negotiated, but the commissioner has determined that it cannot be funded sustainably. He added, “I will continue to do everything I can to reach an agreement that will be funded by the state.” CONNECT WITH JILLIAN POLAND jpoland@student.framingham.edu
DECEMBER 7, 2018
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NEWS | 5
Food study Continued from pg. 1 grant provided from the Nutrition Science Initiative, according to Patricia Luoto, FSU professor emerita for food and nutrition, who also served as the on-campus project director. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, the study was intended to “evaluate the effects of dietary composition on energy expenditure and chronic disease risk factors, while also exploring physiological mechanisms underlying these effects.” Ludwig said according to the Carbohydrate-Insulin Model, “the processed carbohydrates that flooded our diets during the low-fat era have raised insulin levels, driving fat cells to store excessive calories. “With fewer calories available to the rest of the body, hunger increases and metabolism slows - a recipe for weight gain,” he said. All participants underwent a “selective process” to determine whether they were eligible to partake in the study, according to Luoto. The criteria mandated all participants to have a Body Mass Index of greater than 25 and be between the ages of 18 and 65. According to a University press release, there were 1,685 potential participants. Ebbeling, Ludwig, and colleagues enrolled 234 participants in the study for an “initial weight-loss diet” spanning 10 weeks. Their goal was to lose 10 to 14 percent of original body weight, the press release states. A total of 164 participants were successful in doing so and moved onto the “maintenance” phase of the study, during which participants ate a carbohydrate-controlled diet. Participants could eat nothing except the provided meals and snacks from Sodexo, the University’s food service provider. They were also required to refrain from consuming alcohol. “Sodexo did an exemplary job,”
Cara Ebberling presents the weight loss and weight-loss maintence data.
Luoto said. Luoto said there were three cohorts of study participants - one for each year of the study. The first cohort began their diets in September 2014, with each diet lasting for a 20-week period. The last cohort finished in May 2017. The first year was limited to FSU students, faculty, and staff, while the following years expanded to the MetroWest Area and “satellite areas” of the Boston Children’s Hospital, Luoto added. Luoto also said Framingham State was chosen for the study for many reasons. “The first reason - and the researchers will tell you this first and upfront - is because of the food and nutrition department at Framingham State,” Luoto said. She added the University’s “locale” was also a contributing factor. Many similar studies have been performed in hospital environments, which would have not been conducive to the scope and length of this study, she said. “They knew that realistically, financially, logistically - that simply wasn’t possible,” Luoto said. Sites like universities are con-
sidered by researchers to be a “free-living environment,” according to Luoto. “There are other outlets that are available to [participants] - they weren’t trying to make it purist, trying to make you come in and admit yourself for x number of weeks or months.” Luoto added Framingham State’s location and proximity to Boston also proved convenient for participants and researchers alike. “They didn’t really want the study to be held at a university in Boston, because they felt that the number of outlets that would be available in terms of food and en-
David Ludwig speaks at the food study reveal.
Cara Ebberling presents the food study results.
Corey McFeeley / THE GATEPOST
tertainment might have made it more difficult for participants to stick to the diet,” Luoto said. Luoto said the renown of Framingham State in the research scene due to the successes of the Framingham Heart Study and FS(2) have made it a possible site for future studies. The scope of the study did not include the effect of exercise and physical activity as contributing factors to weight loss. “Participants were told they could continue with their current exercise regimens,” Luoto said, but varsity athletes and marathon partici-
Corey McFeeley / THE GATEPOST
pants were not eligible to participate. “There were not any ancillary studies done, but I do think it would be interesting to look at,” Luoto said. Linda Vaden-Goad, provost and vice president for academic affairs, said, “We have been planning this event since the beginning of the study. We wanted to make sure that everyone that participated got to find out how they did during the food science study. “We are very excited,” she added. “This study is the landmark study. I am excited for Framing-
Corey McFeeley / THE GATEPOST
ham.” FSU President F. Javier Cevallos said, “I thought the event was fascinating. It was very engaging, the way that they presented it.” He added in the press release, “I am extremely proud of our community’s participation in this important study. Everyone involved has played a role in improving society’s understanding of dieting and weight-loss management.” CONNECT WITH NADIRA WICAKSANA nwicaksana@student.framingham.edu
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DECEMBER 7, 2018
SGA unable to vote because of lack of quorum By Adé Lasodé Staff Writer “Two thirds” of SGA’s senate was absent at its Dec. 4 meeting, according to Parliamentarian Olivia Beverlie. The meeting began almost 20 minutes late as SGA waited to see if additional members would show up. Beverlie said only 13 voting members were present. “We’re just not comfortable making decisions without the rest of the senate. We don’t want it to seem like an overreach of power,” she said. Because of this, funding proposal could not be seen and clubs were notified their requests were pushed to the following week. SGA invited representatives from the Student Transportation Center (STC) to discuss issues students had brought to their attention concerning the RamTram, campus safety, and parking. STC Manager Josh Stiles said this semester, STC hired 36 new staff members, “which is the highest in STC history.” However, he added many of students don’t want to work on campus because University policy limits them to only 20 hours a week. Senators asked how many RamTram drivers are scheduled to work during Sunday afternoon and evening shifts because of the high volume of students being picked up from parking lots. Currently, there are “two Ram-
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Tram drivers and one parking lot driver” working Sunday nights, but Stiles said going forward, an additional parking lot driver is will be added for when it’s busier. “We’re going to make sure we have a four-hour block when we have a second driver those nights, so we can handle that volume of people. … We know Sunday nights can be chaotic,” he said. Senator Lexi Kays asked if the RamTram could push its schedule “back five minutes,” so that students who end their shifts “let’s say 4:30 or like 11 in the morning” can make the RamTram. Stiles said the drivers usually try to wait for everybody, and “sometimes we add time to the loop,” but when it’s more than a five-minute wait, the RamTram leaves because it needs to make other stops. “There is the option to call and make sure they can wait,” Stiles said. Senator Olivia Rothwell asked if another driver or a departure time before 4 p.m. or 4:20 p.m. could be added so that residents who work off campus can get to their cars and make it to their jobs earlier. To provide some insight as to why a “third parking lot driver” would not be possible, Stiles said if a third RamTram driver were added, STC would be required to lease a new bus. This would cost “$12,000 … and that’s not including gas, labor cost, and maintenance.” Rachel Burgess, another STC manager in attendance, added in
Donald Halsing / THE GATEPOST Student Transportation Center managers address issues raised by SGA.
the month of October, it cost $6,000 to fuel the vehicles. Stiles added, “Four years ago, we did not have a third driver. It was only the full-time driver and the second student driver. We’ve come a long way from where we were four years ago.” Senator Adam Scanlon thanked the STC representatives for coming to the meeting, referring to the RamTram as “a luxury” that many schools don’t have. He added, “It’s not on them to produce more shuttles. It’s on us as a community to ask our administrators to put money where it needs to go and to lobby our state legislators to give education more funding.” During the announcements, one of the eBoard members announced the Administrators’ Forum would be held next semester on Feb. 20, due to some scheduling conflicts.
Beverlie announced she will be stepping down from her position at the end of the semester because she will be studying abroad in Prague next year, “so the position is open to anyone who is interested in parliamentary procedures.” FSU’s fifth Annual Giving Tree through the United Way’s Hope for the Holidays program will be receiving gifts from faculty and students who wish to participate. All gifts should be handed in to the Office of Student Involvement and Leadership Development (SILD) by Dec. 7 at 5 p.m. Student Government & Club Coordinator Brendan Fraser introduced himself as SGA’s new SILD liaison, who will be present at every SGA meeting from now on. CONNECT WITH ADÉ LASODÉ alasode@student.framingham.edu
DECEMBER 7, 2018
OP/ED | 7
THE GATEPOST
OP/ED
THE GATEPOST EDITORIAL
Climate change isn’t a hoax
Don’t mock the new blood By Thom Duda Columnist Since being the youngest representative ever elected to Congress, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has been the target of mockery and outright idiocy from pundits, politicians and, of course, Fox News. Now these attacks have ranged from everything she says, to her financial situation, and even to her wardrobe. Fox talking heads were joking about her difficulties in finding a place in D.C. until her new salary kicked in - completely ignoring the fact that normal housing is already expensive in many areas and even more so in our nation’s capital. Sen. Lindsey Graham mocked Ocasio-Cortez’s tweet on Nov. 25, 2018 where she commented on the refugees in the migrant caravan. After she drew reasonable comparisons to families fleeing Nazi Germany, Rwanda, and Syria, Graham recommended Ocasio-Cortez take a visit to the Holocaust museum to “better understand the differences between the Holocaust and the caravan in Tijuana.” Of course, Graham ignored that the museum focuses on teaching the lessons of the past and the beginnings of the Holocaust rather than just the end result, something Ocasio-Cortez quickly pointed out. In a now-deleted tweet, Eddie Scarry, an opinion writer for the Washington Examiner, retweeted a photo of Ocasio-Cortez with the comment, “that jacket and coat don’t look like a girl who struggles.” She can’t have a work wardrobe without being financially well off, it would seem.
To Ocasio-Cortez’s credit, she has not backed down from any of these incidents and has not been afraid to confront her detractors. Ocasio-Cortez is precisely what this country needs right now. She is young, intelligent, clearly motivated to the betterment of her country and her fellow Americans and, above all else, willing to speak about the issues plaguing our country. This Congresswoman has not only drawn attention to issues of housing and wages, something she herself has intimate experience with, but has also drawn upon the staggering difference in healthcare costs that those serving in Congress pay compared to the general populace. Ocasio-Cortez has advocated for combating climate change and not shying away from the reality that many people will lose their lives as the climate continues to worsen. Ocasio-Cortez has even pledged to make sure that the interns working under her are paid above minimum wage, something that is not common at all in our country. The Congresswoman is doing what she was voted to do - there is no need for mockery at all, especially about something as innocuous as her clothing or the real struggles she shares with hundreds of Americans. Let the new representatives come in and do their jobs because they are the future of Congress and of this country.
Two fires raged through California in November, causing massive structural damage and resulting in 85 deaths with 11 people still missing as of print time, according to the Press Herald. The fires destroyed over 14,000 homes, displacing thousands of people. These combined fires were the deadliest California had seen in recent history. While firefighters across the state fought the blaze, President Donald Trump used Twitter to fan the flames of falsehoods: “There is no reason for these massive, deadly and costly forest fires in California except that forest management is so poor.” This is incorrect. These fires did not even originate in forests. Max Moritz, a wildfire specialist at the University of Santa Barbara, reported both fires started in areas known as “wildland-urban interfaces” in the middle of grasslands. Contrary to the President’s beliefs, there is a real reason for these fires and it’s not forest management it’s climate change. BBC has reported on multiple occasions Trump neither believes, nor supports, scientists who warn of the impact humans have had on the rising global temperatures. The New York Times reported Trump said, “I do not know that it’s man-made.” It is. Scientific-journal publisher IOPscience released a report in which an international group of scientists found that there is 97 percent consensus among actively publishing climate scientists that humans very likely are partially responsible for climate change. Michael Mann, an atmospheric science professor at Penn State, said climate change is not “literally” causing wildfires in California, but the rapidly changing atmosphere is leading to conditions that breed more extreme events. “You warm the planet, you’re going to get more frequent and intense heat waves. You warm the soils, you dry them out, you get worse drought.” He added, “You bring all that together and those are all the ingredients for unprecedented wildfires.” When denial and platitudes like, “The climate has always fluctuated like this,” no longer work for Trump and his ilk, they claim climate scientists are only driven by money or a political agenda. But who has more to gain from denying climate change: a likely underpaid academic or a politician receiving large sums of money from those connected with the fossil fuel industry? According to disclosures filed with the Federal Election Committee, Chevron, Exxon, BP, and Citgo all donated half a million dollars or more to Trump’s inauguration. Who has a political agenda now? Diplomats from nearly 200 countries are currently meeting in Katowice, Poland for a new round of global climate talks because countries aren’t reducing emissions at a rate that will help us avoid catastrophic climate change, despite the Paris Climate Agreement. At the meeting, nations are going to try to create concrete ways to hold one another accountable and quite literally save the world. Whether you agree with the parameters of the agreement or not, something needs to be done. The United States needs to be an active participant in global, multilateral changes or those killed and displaced in the California wildfires last month will only be some of the first victims of climate change. At home, we need to advocate for policies that address climate change head on and vote for candidates who will champion practical initiatives to lower emissions. This is a global problem and we need global solutions. The president of one of the most prominent nations in the world publicly denying humanity’s role in climate change isn’t just embarrassing, it’s potentially deadly.
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8 | OP/ED
The imperfect ensemble By Lizzy Stocks Opinions Editord
Vagina myths By Kay Ann Staff Writer Hey! Today I’m going to educate you on some commonly held but not-so-true beliefs about the vagina. Let me start by saying this is a part one, because there are too many for me to count and I’m hearing new misconceptions every day. Like yesterday, I heard something about teeth in your vagina. What kind of abstinence-only-fueled nightmare is that? Anyways, let’s get onto the first widespread myth. I need everyone to open up your eyes real wide, read every word I’m about to ferociously type on my MacBook, and get them into your head, OK? Ready? Sex DOES NOT and WILL NOT make your vagina loose! It just won’t. I hear many guys talk about how if a woman has lots of sex with lots of guys you can “tell.” Like, no you can’t, Brandon - you can’t even tell that the girl you’re messaging on Instagram is ignoring you. Now that I’ve covered how wrong it is, let’s talk about why it’s wrong. The vagina is made up of muscles and when a person with a vagina gets all hot-and-bothered the vaginal canal expands, because it’s pleated like an umbrella. This is because it does not feel good to be poked in the cervix, so the expansion prevents it, according to Psychology Today. Consider this, when you extend your arm does it just stay all limp and extended because you used your muscles too much? No! Muscles are meant to stretch and all that good stuff and the vaginal muscles aren’t any different. This means that after you have sex, your vagina will just go back to the way it was before. And guesswhat! That same principle also applies when you have a baby! What a miracle! Or basic human anatomy - I guess you could call it that too. My point is that, the next time you shame someone for having sex or having a baby by speculating how “tight” their vagina is, I want you to take a long, hard look at yourself in the mirror and think, “I am part of the problem.” And then, just keep your thought to yourself when it comes to other peoples genitals, OK? The next myth we are going to talk about is the myth of the hymen, and I know many people with vaginas who do not understand the mythical nature of this body part. I’ve heard the hymen compared to a “freshness seal.” Let’s all take a moment to acknowledge how absolutely degrading that comparison is. Too much of the population believes the hymen is a piece of skin that somehow closes up the vagina and is broken upon insertion of a penis. Let’s think of the obvious reason this is bull**it before we get scientific - the period! How would someone get their period and bleed out of their vagina if there was a seal there, and they hadn’t yet had sex? It’s truly insane how so many people overlook this detail. Now, the hymen does exist, but it’s not the covering everyone thinks it is. Think if it like a balloon arch for your vagina. It doesn’t cover anything, it just kind of hangs out around the edge of the vaginal canal. Being that the size of the hymen varies from person to person, some people may experience pain as it stretches or tears a little, but it does not break, according to Psychology Today. The leading cause of first-time-sex pain is not enough lube. The hymen myth and the tightness myth were invented to put a value on a woman’s virginity, which is another myth by the way, making them more valuable to be sold as wives by their fathers. So, let’s stop doing this, because people with vaginas are not commodities to be bought and sold, and how many items we put in our vaginas does not equal the worth we have as people. Part two coming soon.
Beyoncé and Ed Sheeran recently sparked a worldwide debate concerning gender expectations after performing their “Perfect” duet at the Global Citizen Festival on Sunday. In a ruffled, pink gown fit for a runway, Beyoncé dressed to impress, while Ed Sheeran casually wore jeans and a T-shirt layered over his long-sleeve shirt. On one hand, many believe the artists’ contrasting outfits are due to their differing brands and styles, while on the other hand, many believe their outfit choices go much deeper than personal taste and actually reflect society’s gender expectations. Shon Faye, a writer, artist, comedian, and activist with over 40,000 followers on Twitter tweeted a photo of the performers’ stark contrast and wrote, “Ed Sheeran is a 27 year old man the fact we’ve enabled him to feel it’s ok to dress like this at all, let alone next to Beyoncé really boils my piss.” Faye’s tweet particularly gained momentum as another Twitter user quote-tweeted her, adding, “This photo is v v v v [very] representative of what we expect from men and women at the top of their game, isn’t it?” With the quote-tweet’s 27,000 retweets and 144,000 likes, it’s evident that many people agree with both Faye’s and the quote-tweet sentiments.
Although I believe there’s a valid argument to be made about gender expectations playing a role in celebrities’ brands and personal styles, I vehemently reject the idea this issue can be solved by holding men to the same outrageous standards as women. I think it’s important to acknowledge that Ed Sheeran’s identity as a white man does allow him to enjoy the casual persona he’s created for himself, whereas Beyoncé’s identity as a black woman plays a large part in the queen bee image she’s expected to maintain. However, I think the widespread notion that men should not be enabled to feel it’s OK to dress a certain way in someone’s presence is not only hypocritical, it’s problematic. Is it important to call attention to narrow-minded gender expectations? Yes - but in doing so, one should advocate for the erasure of such high expectations altogether, not project those expectations on to others. I’m a firm believer that people should be enabled to feel it’s OK to dress any way that makes them comfortable regardless of whose presence they are in take it from the girl who wears a backwards baseball cap on the daily. The best way to challenge gender role expectations is to get rid of them, not spread them.
[Editor’s note: Due to the unfortunate stigma surrounding women discussing sex, the author of this column has requested to use the pseudonym “Kay Ann.”] TWITTER/@SHONFAYE @TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com
DECEMBER 7, 2018
OP/ED | 9
THE GATEPOST
Campus Conversations How do you prepare for finals?
By Thom Duda and Ryan Feinblatt
“I mostly just kind of briefly go over the stuff. I’m a history major, so a lot of it’s papers.” -Brandon Hall, junior
“I only have one final I have to take for my business stats course and the approach I’m gonna take is to go over the quizzes and my notes I’ve taken.” -Joshua Hazerjian, freshman
“Time management and studying for the hardest class first so I have time. ” -Fabiola Michel, junior
“I make outlines of the topics that are covered throughout the semester and I always make flash cards.” -Katie Hayes, freshman
“Studying, lessening time of entertainment. ... Focusing less on entertainment, showing up to classes, lots of notes.” -Jeannae Herbert, junior
“I’ve been studying in the Veterans Affairs office. I write notes. I read books. I take breaks now and then.” -Amanda Taylor, senior
Op/Ed submissions reflect the opinions of their authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of The Gatepost or its staff.
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e s u Pa 4 Paws
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DECEMBER 7, 2018
FSU students were visited by therapy dogs on Dec. 3 and Dec. 4 as part of a stress relief event held by the Wellness Center in preparation for finals week.
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DECEMBER 7, 2018
ARTS & FEATURES | 11
ARTS & FEATURES Humanities' Giant Leap Forward
Cara McCarthy / THE GATEPOST Left to right: Professors Wardell Powell, Bridgette Sheridan, Martel Pipkins, Erika Schneider, and Lori Bihler discuss the social uncertainty of 1968 and our current political climate.
By Tessa Jillson Asst. Arts & Features Editor
O
n Dec. 5 in the McAuliffe Center, Irene Porro, director of the Christa Corrigan McAuliffe Center for Integrated Science Learning at FSU and the Moon Landing in Context series and five FSU professors, illustrated the contextual aspects of the 1960s from different disciplines, discussing the social uncertainty in 1968, student-driven movements, and how our current political situation mirrors the chaotic state of the ’60s. 1968 was a time of unrest. Individuals, especially students, protested nationwide against the corruption of the government, the involvement in the Vietnam War, and European imperialism. These small protests led to global events as individuals gathered together seeking universal human rights, eventually changing the historical, social, and cultural atmospheres of the world, said Bridgette Sheridan, FSU professor of history. Lori Bihler, FSU professor of history, recalled a conversation she had with her mother about the inauguration of President Donald Trump, the women’s march that came after it, the executive order for the “Muslim ban,” and other current events. During their conversation, Bihler quoted her mother, who compared the current political climate
to 1968, stating, “There was a feeling of anger, a feeling of chaos, and a feeling that no one knew who was in charge.” As a historian, Bihler reflected on the unrest of 1968, college protests, MLK’s assassination, the shooting of Robert F. Kennedy, the Memphis Sanitation Strike, the Poor People's Campaign, and police riots at the Democratic National Convention. “That is how people are feeling right now,” she said. “Everyday people were taking to the streets to march.” Sheridan said the largest uprising in 1968 was in France and came as a surprise to many. “Events came from nowhere,” she said, “While students were protesting across the globe, most of the students of France were relatively quiet.” The conditions in France, including lack of free speech, the doubling rise of unemployment, restrictions in the academic curriculum, and other factors led to a new revolution referred to as the “new left,” Sheridan said. “1968 turns from a small student protest into a nationwide movement in France. So much so, that the French government in 1968 is nearly brought to its knees,” she said. In the end, student marches and protests caused universities to shut down, including the University of Paris, which closed for a second
time in almost 700 years. Six hundred students were arrested and millions of workers went on strike, inspired by student activism, Sheridan said. A lot of these issues students were facing were the strict restrictions of the government and the curriculum. Wardell Powell, FSU professor of education, said education in the ’60s was influenced by behaviorism, the idea that learning was a passive response to environmental stimuli and was enforced through strict policies. Piaget's developmental theory was enforced during this time as a way of teaching based on constructivism and the formation of intelligence. Students construct their own knowledge through a complex understanding of the world, he said. Martel Pipkins, FSU professor of sociology, recounted the time in college when he organized a protest in response to the shooting of Michael Brown. Although he had a class during the time of the protest and told his professor about it, he was punished for skipping. The professor of the class, who studied police violence against marginalized groups, refused to talk to him for the rest of his Ph.D. process, Pipkins said. Part of the issue with academics is students are often punished for trying to take action on the ground. “Academics and professors contin-
ue to study and make careers off these inequalities and justice and oppression while failing to be vessels for social change. Many sociologists and academics function as morticians. They benefit from the deaths and destructions of these different oppressed groups,” he said. Instead of students suffering for trying to make the world a better place, he recommends faculty members be social agents for change. Vandana Singh, FSU professor and chair of Earth science and physics, asked what we can learn from past social movements. Powell said, as an educator, he “includes changes to the curriculum so students can understand that interconnectivity between our actions and the environment.” Pipkins said a lot of scholars in his studies examine the epistemological contract which compares one issue to the same or another issue in order to get “a fuller picture of the phenomenon we’re studying.” For example, Pipkins said, one should look at the Palestine, Berlin, and U.S./Mexico border walls as a unified, not separate, issue, to get a broader understanding of the world. Pipkins said, "It's not until these issues are connected historically and contemporarily that we are able to push past them.” CONNECT WITH TESSA JILLSON tjillson@student.framingham.edu
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DECEMBER 7, 2018
The Best By Thomas Duda Editorial Staff
Tokyo MX
Although 2018 brought about a flurry of new anime titles, I have to choose “Skull-Face Bookseller Honda-San” as the best of this year. Although only part of its 12-episode run has aired, Honda-san’s focus on the experiences of the author, Honda-San the skeleton, as a bookseller in Japan can resonate with anyone who has worked in the service industry. The series has our bookseller dealing with all manner of eccentric customers ranging from passionate fans to people who have no idea what they’re looking for, all the while showcasing the chaos that comes with working in retail on busy days when workers must balance orders, stock, and customers. There is even an episode that tackles the concept of training for how to deal with the customers and madness of having to smile too much. Honda-San is a “Clerks,” of anime in regards to books.
By Robert Johnson Jr. Asst. Arts & Features Editor Cynthia “CYN” Nabozny’s career his off to a running start, and 2018 gave her the major push she needed to succeed in today’s pop music landscape. With reflection-heavy ballads such as, “I’ll Still Have Me,” intense, catchy tunes such as “Believer,” and a powerful hit in “Moment of Truth,” landing her a theatrical feature in Warner Animation Group’s “Smallfoot,” this past September, this Katy Perry protégé has done a lot to make her name known. After a successful summer tour with the British synth-pop band, Years & Years, CYN’s appeal and popularity will only go up from here, and I am beyond excited to listen to what pop goodness she has to offer in 2019. She has made a “Believer” out of me, for sure. Unsub Records
By Zach Colten Arts & Features Editor “My regrets look just like texts I shouldn’t send,” sang Mac Miller on “Come Back to Earth,” the opening of his fifth studio album, "Swimming," released Aug. 3. The tragic loss of the rapper on Sept. 7 has made insightful lines like this even more cutting, and the 13-track album is inundated with them. Mac’s poignant and imaginative lines combine with a smooth flow and effortless wordplay, synthesizing one of the easiest, and now one of the hardest, albums to listen to of 2018. It is sweet, sonic surrender, tinged with a bitterness for the rapper’s passing at the hands of an accidental drug overdose. Highlights include “Hurt Feelings,” “What’s the Use?” “Self Care,” “Conversation Pt. 1,” and “2009.” There are not enough words to express the artistic ability and vision Mac possessed, but this album is the perfect example of his master craftsmanship, and ultimately serves as a painful farewell to the fans he loved so much. Warner Bros.
By Noah Barnes
Entertainment Correspondent “A Star is Born” is the third remake of the 1937 film of the same name. The film is a romantic drama about the life of a woman who doesn’t believe she has a voice or the face for fame, and a washed up, drunken musician. Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper play the leads. This is also Bradley Cooper’s directorial debut. There was a lot riding on the movie’s success, and all things considered, it succeeds in every regard. Lady Gaga proves herself as an actress, and Cooper proves himself as a director, who even learned how to sing and play guitar for the role. The cinematography, writing, characters - all of it is just superb. The film had me in tears, so that’s something. This is everything a remake, directorial debut, and overall film should be. “A Star is Born” has a voice - one that should be heard. Warner Bros. Pictures
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DECEMBER 7, 2018
By Lauren Paolini and Caeley Whalen Staff Writers
ARTS & FEATURES | 13
of 2018
The pack is back, everyone. Fanny packs took over the accessory section in every store this year, and for good reason. The revival of everyone’s favorite ’90s staple piece gave us a fun way to elevate any look. Whether you choose to wear it as a belt, across your body, or over your shoulder, a fanny pack is a practical, yet stylish way to make sure you have a bag big enough for the essentials while still being hands-free. You may think the rebirth of the fanny pack is whack, but several high-fashion designers will disagree with you. Gucci, Balenciaga, and even Prada have added fanny packs into recent lines. If you don’t feel like spending more than your textbooks cost, try Urban Outfitters or Forever 21. Feel like doing a cartwheel but want to keep your belongings in place? Then the fanny pack is the accessory for you.
Gucci
By Brennan Atkins
Entertainment Correspondent “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs” is a Netflix original movie that is directed by the Coen brothers, the brains behind “The Big Lebowski” and “Fargo.” The movie is an anthology of six different western stories, and each chapter is independent from the rest of the film. My favorite of the six is the first, and in it we follow Buster Scruggs, a man whose two talents are gun slinging and song singing. This chapter combines a musical with a western, and ends up being utterly hilarious at times. The original songs in it are catchy, and I found myself listening to them the very next day. Crazy is a great word to describe this type of movie, but it's a Coen brothers sort of crazy, and that’s a great thing. I never would have expected a scene from a Netflix movie to make it onto one of my favorites when it comes to westerns, but I stand corrected. Checkmate, Coen brothers. Netflix
By Andrew Wiloughby Arts & Features Editor I already wrote a raving review of Foxing’s third full-length album, “Nearer My God.” Since then, I’ve been waiting for a 2018 release to top it. Here we are at the end of the year, and nothing has. Foxing took everything they learned from their first two albums and expanded and improved every single aspect - the vocal performances are tighter, the instrumentation is more varied, the lyrics are more poetic and personal, and the scope is grander. Each song morphs on its own while still contributing to the evolution and progression of the album as a whole. From the self-reflexive “Grand Paradise,” to the melancholic elegy “Five Cups,” and the lovesick “Bastardizer,” the album runs the gamut of the complex emotions associated with depression. If any lover of indie and art rock hasn’t given this album a listen yet, they’re missing out on what is sure to be one of the best of 2018.
Triple Crown Records
By Nadira Wicaksana Editorial Staff
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
The longest year in existence saw a plethora of superhero movies - “Black Panther,” “Avengers: Infinity War,” and “Ant-Man and the Wasp,” to name a few. And that’s just the Marvel side. After the longest wait in existence, Pixar finally released “Incredibles 2” in June of this year. Millennials everywhere flocked to theaters to relive their childhoods. The movie picks up right where the story left off: the Parrs, a superhero family who previously saved the world from a superfan-turned-megalomaniac, are now responsible for the collateral damages in the wake of their fights against evil. Humorous, airy, and fast-paced, “Incredibles 2” explores this conflict with the government and introduces some cool new supers, and puts Elastigirl in the focus, too. Speaking of stretchiness, who could ignore the tension between Elastigirl and Evelyn Deavor - am I right, ladies? Forget Spider-Man and Deadpool and Aquaman - “Incredibles 2” takes the super cake this year.
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Hooked on Onyx Friend or Faux? By Lauren Paolini and Caeley Whalen Staff Writers If for some reason you still think wearing real fur is OK, it's time we have a chat. With the frigid New England winters approaching, you’re going to need some extra layers to keep yourself from freezing. If you’re in the market for a new winter coat, make sure you’re not grabbing one made with real fur lining or down feathers - we’re looking at you, Canada Goose. In order to make the fur on a fur coat clean and safe enough to wear, it has to endure an intensive cleaning process involving harmful chemicals to make sure the fabric won’t rot over time. We know, it sounds gross that’s because it is. This information alone should be enough to steer you away from real fur. The process of cleaning and treating the fur is incredibly harmful to the environment and is an energy-consumptive process. The overall production of a coat using real animal fur uses 20 times the amount of energy than making one with faux fur, according to The Guardian. Not to mention the meaningless murder of innocent animals. If you think real fur is cute, imagine how adorable the animal that died for it was. With today’s modern technology and synthetic textiles, there are plenty of alternatives to get the look of real fur without ending a life. According to lcanimal.org, over 50 million animals are killed each year for their fur. Some are raised on fur farms in horrific conditions and others are caught in the wild using barbaric methods. One fur coat can take the lives of over 100 animals. But just to make sure you’re team faux fur, let’s talk about how wearing real fur can harm you. According to the Fur Free Alliance, the chemicals used to treat fur for garments have been proven to have direct adverse health effects on those who wear them. The formaldehyde and ethoxylates used to clean the fur can lead to allergies, hormone imbalances, and even cancer. What’s more, the toxins in the fur are absorbed through the skin and can remain in your body for up to 20 years. While major high-fashion brands such as Gucci, Stella McCartney, and most recently Burberry have taken a public stance against the use of fur for fashion, we urge you to avoid retailers or brands using and selling garments with real fur. Real fur is simply not worth the environmental, medical, and ethical costs. Faux fur looks almost identical to that of an animal, and at the very least, it is much less expensive. Next time you go shopping, remember the environment and animals everywhere all agree that faux is the way to go.
CONNECT WITH LAUREN PAOLINI AND CAELEY WHALEN lpaolini@student.framingham.edu cwhalen2@student.framingham.edu
@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com
Zach Colten / THE GATEPOST Cordelia Stark (left), vice president for The Onyx, with Maddison Mayberry, this year's club president.
By Zach Colten Arts & Features Editor Flipping through the pages of last year’s 52nd edition of The Onyx, Framingham State University’s premier literary magazine, I am struck by the variety of student work on display across the glossy pages. Photography, poetry, painting, short stories. Political issues to body issues. Self-esteem to societal stress. Featuring Framingham State contributors from every class, The Onyx offers a unique platform for student writers looking for a place to publish. Maddison Mayberry, this year’s Onyx club president, spoke about the value of the group on campus. “It’s a really great platform for people to give out their creativity in all forms,” she said. “It’s open for their interpretation, so it’s an excellent outlet for people. It’s really hard to showcase your art, and this a great platform to do it.” The Onyx meets every other Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in May 214. In the spring, meetings will be happening on a weekly basis as submissions finalize and the layout and design process kicks into high gear. Cordelia Stark, an FSU senior studying English with a concentration in creative writing, is this year’s Onyx vice president. Stark had submitted to previous editions of the magazine, but officially joined the Onyx this year, after English Professor Patricia Horvath recruited her and Mayberry in the wake of a membership loss following last year’s graduation.
“We’re essentially the newbies, running this all by ourselves,” Stark said. “My concentration is in creative writing, so as a senior here, I wanted to be more involved hands-on, and it’s something that I can work with outside of school. I’ve always wanted to be involved in a club.” Mayberry and Stark also talked about their relationship with their faculty advisors, Horvath and English Professor Samuel Witt. As professors in creative writing and poetry, they are extremely involved, and serve as valuable resources to the magazine’s student leaders. Mayberry said they get “a lot” of direction from their faculty advisors. “They were so great and actually gave me last year’s schedule, an ‘Onyx Survival Guide.’ It was super helpful to know what worked last year and what didn’t, and having an idea of what to tackle on certain days.” Mayberry said the Onyx was currently looking for more collaborators in the Art Department. “We want to find people who are interested in photography to take pictures of the artwork, instead of me just taking pictures on my iPhone. Obviously, there’s no better way to capture the art,” she said. Students looking to submit work to the Onyx can send pieces to onyx@ framingham.edu until Feb. 14. You can also contact Witt or Horvath with any questions.
CONNECT WITH ZACH COLTEN zcolten@student.framingham.edu
DECEMBER 7, 2018
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By Brennan Atkins & Noah Barnes Entertainment Correspondents “Creed II” is the second movie of the “Rocky” spinoff series directed by Steven Caple Jr. Michael B. Jordan returns as Adonis Creed, Sylvester Stallone reprises his role as the Rocky Balboa, Tessa Thompson as Bianca, Dolph Lundgren as Ivan Drago and Florian Munteanu as Viktor Drago. The first “Creed” movie had a lot to live up to, as the “Rocky” franchise is one that is near and dear to many, and a follow up film to the already large collection had some fans worried that it wouldn't deliver. Then it did. The same goes for the sequel of “Creed,” as perhaps this boxer was a one-trick pony. Then it did it again. The sequel to “Creed” takes old rivalries to new heights, and introduces a past foe from the “Rocky” series - Ivan Drago. Ivan killed Apollo Creed, Adonis’ father, in the ring under the coaching of Rocky Balboa. Rocky would go on to de-
Mars
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grasp the English language. She relied on math and science as “a universal language that I could understand - even if I was reading them in English and thinking in Spanish,” she said. After her graduation from Smith College, Yari became a systems engineer developing laser communications technology. R. Daniel said a question he often asked himself as a child was, “How do I get into space?” For him, the answer was through the military. He joined the National Guard and worked on computer, telephone, satellite and radio communications. “I wanted to be an astronaut and communications was one way to get into it,” he said. NASA often recruits new astronauts through the military - that's how he would "get into space." Until Mars One came along. Both R. Daniel and Yari were immediately interested in the prospect of a permanent, manned mission to Mars. According to Yari, applications to join the crew of the first settlement opened in 2013 with the one requirement being the applicant must be 18 or older. At that time, 200,000 applications were com-
feat Ivan, and put the rivalry to rest. The sequel gives us a full perspective of how much that rivalry affected Drago’s life. Ivan Drago is seen as a failure to his nation, and his wife even leaves him due to the shame he brought on his family. Ivan raises his son, Viktor, to be a boxing machine. All Viktor knows is how to fight, and all he does is train for the sole purpose of taking down Adonis Creed to claim the heavyweight championship and make Mother Russia, and his daddy, proud. Viktor Drago has established himself as one of the most well-written "Rocky" antagonists, and you understand where he is coming from. He’s never made anyone proud, and it seems like this is the one chance for him to do so. He’s a quiet individual, and Caple does a great job of making the audience empathize with him. Creed still has some of his rash personality from the first film, but that quickly subsides and we learn what Creed is really fighting for. His major character flaw in this film is what killed his father in the pleted from candidates on all seven continents. As of today, the candidate pool has been whittled down to 100, including Yari and R. Daniel. Now married, R. Daniel and Yari met through the Mars One program, and while they’d love to go together, they are not guaranteed to both be selected. R. Daniel said, “The selection committee is looking for individuals who work well on a team.” And while Yari and R. Daniel are themselves a hardworking team, there could be more well-suited applicants in the pool. Through and through, the Golden-Castaños remain confident. Both Yari and R. Daniel’s expertise in communication will come in handy on the red planet. A technology similar to the laser communication Yari has been working on will be implemented. Here on Earth, we can send and receive emails practically instantly. However, because of the distance between Earth and Mars, sending a message could take anywhere between 5 and 40 minutes, depending on the orbital positions of the two planets. In the coming months, the remaining 100 applicants will be grouped into 10 groups of 10 to go through a set of both physical and psychological challenges. From there, Mars One will select the first four-person crew of two men and
“Rocky” series - he can’t decline a fight. Rocky is still Rocky, and that’s perfectly fine. He has a subplot all about family that doesn’t feel tacked on. This movie manages to raise the stakes even higher somehow, and that’s exactly what a sequel should do. The use of storytelling through visuals rather than dialogue is exceptional. For instance, the cold bleak streets of Russia fit Viktor perfectly, while the bright yellow desert of LA fits Adonis. There are some subplots involving Adonis and others that don’t quite fit, but certainly not enough to hinder the enjoyment of the film. As to be expected, as they are in most “Rocky” films, the choreography of the fights is stellar. If you like the first “Creed” movie, you’ll love seeing him in the ring again.
ARTS & FEATURES | 15
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures
Grade: B+
It's a knockout.
CONNECT WITH BRENNAN ATKINS AND NOAH BARNES batkins@student.framingham.edu nbarnes@student.framingham.edu
Andrew Willoughby / THE GATEPOST Yari and R. Daniel Golden-Castaño are both candidates for the Mars One mission.
two women who are projected to U.S. Military, R. Daniel said he’s land on mars in 2032, followed by OK with the idea of not coming back to Earth. “The whole fact that another four-person crew in 2034. R. Daniel said before they land on I might die as part of this doesn’t Mars, unmanned robots and rovers even bother me. I drive in Massawill land and set up the colonies - chusetts.” Yari said she’s ready to “donate living quarters, food storage, spare part storage and water purification my life to science. I want to be a Guinea pig. supplies. “By the time we go, we’ll be in Once there, the Martians will our 40s. We’d have already lived grow radishes, beans, spinach and potatoes. “Just like Mark Watney,” our lives here on Earth. We’re ready for the next phase of our life - on R. Daniel joked. The Mars One mission will be a Mars.” one-way trip. Once R. Daniel and Yari land on Mars, it’ll become CONNECT WITH ANDREW WILLOUGHBY their permanent home. Having already served in the awilloughby@student.framingham.edu
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16 | ARTS & FEATURES
ACROSS 1. Purina dog food brand 5. Searches (through) 10. Potter’s medium 14. Wild hog 15. Domed home 16. “Fingers crossed” sentiment 17. Trac II razor successor 18. Was able to 19. Guitars, to guitar players 20. Kitchen chopping spot 23. Sanctuary 24. When spring begins 27. ___ Lingus 28. Response to a punch in the gut 31. Mothers in stables 33. Hosp. staffers 35. Common potato container, once 37. Boxer known as “The Greatest” 38. Potato gadget 39. Pronoun for a doe 40. Tire-changing aid 43. Enjoy some Wrigley’s
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THE GATEPOST 44. Snazzy 45. Inquire 46. Mom’s forte, briefly 47. Beg 49. Horse handlers 52. Tighten one’s belt, or what the answers to 20-, 35- and 40-Across literally do 56. Jewelry box? 59. Washington neighbor 60. Scottish hillside 61. Clickable image 62. Backs of necks 63. Where el sol rises 64. Smartphone message 65. It bought Sears in 2005 66. Take five, or take ten DOWN 1. Addis ___, Ethiopia 2. Meditation position 3. One always looking for a good time 4. Soothsayers 5. Command to an attack dog 6. “Young Frankenstein” character with the line “What hump?” 7. Blow, as one’s lines 8. Turnpike fee 9. City burned in Genesis 10. Spiritual centers, in yoga 11. Salmon on a bagel 12. Long-armed swinger 13. Affirmative response 21. “Ben-___” 22. Kid’s summer destination 25. Short, intensive instruction 26. Anne of “Donnie Brasco” 28. Board for a seance 29. Black-and-white giants in the sea 30. Little bit of color 32. Distort, as facts 33. Research sites 34. Like juicy cherries 35. “It’s c-c-cold!” 36. Lost item in an Indiana Jones film 41. Gift 42. Coup d’___ 43. Wallop 46. Syllable before “la la” 48. Martini or mai tai 49. Scrooge visitor
DECEMBER 7, 2018
50. Exams for future docs 51. Sport where “Pull!” is heard 53. Red-wrapped cheese 54. Cantina bite 55. “Moonstruck” Oscar winner 56. Plop down on a pouf, say 57. King topper 58. Sly critter
Puzzle solutions are now exclusively online! Scan the QR code or visit fsugatepost.com/category/puzzle-answers
THE GATEPOST
DECEMBER 7, 2018
SPORTS | 17
SPORTS Men’s Basketball drops back-to-back home games
Ashley Wall / THE GATEPOST Khaneil Bruce gives his teammates high fives as he heads to the bench for a breather. Bruce is averaging 6.4 points per game and 4.6 rebounds this season for the Rams.
By Patrick Peterson Staff Writer The Framingham State Rams opened the month of December with a 79-61 home loss to the visiting Suffolk University Rams. The Framingam Rams were led by Emmanuel Payton, who scored a game-high 19 points to go along with five rebounds in 37 minutes. Framingham also received contributions from Charles Valbrun and Trevor Manyak, who each scored nine points off the bench in the loss. Suffolk took an early lead, outscoring Framingham 44-22 in the first half. The visitors were incredibly efficient, shooting 62.5 percent from the field and 46.7 percent on 3-pointers in the half. Meanwhile, Framingham made just 32 percent of their attempts and did not make a single 3-pointer. Framingham greatly improved their shooting in the second half, going 3-for-5 from 3-point range and shooting 50 percent from the field. They also increased their effort on defense, turning the ball over eight times while recording three steals as well as three blocks, two of which came from forward Khaneil Bruce. Framingham’s 39 second-half points proved not to be enough as the team fell to 1-5 on the season.
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The Rams suffered their sixth straight loss of the season on Tuesday to the visiting WPI Engineers by a final score of 70-61. Tyri Hampton led the team with 16 points and posted a double-double in 35 minutes of action. Leading scorer Emmanuel Payton contributed to the offense with 13 points and three rebounds, while Charles Valbrun provided a spark off the bench, notching seven points and seven rebounds in the losing effort. It was another poor shooting performance for the Rams as they shot 39.7 percent from the field and 21.4 percent from 3-point range. WPI’s numbers were not significantly better, shooting 43.9 percent from the field and 26.3 percent from 3, but their effort defensively resulted in 22 Framingham turnovers. Despite trailing for much of the game, the Rams made things interesting late in the second half. A basket by Payton brought the game within a single score, but the Engineers answered immediately with a 3-point dagger to seal the victory. The loss dropped the Rams to 1-6 on the season.
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CONNECT WITH PATRICK PETERSON ppeterson1@student.framingham.edu
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18 | SPORTS
Ferr or Foul
The Redskins should “Just Do It” By Matt Ferris Sports Editor During the offseason, the Washington Redskins made the biggest splash in the NFL by acquiring Alex Smith in a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs. Smith hadn’t really put up the best stats this year, but he never really does. What’s most important is wins, and that is exactly what he did for the Redskins this year. He had Washington in a terrific place to make the playoffs and actually do some damage in the postseason, but tragedy struck in Week 11. While playing the Washington Redskins, Smith was sacked and gruesomely snapped his leg, ending his 2018 season. Colt McCoy, Smith’s backup, came into the game and played well, giving Redskins’ fans hope that their season was still salvageable. But just last week against the Eagles, McCoy suffered a similar injury to Smith, as he also broke his leg, leaving the Redskins depleted at the quarterback position. The Redskins turned to Mark Sanchez to finish the Eagles’ game, and he could not muster any offense, resulting in a loss for Washington. Now at 6-6 and just a game behind the Cowboys for the division lead, the Redskins still have a very good chance to make the playoffs and contend for a Super Bowl title... but not with Mark Sanchez at the helm. Which brings me to the question of, “Which quarterbacks are available in free agency?” There is only one notable name still available in free agency: Colin Kaepernick. After the Week 13 loss to the Eagles, Redskins’ Head Coach Jay Gruden came out and said the team was indeed looking at Kaepernick as an option but quickly said it was unlikely because of the timing. He said, “There’s not a lot of time to get a brand-new QB and a system installed and taught.” But this argument does not make a lot of sense because the team literally just brought in Sanchez a week prior to him getting snaps. On top of this, you need another quarterback to bring in as at least the backup, and he will also have to learn a brand new system. Kaepernick also wouldn’t have to learn a ton. The offense Gruden runs in Washington is quite similar to the system Jim Harbaugh ran in San Francisco when Kaepernick was the starter. While some might say, “Kaepernick hasn’t played in a while,” or “He will be too rusty,” this is irrelevant because he has been training and preparing for an NFL comeback. These arguments might have been better suited for Sanchez, who the Redskins chose to sign. While Sanchez has been on NFL rosters, he hasn’t played in a game since 2016, which just happens to be the same year Kaepernick last played. In fact, Kaepernick’s last touchdown pass in the NFL is more recent then Sanchez’s. The move to neglect Kaepernick proves why the Washington Redskins haven’t won a playoff game in almost 13 years not to mention a Super Bowl in nearly 30. But one thing is certain: Kaepernick is the best man for the job. He would be a huge improvement over Sanchez at quarterback and give the Redskins a chance to win a Super Bowl this season. Washington should take a page out of Nike’s book and “Just Do It.”
CONNECT WITH MATT FERRIS mferris2@student.framingham.edu
@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com
DECEMBER 7, 2018
THE GATEPOST
Women’s Basketball cruises to two straight wins By Liam Gambon Asst. Sports Editor On Saturday, Dec. 1, the Framingham State Rams took on Maine-Augusta in the consolation round of the Ed Hockenbury Classic. Framingham controlled the pace of the first quarter, outscoring Augusta 21-11. The Rams’ key to success in the opening quarter was their solid shooting from the 3-point line. Framingham shot 5-for-11 from 3-point range. Mary Kate O’Day shot 2-for-4 from beyond the arch and collected eight points to go along with her four rebounds. Emily Velozo pitched in with five points and an assist. The second quarter was even more dominant for the Rams, as they outscored the Moose 22-8 to go into the half up 43-19. Tiphani Harris led the way in the quarter with eight points and two rebounds. Abbey Battaini came off the bench and scored six points to go along with four rebounds. Framingham pressed their lead even further against Augusta in the remaining two quarters, outscoring the Moose 35-24 to win the game 78-43. Battaini led the Rams in scoring on the game with 14 points on 50 percent shooting. She also came away with eight rebounds. O’Day followed Battaini with 12 points, seven rebounds, and three steals. Harris came away with 10 points and six rebounds. Liana Cunningham contributed in multiple ways for the Rams as she came away with six points, five rebounds, four steals, and three assists. The Rams’ key to victory was their ball movement as they came away with 14 assists, while the Moose came away with just two.
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On the following Tuesday, the Rams took on Becker in an away matchup. In the first quarter Becker scored first, but the Rams responded by going on a 12-0 run. Becker closed the gap before the Rams went on another run as they closed the opening quarter with a 7-2 run to take a 24-10 lead. O’Day and Velozo led the Rams in the opening quarter with eight points each. The Rams and the Hawks had a very even-scoring second quarter, as the Rams scored 13 and the Hawks scored 12. Framingham took a 37-22 lead into halftime. The Rams maintained their lead throughout the thrid quarter, outscoring Becker 21-19. O’Day collected nine points and shot a perfect 4-for-4 from the field. In the final quarter, the Hawks made a push, outscoring Framingham 20-14, but they came up short as the Rams earned a 72-61 victory. O’Day led the Rams with a game-high 21 points on 50-percent shooting. O’Day also came away with four rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Velozo dropped in 18 points, along with five assists, four rebounds, and three steals. Bryanna Santos came off the bench and delivered 12 points, four rebounds, two assists, a block, and a steal for the Rams. Harris scored 11 points to go along with five rebounds, two assists, a steal, and a block. Cunningham came away with a game-high five steals. The Rams’ exceptional shooting was a major key to the win, as they shot over 50 percent from the field as a team. With the win, the Rams improve to 4-2 on the season.
FRAMINGHAM STATE BECKER
CONNECT WITH LIAM GAMBON lgambon1@student.framingham.edu
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THE GATEPOST
DECEMBER 7, 2018
Players of the week
SPORTS | 19
Hockey’s struggles continue By Matt Ferris Sports Editor
fsurams.com
Mary Kate O’Day scored 21 points on 50 percent shooting in Women’s Basketball’s win over Becker.
fsurams.com
Emily Velozo scored 18 points to go along with five assists and four rebounds in Women’s Basketball’s victory over Becker.
On Thursday, Nov. 29, the Rams traveled to Plymouth State to take on the Panthers in a conference game. Plymouth wasted no time, scoring in the first two minutes of play. Quinn Carroll fired a shot into the net from the slot to make it 1-0. Midway through the first, the Panthers struck again. While on the power play, Victor Bergstrom gathered a rebound and snuck it into the net to make it 2-0. Just a minute later, Carroll scored his second goal of the game. Again, he fired a wrist shot into the goal to make it 3-0. JR Barone extended the Panthers’ lead late in the first period to make it 4-0. Just before the end of the period, the Rams finally broke through to cut into the Panthers’ lead. Michael Gennello ripped a shot past the Panthers’ goalie to make it 4-1. Early in the second, the Panthers extended their lead to make it 5-1. Ryan Stevens took a pass from Matt Volonnino and scored with ease. The Rams responded late in the period with back-to-back goals, to cut the Panthers’ lead to 5-3 heading into the second intermission. The first came off the stick of Walker Hamilton from the blue line, and the second came on the power play as Ryan Paul fired the puck into the net. The third period did not go the Rams’ way, as they were outscored 3-0, earning the Panthers an 8-3 victory. Framingham was outshot 53-17 in the game. Greg Harney and Adam Calabrese split time in net for the Rams, making 25 and 20 saves, respectively. With the loss, the Rams drop to 1-7-1 on the season.
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In the final game of the first half of the season, the Rams hosted Salem State in a conference game on Dec. 1. After a scoreless first period, the Rams got on the board early in the second. Brenden Williams took a pass from Soren Colstrup and one-timed a shot into the net to make it 1-0. Midway through the second, the Vikings responded to knot the game at 1. Derek Scoggins scored off assists from Jimmy Currier and Parker Wood. The Vikings scored again just under two minutes later to take a 2-1 lead. Billy Falter ripped a shot into the net on a breakaway. Connor Irving added to the Vikings’ lead midway through the third period. The goal came off assists from Currier and Wood to make it 3-1. The Rams cut into their deficit just a minute later to make it 3-2. Matt Siegel gathered a loose puck in the offensive zone and ripped a shot into the net. Framingham’s comeback fell just short as they were unable to muster any more offense. Harney started in net and played the whole game. He made 25 saves on the day. Salem State outshot the Rams 28-23. Framingham was unable to convert on any of their power play chances as they went 0-for-6 in the game. With the loss, the Rams have now dropped four straight games and fall to 1-8-1 on the year. The Rams have the rest of December off and will return to action on Jan. 5 against Western New England.
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CONNECT WITH MATT FERRIS mferris2@student.framingham.edu
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Emannuel Payton scored 19 points and grabbed five rebounds in Men’s Basketball’s loss to Suffolk. Corey McFeeley/ THE GATEPOST Ryan McDonough skates by the Rams’ bench on his way to the offensive zone.
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20 | PHOTOS
THE GATEPOST
DECEMBER 7, 2018 Corey McFeeley/THE GATEPOST
The Framingham State University Dance Team presents...
Dances were performed by members of the dance team, the Fusion dance team, and special guest performances by past team members.
On Dec 6 and Dec 8, members of the dance team performed for FSU students and family.
Photographs by Ashley Wall/The Gatepost
Fifty percent of all proceeds and donations made at both shows will be going to the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI).
FRAMINGHAM STATE UNIVERSITY’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1932 | FSUGATEPOST.COM