February 12, 2021

Volume 89 • Issue 14

FSUgatepost.com

February 12, 2021

A deep freeze we can all get behind

Donald Halsing / THE GATEPOST

On a cold, snowy Feb. 11, FSU’s electronic sign along Rt. 9 announces undergraduate tuition freeze.

FSU and MassBay Community College partner on transfer initiative

By Dan Fuentes Asst. News Editor Framingham State University and MassBay Community College were selected for a new Equity Transfer Initiative (ETI) partnership.

The ETI is a partnership between community and four-year colleges to help increase the transfer rates of underrepresented students from two-year to four-year colleges, according to the American Association for Community Colleges’ (AACC) website.

Sixteen partnerships from 13 states representing 17 community colleges and 19 universities were se-

lected, according to the AACC website.

The ETI program will last two years and will award up to $27,500 to fund partnerships, according to a Jan. 28 FSU press release.

According to the program grant proposal, the aim of the ETI is to “create and/or expand transfer pathways through an equity lens for African American, Hispanic, and first-generation learners that lead to degrees in high-demand occupations with family-sustaining wages.”

Martha Parham, senior vice president public relations for the AACC, said the underrepresented students are those who “are not completing

transfer at the same rate as white students.

“Colleges that are participating in the Equity Transfer Initiative will be doing a very deep dive into their processes, their policies, and their practices to really look at where the barriers are and work to eliminate them,” she added.

LaDonna Bridges, FSU’s associate dean of academic success and director of CASA, said, “The intention is that we tie our services more closely together, so that it feels like there’s a handoff from one organization to the other.”

See TRANSFER INITIATIVE page 4

Porsha Olayiwola, an accomplished poet from Boston, shared her poetry during a Center for Inclusive Excellence event via Zoom Feb. 4.

Olayiwola is a writer, educator, and performer as well as an MFA candidate at Emerson College and an artistic director at MassLEAP, a literary youth organization.

She discussed how COVID-19 had impacted her ability to recite her poems and how she was excited to share, despite the event being held over Zoom.

Olaywiola said her father was de-

ported when she was a child - an incident she touches upon in one of her poems.

“Had My Parents Not Been Separated After My Father’s Traffic Stop, Arrest and Deportation” is about what her childhood would have looked like had her father not been deported.

Olayiwola said the poem is “grounding” for her.

The poem includes examples of activities Olayiwola, her brother, and her father would have done had he not been deported such as watching movies starring Eddie Murphy, pitchingtents, and riding bikes.

“We might all be sitting about the

SGA pg. 3 CHILEMASS pg. 4

Opinions

STUDENTS DESERVE A BREAK, TOO pg. 6 FIRE IN A MOVIE THEATER pg. 6

Porsha the poet stuns FSU

By Caroline Gordon Photos Editor

News

pink kitchen table with the white legs / my father, a taxi driver, might have come home late in the evening with two large chuck steaks bloodied, red, fresh, best he could bring / he might have seasoned the meat, his thick brown hands gently letting loose salt how god did earth / he might lay a sheet of cayenne over the flesh - a homeland conquered by sun, a fire gouged between cheeks, eyes watering a flag of surrender / my father might have survived the night to serve us,” Olayiwola said.

She also touched upon the potential of her parents’ relationship had her father not been deported.

See PORSHA OLAYIWOLA page 9

Sports

The Gatepost Archives HOCKEY pg. 8

Arts & Features DISENCHANTMENT pg. 10 BLACK HISTORY MONTH pg. 11

INSIDE: OP/ED 6 • SPORTS 8 • ARTS & FEATURES 9

NEWS

2 | FEBRUARY 12, 2021

Editorial Board

Gatepost Interview Lori Lavigne

Editor-in-Chief Ashley Wall Associate Editors Donald Halsing Cara McCarthy News Editor Leighah Beausoleil Asst. News Editors Dan Fuentes Ashlyn Kelly Arts & Features Editors Brennan Atkins Jared Graf Opinions Editor McKenzie Ward Asst. Opinions Editor Emily Rosenberg Design Editor Kathleen Moore Photos Editor Caroline Gordon Sports Editor Danielle Achin Staff Writers Maia Almeida James Barraford Patrick Brady Steven Bonini Haley Hadge Branden LaCroix Caroline Lanni Lydia Staber Advisor Dr. Desmond McCarthy Asst. Advisor Elizabeth Banks

Assistant Director of the Honors Program and Chair of the Accounting, Economics, and Finance Department

By Haley Hadge Staff Writer What is your role at FSU and what does your job entail?

I’m a professor in the department of accounting, economics and finance. ’m also the chair of the department, and the assistant director of the honors program. As a professor, I teach courses, but as department chair, I am responsible for more of the administrative roles for the department. I schedule courses, help with registration or advising, and I also do a lot of advising and hiring of faculty.

Those are my main roles and I’m kind of like the face of the department. I’m at most of the orientations and accepted student days. As assistant director of the honors program, I assist Dr. Bruno [Paul Bruno, director of the honors program] running courses in the honors program.

Usually setting up some of the extracurricular activities, which are limited now, but right now, we’re doing trivia. We’re actually going to hire someone to do a fancy trivia this semester. Typically, it’s like planning a volunteer activity for the honors program, or helping set up the first year retreat things li e that.

What is your educational and professional background?

I went to college at Lafayette College, and I majored in economics and math.

After that, I went to grad school at SUNY Binghamton, and I got my Ph.D. and master’s. My Ph.D. is in economics, and then I came to Framingham State.

What do you like most about working with students?

Our students come from really diverse and interesting backgrounds and I love learning about where they came from, what passions they have and what they want to do, what makes them tick, and how they want to succeed. I like figuring out the best way to hel them do that, which is a lot of advising. Asking questions like, “What do you want to do?” “What’s your passion and how can we help you achieve that?” I know Framingham State is considered a small school, but my college was only a little o er , students. So, find Framingham State has a more diverse student body. I like that it is diverse.

What would students be surprised to learn about you?

I have a terrible love for reality TV. I love “Southern Charm” and “Summer-

Courtesy of Framingham State house.” The more mindless, the better because I usually just watch it before bed, and I need something to clear my mind. I am also a runner. I’ve done a few marathons. So, that’s the other thing I kind of like to do on my own time - just go out for a run.

What are some of your hobbies?

I would say running. I also really like to hike. I have two pretty young kids, and especially now, we sometimes just need to get out of the house, so we like to put them in the backpacks and go for a hike. I also really like good doughnuts.

I don’t know if that counts as a hobby, but not Dunkin’ Donuts. There’s a place in Westborough called Broncos Doughnuts, a good gourmet doughnut I really like.

How has COVID-19 impacted your job?

I think for everyone it’s been a change. he biggest change at first was being home with everybody all the time.

I have a 1- and a 3-year-old, so trying to teach a course with two children in the house, even if someone else is watching them, is difficult. y biggest change is teaching online. I’ve never taught a day course online before - I’ve always taught in erson. ’m definitely the ind of rofessor who likes to have conversations, and not that you can’t do that on Zoom, but it changes the way you teach a little bit - like writing on the board, talking,

and having students ask questions. So, it has changed the way I teach mostly, and also as Chair, usually I’m in my office and students o in and out, and obviously, that doesn’t happen, either.

So, more is done on Zoom.

What advice do you have for FSU students?

I would say, take advantage of all of the different opportunities in college - whether those are clubs, internships, independent studies with professors, or research with professors. All of those things hel you define and figure out what you love and what you want to do.

And then, this is a little bit of a weird piece of advice given COVID, but the only thing I regret not doing in college was studying abroad for a semester. So, I always tell students to find a way. went abroad for a summer, but in hindsight, I wish I’d done a whole semester. I always try to tell students to take advantage of the ability to travel as a student. It’s such a great time to travel. Maybe a semester doesn’t work for you, but make sure to take a course where you do travel or travel over the summer, or whatever you’re comfortable with. There’s no other time in your life you can up and move to a different country and learn the culture and the language.

CONNECT WITH HALEY HADGE hhadge@student.framingham.edu

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FEBRUARY 12, 2021 | 3

SGA plans a resolution for the Student Services Center

By Leighah Beausoleil News Editor

By Haley Hadge Staff Writer During its meeting Feb. 9, SGA discussed difficulties with the Student Ser ices Center (SSC) on the fifth floor of the cCarthy Center caused

by COVID-19 safety protocols that include decreased staffing.

President Olivia Beverlie asked SGA members for help planning the resolution that will be sent to the SSC. The resolution draft will be written up, and then a vote will take place during the next SGA meeting.

Beverlie said the SSC has been an issue for many students due to its COVID-19 safety protocols.

She added the room that houses the Registrar, Financial Aid, and Student ccounts offices can only ha e one staff person at a time.

“That’s problematic because that one person does not actually know everything about each [of the] three offices,” e erlie said.

She added the offices are no longer taking phone calls - only emails.

“They’re not forwarding their phone calls,” Beverlie said. “So, I know that people have been frustrated with that because sometimes, you just want to talk to a person and you can’t get that.”

Beverlie added the Dean of Students ffice and the Paul . ur hy rooms have been offered to SSC for use, but they have declined.

“They could have people in person that could be a resource for students,” she said. “You should be able to go there and get help - no matter what.”

Beverlie said recommending SSC to use these rooms will be their focus for this resolution, but she asked SGA members what else could be recommended if SSC does not agree to it. e erlie led with the first suggestion: “They should take on the responsibility of being able to do each other’s jobs.”

If this is also dismissed, she said, “They should at least be able to collect paperwork and put it somewhere.”

Secretary Lexi Kays raised a possible complication - whether the SSC staff members are union workers. She added they may not be able to take on each other’s work, and “that might have to be a bigger conversation with the union.”

Senator Samuel Houle asked if SSC has the capability to forward their calls. e erlie confirmed that other cam us offices such as the Health and ellness Center and the ffice of Stu-

Weather

dent Involvement and Leadership Development are able to.

Senator Emma Sullivan asked if the hours of operation for the different SSC offices are a ailable on the website, or if it is just a “gamble” of who will be in.

Beverlie said that these times are posted on their website, but “a lot of people obviously don’t know about that. hey’ll ust go u to the office, and expect that someone can be there to help them, and that’s where they’re running into issues.”

If a student’s schedule does not match with the posted times, they are left with no other options, Beverlie said.

Sullivan asked if SSC’s current location is permanent or temporary due to COVID-19.

Beverlie said, “I think we should recommend it as a permanent move.

“I do think something needs to be done ermanently about that office because it’s a consistent issue,” she added. “It’s just being exacerbated due to the pandemic.”

Senator Raffi El houry suggested a lock box to make students feel more comfortable leaving their papers with the office.

He said, “If you have something that you need to give to the registrar, then if there’s somebody from finance there, then you can just put it in the box, and then when they show up, they can look through the box, take out all the papers, and do what they need to do with them.”

SGA Advisor Sara Gallegos confirmed that SSC is currently using a lock box system. She said, “That’s one thing that they did come up with as a solution during all of this - that was a big move.”

Concluding the discussion, Beverlie added, “We’re customers in this. We are paying for this service. You should be able to go to them with this.”

SGA moved on to project brainstorming and funding projects. Beverlie said, “We have probably around $50,000 to $60,000 that we have not spent.”

If SGA does not spend this balance within the current fiscal year, it will be placed into the organization’s “reserves account,” Beverlie said. “Once [it is in] our reserves account, we cannot touch it.”

She added, “This is money that you guys, as students, are paying for.”

Beverlie said when COVID-19 began last year, there was extra money left over then as well, and “we started spending it on projects and programs for this year.”

In an article published by The Gatepost April 17, the following projects

Sunday night Feb. 14 Mostly cloudy. Low near 20. Light NW wind.

Monday night Feb. 15 40% chance of snow.

Mostly cloudy. Low near 15. N winds around 5 mph.

Monday Feb. 15 Partly sunny. High near 30. NW winds around 5 mph.

Tuesday Feb. 16 70% chance of snow.

Cloudy. High near 30.

NE winds around 5 mph.

were reported as receiving funding: additional lighting and blue lights, furniture in the Student Veterans Center, renovations of the Center for Inclusive Excellence (CIE) in O’Connor Hall, a contribution for new equipment for the gym in the Athletic Center, water bottle filling stations, furniture in Club Room Two, and a donation to the Rams Resource Center.

SGA is sponsoring the showing of the movie “Women at War” for the Arts & Ideas Series, allocating $1,000 for movie rights, said Beverlie. The movie will be available to view for 24 hours and will be followed by a discussion.

SGA also distributed some of their funds for locks for campus club rooms, she said. “Before the lockers, [the club rooms] were kind of left to just die.”

Beverlie said accessibility on camus, s ecifically in Peirce Hall, will receive some of the club’s funds.

This may include the addition of an elevator or ramp - though it is currently unclear if the building’s structural integrity could support an elevator, she said.

In addition, SGA might work with the office of orretta Holloway, ice president of enrollment and student development, to translate part of the University’s website to Portuguese and Spanish - “making it more accessible for the local community as a whole,” said Beverlie.

The possibility of purchasing a button maker accessible to all campus clubs was suggested by Beverlie. “People love putting buttons and pins on their backpacks.”

Beverlie encouraged SGA members to email her and Kays with anything they would like to see done on campus for this month.

She added, “The only thing I will say when we’re thinking about these kinds of projects is they have to be open and accessible to all students.”

During open forum, Senator Emily Rosenberg discussed a recent TikTok video of a Framingham State Zoom class.

Rosenberg asked if University administration had done anything about the video, adding she is not comfortable knowing someone recorded a class without permission and nothing has been done about it.

“If someone recorded my class and put it on TikTok and 2 million people saw that, I would want something done about it,” she said.

As of Feb. 11, the video has received approximately 3.3 million views since its publication Feb. 4.

Beverlie said she will see what she can do in terms of bringing this to the administrators’ attention.

Following open forum, SGA swore

in Star Clarke as a new senator.

“I am really excited about Star joining,” Beverlie said. “I know she already has some great ideas.”

During her report, Student Trustee McKenzie Ward updated SGA on the most recent Board of Trustees meeting.

Ward said during the Board of Trustees meeting Holloway discussed the decline in enrollment.

“So, I met with Dr. Holloway last week to talk about different marketing ideas that the school is doing, and also different ways they’re talking to new accepted students,” she said.

Ward added Holloway and Jeremy Spencer, dean of enrollment, have been hosting bi-weekly meetings on Wednesday nights with accepted students.

She said, “I decided to start going to those so that students can have a student perspective of what it’s like to be a student - academically, but also socially.”

Ward said Administrators’ Forum will take place “hopefully” on March 23 at 7:30 p.m. on Zoom.

During her President’s Report, Beverlie reminded SGA members that Stuff-a-Ram, an event co-sponsored with the Student Union Activities Board, will take place on Friday, Feb. 12 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. This event will be in person in the Game Room located in the McCarthy Center.

Beverlie asked for volunteers to help with this event and to put together COVID-19 care bags.

She said the plan is to hand these bags out during testing Feb. 22 and 23, but if she does not get enough volunteers, it will have to be postponed.

At the close of her report, Beverlie said, “The last thing I just wanted to say is that I appreciate you all profusely. Thank you for listening to me, although I do think one thing that’s been lacking is our appreciation for each other this year.”

She added to change this lack of appreciation, SGA will be doing a virtual “U-Rock” award.

Senator Hillary Nna was the recipient of this week’s “U-Rock.”

[Editor’s Note: McKenzie Ward is Opinions Editor for The Gatepost, and Emily Rosenberg is Asst. Opinions Editor for The Gatepost.]

CONNECT WITH LEIGHAH BEAUSOLEIL lbeausoleil@student.framingham.edu CONNECT WITH HALEY HADGE hhadge@student.framingham.edu

Forecast provided by the National Weather Service www.weather.gov Tuesday night Feb. 16 Wednesday night Feb. 17 50% chance of snow.

Mostly cloudy. Low near Mostly cloudy. Low 15. Light NW wind. near 15. NE winds around 5 mph.

Wednesday Feb. 17 Partly sunny. High near 30. W winds around 5 mph.

Thursday Feb. 18 30% chance of snow and sleet. Mostly cloudy.

High near 30. Light and variable wind.

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NEWS

4 | FEBRUARY 12, 2021

FSU enters agreement with ChileMass to provide support for educators

By Dan Fuentes Asst. News Editor FSU and ChileMass are working together to create an educational program that will support and improve the linguistic and pedagogical skills of Chilean educators during the 2021 calendar year.

According to its mission statement, ChileMass is a non-profit organization dedicated to the sharing of technology and knowledge between the country of Chile and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to improve the quality of life of people in both areas.

Ten kindergarten through 12 Chilean educators were selected to take part in the educational program during the spring and fall semesters of 2021.

The educators began their online intensive English language instruction in January and will move to an on-campus session in the summer or fall, when travel allows it, according to Fernanda Soza, executive director of ChileMass.

The on-campus session will consist of three components: a graduate education course, an intercultural experience course, and classroom observations in local area schools, according to an FSU press release.

Soza said, “This program started two years ago. We started with a delegation from Chile - a lot of people from the Ministry of Education, some NGOs, some public and private universities - to visit Boston because we were thinking of creating a program to benefit teachers.”

She added, “We really liked the welcoming experience from the University, so that’s why we started the

conversation with Framingham, and started developing the project.”

A pilot program ran at the beginning of 2020 for two months that allowed two Chilean educators to stay in the dorms at FSU, spend time with the community, and participate in those program’s educational initiatives to improve their linguistic and pedagogical skills, according to Soza.

According to the Director of Community Education and English Language Programs, Rebecca Hawk, the Chilean educators “were raving about the language instruction they received here at FSU.” Soza said, “They had a really good experience, and they loved the University, the food, the professors, the whole community.”

The two educators in the pilot program took English language courses and shadowed classes at Framingham Public Schools, according to Soza.

The Chilean educators were placed in programs by Glenda Espinoza, department head of the secondary twoway bilingual program at Framingham Public Schools.

Espinoza said, “They either observe classes or they teach something from Chile - it’s a cultural exchange.

“The program is bilingual, and the students are learning Spanish,” she added. “It’s a great experience to have native speakers in the classroom.”

Soza said their experience at Framingham Public Schools was really good for them because they realized that here, teachers are doing things completely differently. “They learned a new way of creating or developing their classes.”

Espinoza said learning in Chile is more “rigid,” more European, but the American way is more focused on the

student.

The pilot program ended and the educators returned to Chile on March 13, two days before Gov. Charlie Baker announced the temporary closing of schools in Massachusetts.

As a result of COVID-19, ChileMass and FSU made changes to the program, and decided to begin with the linguistic component and host it completely online, according to Hawk.

Also, the English language component of the program was adjusted down to only five weeks for the cohort of Chileans who participated during this past January, according to Soza.

She said the educators took intensive, synchronous English language courses for three hours a day with homework, and “it was very, very demanding.”

English department head of her school in Chile, Camila Ruz, was one of the 10 educators who participated in the program for the last five weeks.

Ruz said she took two courses during her time remote learning - one to develop written English academic skills and a public speaking course.

Hawk said, “They are taking what they learned to really encourage their country to make changes that are fostering better communication, better problem-solving skills, better education for their kids.”

Ruz said she’s been working on her digital literacy, and will be “bringing this digital literacy test for school teachers” back to her school in Chile with the goal of assessing “their digital competency” and identifying “gaps to make further decisions.”

The English language component of the program ended on Feb. 8, according to Soza.

According to both Soza and Ruz, these Chileans have given up five weeks of their summer holiday to improve their English language skills and bring back new knowledge to their school communities.

Ruz said it’s been a “pretty enriching” and “fruitful” five weeks.

“I’ve had the chance to meet the American education system, which is awesome,” she added. “Framingham State University has given us the attention and solutions for every problem we have faced. Awesome teachers. Wonderful lessons. So, I would say just keep on doing things in the way you are doing it right now.”

According to Soza, the in-person portion of the program has not been scheduled yet. They’re hoping for May, but depending on COVID-19, it may have to wait until September.

Espinoza said, “I only just came back to school. We don’t even have students in the classroom. September will be more realistic.”

Hawk believes the program has a global impact. “We need to be able to engage internationally in a really positive, constructive way. I feel like this is an important step toward that.”

Soza said, “A goal of the program is to create a collaborative project to improve the second language skills of teachers and students from both countries.”

She added the program is starting with Chilean teachers, but hopes “in the future we can also bring teachers from Massachusetts to learn Spanish in Chile.”

help them kind of work through a process that we’ve developed. That really is an audit of their process, and they’ll determine the best ways to to beef up their transfer pathway.”

Richard Williams, associate dean for student success at MassBay Community College, said, “Once we get together with our coach - once we get our working groups together, we sit down with FSU folks and our team.”

He added, “Once we actually get down to the work that we’re going to be doing, I think a lot of the stuff is really fluid in terms of what we might be trying to achieve.

“Within the next month, though, we’ll probably have a much better idea of what our goals are going to be, and what our activities are going to be, and how we’re going to reach our goals,” said Williams.

Parham stated these coaches are experts in community college transfer, and will deliver one-on-one attention to those partnerships.

“Equity looks and is different in different places,” she added. “We’re

really trying to provide tools so that people can identify where those gaps are, what they are, why they are, and then work toward eradicating them that’s the ultimate goal.”

Williams said, “We’ve always been concerned around equity, but it has become a real focus for us in the last few years.”

Cabello said, “I think that this was also part of a larger conversation we’re having at the University around being committed to anti-racism. Part of that is just being able to get rid of the structural and systemic racism and inequities that exist and how we are creating a more equitable community.”

FSU started a campus-wide anti-racism initiative in 2020. According to the grant proposal, that initiative is currently having a positive impact on the transfer process.

CONNECT WITH DANIEL FUENTES dfuentes@student.framingham.edu

Transfer initative continued from page 1 The ETI program focuses on computer science, nursing, STEM, education, criminology/sociology, and management pathways, according to the program’s grant proposal.

The program grant proposal lists individual careers in high demand to help give MassBay and FSU the opportunity to direct students to pathways that will result in jobs with family-sustaining wages.

At MassBay, Black/African American students make up 12.2% of the population, the Hispanic population is 17.6%, and first-generation students are 19.1%, according to the proposal.

However, over the last four academic years, the percentage of African American, Hispanic, and first-generation students transferring from MassBay to a four-year college was only 1% to 2%, according to the proposal.

Constanza Cabello, vice president of diversity, inclusion, and communi-

@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

ty engagement, said now is the time to “ramp up” those efforts to support these students.

To promote recruitment and transfer of these underrepresented populations, MassBay will make announcements in academic classes regarding the new transfer initiative and staff will highlight the benefits of transferring to a four-year college at career fairs, according to the proposal.

FSU will send students and Admissions’ staff to MassBay for informational sessions with MassBay students about transfer policies and course equivalencies, according to the proposal.

The goal of the project is to recruit and enroll at least 100 students into the aligned transfer pathways by the end of Summer 2021 and at least 300 by the program’s second year, according to the proposal.

According to Parham, each of the institutions and partnerships selected for the ETI will be receiving a transfer coach. “Those coaches will

CONNECT WITH DANIEL FUENTES dfuentes@student.framingham.edu

NEWS

FEBRUARY 12, 2021 | 5

COVID-19 by the numbers February 12, 2020

By Donald Halsing Associate Editor

By Leighah Beausoleil News Editor

By Kathleen Moore Design Editor Active COVID-19 cases worldwide decreased by almost 80,000 since last week based on data from various sources taken Feb. 10.

The number of active cases in the United States decreased by 24,000. In Massachusetts, there were 14,000 fewer active cases since last week.

Framingham State University administered 1,106 tests within the past week, and 2,723 tests within the past 30 days, according to the COVID-19 data page on the FSU website.

Two positive tests were returned within the past week, according to the page. The 7-day negative test rate was 99.82%.

One individual was isolated off campus. No people were quarantined on or off campus.

A total of 2,656 negative, and eight positive results, were returned in the past 30 days. The 30-day negative test rate was 99.7%.

Cumulatively, 6,457 Framingham residents, 9.5%, tested positive for COVID-19. The City of Framingham reported 1,201 active cases.

There were 158 new infections, 96 new recoveries, and 13 new deaths reported since Feb. 4. The number of people infected increased by 49, or 0.78%, over the past week.

Approximately 19% of those who contracted the virus remain infected.

Over 78% have recovered and approximately 3.4% have died.

The overall death rate from COVID-19 in Framingham is 0.32%.

Cumulatively, 521,045 Massachusetts residents, 7.6%, tested positive for COVID-19. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health estimates there are 50,344 active cases - 14,000 fewer than last week.

There were 16,481 new infections, 71,329 new recoveries, and 488 new deaths since Feb. 4. The number of people infected decreased by 55,336, or

Framingham

11%, over the past week.

Just over 15% of those who contracted the virus remain infected. Over 81% have recovered, and approximately 2.9% have died.

The overall death rate from COVID-19 in Massachusetts is 0.22%.

The New York Times reported that cumulatively, 924,612 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered in Massachusetts. According to the Times, 10% of the population has received at least one dose, and 3% has received two doses.

Cumulatively, 27,279,523 United States residents, 8.3%, tested positive for COVID-19. The New York Times reported 94,893 active cases - 24,000 fewer than last week.

There were 733,618 new infections, 576,820 new recoveries, and 20,911 new deaths since Feb. 4. The number of people infected grew by 135,887, or 0.5%, over the past week.

Just under 57% of those who contracted the virus remain infected. Approximately 42% of the population has recovered, and 1.7% have died.

The overall death rate from COVID-19 in the United States is 0.14%.

The New York Times reported that cumulatively, 46,390,270 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered in the United States. According to the Times, 10% of the population has received at least one dose, and 3.4% has received two doses.

Cumulatively, 107,297,808 people globally, 1.39%, tested positive for COVID-19. The New York Times reported 442,450 active cases - almost 80,000 fewer than last week.

There were 2,963,930 new infections, 2,044,577 new recoveries, and 86,504 new deaths since Feb. 4. The number of people infected grew by 832,849, or 0.8%, over the past week.

Approximately 42% of the world’s population remains infected. Just under 56% of the population has recovered and 2.2% has died.

The overall death rate from COVID-19 globally is 0.03%.

The New York Times reported that cumulatively, 151,454,183 COVID-19

vaccine doses have been administered globally.

Data sources: Framingham State University City of Framingham Mass. population: U.S. Census Bureau – QuickFacts Massachusetts U.S. and World population: U.S. Census Bureau – U.S. and World Population Clock Mass. data: WCVB Channel 5 Boston, Mass. Dept. of Public Health U.S. data: CDC, New York Times World data: WHO, Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center Recovery data: Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center Vaccination Data: New York Times *Calculations for new infections, recoveries, deaths, and infected population size change are made using both data from this week and last week’s data published in The Gatepost. New data collected Wednesday before publication.

Kathleen Moore / THE GATEPOST

Massachusetts

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OP/ED

6 | FEBRUARY 12, 2021

O P / ED THE GATEPOST EDITORIAL

Students deserve a break, too This past Tuesday, University faculty and staff took part in the semester’s first of three “Quiet Days.”

Two additional Quiet Days are scheduled for March 9 and April 13.

According to an email sent Feb. 8 by President F. Javier Cevallos, faculty and staff were encouraged to participate in Quiet Day in order to reduce stress levels.

Cevallos’ email recommended those observing Quiet Day to respond only to high-priority emails, avoid scheduling meetings, and refrain from scheduling tests or large assignments.

However, these recommendations are only encouraged and are not something that can be enforced by the University.

According to the email, the University hopes these efforts will allow for individuals to “not feel the need to keep checking emails frequently throughout the day or be glued to a long series of Zoom meetings.”

Quiet Days, however, do not entail the cancellation of classes.

Without that, who is really benefiting from these Quiet Days?

Professors are still expected to participate in Zoom or in-person courses, which contradicts the intended purpose of the day.

Quiet Days in and of themselves do the opposite of their intended purpose. Although the day is supposed to help with relaxation, professors will still be staring at Zoom screens during their classes.

If they follow the recommendations, professors will now have to play catch-up on meetings and emails at another time.

Because students are exempt from these Quiet Days, not only do they not get a break, but neither do the professors who have to teach.

Administrators and staff are the only individuals truly getting some stress relief on Quiet Days as their meetings are rescheduled and non-urgent emails avoided.

Meanwhile, professors still need to teach, and students still need to attend classes.

If the University wants to be dedicated to relieving some of the overwhelming stress our community has been under during the pandemic, it needs to extend a Quiet Day to all of us and that means cancelling classes.

In addition to not extending Quiet Days to students, the University never even told students they were happening, leaving room for confusion when professors don’t respond to student emails or reschedule non-urgent meet-

ings.

Quiet Days result in professors - who are hired to help their students succeed - becoming less accessible.

They also result in the administration becoming less accessible.

It is the responsibility of the University’s faculty and staff to be accessible to students. When the University encourages its faculty and staff to “only respond to high-priority emails,” it does a disservice to the students of the University who depend on their professors’ and administrators’ timely responses.

If the University truly wants to give its employees and students a break, it needs to realize a break for select individuals on our campus is not really a break for everyone.

Rather, students, faculty, and staff alike should all be given a Quiet Day instead of excluding students.

Students deserve a break once a month, too.

Students deserve more than just the one Spring Day the University is providing.

We understand the University is under a lot of pressure and administrators are being overworked to keep it running smoothly in the midst of a health crisis.

However, we are supposed to be a FRAMily, and we are all experiencing pressures and stress.

Although we understand why spring break was canceled, we deserve more than what we are currently given.

With the lack of days off, students are going to be burnt out by the middle of March. Some of us are already frayed and we are doing our best to make it to the end of the semester.

What are students getting out of these Quiet Days?

The University needs to acknowledge the stress of its students and incorporate us into these days as well.

Instead of focusing almost exclusively on the stress of its administrators and staff, the University needs to take the concerns of its entire community seriously and stop leaving students out of these Quiet Days.

At the very least, students deserve to know when these Quiet Days occur.

It may be a Quiet Day for administrators, faculty, and staff, but the only thing you’re silencing is students’ shouts for help.

Have an opinion?

Feel free to email it to: gatepost@framingham.edu Opinions should be about 750 words.

Anyone can submit. @TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

Shouting ‘Fire’ in a movie theater

By Emily Rosenberg Assistant Opinions Editor On Jan. 7, one day after the Capitol siege, Democrats and leftists alike rejoiced as former President Donald Trump’s Twitter account was permanently suspended from the platform after years of abusive and questionable content, while Republicans and conservatives made claims of censorship and violations of the First Amendment.

Trump’s account was banned after his failure to denounce Capitol rioters along with a tweet stating he would skip the Inauguration. Twitter stated that Trump’s tweet about the Inauguration implied election fraud and that it might incite further violence.

Following that week, U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene was suspended for 12 hours for posting a conspiracy-based thread, suggesting election fraud in Georgia.

I, along with many others, found Twitter’s motivation for censoring Greene and Trump justified during a time when the United States was under a domestic terrorist attack. It can be debated that had Trump had a platform to encourage his supporters, Inauguration Day might have gone differently. However, I’m unsure that announcing one’s wishes not to attend an Inauguration is inciting violence.

Donald Trump should have been tried and removed by Congress long before the Capitol riots. His baseless and harmful claims of election fraud threatened American Democracy and it was ultimately Congress’ responsibility to hold Trump accountable to his oath before blood was shed.

Instead, a big tech company had to remove him for them, and we all had to pay for their lazy politics in response.

Trump’s years of inflammatory tweeting and the trialless suspensions of the past month set a precedent: Americans are OK with big tech Companies limiting free speech if the speech being banned doesn’t align with their values.

If we put our trust in the hands of big tech companies to tear down misinformation without guidelines and ignore the First Amendment, what happens when leadership falls into the hands of wrong-intentioned people? Imagine tomorrow the CFO of Twitter turned Alt-Right Nazi and shut down AOC’s account for using fiery and critical language.

The line between what is true and false will no longer be set by citizens, but rather by corporate business people with motives.

Democrats were quick to say that because Twitter and other social media platforms are private companies with their own guidelines, they have no obligation to uphold the First Amendment.

Yet as communication becomes arguably entirely virtual, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and other social media platforms need to be considered as valid playing grounds for activism and open speech - and government regulation.

Had Trump not been the President of the United States, his account could have been suspended a long time ago.

While his tweets were annoying and divisive, few brought legal issues to the table. I wonder how many accounts are suspended every day for posting similar content?

You can’t scream “Fire” in a movie theatre, but you can accidentally tell your friend in private that Barack Obama was never president.

Is Marjorie Taylor Greene tweeting baseless conspiracies theories to thousands of followers the online equivalent of screaming “Fire” in a movie theater? If she were giving a verbal speech at a rally in Georgia, no one would arrest her.

Is someone in the corner of the internet sharing misinformation the equivalent of telling your friend that Barack Obama was never president? Both have the opportunity to encourage someone to lead a false truth. The former can get you marked as a potential threat, whereas government protection would ensure this mistake passed.

Despite the desire to regulate communication, Americans and other tech users need the freedom to interpret or contest language without a third party, or one day it will come back to haunt us. It must be up to the reader to determine what they should follow unless the speaker has sat in front of a judge.

There need to be clearer guidelines as to how social media companies can block and monitor speech. Social media needs to be governed as a public entity, as it has been viewed as one for the past several years.

It’s time to enforce formal legislation acknowledging the responsibility of these companies to uphold the First Amendment.

OP/ED

FEBRUARY 12, 2021 | 7

Campus Conversations

Did you watch the Super Bowl? What did you think of the Super Bowl?

By Donald Halsing, Associate Editor

“Yeah, kind of. It was good. It was interesting seeing Brady on a new team.”

“No I didn’t. I had too much homework.”

-Kennedy Sawyer, senior

“No, I did not. I was just doing homework that was pretty much it. ” -Lucas Collins, senior

“No. I don’t watch football. It’s cool to watch the commercials and everything - they’re fun, they’re nice. But, I don’t really understand football and I’m not really a big fan.”

-Nana Afiedzie, junior

“I did watch the Super Bowl. It was a good game, I thought, for Tom Brady and them.

The Chiefs were hurt, but you can’t bet against Tom Brady! That’s how I look at it. I think it’s deserved - rightfully deserved. I thought it was a good game.”

-Kim Thorpe, senior

“Yes, I did watch the Super Bowl. I don’t watch a lot of football, but it was very entertaining. We watched for Tom Brady and Gronk - we’re big fans! The Super Bowl had good commercials - and the halftime show. There’s always good food for the Super Bowl - potato skins specifically.”

-Jaylen Swan, freshman

-Kat LaCroix, freshman

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

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

8 | FEBRUARY 12, 2021

SPORTS

SP O RTS FS hoc ey team on ause due to C

By Danielle Achin Sports Editor Winter is a time to be on the ice and enjoy the cold weather. However, the season didn’t exactly turn out as expected for the Framingham State ice hockey team.

Seniors Nolan Greene and Matthew Siegel were disappointed their time skating together was cut short despite having an optimistic outlook on their season.

“We started captains’ practices about a couple weeks into school, which we paid for [ourselves], and that had been going on for about a month,” Siegel said. “We thought not hearing anything from the school was a positive, until we found out through social media the league canceled the season.” hey found it difficult to belie e their season was canceled via Twitter. “ t was retty much the nail in the coffin,” Siegel said.

“It really did happen - we were just really into it this season and we never got the opportunity as a senior class.”

Greene said, “A lot of people weren’t really happy with that. Despite being cautious with everything.”

Siegel came to FSU from Syracuse, New York and has been on the ice since he was 2 years old. He got involved in the youth hockey league when he was 4.

“My mom’s father started a hockey shop business in Syracuse, so it’s always kinda been a big part of our lives,” said Siegel.

He finished his 1 season with 5 assists, and scored 5 goals total.

Greene is from Quincy and had been skating since he was about 4 and began playing hockey around the third grade.

“I played other sports but I wasn’t very good,” Greene said. “My main focus was hockey and everything else was just for fun.”

The two men and other seniors made it a point of turning the team around for better seasons to come and were

upset they wouldn’t be able to witness the progress on the ice, but proud of the commitment the team had made to each other.

Greene said, “By last year, team stretches and workouts became mandatory. You had to eat right and we tried to make everyone feel welcome. The whole culture was different.

“I think that’s something that will carry on with the grades below us,” he added. reene finished last year’s season with a goals against a erage of . , and 1 sa es o erall.

Without funds from the school, the team is unable to schedule any ice time for ractices ma ing it difficult to see each other.

“There’s a locker room bond that’s not like any other sport in my opinion,” said Siegel. “There’s probably a minimum of a 3 minute window before or after ractice where everyone is in the same room and we’re just vibing, and that’s where you really form a brotherhood.

“This year we didn’t have that - we had to get dressed outside,” he added.

Greene said, “You miss the games, but you miss the locker room more than anything, everyone is just laughing and having a good time. No one is really on their phones.”

He added, “ hat’s definitely what miss the most.”

Finding out last year’s season would also be their final one, the men leave some words of encouragement for the grades below and future members.

“Enjoy your four years and cherish your time playing and being with the boys,” Siegel said.

“People always say it. I always thought it was a clichè, ‘You never know when your last game is gonna be.’ Well, I actually had my last game and I didnt even know it.”

Greene added, “Every moment, just enjoy it. Obviously there are gonna be times when it sucks but not in the locker room when you’re just dying laughing.”

D 1

courtesy of fsurams

Matthew Siegal | courtesy of fsurams

Nolan Grenne | courtesy of fsurams

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CONNECT WITH DANIELLE ACHIN dachin@student.framingham.edu

ARTS & FEATURES

FEBRUARY 12, 2021 | 9

ARTS & FEATURES

Porsha Olayiwola Continued from page 1 Olayiwola said the poem is “grounding” for her.

The poem includes examples of activities Olayiwola, her brother, and her father would have done had he not been deported such as watching movies starring Eddie Murphy, pitching tents, and riding bikes.

“We might all be sitting about the pink kitchen table with the white legs / my father, a taxi driver, might have come home late in the evening with two large chuck steaks bloodied, red, fresh, best he could bring / he might have seasoned the meat, his thick brown hands gently letting loose salt how god did earth / he might lay a sheet of cayenne o er the flesh a homeland con uered by sun, a fire gouged between cheeks, eyes watering a flag of surrender my father might have survived the night to serve us,” Olayiwola said.

She also touched upon the potential of her parents’ relationship had her father not been deported.

In the poem, Olayiwola provided descriptive imagery of her father jokingly wearing her mother’s dress and the family laughing about it.

The poem closed with the lines, “And my father, a man who gave like a tree, might ha e lined his fingers over my mother’s tombed heart, and swayed his hips to his cadence.”

Olayiwola discussed a manuscript she is working on that connects Black diaspora, queer sex, and water.

She said she visited her father in Lagos, Nigeria three years ago, the first time in 20 years.

Olayiwola said she asked her father to take her to a slave port, two hours from Lagos, Nigeria, which used to take slaves from Nigeria to Brazil.

She shared her experience on a tour to the slave port.

Olayiwola said the tour guide told the group the colonizers had “rootwor ers and medicine fol s” fix the water, so slaves would suffer from short-term memory loss, unable to find their way home.

She said there was a well people still do not drink from due to superstitions.

“It blew me away,” she added.

She wrote a poem titled “We Drink at the Attenuation Well,” detailing her experience at the slave port. layiwola ersonified the well within the first few lines, “ n adgary there is a hungry well of water and memory loss.”

The poem touches upon violence and how the water from the well makes

people forget the violence.

She read the closing lines of the poem which offered hope for those who lost their memories.

“In Badagry there is a heaven of people responsible for the birthright of remembering, for the well of us across a haven of water overwhelmed in un-return.”

Olayiwola shared two poems yet to be released.

She said both poems connect to her water poem. These two poems concern the black diaspora and queer intimacy.

Olayiwola said she was especially excited to share her poem on queer intimacy titled, “Bring Me the Body.”

She said the poem was called a “contrapuntal,” meaning she can read the poem three ways. It is written in two columns with one column going across the other two.

Olayiwola shared a personal anecdote on how she got the inspiration for the poem.

She said she was in the kitchen, making a sandwich, while her partner wanted to be intimate.

Olayiwola said at that moment she had to choose between “two necessary human needs.

“I conceptualized the poem right then and there,” she said. Olayiwola described the poem as being about “fatness, queer intimacy, and desire.”

She shared her next poem, “The Cops Behind Us.” he oem consisted of s ecific frican American characters who she

described as, “thick as thieves” who decided to go for “a joy ride.”

Police officers were mentioned in the poem, speaking to the police brutality against Black Americans.

Olayiwola shared another poem about her mother titled, “My Mother.”

“I used to start out every public performance with this poem because it makes me feel grounded. What a better way to start off a performance than talking about my mom?” she said.

Olayiwola said she is blessed to have a mother who is willing to grow with her. n the first lines, she described her mother as a “runaway slave, along the shore.”

The poem included her mother’s history of living in Mississippi and Chicago and her financial troubles while earning her associate’s degree in childhood education.

In the poem, Olayiwola described her mother as “the difference between ghetto and hood” and as a Christian who does not stay at church to sing because of the “shadiness going on behind the scenes.”

She said she got a commission from Netflix to write about what it meant to be a Black, queer woman right now. he oem is called, “Netflix Calls to Ask What Pride Looks Like for a Black, Queer Woman.”

Olayiwola discussed the LGBTQIA+ flag in the oem.

“Science tells us about the rainbow, if you mix all the colors refracting

Porsha Olayiwola light, the result is pure white, a pearly milk,” she said.

Olayiwola touched upon the irony of how the colors blend together to create the color of white supremacy.

The poem also includes the color black and how science has proved it was present before the other colors.

She described pride to a Black, queer woman as a parody refusing to join the fight against olice brutality.

Olayiwola then discussed Afrofuturism.

She defined frofuturism as, “art, music, thoughts, and an idea that Black folks already live a life at the intersection of sci fi and naming and owning Black stories. Afrofuturism uses magical realism and sci fi. nd, intertwining the history of the past, present, and future.”

Olayiwola closed by talking about her thoughts as a poet and how she started her career in poetry.

She said she thinks writers feel insecure about the work and said she gets outside of herself and thinks about the weight of certain things. But, ultimately, feels joy from her poetry.

Olayiwola said in high school, she had a mentor who brought her to a poetry slam. She said she left feeling “open” after a certain poem stood out to her.

“I was amazed. At that moment, the whole world stopped. I went home and wrote poems after that.”

CONNECT WITH CAROLINE GORDON cgordon@student.framingham.edu

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

10 | FEBRUARY 12, 2021

ARTS & FEATURES

University kicks off Black History Month in opening ceremony

By Caroline Gordon

Editorial Staff

Patricia Birch, director of Inclusive Excellence Initiatives, and Deron Hynes, an admissions counselor, hosted the Black History Month opening ceremony, a discussion on civil rights, and the leadership of Vice President amala Harris Feb. 1 ia oom.

Hynes, an alumnus of FSU, read a speech about Black History Month.

He discussed how the “Black awakening of the 1 6 s” ex anded the consciousness of African Americans about the importance of Black history.

Hynes noted that President Gerald R. Ford urged Americans to seize the opportunity and to honor the disregarded accomplishments of Black Americans in every area throughout human history.

“Blacks have carried the weight of

this country on their back. My ancestors came here against their will and [accomplished] momentous feats that I hope to encapsulate in my family, community, and work. All of us here now, giving honor to many that have gone before us is astounding,” Hynes said.

He continued, “As we head into a new era, I wanted to admonish, be vigilant to what has, is, and will happen in our country.”

Birch discussed how nowadays, it is easier to mobilize information quickly because of social media. She said it is in our power to control history and “write it as it is.”

She said the Civil Rights Movement and the Black Lives Matter Movement have enabled Vice President Harris to be in the position she is in today.

In regard to Harris being elected, Birch said, “I feel like a weight is lift-

ed off me.”

She added, “I felt like I was lost in these last four years.”

Birch said that as Harris was elected vice president, Black Lives Matter exists on political grounds as well.

She also said she recognizes how much pressure Harris is under as a ma or olitical figure and said she has high hopes for her.

Birch said she is also hopeful about President Joseph R. Biden and stated that he said he “would not forget the Black Americans.”

She said, “When I heard that, I thought, ‘Oh OK, I want to be invited to dinner!’”

Birch shared a quote from Harris, “Nothing that we have achieved has been about progress.”

She said Harris and a few senators initiated the HR 1 , the eorge Floyd Justice and Policing Act, which

is an approach to serve justice to police who are responsible for use of violence.

Birch wrapped up with a spoken word poem from Mia Ihegie, president of J.U.I.C.E. (Justice, Unity, Inclusion, Community, Equity).

“Us Black girls, we are always winning. We are the girls who stand tall and proud of our bold melanin standing out. The girls with full lips and wide hips that no one can resist.

Our voices loud, but our afros louder. Come on Black girls, let’s stand together. As we walk together with our heads held high, with our heads wrapped, I swear we will survive. And take whatever the world throws at us because we can do what they do as long as we focus.”

CONNECT WITH CAROLINE GORDON cgordon@student.framingham.edu

‘Disenchantment’ finds its footing

By Patrick Brady Staff Writer Netflix’s animated, medieval-themed TV show, “Disenchantment,” created by Matt Groening and Josh Weinstein, features the voices of Abbi Jacobson as Bean, Eric Andre as Luci, and Nat Faxon as Elfo.

Groening also co-created “The Simpsons” and “Futurama,” which originally aired on Fox. Bean, also known as Princess Tiabeanie, meets Luci, a demon, and Elfo, an elf, after she accidentally kills Prince Merkimer, who she was supposed to wed in an arranged marriage.

Since the first season of the show primarily focused on Bean, Luci, and Elfo’s adventures, the storyline rarely rogressed until the final two episodes. And even though the second season began as a non-episodic journey through hell, the plot stalled during the middle section of the series.

The third season was released on Netflix an. 15.

After falling into an underground world full of eerie-looking elves, Bean, Elfo, and Luci attempt to escape from Queen Dagmar - Bean’s estranged mother. While back in Dreamland - the castle in which Bean resides - Zog, Bean’s father, is trying to save himself from being murdered.

Eventually, Bean, Elfo, and Luci escape the underground world, and meet up with Zog, who ended up surviving a tragic demise.

Instead of forcing jokes upon the viewers, the third season focuses

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more on Bean, Luci, and Elfo’s adventure - while adding a few irrelevant gags into the mix. This makes for a more enjoyable viewing, since the comedy doesn’t become the focus of the show.

Furthermore, the third season’s comedic moments primarily took the form of spoken dialogue, rather than slapstick violence. Due to this, the jokes were funny and natural.

Along with the comedy and improved plot, the well-written central characters were expanded upon even more. For instance, ean was significantly further developed, in terms of her character motivation and perseverance.

Instead of focusing on the bad attributes of Bean, “Disenchantment Part III” examines her character on a much more emotional level than previously seen on the series. Rather than getting drunk with elves or causing mayhem with her friends, she is developed into a thoughtful and intelligent princess.

The show’s side characters were further developed as well - instead of being one-dimensional characters used for long-running gags, they were more fleshed out, but not to the extent of Bean. For the most part, the first season fell short, due to the underdeveloped characters, but the most recent season fixes most of the lackluster character arcs.

But even though the most recent season of “Disenchantment” improves many of the previous two seasons’ problems, it certainly isn’t perfect. In fact, a major downside is that the writers of the show wrote them-

selves into a corner yet again, due to the o erly ambitious final e isode.

Much like the previous two seasons’ endings, the last episode raises way more questions than answers and ends on an abrupt note. Due to this, the show’s writers usually scramble to write themselves out of the lot holes, since the first e isode of seasons’ two and three felt rushed and discombobulated.

Along with the misguided conclusion, the animation was sub-par.

While Groening’s shows are not known for being the best animated, ex ected a significant im ro ement from the last season.

While this wasn’t an issue for the most part, it did take away from a few of the season’s most crucial moments - especially with closeups of the characters’ faces. For the most part, I’m not often bothered by crudely drawn characters and landscapes, but it feels a little off for this type of show.

“Disenchantment” as a show has always suffered from a continuous lack of heart. Although the third season brings more empathy to its characters, a majority of the side characters - along with a few central ones - don’t show remorse for murder.

I believe Groening should stick to his original formula, rather than try to make an edgy show. After all, “The Simpsons” and “Futurama” didn’t try to be the next “South Park.”

Even though it is nowhere near as flawless as roening’s other two shows, “Disenchantment” feels unique and fresh. Despite getting off to a rocky start, the series has devel-

oped into a fun, somewhat raunchy show aimed at adults. Rather than having a heavy focus on the jokes, the third season balances the gags with superb adventure.

While “Disenchantment Part III” does fall short in a few aspects, the adventurous tone of the season makes up for most of its shortcomings. For the most part, the writing is snappier, the jokes are funnier, and the character development is vastly improved.

Des ite the first and last e isode of the season being somewhat mediocre, “Disenchantment Part III” expands on Groening’s original vision in a positive way.

ADMIT ONE

Grade: B “Disenchantment” proves it doesn’t need to follow the same formula as “The Simpsons.”

ADMIT ONE

CONNECT WITH PATRICK BRADY pbrady@student.framingham.edu

ARTS & FEATURES

FEBRUARY 12, 2021 | 11

Foo Fighters Mix it Up with ‘Medicine at Midnight’

By Emily Rosenburg Editorial Staff Embarrassingly enough, I fell in love with Foo Fighters because of a puppy crush who wore a ratty T-shirt with their logo pasted across every wee . n Feb. 5, with the release of “Medicine at Midnight,” I fell in love all over again.

The album begins with the major key, head bobbing celebration, “Making a Fire.” Right off the bat, Dave Grohl and Co. prove to their listeners that their 1 music is unli e the hard rock they’ve put out in years past. This song is upbeat: a genius mix of oozing melodies and a lyrical base that allows us to witness different strengths in Grohl’s voice.

The choir of “na na na na’s” and clappers is a throwback to the classic Beatles song, “Hey Jude” and further saturated with summertime, “Ah’s, you’ll want to accompany this tune with your favorite cold drink.

The ride continues with “Shame Shame,” which Grohl said was the song for a dream his 14 year old self had where a burning coffin stood at the top of a hill, and he had no way to save the person inside.

It steps outside of Foo’s comfort

zone as Grohl’s dark baritone voice shouts over slow, choppy percussion.

With the repetition of the record scratching note “shame,” and a handful of open-ended rhymes, “Shame Shame” is the most mysterious song the band has brought us thus far.

The album then slows down for “Chasing Birds,” a depressing ode to optimism that will be going on all of my sad playlists. “The road to hell is paved with good intentions,’’ Grohl sings over a dreamy, progressing guitar. This is an accessible line that will kick many in the gut - we all at some point question the purpose of doing good when there is so much bad.

Similarly, “Waiting on a War” is a ’70s new wave tune. The lyrics, “I’ve been waiting on a war since I was young / Since I was a boy with a toy gun,” stands out especially for generations that have been trained to combat violence from bomb threats, terrorist attacks, and school shootings.

With a groovy David Bowie-esque dance beat and seductive blues guitar solo, the title track will put you right back in the club with your bedazzled vest and polyester lover. n the fli side “Holding Poison” is an energetic anthem that could accompany the montage of a New York

ACROSS 1. Bit of bounce 4. They’re in charge (think “top”) 8. “I’m outta here!”

13. One might propel a lifeboat 14. Puma competitor 15. ___ E. Neuman 16. Point where good momentum stops, in football (“forward”) 18. Alternative to an exchange 19. Sends romantic signals 20. Doomsday for Caesar 21. Stick up for 23. Dishwasher soap brand 26. All tied up 27. Choose to take part 30. Typical young adult novel reader 31. Green, in Granada 33. French ___ (big instruments) 35. Dr.’s field 36. Heartland residents (“Middle”) 39. ___ choy 42. Tiny

City boxing film. he creati e riffs and jerks may not be suitable for office wor , but you’ll definitely ha e fun jumping around the gym.

My favorite is “No Son of Mine,” as the classic rock, guitar heavy instrumentals are reminiscent of the old Foo Fighters that made tracks like “Times Like These” and “Monkey Wrench.” It also reeks of nostalgia for head banging concerts and the music festivals we all miss during these pandemic times. t finishes with the somber “ o e Dies Young” that dips its toe into ’80s rock with sweet, feel-good riffs that reminded me of Don Henley’s “The Boys of Summer,” and it did that neat trick when bummer lyrics become a catchy earworm.

Finally, it comes together for a dynamic and fascinating listening experience - no note is unattained for.

Foo Fighters’ albums in the past are recognizable for their formulaic, intense sound, but “Medicine at Midnight” is like a soundtrack to an action movie, with each song expanding the story with a different attitude. fter 5 years as a band, you’d expect the quality of music to plateau, but the fun, mysterious, and occasionally banger jams of this album

43. Enticed 47. Some raggedy dolls 49. Braying bunch 51. Roberts of romance 52. Gymnast’s performance 54. Got class credit 56. Countess Grantham on “Downton Abbey” 57. Oscar winner Matlin 59. Loosen up on the massage table 61. Senior homeowner’s cash source (“reverse”) 64. Greek moon goddess 65. Opera highlight 66. Dot-com or #MeToo 67. ___ so often 68. Final financial figure (“bottom”) 69. Lawn droplets DOWN 1. Part of a Rice Krispies trio 2. Kernel holder 3. Suggest, as a solution 4. “Splish Splash” singer Bobby 5. Go too far with 6. Crux 7. Back talk 8. Downhill coasters 9. Cause’s follow-up 10. Show your worth (“up”) 11. Kyoto cash 12. Throw in 15. Huffington with a “Post” 17. Actress/former Parliament member Jackson 21. App coder, slangily 22. Night of anticipation 23. Ring shape 24. Don’t start?

25. London setting of “Call the Midwife” (“East”) 28. Expression that’s coined 29. Works up a sweat 32. Ambulance initials 34. Show with Ego Nwodim and Chris Redd, briefly 37. Give forth 38. End-of-day photo op

prove that it’s only up from here.

They are not afraid to experiment with new - and old - realms of the genre which is the medicine we all needed after the mundane redundancy of 2020.

Grade: A An exciting next chapter for Foo Fighters.

CONNECT WITH EMILY ROSENBURG erosenburg@student.framingham.edu

39. Conference without the jury (“side”) 40. Peace activist Yoko 41. Work hard (“down”) 44. Snow-White’s sibling 45. Prior to, poetically 46. One honored in June 48. Person opposed to weed control?

50. Injury you may ice Puzzle solutions are now 53. Proofreader introducing exclusively online. an error, e.g.

55. Birdbath buildup 57. Ground-up corn 58. Prefix for “cultural” 59. Find a purpose for 60. Calif. neighbor 62. Calif. neighbor 63. Wide-open mouth

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

PHOTOS

12 | FEBRUARY 12, 2021

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The entrance to the McCarthy Center

Am

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A snowy bench in crocker grove

o A ramp t y Annex Hemenwa

The Heineman Ecumenical Center

A

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bles icnic ta p d e r e ov all Snow c Bibb H s e l i M outside

Snow co

vered st airs on camp us

Spread by Ashley Wall / THE GATEPOST Photos by Donald Halsing / THE GATEPOST

A snowy day on campus FRAMINGHAM STATE UNIVERSITY’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1932 | FSUGATEPOST.COM