February 28, 2020

THE GATEPOST Framingham State’s award-winning independent student newspaper since 1932

Volume 88 • Issue 17

FSUgatepost.com

February 28, 2020

SGA allocates $436,991.60 for FY21 Senators debate full allocation of SUAB event funding

By Evan Lee News Editor SGA allocated the full amount for every funding request it heard during its “Big Budget” meeting for Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21).

The annual spring meeting held Feb. 20 was the first of its kind to be run under SGA’s newly changed bylaws, which recategorized all student clubs and organizations into five groups based on their campus involvement, size, and complexity of events hosted.

SGA passed these changes along with amendments to its constitution Dec. 11.

Group One organizations, which provide a service to the University and have high visibility on campus, were the only ones to submit funding requests to SGA for FY21.

WDJM 91.3 FM requested $14,979.10. The Student Union Activity Board (SUAB) requested $140,000.

See BIG BUDGET page 4 SGA allocated funding to student organizations during its annual “Big Budget” meeting Feb. 20.

Downie and Lemire selected as Commencement speakers

By Ashley Wall Editor-in-Chief

Pine Street Inn President Lyndia Downie and Associated Press Reporter Jonathan Lemire will address the Class of 2020 during commencement ceremonies May 24.

Downie will address the undergraduate class, while Lemire will give the graduate commencement address.

Since 1984, Downie has worked at the Inn, which provides assistance and services to the homeless community in Boston. Serving as president

To kick off the Olivia A. Davidson Voices of Color Lecture Series, FSU welcomed Clint Smith, writer, scholar, educator, and poet, to speak on racism in America in DPAC Feb. 19.

The series is an annual event held during Black History Month in which prominent people present on topics relating to racism.

Patty Birch, director of inclusive excellence initiatives, opened the event by discussing the life of Olivia A. Davidson, the wife of Booker T. Washington and a Framingham State

News PROVOST UPDATE pg. 3

GRADUATE PROGRAMS pg. 5 and executive director, Downie helps merly homeless individuals with the the Inn assist more than 2,000 home- opportunity to retain housing. less individuals and prepare 2,700 “Under Lyndia Downie’s leadermeals daily. ship, no organization has done more “We are honored to have her ad- to assist the most vulnerable popula- EDITORIAL pg. 6 dress our graduating Class of 2020,” tion in Greater Boston,” Cevallos said. said FSU President F. Javier Cevallos Fifty years since its founding, the VOTING pg. 7 in a press release Feb. 19.

Pine Street Inn continues to work “I’m certain she will leave them in- with homeless individuals to prospired to head out into the world and vide emergency services, permanent do good for others,” he added. housing, and workforce development, Pine Street Inn’s mission is to among other resources. help homeless individuals move from In an email to The Gatepost, FSU the streets and shelters into secure homes. It also strives to assist for- See COMMENCEMENT SPEAKERS page 3

Opinions

Clint Smith presents poetry on facing historical racism

By Leighah Beausoleil Asst. News Editor

Evan Lee / THE GATEPOST

alum.

Birch explained Davidson was born to free parents in 1858 and began her life of teaching at the age of 16.

Malik Martin, the first Black firstyear class president, introduced Smith to the stage.

Smith said he was born and raised in New Orleans and currently lives in Washington D.C. He is a father of two and a graduate student at Harvard.

Smith read poems from his first collection of poetry, “Counting Descent,” published in 2016 by Write Bloody Publishing.

He opened by discussing Tamir Rice, a 12-year-old boy in Cleveland,

Arts & Features

“THE ALLEGORY” REVIEW pg. 9 Ohio, who was fatally shot by a police officer while playing with a toy gun “TEOREMA” REVIEW pg. 10 at a park.

Smith explained how this event made concrete what had been a “youthful abstraction.”

MORE THAN A STATISTIC pg. 12 “I would have to think about the world in a fundamentally different PLAYERS OF THE WEEK pg. 15 way than my non-Black friends did,” he said.

He described the struggle Black parents face explaining to their children as they grow up they will no longer be regarded as “adorable”

Sports

See CLINT SMITH page 11

Kathleen Moore / THE GATEPOST

INSIDE: OP/ED 6 • ARTS & FEATURES 9 • SPORTS 12

NEWS

2 | FEBRUARY 28, 2020

Editorial Board

Gatepost Interview

Editor-in-Chief Ashley Wall Associate Editor Cara McCarthy News Editors Donald Halsing Evan Lee Asst. News Editor Leighah Beausoleil Arts & Features Editors Brennan Atkins Robert Johnson Jr. Asst. Arts & Features Editor Jared Graf Entertainment Correspondent Noah Barnes Opinions Editor Thomas Maye Columnist McKenzie Ward Sports Editors Liam Gambon Sara Senesac Asst. Sports Editor Carlos Silva Design Editor Kathleen Moore Asst. Photos Editor Caroline Gordon Copy Editor Lauren Paolini Staff Writers James Barraford Mackenzie Berube Patrick Brady Kaitlin Burch Sean Cabot Kaitlyn Cullen Abigail Petrucci Alain Puma Abigail Saggio Staff Copy Editors Jordan Bacci Dan Fuentes Staff Photographer Amanda Garny Advisor Dr. Desmond McCarthy Asst. 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

Ally Chisholm

Academic success coordinator - tutoring and workshops

By Kathleen Moore Editorial Staff What is your educational and professional background?

I graduated from Framingham State in 2011, and I majored in sociology, and minored in psychology while I was here.

After I graduated, I actually worked part-time in CASA and part-time in admissions before I went to Merrimack College. I graduated from there in 2013 with an M.Ed. in higher ed. I started this role in August of 2013, and I’ve been here since.

Why did you come to Framingham State?

I really enjoyed my undergraduate experience, and when I was doing my graduate work and thinking about where I wanted to ultimately work, I always was drawn back to either state schools or community colleges because I really believe in public higher education. I think that’s one of the main things that drew me back here. Also, just reflecting back, I had such a good experience with all of my faculty members and staff members and other students while I was here, so I was happy to come back.

What is your role here at FSU? I am one of the academic success coordinators here in CASA. I’m responsible for the professional and student tutoring that we have here in CASA, as well as workshops. I do outreach to various groups and work with faculty members. I serve as a resource for both students and faculty members to try to get students connected to outside resources on Framingham State’s campus that might help them be successful in their academic endeavors.

What projects are you currently working on?

This past summer, we launched a new online tutoring portal, which is called ThinkingStorm, that students can access through their Blackboard account. Since it’s so new to us, we are trying to ensure the students are utilizing it, trying to make sure that it is the best service possible, and just trying to take an inventory of that and making sure it is going smoothly. Something new we started last semester that we’re trying to implement again this semester is our Academic Strategy Peer Tutor (ASPT) Minute Clinics. The ASPTs help with general academic skills - like time management, note-taking, test-taking, and things like that. If students are having any trouble with any of those, or if they want to hone those skills a little

bit more, they can sign up with an ASPT in CASA. But the Minute Clinics are an offshoot of that - it is more walk-in and drop-in, at certain times. Students can just drop in, and if they have three exams coming up next week, and they just aren’t sure how to break down when to study, how to study, and all of that, they can check in with our peer tutor over there.

Do you think technology advances or impedes learning, or a little bit of both?

I think a little bit of both! Speaking from our own personal experience, I can very easily get distracted by my phone.

It might take me away from what I’m doing. But, I do think technology is helpful. It can make things more accessible for students. If a professor has uploaded a lecture, or whatever it may be, that repetitiveness that technology is able to provide, I think, is helpful.

Some apps can be helpful to students, like a time-management app. There are a ton of free apps out there that can help students more easily stay on track by helping them “chunk” their study time. Blackboard is very, very helpful to students, and I think it offers a lot of different technological advances that students can utilize within that. But it can be distracting, too.

What career accomplishments are you most proud of?

I’m most proud of the work that our tutors do every day. It’s not any work that I am directly doing, but we’re constantly trying to be in touch with faculty and other staff, and hiring students - and professionals - who want to help

students. I think we take a lot of pride in being one of the largest employers of students on campus, whether that be as notetakers, Supplemental Instruction leaders, tutors, front-desk workers, or whatever it may be. I think that we’re proud of our staff that we have on campus, and they do their best to create a welcoming environment because we know asking for help can be really challenging for a lot of students.

What are some of your hobbies?

I like to cook for myself and for people. I like to host a lot of people over at my house. I have two little nephews that are the cutest kids ever. They’re pretty local, so I feel lucky that I can spend some time with them and hang out with them. I like to do yoga, and watch a lot of TV. What advice do you have for FSU students?

Communicate as much as possible.

That means communicating to your current faculty, keeping in touch with previous faculty members, and communicating with staff and other students.

It’s really important to keep those lines of communication open. Try to get out of your comfort zone as much as possible. I think we’re really lucky to have a lot of great opportunities here, and I think sometimes, college students can be a little young to realize what great opportunities are provided to them mostly free of charge. Take advantage of that!

CONNECT WITH KATHLEEN MOORE kmoore8@student.framingham.edu

Police Logs Sunday, Feb. 23 01:17 Vandalism FSU Police Dept.

Report Taken

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Kathleen Moore / THE GATEPOST

Sunday, Feb. 23 02:58 Alarm (Fire/Smoke) Larned Hall Fire Alarm

Sunday, Feb. 23 07:26 State Parking Enforcement O’Connor Hall Parking Lot 11 Citations Issued

Tuesday, Feb. 25 16:47 Medical McCarthy Center Refused Transport

NEWS

Commencement speakers Continued from page 1

Communications Director Daniel Magazu said, “As someone who has spent her life helping others, I think she will probably encourage our graduates to do the same.”

The Class of 2020 will also be fundraising in order to present Downie with a donation to Pine Street Inn as a thank you.

Downie will also be presented with an honorary degree from the University during the undergraduate ceremony.

Jonathan Lemire, Associated Press White House reporter and political analyst, will speak at the graduate ceremony.

“Journalists like Jonathan Lemire are critical to helping the public separate fact from fiction, so that they can make informed decisions,” Cevallos said.

A native of Lowell, Lemire was a

Courtesy of PBS

former New York Daily News reporter, who covered the 9/11 terrorist attacks and 2012 presidential election.

He joined the Associated Press in 2013, where he now reports on presidential campaigns, as well as the daily happenings of the Trump administration.

The two speakers were selected by the Commencement Speaker Advisory Committee. The Committee is composed of FSU staff, faculty, and administrators as well as the Class of 2020 officers.

Magazu, who is a committee member, said, “The group gathers to

“I can tell you that everyone who I spoke with on the committee felt very positive about Lyndia Downie and Jonathan Lemire.”

-Daniel Magazu, communications director According to the press release, Lemire is the nephew of FSU professor Stephen Lemire, who is the coordinator of the Master of Healthcare Administration Program.

“He has a fascinating career that I’m sure will be of interest to our graduate students. I suspect he will discuss how he got to where he is in life, and what important lessons he’s learned along the way,” said Magazu.

Cevallos added, “We are so thankful to him for taking time out of his hectic schedule to address our graduate students.”

During the graduate ceremony, Lemire will be presented with an honorary degree from the University.

discuss different names, potential themes, and to solicit input from the student officers on whom they might be interested in hearing from.

“We also work with the Student Involvement and Leadership Development Office to poll the senior class on speakers they would like to hear from. The responses are weighed into our decision making,” he added in an email.

As for the Committee’s selection of speakers, Magazu said, “I can tell you that everyone who I spoke with on the committee felt very positive about Lyndia Downie and Jonathan Lemire.

“I am very excited to hear from

sity’s Dean of Academic Affairs from 2008-2010 and Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs from 20102015.

Cevallos said, “She helped oversee program reviews and progress tracking, annual reporting, accreditation progress, and new program development approval.

“She also advised on budgeting and planning, faculty hiring and professional development, course scheduling, and more. She taught at Framingham State University since 1990,” he added.

In an interview with The Gatepost, Zimmerman said, “I think it’s a very important position. The provost is responsible for the entire academic side of the University. Having that vacancy puts us at a disadvantage.

“I felt like it was important to step up and be available for that,” she added.

Zimmerman said her previous

roles at FSU provide her with relevant experience for her new position.

“I think if I hadn’t had the previous experience, I might feel pretty intimidated.”

She said her familiarity with the University culture, faculty, and students will benefit her as provost.

“I feel very in-touch with my colleagues here, and I’ve worked with many colleagues on lots of different projects. I’m looking forward to continuing to do that, but in a new role.”

Zimmerman said she is looking forward to working with everyone across the University, including student government, in order to understand student concerns and interests.

“I’ve always had a strong interest in the academic programs at the University, what programs benefit students, and what students want and need from their academic experience.”

Zimmerman said her role as in-

FEBRUARY 28, 2020 | 3

our two speakers,” he added.

President Cevallos said commencement planning is exciting.

“Commencement is my favorite day on the academic calendar,” he said. “Our students work hard to earn their degrees. To get the chance to celebrate this accomplishment with their family members who have supported them along the way is truly special.”

He added, “The thing I look forward to most that day is the joy on the students’ faces as they receive their degrees and the energy of the audience.”

Commencement will be held at the DCU Center in Worcester starting at 10 a.m. for the undergraduate ceremony and 2 p.m. for the graduate ceremony.

CONNECT WITH ASHLEY WALL awall1@student.framingham.edu

Courtesy of the Barr Foundation

Zimmerman announced as interim provost

By Ashley Wall Editor-in-Chief

By Donald Halsing News Editor Dr. Ellen Zimmerman, professor and chair of the sociology department, will serve as interim provost and vice president of academic affairs until Fall 2021, according to President F. Javier Cevallos.

Cevallos made the announcement in a campus-wide email Feb 27.

Zimmerman will replace former provost and vice president of academic affairs Angela Salas, who resigned from her position on Feb 19.

Referring to Zimmerman, Cevallos said, “I have the highest confidence that she will be successful and help ensure a smooth transition moving forward.”

Zimmerman served as the Univer-

Weather

Sunday night Mar. 1 Mostly clear, low near 20. Calm winds.

Monday night Mar. 2 Mostly cloudy, low near 35. Light SW winds.

Monday Mar. 2 Partly sunny, high near 45. S winds around 5 mph.

Tuesday Mar. 3 60% chance of showers. Cloudy, high near 55. SW winds around 10 mph, gusting to 20.

terim provost and vice president for academic affairs begins March 9. At that time, an interim chair, who has yet to be announced, will take over her responsibilities as chair of the sociology department.

In an email to The Gatepost, Cevallos wrote, “She [Zimmerman] brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this position. I have a high level of confidence in her ability to bring stability to the Provost position during this transition and to help move the University forward in a positive direction.”

He added they will also be searching for a “permanent provost during the next academic year.”

CONNECT WITH ASHLEY WALL awall1@student.framingham.edu CONNECT WITH DONALD HALSING dhalsing@student.framingham.edu

Forecast provided by the National Weather Service www.weather.gov Tuesday night Mar. 3 Wednesday night Mar. 4 Mostly cloudy, low 30% chance of showers. near 40. SW winds Mostly cloudy, low near around 6 mph.

40. S winds around 10 mph, gusting to 35.

Wednesday Mar. 4 40% chance of showers. Partly sunny, high near 55. SW winds around 5 mph.

Thursday Mar. 5 50% chance of showers.

Partly sunny, high near 55. W winds around 10 mph, gusting to 30.

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

4 | FEBRUARY 28, 2020

Big Budget Continued from page 1 The Gatepost requested $48,725. And SGA itself requested $74,287.50.

Funding was fully allocated to each of these organizations based on the line items they presented to SGA. All other existing student-run organizations were allocated funding at a flat rate recommended by SGA based on their group listing Group Two include six organizations, which host large-scale events and have high visibility on campus.

Each received $15,000, for a total of $90,000.

Group Three include eight organizations, which host a limited number of events and have moderate visibility on campus. Each received $5,000, for a total of $40,000.

Group Four include 28 organizations, which host a few events and have low visibility on campus. Each received $500, for a total of $14,000.

SGA President Matty Bennet said, “We ran the numbers to try to give them the most amount of money.”

The new funding model will allow organizations in groups Two through Four to continue to host events similar to those they’ve organized in the past while “also giving some a bump up,” Bennet added.

In previous years, all student clubs and organizations were given a flatrate funding allocation of $300 and they had to request more to fund events surpassing this amount.

Under the new grouping model, student organizations in groups Five and Four can request additional funding beyond what they received through their group placement at any time.

Organizations in groups Three and Two can request additional funding during the spring semester.

Group One organizatons cannot currently request additional funding.

In addition to funding groups One through Four, SGA allocated $15,000 to class accounts, with each class receiving $3,750.

Group Five organizations, which will form next year, were not allocated funding.

With a starting balance of $499,100, SGA allocated a total of $436,991.60 to student-run organizations for FY21. This leaves a balance of $62,108.40.

Bennet said he wanted to try to keep the unallocated balance around the $60,000 “target number.”

He explained by carrying over this unallocated amount into the second semester of Academic Year 2021, funding would be available for Group Five organizations, as well as those that may request more if their initial flat-rate allocations are not enough.

NEWS During SUAB’s funding request, an “intense” debate took place concerning the full allocation of $76,000 for its on-campus events and $52,700 for off-campus events, said Julia Catalano, treasurer for SUAB. SGA senators debated proposed cuts to the line items “BINGOS,” which makes up $7,700 of the on-campus events budget and Spring Fling, which makes up $15,000 of the off-campus events budget.

Catalano told SGA that BINGOS are incorporated into its “Traditional Events” line item also found within on-campus events, but the two were separated for scale.

Senator Lexi Kays proposed cutting $7,700 to on-campus events since BINGOS are incorporated in Traditional Events. Her motion would allocate $68,300.

Student Trustee Olivia Beverlie said she was “hesitant” about the motion, which she said made her nervous that traditional events like Homecoming might not happen as a result.

Senator Mariah Ferris said she didn’t believe Homecoming would become an issue.

“They still seem to have an excess amount of money left over this semester,” she said of SUAB’s FY20 on-campus event spending. “So, I don’t see why Homecoming wouldn’t be able to happen.”

Catalano told SGA that SUAB has spent “about $10,000” on on-campus events as of Feb 20. She said she projected that $40,000 to $50,000 would be spent on these events by the end of the academic year.

Beverlie said, “While they haven’t fully spent this year’s budget, I think it’s hard to predict what’s going to happen next year.”

Senator Samuel Houle said the original allocation for FY21 would leave between $20,000 to $30,000 unspent based on SUAB’s FY20 projections, and that these funds could be placed elsewhere.

Catalano told SGA that the larger request acts as a buffer in case SUAB’s event costs turn out to be more than expected.

Beverlie said the $7,700 cut would be pushed into SGA’s unallocated funds, which cannot be touched until the second semester of next year.

“That money is just going to be sitting there, when we could have it sitting with [SUAB] just in case.”

She added, “I think it would be very harsh of us to take this money away right now and then figure out later what’s going to happen.”

SUAB President Sonia Strawn said while it would be possible to make do with the $7,700 cut, “We definitely want to leave a lot of our wig-

Evan Lee / THE GATEPOST Members of SUAB considered SGA’s debate over their budget allocations.

@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

Graphics by Kathleen Moore and Evan Lee gle-room money.”

Eight senators voted to oppose the motion allocating a reduced amount to SUAB, while five senators voted in favor. The motion failed.

Ayanna Ferguson, publicity and recruitment chair for SGA, made a new motion based on a compromise proposed by Bennet. The motion would allocate the originally requested $76,000 to SUAB for on-campus events “pending they use $7,700 specifically for co-sponsored events.”

Bennet explained, “A system can be put in place where student groups or offices can request the money from SUAB for co-sponsored events.”

This also prevents the $7,700 from sitting in SGA’s unallocated funds.

Catalano agreed with the new motion.

Eight senators voted in favor of it, while five were opposed. The motion passed, and SUAB received $76,000 for on-campus events.

Regarding off-campus events, Ferguson moved to amend Senator Jake Maradian’s motion to allocate the full amount of $52,700 for FY21. Ferguson’s proposed amendment would allocate $47,700 to SUAB for these events due to the removal of $5,000 from the Spring Fling line item.

Ferguson said she believed the projected $15,000 cost for Spring Fling would be a “misuse” of funding.

Catalano told SGA that the location of next year’s Spring Fling has not been decided. Strawn said she believed 50 tickets were sold for last year’s event.

Maradian and Senator Mark Haskell, who seconded the original motion, approved Ferguson’s amendment.

Beverlie said taking away funds from SUAB’s off-campus events would be “hypocritical” considering SGA holds an off-campus banquet for itself. “I don’t think it’s fair for us to say to other clubs, ‘You can’t, but we can.’”

She reminded senators that cut funds would be pushed into SGA’s unallocated budget, which is “in a

really good place” at around $67,000.

“I do not think we need to be penny -pinching.

“If we do go through with this, and it’s very hypocritical, I will be very disappointed,” she said.

Ferris disagreed with the notion that the $5,000 cut would be “pennypinching” and “hypocritical,” pointing out that SGA’s banquet is in the $10,000 range.

“Around 45 students spending $15,000 of the budget is kind of over the top,” Ferris said of Spring Fling.

“I’ve also seen events put on for the same amount of money get 200 students.”

Catalano said last year’s Spring Fling in Boston cost “over $15,758,” citing event space and busing fees among other expenses that added to this total. Next year’s Spring Fling is projected to cost less, she said.

Senators voted seven to six opposing the amendment to cut $5,000 from next year’s Spring Fling.

Danielle Shaw, outreach and events coordinator for SGA, proposed allocating the original request of $52,700 to SUAB for their off-campus events for FY21.

The new motion passed by an eight to six vote.

SUAB’s funding requests for Publicity and Marketing, Membership and Development, and their NACA Conference were fully allocated without debate.

Senators voted 11 to three to allocate $140,000 in total to SUAB for FY21.

“It was an intense debate,” Catalano told The Gatepost afterwards.

“I’m glad we were able to work with SGA to put up great events for students.”

CONNECT WITH EVAN LEE elee5@student.framingham.edu

NEWS

FEBRUARY 28, 2020 | 5

Master of Business Administration program receives full accreditation

By Leighah Beausoleil Asst. News Editor Framingham State University has received full accreditation from the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IABCE) for the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program.

The accreditation was announced in a University press release December 2019.

IACBE is one of the top three business education accreditation agencies, according to MBA Director Steve Moysey.

The MBA program was evaluated in terms of course content, the cost structure, faculty, what they are teaching, what type of students are coming into the program, what the results of the program are, and what people have to say about the program, he said.

The accreditation allows prospective students to know the program has gone through a rigorous evaluation process, said Moysey.

The accreditation “basically tells prospective students that our program at Framingham State … has actually been vetted by an outside international body that has given us the seal of approval that we have

reached and exceeded the threshold of standards that we are compared against other institutions that offer graduate business education,” Moysey said.

He added the MBA program was not internationally accredited when he took over three years ago. This became a problem when the undergraduate business program received itsIACBE accreditation.

“It behooved us to actually continue the work that had been sort of the trail that had been blazed by the undergraduate programs, and then work with IACBE and all of our constituencies, faculty, students, and alumni,” he said.

“The alumni were a very important element to this because they’re the ones that have been through the program,” Moysey added. “[They] had comments on where it was great and where it could have been a little better.”

The accreditation “puts us on a level playing field with other institutions that are internationally accredited,” he said.

According to Moysey, the MBA program has two concentrations management and biotechnology operations.

“The MBA with a concentration in

biotechnology operations is unique to this geographical area and has been designed because Metrowest Boston is the second largest hub in the country for biotechnology companies and life science organizations,” he added.

Moysey said the MBA program is for people who want to enhance their careers and get a leg up on their peers.

The MBA uses a hybrid program of both online and in-person classes on alternating weeks, according to Moysey.

This system benefits their student demographics, Moysey said. The majority of their students are in their mid-30s with jobs and families. The hybrid allows students flexibility in their schedules so they can pursue their degrees.

Moysey explained students have the ability to work at their own pace online as well as develop connections through face-to-face interactions.

The class sizes for the program cap at 25 to allow for a better faculty-student ratio, Moysey said.

The in-person classes are regularly paced, spanning over 12 to 15 weeks, while the online classes are accelerated to approximately eight weeks, Moysey explained.

The MBA is a four-credit-hour program, unlike other universities that have three-credit-hours programs. This is to ensure the students get more detail and in-depth information in terms of subject matter, Moysey said.

“My vision for the MBA program has been the same from day one to make it a cost effective, relevant, connected, engaged experience for our students, who then take what we teach with them,” he said. “From day one in the classroom, they are getting up-to-date cutting-edge material that they can use in their workplaces - in their personal lives.

“Once you’re in the program, you are one of us. You are family. My job as the director of the program is to make sure that the program, A runs smoothly, and B meets the expectations of our customer base,” he added. “But also, we’re there to support those students that come into the program.”

Moysey said, “For us, one of the biggest elements of our job - a considerable element of our job - is student success.”

we’re going to make you aware of all the stuff you need to think about that maybe you’re not getting right now in your programs,” he said.

Moysey added artificial intelligence experts say 40% of jobs will be impacted by A.I. within the next five years.

He described ways in which machines are learning to create “non-human entities,” such as pictures and videos, with striking human resemblance, without any human input.

“I predict,” Moysey said, “within another year, they will be indistinguishable from real human beings.”

He said the MSOL program helps students think about how the world will look in the future.

As an example, Moysey discussed what would happen if truck drivers were replaced by automated vehicles.

“All the truck stops will disappear.

All the service stations which service trucks disappear. Think about all the infrastructure that goes away.

“That change alone will put - potentially - 10 million people in the U.S. out of a job,” he said.

Historically, changing technology has impacted the workforce before.

Moysey compared the automation of trucks to the development of the diesel locomotive.

Steam locomotives needed to stop for fuel and water. “Think of the infrastructure that grew up around

that: people delivering the coal and water,” he said. “It disappeared when diesel came out.

“People said, ‘That’s never going to take off,’” he added.

Moysey said the program is a foundation to help students understand the way the world of work is changing, and how to fit into it.

“One of the things we wanted to do was to start a campus-wide conversation about what this means to the future of education,” he said.

Moysey said the program is geared toward undergraduate students who want to improve their skills, but also professionals who want to advance their careers.

MSOL serves as an alternative to the MBA program for high-achieving students who want to continue their studies, he said.

“The MSOL will kickstart your career. The MBA will enhance it,” he said. “That’s basically the difference.”

Moysey said the MBA program usually includes people in their 30s with an established career track who want to advance in their career. Undergraduates going directly into the MBA program often lack work experience in a professional environment.

“You’re going to be in a classroom, potentially, with people with more experience than you,” he said.

“You’re at an experiential disadvantage.”

Moysey said FSU’s MBA Business Advisory Board - which oversees the MBA program - saw an opportunity to introduce a new master’s program in organizational leadership.

He said the MSOL answers the question, “What things do I need to know which they didn’t teach me as an undergraduate that will help me launch a career?”

Moysey said the capstone for the MSOL is a project, either assigned by an employer or inspired by student interest. As with the MBA program, MSOL graduates will be encouraged to publish their findings.

Like the MBA, the MSOL’s curriculum is kept up-to-date to provide students useful tools for their careers.

It includes “hard skills,” including accounting, finance, and economics, along with “soft skills,” including team development and personality skills, added Moysey.

He said the program is relevant, connected, and engaged with the needs of future employers and students in the age of artificial intelligence.

“It’s going to impact everything,” he said of A.I. “Nobody really knows where this is going to go.

“The key thing is: can we help you understand it?”

CONNECT WITH LEIGHAH BEAUSOLEIL lbeausoleil@student.framingham.edu

New graduate program addresses artificial intelligence in the workplace

By Donald Halsing News Editor

A master’s degree in organizational leadership will be offered starting fall 2020, said Steve Moysey, director of FSU’s Master of Business Administration (MBA) program.

The graduate degree was announced in a University press release Jan. 23.

Other colleges offer organizational leadership programs. It is a “growing field” of study, said Moysey.

FSU’s master of science with a concentration in organizational leadership (MSOL) will include a focus on the rise of artificial intelligence (A.I.) in the workplace, he said.

Moysey is the director of both the current MBA and new MSOL programs.

He said the MSOL is a nine-course program built with advice from A.I. experts.

“Any future-looking graduate program that deals with management, leadership, or any of those things, that doesn’t focus on the impact of robotics, artificial intelligence, and automation is committing educational malpractice,” Moysey said.

Artificial intelligence is on the rise in many fields. Moysey said A.I. is writing novels, painting old masterpieces, composing music, and diagnosing patients.

“As you go into the MSOL program,

CONNECT WITH DONALD HALSING dhalsing@student.framingham.edu

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6 | FEBRUARY 28, 2020

OP/ED

OP/ED

THE GATEPOST EDITORIAL

Keep the fire going

The moment #MeToo activists and Weinstein’s sexual assault survivors have been waiting for finally happened this past Monday, Feb. 24.

Harvey Weinstein, former American film producer and now convicted sex offender, was found guilty on two charges - criminal sexual assault in the first degree, and rape in the third degree. For that, he faces between five and 29 years in prison.

However, he was found not guilty on two counts of predatory sexual assault arguably the most serious of the charges. A guilty veredict on the count of first-degree rape might have landed him behind bars for life, according to NPR. But Weinstein’s legal troubles are far from over.

In Los Angeles, he stands accused of forcible rape, forcible oral copulation, sexual penetration by use of force, and sexual battery by restraint, according to The New York Times.

The trial is set to begin in L.A. after Weinstein’s sentencing in New York, March 11.

Weinstein living behind bars will undoubtedly comfort the women whose lives he’s forever marred.

The justice system’s ability to take accusations like Weistein’s seriously provides courage to the women who have faced the arduous decision of whether to report a heinous crime against her or keep her job.

However, Weinstein’s crimes would never have come to light if it wasn’t for reporters Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey of The New York Times, who initially investigated the accusations, and released a story that exposed Weinstein and skyrocketed the #MeToo movement.

The #MeToo movement, which started in 2006 via MySpace, received nationwide recognition in late 2017, more than a decade later, after multiple women came forward, accusing the film producer of sexual assault.

While accusations against Weinstein were the matches that lit the #MeToo movement’s fire, he is just one of the many accused. The fight does not end here.

The movement attracted the attention of several high-profile celebrities such as Alyssa Milano, Ashley Judd, Jennifer Lawrence, and more, who have called for wellknown members in the industry, such as Weinstein, to be held accountable for their actions.

R. Kelly, a famous R&B recording artist with a long history of sexual assault allegations stemming from the early ’90’s, is another example of a high-profile celebrity facing such accusations, which are finally being taken seriously by the criminal justice system. Most recently in a series of six episodes released by Lifetime titled “Surviving R. Kelly,” accusers came forward with accounts of his sexual crimes.

With major allegations against Weinstein and R. Kelly, and numerous people affected, why did it take so long to hold them accountable?

Media outlets, such as The New York Times and Lifetime, have fueled the criminal investigations that make such prosecutions possible. They allow justice to finally be reached, and promote public consciousness over the issue.

But if this is how we count success against sexual predators, the #MeToo movement has a lot of work to do. We all have a lot of work to do.

While we should continue to praise the work of such platforms, it is our time to hold every guilty individual accountable. We must lift the burden of bringing awareness from reporters’ shoulders and instead place it upon our courts.

We all have a collective responsibility to allow every victim to tell their story without fear of reproach.

Activists and survivors rejoice for now - but there is still work to be done tomorrow.

Have Letter to the Editor?

Have a question for Gatepost Guidance?

Feel free to email it to: gatepost@framingham.edu Letters should be approximately 500 words.

We look forward to hearing from you! @TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

FSU needs mandatory African American history education

By MacKenzie Berube Staff Writer

Framingham State University requires three specific courses usually completed freshman year - Expository Writing, a college-level mathematics course, and a class with a First-Year Foundations section attached, which is designed to help freshmen acclimate to the new environment of college.

There are several other academic domains that need to be completed by students, no matter their majors, in order to graduate, which include creative arts, humanities, a language, two sciences - one of which must be a lab - and perspectives of the past.

I firmly believe it is beneficial to have a broad range of basic knowledge under your belt from a variety of disciplines as part of a liberal arts education.

I also believe it’s time to implement a mandatory diversity course focused on African American history, art, or culture as part of the University’s general education system - particularly because there have been a number of hate crimes on campus in the past.

FSU already offers a few general education classes in this subject area, such as Slavery, Race, and Rights in American History.

Additionally, the English department offers an African American Literature and Film minor, with six courses to choose from, such as African American Film, African American Literature, and African American Women Writers - all of which are general education classes.

I have taken the African American Women Writers course, and not only did I learn how to overcome the societal-driven fear of discussing race in an open classroom setting but also integrated what I learned into my daily life and view of the world.

Framingham State does not offer enough stand-alone courses on the African American experience, and more need to be developed.

Race is a difficult topic for students to discuss if they have not been provided the tools with which to do so, but this can be changed with a general education course requirement. Racial bias incidents and hate crimes, such as those that have occurred over the last few years on campus, may be discussed more honestly, openly, and productively if students have an academic context to understand the African American experience.

Many first-year students come from family or social backgrounds where race is not openly discussed and racism is not actively challenged. Providing them the opportunity to learn about important topics such as African American history, art, and culture will help them become more socially conscious.

This campus is still in pain from these hate crimes, and some students still feel unsafe living here. A significant cause of hate crimes is ignorance, and ignorance comes from lack of knowledge.

It is never too late to learn, whether someone is 18 or 48. We can choose to surround ourselves with the people, cultures, and conversations we’re already familiar with - but college is about exposing yourself to new ideas and discussions.

College is about enriching the minds of our future leaders and citizens, and that is why learning about the African American experience is important.

Clockwise: Frederick Douglas, Sojourner Truth, George Washington Carver, and Martin Luther King Jr., all major figures in African-American history.

OP/ED

FEBRUARY 28, 2020 | 7

The importance of voting in the presidential primaries

By McKenzie Ward Columnist

Next Tuesday, Mar. 3 is the Massachusetts Primary for the 2020 presidential election.

Massachusetts will be one of the 14 states participating in super Tuesday - the day when the most states in the country hold their primaries at once.

Presidential primary elections and caucuses are used to elect the nominee of both the Democratic and Republican parties for the general election, which occurs on the first Tuesday of November.

Although this election is extremely important, as it provides voters a chance to choose between possible presidential candidates, voter turnout is often extremely low.

In 2016, only 43.62% of registered voters in Massachusetts voted in the presidential Primaries and during 2012, only 12.88% of registered voters in Massachusetts voted, according to the Secretary of the Commonwealth Bill Galvin’s website.

During the 2016 general election, 75% of Massachusetts registered voters voted in the general presidential election, according to the website.

However, only about 61.4% of the total number of registered voters in the United States voted in the general election, according to the United

States Census Bureau.

The drastic difference in voter turnout between the primary election and the general election is worrying for individuals like myself, who highly value voting and consider it to be our most important civic duty, as it truly determines our futures.

It is hard to know there are thousands of individuals willing to give up their chance to choose the possible presidential candidate by choosing simply not to vote.

Voting is about more than just politics. It is about our future.

I have seen many people claim their vote doesn’t count. However, each vote contributes to change. Each vote shows passion for changes United States citizens desire to see for country. Every election counts, just as every vote counts, which is why voting this Tuesday is crucial.

What many voters may fail to realize is voting in the primaries is equally as important as voting in the general election, as the primaries essentially decide who are the main candidates.

By not voting, citizens are giving up their voice to help decide whom receives the prestige of being the official candidate for either of the parties.

Also, by not voting, you allow others to

decide what you want for a future for the United States.

On this upcoming Tuesday, it is incredibly important to take the time out of your day to vote, or if you can’t vote on Tuesday, make sure to send in your absentee ballot in order for your town to receive it before 12 p.m. Monday,

March 2.

Although your vote may be one of thousands, it represents you and your values.

Many registered voters will not vote, but just as many of them will complain.

Your vote is your voice - use it.

Campus Conversations Why is the #MeToo movement important?

By MacKenzie Berube and Thomas Maye

“It shows that the system has been corrupted by the wealthy white man.

[The movement] is a restructuring that leads towards people who don’t have a voice and gives them credibility.”

-Evan Robertson, senior

“It spreads the word that it is a lot more common than people think it is.

A lot more people are hurt than you think.”

-Jonny Rua, senior

“It’s important because it makes people come out of their shell. When one person sees someone come forward it makes them come out with their issue.”

“It’s very important for everyone to have a voice and for those to speak up.”

-Danielle Achin, sophomore

-Joshue Castioo, freshman

“It empowers women to let their voices be heard in a bigger way.”

-Becca Lee, freshman

“It shows the magnitude of the sexual assault problem around the world.”

-Grace Thompson, freshman

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

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8 | FEBRUARY 28, 2020

ADVERTISEMENTS 2020-2021

Scholarship &

Interest-Free Loan Programs sponsored by the

Independent Association of Framingham State Alumni Deadline to apply is:

March 15, 2020

Come by the alumni house to pick up an application!

42 Adams Road, Framingham, MA 01702 office@alumnihouse.org (508) 872-9770 Applications are also available from Department Heads & the Financial Aid Office.

Or online at www.alumnihouse.org click on Grants & Awards & download an application.

Drop off Week is March 9-13 Before Spring Break!

Bring in completed applications and needed paperwork

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ARTS & FEATURES

FEBRUARY 28, 2020 | 9

ARTS & FEATURES

Royce da 5’9” is reenergized, redesigned, and refocused on ‘The Allegory’

By Jared Graf Asst. Arts & Features Editor Hip-hop supergroup Slaughterhouse officially disbanded in 2018 and since then, one quarter of the posse, Royce da 5’9”, has dropped two career-defining projects and solidified himself as one of rap’s most prominent lyricists.

Now, Royce returns with “The Allegory,” adding another page to his introspective collection and further advancing his rebrand.

The Detroit MC does not disappoint, as the lyrically dense, enlightening offering makes for an impeccable main course to hold over his ever growing, rabid fanbase.

Every release finds Royce more mature, focused, and driven than the last time we heard him - and “The Allegory” is no exception. Throughout the course of 22 tracks, six of which are skits, 5’9” explores intricate concepts and perspectives, while critiquing our country at the same time.

“Mr. Grace (Intro)” serves as a summary to some of the album’s most prominent themes: the American dream, police brutality, gun violence, and slavery. The first minute of the song features a conversation between youth mentor Derrick Grace II and his socially aware daughter.

After the 6-year-old flexes her extensive knowledge, the music drops and angry sounding horns gain control of the speakers. This hard-hitting beat lasts all of eight bars before progressively fading, to the point where Royce is nearly spitting a spoken-word a capella by the end of the track.

It’s here the album’s concept of differing perspectives is introduced.

Royce’s notion is heavily influenced

by Plato’s allegory of the cave theory - which is meant to compare the effect of education and lack thereof on a person’s perception, as well as how certain things don’t become reality until we accept them as such.

On “I Don’t Age,” Royce even has a hard time coming to terms with the reality that he’s 42 years old, but he can’t be the only one in disbelief. Without letting the beat breathe, 5’9” asserts his dominance upon the rap game and credits his sobriety and humble beginnings as the reason he’s hungrier than ever.

We’re reminded the wordsmith doesn’t age, and with a choppy flow, he declares, “They say ‘You are what you eat,’ but I never ate goat!” With a never-ending slew of bars, Royce raps until abruptly trailing off after almost three minutes.

His eighth studio album is informative and ahead of its time, but with so much to address comes a lot to digest.

Songs like “Pendulum” draws parallels between slavery and artists being bound to record deals, while “Tricked” finds 5’9” and fellow Slaughterhouse member KXNG Crooked discussing ways rappers are fooled by the common misconceptions of society, record labels, and higher-ups in the industry.

“Incriminate myself on records speaking on my life / Expect to receive blessings out here cheating on my wife,” Nickel says over the bounce heavy, unconventional instrumental.

On “Rhinestone Doo Rag,” Royce pokes fun at his very first album cover, which depicts him in said rhinestone doo rag. He speaks to the youth, telling them the importance of never selling out, remaining independent, and owning their masters.

“Pac and Biggie died for you rappers so you don’t have to / Martin and Malcolm died for your blackness, pursue your masters / I wore that rhinestone doo rag so you don’t have to,” Royce rhymes, highlighting how the younger generation of rappers should learn a thing or two from their older peers.

Although the lyricism is immaculate, the production may be the most impressive aspect of the entire project.

Coming fresh off his first two production credits ever just last month on Eminem’s “Music To Be Murdered By,” it’s both wizardly and unfathomable how Royce created an entire album with beats so complex, unique, and polished he could be mistaken for a seasoned producer.

Yes, Royce da 5’9”, who has never made a beat until now, produced every single song on “The Allegory.”

With an undying obsession to master everything he touches, Royce achieves on one album what some producers don’t achieve over the span of their entire career - creating versatile, diverse beats that sound nothing like each other.

In addition to stellar production, the features and skits feel necessary - as each guest and aside contributes something essential to furthering the album’s plot.

All three members of the toughtalking Buffalo rap crew Griselda stop by and steal the show on their respective tracks.

“Upside Down,” featuring a fiery verse from Benny the Butcher and haunting vocals from rising Detroit R&B singer Ashley Sorrell, is easily the highlight of the crew’s features - and the album.

eOne Music It’s apparent some of Benny’s abraGriselda features aside, “On the siveness rubbed off on Royce, as he Block” is a lite lyrical exercise for seemed challenged by his peer’s don’t- Royce, who easily runs the track with give-a-f*** attitude. “Whoever think multiple flows that transition so seamI’m here to make some corny ass radio lessly, it causes you to disregard the / Viacom jingle got my whole diatribe fact he’s making words rhyme that tangled,” Royce menacingly spits, shouldn’t. clearly stating his intentions from the It’s refreshing to see true lyricists jump, while effortlessly weaving sylla- become once again accepted and bles together. praised by the culture, as hip-hop proRemaining true to his word, Nickel gresses and evolves into its many difdoesn’t hold back speaking his mind ferent subgenres. The love and devoas he touches on the harsh reality be- tion Royce has for his craft is evident tween black and white. “White kids - so to see him receiving the same love graduate to relationships, a ton of from fans in return is admirable. perks / Black kids, just aggravated and Hearing the raw emotions Royce have to take a ton of Perc’s,” while displayed while touching on prevalent Benny also takes a similar approach, issues in society makes it obvious he “Young heathens clap tools over VVS feels strongly about every word rapped jewels / White kids pull heaters at on the album. school, wanna CBS News.” Royce also Everyone has their own views or bedrops gems about the importance of liefs they regard as the truth, and “The making timeless music over his own Allegory” finds Royce successfully grim production. contextualizing this idea.

The Westside Gunn assisted track “Overcomer” is full of slick rhymes, brutal honesty, life lessons - and of course plenty of Gunn’s signature gritty “boom, boom, boom, boom, boom!”

Royce returns ad-libs. to make real rap Royce also airs out beef with former relevant.

Shady Records labelmate Yelawolf regarding alleged racism. “The energy never lies when you a overcomer / The MENU energy never dies when you a overcomer,” Royce unapologetically recites immediately after calling Yelawolf washed, a vulture, and threatening to leave him “face down on the ground outside of Kid Rock’s house.”

Although Royce takes on an intimidating, to-the-point demeanor, the beat is soulful and laid back, perfectly accenting Gunn’s nasally tone and CONNECT WITH JARED GRAF Royce’s eloquent flow. jgraf@student.framingham.edu

Grade: A+

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ARTS & FEATURES

10 | FEBRUARY 28, 2020

VRAM: Seikimatsu Butoukai continues to shock spectators Love and basketball infinites

By Robert Johnson Jr. Arts & Features Editor

Seventy-seven seconds.

That’s the length of a round in Arc System Works’ 2005 fighting game, “Hokuto no Ken” (HnK) “Fist of the North Star.”

If anything, aside from unorthodox, that 77 seconds are a projected length of the first round’s events.

The following two rounds, though - in a best-of-three set have the potential to blow up … all from a single hit.

Two competitors navigate their character across the screen, using a variety of ground-based movements - such as running and dashing - and air-oriented options found through airdashing.

However, one of these competitors has to be careful - the Big Dipper-shaped gem formation under their character’s health bar is empty, and the other player is one short combo away from instantly killing them, securing the match.

A faint series of pecks escape from the speakers, and after a few seconds, the opponent who was in danger before ... is already dead.

The triumphant horns of “Sentoo,” an instrumental version of

“HnK’s” theme song, “Ai wo Torimodose,” blares throughout the venue. Many Japanese men crowd around the victor - a victor representing their team in Seikimatsu Butoukai, the annual national team tournament for “HnK.” Hosted by Yasuaki Matsuda and his team on Feb. 23, the event marked the ninth Seikimatsu Butoukai since the event’s inception in 2011. While the event itself does not bring in numbers similar to Matsuda’s other annual “Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike”-adjacent event, Cooperation Cup, it is still a favorite of the Fighting Game Community to spectate.

The tournament is a 3-on-3 team affair that gives way to many ridiculous scenarios - infinite combos, setups that lead to instant kill attacks, players performing those same infinite combos long enough to the point where their opponent’s character bounces off the ground in a manner similar to that of a basketball. … The possibilities are endless.

Seikimatsu Butoukai is not only a competition that informs spectators of who the best “HnK” players are in Japan, it is also a showcase of an utterly bizarre fighting game that is still dearly beloved by fans

Arc System Works

of not only the source material, but classic anime fighting games.

The infinite combos are not easy - far from it - they require an amount of precision and many, many years of practice to truly master, and the same case applies to instantly killing your opponent in combat without input errors.

In my mind, I like to think that I have better-than-decent execution as far as moving my joystick and hitting buttons goes, but in “HnK,” I begin to develop a case of “spaghetti fingers.”

That’s what makes watching Seikimatsu Butoukai a real treat you’re seeing people play a game which, as of Dec. 7, will be turning

15 years old. The manga the game is based on, for comparison’s sake, will be turning 37 in September.

These players have fine-tuned the way the game is played, and in doing such, they are experts in a game that sticks to the “easy-tolearn, hard-to-master” analogy that all fighting games follow.

If you ever find yourself wanting to watch some world-class action in a fighting game that’s almost old enough to ride Jagi’s motorcycle, I implore you to check out Game Newton’s archive of any of the Seikimatsu Butoukai tournaments on Twitch.

CONNECT WITH ROBERT JOHNSON JR. rjohnson10@student.framingham.edu

Five Decades Later, ‘Teorema’ is Still a Mystery

By James Barraford Staff Writer

Pier Paolo Pasolini’s mystifying “Teorema” will no doubt confound and perturb audiences. Criterion Collection’s Blu-Ray restoration, released Feb. 18, offers new audiences a pristine look of the 1968 film.

The film at its core is about a Milanese family whose lives are changed by a Visitor (played by Terrance Stamp).

This guest, whose nature is either angelic or demonic, goes on to seduce the entire household, including the maid.

The Visitor with each seduction causes an awakening and spiritual crisis which threatens the order of the household.

It is difficult to review a film like “Teorema.” It is a riddle that defies all conventions and contradicts itself.

Pasolini was a Marxist-Atheist-Freudian-Homosexual who directed what is to be considered one of the best films about the crucifixion, “The Gospel According to St. Matthew.” As a polemicist author and director, he never shied away from being iconoclastic.

After a factory employee is interviewed surrounded by a throng of photographers, we see the smoldering ashes of Mount Etna. A voice describes the Israelites being delivered by God from the Egyptians and sent into the

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wilderness.

With this grand allusion, we see the ordinary family - played in part by European Cinema greats Silvana Mangano, Massimo Girotti, and Anne Wiazemsky - going about their lives. They seem happy and live in an almost palatial home.

Yet, their liberation at the hands of the mysterious Visitor violates the laws set forth in Leviticus. The Visitor, if he is supposed to be the God of the Old Testament, violates the law against adultery and same-sex relations.

The characters seem more like Greek theater masks conveying ideas as opposed to developed individuals.

The idea of the sacred Visitor and his impact on the nuclear family is more crucial to the film.

Ennio Morricone’s soundtrack is used to great effect with the titular theme. The haunting sighs and brooding violins juxtaposes seamlessly with the deceptively happy family.

Other pieces, especially when the soundtrack takes on a jazzier feel, take away from the tension on the screen.

I saw “Teorema” in high school and remember being moved by the film as the ending title “Fin” came across the screen. It had been almost 10 years since I last saw it. For this review, I watched the film twice just to begin writing.

I thought it was a pretentious period piece and worried that it was the kind of film that should have been left to my teenage memories.

I watched it again the following night and began to feel a connection with the images and themes. I was able to overlook some issues that are characteristic of Pasolini.

Pasolini was always a little too didactic. The scene where the maid helps the Visitor with his luggage - he initially refuses - on the condition that both awkwardly carry the bulky suitcase together was so absurdly obvious I rolled my eyes.

The Visitor is so angelic he is willing to share his labor in the factory owner’s home. That scene could have been more powerful without the clumsily blunt metaphor.

Yet, what I appreciated the most was the idea of content people living inauthentic lives.

The mother and daughter both crash and burn when confronted with their freedom. The mother discovers her compulsive sexual pursuits are soul deadening and the daughter becomes catatonic.

This sort of provocation offers no answers and sticks like a thorn under your fingernail. It promotes and undermines all the ideologies that have primarily influenced him. The more

you try to grapple with its meaning, the less it makes sense.

The film gives no easy answer - its conclusion provides no peace. I suspect that, like Pasolini’s contradictory nature, this film is both profound and pretentious. Neither would be an incorrect assessment.

ADMIT ONE

Grade: A A maddening and provocative period-piece.

ADMIT ONE

CONNECT WITH JAMES BARRAFORD jbarraford@student.framingham.edu

ARTS & FEATURES

FEBRUARY 28, 2020 | 11

Clint Smith Continued from page 1

but as a “threat.” Smith also stressed the importance to communicate to them it is not their fault - rather, it is upheld by a system of institutionalized racism.

The basis of his presentation pertains to hiding the history of oppression which allows for this “youthful abstraction.”

Smith spoke of the racist incidents that have happened at FSU. “There’s a moment when people feel like, ‘OK, we need to have a conversation about diversity, about inclusion, about healing, about what it means for different people to bring different sets of experiences to a place,’” he said.

“What doesn’t always happen is a conversation about the history that made those phenomena possible,” Smith added.

He said, “The history that we tell ourselves was a long time ago wasn’t actually that long ago at all.

“It’s only been about 50 years in which Black people living in this country even had a semblance of legal and legislative freedom,” Smith said.

“For 350 years prior to that, it was fundamentally legal to discriminate against, dehumanize, delegitimize, and disenfranchise Black people.”

Smith explained the hypocrisy of people asking why those who had been “kicked around” for so long are not able to reach some of the same academic and economic standards that the “kickers” hold for them.

“It is so important to understand because we can misunderstand and misdiagnose why the world looks the way it does if you don’t understand the history that created it,” he said.

After reading Thomas Jefferson’s memoir, Smith learned Black people were inferior and slaves were incapable of love and emotion.

“That was a version of Jefferson I was never taught,” he said.

“We are so committed to the idea of ‘American exceptionalism’ that we inevitably suppress anything that makes us look unexceptional,” Smith said.

“Part of what it means to be an American, part of what it means to live in this country, part of what it means to understand this country is to be able to hold a set of complicated truths at once - that Jefferson was a brilliant man … and that he also enslaved over 600 people over the course of his life,” he said.

“Twelve of our first 18 presidents owned slaves. Eight of them owned

slaves while they were in office,” Smith added.

Smith read his poem that was addressed as a letter to five of those presidents.

The poem ended with the lines, “I have been taught how perfect this country is, but no one ever told me about the pages torn out of my textbooks. How Black and Brown bodies were bludgeoned for three centuries and found no place in the curriculum.

“Oppression doesn’t just disappear because you decided not to teach us that chapter. If you only hear one side of the story, at some point you have to question who the writer is.”

Smith said educators are shamed for talking about certain aspects of history because it means they are getting “too political.”

Having grown up in New Orleans, Smith discussed the impact of living in a place full of monuments for the people who fought for so long to keep Black people enslaved.

“What are we saying to Black people in this country? That we would lift up and maintain these marble images of people who fought a war to keep you and your ancestors enslaved,” he said.

Smith recited lines from his poem,

46. Fundamentals 48. Did so-so on the final 50. Ritalin target: Abbr.

53. Play matchmaker for 55. Where you may sense an intuition 57. Rower’s necessity 58. High horse ... of the NFL? 63. Slanted column?

66. Mushroom with a long, thin stem 67. Rose or Violet 68. Parisian papa 69. Like the air after a fire 70. British boys’ school 71. Pre-fry?

72. Students may cram for them

ACROSS 1. Book after Jonah 6. Puts on a patch, perhaps 10. Wear’s partner 14. Yoga posture 15. When doubled, a Hawaiian fish 16. Solo for Renee Fleming 17. Soda shop offerings 18. Malevolent smiles 20. Show horse ... of animation?

22. Nelson Mandela’s org.

23. Have challah, say 24. Snake with a king variety 28. Hover ominously 30. “Baloney!”

34. Traveled like a monarch?

35. Rolling rock?

37. Place to get a late-night stack 39. Hydrogenated ___ 40. Dark horse ... of literature?

43. Laddie’s turndown 44. Mortgage deal, for short 45. Ranger or Explorer

DOWN 1. The blue whale is the largest one 2. “Thumbs-down from me!”

3. Phone at another’s expense 4. Against 5. What you make in a hurry 6. Refines, as ore 7. Spot to hang Christmas lights 8. Riding crop, e.g.

9. Farm tower 10. Skeptical toward 11. Singer Grande, to fans 12. Behave in an ungodly fashion?

13. Owns 19. Vitamin retailer 21. Get the beer flowing 25. They give to banks 26. Jockey’s strap 27. Belt-making tool 29. Goat’s sound 31. Bandleader’s cry after “One, two, three,” maybe 32. “Bingo!”

33. Offspring of a wild canine 36. DVD player predecessor 38. West Bank inits.

“What do you call it when the road you walk on is named for those who imagine you under a noose? What do you call it when the roof over your head is named for people who would’ve wanted the bricks to crush you?”

Smith emphasized the importance of knowing the history of oppression and acknowledging America’s attempt at hiding it.

Another line from his poetry read, “... You see the country is only able to whisper the words, ‘American exceptionalism’ because we are so good at covering our ears while someone else is screaming.”

Smith explained knowing this history is important to help educate others, so they don’t have to go through the same “paralysis and confusion” he did growing up.

Not only to educate others, but knowing it for yourself and knowing “you are not singularly defined by that history.”

Smith said, “There is something so profoundly liberating and emancipatory in knowing that this country can’t lie to you anymore.”

CONNECT WITH LEIGHAH BEAUSOLEIL lbeausoleil@student.framingham.edu

40. Term of endearment 41. Bay Area hub 42. Vanguard offering, briefly 43. Rapper Lil ___ X 47. Without notice 49. “I concur” 51. Make the grade 52. Sci-fi robots 54. It may be in your step 56. Trick alternative 59. Playful bites Puzzle solutions are now 60. POTUS’ No. 2 exclusively online.

61. Hose shade 62. First word in many a fairy tale 63. Uno, in English 64. “Stand” or “down” follower 65. Gloomy genre

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12 | FEBRUARY 28, 2020

SPORTS

SPORTS

Women’s basketball ends the regular season with a perfect MASCAC record

By Sara Senesac Sports Editor The Rams’ women’s basketball team traveled to take on the Fitchburg State Falcons, where they ended their regular season undefeated in the MASCAC Feb. 22.

Framingham found their momentum early on in the game and managed to maintain their fire for all four quarters.

The Rams ended the first quarter with a 12-0 run, giving them a 24-7 lead over the Falcons.

Framingham continued to rule the court in the second quarter. A three from senior Mary Kate O’Day allowed the Rams to extend their lead over Fitchburg 44-21 at the end of the first half.

Freshman Flannery O’Connor led the way into the third, putting up four points for the Rams early on.

The Falcons fought back with a few impressive plays of their own, but would never manage to pull the score within less than 20 points.

Fitchburg pushed against the Rams’ lead in the fourth, but they were never able to break their stride.

Framingham ended the season with an 81-53 victory over Fitchburg and an impressive 12-game win streak.

O’Connor led the Rams with an impressive 18 points and 10 rebounds. She was also selected as last week’s NEWBA co-rookie of the week.

O’Connor said, “My first season has been the most memorable. I will remember playing with this specific group of girls for the rest of my life.

I am beyond blessed that I got to share this opportunity with them.”

They ended the regular season 12-0 in the MASCAC and 20-5 overall.

They head into the semi-final round of the MASCAC tournament as the number one seed.

O’Connor said, “I give all the credit to my coaches and teammates, I wouldn’t be playing a certain way if it wasn’t for their encouragement,

their support, and their care for me and the game.

“I’ve gotten the opportunity to play with some of the most hardworking and talented players I’ve ever seen. It’s definitely rewarding to see our hard work pay off, and most importantly it fuels us to go after that championship,” she added.

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Kathleen Moore/ THE GATEPOST The Rams run back to play defense.

CONNECT WITH SARA SENESAC ssenesac@student.framingham.edu

Men’s Basketball loses two more MASCAC games to close the season

By Carlos Silva Asst. Sports Editor

The Rams took on the Bridgewater State Bears in a MASCAC game Feb. 19 at the Athletic Center.

The Rams started off struggling. They allowed the Bears to make an early 10-2 run, extending their lead to 15-7 with over 11 minutes remaining in the first half.

The Bears held a strong consistent lead over the Rams for most of the half, leading by as many as 10 points.

The two teams closed the half strong offensively with the Bears holding onto a 35-27 lead.

The Rams started off hot in the second half and took the lead after an 8-0 run to make the score 42-41 with 14:40 left on the clock.

Later in the half, the Bears went on an 8-0 run of their own to take a commanding 67-59 lead with 5:36 remaining in the game.

The flurry of 8-0 runs continued when the Rams went on their second run to tie the game at 67-67 with 3:30 left on the clock. The run was led by four points from Tyri Hampton.

After sinking a pair of free throws, the Bears were up by three with 18.8 seconds left.

Tajahn Joyner hit a quick layup to bring the deficit to just one point with 9.2 left in the game.

The Rams then fouled Ryan Carney and forced him to earn his points by hitting two free throws with 4.8 seconds left.

Carney sunk in both shots to give the Bears a three-point lead.

Joyner brought the ball up to about half court and then tossed it back to Hampton for a last second miracle half-court shot that sunk perfectly into the net to tie the game with .2 seconds remaining.

@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

The game went into overtime.

The Bears dominated most of the overtime after a quick 11-1 run.

They were able control the lead until the end, and ultimately beat the Rams with a score of 87-82.

The Rams next game was against the Fitchburg State Falcons Feb. 22 at the Parkinson Gymnasium.

The first half started off with the Rams and Falcons trading baskets until the Falcons scored twice in a row to take an 11-6 lead.

The Falcons continued to build onto their lead midway through the first half following four points from Xavier Betancourt to make the score 23-16.

After a Hampton three-point shot cut the deficit to seven points, Anthony Diaz and Jordan Jones scored three points each to extend the Falcons lead to 34-21.

The Falcons lead by 12 points going into half time with a score of 42-30.

Fitchburg opened the second half strong with a 17-8 run during the first five minutes of the frame, extending their lead to 59-38.

The Falcons held off the Rams for the rest of the game and secured the win with a score of 93-72.

The Rams finished the season 1-11 in the MASCAC and 2-23 overall.

FITCHBURG STATE FRAMINGHAM STATE CONNECT WITH CARLOS SILVA csilva14@student.framingham.edu

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SPORTS

FEBRUARY 28, 2020 | 13

More Than a Statistic: Tyri Hampton’s Broken Path to the Present

By Liam Gambon Sports Editor Growing up in the projects for 15 years of his life and not meeting his father for 16, Tyri Hampton has walked a cracked road to get where he is.

When he was around the age of 6, his mother introduced sports to him as a way to keep him off the streets.

That’s when he found his love for basketball.

“Living in a bad area with no father and a very young mother could have turned out very bad for me. But my mother did her best to raise me and help me become a man as best she could,” Hampton said. “I was born a statistic and was technically supposed to end up where my father is right now. Basketball was one of those activities that my mom put me in to help me stay productive and surrounded by good people.”

Instead of following what was expected of him and making a life in a cell, Hampton rose and became the star captain for the Framingham State Rams men’s basketball team.

His mother’s plan to help him stay out of trouble succeeded as he spent most of his childhood on the hardwood.

“Some of my best memories definitely include AAU basketball. I loved traveling to different states and playing different types of players,” Hampton said. “My first time dunking in a high school game is something I’ll never forget. It’s a feeling you can describe, the satisfaction is what you can’t put into words.”

Once he reached the end of his high school career, Hampton was recruited by the head basketball coach for Nichols College.

The school was his first choice, but it didn’t make sense financially to him.

So, he sent his basketball film to the Rams’ head coach at the time, Peter Mugar.

“He was really interested in my game,” Hampton said. “I came for a school visit and that’s when he said he would love to have me on the team.”

What followed was four consistent seasons, with the final two being as one of Framingham’s captains.

After averaging between seven and nine points per game in his first three, the forward enjoyed a 13.3 average in his final year.

“Some of my best memories from playing basketball I made this year. Achieving a new career high of 24 points for Kobe of course, earning an all-tournament team award, getting a mean put-back dunk against Salem State, and of course, my senior night is something I’ll never forget,” Hampton said. “It was my mom’s first time ever seeing me play in college. And that half-court shot is some-thing I’ve never done in my life. The feeling was amazing and seeing the crowd’s reaction was priceless.”

With his mother working nonstop to support him and his siblings, she was forced to miss all his games in college.

“I don’t blame her for not going to any of my games,” Hampton said. “I understood that she had to provide for her family, and sometimes that means sacrificing certain things in life.”

Hampton told his mother to come to his senior night a month in advance, and luckily, she was able to get the time off to see her son play.

With only 0.02 seconds remaining in regulation, down by three against Bridgewater State, Hampton heaved a shot from right on top of the Rams’ logo at half court and sank a three, sending the game into overtime.

Fans and players alike came pouring onto the court to celebrate the play as Hampton yelled and let his emotions loose.

“The buzzer beater was honestly super unexpected. I wanted to have a good game because my mother was there, and I wanted to show her how hard I have worked at becoming the best player I could be. It was never in my mind that I was going to make a play like that, it just happened,” Hampton said. “It was honestly pure luck. Sometimes you just throw the ball up and it just happens to fall in. What a night for that to happen, right?”

He finished the game with 23 points, 12 rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block.

“That’s definitely an unforgettable senior night,” Hampton said.

“Ty’s performance was amazing. He played like the senior captain that he is. That last second shot will be remembered for a long time,” coach Bill Raynor said. “My only regret is that we could have put together a better senior season for him. He definitely deserved it. He is a great example of what a Framingham State student athlete should be.”

Despite being a standout, Hampton never experienced a winning season in college.

His record with the Rams finishes at 21-81.

Courtesy of fsurams.com

“Playing for Framingham these last four years has been really hard.

I left high school the only senior on my varsity team along with a losing record. My senior year in college, I’m the only senior, and again I’m leaving with a losing record,” Hampton said. “To be honest, what kept me around these past four years were the people I met. Everyone I’ve met through basketball has had such an impact on my life and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Playing basketball is always fun for me. Losing sucks, but I found the relationships I made to be more valuable.”

Hampton’s final game of his college career came on Saturday, in quite the poetic place.

He returned to his hometown of Fitchburg.

“The feeling was surreal. I couldn’t believe it,” Hampton said. “The only thought running through my mind was, ‘wow ... it’s all going to end where it all started.’”

After scoring a game-high 19 points and pulling down a game-high 12 rebounds, Hampton was subbed out with a minute left.

As he walked off the court, tears came down his face.

“I couldn’t help but cry once my coach pulled me off the court,” Hampton said. “I looked up at the scoreboard, and once I saw my coach’s arms reach out to embrace me for a hug, I couldn’t help but let it all out.”

“When I hugged Tyri after taking him out of the game, I felt a sense of sadness for him because it was his last game,” Raynor said. “I also felt a great exhilaration and sense of gratitude for being blessed to have coached him and to be a small part of his life. I know he will make many contributions to society and continue to grow and develop.”

Going forward, Hampton wishes to continue his basketball career overseas. But first, he is going to focus on attending to injuries he’s ignored for a few years.

So, for now, the Fitchburg kid from the projects is looking to graduate from Framingham State in May with a degree in psychology.

CONNECT WITH LIAM GAMBON lgambon1@student.framingham.edu

Courtesy of fsurams.com

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SPORTS

14 | FEBRUARY 28, 2020

Ice hockey ends the season on a high note

By Sara Senesac Sports Editor The Rams’ ice hockey team ended their season last week with back-toback MASCAC faceoffs.

They traveled to Salem State to take on the Vikings Feb. 20.

The first period saw the most action, with four goals coming from four different players.

Salem’s Richard Coyle secured the first power play goal of the game with a slapshot off a pass from Luke Pepin.

Ten minutes later, junior Michael Gennello sent one into the top corner of the net to tie the score at one.

In the final two minutes of the period, Salem took the lead once more, but Framingham responded quickly.

Junior Soren Colstrup capitalized on a Rams power play and snuck one in to tie the game at two heading into the second period.

After a scuffle about eight minutes into the second period, junior Walker Hamilton found an opening in front of Salem’s net, and sent one in to take the first Rams’ lead of the game.

Three minutes later, Gennello found his opportunity once more, and managed to score his second goal of the game, stretching Framingham’s lead to 4-2.

The Vikings squeezed one more goal in before the end of the second, leaving the Rams still up by one going into the third.

Salem fought back in the third, and managed to score one more goal to tie the game at four.

Neither team was able to score again during regulation time, forcing an overtime battle.

There was a lot of back and forth between both teams in the extra period, but neither team was able to capitalize again. The game ended in a 4-4 tie between Framingham and Salem.

Genello led the team with two goals, while freshman Blake Carlson secured 32 saves in net.

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The rest of the first period went by quietly with neither team seeing much action.

Westfield got on the board about nine minutes into the second when Robert Neuwirth managed to tie the game at one.

Sophomore Bryan Whelan responded for the Rams less than a minute later, whizzing by the Owls’ defense and bouncing one in off the goalie’s glove.

Less than a minute into the third, Whelan attacked once more, scoring off a loose puck, and giving the Rams a 3-1 lead.

Whelan said, “I couldn’t have scored without the hard work from Ryan Paul and Matt Siegel in the corner to get the puck free. They are both very talented players and fun to play with.”

Framingham saw an exciting next six minutes, where two different Rams managed to score.

Junior Matthew Siegel and Hamilton both secured goals of their own, forcing a 5-1 lead over Westfield.

Westfield exchanged their goalie for the last 13 minutes of play, but was not able to respond with another goal of their own for the remainder of play.

The Rams outshot the Owls 39-31 and returned home from their last game with a 5-1 victory over Westfield.

Whelan said, “The win was an all around good game from each and everyone on the team. Going in - knowing that Worcester had won and taken our playoff hopes from us - we could have easily mailed it in and gave up. Instead, we stuck together and ended up winning against a tough opponent.

“For the season, we had ups and downs, but I feel the team stuck together and battled for the whole year, and didn’t give up,” he added. “We played an all around game, and we put every piece together that needed to be, and came out with the win. … That makes this offseason much more fun - knowing what this team is capable of doing in order to have a good year next season.”

The win allowed them to end their season on a high note after coming in at 3-13-2 in the MASCAC and 4-18-3 overall.

The Rams then traveled to take on the Westfield State Owls for their final match of the season Feb. 22.

Framingham took the lead within the first two minutes of the game when junior Jack Pierson managed to send one in off a rebound.

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CONNECT WITH SARA SENESAC ssenesac@student.framingham.edu

Club Meeting Times Monday English Club, 1:30 pm, MA 112A Nutrition Club, 1:30 pm, 1st Mon, HH 219 Wildlife, 1:30 pm, HA 325 Catholic Student Group, 1:30 pm, EC 101 Gatepost, 6:30 pm, MC 410 Dance Team, 6:30 pm, Aerobics Room 207/208 Green Initiative, 6:45 pm, MC Paul T. Murphy 520 MISS, 7:00 pm, O’Connor CIE Psychology Club, 7:30 pm, Club Room 1, MC 413 Tuesday Math Club, 4:30 pm, HH 401 Pride Alliance, 6:30 pm, Club Room 1, MC 413 Dance Team, 6:30 pm, AF 207 Black Student Union, 7:00 pm, O’Connor CIE SGA, 7:30 pm, MC Alumni Room LUNA, 8:00 pm, OC 220 Wednesday History Club, 1:30 pm, MA 111B Christian Fellowship, 6:30 pm, Ecumenical Center Dance Team, 6:30 pm, AF 208

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Wednesday (cont’d) SUAB, 6:30 pm, 2nd and 4th Wed, Club Room 1, MC 413 Marketing Club, 6:30 pm, HH 110 Fashion Club, 7 pm , HH 218 Students of Caribbean Ancestry, 7:30 pm O’Connor CIE Comic Book Club, 7:30 pm, Club Room 1, MC 413 Thursday IGNITE, 1:30 pm, Club Room 1, MC 413 WDJM, 5:30 pm, MC Paul T. Murphy 520 Gatepost, 6:30 pm, MC 410 Dance Team, 6:30 pm, AF 207 Her Campus, 7 pm, Club Room 1, MC 413 African Student Association, 7 pm, North Hall Commons Chess Club, 7 pm, HH 110 African Caribbean Dance Group, 7:30 pm, AF 208 Brother to Brother, 7:30 pm, O’Connor CIE Friday Journal of Critical Thinking, 1:30 pm, MC Paul T. Murphy 520 Gaming Club, 3:00 pm, Club Room 1, MC 413 Dance Team, 6:30 pm, AF 207 Sunday Symphonic Band, 6 pm, DPAC

SPORTS

FEBRUARY 28, 2020 | 15

Players of the Week

1st Player of the Week: Flannery O’Connor

The freshman recorded 40 points for the week, while pulling down 23 rebounds, dishing out eight assists, and dominating defensively with five blocks and two steals. The highlight of her week came when she scored 22 points and pulled down 13 rebounds in the MASCAC Semifinals win over Bridgewater.

Courtesy of fsurams.com

2nd Player of the Week: Grace Gamache

The FSU Rams’ all-time points leader hit the back of the net seven times, and recorded four assists for 11 points in the week. She was unstoppable in the win against Wellesley as she scored four times on five shots for a scoring effeciency of 80%.

Courtesy of fsurams.com

3rd Player of the Week: Emily Velozo

Velozo scored 36 points, crashed the boards for seven rebounds, came away with nine assists, and stole the ball six times in the week. Her best performance came in the MASCAC Semifinals where she dropped in a game-high 24 points on 53.3% shooting from the field to lead the Rams into the MASCAC Championship.

Courtesy of fsurams.com

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PHOTOS

16 | FEBRUARY 28, 2020

y r o t s i H n e d d i H Scavenger Hunt

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J For over 180 years, FSU has educated thousands of students.

Each class has left it’s mark on the college.

Do you know where to find these plaques and monuments on campus?

Let us know on social media! #FSUGatepostHistoryHunt

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@TheGatepost

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thegatepost Facebook.com/fsu.gatepost Photographs and spread by Donald Halsing/ THE GATEPOST

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