THE GATEPOST Framingham State’s independent student newspaper
Volume 87 • Issue 15
February 15, 2019
FSUgatepost.com
Board of Trustees discusses campus resources for students By Nadira Wicaksana News Editor The Framingham State Board of Trustees met to discuss decreasing student enrollment and the changing nature of academic affairs and disability services during its meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 30. Lauren Keville, coordinator of student retention and graduation success, gave a presentation on students who leave the University. Keville said students leave for “a multitude of reasons,” including financial burden, convenience of the locations of other schools, or switching to a community college because they felt overwhelmed by the rigor or environment of a fouryear institution. The top reason students leave the University is acceptance to Donald Halsing / THE GATEPOST their first-choice insitution, according to Keville. The most popStudents pose with their new best friends at Stuff-a-Bear on Feb. 13, organized by SUAB. ular institution to which students transferred is Bridgewater State University, with 14 former FSU students transferring after the spring 2018 semester. News Lorretta Holloway, vice president for enrollment and student Higher Education Carlos E. Santiago CDIO/PROVOST SEARCH pg. 4 By Jillian Poland development, addressed student then signed it on July 16, according to Associate Editor mental health in her report. CIE DIRECTOR SEARCH pg. 5 a statement from O’Donnell. According to Holloway, there Under Massachusetts General Law The Massachusetts State College was a 28-percent increase in student visits to the Counseling CenAssociation (MSCA) authorized a re- 150E, following the Commissioner’s signature, the BHE had until Aug. 15 ter during the 2017-18 school year, turn to contract bargaining with the Opinions as well as a 162-percent increase Board of Higher Education (BHE) and to submit the funding request for the in “unplanned” visits. the Council of Presidents (COP) on agreement to the governor’s Office of SAM THE RAM pg. 7 Holloway said this is a nationEmployee Relations (OER). The fundFeb. 1. al trend across universities, and SEXCETERA pg. 8 MSCA President CJ O’Donnell wrote ing request was not submitted until she encourages students to use in a statement, “This was neither an almost four months past that deadthe center. “This is what we want easy nor unanimous decision. We are line. to see - students getting the help Arts & Features in a time-sensitive position, and we In September, the MSCA filed an they need.” believe this is the clearest path for us unfair labor practice charge against LaDonna Bridges, associate Santiago and the BHE because of the OSCARS PREDICTIONS pg. 10 dean of academic success and dito obtain our raises and the benefits delay. rector of CASA, gave a presentathat were mutually agreed to.” COMIC CORNER pg. 11 tion on the growth of CASA’s regRobert Donohue, psychology proThe MSCA, a union comprised of istry numbers and the subsequent faculty and librarians from the nine fessor and MSCA vice president, said increased usage of the University’s state universities, has been negotiat- the delay placed the union in a bad disability services in recent years. ing with the BHE since January 2017 position, putting off pay raises and Sports Bridges said the number of stuto reach a collective bargaining agree- exacerbating tensions between union dents self-identifying as needing members and the COP across camment (CBA). The CBA outlines the conservices increased from 231 stuWOMEN’S BASKETBALL pg. 14 ditions under which the union agrees puses. “I have no way to understand dents in the 2007-2008 academwhy the commissioner and the Board MEN’S BASKETBALL pg. 15 to work. It is valid for three years. ic year to 770 students as of the of Higher Education thought stalling fall 2018 semester, a more than The current CBA bargaining prothe funding request was in anyone’s 200-percent increase. cess has been delayed numerous times This has led to the growth of - particularly over concerns and con- interest.” CASA in terms of staff and support Vincent Pedone, executive director fusion regarding the financial paramservices, added Bridges. of the COP, said in September 2018 eters of the contract. Both Bridges and Holloway said The MSCA and the BHE finally that the delay was related to the conthe increased use of campus serreached a tentative CBA in April 2018, cern that the CBA cost more than the vices indicated a greater student nine months after the end of the previ- state had authorized the BHE to give. awareness of the importance of During bargaining, the BHE team ous CBA. On June 20, 2018, the MSCA mental health and wellbeing and was given the authority to offer no ratified the tentative agreement. decreased stigma surrounding usAshley Wall / more than a 2-percent cost increase age of these resources. Massachusetts Commissioner of THE GATEPOST
MSCA and COP return to bargaining table
See MSCA page 3
See BOARD OF TRUSTEES page 6
INSIDE: OP/ED 7 • ARTS & FEATURES 10 • SPORTS 13
2 | NEWS
THE GATEPOST
Gatepost Interview
Editorial Board
Alexandrine Policar
Editor-in-Chief Bailey Morrison Associate Editors Corey McFeeley Jillian Poland News Editor Nadira Wicaksana Interim Arts & Features Editor Tessa Jillson Asst. Arts & Features Editor Robert Johnson Jr. Interim Asst. Arts & Features Editor Brennan Atkins Entertainment Correspondent Noah Barnes Opinions Editor Lizzy Stocks Sports Editor Matt Ferris Asst. Sports Editor Liam Gambon Design Editor Cara McCarthy Asst. Design Editor Kathleen Moore Photos Editor Ashley Wall Asst. Photos Editor Donald Halsing Staff Writers Jordan Bacci Mikael Brown Evan Lee Jon Lee Tom Maye Kayla Otten Lauren Paolini Patrick Peterson Kate Shane Carlos Silva Cam Turner Julian Vazquez Natalia Voloboy Caeley Whalen Staff Copy Editors Caroline Lee Gordon Rupert Staff Photographers Ryan Feinblatt Allie Gath Jenna-Nicole Richard Margaret Richardson Michael Upton Advisor Dr. Desmond McCarthy Assistant Advisor Elizabeth Banks Administrative Assistant Gwenyth Swain 100 State Street McCarthy Center Room 410 Framingham, MA 01701-9101 Phone: (508) 626-4605 Fax: (508) 626-4097 gatepost@framingham.edu
FEBRUARY 15, 2019
Director of Institutional Processes and Efficiencies By Nadira Wicaksana News Editor What is your educational and professional background? My educational background is really diverse and broad. I have undergraduate degrees in agriculture and environment from Quisqeya University in Haiti. I graduated in 1996. … I graduated in 2007 with an MBA, and in 2008 with a master’s in information technology [from UMass Boston]. I also have a doctorate degree from Northeastern University in law and policy. What brought you here to Framingham State? I spent 17 years working at UMass Boston in administration. I’ve been teaching part-time as well since I finished my doctorate in 2011. So, I’ve been working at UMass developing systems, making sure that business processes are effective, and also working with all the different stakeholders, and reviewing their technology policies - things like that. So, when I saw this opportunity, I jumped in because I like to do both - I like to do administration in higher education and also teach. I decided I wanted a change because it’s been 17 years at UMass. ... I thought it was a great opportunity to continue my learning experience and also to add value to the University in any way I can. What is your role here at the University? I’m the director of institutional processes and efficiencies - that’s one of the departments in Academic Affairs. … We’re responsible for the onboarding process of part-time faculty. After they hire them, we do all the paperwork and also do faculty conversations. ... We also work with the deans and academic chairs to make sure that we have the right equivalencies for faculty when they are teaching. We also provide reports to the union to make sure that we are following the contract. ... One of my goals is to develop our relationships with all the different stakeholders who are working on campus, whether it’s IT, Academic Affairs, HR, or whatever. We make sure that the process is seamless and see where we can be more effective and efficient. What is your favorite part about your job? My favorite job as someone with
Police Logs Wednesday, February 13 15:34 Harassment FSU Police Dept. Report Taken
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Nadira Wicaksana / THE GATEPOST
an analytical mind is to look at the data and find trends, analyze the data, and see how we can use that information in order to make decisions. I love looking at the data - we have so much. Every semester, we have data from all the different courses and faculty members, and looking at that and the trends, we see where we can improve ourselves as a department and also as an institution as a whole. What has been your favorite academic experience? My favorite experience, I would say, was in 2014 when I was fortunate enough to get a Fulbright Grant to go to Haiti and do some research. I’m originally from Haiti, so I feel like that provided me with an opportunity to share my resources and maybe bring some change to the country. I went there, and I made a proposition to develop online teaching and learning. In Haiti, most of the students live in rural areas and people come into the city. But I wanted to see if we could decentralize education by providing online teaching and learning how that could help to provide the younger generation with education, so they can be independent citizens. ... I saw the sacrifices my students there were willing to make, and I compare that to students here - I see how complacent some of them are. I’m trying to motivate them to be better and to become an agent of change here and find something they are passionate about. ... I want to push them to achieve more. I’m always mentoring and teaching students that’s something I want to continue to do for the rest of my life. To me, knowledge is nothing - it’s knowledge-sharing, when you can spread what you know and learn from other people as well. That’s my main motto in life. I want to share as much as I can.
Wednesday, February 13 17:36 Investigation Larned Hall Investigation
What are some differences between school in the U.S. and school in Haiti? I did my undergraduate studies in Haiti, and then I immigrated to the United States to continue my learning. ... When I was studying for my master’s degree, it was a full-time job, a full-time program from 9 to 5. We had access to so many different technologies and resources - databases, all these scholarly papers, things like that. In Haiti, it’s different. That’s one of the things that motivated me to become a Fulbright Scholar - most of the time, we don’t have the faculty members with the necessary skill to teach the courses that are supposed to be taught. Also, we don’t have the infrastructure in Haiti, and the curriculum is not updated. ... When I was in Haiti, I was teaching online courses for Lasell College and DeVry University. I was far away from the capital in the rural areas, and I thought, “Oh my God. I have access to internet, even though it’s expensive.” So, I thought, I should develop a system so that students in Haiti should be able to learn as well. It would allow us to break boundaries and expand our knowledge and be informed. What are some hobbies of yours? I like to bake. I like to garden - I’m an avid gardener. I like photography and designing things on the computer ... using Photoshop and editing pictures. But my absolute favorite thing is gardening. In fact, I’m planning on growing some vegetables [in the office windowsill]. I thought, I have a lot of sunlight coming in, so I should grow some veggies - probably some tomatoes or lettuce for spring. I want to start early March. What advice do you have for FSU students? College is a great experience for students. I would advise each student to find something they’re passionate about and to be involved. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Just be engaged, be courteous, and just be open as well. I see that we have experienced some racial bias incidents on campus with graffiti, and I hope for students to be open, to appreciate diversity, and understand that even though we might be different, we can share common values. ... We should be more tolerant and accepting. CONNECT WITH NADIRA WICAKSANA nwicaksana@student.framingham.edu
Wednesday, February 13 21:17 Motor Vehicle Accident Towers Hill Exchange
Thursday, February 14 07:21 Alarm (Burglar/Building) Facilities Dept. False Alarm
FEBRUARY 15, 2019
THE GATEPOST
NEWS | 3
MSCA Continued from pg. 1 for each of its labor contracts. The bargaining team interpreted this to mean a 2-percent salary increase, which it granted during negotiations with the MSCA. However, Pedone said for this round of bargaining, the OER included cost items such as equivalencies, stipends, and financial benefits for faculty in addition to salary increases when calculating the cap. According to Pedone, this has never been the policy before, and the bargaining team could not have anticipated this. As a result, the MSCA and BHE ratified and signed a contract that exceeded the financial parameters the BHE had been given by the state. Despite these concerns, if the contract had been submitted on deadline and rejected, the MSCA and the BHE would have had to legally return to bargaining months earlier. Pedone said, “I think everyone is in agreement that if things moved a little more quickly, we wouldn’t be in this position.” Pedone said while he could not speak on Santiago’s behalf and could only share what he understood, “the 150E process was strained and we [the COP] requested that the commissioner submit the letter, but the commissioner’s position was, ‘Why have this rejected when we can return to bargaining and resolve the issues that we know exist?’” Donohue said during the delay, the COP and BHE were “in contact with the MSCA telling us that they wanted us to return to the bargaining table.” He said it was “remarkably stupid for them to think the union could or would go back to the bargaining table in a process that was completely outside the legal statute that defined the procedure of the collective bargaining process.” On the day the case against Santiago and the BHE was due to be heard, “The Board of Higher Education basically copped a plea,” Donohue said. The BHE approached the MSCA and told them if they stopped the legal process against the BHE, Santiago would forward the funding request to the OER, according to Donohue. The MSCA agreed. Donohue added, “Although we really would have loved to have gotten the legal determination that the commissioner was violating the state law, rather than drag out that legal process, we focused on getting the funding request to move forward.” Santiago submitted the request on Dec. 11, 2018.
On Dec. 18, the OER rejected the funding request. Under Massachusetts General Law 150E, the rejection meant the CBA was returned to both parties to continue bargaining. In a post on the MSCA website, O’Donnell pointed out specific language in the funding request that he believed effectively asked the OER to reject it. He said, “It seems the BHE set up the rejection given the manner in which the BHE submitted the request.” Donohue called the funding request “inaccurate and inflated,” because it did not account for cost savings in the CBA that could help to offset any cost increases and keep the overall amount under 2 percent. Offsetting the costs in this way is not without precedent. In fall 2018, the OER recommended the state legislature not fund the contract for the Association of Professional Administrators (APA), another state university union that bargains with the BHE. The contract was rejected on the grounds that it, too, exceeded the 2-percent cost increase cap. However, members of the COP, BHE, and APA argued because the newly bargained contract saved money in other areas, the overall increase in the cost of the contract did not exceed 2 percent, and the APA contract was funded. In September, Pedone told The Gatepost the COP and BHE planned to attempt the same process with the MSCA contract. But after some investigation, the state administration and the individual campuses were unable to find ways of offsetting the costs in the MSCA contract. Pedone said, “From our perspective, there is not a way for us to find savings included in this contract that would cover the cost” increases the OER identified. He emphasized they will only be addressing cost items in the re-negotiation. The rest of the contract will remain as it was agreed upon. For the new round of negotiations, the BHE has delegated more responsibility to the COP and the group will have “more seats at the table,” according to Pedone. Donohue said, “I think this is extremely important because the Board of Higher Education and the Council of Presidents play this game where they point to the other side and say, ‘It’s not us - it’s them.’ And I’m heartened that we’re going to just say, ‘No, Council of Presidents - it’s you.” Pedone said, “Assigning blame, from an emotional perspective, is satisfying. However, the process is what it is.” He added the extensive checks and balances that are
legally required on the BHE side of bargaining led to the return to negotiations. FSU President F. Javier Cevallos said while a team representing the COP is at the bargaining table, the final outcome is decided by the BHE. “They are the authority.” Virginia Rutter, sociology professor and member of the MSCA bargaining team, said she and other faculty members have been disappointed by Cevallos’ response to the prolonged bargaining. “I don’t hear anything like a sense of accountability on his part, personally.” Rutter said early on in the bargaining process, back in May 2017, the MSCA bargaining team realized the BHE/COP bargaining team was not prepared at meetings and were delaying the process. So, a group of professors wrote a letter to the President signed by faculty - particularly senior faculty who had been “investing in the institution for a long time,” she added. “And we said, ‘Javier, we’re really worried that your folks don’t come prepared,’” she said. “And what he said to us in a note is: ‘This is just how bargaining goes.’ “When he first said it, it was patronizing: ‘This is how bargaining goes.’ But when he kept saying it, and what I said to the
Board of Trustees when I addressed them at the last meeting, is that after you repeat that many times in the context of the facts, it feels like gaslighting. “It feels like a situation where people in authority are saying, ‘What you see happening is not really happening,’” Rutter said. Cevallos said he hopes the contract can be settled soon and that the faculty can get their pay raises and back pay. “In spite of all the rhetoric that you may hear, we do care deeply about our faculty, and I certainly don’t want to be in a place where our faculty are unhappy and feel unappreciated. And that’s very sad when you have that perception and that attitude, because that’s not the reality.” Cevallos said he does advocate for the faculty, but “I am one of nine voices [on the COP] … In the end, the contract is ratified by the BHE. They are the employer of record. … It is a long process, and I am just one of many pieces.” The MSCA and the COP have agreed to meet for a new round of bargaining on Feb. 20 at Worcester State University. Cevallos said, “My hope is that we will settle everything on the 20th. One day - just agree and move on.” CONNECT WITH JILLIAN POLAND jpoland@student.framingham.edu
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FEBRUARY 15, 2019
FSU community sets expectations for top positions By Lizzy Stocks Editorial Staff Framingham State held an open forum on Dec. 12 to discuss expectations for candidates for the positions of provost and chief diversity and inclusion officer (CDIO). Linda Vaden-Goad, the current provost and vice president of academic affairs, is retiring at the end of the 2018-19 academic year. Millie González, the current CDIO, was hired in an interim position in 2017. FSU is seeking to fill these positions. Faculty and students were given the opportunity to provide input about the searches for provost and CDIO at the open forum and subsequent student forum, led by Sidney Ribeau and Bill Howard. The University recruited Ribeau, former president of Howard University, to guide the search. It also hired Howard, vice president and senior consultant of Academic Search, a firm that helps universities with the search process for higher-level administrative positions. During the open forum, attendees were given the opportunity to share the qualities and characteristics they are looking for in candidates for the next provost and vice president of academic affairs. Howard said, “The purpose of this session is to get your input on priorities and challenges for each of those positions - some of the characteristics you think the committees should be looking for.” Robert Donohue, a psychology professor, said, “There is a recurring problem when folks get hired into the role of provost and are unfamiliar with how the contract between the Massachusetts State College Association and the universities inform their work and perhaps inhibit their unilateral ability to impose decisions on campuses.” He said, “I’m begging you that in the process of this search, the candidates be made aware of the nature of our collective bargaining agreement. “Having a new provost come in and immediately declare they are annoyed or upset with the bargaining agreement they are facing is just unacceptable. It’s a non-starter, and it damages the institution,” he added. Virginia Rutter, a sociology professor, said, “Divisions of the college seem to operate in silos rather than working across divisions.” Richard Allen, a history professor, said he believes the University has “strayed away from the liberal arts education,” and other than leadership, he thinks the next provost should “have an awareness to, sensitivity to, and commitment to a well-rounded liberal arts education.” He added, “There should be an acknowledgment and appreciation of the talent and expertise that is to be found amongst the faculty here on campus.” Sandra Rahman, a marketing pro-
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fessor, said, “I would like someone who certainly respects our roots in the liberal arts area, but who also embraces the College of Business, which has a multitude of students, and its trajectory is quite positive.” She added, “I’d like someone who isn’t afraid to stand up and really listen to people and make a decision that is right - not just cave in and make decisions that are convenient. … Someone who is not afraid to break that mold and represent all interests on campus.” After discussing the qualities they sought in the next provost, attendees were given the opportunity to discuss what they want from the next CDIO. Patricia Sánchez-Connally, a sociology professor, said the qualities many hope for in the next provost also apply to the qualities many hope for in the next CDIO. She said the FSU community “would love someone who is able to acknowledge and understand the challenges that students, faculty and staff of color face in an academic setting.” Sánchez-Connally added she’s looking for a CDIO who is comfortable using terms such as “race, racism, people of color, and students of color” to not only “pinpoint problems,” but also to “identify the solutions to those problems.” She added, “We’re looking for someone who is comfortable standing up - not caving in - familiar with the types of challenges we face, and able to use the correct language to pinpoint those things.” Vandana Singh, a physics professor, said, “There is a corporatized version of diversity. … The main concern is making the campus look good. We don’t want a person like that. We want a person who is genuine, who is willing to come to classrooms to talk to students.” She added, “In the STEM area, we have one of the most diverse student bodies, and yet, what I feel like we need from a chief diversity officer is an understanding of diversity issues in STEM.” She said many faculty are not trained to properly discuss incidents of racial bias with their students, and the next CDIO should be someone who can help faculty have these conversations. Hannah Jones, a junior, said, “One thing I think students are looking for in the new CDIO is someone who isn’t afraid to push past boundaries, stand up for what’s right, work toward what’s good in the community, and bring everyone together.” Carlos Barbosa, a sophomore, said he believes the next CDIO “should have eagerness to have dialogue with students, faculty, and everyone else in the community in general because my experience here so far is that no one’s talking to anyone about anything. “With that being said, it starts with the students in the classroom
talking to their professors. But those professors need to be trained how to have these conversations and address these issues.” He added the next CDIO “should not be afraid to ask for help, because no one is perfect.” Xavier Guadalupe-Diaz, a sociology professor, said he’s looking for a CDIO who is going “to increase faculty buy-in” and make inclusion and diversity a “big-time approach.” Stefan Papaioannou, a history professor, said the “University is a stepping stone” for past administrators and it’s “disruptive.” He said the next CDIO should be “up for challenges and sticking with it for the long haul.” Patricia Lynne, an English professor, said what she would like to see in the next provost and CDIO is someone who is “invested in our students.” She said, “Students who come here want what we offer, but they don’t always necessarily know how to get it. They need people who can help them make those connections.” Time was also set aside specifically for students to discuss what they wanted to see in both candidates. Adam Scanlon, a senior, said the University should look for a provost who will “embed social and emotional core competencies into the curriculum.” He added, “I think we need someone that has a well-versed background and understands the liberal arts model, and other models as well to really make sure we’re getting the best education to the students we have here.”
Cori Farrow, a junior, said, “Something I think would be beneficial for the CDIO position is some sort of background in community organizing or activism.” She added the next CDIO needs to have a “fundamental understanding of what oppression is - who it affects and who it doesn’t affect.” She also believes they should be someone “who isn’t afraid to apply this to different situations.” Ben Carrington, SGA president and senior, said both positions are “vital to our campus.” He added, “I think it’s critical to have people that are future-oriented in terms of expanding the curriculum we already have.” Of the next CDIO, Kaila Walters, a senior, said, “I think it’s important to find someone who identifies with the perspectives of the students rather than just the administration and the faculty. “I think a lot of times, we see people in other positions go along with what the administration is telling them is correct, and I think it’s really important for the next person to understand the perspectives of the students,” she added. Taylor Anderson, a sophomore, said she thinks the University needs to fill the positions with people who are “legitimately passionate about what they’re doing. Not just someone who is working for their paycheck.” CONNECT WITH LIZZY STOCKS estocks@student.framingham.edu
FEBRUARY 15, 2019
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NEWS | 5
Candidates for Director of Inclusive Excellence Initiatives visit campus
Kamaro Abubakar
Krysten Lobisch
By Nadira Wicaksana News Editor
By Jillian Poland Associate Editor
Kamaro Abubakar, candidate for the position of director of inclusive excellence initiatives, presented at a student-centered open forum on Feb. 6. The forum was held in the Center for Inclusive Excellence. According to a flyer sent in an email from Millie González, interim chief officer for diversity, inclusion, and community engagement, the position entails management of “the staff, budget, and programs of the Center for Inclusive Excellence. “The director collaborates with a wide range of stakeholders in order to promote academic and co-curricular engagement with diversity and inclusion, provide student leader-
A candidate for the position of director of inclusive excellence initiatives, Krysten Lobisch, answered questions from the FSU community during an open forum in the CIE on Feb. 6. Approximately 25 people attended the forum - about eight students and 17 faculty and staff. Lobisch began by introducing herself and explaining her background. She told the group about her experience growing up in “a tiny little town” in New Jersey. “It was very limited in terms of diversity and difference. The climate was pretty intolerant. It was very small. The school was almost all white kids. There were no kids who were out - except me,” she said. She described how, as “a budding feminist baby at 14,” she was looking for a way to get out of that environment and enact social change. She went to college at Montclair State University in New Jersey and majored in gender, sexuality, and women’s studies, then went on to get her master’s in social justice education at UMass Amherst. In between getting her bachelor’s and master’s, Lobisch worked with AmeriCorps for two years at a middle school in Springfield connected with the Martin Luther King
Clark University
He also spoke not only of the cultural shock he experienced upon coming to the United States as an
“We always forget to understand that international students bring a lot of experiences that are going to help us.” - Kamaro Abubakar, candidate ship development, and support equitable educational outcomes and a positive campus climate,” the flyer states. There were approximately four students and 15 faculty and staff members in attendance at the forum. They asked Abubakar questions about what experiences he would bring to the FSU campus and the initiatives he intended to implement if he were hired. Abubakar is originally from Ghana and came to the United States as an international undergraduate student at the University of Vermont. He is currently the assistant director of campus life at Clark University in Worcester, and has been working in residence life in higher education at various universities for more than eight years. At the State University of New York at Purchase, Abubakar said his work as the chair of its Student Affairs Diversity and Inclusion Committee led him to study “identity development and trainings and incorporate them into everything that I do. “So, I decided to get my certificate in social justice training by going to the Social Justice Training Institute,” he said. At Clark, Abubakar founded the Emerging Leaders Institute, which, according to the university’s website, is a six-week program “designed to teach students how to become collaborative, socially responsible leaders who effectively address complex social issues.”
international student, but also of the value they bring to a campus community. “We always forget to understand that international students bring a lot of experiences that are going to help us,” Abubakar said. “When I came to the University of Vermont and studied their policies on integration, social justice, diversity - they meant nothing to me when I came from a place where everybody looked like me and talked like me.” But when Abubakar came to the United States, he said his newfound identity as a black man - albeit different from a black American’s shaped his understanding of racial and social justice issues. When junior Hannah Jones spoke of the recent hate crime on FSU’s campus, Abubakar said he, as a staff member of color, noticed similar bias issues at his own university. “Our athletics department, for example, had a lot of issues with microaggressions and disparities in economic privileges, which can be attributed to the fact most of the staff in that department are white, and our athletes are mostly students of color,” he said. Abubakar added that from his experience in residence life, he believes more involvement from universities’ corresponding departments - as well as the integration of diversity topics into academic curricula - would be “beneficial.” CONNECT WITH NADIRA WICAKSANA nwicaksana@student.framingham.edu
Hampshire College
bias incidents and hate crimes. “As a white woman, you could potentially be a trigger for a lot of these students. How will you handle, from the jump, not having the support of the students, while being able to still do your work in supporting them?” Valdez asked. Lobisch replied, “Humility. A lot of it.” She recalled a situation from when she’d worked at CMASS where a student came to her hoping to start a support group for women students of color. Lobisch said she recognized that there were things she was able to help the student with - getting a meeting space, writing a charter, setting goals for the organization - and certain things she could not.
“[My hometown] was very limited in terms of diversity and difference. There were no kids who were out - except me.” - Krysten Lobisch, candidate Jr. Community Center. According to Lobisch’s CV, she worked closely with primarily low-income African American and Latino students to provide academic support and get students “engaged, involved, and graduating.” She also worked with UMass Amherst’s Center for Multicultural Advancement and Student Success (CMASS) for five years, where she said she “fell absolutely in love with working with students.” Following Lobisch’s personal introduction, the meeting was opened up to allow FSU community members to ask questions. Alexandra Valdez, CIE program coordinator, said if Lobisch were director of the CIE, she would be working closely with students of color and affinity groups on a campus where there have been racial
She said she told the student, “I can be an advisor for you in a limited capacity. If you want a space where you can discuss issues that are impacting you with someone who looks like you, then what I will do is collaborate with the people that I know and see if somebody wants to come in and help you do that piece of it.” Lobisch said she brought in a friend who was a graduate student in sociology, a “young black woman role model,” who was able to facilitate discussions with the group. She added, “I think humility and being honest about where you’re at, go a long way with people coming in.” CONNECT WITH JILLIAN POLAND jpoland@student.framingham.edu
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FEBRUARY 15, 2019
Board of Trustees Continued from pg. 1 Executive Vice President Dale Hamel updated the board on the total costs and extent of renovations to the Danforth Museum, saying the project would require additional repairs for which costs would amount to $224,000. Hamel said the board identified $112,000 that could cover the cost, with a remaining $112,000 to be covered by a loan that would help “close that gap.” The $112,000 is from the former Danforth Museum Corporation, according to Hamel in a Feb. 14 email - “per the agreement, all remnant funds after payment of liabilities” were transferred “in support of the renovation.” He added the funding also comes from fiscal year 2019 “capital adaptation and renewal funds.” Trustee Michael Grilli, chair of the committee on administration, finance, and technology, motioned to approve access to an unsecured line of credit from MutualOne Bank for up to $150,000 “for costs associated with the cultural arts center project.” The motion passed unanimously. In the email, Hamel said, “However, the Danforth recently secured a second $100,000 donation that will be directed to the building project, so it is likely that we will not need to make a draw from the line of credit that had been approved.” Grilli also spoke briefly about a proposed tuition increase of 3.8 percent as opposed to an originally proposed 3-percent increase. During the timeframe for public comments, sociology professor Virginia Rutter and chemistry and food science professor Sarah Pilkenton presented to the board their arguments regarding the unfunded contracts for members of the Massachusetts State College Association (MSCA). Rutter, who is vice president of the FSU chapter of the MSCA, said, “We’re sad, and we’re angry. When we say a long time, it’s been 759 days with no raise, [and] 578 days with no funded contract.”
Millie González, interim chief diversity and inclusion officer, speaks to the Board of Trustees.
Pilkenton reminded the board “the tax reviews for fiscal year 2018” were “above benchmarks every month since June, with the exception of December. “How can we go into the classroom when we feel this way for such a prolonged period of time?” Pilkenton asked. “Right now, we feel so demoralized. We are in a constant struggle.” She added, “Why are we fighting over a 2-percent raise? I ask you to think about the mindset of your faculty. Think about how we feel when we go into the classroom and how we want to teach these students, to get them ready to go out into the Commonwealth and prepare them to be workers and contributing members of society.” Rutter stressed the MSCA has held up their end of the bargain
Ashley Wall / THE GATEPOST
and called on the Board of Higher is happening - isn’t really happenEducation and the Council of Pres- ing.” idents to do the same. She added she and other MSCA “All this time, we have been members are demanding more acplaying nice with the folks at the countability from the board and end of the table. We have been bar- that they address the responsibilgaining in good faith, and we have ities its members have to Univerbeen working in good faith. sity faculty and librarians - “to ask “The Council of Presidents sent questions, exert oversight, as well their team in and are now claiming as express publicly their committo be victims. It’s disingenuous,” ment to getting the state univershe said. “The response that we sities to take responsibility and kept getting back was, ‘This is how meet their commitments. it works.’ And in conversations, we “There is a crisis at Framingham would routinely get that same an- State,” Rutter said. “We are pretty swer.” soft - like teddy-bear people. And Rutter added, “This sort of re- it’s lucky for you, because now sponse has the same effect as being we’re angry, but we haven’t been patronizing the first time you hear angry before.” it, but over time, when they keep failing to come to an agreement, it has the quality of gaslighting. ... CONNECT WITH NADIRA WICAKSANA It’s the metaphor for what you see nwicaksana@student.framingham.edu
Club Meeting Times Monday Art Club, 1:30 pm, May Hall 407 Education Club, 1:30 pm, MC 413 Nutrition Club, 1:30 pm, HH 219 Wildlife Club, 1:30 pm, HA 325 Gatepost, 6:30 pm, MC 410 Dance Team, 6:30 pm, Aerobics Room MISS, 7 pm, CIE, O’Connor 120A Math Club (every other week), 4:30 pm, HH 402 Tuesday Equestrian Club, 4:30 pm, MC 413 Hilltop Players, 6:30 pm, HA 136 Pride Alliance, 6:30 pm, MC 413 Black Student Union, 7 pm, CIE, O’Connor 120A SGA, 7:30 pm, MC 404 Young Democrats Association, 7 pm, MC 520 Wednesday History Club, 1:30 pm, May Hall 111B
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Wednesday, continued SUAB, (2nd & 4th Wednesday of each month), 6:30 pm, Club Room 1, MC 413 Fashion Club, 7 pm , HH 218 LUNA, 7 pm, CIE, O’Connor 120A IGNITE (every other week), 7:30 pm, MC 520 Thursday Gatepost, 6:30 pm, MC 410 Onyx, 6:30 pm, May Hall 213 African Student Association, 7 pm, North Commons Afro Carribean Dance Group, 7 pm, Aerobics Room Anime Club, 7:45 pm, WL 221 & 222 Brother 2 Brother Meetings, 8pm, CIE, O’Connor 120A Friday E-Sports, 6 pm, HA 534 Gaming Club, 12 pm, MC 413 Medical Awareness (every other week), 2:30 pm, MC 520 Sunday Symphonic Band, 6 pm, DPAC
THE GATEPOST
FEBRUARY 15, 2019
OP/ED Sam the Ram needs to have an exorcism By Thomas Maye Staff Writer A demonic presence lurks at FSU its eyes vicious and predatory. As the bell tolls at the Ecumenical Center, the beast prowls through campus, its face contorted in a menacing grin. The trigger for my fight-or-flight response, the physical manifestation of dread - I’m talking, of course, about our truly grotesque school mascot, Sam the Ram. Sam the Ram may feel like a hallowed institution, but in Framingham’s 180-year history, Sam’s current design barely registers. Sam’s Twitter account @FSUSamTheRam, formed just six years ago, shows a more approachable - if somewhat sedated - looking ram. Whenever I show present-day pictures of Sam to non-FSU students, meanwhile, I almost never fail to elicit gasps of horror. Changing our mascot design may not seem like the most important issue, but given that Sam is one of the most prominent symbols of our school, it’s worth considering what impression a costume described variously as “creepy,” “ugly,” and “uncomfortable” by fellow students is sending. Break out the holy water, FSU - this ungodly creature doesn’t belong on our campus. I’m sure devotees of Sam’s costume are out there, but I’ve yet to meet one thus far. Senior Victoria Brown said, “I am terrified every single time I see him.” “I feel like that’s a thing of nightmares,” sophomore Genesis Muniz said.
It’s understandable, in the drama of a high-stakes football game or hockey match, to want a mascot that sends shivers down a rival team’s spine - but off the field, where a large proportion of students run into Sam, this rationale falls flat. We don’t want a dopey mascot, but an unsettling, hulking beast isn’t much better. And yes, I know the cost of a new costume may feel hard to justify. The price of Sam’s current costume - available, oddly enough, on Amazon as “Rocky the Ram” - is listed at an eye-watering $1,299. But given SGA’s purchase of 2,000 Sam-themed condoms in 2016, and last year’s debacle of the McCarthy TV screens, let’s not pretend Framingham wouldn’t be able to afford it. The difference between these is that our mascot, unlike quickly disposed condoms and invariably overlooked screens, is constantly front-and-center in representing our University. It may not be saving lives, but letting students vote on a new costume is an investment that, if receptions are positive, will pay dividends in giving a good impression of our school. Framingham, call the priests at the Ecumenical center - Sam the Ram needs to have an exorcism. In the very least, he deserves a thorough makeover. We need to put our best faces forward - and anyways, I don’t have room for a crucifix in my backpack.
Corey McFeeley / THE GATEPOST
OP/ED | 7
THE GATEPOST EDITORIAL
The wall is racist
Following a weeks-long grind, Congress unified on the evening of Feb. 14 to pass a robust federal spending bill - avoiding a second devastating government shutdown. President Donald Trump has agreed to sign the bill that would allocate $1.375 billion for a border wall - something his base has repeatedly called a weak compromise compared to his previously proposed amount. Following the announcement that he would sign the bill, a White House press release revealed that he will declare a national emergency to secure some $8 billion - over a $2 billion increase from the $5.7 billion he originally wanted - to fund a border wall, according to CNN. There has been speculation about whether Trump can actually declare a national emergency under the guise of a crisis at the border simply to fund his wall. The short answer? He can. Congress does not exactly have the ability to block his emergency use of powers. But the House and the Senate can enact the National Emergencies Act to block his action if they are deemed “irresponsible” or the “threat has dissipated,” according to The New York Times. This inevitably would be vetoed by Trump himself and will likely ensnare the president in legal battles for months to come. The Trump cabinet says this is part of an effort to end the crisis at the border. Let’s be clear - there isn’t one. At least not in the way Trump paints it. The Trump administration claims the wall is for the “safety and security of the American people,” and in the process, have spearheaded a witch hunt against those who may attempt to seek asylum at the southern border. His claim is a fallacy. The border wall will be an American motif that all Mexicans and Latinos are unwelcome. For a president so fixated on the security and safety of Americans, one would think he would look to the widespread violence that natural-born citizens of this country are committing. Feb. 14 was the one-year anniversary of the Parkland Shooting. There have been 36 mass shootings in 2019, according to the Gun Violence Archive. According to Mass Shooting Tracker, 67 people have died in those shootings. Trump likes to claim that immigrants are violent, threatening American lives, and flowing freely across our southern border. He has not been able to provide any verifiable statistics proving the violence illegal immigrants supposedly commit or the number of illegal border crossings. Statistics that are readily available? The ones concerning gun deaths. According to the CDC, nearly 40,000 people were killed by guns in 2017. If Trump does succeed in using a national emergency ploy to fund his border wall, what will he and his supporters say when a future president uses this precedent to take drastic-action against gun violence? We can all imagine the vitriol and backlash. This is all we need to know to realize that this wall and this emergency are not about the well-being or safety of the American people. The wall is a symbol of racism and xenophobia that would be built with money ripped from government coffers to please a racist and xenophobic Trump base. And if by some miracle, Trump does not declare an emergency, the threat alone is evidence enough that Trump clearly views his presidency as the soap box on which to stand and blame Mexicans and other non-white people for any crimes committed on U.S. soil. Don’t let claims of a national emergency cloud your judgement - the wall is racist.
FRAMINGHAM STATE UNIVERSITY’S INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1932 | FSUGATEPOST.COM
8 | OP/ED
FEBRUARY 15, 2019
THE GATEPOST
Letter to the Editor
By Kay Ann Staff Writer
The big D
Let’s talk about dating. I know it’s terrifying. Just the thought of opening up Tinder on a college campus makes me want to never leave my room. But, here are a few simple tips that can help make the experience run smoothly. Well, as smooth as meeting a stranger at an Applebee’s in a rundown strip mall can be. Many people will start talking on one of the multitude of dating apps and begin asking what they believe are important questions. “What’s your favorite hobby?” “Do you have any siblings?” “Do you have a secret life?” “Is a PopTart a sandwich?” And yes, these are important questions, but when it comes time to ask the questions required for compatibility, they either ignore them, or get too nervous to ask. I’m going to break down these questions and why they are important. P.S. if you don’t think a PopTart is a sandwich then we can’t be a thing. Your loss. Let’s set the scene. You get most of the way through the date without them asking for pictures of your feet or talking about how they collect human teeth. They haven’t even asked for the waitress’s number and tip her a full 20 percent. They’ve shown that they aren’t actually just wet human garbage. Great! Maybe this person is an actual contender for a partner. Now that we’ve established this, there is a very important question you must ask them. “What are you looking for?” This may seem forward, but I promise it’s not. It’s so important to ask this because if both parties aren’t looking for the same thing, there is sure to be pain and hurt feelings later down the line. If you are looking for a relationship, you want to find someone else who is looking for a relationship - it’s that simple. Even if you’re super into the person you’re on a date with, you can’t change their wants. You are setting yourself up for pain if you think that your potential match will “change their mind.” There is nothing worse than stringing yourself along in hopes of something serious, even though your interest clearly stated that they wanted something casual. It’s also important to not string someone else along, so be clear and upfront with what you want. Don’t say you want one thing when you actually want something completely different. Relationships work best when both parties are on the same page. Honesty is key. Say you both are looking for a relationship - there is another question you should ask them. “How do you feel about monogamy/polyamory?” Polyamory is the term for dating multiple people - and I don’t just mean sleeping with multiple people - I mean having romantic relationships with multiple people. This is a romantic practice that is completely OK, and people should not be shamed for it. However, some people are not interested in multiple partners and want someone who feels the same way. Don’t feel uncomfortable asking these questions. The best policy is to be straightforward. Ask your date what they want, and tell them what you want. Let them know that a PopTart IS a sandwich. It is the season of love after all. [Editor’s note: Due to the unfortunate stigma surrounding women discussing sex, the author of this column has requested to use the pseudonym “Kay Ann.”]
@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com
Dear Gatepost Editors and Framingham State Students, Faculty and librarians at Framingham (and all Massachusetts state colleges) have worked without a funded contract for 593 days (and counting). Our MSCA union negotiated a contract in good faith and all parties signed in May 2018, after a protracted bargaining process that began in January of 2017. Now the Council of Presidents is refusing to honor the new contract, even though they initially agreed. The racist graffiti found in Horace Mann Hall recently reminds us that building a respectful, caring, and supportive learning community for all students is an unfinished project that takes work. The graffiti makes many students feel that “Framily”
is not just a corny coinage, but an empty one. The way the Council of Presidents is dealing with the faculty union makes me feel the same way. I applaud the students, faculty, librarians and staff who have stood up to denounce racism. I honor the good faith with which most people on this campus approach our work. I wish I could applaud the Council of Presidents, which includes President Cevallos, too. For now, I am pointedly withholding my applause. Sincerely, Niall Stephens
Professor of Communication Arts
Have an opinion? Feel free to email it to: gatepost@framingham.edu Opinions should be about 500 words. Anyone can submit. We look forward to hearing from you!
OP/ED | 9
THE GATEPOST
FEBRUARY 15, 2019
Created by Gordon Rupert
Campus Conversations
What do you think about Donald Trump using emergency powers to fund the border wall? By Cara McCarthy, Ryan Feinblatt, and Ashley Wall
“That sounds very selfish and he’s abusing his power and not thinking about people.” -Rose Piz, junior
“It doesn’t really affect me, but it might affect certain people.” -Jamal Williams, freshman
“To be honest, I think it’s incredibly stupid. There are a hunded things he could be doing.” -Amanda Taylor, senior
“It’s upsetting and it’s just him abusing his power. So not surprised.” -Eryca Carrier, sophomore
“I think it’s an abuse of power and people being locked in cages is more of a humanitarian crisis.” -Alex Backer, sophomore
“Not happening - the Senate and House need to stop him.”
-Andrew Valdez, senior
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
CONNECT WITH LAUREN PAOLINI AND CAELEY WHALEN lpaolini@student.framingham.edu cwhalen2@student.framingham.edu
@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com
Actor in a Leading Role Actress in a Leading Role
The 61st Grammy Awards’ red carpet was full of ruffles, suits, and sequins on music’s biggest night. While some artists won big at the ceremony, others made statements on the red carpet. And of course, there were plenty of attendees who missed the mark. Like, big time. Kacey Musgraves stunned on the red carpet in a whitetulle Valentino gown. Musgraves made multiple changes during the course of the night, but her best look was when she accepted her awards for best country album, and album of the year in a red silk, short Valentino dress, complete with matching red mules. Another who won big on the red carpet was best new artist nominee Bebe Rexha, who made headlines after speaking out about multiple designers refusing to dress her for the Grammys because she is a size 6. While you may be sick of hearing Rexha’s music played over and over again on the radio, her red Moonsuri gown with a plunging neckline and full-ruffled skirt was the perfect choice for the awards show (also, let’s leave body shaming in the past, please.) Also ravishing in red was the host of the night, Alicia Keys. “No one” can deny Keys’ beauty in her long-sleeved Armani Prive gown. Keys was glowing even though she skipped the hair and makeup chair. All we can say is this “girl on fire” needs to drop the skincare routine. ASAP. Coincidentally, the best-dressed celeb of the night wasn’t even in attendance. Ariana Grande decided to skip the Grammys after being told she was not allowed to choose which of her songs she would perform. This didn’t stop Grande from dressing up in a baby blue custom Zac Posen gown. She shared photos of what she would have worn to the Grammys, had she attended. Grande looked like Cinderella 2.0, and fans are saying she chose to go the Disney princess route as a tribute to her late ex-boyfriend, Mac Miller. Now, the flops. Let’s address the elephant in the room - Cardi B. Cardi showed up in vintage Thierry Mugler, and people were confused. Avant-garde is what Mugler is known for this look gave us major Ursula vibes minus the tentacles. As unusual as it may sound, Jennifer Lopez’s ensemble left us underwhelmed and quite honestly, confused. Her white Ralph and Russo high-neck number paid homage to her signature style, but she lost us at the hat. For some reason, J.Lo decided to complete her look with an exaggerated white-jeweled cowboy hat that made her look like she was defending her title as “Dirty Dan.” Katy Perry arrived looking like a paint roller. We couldn’t help but laugh at her pink Balmain dress-thing, which made her look disproportionate. While some celebs’ looks deserved awards of their own, the bad ones made us realize why the Grammys is a night for music - not fashion.
Directing
By Lauren Paolini and Caeley Whalen Staff Writers
FEBRUARY 15, 2019
ARTS & Couch Boys present: What we predict: Rami Malek Whether or not you liked “Bohemian Rhapsody,” everybody is talking about Rami Malek’s performance as Freddie Mercury. On top of looking eerily like him, Malek captured his movement and swagger to the dime. 20th Century Fox Lady Gaga For only having one acting role in “American Horror Story,” Gaga surprised audiences and critics alike with her stellar role as Ally, in “A Star is Born.” She didn’t stand out for her singing, or looks, two attributes that are usually associated with the pop star, but rather the genuine emotion that she brought into her role.
Warner Bros.
Yorgos Lanthimos The amount of research and the attempt to make the world of “The Favourite” as real as possible is something that has to be appreciated. Yorgos wanted to fit the pieces of a historic puzzle together, and while some parts reach further than others, it’s a coherent story that aims to entertain. IndieWire
Best Picture
The wonderful and the what? Grammys 2019
THE GATEPOST
“Roma” This movie gained a lot of traction as a Netflix original and foreign film as well. The praise and love that have come from both fans and critics is staggering, and it seems to have come out of nowhere. Netflix
Animated Feature Film
10 | ARTS & FEATURES
“Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse” This film offers a unique visual style and for the first time, it makes you feel like you are literally watching a comic book. It’s everything a Spider-Man movie should be, but separates itself far enough from the source material as to not come off as a rehashing of the same story.
By Brennan Atkins Interim Asst. Arts & Features Editor By Noah Barnes Entertainment Correspondent
Sony Pictures Television
FEBRUARY 15, 2019
THE GATEPOST
FEATURES Oscar Predictions What we want: Bradley Cooper Bradley Cooper put in an enormous amount of effort when preparing for the role of Jackson Maine in “A Star is Born.” Learning how to naturally deepen his voice, sing, and even play guitar, he was able to perform the songs live in order to make it feel real - because it was. Warner Bros. Olivia Colman The role of Queen Anne required an extreme range of emotions, and to pull it off would take not only effort, but genuine talent. Colman delivered just that in “The Favourite.” She was able to make the audience feel with her, rather than to feel for her, which is extremely commendable. Fox Searchlight Yorgos Lanthimos
Lanthimos deserves an award because he has consistently put out quality film after quality film to the point where he has a distinct style unlike any other. Having a director’s voice shine through a film isn’t something easy to do, and yet, here we are. IndieWire “The Favourite” This film just has everything going for it. The writing and directing are top notch, every scene is beautiful and purposeful, and it has an amazing cast as well. You can really feel the passion and dedication, which makes the film something special. Fox Searchlight “Isle of Dogs” Wes Anderson was able to show that he is not only able to keep his distinctive directing style consistent through his live action films, but animated ones as well. The stop-motion animation is beautiful and the movie itself carries a wholesome, and important message. Fox Searchlight
CONNECT WITH BRENNAN ATKINS AND NOAH BARNES Batkins@student.framingham.edu Nbarnes@student.framingham.edu
ARTS & FEATURES | 11
The problem with “Riverdale” in particular By Robert Johnson Jr. Asst. Arts & Features Editor
Archie Comics and The CW had a winner on their hands with “Riverdale,” the TV drama that takes its inspiration from the famed comic book township of the same name, adapting it for modern audiences in 2017 with a diverse cast of up-and-coming actors at the forefront. With the writing talents of Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa - a man whose name is no stranger to this column - it became a bonafide smash hit, proving to audiences that a whodunnit story can still be fun and exciting for teenagers and college students looking for something to binge-watch on a weekend. However, “Riverdale” has run into the same problem that many CW shows, like “Supernatural,” have stumbled into in recent years: oversaturation. If you read that last paragraph and thought, “Oversaturation? What is this Robbie guy talking about?!” I understand. Let me explain. Season one of “Riverdale” runs on a simple premise: rising American football star Jason Blossom is killed on the Fourth of July, and his sister Cheryl is looking for answers to avenge her brother’s death and restore his honor. That premise leads Archie Andrews, Veronica Lodge, Jughead Jones, and Betty Cooper to find clues and interrogate anyone who could be directly responsible for Blossom’s murder - even if it means turning against each other in the long run. At the end of that season, a major twist happens that directly leads into the events of season two - a twist that, if I were to write it here, would ruin one’s viewing experience greatly. Now, this is a smart move on Aguirre-Sacasa’s part to get the viewers wrapped around the writing room’s finger - keep them hanging on for the five months between May 11 to Oct. 11, 2017 to find out the chilling conclusion of season one’s twist. Season two is where viewers are introduced to another Archie Comics character, this time from their Dark Circle Comics imprint - the Black Hood, in the season’s third episode. From there, “Riverdale” went from a thrilling mystery about high-schoolers trying to find the murderer of their fellow student, to a story where assassinations and gang wars are the order of the day. It doesn’t help that on Jan. 31, “Riverdale” got renewed for a fourth season. Despite this announcement, “Riverdale,” to me, was perfect, up to season two. Anything after that is just Aguirre-Sacasa throwing things at a dartboard and hoping something sticks in the end. Is it meaningful? Yes - he and his writing team are constantly doing what they can to expand the universe of the titular town, fleshing out the South Side Serpents as an organization and providing the familial avatars some backstory through flashback episodes, but when “Riverdale” is not doing precisely that, it’s not interesting. The reason why I haven’t put in the work to catch up since the second episode of season two, is that I’m just not interested anymore. I feel like the writers are dragging the series on too long, but that’s the curse of having a show on The CW in the era of “Supernatural,” which, might I add, has been going on since September 2005 - the curse of exorbitant demand. Now, I don’t hate “Riverdale.” In fact, I don’t even dislike it. I just feel as if there’s no more that can be done for the series that makes sense. It has lost that initial edge the stories are just not that gripping anymore. As of now, it is just a whole lot of gang nonsense. Of course, that’s not going to stop me from watching the upcoming episode in which the students of Riverdale High tackle my favorite musical, “Heathers,” but that’s a column for another day. CONNECT WITH ROBERT JOHNSON JR. rjohnson10@student.framingham.edu
FRAMINGHAM STATE UNIVERSITY'S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1932 | FSUGATEPOST.COM
THE GATEPOST
12 | ARTS & FEATURES
FEBRUARY 15, 2019
NETFLIX REVIEW
“High Flying Bird” is a slam dunk as the Harlem Globetrotters. It wasn’t until 1950, when the NBA officially formed, that black players were allowed to even enter the league. As Spencer, Duke’s character, says in the movie, “There’s a reason why the NBA started integrating as the Harlem Globetrotters exhibitions started going international - control. They wanted the control of a game that we played, and we played better.” The soundtrack of the film features two folk-rock classics by Richie Havens, “High Flying Bird” and “Handsome Johnny.” The for-
41. Apropos 42. Make a claim 43. Nil 44. Supply’s counterpart 46. “Little piggy” 48. One may celebrate Pi Day 49. *Plunging shirt feature 55. Ctrl+V, on a PC 56. Shakespearean curse 57. ___ of industry 58. *Stock tips, e.g., or a hint to the starred answers’ synonyms and their placement in the grid 61. Saga 62. High cards in bridge 63. Within the rules 64. Honeycomb home 65. Oktober suffix 66. Torch output 67. “Calvin and Hobbes” transport
ACROSS
1. Sword injury 5. White football parts 10. Shake alternative 14. Utah ski resort 15. Fire pit flakes 16. Nobel winner Wiesel 17. Pucker-inducing 18. *Splashes around au naturel 20. Buffett’s Nebraska home 22. Texter’s “Eww, stop!” 23. Not missing a trick 24. *Ali’s boxing technique 26. Leakes on Bravo 27. “I’ve got it!” 28. ‘70s Earth orbiter 30. Focus problem, for short 33. “Anyone home?” 37. Altar words 38. As well 39. *Dishonorable 40. Tasseled topper
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DOWN
1. Florida collegian 2. Texas siege site 3. Sandal part 4. Baseball cap “hairstyle” 5. ___ Vegas 6. Invite for 7. Real head-scratcher, informally? 8. Choosing rhyme start 9. Scam target: Abbr. 10. Musical hodgepodge 11. Martians, e.g. 12. Word-of-mouth communication pro? 13. Trial 19. Tug sharply at 21. “That’s the spot!” 25. Slightly stale, say 28. South African rebellion site 29. Dolt 30. Not much
mer song, the title of the film, juxtaposes the freedom of a bird to the singer’s misery and limited opportunity, much as Burke sees his clients constrained by the league. Haven’s song “Handsome Johnny,” tells the story of a man marching off to war, and ends the film with the retrospective view that there’s is still a lot of hard work to be done in the NBA.
CONNECT WITH TESSA JILLSON tjillson@student.framingham.edu
Grade: B+ It is hard not to walk away from this movie without thinking that the league is broken.
ADMIT ONE
In the opening scene of the Netflix original film, “High Flying Bird,” Ray Burke (André Holland), a sports agent whose career is on the line during an NBA lockout, advises his client, Erick Scott (Melvin Gregg), a number-one draft pick trying to make his league debut, about a high-interest loan Scott can’t pay back. Under pressure and irritated by Burke’s consistent reproach, Scott eventually asks Burke to “stop low-key stupiding” him. Burke responds with, “When I’m hungry, I get mean.” Throughout the film, we see Burke “hungry” to change the league, finding loopholes to end the lockout and asking questions about race, class, and social justice, leading you to ask by the end of the movie: who owns the NBA or who ought to - the players or white power brokers? The movie, directed by Steven Soderbergh and written by Academy Award winner Tarell Alvin McCraney (“Moonlight”) is a dense,
fast-paced film - more political than sports oriented. Soderbergh is said to have only used an iPhone, a wheelchair, a 6-inch stabilizer, and a filmic pro app to shoot the film, according to IndieWire. Released on Feb. 8, “High Flying Bird” features an array of acclaimed cast members, including Holland, Gregg, Zazie Beetz, Sonja Sohn, Zachary Quinto, Kyle MacLachlan, and Bill Duke, plus appearances from NBA athletes Reggie Jackson, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Donovan Mitchell, who were interviewed throughout the movie about the challenges they faced as rookies. The film is intentionally loaded with references from NBA history, including past lockouts, such as the 2011 lockout, characters who resemble NBA historical figures, such as Michele Roberts, and the politics of the association that have been prevalent in basketball since the past segregation of black players from white pro-basketball leagues. According to The New York Times, black basketball players formed semi-pro leagues, such
ADMIT ONE
By Tessa Jillson Arts & Features Editor
31. Atone 32. Their lives are chaos 34. Bird such as Woodsy 35. Laudatory poem 36. Take most of 39. Came back to Earth 43. High points 45. One making a scene? 47. Select 49. Sales pitch 50. Line that draws people in 51. Anti-poverty group 52. Amazon’s domain Puzzle solutions are now 53. Have a cow? exclusively online. 54. Hit with a leg joint 55. “La Vie en Rose” singer Edith 59. Winter toy maker 60. Cry for a toreador
FEBRUARY 15, 2019
THE GATEPOST
SPORTS | 13
SPORTS Ice Hockey’s offense remains dormant By Liam Gambon Asst. Sports Editor It was another game, another loss as the Rams dropped their ninthstraight game, this time to Westfield State on Feb. 7. Shortly into the matchup, the Rams allowed a breakaway goal to the Owls’ Justin Collins. Jake Ratcliffe followed Collins with Westfield’s second goal six minutes later. Westfield kept up their dominance in the second period, scoring two goals - one off the stick of Tristan Theriot, and the second off a flashy backhand shot from Lenny Caglianone. The Rams spent almost as much time in the penalty box in the second period as they had shots on goal - spending six minutes in the box and firing only seven shots on goal. Ratcliffe added to his game-opening goal with two short-handed goals to close out the Westfield State victory. Both of his short-handed goals came in the first six minutes of the third period, ending the scoring at 6-0 Westfield. The Rams were outshot in this game 47-28, forcing goalie Greg Harney to make 41 saves. This is the fifth time in the last six games that a Framingham goalie has made 40 or more saves in a losing effort. Westfield was led by Aaron Clancy on offense as he produced six
shots on goal for the Owls. Brody McDougal led the Rams with four shots on goal in the loss. During the Rams’ nine-game losing streak, they have been outscored by opponents 45-14. The 31-goal difference over the nine games almost equals the 39 goals the Rams have scored all season. Framingham remains in last place in the MASCAC after the loss. Westfield State jumps up into the second place in the MASCAC with their win. With one game left to play, the Owls are just one game back of Plymouth State in the conference. With the loss, the Rams drop to 2-18-1 on the season.
WESTFIELD STATE 6 FRAMINGHAM STATE 0
CONNECT WITH LIAM GAMBON lgambon1@student.framingham.edu
FRAMINGHAM STATE UNIVERSITY’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1932 | FSUGATEPOST.COM
14 | SPORTS
Ferr or Foul
Winners and losers of the NBA trade deadline By Matt Ferris Sports Editor One week after the NBA trade deadline, we have seen a couple of clear winners and clear losers emerge in the league as a result of some trades. By far, the biggest winner of the trade deadline was the Philadelphia 76ers. Already a title contender before the deadline, Philadelphia added Tobias Harris from the Los Angeles Clippers. Harris is averaging a career-high 20 points per game this season. This gives the 76ers another scorer, which they needed desperately as well as a knock-down 3-point shooter. Additionally, they did not give up very much to acquire Harris. They only gave up Landry Shamat, an unproven rookie, Mike Muscala, and a couple of first-round draft selections in the future. Getting Harris was well worth giving up those players, and the trade pushes them to the front of the Eastern Conference. Another winner was the Dallas Mavericks. Dallas added one of the most intriguing players in the league - Kristaps Porzingis. Porzingis, who hasn’t played this year thanks to a knee injury, took the league by storm as a rookie. The Mavericks were able to acquire the potential superstar for very little. They sent Dennis Smith Jr. as well as DeAndre Jordan, Wesley Matthews, and a couple of first-round picks to New York in exchange for Porzingis. While the trade will have zero effect this year, it will set the Mavericks up for future success. Dallas can now pair Porzingis with their stand-out rookie Luka Doncic, for many years to come. This pair will be extremely scary for the foreseeable future and could easily help bring a title back to Dallas. There were also some pretty big losers at the trade deadline. The biggest loser by far was the New Orleans Pelicans. The Pelicans decided not to trade their star player, Anthony Davis, who asked for a trade last month. Instead, they decided to hang onto him until next year. This was a terrible move because the Pelicans turned down one of the best trade offers the league has seen in some time. The Los Angeles Lakers offered to send three of their best players, Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball and, Kyle Kuzma, as well as some draft picks, to New Orleans for Davis but the Pelicans declined. Another big loser was the Houston Rockets. The Rockets, who have come on strong as of late, are currently sitting in fifth place in the Western Conference, but decided to stay put and not make any moves. Houston definitely could have afforded to add a piece or two to help them get by the Golden State Warriors. Currently, the Rockets are not strong enough to get by Warriors, and by not making a move, they can almost guarantee themselves to not make Finals this year. Thanks to the Rockets, the Warriors have pretty much punched their ticket back to the NBA Finals for a fifth-straight season, and will most likely claim their third title in a row.
CONNECT WITH MATT FERRIS mferris2@student.framingham.edu
FEBRUARY 15, 2019
THE GATEPOST
Women’s Basketball drops fourth straight By Matt Ferris Sports Editor Framingham went on the road to take on their conference rivals, the Bridgewater State Bears, on Feb. 9. Both teams struggled to start the game as they each shot just 27 percent from the field in the first quarter. The Rams started 3-for-11, including 1-for-5 from beyond the arc, scoring just 8 points. The Bears shot 5-for-18 on their way to 12 points in the quarter. Framingham turned their poor shooting around in the second quarter and shot over 50 percent. Emily Velozo led the Rams in the quarter, scoring 9 points on 4-for-6 shooting. Bridgewater’s struggles continued as they again shot under 30 percent from the field and only scored 10 points, allowing Framingham to take a 27-22 lead into halftime. The Bears dominated the third quarter as they came out of the half on fire, scoring 22 points on 60 percent shooting. Sara Dasilva and Kailyn Aguiar led the way for Bridgewater, combining for 18 of the team’s 22 points. Framingham managed just 11 points in the third, as they shot 30 percent from the field and just 20 percent from behind the 3-point line. The fourth quarter was much of the same story - Bridgewater couldn’t miss and Framingham struggled from the field. The Bears missed just three shots in the fourth as they shot over 75 percent and scored 26 points to seal the victory. With an impressive fourth quarter, the Bears earned a 70-51 victory over the Rams. In the loss, Velozo led the Rams with 21 points. She also contributed seven rebounds and four assists. Tiphani Harris was the Rams’ second-leading scorer as she chipped in 12 points and collected eight rebounds. Framingham was without their leading scorer, Mary Kate O’Day, who missed her second straight-game due to injury. Dasilva ended with 21 points for the Bears, while Aguiar finished with 18 points and 16 rebounds. The loss marks the Rams’ fourth-straight loss and drops them to 14-9 on the year and 6-5 in the MASCAC.
BRIDGEWATER STATE FRAMINGHAM STATE
CONNECT WITH MATT FERRIS mferris2@student.framingham.edu
Ashley Wall / THE GATEPOST Liana Cunningham (2) hands the ball off to Emily Velozo (10).
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FEBRUARY 15, 2019
Players of the week
SPORTS | 15
Men’s Basketball’s loses despite late comeback attempt
fsurams.com
Emily Velozo had 21 points to go along with seven rebounds and four assists in Women’s Basketball’s 70-51 loss.
Ashley Wall / THE GATEPOST Matthew Rohelia (24) plays defense as Khaneil Bruce (35) and Jared Gordon-Anderson (32) look on.
By Carlos Silva Staff Writer
fsurams.com
Khaneil Bruce scored 12 points and collected 11 rebounds in Men’’s Basketball’s 87-80 loss.
fsurams.com
Cameren McCloud-Thomas had 13 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in Men’s Basketball’s 87-80 loss.
On Saturday, Feb. 9, Framingham traveled to Bridgewater State to take on the Bears in a MASCAC game. The first half consisted of four ties and seven lead changes. A pair of free throws by Tyri Hampton tied the score at 31-31 with 4:25 remaining in the half. The Bears then went on a 10-2 run over the next three minutes, capped off by an Admar Jaramillo steal and breakaway layup to give the hosts a 41-33 lead. Jaramillo and Jose Monteiro Jr. tallied four points apiece during the strong run. Neither team scored again until a last-second shot by Khaneil Bruce ended the run and cut the deficit to 41-35 at halftime. Rayshon Ward led all players in the first half with 11 points, while Bruce led the Rams with 10. The Bears shot 47 percent in the opening half, including 4-for-9 from behind the arc. The Rams connected on 39.5 percent of their field goal attempts over the first half and went 2-for-8 from 3-point territory. Consecutive layups by Cameren McCloud-Thomas and Manny Payton to open the second half made it a two-point game, but the Bears quickly answered with a Ryan Carney free throw and a Jaramillo 3-pointer while in transition, pushing their lead to 45-39. Following a Hampton three-point shot with 3:46 left to play, the Bears pushed their lead to as many as 13 in the period before the Rams battled back to make it a four-point game, 70-66. Framingham had a chance to pull closer, but could not convert on their next possession. A pair of layups by Monteiro Jr. and Nick Crocker extended the Bears’ lead back up to eight points, 74-66, with 2:14 showing on the scoreboard. The Rams took full advantage, reeling
off eight straight points as the Bears turned the ball over on three straight possessions. A Hampton put-back layup finished off the 8-0 run and tied the game at 74-74 with 43.7 seconds left to play. Carney stopped the bleeding with a driving layup with 27.1 seconds remaining to put the Bears back on top at 76-74. McCloud-Thomas, however, sent the game into overtime, as his jumper from the top of the key found the bottom of the net with 6.4 seconds showing on the scoreboard. The Bears tallied the first six points of the overtime session and held the Rams to just four points in the period. Framingham closed the gap to within four points, 84-80, following a Jared Gordon-Anderson layup with 1:04 remaining. The Rams, however, were not able to come back this time, as they were done scoring for the rest of the night. Crocker went 1-of-2 from the free-throw line with 30 seconds left to play. Carney knocked down a pair of foul shots with 14 seconds showing to close out the game. Four different Bears scored in overtime, led by four points from Carney. Despite the late second-half comeback, the Rams came up just short, losing the game by a score of 87-80. The Rams spread out their scoring as five different players scored double digits including Bruce, Hampton, McCloud-Thomas, Payton, and Gordon-Anderson Bruce and McCloud-Thomas both had double-doubles, grabbing 11 rebounds apiece. With the loss, Framingham State drops to 4-7 in the MASCAC conference and 5-18 overall on the season.
BRIDGEWATER STATE FRAMINGHAM STATE
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CONNECT WITH CARLOS SILVA csilva14@student.framingham.edu
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16 | PHOTOS
THE GATEPOST
FEBRUARY 15, 2019
Creature Teachers! On Feb. 11, the Wildlife Club presented “Creature Teacher!” an event bringing wildlife onto FSU’s campus. The event was a hit among students and staff alike.
Photographs by Ashley Wall/The Gatepost FRAMINGHAM STATE UNIVERSITY’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1932 | FSUGATEPOST.COM