February 21, 2025
Stuck on State Street
New GenEd proposal under review
By Sophia Harris Editor-in-Chief
The General Education Advisory Board, chaired by Professor Patricia Lynne, has proposed a new general education model to be implemented in the coming years.
The new general education model is currently in the proposal stage and will be reviewed by University committees. If the proposal is approved this year, there will still be a year of implementation before the new model is put into place, Lynne said.
She said this new model has three components that together create an
By Ryan O’Connell Associate Editor
Susan Church, chief operating officer of Massachusetts’ Office for Refugees and Immigrants, spoke to Framingham State at the “FSU Know Your Rights Webinar” Feb. 19 and offered education on immigrant and refugee rights.
The webinar, which is the first of two events held regarding “incoming changes to immigration policy at the federal level,” according to an email sent by the Dean of Students Office, included “an overview of legal resources for immigrants in the commonwealth, know your rights resources, and guidance for interaction with immigration
encompassing general education model.
The first component of the model is the “Core” courses. The four courses under this domain would be the classes “that we believe everybody should take,” Lynne said.
The classes under this domain are a RAMS first-year seminar course, a firstyear writing course, a math course, and possibly a world languages course.
“That one is up for some debate at this particular point, but there’s some expectation that students would have at least some ability in a second language,” Lynne said.
Changes from the previous GenEd model include that students will have a choice of a specific core math course
officers.”
Church began by explaining that “immigration” is a group in the United States consisting of several federal agencies all under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The first of three agencies under DHS she mentioned was Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE.
Church said ICE is not just the people in blue jackets on TV - ICE has a number of other functions - such as acting as prosecutors in immigration court arguing in favor of or against deportation - and agencies beneath them - such as Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
HSI, she added, is responsible for I-9
which will be dependent on major requirements. The math requirement must be completed within the first two years of matriculating at the University, according to the proposal.
The writing requirement, which is Composition II, must be completed within the first year of matriculating at the University.
For the world languages requirement, all students will be required to complete one semester of a world language. The proposed change includes a reconstituting of the learning objectives to take American Sign Language into account.
audits on employers, which make sure they have been following immigration rules, and also conduct deep-dive investigations.
“There was an alleged Nazi that was living in Brooklyn, New York, there was a 15-to-20-year process to get that person deported because Germany originally wouldn’t accept him, and then they did about four or five years ago,” she said.
Church then spoke on Customs and Border Protection, or CBP, who occupy booths at the northern and southern borders, as well as airports on entry to the United States. This group controls entry and exit to the country, she added.
Izabela Gage / THE GATEPOST
A bus slated to transport the women’s ice hockey team became stuck on State St. Feb. 18.
E ditorial Board
Editor-in-Chief
Sophia Harris
Associate Editors
Maddison Behringer
Ryan O’Connell
Copy Editor
Emma Lyons
Asst. Copy Editor
Allie Mosher
News Editor
Dylan Pichnarcik
Asst. News Editor
Bella Grimaldi
Opinions Editor
Izayah Morgan
Sports Editors
Izabela Gage
Sophia Oppedisano
Asst. Sports Editors
Taylor Kimmell
Kyra Tolley
Arts & Features Editors
Francisco Omar Fernandez Rodriguez
Owen Glancy
Asst. Arts & Features Editors
Sarah Daponde
Liv Dunleavy
Bella Omar
Photos & Design Editors
Adrien Gobin
Alexis Schlesinger
Asst. Photos & Design Editor
Meghan Spargo
Illustrations Editor
Ben Hurney
Asst. Illustrations Editors
David Abe
Ronnie Chiu-Lin
Emily Monaco
Staff Writers
Jesse Burchill
Raena Hunter Doty
Kristel Erguiza
Paul Harrington
Dan Lima
Antonio Machado
Kate Norrish
Erina Operach
Anthony Pintado
Alexandria Rose
Emma Schor
Anthony Sims
Michael Trueswell
Celia Williams
Staff Photographers
Eliana Buono
Meg Dame
Oné Green
Staff Illustrators
Charlotte Fabrizi
Marcus Falcão
Advisor
Desmond McCarthy
Asst. Advisor
Elizabeth Banks
Gatepost Interview David Keil
Professor of Computer Science
By Liv Dunleavy Editorial Staff
What’s your academic and professional background?
I went to college in Minnesota and I didn’t major in computer science. Later, I worked in some book stores, on a railroad, and in a shipyard. And in the ’80s, I got my master’s in computer science at Boston University.
What made you choose teaching as a profession?
In my master’s studies, I got the enjoyment of research, and I became interested in the things that I’m teaching now in a couple of courses. And so I just decided research and teaching were my profession.
What are your personal hobbies?
I worked as a typesetter for a number of years - my father was a typesetter - and software began being used in typesetting, so I became interested in the software through this other job that I had. Then my boss told me about sorting algorithms in one of my typesetting jobs and I wrote an article on sorting algorithms that was published in the ’80s. I’ve always liked writing - you could say that’s a hobby. Oh, and mysteries - TV mysteries.
What brought you here to FSU?
I’m from Needham, and I was working in typesetting, but during my master’s studies, I started teaching parttime. And in fact, a colleague asked me to co-author a textbook with him on the Pascal Language. After a few years teaching there, I saw an opportunity here at Framingham State. I started working here in 1996, full time in 1997.
What are some challenges you have faced as a college professor?
After about 15 years here at FSU, I realized I didn’t really know what my students were learning because you have to grade students in such a way that you [only] give credit to students for working. You can’t fail half of your students just because you can’t prove they learned what you wanted in your high-stakes testing. And so I realized that I was grading students on a norm basis by comparing them with each oth-
er, and I didn’t like that at all. Fortunately, I got into a series of workshops with an author named Ken Bain that was sponsored by FSU, and the workshop showed us how to use the curiosity and the energy of the students in our teaching. It also encouraged us to give students more than one opportunity to show what they’ve learned and I found that if you give a student more than one chance and if you ask them, “Don’t answer a question until you’re ready. Take a make-up.” I found all students could learn lots. All that I wanted them to learn - they could learn. The research is partly done by Carol Dweck - Ken Bain introduced us to [her] and her mindset, and she said, “There’s a growth mindset.” If the learner takes a growth mindset, then they can actually increase their intelligence and use their own curiosity to drive them to learn more.
How has the computer science major evolved over the years?
It started, I think, in the ’70s or ’80s, a long time before I came here. Shortly after I came here, there was a review by the Board of Higher Education, and they
Police Logs
Monday, Feb. 17 5:24 Alarm/Fire Corinne Hall Towers Report Taken
Tuesday, Feb. 18 6:15
Found / Lost Property Hemmenway Hall Assignment Complete
Wednesday, Feb. 19 7:05
Welfare Check Miles Bibb Hall Advised
said we had an OK major, but we should get accredited. So we went through a process of learning what it took to get accredited and what were the program objectives that you need to be a high-quality program. So we spent a lot of time changing the computer science major over the years and I think we have a pretty high-quality one because we take on some difficult things like the Operating Systems Internals course and the theory course that I get to teach.
What advice would you give to FSU students?
Beware of unsolicited advice - but if a student asked for advice, I would say, “Assert your ideas, and assert your rights - and the rights of everybody. And ask questions. And welcome surprise answers!” We learn so much from when the answer is surprising. Latch onto the things that make you curious, and remember that it depends on how much you want to learn. You can learn it, if you want to learn it.
CONNECT WITH LIV DUNLEAVY odunleavy@student.framingham.edu
Wednesday, Feb. 19 7:59
Parking Enforcement Maple Street Lot Advised
Maddison Behringer / THE GATEPOST
Solar panel being installed at Salem End Lot
By Bella Grimaldi Asst. News Editor
The construction of solar panel canopies at the Salem End Lot is projected to finish by April 6, according to Ann Martin, capital projects manager.
Students were notified through an email from the Framingham State University Police Department (FSUPD) on Jan. 17.
The email notified students of limited parking in the Salem End Lot. According to the email, there is no shuttle running to the Salem End Lot for the Spring 2025 semester.
According to the email, the Union Lot is open to commuter students, freshmen, and overflow from the Maynard Road Lot.
Division of Graduate and Continuing Education (DGCE) students are authorized to park in the Maple, Salem End, and Athletic lots.
According to Martin, approximately 80 parking spaces have been taken up by the construction.
“Parking was affected in the last few weeks. … We hope to return it to full parking April 6,” said Martin.
The solar panel project is an element of the University’s Climate Action Plan. The project has been in the works for approximately two years with construction beginning in Summer 2024 with a break taking place when Fall semester classes were in
Newly installed solar panels at the Salem End Road Lot.
bonization efforts by purchasing the solar-generated electricity,” she said.
“We typically would purchase the power from Eversource, which is our local provider, and now, we will purchase this power from Select,” said Martin.
“Luckily, it hasn’t interfered with campus life as much as other construction.”
- Amoy Murphy Junior
session, according to Martin.
Martin said two of the three solar panel canopies have been constructed.
The solar panel canopy system is designed to produce 711.8 kilowatts of energy, according to Martin.
She said, “The cost [of the project] is borne by the contractor, so they own
Sunday night Feb. 23
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 20. Calm wind.
Monday Feb. 24
Partly sunny, with a high near 40. Calm wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
the solar canopy. They just lease it to be on the land.”
This project was funded by a $400,000 Leading by Example grant through the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER).
“I don’t think it’s going to save any costs - it’s just going to give us the opportunity to contribute to the decar-
Monday night Feb. 24
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 30. South wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday Feb. 25
A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 50. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
The decision to site the project on the Salem End Lot resulted from a negotiation among the University, the Massachusetts State College Building Authority (MSCBA), and the City of Framingham.
Martin said, “It’s a series of negotiations and getting the funding for FSU to have the project here. We have to coordinate that through the MSCBA because they own the lot. In addition, there are memorandums of understanding that go on between the city and the University to be allowed to put a canopy” on the land.
While construction was taking place, four EV charging stations were added as part of the plan, according to Martin.
Martin added there will be a new bus shelter installed in the spring. This bus shelter will be placed in the corner area on the side of canopy three.
She said, “That is where they pick up students now. … It’ll be small, but at least it’ll be something.”
Junior Lilian Hall said she likes what the University has done with the Salem End Lot.
“I think we need more green initiatives in general, as a world, and doing it on campus is a great thing,” said Hall. Freshman Elizabeth Rivers said it seems as if construction on the Salem End Lot has proceeded quickly. She added the solar panel project “is a smart idea, and I think it’s a good investment.”
Freshman Jizaiah Candelario said, “I think they’re doing just enough and it’s good.”
Junior Amoy Murphy said she hadn’t noticed the construction.
“Luckily, it hasn’t interfered with campus life as much as other construction,” said Murphy.
She added, “With everything going on right now, I think it’s good to do what we can here and there.”
CONNECT WITH BELLA GRIMALDI igrimaldi@student.framingham.edu
Forecast provided by the National Weather Service www.weather.gov
Tuesday night Feb. 25
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35. Southwest wind up to 5 mph.
Wednesday Feb. 26
Mostly sunny, with a high near 50. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday night Feb. 26
Partly cloudy, with a low around 30. West wind up to 5 mph.
Thursday Feb. 27
A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 45. South wind up to 10 mph.
Izabela Gage / THE GATEPOST
May Hall elevator repair will take months
By Dylan Pichnarcik News Editor
The May Hall elevator will remain out of service for the remainder of the spring semester following two failures during the week of Feb. 10, according to an email sent by Dean of Students Meg Nowak Borrego.
Repairing the elevator is delayed due to a lack of parts and the need for custom components to be assembled, according to Maureen Fowler, environmental health and safety coordinator.
Money to fund the project will come from the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM), according to Robert Totino, vice president of finance, technology, and administration.
He said, “FSU will be receiving approximately $133,000 from DCAMM for the May Hall elevator repair. From what we know at this moment, the total cost of the elevator repair is expected to be between $150,000 and $180,000, and the difference above the $133,000 from DCAMM will be paid by FSU.”
Totino said FSU has a $5.2 million allotment from the DCAMM Critical Repair Program. FSU has used “a little over half of that money.” The funds come from a Fiscal Year 2024 to 2028 allocation.
DCAMM works “with state agencies to create and manage forward-thinking, sustainable buildings to meet the needs of the citizens they serve,” according to the DCAMM website.
Fowler said the May Hall elevator was inspected by a state agency in October of 2024 and passed.
She said the May Hall elevator is the oldest on campus and was installed during the 1981 May Hall renovation.
Totino said the May Hall elevator has been in service for so long because it “missed identification” under the Critical Repairs Program “when it came time to identify campus projects that we’re going to put in the pipeline.”
Fowler said the May Hall elevator is scheduled for a modernization next summer but “the parts that are used to run the elevator now, they failed before the parts came in, and before we got the plan in place.”
She said the elevator’s controller, “which is the brain behind the elevator,” as well as the door closers, must be repaired. Due to the age of the elevator, “the parts are obsolete, so it’s really impossible to get parts to make it continue to go on.”
Fowler said along with the controller and door closers, the repair company “will have to do some ADA [Americans with Disabilities Act] upgrades for the buttons. And then, as an extra part, because it’s so old, it might need to get some modernization.”
Based on this emergency repair, Fowler said fire service might have to be added “so the fire department can key it down” to the first floor. “It’ll just go down to the first floor and wait for the fire department,” she added. Currently, the elevator won’t work in a fire alarm.
According to Fowler, the reason for the elevator repair delay is, “The controller takes between 12 to 16 weeks to make and they don’t know what other parts they need.
“The elevator company came in and looked to see all the parts they needed. And right now, they’re saying three to
four months for the parts, but it could take longer once they put down exactly what they need,” she said.
Fowler said the University’s elevator service provider, Delta-Beckwith, will purchase the required parts on behalf of FSU and install them.
Totino said, “We sincerely apologize if there’s any outcome which has not been pleasurable because of this potential displacement if you’re in a classroom or a studio, for example, and you can’t get to those facilities at the present time. Faculty and staff, same thing - if you’re having a difficult time getting to your office. …Our apologies to all of the constituents. It is not pleasurable because we all have a routine, and we would like to maintain that routine throughout at least the course of the semester.”
Students who have accessibility concerns in regard to the out-of-service elevator were instructed via email from Nowak Borrego to contact Tanya Milette, associate director of disability and access services.
Milette said she is the primary contact for students with accessibility concerns regarding the May Hall elevator outage.
“I am communicating with individual students about their specific situations. This often has led to follow-up conversations with faculty and sometimes the registrar to discuss the possibility of relocating a specific class to ensure that the student has access.”
Milette encourages students who have not come forward with accessibility concerns to contact her via email or visit the Center for Academic Success and Achievement (CASA).
She said several students have come forward to share accessibility concerns related to the elevator being out of service. “Any number I share is likely to be an underestimate of the total number of students who are impacted by this outage as I only know about the students who have come forward but many others could be impacted and may not have contacted me yet.”
Faculty and staff who were impacted by the outage were instructed to contact Erin Jerrett, director of equal opportunity and deputy Title IX coordinator via email, according to Nowak Borrego.
Jerrett said, “Once I am informed that an employee is impacted, I will work directly with them to assess how the situation is affecting them and/or their students. Together, we will identify tailored solutions, such as finding alternative spaces for teaching or performing work duties, to ensure continued support and accessibility.”
She said she has not had a member of the faculty or staff come forward to express concerns, but encourages anyone who is experiencing difficulties to contact her.
She said, “The impact has been minimal. After the initial notification was sent, the registrar and Student Accessibility Services were promptly contacted, and planning to address any concerns began immediately.”
Jerrett said that classroom changes have been provided for affected students.
English Professor Lorianne DiSabato sprained her ankle three weeks ago. She said she is able to walk around and use stairs. However, it becomes difficult while carrying her belongings around
during the day.
She said she was using the elevator when going to her classes on the second floor of May Hall.
DiSabato said she “feels for people who have more serious mobility issues.”
DiSabato said students with disabilities may have a more difficult time due to the elevator outage.
“It really makes you think, ‘How would you accommodate someone that literally can’t make it to the classroom?’” she asked.
On Feb. 14, the elevator in the Henry Whittemore Library had a small overload, which “sometimes happens,” according to Fowler.
Totino said there will be an assessment of the elevator since “it’s near the end of its life.”
T. Stores, dean of the College of Arts & Humanities, said, “We want people to get to their classes without disruption and without barriers. We want to reduce all the barriers we can.”
Stores added they have been checking in with members of the faculty who they know have health issues.
“I check in as much as I possibly can
and make sure everybody knows where to go and who to ask and try to reach out on their behalf when necessary,” they said.
Freshman Christela Cean said she has had a “bad experience” with the May Hall elevator and has a difficult time breathing while walking to the fourth floor art studios.
Freshman Stenia Sylvaince said, “It’s really hard” walking all the way to the fourth floor. “It’s like we’re doing a workout.”
Freshman Finley Sweeney said he has not been affected by the outage but knows people who have been. “My friend … she’s in a wheelchair and she, of course, can’t get up to places that require elevators.” He added, “It’s a lot for people to go up and down all the time.”
Freshman JJ Johnson said they are “more affected than I would like to admit. I have issues with my lovely little legs, so it is kind of a pain. Luckily, my class got moved to the library.”
Dylan Pichnarcik / THE GATEPOST
The first floor entrance of the May Hall elevator.
GenEd
Continued from Page 1
The second domain is “Distribution Requirements.” These classes consist of two arts & humanities courses, two social science courses, and two STEM courses.
According to the proposal, courses under arts & humanities “explore human culture, expression, and experience through artistic creation or through critical analysis and interpretation of cultural and artistic artifacts, historical events, and philosophical ideas.”
The learning objective of the courses under the social sciences requirement is exploring “human society and behavior through critical analysis of human systems and empirical data gathered using both quantitative and qualitative methodologies,” according to the proposal.
The power, privilege, and resistance courses “examine and critically analyze how differential systems of power and privilege shape social, economic, and/or political inequalities in local, regional, and/or global contexts across diverse and marginalized communities as well as consider collective and individual responses to forms of oppression and inequality,” according to the proposal.
Regarding the current political climate, Lynne said, “The only thing in our model that could be flagged by the current federal administration would be the diversity requirement. I won’t remove that until somebody tells me we have to remove it. And so far, I’m not getting that message at all. That doesn’t mean that the feds won’t come down and say, ‘You’re not going to get any more federal funding as long as this requirement is in place.’ But hon-
ternatives. Instead of worrying about whether something fits a domain, they can just go, ‘OK, I can take anything in the social sciences. So what am I interested in? What jazzes me?’”
She said another driving factor behind this proposal is helping the domain learning objectives align better with what is required of students.
“Currently, our learning objectives have no relationship to our general education model. … There is no requirement that students take all of those learning objectives, which means they’re not learning objectives at all,” she said.
Lynne added, “The biggest thing is that this has involved many faculty members. It has involved department chairs. We have gotten feedback. We spent all of last year getting feedback to put this together. This has not come out of nowhere. I have been intention-
take in your time at this University are general education courses, approximately.”
He added that a change in the model happens only once a decade and the current GenEd model went into effect in 2012.
Greenstein said, “If this proposal does not get accepted … there will be another proposal probably within the next year or two if it gets rejected. But given that there’s been so much work on this and there’s a lot of outreach,” he does not anticipate too much pushback from the community.
He added these proposals are “always going to be controversial because they’re changing the entire landscape of the University, but they did a lot of work to try to make it somewhat less controversial than normal.”
Greenstein said the “idea behind what UCC does is that everyone who’s
The learning objective of the STEM courses is exploring “the natural world, technology, mathematics, and finance through observation, experimentation, data analysis, and the application of mathematical models and technological applications,” according to the proposal.
At least one of these courses must still be a lab science course.
Students will now also be able to take a 300-level course for a general education requirement.
The third domain is the “Diversity” requirement. A student will have to take one course under the diversity domain.
Courses under the Diversity domain will be required to meet a “power, privilege, and resistance” learning objective and one additional category: “historically marginalized perspectives,” “global perspectives,” or “social justice.”
estly, that’s going to be part of a much bigger fight and problem.”
Lynne said the thinking behind the new general education model is, “This is the kind of thing we say that we want students to take, but we’re not going to say where exactly in your program you have to take it. For some majors, it’ll happen as part of their major. For other majors, they’ll need to take something outside, but they’ll have more control about where that happens.”
She added she hopes the new model will provide an easier pathway for students to reach graduation.
Lynne said, “I firmly believe that it is incredibly important for students to get some breadth in their education through general education requirements.
“This is a way of helping students enrich what they are already focusing on, but also for students who haven’t decided, a way to explore possible al-
ally, deliberately giving people places to put in their input, to contribute, to join the General Education Advisory Board. … I see this as a consensus model.”
The next step is to present the proposal to the University Curriculum Committee on March 14 and April 4.
“The UCC vets this. They may decide that there are changes that are needed that they will send back to me and the General Education Advisory Board.”
According to Michael Greenstein, Chair of the UCC, these meetings are open to anyone in the campus community to provide feedback on the proposed model.
Greenstein said the new general education model “is something that affects everyone at this University. It affects faculty as it changes the classes that we teach, and affects students. As it is, a third of the courses that you
affected has the right to have their voice heard.”
Junior Angelina Barrett, who is the student representative on the UCC, said she supports the new general education model.
She said she supports the proposed requirement that math has to be taken in the first two years and it will be more tailored to the student’s department.
Barrett added she can see how having to take a math requirement within the first two years of matriculation can be seen as stressful for students. “To put any time, any date on anything is stressful for a lot of people.”
She added that the diversity requirement is beneficial for students as an additional avenue “to make you a more well-rounded person.”
CONNECT WITH SOPHIA HARRIS sharris9@student.framingham.edu
Dylan Pichnarcik / THE GATEPOST
Students working in a small group.
OP/ED
THE GATEPOST EDITORIAL
Support Black businesses
As we approach the end of Black History Month, The Gatepost wants to highlight one special event out of the many FSU and DICE have hosted in its honor.
The Black Excellence Expo, which will take place on Feb. 27, is a key event dedicated to showcasing Black achievement and fostering community engagement. It is important to highlight the significance of supporting Black businesses and the critical role they play in our local economy.
This event is a vibrant reminder of the talent, resilience, and contributions of Black entrepreneurs, but it shouldn’t just be a celebration confined to a single day or month.
Supporting these businesses must be a year-round commitment, one that goes beyond short-lived gestures and instead builds lasting connections that uplift the community.
Impacting many different industries, Black businesses are a driving force of innovation and community building. This Expo provides the perfect platform to encourage our community to engage with, invest in, and support these businesses - including some run by BIPOC FSU students.
It’s more crucial than ever to stand by Black-owned businesses. College students often have limited funds, so where they choose to spend their money is of great importance.
It’s necessary to distinguish between truly Black-owned businesses and those that are simply DEI-supporting, especially when it comes to promoting equality within the corporate world. While DEI initiatives are valuable and necessary, Blackowned businesses face unique challenges that require direct, intentional support.
Politically, progress for racial equity and social justice is under attack.
Corporations such as Target, McDonald’s, and Amazon have rolled back their DEI efforts - signaling to their consumers they do not support equity in corporate America. Despite pressure from Trump’s White House to curtail DEI efforts, some national businesses, such as Costco, remain steadfast in their commitment to promoting and highlighting DEI values.
Aside from how students choose to spend their money, it is also important to uplift civil rights groups supporting these initiatives, including the NAACP, whose mission is to “eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination.”
Groups such as “Support Black Owned” play a crucial role by curating lists of companies that support Black-owned businesses in Massachusetts. They are leading the charge in giving people the agency to make informed decisions.
Supporting Black-owned businesses means investing in the legacy of Black entrepreneurship and offering solutions to the wealth gap that persists in our society.
Additionally, local organizations such as the Metrowest Economic Research Center help Black entrepreneurs thrive. This council, with an office in Crocker Hall and leadership from Framingham State faculty, provides resources and guidance to businesses that are working toward greater inclusion.
The collaboration among these entities creates a supportive ecosystem where Black business owners have the tools they need to succeed, but the support shouldn’t stop there.
This ongoing commitment should not be viewed as a one-off
A collector’s conversation
By Paul Harrington Staff Writer
An important note: This article serves solely as a look at the current state of the Pokémon TCG scene and is not meant to be an attack of any sorts.
Pokémon is well known for its iconic catchphrase “Gotta Catch ’Em All.”
It takes many different forms such as anime, video games, and the focus of today’s OPED, trading cards.
The Pokémon Trading Card Game (Pokémon TCG) offers a cardbased fighting experience for those interested.
However, explaining how to play would take up too much time. Pokémon cards are sold in a lot of different forms.
There are singles, blister packs, elite trainer boxes (ETBS), booster boxes, and many more.
Over its 28-year lifespan, Pokémon TCG has lured in collectors, aspiring “Play! Pokémon” contestants, and scalpers.
Although I try not to splurge on Pokémon cards, I sometimes wonder what it would be like to go on a “ripping spree.”
There’s a card for everyone, as each card’s different art style is sure to catch your eyes.
If you pull a “hit,” then it can be sent for “grading,” which is the process of sending a card to a third party for evaluation.
If you get a 10, your card is more likely to be worth something.
Some people buy cards to collect, some buy cards to make a profit.
Although people consume for different reasons, I’m sure they can agree on one sentiment.
Objectively compared to the ’90s, accessing and buying Pokémon cards is a difficult alleyway to navigate.
Back in the day, you would buy in person.
The nostalgia of going to the store to buy a fresh pack of cards was an unmatched feeling.
With the dawn of the internet however, the markets shifted in favor of technology.
Some consumers have utilized “scalper bots.”
These are software scripts programmed to purchase a product as soon as it drops.
Scalper bots have been used by certain people to hoard cards for themselves.
The inherent rise of scalpers in the Pokémon community have made it a divisive market where you either see no product, or booster boxes being sold at double their price.
Social media does a powerful job of displaying just how “empty” stores are because of scalpers who buy in bulk.
As the days go by, I see video after video of grown men running down a Costco aisle at full speed to grab as many booster bundles as possible with no regard for the person next to them.
In the most respectful way possible, all I can say is that those actions are genuinely embarrassing.
Retail workers shouldn’t have to deal with hordes of people running through their aisles in search of Pokémon cards.
So you’re probably asking me, “How do you combat scalpers?”
My answer is humane and simple.
Be realistic!
Don’t buy in bulk. Try to leave stuff for other people if you can.
We all deserve a piece of the pie, and it doesn’t help if someone takes the pie all for themself!
If a store doesn’t end up having any product, come back in a week and see if there’s anything new.
Although it’s genuinely frustrating to see people buying in mass amounts, I know one thing is for sure.
Investing in victory comes with playing the long game.
Waiting for the right time to buy might just pay off in the long run.
If you want to get into Pokémon TCG, then I would highly recommend going on the official Pokémon website to learn more!
Recipes for friendships
By Emily Monaco Editorial Staff
Making friends in college is hard, regardless of where you come from or who you are. Whether you’re more introverted or a social butterfly, it can be hard to form healthy friendships.
The best place to start is in class. Maybe you sit next to someone who has added some cool stuff to the class discussion - that’s a great way to connect with people. You can also join clubs or attend open events and meet people there.
I’ve met many of my friends through club events, especially the newspaper. It might seem intimidating, but at the end of the day, you’re all figuring out how to be people together.
The hardest thing about creating friendships is knowing what healthy ones look like. During college, you may find it difficult to pick good people to surround yourself with. There was a time when I didn’t set boundaries and surrounded myself with people who didn’t treat me with respect or kindness.
For the longest time, I struggled to make friends. Some people were extremely judgmental and overly critical - others never wanted to spend time with me or they’d talk behind my back. Then after working with the Counseling Center, I was able to set up firm boundaries and surround myself with
good people.
Having healthy and firm boundaries is extremely important in any relationship.
What does a good friend look like to you? I made a checklist for myself of boundaries and expectations, which I highly recommend to anyone who struggles with maintaining healthy re-
loyalty in situations where I am being mistreated, holding me accountable when I am making mistakes, sharing kind words with me, making time to hang out, and helping each other the best way we can when I ask for it.
Having a list can help you get your thoughts organized. It can be hard to figure out what you want in a good
lationships of any kind!
Here’s an example:
What I look for in a good friend: respectful of my feelings and body,
friendship, especially if you have a hard time creating and maintaining those connections.
An example of an unhealthy friend-
Campus Conversations
By Alexis Schlesinger, Editorial Staff & Kristel Erguiza, Staff Writer
“It’s a month to celebrate Black history. ... but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t celebrate it every single day, because Black history is special. But the month is special... It’s happy because everyone’s together, our people come together.”
-Cece Gonzelez, freshman
ship could be if you’re asking for help when someone is mistreating you and your friends refuse to help you, whether that be by confronting the person or supporting you emotionally.
Another example would be if you set a firm boundary that you don’t like to be touched without being asked, but they continue to touch you and hug you each time you see them.
Good friends support one another and are respectful of each other. There’s no hierarchy or power dynamic between people.
If you’re struggling to learn how to set boundaries with friends, a great place to go for support is the Counseling Center on campus! They’re very kind and super helpful. There you can get the tools to form healthy relationships.
If someone is treating you poorly, address it, and if they don’t respect you or your boundaries and refuse to communicate, cut them right out. You want to have fun meeting new people and feel cherished by one another!
Making friends is hard, and maintaining relationships can be even harder. You don’t want to surround yourself with people who just tolerate you. You want people who genuinely enjoy your company and love who you are.
By setting healthy boundaries and expectations with one another you can have some pretty amazing friends.
“What does Black History Month mean to you?”
“Loving yourself, loving being Black, being happy that you’re Black, soaking up the culture. Black History Month is every single day of the year!”
- Ashley Carvajal, sophomore
“A month to celebrate under-appreciated Black people through the years. To celebrate our Blackness.”
-Aidan Lee, freshman
“How we all come together as one, you know? We don’t have to fight all the time. ... That’s what it means to me - just coming together as one big group.”
-Keon Foy, senior
“I feel like Black History month needs more. I feel like we shouldn’t just get a month. ... If you look a lot at the history of America, Black culture is a big influence that should be talked about more. ... The spotlight we get should be all the time, 24/7, 365.”
- Davin Smith, sophomore
“Being that girl, it’s a blessing to be Black. People don’t understand the struggles we go through as a Black person every day. But the fact that I’m waking up Black this week, I feel on top of the world.”
-Melyk Henley, sophomore
“It’s about the culture of Black history. ... It really has an effect on me because I grew up in a predominantly white area. ... I didn’t really get to learn about Black history until leaving the Cape .”
- Estrella Barbel, sophomore
“It’s the rememberance of what we have been through historically .”
- Treasure Rosce, freshman
“It means family. It’s just showing more people that wanted to serve us and protect us from all the things happening in the world .”
-Darrell Coombs, senior
Emily Monaco / THE GATEPOST
SPORTS
Men’s basketball upsets Worcester St. for Senior Night win
Double-doubles for Okafor, Saint Jean
By Izabela Gage Sports Editor
By Sophia Oppedisano Sports Editor
The Framingham State men’s basketball team defeated the Worcester State University Lancers 79-74 in a stunning conference upset on their home court during Senior Night, Feb. 19.
The Rams entered the contest with a conference record of 3-7 and ranked sixth out of the seven MASCAC teams, while the Lancers’ conference record of 8-2 put them firmly in second place.
Before the start of the game, the Rams honored their five seniors: Adonis Vashon, Jordan Howard, JD Okafor, Kyle Philistin, and Chance Wells.
Head Coach Donald Morris Jr. tapped the seniors to be his starting five for the game and Okafor stepped up to the center line to secure the tipoff for the Rams.
Okafor led the five seniors with a double-double, contributing 10 points and a team-high 14 rebounds and 11 defensive rebounds.
Vashon supported the charge with 9 points, eight rebounds, and four assists, and Philistin contributed 18 points of his own.
Wells recorded five assists and three rebounds and Howard came up with 6 points on his stat line.
The Rams’ confidence was palpable from the start. They struck first on a jump shot from Howard, who drained it for 2 points.
The Lancers imposed a full-court press from the tip-off but the Rams kept up with the pace, trading the lead six times in the first 8 minutes.
Okafor said the team practiced for the press defense.
To break the press, Okafor said,
“We just had to communicate more amongst each other to know who was stretching the floor, and who was staying back to help out.”
Sophomore Joshua Saint Jean, a major offensive contributor, said, “The last time we played against Worcester, the press destroyed us and we couldn’t figure out how to beat it. With great game planning, we learned in order to beat the press, we had to slow things down.”
With the score at 16-15 in favor of the Lancers, a layup from Howard sent the Rams on a 12-1 run punctuated by a layup from Philistin to give the Rams a 27-16 lead with 6 minutes to play in the first half.
The atmosphere in the gym was electric, with a packed home crowd and an exuberant Framingham bench that got up and celebrated every point.
The Rams triumphed for the rest of the first half. Vashon sank a hanging 3-point shot to give the Rams a 14-point lead with 3:24 left on the clock.
Framingham closed out the first half on a jump shot from Howard and a layup from Saint Jean to bring the score to 40-29 going into the half.
From the start of the second half, the momentum belonged solely to the Rams.
The Rams kept their pace on defense, recording another 17 defensive rebounds, bringing their game total to 35.
Philistin started the second half with two 3-point field goals, bringing the score to 43-31 in the opening minutes of play.
Worcester tried to press on but struggled to find success. The Rams continued to assert their command of the game and Philistin nailed a dunk in answer to a Lancer 3-point shot.
Wells extended the lead to 52-38 with a 3-point shot with just under 16 minutes left in the half.
According to Wells, the Rams found success against Worcester because “we just stuck together as a group and we brought energy from the court to the bench.”
The team is going to focus on maintaining the momentum from this game to “make our playoff run,” Wells added.
After Wells’ shot, the Lancers answered with four straight baskets, but the Rams continued to dominate on offense.
Wells sank another 3-pointer and Saint Jean, Philistin, and Okafor contributed with layups that brought the score to 70-52 with 5 minutes left in the game.
The Lancers began mounting a comeback on offense with a 9-1 run that closed the gap in the score to 7161.
The Rams were leading 75-63 with 2 minutes left on the clock when the Lancers began their last drive to try to pull out the win.
Turnovers and fouls from the Rams gave the Lancers shooting opportunities that brought them within an inch of taking over the game.
With a minute to play, the Lancers were only down by 5 points.
As both teams began trading fouls, free throws from Philistin extended the Rams’ lead to 77-70 and the Lancers quickly countered with four straight shots and were forced to foul with 16 seconds remaining.
The score stood at 77-74.
The Lancers committed two fouls on Saint Jean and his free throws sealed the win for the Rams and the final score was 79-74.
The win marked an impressive performance for the Rams, who shot 51% from the floor and 35% on 3-point field goals.
Comparatively, the Lancers only shot 39% from the floor.
Saint Jean led the team with 27 points and recorded 11 rebounds for a double-double. He also came up with eight defensive rebounds.
“Shout out to my coaches for working and preparing me with in-game
situations that the defense might put me in. With their help, I was able to counter and attack the defense very well tonight,” he said.
Okafor said he was focused on staying “aggressive” throughout the game.
“Scoring will come - rebounding comes from just crashing. I knew what I could do, so I just tried to play hard to help the team out.
“We know we’re the better team, so we just had to have the right mindset coming into the game, knowing that we had to stay locked in all 40 minutes - not just for the first half. Not just for the second half. We knew what we had to do, and I’m just glad we came together and got it done,” he said.
With this win, the Rams improved their conference record to 4-7 and their overall record to 10-14. The win also moved the team up in the MASCAC standings to the fifth slot out of seven teams.
Their final regular season game will take place away at Fitchburg State University Feb. 22.
“Our team’s main focus before the season ends is to clinch a playoff spot because last year, we weren’t able to do so. I want to play the hardest and give it my all for our last regular season game,” Saint Jean said.
This is the men’s basketball program’s most successful season in the past decade and a playoff appearance would mark Morris Jr.’s first MASCAC playoff appearance with the Rams.
“We’re focused on making sure everyone’s mind is in the right place because as long as our mind is right, we know the basketball side of things will take care of itself,” Okafor said.
Stats sourced from fsurams.com and MASCAC.com
CONNECT WITH IZABELA GAGE igage@student.framingham.edu
CONNECT WITH SOPHIA OPPEDISANO soppedisano@student.framingham.edu
Izabela Gage / THE GATEPOST
Kyle Philistin (right) celebrating with Joshua Saint Jean (left) during game against Worcester St. Feb. 19.
Izabela Gage / THE GATEPOST
JD Okafor (center) going up for a shot against Worcester St. Feb 19.
Women’s basketball falls short of victory against Worcester St.
By Taylor Kimmell Asst. Sports Editor
The Framingham State Rams faced a tough battle in a conference matchup against the Worcester State Lancers Feb. 19.
The first points of the game came off a 2-point jump shot from Framingham senior Michelle Moreno just 10 seconds in.
Worcester fired back with a jump shot just a minute later.
A jump shot from freshman Jackie Schels and a 3-pointer from senior Captain Katie Haselton increased the Rams’ early lead.
Following a basket from the Lanc-
ers, FSU put more points on the board, scoring on a layup from freshman Faith Greene as well as a layup and a 3-pointer from junior Kiara Cerruti.
The first quarter closed with a score of 14-12 in favor of the Rams.
Thirty seconds into the next quarter, Greene scored 2 points on a layup.
Following this, WSU scored 5 points on a layup and a jump shot, tying up the game at 16-16.
Two free throws from Haselton earned the lead back for Framingham, along with a layup from Schels.
However, owing to several more successful shots from Worcester’s offense, the opponents pulled ahead for the first time.
The Rams would not back down, with Greene and Schels scoring on layups with just 4 minutes to go in the half.
In a quick and unexpected turn of events, the Lancers took offensive control, accumulating 7 more points and coming into the second half with a 12-point lead.
Two foul shots from Schels started the Rams off on the right foot in the third quarter.
Thirty seconds later, Moreno grabbed a quick rebound and maneuvered her way toward the basket for a layup.
Within the same minute, Schels passed the ball to Greene who scored in the paint once again.
A well-calculated steal by senior Chloe Rayko led to a layup from Moreno off a missed shot from Haselton.
Four successful shots from the freethrow line and a layup from Hasleton,
two 3-pointers from Cerruti, and a layup from Greene closed the gap as the teams entered the final quarter of the game.
Few baskets were scored by either team during the last quarter.
Greene, Rayko, and Schels all scored 3-pointers within the first few minutes.
Unfortunately, the Lancers were able to match their pace, scoring more baskets of their own.
Two free throws from Schels brought the Rams closer to a lead change, but a layup from WSU offset their advance.
Worcester scored several more times in the final minutes of the game.
Layups from Greene and Haselton brought FSU within a mere 9 points of the lead as the seconds ticked down, but the game ended with a score of 7667 in favor of Worcester.
The Rams surpassed the Lancers in field goal attempts, outshooting them 66-65. Additionally, they scored and shot more free throws as well as 3-pointers.
Greene said in terms of layups, WSU just had more success in hitting the shots.
As the Lancers began to pull ahead, the Rams continued to give the game their all.
Greene said, “We do what every team does - keep our head up and keep going. We never give up. The game didn’t end until we heard the final buzzer. … It didn’t matter if we were winning or not.”
Schels said to keep the score close, Framingham “tried to match Worcester’s physicality and keep attacking
the rim. We also tried to look to kick out for the 3 if possible.”
Moreno noted that WSU just “seemed to want it a little more.
“I think they caught the flow of the game and were able to keep that momentum even with the hiccups we gave them,” she added.
Greene said, “I know the loss today is going to cause a lot of buzz, but for Framingham, it’s not over. Don’t count us out just yet.”
Schels said the team will spend the next few practices “mastering” their offense and “tightening up” their defense.
Schels added, “Going into playoffs, we are looking to play together as a team, have a clean slate, and look to take it game by game and ultimately win that championship.”
Moreno said the Rams plan to “work as a team and have fun doing what we love, as well as just playing our roles as best as we can.
“As of right now, my goal is just to give it all I can for the next two weeks and continue to feed good energy into my teammates as we get ready,” she added.
FSU has one remaining game in their regular season, facing off against the Fitchburg State Falcons this Saturday, Feb. 22.
CONNECT WITH TAYLOR KIMMELL tkimmell@student.framingham.edu Stats sourced from fsurams.com and MASCAC.com
Izabela Gage / THE GATEPOST Katie Haselton going up for a layup against Worcester St. Feb. 19.
SPORTS
Men’s ice hockey looks toward next season with hope
By Izabela Gage Sports Editor
The Framingham State men’s ice hockey team dropped a tough conference matchup to the Fitchburg State Falcons on Feb. 17.
This 7-1 loss brings their conference record to 1-13-2 and their overall record to 2-18-3.
Freshman Devin Shepherd said, “Even though it was not the outcome we were all hoping for, there were still bright spots in between. That was my first time playing Fitchburg, a top team in the MASCAC, so I think it was great to just experience the fast, high-end hockey.”
The puck dropped on center ice at the start of the game, with Captain Ashton Collazo, a senior, winning the faceoff and sending it back to junior Jake Barcelou. Barcelou then shot it toward sophomore Brady Rossbach, who was waiting in the offensive zone.
The Rams attempted to remain in the offensive zone, but lost possession of the puck to Fitchburg’s Matteo Orme Lynch.
The Falcons kept their passes direct, and after 14 seconds, Christian Halbig was able to find an opening in the Rams’ defense to slap-shot the puck from the blue line toward sophomore Owen Swanbon. The shot was stopped by Swanbon.
Junior Bobby Bernier tallied the first shot on goal for Framingham, which was saved by Fitchburg’s goaltender Freddy Soderberg’s glove.
The Falcons won a faceoff and took the puck out to the blue line before Nick Millhorn saw a gap and shot the puck right outside of Swanbon’s reach into the right side of the net. This goal started the dominant first period for the Falcons.
Back on center ice, Fitchburg won the next faceoff and took another shot on goal, but it was blocked by Shepherd.
Junior Jerry Duckett took control of the puck, skated it down into the offensive zone, and attempted to get it into the crease but was blocked by a forward on the Falcons. Duckett went in for the rebound, but could not get it past Soderberg’s pads.
Fitchburg’s Tovio Kramer skated through the middle of the ice with the puck and took a shot at the net, but Swanbon made an impressive save by deflecting the puck off his blocking glove.
Senior Walker Smith and sophomore Scott Bugarin tallied a shot on goal each, which were both saved by Soderberg.
Assistant Captain Devante Dixon, a senior, passed the puck through the defensive zone to freshman Zach Pappas, who fired it to the goal, but Fitchburg’s Oliver Cookson blocked the shot before it could enter the goal crease.
Hunter Dunn, a forward on the Falcons, faked out Swanbon, making him sprawl out to the left side of the net before finding a small slot on the right to score a goal.
Sophomore Brady Rossbach attempted to net the Rams’ first goal of the game, but couldn’t break through Soderberg’s defense.
The Falcons tried to score again, but Swanbon used his blocker glove to send the puck flying in the air. Fitchburg’s Elowan Orme Lynch took the rebound and found the back of the net to bring the score to 3-0 in favor of the Falcons.
The Rams subbed in sophomore goaltender Alex Timmons for Swanbon with 8:03 left in the first.
Timmons made three huge saves in net over the next 2 minutes, just before Smith was put in the box for roughing.
Elowan Orme Lynch remained assertive after tallying his first goal and took another shot, which was blocked by Assistant Captain Kaleb Kinskey, a graduate student.
With the Falcons on the power play, forward Marcus Macchioni was right up against the goal crease and slipped the puck in between Timmons’ pads, wrapping up the period 4-0.
In the first 10 seconds of the second period, Collazo skated with the puck into the offensive zone and took a shot on goal, but could not find an opening.
Timmons made a glove save on Fitchburg’s next attempt to tally their fifth goal.
Dixon came out aggressively on the ice, sending the puck flying toward the goal before it was cut off by Halbig.
Dixon didn’t let up and tried to tip the puck in for the rebound, but the shot was saved by Soderberg.
Bernier tallied two back-to-back shots on goal, but Soderberg remained a strong force in the net.
Bugarin and Duckett both tried to find the back of the net, but their attempts were blocked by defenders on the Falcons.
The Rams tallied three more shots on goal, but Soderberg stayed persistent and saved all three.
Shepherd gained control of the puck in the offensive zone and passed it off to Dixon, who then shot the puck straight to the top shelf above Soderberg’s right shoulder.
Fitchburg deepened the deficit less than a minute later, with Kramer wrapping around the back of the net to sneak the puck in behind Timmons, ending the second period 5-1.
A minute and 56 seconds into the third, senior Tyler Westfall was put in the penalty box for high sticking, giving the Falcons the upper hand for 2 minutes.
The Falcons netted the puck once again 19 seconds later on the power play.
Back on even strength, Fitchburg used their sixth goal as momentum to then score once again just 15 seconds later.
Both teams remained determined for the rest of the last period, with Timmons making seven more saves. The Rams took another eight shots on goal before the end, all saved by Soderberg.
The buzzer sounded after one last shot on goal by Fitchburg’s Alexandre Bauvais, which was blocked by Pappas.
The final score was 7-1 in favor of the Falcons.
Swanbon saved 7 shots out of 10 and Timmons saved 19 out of 23.
The Falcons tallied 33 shots on goal, outshooting the Rams by 5, who tallied 28.
Collazo said, “We need to crash the net and get more traffic. We put down good shots initially but it’s the follow-up we lack and need to capitalize on.”
He added the team knows what needs to be done, but “it’s just a matter of execution, which obviously isn’t easy.”
Shepherd said the team is working on consistently “shooting the puck and trusting ourselves when we have the opportunity.”
The Rams lost to the Worcester State Lancers 3-1 in their last home game Feb. 20. This loss brings their conference record to 1-14-2 and their overall record to 2-19-3.
Shepherd said, “This first season, as disappointing as our record turned out, was a great learning experience for myself and the team as a whole. I feel like I definitely learned how hard it is to play at this level and just how committed you must be to succeed.”
He added, “We just want to end the season on a high note and take that momentum into next season.”
The Rams travel to compete against the MCLA Trailblazers Feb. 22 for their last regular season game.
As a graduating senior, Collazo said, “I hope to leave behind a culture of good work ethic and determination to improve each day.”
He added he hopes the hard work the team puts in over the summer and during pre-season continues after he graduates because “despite our record, these things have elevated our program since my freshman year.”
He said when he graduates, he hopes his team knows he was always working hard and never took days off. “It isn’t easy day to day every time, but showing up to the rink is a privilege I never took for granted.”
Shepherd said, “The upperclassmen have shown the younger guys how to be student-athletes and manage their time. They also have helped teach me what hockey and life is like here at Framingham.”
Stats sourced from fsurams.com and MASCAC.com
CONNECT WITH IZABELA GAGE igage@student.framingham.edu
Izabela Gage / THE GATEPOST
Alex Timmons (left) goaltending during game against Fitchburg St. Feb. 17.
Izabela Gage / THE GATEPOST
Devante Dixon skating with the puck against Fitchburg St. Feb. 17.
ARTS & FEATURES
Immigration
Continued from Page 1
CBP is allowed to conduct border enforcement up to 100 miles from the border, she added. During the previous Trump administration, there were random checkpoints in both Vermont and New Hampshire, she said, which is allowed under the law.
“Technically, the Constitution does not apply at the border,” she added, even for American citizens, so travelers put into secondary inspection can have their devices and belongings legally searched.
The third agency under DHS mentioned was United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, or USCIS, who “adjudicate petitions for immigration benefits,” meaning they decide if an immigrant is eligible for a green card, citizenship, a visa, etc.
Church said USCIS is not a law enforcement agency, however, and is very different from ICE and CBP because of this. USCIS does not conduct enforcement at their offices, she added.
“A lot of people think that ICE can somehow be everywhere all the time, and that’s generally not true,” Church said.
There are several ways someone might come into contact with ICE, she said. One way is through the criminal justice system.
“If you’re undocumented or lacking legal status and … you had been arrested by the Framingham Police the night before, that next morning when you appear at Framingham District Court for what they call arraignment on the criminal charges, often ICE is there waiting for you if they believe that they have a valid basis to arrest you,” she said.
Church added ICE uses fingerprinting taken by local police to identify targets, so they are not alerted to an undocumented immigrant appearing in court as a victim or to get a restraining order, since no fingerprints are taken for those proceedings.
Another method of coming into contact with ICE is from applying for benefits with USCIS with a “final order of removal,” she said. She added there has been limited enforcement at USCIS offices, and this method has been challenged legally, since USCIS is supposed to be granting benefits.
Church added enforcement might also occur at a USCIS office if there was a serious criminal charge which would prevent access to the benefit.
This enforcement might change soon, she said, since the Laken Riley Act increases the number of crimes which can cause immigration problems. “A simple shoplifting charge … might result in mandatory detention,” she added.
Students on a visa might incur CBP investigations if they plan to marry a U.S. citizen, Church said, and their conversations might be investigated
for “immigrant intent.”
Church said students should also be aware of fraud, which might look like not attending school, attending a fake school, or working without authorization. If CBP can find any information on the person’s phone to prove an infraction, they will be subject to expedited removal from the country.
Raids and targeted enforcement are another point of contact, she said.
“If you watch a lot of social media-based news, I’m sure you’re thinking that ICE is conducting raids in Massachusetts every single day - simply not true,” she said.
Church said so far, there have been no raids - situations where ICE indiscriminately arrests a large number of people in a space - in Massachusetts, and has instead been carrying out targeted enforcement against specific individuals.
“Right now statistics show that around half of the arrests that ICE is doing are not people with criminal records, but in fact are people with arguably long-term removal orders or other statuses,” she added.
Another locale for ICE encounters is ICE appointments, she said.
Under previous administrations, there were stays of removal, she said, where long-term residents only had to not get arrested and appear for an appointment once a year. Some had been renewing their stays of removal for 10 or 20 years and were suddenly arrested upon showing up for their ICE appointment under the previous Trump administration.
Church said some of the big at-risk individuals for removal or denial of admission are unauthorized or undocumented immigrants, suspected drug or human traffickers, green card holders with a criminal charge, and anyone who failed to appear at an immigration court hearing.
She added reasons for removal include but are not limited to drug possession - marijuana use is not federally legal and could result in deportation - fraud, theft, or gang involvement, which the Trump administration is trying to equate to terrorism through an executive order.
Church then discussed what to do if immigration approaches you at your residence.
“First of all, I want to make sure you understand I’m not telling you what to do,” she said. “I feel very strongly that this is your choice about whether or not you open the door.”
Church said that if ICE comes to your door, they will present you with an administrative warrant which is not signed by a judge, issued by a court, nor backed by probable cause and as such does not allow ICE to enter private places, such as residence halls.
She added this is always applicable unless there is some kind of emergency, such as a medical episode, or exigent circumstances.
Church said staying calm is the first
and most important step to take if immigration officers come to your door.
“Legally you do not need to open the door unless the officer provides you with a warrant signed by a judge,” she said. You can also ask to see the warrant and have the officers slide it to you under the door.
Church added you can also ask the officers to identify themselves by name, badge number, and agency.
“If you choose to invoke your right to remain silent, you can inform them you choose to invoke these rights. You can either do it by saying ‘I request my right to silence and to an attorney,’ or you can slide a Know Your Rights card under the door,” she said.
Church said every situation is different, and advises anyone who encounters ICE or immigration officers to consult a qualified immigration attorney.
“Not your local contracts attorney or criminal defense attorney, but find a competent immigration attorney,” she added.
Church said a valid judicial warrant can be identified if: it is issued by a court, since ICE does not have court warrants; the warrant states “search and seizure,” since ICE only issues arrest warrants; and most importantly, it has a judge’s signature.
She added ICE warrants can be identified by: it’s issued by “Department of Homeland Security”; it says “warrant for arrest of alien,” which is a term not used by the courts; and it has the signature of an authorized immigration officer, not a judge.
Church said people may be served a subpoena - a request for documentsor a summons - an order to appear in court - and to again consult an immigration attorney on receiving either.
If served with any document, read it completely, she added.
Church said Know Your Rights cards, or red cards, are important tools especially for undocumented immigrants who cannot speak English.
She recommended buying or printing red cards at ilrc.org/red-cards and keeping multiple copies at all convenient spots - in your car, at home, in your coat, etc.
Church said if someone you know is arrested by immigration officials, compile a file of documents illustrating their community and family ties to prove they are not a flight risk.
She added there is also the chance they can be let out on bail, and clarified the person who is sent to pay bail must be an American citizen.
Church discussed the public charge rule, clarifying its effect and intention.
“It is not nearly as problematic as everybody thinks it is,” she said. “It basically says that a very narrow category of immigrants who are applying for a green card have to show that they’re not likely to use public benefits in the near future.”
Church said public charge only applies to green card applicants, and no-
body else.
Church said they also get a lot of questions about the Tuition Equity Bill and Driver’s License Bill, and people want to know what ICE will do with that data.
She said ICE does not use this data for enforcement purposes, and is not legally allowed to pursue immigrants based on data gathered from these two bills.
Church said to further research refer to miracoalition.org, the website for the Massachusetts Immigrant & Refugee Advocacy Coalition.
For specific questions related to the protocol of responding to immigration officials on FSU’s campus, Church said to refer to the University’s policy guidelines.
In a January memo addressed to faculty and staff, Chief of Staff, General Counsel, and Secretary to the Board of Trustees Ann McDonald provided information on what the University’s recommended procedure is in recognizing outside law enforcement and engaging with them.
“Generally, the only police authorities permitted on the campus without invitation are our University Police and the commonwealth’s State Police Force. Other enforcement agencies enter with the permission and knowledge of our University Police except in the case of exigent circumstances,” she wrote.
McDonald also wrote under commonwealth case law, “officers may not hold an individual ‘solely on the basis of a Federal civil immigration detainer’” according to Lunn v. Commonwealth, and police still abide by the rules of the state of Massachusetts without extending the scope of their roles.
According to the memo, if other law enforcement, immigration personnel, or immigration officers are spotted on campus, the most advisable thing to do is to call University Police in order to “report the activity and or confirm [FSUPD’s] knowledge of the presence of these individuals.”
If these personnel have warrants, subpoenas, or other legal documents, she wrote, they should be referred to the Office of General Council. Student records are still protected by FERPA laws, she continued, and any person requesting access to this information must do so through the Registrar’s Office.
McDonald also wrote the Commonwealth’s Office of the Attorney General states Framingham State’s library or walkways are “deemed public and thus provide greater access to persons external to FSU.”
Spaces such as the residence halls, faculty offices, and occupied classrooms have restricted access to outside personnel “in spite of these changes to federal immigration procedures,” she wrote.
Louder than bombs, I stream~ for ‘MOTS: 7’ fifth anniversary
By Liv Dunleavy Asst. Arts & Features Editor
It has been five years. Five. Years. There have been five rotations around the sun and I’ve turned five whole years older since the release of BTS’ seventh studio album, “Map of the Soul: 7.”
Not only was it a monumental release, a savior of lives, a causer of car crashes, and an album that changed the trajectory for BTS’ careers, personal lives, and relationship with their fans - it was an album creat ed with an intention of something bigger. An end, a beginning, and the journey between.
spent standing up just pushed back down, then standing up again. Years spent shoulder ing against hordes of those who looked down at them, spat upon their names, cursing and doubting BTS without ever giving them a chance.
ing toward a future where they were fi nally able to say, “look at us now.”
into their souls. An open door. An invitation for ARMY to sit with them at a corner booth in the magic shop and talk it out. This album wasn’t written to sell book lets and photocards, it was a message.
studying the lyrics and decipher ing the code, it seems so crystal clear what BTS was trying to convey to us. And still, even though five years have passed and the message means different things to 22-year-old Liv, I remember the feelings I felt reading these lyrics for the first time, hearing their words and not yet knowing what they truly meant.
sixth track - “Interlude: Shadow”was one of the first teasers and official music videos to be released in the promotion schedule. Performed by Min Yoongi (Suga) of BTS, it uncovers a layer of the limelight we don’t get to see.
Some may say, “It comes with the territory,” or “celebrities knew what they were signing up for when they signed those contracts” - but we don’t live the lives they live. The lyrics themselves show a haunting side of the limelight, the brighter the lights,
ing when this song comes on. Their ability to arrange the vocals in the recording so each member’s voice blends - with the exception of a chilling ad-lib or solo line. It blends so seamlessly, each member melds into one coherent voice, giving the group a unity, where they can speak as one.
The lyrics feel so personal, like looking into a window left open or hearing a conversation not meant for you to hear. A confession to their craft, a plea to keep enjoying their path, for music is what keeps them
tred is boring. They “UGH!” a sigh, an expletive, a feeling of pent up anger and disgust - at the comments sent to them for so long.
The album came equipped with 20 songs locked and loaded with an overarching message. One that maybe went over a lot of our heads. This message, this album, was sent to us originally as a goodbye - well, more like a see you later - for BTS at the time were due to fulfill their mandatory military service.
There was even a world tour
on Feb. 21, 2020, a time where BTS was finally thriving and gaining a lot of popularity, particularly in the West and in the U.S.
This album absolutely smashed every expectation, topped several global charts, and won multitudes of awards - making their already quite large footprint in the music world look more like a Bigfoot sighting.
The first few songs are compiled from a previous EP, “Map of the Soul: Persona.”
As for the rest of the tracklist, the
when he feels the lowest, and begs not to shine, not to fly, not to be let down, because now he is afraid. He is the fame he fears, and they are one.
“Interlude: Shadow” is followed by the first single released for the album, “Black Swan.” This masterpiece of musical composition feels like being drowned in elegance and tortured with uncertainty.
A part of me always feels like cry-
stresses how every day is a fresh start, and you’re gonna be happy again.
Meanwhile - “UGH!” legit opens with gunshots. I mentioned car crashes earlier and this song has a crash-count. This hype hip-hop track features the three members of the rap-line, and basically dares their doubters to continue to doubt - haters to continue to hate. It doesn’t matter to BTS now, because their ha-
how deeply they care about ARMY. This album was and always will be an iconic and life-altering album for ARMY and BTS. I think, maybe, it helped heal them too.
They say you find BTS when you need them the most. But maybe, they found us.
CONNECT WITH LIV DUNLEAVY odunleavy@student.framingham.edu
ARTS & FEATURES
Taste of Culture brings community together
By Francisco Omar Fernandez Rodriguez Arts & Features Editor
The Center for Inclusive Excellence (CIE) worked with the Black Student Union and African Student Association to host a Taste of Culture event honoring Black History Month on Feb. 18.
Jerome Burke, director of the CIE, said the dishes were inspired by Jamaican and Ghanaian cuisines.
Jamaican jerk chicken, plantains, fried dumplings, Ghanaian oxtail stew, and waakye - rice and blackeyed peas - were served, he said.
All of the food was from Sodexo, he added.
The CIE has done a series of Tastes of Culture, he said. They held events for Hispanic Heritage Month and Native American Heritage Month.
“So we wanted to keep that same spirit for Black History Month,” Burke said.
Food is a crucial part of many cultural identities, he said. It’s connected to social events and social spaces.
If there is an event where people are gathering and having fun, there’s usually food involved, he added.
Having food together is a great way for people to connect to each other and bond, Burke said. It creates spaces for these conversations.
“Food is really, really a big part of
the Black identity and the American experience,” he added.
The way that different meals are prepared are tied to different identities, Burke said. Nigerians, Jamaicans, and Asians all prepare chicken in different ways, and there’s sometimes fun debates on who does it the best.
There’s also history and lessons behind the meals, such as the style and method by which they were prepared, he said.
Jamaican jerk chicken is a common food in Jamaica, he said. It’s often available even on the streets, and it’s usually inexpensive.
“It’s supposed to be meals that, regardless of your socio-economic background, are still affordable and available,” Burke said.
Burke traced the history of some of the food to the Maroons. They were runaway slaves in Jamaica, and they could rely on cooking chicken over a fire and smoke, he added.
One of the goals of a Taste of Culture is to create a space to talk and learn about identities and cultures, he said. “Outside of you just saying something is tasty, there is so much more to it.
“Every time you go to taste a meal, challenge yourself to Google the history of that meal. And I think that will send you down a positive rabbit hole, where you’re able to learn so much
about the culture and identity,” Burke said.
Doing so can create more understanding and appreciation for others, especially the cultures and people who are usually associated with these meals, he added.
Izayah Morgan, diversity peer influencer for the CIE, helped set up and run the event.
When asked about the food, he said it was beautiful. His favorite dish served was oxtail.
“It was really beautiful how it
brought everybody together, and it tasted just as good as it looks,” Morgan said.
[ Editor’s Note: Izayah Morgan is the Opinions Editor for The Gatepost. ]
CONNECT WITH FRANCISCO OMAR FERNANDEZ RODRIGUEZ ffernandezrodriguez@ student.framingham.edu
BLACK HISTORY 2025
Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST Officer Andrew Frimpong getting food at the Taste of Culture.
By Bella Omar Asst. Arts & Features Editor
During last year’s fall/winter New York Fashion Week, “The Stitch” did a deep dive into Jazmany The Label’s (by FSU fashion merchandising student Jazmany Reyes) beautiful runway debut at the Copacabana nightclub. To everyone’s wonderment, Reyes and his label have come back for round two at NYFW’s 2025 F/W season with another inspired collection.
Totally party-girl, cheetah printed promotional posts alerted that on Feb. 8 at 345 Adams Street in Brooklyn, fashion-minded individuals could come watch Jazmany the Label’s “F.A.R. Collection” (Fallen Angel’s Recovery Collection) walk down the runway.
had a fast-approaching deadline. “I took a week to come up with all the pattern pieces and have them cut. And about another week to sew it all together,” he said.
With limited time to create all nine, “anime superhero” inspired satin looks, Reyes said, “The FSU Sewing Labs were my backbone so far in everything. It has the space, equipment, and everything I need to push myself as a creative person.”
Reyes worked with longtime collaborator, Parsons School of Design student Kyla Geyer, and his “great friend Belle,” on the collection. “She was able to help me out with a kimono piece that I felt wouldn’t have been made if she didn’t step in. We actually are collaborating on a project right now. Don’t want to speak too much on it yet, but just be prepared,” he said.
The scene was set with “golden hour (DEKKO remix)” by JVKE playing in the open-concept, concrete show space - heightening anticipation for the young designer’s audience.
from Reyes’ childhood, as he said he was “inspired by [his] family’s love for superhero and Marvel movies and [his] love for anime.”
One of the designer’s personal favorite looks was the “Snow Panther”
and styled with matching full-length gloves. Thes were a true testament to Reyes’ tailoring progress. Reyes said, “I think fit and detail were my biggest flaws as a designer since my last show, but I have evolved so much. I really pushed myself to expand my creativity and my speed. I was able to do so much more than what I was able to do last year.”
This collection proved that Jazmany the Label is more than capable of continuing to create pieces true to his philosophy all while showcasing surely heaven-sent craftsmanshipReyes is one to watch. Jazmany The Label is
For the second year in a row, Reyes
‘In the Mood for Love’
By Owen Glancy Arts & Features Editor
Cinema coming out of Hong Kong is some of the most misunderstood, generalized cinema in the medium’s entire history. Ask anyone on the street what they think of when they think of films from Hong Kong and they immediately say “martial arts.”
While this isn’t entirely untrue, it’s a gross misunderstanding and generalization of an entire culture’s rich cinematic history. Admittedly, I was not helpful in stopping this from happening as about a year ago, I published an article discussing the film “Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky,” a classic martial arts action film from Hong Kong.
By ignoring the wealth of incredible non-action films, we are contributing to the stigma that Hong Kong only makes martial arts films. Just by watching any film by director Wong Kar-Wai, it becomes apparent just how varied the cinema of Hong Kong can be.
Of all of Kar-Wai’s phenomenal romantic dramas, “In the Mood for Love” stands out as the greatest. It
The show began and several billowing satin trousers and sexy sheer mock-necks in dreamy pastels absolutely drove home that fallen angel look. The collection also took notes
may be bold to say this, but this is the most romantic film ever made.
The intimate blocking of every scene, the tight frame of the camera that seems to get close enough but never too close, and the gorgeous lighting that makes the shades of red the film lives in really pop all contrib ute to a tense romantic atmosphere.
This sto ry of two neighbors who believe their significant others are cheating on them, and as such, form an emotional connection, is incredibly realistic, yet has all of the trappings of a whirl wind romance.
bodysuit. “It was just divine on the model. She gave everything it needed to give! Ms. Mona Lisa,” he said.
Then, some of the world’s chicest superheroes landed in Brooklyn, suited up in beautifully boned corsets
The rubbing of shoulders in the hallway, the sharing of pots or pans, and the conversations they share with their faces mere inches away as they are crammed into this small space make nearly every scene not just romantic but oddly sexy.
The intimate setting only makes the tension at the film’s center more palpable as the two are neighbors in an incredibly small apartment separated only by one wall and door. Even though there is not a single kiss in this entire movie, this small space makes every little action seem that much more meaningful.
Like previously mentioned, there is no kissing scene. There’s no sex, and there’s barely any hugging or physical contact between the leads at all, yet it feels so romantic.
And while the cinematography and setting do a lot of heavy lifting in getting this across, the two lead actors bring everything together.
Tony Leung and Maggie Cheung absolutely kill it, and they carry the entire film on their backs. Their characters are the only ones with any real development or focus, so if their performances were lacking in any aspect, the film would not have worked. But they never lacked, and the film is phenomenal.
Leung perfectly encapsulates
The keystone look of the night was a modern, beautifully cartoonish take on bridal - the “Aphrodite” gown in eggshell. It featured another one of Reyes’ custom corsets and not one, but two tiers of hand-gathered tulle draped from both the neckline and the waist. The sheer and dynamic layers playfully revealed a heart decal across the bodice as Filipino-American model Erla Raene (@erla. raene on Instagram) walked down the runway.
Chow Mo Wan’s desire for a life he doesn’t have, to chase dreams he thought he left behind him. Mo Wan feels enabled and empowered by his new, slightly promiscuous, relationship with Su Li Zhen (Cheung). Similarly to Mo Wan, Li Zhen has lived a life of disillusionment. Her husband is relatively wealthy, but they still live in a cramped apartment in Hong Kong. This marriage is fresh, yet her husband is never home, always off on business trips to Japan. She is disillusioned, but not with her career but rather her romance. She feels as if Mo Wan could be the person who could finally give her that love she had been missing from her life.
“In the Mood for Love” is not like most other romance films. There’s not kissing underneath the stars. There’s no romantic rival competing with the main character. There’s no grand promises of marriage or love. There’s only two people who both want to love, but have been hurt by the thorns that come along with it.
Love is not easy, and it never will be, and this film is the perfect encapsulation of what romance is like in the real world. When wrapped in such a beautiful package, and delivered by such genuine performers, you too will be “In the Mood for Love.”
You can find “In the Mood for Love” streaming on Max or The Criterion Channel.
Courtesy of Jazmany Reyes
Marcus Falcão / THE GATEPOST
Rosé is our number one girl
By Anthony Pintado Staff Writer
On Oct. 1, 2024 Rosé announced to the world she would be releasing her first studio album “rosie.” This would be her first full body of work as a solo artist having only previously released two singles back in 2021.
Deeming “rosie” as her own little journal, it was hinted that fans would gain a new perspective of hernot just as an artist but as a view into her personal life. The album encapsulates that sense of self and identity that’s needed to tell this story, using heartache, love, and general pop references along the way.
We started the journey on Oct. 18, 2024 with the release of “APT.,” a high-energy pop song incorporating both K-pop and Western pop conventions. The single featured acclaimed singer and songwriter Bruno Mars bringing in fans of both artists.
pectations high for “rosie,” which was expected to be a high energy album.
Then we got the announcement for “number one girl” set to release Nov. 22, 2024.
The second single, “number one girl,” switched the pace of the album
This vulnerability set the tone for the rest of the album, released Dec. 6, 2024. We saw Rosé explore the subject of fame, love, and heartbreak through 12 emotionally resonant tracks. The story created by “rosie” felt very universally relatable while being extremely personal to Rosé herself.
Tracks like “two years” and “stay a little longer” showcase her growth as an artist, highlighting her vocal ability keeping it as the focal point, but having greater resonance. Compared to her first two singles as a solo artist, tracks on “rosie” feel real, as if they were etched with real life experience. They are more intimate and introspective.
day pop.
Rosé’s artistry was able to shine bright in her ability to be vulnerable with her personal life while also being able to resonate universally with listeners.
Being in an era where pop stars tread between being vulnerable and exposing too much, Rosé is able to reveal just enough to connect with her audience without having to sacrifice her sense of self.
The single quickly rose to fame becoming the fastest K-pop song to reach 1 billion streams on Spotify, beating the past record held by Jungkook’s “Seven.” This, alongside many other accomplishments, set the ex-
drastically. The piano-driven ballad explored a much more vulnerable side of Rosé exploring themes of insecurity, desire for validation, and heartbreak. It plays on both the reassurance needed in relationships and the reassurance needed in her career either from fans or the music industry.
At its very core, “rosie” is a breakup album, exploring the marks past relationships have left on Rosé’s life. While this can be seen as bland and overdone, the story is truly compelling as it does not follow the simple narrative of victimhood - it refuses to do so.
On the track “toxic till the end,” Rosé admits to being complicit in a toxic and destructive cycle. It is a refreshing take to see the self awareness and ability to air out her own flawsa take not commonly seen in current
“rosie” is the perfect album, and that’s because it’s imperfect. The album is human - it allows fans to not see Rosé as a flawless idol but as a woman. A woman navigating love, heartbreak, and stardom. She has implemented herself as a strong solo artist, not one-fourth of BLACKPINK. Rosé is a storyteller and artist in her own way, baring her voice and soul to be heard by the world.
Emily Monaco / THE GATEPOST
CeleBRatiNg BlaCk HisToRY moNtH
Spread by Associate Editor Maddison Behringer
Maddison Behringer / THE GATEPOST Patron getting food during the “Black History Month Dinner Celebration” Feb. 20.
Eliana Buono / THE GATEPOST
A student looking at the desserts during the “Black History Month Dinner Celebration” Feb. 20.
Maddison Behringer / THE GATEPOST Decorations in the McCarthy Dining Commons during “Black History Month Dinner Celebration” Feb. 20.
Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST
Students getting food at the “Taste of Culture & Hip Hop Dance Class” Feb 19.
Eliana Buono / THE GATEPOST Students at the “Black History Month Dinner Celebration” in the McCarthy Dining Commons Feb. 20.