THE GATEPOST Framingham State’s award-winning independent student newspaper since 1932
Volume 88 • Issue 14
FSUgatepost.com
February 7, 2020
Board of Trustees discuss mental health, Counseling Center staffing concerns By Evan Lee News Editor
By Leighah Beausoleil Asst. News Editor
Donald Halsing / THE GATEPOST
Students enjoyed a “Friends” TV-series themed bingo night hosted by SUAB in the Dwight Performing Arts Center Feb. 5.
News
EQUIPMENT DRIVE pg. 4
Opinions FRUIT BAR pg. 6 SEX ED pg. 7
Arts & Features FENTY BEAUTY pg. 10 “MARRIAGE STORY” pg. 11
Sports
Ashley Wall / THE GATEPOST WOMEN’S BASKETBALL pg. 12 UFC TAKEOVER pg. 13
See BOARD OF TRUSTEES page 5
Health center closely monitoring influenza on campus and global coronavirus outbreak By Abigail Saggio Staff Writer
GATEPOST INTERVIEW pg. 2
Student Trustee Olivia Beverlie asked if progress has been made to help the overworked staff at the Counseling Center during the Board of Trustees meeting Jan. 29. “I know we had touched on this last year, the Counseling Center, that whole issue of it being very overworked right now,” she said. “Has there been any progress made in that area in terms of the stress that is being put on them?” Trustee Hope Lozano Bielat pointed out a drastic increase in “crisis visits” compared to 2016. Lorretta Holloway, vice president for enrollment and student development, responded, “I think it is as concerning as it sounds.” She pointed out a mental health crisis on college campuses - “not just here but around the country” - that has affected both those who have
The FSU Health Center is taking precautions to prevent the spread of influenza. Health Center Director Ilene Hofrenning said there were “around 20 students” who visited the health center with flu-like symptoms during the fall semester. During the spring semester, she said there have only been “a couple” of visitors who had symptoms of the flu with negative test results. Framingham State has participat-
ed in the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) statewide influenza surveillance system for about 10 years, according to Hofrenning. The surveillance system collects flu data from participating health centers, hospitals, and urgent care centers in Massachusetts in an effort to stop the spread of the virus. Hofrenning said, “Every week, we send in the number of visits that we see, and the number of influenza-like illnesses.” She added the health center sends specimens from flu tests conducted on campus which the DPH tests to
determine which type of flu is potentially on campus and the severity of the strain. In Massachusetts, the flu severity level from Sept. 29 to Jan. 18 was “high,” and included 15,000-20,000 emergency room visits for flu-like symptoms, according to the DPH. Around 2,000-3,000 of these patients were hospitalized. Hofrenning said FSU takes serious measures in an effort to prevent a pandemic on campus by monitoring sick students as closely as possible. “It’s hard to predict the flu,” she
See FLU page 3
The 1,000-Point Club Velozo and O’Day Shoot for the MASCAC Title By Liam Gambon Sports Editor Seniors Emily Velozo and Mary Kate O’Day have played side-by-side together for four years on the Framingham State basketball court. The two have put up consistently stellar statistics throughout their collegiate careers, which shows how much of an impact they have had. Velozo currently sits at a 12 points per game average for her career, while O’Day owns 15 a game. But neither has statistically en-
joyed a better season than the current one. Velozo went from a 14.8 points per game average last season, to a 19.3 average this year. She also spiked her field goal percentage from 45% to 50.4% and her 3-point percentage from 40% to 47.9%. O’Day is currently averaging 17.8 points per game for the second year in a row, but more efficiently this time around. She has risen her field goal percentage from 40.5% to 44.1% and her 3-point percentage took a huge leap, jumping from 29.5% to
39.8%. Their constant improvement yearto-year shows how great the two are as they have yet to slow down. “Coaching these two young ladies has been a pleasure. And we aren’t done yet coaching them,” Head Coach Walter Paschal said. “They have worked so hard over the years to get to where they are now and deserve all the accolades that comes from working so hard. I mean, all spring, all summer, when no one is
See THE 1,000 POINT CLUB page 13
INSIDE: OP/ED 6 • ARTS & FEATURES 9 • SPORTS 12
NEWS
2 | FEBRUARY 7, 2020
Editorial Board
Gatepost Interview
Interim Editor-in-Chief Ashley Wall
Joycelyn Faraj
Associate Editor Cara McCarthy News Editors Donald Halsing Evan Lee Asst. News Editor Leighah Beausoleil Arts & Features Editors Brennan Atkins Robert Johnson Jr. Asst. Arts & Features Editor Jared Graf Entertainment Correspondent Noah Barnes Fashion Correspondent Caeley Whalen Opinions Editor Thomas Maye Interim Columnist McKenzie Ward Sports Editors Liam Gambon Sara Senesac Asst. Sports Editor Carlos Silva Design Editor Kathleen Moore Asst. Photos Editor Caroline Gordon Copy Editor Lauren Paolini Staff Writers Mackenzie Berube Patrick Brady Kaitlin Burch Soren Colstrup Kaitlyn Cullen Rylee Holmes Dia Kilgore Mitchell Leonard Abigail Petrucci Alain Puma Abigail Saggio Lizzy Stocks Staff Copy Editor Jordan Bacci Staff Photographer Amanda Garny Advisor Dr. Desmond McCarthy Asst. Advisor Elizabeth Banks Administrative Assistant Gwenyth Swain 100 State Street McCarthy Center Room 410 Framingham, MA 01701-9101 Phone: (508) 626-4605 Fax: (508) 626-4097 gatepost@framingham.edu
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Assistant professor of food and nutrition By Caroline Gordon Editorial Staff What is your educational and professional background? I went to UMass Amherst, where I got a bachelor’s in microbiology and a bachelor’s in human nutrition. I chose microbiology because I am fascinated by how the body’s immune system works. I then did my master’s in nutritional science and I did the dietetics requirements. Then, I became a dietician. I also got my Ph.D. in public health, focusing on nutrition and mental health among women. My specialty is technically called “nutritional psychiatry” - the intersection between food and mental health. After my Ph.D., I was hired to create and manage a clinical nutrition program at a substance use center called Mountainside Treatment Center in Canaan, Connecticut. I was there for a couple of years and many of the patients that I would see were individuals recovering from chemical substances. After that, I was able to jump into academia, which I think is my true calling. How did you come to FSU? This is the only place I applied to. For academia, many jobs that are research focused will require that in addition to someone having their Ph.D., to also have a lot of post-doctoral research experience. I, on the other hand, went from Ph.D. to clinical hands-on experience. This was a good match for that because FSU offers a dietetics program and that really does require someone who has the experience out in the real world to be able to come here and teach dietetics from that point of view. What is your job like? I love the interaction with the students. I love being able to see when things click. This is my second semester here, so I am a newbie when it comes to teaching. Last semester was a lot of trial and error. Everything that I did, whether it worked or not, I was able to improve upon for this semester. My job here is a lot of preparing the courses and making sure I include as many different activities, so that things make sense to students so they go from the working memory to the long-term memory. I
Caroline Gordon / THE GATEPOST want students to be able to apply what they learned to real life. What are your proudest career accomplishments? I am really proud of an award I won at The American Society for Nutrition for “Best research poster for nutrition and epidemiology.” That was when I was looking at inflammation, vitamin B6, and depression among women. What are some of your hobbies? When I used to have more time, I would enjoy making jewelry, painting and crochet. I am a huge fan of soccer and volleyball. I used to play in different clubs. Nowadays, I don’t have much time, but when I do, I play with my toddler. When she goes to bed, I do something more easygoing like making crochet. If I could, I would love to go back to playing volleyball. I do Zumba on the weekends. What made you interested in studying nutrition? I love to cook, but I also love medi-
cine. This is the perfect intersection between food and medicine. I grew up in Honduras. Had I stayed there, I would have gone to medical school. I was keen that I wanted to come to the United States to study nutrition. What advice do you have for FSU students? Life is not all just work. I know that the semesters can be stressful, but it’s during those stressful times when it’s important to make time for you, time to de-stress and do activities you enjoy. Do not underestimate sleep and nutrition. Also, if you are not sleeping, you are not creating the memories of the things that you learned.
CONNECT WITH CAROLINE GORDON cgordon4@student.framingham.edu
Police Logs Monday, Feb. 3 02:24 Suspicious Motor Vehicle Towers Hall Advised
Monday, Feb. 3 19:13 Follow-Up Investigation FSU Police Dept. Assignment Complete
Wednesday, Feb. 5 10:45 Alarm (Fire/Smoke) Whittemore Library Clear
Wednesday, Feb. 5 20:06 Medical Hemenway Hall Transported to Hospital
Monday, Feb. 3 08:40 Parking Complaint Adams Rd. Parking Lot Assignment Complete
Tuesday, Feb. 4 05:49 Safety Escort Union Ave. Parking Lot Service Rendered
Wednesday, Feb. 5 16:05 Carbon Monoxide Alarm North University Ave. False Alarm
Wednesday, Feb. 5 20:54 Found Property May Hall Report Taken
NEWS
Flu
FEBRUARY 7, 2020 | 3
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added. “You never know what type it is going to be, how severe it is going to be, or what trajectory it’s going to take.” She added students who are sick with the flu are encouraged to go home. Students who are unable to return home are encouraged to stay in their dorm rooms. Those who live in buildings without private bathrooms must wear masks when using the public bathrooms to prevent spreading the virus. The University will also arrange for the Dining Commons to deliver food to rooms. In the 15 years Hofrenning has been at FSU, the worst strain of flu she has seen was the H1N1 (swine flu) outbreak in fall 2009. Hofrenning said the virus tends to “really hit younger people,” targeting the primary population at FSU. She added the Health Center saw around 100-150 cases of the flu during the H1N1 outbreak.
Weekly Influenza Surveillance Report. 2019-20 Influenza Season Week 4 ending Jan 25, 2020.
Coronavirus Outbreak Hofrenning said the University is also staying vigilant in response to the recent global Coronavirus outbreak. The 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) was first identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, and rapidly spread across the globe. According to the CDC, there are 28 countries with confirmed cases of 2019-nCoV as of Feb. 6. As The Gatepost was going to press, there have been 28,275 cases and 565 deaths globally, according to CNN. There have been 11 confirmed cases of 2019-nCoV in the United States. States with confirmed cases include Arizona, California, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Washington. The first and only confirmed case of 2019-nCoV in Massachusetts was a UMass Boston student who recently traveled to the Wuhan region, according to DPH. There are several strains of coronaviruses that cause mild symptoms, but severe historic outbreaks include the SARS outbreak of 2003 as well as the MERS outbreak of 2012, said Hofrenning. She said FSU is in close contact with the DPH and is following recommendations from the CDC and the American College Health Association (ACHA). “There is a lot we don’t know about it. We just have to monitor, keep track, and be vigilant,” Hofrenning said.
Weather
Sunday night Feb. 9 40% chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, low near 30. S winds around 5 mph. Monday Feb. 10 50% chance of rain. Cloudy, high near 45. SW winds around 10 mph.
FSU Students Abroad Virginia Noon, a fashion design and retailing professor, led a group of five travelers to study Chinese culture and fashion business in China from Jan. 2-16. Noon said the group visited cultural sites in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. The group did not travel to Wuhan or the Hubei province. There was “no common knowledge or evidence of the emerging virus” during the study tour, Noon added. “In China, people commonly wear a face mask to protect from industrial pollution. It was interesting to note that I only saw a few people wearing masks during our travel, which for me, was a sign that the general air quality was improving,” Noon said. She added the virus was not mentioned in the news until the group arrived back to the U.S. Health Center Director Hofrenning said FSU contacted all students who participated in the study tour, as well as any Chinese students who may have traveled back home during winter break. Hofrenning said all the individuals who traveled to China did not experience any flu-like symptoms upon their return. The incubation period for 2019nCoV is 14 days, she said. “If they haven’t developed symptoms now, the chance of them developing symptoms is very, very low,” Hofrenning said. Senior Tayah DuBois went on the trip and planned to stay in China for
Monday night Feb. 10 30% chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, low near 30. W winds around 5 mph. Tuesday Feb. 11 40% chance of precipitation. Mostly cloudy, low near 40. Light NE wind.
the duration of the spring semester. DuBois said she had one internship in Guangzhou and another one in Hong Kong. “I ended up not being able to do either,” she said. “It was kind of my decision.” DuBois said she went to Vietnam with her friend for the Chinese New Year for a few days before the outbreak was made public by the press. “I was travelling with a Chinese friend who was closely watching the news progress and basically, he was like, ‘I know you’re meant to go back to China, but I don’t really think you should,’” DuBois said. She added that when the news of the outbreak began to spread across the world, her parents called her. “A couple of days went by and it was just getting worse and worse. My folks got really anxious, and I decided to book a flight back home,” DuBois said. “It’s so much better to be safe than sorry.” Health Center Response FSU encourages anyone with flu symptoms to make an appointment at the Health Center to get evaluated for influenza and strep throat. Hofrenning said flu-like symptoms include a fever, sore throat, and cough. Individuals with chronic diseases such as asthma and diabetes, as well as those who take medication that may compromise the immune system are more likely to suffer complications from the flu, such as pneumonia. Junior Roberto Carvalhaes said he
Courtesy of CDC.gov
is not worried about contracting the flu. “I take good care of myself. For people who get easily sick, they should make sure their immunizations are up to date because it will not only take care of themselves, but it would take care of others around them,” he said. Carvalhaes said he also isn’t too concerned about the threat of Coronavirus on campus. “I believe the students here are responsible enough and mature enough to make sure that if that issue was to happen, it would quickly be contained and taken care of,” he added. Junior Caroline Lanni disagreed and said she is concerned about a pandemic coming to FSU. “Of course I’m scared. The flu is everywhere - anyone can get it,” she said. Hofrenning said the strategies for preventing Coronavirus are the same as for the flu: avoid contact with people with flu-like symptoms, avoid touching face/mouth area, cough into sleeve, thoroughly wash hands with soap and water, and use hand sanitizer. The Health Center encourages the entire FSU community to get the flu vaccine as early as possible. The closest vaccination location to FSU is CVS Pharmacy at 1280 Worcester Rd and is open 24 hours. Health insurance generally covers the entire cost of the vaccine. CONNECT WITH ABIGAIL SAGGIO asaggio@student.framingham.edu
Forecast provided by the National Weather Service www.weather.gov Tuesday night Feb. 11 Wednesday night Feb. 12 40% chance of precip30% chance of snow. itation. Mostly cloudy, Mostly cloudy, low near low near 30. W winds 30. W winds around 5 around 5 mph. mph. Wednesday Feb. 12 Mostly sunny, high near 40. W winds around 5 mph.
Thursday Feb. 13 30% chance of precipitation. Mostly cloudy, high near 40. W winds around 5 mph.
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4 | FEBRUARY 7, 2020
NEWS
FSU athletes gather used equipment for donation to local YMCA By Soren Colstrup Staff Writer Student athletes at FSU hosted an equipment drive in the Athletic Center to help children and teens in need of athletic equipment Dec. 7. The goal of the event was to give young athletes the opportunity to try sports they might not be able to participate in. Seniors Greg Harney, Zak Duval, Kirsten Dick, Kyla Johnson, and Jack O’Donovan organized the event as part of a project for their Sports Marketing class with professor Michael Harrison. The group of students was able to generate interest for the event in a very short period of time. They were able to collect over 250 individual articles of new or lightly used equipment during the two-hour event. The group partnered with MetroWest YMCA, which received the donated equipment Dec. 17. Harney, a member of the men’s hockey team, said, “I was really pleased with the turnout. I think as an athlete, I am very thankful for the amount of support I had from my family. “Unfortunately, a lot of young athletes don’t have the same level of support. Being able to organize this
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to provide for others is very gratifying,” he said. Harney added, “One thing that helped us generate so much interest is the large number of student athletes on campus. It makes getting the
which was exciting for us. We posted flyers around campus and talked to the women’s basketball team to help get the word around campus. “We were able to raise over 250 items like hockey sticks, baseball
“The generosity from the community was amazing for us. We dropped the equipment off yesterday at the local YMCA and they were so excited to be getting all the equipment for their future athletes.” -Kristen Dick, FSU senior and softball player word out much easier. I think most athletes naturally have the instinct to help each other out.” Dick, a member of the softball team said, “The turnout was a lot more than we expected it to be,
gloves/bats, brand new basketballs and footballs which was awesome,” she said. She added, “The generosity from the community was amazing for us. We dropped the equipment off yes-
terday at the local YMCA and they were so excited to be getting all the equipment for their future athletes.” “The plan as of right now is that the YMCA will send us an email soon once the kids begin using everything that was donated,” she said. Duval, a member of the baseball team said, “We wanted to invite as many students and faculty as we could to donate their new and gently used equipment to a greater cause. “The kids and teens at MetroWest will be able to use the equipment which will hopefully encourage young athletes to try new sports that they are either unfamiliar with or don’t have the opportunity to try on their own,” he said. Junior Brandon Hamner donated equipment and was happy to see students hosting the drive. He said, “I did a lot of youth events at a local YMCA when I was a kid so it’s nice to be able to give back anyway that I can so others have the same privileges that I did.” [Editor’s note: Soren Colstrup is a member of the Varsity Ice Hockey team.] CONNECT WITH SOREN COLSTRUP scolstrup@student.framingham.edu
Board of Trustees
NEWS
FEBRUARY 7, 2020 | 5
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crises as well as their families and friends. Holloway said a new contractor will be hired for the Counseling Center, but said this will not completely resolve the issue. Responding to concerns about the recent Coronavirus outbreak, Holloway said Ilene Hoffrenning, director of health services, reached out to the International Education Office for a list of students who studied abroad so that they could be provided with the information they need. A group of FSU students and faculty that studied abroad in China over the winter break session had to wait a 14-day-incubation period, she said. None of them showed any signs of symptoms after the two weeks and all safely returned, she added. Trustee Brian Herr introduced the potential for a “shift” in the University’s financial aid model to encourage greater student retention and offset statewide enrollment declines. The current financial aid model is based on need, according to Holloway. She said suggestions have been made to consider GPA and SAT scores in the model as well. Holloway brought up data showing
Caroline Gordon / THE GATEPOST Connie Cabello, vice president of diversity, inclusion, and community engagement, presented her report at the meeting. By changing the current financial aid model, “we’re predicting that we may be able to get at least 40-45 more students,” she said. During her Student Trustee report, Beverlie discussed bookstore con-
“We looked at all the models to see what was feasible, particularly financially for us, and we decided to pick the model that we thought we could fund without having to take away money from current students,” -Lorretta Holloway, vice president for enrollment and student development that students with high needs and lower GPAs, as well those with higher GPAs, are sufficiently funded by financial aid services. However, students with mid-range GPAs are not as well funded. Several financial aid models were considered with this data in mind, Holloway said. “We looked at all the models to see what was feasible, particularly financially for us, and we decided to pick the model that we thought we could fund without having to take away money from current students,” she said. The chosen model provides extra funding for mid-range GPA students with need, she added. Holloway also highlighted findings from the enrollment data team suggesting that for every $1,000 a student receives in financial aid, their chance of staying at FSU increases by 10%.
cerns brought up at SGA during its Jan. 28 meeting. “A lot of students have had very negative experiences this semester, whether it was purchasing books or interacting with employees,” she said. Beverlie described one student’s experience. “She went to the bookstore, she brought the slip she needed, and the bookstore gave her the wrong book,” she said. “When she went back to try to return it, they wouldn’t let her switch out the book unless she had a receipt even though it was their mistake,” Beverlie added. Dale Hamel, executive vice president, said this was the first time he has heard of these problems with the bookstore and that he will look into them. Beverlie also announced that SGA’s Administrators Forum will be held March 10 and a “Police Dia-
logue” will be held March 31. Trustee Michael Grilli, chair of the Board’s finance committee, presented a land swap deal between the University and the Town of Ashland concerning the Warren Conference Center. In return for “a little strip of land that the town wants,” this deal will pave another access road to the center and repaint its historic barn, he said. “It’s not a big deal, there’s no real money to anticipate with the swap. But it will require that you all raise your hands and approve the action,” Grilli said. The Trustees voted in favor. Eric Gustafson, vice president of development and alumni relations, discussed the University’s fundraising efforts. He said the University has raised $832,000 for Fiscal Year 2020 as of Jan. 10. Gustafson highlighted several scholarships, including a $25,000 pledge to set up a new endowed scholarship for first-year students, a $20,000 gift to provide scholarships for student veterans, and a $10,000
ham. He passed away in 2018 from cancer. The Chris Walsh Center will “provide information for families and educators about the continuum of educational support available to students with disabilities, students who are gifted, and students with unmet needs,” according to the FSU website. Student-in-the-Spotlight Diana Katsikaris was introduced by Mary Grassetti, education department chair. Katsikaris, a psychology major with a coordinate major in secondary education, said she transferred to FSU in fall 2017 as a second-semester sophomore. She highlighted her role as president of Framingham State’s chapter of the International Literacy Association, her “remarkable” education field study, and her experience running the 2018 Boston Marathon with her FSU professors in the crowd cheering her on. “Framingham State has shaped me into the scholar and educator that I am today,” Katsikaris said. “And I will always be appreciative of the time and dedication that the faculty and
“Framingham State has shaped me into the scholar and educator that I am today.” -Diana Katsikaris, FSU Student-inthe-Spotlight gift for English major scholarships. President F. Javier Cevallos updated the Trustees about the new Chris Walsh Center for Educators and Families of the MetroWest, which opens Feb. 13. The late Chris Walsh was a Massachusetts state representative for the 6th district, which includes Framing-
staff and administration offered me over the last few years.”
CONNECT WITH EVAN LEE elee5@student.framingham.edu CONNECT WITH LEIGHAH BEAUSOLEIL lbeausoleil@student.framingham.edu
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OP/ED
OP/ED
THE GATEPOST EDITORIAL
Let’s talk about food insecurity A report published by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) last January detailed widespread rates of hunger and food insecurity on college campuses. Food insecurity has been an underreported issue among college students - the GAO report was the first of its kind to survey colleges across the nation. Considering how many people this issue impacts, though, it’s time to raise awareness about the unspoken crisis at hand. Defined as an inability to afford and access nutritional food, food insecurity though different in appearance than most people’s conception of hunger - can significantly impair students’ physical, mental, and emotional health. The rising costs of attending university have forced many students to sacrifice nutritious meals, and instead use their money to pay for tuition, books, and housing. The GAO report highlights current systematic limitations that exacerbate food insecurity, primarily regarding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and those eligible. It also showed that almost two million students could potentially receive SNAP benefits, but did not due to eligibility restrictions, or not knowing they were eligible in the first place. This is especially true among first-generation students and low-income families. SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, provides low-income families with financial assistance to purchase food essential for their households. Universities throughout the country are taking steps to combat this issue, including Framingham State, but a large number of people aren’t aware of services that can help. Students don’t have to suffer in silence. One of these programs to help address food insecurity at FSU is the Emergency Meal Bank. For those with meal plans, one swipe per week can be donated through the Dining Services website, allowing for those in need to get nutritious meals discreetly. Students in the Framingham State community may request up to five meals from the Emergency Meal Bank per semester by filling out a form through Dining Services on the FSU website. Additionally, if five meal swipes are not enough to address a student’s food insecurity, the Dean of Students Office can meet with people in need to grant additional swipes or offer further assistance. Beyond Framingham, college campuses throughout the country have adopted programs similar to the Emergency Meal Bank. The Rams Resource Center (RRC), our on-campus food bank, provides toiletries and non-perishable food items to FSU students, staff, and faculty. Discreetly located on the first floor of West Hall, the RRC is volunteer-based and nobody who works in the RRC is not allowed to ask questions or discuss the people coming in and out. All you need to take advantage of this is an FSU ID. It is that easy. No one will ask questions about your financial situation or judge you for needing extra help while you are struggling. Furthermore, the Dean of Students Office can offer referrals to those who may need more assistance than the University can provide. They can refer students to additional food pantries in the surrounding area as well as organizations that can help community members in uncertain housing situations. While a movement is underway to promote college food pantries and reduce student hunger across the country, there are still individuals who are struggling. As a university, and as a community, it is vital we acknowledge no two students are in the same situation. Sometimes the best step we can take is to give back to the people who need our help the most - and maybe when they are back on their feet, they will pay it forward. Together, we can create a community full of hope thanks to the generosity of those around us and set an example for communities such as ours.
Have Letter to the Editor? Have a question for Gatepost Guidance? Feel free to email it to: gatepost@framingham.edu Letters should be approximately 500 words. We look forward to hearing from you! @TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com
Dear FSU: Be a peach and add a fruit bar, please By Mackenzie Berube Staff Writer Many of us have been told for as long as we can remember to “eat your fruits and vegetables!” Fruits are nature’s dessert, while for many, vegetables are an acquired taste learned with age. Fruits and vegetables are a major part of maintaining a healthy diet. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), fruit can “help increase intake of fiber and potassium which are important nutrients that many Americans do not get enough of in their diet.” When it comes to the FSU dining halls, there is typically an abundance of vegetables throughout the day and into the evening. Whether it be the salad bar, vegan station, main line, or even Ucook, there are several ways to get your daily intake of veggies. However, the only time a variety of fruits in the dining hall is available is until 10:30 a.m. The fruit bar typically includes grapefruit, pineapple, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, several types of melon, and strawberries. You can even make a smoothie if you desire! Once 10:30 a.m. comes around, all mainline breakfast items - including the fruit - are taken away. The only fruit left for the rest of the day are apples and bananas, typically near the dessert area. On occasion, fruit will be added to the salad bar for lunch and dinner, but not always. If you aren’t a fan of apples or bananas, and you couldn’t make it to breakfast, you’ve essentially lost out on having any intake of fruit for the day. In fact, many students miss breakfast if they have an early class that goes right up until the time it is taken away. Vegetables are extremely important, and considering the amount available throughout the day, it is clear the dining team understands this. It would be nice, however, to have a fruit bar, similar to the salad bar, available all day and into the night. Many fruits are “naturally low in fat, sodium, and calories and have no cholesterol,” according to the USDA. Not only that, but “fiber from fruits, as part of an overall healthy diet, helps reduce blood cholesterol levels and may lower risk of heart disease.” Jamie Lee Curtis wouldn’t spend years as the spokesperson for fiber if it wasn’t important! Westfield State University - similar in population size to FSU - has a variety of fruit available all day and night, proving it a possibility. A new fruit budget may be costly, but the amount consumed by our students would be worth it. Sodexo should create a fruit station near the dessert area, or in the prepared salad section. Adding fruit all day would encourage students to grab a bowl of berries and yogurt, rather than ice cream, when craving something sweet. Students are already thrilled when fruit is added to the salad bar - imagine how excited they’d be if they could have a wider variety all day! Adding fruit permanently will improve the overall health of students, faculty, and staff who use the dining hall.
OP/ED
FEBRUARY 7, 2020 | 7
The importance of the birds and the bees By McKenzie Ward Interim Columnist In 2016, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services ranked Massachusetts as the state with the lowest birth rates among teenage girls ages 15 to 19. But just because teenage pregnancies may be falling, that doesn’t mean sex education is up to the highest quality it could be. As of 2020, 27 states mandate both sex education and HIV education. However, out of 50 states, only 17 require sex education to be medically accurate. Medically accurate sex education is defined as scientifically-based and published in peer-reviewed journals and textbooks. Dr. Linda Lindberg and colleagues analyzed data from a national survey conducted by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in their National Survey for Family Growth and found only 60% of girls ages 15 to 19 reported receiving a formal education on birth control methods. This is a 10% decrease between the 2006-2010 survey when compared to the 2011-2013 survey. In the 2011-2013 survey of male teens, only 55% of individuals reported receiving a formal education on birth control methods, a 6% decrease from the 2006-2010 survey. There is a large misconception concerning sexual education that teaching students to “just say no” is the best decision because if schools educate students about sex education, it will en-
courage them to participate in sexual activity. However, this three-word campaign slogan pushed by Nancy Reagan in the 1980s does not help the students who do say yes. By providing a sex education that includes information on teen pregnancy, different methods of birth control and the importance of STD testing, along with the idea of consent, teens will learn about sex in a much more realistic way than just avoiding it altogether. By teaching students abstinence-only sex education, it reinforces taboos of sex and fails to provide students who are sexually active proper and safe education. According to Columbia University, the United States government has spent $2 billion on domestic abstinence-only programs from 1982 to 2017. Instead of spending this money on abstinence-only programs, that have been proven to only delay sexual initiation, not decrease teen pregnancy and prevent STDs, this money could be better spent on providing comprehensive sex education nationwide. Just last month, the Massachusetts Senate voted to require schools who offer sex education to provide medically accurate information, discuss consent, and include LGBTQ+-inclusive material, while allowing parents to opt their children out of the class. The bill will go back to the House, where it has died
twice so far. It shouldn’t matter if sex education makes you uncomfortable. Shielding teens from reality isn’t protecting them - it’s encouraging misinformation, and potentially serious mistakes. If we don’t teach our kids, they’re
still going to seek the information out - but often from inaccurate or misleading sources. Teens have a right to make their own decisions and control of their own bodies.
FAFSA DAY @ FSU Need help filing the 2020-2021 FAFSA?
Did you know FSU has a priority deadline of March 1st? Don’t miss out on any Financial Aid - come to FAFSA DAY! Where: Student Lounge, McCarthy Center 308 When: February 11th & 13th 11AM - 2PM And February 24th & 26th 11AM - 2PM & 4PM - 6PM What to Bring: 2018 Tax Documents, FSA ID and your Laptop. No Appointment Necessary
FSU’s Financial Aid Staff will be available to help you with the process. Sponsored by FSU Financial Aid Office Financial Aid: (508)626-4534 – financialaid@framingham.edu
FRAMINGHAM STATE UNIVERSITY’S INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1932 | FSUGATEPOST.COM
OP/ED
9 | FEBRUARY 7, 2020
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Campus Conversations
Do you think FSU provides enough support for students who go hungry on campus? By McKenzie Ward and Thomas Maye
“I haven’t really seen anything about it so I would say no.” -Laura Hunter, freshman
“I know they have done food drives that they have, but I don’t think they do a good job to advertise it enough.”
-Kimberly Cajuste, senior
“I have to ask people if they could swipe me into the dining hall because I can’t afford 9 dollars for lunch, 9 dollars for dinner if I want to eat here twice a day. That’s almost $20. It’s just a lot.” -Krista Jameson, junior
“They probably could be doing a better job at that.”
-Sidney Gallheher, sophomore
“I pay a ton of money for [campus food] to not even be good. So I pay all this money and I’m still kind of hungry because I don’t want to go eat at the dining hall.
-Zachary Manna, freshman
“No, you don’t hear about it very much.” -Shelby Lear, sophomore
Op/Ed submissions reflect the opinions of their authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of The Gatepost or its staff. @TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com
ARTS & FEATURES
FEBRUARY 7, 2020 | 9
ARTS & FEATURES Kim Dexter leads FSU toward equal opportunity By Lizzy Stocks Staff Writer Directing the University’s policies regarding discrimination on the basis of one’s sex, race, or age is Kim Dexter, the director of equal opportunity, Title IX, and ADA compliance. Dexter said her position was created in 2013 because a standalone Title IX coordinator was needed to take on oversight for compliance of the entire University. Though she earned her current position almost seven years ago, Dexter has been working on campus since 2005 when she was hired as the residence director of Larned Hall. Before coming to FSU, Dexter attended the University of Maryland where she worked as a resident assistant for three years. With an open mind about where her career path would take her, Dexter said she applied for jobs all over the country. She visited FSU for an on-campus interview and remembers calling her mom during a break. “I really hope I get the offer here because the people are so amazing,” she told her mom. She spent nearly the next nine years in Residence Life, before taking on the role of director of equal opportunity, Title IX, and ADA compliance. Before her position was created, she said the Dean of Students Office and the Human Resources Office had separate Title IX coordinators for students and employees. While the two offices still have separate Title IX coordinators, Dexter’s role specifically takes on general oversight of compliance regarding Title IX for both students and employees. She said, “There is a shared responsibility in a lot of the work,” but her role came with the responsibilities of Title VII coordinator, Title II Section 504 coordinator, and overseeing anything that has to do with the compliance of laws and policies regarding discrimination and harassment. Title IX focuses on sexual harassment and gender-based harassment, whereas Title VII prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Title II Section 504 prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability. Dexter said the regulations regarding these and other laws are covered in the University’s Equal Opportunity Plan, which she is responsible for im-
plementing, disseminating, and ensuring the community’s compliance. The Equal Opportunity Plan is shared amongst the nine Massachusetts state universities. Dexter said it is written with the assistance of legal counsel and is “developed in such a way it is applicable to and will work for all of the different communities.” Dexter said she is typically the investigator for complaints regarding employees, but she works closely with Community Standards, Residence Life, and University Police. She added, “We also have a very meaningful off-campus relationship with Voices Against Violence.” She said the organization has provided direct confidential support services to students for several years. The partnership includes an advocate with walk-in office hours on campus, as well as their membership on the University’s Title IX compliance team. The organization conducts trainings on campus and also developed the University’s bystander intervention training. Dexter said the work in her field causes “high burnout” rates because it often concerns “the very worst things that have happened in someone’s life.” She must maintain a certain level of control while also making sure she is giving back a level of control to the individual she is speaking to. She said, “A lot of times with Title IX, the individual feels control has been stolen away from them.” She added, “Having a net of wellness for yourself is really important.” Despite the challenges she may face, Dexter said, “You have to re-frame the experience and you have to look at the small wins - this applies to so many
important work that has to be done.” In her free time, Dexter enjoys going to local music shows to see bands such as Darlingside and Twisted Pine. During the summers, she tries to spend time camping and kayaking with family in Gloucester. She and her wife Samantha recently adopted Grace the
“You have to re-frame the experience and you have to look at the small wins - this applies to so many different things in life. Then, you have to get right back in there because it’s important work that has to be done.” - Kim Dexter, director of equal opportunity, Title IX, and ADA compliance. different things in life. Then, you have to get right back in there because it’s
greyhound and regularly take her for walks and hikes.
Though she values going to concerts and spending time outdoors, Dexter said, “Cooking is a solo activity where I can check out, focus on something, and really appreciate the outcome. So, I do a lot of the cooking at home.” A simple, yet comforting dish she likes to prepare is chicken soup with the unique addition of white beans and leeks. But, one of her favorite meals has to be blackened catfish with mango-avocado salsa. At the turn of the new year, Dexter signed up for ASL classes and has challenged herself to learn how to play the guitar, but she said her ultimate goal for 2020 is “to continue doing the work.” She said, “I want to be somebody who has an impact and who makes contributions, despite the stress that comes with the work. I just want to keep doing that in a meaningful way.”
CONNECT WITH LIZZY STOCKS estocks@student.framingham.edu
FRAMINGHAM STATE UNIVERSITY'S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1932 | FSUGATEPOST.COM
10 | FEBRUARY 7, 2020
ARTS & FEATURES
‘Cosplayers’ is a fandom love letter By Robert Johnson Jr. Arts & Features Editor Not many people know this, but before I enrolled at FSU, I was an avid cosplayer. Back when “Homestuck” was the big webcomic of the day and when “In the Flesh” was a hidden gem on British television - or, “telly,” if you will - I spent many a Saturday afternoon hanging out in the Boston Common with my friends in costume. In fact, the only reason as to why I’m at FSU is because I followed one of my closest cosplaying friends to campus. Just, you know, two years after they enrolled. That’s enough about me, though. We have a graphic novel to talk about. “Cosplayers,” the graphic novel in question, is a 2016 compilation of cosplay-related vignettes by cartoonist Dash Shaw, the creator of “My Entire High School Sinking Into the Sea.” While each of these vignettes is different in some way, each one focuses on the cosplay escapades of Annie and Verti, a costumer/ videographer duo who make their mark not only at cons across the United States, but also on the internet through their low-budget films. The duo are not the only fascinating characters in these stories Shaw manages to characterize and capture the best and worst types of people that one might encounter in a convention setting. Let’s be real: we all know that one pompous know-it-all who always has something to say about what constitutes a “real fan” of a given work, or that one person who goes to conventions who is very knowledgeable about the subject matter they work with, but underneath that exterior, they are socially inept and only know how to go to the bathroom in a potted plant outside of a hotel. OK, you might not know someone who emulates the latter, but Shaw has that particular situation covered in his story, “Saturday.” On a less bizarre note, “Cosplayers” is full of references through the cosplays represented in the story - “Princess Mononoke,” “Devil May Cry,” “Final Fantasy,” and “Scott Pilgrim vs. The World” are all here, but so is “Street Fighter,” “Steven Universe,” and the works of the late Osamu Tezuka, too. Every base is well covered, and no corner or era of fandom is left out, which is great on Shaw’s part. Shaw’s art also has to be commended here - the style is definitely one of a cartoonist’s, but every color is just so vibrant and the way he draws his characters and their costumes are playful and, occasionally, awkward. It’s a good kind of awkward, though! “Cosplayers” isn’t just about watching two internet friends go across the country to dress up in costume contests. It also features the most grueling, yet interesting, component of the cosplay process - the creation of the costumes themselves. One of the untitled segments near the end of the book shows Annie visiting various thrift stores, pop culture shops, and fabric stores to get the equipment she needs to make a costume of Indiana Jones carrying the Holy Grail, which is a process that began upon seeing a trophy her mom won ages ago in the attic of her house. Shaw, while not much of a cosplayer himself - yes, of course I had to research this - covers this developmental process in such a funny, yet honest way. I remember afternoons with my parents that turned into frantic Easter egg hunts, just because I wanted to get a white button up shirt to dress up as Dr. Flug Slys from “Villainous” for ConnectiCon 2017. Good times. Shaw might not be the most recognizable name in the comics industry, but, my goodness, I do not regret picking up “Cosplayers” on a whim at a Harvard Book Store warehouse sale. It’s a brilliant homage to a particular niche of nerd culture - one that would have quite the impact on said culture as we know it, should it not be as big of a factor as it is today. If you want to look back at your dorky high school days shuffling your way around tight crowds in a large building, you need to give “Cosplayers” a read and have a laugh.
CONNECT WITH ROBERT JOHNSON JR. rjohnson10@student.framingham.edu
@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com
Kaitlyn’s Kosmetics
Rihanna’s Revolution: A Closer Look at Fenty Beauty By Kaitlyn Cullen Staff Writer
Musical artist Rihanna, born Robyn Rihanna Fenty, blew up the makeup world when she launched Fenty Beauty in September 2017. According to the Fenty Beauty website, “Rihanna was inspired to create Fenty Beauty after years of experimenting with the best-of-the-best in beauty and still seeing a void in the industry for products that performed across all skin types and tones.” As a woman of color, Rihanna comes from a community that has historically been marginalized in all aspects of life and cosmetics is no exception. After rising to the top of the music industry, Rihanna expanded her resume to include her other achievements, including executive producer, fashion designer, actress, astute business entrepreneur, and philanthropist. Rihanna has always catered to the people, as exemplified by the Clara Lionel Foundation, a nonprofit organization she founded in 2012 that, according to their website, “supports and funds groundbreaking education and emergency response programs around the world.” To further cater to the people, she “launched a makeup line ‘so that people everywhere would be included,’ focusing on a wide range of traditionally hard-tomatch skin tones, creating formulas that work for all skin types, and pinpointing universal shades,” according to the Fenty Beauty website. “Makeup is there for you to have fun with,” Rihanna says on her website. “It should never feel like pressure. It should never feel like a uniform. Feel free to take chances, and take risks, and dare to do something new or different.” Rihanna created Fenty Beauty and partnered with Kendo Brands to create the brand. Kendo Brands also partners
with KVD Vegan Beauty, Marc Jacobs, Lip Lab, Bite Beauty, and Ole Henriksen. Within this cosmetic brand, Rihanna designed an award-winning Pro Filt’r Foundation that currently comes in 50 shades, exemplified by models who are albino (shade #100) to rich, deep dark tones (shade #498), that can be seen on the Fenty Beauty website. Fenty Beauty is probably the most well-known beauty brand with this wide range of foundation shades, pushing other brands to expand their palettes as well. Some other brands that have since expanded their coverage of skin tones include PÜR with 87 shades, M•A•C with 63 shades, Morphe with 60 shades, and Tarte with 50 shades. All of these brands hover around the same $31-to-$39 dollar price range. PÜR promised a 100-shade foundation collection back in early 2019, which makes their current 87-shade collection a bit of a let down, but a serious competitor nonetheless. Rihanna’s marketing skills allowed Fenty Beauty to usurp the attention of her own fans as well as makeup fans worldwide. You can find Fenty Beauty products at Sephora in-store and online as well as the Fenty Beauty website. One year after launching Fenty Beauty, Rihanna also launched an even more inclusive line - Fenty x Savage, a lingerie brand made to fit all shapes and sizes, which showcases a rainbow of models, including disabled model Mama Cax. Rihanna continues to use her platform to push the boundaries on beauty standards, and it doesn’t look like she’s stopping anytime soon.
CONNECT WITH KAITLYN CULLEN kcullen1@student.framingham.edu
ARTS & FEATURES
FEBRUARY 7, 2020 | 11
“Marriage Story” is a realistic, modern view of a damaged relationship By Brennan Atkins Arts & Features Editor By Noah Barnes Entertainment Correspondent The latest film from Noah Baumbach, “Marriage Story,” is a shining example that Netflix’s original films continue to climb in quality. The film stars Adam Driver as Charlie, a theater director in New York, and Scarlett Johansson as Nicole, an actress in theater and television. Nicole gets a lawyer for the divorce after she explicitly states to Charlie that no lawyers will be involved. This, mixed with the fact they live in different states starts to take a toll on him financially. She goes behind his back, and doesn’t talk to him about the problems she’s having. Charlie might not even be able to visit his kid. But Charlie is far from innocent - many of the choices Nicole makes in the film are simply made because Charlie never listens to her wants or desires. The life she lived was Charlie’s. They moved to wherever he wanted, no matter how many times she requested other places. If Nicole never went to a lawyer, odds are, this divorce situation wouldn’t have worked out for her at all. Nicole goes
against him in this film because she wants something to work in her favor for a change. “Marriage Story” shines with its leads - both of them arguably give their best performances to date - they do such a realistic job of capturing the anxiety-ridden process of a divorce. While we never thought we’d say this for a Netflix film, their Oscar nominations for best actor and best actress are well deserved. Both make mistakes that send the other into a deeper depression. Both refuse to talk to each other, and hired lawyers and convinced family to argue for them. They want to stay friends, and initially don’t act as if there are any real issues. Instead of expressing their grievances, they each vent their struggles to their lawyers - lawyers they don’t even want to pay for. You slowly see both characters become more and more vocal about each other’s flaws. One of the best words to describe this film is uncomfortable - but that’s not a bad thing. When Charlie and Nicole shout their hearts out, they are at their worst. Months of pent-up anger is released in minutes, and it’s not something anyone would feel comfortable watching in real life. The soundtrack of the film fluctu-
ates between somber piano melodies, to playful arrangements of string instruments. However, the silence in some of the arguments make every bit of the dialogue memorable. Just like a bad argument can linger in one’s thoughts, this movie’s dialogue accomplishes the same. The writing achieved by Baumbach is at its best, and we’re hungry to see more from him. While many are likely to favor one parent over the other, the film doesn’t pick favorites. Both parents have plenty of redeeming qualities on top of their clear mistakes. It’s not all misery though. There’s quite a few wholesome and humorous moments, which both simultaneously ease your emotions, while also making the sad moments hit all the harder once you’ve recovered. While Charlie and Nicole are consistently reaching new lows, the various lawyers involved in the process, played by Laura Dern and Alan Alda, are practically comical. Nothing is personal with them - they’re experienced in divorce cases, and they’ve seen all this before. They may appear aggressive in court, but outside the case, they often switch to a carefree and lighthearted personalities. “Marriage Story” shows the reality
42. Online annoyances 43. Respected tribal figure 44. Kitten’s cry 46. *Times when dieters splurge (4-7) 50. “Enigma Variations” composer 54. ___ Jose 55. State east of Wash. 56. Have no doubt 57. Reason for a broken digital file, and a hint to the starred answers’ indicated letters 61. Ham it up 62. Musical pair 63. ___ mater 64. Continue an email thread 65. Messy farm area 66. Genuine
ACROSS 1. House members, for short 5. Genesis boat 8. What desaturation removes from a photo 13. Dakota Fanning’s sister 14. Room with a Wii, perhaps 15. Christopher of “Superman” 16. *Summer weather warnings (letters 3-6) 19. Ill will 20. Hardly any 21. Volleyball court feature 23. The “B” of RBG 24. *Place for a guest of honor (3-6) 27. Org. that works with SpaceX 29. Russian range 30. A/C measure 32. A single 34. Vehicles with pedals and motors 35. “Aye aye, ___!” 36. *Tortilla dish (4-7) 38. #MeToo or Victorian 39. Not let a little rain stop a game, say 41. Smoke, for short
of divorce - how it may be terrifying, may be ugly, and it may be painful, but no matter how hard it seems, you will ultimately recover and move on.
ADMIT ONE
Grade: ANoah Baumbach creates an oddly beautiful story out of this grim situation, evoking a strong, uplifting energy to what feels like a hopeless situation.
ADMIT ONE
CONNECT WITH BRENNAN ATKINS AND NOAH BARNES batkins@student.framingham.edu nbarnes@student.framingham.edu
36. Legal wrong 37. Goals 40. Pro vote 42. Many a future Hall-of-Fame athlete 45. Shed tears 47. Possibly dangerous 48. “Much ___ About Nothing” 49. Barbecue venues 51. Slyness 52. Incense candle emanation 53. Kidney-related 56. Bobbing thing 58. Dreidel, for one 59. Braves, on scoreboards 60. Dirt road issue
Puzzle solutions are now exclusively online.
DOWN 1. Place to get sober 2. Justice Kagan 3. Checks in a fashion magazine? 4. Restaurant list with a fixed total price 5. Does some summing 6. Title for MLK 7. Butter cutter 8. Three, they say 9. “___ the ramparts ...” 10. Maui garland 11. Commercial descriptor for bread 12. Ticket scalpers, e.g. 17. Spiritual glow 18. Word before “change” or “cucumber” 22. Thompson of “Men in Black: International” 24. Name hidden in “Jonathan Swift” 25. Low brass instrument 26. MSNBC host Melber 28. Not long from now 30. Portrayer of Barry on “Barry” 31. Walmart, for Walmart Inc. 33. “... and so on”: Abbr. 34. Barely beat, with “out” 35. Blueprint deets
FRAMINGHAM STATE UNIVERSITY'S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1932 | FSUGATEPOST.COM
12 | FEBRUARY 7, 2020
SPORTS
SPORTS
Women’s basketball remains undefeated in the MASCAC
By Sara Senesac Sports Editor
The Rams’ women’s basketball team hosted the Westfield State Owls for MASCAC action Feb. 1. The Rams were leading 14-11 at the end of the first quarter, but quickly lost their lead at the beginning of the second when the Owls managed to take a 15-14 lead. Framingham was quick to respond, using the next five minutes of play to go on a 14-1 run and extending their lead 28-16. They would never let the lead go again. By the end of the second quarter, the Rams were up by 19 points. Westfield fought back in the third, but Framingham managed to hold their 19-point lead until the end. The Rams continued to dominate through the final quarter, expanding their lead to as many as 30 points by the end of play. They took a final 100-74 victory over the Owls. Senior captain Julia Sanborn said, “I’ve had my fair share of losses against Westfield, losing to them in championship games both my freshman and sophomore year. We’ve never matched up against them with as much talent as we have this year.” Senior guard Emily Velozo led the team in points with 30. She also had three steals, four assists, and five rebounds. Freshman forwards Flannery O’Connor and Katty Haidul both ended the match with a double-double. O’Connor finished with 13 points and 11 boards, while Haidul managed 15 points, 10 boards, and two blocks. Freshman Sarah Sullivan also had 14 points and nine rebounds for the Rams. Senior guard Mary Kate O’Day had an impressive two steals, four blocks, five assists, six rebounds, and 12 points by the end of the match. She now has a career 1,411 points and has moved into the second alltime scoring position for the Rams. The win keeps Framingham on top at an undefeated 7-0 in the MASCAC, and overall 15-5 record for the season.
Sanborn said, “We’ve proven to be more determined, driven, and hardworking than we’ve ever been, and I truly feel like that is what has allowed us to be so successful thus far. Moving forward, we just have to build on what we’ve already accomplished this season and continue to work towards our end goal.” The Rams travel to Worcester State for another MASCAC battle Feb. 8.
Mary Kate O’Day sets up the offense.
FRAMINGHAM STATE WESTFIELD STATE
Courtesy of fsurams.com
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CONNECT WITH SARA SENESAC ssenesac@student.framingham.edu
Men’s basketball on pace for school record in losses By Carlos Silva Asst. Sports Editor The Rams took on the Westfield State Owls in a MASCAC game Feb. 1 in the Athletic Center. The Owls started the game off hot with a 22-9 run with over 12 minutes left in the half. The Rams were able to close the deficit to just nine points thanks to a Tyri Hampton jump shot with six minutes left on the clock. Westfield State went into halftime with a 50-39 lead over the Rams. The Owls continued their dominance throughout the second half with a lead as large as 24 points. Consistent with how the Rams have looked this season, the game was out of reach. However, the Rams were able to put up a late run of their own to bring the score within 13 points as the game ended with a score of 8673.
CONNECT WITH CARLOS SILVA csilva14@student.framingham.edu
Westfield State was led by Vawn Lord who scored 24 points on 9-of14 from the field. He also added eight rebounds and two steals. The Owls’ Jauch Green contributed to the win with a double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds. Hampton led the Rams with 18 points, while shooting 8-of-19 from the floor. Camren McCloud-Thomas neared a double-double effort with 14 points and seven rebounds. This loss extends the Rams losing streak to 12 and increases their chances in tying the school loss record of 24. The Rams are now 0-7 in the MASCAC and 1-19 overall.
WESTFIELD STATE FRAMINGHAM STATE
FRAMINGHAM STATE UNIVERSITY’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1932 | FSUGATEPOST.COM
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SPORTS
FEBRUARY 7, 2020 | 13
The 1,000-Point Club Continued from page 1
Mary Kate O’Day sets to release a shot.
Courtesy of fsurams.com
watching, they are working to get better and better.” Last season, O’Day reached 1,000 career points and recently moved into second in the all-time leaderboard for scoring in FSU Women’s Basketball history. She currently has 1,411 total career points. “It came as a surprise - I had no idea I was anywhere near being the second leading scorer,” O’Day said. “It is definitely a cool feeling.” Velozo joined O’Day in the 1,000 points club this season with a late-game 3-pointer in a win against Fitchburg State. “Hitting my 1,000th point was special. What made it so special was my teammates, family and friends being there cheering me on and supporting me,” Velozo said. “When I hit my 1,000th point, I could tell simply because the crowd got so loud.” O’Day said, “I personally was extremely happy and proud of Emily when she scored her 1,000th. She has worked so incredibly hard over these past four years and her hitting her 1,000th point the other night proved just how hard she worked. “No one is more deserving of that accomplishment than she is. As for the team, everyone was so excited and happy for her as well.” With neither player starting a single game their freshman year, it is certainly impressive they were able to reach 1,000 points and counting. “MK works at her craft and she is so unselfish, so it’s a little surprising that she is the 2nd all-time scorer but only because she is so unselfish,” Paschal said. “And Emily only had 22 points her freshmen year but put so much work into her game that she is now a 1,000-point scorer. Really both kids are going to be examples of what other kids need to do to get better.”
The two stepped into captain roles for their final season and thrived in the role, as both are in the Top 5 in the MASCAC for points per game, field goal percentage, 3-point field goal percentage, and free throw percentage. They also embraced the role by leading team workouts and aiding teammates at practices throughout the year. “They both have been great leaders vocally and playing wise,” Sophomore Liana Cunningham said. “They’re leaders when it comes to the game of basketball and they both have led us in the right direction this season. We wouldn’t be where we are without them.” With the two seniors’ leadership, the Rams own a record of 15-5 overall and 7-0 in the MASCAC and are sitting in first place for the Conference and primed for a long playoff run. Beyond their leadership and their relationship on the court, Velozo and O’Day have a strong bond off the hardwood with each other and their teammates. “Playing with Emily these past four years has been awesome and something I wouldn’t trade for the world. Not only are we teammates but she is one of my best friends, so having that connection has made these four years even more special,” O’Day said. “Emily and I have been roommates for three years now and we have definitely had our fun and made lots of great memories. Being friends with her outside of basketball made my experience that much better.” Cunningham said, “The relationship I have with them on and off the court is very special for sure. They are both like big sisters to me and truly have had such a great impact on my life. “Both of them are people I know will be in my life for a long time and I cannot wait to see all of what they accomplish after college.” After this season finishes, the two seniors will be hanging up their Framingham State jerseys for the final time. But it’s not that time yet, they still have one more goal. “One thing I definitely want to achieve would be winning the championship,” O’Day said. “We have come so close before but always came up short. Being able to win my last year here would be something special.” Pascal said, “I don’t want either of them to end their college careers. But if they have to, hopefully they can end it as they always do, giving everything they have.”
Courtesy of fsurams.com
Emily Velozo drives to the hoop for a basket.
The Rams huddle between play.
Courtesy of fsurams.com
CONNECT WITH LIAM GAMBON lgambon1@student.framingham.edu
@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com
14 | FEBRUARY 7, 2020
SPORTS
Carlos’ Call: The UFC is ready to takeover in 2020 By Carlos Silva Asst. Sports Editor After a star studded 2018, the UFC took a step back in 2019 in terms of “big fights.” Yes, there was a load of amazing bouts such as Yair Rodriguez vs Jeremy Stephens II, Tony Ferguson vs Donald Cerrone, Dustin Porier vs Max Holloway II, and, of course, Kamaru Usman vs Colby Covington. However, these fights did not even come close to touching the Pay-PerView numbers that the previous year did. Despite that, 2019 played a huge part in setting up the UFC for another “boom” year. With star fighter Conor McGregor making his return to the octagon, a multitude of potential matchups have begun to appear for him in the lightweight and welterweight divisions. After his 40 second TKO defeat over Cerrone this past January, McGregor made noise and sparked the interest of fighters in both divisions. Current Welterweight Champion, Usman, referred to a potential fight versus McGregor as “red panties night,” which ties back to when McGregor used the phrase to describe a matchup with him as being one that can change any fighter’s life financially. A matchup with Usman, seems unlikely after a brawl over Super Bowl weekend nearly broke out between Usman and Masvidal. With the matchup almost agreed upon, McGregor’s next match is all but confirmed to be in the lightweight division. According to UFC President, Dana White, the best business decision for the UFC is to matchup McGregor versus his rival of 2018 and current Lightweight Champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov. The two previously broke Pay-PerView records in their last matchup that saw Khabib beat McGregor by submission via a rear-naked choke in the fourth round. There is one major issue with a potential rematch occurring - Khabib is scheduled to defend his title versus Ferguson in April at UFC 249. Ferguson is believed by many to be Khabib’s toughest opponent to date. If Ferguson were to beat Khabib, this would most likely mean Ferguson versus McGregor would happen at some point in the fall. The UFC is in many ways relying on Khabib to win his fight so that they can start advertising Khabib vs McGregor II as soon as possible. Let’s then think about what happens if Khabib were to beat Ferguson. Due to his religious beliefs, Khabib will not be able to fight until at least
the end of the fall or early winter as he will be observing Ramadan. Is it worth keeping McGregor waiting until the end of the year to fight, when he said himself, he wants to fight right away? McGregor is truly not ready for someone like Khabib. He just had his first fight in over a year and it lasted under a minute. Without fighting against a proven grappler or wrestler, McGregor would be stepping into the lion’s den against Khabib. Fortunately for McGregor, two possible fights for him are against Nate Diaz and Justin Gaethje. Gaethje and McGregor have no history. The only reason for this fight to actually happen is to keep McGregor in the spotlight while giving Gaethje an opportunity to rise in popularity and enjoy “red panties night.” Diaz and McGregor have a long history with each other and a trilogy between the two is something UFC fans have been salivating about for a long time. They split their previous matchups and a deciding fight seems almost inevitable. The only question is, will it happen in 2020? Moving away from lighter divisions, it’s time for the heavyweights to shine again. Heavyweight Champion Stipe Miocic is at the top of the mountain and it seems like the UFC has one major name that they want to be thrown into the conversation for a championship bout versus Miocic. Jon “Bones” Jones, the current Light Heavyweight Champion, has been eyeing a move up into the heavyweight division for a couple of years now. The only thing stopping this fight from being scheduled is Jones being more interested in another opponent, Israel Adesanya. Despite having a fight against Dominick Reyes this Saturday at UFC 247, Jones seems more preoccupied by hilarious Twitter beef with Adesanya, who was recently scheduled to defend his middleweight championship against Yoel Romero. If Jones does not make the move up, fan favorite Francis Ngannou could present himself as a serious contender versus the current Heavyweight champion. Previously, Ngannou was defeated by Miocic back in 2018 at UFC 220. Ngannou has put himself back into the spotlight with ferocious knockout wins in his last three fights. According to UFC.com, Ngannou is currently ranked as the third best heavyweight and will look to make his resume more eye-catching as he is scheduled to face against the man who almost blew up Alistair Overeem’s face, Jairzinho Rozenstruik at
UFC on ESPN 8. An interesting approach for the UFC is to have Ngannou face off against Daniel Cormier, the man who Miocic beat for the championship. The issue with booking this fight is that Cormier has been mulling retirement for a while now, and it. seems like the only fights that have him excited for a return is a trilogy match against either Miocic or Jon Jones. The matchup versus Jones seems more unlikely as Cormier did not come close to beating Jones in either of the two contests. Cormier does, however, have a win over Miocic. The future of the heavyweight division is bright, as it will be very hard for the UFC to mess up any booking decisions since the topheavy division consists of all amazing possibilities. Moving on to what unfortunately could be a lowpoint of the UFC in 2020, the female fighter divisions could be in some trouble. Flyweight Champion, Valentina Shevchenko, is set to defend her title this weekend at UFC 247 against Katlyn Chookagian. Shevchenko might be the most dominant fighter in the UFC that many non-hardcore fans do not know about. Despite two losses to the best female fighter in history, Amanda Nunes, Shevchenko has been pretty unbeatable. This presents a problem for the UFC. If Chookagian cannot beat Shevchenko, then UFC will be in limbo with the flyweight division. It’s a situation that is eerily similar to that
of Jon Jones and the lightweight division. Both fighters have basically beaten anyone there is to beat in their respective divisions. The only fight that might be left for Shevchenko is a trilogy match versus Nunes. Nunes has been on a run that has led many to call her the best female fighter of all-time. The UFC, however, might be reluctant to schedule this fight as a losing result could put Shevchenko and the rest of the flyweight division in a negative light. If she could not beat Nunes, then it would cause fans to lose interest in her and the rest of the division, despite her being the dominant champion she is. The UFC would be in a lose-lose situation, because they would have a champion who fans don’t care about and would have a hard time finding someone who can beat her. The situation is very likely to occur because the Flyweight title would not be available for Nunes to win. A lot of pressure is in the hands of Chookagian. If she does not beat Shevchenko, then a year of possible excitement for the flyweights might turn into a nightmare fast. The one saving grace for the UFC when it comes to female matchups in 2020, is Nunes. The double-champ is a big-name superstar that will cause big Pay-PerView numbers no matter who she goes up against. Many UFC fans are hopeful because Dana White has been very public about his projections for 2020, and they have everyone excited for what could transpire.
CONNECT WITH CARLOS SILVA csilva14@student.framingham.edu
FRAMINGHAM STATE UNIVERSITY’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1932 | FSUGATEPOST.COM
SPORTS
FEBRUARY 7, 2020 | 15
Players of the week
Ice hockey falls to Westfield By Sara Senesac Sports Editor The Rams’ ice hockey team hosted the Westfield State Owls for a conference game Jan. 30. The first period was slow on both ends until the Owls’ Joseph Carbone scored a short-handed goal in the final five minutes. Less than four minutes into the second, Westfield scored again when Daniel Backstrom shot one into the corner off a pass from F.X. Girard. Four minutes later, the Owls were awarded a power play, and Backstrom capitalized once more to leave the Rams trailing by three. The Rams finally got on the board in the last eight minutes of the second, when junior Soren Colstrup snuck one in off a pass from sophomore Trevor Lewandoski. Within the first 10 minutes of the third, Westfield managed to add two more to the board during their second power play run of the game. Senior Greg Harney said, “A common theme this season has been these mental lapses where in a very short span of time, we aren’t as engaged in the game. That is ultimately where the game is decided. “We agree that if we prevent these scenarios from happening, and we capitalize on scoring chances and power play opportunities, we will be fine,” Harney added. Trailing by four, Framingham showed one final sign of life during the last five minutes of the match. Freshman Ethan Cervonayco connected off a faceoff pass from sophomore Erick Walsh to cut the Owls lead down to three. Westfield held their lead for the remainder of play and went home with a 5-2 victory over the Rams. Freshman Blake Carlson managed to make an impressive 30 saves in net for Framingham. Harney said, “I’ve never seen the MASCAC more open than it is this year, we are still very much in the playoff picture if we secure some wins in the remaining games of the season.” The loss brings them to 2-15-2 for the season and 1-10-1 in the MASCAC. They travel to Plymouth state for another conference match Feb. 8. [Editor’s Note: Soren Colstrup is a staff writer for The Gatepost.]
WESTFIELD STATE FRAMINGHAM STATE
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Tyri Hampton had 18 points in Framingham’s game against Westfield State.
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CONNECT WITH SARA SENESAC ssenesac@student.framingham.edu
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Black Carlson had 30 saves in Framingham’s game against Westfield State.
Gatepost Archives
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Katty Haidul had 15 points, 10 boards, and two blocks in Framingham’s 100-74 win over Westfield State. @TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com
PHOTOS
16 | FEBRUARY 7, 2020
Spread by Ashley Wall /THE GATEPOST
Photograph by Amanda Garny/THE GATEPOST
Photograph by Amanda Garny/THE GATEPOST
Photograph by Caroline Gordon/THE GATEPOST
Photograph by Amanda Garny/THE GATEPOST
Some recent events around campus include SUAB’s Casino Night and Bingo Night! Additionally, Lerner & Moguilevsky performed at the Diversity Celebration Concert Feb. 4. Photograph by Donald Halsing/THE GATEPOST
Photograph by Caroline Gordon/THE GATEPOST
Photograph by Caroline Gordon/THE GATEPOST
Photograph by Donald Halsing/THE GATEPOST FRAMINGHAM STATE UNIVERSITY’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1932 | FSUGATEPOST.COM
