10 minute read
GATEPOST INTERVIEW pg
from February 7, 2020
by The Gatepost
Interim Editor-in-Chief Ashley Wall
Associate Editor Cara McCarthy
News Editors Donald Halsing Evan Lee
Asst. News Editor Leighah Beausoleil
Arts & Features Editors Brennan Atkins Robert Johnson Jr.
Asst. Arts & Features Editor Jared Graf
Entertainment Correspondent Noah Barnes
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
NEWS Gatepost Interview Joycelyn Faraj 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 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.
Caroline Gordon / THE GATEPOST
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.
What made you interested in studying nutrition?
I love to cook, but I also love mediCONNECT WITH CAROLINE GORDON cgordon4@student.framingham.edu
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Flu 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. Continued from page 1
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.
Monday Feb. 10 50% chance of rain. Cloudy, high near 45. SW winds around 10 mph. Weather
Weekly Influenza Surveillance Report. 2019-20 Influenza Season Week 4 ending Jan 25, 2020.
Courtesy of CDC.gov
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 2019- nCoV 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
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 CONNECT WITH ABIGAIL SAGGIO asaggio@student.framingham.edu 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.
Forecast provided by the National Weather Service www.weather.gov Tuesday night Feb. 11 40% chance of precipitation. Mostly cloudy, low near 30. W winds around 5 mph. Wednesday night Feb. 12 30% chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, low near 30. W winds around 5 mph.
Wednesday Feb. 12 Mostly sunny, high near 40. W winds around 5 mph.
