February 24, 2023

A front seat to the storm

Grants assisting Open Education Resource initiatives

By Leighah Beausoleil Editor-in-Chief

Framingham State has been awarded two grants that will assist in the campus-wide effort of making course materials more affordable through Open Education Resources (OER).

OER are course materials available through the public domain or “under copyright that have been released under an open license, that permit nocost access, re-use, re-purpose, adaptation and redistribution by others,” according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural rganization.

The first grant, from the Department of Education, is a three-year funding project known as Remixing Open Textbooks through an Equity Lens (ROTEL).

ROTEL provides faculty with a stipend for the work necessary to “remix and/or develop accessible, intentionally inclusive open textbooks and other ER that reflect students’ local and lived experiences in order to improve student learning outcomes,” according to the Henry Whittemore Library website.

This grant of $1.3 million is shared among six institutions, with each institution receiving over $70,000, and Framingham serving as the “lead fiscal agent,” according to Library Dean Millie González.

The other institutions include Fitchburg State University, Holyoke Community College, Northern Essex Community College, Salem State University, and Springfield Technical Community College, according to

FraminghamSource.

The work created among these institutions will be open and promoted not only throughout Massachusetts, but also nationally, González said.

She added faculty will receive a stipend for using ROTEL textbooks.

González said she is projecting the production of over 50 textbooks by faculty, with the assistance of a professional publishing team.

She said the grant not only funds these faculty projects, but will also pay for the publishing team, any necessary consultants, and a publishing platform.

In addition to the creation of open textbooks, González said there is also going to be an assessment piece which will be an evaluation of whether these

Mental health resources help FSU students relax

By Emily Rosenberg Associate Editor

On any given day, Kate Burt might print out QR codes and flyers to post at the library directing students to mental health care resources.

And on Mondays and Tuesdays, a number of students take an hour out of their schedule to join Benjamin Day and his counseling center staff in a number of stress-relieving exercises.

Once a month, Pamela Lehmberg leaves the Health Center and walks “Snowy,” a fluffy white therapy dog, over to a residence hall where students will pet and cuddle him.

Burt, Day, and Lehmberg are among

the forces driving self-care resources and promoting positive mental health for Framingham State students.

At the Henry Whittemore Library, Burt, administrative manager, took a leading role with Millie Gonzàlez, dean of the library, to establish the Rams Renew Space, which opened in the Fall 2021 semester.

Burt said the purpose of the space is to provide everyone with a place to destress on campus, no matter how they define relaxation.

The space, located on the second floor of the library, is a repurposed, carpeted, empty room, now with a massage chair, foot ottomans, puzzles, empty journals, therapy lamps, and other

items to calm and soothe one’s stress.

It is open for students, faculty, and staff to schedule on LibCal for 30-minute increments.

Burt said having spaces dedicated to self-care such as the Rams Renew space is important “because a lot of young people come here, many for the first time out on their own. They have all these responsibilities. And it probably gets a little overwhelming, especially at certain times like exam time.”

She said the library is always open to improving the space, adding that recently she ordered a buddha board, which is an inexpensive tablet made of

A lawn chair on Larned Beach following a snowstorm Feb. 23.

Editorial Board

Editor-in-Chief

Leighah Beausoleil

Associate Editor

Emily Rosenberg

News Editors

Sophia Harris

Branden LaCroix

Asst. News Editor

Naidelly Coelho

Opinions Editor

McKenzie Ward

Sports Editor

Adam Levine

Arts & Features Editor

Ryan O’Connell

Asst. Arts & Features Editor

Raena Doty

Design & Photo Editor

Maddison Behringer

Asst. Photos Editor

Zachary Sorel

Adrien Gobin

Staff Writers

Jesse Burchill

Owen Glancy

Mark Haskell

Ben Hurney

Jack McLaughlin

Izayah Morgan

Kate Norrish

Carly Paul

Wenchell Pierre

Ryan Schreiber

Lainey Morrison

Advisor

Desmond McCarthy

Asst. Advisor

Elizabeth Banks

OPEN THE GATE

Gatepost Interview Santosha Adhibhatta Environment, Society, and Sustainability Professor

By Leighah Beausoleil Editor-in-Chief

What is your educational and professional background?

I have a bachelor’s in electronics and communications engineering from India. Then, I did my master’s in electrical engineering from the University of Houston and my Ph.D. in physics at the University of Rhode Island. So that’s my educational background. As a professional, actually, my very first job was teaching. I started teaching at Framingham State a few years after I graduated. I had to take a break because of my family, but after things got settled, I started to teach at Framingham State. I started as a visiting lecturer teaching one course. And now, I am an assistant professor. I teach mostly the engineering courses on campus, and I also have taught physics courses. I also taught a math course and I also taught some labs.

Why did you choose to teach at FSU?

Well, for starters, I wanted to teach - that was what I wanted to do after I graduated and we moved to Massachusetts. Then, I was looking for jobs and I actually came for the interview at Framingham State. I applied for, I believe, a lab instructor position at Framingham State and then I came in for an interview, and they offered me a position to teach a course. I looked at the campus. I liked it because it’s a nice, small campus and I saw everyone saying, “Hi,” the students saying, “Hi.” … So I thought, you know, this is a nice place and I got the job and I started and I love it.

What do you like most about working with students?

Because of the small class sizes … the best part is I get to know everybody - and because I teach mostly lab classes. But even by the second week, I know their names. Then, being able to interact with them. I really like my classes to be interactive. So I keep telling my students, “You have to talk. You have to talk. You have to talk,” and because of the small class sizes, I think even the students feel more comfortable and I feel more comfortable with them. It’s not too overwhelming for either one of us. And having especially the lab courses, it gives

me time to interact with them more closely, especially engineering. I have a degree in engineering, so I get a chance to work on these fun projects with students and I tell them all day, “We are doing this together, so I’m learning with you.” And that’s the best part because we learn from each other.

What is something that students would be surprised to know about you?

Everyone knows that I’m scared of roller coasters. I hate roller coasters. I don’t think they’re surprised. But oh, yeah, failed my first physics exam, and now I have a Ph.D. in physics. So that might be, I guess, surprising. Everyone raises their eyebrows and they’re like, “What? You failed?” But now I have a Ph.D., so things change.

What are your hobbies?

Most of the time, I just spend time with my family and go on long walks. I love to go on walks. We go on small

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gatepost@framingham.edu

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trails, especially in the summer. They go every weekend on trails - riding the bike. So you know, that’s what I like to do. And hosting - we have parties - so I like family gatherings.

What advice do you have for students?

Just hang in there! That’s all I can say. Hang in there!` Just because one thing doesn’t work out doesn’t mean nothing works. mean, ’m a very good example of that. I was told I was not going to finish my Ph.D. because it’s tough and I’m a woman. But don’t listen to others. Listen to yourself. Because only we can really know what we can do. Because if I had listened to others, I wouldn’t have ended up here. So that’s all I can tell. Just hang in there and get the help you need. If you need help - you need to ask.

CONNECT WITH LEIGHAH BEAUSOLEIL lbeausoleil@student.framingham.edu

Sunday, Feb. 19 21:49

State Parking Enforcement Crocker Hall Call Assignment Complete

Thursday, Feb. 23 18:55

Harassment McCarthy Center Gone on Arrival

Courtesy of LinkedIn

Danforth Museum receives $15,000 grant

By Sophia Harris News Editor

Framingham State’s Danforth Art Museum received $15,000 from the Art and Culture Grant Program at the Foundation for MetroWest.

This is a non-profit whose goal is to “improve the quality of life of residents in the region,” according to Framingham State’s website.

The Foundation for MetroWest granted $642,500 in general operating grants to 49 Human Services and Arts Culture nonprofit participants in the region, according to FSU’s website.

This donation was one of the largest the organization provided in 2022, according to the website.

Patricia Bossange, director of grants and sponsored programs, said the application for the grant was submitted in September and it was awarded in December .

Jessica Roscio, director and curator of the Danforth Art Museum, said the money would be funding everything from new programming to updated technology concerning membership operations.

Eric Gustafson, vice president of Development and Alumni Relations, said the funding can go to anything related to the cost of operating the

museum - for example, funding infrastructure, staffing, exhibits, and care for those exhibits.

Roscio added the grant would also fund exhibitions and art school programming.

She said, “We have a pretty robust art school as well as exhibitions and we’d like to do more things related to both of them.

“There are a lot of things that we either have in progress that we’d like to continue with or some new programming ideas that we’d like to implement,” she added.

According to the Foundation for MetroWest website, this non-profit grant program gives grants to organiations “that align with our vision for a vibrant community where artistic and cultural initiatives improve the quality of life and contribute to the economic vitality of our region.

“We promote rich cultural experiences that prioriti e equitable access for all residents, foster connection and collaboration, and stimulate our region,” according to the website.

ossange said the funding was given to Framingham State specifically because of the Danforth’s cultural outreach to the region - not just Framingham.

She said part of the application process was to highlight the broad range of people who “give their patronage”

to the museum.

Roscio said in order to align with the mission of the non-profit, she hopes to foster a strong relationship among the art museum, faculty, staff, and students.

She said she hopes to include more programming in order to attract more people from both FSU and the MetroWest community.

“Arts and culture can make everyone’s life better and if we have more opportunities, and if we’re more accessible, and if we are more welcoming, then think that does benefit the quality of life,” she said.

Roscio said when she found out the Danforth received the grant, she was “thrilled.”

She said it was the “first time that we have received a grant from them since we merged with FSU in 1 . So it was really exciting to be recogni ed by them.”

Roscio added this is one of the more “substantial” grants that the museum has received.

She said, “ t’s interesting with this particular funder, they didn’t really show much interest in Framingham State until we acquired the Danforth.”

She added, “Now we’re much more viable about getting grants from them because think they really like the idea that it’s a cultural institution rather than just educational and it serves

anybody.”

Currently, Danforth is hosting an exhibit titled “Visionary oston,” which showcases art from oston during the mid-20th century.

Roscio said the exhibition is promoting Danforth’s “mission of regional art - both historic and contemporary.”

She said the Art School is hosting winter vacation programming right now for students.

She added Danforth will be hosting a number of artists’ talks coming in April.

Roscio said “Fashion In Bloom,” which is a collaboration with the Fashion Design and Retail Department and the Mancuso Design Awards, will take place in May.

She added senior portfolio designs from FSU students will be on exhibit in the permanent collection gallery.

Roscio said that the Danforth is open from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.

“We’re always free to FSU students and we always welcome visitors. So if you haven’t visited, cross Route 9,” she said.

Sunday night Feb. 26

Partly cloudy, with a low around 20. SW wind about 10 mph.

Monday Feb. 27

Partly sunny, with a high near 35. NW wind around 10 mph.

Monday night Feb. 27 Snow, mainly after 9 p.m. Low around 30. E wind 15 mph. 80% chance of precipitation.

Tuesday Feb. 28 Snow before 8 a.m., then snow, possibly mixed with rain. High near 35. NE wind about 20 mph. 80% chance of precipitation.

Tuesday night Feb. 28

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 25. NE wind about 15 mph. 60% chance of precipitation.

Wednesday March 1

Partly sunny, with a high near 40. NW wind about 15 mph.

Wednesday night March 1

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 25. W wind about 10 mph.

Thursday March 2

Mostly cloudy, with a high near 40. W wind about 10 mph. 40% chance of precipitation.

CONNECT WITH SOPHIA HARRIS sharris9@student.framingham.edu

Courtesy of The Boston Globe

FSU to install solar panels on Larned Hall

By Naidelly Coelho Asst. News Editor

Framingham State is partnering with PowerOptions Energy Consortium to install solar panels on Larned Hall and construct solar canopies on Salem End Road Parking Lot.

Power ptions is a nonprofit energy-buying consortium that delivers cost savings and predictability to nonprofits and public sector organi ations, according to its website.

The first phase of the project is to install solar panels on Larned Hall. This project will install an array of 1 1 solar panels on the roof, said Dale Hamel, executive vice president.

FSU will enter a - year fixedrate agreement with the company, he said.

“Solar projects work when there’s subsidies provided for them,” Hamel said.

nce the installation of solar panels is complete, FSU will save an estimated $514,000 in electricity costs over the 20-25 year agreement, he said.

Megan Mayer, a nutrition professor and campus sustainability coordinator, said Select Energy will install, maintain, and operate solar panels through the contract.

She said there’s a dual purpose of installing solar panels. It will provide environmental benefits and help the University save energy costs.

The installation of solar panels on Larned Hall will begin over spring

break and it will continue throughout the summer, Mayer said.

“ t’s going to provide us with a great opportunity to generate renewable energy for our own campus as well as be able to reduce the amount of fossil fuels that we’re using to power our campus,” she said.

nitially, FSU had three different projects building solar panels in different locations ’Connor Hall, Larned Hall, and Salem End Road.

The idea of building on ’Connor was discarded because the roof cannot support this type of structure, Hamel said.

Mayer said, “ ne of the goals in that plan is to generate more of our energy that we use on campus from renewable sources.”

Hamel said the city of Framingham has a “huge” role in how these projects proceed.

Mayer said FSU has a Climate Action Plan that has sustainability goals for the University to achieve in the coming years.

FSU was named among the most environmentally responsible colleges in the country by The Princeton Review.

Hamel said the oard of Trustees had many discussions about energy savings and if the project was worth it. They decided that even if the University doesn’t save much money, they would still go forward with the project because the University has the Green Commitment.

FSU completed installing solar pan-

els on the Athletic Center and McCarthy Center a few years ago.

In combination, the solar panels on these two locations increased FSU’s renewable energy percentage to 19.25%, according to the Climate Action Plan.

A second project that is still not finali ed is the installment of solar canopies on Salem End Road parking lot.

“ ne of the bigger issues is with supply chain and the lead times - we’re talking three months at least in terms of the steel, so we have to wrap up the deal, before we can even proceed and we don’t want to go into the fall because that’s a major lag for us,” Hamel said.

lenn Cochran, associate dean of students and student life, said Residence Life is “very excited” to be part of the project.

Installing solar panels where they are visible to students allows them to see FSU is making the right sustainability choices, he said.

Mayer said in the McCarthy Center, students can see panels from one of the stairwells in the building, but otherwise, because these panels are on the roofs of buildings, students don’t go up there and it’s “hard” for students, faculty, and staff to see them.

She said she plans to host events during the fall semester to communicate with students about these sustainability efforts FSU is making.

“I think this solar canopy that would be over the parking lot, would be an obvious reminder every time students

are parking there that we’re capturing energy from the sun and using that to power part of our campus. really liked the idea of the canopy for that reason,” Mayer said.

Cochran said Residence Life fully supports sustainability on campus because the department encourages students to make good decisions.

“Residence Life has tried to be supportive of sustainability efforts,” he said. “Sustainability is a social justice issue, too.”

He said in the Fall 2022 Semester, he worked with Mayer, and Stephanie Crane, associate director of Residence Life, on creating materials on sustainability for residence students.

“We were the first campus, think, in the state university system, to kind of one in on requirements for refrigerators and microfridges in the residence halls to require them to be Energy Star rated - again, for sustainability,” he said.

He said students will be in situations either at work or their homes in the future where they’ll be making decisions on renewable energy and how they can be involved in sustainability efforts.

Framingham State hopes to be a positive influence on students regarding sustainability matters and efforts to be a green campus, Cochran said.

OER grants

Continued from page 1

new textbooks made a difference in the classroom.

“One thing that we’re really excited about is for faculty to be able to engage in open pedagogy,” she said. “And so one way of using an open textbook is engaging students to contribute to the creation of that textbook, and so with this project, we’re encouraging faculty to do that.”

As an example of open pedagogy, she said faculty can implement assignments that are not “throw away,” meaning students are creating online galleries, questions, and discussions that can then be used in the future.

González said the University is partnering with a software company called Hypothesis, which allows students to engage with readings through the social annotation of digital texts.

“It’s really exciting,” she said. “So then, actually, at the very end of the class, not only do you have an open textbook, but you also have the work of not only the faculty, but also students.”

The second OER grant lasts one year and comes from the Massachusetts legislature, according to Patricia Lynne, English professor and chair of General Education. The goal of this grant is to help eliminate the cost of textbooks for several institutions, including Framingham State.

The partner for this initiative is Lumen Learning, a courseware program, which can be used for primary or supplemental material, according to Lynne. The grant will cover the cost of use through December 2023.

“After that, students will have to pay for access to the courseware. However, the cost of these materials will remain below the threshold set by the Commonwealth for low-cost materials,” Lynne said.

This threshold is currently $50 and the cost of Lumen Learning use would be approximately $35 per student, she said.

She added during Open Education Week, which takes place this year March 6 to 10, a hybrid lunch and learn will be hosted with a Lumen representative in attendance, who will be able to discuss this courseware further and answer any additional questions.

Lynne said she began to get involved in OER when she became chair of General Education.

Two teams were eventually formed in regard to OER - one led by González and the other led by herself, she said.

The American Association of Colleges and Universities offers an annual “intensive workshop” that takes place for three to five days over the summer, Lynne said. on le attended the first one to “make headway on getting OER onto campus.”

Lynne said she attended the second one “with a specific target of getting OER baked into general education.”

She explained this year is the first general education has been made a program with a chair because it used to be the responsibility of the University Curriculum Committee.

“But that sort of meant that people only paid attention to it about once every five years or so, and then there would be a lot of frantic attention,” she said. “And they were doing as good a

job as they could do, but the University Curriculum Committee has a lot of other responsibilities.”

Now, general education is a program area under the responsibility of a chair and the General Education Advisory Board, she added.

Lynne said for the second OER team, “There is an initiative through the Board of Higher Education that all general education courses become low or no cost for materials for the course. Whether that’s an attainable goal is

section on how to read scholarly articles as well as more pictures because it is currently “text dense,” she said.

Lynne suggests professors who may feel overwhelmed starting their OER journeys to “take the materials that you have already developed and put those in.”

She said the textbooks that are often the main priority for professors are ones for the courses they already teach.

“The other thing that I would say is

Along with the ROTEL and Lumen Learning grants, González said the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education is encouraging a pilot project known as “Course Marking.” This project would help students identify which courses are low to no cost in additional material expenses.

She said she sent out an email to faculty explaining the project along with a survey to begin identifying the additional costs of courses. If the pilot is successful, University Registrar Mark Powers would then mark them in the course catalog.

“The idea is to make sure that faculty understand what qualifies as a no or low cost,” she added. “And then, ultimately, when we have those statistics, we can provide that information to the state and they can talk about how Massachusetts public higher education is supporting students in textbook affordability.”

Another OER initiative taking place on campus is Scholarly Communications Librarian Rebecca Dowgiert’s recent acceptance into the Open Education Network’s Certificate in ER Librarianship Program for 2023.

debatable by some, but I think it is a worthy goal.

“So that’s what I have been trying to do and it’s not working as well as I want, but, you know, what we get is what we get,” she added. “In a number of different directions, I am trying to get people to pay attention to the cost of materials in their general education courses.”

As an example, she said her team collected the data of the cost of textbooks and is working on running the numbers in order to send that information to department chairs.

Lynne said she learned that professors often do not adopt OER because of the absence of the ancillaries that often come with textbooks, including PowerPoints, test banks, and homework sets.

In response to hearing this, Lynne said, “I developed this idea that we were going to try to get a grant to fund what I’m calling ‘blitz builds,’ but what are sometimes also called ‘sprints.’ And these ‘blitz builds’ would allow us to - in an intense week - everybody who wants to use this particular OER would develop the ancillaries around it.”

This idea was put on hold due to the acquisition of the Lumen Learning grant, she said.

“We’re going to let Lumen Learning work for a year and see what people find on the Lumen Learning sites,” she added. “If they like it, then great. I don’t see any reason to be in competition with that. Let’s work in places where there’s a greater need.”

Lynne said she believes her textbook is the first to be completed and released through the ROTEL grant. This textbook was designed for her Composition I course, but over the summer, she plans to update it so that it could be used for her Composition II course.

Some of the additions she would like to have in this textbook include a

that ‘The perfect is the enemy of the good,’” Lynne said. “If you aim at perfection, you are never going to release that textbook.”

She explained for-profit publishers strive for perfection before they spend the money to publish a textbook, but they have the resources to do so. Individuals creating OER do not have that. However, they do have experience working with their students and feedback from those who are using those materials first hand to learn the subject.

She added updating OERs is easy and professors creating them are not subjected to the whole publishing process that for-profit authors would be.

Lynne said she likes to give her students open pedagogy assignments to encourage collaboration and understanding of the material as well as boost her students’ confidence in their own work.

“I had a student tell me point blank in a reflection on doing the open pedagogy he never thought that anybody as knowledgeable as I was would take his work seriously,” she said. “I took his work seriously. What he added was strong. He gave me a really good example and I was able to use it in the textbook, and it not only helped him, but it helped every future student who uses this.”

Lynne said ultimately, she and the OER teams want to hear from students.

“We need students to let faculty and administrators know that they want OER,” she said. “It won’t be possible everywhere, but as much as possible, we want faculty thinking about this. And there are faculty who are simply not aware of it.”

She added students voicing their opinions on OER and whether they want these materials available in their courses will help the process of making OER a reality on the Framingham State campus.

With funding from CELTSS, Dowgiert will receive eight months of virtual training, networking opportunities, and a chance to develop a cumulative project focused on building “sustainable, collaborative, and effective open education initiatives on higher education campuses,” according to President Nancy Niemi’s community-wide email.

According to Dowgiert, the goal of this program will be for her to develop the skills necessary to offer support and professional development to faculty at Framingham State.

Regarding OER, Dowgiert said, “They’re possible because the internet arrived, and they’re online. They’re free. They’re available from the first day of class and they definitely support cost equity for students.”

She added, “Because it’s one thing, of course, to pay your tuition, but to say, ‘Oh my goodness, there’s hundreds of dollars on top of this that I have to pull out of somewhere’ - sometimes, it can obviously be a real burden.”

Dowgiert said the flexibility that comes with using ER can benefit courses.

“You can revise them, update them, take a couple of different OERs and jam them together and kind of remix them,” she said. “For example, that would allow faculty to say, ‘Hey, I want to customize my teaching materials to exactly reflect the kind of students we have - our changing student diversity. I want it to be totally up-to-date in the discipline. I want to localize it and have local examples that really mean something to the students.’”

Dowgiert emphasized that grant money is “great,” but when that expires, there needs to be a system in place on campus that is going to support faculty and the continued use of OER.

Creating and using OER is not always easy, she said, “because, again, it’s free to use, but it’s not free to make - time is money.

“I’m not here to tell them how to do it, but I’m here to show them ways it can be done, and doing the OER cer-

See OER GRANTS page 6

“We need students to let faculty and administrators know that they want OER.”

- Patricia Lynne, English Professor and Chair of General Education

OER grants

tificate in ER librarianship is going to help me to do that even better,” she added.

Santosha Adhibhatta, a professor of environment, society, and sustainability, said she first saw a few examples of ER when searching for materials for her courses.

t was not until when she was part of the STEM Racial Equity nstitute cohort that she began to truly consider using ER in her courses, she said.

“That was what got me thinking and started to dig deeper,” she said. “ haven’t looked back since.”

Adhibhatta said she was a part of the first cohort of the R TEL grant and is currently working on writing her own textbook. “ wouldn’t say writing it from scratch, but writing my own book that will be suitable for my own course.”

The textbook will be for her ntroduction to Physical Science course, which is a class geared toward elementary education majors, she said. The original text for the course was a minimum 1 and the whole textbook was not being used, so she no longer saw the point in having her students purchase it.

With her textbook not yet complete, she said, “ ’ve been using snippets from different ER for every subjectfor every topic that we learn. just post a list of the relevant resources in Canvas, which are from different sources. My goal is to pull all of them together and build my own.”

Adhibhatta said it does take some time to gather the right materials when first starting out because not everything is peer reviewed and there is a learning curve, and when creating ERs, it is important to understand the licensing aspect.

However, she said the work put into it is “worth it,” adding for the past three years, she has only used ERs for her courses.

Adhibhatta said what she enjoys most about ER is “the freedom to tailor materials to what would like.”

She said often, textbooks will discuss the same few scientists and researchers. “My goal in my book, essentially, is to also shine a spotlight on those other great works done by other researchers like those with minority backgrounds or scientists of color.”

She added this is especially important to her given that the textbook will be for elementary education majors.

“ want the students to see themselves,” Adhibhatta said.

enjamin Atchison, a mathematics professor, said he first became interested in the use of ER while in graduate school.

He said he used his first open textbook when studying for one of his qualifying exams and was then able to find a free and open version of a mathematical computation software that was necessary for his research.

When he first began teaching at Framingham State in 11, he was teaching a College Algebra course and was not happy with the textbook in use, he said. He then discovered an open textbook written by two professors at a community college in hio.

This is when his use of ER truly

“blossomed,” he said. He began creating his own material and he was eventually recruited by Robin Robinson, director of the Education Technology ffice (ET ), to assist in obtaining a Teach with Technology grant.

With this grant, Atchison, some colleagues at Framingham State, and a teacher at Framingham High School began to identify ER textbooks that were more geared toward the College Algebra course, he said.

Atchinson said by pulling content from two of those textbooks and creating content of his own, he was able to develop his own “Franken-book” with the help of his colleagues.

“ t’s like a third my own, maybe, and then like two thirds from these other two resources,” he said. “ t’s very skills based, which don’t hide that fact. ’d

tify ER that is out there to just start up a conversation with the librarians or some of your colleagues to kind of to give it a shot - to sort of take another look and see if there’s something that you could identify and adapt for your courses.”

Additionally, he emphasi ed the importance of providing feedback on existing ER. He said the “beauty” of ER is the collaboration aspect of it and having those conversations is important in improving these resources.

artholomew rinkman, an English professor and director of the Center for Digital Humanities, said with much of ER accessed online and some created through digital tools, “digital humanities and ER go hand-in-hand.

“Certainly, you can have digital projects that don’t necessarily draw

they’re paid for, who’s paying for them, who’s responsible for their upkeep - it can become easier to be productively critical of things that we receive.”

Director of ET Robinson said the use of technology in education has not necessarily enhanced or deterred it in any way, but using it “with purpose, with attention to goals and objectives,” can make “life easier.”

Robinson said technology gives ER its access point. “ n some cases, it can provide more opportunity for the students to engage with that content and actually be a creator and not just a consumer.”

With ER mainly accessed online, there can sometimes be barriers to those resources for those who do not have the right devices.

“The digital divide has always been

like to improve it and make it more applications focused for that course, but it’s served the needs of the students pretty well.”

The ER he uses for some of his courses is available in a free PDF format for students to download, but he said he also works with the Print Services ffice to offer a printed version for purchase in the bookstore.

Atchinson said a lot has changed since he first started creating and using ER and the ET was not able to pay for time spent doing the work, which was tricky given that time was the main component to make and gather ER.

However, now those opportunities to get paid for time are available through stipends funded by the R TEL grant, he said.

Atchinson said among the various disciplines, math is one of the easier subjects for which to find ER.

He said he is a member of the Mathematical Association of America, and was able to host some open sessions that allowed him to network with those in the field who are writing textbooks, creating materials, or sharing resources.

“ t really exposed me to a lot that was out there and sort of became a talking point between myself and my colleagues on campus,” he added.

n terms of Framingham State, Atchison said, “ ’ve had some really positive communications with some of my colleagues and in English and some of the social science departments and art and music, and would just encourage faculty who may be in a discipline where it might be challenging to iden-

on ER materials, but think there’s a general ethos that digital humanities is often public humanities,” rinkman said.

He said the licensing used in digital humanities projects can assist in making them usable as ER, adding ER comes in all different forms - whether it is traditional textbook, a website, or another interactive resource.

rinkman said using a digital humanities approach to ER could be a potential way for professors to introduce their course material to students.

“There are a lot of potential opportunities as well with having some training in different digital humanities platforms and technologies things like meka, for example, or StoryMaps, or TimelineJS,” he said.

He added this could create opportunities for ER to be conveyed in new ways. “ think what digital humanities can open up is a way of imagining how content can not only be accessible, but can be delivered in different ways that allow students and others to see connections that they may not have seen previously.”

rinkman said incorporating digital technology in the classroom can help in asking and answering questions “in ways that would be more difficult otherwise.”

Using technology in education will help train students for its use in the workforce, but it also gives students the chance to “potentially be critical of that technology as well,” rinkman said.

He added, “The more that students understand the underpinnings of technologies - where they come from, how

something that we in technology and supporting technology have been aware of,” Robinson said, adding this became clearer during the C V D-1 pandemic.

She said it is the responsibility of the University to ensure there are alternatives available for students who may not have access to these devices.

ne opportunity in place at FSU that has been helping with the digital divide is the Laptop Loaner Program available through the office of Lorretta Holloway, vice president of Academic Enhancement, she said. Additionally, there is a computer lab on campus and computers available for use in the library.

Robinson emphasi ed the importance of implementing Universal Design for Learning in the classroom, with the understanding that not all students learn in the same way.

She said technology is not going away and if it is used well and as a mode of support, it will continue to be a useful tool for students and instructors.

“ f ’m going to do a crossword pule, ’m going to use a pencil with an eraser,” Robinson said. “Someone else may decide to do it on the computer. Someone else may decide to do it with a pen. t’s all personal choice.

“ ut at the end of the day, my reason for using a pencil is because there’s an eraser at the end and will make mistakes,” she said. “So it’s finding the technology for the right purpose at the right time.”

“My goal in my book, essentially, is to also shine a spotlight on those other great works done by other researchers like those with minority backgrounds or scientists of color. ... I want the students to see themselves.”

- Santosha Adhibhatta, Professor of Environment, Society, & Sustainability

OP/ED

THE GATEPOST EDITORIAL

Active shooter survival education should be mandatory

Last week, a gunman entered Michigan State niversity and then opened fire in a n mber of camp s b ildin s s of press time, there ere three fatalities st dents rian raser, le andria erner, and rielle iamond nderson n addition, five st dents ere critically in red

he deaths of raser, erner, and nderson are tra ic n violence is somethin ith hich e as a society have become all too familiar

ccordin to a eb e ork imes article, there have been mass shootin s since an

n addition, this latest tra edy came only a day before the five year anniversary of the mass shootin at ar ory toneman o las i h chool in arkland, lorida, hich killed st dents

ltho h the ideal sol tion o ld be for on ress to enact stron er n control la s that co ld prevent many of these tra ic and traumatizing occurrences, with the current political climate, this appears nlikely

herefore, e m st ackno led e that like any colle e or niversity in the co ntry, needs to be prepared for the possibility of an active shooter on o r camp s

Students need to know how to protect themselves if there ere an active shooter sit ation on camp s

eedin to prepare for an active shooter sit ation on camp s can be psettin , b t as proven by the mass shootin at ichi an tate last eek, it is necessary

Fires don’t happen on this campus every day, b t e still practice drills to ens re e are ready for them

here are yello emer ency ides at the front of some classrooms disc ssin the protocols for vario s emer encies s ch as fires and crime scenes, b t hat ood do these do hen they are han in on the all

he ramin ham tates ebsite offers a free min te online class st dents, fac lty, and staff can take to help them reco ni e the best co rse of action in the event of an active shooter incident

nfort nately, this provided link has not been pdated since , is not specific to , and is neither promoted nor re ired for camp s comm nity members

dditionally, there is a broken link on the ebsite that is s pposed to lead to a video on s rvivin an active shooter event ll that remains is a link to a of a pocket card refer-

Know his nameTyre Nichols

By Izayah Morgan Staff writer

encin the contents in the video he fact that a link to a video incl din s ch cr cial information is broken indicates is not makin this iss e a priority hese reso rces need to be pdated and better comm nicated to st dents evie in them sho ld perhaps even be a re irement for st dents rin orientation, st dents are re ired to attend a val able session on consent hey are also re ired to take an online co rse on alco

hol and dr safety here sho ld also be a co rse teachin st

dents ho handles an active shooter sit

ation lternatively, a portion of time d rin ori

entation co ld be dedicated to teachin active shooter protocols and practicin drills Learning how to survive an active shooter incident is st as important as becomin edcated abo t consent, alcohol, and dr s eachin st dents these safety protocols hen they first arrive at ill allo them to have the information and reso rces necessary to stay safe thro ho t their time here heir lives may depend on it

yre ichols, a year old lack male, as alle edly attacked and ab sed by five lack emphis olice epartment officers an , follo in a traffic check nfort nately, he soon died after bein admitted to the hospital in critical condition ccordin to he e ork imes, in the ro hly min tes before they radioed that ichols as formally in arrest, officers sho ted at least demands, demonstrated in the analysis of the video evidence o locations one close to ichols car and the other here he had ed and o ld be br tally beaten ere here the orders ere iven he directives ere freent, sim ltaneo s, and in con ict ith each command iven before ichols life as c t short beca se of police br tality

o ever, after atchin the body cam foota e taken on that evenin in emphis, ennessee in order to rite this article ith a f ll perspective, have come to reali e this is the most br tal and easily the most r esome video have seen in my years of life

his felt as if it as not st a ro tine stop for a traffic violation, b t to p t on a sho for one another p blic lynchin and h miliation of this man hen ichols as assa lted and treated ith s ch blatant disdain and racism, police br tality as once more e posed to the p blic

e has a tattoo of my name on his arm, his mother stated y son loved me to death, and love him to death these ords from a h rt mother hose son died at the hands of police br tality

t is ridic lo s that police br tality and ab ses of po er from the police are allo ed to ro and prosper frican mericans for decades ere victims of police br tality hether it as attack do s, ater hoses, political disr ption from ithin, p blic lynchin s, assassination attempts, etc n r artin ther in r s arch on ashin ton he stated, e can never be satisfied as lon as the e ro is the victim of the nspeakable horrors of police br tality he ri ht to be free from discrimination, the ri ht to liberty and sec rity, and the ri ht to e al protection are f ndamental in the nited tates hese can be infrin ed pon by the se of nla f l force by la enforcement e as mericans sho ld not have to fear the people and system that sho ld be protectin s from those very things!

olice br tality is a bi problem in the nited tates that has been happenin for decades, for reasons incl din inade ate instit tionali ed trainin , lack of acco ntability and prosection, racial profilin , and corr pt la enforcement o ever, ant everyone to kno the blessin that ichols as on his family, friends, and comm nity e had passions for both skateboardin since he as a kid and doin photo raphy ost importantly ho ever, he as a father of a year old e as an ama in father and it sickens me ho a father can be taken from their child at s ch a yo n a e emember his name yre ichols

Racial Trauma and Racial Injustice Resources: https:// framin ham ed st dent life co nselin center for st dents racial reso rces

Mental Health America Racial Trauma: https mhanational or racial tra ma

ave an opinion eel free to email it to atepost framin ham ed pinions sho ld be abo t ords nyone can s bmit e look for ard to hearin from yo

The Gatepost Editorial reflects the opinions of the newspaper’s Editorial Board. Signed Op/Eds reflect the opinions of individual writers.

Leighah Beausoleil / THE GATEPOST

The yellow emergency guide booklet located in FSU classrooms and offices.

Domestic violence is not a mistake

By McKenzie Ward Opinions Editor

Chris Brown, American R&B rapper, posted on his Instagram story addressing the backlash he and Chloe Bailey received after revealing their collaboration on their upcoming track, “How Does It Feel.”

In an all-text Instagram story, Brown wrote, “If y’all still hate me for a mistake I made as a 17-year-old please kiss my whole entire a–.”

The mistake Brown is referencing is when he physically abused his then-girlfriend Rihanna in February 2009. Brown was 19 years old at the time of the assault, according to Billboard.

According to People magazine, Rihanna was left with visible facial injuries and was hospitalized, and Brown was later charged with felony domestic violence which he later pleaded guilty to.

Brown accepted a plea of community service, five years of probation, and domestic violence counseling, according to People magazine.

For Brown to refer to this incident as a “mistake” is beyond disgusting.

A mistake is when a server brings you the wrong drink.

A mistake is when you forget to add eggs to your cake mix.

A mistake is NOT beating someone so badly they are left with visible facial injuries and need to be hospitalized.

In the post, Brown stated, “I’m ******* 33!” in an attempt to show he is “too grown” to be dealing with people being upset with him.

But instead, what it shows is that Brown has refused to accept that what he did to Rihanna is vile, disgusting, and was a choice that HE made.

Each and every day thousands of individuals across the United States are stuck in abusive relationships where their partners are either physically, emotionally, financially, or verbally abusive.

And for Brown to refer to how he violently assaulted his then-partner as a mistake downplays the severity of domestic violence and the impact it has.

On average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by a partner in the United States, according to The National Domestic Violence Hotline.

And according to Project Sanctuary, a full-service domestic violence and sexual assault crisis intervention responder to the entire country, on a typical day, there are more than 20,000 phone calls made to domestic violence

Bench: Ram on the Moon

hotlines nationwide.

Just last week I noted the threeyear anniversary of leaving my abusive ex-partner - one of the hardest choices I have ever made for myself but one that I believe saved my future.

And while I was lucky enough to have the chance to leave a mentally and verbally abusive relationship, there are thousands across the country who cannot leave their relationships without fear of being beaten or worse - killed by their abuser.

In the United States alone, each day there are at least three women who are murdered by a current or former intimate partner, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics.

And according to the CDC, one in five homicide victims is killed by an intimate partner.

The most dangerous time in an abusive relationship is when the person being abused decides to leave.

And while Brown may claim what he did to Rihanna was a “mistake,” it is far from it.

By claiming that physically abusing someone is a mistake, it not only lessens the serious nature of domestic violence, but it in a way also diminishes the trauma the survivor experi-

enced.

As a survivor of a relationship that was both mentally and verbally abusive who still struggles with the trauma associated with my experience, after reading what Brown wrote, I began to even question if my trauma was valid.

For those who have been abused by a partner, no matter what others say, your trauma is valid.

While Brown may claim he made a mistake, he chose to be violent toward his partner.

Just like every other abuser chose to abuse their partner.

Abuse is never a mistake. It is a choice.

National Domestic Violence

Hotline: https://www.thehotline. org/

Voices Against Violence: http:// www.voicesagainstviolence.net/

Framingham State University Police Domestic Violence Unit: https:// www.framingham.edu/student-life/ university-police/divisions/domestic-violence-unit/index

Ben Hurney / THE GATEPOST

Campus Conversations

Do you worry about the threat of an active shooter on campus?

By Raena Doty, Editorial Staff

“Yes, a little bit. You see it in the news a lot of the time. I feel like we need to have stronger gun control laws to prevent that from happening in the future.”

“Yes. … We haven’t had any drills or been informed of anything. I don’t even think an email has been sent out.”

-Eda Lindstrom, freshman

“Sometimes I do worry if some students or if anyone on campus could be carrying [a concealed weapon]. … I just want to know what the school is doing to prevent situations where that can happen, and if that did happen, what would be the protocol for us here at FSU.”

“Yeah. Because thinking about it, the thought of it - an active shooter, it’s scary. You hear about mass shootings all around this state. An active shooter on campus is very scary.”

-

“Actually, I do, especially with the Michigan State thing that just went down and seeing how it’s spreading to campuses - as in colleges and universities. Whereas before, it kind of seems like it was a strictly high school or elementary school issue. Now, it’s moving to universities and that is honestly terrifying.”

-Kaylie Valent, sophomore

“I don’t see the reason why we came here to study and at the same time we have to worry about shooters. This has been an issue going on for a while, which doesn’t make sense. We’ll come to be worrying about our lives every time, and scared that someone might just come to shoot.”

- Kehinde Odawunni, senior

“I would say it’s hard not to because you hear about it in the news so often. I feel like people should think about everything going on and what they can do to help. It’s sad that it’s almost being so normalized, but hopefully it will get better.”

-Amanda Bedard, junior

“Yeah, a lot. … I’m not from this country and I’ve never been exposed to so much gun violence. I see the news happening almost every day - in schools, malls, stuff like that. What’s stopping it from happening here?”

-Alga Garcia, senior

“Sometimes. … It’s a real-life situation that’s going on at other schools. Luckily, it hasn’t happened near me. But it’s a scary thing to think about.”

- Maliyah Touron, freshman

Sherak Ayanga, senior

-Adryen Daniels, junior

-Michael Trueswell, junior

SPORTS

Women’s basketball secure playoff bye with win over Lancers

By Adam Levine Sports Editor

The Framingham State Rams beat the Worcester State Lancers by a score of 75-54 Feb. 18 at Logan Gymnasium.

Framingham honored their graduating senior - Casey McAuliffe - at the start of their final regular season game.

Framingham outscored Worcester in the paint 48-22 and also outscored them on turnovers 21-7.

The first quarter began with an even matchup, despite the Lancers holding an edge over the Rams.

With 1 remaining of the first quarter, Worcester held their largest lead of the game with a score of - .

The Rams outscored the Lancers - to close out the quarter.

Worcester led 1 -1 to end the first quarter.

The Rams opened the second quarter with back-to-back layups to take the lead over the Lancers. Framingham did not give up their lead for the remainder of the game.

Framingham’s early baskets helped them outscore Worcester 16-12 during the second quarter.

The Rams’ Katie Haselton and wendolyn Carpenter each scored points during the quarter.

After the first half, Framingham led 28-26.

Framingham’s lead was accredited to the team’s efficient shooting. The Rams shot for . from the field in

comparison to the Lancers shooting . from the field.

The Rams began the third quarter and continued to build on their lead.

In the opening 4 minutes of the third quarter, Framingham outscored Worcester 10-4 and held an 8-point lead.

The Lancers fought back and minimized Framingham’s lead. With 3:17 remaining in the third quarter, Framingham led 44-41.

The Rams closed out the third quarter by scoring unanswered points, all

from Ram Katty Haidul.

Framingham began the fourth quarter with a 3- 1 lead over Worcester.

Framingham’s Jenna Tavanese made a quick 3-point shot, increasing the Rams’ lead to 56-41.

Over the remainder of the game, Framingham continued to outscore the Lancers.

With 1:14 remaining in the game, Framingham held a lead of 75-54, which capped their largest lead of 1 points.

The final minute of the game was

scoreless for both teams, and the Rams secured their 75-54 victory over the Lancers.

Framingham shot for 55% from the field throughout the game, in comparison to Worcester shooting 33.3% from the field.

Carpenter, who recorded a gamehigh of nine assists and made four of her six field goals, said, “Everyone did a really good job - it’s a good team win.”

Framingham’s win over Worcester State gives them a bye in the MASCAC playoffs. The Rams are looking toward their playoff run.

The Ram’s Head Coach, Walter Paschal, said, “ t’s been kind of up and down, but we got the two seed - we get a little rest.”

Carpenter said that they are working to win another MASCAC championship.

The Rams concluded their regular season with an overall record of 1and a conference record of -3.

Framingham will host Westfield State for the MASCAC playoff semi-finals matchup Feb. 24.

CONNECT

ADAM LEVINE alevine5@student.framingham.edu

Men’s basketball lose season finale to Lancers

By Adam Levine Sports Editor

The Framingham State Rams lost to the Worcester State Lancers by a score of 67-52 Feb. 18 at Logan Gymnasium.

Framingham honored their three graduating seniors - Josh Dumay, Juran Ligonde, and Marshall Martin - at the start of their final regular season game.

Each team had three players score in the double-digits. The Rams’ bench outscored the Lancers’ bench 27-17, but Worcester’s dominant second-half performance secured their victory.

Worcester scored the opening basket, but Framingham’s response kept them from maintaining a steady lead.

With 13 remaining of the first half, Worcester led with a -point lead over Framingham. The Lancers led with a score of 11- , which was the largest lead by either team in the first half.

With remaining in the first half, Martin scored his second 3-point shot in a row to give the Rams their first lead of the night. Framingham took a 3- lead over Worcester.

In the opening 13 minutes of the game, Martin and Ligonde had combined for 22 of Framingham’s 23 points. Martin and Ligonde each scored 11 points and the Rams’ JD kafor scored the remaining 1 point.

After Martin’s 3-point shot, Worcester and Framingham alternated 3-point shots, scoring two each. The Rams’ Ivan Nyantenji made both of Framingham’s 3-point shots.

With less than 1 minute remaining of the first half, Ligonde made back-toback free throws. This gave the Rams a 31- lead to end the first half.

The Lancers launched a 10-0 scoring run over the opening 6 minutes of the second half. kafor scored a layup to halt the Lancers’ scoring, but

the Lancers held a 38-33 lead over the Rams.

Worcester immediately launched another scoring run. In less than 2 minutes, Worcester scored 7 unanswered points and led -33.

With 7:40 remaining in the second half, Worcester held a steady 11-point lead. The Lancers continued to outscore the Rams for the remainder of the second half.

With 1:08 remaining of the second half the Lancers held their largest lead

of the game. They led by 17 points, by a score of 67-50.

n the final minute, Framingham’s ryan Thompson made two free throws to close out the game.

The score read 67-52 and Worcester ended the game with a 1 -point victory over the Rams.

The Rams concluded their season with an overall record of - and a conference record of 2-10.

The Rams did not make the playoffs this season, but are optimistic for next season.

Martin, who played his last game for Framingham, said, “ think this team is going in the right direction.

“ ’m very confident that this team will be really good in this conference,” added Martin.

Framingham’s Head Coach, Donald Morris Jr., said, “We see the culture changing - guys are much more committed.

“To us that’s a step in the right direction,” added Morris.

WITH

Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST Flannery O’Connor looking for an open pass in game against Fitchburg State Feb. 18.

Adrien Gobin /THE GATEPOST Juran Ligonde shooting from the paint during game against Fitchburg State Feb. 18.

ARTS & FEATURES

SJP takes the stage, and our hearts

An improvised family

By Sophia Harris Editorial Staff

In the evening before her performance, Cassidy Shaw is lifting weights in the gym in an effort to curb her pre-show anxieties.

Eric Qua and Emily Monaco practice aerobatics with their feet in the air and hands on the ground, cartwheeling in the McCarthy forum.

It is 6:30 p.m. - 30 minutes before the Suit Jacket Posse (SJP) takes the stage.

Shaw is a new member of SJP but not new to performing. In high school, she was in a production of a parody of Romeo and Juliet as well as an active member of her choir.

Qua is the co-captain of SJP alongside Will Nee. They too are no strangers to the improv scene and have been performing together since freshman year.

As the group takes the stage, the room erupts into laughter as they play a sequence of improv games full of “raunchy” jokes, not suitable for younger audiences.

“We are by no means family-friendly - we get pretty raunchy and vulgar at times,” Nee said.

SJP is Framingham State’s improv group and an extension of the Hilltop Players theater group. It has been in existence for around 20 years.

SJP is comprised of seven members all with varying levels of experience in drama. Although membership is not limited, auditions are required to

he said he has made lasting friendships and connections with the FSU community.

On the other end of the spectrum, Tadiwa Chitongo was in theater all four years of high school and two years of middle school. He joined SJP during his first semester of freshman year, and it is undeniable that he has experience performing on the stage.

No matter the experience level, SJP welcomes anyone with a love for mak-

ing part of this group lends itself to being able to bond with each other very easily - very, quickly.”

Chitongo said regarding the comradery on SJP, “I think a big thing that Eric and Will wanted for their reign of SJP was to build a kind of like, a friendship and a found family. And I think they’ve done pretty well.”

Qua said, “Often you will see present and former members eating lunch and dinner together because we’re all

SJP, aside from humor, are dedication, thinking on one’s feet, and supporting other members on stage.

Shaw said the best quality that she brings to the stage is keeping members on track.

“Building scenes and letting them shine, but helping people stay on track in a scene,” she said.

Nee said, “One of the - if not the main thing - I bring to SJP is the wholehearted dedication to the art of

participate.

Chris Miller, a former member of SJP, joined with only a summer of improv under his belt after leading improv games at a summer camp in 2019, where he still works.

Although not currently a member,

ing their community laugh, Qua said.

As a welcoming group, SJP fosters the blossoming of many friendships every year.

Nee said, “The cast of SJP almost

kind of like one friend group.”

He added that SJP is the club to join if you are looking to make friends on campus.

What makes SJP such a good place

improv.”

Chitongo said he brings a more “intellectual humor” to the stage as well as one-liners full of innuendos.

All of the members’ characteristics on SJP complement each other nicely on stage, as audiences can see their close friendships first hand whenever they perform, Miller said.

Qua said he wanted to express his gratitude toward the people who came before him including, “Sam, Ben, Jake, and Alex.”

He also wanted to thank people who have auditioned, who have supported SJP, and who have gone to their shows.

“My time hosting people who have been on the team, whether it’s for all three or four semesters or just for one - SJP would not have been the same without them.

“So I really appreciate them. I hope that new people are inspired to audition in the future.”

SJP’s next show is March 9 at 7 p.m. in the McCarthy Forum.

immediately becomes very friendly with each other. Because in the nature of improv, you have to be able to, for lack of a better term, make fun of yourself - you have to be able to laugh at yourself and be able to do that and be able to be open in that way. As be-

to make lasting friendships is the characteristics that make up its cast members, the group agreed.

It takes a special type of person to be able to perform jokes on stage.

Some of the qualities that the members said make them so successful on

[ Editor’s Note: Ryan O’Connell is the Arts & Features Editor for The Gatepost. ]

Maddison Behringer / THE GATEPOST

(Left) Sophomore Emily Monaco and Seniors Matthew Donahoe, Cassidy Shaw, and Will Nee playing “Hitchhikers” at a show Feb. 16.

Maddison Behringer / THE GATEPOST

(Left) Junior Michael Trueswell and Sophomores Ryan O’Connell and Emily Monaco performing “Director” at a show Feb. 16.

And the winners should be…

Best Original Score

By Jack McLaughlin Staff Writer

Justin Hurwit ’s bombastic score for “ abylon” perfectly fits the wild tone the film goes for. The main theme “Voodoo Mama” is most notably featured in the film’s last scene, helping make the scenes that feature it even more iconic.

Hurwit has worked with the film’s director Damien Cha elle on many of his previous films, and their continued partnership shows an immense growth since their start in “Whiplash.”

The use of “Night on ald Mountain” is another excellent example of the score enhancing the film’s many

grand sequences. The addition of this track to a stressful moment offers another spectacle that stays in your mind long after watching.

f the film’s runtime of over three hours, there was almost one hour and minutes of music.

The expansive soundtrack gives the opportunity for the majority of its scenes to be accompanied with the fantastic score.

If you’re like most audiences and skipped this film, at the very least go out of your way to give some of these tracks a listen.

Many aspects of this film were largely underrated, and it will be absolutely devastating if this score goes ignored by the Academy.

By Owen Glancy Staff Writer

Volker Bertelmann’s simplistic, yet effective score for “All Quiet on the Western Front” was one of the most divisive parts of the film. Many movie-goers didn’t like how basic and straight-forward the main four-note melody was, but they are missing the point.

The score’s droning notes and simplistic melody are reminiscent of John Williams’ iconic score for “Jaws.” Just like that film, the tension of every scene is enhanced by the simplicity of the melody. The memorably and catchy main theme that plays over many of the more horrifying scenes

imprint a sense of immense dread upon the viewer.

A major factor in how effective the score is in how little it’s actually used. It lets the chilling silence of war really settle in essential scenes. When the score starts to play during the calmer moments, it reminds the audience of the terror that constantly hangs over the main characters.

Many of the other nominees also had incredibly effective scores, with “Everything Everywhere All At Once” and “The Banshees of Inisherin” in particular standing out. However, they lack the mastery that Bertelmann brought to “All Quiet on the Western Front” and he absolutely deserves the proper recognition for his work.

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

By Owen Glancy Staff Writer

This category is arguably the most competitive, with all five nominees being incredibly strong contenders. While Ke Huy Quan and arry Keoghan are definitely great, it’s rendan Gleeson who deserves this Oscar more than any other.

“The Banshees of Inisherin” is a film built upon its powerful performances, with Gleeson’s standing at the top. His character is very tricky to pull off, requiring the actor to seem both sympathetic and heartless at the same time. leeson makes this seemingly impossible task seem easy.

Much of the nuance behind his performance is in how he interacts with others. He has great chemistry with

By Jack McLaughlin Staff Writer

When considering all aspects of the nominees this year, “Everything Everywhere All At Once” is fully deserving of the est Picture win.

From an outsider perspective, the plot can seem overwhelming and confusing - but directing duo Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert are able to masterfully balance everything to deliver a near perfect film.

Evelyn (Michelle eoh) is an excellent lead. ou grow to love her more as the story progresses and by the end you’ll fall in love with the entire Wang family.

The main villain Joy (Stephanie Hsu) is an unexpected surprise and

lead actor Colin Farrell, providing what promises to be one of the most compelling central duos in film history.

“The Banshees of Inisherin” is a film that literally cannot work without the incredible Brendan Gleeson and his phenomenal acting. While many of the other nominees do an excellent job, only Gleeson stood above the rest to deliver a performance to rival the main actors.

By Jack McLaughlin Staff Writer

Waymond Wang is brought alive through the incredible performance by Ke Huy Qwan in “Everything Everywhere All At nce.”

After an incredibly long hiatus from acting, Qwan is able to put on full display his ability to absolutely captivate the audience in each scene he is in.

Qwan not only plays the Waymond that is introduced at the start of the story, but also portrays many different versions of him from different universes.

Each variant of Waymond has such a distinct personality that it’s hard to pick a favorite - every single one is fantastic.

Best Picture

both her and Evelyn experience important growth when encountering each other on-screen.

Of the Best Picture nominees this year, this is easily the most visually striking film. The use of changing aspect ratios and vibrant cinematography gives it a distinct style that will be difficult for any other crew to replicate.

In the midst of the nonstop chaos this film has, it somehow manages to make a scene of two rocks with text on-screen one of the most emotional moments of this year’s films.

“Everything Everywhere All At Once” has something for all lovers of film. ts sprawling originality deserves to be recogni ed with the most prestigious award a film can receive.

By Owen Glancy Staff Writer

This year’s batch of Best Picture nominees are all particularly strong, with every entry being champion candidates. f this competitive group, “The Banshees of Inisherin” is the most deserving.

While this may seem like a simple film when viewed from the outside, its true value is found in this simplicity. The cinematography isn’t as flashy as “Everything Everywhere All at Once” or “Triangle of Sadness,” but “The Banshees of Inisherin” uses the camera in a far more effective fashion than the other nominees.

The performances and writing are what really make this film shine above

Despite all of these different personalities, one thing that is consistent is Qwan’s incredibly wholesome attitude shining through each iteration of Waymond.

Not only is he debatably the funniest character in the movie, but he also manages to have a few emotionally charged moments that allow for his performance to be more resonant.

His best moment is toward the end, where he delivers an ama ing speech on kindness. This sudden break from the insane finale helps strike an even more resonating emotional touch for the audience.

n a film filled with fantastic performances, Ke Huy Qwan is able to deliver an Oscar-worthy performance that deserves all of the praise it is receiving.

the others. The air-tight story makes every scene incredibly engaging. n a dark comedy like this, having a powerhouse script is essential. Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Barry Keoghan, and Kerry Condon all do excellent jobs, and were nominated for acting Oscars!

f there is any film that will truly stand the test of time, “The Banshees of Inisherin” is undoubtedly it!

CONNECT WITH JACK MCLAUGHLIN jmclaughlin7@student.framingham.edu

CONNECT WITH OWEN GLANCY oglancy@student.framingham.edu

Mental health

Continued from page 1

water where the messages and drawings created on the board slowly evaporate.

Burt added another recent addition to the room was an animatronic puppy. “It purrs and it’s adorable.”

She said one student called looking for a private space to pray, and she was happy she was able to offer the Rams Renew Space as there is also a prayer rug in the room.

“The pandemic - it’s affected us all in different ways. I want students to know that we’re here for them,” she said.

González said creating the space was an idea which was “bubbling” in her mind for a while, and she was waiting for a space to open up in the library to truly bring it to life.

She added the library is working on a number of other projects to focus on mental health and mindfulness. For example, on the bottom floor, there is an exercise bike with a desktop which students can use either to “zone out” and take a break, or stay active while working on schoolwork.

She said the library also hosts a weekly meditation session led by Meghan Maxfield, administrative assistant for the Mathematics Department.

González added, “There are so many things that are going on in the world that are seeking your attention. It’s really easy to get overwhelmed, especially with students working and trying to balance friends and family and schoolwork and work. It can be demanding.”

On the other side of State Street, Benjamin Day, director of the coun-

seling center, and his colleagues began an eight-week program this semester called stress reduction and relaxation training.

The weekly training is an hourlong session and it teaches students different methods to manage their

hall or the athletic center, Day said. He encouraged students who are struggling to find the time for selfcare to “just breathe.”

Day said college is not only for education, but it is also supposed to be fun. He thinks students often can get

Day said the best way to fit selfcare into a busy schedule is by making it a priority, adding if a student is capable of staying awake until 3 a.m. to work on assignments, they must also be capable of fitting in “just one hour” to do something that benefits their well-being.

Downstairs from the counseling center, Lehmberg, wellness education coordinator, mentors a group of students known as the S.E.A.L.S. Peer Health Educators.

The acronym S.E.A.L.S. stands for Support. Education. Action. Leadership. Strength. Lehmberg said their goal is to provide resources for health and wellness in an “inclusive and non judgmental manner,” on topics such as stress, sleep, sexual health, alcohol and cannabis, and mental health promotion.

The S.E.A.L.S. hold interactive tables every other week promoting these resources and handing out useful items for students to take home with them.

For example, for Valentine’s Day, they hosted a table in the McCarthy Center Lobby with a board which said “Be your own Valentine,” promoting self appreciation. Students were encouraged by the S.E.A.L.S. to write something they love about themselves and stick it on the board. Then, they were given an origami heart.

stress, Day said. Upon completing the program, students receive a certificate showing they have successfully learned to manage their stress.

This training is now being offered in addition to the counseling center’s general resources - counseling, crisis counseling, same-day consultations, and online mental health screenings.

He said the stress-reduction and relaxation training was developed from the Stress Management and Resiliency Training (SMART) at the Benson-Henry Institute at Mass General Hospital which all staff members at the counseling center were certified in last fall.

Day added the purpose of the training is to help students learn to navigate the “natural stresses” of attending college in a way that does not increase other people’s stress.

He said sometimes stress can become so overwhelming that one becomes incapable of attending class, interacting with their peers, or eating.

“A lot of the physical issues that people have can be traced to the fact that they don’t know how to relax,” he said. “So the goal is to get people to understand that connection between mind and body to be able to enter into a place where studying is easier because they’re not as tense.”

The vision for the program is to eventually bring it outside of the counseling center to locations where students gather such as a residence

caught up in worrying about passing tests and completing assignments that they forget this.

“There’s actually research that shows that a pleasant, positive interaction, even with an acquaintance or someone you don’t know can help boost your sense of well-being,” she

See MENTAL HEALTH page 14

Emily Rosenberg / THE GATEPOST

Some of the S.E.A.L.S. Peer Health Educators running an informational table on sexual health in the McCarthy Center lobby Feb. 22.

said.

Lehmberg said levels of loneliness and stress were emphasized during the pandemic. Citing the American College Health Association, National College Health Assessment, she said 53% of college students self-identified as lonely.

She said the idea that individuals are alone in trying to improve their well-being is wrong. “I think so much of improving our well-being is connecting with others and using our resources.”

Lehmberg said she discusses selfcare with the S.E.A.L.S. through a six dimensional wheel which takes into consideration all aspects of health - emotional, spiritual, intellectual, physical, environmental, financial, occupational, and social.

She said the Self-Care vending machine in the McCarthy Center, which is stocked with items such as condoms, ibuprofen, and COVID-19 tests, is designed to fulfill the idea of a fluctuating wellness wheel, especially when the Health Center is closed.

Along with their bi-weekly tables, the S.E.A.L.S. also host Pause 4 Paws, an event held near finals week for students to interact with therapy dogs. Recently, Lehmberg and the S.E.A.L.S. have been taking the therapy dog, “Snowy,” to residence halls monthly.

Maeve Walsh is a senior and a S.E.A.L.S. Peer Health Educator. She said her favorite part about the S.E.A.L.S. program is that it helps

students be able to talk to each other about important topics that otherwise can feel uncomfortable.

She said as a Peer Health Educator, she wanted students to know that it

is OK if self-care and self love doesn’t always come “naturally” to them.

“Everybody has different needs,” Walsh said. “Focus on yourself and what feels right for you.”

‘Ant-Man’ doesn’t measure up

By Jack McLaughlin Staff Writer

“Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” is the 31st film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and it still comes as a surprise that even this far into the franchise the entries can still be a letdown.

Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) is enjoying the life of a celebrity after being recognized as one of the Avengers that was responsible for reversing the catastrophic events brought by Thanos a few years prior.

His daughter Cassie (Kathryn Newton) is living life in-and-out of jail while also working with Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) on technology that can contact the quantum realm. Their device malfunctions and it causes everyone in the family to be split up in this unknown world to fight for a way out.

While exploring the new realm, Scott is forced to help Kang the Conqueror (Jonathan Majors) to save not only himself but Cassie as well.

With a premise as intriguing as that, especially compared to the previous two “Ant-Man” movies, it’s disappointing to see this film fall so short in many aspects.

The saving graces of this film are Paul Rudd and Jonathan Majors. Rudd has always been a fantastic addition

to the MCU, and his performance here is consistent with what viewers expect from him.

Kang was introduced in the TV series “Loki,” and although Majors’ performance is excellent here it’s hard to believe he is being set up to be the next major villain for the heroes to face off against.

There is still a lot to look forward to with Kang in future installments, but it is disappointing that he has yet to be properly established to make the audience perceive him as a genuine threat.

With the only good aspects now out of the way, the rest of “Quantumania” is severely disappointing.

The side characters established in previous movies, especially Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly) and Hank Pym have significantly limited screen time in this installment which is hard to believe considering their significance in the previous films.

Hope has been reduced from the co-star position with Scott to a hero that’s sidelined unless absolutely needed. Most of the action doesn’t include her, and when it does it’s mostly forgettable compared to the rest.

Hank is even worse. His character devolved from the smart and snarky mentor of Scott to a character whose only purpose is to say some of the worst dialogue in the entire movie.

Janet (Michelle Pfieffer) was set up in the last “Ant-Man” movie to be a significant player for installments such as this one. Her character in this movie has some interesting moments, but it never goes far enough to make the audience care as much as they were probably expecting to.

But the most distracting aspect of this film is the visual effects. The entire setting of the quantum realm looks incredibly bland and uninspired, but nothing compares to the effects for the character M.O.D.O.K.

The character, played by Corey Stoll, looks laughably bad. So bad in fact that in the theater I was in, each of his appearances were met with an audience cackling at how distracting he looked.

His role as a side villain is reduced to a non-threatening joke, which would have worked if his character was actually funny.

This film aims to be more light-hearted and comedic, with sudden spurts of a darker tone layered throughout in a weak attempt to build tension.

The tense moments were the best. Kang’s scenes with Scott and Janet were the most interesting, developing each character in an intriguing way that never goes far enough.

From a franchise that has come a long way like the MCU, it’s becom-

ing more frustrating to see most of the content being made for it now be more and more disappointing.

It’s becoming more apparent now that the MCU is starting to struggle with the amount of content they’re putting out each year. While there are still good movies here and there, “Quantumania” is a sign that doing the bare minimum won’t cut it anymore.

Rating: C-

A rough start to Phase 5

[ Editor’s Note: Sohpia Harris is a News Editor for The Gatepost. ]

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Puzzles

42. Relish every bit of

43. Car window decoration

44. “Mamma Mia” group

47. Heroic sagas

50. “His Dark Materials” protagonist 51. Row of runway lights? 54. Clever and calculating 55. Vamoosed 56. “ e Pit and the Pendulum” author 57. Earliest phase 59. On a slant 61. Childish language... and a phonetic hint to 17-, 25-, 36and 51-Across 64. Nobleman’s term of address 65. JFK guess 66. Chips Ahoy! shelfmate

67. Considered to be 68. If you drop it, you’ll trip on it 69. Pickleball xtures

DOWN

1. Car sticker stat

2. Ski propeller

37. 50-50 chance

38. Small grove

39. Chilly, unfriendly look

40. “Downton Abbey” title

41. Kill, in a comedy club or dragon’s lair

44. Georgia politician Stacey

45. Close- tting winter cap

46. Rigid slip-on bracelet

48. Slovenes’ neighbors

49. “Arabian Nights” sailor

52. “Tosca” or “Nixon in China”

Puzzle solutions are now exclusively online.

53. K-pop singer with the rst billion-view YouTube video

58. Alma mater of Tom Hiddleston and George Orwell

60. Chaney of classic horror

61. “ e Fresh Prince of ___-Air”

62. Permit

63. Some boxing wins, brie y

ACROSS

1. Spill cleaners

5. Turner who led a rebellion

8. ey might grab food before takeo

14. Hair line

15. It might be bruised or in ated

16. Spain and Portugal’s peninsula

17. Inexperienced insect?

19. Some SLRs

20. “ e Hobbit” dragon

21. Typical “Bluey” fan

22. Denials

23. Catch on to

25. Dog show loser?

28. Solo for Jessye Norman

30. Sleep disorder

31. Honey wine

32. Unyielding 34. Mint and sage

36. Water, yeast, malt and hops?

3. Widespread respect

4. Tulip support

5. Horsehead or Crab in deep space

6. Generational disparity

7. Pedicured digit

8. Polynesian-themed lounges

9. “Humble” home

10. Spearheaded

11. Kind of juice in a tequila sunrise

12. Inventor Tesla

13. Got smart with

18. Word a er “cat” or “power”

21. Legal weapons in MMA but not boxing

23. Attire

24. HOMES lake

26. Acquire through will power?

27. Dutch beer brand

29. Lung compartment

33. Genetic molecule 35. Auction o er

Outfit Show & Tell

(Back left) Alga Garcia, Carly Paul, Maya Brown, Cyrus Bergeron, Jacob Measmer (Front left) Liv Alexander, Lola Mwilelo, Sam Reynolds, and Angelina Casucci at the Fasion Club’s Outfit Show and Tell Feb. 21.