September 15, 2023

Cooking up a fun semester

University logo updated; use of seal suspended

By Emily Rosenberg Editor-in-Chief

The University announced the new FSU logo in May 2023 as part of its rebranding mission and after years of discussions regarding an offensive representation of a Native American on the previous logo.

In concurrence with the update to the logo, the use of the University seal will be permanently suspended until a decision is made by the state regarding its seal, President Nancy Niemi said. In places where the University would typically use the seal, it will now use the logo.

The new logo depicts an image of two rams’ horns interlocking on a shield. The shield is black, and the

horns are gold, which are FSU’s colors. The previous logo looked similar to the University seal and depicted an image of a Nipmuc Native American holding a bow and arrow pointing downward.

Niemi said she hopes that when new and prospective students see the new logo, they see the connectivity of the black and gold ram’s horns, which she said lends itself to strength.

“I want them [students] to see themselves as strong and bold and then see that as truly distinctive to Framingham,” she added.

The difference between the seal and the logo is the logo “looks forward” to the University goals and the seal “looks back” on the University’s history. The logo is seen more often on University merchandise, signage, and letterheads, whereas the seal may be seen more of-

ten on flags, degree certificates, and official documents.

“We wanted [the logo] to be something that was entirely separate from the images that were on the sealsomething modern, something bold, and something that spoke specifically to Framingham,” Niemi said.

Niemi said the decision to suspend the seal was to remain within the tradition of matching the state seal with the University seal. However, as it is not known when the state will make a decision, the University wanted to proactively stop using a seal that is considered offensive, racist, and does not appropriately represent Framingham State.

The state established the Special

Joseph Cecchi is hired as chief of police

By Naidelly Coelho News Editor

Meg Nowak Borrego, Dean of Students, announced Joseph Cecchi had been selected as the new chief of police in an email to the community Aug. 23.

Cecchi previously worked at Quinsigamond Community College in Worcester for the past 15 years. Before starting at Framingham State, his previous position was captain and academy director at the Quinsigamond Community College Policing Academy.

He made his way up from a traffic officer at Quinsigamond to a full-time police academy director.

In his previous job, Cecchi undertook many equity and inclusion initiatives that he plans to implement at FSU as well. “Throughout my professional higher education career, equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging have become an integral part of my values, goals, and approaches. This has become my goal not only in the work environment but in my general approach to daily life,” he said.

Cecchi said he likes to be involved with the community and has promoted events such as No Shave November, Pink Patch, yearly food pantry donations, and Coffee with a Cop.

In 2016, Cecchi started a project where he dressed up as Santa Claus to distribute toys and food to those in need. He plans to bring this project to Framingham State.

“My plans are to collaborate with other groups on campus and collect these toys and get them to the families that need them,” Cecchi said.

He said when he started this project, they were helping about 80 families a week during wintertime.

He thinks the police department should collaborate with other departments across the campus to positively impact the community.

Dining Commons staff help kick off start of the semester activities with a picnic on Crocker Grove.

E ditorial Board

Editor-in-Chief

Emily Rosenberg

Associate Editors

Ryan O’Connell

Sophia Harris

News Editor

Naidelly Coelho

Opinions Editor

Izayah Morgan

Sports Editor

Adam Levine

Asst. Sports Editor

Riley Crowell

Arts & Features Editors

Raena Doty

Jack McLaughlin

Asst. Arts & Features Editors

Bella Omar

Owen Glancy

Design & Photo Editors

Maddison Behringer

Adrien Gobin

Staff Writers

Jesse Burchill

Ben Hurney

Carly Paul

Dylan Pichnarcik

Alexis Schlesinger

Liv Dunleavy

Jackson Clyde

Emily Monaco

Advisor

Desmond McCarthy

Asst. Advisor

Elizabeth Banks

Gatepost Interview Jerome Burke

Director of the Center for Inclusive Excellence

By Sophia Harris Associate Editor

What is your educational and professional background?

My first degree is a bachelor of law, which I did at the University of Technology. I have a master’s in integrated marketing and communication from the University of the West Indies.

What are your hobbies?

I love writing and directing. Currently, I write for a YouTube series called Balla. Also, another one is called True Colors. I enjoy creating stories that put young people at the forefront, allowing them to tell their own stories, but also dealing with issues that young people often go through - all while creating practical solutions.

What are some goals that you would like to accomplish in your career here at Framingham State?

The key word for me is impact. So as I think about goals, I am really hoping to make an impact. I’m really hoping to be able to identify the issues that our students are going through. When you think about our LGBTQ+ students on campus, when you think about our BIPOC students, and when you think about our firstgen students, I’m really hoping that we are able to highlight what those issues are and take practical steps toward a solution. Not just thinking about it in a theoretical manner, not just thinking about it in the sense of some studies that were done, but really creating spaces where students themselves are able to see a difference. “This is what I’m going through and what does the solution look like, for me.” My goal is to really create spaces where we are able to identify those issues. Allow students to articulate what their solutions look like for them. Also, I’m very big on culture, so I’m really hoping to make some noise on campus. I’m really hoping to make Framingham State a fun and vibrant space - a very vibrant university that celebrates every culture. There should be something that every student is able to say, “That resonated with

me. That’s something that I really liked.” Hispanic Heritage Month is coming up. I didn’t know a lot about the culture and just through this job, I’m already been able to do a lot of research. I’m realizing that 22% of our student population identifies as being Hispanic. That’s massive. So I’m hoping that through my work, I’m able to make sure that we walk away knowing a lot more about that community and doing a better job of serving that community.

What is something students wouldn’t expect about you?

As a Jamaican, I can’t cook. I’m also from the islands and I can’t swim. I think if I told students that I’m from Jamaica, and they heard those two things, that’s going to be something that they didn’t expect. I don’t think that students would expect that I’m someone who loves movies and shows that have no real substance. Sometimes, I watch really trashy T.V.

Do you have any advice for students?

University is an experience. I think that a lot of what will make an impact on your life, when you think about university, is not going to be what you learn in the classroom. I think it’s the friendships that you’re going to be able to form on campus. Those are some friendships that are going to be for a lifetime. Those are

Police Logs

Monday, Sept 11 11:09

100 State Street

McCarthy Center Room 410

Framingham, MA 01701-9101

Phone: (508) 626-4605

Fax: (508) 626-4097

gatepost@framingham.edu

Alarm Towers Hall Referral Filed

Tuesday, Sept 12 5:34

Parking Complaint Salem End Road Advised

Thursday, Sept 14 3:31

Parking Enforcement Crocker Hall Citations Issued

going to be people who are able to get you an interview. They’re going to be the ones who when you’re really going through stressful times in life, when your back is really up against the wall, these are going to be the people who are going to be showing up for you - not just on the phone or just virtual but in physical spaces. Pulling up at your door and really giving you support. So, really immerse yourself and allow yourself to really form friendships, while you’re on campus. Think about those relationships outside of the classroom as much as you can.... The last thing I will say is that find something that you are passionate about. You will never really feel like anything in life is working for you until you find something that you’re passionate about. If it’s sports, get involved. If it is a particular club or affinity group, get involved. I can tell you when … everything else in life is going wrong - once you are involved in something that you’re passionate about - for whatever reason, it seems like you’re able to just turn off all that noise and really zone in. ... I think everyone knows that thing they’re passionate about. And once they’re able to find that meaning, there is no apology about it. Just enjoy doing it.

CONNECT WITH SOPHIA HARRIS sharris9@student.framingham.edu

Thursday, Sept 14 03:52

Parking Enforcement Crocker Hall Citations Issued

Courtesy of Jerome Burke

SGA holds its first meeting of the year

By Naidelly Coelho News Editor

During its first meeting of the year, SGA addressed concerns about the new multi-factor authentication and welcomed new eBoard members Sept 12.

President Evelyn Campbell said students have been having difficulties with the multi-factor authentication that is required starting this year to access the FSU email.

Senator Ben Hurney said he has opened his email “multiple times’’ and been repeatedly asked to authenticate even though he had the app open already.

“So I just kept doing that for like an hour and eventually it worked itself out. But now it’s just kind of annoying,” he said.

Campbell said if any students have any issues regarding the multi-factor authentication, they should reach out to IT and they should be able to figure out the issue.

Senator Tony Sims brought up an issue regarding a lack of security at the gym. He said a lot of equipment has

Chief

Continued from page 1

Cecchi also believes collaborating and sharing ideas with different people is what makes FSU unique.

“Especially with this being only my third week, I can really see where the concerns are by hearing the students’ voices and letting them be heard,” he said.

“I want everyone to be able to feel comfortable coming to us where there’s a concern of safety or racist concerns. We want to handle that and correct that,” Cecchi said.

Nowak Borrego said the search committee reviewed all materials and identified candidates to conduct Zoom interviews, as well as open forums the community could attend.

There was one student on the search committee and some students and staff were also present for the on-campus interviews, she said.

President Nancy Niemi said she was part of one of the groups that interviewed both finalists.

She said the search chairs led staff through the process of vetting the applications, interviewing the candidates, reviewing their references, and

Weather

Sunday night Sept 17

Partly cloudy, with a low around 58. Southwest wind 6 to 8 mph.

Monday Sept 18 A chance of showers after 11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 76. Southwest wind 6 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

been missing.

As a response, Vice President Raffi Elkhoury said there are many cameras in the gym. However, he is not sure if the cameras are operational at the moment.

Elkhoury also said some students have also been complaining about the signage on the game room door. The game room sign says to enter the room, students need “a keycard access” and it simply means they need their student ID, he said.

Elkhoury said he will be bringing this up to the right people since “it’s an easy fix.”

Campbell swore in returning senators Ben Hurney and Tony Sims.

Over the summer, Campbell appointed new eBoard members to occupy the open seats, she said.

Ellen Lopes will act as diversity and inclusion officer for the year.

Lopes said she hopes to meet with all affinity groups and gather their concerns with the hopes of coming up with solutions together.

Aimme Takoud will act as SATF treasurer. She said her job will be to keep SGA on its toes when it comes to spending and budgeting.

Anna Risotti will act as secretary. She said she is very excited for this year and hopes more new people join SGA.

During officers’ reports, Ryan Mikelis, student trustee, encouraged students to go to the next Board of Trustees meeting on Sept. 20.

He said it’s good to have students at these meetings so faculty and administrators understand that students are interested in being part of decisions made for the University.

Mikelis emphasized the importance of the RAMS Resource Center, which is located next to the overhang walking up from Maynard Lot to West Hall. RAMS Resource Center has free items to students that have been donated from food pantries and organizations around the Framingham area, he said.

He said the school has partnerships with different stores that will offer student discounts and students should take advantage of that.

The RAMS Resource Center is looking for volunteers, especially during the summer when the demand for goods becomes higher.

The new Chief of Police, Joseph Cecchi, was present at the meeting to introduce himself to students.

“One of my goals here is to really collaborate with student groups, as well as faculty groups on campus, to have a working relationship on problem solving. I might not have all the ideas, but we can come up with them together,” Cecchi said.

Cecchi said he wants students to have a voice and be heard by the police department and other departments as well.

Elkhoury said the General Education Board is hosting an open forum to review the Gen-Ed program. He encourages students to go and understand how the credits are distributed and what courses apply to certain requirements.

Liv West, outreach and events coordinator, presented the “U-Rock” to Campbell for her great initiatives and for helping students transition into their roles.

selecting a candidate.

Nowak Borrego said when Cecchi was interviewed on July 28, “He answered the questions in a way that the search committee felt he would be an asset to our community in support of our anti-racist efforts. … Every member on our college campus enriches our diversity. We support inclusion and are dedicated to ensuring equity and access to opportunities.”

Niemi said her “experiences with Chief Cecchi to date show that he is very eager to connect with and listen to students.

“I think the Chief’s eagerness, along with this demonstrated commitment to equity in his previous positions, will prove him to be a supportive and eager partner with students on this and many other issues,” she saidw

SGA President Evelyn Campbell said Cecchi has been already responsive to SGA’s concerns and has “immediately” taken action to look into them.

Campbell said Cecchi attended the last SGA meeting and was listening attentively and taking notes about all of the students’ concerns.

“He is really trying to foster connec-

Monday night Sept 18

A chance of showers before 10pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 57. West wind around 8 mph.

Tuesday Sept 19

Sunny, with a high near 74. Northwest wind around 8 mph.

pus and we greatly appreciate that,” she said.

Niemi said she’s “eager to watch the development of a strong relationship between FSU students and our campus safety team, with Chief Cecchi at the helm.”

Nowak Borrego said she is “thrilled” to have Cecchi on the team and hopes students and staff take the time to get to know him and invite him to events.

Cecchi said he wants “to build trust

and legitimacy, and I want us to be transparent with everything we do. The transparency is huge for the community.”

Forecast provided by the National Weather Service

www.weather.gov

Tuesday night Sept 19

Mostly clear, with a low around 54. West wind 5 to 7 mph.

Wednesday Sept 20

Sunny, with a high near 75. North wind around 8 mph.

Wednesday night Sept 20

Mostly clear, with a low around 54. East wind 6 to 8 mph becoming northwest after midnight.

Thursday Sept 21

Mostly sunny, with a high near 75. North wind 6 to 9 mph becoming east in the afternoon.

Courtesy of Joseph Cecchi

FSU kicks off semester in midst of heat wave

By Emily Rosenberg Editor-in-Chief

By Sophia Harris Associate Editor

From August 31 to September 11, Framingham experienced high levels of heat and humidity, making the first week of classes difficult and uncomfortable for some students.

The stretch’s highest recorded temperature of 97 degrees occurred on Thursday, Sept. 7. Students were released early from Framingham Public Schools to avoid experiencing heat exhaustion.

Framingham was one of several school districts to decide on an early dismissal from classes or to cancel activities altogether.

Executive Vice President Dale Hamel said the main factor that the administration considers canceling class is if transportation will be an issue. Therefore, as a majority of the main buildings on campus where classes occur have air conditioning, the administration did not see an issue with continuing classes. He added heat doesn’t typically come into play regarding canceling classes unless one of the HVAC systems goes down.

Resident students noted hot dorms made it impossible to study or sleep in their rooms. Some students even went back home after classes because of the heat.

Meghan Larkin, director of orientation, said orientation leaders planned at the beginning of each day to provide students with resources to keep them safe during the heat. They also planned ahead what times they would take breaks and during which points of the day they would move into the shade.

Although events during orientation were planned from 8 a.m. until 11 p.m. every day, students were not required to attend.

She added during the Student Club and Organization fair on Sept. 7, the Center for Student Experience provided cold water for students and student leaders, as they were told they could not move the event inside.

An email was sent to the FSU community by Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students Meg Nowak Borrego on Sept. 8 addressing the “unseasonably warm weather.”

The email communicated that the administration was aware of the discomfort students may have been feeling. “We want to recognize that all of you have been living and learning through discomfort this first week of classes,” the email stated.

The email from Nowak Borrego addressed ways students could combat the heat such as using spaces on campus that are air conditioned “during peak hours,” using built-in shades or Residence Life-approved window coverings, taking a Trip on the RamTram to the air-conditioned Natick mall, as well as tips such as taking a cold shower, borrowing a fan from a neighbor and staying hydrated.

Nowak Borrego said she sent the email because she wanted to ensure those who are first-year residents knew there are options on and off campus to

escape the heat and stay safe. She added it is important for students to know that the McCarthy Center is open 24/7.

She emphasized the importance of students reaching out to faculty and staff about their individual situations.

Glenn Cochran, associate dean of students and student life, agreed. “People were warm and windows only open a limited amount.”

Cochran said he “encourages students not to fixate on the heat.”

He added he encourages students to use fans and “spend time in other [air-conditioned] places.”

He said, “You can’t change it and if you look at the rarity of it - the reality is that some people are really hot and they are going to be really cold really soon.”

Linsley Hall is closed for this academic year and was previously the only on-campus residence hall that was air-conditioned.

Cochran said the University has priced out the possibility of adding air conditioning to a few parts of Larned Hall and it is “a couple of million dollars.” However, this would only happen if FSU decides to stop using Linsley for summer housing.

Cochran said, “It’s a lot of money. How much would you want to add to a student’s cost of education to cover a condition that might happen for four or five days in 10 years?”

He added, “Then once the air conditioning is in, that’s not the end of the cost.” There is the cost of energy and repairs and replacements in the future

heat-related injury because they’re working out in the hottest part of the day between 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.,” Lyons said.

She said students should “avoid strenuous physical activity in the heat.”

She added if a student is on a sports

“I put the fan in my window and it registers the temperature of the room it’s in. I took a photo of it when I registered at 98 but it did get as high as 101 degrees,” Hadge said.

She said one of her concerns was the physiological effects of the heat. “It can be really dangerous and if you take into account students who have secondary medical conditions that don’t allow them to self-regulate their body temperatures, it can get really dangerous - even leading to hospitalization from overheating or heat stroke.”

Brian Fintonis, a sophomore, said the first week of classes was “pretty bad” due to the heat.

He said he understands there is “not much the campus can really do other than provide places to be cool.

“The weather is going to be what the weather is, you know,” he said.

James Rodick, a sophomore, said the heat was “so bad” he had to commute to FSU for the first week of classes.

He said he “wishes FSU would get AC on campus.”

and that is “another huge cost.”

Cochran said FSU is “trying to be accessible and affordable.”

Health Center Director Anne Lyons said her staff did not treat any students with “severe heat issues like heatstroke or heat exhaustion.”

She added the Health Center has treated students “who don’t feel well” and the heat and possible dehydration “definitely makes things worse.”

Lyons advised “wearing appropriate clothing for the weather so your body can cool” will help students stay comfortable during the heat.

She added avoiding “excessive alcohol” will lower a student’s risk of heat stroke.

Lyons said staying hydrated is “really the best way” to prevent heat-related illnesses.

Athletes are “really at risk for

team, and is “going to be working out in the heat - build up to it. You don’t want to start football practice in this heat. You want to start weeks before building up your tolerance.”

Will Nee, a senior, said they believe the residence halls should be air conditioned and it “kind of seems like almost a human rights issue.”

Haley Hadge, a senior, said moving into her dorm was especially challenging in the heat.

“I got so hot just from picking up suitcases and duffle bags. I was like, I have to leave. I went to the McCarthy Center because it’s air-conditioned. But that didn’t solve the sleeping problem. So I did end up having to go home,” she said.

She added she brought a fan with her to keep in her dorm, which has a built-in thermostat.

Haley Jensen, a freshman, said while she enjoyed her first week on campus, the heat made her very exhausted, especially as she lives on campus and had to go back to a non-air-conditioned dorm at the end of each day.

Kenley Fleurimond, a freshman, said the heat was “very irritating” because he drove back to his home in Boston to avoid having to stay in his dorm in the heat.

‘It was good to see friends, but it was so hot,” he added, “so you’re in a class and instead of worrying about the material, you’re focusing on how hot it is.”

Gatepost Archives Linsley Hall, the only air conditioned residence hall, is closed for the academic year.

“It’s a lot of money. How much would you want to add to a student’s cost of education to cover a condition that might happen for four or five days in 10 years?”

- Glenn Cochran

Associate Dean of Students

and Student Life

New Logo

Continued from page 1

Commission Relative to the Seal and Motto of the Commonwealth to investigate the features of the official seal and motto of the Commonwealth and propose suggestions to the General Court in 2021. It voted to pursue a complete redesign in 2022.

The deadline for the commission to finalize its suggestions is November 15, 2023, and there is currently an active online survey for Massachusetts residents to provide feedback on what they would like to see on the new seal.

After the commission finalizes its suggestions, the legislature must propose and pass a bill to be signed by the governor in order to change the seal officially. The legislature is not required to accept the commission’s suggestions.

Once the state makes a decision regarding its seal, the University may or may not adopt a similar look for its seal, Niemi said.

She said as of now, departments have focused on easily replaceable and most immediate items that are frequently renewed such as business cards, uniforms, and letterheads.

“We’re going through as much as we can,” she said. However, it will take time.

In more permanent places where the seal is used (for example, on the engraved bricks outside of the Henry Whittemore Library), Niemi said her administration is still unsure when it will be removed because they don’t how long it will take for the state to finalize its seal.

She said although not everyone may agree with the new logo change, the administration had a “pretty good convergence of what people thought, by the end, particularly with regard to the logo and think the logo in combination with the suspension of the use of a seal really makes an important statement about who we are and what we’re trying to do with our community.”

Jeffrey Coleman, vice president of diversity, inclusion, and community engagement, said the administration worked with Rebecca Hawk, former Director of Community Education and English Language Programs, who identifies as a member of the Native American community, who helped inform them of the history of discussions regarding the seal.

He added Hawk informed them of a letter that the Nipmuc Tribal Council sent to the University in 2020 asking them to remove the image of the Native American from the Seal, which was never initially responded to.

Coleman said Hawk will be serving as a community liaison between the University and local community tribes.

He added DICE is working to secure other forms of representation of Native American heritage on campus. For example, DICE is collaborating with the Studio Art department to create visual land acknowledgements in the form of murals.

Coleman said the suspension of the seal and unveiling of the logo was a great time to reflect how to best represent Native American and tribal communities.

“I think that art draws people and engages people more so than a statement that people have to remember to read or stop to read or find on a website,” Coleman said.

The redesign of the logo is also part of a larger rebranding project that has involved redesigning the University marketing and admissions strategies and will include a complete redesign of the University website.

Averil Capers, director of marketing, said the University is working with the digital marketing company, Primacy, which specializes in Logo design. She said that going into the redesign process, the “goal was to create a logo that symbolizes FSU. We wanted to make sure that it resonated with the students and faculty and staff and also to align with our overall mission and goals.”

She added the values the logo is designed to reflect are “teamwork, unity, leadership, determination, connectivity with one another stability, strength, and courage.”

Capers added the University obtained feedback from various focus groups made up of faculty, staff, and students before making the final decision. A campus-wide survey obtaining anonymous feedback from the community was also sent out prior to the final vote on the logo.

The final decision was made by the University’s top executives and the Board of Trustees, but Capers said that it was not “made lightly.

“We all realized how important it was,” she added.

She said the new logo is “going to be the visual anchor of our brand identity. It’s going to be a consistent and recognizable image that we hope and we envision will just be a presence in the minds of people that are our students and alumni - we want them to be proud of it.”

Capers said the rebranding of the logo may also give the University an opportunity to be more competitive. In reference to the campus-wide survey, she noted how it compared its boldness to other logos at FSU’s sister universities.

Daniel Magazu, director of communications, said the logo that was chosen was the logo that was most aligned with the results of the community feedback survey.

He added he understands that there are people who like the new logo and people who do not like it, especially as it is new, but he hopes people will become accustomed to it again and feel a sense of pride.

Student Trustee Ryan Mikelis said he does not understand the new logo because the rams’ horns look as though they are clashing. He said he had heard from a professor who said that they wish students were more involved in the process of making the design.

“As far as I know, the only representation of students was through an online survey. I could be mistaken. There could have been more areas of representation that I was not informed about. But I submitted my responses on the online survey. And I think hundreds of other students did as well. And they could have had open forums about it. They could have had a chance for students to talk to the marketing department directly,” Mikelis said.

Deb Stewart Adams, a volunteer for Independent Association for Framingham State Alumni, said that she thought the new logo emphasizes what makes FSU unique through the use of the bold colors.

She added the logo looks “powerful and fresh.” Stewart Adams said IAFSA recently redesigned their logo as well, and found it fitting that the University

did so as well. She said IAFSA worked with a logo class to design their logo, and something that was focused on in the class was the simplification of logos for the era of smartphones, which she found to be demonstrated in FSU’s new logo.

Michelle Chea, a junior, said, “Coming into the new year with the new semester with this logo - It definitely feels a little off-putting. So I did I kind of miss the old logo. It felt really iconic.”

Gabriel Delasantos, a sophomore, said the new logo “is a lot more appealing.” He said while he never thought about the logo representing community or boldness, he finds the new logo a lot more good looking, with a better color scheme.

Sasha Charmant, a junior, said she thought the new logo was “cute,” but that she didn’t really have a strong response to the design.

Hudson Maher, a freshman compared the new logo to macaroni and said it was difficult to tell the image depicted rams’ horns. “I think it’s simple, but it’s kind of hard to tell that it’s supposed to be rams’ horns. I think if you weren’t from here, you would not be able to tell.”

SGA President Evelyn Campbell said that the new logo definitely fits the values of Framingham State a lot more, especially considering the concept of the old seal and logo.

She added, “We as a student population moving forward are very open-minded and are really representative of diversity and inclusion,” and the old seal did not represent that.

Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST

Dylan Pichnarcik / THE GATEPOST The University’s new logo displayed outside of the admissions office.

CONNECT WITH EMILY ROSENBERG erosenberg@student.framingham.edu

Why Camp Ramapo?

By Izayah Morgan Opinions Editor

The question I always asked myself is, “Why am I here?”

THE GATEPOST EDITORIAL

OP/ED Ram to ram advice

It’s the second week of the semester, and as a new student, you’re likely already familiar with a lot of FSU routines.

However, while there are many pieces of information new students may learn during orientation, they might miss or forget some of them because they are situational and could seem negligible.

This does not mean this information is not critical. And It is often essential to student life.

For example, students are often left wondering how to log onto the Wifi, where to find a meal late at night, and how to find information about student organizations.

For students who are looking for a meal after dining commons hours, or for a to-go option, RAMS.on the.RUN. is an alternative solution available through meal plans. Students can pick a sandwich, wrap, or a salad, along with a side, and a drink.

Sandella’s is open Monday to Friday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Another common question new students have is how to print. Printing is easy. To print, upload a PDF or a Word Doc to your MyFramingham account under the “printing” page. Once it is uploaded, head to any of the print stations on campus and log onto your MyFramingham account on a printing computer and press print.

There are printing computers on the ground level, upper, and lower level floors of the library, the student lounge in McCarthy Center, and the IT Center in Hemenway Hall.

Also, to always be prepared for a laptop issue, it’s important to know how to get a loaner replacement.

If you purchased a laptop through Framingham State, you are eligible for free repairs, and to borrow a loaner from IT Services as long as it’s being fixed at the Technology Resource Center in the Whittemore Library.

On the other hand, if an independently owned laptop is damaged, you can request a loaner from the office of Lorretta Holloway in Dwight Hall 306, who provides loaner laptops to students unable to use their own.

Aside from technology issues, knowing how to find your professors to discuss coursework, or homework struggles, or just to chat, is also crucial to being a successful college student.

Your syllabi should list your professors’ office hours and emails.

To make an appointment with your professor, you can email them or set up a meeting through Starfish.

Starfish can be found on the MyFramingham site using your issued login. Once you are on the page, look under “my connections” and search for your desired professor’s name. Then. you will be prompted to make an appointment.

Starfish is also a great resource for making appointments with CASA and the career center.

CASA is the Center for Academic Success and Achievement. It is located across Horace Mann Hall and behind Pierce Hall. This is the place for students to find academic tutoring and disability accommodations.

After health center hours, there is also a “self-care vending machine” on the third floor of the McCarthy Center next to the elevator that contains all kinds of necessary free resources. Students searching for a quick COVID-19 test, masks, tampons, condoms, or Tylenol, can use the self-care vending machine on weekends and between the hours of 5 p.m. and 9 a.m. on weekdays.

The counseling center is located in Foster Hall and provides counseling that is covered under your tuition and fees. It is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday for counseling sessions. You can set up an appointment on Zoom, by phone, or in person by emailing counselingcenter@framingham. edu.

The counseling center is also available for same day consultations and crisis and emergency support.

If you have any additional questions about resources on campus or what’s new, the Dean of Students Office is an important resource on campus, located on the fifth floor of McCarthy.

The Gatepost, your student newspaper, is also happy to answer any questions you may have. We are published weekly and strive to provide essential news to the campus community.

The Student Government Association holds bi-weekly open forums for students to share their concerns about campus. This is a safe space for students to learn about resources and bring their concerns to the attention of the University administration.

Starting at a new school and being a student at a University in general is not easy. But there are resources here on campus that are here to help you to succeed.

Throughout high school, I had many ideas of what I could do. First, it was biology. Then, it moved over to another science - physics. Then, near the end of my senior year, I had a decision to make. Would I leave home, Springfield Massachusetts, and go to Grand Canyon University to study entrepreneurship or come to Framingham State University to study psychology?

Thankfully, I chose the latter.

Transitioning from high school to college was tough, but my first year allowed me to meet some great professors such as Anna Flanagan, Paul Bruno, Charles Sachs, and Robert Johnson. Here is where I meet Dr. Healey (who I will refer to as Bill) in an ethics class. Bill had mentioned camp Ramapo to the whole class and the opportunity it presented. It sounded like a great chance to do something for a greater community.

Hearing that it was a camp for campers on the autism spectrum only further encouraged me to do it. My father was in this field of work and my brother being on the spectrum just reinforced that this was an opportunity I couldn’t miss.

The first day I arrived, I was lost. Much like when I first got to college, it was new people, in a new place, and I contemplated if I even belonged there. Also similar to when I first started college, I called my grandmother every day to express my concerns.

Then, something happened, I met amazing people who helped me understand I wasn’t alone in this experience of loneliness and existential dread. The training was long, but it was so fun getting to meet everyone!

Then campers arrived and I was able to understand why I was here even more. The silly things I did, wigs I wore, songs I sang, and relationships I built made me realize that I don’t just get value from doing well for myself, but having others understand their own value and do well for themselves.

Sure, there were tough times, but like anything in life, it passes and you go back to laughing. This experience made me a happier person and bringing joy not just to the campers but my coworkers was delightful.

The people who run the camp, supervisors, counselors, maintenance and cooking staff are all amazing and it’s easy to tell they love what they’re doing.

You are going to make mistakes - lord knows I did. However, those are passing moments of growth and you’ll just become that much better of a person.

To put in perspective of how important you are here in the world, take a minute and look at Ramapo’s website. Look at the pictures, and see what they’re about.

That’s what it’s about - creating a space where people feel heard and valued.

A space for people to succeed.

Thank you to my co-workers who, despite my failings and successes, treated me the same - with kindness and admiration.

Above all else, remember all behavior is communication!

AI - a threat to meritocracy

By Raena Doty Editoral Staff

Over the summer, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AF TRA) both began ongoing strikes af ter major studios refused to meet the unions’ needs when renewing their contracts.

Following the rise of generated content made by artificial intelligence (AI), both unions had items on their list of demands to protect their members from their jobs being replaced by AI.

According to wgacontract2023. org, the WGA requested that studios “regulate use of artificial intelligence on [Minimum Basic Agreement]-cov ered projects: AI can’t write or re write literary material; can’t be used as source material; and MBA-covered material can’t be used to train AI.”

According to sagaftrastrike.org, “Performers need the protection of our images and performances to prevent replacement of human performances by artificial intelligence technology.”

To many people, these demands may seem unfair - after all, if technol ogy can do it, why shouldn’t it be able to? Is the use of AI in these situations any different from the animation and

CGI used in most modern blockbusters?

be a meritocracy. While there are a lot of socioeconomic factors that may undermine this ideal, at least when two people are competing for a single job, they both have minimum needs to meet as

Machines don’t have those needs. They can pump out content 24/7 for the cost of electricity. If a machine’s work is half as good as a human being’s, but it costs a fraction of the amount, it will always be economiadvantageous

gained by giving preference to the AI, the people paying for the AI will pocket the profit and take it away from the real, living, breathing artists, who will then be forced to take non-creative jobs where their brilliance will never be known.

AI, in the hands of corporations, is a threat to meritocracy. It may start with the artists - the careers that seem superfluous, that do not generate the necessities of life. But if the people controlling money are left unchecked, they will use it as a tool to get rid of careers and the paychecks that come with those jobs.

Even if you only consider how AI will affect the entertainment industry, if studios are allowed to use AI in place of actual actors and writers, we as the audience will suffer for it.

New stories will vanish. How are machines trained on the writing of yore supposed to keep up with the rapidly changing present?

will always be cheaper than a living, breathing artist.

The entertainment industry should

The threat AI presents is not that artists will lose jobs because they will find a competitor who is better than them. The threat of AI is that it will always be cheaper than a human being, and rather than distributing the wealth

People who could have been brilliant artists will be forced to take jobs where no one will ever know their talent.

And we, the audience, will get stories half as good in the meantime. Support the WGA and SAG-AFTRA.

Campus Conversations

What was your favorite thing to do this summer?

By Ryan O’Connell, Associate Editor and Alexis Schlesinger, Staff Writer

“I stayed inside all day. … My favorite part was not melting into a puddle.”

-Henry Penn, freshman

“I went on a camping trip for the first timemy first time I went to Vermont - and it was actually with a group of friends from campus. So we were sitting out [in] tents, we went for a really long hike, saw a waterfall for the first time, and that was just pretty fun because I made those friends at school.”

-Amy Bickford, sophomore

“I’m getting really into hiking, like going five miles, going as far as I can. … And I went on a big hike in New Hampshire on a camping trip.”

-Hayley Gaskin, senior

“I built my go-kart. I got a chassis from my friend. It just sat for like 20 years, and I put a motor on it, and I was just zooming around.”

-Peter Marszalek,

junior

“I went to Greece on a vacation. I was out there for weeks, I visited three different islands out there.”

-Jaden Wilson, sophomore

“I started a new internship. It’s for fashion, and I’m really excited about it. Also … I feel like I spent a lot of time with my friends. That’s something I really enjoyed.”

-Anita Loughlin, sophomore

Raena Doty / THE GATEPOST

Need to know - Fall sports 2023

By Adam Levine, Sports Editor

Men’s cross country

During the 2022 season, Rams men’s cross country finished fifth out of seven teams at the 2022 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Cross Country Championships.

Framingham’s highest placer, Patrick Walsh, finished fifth at the event with a time of 27 minutes 48.5 seconds. This earned Walsh a spot on the 2022 MASCAC All-Conference Team, his second all-conference team after being named to the 2021 MASCAC All-Conference Team.

In the 2023 MASCAC Men’s Cross Country Preseason Poll, the Rams earned the fifth place spot, out of seven teams.

There are currently only seven student-athletes listed on the team’s roster. Walsh, the team’s captain for the 2023 season, said as a team, “We are definitely anti-injury focused.

“We’re not risking any big injuries because we can’t afford them.

“We definitely want the men’s team

to stay together,” he added.

As of presstime, Framingham placed third at the 2023 Jim Sheehan Memorial Cross Country meet behind Fitchburg State and Worcester State, respectively.

Walsh’s second-place finish was Framingham’s only top-ten finish. His time of 30:00.2 placed him 30.1 seconds shy of Fitchburg’s first-place runner.

Walsh seeks his third consecutive all-conference honor this season. He said, “I want to win the MASCAC.

“This is the first year I’m really healthy. I want to win. I want to win every race I run,” Walsh added.

Men’s cross country travels for the UMass Dartmouth Corsair Classic Sept. 17.

Women’s cross country

During the 2022 season, Rams women’s cross country finished fourth out of seven teams at the 2022 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Cross Country Championships.

The four captains this season are Amanda Bedard, Camille Carvalho, Gwen Madden, and Becca Morris.

Along with the four captains, the women’s cross country team has 13 other student-athletes. Madden said, “Since I’ve been here this is the biggest the team has been.

“I think about the team that we have now - we’re very motivated and we’re where we need to be,” she added.

Bedard said, “I just feel like everyone’s coming into the season with such a focus and drive because we do have so many more people that we feel like we have so much more of a chance.

“I think we’re all excited,” she added.

In the 2023 MASCAC Women’s Cross Country Preseason Poll, the

Volleyball Field hockey

During the 2022 season, Rams field hockey finished with a record of 10-6 and concluded with a loss to the University of Southern Maine in the first round of the Little East Conference (LEC) tournament.

Among returning athletes for the Rams are captain Bella Kondi and Kaitlin Loughlin, who earned a spot on the LEC All-Conference Third Team and was named as the LEC 12th Player respectively.

In regards to this season, Kondi said, “I definitely feel confident with

the way that the girls are meshing together. I feel like our chemistry is going really well.”

Along with Kondi, Cori Lawson, Angie Serra and Kaylee Beck are the team’s captains this season.

Rams field hockey switched from the LEC to the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) this season. In the 2023 MASCAC Field Hockey Preseason Poll, the Rams tied for second with Westfield State behind the returning champions Worcester State.

Lawson said, “Going from being ranked last in our old conference and now being ranked number two in the MASCAC - that’s a big jump and I think it’s boosted our confidence a little bit.

“There’s still that desire to be number one,” she added.

Serra said, “I definitely think this year our team has so much potential to hopefully win the MASCAC. I feel like we have a very strong team this year.

“I’m just excited to see what we can do on the field,” she added.

Beck said, “I feel like we’re gonna come into the MASCAC this year and really just shock everyone.

“I don’t think anyone’s coming in and expecting us to shake it up as much as we’re going to,” she added.

As of presstime, the Rams hold a record of 1-3, most recently notching a 1-0 win over Rivier University.

The Rams host Fitchburg State for their first MASCAC matchup Sept. 16.

During the 2022 season, Rams volleyball finished with an overall record of 17-12 and a conference record of 6-1, earning them the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Regular Season Championship. Their season concluded with a loss to Worcester State in the semifinals of the MASCAC tournament.

In addition to their regular season title, Anna Szymanski earned 2022 MASCAC Offensive Player of the Year and Head Coach Richard Casali earned 2022 BSN Sports Volleyball Coach of the Year.

Among returning athletes for the Rams are 2022 MASCAC All-Conference First Team members are captains Szymanski and Hailey Sanders, as well as All-Conference Second Team member Stella Bailey.

In the 2023 MASCAC Volleyball

Rams earned the fourth place spot out of seven teams.

Morris said, “We were ranked fourth in the MASCAC and I think we should have been higher.

“We have a great team this year,” she added.

Carvalho said, “I’m definitely hopeful and I think that this season will be very, very good. It’ll definitely be one for the books.”

As of presstime, Framingham won the 2023 Jim Sheehan Memorial Cross Country meet over Fitchburg State and Worcester State.

Framingham had runners place in second, third, fourth, fifth, seventh, eighth, and ninth. Freshman Kate Buban led Framingham with her time of 21 minutes 0.2 seconds securing her the second place finish, less than 10 seconds shy of first place.

Women’s cross country travels for the UMass Dartmouth Corsair Classic Sept. 17.

Preseason Poll, the Rams earned the second spot behind the 2022 MASCAC Volleyball Tournament Champions Westfield State.

Szymanski said, “I think based on last year, being second makes sense. We’re coming in with a really fresh, new, young team so I think we’ll make our way and get known.”

Sanders said, “Definitely eager to prove ourselves.”

As of presstime, the Rams hold a record of 5-2.

One of Framingham’s rookies, Natalie Reynolds, earned MASCAC Rookie of the Week Sept. 4 after she recorded eight kills in their win over Dean College.

The Rams travel to Colby College for a nonconference double-header matchup Sept. 16.

Carly Paul / THE GATEPOST Hailey Sanders during game against Curry College Sept. 14.

Adam Levine / THE GATEPOST Bella Kondi during game against Wellesley College Sept. 1.

Need to know - Fall sports 2023

Football

During the 2022 season, Rams football finished with a record of 5-5 and a record of 4-4 in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC). The Rams missed the postseason, but concluded with a victory over Worcester State.

Chase Buono, one of the captains this season, said last season was a “down season.

“It’s not really traditionally wise to be like that,” he added.

Among returning athletes for the Rams is Brian Callery, who earned 2022 MASCAC Offensive Lineman of the Year, and Daniel Oloyede, who earned 2022 MASCAC Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Callery and returning teammate Matthew Farley were both named to the 2022 MASCAC All-Conference First Team - Offense. Framingham’s Bryan Bowman, Devaun Ford, and Jaden Lewis are all returning athletes named to the All-Conference Second Team - Offense.

Ford, in regards to the 2022 season, said, “We got some of the best skill players in New England. I feel like our

offense is almost unstoppable.

“We’re gonna put up a lot of points. We’re gonna be tough to beat,” he added.

Framingham’s MoMo Nazaire returns for the Rams after being named to the 2022 MASCAC All-Conference First Team - Defense. Oloyede, in addition to being named Rookie of the Year, earned a spot on the All-Conference Second Team - Defense.

Buono, Callery, and Ford headline as the team’s captains this season.

In the 2023 MASCAC Football Preseason Poll, the Rams placed fourth out of the nine teams.

As of presstime, the Rams hold a record of 0-1, suffering a 29-0 loss to Salve Regina University Sept. 7.

After the loss, Callery said the team learned that winning is “not just gonna happen easily.”

He added, “We got to do it as a team and the only way to do it is together.”

The Rams host UMass Dartmouth for their first MASCAC matchup Sept. 16.

Women’s soccer

During the 2022 season, Rams women’s soccer finished with a record of 4-13-1 and a conference record of 3-4. Their season concluded with a loss to Worcester State in the quarter-finals of the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) tournament.

Among returning athletes for the Rams are Jetta Oskirko, who earned a spot on the 2022 MASCAC All-Conference First Team, and Cathryn Cooney and Victoria Potter, who both earned spots on the All-Conference Second Team.

Oskirko and Potter are joined by teammate Megan McAuliffe as the team’s captains.

There are only 17 student-athletes listed on the roster. Oskirko said, “The team knew starting out that we were going to have a lot less players than usual, but that never really scared any of us.

“It hasn’t really stopped us from playing good soccer,” she added.

In the 2023 MASCAC Women’s Soccer Preseason Poll, the Rams tied with Salem State for fifth place out of eight

Men’s soccer

During the 2022 season, Rams men’s soccer finished with an overall record of 11-5-3 and a conference record of 6-0-1, earning them the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Regular Season Championship. Their season concluded with a loss to Bridgewater State in the semifinals of the MASCAC tournament.

In addition to their regular season title, Gustav Hemmingsen earned 2022 MASCAC Rookie of the Year and Head Coach Dean Nichols earned 2022 BSN Sports Men’s Soccer Coach of the Year. Among returning athletes for the Rams are 2022 MASCAC All-Confer-

ence First Team members Lachlan Forgan, Gustav Hemmingsen, and Kunphel Sinha.

Sinha and Michael Champagne are the team’s captains this season.

In the 2023 MASCAC Men’s Soccer Preseason Poll, the Rams earned the third spot, behind Worcester State and Salem State, respectively.

As of presstime, the Rams hold a record of 3-1, outscoring their opponents a combined 8-3. Among others, goalkeeper Joey Sturzo, and forwards Hemmingsen and Kaio Santos Da Silva helped lead the Rams to their early wins.

Hemmingsen scored four goals and

recorded an assist during the first four games.

Santos Da Silva scored both of his goals this season in the Rams’ home opener against UMass Dartmouth. His performance earned him both MASCAC Offensive Player and Rookie of the Week Sept. 4.

Sturzo’s performance in the net earned him MASCAC Defensive Player of the Week both Sept. 4 and Sept. 11. He recorded 11 saves in the season opener, followed by six, four, and 10 saves in the following games.

After his 11-save shutout in their home opener, Sturzo said, “I feel great.

“My team was behind me and we

teams.

Potter said the team is “definitely confident.”

She said, “I think we’ve all discovered as a group that having low numbers is good for us.

“I think everyone is fit and confident and just ready to take on the season,” Potter added.

McAuliffe referred to the team as “small, but mighty.”

She said, “I think now that we’re here and we see how hard everyone’s worked this summer, we’re kind of like, ‘Wait, now this could happen. This could be actually really good.’”

As of presstime, the Rams hold a record of 0-3, most recently suffering a 2-1 loss to Nichols College Sept. 9.

The Rams travel to MCLA for their first MASCAC matchup Sept. 15.

were able to get something done,” he added.

The Rams host MCLA for their first MASCAC matchup Sept. 16.

Stats sourced from fsurams.com and MASCAC.com

CONNECT WITH ADAM LEVINE alevine5@student.framingham.edu

Adam Levine / THE GATEPOST

Cam Lau kicking a corner kick during game against UMass Dartmouth Sept. 1.

Spring ‘23 Sports Recap

Baseball

Overall Record: 26-15

Conference Record: 15-6

MASCAC Regular Season Title

Sean Callahan

BSN Coach of the Year

James Gilleran

MASCAC Rookie of the Year

2023 MASCAC 1st Team:

Ryan Boyle

Caleb Hendrix

2nd Team:

Steven Burbank

Robert Johnston

Anthony Panza

2023 ABCA/Rawlings NCAA DIII

All-Region Teams-Region 2:

2nd Team:

Ryan Boyle

Steven Burbank

3rd Team:

Anthony Panza

2023 D3baseball.com

All-Region Region 2:

2nd Team:

Ryan Boyle

Steven Burbank

Anthony Panza

Women’s Lacrosse

Overall Record: 12-8

Conference Record: 5-2

2023 MASCAC 1st Team:

Regan Fein

Maggie Grout

Hannah Guerin

2nd Team: Rachel Erickson

Softball

Overall Record: 33-13

Conference Record: 13-1

MASCAC Regular Season Title

MASCAC Tournament Champions

Ally Moran

MASCAC Tournament MVP

Ally Moran

MASCAC Pitcher of the Year

2023 MASCAC 1st Team: Brooke Grassia

Camille Desrochers

Gwendolyn Carpenter

Ally Moran

2nd Team:

Talia Duca

Angelina Lynch

Makayla Rooney

2023 National Fast Pitch Coaches Association All-Region: 2nd Team:

Ally Moran

3rd Team: Camille Desrochers

Women’s Track & Field

2023 MASCAC Champions:

Kaylee Beck

Hammer Throw & Shot Put

Casey McAuliffe

10,000m (39:41.72)

Emily Newcomb

3,000m Steeplechase (12:23.39)

ARTS & FEATURES

The depth of a painting

Susan Metrican’s art pops in the Mazmanian Gallery

By Raena Doty Arts & Features Editor

Arts & Ideas hosted the first Mazmanian Gallery installation, reception, and lecture of the school year Sept. 13. The installation, by artist Susan Metrican, was called “No Head No Tail.”

The art, mostly acrylic on canvas, pushed the boundaries of the canvas into the third dimension. Many of the pieces were layered, had sewnon cutouts of canvas sticking off, or pleated to add depth.

Many attendees were struck with Metrican’s use of depth in her work, and picked the dimension of paintings out as their favorite aspect of the art.

“I like how the physicality of the canvas or these kinds of manipulations can also be pictorial. They’re often representational of something like that water,” Metrican said, referencing the art piece “I’ll Come See You,” a dark gray and black painting of plants around a body of water.

Kate Carpenter, a junior studio art major, said “I’ll Come See You” was her favorite piece because of the use of the third dimension in the painting and the way everything stood out, even though the painting is monochrome.

Metrican also had a few vinyl installations - one, a large mural painted on small areas of vinyl, and the rest plants cut out of copper vinyl.

Metrican said she didn’t consider the vinyl leaf cutouts to be proper art pieces, and in fact had never made anything like them before, making the vinyl cutouts unique to FSU.

Even though she said she didn’t consider them art pieces, Tim McDonald, a professor of Art & Music, said he was interested in watching her create them.

He added he thought it was incredible to see her bring the vinyl from

her home in Fairfield, Iowa, and “improvise” cutting the shapes out and taking them down.

“They activate the whole wall so it’s not just paintings on the wall. They continue the story,” he said.

Aside from inspiration from the possibilities allowed when manipulating the canvas into other shapes, Metrican said she gains inspiration from art pieces that blend cultures together.

During her lecture, she showed a clip from a Thai film called “Tears of the Black Tiger,” and noted it was a big inspiration for her work.

She said the movie blends together influences from theater, ’60s Thai films, and spaghetti westerns, and this is very significant to her.

Metrican said recently she’s been

interested in the cultural art exchange between France and Japan when both countries began to mimic the other’s art.

“It’s a reminder that what seems new rarely is, and that even strange and enchanting things that come from far away are often in the end merely returned to them,” she said.

A few of Metrican’s pieces gained titles or inspiration from what she learns and does with her family.

She said her mother’s side of the family had many sailors in it, and she named the painting “Red Sky at Night” after a saying she learned from the sailors in her mother’s family“Red sky at night, sailor’s delight. Red sky in morning, sailors take warning.”

Metrican also showed an image of a painting not displayed in the gallery called “I Saw It First / But I Touched It First,” which has a vivid red background and depicts a landscape reflected by a pond.

She said she took the title from a ’60s children’s book she read with her daughter, where two dogs find a bone and both try to lay claim to it.

On top of that, she showed a few art pieces she’s studied and replicated in her own art. For example, one painting currently displayed in the Mazmanian Gallery, “Patrick’s Grave,” is named in honor of Patrick Caulfield, Metrican said.

She explained Caulfield designed his own gravestone in the shape of a four-step staircase with each letter in the word “dead” written on a step. Metrican’s painting has two layers,

with a panel cut into the top layer to reveal a staircase on the bottom layer.

Metrican added she likes to categorize the principles of design she uses to create her paintings - categories of flora and fauna based on nature, “vessels” where one part of the painting may be held inside another part, paintings with “pants” where a strip of canvas or fabric covers the bottom, and weaving.

Though she displayed many paintings which inspired her own work as an artist, Metrican added she’s always looking for inspiration from art from different mediums, especially functional, decorated household items.

She showed a picture of a French ceramic bowl by artist Georges Pull decorated with animals, most notably a snake, then a picture of her piece “Sea Snakes,” which she described as “fan art.” The painting had 3D snakes wrapping in front of the canvas, much like the molded snake in the center of Pull’s art.

When finishing up her lecture, Metrican considered what it is that connects her to the world with her art.

“My mother passed away last spring, and so I’ve just thought she didn’t see anything that I did since then,” she said at the end of the lecture. “But it’s just this idea that art, making art, and putting things out there is the opposite of death.

“That brings me a lot of hope,” Metrican said.

CONNECT WITH RAENA DOTY rdoty@student.framingham.edu

Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST

Attendees discussing the installation “No Head No Tail” by Susan Metrican in the Mazmanian Gallery Sept. 13.

Alexis Schlesinger / THE GATEPOST

(Left) “Pack Horse Library” and “Does Yesterday Today and Tomorrow Like Sun or Shade” by Susan Metrican in the Mazmanian Gallery Sept. 13.

Best of

'Eras Tour ' 'Across the Spider-Verse'

By Emily Rosenberg Editor-in-Chief

Taylor Swift wowed audiences from all across the world as she shimmered in her first sold out stadium since releasing four new albums and two of her re-recorded records, known as “Taylor’s Version”s.

Unsurprisingly, fans were eager to know how Taylor would manage to fit songs from all 11 of her albums into one show. People made TikToks with spreadsheets, calculating the number of songs she could fit in a three hour concert. Others put on whole performance medleys in their garages and bedrooms, mocking what they expected to be the opening.

But what Taylor delivered was completely unexpected. Swift transformed her audience back to every album through incredible costume, stage design, and bold performances of songs that defined that album. Every “Era” had its full chance to shine.

Swift also had an acoustic set which switched up every night, leaving fans on the edge of their seats wondering what she would sing. People tuned into live streams every night, and would even bet money on what songs she would sing during a game they called “Swiftball.”

But it wasn’t just the content of the show that was memorable. Swift continued to make headlines and blow-up the charts even while on a tour bus. On May

By Owen Glancy Asst. Arts & Features Editor

“Asteroid City” is the latest film from visionary director Wes Anderson, and it

5, on her first night in Nashville, Swift announced the release of “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)” during her acoustic set of the show, leaving even more anticipation for what she might do next.

Then on July 7, she brought Taylor Lautner and Joey King on stage for the premiere of a new music video starring the three of them. Throughout the tour, she filled audiences both in stadiums and at home with surprises, including another major announcement at the end of the U.S. leg - “1989 (Taylor’s Version).”

It was a cruel summer for anyone who still can’t wrap their head around why Taylor Swift is a success.

By Jack McLaughlin Arts & Features Editor

“Spider-Man: Across the Spi der-Verse” is the masterclass in vi sual and narrative storytelling that fans were expecting as a follow up to the exceptionally amazing “Into the Spider-Verse” (2018).

Viewers are reunited with Miles Morales and Gwen Sta cy, and the film continues their stories while injecting new characters and concepts that create the rare sequel that exceeds its predecessor.

New characters like Pavi tir Prabhakar and Hobie Brown let the film explore differ ent styles of animation to distinguish the overabun dance of spider-people and each of these heroes have such a strong pres ence on screen despite not being in it for much.

Daniel Pemberton’s incredible score adds an even stronger punch to each scene it’s featured in. The track “Falling Apart” accompanies an emotionally charged scene toward the end that gives the moment a heavier impact.

The main villain, The Spot, is initially

played off as a joke but the film does an excellent job morphing him into one of Spidey’s most menacing adversaries.

After viewing

“Across the Spider-Verse” 15 times since its June release, it’s safe to say this is the best “Spider-Man” story that has hit the silver screen, and it’s going to be pretty dif-

most. He somehow makes the audience care about both the fictional actors and the characters they play. Accomplishing this is nothing less than a miracle, and something I didn’t see replicated in any other film from the past four months. Anderson’s signature visual style is on full display here, with every shot being near

“Asteroid City” is a complicated, emotional, and visually striking film that shows off how Wes Anderson has improved as a filmmaker. This is definitely one of his most essential movies for anyone remotely interested in either Anderson or film in general.

By Adam Levine Editorial Staff

‘Oppenheimer’ detonated on the big screen.

Three-time Academy Award nominated director Christopher Nolan once again teamed up with Irish actor Cillian Murphy for one of the best cinematic spectacles of the summer - and possibly of their careers.

After five films together, Nolan finally utilized Murphy’s phenomenal acting as the lead role. Murphy’s portrayal of J. Robert Oppenheimer, also known as the “Father of the Atomic Bomb,” drew the audience further into the troubled mind of a generational physicist.

Nolan’s storytelling and visual effects breathe life into the historical events of Oppenhiemer’s story and the development of the atomic bomb. Murphy’s role of the physicist is through how Nolan imagined Oppenheimer would perceive his own experience, placing the audience into the mind and life of the polarizing historical figure.

Murphy is surrounded by a star-studded cast, including a breathtaking supporting actor performance from Robert Downey Jr. as Lewis Strauss, a former United States politician and Oppenheimer’s foil.

Along with Murphy and Downey, “Oppenheimer” gave the audience electrify-

ing performances from numerous other actors.

Although it lacks action in comparison to many of Nolan’s other films, the dialogue throughout “Oppenheimer” creates tension, fear, excitement, and every other emotion.

The storytelling and visual effects make “Oppenhiemer” a must-watch movie and will undoubtedly make an explosion this upcoming award season

CONNECT WITH EMILY ROSENBERG erosenberg@student.framingham.edu

CONNECT WITH JACK MCLAUGHLIN jmclaughlin7@student.framingham.edu

'Asteroid City' 'Oppenheimer '

Ben Hurney / THE GATEPOST

Ben Hurney / THE GATEPOST

Summer 2023

'Tears of the Kingdom' 'Mutant Mayhem'

By Kyle Walker Staff Writer

“The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom” is a direct sequel to “The Leg end of Zelda: Breath of continuing with a mas terful open-world story. It was released exclusively to Nintendo Switch con soles on May 12.

With “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” winning The Game Award for Game of the Year in 2017, it seemed almost impossible for Nintendo to follow up with anoth smash hit.

But they did, and it has com pletely blown its predecessor out of the water.

This game takes everything from the previous title, including its setting, and enhances it with new mechanics, abilities, and an emotional story. It also adds a whole underground section the size of the overworld, along with many sky islands to explore.

For games in the Zelda series, it is common that the sequel titles are much darker than its predecessor, and this proves to be true in this game.

Overall, “The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom” is another fantastic title in the Zelda franchise, and it completely itself to be tender for Game of the

By Jackson Clyde Staff Writer

Ever since their 1984 debut, Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird’s “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” have undoubtedly become cultural icons. But while their various adaptations have excelled in different ways, they haven’t typically focused on the “Teenage” part of the team’s moniker.

Thankfully, the creators behind “Mutant Mayhem” decided to change that, giving us a version of the half-shelled heroes that captures the inherent awkwardness of growing up.

The film focuses on the titular Ninja Turtles - Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello and Michelangelo - as they embark on a series of heroic escapades with the goal of being accepted by the populace of New York as normal teens.

While the film’s plot isn’t revolutionary, it’s executed impressively well, bolstered by its stellar voice cast. All four of the Turtles are played by actors under 20 years old, and the interactions between them feel authentic in a way that many films can’t hope to capture.

“Mutant Mayhem” also boasts an artstyle distinctively its own, allowing for a great deal of expressiveness from its characters and some stunningly stylish action scenes.

Whether you see it in theaters or catch it when it drops on Paramount+, “Mutant

Mayhem” is guaranteed to make you fall in love with the world’s most fearsome fighting team.

'Last Voyage of the Demeter ' 'Barbie'

By Jesse Burchill Staff Writer

Eleven crew members. One isolated sea vessel. One legendary vampire.

This is “The Last Voyage of the Demeter,” one of the best horror movies of the summer.

An adaptation of “The Captain’s Log,” a chapter from the classic horror novel “Dracula,” the titular ship’s crew must find a way to survive after learning that Dracula has stowed away on their Mediterranean voyage.

Dracula’s actor, Javier Botet, gives a terrifying performance. Botet has a long history of playing monsters in film due to his unique appearance. With a primarily physical performance, spectacular makeup, and a Nosferatu-esque design, Botet’s Dracula succeeds in instilling a sense of dread in both the audience and the Demeter’s crew.

The actors portraying the Demeter’s crew do a mighty fine job themselves. They manage to get across a genuine sense of fear as they try to make sense of what’s attacking them, and resemble the way anyone in real life may act in this situation.

“The Last Voyage of the Demeter” can be described as the Ridley Scott film “Alien” on a boat, and with Dracula as the villain instead of an extraterrestrial.

The film doesn’t quite reach its true

potential as such a story, but regardless makes use of its source material wonderfully, and manages to maintain an effectively creepy and decently claustrophobic atmosphere throughout.

By Liv Dunleavy Staff Writer

After months of glittery, eye-catching and, at times, ominous advertising, people of all ages fled to the theaters to experience “Barbie.” The long-awaited film sold out theaters bringing a refreshing femi nist take to film.

Barbie found herself fighting the patriar chy which resonated with many people. This caused a viral trend where peo ple gathered in our pinkest outfits for what many would describe as a hilarious, but inspirational 2 hours.

The movie is wit ty, and emotional, and evokes some sort of primal girl power hid den within us all. Women and others shared their personal stories about their womanhood, and men and others shared their Ken-like jobs.

The soundtrack found itself in its own spotlight as well, featuring songs by hit chart toppers like Lizzo, Nicki Minaj, Ice Spice, Billie Eilish, and Ken himself, Ryan Gosling. These catchy summer bops made the movie even more enjoyable, giving the audience something to dance to or even cry to.

Greta Gerwig proves that Barbie is not just a doll in a made up land, she represents what could be.

CONNECT WITH KYLE WALKER kwalker6@student.framingham.edu

CONNECT WITH JACKSON CLYDE jclyde@student.framingham.edu

CONNECT WITH JESSE BURCHILL jcelardo@student.framingham.edu

CONNECT WITH LIV DUNLEAVY odunleavy@student.framingham.edu

/ THE GATEPOST

Ben Hurney / THE GATEPOST

New Rams hit the ground running at All-University Welcome

By Ryan O’Connell Associate Editor

President Nancy Niemi addressed incoming students at the All-University Welcome in preparation for the upcoming academic year, alongside faculty and student leaders, Sept. 5.

She spoke alongside Kristen Porter-Utley, the provost and vice president of Academic Affairs, orientation leaders such as Eveyln Campbell and Josh Reis Soares, and Cara Pina, a biology professor, on behalf of the faculty, who all shared their excitement in greeting incoming first-years.

Niemi said this year’s All-University Welcome was a renewed tradition at FSU.

“We used to wear big fancy robes and line up - regalia it’s called, those big robes that’ve been around since the 15th century. We ditched the robes - we still have speeches, but fewer of them, and we added some fun,” she said.

She added, “And the best part, which is an official welcome to Framingham State University.”

Niemi said rituals like these are important for connecting the University as a community.

She asked attendees to remember rituals they’ve participated in with their family and friends.

“You might not remember what was said, or what you ate, or what you wore - or maybe you do - but that feeling of celebration and of transition remains,” she said.

Niemi said she hopes this year’s incoming class will take FSU’s motto“Live to the Truth” - to heart.

She added she has heard many

interpretations of the century-old phrase, and believes there are many different truths to be recognized.

“So here’s the truth I offer you today - every one of us who works here loves you,” she said.

Niemi said she knows that everyone at FSU - her, the Orientation Leaders, financial aid officers, coaches, dining hall staff, and many more - has had a life-changing experience at FSU, and are dedicated to helping students have that life-changing experience themselves.

She added everyone at FSU is there for the incoming class - to challenge them, support them, and celebrate them.

“If that isn’t love, I don’t know what is,” she said.

Niemi said helping higher education supports the entire community. She added this enables individuals, families, and friends to live better lives by creating social wealth, and challenged the idea college “isn’t worth it anymore.

“Nothing could be further from the truth,” she said.

Niemi addressed some common self doubts college students have when they compare themselves to other students and insist they aren’t as smart, creative, or as good of an

athlete as their peers.

She said the feeling of not being “college material” is an “entirely not true” feeling that everybody else somehow has figured out their entire lives.

“The truth - and there’s that word again - is that none of us know exactly what’s going on all the time,” Niemi said. “And that truth means that we all belong.”

Niemi added, “The biggest truth is that we are all here with you, and we are so happy you’re here - so let’s go Rams!”

Evelyn Campbell shared her journey as a student, and how she became this year’s SGA president, highlighting the doubts she originally had about getting involved in student organizations.

Campbell advocated for the skills and enjoyment that come with being a student leader, and encouraged the new Rams to engage with the campus in any way they can.

“Join that sport or organization, take that new job, or talk to that person that sits next to you in class - you may never know where that will lead you,” she said.

Cara Pina spoke on behalf of the faculty at the welcome event, and said the professors at FSU want to see

them succeed. She added students are always able to come speak to faculty with concerns and issues.

Josh Reis Soares, another orientation leader, then gave some final words of encouragement to the new students.

Soares said he has grown a lot since his first year of college, and now as a sophomore has worked hard to let go of a lot of insecurities he held onto from high school.

He added that everyone has things they don’t like about themselves, and urged attendees to be proud of themselves. He also challenged students to leave their comfort zones in their first year, and to do something new, something scary.

Soares said in high school, he never made the basketball team, but he didn’t let that stop him from enjoying the sport.

“You’ve just got to be patient. A lot of you are going to have lonely nights,” he said. “Some days you just aren’t going to feel like you’re good enough.

“It’s easy to see shade when you’re looking away from the sun,” he said.

CONNECT WITH RYAN O’CONNELL roconnell1@student.framingham.edu

CIE welcomes students and faculty with reception

By Jack McLaughlin Arts & Features Editor

The Center for Inclusive Excellence (CIE) provides a welcoming area on campus that offers students a place with valuable resources.

Students and faculty gathered at the CIE for a welcome reception in O’Connor Hall Sept. 12.

The reception began with a game of bingo for attendees to mingle and get to know each other. The game allowed participants to ask each other questions about themselves to fill the bingo card.

After three winners were selected, Director of the Center for Inclusive Excellence Jerome Burke spoke about the importance of finding things that unite people when there is so much in our society that causes division.

Burke asked the attendees, “What are the things that unite us? What are the threads that weave us together in a beautiful fabric?”

He then went on to describe that the overall purpose of the CIE is to “provide a secure and welcoming space for marginalized groups in our campus community.”

Burke said the CIE is committed to hosting events involving art, music, and educational tools to provide an understanding for different cultures and create a welcoming environment.

Burke said he sees “not only students who are searching for a sense of belonging, but also staff and faculty members who all are committed to ensuring that all of our students find what they’re looking for.”

Another game began centering around the questions of knowing what the acronyms DEI, BIPOC, and LGBTQIA stand for.

After this game, Burke invited Program Coordinator Emma Laurie to speak to the attendees more about the CIE and events that are upcoming.

Laurie explained the CIE was created as part of the University’s commitment to anti-racism, diversity, and inclusion.

She also explained how the CIE offers workshops and training that work toward building a “more equitable and just society.”

Laurie added the CIE helps to advise affinity groups on campus such as the Black Student Union, Pride Alliance, and ASL Club.

The CIE will also offer a series of different events for Hispanic Heritage Month, which includes 12-foot dolls being placed around campus from different countries for students to learn more about their countries of origin, Laurie said.

After Laurie spoke, Burke introduced FSUPD Chief Joseph Cecchi to speak to the attendees.

Cecchi explained FSUPD has a goal to build relationships on campus, and he hopes to do that by being an active member at student events.

“We’re here to support you. We’re here to be here for you. I just want to make this a safe campus,” Cecchi said.

Burke recounted the start of his role as CIE director. He explained how at the beginning of his time at FSU, his office space needed to be shared with the staff of CASA whose office was undergoing renovations over the summer.

He said he used this chance for “the opportunity to ask questions to learn those things that you are concerned about. Don’t just be by yourself.”

This story led to Burke introducing LaDonna Bridges, director of CASA, to speak about their experience with the

CIE during this summer.

CASA staff needed to share the office space with the CIE staff from May to June, and during that time a strong relationship grew as a result of the temporary arrangement.

“We had the best time being officemates with Jerome and Emma,” Bridges happily told attendees.

Bridges talked about how their strong relationship with the CIE allowed them to discuss ideas about engaging with first-generation college students.

“We think it was the start of a beautiful collaboration that we really hope to have with the CIE,” Bridges said.

The event concluded with a final game, with attendees passing a ball around with questions about diversity and inclusion which allowed for those reading the questions to share their thoughts on these ideas.

“Welcome to the Center for Inclusive Excellence … where all are seen, supported and valued,” Burke said.

CONNECT WITH JACK MCLAUGHLIN jmclaughlin7@student.framingham.edu

Ryan O’Connell / THE GATEPOST

President Nancy Niemi giving a speech at the All-University Welcome Sept. 5.

Puzzles

38. Fashion line?

39. Faithful follower 41. Ink ___ (stamp target)

42. Mother tongue, in Franglais? 44. Official tie of Texas 45. “That so?”

47. Handshake, in Franglais? 51. Soccer players protect them 53. Attila or Bleda

Gives for a while

Collette of “Mafia Mamma”

Messes up

Executive’s outfit 61. Shortly, to Shakespeare

Up to 63. Latin for “bear”

Labrador Sea floater 65. Substantial

Royal pain

DOWN

1. Is down with 2. Talent show performance 3. Cat cafe, in Franglais?

36. Spinetingling

39. Shops that may be kosher

40. Ford flop touted as the “car of the future”

42. Bellyaching 43. Gives the once-over

44. Key of “Hotel California” 46. Professor’s goal 48. Stood out in a good way 49. Salesperson’s goal 50. Not suitable

1. Break into, digitally 5. Drink served with a thick straw 10. Antlered deer 14. Feel sore 15. Corkscrew’s shape 16. Very, dramatically 17. “Don’t go!” 18. Scotiabank___ (Raptors’ home) 19. Comical remark 20. Airport transport 22. Lovebirds’ sounds

4. Its attachments jingle

5. Feeling related to guilt

6. 2013 Joaquin Phoenix film

7. Bitter beer

8. Family 9. On the nose

10. Short visit

11. Teaspoon, in Franglais?

12. Donkey 13. Came down with 21. “___ ideas?”

23. Word before “guard” or “score”

24. Breathable material

25. Far from incompetent 26. Cook’s cooker

27. ___ Domingo (Caribbean capital)

28. Tiny amount

29. Did a sendup of 32. Facial feature that’s sometimes knitted 35. Long-necked bird

Frying up friendships

Raena Doty/ THE GATEPOST Students enjoying the buffet at the “New Rams Welcome Picnic” Sept 5.

Raena Doty/ THE GATEPOST New rams repping their FSU merch at the “New Rams Welcome Picnic” Sept 5.

Raena Doty/ THE GATEPOST

Dr. Kristen Porter-Utley talking with a new student and parent at the “New Rams Welcome Picnic” Sept 5.

Ryan O’Connell/ THE GATEPOST Sous Chef Sean Garron preparing burgers for the “New Rams Welcome Picnic” Sept 5.

Raena Doty/ THE GATEPOST Students and faculty enjoying the buffet at the “New Rams Welcome Picnic” Sept 5.

Spread by Photos & Design Editor Adrien Gobin