September 22, 2023

Falling in love with a furry friend

Trustees provide update on enrollment

By Emily Rosenberg Editor-in-Chief

The Board of Trustees discussed enrollment strategy and the implementation of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives at their meeting Sept. 20.

During the Academic Affairs and Strategic Enrollment Management Committee report, Trustee Nancy Budwig reported a 2% increase in new student - first-year and transfer - enrollment since last year.

Budwig noted that while this was not a large increase, it was headed in the right direction and this was “encouraging news.”

She added in comparison to recent years when the overall enrollment de-

cline was 10% or 12%, the rate of decline was only 6%, which was a great improvement.

Budwig referenced recent activities on campus such as the University welcome picnic and said that without the “synergy” of the community, an increase in new enrollment would not be possible.

Chief Enrollment Officer Iris Godes said they are about a month behind on the process of rebranding the marketing strategy. She said the goal is to work on a communication plan that is more personalized, relevant, and “strategic” in the way they interact with prospective students.

“Last year was a very hard year with a lot of negativity. This year is another hard year with a lot of positivity,” Godes said.

Trustee Claire Ramsbottom asked about the public response to the rebranding initiative.

President Nancy Niemi said the response has been “positive,” adding she has received comments about its boldness, freshness, and how it looks forward.

Godes said the admissions staff is “very appreciative” and excited about the rebranding. She said she has heard from the staff that it is much bolder, brighter, “current,” and “active.”

“We are on our way,” Godes said. She noted her team’s collaboration with various departments, saying she has worked in the admissions and enrollment business for 35 years and has never seen faculty and staff so eager to

CIE ‘dolls up’ campus for Hispanic Heritage month

By Ryan O’Connell Associate Editor

The well-traveled vestibule of the McCarthy Center is packed again as the fall semester picks up, with students rushing in and out of the main doors to get to class.

Downstairs in the Dining Commons, commuters and residents alike are staying fed throughout the day, settling around Simple Servings, UCOOK, and in the Annex.

A few a day slip downstairs and past the Richard C. Logan Gymnasium, looking for somewhere to play a pickup game.

During these everyday habits, attentive students may notice a few colossal dolls labeled “Brazil,” “Peru,” and “Mexico.”

Framingham State University, through the Center for Inclusive Excellence (CIE), recently installed six 12-foot-tall dolls across campus, representing Hispanic countries such as Mexico and Puerto Rico’s culture in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.

The dolls were installed in a variety of locales on campus - two in the Dining Commons Annex, two outside of the Athletic Center Gymnasium, one in the McCarthy Center Lobby, and one in Hemenway Labs.

Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrat-

ed from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 across the United States, allows for recognition of the unique cultures, histories, and people of Hispanic nations such as Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America, according to a press release from the CIE.

Jerome Burke, director of the CIE, said the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month was spurred by the CIE’s research into more diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) events.

Burke said he did a lot of personal research on Hispanic Heritage Month prior to the University installing the six dolls.

Cassie Toth, freshman with Ramsey, the University Police’s K9 comfort dog, Sept. 20.

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

Kaitlin Carman

David Abe

Francisco Omar Fernando Rodriguez

Dante Curry Advisor

Desmond McCarthy

Asst. Advisor

Elizabeth Banks

Gatepost Interview

Iris Godes Dean of Strategic Enrollment Management

By Kaitlin Carman Staff Writer

What is your educational and professional background?

I have been in this field for 35 years. I have an undergraduate degree in psychology and a master’s degree in counseling psychology. I started at Arizona State University, went to Seattle University, and then got a job at Boston University. And all of those jobs were in financial aid. Then I was ready to move up into a new experience and got a job at Quinsigamond Community College as the director of financial aid. But I’ve been in this enrollment management space since the beginning of my career. I went to Dean College from there as the associate vice president of enrollment management, and now here. I have lots of experience to draw on, which has been really useful with different types of schools and different types of students.

What are some of your hobbies?

I love doing puzzles. I like knitting. I like baking. Those are probably my top three picks. ... I love solving problems - I’ve always been a problem solver.

What are some of the goals you would like to accomplish here at Framingham State?

Number one is to increase enrollment. Framingham State University is one of the most wonderful universities that clearly not enough people know about. I don’t know how that happened, but we’re going to fix that. I haven’t even been here for four months yet and every single person I have come across has been amazing. Phenomenal people and the university as a whole is a phenomenal place. I feel like it’s this hidden secret that not enough people know about. We need to tell our story and we need to get it out more. I’m focusing on developing a more strategic communication plan. We have a new website that’s being worked on right now in the marketing department and [it] is anticipated to launch by the end of April. Everybody knows there was a new logo

and some new brand messaging that was created, and now the website is the next piece of that project. I was at the Board of Trustees meeting last night [Sept. 20] and there was this senior I was so impressed with. I would bet we have dozens of people like that if not hundreds. Those are the kinds of stories that we need to get out there so people understand the amazing opportunities that are available here, regardless of where you come from. You don’t have to come from a wealthy family. You can be a first-generation student. You don’t have to have it all figured out in high school or shortly after high school or as a transfer student. We are here to lift you up and to give you all of those resources and experiences to help you figure it out so that by the time you leave, you’re going to have an amazing professional and personal life ahead of you. So that’s my focus - telling that story, getting the word out there, getting more students to apply, and more importantly, of the students that are accepted, to come and choose Framingham.

What are some of the challenges prospective students might face when it comes to accessing higher education?

While the high school population is declining a little bit, the bigger issue is fewer are choosing to go to college from high school and maybe ever. There are a number of reasons for that. Some of it is the media that’s talking in very negative ways about “Is a college degree worth it?”

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Phone: (508) 626-4605

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The media often finds a real outlier, you know, the person who borrowed $150,000 to go to college. That’s not happening at Framingham. It’s like the media is painting a picture that’s not quite accurate. There certainly are good alternatives for some students to take a different path [like] going into trades. Those are fantastic jobs, but they’re not for everybody. You might decide not to go to college right away and then get to a point where it’s like, “I can get further if I had that college experience.” ... At least make the effort to learn what’s available, apply for financial aid, find out what your cost actually is, and then work with us where we can help you understand how you can make it.

Do you have any advice for prospective students?

Ask questions. Come visit and feel it. It’s like you can walk onto a campus and you can meet a few people and say, “This doesn’t feel like a fit to me.” OK. Then start. There are lots of options out there. Others will come to campus and say, “I could totally see myself here,” but they don’t know that just by looking at a website. ... If you don’t know what questions to ask, then we’re going to try to help give you the information we think you need and that might spur questions. ... Keep engaging with us. We want you to be happy and we want you to graduate.

CONNECT WITH KAITLIN CARMAN

kcarman@student.framingham.edu

Courtesy of Iris Godes

Sigma Delta Pi earns national recognition

By Sophia Harris Associate Editor

Framingham State’s National Hispanic Honors Society was chosen as an Honor Chapter and was the recipient of the Phoenix Award for AY 2022-23.

The National Hispanic Honors Society (Sigma Delta Pi) chapter competed for these awards against over 645 university chapters in 49 states, according to Framingham State University’s website.

All members of SDP are students who have taken five or more college-level Spanish classes and maintain at least a 3.0 GPA in their Spanish courses, according to FSU’s chapter President Emily Ferrucci, a senior.

The group gained national recognition by increasing its membership by 150%, volunteering in the local community, holding weekly meetings to practice Spanish, and creating events for FSU’s campus such as coffee hours, film nights, partnering with a group of students from Chile who are studying at FSU as part of an exchange program, and hosting Spanish language tables in the dining hall to encourage students to speak Spanish with each other.

Framingham State outperformed over 645 University chapters due to their hard work and dedication to outreach and inclusion to become a recipient of the Phoenix Award, said advisor Joanne Britland, assistant professor of Spanish and Portuguese.

The Hispanic National Honor Society was one of 10 chapters in the United States to be named as an Honor Chapter, according to Britland.

In order to hold events on campus, to facilitate outreach, the Hispanic National Honor Society applied for a grant through the Center for Inclusive Excellence.

Britland said a university-wide grant of $1,500 was awarded to Sigma Delta Pi because the group’s purpose aligned with the CIE’s mission of developing a community that values diversity, inclusion, and belonging.

Ferrucci said the funding from the CIE “helped us immensely” in diversifying outreach and events in which they needed to purchase supplies.

Ferrucci said being a member of Sigma Delta Pi has transformed her college experience.

“I have been more active and social on campus. I feel much more connected to my peers in the World Languages department and have learned so much about leadership,” she said.

Britland said, “Every major university has a Sigma Delta Pi chapter, so it’s

a huge deal, winning these two awards for our students and the Framingham State Spanish program.”

Britland said she reactivated the HNHS chapter in 2019 and since then, it has continued to grow, despite COVID-19 setbacks.

She said “The organization’s mission is to share and spread Hispanic culture, the Spanish language. We can do that with lots of opportunities and activities - our chapter has done this by creating opportunities for students on campus to use Spanish and to share Hispanic culture such as film nights.”

She added the organization carried out this mission in a number of ways.

One way Sigma Delta Pi carried out this promise was by impacting the local community by starting a Spanish club at a local middle school where Alejandra Londono, the former chapter president, was a student teacher.

Britland added members who are also Spanish education majors “had

events because she looks forward to seeing and laughing with everyone.

As part of their outreach, Sigma Delta Pi also held “a few movie nights and a paint night where we followed a painting tutorial on YouTube,” Ferrucci said.

Castillo said the organization has helped her find a sense of community at Framingham State.

“As a commuter, it’s hard to get involved with events, so this was something that I always felt a part of even before I was a member,” she said.

Ferrucci said as she looks to the future of the program she “wants to continue to achieve high” creating additional events and outreach on campus. “I hope we can increase attendance at our events and maybe hold some new types of events than in previous years,” she said.

Ferrucci said this academic year, Sigma Delta PI is launching a Buddy Program. This program will pair new

can provide a sense of community for students.

She said “Spanish is an incredible major because you’re learning an important skill, but also, there is a sense of community when you come together and you’re using the language to help others to learn about different cultures. And I wanted the students to have that opportunity here.”

Britland added, “To be able to come together and use what students are learning in their Spanish classes with each other” can be a source of bonding and a space to learn and grow.

She said, “Framingham State is an emerging Hispanic-serving institution. So learning about and sharing Hispanic culture is very important here, and Sigma Delta Pi is a key part of that and they’re doing a lot for the university.”

Britland said she is “incredibly impressed” by the student’s hard work and dedication to improving Sigma Delta Pi. She wanted to highlight Alejandra Londono ’23, who was in charge of applying and submitting the documentation in order to receive these awards.

“It is so exciting to see all of their hard work and to see them achieve recognition for what they did on a national scale. I am super proud of them,” she said.

a workshop and a symposium for exchange students from Chile to meet students studying education in Spanish here, and to talk about the challenges of teaching, the joys of teaching, and to share their experiences.”

Ferrucci said the organization “likes to hold bonding events for the Spanish department to be able to interact with everyone.”

She said one of the group’s most popular recurring outreach events is “Spanish Language Table, where we meet in the FSU dining hall with members of the Spanish department and anyone else who wants to join.”

Ferrucci added, “We catch up, speaking in as much Spanish as everyone is comfortable with depending on their proficiency level. Spanish professors of all levels encourage their students to attend these events.”

Jasmine Castillo, a junior who runs the PR and marketing for Sigma Delta PI, said being inducted into the organization has greatly impacted her.

Castillo said because of the Spanish Language Tables, she was able to talk to “more people of other ethnic backgrounds in Spanish.”

She added she enjoys going to

students in the Spanish department with a Sigma Delta Pi member.

She added this program is beneficial because many SDP members have taken multiple Spanish classes and the organization “can provide them with support and help them to feel more comfortable in classes and at events.”

She added, “We would love to maintain our status as a Chapter of Honor and continue to be recognized by the national chapter.”

Ferrucci emphasized Sigma Delta Pi’s events are “open to all students who are interested.

“We encourage all eligible students in the Spanish major/minor to apply because it is a great organization to be a part of and it shows your dedication and involvement not only in Spanish classes, but also on campus,” she added.

Vice President Laura Levita, a senior, said some goals for this upcoming academic year are expanding in order “for everybody on campus to at least know who we are.”

Levita said the organization can serve Spanish-speaking students as a source of bonding and community.

Britland agreed that Sigma Delta Pi

Levita said the organization is “grateful for all the people who have supported us, everybody who has given us scholarships, anybody who has come as a guest, anybody who helped support us along the way, and hopefully, anybody who will eventually support us - we are thankful for all their help and guiding us through.”

She added she is extremely grateful because the organization is still relatively new and students are still learning.

“Any support that we’ve gotten is the best thing, especially with our teachers - the best. I’m honestly thankful for them as well,” Levita said.

Britland said Sigma Delta Pi “is a very prestigious organization known throughout the world. So they’ve really put Framingham State University in the spotlight as a place where people can come to learn Spanish and celebrate Hispanic culture.”

To learn more about the Hispanic National Honor Society or when their events are taking place, contact President Emily Ferrucci at eferrucci@student.framingham.edu.

CONNECT WITH SOPHIA HARRIS sharris9@student.framingham.edu

Sunday night Sept. 24

Rain likely with a low around 60. N wind about 15 mph.

Monday Sept. 25

Rain likely after noon. cloudy, with a high near 60. N wind about 15 mph.

Monday night Sept. 25 Chance of rain before 9pm. Cloudy, with a low around 50. N wind about 10 mph.

Tuesday Sept. 26

Partly sunny, with a high near 60. NE wind about 10 mph.

Tuesday night Sept. 26

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50. N wind about mph.

Wednesday Sept. 27

Mostly sunny, with a high near 60. N wind about 10 mph.

Wednesday night Sept. 20

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50. E wind about 10 mph.

Thursday Sept. 21

Mostly sunny, with a high near 70. NE wind aboout mph.

“Any support that we’ve gotten is the best thing, especially with our teachers - the best.”

Laura Levita, Vice President of the National Hispanic Honors Society

In memory of Djeila Barbosa

By Emily Rosenberg Editor-in-Chief

Djeila Barbosa, 21, died on the Framingham State campus Sunday, Sept. 1.

Her death was confirmed to the Framingham State community by President Nancy Niemi in an email titled “with profound sadness.”

In her email, Niemi said, “We offer all the love and care in our broken hearts to her family, her loved ones, and to all who are part of their lives.”

Djeila, DJ, was born September 11, 2002 and grew up in Brockton, Massachusetts. She was a junior elementary education major. On campus, she was a member of the Afro-Caribbean Dance Group and worked as a student desk attendant for Residence Life.

A vigil was held on Larned Lawn in honor of Djeila Thursday evening, Sept. 21. Warmth and love was shared as members of the community gathered in a celebration of her life. Candles were passed around to light up the night sky, and pink and white heart-shaped balloons were released into the air.

Niemi opened the vigil by sharing a few words, saying the Framingham State community has been fractured and will be forever changed by the loss of Djeila.

Some of Djeila’s friends spoke, sharing memories and emphasizing how much she was loved.

Alicia, Djeila’s best friend since middle school, was her roommate at Framingham State in Miles Bibb. She said when they first met, she looked at her and said, “Who is this girl trying to tell me what to do?”

She said during eighth grade graduation, she remembers she and four other girls crying so much because they had so many memories together, but she and Djeila were the two who really stayed close.

Alicia said when Djeila joined ACDG, everyone in the group instantly became best friends with Alicia because of Djeila.

She told attendees that whenever they get sad, to think of Djeila and how if she were here, she would

“cheer you up instantly.”

Alicia said Djeila was supposed to be her future children’s godmother. “I will make sure they know how much you [Djeila] love them.”

Another of Djeila’s best friends, Clarity, said when she thinks of Djeila, not one bad thought comes to mind.

“It was always laughter,” she said. “She was my backbone, my soul sister. My best friend and my entire heart.”

She added Djeila filled the room up with “so much comfort, joy, compassion, and just overall positive energy.

“To know Djeila is to love her,” Clarity said. She said the world is tearing people apart, and people need to treat others the way they want to be treated.

“Keep her in your hearts and make as many visits as you can to her.”

Serena recalled when she met Djeila a year ago. They went to a Red Sox game for $9 because FSAB sold

discounted tickets. “My first selfie with her was in the grandstands and you already know Djeila had a big beautiful smile in that photo.

“Djeila was the definition of heart,” she added.

Another memory she recalled was when she was hyping Djeila up as the best dancer on ACDG.

“She humbly disagreed,” Serena said.

Serena added she always wanted her help improving her dance skills, adding just last week, she tried to teach her how to do the gravy. Djeila looked “so graceful,” while she looked like “a baby deer moving back and forth.”

She said last semester, she suffered an injury that required her to go on crutches and she was reluctant to ask for help. “Djeila would grab a door for me with no questions asked.”

She said a lot of people make fun of her for her constant usage of “fRamily,” which is usually a joke, but the friendship she had with Djeila and their friend group made it serious for her.

Tahnyia said she wanted everyone to remember Djeila for her beautiful smile and constant dancing because “she never stopped.

“She is the only person I have ever met who smiled more than me,” Tahnyia said.

Darrell recalled the first time he met Djeila in his freshman year playing basketball during the COVID-19 pandemic. He said as they were the same major and had almost all the same classes, it was as if they were destined to become friends.

“We used to live in Towers - we would sneak them [Djeila and Alicia] in.” He said she would not want to walk back, so she would sleep over. “One night turned into two nights. Two nights turned into a week. Pretty soon she was my best friend.”

Mia, who was on ACDG, also shared her memories of Djeila. “She was

willing to do all the crazy tricks that no one on the team was willing to do,” whether it was standing on her head, backflips, or splits.

Niyah, who is also on ACDG, shared with The Gatepost that she tried out for ACDG at the same time as Djeila. “I started freshman year in utter fear of what college was going to be like.”

Seeing Djeila at dance and running into her on campus, Niyah said, “She never failed to have a smile on her face. … She’s one of the reasons why I’ve opened up, why I felt so welcomed on campus.”

Awa said she met Djeila in her junior year and that during senior year, as she struggled with her mental health, Djeila helped her get out of bed and made sure she took care of herself every day.

Jahlani shared with The Gatepost that he met Djeila through some of his best friends at school. He said his favorite memory of her would be “randomly walking in her room to her dancing in the mirror with her earpods in or making TikToks in the same place and laughing.”

He added, “She was always dancing and bringing good energy wherever she went. She was the life of the party and always had great vibes. She was a really good dancer and artist as well.”

The vigil ended with the placement of flowers in Memorial Grove and paper butterflies made by children at the Early Childhood Center where Djeila worked last semester.

In her email to the community, President Niemi said details about future memorial services will be announced when they become available.

[Editor’s Note: The last names of people who were quoted were not included because the editor did not find it appropriate to intrude upon grieving during the vigil.]

Gatepost Archives

Members of ACDG at Culture Fest in November 2022.

CONNECT WITH EMILY ROSENBERG erosenberg@student.framingham.edu

Emily Rosenberg / THE GATEPOST Flowers were placed on Memorial Grove in honor of Djeila Sept.21

Board of Trustees

Continued from page 1

help.

Also during the strategic enrollment report, Budwig discussed demographic decline and the most common reasons why students are choosing not to go to college in general - for example, the pandemic and how some people don’t believe they are seeing a return in their investment.

During her report, Chair Beth Casavant asked Budwig, Ramsbottom, and Trustee Diane Finch to share what was learned at a recent DEI summit the three attended on behalf of the Trustees.

Casavant said the purpose of the summit was to evaluate how DEI could be incorporated into the work of their subcommittees.

She added while she originally went into the process believing it would be a one-year initiative, she now believes this is going to be setting the stage for future years. Therefore, especially in the case when the Board may change its members, it is important to build that foundation.

Ramsbottom said one concept she learned is that it is OK to ask questions. “We need to have a space collectively to ask questions, with trust as we ask them, as we are learning as we go here and as we try to strengthen the institution to serve our students better.”

Finch said a main takeaway for her was that DEI needs to be data-driven and it is collaborative. She added all initiatives sought by the committees should be driven by equity. However, another main takeaway is that not all equity conversations are centered around race.

Also in the chair’s report, Casavant allowed time for the trustees to reflect on Niemi’s annual report and goals.

Trustee Kevin Foley commended Niemi for a successful first year as president, adding she “really hit the mark.”

Finch said in regards to the report, Niemi approached her first year as president with “honesty and authenticity” in terms of the challenges the University faced, especially enrollment decline.

Next in the report, Casavant said in June 2023, WDJM, Framingham State’s radio station, started a pause in their terrestrial radio for one calendar year due to a lack of student interest in onair radio broadcasting.

She said it was explained that “the student interest is in online streaming and podcasting. So if they didn’t pause, it would have made it more difficult to have students and faculty use the space to podcast because of FCC regulations.”

As the FCC radio license runs to the Board, the trustees needed to approve the temporary suspension of the use of the license.

Before voting, Trustee Lino Covarrubius asked if there was potential for the frequency to be sold to provide revenue to the school.

Ann McDonald, chief of staff, general counsel, and secretary to the Board of Trustees, said there was a potential for it to be marketable as the coverage reaches about four miles.

The suspension was approved unanimously.

Addressing the two vacancies on the board, Casavant said there has been movement by the state to appoint new trustees. She said the deadline to nom-

inate new trustees is Sept. 25.

She said the vacancies are making it difficult to complete committee work without a full board.

In addition, three trustee terms will be expiring in March.

During the Finance Report, Vice Chair Anthony Hubbard said the board voted to pass its budget during its previous meeting in May 2023 based on a lot of unpredictability in the state budget. He added a lot of this “fell into place” where numbers were expected.

Executive Vice President Dale Hamel said an area of the budget that was underestimated was enrollment. Enrollment was higher than expected.

There was also a resolution to complete an independent audit of the 2023 Financial Statements Delegation, which was passed unanimously.

During the Compliance Audit and Risk report, Mariel Freeve said the implementation of the new multi-factor authentication for students has been going well.

She said the state is going to be conducting an audit on the policies and procedures state employees use related to cybersecurity.

She added the University did a full remote internal assessment. “One of the things that’s pretty critical that we had not really covered since COVID-19 was doing a full remote access internal assessment. I think it was important to note that, considering that we have a lot more folks sort of back on campus from both faculty and students.”

During the student experience report, Ramsbottom said almost 25% of students require accommodations from the Center for Academic Success and Achievement (CASA).

She said this is highly reflective of the type of students the University serves and should be seeking to recruit. “It speaks to how diverse we are.” Ramsbottom added in terms of equity, this may be something the board should consider while shaping the University budget.

During the President’s Report, Vice President of Diversity Equity and Community Engagement Jeffrey Coleman, shared an update on his division. He said Catherine Dignam, professor of

the inclusive excellence funding committee was able to award $15,190 to diversity initiatives.

He added resident assistants recently received a presentation on why cultural competency is important.

Finch asked how Coleman is including alumni in his initiatives. She also asked whether he anticipates the University will be developing a strategy to express a University-wide pledge to anti-racism.

He said Homecoming and Family Weekend was supposed to include an event with the Alumni of Color Network. However, it was postponed. In regards to the pledge, Coleman said he is working with members in the division to develop an online social media presence to educate members of the community on anti-racism and DEI work.

Eric Gustafson, vice president of development and alumni relations shared an update on events and grants in his division.

Gustafson said the division is well

During the student experience report, new University Police Chief Joseph Cecchi was introduced. Cecchi said his goal is to build trust with students on campus. He said before he was even on payroll, he took a walk on campus with the Vice President of SGA Raffi Elkhoury to help become acclimated to campus and learn about student concerns.

During his report, Student Trustee Ryan Mikelis shared his experience as one of the senior orientation leaders over the summer and during Black and Gold Beginnings.

He said students going to events such as the Welcome Picnic or Bingo, or moving in with the assistance of their own University president, shined a light on the small and welcoming Framingham State Community.

Mikelis added as a commuter student, he is excited to represent the student perspective to the Board.

The new student trustee, Mikelis is a senior political science major and is also involved on campus as an Academic Success Peer Tutor and was formerly a Rams Engagement Ambassador as well as the vice president of the Commuter Student group.

During public comment, Covarrubias suggested the board begin each meeting with a reading of a Land Acknowledgement, recognizing that Framingham State was founded on Native American Land.

The student-in-the-spotlight was Jennifer Melara Valle, a senior environment, society, & sustainability major. She was introduced by a professor in that department, Amy Johnston.

Melara Valle is a peer mentor on campus and has participated in summer research programs at both MIT and Princeton.

chemistry, joined the division as an inclusive excellence research grant coordinator. In addition,Hedda Monaghan, a research and digital pedagogy librarian for the University, joined the division as the inclusive excellence faculty fellow program director.

He said in the past academic year,

ahead of last year in terms of fundraising, beginning the fiscal year with $800,000 as of the time of the meeting. He said the division ended the fiscal year with $4.5 million in grants and sponsored programs and there is still around $5 million pending.

Melara Valle said her Latin heritage is very important to her, which is why she decided to get involved with student outreach.

She thanked Johnston and Department Chair Larry McKenna for “making her the great scientist” she is today.

CONNECT WITH EMILY ROSENBERG erosenberg@student.framingham.edu

“Last year was a very hard year with a lot of negativity. This year is another hard year with a lot of positivity.”

- Iris Godes Dean of Strategic Enrollment Management

David Abe / THE GATEPOST [Center] Ryan Mikelis at the Board of Trustees meeting Sept. 20.

OP/ED

THE GATEPOST EDITORIAL

The light of Djeila Barbosa

This past weekend, we lost a member of our Framingham State family - Djeila Barbosa, known to her friends as DJ.

To lose a member of the Framingham State community deeply touches us all. On a small campus, we are all interconnected, we see each other every day, and we share ideas, cultures, and hearts.

During this time of grieving, it is important to remind ourselves that we are here to support each other. You, as a member of our family, will always have the support of your fellow rams, whether they are your friends, professors, or members of the administration and staff.

Know that we are a community of love, a community that cares for everyone individually, and a community that can provide comfort.

During the vigil for Djeila, one of her friends, Clarity, said it is never corny to hug or kiss your friends, say I love you, and to make it be known that your love is unconditional.

It is our job to take care of each other.

It is our job to make it known to those who may not understand that they are loved and will always be cherished in this world.

It is never too overbearing to express care for your loved ones. You may never know

when a loved one is struggling to ask for help. Your affection could provide them with hope.

Djeila was a sweet, artistic, and brilliant young woman who touched the lives of many on and off the Framingham State campus.

She had a contagious smile and didn’t think twice before lending a hand to others.

Her light brightened the Framingham State campus.

It is now our job to ensure her light continues to shine. She certainly made those who knew her feel loved and cared for. We can all learn from how Djeila lived her life and treated others.

In this moment of deep sorrow, our hearts are with those who were lucky enough to have loved Djeila.

To those who danced with her.

To those who laughed with her and sang with her.

We also want to thank Djeila for blessing our campus with her kind and humble soul. We thank her for inspiring others to be themselves and for being unapologetic about speaking up for what she believed in.

DJ, you will always be loved by your Framingham State family and you will never be forgotten.

Support teachers to support students

By Raena Doty Editoral Staff

As someone working toward a minor in secondary education, I notice deeply what teachers say about students and what students say about teachers.

I’ve heard a lot of things.

Students are less disciplined than they used to be.

It only takes a good teacher to bring out the best in students.

No one wants to do hard things anymore.

Teachers demand too much of students.

I’ve noticed two growing movements in the field of education, which, under the current system for all levels of education, cannot coexist.

One, students should come out of school - particularly high school, but postsecondary as well - with all the tools they may need in life.

Two, students should not be miserable in their educational experience. Education should not be a punishment or a privilege, but a right - and human rights need to be inclusive of all humans.

The second one in particular is deeply rooted in anti-racist and anti-ableist movements. If education does not include people of color and people of different abilities, it will reinforce oppressive systems.

I believe in and care deeply about both these movements. I want to integrate both of them into my own pedagogy. However, every time I think about it, I don’t think it’s possible.

How is it reasonable to expect a person who’s barely reached the age of majority to understand everything they might need for the future?

How can teachers support this without piling on a workload too heavy for students’ mental, socio-emotional, and physical health?

When student needs are not met, often it is the teachers who are blamed. And while teachers have significant power over student lives, no doubt, it’s also unfair to expect a teacher to complete a Sisyphean task and blame them for not completing it.

Ultimately, I think the solution to the problem is twofold.

One, allow more time for education. This may be especially accomplished by lessening the costs of postsecondary education, including colleges, universities, and trade schools, but extending the amount of time considered normal in high school settings could also be very effective.

Two, perhaps more importantly, we need to reconceptualize what we mean when we say someone received a complete education. After all, education can never be “complete.” There are always more things to learn, to do.

Complete education cannot mean acquiring all information which one may need for the rest of their lives. After all, the world changes - new science is studied, new laws come to pass, new literature is written - especially in a world that shifts as fast as our own.

Rather, a complete education should mean students have the tools to continue studying independently for as long as they need.

A high school student does not have the time to study indepth the history of every country in the world, but any country may go through unrest or become politically significant at any time, and functioning citizens should be able to study any country’s history in case it becomes relevant.

Same goes for science, English, math, arts - students should be able to continue their studies past teacher guidance, there should be no expectation for students to know everything coming out of high school, and society should encourage self-education done right.

Though, as I said before, teacher guidance shouldn’t have an expiration date - or a hefty paywall past the age of 18 - the way it does now.

In the meantime, it’s important to remember the system in place is stressful on everyone - students, teachers, parents, and administrators alike.

While there will always be a world of difference between a good teacher and a bad one, there’s also no way for everyone to come out satisfied. And in trying to make change, solidarity between people hurt by the system is much more important than placing blame on other people hurt by it.

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

Emily Rosenberg / THE GATEPOST

A candlelight vigil was held in honor of Djeila on Larned lawn Sept. 21.

Em’s Gems: BINGO!!!

Campus Conversations

What do you like most about fall?

By Ryan O’Connell, Associate Editor, and Dylan Pichnarcik, Staff Writer

“I like going out. Trees start turning orange, yellow. Scenery is very nice. The weather’s very cool.”

“Love going to football games - just sports in general, and just being outside in this nice weather.”

- Ryan Gryglewicz, senior

“Oooh - apple. Just the concept of apples.”

- Kathryn Hansson, senior

“Just everything about it. The smell - the smell of the air.”

“Probably football, honestly. Wearing hoodies and stuff like that - the cold weather.”

- Myles Ioannou, junior

“The weather, because I’m not overheating in class 24/7.”

- Jada Smith, sophomore

- Brendon Nilsen, freshman

- Rosie Pagnoni, junior

Emily Monaco / THE GATEPOST

Field hockey wins overtime MASCAC matchup

By Adam Levine Sports Editor

The Framingham State Rams beat the Fitchburg State Falcons 2-1 at Maple Street Field Sept. 16.

Framingham’s win over Fitchburg secured their second win of the season, placing them on a two-game win streak.

The Rams traveled to Rivier College and beat the Raiders 1-0, securing their first win of the season Sept. 12.

Framingham’s Brandi Core scored the only goal of the game, capturing Framingham’s first win and scoring her second goal of the season.

In the net, Framingham’s goalkeeper, Kaitlyn Tello, saved all three of the

shots that came her way.

After notching their first win of the season, the Rams beat the Falcons in an overtime thriller.

Since moving from the Little East Conference to the MASCAC, Framingham’s victory over Fitchburg gives them an undefeated start in the conference.

Framingham’s Brandi Kondi led the team’s offense, scoring both of the goals. She scored the game’s first goal unassisted and teammate Angelina Serra assisted Kondi on her game-winning overtime goal.

Kondi’s three shots, along with three from teammate Ashley Malmquist and four from Core, helped add much-needed pressure to Fitchburg’s

defense.

Kondi said she was “definitely just playing hungry and wanting the win.”

After leading most of the game, the Falcons scored a goal with less than eight minutes left in regulation.

Framingham’s head coach, Allie Lucenta, said, “We definitely had a little bit of a breakdown at the end of the fourth quarter.”

“Communication kind of started to fade so it was just really pumping each other back up - making sure that our communication was back to what it usually is,” she added.

During the game’s overtime, only five shots were taken between the teams before Kondi’s goal secured Framingham’s win. Serra, Core, Malmquist, and Kondi combined for all five of these shots.

Kondi said, “We should have had the win in regulation so going into overtime, we just wanted to get it done as soon as possible.”

In the net, Tello only allowed one goal and saved the other four shots taken against her.

Kondi’s two goals against Fitchburg earned her MASCAC Offensive Player of the Week Sept. 18.

Kondi said the win feels “pretty historic.”

She said, “As we’re going into the new conference, winning our first MASCAC game is pretty huge.

“I don’t know - it’s just wild,” Kondi added.

Lucenta said this first MASCAC win “definitely sets the tone for the rest of the season.”

As of press time, the Rams beat

Eastern Connecticut State 3-2 in another overtime thriller.

With less than two minutes remaining of regulation, and trailing 2-1, Kondi assisted Malmquist to send the game to overtime.

Framingham displayed another strong overtime and within two minutes of play, Core assisted Kondi for the game-winning goal.

This was Kondi’s second overtime goal in just two games and the Rams now boast a three-game win streak.

Serra said, “After losing some tough games, I think we all knew that we needed to take a step back and focus on the basics.

“This team has great potential and I hope we can carry this momentum with us throughout the season,” she added.

Framingham travels to Salem State for another MASCAC matchup Sept. 23.

SEPTEMBER 16

FRAMINGHAM STATE 2

FITCHBURG STATE 1

SEPTEMBER 21

FRAMINGHAM STATE 3

EASTERN CONN. ST. 2

Stats sourced from fsurams.com and MASCAC.com

CONNECT WITH ADAM LEVINE alevine5@student.framingham.edu

Men’s soccer falls to Gordon; holds 4-2 record

By Adam Levine Sports Editor

The Framingham State Rams won their first MASCAC matchup 2-0 against the MCLA Trailblazers Sept. 16.

During the 2022 season, Framingham secured the 2023 MASCAC Regular Season Championship with a conference record of 6-0-1. MCLA finished in fifth place with a conference record of 2-4-1.

The Rams beat the Trailblazers 4-1 in their only matchup during the 2022 season.

During the 31st minute of their

2023 matchup, Framingham’s offense found its first opening against MCLA.

Just minutes before, MCLA found an opening and took a shot. Framigham’s Lachlan Forgan made the defensive save to stop the Trailblazers’ momentum.

On the other end of the field, Framingham’s Kunphel Sinha’s shot hit the crossbar but the Rams continued the pressure.

Framingham’s Gustav Hemmingsen assisted Jack Holt for the first goal of the game and Framingham’s first MASCAC goal of the season.

Framingham controlled the game for the next 10 minutes before striking

again.

In the 41st minute, Sinha assisted Hemminsgsen on the second Framingham goal.

After no goals scored in the second half, Framingham’s 2-0 lead at halftime secured their victory over MCLA.

Holt’s goal against MCLA and his assist in Framingham’s 2-1 win over Suffolk Sept. 12 earned him MASCAC Rookie of the Week Sept. 18.

Holt said the team is young and has a large freshman class.

He said players are “starting to work together and find the formula to score.

“It just takes a little bit of time, but we’re getting there,” he added.

Hemmingsen’s goal and assist against MCLA and his goal in Framingham’s 2-1 win over Suffolk Sept. 12 earned him MASCAC Offensive Player of the Week Sept. 18.

Hemmingsen said it is “always good to start off with a win.

“We gave it our all out there,” he added.

More recently, the Rams suffered a 1-0 setback to Gordon College in a nonconference matchup Sept. 19.

In a slow game, Framingham and Gordon proved even until the 85th minute.

Framingham recorded 19 shots during the game and Gordon recorded a near-even 18 shots.

In the 85th minute, Gordon’s Benny Simpson, assisted by teammate Noah Martin, scored the only goal of the game.

Despite the loss, Framingham’s goalkeeper, Joey Sturzo, kept up his impressive season in the net, recording eight saves.

Framingham travels to Salem State for another MASCAC matchup Sept. 23.

Hemmingsen said, “Salem is going to be a tough opponent. It’s always fun to play against them.

“It’s going to be interesting. Hopefully, we get the win and we just work our hardest,” he added.

SEPTEMBER 16

FRAMINGHAM STATE 2

MCLA 0

SEPTEMBER 21

GORDON 1

FRAMINGHAM STATE 0

Stats sourced from fsurams.com and MASCAC.com

Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST Kunphel Sinha dribbling the ball during 2-0 victory over MCLA Sept. 16.

Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST Rams field hockey celebrating 2-1 overtime victory over Fitchburg State Sept. 16.

Football loses home opener to UMass Dartmouth

By Adam Levine Sports Editor

By Dante Curry Staff Writer

The Framingham State Rams lost their home opener to the UMass Dartmouth Corsairs 33-7 Sept. 16.

Framingham’s loss drops them to a record of 0-2 after a 29-0 loss to Salve Regina Sept. 7.

UMass Dartmouth won the 2023 MASCAC Tournament and are the top-seeded team going into this season. The Corsairs were 2-0 going into the game, with a 57-6 win over Nichols College and a 28-14 win over Curry

College.

Framingham’s offensive lineman, Brian Callery, said, “We knew they were a good team coming out here.

“Definitely thought if we executed a little better, the scoreboard would have been a lot different,” Callery added.

Framingham’s head coach, Tom Kelley, said, “In games like this, everybody owns a piece of it.

“We put our defense in bad situations two weeks in a row, and we’ve got to clean that up,” he added.

The Corsairs received the opening kickoff, but the Rams struck first.

Framingham’s defensive end, Kymauny Roland, forced a UMass Dart-

mouth fumble on a strip sack, giving the Rams possession of the ball.

Framingham’s running back, Devaun Ford, took over the offense and rushed for a combined 53 yards over the next three consecutive plays.

Framingham’s wide receiver, Noah Demoranvil, rushed in the final two yards for the first touchdown of the game.

The Rams’ kicker, Matthew Farley, scored the extra point, extending Framingham’s early lead to 7-0.

This early touchdown was Framingham’s only score of the game.

The Corsairs received the ball and quickly scored a touchdown of their own, tying the score 7-7.

UMass Dartmouth continued to score with little resistance, tallying 33 points before the end of regulation.

Despite Framingham’s 33-7 loss, the team showed promise with defensive stops and offensive diversity.

In the second quarter, Framingham’s cornerback, Devine Johnson, intercepted the Corsairs’ quarterback.

Later, during UMass Dartmouth’s final drive, Framingham’s defensive lineman, Adeboye Oyaronbi, forced a fumble from the Corsairs’ offense.

On the offensive end, three of Framingham’s quarterbacks received snaps behind center.

Starting quarterback Henri Borque was injured during the first half and did not return for the remainder of the game.

Kelley said, “It’s hard when you work with a starting quarterback because they get the majority of the

snaps there in the week and to throw somebody in at halftime, it’s hard.

“It’s a hard challenge,” he added.

Framingham’s backup quarterbacks, Terry Smith and Khyle Pena, each spent time behind center during the game.

Framingham’s safety, Chris Buono said, “All quarterbacks work in our system.”

Framingham’s ground game proved dominant. Ford rushed for an impressive 157 yards on 27 carries.

Buono said, “Honestly, we tried our best today. There’s a lot of things that we’ve got to fix - go back to the drawing board.”

Framingham now holds an overall record of 0-2 and a conference record of 0-1.

The Rams host Westfield State for a MASCAC matchup at Bowditch Field Sept. 23.

Stats sourced from fsurams.com and

CONNECT WITH ADAM LEVINE alevine5@student.framingham.edu

CONNECT WITH DANTE

dcurry@student.framingham.edu

CURRY

Adam Levine / THE GATEPOST Devaun Ford running the ball during 33-7 loss to UMass Dartmouth Sept. 16.

Alexis Schlesinger / THE GATEPOST

Natalie Reynolds, Women’s Volleyball MASCAC Rookie of the Week Sept. 18.

Adam Levine / THE GATEPOST

Jack Holt, Men’s Soccer MASCAC Rookie of the Week Sept. 18.

Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST

Hailey Sanders, Women’s Volleyball MASCAC Offensive Player of the Week Sept. 18.

MASCAC.com

Adam Levine / THE GATEPOST

Gustav Hemmingsen, Men’s Soccer MASCAC Offensive Player of the Week Sept. 18.

Adam Levine / THE GATEPOST

Bella Kondi, Field Hockey MASCAC Offensive Player of the Week Sept. 18.

UMASS DARTMOUTH 33 FRAMINGHAM STATE 7

ARTS & FEATURES

By Raena Doty Arts & Features Editor

Officer Ramsey is a new addition to the FSUPD. He’s young, rather slight, with soft blond hair. It’s been reported he gives the best kisses and requests pets frequently and with no shame.

Ramsey, a 5-month-old English labrador, was officially sworn into the FSUPD as the first ever K9 comfort dog at the University July 6. The FSUPD brought Ramsey to FSU with the goal of strengthening community bonds and helping student mental health.

Corporal Shawn Deleskey is in charge of Ramsey 24 hours a day, seven days a week. He said he’s been working at the school for 10 years and he’s loved dogs all his life, and he was the one who wanted to get a K9 comfort dog for the school.

“The dog is a great tool and an outlet to make connections that sometimes I wouldn’t have been able to make if I didn’t have Ramsey with me,” he said.

Delesky said he knows of K9 comfort dogs at several schools in Massachusetts, including Fitchburg State University, Northeastern University, and Bridgewater State University.

Most people who know Ramsey know him from general appearances around the school, whether that’s through regular meet and greets, seeing him walking around, or at events.

Joseph Sturling, senior biology major, said though he hasn’t met Ramsey yet, “I think he’ll add a good energy, and I think that’s what the FSU police needs right now.”

He added as a student involved with the Pride Alliance, he’d love to see Ramsey stop by for normal meetings.

Marlee Griffin, a junior liber-

al studies major and an orientation leader for the Fall 2023 Semester orientation, added she thought Ramsey made new and transferring students to FSU feel better during orientation

- “Everyone likes him.”

Quinn Espinosa, a junior communication arts major, said her high school had a comfort dog, and she likes seeing the same at FSU. She said she thinks he’ll help people simply by walking around and being “almost like a designated mascot.”

Delesky said he’s working on creating a website where people can put in formal requests to have Ramsey at an event, and in the meantime, if anyone emails him, he’ll do his best to have Ramsey there if it fits with their schedules.

On top of Ramsey’s regular appearances around the school, he’s also around the FSUPD as a way to comfort students who may have to go to the department for difficult reasons, Delesky said.

As the person who most wanted to get a K9 comfort unit for the FSUPD, Delesky is in charge of taking care of and training Ramsey both at school and at home, he said, and added both he and the dog are currently getting certified together - Delesky as a dog trainer, and Ramsey as a K9 comfort dog.

He said Ramsey only recently graduated puppy class and moved to the advanced obedience class, and even though it may seem fairly basic, Ramsey’s ability to listen to commands to sit, come, stay in place while Delesky is 100 yards away, or focus on Delesky while walking marks him as an advanced dog.

Delesky said he trains Ramsey both while on duty and off duty. He said on days off, training often looks like going to a big park where others training comfort dogs all come to work in

a quiet space, and at school, he goes out with Ramsey for about an hour in the morning.

He also said one big goal in training is desensitizing Ramsey to new and unexpected stimuli.

“It was funny - I was walking him and the train went by,” Delesky said. “They blew that loud horn. He jumped like 60 feet.”

However, Ramsey is still a puppy, and he can’t be expected to work perfectly or for long periods of time, Delesky said.

“I used to work a lot of overtime. I still do, but I have to also be cautious of how many hours I’m working the dog,” he said, and added some days

he’ll cut the day short for Ramsey’s sake.

Delesky said he is the only person allowed to handle Ramsey. If he’s around the campus and Ramsey isn’t, it’s safe to assume he’s in his kennel in the FSUPD - he may be tired, or his stomach may be upset because of an unfortunate chicken allergy.

Delesky said though he has to keep Ramsey’s training in mind when they’re not on duty, he treats Ramsey like a normal pet when at home.

“When he’s in the house I let him be a goofball,” Delesky said. “He can’t always be perfect.”

Delesky described Ramsey as incredibly loving. “Ramsey just wants to love you. He wakes up and expects nothing from you, and he just wants to give. I think that’s what I love about him,” he said.

“Animals give more than they expect. And I think that’s a great, great attribute,” he added. “People could actually learn from dogs.”

He also said Ramsey “likes to put everything in his mouth,” and added he particularly likes socks, hoodie strings, and his own tail.

Reception to Ramsey has been positive, and Delesky said he’s already seeing the positive effects Ramsey is having on campus.

He said Ramsey “has changed my perspective of this job.

“It gave me a breath of fresh air,” he said.

‘Paws’ to meet FSUPD’s newest officer

CONNECT WITH RAENA DOTY rdoty@student.framingham.edu

Raena Doty / THE GATEPOST

Students meet Ramsey with handler Shawn Delesky in the McCarthy Center Lobby Sept. 6.

Ryan O’Connell / THE GATEPOST

(Left) Ramsey and a student petting him on the McCarthy Center patio Sept. 19.

Continued from page 1

He added one particular question of interest was the time-frame for the national month, and why it was stretched between September and October.

“I realized it was specifically done this way because a lot of the Hispanic countries actually celebrate their independence day during that time,” he said.

Burke said he also learned Hispanic Heritage Month is about nationally recognizing the contribution the Hispanic community has made toward the United States’ infrastructure, culture, and economy, among other things.

He added he thinks the celebration is important due to the population of Hispanic students attending FSU, too.

He said, “When you realize that 22% of the students identify as being Hispanic, it’s important that they are celebrated and recognized.”

“I wouldn’t have been at peace - I would’ve found it a real mess if we didn’t make sure that we would have marked it on our calendar and made deliberate efforts to celebrate these students,” he added.

Burke said in the past, the CIE had a more academic-focused approach to Hispanic Heritage Month, sharing related information and resources. He added since joining the CIE in June, he’s wanted to expound and build on past recognitions.

He said the dolls - which represent five Hispanic countries, plus Brazil -

serve as a physical representation of Hispanic culture, and express to students the CIE wants to actively engage with diversity, equity, and inclusion - not just in a theoretical sense, he said.

Burke added the CIE has a lot planned for Hispanic Heritage Month alongside the dolls.

He said the CIE placed several Hispanic countries’ flags outside their office in O’Connor Hall, and they are also encouraging groups of students to visit the space and watch a powerpoint presentation with information about Hispanic Heritage Month.

Burke added they are planning a “taste of culture” day to experience dishes from various Hispanic cultures, pop-up dance classes, and a chance to explore the six dolls a little deeper in regards to their cultural identities and ties to events in modern America.

He said the dolls help students feel seen, and described how his interactions with them have led to more events in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.

“A student actually came to the CIE and she shared that she’s from Guatemala, and there’s a custom where there’s what they call ‘worry dolls,’ where there’s a really small doll that you’re able to share your work with … that way students are almost getting rid of their work,” he said.

“When the student shared that with me, … We were able to brainstorm some more, and we’re actually currently back-and-forth with the art

department looking at an opportunity to create a space where we’re going to invite students to create their own worry dolls,” he added.

Burke said the large dolls were created by a company named “Guardians of Tradition” for Worcester’s 100-year anniversary, and were representative of the Hispanic community in the city.

He said after the anniversary, the dolls were moved around, visiting the Worcester airport, Worcester library, and other public spaces. Burke said he saw the dolls in person at the airport, and took down the company name to have them visit FSU.

Burke said overall, the dolls are supposed to be fun.

“If we’re honest, everyone would have played with a doll, right? Even if you are a macho guy, you remember at some point your sister or somebody in your family had a doll,” he said.

Burke said he encouraged students and staff to approach the dolls, take a photo with them, share it, and otherwise use them as a chance to have fun and learn about different cultures.

As director of the CIE, Burke said he focuses a lot on making sure the campus feels the impact of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs at FSU.

He said it goes beyond the programming, though, and involves a lot of thought on where they can improve their message of inclusion.

He added, “It really means looking at what are the gaps. What are those areas that we can connect more? What are those areas that we need to provide more?

“I think we have a way to go when we’re talking about diversity in terms of getting better representation from

all groups on campus,” he said.

Burke said the CIE’s goal is to make diversity, equity, and inclusion an institutionalized atmosphere on campus, where students are excited every time they come to campus and can resonate with the setting, either in the classroom or another building.

He reiterated Hispanic students are a part of FSU’s community, and as the CIE they have to be prepared to serve their community.

He added this support begins with words, but eventually grows into actions.

The dolls are an example of these actions, a physical celebration of FSU’s Hispanic community.

“As we were encouraging our students to do these things, we have to play our part in doing that too,” Burke said.

Caroline Kimball, a senior Spanish major and member of Hispanic National Honors Society Sigma Delta Pi, said she loves the dolls and what the CIE is doing to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.

Kimball, although not of Hispanic heritage, said she thinks the month is a great time to highlight the rich and unique culture of Hispanic countries, and sees it as a good opportunity to recommend students join Sigma Delta Pi.

Although a transfer student from last year, Kimball said she has always been a Spanish major, due to her love of learning languages and her exposure to Spanish in her sophomore year of high school.

“I did the exchange program to Spain and the culture there was so different than the United States, I See DOLLS page 12

Dylan Pichnarcik / THE GATEPOST

The Brazilian doll, placed in the McCarthy Center lobby to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month Sept. 15 through Oct. 15.

Dylan Pichnarcik / THE GATEPOST

The Puerto Rican doll, placed in the Hemenway Labs to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month Sept. 15 through Oct. 15.

Dolls

Laurie said she tried to make the placards look less formal than a museum to encourage students to approach the dolls and have the opportunity to interact with them.

Hispanic Heritage Month isn’t the only national month the CIE celebrates, Laurie said, adding that the CIE celebrates LGBTQ History Month in October, Native American History Month in November, Black History Month in February, and several more in the springtime.

Laurie said when she was attempting to install the Mexico doll in Corinne Hall Towers, she was standing outside with its body, waiting for someone to arrive with the head, when some students came to inspect the doll.

“This group of students came up to me and they’re like, ‘Is there food under there? What is it?’ And I was like, we’re celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, these are meant to represent different Hispanic countries on campus,” she said.

She said the students were instantly interested, asking which doll she had, and questioning if they had ones representing Puerto Rico and Colombia.

Continued from page 11 thought it was so fascinating,” she said. “And that just made me want to learn more about Hispanic culture, like the countries from Central America, South America, the Caribbean.”

Kimball said she thinks it’s important to appreciate the individual cultures included in Hispanic Heritage Month, and most people can use the dolls as a physical way of learning more.

She said it’s more than just learning about culture, too, and is a chance to learn about their cuisine, history, and traditions.

Kimball said her favorite doll was Puerto Rico.

“I love learning about Puerto Rican culture and I’ve always wanted to go there. And the dress on that one is so pretty. That one just stood out for me,” she added.

Kimball said she thinks it’s important that even people who aren’t Hispanic, like herself, can learn about new cultures.

Emma Laurie, the program coordinator of the CIE, is also responsible for the office’s celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month and the installation of the dolls.

Laurie joined the CIE as a parttime employee last September, and was recently brought on as full-time staff this past July. She said she remembers last year’s celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, and this year offers more.

She said the message of Hispanic Heritage Month they incorporated into the month’s programming is recognizing the contributions of both

Hispanic Americans and Hispanic people across the globe.

Laurie said she helped with the installation of the dolls and coordinating where they would be placed, using her experience as an alumni of FSU to choose areas where lots of students would get the chance to see them.

She said the CIE chose five of the dolls based on the countries’ population numbers and availability from the company.

Laurie said they also made a deliberate choice to request the Brazilian doll, despite not being a Hispanic country, due to the large Brazilian population in Framingham and at FSU.

She added Guardians of Tradition had a total of 18 dolls available for loan, which made choosing the six present on campus difficult.

Laurie said there were a few last-minute adjustments necessary to give all the dolls a space to stay.

“We ran into some issues size-wise. The dolls were much bigger than I think me and Jerome expected, so we had a few spots that we were planning on putting them - such as the residence halls - but we couldn’t get them in,” she said.

She added they originally planned to place a doll in Corinne Hall Towers, the Henry Whittemore Library, and in the admissions center, but had to relocate them due to the size of the doors, which blocked entry.

Laurie said last year’s Hispanic Heritage Month events consisted of a discussion on Hispanic vs. Latine vs. Latinx, and a few film screenings. She added this year’s events are very ex-

citing, and she’s glad her full-time position allows her to share more ideas she has on programming for the CIE. She said she wrote the placards accompanying the dolls, which explain which countries they represent and their design choices. “The one from Mexico has a bunch of flowers on it, and that one’s inspired by Frida Kahlo,” she added.

“It was the most engaged I’ve ever seen students that weren’t at an event in regards to our DEI programming, and it was really heartwarming,” Laurie said.

“It was probably one of my most favorite moments since working here, just having students be engaged and be excited that their country is here on campus and is going to be represented,” she added.

CONNECT

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

Dylan Pichnarcik / THE GATEPOST

(Left) The Colombian and Mexican dolls, placed outside the Richard C. Logan Gymnasium to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month Sept. 15 through Oct. 15.

Dylan Pichnarcik / THE GATEPOST

The Peru doll, placed in the McCarthy Center Dining Annex to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month Sept. 15 through Oct. 15.

Student discussion grapples with painful American and German histories

By Jack McLaughlin Arts & Features Editor

“History in the Making” hosted their first of three discussions this semester at the Center for Inclusive Excellence (CIE) Sept. 20.

The discussion, “The Importance of Memory: How Germany Remembers the Holocaust Compared to How America Remembers Slavery,” was organized by history majors Willow Versackas and Danni Marquez.

The panel was prefaced with a disclaimer from Versackas that this discussion was not trying to compare these events, but rather “the memorialization of these events.”

“We are not here to compare the events by suffering or the trauma of the people,” Versackas added.

The discussion began by looking into how America memorializes slavery, which involved statues of Confederate soldiers from the Civil War.

Versackas said these statues were constructed between the 1890s and 1950s during segregation by a group called the Daughters of the Confederacy.

She added despite the pushback, the U.S. government “has kept these statues in place and they have created different legislation to keep them.”

Versackas said the difference is they were designed to celebrate the leaders of these events, instead of

honoring those who suffered as a result of the Civil War.

She talked about how Germany memorializes the Holocaust. One of the examples was a Stolperstein, a brass plaque that is placed outside the last known address of someone who was a victim of the Holocaust.

Versackas explained concentration camps were not protected by the post-war German government, but became memorials because the people who “lived in this history wanted to remember and learn to have that conversation.

“The German government was not very willing to have that conversation because they were not ready to acknowledge and grapple with national socialism,” she added.

Versackas asked attendees, “How have we learned about the history of the Holocaust and national socialism?”

History major Gabriel Berger recollected their high school always tried to have a Holocaust survivor speak once a year. They also noticed that when learning about the topic in high school, these courses did not offer explanation to how Hitler rose to power.

Versackas then asked how attendees in the room learned about slavery in America.

the pain of being a slave.

They said, “I’m sure there is one somewhere, but it’s not nearly as prevalent.”

Political science major Riann Guthrie added more about the memorializing of Confederate officers and how it’s begun to change in recent years.

“I feel like when it comes to America, and I would say other countries, they’ve done so much to change that notion that we are proud of this,” she said.

Versackas said, “No one in Germany, or anywhere in the world, would think of ever putting up a statue of Adolf Hitler.

“But in America, it seems that we’re very OK with putting up statues and memorials and naming places after [Confederate officers],” she said.

Berger responded with their experience in middle school being “a much more sanitized version of things.”

They added, “And then as that becomes more and more unfashionable, more accurate and honest depictions of what really a monstrous system it was.”

Next, Versackas asked attendees to consider how different both memorials were.

Berger followed up on this question by responding with how well known Civil War memorials do not represent

‘Elemental’ - a romance between fire and water

By Francisco Omar Fernandez Rodriguez Staff Writer

“Elemental” is the latest of Pixar’s animated films. Produced by Denise Ream and directed by Peter Sohn, this movie is a creative and positive take on cross-culture romance.

“Elemental” is a romance story between Ember Lumen, a fire-element woman, and Wade Ripple, a water-element man. It takes place in Element City, where all of the elements are supposed to live together in harmony.

However, it becomes clear very quickly that the city is not built with fire elements in mind. In fact, the city was originally built by the water elements, making it rather water-cen tric. “Elemental” tackles themes of immigration, prejudice, and xenophobia in a unique way.

The director, Peter Sohn, is the son of Korean immigrants living in New York. It has been stated that he used his childhood as inspira tion for “Elemental.”

Sohn also directed “The Good Dinosaur,” which is known for being Pixar’s first box office bomb. Clearly he has improved as a director and story producer since then.

Ember is voiced by Leah Lewis, an actress best known for her role as the

lead character in the Netflix film “The Half of It.”

Wade is voiced by Mamoudou Athie, an actor best known for his starring role in the Netflix film “Archive 81.” Their acting skills help bring their characters to life.

Ember’s family moved to Element City before she was born, resulting in her growing up in a difficult environment. Her family immediately faced prejudice when they arrived, shown by an immigration officer giving them new names for official use due to “Firish” being too difficult to understand and write. The family tried to find a place to live but they were continuously rejected because they are fire elements. They eventually bought a small place that they made into a

The film does a good job expressing these realistic themes of prejudice and intolerance. This family is from a foreign land and is immediately judged and hated for it.

Throughout “Elemental” there are times where the other elements show hostility to the fire elements for no sensible reason. There are even places in Element City where the fire elements are not allowed to be in. This showcases real issues of xenophobia that exist in our everyday lives. Taking on these themes gives

more awareness to issues presented in the movie.

The tone of the film is relative ly light hearted but serious when it needs to be. The tension between the fire elements and the rest of El ement City showcases real life xenophobia and racism.

There are scenes where the water, air, and plant elementals use harsh and seemingly discriminatory lan guage against the fire elementals. In another scene, Ember is told that her accent is extremely clear, which she naturally takes offense to be cause she grew up with the language. Whenever scenes like this are on, the tone is naturally heavy. But it is still a Pixar movie meant for children, so it keeps the studio’s usual light cheerfulness throughout.

History major Alex Szarka made the point that American culture is unique because it idolizes its nation’s leaders while neglecting to acknowledge their faults.

“I think it’s important to recognize that these people are not really mythical figures, but they’re flawed beings,” he said.

“History in the Making” will host two more discussions this semester for students and faculty to join Oct. 25 and Nov. 29.

CONNECT WITH JACK MCLAUGHLIN jmclaughlin7@student.framingham.edu

emental,” I found myself enjoying it more than I originally expected. Sometimes I found myself unsure of how the movie would resolve its conflict. It is a beautifully animated film to watch if you are interested in a touching and hopeful story about a seemingly impossible love.

“Elemental” is an emotional and enlightening Pixar movie about cross-culture romance shown in a creative and unique format. I would recommend giving it a watch now that it is on Disney+.

David Abe / THE GATEPOST

The romance between Ember and Wade is a new and welcomed approach. The film shows the differences between them and their cultures, and how despite this, the couple can still love each other.

It gives a new form of representation to cross-culture pairs. Naturally, Ember and Wade have their arguments but they still clearly care for one another.

During my first viewing of “El-

Rating: B+

A passionate love story

“These people are not really mythical figures, but they’re flawed beings.”

- Alex Szarka, History Major

‘One Piece’ breaks the curse of anime adaptations

By Owen Glancy Asst. Arts & Features Editor

“One Piece” is one of the most influential and popular manga on the planet, with its total sales eclipsing comic book legends like “Batman” and “Spider-Man.” The anime adaptation is a classic that has aired weekly since 1999 with little in the way of breaks or hiatuses.

So needless to say, a live action adaptation of “One Piece” seems unnecessary. Luckily, this show is a more than worthy addition to the universe of “One Piece.”

This adaptation covers the first 95 chapters of content from the original manga. However, this show doesn’t merely retell the events of the East Blue Saga, but rather makes tweaks to the pacing and story beats so that the events of these 95 chapters can fit within eight episodes.

The pacing is the show’s biggest strength. The writers’ ability to squeeze 95 chapters worth of content into eight one-hour long episodes and still have it feel natural is legitimately impressive.

The show’s other major strength is in its visual style. Every single character is faithful to their original design, and any tweaks made only serve to enhance the show’s look. This attention to detail is also present in the set design.

Every set feels different from the last, giving every island the crew visits its own identity. From the busy streets and ports of Syrup Village, to the more controlled militaristic naval base of Shells Town, every single location tells a story from just seeing

them through the character’s eyes.

The characters are far more interesting than I expected. The main crew, the Straw Hat Pirates, is fantastic, with Luffy and Sanji being particular standouts.

Even though Luffy and Sanji are without a doubt my favorites, it’s hard to deny that Nami’s actress Emily Rudd gives the show’s best performance. She also gets the most screen time aside from Luffy, giving Rudd

of screen time, but Usopp has little plot relevance. He doesn’t really do much important, and serves mostly as comic relief.

The villains are far less consistent than our main characters. This is mostly the fault of the manga, but the show does nothing to make the under-developed villains any more interesting.

The one major exception to this is Buggy.

journey.

Koby is a major disappointment for me. Morgan Davies does a good job as Koby, but his character always looks like he’s on the verge of tears, and his naive nature gets annoying very quickly. Koby is given far too much screen time, and not enough to do.

Helmeppo is a massive improvement from his manga characterization. Aidan Scott makes this obnoxious and pompous character incredibly likable, and he is given a real glow-up in the writing department.

The action scenes also look great, and feel just like something from the anime, especially in showing the many devil fruit powers.

Overall, “One Piece” is an incredible adaptation of a classic story. Every actor puts their all into their performances, the sets are incredibly detailed and true to the source material, and the action scenes are exhilarating. With the exception of a few boring characters, “One Piece” is an exemplary adaptation that stands out among its peers.

plenty of opportunities to bring this character to life.

The other two members of Luffy’s crew, Usopp and Zoro, are more polarizing than the others. Mackenyu’s performance as Zoro is excellent, one of the best in the show, but Zoro’s backstory is poorly written and his screen time is surprisingly low considering he’s Luffy’s first mate.

Usopp has a similar issue. Jacob Romero gives a good performance, and his character gets a good amount

Buggy the Clown is a minor antagonist first introduced in Episode 3, and he steals the show every time he’s on screen. Jeff Ward does a phenomenal job, and manages to make Buggy both menacing and hilarious.

The last characters to mention are Koby, Helmeppo, and Garp. These three make up the major faces of the marines chasing the Straw Hat Pirates across the East Blue. Garp leads this marine group, and his presence adds a sense of urgency to the Straw Hat’s

The best live-action anime adaptation

CONNECT WITH OWEN GLANCY oglancy@student.framingham.edu

Peter Do debuts with style at New York Fashion Week

By Bella Omar Asst. Arts & Features Editor

New York Fashion Week (NYFW) has just come to an end, kicking off fashion month as arguably the most influential location of the four primary capitals - New York, London, Milan, and Paris.

While the Council of Fashion Designers of America’s (CFDA) official calendar for NYFW this year was noticeably slimmer than past seasons, the week still hosted several auspicious newcomers to the fashion world.

Peter Do, a Vietnamese-born and Brooklyn-based designer, while by no means new to the world of fashion and especially impeccable tailoring, made a stunning debut as Helmut Lang’s new creative director this fashion week on Sept. 8 to showcase the brand’s Spring Summer 2024 collection.

Peter Do, having studied at Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) and under the likes of Phoebe Philo and Derek Lam in addition to winning the prestigious Moët Hennessy Louis

Vuitton (LVMH) Prize for Young Fashion Designers competition is known for his namesake brand that dresses stars such as Zendaya and Beyoncé.

Helmut Lang, one of the most subversive influences of the fashion world for the past quarter-century, has a rich brand identity, full of elevated T-shirts, lean silhouettes and bondage references scattered throughout collections.

Peter Do has pointed to Lang as one of his prominent creative inspirations throughout his career, making him that much more fitting for his new role.

With several thoughtful references to Lang’s history throughout an impressive collection of 47 looks while ushering in fresh takes on brand classics, Peter Do has succeeded at filling this coveted role.

The first five looks of the show featured black or white suit ensembles, naturally tailored to every model’s body. This introduced the detail of pink satin ribbon being wrapped around various limbs and tracing the seams of pant legs and suit jackets,

referencing Lang’s infatuation with incorporating bondage pieces into his looks.

The pink ribbon then evolves into larger lengths of fabric being incorporated into oversized vests, sweaters, sweater dresses, and boleros - all of which are intentionally androgynous in likeness to the rest of the collection.

Every model also walked down the runway in a variation of a black leather boot, primarily knee-height. The blazers worn featured dramatic, sharp shoulders, most of which were paired with hip-hugging lower waist trousers, which were also made in denim and leather variations.

Yellow ribbon and fabrics replaced the pink later in the show, detailing suits and sweaters in a similar way.

This coincided with the introduction of a yellow taxi-cab print, paying homage to Lang’s initially jarring marketing method of advertising on top of New York City taxi cabs. This print found its way into several fabrications, such as full matching sets, and a particularly trendy pleated midi

skirt.

Several otherwise solid white tees, tanks, and backward blouses were adorned with poetry in black lettering on both the front and reverse sides of the items, from the Jenny Holzer installation displayed in the first Helmut Lang store on Greene Street. Quotes included, “This is how I carry us / For in your skin I have placed my trust.”

Revealing his cognizance of relevant trends, waist-wide leather belts, camel-colored coats, and excessive draping were also seen throughout the show. All of the non-neutral colors that were introduced in the beginning came together in the last few and most colorful looks as draped lengths of fabric and ribbon were incorporated into fitted dresses, trousers, and blouses, marking the end of the show.

CONNECT WITH BELLA OMAR bomar@student.framingham.edu

Rating A:

Ben Hurney / THE GATEPOST

Puzzles

36. Some hosp. employees

37. Puts on clothes (letters 2-8)

41. Father figures?

43. Made less taxing

44. Ladder component

45. Gobbles (down)

47. Go in a new direction, or a hint to each of this puzzle’s scrambled meal parts

50. Some bikes or pigs

51. Lemony, maybe

52. Piles

56. Source of a soothing gel

57. Doing nothing

58. More strange

59. Ivy in Philly

60. Loch ___

61. Old Russian royals

DOWN

1. Snitch

2. “Rugrats” dad

ACROSS

1. Answered a wedding invitation, say.

6. “Are you kidding?”

10. Guesstimate words

14. Space Invaders console

15. Greeting in Guadalajara

16. Fill, as a moving truck

17. Makes sharper or flatter

18. “NFL Live” channel

19. Sandy desert formation

20. Deep emotions that may be tugged at (In this answer, note letters 2-8)

23. Leaves abruptly, with “out”

24. Felt sorry about

25. Discontinue

26. Place for a hero

29. Long-standing foe (... letters 4-9)

32. Bird in a parliament

33. Eras

34. “Boy!”

35. Ancient character

3. Soccer parent’s transport

4. Warmps up, as the oven.

5. Epidemiologist’s concern

6. Invitation word before a venue name

7. Party throwers

8. The Matterhorn’s range

9. A toddler may throw one

10. Throwbacks on the radio

11. Kicks delivered with wide swings

12. Blabbed to the authorities

13. “To a...” poems

21. Taiwanese tech giant

22. July birthstone

23. 2016 live-action Disney movie whose title character is named Eliot

25. Aetna competitor

26. Email command

27. Totally dominated

28. Made a case in court

29. Shakespeare, for one

30. Defib experts

31. “Industry Baby” rapper Lil ___ X

35. Convenient ways to stay up-to-date with websites

37. Instrument heard at the end of “Bohemian Rhapsody”

38. Enters with caution

42. ___ burner (lab item)

Puzzle solutions are now exclusively online.

45. All ___ Day (November 2 observance)

46. Preserves in salt, perhaps

47. Bloke

48. You can dig it!

49. Programmer’s creation

53. Programmer Lovelace

54. For each

55. AARP Members: Abbr.

Caffeinated Conversations

Christian Fellowship invited students to free coffee and prayer request in the McCarthy Center Lobby Sept. 18.

Emily Rosenberg / THE GATEPOST Students enjoying coffee at the Christian Fellowship event Sept. 18.

Emily Rosenberg / THE GATEPOST President Kathryn Hansson and Treasurer Ben Diehl at the Christian Fellowship event Sept. 18.

Emily Rosenberg / THE GATEPOST Student talking to the Christian Fellowship eBoard at their event Sept. 18.

Emily Rosenberg / THE GATEPOST Avry Guilbert showing off her coffee at the Christian Fellowship event Sept. 18.

Emily Rosenberg / THE GATEPOST Kunphel Sinha pouring coffee at the Christian Fellowship event Sept. 18.

Spread by Photos & Design Editor Adrien Gobin and Staff Writer Emily Monaco