December 8, 2023

Volume 92 • Issue 12

December 8, 2023

You’re in the home stretch, Charlie Brown!

Members of the Hilltop Players performed the musical “You’re a good man, Charlie Brown” Dec. 1 and Dec.2.

Bill would make state institutions free for students

By Emily Rosenberg Editor-in-Chief As a first-generation student, Evelyn Campbell works three jobs to help afford her college tuition bills every semester. This is along with being the Student Government Association president and spending hours completing weekly academic responsibilities.

During the school week, she works at the Center for Academic Success and Achievement as n ASPT Tutor. During the nights and weekends, she heads to a bridal store for shifts as a sales consultant. And she also manages the so-

cial media of the store she works for.

As the daughter of a single mother, a public university was the only option she considered.

Campbell is only one of thousands of students at FSU who work to pay for their education and of hundreds of thousands in Massachusetts who spend the majority of their hours outside of the classroom working to pay their tuition and fees.

A bill in the legislature, H.1265/S.823 - an act relative to debt-free public higher education, would essentially end this phenomenon for students who declare themselves as dependents and also free all students of the debt most

FSUgatepost.com

Alexis Schlesinger / THE GATEPOST

News

acquire from borrowing.

The bill proposes students across BROKEN GUTTER pg. 6 the state system have their tuition INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS pg. 7 and fees paid for by tax dollars, not including room and board. It would also provide grant money for low-income or Pell-eligible students to pay for residence housing and meal plans.

The bill, non-formally called “The FIRST-GENERATION STUDENTS pg. 11 Debt Free Future Act,” was first filed in GRIEF IS FOREVER pg.12 2019 and was refiled in 2023 by Representative Natalie Higgins (D-Leominster), and Senator Jamie Eldrige (D-Marlborough).

The Joint Committee on Higher

Opinions

Sports

See DEBT FREE FUTURE ACT page 4

The benefits of block building

New course explores the theory and importance of playing

By Ryan O’Connell Associate Editor Fifteen students file into Dwight Hall 106.

The room is divided into an outer ring and an inner circle by a semi-circle of desks, so they enter as a queue, one after another.

They split to the left and pass a tall shelf holding dozens of plastic bags categorized by label maker, and along the wall.

Next to them is a cork board, visible only barely through colorful construction paper labeled with age groups, board games, and more. “Childhood Toys” is a light blue, and dotted with the names of doll brands - “Bratz,” “Barbie,” and “Strawberry Shortcake” stick out.

They split to the right and cross a playmat, headed toward two huge windows against the far wall. The early afternoon sun floods the room. Sitting on the windowsills are half-built Legos.

On the desks just before them, there’s an abandoned game of Hungry Hungry Hippos and a stack of colorful plastic rings, ordered largest-to-smallest. All over, there are toys that make Dwight Hall 106 feel slightly reminiscent of a pediatrician’s office.

It’s messy. And even for 15, the room is small.

Luckily for these students - the first ever group to be taking Theory and Practice of Play (CFST 321) at Framingham State University - the room is reserved for only their class this semester.

So they don’t need to sing the clean-up

song.

Dylan Pichnarcik /THE GATEPOST Theory and Practice of Play, a concentration course for the child and fam- DEAN NICHOLS pg. 13 ily studies major, was introduced this fall and is taught this semester by Laura Hudock, a professor of education, who also played a large role in the course’s development.

The class, which Hudock said is adjacent to education, explores classic and contemporary “theories of play,” and their benefits to children.

She added they analyze studies from different fields, such as psychology and education, and discuss the “cognitive and social, physical and emotional” growth influenced by specific types of Dylan Pichnarcik /THE GATEPOST play, as well as the impact of the enviRAENA’S ROOM REPORT pg. 20 ronment.

See PLAY page 18 PAUSE 4 PAWS pg. 22

Arts & Features

INSIDE: OP/ED 10 • SPORTS 13 • ARTS & FEATURES 16

NEWS

2 | DECEMBER 8, 2023

Editorial Board

Gatepost Interview Emily Rosenberg

Editor-in-Chief Emily Rosenberg Associate Editors Ryan O’Connell Sophia Harris News Editor Naidelly Coelho Asst. News Editors Kaitilin Carman Adam Harrison 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 Asst. Design & Photos Editors Dylan Pichnarcik Alexis Schlesinger Illustrations Editor Ben Hurney Interim Asst. Illustrations Editors

Emily Monaco David Abe Staff Writers Jesse Burchill Carly Paul Liv Dunleavy

Francisco Omar Fernandez Rodriguez

Dante Curry Richard Gill Andrea O’Brien Paul Harrington Dorcas Abe Marcus Falcão Kyle Coley Kyle Walker

Advisor Desmond McCarthy Asst. Advisor Elizabeth Banks

Outgoing Editor-in-Chief of The Gatepost

By Sophia Harris Associate Editor Why did you choose to come to Framingham State?

Framingham State was the only school I applied to in Massachusetts.

And I figured, my dad went to Framingham State and I grew up listening to his stories about WDJM and it seemed to be a story in my head kind of a tall tale. He told me all these quirky little funny stories about being on WDJM and living in the dorms, having roommates, and going to parties.

And I figured, if he could find his people at Framingham State and make something out of it, then so could I, and that’s why I ended up coming here. And I’m really glad I did.

Why did you decide to study political science and journalism?

I originally didn’t want to study journalism. I never planned to study journalism. I ended up meeting Desmond McCarthy and I met the people at The Gatepost. I love writing a lot. I was the literary and art magazine editor in high school, and writing has always been a big passion of mine. I remember writing a play when I was in third grade and I still have a print copy of it. So when I met Desmond and I met people on The Gatepost, I got passionate about The Gatepost and I figured, maybe writing could be a little bit more centered in my life and centered in my career. Political science and journalism ended up being a very good mix because you learn a lot about public meetings and the different political structures in journalism. In political science, you also learn a lot about journalism - you learn about New York Times v. Sullivan and the actual malice standard.

They’re very connected in that way. I decided to study political science because I’m incredibly passionate about education policy and mental health policy. I always really wanted to get involved with the systemic issues involving education policy, particularly where our education lacks in teaching mental health literacy, or mental health.

What internships have you undertaken during your time at Fram-

ingham State?

The first internship that I did as a junior was the civic engagement internship. I worked with Professor David Smailes and Dean Susan Dargan for that, and I helped do research for the Civic Engagement Center and learned a little bit about what other state universities do in their Civic Engagement Centers. I helped them realize that Framingham State should do a civic engagement minor because that is what other universities are doing at their civic engagement centers. I also worked with the Mental Health Collaborative, which is a nonprofit that

Courtesy of Emily Rosenberg works with different businesses and schools to help them teach about mental health and how to conduct mental health training - it’s called mental health literacy training. I reached out to different legislators because they offer this training but they also wanted me to say this is something you should be promoting - maybe this is something that you should be mandating in your state. So I reached out not just to Massachusetts legislators, but also to legislators across the country. I also did social media for MHC. I came here because I’m really interest-

ed in mental health policy and in getting people to learn how to treat people with mental illnesses. I also did an internship at the State House last spring. I did communications work. I wrote press releases. I did some social media. My big project was to work on H.1146 - an act providing access to full-spectrum addiction treatment services. I wrote testimony and I did bill research. I provided research briefings. I was working in Adam Scanlon’s office - he’s an alumnus of FSU. He’s such a down-to-earth guy, who I could tell really cares so much about his district. That internship really helped me see how impactful work at the state level and legislation at the state level can be and how incredibly hard state legislators and their staffers work every single day. And it made me realize that representatives care so incredibly much about their constituents, and it just made me realize that I can make an impact at that same level and that I do want to work in that field.

Any final thoughts?

I want to thank my friends at The Gatepost who have supported me so much throughout my career here. I didn’t originally intend on joining the newspaper, and I say that all the time. But it has turned out to be one of the most rewarding experiences I have had the privilege of having. I’ve had the privilege to mentor people and see those people grow into such independent and talented people. It’s very rewarding and it’s very amazing to see the work that we put out every week. I can’t believe that I had the honor to be so many people’s Editor-in-Chief. I just have so many people that I can call my friends forever because of Framingham State. I also want to thank my incredible advisor David Smailes - thank you so much for allowing me to come into your office whenever I wanted and mentoring me to be the great thinker that I am today. And of course - thank you to Giuliano Espino - he actually just finished his Ph.D. yesterday and I can’t wait to see the great work that he does in the years to come.

CONNECT WITH SOPHIA HARRIS sharris@student.framingham.edu

Police Logs 100 State Street McCarthy Center Room 410 Framingham, MA 01701-9101 Phone: (508) 626-4605 Fax: (508) 626-4097 gatepost@framingham.edu

Monday, Dec. 4 01:01 Parking Enforcement Towers Hall Fire Lane Citations issued

@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

Tuesday, Dec. 5 01:09 Community Policing Horace Mann Hall Assignment Complete

Wednesday, Dec. 6 01:02 Foot Patrol McCarthy Center Checks OK

Wednesday, Dec. 6 02:59 Safety Escort Union Avenue Parking Lot Services Rendered

NEWS

DECEMBER 8, 2023 | 3

SGA holds the last meeting of the semester Sophia Harris Associate Editor The Student Government Association discussed the success of the Safety Walk, the addition of changing tables in restrooms, and new majors at its last meeting of the semester on Dec. 5.

President Evelyn Campbell congratulated SGA for the success of the Safety Walk, following which a new ramp was installed behind Horace Mann and CASA. [Editor’s Note: See “ SGA Safety Walk sparks accessibility changes on campus” on page 9.]

She said the ramp construction was initiated by the head of facilities, Dan Giard, “who is awesome.”

Campbell said, “Our opinions matter. They are being heard and we are seeing change.

“Keep up the good work, everyone!” she added.

Vice President Raffi Elkhoury said due to a concern that was raised during an SGA meeting about a lack of baby-changing stations available at FSU, additional changing stations were installed in the women’s and men’s rooms in the athletic center and Dwight Hall, and the women’s room in the dining commons.

Senator Jeremy McDonald, who is a member of the All University Committee, said new majors have been added.

These include biotechnology and wildlife and environmental biology, he said.

McDonald added majors in pre-vet and veterinary medicine have been tabled until the next meeting.

During the open forum, Senator Cesar Matos said a conversation with a professor prompted him to ask if the alternative spring break program would be reintroduced after it was stopped due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said he hoped SGA would be able to discuss the program being reactivated for the entire school.

Senator Tony Sims inquired about

Dylan Pichnarcik / THE GATEPOST Natalia Lopez (right) and Izzy Shields (center right) being sworn in at the SGA meeting Dec. 5. graduate students being allowed to be a part of clubs and organizations on campus.

He said he has heard from many graduate students that they would like to be a part of clubs on campus but because of campus regulations, they are not able to.

Sims said this rule is damaging the graduate student experience at Framingham State.

He said he hopes SGA can do something to change this rule.

Elkhoury said because graduate students do not pay SATF, they are not eligible to participate in on-campus clubs and organizations.

He said SGA could “look into providing grad students an opportunity to pay the student activities funds.”

Elkhoury said “Although that might not be possible,” SGA can look into remedying it.

During new business, Izzy Shields and Natalia Lopez were sworn in as SGA senators.

Although Lopez was sworn in over Zoom during the meeting that occurred on Nov. 21 a formal in-person ceremony was held in order for the group to congratulate her.

Shields said they wanted to become a member of SGA because they value the community of friends they have made while attending SGA meetings and the opportunity to “make things happen on campus.”

During Campbell’s president’s report, she said Diversity and Inclusion Officer Ellen Lopes has stepped down from her position due to personal reasons.

She said because of this, she will now be taking on that role for the time being.

Campbell added, “If you know of anyone who might be interested in this position or you’re interested in diversity and inclusion - definitely let us know because we want that position to be filled” permanently.

She asked for questions regarding

the NECHE documentation that was sent to SGA for review at the previous meeting, but no senator had any.

Campbell said the first SGA meeting of the spring semester will be held on Jan. 16, the first day of classes.

She said during this meeting, they will be approving the SGA constitution and budget.

Campbell said SGA will start approving funding requests for the spring semester on Jan. 30.

Senator Raena Doty awarded the U-Rock to Sims for his kindness and communication skills.

Senator of the Month was awarded to Matos by SGA. The Most Spirited award was awarded to Secretary Anna Risotti.

[Editor’s Note: Raena Doty is an Arts & Features Editor for The Gatepost.]

CONNECT WITH SOPHIA HARRIS sharris@student.framingham.edu

Correction In the Dec. 1 issue of The Gatepost, an article was published that stated FSU was allocated $22 million from the MASSGrant Plus Expansion. This is incorrect. FSU was allocated $2.2 million from the MASSGrant Plus Expansion. This error was also published in the Nov. 17 issue of the Gatepost in the article, “Board of Trustees discuss enrollment strategies.” The Gatepost apologizes for any confusion that was caused by these copy-edit errors.

Weather

Forecast provided by the National Weather Service www.weather.gov

Sunday night Dec. 10 Showers. Low around 45.

Windy, with a SW around 15 mph.

Monday night Dec.11 Mostly clear, with a low around 30. Breezy, with a W wind around 15 mph.

Tuesday night Dec.12 Partly cloudy, with a low around 30. SW wind around 10 mph.

Wednesday night Dec.13 Partly cloudy, with a low around 25. W wind around 15 mph.

Monday Dec. 11 Showers. High near 50.

Windy, with a W wind around 25 mph.

Tuesday Dec.12 Sunny, with a high near 40. W wind around 10 mph.

Wednesday Dec.13 Mostly sunny, with a high near 40. W wind around 15 mph.

Thursday Dec.14 Mostly sunny, with a high near 40. W wind around 15 mph.

FRAMINGHAM STATE UNIVERSITY’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1932 | FSUGATEPOST.COM

NEWS

4 | DECEMBER 8, 2023

Debt Free Future Act Continued from page 1 Education heard testimony from Higgins, Eldrige, and Representative Carmine Gentile (D-Sudbury) and the advocacy group Public Higher Education Network of Massachusetts on Sept. 18.

The bill is estimated to cost around $1.8 billion, according to Higgins, and would likely be rolled out over multiple years. It does not provide specific language for how it would be funded, but it is assumed much of the funding would come from the Fair Share Amendment.

Passed in 2021, the Fair Share Amendment imposes an extra 4% income tax on residents who earn over $1 million. In FY 24, the funding was equally allocated to transportation and education, and it allowed the legislature to make historic investments in financial aid through the MASSGrant Plus Expansion.

The legislature also launched Mass Reconnect, which provides free tuition to community college students across the state for people 25 and over and plans for free tuition to all community college students in 2024.

Higgins also said another way to fund the bill would be to tax university endowments over $1 billion, another bill she sponsors.

H.2824 would impose a 2.5% tax on private college and university endowments in Massachusetts. According to Higgins, these endowments total $95 billion combined and if taxed, they could generate over $2 billion in tax revenue toward public higher education funding.

“Not everyone has a chance to attend Harvard University or MIT, but their endowments could make sure every single Massachusetts resident can go to college for free,” she said, adding Harvard University made a 25% return on their investment last year. “We’re just asking for a little bit of that profit.”

Higgins said the issue of affordable education is personal to her as a first-generation college student. She said her father did not have the opportunity to finish high school, so for her brother and herself to be able to access public higher education was “incredible.”

She added, “at the same time, over my lifetime, over the past 35 years, it has gotten increasingly unaffordable for the folks that [public higher education] was designed for. So we’re really challenging the state and our legislative colleagues and the governor’s administration to imagine investing in public higher education so that it is the equalizer that it was a generation ago.”

To put that into context, the annual estimated cost of tuition and fees at Framingham State University in 1990 was $3,156.

In 2023, the semesterly cost is more than double what it cost in 1990, with the fees for one course rounding out to $1,746. A full-time in-state undergraduate student pays $6,984 in fees and $648 in tuition.

According to the Office of Institutional Research, 1,547 full-time undergraduate Framingham State students received some need-based aid in 202223. Need-based aid is defined as a “college-funded or college-administered award from institutional, state, feder-

@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

al, or other sources for which a student must have financial need to qualify.”

In 2022-23, the number of full-time undergraduate students who were awarded any financial aid was 1,732, according to the Office of Institutional Research.

Higgins said that in gateway cities, less than 25% percent of young adults obtain a bachelor’s degree, compared to the 50% of residents across the state - what Massachusetts prides itself on.

Gateway city is a legal term to describe 26 urban regional areas in Massachusetts that face social and economic challenges. Framingham State is closest geographically to the gateway cities of Attleboro, Brockton, Springfield, and Worcester.

She said there is data showing that teenagers in gateway cities contribute 25% of their household incomes while they are in high school.

“Guess what? They have to continue that work when they shift into college. And that prevents them from being able to be enrolled full time because they are just trying to help their families make ends meet.”

Higgins said Massachusetts historically is a leader in education, so she would like to see that same investment extended to public higher education.

She added she believes this will help the enrollment at state universities, eliminating the factor of cost in most students’ decisions to apply. “There will no longer be folks on the sidelines thinking, ‘i just don’t know if I can afford that.’”

a lot of wealth inequality that exists in the state right now.”

He emphasized that the passage of Mass Reconnect in FY 24 shows free public higher education across the entire state system is also possible.

Eldrige said he sponsored the bill because in the district he represents, he talks to a lot of constituents who upon graduating, have challenges budgeting for the next steps of their future such as having families because of “fairly significant debt.”

The Public Higher Education Network of Massachusetts (PHENOM) is an advocacy organization that unites students, faculty, alumni, staff, and community members across the state to advocate for debt-free college.

PHENOM focuses on advocating for the Debt-Free Future Act as well as the CHERISH Act. The CHERISH Act shares a similar mission: it invests in higher education by providing for a program that would allow students to graduate debt-free, but also includes several initiatives that would make working for higher education more equitable.

Communications Chair of PHENOM Liam Rue said the organization is focused on enshrining the message that higher education is a right, not a privilege, and how the bill will be funded is secondary. He added the organization pushes for both CHERISH and the debt-free future act, but more heavily for the debt-free future act because it is more student-oriented.

He said as Massachusetts is one of the richest states in the country, the

“Not everyone has a chance to attend Harvard University or MIT, but their endowments could make sure every single Massachusetts resident can go to college for free.”

- Natalie Higgins State Representative She added one of the biggest issues the legislature is taking on is workforce shortages - not having the right workers for the right jobs.

“The solution is public higher education funding. Let’s make sure folks can get those degrees, get those skills as quickly as possible.

Senator Eldrige echoed Higgins’ sentiment. He said in a state that prides itself greatly on an educated workforce, it is logical to provide free access to public higher education because the system now “sadly has a very negative impact on working-class and low-income families.”

“If we’re really serious about being the education state, we need to invest in free public higher education,” he said.

Eldrige added it is important to acknowledge the dramatic increase in access to job opportunities receiving a bachelor’s degree gives to students. “I think it would have a great impact on

bill challenges the legislature to reallocate and reorganize tax revenues toward funding free college, especially now with the additional revenue from the Fair Share Amendment.

He added the organization strongly supports H.2824 to tax private university endowments and recently sponsored a rally on the UMass Boston campus to lobby support for it on Nov. 17.

Rue said students should get involved with PHENOM because it is central to almost every college student attending a public institution in Massachusetts.

“We’re seeing the student debt crisis get worse and worse. People will have to delay milestones like having families, for example, and even buying a home,” he said, emphasizing that data shows college-educated Massachusetts residents are waiting at least 20 years out of college to reach these life accomplishments.

Rue himself is an out-of-state student at UMass Boston, so if the bill were to pass, it would not concern him, but he said he plans to pursue a graduate degree, so the idea of incurring even more debt is overwhelming and he realizes he will “have to struggle. “​​When college has become so expensive, where so many people have to take out excessive student loans to continue going to college, it really prevents people from thinking boldly about the type of future they want.”

Rue added he thinks there is a social concept that if college is expensive, then people are working harder for their degrees, and “think more about their degree.

“I just think that’s ridiculous because life is expensive enough without even having to think about college,” he said.

Izabel Depina, the organizing director of PHENOM, said the organization’s goal is to get all 29 state campuses involved in advocating for the bill with faculty, students, and staff.

She said the organization tables and helps set up PHENOM chapters across the state institutions.

She said one of the organization’s talking points is that paying for college is rooted in structural racism. Depina wrote a master’s thesis on how the Debt-Free-Future Act pertains to the UMass Boston campus, focusing on the intersectionality power of canceling student debt.

Depina said there is systemically a lack of education and health care so providing affordable public higher education would significantly open opportunities for people of color.

Executive Vice President Dale Hamel said if a debt-free initiative were to pass in the legislature, how the University would budget its operations is “to be determined.

“In terms of what could occur on the institutional side, the fact that there’s more financial aid doesn’t necessarily mean there’s funding for operations.

So how do you meet both the institutional needs and the student needs to try to reduce the cost as much to students,” he said.

He added this is likely why the bill has not been adopted in previous sessions, but he believes students will probably continue to see expanded financial aid programs such as MassGrant Plus.

Hamel said a concern is if a bill such as this were to be funded, “How do you ensure tuition and fees don’t get out of control?”

Iris Godes, Dean of Strategic Enrollment Management said hypothetically, if the bill were to pass, she would like to think it would increase enrollment at FSU. “And, if funding is available to assist with housing on campus, we would see our percentage of resident students increase as well.”

She said as the Mass Reconnect program available at community colleges had a positive impact on enrollment this year at those institutions, she imagines a bill that would provide debt-free college to students across all state institutions would have a positive impact on enrollment if it were to pass.

“Any opportunity to reduce the cost of higher education will have a lifelong

See DEBT FREE FUTURE ACT page 5

NEWS

DECEMBER 8, 2023 | 5

Debt Free Future Act Continued from page 4 not be accessing higher education now because they cannot afford the cost,” Godes added.

In terms of long-term enrollment planning, she said “The primary marketing strategy would still be similar to what we do anyway. However, we certainly would heavily promote the opportunities for additional state support and make sure that anyone who strives to earn a college degree knows that there are resources available to make that possible.”

She also emphasized the recent MassGrant Plus expansion that will provide additional financial aid to low- and middle-income students and in some cases, cover the entire cost of their bills.

SGA President Campbell said she encourages students to get involved with PHENOM and is interested in using SGA as a platform for advocacy.

She said affordable public higher education is definitely important because the price of attending college is becoming increasingly expensive, all while degrees are more needed than ever for most jobs.

Campbell added although Framingham State is a much more affordable option compared to the private schools her friends are attending, most FSU students will still be graduating with a lot of debt.

She specifically emphasized Framingham State’s population of first-generation students - 54%. She said many of those students may not know the difference between a subsidized and unsubsidized loan.

She said, “Even before we get to college, we are already saddled with this huge financial burden, so when we graduate, then we have to deal with it, which is unfair.”

Campbell added another benefit of debt-free college is students who work will be able to focus more on academics and co-curriculars.

“If college were free, I wouldn’t have to balance three jobs and it would take the stress off of the financial situation,” she said. “if we were able to only focus on our education, we would actually value our education a little bit more,” she said.

“I think a lot more students would be focused and willing to be active participants in our community overall,” if they were not financially burdened by tuition and fees.

Kate Caffrey, MSCA Faculty Union president, is also concerned about the cost of public higher education. The union collaborates with the Higher Education for All Coalition, which also advocates for the Debt-Free Future Act and the CHERISH Act. On the week of Oct. 7, Caffrey and a member of the coalition were tabling outside the McCarthy Center to gather signatures to get the CHERISH Act on the ballot for next November.

She said the MSCA and the Massachusetts Teachers Association “worked tirelessly” to get the Fair Share Amendment passed, so now their mission is to ensure there is a portion of those funds geared specifically toward higher education.

She said public universities have been underfunded by the state for decades, which leads to state institutions needing to raise tuition and fees to

fund operations.

“So more and more of our students have a larger amount of debt, and some of them are under a tremendous amount of stress to pay these loans back,” she said.

Caffrey added, “If our students had the support that they needed, I actually think more people might think about going to college if they weren’t looking at this huge amount of debt - especially our population that is socio-economically challenged.”

She added that the value of education has changed because of the cost of tuition and fees, leading to students and their families not being able to afford college without working almost full time while also being a full-time student.

on student loans.

He added he is concerned the quality of education will be diluted if students no longer have to pay.

“I’m also thinking - what do we do with the graduate students or the people who have already graduated who are paying off their loans - do they get those forgiven?”

Richard Stamos, a senior, also questioned how the quality of education would be affected if students no longer had to pay.

“The students who come here some of them are relatively high caliber, and others just want to party for four years. If you make it free, you will see a lot more students coming just to party for four years,” Stamos said.

He said the bill should also be retro-

who love learning, like me, to go to college and get that higher degree. I don’t think it’s for everybody. But for people who enjoy education, I think everyone should have that opportunity.”

Belle Zagame, a junior, is pre-med and she said she believes the DebtFree Future Act would especially encourage students to seek advanced medical degrees because it would take the burden of paying for a bachelor’s degree off before going into hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt to pay for medical school.

Hayley Sashjin, a senior, noted the number of hours she works both as a security desk attendant for residence life and off campus at another job. She said if the state were to provide for tuition, it would allow her to better focus

Emily Rosenberg / THE GATEPOST Kate Caffrey, (left) faculty union president, and Catherine Santiago from Higher Ed for All tabling outside McCarthty Center Oct. 11.

She said most of the learning happened outside of the classroom when she went to college as professors assigned hours of readings along with research assignments and projects.

“We can no longer ask that of our students.”

Caffrey said she used to be “very offended” when students fell asleep in her class, but has come to realize that a lot of students work late and then are managing assignments and other responsibilities.

“What happens is your education becomes more watered down and you’re not getting, to be honest, what you used to get for your money,” she said.

Referring to the Mass Reconnect Program, she said the sentiment behind initiative is positive, but students should not have to wait until they are 25 years old to start college.

John Holiver, a graduate student whose parents paid his way through his undergraduate degree at Framingham, said he believes there are other ways to reach affordable education that do not include passing legislation - for example, lowering interest rates

active to allow students who obtained their degrees before it goes into effect to receive debt relief, because otherwise, it is as if they are being “punished.”

Stamos added another idea other than to make tuition and fees free would be to subsidize or lower the cost of room and board because it “doubles the cost of college” for a lot of students.

Isabelle Berube, a freshman, said she is an out-of-state student, so the first idea that came to mind when she heard about the bill was that it will not affect her.

She said as an out-of-state student, her decision to go to Framingham would not necessarily be affected if she knew all of her peers were receiving free tuition and fees because she already deals with a steep difference in cost. “I would love if my peers could benefit from something like this act.”

Berube said she chose Framingham State even though it cost significantly more as an out-of-state student because of the accredited nutrition program.

“I think it’s important for people

on her future and “the actual path I want to go down rather than just having to pay it off.”

She acknowledged that Framingham State is itself one of the most affordable options in the state, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to afford as is true of all colleges.

Paige Grainville, a freshman, also acknowledged the affordability of Framingham State and emphasized how generous financial aid can be.

However, she said making college debt-free would “affect everyone” because although state institutions as cheaper than private institutions, people are still paying off their loans well into their 40s.

“A few of my cousins went here.

They were commuters. They had children in high school. So they came to FSU because of their daycare and child programs, and they still are paying off their debt.

“Tuition [and fees] is one of the hardest struggles for people who attend college,” she said.

CONNECT WITH EMILY ROSENBERG erosenberg@student.framingham.edu

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NEWS

President Niemi reflects on tenure

By Naidelly Coelho News Editor In a recent interview with President Nancy Niemi, she reflected on what she accomplished during her first three semesters as president and shared her goals for the future.

Niemi said she is particularly proud of the increase in first-year enrollment.

“We have, for the first time in many years, a greater first-year class than we did the year before and that is through so much work of so many people,” she said.

It took some rearranging and restructuring to find the right team to do the work for enrollment, Niemi said.

“Certainly, it’s going to take a lot more but I’m very proud that we are beginning to make progress in that arena,” she said.

The University will continue to work on strategic planning with the help of students as well, according to Niemi.

Niemi said it’s very important the strategic planning team hears students’ voices to “convey how wonderful Framingham State is and what it can offer to the community.”

Niemi said she is very proud she has been able to meet as many people as possible.

She has also met with the 26 academic departments and most of the student organizations.

She said it’s very important to know the community to understand the needs of the campus.

English Department Chair Lisa Eck said what she most appreciates Niemi for is how present she is at so many events.

“There was this one event - the

teaching event [the Distinguished Faculty Award presentation] where she got teary. It was so moving. People were telling stories from teaching. It feels like she [Niemi] is a teacher’s teacher.

I value that in her background,” she said.

Eck said the most “salient” characteristic of Niemi’s is she remembers what it is like to be a faculty member.

She said she appreciates how Niemi also engages with everyone.

“I think most everyone who engages with her feels seen and heard,” she added.

“I admire that President Niemi attends as many events as she can, is really present with us and has maintained a really clear sense of where the mission rests, which is in the teaching,” she said.

Niemi said what she most likes about FSU is the sense of community and bringing back the “rituals” that are very important to her, including the State Street Sand Box, an end-ofthe-year student fair, and an opening day picnic.

She emphasized the importance of the University’s culture. She said she is doing a lot of planning and working closely with the community to come up with what “our campus culture should be like for academics and co-curriculars.

“This is what I want to focus on. I’m proud of the way that we have all been working together,” she said.

Niemi said the campus shares a sense of community like no other place and she plans to cultivate that as much as she can.

She said she did not anticipate “how socially mindful the students, faculty, and staff are here” before she started working at Framingham State.

“We care about the world. We care “big corporate” partnerships, and she about social change. We care about di- thinks having those partnerships will versity and equity. But this community benefit the school when finding inmeans it, and it attracts students, fac- ternships and jobs. ulty, and staff who care deeply about Communication, Media & Performaking the world better and having an mance Department Chair Niall Steimpact on it. And that’s not like that in phens said he hopes Niemi continues every place,” she said. to support the College of Arts and HuNiemi said one of the most chal- manities. lenging parts of her job is she will alSophia Harrigle, a freshman, said ways represent the University no mat- Niemi is present at many events in ter what. which she has participated.

“I can never just be Nancy. When I “I do think she makes a difference walk into a space where we are aware on campus. I always see her walking up of the University, whether it’s with State Street, even though she has the students or with the faculty or staff or option of parking close. any of the above, I am never just my“This shows for us students that self,” she said. staff members are accessible and not Niemi said University policy re- as scary as we think,” she said. stricts what she can and cannot say Joseph Martin, a junior, said Niemi as the spokesperson of Framingham is a great communicator and is always State. willing to hear students’ concerns.

She said when she first started at “She always has a smile on her face FSU, many people asked her what her - she makes the campus much more vision was for the University. But she welcoming,” he said.

Priscilla Dupond, a freshman, said thinks someone “who doesn’t know the place can’t have a vision because Niemi makes her feel part of the FSU you need to get to know the place first. community.

“Coming to a university, you expect “Since I’ve started, I have done a lot of listening and a lot of learning. administrations to not be as accessiMy goals have evolved because I’ve ble, but here they are, always willing to learned what the community wants,” talk,” she added.

Maddie Robles, a senior, said she she said.

Niemi believes every undergradu- has had many interactions with Niemi.

“I am glad I got to meet her and talk ate and graduate student should have to her.” a work-paid experience or internship.

Niemi said, “The second year brings Not everyone can afford to take a semester off from work to be in a non- a lot of a continued amount of learning. The first year, you’re just trying to paid internship, she said.

“So I’m hoping within five years figure it out. … It’s still a great deal.” to build the infrastructure so that every student has an opportunity for at least one paid work experience, either as part of their core course work or as CONNECT WITH NAIDELLY COELHO part of a summer job,” Niemi said. ncoelho3@student.framingham.edu She said FSU does not have many

Broken gutter above May Hall is fixed

By Kyle Coley Staff Writer A gutter above the right entrance of May Hall that has been pouring rain on students throughout the semester was repaired on Dec. 1, according to Executive Director of Facilities Dan Giard.

Maintenance workers flooded the small roof above the right entrance to May Hall to identify any leaks in the roof or gutter.

Giard said there’s “no big cost or anything to fix the flooding with the gutter.”

The current repair to the gutter is not a permanent solution, but should last a very long time, said Giard.

He said this is the second repair to a gutter on the building within the span of a month.

“We repaired a gutter over there [May Hall] about two to three weeks ago. As far as I know, everything’s been repaired,” said Giard.

“The gutter itself was plugged up and it was leaking over the steps. It was plugged up with leaves and other debris that had to be removed,” Giard added.

Prior to the repair of the May Hall gutter, several students commented on their concerns with the right-most entrance way.

Nolan Psuik, a senior history major, said, “You get poured on walking in when it’s barely raining out.”

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Daniela Marquez, a senior history major, said, “Every time it rains, I dread walking into May Hall because I don’t want an extra shower.”

Julia Taliaferro, a senior political science major, said, “It’s not my favorite thing, but I’ve gotten pretty good at timing when I walk under it.”

The University is planning future renovations to the building.

Ann Martin, the director of capital project management, said the University has hired an architect to examine the exterior conditions of May Hall, which would include the gutters in the front.

“Every time it rains, I dread walking into May Hall because I don’t want an extra shower.”

- Daniela Marquez Senior History Major Anthony Sims, a junior English major, said, “It’s annoying and I don’t like getting dripped on. Especially if you’re wearing leather, it can be very annoying. It’s also dangerous to items such as electronics that can’t get wet.”

Cyrus Bergeron, a junior fashion design major, said, “When it rains, if you’ve been here long enough, everyone just goes to the other door. You basically see freshmen get rained on.”

A number of repairs and renovations have been undertaken in the past few years in May Hall.

“The cost to replace the roof and to perform the necessary repointing of the May Hall building, along with replacement of gutters, is estimated to be $3,100,000,” said Martin.

Martin said the University has completed two major renovations in May Hall since 2021.

Martin said, “One project was for a section of exterior repair - replacing a small section of the roof structure and repairing the interior ceiling walls of the front stairwells.”

She said the project included, “dem-

olition and rebuilding of wood-framed roof structure at the two western stair towers of May Hall.”

Martin said the first project cost $579,825, with $402,749 being paid for by the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM).

The second project that was undertaken “was to replace the stairwell treads and railings,” said Martin.

According to Martin, the second project cost $259,333, with $191,494 being covered by DCAMM. “Both projects were funded in the DCAMM five-year Capital Plan (FY19FY23). DCAMM provides a portion of the funding and FSU provides match funding for the balance,” said Martin.

“Currently, FSU has committed funding from the new DCAMM fiveyear Capital Plan (FY24-FY28) to complete the remaining flooring and landing repairs,” said Martin.

Martin said, “The total to complete is estimated to be $173,000, of which DCAMM funds $127K. The project was split into two phases to schedule the work when the building was unoccupied.”

Starting Dec. 26 and ending on Jan. 11, “Work is scheduled on the ground floor and first floor landings,” said Martin.

CONNECT WITH KYLE COLEY kcoley@student.framingham.edu

NEWS

DECEMBER 8, 2023 | 7

Office of International Programs’ student participation rises after COVID-19 halt Adam Levine Editorial Staff The student enrollment in Framingham State’s Office of International Programs - study-abroad programs, faculty-led programs, and international students - are nearing pre-pandemic numbers, Executive Director of International Programs Jane Decatur said.

Study-abroad programs can take place during the Fall, Winter, Spring, or Summer terms and are for course credit, according to the University’s website.

Faculty-led study tours are opportunities that take place throughout the year and can last anywhere from one to three weeks. These study tours can count toward academic credit or can be “purely experiential learning opportunities,” according to the University’s website.

International undergraduate students at the University come from all over the world, including India, Pakistan, Brazil, Bermuda, Western Europe, and Sub-Saharan Africa, Decatur said.

Study-abroad programs During the Spring semester of 2020, study-abroad programs shut down due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. The

how they carry themselves, how they talk, how they act overall - it’s different.”

Decatur said the graduation rates of students who went abroad are “excep-

graduation rate in 2019-20 of fouryear students who study abroad was 76%, 82% for five-year students, and 84% for six-year students.

Faculty-led programs

Adam Levine / THE GATEPOST Number of international student enrolled by semester.

were the last program sponsored by her office to resume.

From the 2012-13 to the 2018-19 academic year, the number of students who participated in faculty-led programs only dropped below 100 once.

Over that time span, the low was 93 students in 2013-14 and the high was 131 students in 2014-15.

In the 2019-20 academic year, which was affected by the shutdown, only 16 students participated in faculty-led trips.

The India J-term trip is just one of many faculty-led trips offered at FSU, but it is the only program to run since the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the University’s faculty-led programs.

During the 2023 India J-Term trip, 12 students and two University employees participated.

International students International students are classified as anyone who holds an F-1 or J-1 visa, Decatur said.

“The F-1 Visa (Academic Student) allows you to enter the United States as a full-time student at an accredited college, university, seminary, conservatory, academic high school, elementary school, or other academic institution or in a language training

“I see students come back and they come in and talk to us and they’re different than when they left.”

- Jane Decatur Executive Director of International Programs

students “all came home early, and then there were no summer programs, and then 2021, everything was canceled,” she added.

“It’s a rebuilding process,” Decatur said. “Everybody who had gone abroad graduated. So now we’ve got a bunch of people that have never heard about going abroad.”

Thirty students enrolled in studyabroad programs during Fall 2018, 11 students during Winter 2019, 29 students during Spring 2019, and 20 students during Summer 2019.

The number of students enrolled dropped slightly the following year, with 25 students abroad during Fall 2019, 15 during Winter 2020, 28 during Spring 2020, and zero during Summer 2020, which was after programs were shut down due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.

Decatur said, “The high watermark was the year before everything closed down.”

She said students benefit in many ways from traveling abroad.

“I see students come back and they come in and talk to us and they’re different than when they left,” she said.

“They really are different. It may be

program,” according to the U.S. Citizens and Immigration Services.

“The J-1 classification (exchange visitors) is authorized for those who intend to participate in an approved program for the purpose of teaching, instructing or lecturing, studying, observing, conducting research, consulting, demonstrating special skills, receiving training, or to receive graduate medical education or training,” according to the U.S. Citizens and Immigration Services.

The number of international students enrolled at the University, by semester, was 19 during Fall 2018, 1 Dean of Strategic Enrollment Management Iris Godes said the University does not plan to add to its efforts to recruit international students, but the admissions office reviews it annually and this may change in the future.

Courtesy of Sophia Harris English Department Chair Lisa Eck (right) on the Faculty-led India J-term trip. tionally high.”

From the most recent data, the

Decatur said faculty-led trips halted during the COVID-19 shutdown and

CONNECT WITH ADAM LEVINE alevine5@student.framingham.edu

FRAMINGHAM STATE UNIVERSITY’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1932 | FSUGATEPOST.COM

8 | DECEMBER 8, 2023

NEWS

CATCH Connect replaces RamTram on weekends

By Adam Harrison Asst. News Editor The Student Transportation Center implemented the CATCH Connect program at the beginning of the semester and it is available for student use on weekends from 8 a.m. to 6 a.m.

CATCH Connect is a free ride service available to students. It is very similar to other services such as Uber, for which a ride is ordered using an app.

To order a ride through the MWRTA catch app, students need a student email to access services for free.

Transportation Services Coordinator Kim Galvani said, “It will take you to locations beyond what our current service gives. So if somebody wanted to go to deep in Natick or deep in Wayland… they would have a way to do it.”

The Student Transportation Center (STC) is also available for dispatch on weekends at certain stops. That information can be found on the STC website, and their social media.

She said if the data shows significant student use of CATCH Connect on the weekend, the Center may also implement the service on weekdays.

She added she will be working over the spring semester and summer with the MWRTA to evaluate the possibility of implementing CATCH Connect into the Center’s weekday schedule.

MWRTA does not offer weekday CATCH Connect services for Framingham and Natick yet, but Galvani said she hopes this is something the two entities can work on.

She said she reached out to the

MWRTA regarding data for student usage of CATCH Connect, but it is not available yet.

“It’s run through the MWRTA so I don’t have access to that quite yet. …

I’ve asked twice for it already, so hopefully, they get back to me,” she said.

Despite not having access to the data yet, she said, “So far, I’ve talked to a few people who have used it, and they said it’s been great.”

One student Galvani spoke with has a job on Route 30, and used to take the

information posted at the transportation desk in the McCarthy Center.

“I believe Meg Nowak sent out an email to the student body as well regarding that with the link to the document that explains how the CATCH Connect works,” she said.

Galvani said the STC will continue to advertise the service when they receive the data from the MWRTA. She hopes to create more awareness for CATCH Connect during the spring semester, and intends to expand the

“Based on all the data, I’m hoping to add more [hours].”

- Kim Galvani Transportation Services Coordinator RamTram to a spot where they could walk.

“Now, they can have a shuttle right from here to their actual location where they work. So that’s been positive feedback,” she said.

Before the semester began, Galvani met with orientation leaders, department heads, and students to speak about the program in an effort to raise awareness.

CATCH Connect is on the Framingham State University website, on the STC social media pages, and there is

service hours that CATCH Connect provides by fall 2024.

“Based on all the data, I’m hoping to add more [hours]. The issue is because it’s run by the MWRTA, and they need drivers because there’s such a drivers’ shortage right now, so hopefully they can hire more drivers and we can add more times next year,” Galvani said.

The STC is still experiencing a staffing shortage, but throughout the semester has been able to fill some of their positions, Galvani said.

She said, “We’re not at full employ-

ment capacity yet, but we’re making do with what we have. We’ve had to make some adjustments [to RamTram service hours] because of that.”

Sophomore Faith Wangui said, “I use CATCH Connect almost every weekend. … It’s so easy, honestly, and it’s free for students. You just go up there and you type in where you want to go.”

Freshman Jamie Kuenzel said she ordered a ride close to 6 p.m. when they stopped service, and she was driven to the MWRTA building.

“They brought me to the headquarters because I messed up with the schedule, but then the driver was very nice and brought us back to campus.

And I love that it is free,” Kuenzel said.

Framingham residents are also able to use the CATCH Connect program, and some have voiced their opinions in reviews made online.

User Angieblue86 said, “Friendly and convenient: truly appreciate the service you guys provide. Everyone is so friendly and it’s such a convenience to be able to get a ride to work so early in the morning.” They gave the service five stars.

User Emcee2115 said the service is “Incredible: I was visiting for the weekend and just in town for the day.

What an incredible program!!! I wish I had one of these in my suburban community with limited public transportation! Thank you for making my trip possible!” They gave the service five stars.

CONNECT WITH ADAM HARRISON aharrison3student.framingham.edu

GET AHEAD OR STAY ON TRACK Make the most of your winter!

Register now for ONLINE WINTER CLASSES. Dec. 22 - Jan. 15 framingham.edu/winter @TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

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NEWS

DECEMBER 8, 2023 | 9

SGA Safety Walk sparks accessibility changes on campus Dylan Pichnarcik Editorial Staff A ramp was constructed by Facilities and Capital Planning outside of Peirce Hall on Nov. 14 to meet the needs of members of the community who require an accessible access point to Crocker Grove.

Crocker Grove is a central location for those accessing Dwight Hall, the Athletic Center, Crocker Hall, and the northern side of campus.

The construction was initiated by the SGA’s biannual safety walk on Nov. 8.

The ramp replaced the stone steps that were previously the only way to access the buildings that surround Crocker Grove from the eastern side of Campus Way. The SGA safety walk is a biannual event at which student leaders and administrators gather to discuss safety and accessibility concerns on campus.

It is attended by administrators, including President Nancy Niemi.

Also in attendance was Dan Giard, Director of Facilities, who ordered the replacement of the stone steps for an inclined sidewalk.

The safety walk has been successful in prompting other changes to campus safety, such as adding a light outside of Peirce and Horace Mann halls.

SGA President Evelyn Campbell commended the event.“I feel that the Safety Walk is extremely effective when trying to change accessibility issues on campus.”

She added, “Having a walk to specifically highlight areas of campus that might not be accessibility friendly allows for us to really understand different students’ needs that aren’t being met.”

It took approximately two days for the build to be completed and the ramp was available for use shortly after.

Giard commended his employees

Dylan Pichnarcik / THE GATEPOST Construction being done nearby Crocker Grove.

Dylan Pichnarcik / THE GATEPOST New ramp being built next to Crocker Grove.

Manny Santos and Louie Shibaura for working on a weekend to get the ramp completed.

He said this was a project not typically taken on by Facilities.

There was no additional cost to install the ramp as the bricks were repurposed from other demolitions on campus.

At this time, Facilities does not have a specific plan for other alterations to the grounds of FSU. However, Giard offered students the ability to bring concerns to his office.

“My door is always open,” he said.

“If you guys [students] think of something that would be an easy fix, I would be more than happy to take a look.”

Along with supporting members of the community, FSU’s commitment to accessibility could draw prospective students to tour and enroll.

The fact that FSU is on a hill poses challenges for some students who are

physically disabled.

Kirsten Hoey, Campus Visit Experience manager in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, praised the administration’s commitment to accessibility and expressed her desire to see more changes come to other areas on campus.

Hoey oversees student tour guides and has seen the challenges of creating an accessible tour route for prospective students.

She said when the Framingham State community is actively making these changes, it shows “that as a campus we care about this. We want to improve and we realize the challenges we have and we are doing everything in our power to make things better.”

CONNECT WITH DYLAN PICHNARCIK dpichnarcik@student.framingham.edu

FSU offers campus safety training

By Naidelly Coelho News Editor According to an email shared with the community on Nov. 13, an active threat training program will be available to students, faculty, and staff on Dec 11 from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the McCarthy Center Forum.

According to the email, “The active attack integrated response training for FSU Police Department staff was held on July 25 and 26 within Miles Bibb Hall. The training exercise, which is overseen by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety & Security, is designed to provide the FSU Police Department and other local emergency response agencies with the necessary knowledge, skills, and preparedness in the unlikely event of an active shooter incident.

“This exercise is part of FSU’s ongoing commitment to maintaining a safe and secure campus environment for our students, faculty, staff, and the surrounding community,” according to the email.

Assistant Dean of Students Jay Hurtubise said after many recent incidents in the state and out of state, the Dean of Students and Vice President of Student Affairs Meg Nowak Borrego believed there was a need for additional training.

He said FSU has not received any type of threat but “should FSU or

our community members receive a threat in some form, FSUPD and our Emergency Preparedness and Threat Assessment Team would work collaboratively to address any concerns promptly.”

FSU had previously offered training

for people to ask questions at the end.

“Sessions typically conclude within 45 minutes, making it easy to catch in between classes. The topic is indeed very serious, as the training is focused on giving you the skills you need to survive an attack,” Hurtubise said.

“This exercise is part of FSU’s ongoing commitment to maintaining a safe and secure campus environment for our students, faculty, staff, and the surrounding community.”

- Jay Hurtubise, Assistant Dean of Students called “Run-Hide-Fight.”

Hurtubise said students can anticipate receiving information from trained police officers on how to establish habits that form increased situational awareness, as well as how to identify and respond to a crisis, potentially one involving an active shooter.

He said the sessions are in a lecture format, which provides an opportunity

Chief of Police Joseph Cecchi said on top of training with students, the FSU police are also conducting training with diverse divisions within the University, including CASA and the child care centers.

He also said the self-defense classes are being offered for all genders now.

Before, it used to be primarily for females.

Cecchi said he also encourages students who are struggling with something or are scared of reporting to use FSU-TIP and leave an anonymous message.

Senior Shania Cruz said she participated in the training that was offered in November and recommended students participate.

“It was a series of PowerPoints with lots of information - I felt a little overwhelmed with the amount of information. … Students should go next time they are offered,” she said.

Sophomore Pedro Santoro said he didn’t know FSU provided active threat training.

“As students, we want to feel safe - I feel safe here,” he said.

He added the training should be more publicized.

Junior Karoline Medina said as a commuter, she never participates in any events on campus, but she finds it very important to gain knowledge about safety on campus.

Hurtubise said the training “gives our students an opportunity to learn some techniques to give themselves self-defense.”

For more information, contact the Dean of Students at deanofstudents@ framingham.edu.

CONNECT WITH NAIDELLY COELHO ncoelho3@student.framingham.edu

FRAMINGHAM STATE UNIVERSITY’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1932 | FSUGATEPOST.COM

10 | DECEMBER 8, 2023

OP/ED THE GATEPOST EDITORIAL

An investment in our Commonwealth A bill before the legislature sponsored by Representative Natalie Higgins and Senator Jamie Eldrige called the Debt-Free Future Act would make college free for all public higher education students and subsidize the cost of room and board for Pell grant-eligible students.

According to the Office of Institutional Research, 1,732 of FSU students receive financial aid. This means that while the majority of students are receiving financial support to pay for their college bills, the bulk of this support is mainly federal and state distributed loans.

As 60% of Framingham State students are commuters, most students’ University costs would be almost free if this bill became law, except for paying for books and instructional materials.

However, as a great number of commuter students opt to commute due to the high cost of room and board, this bill might even make living on campus affordable again.

The major pushback to this bill is the cost.

Investing in public higher education so students no longer have to pay tuition and fees would cost over $1 billion. Some will argue this is too much money when there are other pressing issues such as the problematic MBTA or the lack of affordable housing.

But investing in public higher education is worth it.

If college were not so expensive, a huge burden would be lifted off the shoulders of college-educated people. They would not be saddled by the cost of their loans into their 40s and 50s.

Furthermore, for many students, this bill would mean being able to focus on the value of their education and their degrees wouldn’t just be a slog of going through the motions.

It would mean no more sleepless nights worrying about debt. It would mean no more working two or three jobs to afford the next tuition and fees bill.

Students would just focus on coming to school to learn without worrying how it will monetarily affect them for the rest of their lives - just as at many private institutions, where students typically receive nearly fullride scholarships or have families who help pay for most or all of their education.

Students could dedicate their time to being students.

This bill would also provide Framingham State a valuable opportunity to enroll and retain more students from low-income communities.

Framingham State is already suffering a decline in enrollment for a myriad of reasons.

Imagine all of the talented and skilled students the University does not have the opportunity to offer a place to because they cannot afford the cost of studying here.

Framingham State is considered one of the most affordable schools in the state, but for some of the lowest-income families in our surrounding communities, taking on thousands of dollars in debt or paying the base cost of a bill after financial aid is not something that is possible.

Public higher education is meant to provide students with preparation for the workforce, to become leaders, and learn civic-mindedness.

It is not equitable to keep this learning behind a paywall any longer because a four-year college education is essential to most jobs today.

Furthermore, the Commonwealth is suffering from work shortages in critical fields such as teaching and nursing, so this bill would not just change the future of higher education, but the future of Massachusetts. It would affect our K-12 system, our hospitals, our government - our economy.

To our fellow students: we urge you to tell your stories to your state legislators.

Raise your voices to advocate for tax money to be used to lift up and educate the next generation of students - the future leaders of Massachusetts.

Call them. Visit the Public Higher Education Network of Massachusetts’ website and learn how to start tabling at Framingham State or your community.

If this bill were to be passed, it may not be implemented in time to provide free tuition and fees for you or us - but you should consider it an investment in the future.

Consider it an investment in your friends, families, neighbors, potential future children, and the great Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Have an opinion?

Feel free to email it to: gatepost@framingham.edu Opinions should be about 500 words.

Anyone can submit.

We look forward to hearing from you!

The Gatepost Editorial reflects the opinions of the newspaper’s Editorial Board. Signed Op/Eds reflect the opinions of individual writers. @TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

Grief is forever

By Dylan Pichnarcik Editoral Staff At some point in life, everybody loses someone. In almost all instances it feels like the end of the world, but eventually you pull through, and you begin to live with the fact that the person is no longer in your life.

Trust me, it hurts a lot.

It can make you do crazy things that you’ll have to face the consequences of later. But it also teaches you about the most important thing in life - love - because to lose someone is proof that you loved them.

In some instances someone can pass away, which hurts like nothing you have ever felt. The acknowledgement that you will never see someone again in a physical form is a hard concept to grasp.

It’s something that no two people will experience in the same way. Nor is there a prescribed method of healing.

For me, death was the first experience I had with loss. In late 2021, over the course of four months, I lost my grandfather, and two great uncles. Did this experience prepare me for literally any other experience with grief for the rest of my life?

Absolutely.

Although it taught me how to cope with loss, it also destroyed me.

I went from being smothered by Sunday gatherings and backyard barbecues to sitting at a small table, with those who I have left, or “the survivors.”

When a small family gets smaller it changes everything, but that does not mean you, or the people around you are different. Rather you are changed, united in your love and grief.

After you experience loss, you can never truly come back from it. Anyone who tells you to “get over it” or “move on” does not fully understand what it means to lose someone, because you do not need to move on. Rather, you need to learn how to live with new emotions and reflect on your experiences in a positive way.

Yes, death will destroy you, but the loss of someone who is still alive will break you down as well and it’s just as grounded as any other type of loss.

In these instances you may feel unbalanced or incomplete - these feelings are completely normal. To lose someone you held in high esteem or even had love for is not easy, it changes your entire outlook on life, and can even change how you view yourself.

Everyone processes grief differently.

However, it is important to never forget yourself - you are the only guaranteed constant in your life.

Lean into the difficult parts of life. They will teach you so much and though it may hurt in the moment, it will eventually support your growth as an individual.

The best advice that someone can give you about grief is that time will heal. Each day will be filled with a different set of complex emotions that you will have to deal with on your own.

But to feel is to be human, so feel everything you need to in order to get yourself back in balance.

Life will continue on, you will lose again, but you will also grow, and become the person you need to be.

Keep moving forward, you will thrive.

OP/ED

DECMEBER 8, 2023 | 11

Campus Conversations What are you doing for winter break?

By Izayah Morgan, Opinions Editor and Dylan Pichnarcik, Editorial Staff

“Spend time with family and catch up with family and friends.”

“Probably just work and hang out with friends.”

“Take pictures with the fam, hang out with my boyfriend, and work.”

- Chris Donnelly-Green, senior

- Aria Rozza, junior

- Bianca Jean Baptiste, freshman

“Spend time with my family for Christmas and work.”

“Relax and hang out, starting to feel the effects of the semester. Hanging out a lot and getting some good rest.”

“Sleep a whole bunch, and hang out with my friends who do not go here.”

- Azaria Jacob, freshman

- Daniel Robichau, junior

- Christina Chinetti, senior

Let’s help first-generation students thrive

By Naidelly Coelho Editoral Staff What does it mean to be a first-generation student?

Sometimes, I feel it’s one of the hardest titles you can ever hold.

So much expectation is put upon first-generation students.

A first-generation student is the child of parents who did not complete a four-year college degree, but to me, it is much more than that.

I was born in this country but raised in Brazil. One of my parents finished high school when they were much older than the expected age.

I often saw myself comparing my parents to other students’ parents who had much more successful careers such as in law, medicine, or administration.

My parents moved to this country to have a better life and mostly to provide a better life for my brother and me.

You start school and all you want to do is make your parents proud because this is an opportunity they did not have.

It’s a lot of responsibility to make my parents proud. They are paying for me to be here - using their savings to make me someone big in the future.

Making them proud is all I ever want.

But nobody talks about the pressure of being a first-generation student. Students are scared to be accepted in the school or simply because they might not fit in because other students’ par-

ents have a different background.

The guilt of possibly leaving parents with financial instability is also constant in first-generation students’ minds.

this creates a bigger problem.

Schools make such a big deal about first-generation students. But what are they doing to support first-generation students?

First-generation students are stuck in a cycle.

Many first-generation students have to pay for their college because their parents might not have enough to provide for the family and also pay for college. This problem will cause students to pick up on a job that might compromise their studies. To be in school they need to work, but if the work is interfering with college then

A study conducted by Education Data Initiative shows first-generation students have a 92.2% higher dropout rate than other students. Which is very shocking. But there is a reason: universities do not support first-generation students enough.

Universities are typically concerned about their retention rates, but are they thinking about ways to support students to help them graduate?

Many times I have thought about dropping out or taking a leave of absence because my part-time job was taking too much time. I am 100% sure many other first-generation students have thought once about dropping out.

Another factor that might stress a first-generation student is filling out the FAFSA form. Many institutions say they will help parents fill out the FAFSA form but one thing that they don’t know is most likely who are filling those out are the students themselves.

Students might be filling those out because parents might not have enough knowledge or there might be a language barrier. I believe schools don’t know that.

Reaching out for help is very difficult, and I can speak for that. Students may have imposter syndrome which means feeling like a fraud or doubting one’s abilities. It’s a horrible feeling to have.

Many times I have felt embarrassed asking for help because it might’ve been a dumb question.

I would say first-generation students who choose to come to a university are brave.

Universities need to have a better understanding of what first-generation students need.

FRAMINGHAM STATE UNIVERSITY’S INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1932 | FSUGATEPOST.COM

12 | DECEMBER 8, 2023

OP/ED

Make The Gatepost managing editors paid positions

By Emily Rosenberg Editor-in-Chief The Gatepost receives an average of 500 online reads per week, and I see dozens of people walking around reading our paper daily.

On admissions days, students pick up the paper to learn more about campus. And departments across campus hang up our articles and photos on bulletin boards to advertise their accomplishments.

Our paper is a service.

It is an essential communication source that administrators, faculty, students, and prospective students use to learn and think critically about our campus.

And having run since 1932, it is an archive of Framingham history.

The Gatepost is also a student organization, one of the largest on campus with over 30 staff members.

It is a privilege to print a weekly newspaper on a small state university campus.

But, it is also incredibly challenging. Most of those who know me have probably looked at me and told me I looked tired.

And I am.

Laying out a paper every week is a full commitment on Thursdays, usually resulting in being awake until 4 or 5 a.m.

When I was an associate editor, I took a quick nap between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m. before getting on the RamTram and heading to an internship in Boston on Fridays.

But the work does not just consist of the 12 hours spent in the office on Thursday - copy-editing articles, laying out the paper, and designing and editing photos.

It is meeting with interviewees for hours a week, training staff members, attending events and meetings to cover, coordinating with the EXP, coordinating with editors, coordinating with journalism classes and advisors, writing the weekly editorial, running the weekly meetings, and planning the paper and advertisement correspondence.

It is also delivering the papers every week, ensuring the papers have been delivered, managing the website, managing the social media, finding new ideas every week to write about, problem solving when a staff writer is sick or an interview has fallen through, and writing breaking news when something big is happening on campus.

It is also ensuring your staff is emotionally healthy, and getting the most out of their experience on the paper as possible.

And then finally, before Thursday at 6:30 p.m., writing a few articles.

Then, ensuring all of your Friday homework is done by Wednesday night, even if you have a lot of Thursday night homework and a lot of Thursday meetings to attend.

All of this often turns out to feel like a full-time job.

I have enough financial aid to only need to work one 8-hour job on campus as a RAMs peer mentor, but as a second semester senior, I often am concerned I should have chosen to work anoth-

er paid job with a lot more hours at a local business in Framingham to save up for my future and to start paying off my student loans.

Because of my devotion to The Gatepost, I opted not to do so. Working any more hours while also being the top Gatepost editor would strain me academically and mentally.

Also, with the number of hours I dedicate to putting out a paper every week combined with my academics, it would be almost impossible to work off campus on the weekdays.

I am not only frustrated by this fact for myself, but because for some students, this could be a deciding factor in whether to pursue the position of editor.

My concern is the number of students who will never pursue The Gatepost editor position because it is too much unpaid work.

And while we are a student organization that shares a floor with Comic Book Club, the Dance Team, Green Initiative, and clubs alike, our work is a real job experience as we reach out to community professionals, interview administrators and staff, and produce an award-winning weekly paper.

If The Gatepost managing editor positions were paid, editors would not have to make this decision.

Nor would they have to work 20 or 30 extra hours per week as RAs or baristas on top of the full workload they already do to pay their bills as many editors before them have.

It is a decision that is systemically more likely to fall on students of color.

And our University and the Student

Government Association is always talking about knocking down barriers to inclusivity.

Per SGA bylaws, SATF funds are required to benefit “All Students.” SGA has set precedent by providing the SGA President with a scholarship through these funds.

Why shouldn’t this be extended to other critical student leaders?

By paying The Gatepost managing editors, you are benefiting not just all students but everyone in the FSU community who reads our weekly paper.

Most state college newspapers pay their managing editors. Framingham State is an outlier in making the position volunteer.

To have a newspaper, those who manage the paper must be healthy and motivated.

Editors won’t be healthy and motivated if they are balancing work, academics, internships, and working fulltime for the paper.

And on the other hand, the University may never know the talent it is missing if a student decides they are too busy with work to join The Gatepost and pursue an editor position.

The Gatepost editor position has historically been a volunteer position.

But with rising costs, keeping this position volunteer at a University where most students work to afford their education and living costs is not feasible.

And it is certainly not equitable.

: The perseverance of postman Sam

Ben Hurney / THE GATEPOST @TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

SPORTS

DECEMBER 8, 2023 | 13

Dean Nichols retires as head men’s soccer coach

By Adam Levine Sports Editor Dean Nichols announced his retirement as the head men’s soccer coach to the current team at their end-ofseason meeting Nov. 6.

Dean said no one in the room knew the announcement was coming. He hadn’t told anyone.

“I kind of thought I was gonna go in there and just make the announcement, and sort of move on,” he said.

“But, it became a little bit more difficult as I explained it.”

Dean took over as the head men’s soccer coach in 2003, alongside his older brother Jon and his childhood friend, Arthur Tzouganatos.

Prior to the 2003 season, the men’s soccer team won five total games in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) over eight seasons - which included four winless seasons, three seasons with one win, and one season with two wins.

The team did not win a MASCAC game during the 2001 and 2002 seasons.

Despite ending the 2003 season with an overall record of 2-13-2 and a MASCAC record of 0-6-1, Dean’s first season was a success.

Dean ends his career as the winningest men’s soccer coach in the University’s history, with a final record of 185-173-33 spanning from 2003 to 2023.

As the head coach, he led the team to four MASCAC regular season titles, three MASCAC Tournament Championships, three National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Tournament appearances, and one Eastern College Athletic Conference Tournament appearance.

Dean said, “I never thought about coaching until my senior year of college” when he was asked by his soccer coach at Framingham High School to join his coaching staff.

At the time, Dean was playing soccer at Fitchburg State, where he is a member of their Athletic Hall of Fame.

Dean said the community, both on campus and in the MASCAC, was immediately “receptive” to his role as the head coach.

He said, “I can’t tell you how many coaches came over at the end of games and said it’s incredible the difference between this year and last year.”

Dean said the most important thing in the shift was recruiting. “You have to have the players.

“Those early years it was a matter of trying to tell the student-athletes that ‘You have a real possibility here to come in and get significant minutes right away’ - which was 100% the truth,” he added.

Dean said he had to let the recruits know “They have an opportunity to play and that we think it’s a program that’s going in the right direction and to go to a good school - get yourself a good degree.”

He said the best memories of his time at the University come from the people involved.

Dean also said the real number one memory is winning the MASCAC championships in 2008 against Salem State and going to the NCAA Tournament for the first time.

He added the most recent MASCAC Tournament Championship title in 2019 was a great memory.

Dean said he first considered retiring during the team’s mid-season win-

ing with the way things changed.”

He said, “He goes above and beyond.

I don’t think people understand the amount of time and effort he puts in to run this team. I feel blessed to have been a part of it.”

Jon said he found out Dean retired the day after he did it. “I think he didn’t want me to try and talk him out of it.”

He said, “I think he did what he had

“No matter what we do, we’ll never replace him.”

- Tom Kelley Athletic Director ning slump during the 2023 season.

He said he made the decision after they lost to Bridgewater State in the MASCAC Tournament semifinals.

Dean said, “Ultimately, I just felt like it came back to me - that’s what it is as a coach.

“I felt like it was time,” he added.

Jon Nichols said he first coached alongside his brother at Framingham High School as assistant coaches.

He said he recommended Dean to apply for a head coach position at Wellesley High School, where they first became a head-and-assistant coach duo.

Jon, who is 14 years older than Dean, said they started playing soccer when they were 9 years old.

He said growing up, he never considered he and Dean would become soccer coaches.

Jon said, “I became more of an advisor to him than an assistant to the team.”

He said he was a “bouncing board”

Dean Nichols and a “sounding board” for his brother to talk to.

Jon said, “I was actually most in awe of his ability to grow with the game and change with the times - not just from a technical aspect, but just flow-

to do.

“It was not an easy decision for him,” Jon added.

Tzouganatos said he first coached alongside Dean at Framingham High School as assistant coaches, but did not join his staff at Wellesley High School.

He stepped down as an assistant coach at FSU after the 2019 season.

He said, “To this day, my bragging rights are that he never beat me when he was at Wellesley.”

Tzouganatos said, “I had a feeling during college, that somehow someway, we’d end up coaching together probably at the high school level - I didn’t imagine at the collegiate level.”

He said when the job opening at FSU first came up, “I just felt like, ‘All right, this is going to be the start of something. This can be the start of something fun. This will be a fun, fun project.’”

Tzouganatos said the first step when they took over the program came down to recruiting. “I thought the world of

Photo Credit / Frank Poulin Photography

Framingham State.

“I think the level of education and what the kids were getting was an unbelievable bang for your buck. I thought it was fantastic.

“So that was our pitch,” he added.

Tzouganatos said there was a “calm intensity” about Dean as a coach.

“I think this year was one of his best coaching years,” he said. “I don’t know if he would agree with that.”

Tzouganatos said, “I saw his development really come to the forefront over the last 10 years or so with understanding the tactics and what the game called for.”

He said he vividly remembers the morning of the team’s matchup against Salem State during the 2008 MASCAC championship finals.

Tzouganatos said, “I remember talking to Dean - I was like, ‘You know this is what we signed up for,’ and he said, ‘I can’t breathe.’ I said, ‘We’ll be fine.’

“I showed up to the field and I saw him and he saw me and we gave each other a big hug and I said, ‘All right, let’s get after it,’” he added.

The Rams won and then faced Middlebury College, the returning DIII National Champions, the following week in the opening round of the NCAA DIII Tournament.

“That whole experience - that first experience of doing it - that really, really stands out to me,” he said. “That was just amazing.”

Tzouganatos said he was “shocked” to hear Dean retired.

He said he told Dean, “‘We didn’t even have a chance to talk about it.’

And he’s like, ‘I know because I feel like if I had talked to you about it, either you or I would have talked myself out of it.’”

Tzouganatos said coaching at FSU with Dean, Jon, and Assistant Coach Jared Curry has been, “One of the best gifts that I feel like I was ever blessed with.

“The players that came through this program really just made it so much fun,” he added.

Tzouganatos said, “I can say I also owe Dean a debt of gratitude because he never treated me like just a regular old assistant.

“He never asked me to run it by him - running sessions, the practice sessions, or coming up with game plans.

I had full rein. He treated me so well,” he added.

Athletic Director Tom Kelley said he was “impressed” when he first met Dean and hired him 21 years ago.

Kelley said, “Coach Nichols was a competitor and he got ‘it.’

“I can’t give him enough accolades for what he did here and accomplished here,” he added.

“The one thing about Dean, you may not agree with him all the time, but he always had the best interests of his team at heart,” Kelley said.

“I’ll miss him. I’ll miss him,” he said.

“No matter what we do, we’ll never replace him.”

Ean Lorimer ’09 played on the team from 2000 to 2004 and was a captain from 2002 to 2004.

He said when he first came to FSU there wasn’t the “intensity” and “quality” he expected at the collegiate level.

See DEAN NICHOLS page 14

FRAMINGHAM STATE UNIVERSITY’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1932 | FSUGATEPOST.COM

SPORTS

14 | DECEMBER 8, 2023

Dean Nichols Continued from page 13 Lorimer said, “I think [Dean] quickly realized that we weren’t at the level that he was expecting either.”

Dean changed the program at Framingham State.

Lorimer said, “It was a pretty drastic change that we all really appreciated.”

He said at one of the first practices he went over and talked to the coaching staff afterward.

Lorimer jokingly asked them, “‘Were you hoping for a little better there, guys?’”

He said they laughed about it, but still kept the positivity about moving forward.

Lorimer said, “One thing I did like from the beginning is Dean had a direction he was going. It was growth and it was a plan.”

He said Dean was reserved, but still personable. He knew his boundaries and did not try to become “buddy buddy” with the players.

Lorimer said Dean made it clear, “‘I’m here to do this job. But here’s my expectations for you - you’re here to do this job. “‘We’re here to work and to get better. ‘“I’m going to take it seriously and I expect you to take it seriously,’” he added.

Kevin Ridlon ’07 played on the team from 2002 to 2005 and was a captain from 2003 to 2005.

“For me, [soccer] defines college,” Ridlon said. “Playing soccer there was my college experience.”

He said after the ’02 season he was debating between transferring colleges or no longer playing soccer at FSU, but “when I met Coach Nichols and his assistants, I was like ‘All right, this is the right way to go about things.’”

Ridlon said Dean conducted individual player meetings with the team to ask them, “What are your goals going forward with the team and personally what do you want to accomplish in your time here?”

He said, “I told him, ‘I want to be one of the better goalkeepers in the league. I want our team to make the playoffs. I don’t want us to be a bottom dwelling team.’ “[Dean] said, ‘Our goals are the same as yours. We want you guys to thrive as individual players and thrive as a team,’” Ridlon added.

He said Dean was “super approachable.

“He always wanted you to do well on the field, but he’d always be asking how classes are going - ‘How are things

Men’s soccer at midfield for the singing of the National Anthem during the 2005 season. going outside of soccer?’” Ridlon added.

He said the soccer team formed an intramural floor hockey team at the University, which won the league, and Dean played on the team.

“It might have been some of the most pumped I’ve seen him when we won,” Ridlon said.

He said he was “honestly surprised” to hear of Dean’s retirement.

“But he had an awesome career - I can’t really blame him,” Ridlon said.

Eddie Palomba ’08 played on the team from 2004 to 2007 and then was an assistant coach until the end of the 2012 season.

Palomba said his freshman year

“It was a culmination of, for me, four years of hard work - it wasn’t very surprising,” Palomba added.

He said Dean was “very direct.

“You didn’t really have to guess what was going on.

“You knew what you needed to do in order to play,” added Palomba.

He said, “He was very direct, approachable, intense, and very tactical.

“He was very, very smart and calculated with everything that he did,” Palomba added.

He said Dean was a “ringer” in hockey.

Palomba recalled the soccer team’s success during intramural floor hockey. Dean was “getting into students

“He’s what future coaches and teachers should strive to be - competitive, caring, understanding, and most importantly, dependable.”

- Michael Champagne Junior, Captain Dean “knew that we weren’t gonna be the best skilled.

“We didn’t have a ton of natural soccer players. It was more guys that grew up playing different sports.

“He knew that he was going to have to get us into tip-top shape,” he added.

During Palomba’s senior year, in 2007, the Rams were MASCAC Regular Season Champions for the first time in program history.

He said Dean was starting to recruit “natural soccer players.

“The writing was on the wall.

during the games.”

He said being an assistant coach after graduation was a “huge honor.”

Palomba, and some of his teammates, were not players during the team’s 2008 MASCAC championship win, but he said, “We were part of that process.

“We weren’t on those teams, but I had felt, personally, that the hard work that we had put in, paid off in 2008,” he added.

Palomba started the annual alumni game, which still happens before the

Courtesy of Kevin Ridlon

season starts.

He said, “It’s good to get the guys together for one day a year - relive the memories.”

Palomba said, “I was glad for the opportunity that he provided me, the guidance that he provided me, and the life lessons that he was able to teach me indirectly - whether he knew it or not.”

Karol Tegha ’09 played on the team from 2004 to 2008, but was injured during the 2007 season.

“I pretty much had my mind set that I was going to go to Framingham State,” Tegha said.

Tegha said Dean is a “methodical” guy. “He has a plan for almost everything.”

Tegha said when they first met in person, Dean explained his plan for the team.

He said he thought, “This guy enjoys it, he wants to build something else - this is really cool. Let’s do it.

“He did exactly what he said he would and it was the best four and a half years of my young adult life,” Tegha added.

Tegha was a senior during the 2008 season, when the Rams were both MASCAC Regular Season and Conference Tournament Champions for the first time in program history.

He said 2008 was “the best year anyone could ask for.

“We still talk about it to this day - a lot of us that were on the team,” Tegha added.

He said, “He didn’t just bring in good players. He brought in good people.

“The one thing I want to stress is that he brought in the right kids. He brought in the right kids and he got us playing the way he wanted us to play.

See DEAN NICHOLS page 15

Adam Levine / THE GATEPOST Dean Nichols’ last victory as head coach - men’s soccer celebrating 3-1 double-overtime win over Worcester in the first round of the MASCAC Tournament Oct. 31.

@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

SPORTS

DECEMBER 8, 2023 | 15

Dean Nichols Continued from page 14 And we all bought into a system because he explained everything to us,” Tegha added.

“He brought the players and he made it work on the field,” he said.

“Also, he didn’t directly do this, but he made it work off the field.”

Tegha said, “I wish him the best and I thank him for everything he did for us when we were in college.”

Dean coached three of his nephews, Bryant Nardizzi ’19, Bryce Nardizzi ’20, and Jared Nardizzi - a current senior altogether during the 2019 season.

The Rams were MASCAC Regular Season and Conference Tournament Champions during the 2019 season.

Bryant transferred from playing at North Carolina State University, the University of North Carolina Wilmington - both of which are Division I schools - and Brandeis University, a Division III school.

“I transferred to FSU because I wanted to finish my college career alongside my family - I felt like we could do something special in 2019,” he said. “It really hit me in the fall of 2018 when I watched Framingham lose in the MASCAC championship final. I saw how devastated my brothers were.

I’ve been following the program since I was a little kid and I wanted to help bring a title to the program.”

Bryant said, “Having Dean as a coach was great. I love his style of coaching.

“Now that I’m a coach, I think I have adopted a lot of his coaching mannerisms,” he added.

“He leads by example,” Bryant said.

“Everything he says to the team has a meaning and he demands respect when he speaks. He knew how to get the most out of every player on the roster.”

He said, “He knew when to make tactical adjustments and ultimately just knew how to win games.

“Dean knew how to get the absolute most out of his players,” he added “I found out that Dean retired shortly after the meeting he had with the team. I was pretty shocked but I definitely understand the decision,” Bryant said. “He can certainly be very proud of what he built there.”

Bryant said, “I just want to thank him again for the opportunity he gave me to come in and play my senior year for him and be on the pitch with my brothers. It was pretty special and something I’ll never forget.”

Bryce played on the team during the 2016 to 2022 seasons. Because of injuries and COVID-19, he played longer while taking graduate school classes at FSU. Bryce said Dean and Jon did not treat

him any differently as their nephew. “I was just the same as any other player.”

He said Dean is a “winner.

“I’d say he’s always two to three steps ahead of other people. He always has a plan going into whatever game it is, and just helps us succeed as a team,” Bryce added.

He said, as an example, during the 2022 season he scored two penalty kicks, both to the right. “‘I think you need to change where you shoot,’” Bryce said Dean told him.

“He was saying I should probably shoot to the left.”

He said, “I shoot to the left, score.

The goalie dives to the right.

“To me, that just shows he always knows what these other teams are going to do and what they’re watching that’s what helps us win,” Bryce added.

He said hearing Dean retired is “just tough.

“As long as I can remember, he’s been coaching at Framingham State,” Bryce added.

He said all the current players are “beside themselves” with Dean leaving and “they don’t know what to do.”

Bryce said, “It just shows what he’s done for the program and what he’s done for these players.”

Jared played on the team during the 2019 to 2023 seasons and is a current senior.

Jared said Dean told him, “‘I’m not

Courtesy of Jared Nardizzi From left: Brothers, Bryce ’20, Bryant ’19, and senior Jared Nardizzi, with uncle and former Head Coach Dean Nichols after winning the 2019 MASCAC Tournament.

Jared said he was “really upset” when he found out Dean retired.

“I obviously started crying. I just couldn’t believe it,” he said. “But until next year when I see someone else coach, that’s when I’ll fully be able to wrap my head around it.”

All three of the Nardizzi brothers who played for Dean said their favorite memory was winning the 2019 MASCAC Tournament championship.

“It’s been a fantastic 21 years.

I don’t really know that I’d change anything.”

- Dean Nichols Former Head Coach going to treat you any different from any player. I don’t know if you’re ever going to play.’

“So I came in with a little extra motivation,” he added.

Jared said, “So I came in and I truly had no idea - I was thinking ‘I’m gonna be on the bench.’”

He said he entered college as a striker, but Dean switched him to a midfielder.

Jared said, “I guess Dean knew - I’ve talked to him about it - that he knew I was going to play. He just didn’t want to tell me that.”

Jared said Dean coached him and his friends when he was 10 years old on their club team - the Red Devils.

He said, “The games were at Framingham State and then what do you know, 10 to 12 years later I’m playing for him at Framingham State.”

Courtesy of Kevin Ridlon Framingham men’s soccer goalkeeper Kevin Ridlon (front center) defending against Salem State circa 2004-05.

Bryant said, “It was a big sigh of relief and joy. We had been through so much that year and it felt like all that hard work had paid off.”

Bryce said, “That was obviously a huge win for us. And that’s just a moment that we’ll never forget.”

Kunphel Sinha, a senior captain who played on the team during the 2021 to 2023 seasons, said he transferred from Westfield State to FSU. Sinha said Dean was a “great help” with the process and “made my transfer very smooth.”

He said Dean is a “straight-to-thepoint coach.

“Playing under him was a great experience.

“He was a great coach overall - calm, quiet, but knew what he was talking about,” Sinha added.

He said his favorite memory of Dean was after the team’s win over Bridgewater State in the semi-final game in the 2021 MASCAC Tournament.

“We were in the locker room celebrating - he just yelled,” Sinha said.

“Everyone was shocked. I think that was one of the most unexpected, but the best memory from him.”

Sinha said, “I thank him for all his hard work and the time he took out of his life - to take time out for us.”

Cam Lau, a senior who played on the team during the 2021 to 2023 seasons, said, “Hearing of Coach Dean’s plan to step down as head coach saddens us all.

“What he has given to the program

and done for so many players is what makes losing him especially hard.

“His desire to win and be the best will be carried into the current and next Rams,” he added.

Michael Champagne, a junior captain, has played on the team since the 2021 season.

Champagne said he did not plan on going to college, but knew when he chose FSU he wanted to play soccer here.

“I reached out to Dean and he saw me play against Walpole,” he said.

“He actually didn’t think I was good enough to make the team at first.”

Champagne said, “I just nagged him - ‘You gotta give me a shot. You should give me a shot.’

“I think COVID kind of helped out because half the roster was gone, and he just needed kids - he gave me a shot,” he added.

Champagne said, “He would do anything for his players. You know what to expect from him.

“He’s the most stable human being I’ve ever met. Win or lose, he’s going to be the same,” he added.

“Dean was everything a coach should be and more,” he said. “He wanted every single player of his to succeed on and, more importantly, off the field. He would drop whatever he had going on in a heartbeat to help us out.”

Champagne said, “He is the most dependable human I’ve ever been around - the most competitive human I’ve ever been around.”

He said, “He was just the best person to be around and it was an honor to play for him.

“He’s what future coaches and teachers should strive to be - competitive, caring, understanding, and most importantly, dependable,” Champagne added.

Dean said, “Thank you” to the athletic department, to his coaches, and to all of the players.

“It’s been a fantastic 21 years. I don’t really know that I’d change anything,” he said. “I appreciate everything everybody has done.”

Stats sourced from fsurams.com

CONNECT WITH ADAM LEVINE alevine5@student.framingham.edu

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16 | DECEMBER 8, 2023

ARTS & FEATURES

From State Street to state senator

Jake Oliveria recounts his time at Framingham State

By Emily Rosenberg Editor-in-Chief Jake Oliveria remembers the exact moment he realized he wanted to make a difference in state and local government.

He was sitting in the gallery of the Massachusetts House of Representatives chamber for six hours listening to the members of the house give impassioned speeches about marriage equality.

Oliveria was job shadowing 7th Hampden District State Representative Thomas Petrolati, who was participating in a constitutional convention that would result in Massachusetts becoming the first state to legalize same-sex marriage.

“That day, I could feel history being made,” Oliveria said. In 2004, social acceptance for LGBTQ+ rights was well below 50% in the United States.

Sixteen years later, masked and distanced from his colleagues, he found himself standing in that same spot, taking an oath to serve as the next state legislator for that district and represent the needs of constituents in his hometown, Ludlow.

In 2022, he packed up his office and moved to the east wing of the State House after being elected his district’s senator.

Oliveria now represents parts of Hampden, Hampshire, and Worcester counties in the Massachusetts Senate, serving as Chair of the Joint Committee for Municipalities and Regional Government and the Vice Chair of the Joint Committee for Public Health.

His career in the State House came as a surprise to no one as he has been making strides for his district and the state as a member of the Ludlow School Committee for 12 years, as a member of the local government advisory committee, and the President of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, among other roles.

One of his earliest opportunities to advocate for his community started at Framingham State, where he served as student trustee for three consecutive years from 2005 to 2008.

The student trustee is the only elected member of the 11-member Board of Trustees, the University’s governing body. Oliveria’s unusual tenure as a student on the Board allowed him to outlast several appointed members, and gave him a valuable perspective on the University’s decisions.

Most student trustees are juniors or seniors. Oliveria joined the Student Government Association as a freshman and ran for trustee as a sophomore.

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Emily Rosenberg / THE GATEPOST Senator Jack Oliveria next to a portrait of Horace Mann, who served as the Senate President and is the founder of the first Lexington Normal School (now Framingham State) in the Senate Reading Room in the Massachusetts State House.

As a student trustee, Oliveria en- isolation impacted engagement on lowed him to grow close with several couraged student advocacy and en- college campuses and it is difficult to of the faculty. He specifically comgagement and organized multiple build back the momentum that exist- mended the late Elaine Storella, and student lobbying days, which brought ed with previous traditions such as George Jarnis, Doug Telling, and John legislators to campus, including Sena- student advocacy day, but the enthu- Ambacher.

“The people you have as a student tor Karen Spilka, to speak about high- siasm also “ebbs and flows.”

During his time as Trustee, the there, and the education that you reer education issues the Student GovBoard undertook a presidential ceive, is second to none. And that’s ernment Association found crucial.

He said one of the bills that stu- search, transitioning from President something that I always remember dents and faculty lobbied for, passed. Helen Heineman to President Tim about Framingham State.”

Working with and learning from It provided $2 billion in funding for Flanagan.

“It was an interesting experience faculty who were “experts in their capital projects at state universities, resulting in new buildings on many to go through a presidential search field” and “had decades of experience” campuses for the first time in decades, because one of the main responsibil- was always “exciting” to him, he said.

Ambacher said Oliveria was what ities of a Board of Trustees is to hire, including Framingham State.

He said capital updates are neces- fire and hold accountable the campus’ he saw as the “ideal student.

“He was always open minded and sary to attract students to campus so chief executive, the president,” he receptive to any new ideas. But on the they can have the quality of education said.

Oliveria earned his degree in gov- other hand, he had his own opinions “that you would get if you were paying five times as much to go to [an- ernment, now the political science and he was not afraid to express those department. either to other students or to me,” he other] institution.”

He said the size of his classes alHe said he thinks the pandemic

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DECEMBER 8, 2023 | 17

Senator Continued from page 16 said.

He added, “He always had a civic-mindedness about him when he was a student. And again, that’s one of the things I appreciated about having him in class.”

Ambacher said he changed his pedagogy in his last few years of teaching, using more case studies and including more work with students, “and Jake was a real resource for that.

I mean, he really took to that and became a leader in class.”

A lot of this in-class expertise Oliveria carried into his career.

Legislators are often asked to weigh in on international issues such as the Russian-Ukrainian war, which also requires Oliveria to put his government degree to use. “You take that and you look at it, what you’re doing as a legislator today, and you harken back to the courses you took at Framingham State for the knowledge and historical background of it. My degree at Framingham State is constantly used and continually put to the test,” Oliveria added.

“George Jarnis always referred to the bureaucracy as the fourth branch of government and it truly is.

“Working with the bureaucratic side of the equation as a legislator and trying to push them a certain way” is something he learned as a student at Framingham, Oliveria said.

He said he chose Framingham State because he fell in love with the campus on a tour - it was “laundry distance,” far enough to be independent from his parents, but close enough to Ludlow to come home on some weekends. He added the urban location of the school and that it was the alma mater of several family members also sparked his desire to study at Framingham.

His mother was a retired secretary and his father was a teacher, so the affordability of the school was “also a major factor.”

He particularly loved the history of May Hall. “It was kind of an oldschool feel, like you were kind of going back in time.”

His freshman year was an exciting era to be on campus because it was the first time in 80 years the Red Sox won the World Series.

“I still remember being on Larned Hill in front of Towers and Larned just yelling and screaming when the Sox first defeated the Yankees in the ALS Championship and then when they won the World Series. Framingham State is tied to that in my mind and always will be,” he said.

Oliveria also recalled now-Senate President Spilka was running for her first term as senator during his freshman year. “I volunteered for her campaign by walking down the hill and down Route 9 to her campaign headquarters that was right there.”

His role as student trustee was only the beginning of Oliveria’s career advocating for investments in public higher education. Upon walking into

The Massachusetts State House on Beacon Hill. his office, one will find a frame of pictures of all of the state universities from when he served as the Assistant Executive Officer to the State Universities of Massachusetts Council of Presidents.

Oliveria also shared that one of his proudest accomplishments as a representative and senator is drafting the endowment incentive fund, which invests in public higher education by matching private donations to public institutions dollar for dollar.

He said in his first two years as a state representative, the program brought back $45 million for state institutions and the program was funded again this year in the FY 24 budget.

He added another initiative he is proud of is passing the Student Opportunity Act. The bill invested millions of dollars in the Commonwealth’s gateway cities, and Springfield recently became the first city to offer universal Pre-K. Oliveria said during both his campaign for the House and the Senate, he focused on making sure Western Massachusetts gets its fair share of resources. Perhaps one of the most obvious differences between his term as representative and his term as senator is that starting in 2021, most of his legislative campaigning and work was no longer restricted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

While running for representative, much of the support was gathered by going door to door because the success rate of people opening was much higher because everyone was at home. This was much different than any other campaign he had run. He said he wouldn’t have had as many opportunities to interact with voters had the pandemic not happened.

When elected, he didn’t even technically have a real swearing-in ceremony, as when he was ad-ministered the oath, it was to an empty chamber. He said all state legislators are typically given a legislative orientation on the UMass Amherst campus, but this was not possible because of the need for social distancing. Therefore, the legislators learned along the way and taught each other based on their own institutional knowledge.

The representatives who were elected that year call themselves “The COVID Class,” he said, and all of the representatives were given a framed collage with their campaign pictures.

“It made our class of new legislators really work together very closely. And so we became fast friends as a group because we had to stick together,” he said.

Oliveria has one memory from when he served on the school committee that he says truly defined his reason to stay in public service.

In 2009, he was the defining vote in a controversial decision to make the elementary schools in Ludlow gradebased instead of district-based, yielding nearly $1.2 million in savings for the town.

As a 22-year-old elected official, Oliveria faced “a lot of heat,” received threats, and even had residents claiming his election was phony.

He said this was a defining moment in his career because at every level of government - from local elected officials to the president - it is important to “see the bigger picture down the road.

“The loudest voices are not always the most forward thinking,” he added.

He said what motivates him is realizing that his position can “influence

more positive change.

“I can impact people’s lives and make them better and give voice to them. And so whether that’s protecting people’s rights, or investing in key areas that help people uplift themselves - every day is a privilege and an honor to be a legislator and to influence policy,” he said.

Reflecting upon Oliveria’s public service, Senate President Spilka said, “He has dedicated his life to public service, first as an intern in my office while at Framingham State, then as a staffer in the House, school committee member, House member, and now state Senator.

“He is a great listener and collaborator, two qualities that I really appreciate. He also brings his unique lived experience to his work in the Senate, which makes our work that much stronger. I am grateful to Jake for caring so much for the communities and constituents he represents, as well as our Commonwealth as a whole.”

President Nancy Niemi said she was proud that Oliveria, along with State Representative Adam Scanlon, serve in the Massachusetts State House and are recent alumni of Framingham State. She said to her, it shows “that FSU offers meaningful opportunities for our students who learn what it means to be part of government and community service.”

She added it is reflective of who FSU students are. “The students who attend our University are civic-minded. They care about their communities and want to serve them.”

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erosenberg@student.framingham.edu

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18 | DECEMBER 8, 2023

ARTS & FEATURES

Play Continued from page 1 “One way I designed the class, especially the first third of the semester, we were in the weeds of theory, in the weeds of defining play, which students hopefully came to realize … is very ambiguous,” she said.

Hudock, who has been with the University for six years, said planning for the course began sometime during the COVID-19 pandemic, and had taken some time to finalize.

“This particular play course has become part of the core courses for child and family studies majors, as well as those that are taking a CFST minor, they’re able to take this course,” she said.

“So it was the right time, the right semester, the right critical mass of students that it was finally offered,” she added.

Hudock said she took her first play class at Penn State as a doctoral student, which has influenced the structure of Theory and Practices of Play.

“That was really eye opening for me. I think in my own experiences taking play classes, you have to play.

Just, no qualms about that - you have to play in a play class. So that was one of my non-negotiables for this class,” she said.

She added theory can only take students so far, relating the study of play to the study of literacy. She said she thinks students applying and practicing their learning benefits them, especially in how they think critically about the course content.

And the students really do get the chance to apply their learning, she said, as their semester has been split into two distinct phases.

For the first two months, Hudock facilitated play exercises, and modeled how to lead them, she said. From late October to December, she added, the students began to facilitate the in-class play sessions themselves.

Hudock said the student play exercises usually take five, 10, or 15 minutes, but can sometimes absorb most of the class block.

A rock-paper-scissors exercise, for example, took a little over an hour and involved the students playing 25 games with a partner. The pairs recorded the tallies of rocks, papers, scissors, and ties, and analyzed the statistics behind the class’s combined results.

They played another 25 throws of an adaptive version of the game next, which replaced rock, paper, and scissors with superhero names and motions - such as rock being changed to “hulk smash” and paper to “superman flight” - to mimic the behavior of changing elements of a game without adjusting the rules, which is frequently seen in first-graders.

Hudock said it all depends on the play experience chosen by the students. She added these experiences also bring other changes to the regularity of a class schedule - such as re-

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quiring a gymnasium to play in.

“Some students wanted everyone to wear rubber soles to class. … In September, we even pulled out the parachute,” she said.

Hudock said that some exercises, however, were designed to be challenging.

She said in the front half of the course, students contemplated how “play = learning” - exploring how young children learn to play, and how play helps them learn.

She said engineering exercises, interestingly enough, such as building a bridge out of index cards, helped students think more critically about this course component, and was a frustrating activity.

Although Hudock said that frustration might have only come from the strong sense of community formed in September.

“That first month of the class was also all about setting community and the tone of the class - for it to be a really supportive environment - and to understand the rather open-ended nature of the class,” she said.

in the child and family studies major have the opportunity to become child life specialists, a common aspiration for students in the major.

She added the department already offered almost every course required for the job.

“One of the required courses, of the many, is for a particular play class,” said Hudock.

“We have a sociology course, … we have some of those courses already in place. One of the glaring courses we did not have was a play course,” she added.

Hudock said that because of this influence, she made sure to embed content into the course which would benefit students who wanted to become child life specialists.

She said another driving factor for starting the play course was the experiences she had with students while teaching CFST 311, a class focused on the language development and early literacy of preschoolers.

“I was discovering that our students needed a deeper background in play theory to really understand why

rently creating “play inquiries,” a sort of final project where they each study a form of play, and she’s learning a lot about who to invite to the classroom next year based on their research topics.

She said, “Some students, as we’re going through this, they’re starting to think about - ‘Do I want to become a PE teacher one day?’ And so what if I could bring in someone to talk to that possibility?”

The other final project for Theory and Practice of Play students is their big event - Play Fest.

On Friday, Dec. 8, the Dwight Hall gym hosted the play class, where various game stations were set up for students and faculty to engage with.

These stations included a Lego building contest judged by children at the on-campus early childhood centers, bracelet making, and a rainbow parachute, among others.

Hudock said Play Fest is pretty open-ended, as far as her assignments go.

“It was probably the most vague assignment description I’ve written

Ryan O’Connell / THE GATEPOST Amanda Talbot (left) and Keon Foy playing rock, paper, scissors in their Theory and Practice of Play class, Dec. 1.

“And I think by developing that particular community in the way that we did, students were more open to those challenges and frustrations,” she added.

During the rock-paper-scissors exercise, that community was hard to miss.

The room was loud with laughter and conversation, even when Professor Hudock was moving the exercise along, but to the benefit of the classroom.

There was a strong sense of community, like she said - shown clearly enough by referencing the “play group chat,” which all of the students used to communicate outside of class.

Hudock said the play course was in part a step toward helping students

socio-dramatic play happens in preschool,” she said.

“We knew there was a need for it, we knew there was an interest in it, and it’s always been kind of a thrill of mine to explore play,” she added.

Hudock said some of the challenges of teaching Theory and Practice of Play have been identifying topics of research that students will enjoy exploring.

She said these topics were usually introduced by guest specialists - the most recent one by the director of Parks and Recreation for the city of Framingham.

She added, in future sections, she wants to invite more specialists from an even greater range of work.

Hudock said her students are cur-

in all of my syllabi,” she said.

She added Play Fest was designed and organized entirely by the students, who extended what they learned to the campus community, while she helped with facilitation and gathering necessary materials.

Hudock said one of her favorite play experiences her students participated in this semester was modeling socio-dramatic play.

She said students had read a theory-heavy article and a practitioner’s article on the subject in preparation for the question, “How do we scaffold make-believe play in a preschool classroom?”

Hudock added the students used

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DECEMBER 8, 2023 | 19

Play Continued from page 18

“Let yourself play,” he added.

“Never be ashamed of letting yourself have fun.”

Shelby Roode, a junior child and family studies major, said the class is important for anyone interested in early childhood, preschool, or elementary school.

“That’s important to see how kids use their imagination and use other resources - that’s play to them,” she said.

Roode said there’s some uncertainty whenever she comes to class.

“You don’t really know what you’re doing, but you know that you’re go-

She said the play journal has been a fun homework assignment.

“One thing I did was do a 1,000-piece puzzle for my first one, and that took me so long,” she said.

“Like, I had to recruit some of my roommates to come help me and stuff.”

She added the journal means students get to do some fun stuff alongside typical coursework, like papers, and acts as a nice break before diving into other assignments.

Leticia Rita Santos, a junior child and family studies major, is one of the 15 students taking the play class this

“It’s not a roll of duct tape, it’s a cupcake. It’s not a cupcake, it’s a a “PRoPEL” model - which stands wheel to a very tiny bus,” she said. for plan, roles, props, extended time “And it just kept getting more and frame, language, and scenario, breakmore obscure, but it really worked our ing make-believe play situations into imagination.” specific groups.

This exercise, she said, also helped She said this included scripting the contribute to the friendly atmosphere play, understanding the rules - a preof their classroom. tend chef shouldn’t sit down to order Santos said she sees the class as food at the pretend restaurant - and somewhat helpful for her desired discovering how and what they would career, a social worker involving the use as symbolic props.

Deaf community, or in a Deaf school.

Hudock said the students perShe said if she does work in a Deaf formed their scenarios, which includschool, using play will be an imported the dining room of a Friendly’s and ant method of relieving stress and a visit to a doctor’s office. communicating with students, which she understands better now due to the class.

Santos said she worked in the Lego section at Play Fest, and facilitated people building with them.

She added the section was set up to have people in a competition to build the most realistic-looking food from the blocks, which were then judged by children from the early childhood center.

She said she thinks the exercise helped relax students and allowed the children to have fun, as they interacted with the college community.

Santos said the Lego section reminds her of their study of block play in class.

“Kids will start just putting them in a pile and trying to make the pile bigger and bigger, and then it’ll turn into making them into lines, before a child can finally realize it needs symmetry, and it needs equal weight on both sides and stuff like that,” she said.

Ryan O’Connell / THE GATEPOST “And then it becomes actual encloHunter Dansereau (left) and Shelby Roode facilitating friendship bracelet making at the Play Fest Dec. 8. sures and other things like that,” she added. “And I think that will definiteing to play a game of some sort,” she semester. ly also appear in Lego play in kids.”

“It was so funny because they used Santos said the class is entertainadded.

Santos said homework in the play whatever props and materials we had She said they mostly play children’s ing, but is more educational than peo- course has been interesting. One of on hand in the classroom - so they games, and study the games, how they ple might assume. her most recent assignments, she took a squeeze stress ball and prerelate to play, what type of play they “I think that a lot of people, when said, followed a visit from someone tended that was like the blood presfall under, and how they affect chil- they hear that I’m taking a play class, who designs playgrounds for the city sure ball,” she said. dren, especially from young ages. they’re like, ‘OK, so you’re just sit- of Framingham.

“It was so funny because really Roode said she thinks the play ting down and playing with blocks She said the guest talked about what they were doing was they were course is important because play isn’t for two hours.’ And it’s like, yes, but taking safety and child experiences looking at the idea of a symbolic prop, prioritized in young children. no. There’s more to it - we’re learning into account, and how they actually and thinking about the cognitive “We’re built in a society that’s - about how to play with blocks,” she formulate the playground. stage of development of a child,” she from a young age, you’re just doing said.

“Then we had to go to a playground, added. school and getting homework assignSantos said the play class allows any playground, … and describe it and Hunter Dansereau, a senior child ments immediately. So learning how her to both learn and experience play. rate it. Because different things - like and family studies major, said the important play is and how it should “It’s a very dual-formed experience wood chips - used to be very common play class has been fun and engaging. be such a vital thing for young kids to in the sense that we’re having fun but in playgrounds, but now it’s seen as a Dansereau said the class plays at do is really important,” she said. we’re also getting a lot of information worse option because of the choking least one game every session, which However, she added you don’t have out of it,” she said. hazard and also the inaccessibility to helps them understand what play to be young to play. “Everyone has a She added a lot of her classmates wheelchair access,” she said. looks like from infancy to the adult different definition on it.”

Santos said her big takeaway from are studying to become educators, and level.

Roode said she participated in the emphasized there’s no learning with- the class has been that play never He said he was surprised by the friendship bracelet table at Play Fest, out play - the two are intertwined. stops. structure of the class, and initially which served as a way for people to She added she has also been keepSantos said her favorite exercise in thought it would be more lecture and still play without getting involved in the class was one done in the first few ing a play journal for the class, which notes-heavy. “I did not think it would any of the more competitive games. weeks, where everyone sat in a circle, has made her more aware of the difbe hands-on learning,” he said.

People assume play means you including Hudock, who passed a roll ferent ways she likes to play, and to Dansereau said he thinks the need to be running and jumping, she of duct tape to someone sitting next track if she’s playing enough. course is very helpful, as it helps him said, but choosing to work quietly can to her.

“We never really lose that ability understand what children need to destill be called play, as long as it’s fun.

“This is not a roll of duct tape,” she [to play] in growing up, we just name velop - which he said is important in “Play is supposed to be fun,” she said. “This is a doughnut.” it different things,” she said. the work he hopes to do as a social said.

Santos said students then had to worker or child life specialist.

Roode added the friendship brace- take turns accepting the tape, declarHe said his takeaway from the let table helped show people that play ing it to be something nobody had CONNECT WITH RYAN O’CONNELL course is to never stop playing. roconnell1@student.framingham.edu comes in different forms. said yet, and passing it on.

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: Homies and hobbies

By Raena Doty Arts & Features Editor For many freshmen, moving into a residence hall and sharing space with a roommate can be daunting - but for many freshmen, it can also be an exciting prospect.

Such was the case for freshman child and family studies major Oak Blum, who came to FSU excited to live with a roommate.

“When I was growing up, I shared a room most of the time, and I lived in a very crowded house, so I do not like being alone very much,” he said.

He added, “I honestly could not have asked for a better roommate.”

Blum said he wanted to get out of his house for a long time, so the transition to living on campus was “almost flawless.”

He said he has many hobbies that take up space in his room, like playing guitar, drawing, cosplay, and playing Dungeons & Dragons.

Since coming to Framingham State, Blum has been able to join clubs that reflect these hobbies, including Gaming Club, Anime Club, and Comic

Book Club. He’s also become the vice president of the newly formed Dungeons and Dragons Club.

Blum said he would like more space in his room to do his hobbies, but he knows that isn’t always possible.

“I built a kind of sword out of duct tape and cardboard recently, and there’s not a lot of room to store it,” he said. “But it’s a college dorm - what do you expect?”

He added keeping up with his hobbies has become difficult regardless of space because of a lack of time caused by heavy workload from classes.

Blum described the decorations in his room as “blender.

“Like a blender - not like Neural Blender,” he said.

He clarified he meant his room is decorated with lots of different types of decorations, and none of them fit together cohesively, including posters, fairy lights, and a mini hammock full of stuffed animals.

“I guess ‘magpie aesthetic’ would be good. It’s just anything I find that is shiny and I like - it goes on my wall,” he said.

He said his favorite decorations are his “Hollow Knight” posters, and a shadow box he painted to look like a honeycomb with bees on it at an FSU event.

He said if there were anything he’d change about the room, it would be the chair that goes with the desk.

Oak Blum’s collection of posters above his desk.

“Hate the chairs. They’re bad. I do not like them,” he said.

To make living on campus more comfortable, Blum said he wished he had brought both of his weighted blankets, and plans to bring his second blanket back to school when he returns for the spring semester.

“I have a 35-pounder, and at home I have a 15-pounder, and usually I use them both,” he said, and added he wanted to have at least one of them at school and one at home, but “I love the 45 pounds just like crushing me.”

Raena Doty / THE GATEPOST

He also said students living at school should make sure they have items to help them destress.

“And I would say access points to the people who calm you down and help you work through stuff is the most vital thing that I’ve brought with me on campus,” he said.

He added, “My younger sibling is an important keystone in my circle.

My friends on campus really help out a lot with that.”

CONNECT WITH RAENA DOTY

rdoty@student.framingham.edu

Blue Santa Claus is coming to town

By Raena Doty Arts & Features Editor

By Liv Dunleavy Staff Writer Between new Chief of Police Joseph Cecchi and the new K9 comfort dog Ramsey, the Fall 2023 Semester has brought big changes to the University Police - and with them, new traditions.

On Monday Dec. 4, the University Police hosted their first ever “Blue Santa - Stuff-a-Cruiser” event on the McCarthy Patio.

Blue Santa, as portrayed by Cecchi, said the event was created with the goal of collecting toys for families in need.

“There’s a lot of people that are less fortunate and might not have the money to make a fulfilling holiday season for their family,” he said.

Cecchi added the department collects the toys and gives them to families in need that have been nominated by the community, and the police do this “to really show that we are part of community, policing and making that connection.”

He said the University Police collaborated with the Henry Whittemore Library and Veteran Services to reach as many families as possible.

Corporal Shawn Delesky said, “It’s important for the community because it gives a chance for us to give back

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and help people that are in need.”

Alongside his duties as corporal, Delesky also handles FSU’s K9 comfort dog, Officer Ramsey.

“This is Ramsey’s first Stuff-aCruiser event. We were super excited to bring him and we thought it was a great chance for people to come out for a good cause, and Ramsey can get some exposure and see everybody,” Delesky said.

He added though the “event speaks for itself, I think Ramsey also draws a crowd, so it goes hand in hand.”

Kianna Bauer, communications dispatcher for the University Police, said setting up the event mostly went as expected, but they didn’t know exactly where to park the cruisers at first.

“This is above the cafeteria, so we were worried about it,” she said, but added it all turned out fine in the end.

Officer James Devens said he’s only been at the police department for two months, and so the Blue Santa event is one of his first big community-oriented events.

“I definitely think it’s better to be more interactive with the community than just kind of being around passively. Much more active in the community is a better way to go about it,” he said.

He said one benefit of interacting with the community is “you get to learn the people who you police. And you get to put your name out there so more people are more trustworthy

Dylan Pichnarcik / THE GATEPOST Joseph Cecchi dressed as Blue Santa during the Stuff-a-Cruiser event Dec. 4. with you.”

Deputy Chief Martin Laughlin added it’s “good for building rapport with the community. I think it’s key these days - I think it’s huge.”

Sgt. Harpreet Singh, command staff for the University Police, said he’s done the Stuff-a-Cruiser event in years past, but this is the first time they’ve had a Blue Santa at the event.

“The whole goal is to get better each time you help donate to the community,” he said.

Singh added the collaboration with the Henry Whittemore Library and Veteran Services means more donation bins will be available around campus, and though the University Police is open for donations at all

times of the day, increased accessibility may make it easier for community members to donate.

He said, “It’s just bringing the community close together, and that’s what we want to do. We want to bring everybody close. We want to be involved as well.

“And then the more involved we are with the community, it makes us feel good about ourselves, but also just the involvement alone,” he added.

CONNECT WITH RAENA DOTY

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CONNECT WITH LIV DUNLEAVY

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DECEMBER 8, 2023 | 21

“you’re a Good man, Charlie Brown” Spread by Photos & Design Editor Adrien Gobin

Ben Hurney / THE GATEPOST

Alexis Schlesinger / THE GATEPOST Shanna Henderson (left), Emma Ginter, and Amanda Edme at the “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” dress rehearsal Nov. 29.

Alexis Schlesinger / THE GATEPOST The cast of “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” at their dress rehearsal Nov. 29.

Alexis Schlesinger / THE GATEPOST Amanda Edme (left), Shanna Henderson, Audrey Oullette, Emma Ginter, and Mayla Yellig at the “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” dress reharsal Nov. 29.

Dylan Pichnarcik / THE GATEPOST Emma Ginter (left), and Mayla Yellig at the “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” dress rehearsal Nov. 29.

Dylan Pichnarcik / THE GATEPOST Shanna Henderson at the “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” dress rehearsal Nov. 29.

Dylan Pichnarcik / THE GATEPOST Audrey Ouellette (left), Sonnet Shea, Emma Ginter, and Mayla Yellig at the “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” dress rehearsal Nov. 29.

Dylan Pichnarcik / THE GATEPOST Amanda Edme (left), Emma McCurdy, and Shanna Henderson at the “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” dress rehearsal Nov. 29.

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ARTS & FEATURES

22 | DECEMBER 8, 2023

A serene snugglefest Pause 4 Paws brings furry friends to FSU

By Liv Dunleavy Staff Writer

jor at FSU and SEALS peer health educator, said SEALS hosted the event a few times this semester, and although not present at the Dec. 6 event, alongside the therapy dogs the cat named George is very popular.

“We try to do it around midterm and finals seasons so it’s like a destress station for students, faculty, and professors,” she said.

She also mentioned there are usually tables set up with a theme, and this event’s theme was sleep health.

“A lot of times we do sleep health around midterm and final seasons because we know studies show students tend to do better when they have enough sleep, and consistent sleep,” she added.

Hadge also stated the Pause 4 Paws event is their most popular event, and people say the event is “a nice break.”

Daleri Garcia, another peer health Pause 4 Paws visited FSU for the educator for SEALS, said the event “is second time this semester in the a good community builder and it also Alumni Room Dec. 4 and 6. There builds awareness on the topics that were a myriad of furry friends of all we do, such as cannabis awareness sizes from George the cat to Roxie the and alcohol abuse.” golden-doodle all spread out for stuOne of the dog’s handlers, Peg Burdents to pet and snuggle. gess, said having events like this are The event is sponsored by three important because she understands FSU organizations - SEALS (Strength, it’s a stressful time from her own perEducation, Action, Leadership, and sonal experience. She said when she’s Support), FSAB (Framingham Student having a stressful day, seeing her dog Activities Board), and FSU’s Health makes it suddenly not so bad. and Wellness Center - and it is a colBurgess said she and her dog Roxie laboration with the Pets & People do other types of events as well, such Foundation. as a library event where children read Haley Hadge, a senior English mato the dog.

She said Roxie “is a very happy dog, and she’s never met a h u man she doesn’t like.”

Chris, another dog handler, said she and her dog Snowy come to these events because “petting the dogs at this time of year just decreases the stress levels and calms any anxiety that students might have.”

She also added she and Snowy normally attend events at schools, universities, and they’ve also worked with assisted living in the past. Chris said Snowy has a “very happy and affectionate demeanor.

“He loves people, loves chilDylan Pichnarcik / THE GATEPOST dren, and likes to relax with everyRoxie the dog at the Pause 4 Paws event in the Alumni Room Dec. 6. one,” she added.

She said when students come in and they see the dogs, their faces brighten, and they leave with a smile.

Tyler McKeen, a junior psychology major, said he came to the event because he loves pets, and being around all of the animals and doing the calming activities helps him to de-stress.

He said he has pets at home and he hasn’t seen them in a while, and before Thanksgiving break he hadn’t seen his own pets in two and a half months, and now he “feels so much better.”

Lucy Forgit-Stringham, a sophomore psychology major, said she missed the Monday Dec. 4 Pause 4 Paws event and made sure to set time in her schedule so she could make it to the Dec. 6 event. She said the dogs make her very happy.

Forgit-Stringham said she has eight animals back home, is used to being around animals, and doesn’t go home often, so this event is like a refresher for her.

Minor Alarcon, a sophomore biology major, said he was in the student lounge with his friend when she urged him to go and see the dogs.

“It’s just so amazing, they’re the cutest things. The stress just disappeared - it’s so fun,” he said.

CONNECT WITH LIV DUNLEAVY

odunleavy@student.framingham.edu

Balenciaga FW24 solidifies Demna’s downfall

By Bella Omar Asst. Arts & Features Editor Since Georgia-born Demna Gvasalia took over Balenciaga as creative director in 2015, the brand has gained notoriety for its unconventional approach to streetwear, destination shows, and celebrity collaborations.

Demna’s Balenciaga debut was for the brand’s Fall/Winter 2016 collection and it made waves by reimagining the work of Cristobal Balenciaga with modern, utilitarian takes on women’s wear. It utilized padding in traditionally streetwear pieces to impose dramatic, feminine silhouettes.

The brand continued to make headlines by utilizing unexpected runways, such as having gimp mask-clad models strut through the New York Stock Exchange to showcase their Spring/ Summer 2023 collection just last year.

Some viewers applauded Balenciaga for what appeared to be bold social commentary while others, including myself, thought the gimmicky setting to barely distract from the painfully boring collection.

Any of Balenciaga’s current relevance can also be largely attributed to their close collaborations with public figures such as Kanye West, Kim Kardashian, and Cardi B.

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Balenciaga’s two Spring/Summer controversy, this recent show felt like 2023 campaigns put the brand in hot just another stunt for attention.

Audience members lined Windsor water given the uproar around the contents of the photos - children pos- Boulevard, unfortunately mak-i n g ing with BDSM-inspired teddy bears one of Hollywood’s prettiest e n and several documents con- claves into the backdrop for the lazicerning child porn o g r a p h y est collection I have ever seen.

The show opened with what looked laws.

Once regarded as like a series of morbid Equinox goers, an innovat i v e dressed in all black, uninspired athbeacon of t h e leisure wear.

These looks were styled with fashion comically large tennis shoes in world, several colorways that clearly Demna’s served no other purpose than Balenciaga to create buzz. has now deErewhon, renowned LA volved into a sehealth food company collabries of tasteless collections that orated with Balenciaga, releasing a look almost as limited edition smoothie in tandem cheap as they are with the collection - while leather tone-deaf. renditions of Erewhon shopping bags The fashion were sported on the runway. house’s Fall/WinThe grocer’s cult-like following ter 2024 collecmade them a predictable choice for tion, showcased collaboration with Demna. on Dec. 5 in sunny Ill-fitting knockoffs of Juicy CouHollywood, was no ture velour tracksuits in black, gray, exception. red, blue, and pink then made their In contrast to appearance. Paired with oversized matching boots, Demna’s public staying consistent denouncement with the theme of of gimmicks ridiculous footwear. and buzz, only after last year’s Marcus Falcão / THE GATEPOST

Somehow even more gimmicky accessories were made known as Balenciaga-branded disposable coffee cups and duffles could also be spotted throughout the show.

No craftsmanship was revealed still when models then walked down the runway in suit sets, featuring cartoonishly large shoulders, all in varying shades of black.

Then, garish cropped bomber jackets and bodycon dresses also appeared in more hastily-styled ensembles.

The most intentional looks were undoubtedly the few awkwardly fitting tweed sets, with puckering brass buttons to match.

The show closed with evening wear, showcasing cocktail dresses and coats that are both reminiscent of the “Men’s Trash Bag Large Pouch” that is currently retailing on Balenciaga’s web page for $1,790.

From being horribly unoriginal, utilizing lackluster colors and textiles, no amount of beautiful scenery, gimmicky grocery bags or large tennis shoes could make Balenciaga’s FW24 collection worth watching.

If Cristobal Balenciaga hadn’t died of a heart attack in 1972, seeing this collection would have done it instead.

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ARTS & FEATURES

DECEMBER 8, 2023 | 23

‘Guilty’ as charged

By Dorcas Abe Staff Writer

kind of coolness. “You know I got the peats the phrase in the song he ends rizz, the rizzness” is an unforgetta- on “she loves me not.” This is more ble beginning to the chorus. This is moody because he’s already in a relanot a song for everyone, but it will tionship with this girl, she just doesnt get stuck in love him your head anymore. whether The love you like it has just or not. w i l t “ S h e ed, then Loves Me, dried up She Loves like the flower Me Not” is petals afs t r u c t u rter this ally one of game. the best “Not unrequitOver You” ed love is more songs I a b o u t have ever what he heard. The does after song referthe relaences the children’s game of David Abe / THE GATEPOST tionship is picking petals off of flowers to determine wheth- truly over. While this song takes a er the object of your affections likes necessary place in the narrative of you back. While the game is usually the album, I don’t really like it. It is the most generic song I have ever light hearted, the song is not.

It has a melancholy tone starting heard on one of his albums. That said, with the words “she loves me, she it’s not bad, it just could be better. It loves me not,” and continues to talk doesn’t have the richness of emotion about the dead petals left in his hand present in the other songs, but perafter playing, and ends the verse with haps that was a creative choice.

“Night Away” is an R&B track with “she loves me not.” Every time he re-

Korean popstar, Lee Taemin, is back from his military service with his fourth EP - “Guilty.” His rise to fame started when he debuted as the youngest member of Korean pop group Shinee in 2008. In the 15 years since, Taemin has grown tremendously in skill - long-gone are the days when he was called tone-deaf.

His hard work first paid off when he released his first solo project in 2014. While his solo music does borrow from skills he gained as a part of Shinee, he has now found his own style separate from his work with the group.

“Guilty,” the title track of the sixsong album, is a song about someone with a cavalier attitude toward the person they love. The song compares dating this person to taking a bite of a poison apple. The song and music video have the captivating energy of a siren leading you to your doom. This song’s performance continues his practice of using a genderless charm to captivate his audience.

The second song on the album, “The Rizzness,” is actually one of my favorites. It is a hip-hop track that just talks about being a charismatic guy. The song uses strong beats and high tones to exude an untouchable

all the vocal tricks to match. It really shows off the vocal control Taemin has gained over the years. The song is a more honest look at falling in love. After the previous songs it feels like he is coming to terms with who he actually is in a relationship, and it sounds beautiful. His love feels less like a performance and more grounded in who he is. The song is much more hopeful than the previous ones.

“Blue” wraps up the album with an airy dreamlike sound. The song is about two people who are a match made in heaven. This song rounds out the album wonderfully with the narrative going from a tortured relationship to a loving and grateful one.

It was overall a great album, and it reflects the maturing Taemin has done as well. Truly a perfect comeback.

Rating: AYou know he’s got my biz, my business.

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‘Lethal Company’ - a voyage into the unknown

By Kyle Walker Staff Writer On Oct. 23, the cooperative survival-horror game “Lethal Company” was released in early-access on Steam. The game was both self-published and solo-developed by online alias, Zeekerss.

Since the game’s initial release, it has very quickly become an instant viral hit. Within the weeks of its release, the game has already reached over 100,000 concurrent players, and based on its massive popularity and my own personal experiences with it, I don’t see the hype train stopping anytime soon.

This is especially evident since the game has become the highest rated Steam title of the year, after only being out for a little over a month, beating several of this year’s triple-a smash-hits such as “Baldur’s Gate 3” and the remake of “Resident Evil 4.”

In the game, you and up to three other friends play as contractors for “the company” and your only goal is to meet a quota of money within a three day deadline. Within this time your objective is to visit various alien moons and collect junk from the industrial buildings to then sell to meet the quota. If you miss the quota, you all get ejected into outer space and have to restart from scratch.

Seems simple enough… right?

While collecting the scraps from these moons, you will run into sever-

al obstacles such as bad weather, ra- ing of laughter whenever I play this diation, landmines, and deadly mon- game. This combined with the overall sters, all of which could end your trip simplicity make the game very easy abruptly. Combining this with ran- to enjoy for both casual and veteran dom-generated layouts, you are al- players.

I began playing this game not ways in for a surprise.

Upon first look, the game has a knowing too much about it, so everything was a survery charming Marcus Falcão / THE GATEPOST prise, and I absolow-quality art

style to it.

T h e choppy and pixelated cel-shaded graphics make it seem almost cartoonish while still having a sense of realism. At some points when objects are further away, it can be hard to process what you are looking at, but I think that just adds to the challenge of the game.

The game itself has little to no story to it, making the communication, teamwork, and hijinks among your crew crucial to the enjoyment of the game. It’s often that I am dy-

lutely loved t h a t .

This made the game feel unsettling as I didn’t really know what to expect. This made traversing the facilities unnerving, and I enjoyed that quite a bit.

The best moments I had in this game were from silly errors and overreactions made by myself or crewmates. Failing the objective of the game allows for moments like that to happen, and it’s weird to say but honestly I prefer that over playing the game “correctly.”

Although I have really en-

joyed my experiences with this game thus far, I definitely see it getting old, at least in the state that it is in now.

What might make this game get old quickly is the lack of any real reward for completing the quota. Yes, you get to stay alive and complete more quotas, get slightly better items, and even cosmetics for your ship, but I don’t think that is enough to keep me playing long-term. This is especially since you run the risk of losing everything you’ve gained if you don’t meet the quota.

I do also understand that this game is in early access, so more features will be added in the future.

However, even in the state it is currently in, this is a fantastic game to play with all your buddies due to all the unique situations you will get into. I can’t say I am tired of it just yet either, and I am very excited for the future of this game.

Rating: AOSHA Violations: The Game

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kwalker6@student.framingham.edu

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24 | DECEMBER 8, 2023

ARTS & FEATURES

Study Break Suggestions

‘The Midnight Gospel’

Creative writing

‘Animal Crossing: New Horizons’

By Liv Dunleavy Staff Writer

By Francisco Omar Fernandez Rodriguez Staff Writer

By Paul Harrington Staff Writer

As the semester ends, I find myself in a loop of starting one assignment, working for a few minutes, getting bored, and moving on to another - never finishing anything.

The endless assignments make me feel like that episode of “SpongeBob” where the SpongeBobs are scrambling around in a fiery chaos searching for his own name.

When I need to focus, one thing I trust to turn down the noise is “The Midnight Gospel”

by Pendelton Ward and Duncan Trussell.

The series follows the storyline of real podcast interviews from “The Duncan Trussell Family Hour” and creates a fictional world with absurd characters including a spacecaster Clancy, voiced by Duncan Trussell.

It has eight episodes so it’s an easy watch, and a great time goal for yourself. Each character has such calming tones of voice, so it’s easy to tune them out, like white noise.

Watching the show grounds me to my work so I don’t get distracted. It really helps.

It’s easy to lose track of time, and I’ve studied through the full three hours of content without even needing a break.

Finals season is tiring and stressful. One way to help fight that is with breaks.

One idea on something you could do in that break is some creative writing.

I know - this sounds like more work to many people. But here is what makes creative writing different, and more fun, than writing another essay. You can write about whatever you want.

If you’re feeling stressed but have no one to vent to, you can write those feelings and stressors down. Ramble on for as long as you want. Whether it takes up a few lines or a page, I find it helpful to express those thoughts in some capacity.

Writing during your break can also keep you from getting too off track and losing time. It’s a bit better than scrolling through social media again, at least.

I like taking some free time to just write some poetry. It can be anything you want, like pent up feelings, or a particular event, or abstract ideas. You can look up prompts if you’re feeling indecisive.

When I need a game to relax, I book a virtual visit to the world of “Animal Crossing: New Horizons.”

“Animal Crossing: New Horizons” is a social simulation game for the Nintendo Switch. The premise of the game is that you move to an uninhabited island, and watch it turn into a thriving community.

“New Horizons” is a splendid way to take a step back from life and to do whatever you want. The game is full of bubbly characters, sleek clothing, and crafty creations waiting for you.

The game lets you take the lead and make your own decisions in terms of progression.

You can either take it one day at a time, or pull an all-nighter. There is no punishment in your playstyle.

Another enjoyable aspect of “New Horizons” is the ability to collect creatures. You can catch bugs, sea creatures, fish, and dig up fossils. All of the above have the option to go toward the in-game museum that looks stunning as you fill it up.

“New Horizons” is the definition of a relaxing game. It allows players to live their dream life and forget about finals.

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CONNECT WITH PAUL HARRINGTON

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‘Howl’s Moving Castle’

By Dorcas Abe Staff Writer If I’m studying really hard for a long time and I need to be calm and focused, I like to watch “Howl’s Moving Castle.” I really like the story and I always notice something new with each watch.

It’s also chill enough that I can have it on in the background without getting distracted, but captivating enough that I can focus on it when I stop studying. I’ve also watched it enough times that I don’t have to pay attention to know what’s going on.

Sophie, Howl, Marcus, and Calcifer are all really fun and interesting characters to follow.

Their relationships really make me feel less like ripping my hair out from stress.

Studying can be pretty rough on my eyes too, so an opportunity to look at the rolling hills and townscapes really gives me the chance to relax for a little while. It is amazing how beautiful the animation is.

Most importantly, it has a happy ending to look forward to. It has a relatively low-stress plot and immaculate vibes for just not letting the stress of tests and papers get to you.

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‘‘Awaken, My Love!’’

By Jack McLaughlin Arts & Features Editor

The multi-talented artist Donald Glover, who works under the moniker Childish Gambino in his music endeavors, has a perfect tribute to 1970’s funk music that can serve as an excellent break from studying. “‘Awaken, My Love’” starts off with the initially calming then bombastic “Me and Your Mama,” which clues listeners into the mix of soothing and loud tracks that await them.

“Boogieman” and “Riot” are phenomenal examples of energetic tracks - which sharply contrast the softer moments on the first half like “Zombies” and the big hit of the album “Redbone.”

If the first half is considered to be the energetic side, the second half is certainly more mellow and introspective. Soothing tracks like “Baby Boy” and “The Night Me And Your Mama Met” are not only beautiful, but are also a perfect illustration to how far Glover can stretch his musical talents beyond his rap origins.

Whether you want something relaxing, something to hype you up, or something that makes you think, “‘Awaken, My Love!’” has all of that waiting for you.

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Emily Monaco / THE GATEPOST

Practicing mindfulness

By Emily Monaco Editorial Staff

The end of the semester is always going to be stressful because all of your assignments will start to pile up and you’ll start to feel the pressure of finishing everything on time.

A really great way to take a break from studying is practicing mindfulness and you can do that through meditation, which is one of my personal favorites.

Meditation is a way to rest your body without sleeping, and it can be really great for keeping yourself grounded and making yourself feel more refreshed so you’re not constantly working yourself too much.

You can start with guided meditations, and then work into your own meditation sessions, focusing on things that you want to. Initially, starting with guided meditations can really help ease one into the practice if you don’t know where to begin.

This is a good habit you can carry throughout life. Meditation helps give your brain a break and keep you in the present!

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ARTS & FEATURES

DECEMBER 8, 2023 | 25

‘Godzilla Minus One’ is an undeniable plus

By Owen Glancy Asst. Arts & Features Editor For the last 20 years, “Godzilla” has been in a weird place. Legendary Studio’s acquisition of the rights to make American “Godzilla” films has thrust the iconic monster into the Hollywood limelight. However, it simultaneously has put a damper on his Japanese origins.

Ever since “Godzilla: Final Wars” was released in 2004, we only got one traditional Japanese “Godzilla” film in 2016’s “Shin Godzilla,” which was so divisive and different that many see it as the complete opposite of “traditional.”

So needless to say, fans have been eagerly awaiting Godzilla’s glorious return to form. And that’s exactly what “Godzilla Minus One” is.

This is the first time in the “Godzilla” franchise in which the human characters are just as likable as the central monster. The plot details kamikaze pilot Koichi Shikishima and his repeated encounters with Godzilla as he attempts to navigate life in post-war Japan.

Right off the bat, we feel for Shikishima. His refusal to go through with his orders as a kamikaze pilot and his initial encounter with Godzilla make us immediately sympathize with him. In his attempt to escape the war, he ended up running into an entirely new kind of horror, as well as unintentionally inflicting it upon those he ran to.

And this haunts him throughout the rest of the film. Every time it seems he makes a step toward overcoming his trauma, another gut-wrenching thing happens to him, sending him back to

step one.

The film is far more tense and terrifying than one would expect from this franchise. Not since the 1954 original has the series’ depiction of the aftermath of losing the worst war in human history felt so devastating.

Everything from the masterful score to the impossibly attentive set de- s i g n makes these refugee camps and crumbling cities feel s o

ute to the “Godzilla” franchise as well as a poignant lesson in the dangers of nuclear weaponry and the plight of post-war Japan.

Shikishima is not the only highlight, as the cast of characters that surround him are all equally memorable. Minami Hamabe delivers an excellent performance as Noriko Oishi, a street urchin tak- ing care of an abandoned baby who Shikishima allows to stay in his home.

The two form a bond as the film progresses, making you desMarcus Falcão / THE GATEPOST genuinely believe in this olate and budding romance. Addreal. Seeing Shikishima’s home burning be- ing this element and doing it so w e l l fore his eyes as his neighbor chastises makes the heinous acts of destruction him for not following through on his Godzilla commits all the more frightkamikaze duties, somehow implying ening and real.

To the disappointment of many, that this is all his fault, is truly harGodzilla only has one real destrucrowing.

It’s in scenes like this where the tion scene in the film around halfway film finds many of its best moments. through when he attacks the Ginza It truly succeeds in being both a trib- district of Tokyo. However, the pure

carnage, tension, and impressive special effects this scene brings to the table more than makes up for the lack of further destruction.

By the end of the scene, I was on the edge of my seat with my jaw hanging open in disbelief as Shikishima screams in anger at the monster towering over the newly destroyed city.

The film has only one major issue to make note of, and that is the ending. While I won’t say specifics as to not spoil it for anyone, it definitely feels like a cop-out. For the majority of the film to be so depressing and realistic for a “Godzilla” movie, only for it to end on such an overly sappy and unrealistic note left a bad taste in my mouth.

“Godzilla Minus One” is an impressive film on nearly all accounts. The special effects blend practical and digital so well that you don’t even notice the difference, the performances are all so memorable and charming that it forces you to care about every character, and the score is so brilliant that I’ve had it on loop ever since I saw the film.

Whether or not you’re a fan of “Godzilla,” this is a must-see and a strong contender for the best entry in this legendary franchise.

Rating: A The King of the Monsters is back

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Snow lands on top in the new ‘Hunger Games’ Baird, our songbird.

Lucy Gray is a mystery, self proclaimed, though I feel like I can feel her walls breaking down and building up throughout the film to reveal her true self. She draws her crowd with her humanity and musical talent.

The movie shows a side of Coriolanus that the audience, if they’d watched the original trilogy, could never have imagined him to have. A soft, caring, and human side. One that has empathy and a heart.

Snow’s best friend in the movie, Sejanus, was such a refreshing character to see come out of the Capitol.

He’s the only character to come from the Capitol with an ounce of respect for the districts.

His character spends the whole film standing on the side of the tributes, doing what he can to help them.

It is even more appreciable due to the fact he is the son of the wealthy Plinth family, who award the Plinth Prize.

As for the plot, it is broken up into three parts, but it’s easy enough to follow, and doesn’t make the intertwining storylines too complicated.

I really enjoyed every second of this film, and it brought me back to my middle school days.

Overall, I think this movie did the original trilogy justice. Not that it was trying to in any way, but I feel as if lots of people felt offended in some way that this wasn’t a continuation of the original story.

I actually like that it wasn’t - we didn’t need any more of that story.

I think we had enough. This was refreshing, showed so much more to the Capitol that we never knew, and is still as gut wrenching as the first three games.

Rating: A Too many snakes, not enough birds

ADMIT ONE

“Another ‘Hunger Games’? It’s not even about Katniss! This movie has nothing to do with ‘The Hunger Games’ I knew as a kid!” These were some of many complaints made when the trailer for “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” was released.

I don’t know about you, but as soon as I saw the trailer, I was hooked. As a Gen Z youth who grew up on the original trilogy books and movies, I was intrigued immediately. The early games - how it all began? Yes please.

This time the story focuses on our beloved President Snow - well, pre-president Snow, also known as Coriolanus. His lore, if you will.

Which - by the way - is insane. I mean, I feel like we should have all expected someone as wicked as him would have a whacko backstory.

Coriolanus Snow’s complicated life is intertwined with many others, and this movie shows us how his character developed. If you’ve watched the

original trilogy or read the books you would know that he’s not the “nice guy” in the story.

The film is focused around the 10th annual Hunger Games, a live televised fight to the death between 24 tributes from the 12 districts of Panem.

They are chosen at random and have no choice but to participate, and only one tribute can win.

The “game” this time is different, though, as the students at Coriolanus’ academy are selected to mentor the tributes in hope of winning to retrieve the Plinth Prize Scholarship, which will guarantee a free ride to the university.

The creator of the games, Dr. Volumina Gaul, a flamboyant and Effie-esque character, lays down the laws of the contest. The show is not only centered around winning - it is also centered around attention. The games are losing their viewers, and without viewers, the Hunger Games can no longer prosper or continue.

When the tributes are pulled, Coriolanus is assigned as a mentor to the girl tribute from District 12, Lucy Gray

ADMIT ONE

By Liv Dunleavy Staff Writer

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Puzzles

ARTS & FEATURES

ACROSS 1 Environmentalist Thunberg 6 Org. for Tiger Woods 9 Pic-sharing app 14 Second airing, say 15 ___ and outs 16 Part of the eye 17 Undisclosed contributors at a blood bank 20 Brand of headphones 21 Follow as a result 22 Prefix with “natal” 23 Frozen drink whose name sounds like its first two letters 25 Candy ___ (Christmas decorations) 28 Small field in Silicon Valley?

33 Paper problem 34 Contented cat’s sound 35 Curie who researched radioactivity 36 There are two in a coordinate plane 38 Exams for HS juniors 41 Currency that anagrams to “rial” 42 Drink served with marshmallows 44 Word after “pop-up” or “set up” 46 Unspecified degree 47 “I will not put up with this anymore!”

51 Javelin, for one 52 Soccer great Mia 53 Educated guess: Abbr.

55 Like some diet food, in ads 57 Land of Lima and llamas 61 Emphatic grammatical constructions ... or the words hidden in 17-, 28- or 47-Across?

65 Cajun stew 66 ___ de cologne 67 Wipe clean 68 Standing up straight 69 Nickname that drops “An” 70 Fender flaws

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DOWN 1 Snatch 2 Nevada slots city 3 Greek god of love 4 Catch an NPR show, say 5 One or more 6 Trailblazers Puzzle solutions are now 7 Wildebeests exclusively online.

8 In and of itself 9 Wall St. debut 10 Holy sister 11 Funding, as a TV program 12 Michelin product 13 In addition 18 Get-together 19 University administrator 24 Police officer 26 Devour, in slang 27 Airline to Jerusalem 28 President who said, “I am not a crook” 29 Popular Halloween outfit with faux fur 30 Unrefined 31 Waist measurement 32 “For sure!”

33 Indy 500, e.g.

37 Salad alternative 39 City for Dutch royalty 40 Beethoven’s “Moonlight ___” 43 What birthday candles signify 45 Fluffy toy dog, for short 48 Robust 49 Pressed, as clothes 50 Baseball official 53 Microsoft browser 54 Sweet’s counterpart 56 Common cause of goose bumps 58 “Dear ___ Hansen” 59 Many a squiggle on sheet music 60 Employs 62 Original “Monty Python” network 63 Realtor’s unit 64 Big name in talks

ARTS & FEATURES

DECEMBER 8, 2023 | 27

‘Napoleon’ - can we please have more?

By Jack McLaughlin Arts & Features Editor I was not expecting one of the funniest movies this year to be one that was advertised as a dramatic history biopic - but 2023 has undeniably been full of surprises.

“Napoleon” is the latest from director Ridley Scott, and even at the fresh age of 86 he is still managing to absolutely crush it.

The film has seen scrutiny from history buffs at the many inaccuracies made to the real-life events. If you are willing to look beyond this and take in the story, performances, and set-pieces - what’s left is an awesome movie that leaves you begging for more.

Joaquin Phoenix steps into the role as the titular emperor of France, and the story chronicles his rise to and fall from power and the relationship he had to his wife Joséphine (Vanessa Kirby).

The script has a healthy dose of dramatic moments - but somehow manages to inject a shocking amount of humor into the story. Most of the time it’s intended, but sometimes it can be a little unclear. Regardless, it is welcome in the story.

What this movie accomplishes through this is showing how good of a comedic actor Joaquin Phoenix can

be. He absolutely nails this performance - playing a character who is very much full of himself and has many odd quirks to him.

But when the plot requires him to be a calculating war strategist - he locks in and becomes a total menace.

Vanessa Kirby plays off of Phoenix’s bizarre energy perfectly. Her character feeds into his weirdness and makes lots of the scenes they share to-

that works for a movie like this.

The stunning costume design is something definitely worth shouting out as well - the amount of detail in each of the character’s outfits deserves recognition at the upcoming Oscars.

gether have a strange air of humor to them.

When the story needs to be serious - it’s able to pull the brakes and stop feeding the audience jokes. The relationship between Napoleon and Joséphine is an interesting one and the very one-sided nature of it was entertaining to watch unfold.

Visually, “Napoleon” has a similar feeling to most of Ridley Scott’s other features. Lighting is very dim and the whole film feels dark, which is a style

this. Trust me, when it’s there it stays i t ’ s welcome - but there are only a few big moments of it a n d the rest of the film is built upon the characters.

This fortunately works in the film’s favor - as the characters and story they are i n are worth exploring, but i t feels like a lot is missing.

For those who don’t know, this movie is also being released on the service Apple TV+ at a future date. It was revealed by Ridley Scott

Marcus Falcão / THE GATEPOST To my surprise, there isn’t as much action as one would expect from a movie l i k e

that the cut being released there will add nearly two hours to the film - and after learning that you realize how hollow parts of this theatrical cut feel.

The two hour and 38 minute run time flies by pretty quickly - though it feels like lots of scenes, the action ones in particular feel rushed along to get to the next part in the story.

A more fleshed out story that gets to have a deeper exploration of Napoleon and Joséphine with enough time for more detailed action scenes would be absolutely perfect.

This would be a bigger issue in other circumstances, but the fact we know more is eventually coming makes this flaw forgivable, assuming the director’s cut will be just as good if not better than this one.

Even though what is currently out is a theatrical cut with a lot of content missing, “Napoleon” is still certainly worth checking out in theaters just for the cinematic feeling it creates through its story and setpieces.

Rating: A So close to perfect

CONNECT WITH JACK MCLAUGHLIN

jmclaughlin7@student.framingham.edu

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PHOTOS

28 | DECEMBER 8, 2023

FIERCE Spread by Design & Photos Editor Adrien Gobin

Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST Ainslee Caton at the “Fierce” dress rehearsal Dec. 6.

Alexis Schlesinger / THE GATEPOST Dancers at the “Fierce” dress rehearsal Dec. 6.

Alexis Schlesinger / THE GATEPOST Gabby Florio (left) and Angelina Guzzetti at the “Fierce” dress rehearsal Dec. 6.

Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST Zophie Greenwald at the “Fierce” dress rehearsal Dec. 6.

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Alexis Schlesinger / THE GATEPOST Rachel Taylor (left), Alexa Gibson, and Olivia Alexander at the “Fierce” dress rehearsal Dec. 6.