May 3, 2019

THE GATEPOST Framingham State’s independent student newspaper

Volume 87 • Issue 24

May 3, 2019

Widening horizons

FSUgatepost.com

FSU shapes students into the people they are today

By Tessa Jillson Arts & Features Editor

With graduation less than a month away, FSU seniors are reflecting on their time at FSU, beginning at orientation and ending when they take their final steps across the stage at the DCU center.

Whether FSU shaped who they are today, taught them to be more independent, changed their lives for the better, or helped them face overwhelming challenges, at the end of each story, the message is the same FSU radiates prosperity.

English major Diego Rocha said, “FSU has completely changed my life.

At first, I was very insecure about career paths, and the school has helped me to understand that in order to be successful in the ‘real world,’ my academic life would have to be successful.”

Rocha, who received a bachelor’s degree in English in December, said the English department helped him get “ready to face the professional world” - improving skills like proficiency, professionalism, and articulation of thoughts and ideas.

He added that the campus environments, such as the library, and the positive relationships he has built with professors and peers, have helped him become more organized, comfortable, and focus-oriented.

“Desmond McCarthy as the chair of the English department certainly makes it all even more welcoming. He speaks to the students’ needs, and we feel valued as individuals,” he said.

Rocha said he wants to continue his education after graduation through a master’s program.

Bailey Morrison / THE GATEPOST Community members educate festival attendees about the effects of sugar on teeth at the Science on State Street festival April 27.

The rookie of the year Liana Cunningham’s rise to success

By Liam Gambon Asst. Sports Editor

On February 28, Framingham State’s Women’s Basketball freshman point guard Liana Cunningham was named Rookie of the Year in the MASCAC Conference.

Cunningham said, “I was surprised and excited. My coach called me and told me, and it was a great feeling. I finally felt like my hard work paid off for my first collegiate basketball season - but it also made me realize how much I still want to improve as a player, as a teammate, and as a leader for the upcoming seasons.”

Head Coach Walter Paschal said, See GRADUATING SENIORS page 18

“When the award came out, we were pretty excited for her.”

He added, “All her hard work had paid off. And the good news is she has three more years left, and she is only going to get better.”

The Quincy native began her college basketball career by joining a team fresh off its third-straight trip to the MASCAC Championship.

For any freshman coming onto a team that has had such success, the odds of making the roster would be slim.

Cunningham not only made the roster, but she started every game for the Rams as point guard.

See CUNNINGHAM page 17

Science on State Street festival emphasizes conservation, ingenuity, and diversity More than 55 exhibits on display for MetroWest community to see

By Nadira Wicaksana News Editor Framingham State hosted the fifth annual Science on State Street festival April 27, sponsored by MathWorks, MutualOne Bank, Mass Cultural Council, and other organizations.

Every year, Science on State Street, - originally part of the Cambridge Science Festival - provides a fami-

ly-friendly opportunity to go table to table to view and participate in demonstrations, and also engage in interactive activities.

Some of the recurring themes of the festival’s exhibitions included climate change and fostering creative innovation.

The festival flyer also advertised the Framingham Earth Day Festival, which took place at the same time on

News ANGELA SALAS, NEW PROVOST pg. 4 EMAIL SCAMS pg. 6

Ulisses Ramirez / THE GATEPOST

Opinions A CUP OF CULTURE pg. 9 GATEPOST GRIEVANCES pg. 11

Arts & Features MAZ GAL pg. 16 “ENDGAME” REVIEW pg. 20

Sports

the Framingham Centre Common.

There were over 55 exhibits on dis- WOMEN’S LACROSSE pg. 25 play, more than last year’s 40. FSU departments and clubs with exhibits in- SOFTBALL pg. 26 cluded College of STEM departments, including biology and chemistry, the College of Education, the Math and Wildlife clubs, and the Aspiring Health Professionals Club.

See SCIENCE ON STATE STREET page 5

Ashley Wall / THE GATEPOST

INSIDE: OP/ED 9 • ARTS & FEATURES 16 • SPORTS 22

NEWS

2 | MAY 3, 2019

Gatepost Interview

2018-2019 Editorial Board

Linda Vaden-Goad

Editor-in-Chief Bailey Morrison

Outgoing provost and vice president for academic affairs

By Nadira Wicaksana News Editor

Associate Editors Corey McFeeley Jillian Poland News Editor Nadira Wicaksana Arts & Features Editor Tessa Jillson Asst. Arts & Features Editors Brennan Atkins Robert Johnson Jr. Interim Asst. Arts & Features Editor Sara Senesac Entertainment Correspondent Noah Barnes Opinions Editor Lizzy Stocks Sports Editor Matt Ferris Asst. Sports Editor Liam Gambon Design Editor Cara McCarthy Asst. Design Editor Kathleen Moore Photos Editor Ashley Wall Asst. Photos Editor Donald Halsing Copy Editor Gordon Rupert Asst. Copy Editor Jared Graf Staff Writers Evan Lee Thomas Maye Kayla Otten Lauren Paolini Carlos Silva Caeley Whalen Staff Photographers Hannah Coco Ryan Feinblatt Ulisses Ramirez Advisor Dr. Desmond McCarthy Asst. Advisor Elizabeth Banks Administrative Assistant Gwenyth Swain 100 State Street McCarthy Center Room 410 Framingham, MA 01701-9101 Phone: (508) 626-4605 Fax: (508) 626-4097 gatepost@framingham.edu

What is your educational and professional background?

I have a Ph.D. in experimental psychology - social psychology. I got that at the University of Houston. I worked for 12 years at the University of Houston-Downtown. ... It was one of the most diverse universities in the United States when I was there. It was an incredible experience - my life changed.

It was out of this world. I was chair of the department of social sciences. We had about seven different disciplines in that department. I was the faculty senate president while I was there. I was the president in Texas of the American Association of University Professors. It was a terrific experience. ... I had the opportunity, then, to take the job of the dean of arts and sciences at Western Connecticut State University in Danbury, Connecticut. My son was going to school in the Northeast at that point, and he was in grad school. I thought, “Well, it would be nice to go to that part of the country for a while.” So, I applied for the job and got it. It was a great job.

I was there for eight years. ... I’ve been here for nine years. I came on August the second, 2010. I applied for the position, and I was really excited about the location, being close to Boston. ...

Plus, I was really impressed by all the people I met when I came for the interview. I even remembered where people were sitting during the interview, and the questions they asked. I loved their depth and their sincerity. ... I felt like it was such a great fit. I’ve just loved being here.

What career accomplishments are you most proud of?

I would say taking grassroots approaches to solve problems. When I first got here, we had to take the mission statement, and, through some process, generate a set of core values for the institution. ... We used a group-thinking process with the faculty, students, the administrators - all kinds of people.

And we ended up with our set of core values. ... They really have been useful to us. We used those to also use a grassroots plan to come up with a strategic plan for Academic Affairs. Apparently, we hadn’t really had one. The president then had said, “Well, we need one.

You should do that.” ... We invited everyone to be involved and to create initiatives, all couched within the core values - academic excellence, global stewardship, public purpose and commitment, among other things. And so, what was great about the strategic plan that arose from that grassroots process was, even though it didn’t include the core values per se, every initiative that was proposed was within it. The kinds of things that we were doing for five years, from 2012 to 2017, really enhanced the way in which the core values showed

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Corey McFeeley / THE GATEPOST the University. ... I’ve had a lot of people ask how we did it. I have to say, the deans we have - really excellent people.

Without them - they weren’t deans at the time, but department chairs - we couldn’t have done it.

How have you contributed to diversity on campus?

We really have taken seriously the idea of hiring faculty of color. We created some new strategies for doing that, and during the five-year strategic plan, we changed the diversity of faculty from about 8% to about 20%. That’s a lot in a short period of time, because faculty come and they stay. ... With enrollment growing, we did have new positions, so we hired 20 new people. We really were conscious of making sure that we did the right kinds of things to be able to encourage people to apply. We hired some great people. During that time, we also came up with some new strategies, like the Mary Miles Bibb fellowship. You hire somebody full-time, and over time, they can move into a tenure-track position. ... We now ask for a diversity statement, so when someone is applying to be a professor here, they have to write about their experience in diverse settings or with diverse scholarship. That’s something we just started this year in September. One of the problems is that in certain academic disciplines, there’s not a large enough pool. There’s a lot of universities, and they’re all looking to hire diverse faculty. ... I think the key is building that pipeline. I think that’s something the University does really well. ... You have to mentor people into that, starting with undergrad.

What initiatives or projects do you hope to see your successor continue?

We have a Smithsonian Affiliation that I’m really happy with. It’s something I had been part of in Connecticut, and now, here, we had gotten it off the ground because we had two archives we knew the Smithsonian would be interested in - the Christa McAuliffe archive and being the first normal school archive. We found out what it took to send the application, wrote it, and sent it off, and then we got it. There are very few universities that have that affiliation, and once you are an affiliate of

Monday, April 29 23:50 Safety Escort Larned Hall Service Rendered

the Smithsonian, you can borrow things from their collections. ... The Smithsonian Affiliation also got us thinking about other archives that are important in our region. What could we highlight that would make people say, “Oh, that was Framingham?” ... We’re about to receive one on May 20. We’re receiving an archive on something called Harmony Grove. There’s a natural pond there, Farm Pond, where they used to have lots of talks. One of the most important talks was an abolition talk that was given on July 4, 1854. They had William Lloyd Garrison, Henry David Thoreau, and Sojourner Truth - all these names that we studied. They were all here in Framingham to speak against the Fugitive Slave Act. ... People came from all over to hear these people speak. There was a family that had been keeping an archive on Harmony Grove for years and years. ... We want to use that project and integrate it into our first-year experience. ... My successor - she’ll be the one to bring that forward.

What advice do you have for your successor?

My best advice to people, always, in a new position, is to be yourself. Bring your strengths, whatever they are. I know she’s in touch with who she is, so let people see that. Be that. This job - it’s really not a nine-to-five job. I get here at six in the morning, and I stay here as late as I need to, in terms of events and things like that. I would also say it’s important, when someone asks a question, that it’s OK to take a little time to study before you answer. ... Really build community. In a university, it’s really one of the most important things. I live close to the University, so we had a lot of gatherings at my house, and that was important - getting to know people, getting to know their families. ... I will tell you, without sounding too sappy, I love the school. I love all the people here whether they liked me, I didn’t really care. It’s been a deeply wonderful experience for me. I’ve been saddened by some of the things here, but I’ve lived long enough to know that we will get through them and come out the other side stronger.

What advice do you have for FSU students?

I think students need to get deeply engaged and give themselves over to the University and their education. I give myself over to the job - my life has been this, and I’m not at all sorry about that. Get involved in everything you can. That doesn’t mean doing a million different things, but devoting yourself wholly to something you care about, that you can contribute to. Students - you are adults. You are contributing right now.

CONNECT WITH NADIRA WICAKSANA nwicaksana@student.framingham.edu

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NEWS

MAY 3, 2019 | 3

Valedictorian position to be replaced by ‘college marshals’ 2019-2020 SGA ties up many loose ends before the year concludes

By Donald Halsing Editorial Staff

Editorial Board

Editor-in-Chief Nadira Wicaksana

SGA members discussed the removal of the valedictorian position, parking for field-study students, and changes to their bylaws during their April 30 meeting.

President Ben Carrington said, “I just want to congratulate everyone on - I think, in my opinion - a successful election day.”

According to Carrington, 217 people voted in the election, or approximately 5.5% of enrolled students.

Carrington added this election had the highest voter turnout in three years. There were 177 voters in 2018, and 158 voters in 2017.

He said there was a tie for the Class of 2020 president. Next week, a “secret ballot” will be held according to SGA’s constitution and bylaws to determine the winner.

Carrington also announced the University’s alcohol policy has been “changed” based on suggestions from SGA. The changes will be reviewed by the Student Affairs Committee and then by FSU President F. Javier Cevallos.

During the announcements portion of the meeting, Senator Olivia Rothwell said, “I heard back from the [FSUPD] chief, and he told me that they’re considering internship and field placement parking” in a lot close to campus.

“I’m going to continue to fight for everyone on campus,” she added.

Ad Hoc Publicity Chair Abigail Salvucci said, “You should team up with commuters.

“I think if you tied in with commuters,” she said, “I think that would make your point even stronger.”

Parliamentarian Adam Scanlon said the valedictorian position is being replaced with several “college marshals.”

“It was a close vote,” Scanlon said.

In the past, valedictorian was determined by raw GPA. But, he said, “Each college has a different standard for how your GPA is weighted.”

The new system allows the faculty of each college to “nominate” students above a threshold GPA to be “marshals at commencement.”

“The way that they want to do it is to make it more representative of the entire campus,” Scanlon said. “It would be based on academic leadership and civic engagement.”

Associate Editors Cara McCarthy Ashley Wall News Editor Donald Halsing Arts & Features Editors Brennan Atkins Robert Johnson Jr. Asst. Arts & Features Editor Sara Senesac

Ashley Wall / THE GATEPOST SGA Vice President Matty Bennet reports changes made to Constitution bylaws.

Rothwell said, “I like the rationale behind it, but my only thought is the title - that’s what throws me off.”

When asked if the change will impact the Class of 2019’s graduation, Scanlon said, “We’ll see on Friday.”

Also during the meeting, Vice President Matty Bennet presented near-complete drafts of the bylaws.

He shared a “working definition” of honoraria based on senate’s “discussion last week.” Senate unanimously approved the revised definition.

Bennet guided senate through the latest draft of Article II of SGA’s bylaws, which outlines committee structures. Senate also corrected typos and discussed errors in the draft.

Gallegos, SGA advisor, who wanted to move toward not seeing “funding requests every week.”

Bennet said, “They’re trying to free up time so they can do more than just do funding requests.”

He also outlined Constitution Committee’s requirement to “review” SGA’s constitution and bylaws and “amend as necessary.”

Bennet said, “That’s new. … The bylaws and constitution are changing with the needs of this organization.”

Bennet explained a line that allows clubs “the right to appeal” to senate if their “constitution or amendments are denied at Constitution Committee.”

He added, “That’s something that

“I’m going to continue to fight for everyone on campus.”

- Olivia Rothwell, SGA senator Finance Committee’s responsibilities were modified to allow any approved request of “$1,000 or less” to be “immediately received by the club,” and any approved request “over $1,000” will be “brought before senate.”

Bennet said, “In the previous model … if it’s between $600 and $1,000, it’s up to the SATF treasurer.”

He said this rule was done away with for “simplicity.” Bennet said he spoke with Driana Lebron, student activities treasurer and chair of Finance Committee, as well as Sara

Members of SGA read through the meeting’s agenda.

Ashley Wall / THE GATEPOST

was practiced with funding requests, but wasn’t ever explicit for Constitution Committee.”

For Elections Committee, voting members previously included one “non-returning member of SGA” and two “SATF-paying members of the student body.” This has been changed to two non-returning members and one SATF-paying student.

Bennet explained the responsibilities of a new committee - Judiciary Committee. This committee meets on an as-needed basis, executes the “removal process,” and “acts as a mediator for any club or organization dispute.”

Additionally, the Social Events Committee has been renamed the “Outreach and Events Committee.”

Changes to Article II were approved unanimously.

Bennet said, “We had our last Constitution Committee meeting today.”

He thanked committee members for helping him “dot all my ‘I’s and cross all my ‘T’s.”

There will be one more “quick” round of edits next week focusing on funding, election code, and awards.

Entertainment Correspondent Noah Barnes Opinions Editor Thomas Maye Sports Editor Liam Gambon Asst. Sports Editor Carlos Silva Design Editor Kathleen Moore Asst. Photos Editor Ryan Feinblatt Copy Editor Gordon Rupert Asst. Copy Editor Jared Graf Staff Writers Evan Lee Kayla Otten Lauren Paolini Lizzy Stocks Caeley Whalen Staff Photographers Hannah Coco Ulisses Ramirez Advisor Dr. Desmond McCarthy Asst. Advisor Elizabeth Banks Administrative Assistant Gwenyth Swain Goodbye, graduating seniors!

Matt Ferris Tessa Jillson Corey McFeeley Bailey Morrison Jillian Poland Good luck!

CONNECT WITH DONALD HALSING dhalsing@student.framingham.edu

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4 | MAY 3, 2019

NEWS

Football field to undergo $1.3 million renovation Maple Street Fields Project part of series of summer construction projects

By Nadira Wicaksana News Editor FSU is planning to undertake a $1.3 million project to renovate the Maple Street football field, according to Patricia Whitney, assistant vice president of facilities and capital planning operations.

The renovations will begin this month and are projected to be completed in August. “It will basically take all summer,” Whitney said.

According to Whitney, the typical lifespan of a football field is approximately 10 years, and FSU’s field has not been updated in 15. “We waited a little bit too long,” she said.

She attributed the delay to lack of funding.

Whitney added, “That’s why ours has a lot of problems. It’s really outgrown its useful life.”

According to Dale Hamel, executive vice president, funding for the project was provided by FSU and the Massachusetts Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance.

Hamel said this comes from bond funding from the Commonwealth and the Massachusetts State College Building Authority, which owns many of the buildings and facilities on the FSU campus.

The bulk of the funds, $958,000, will be used for “direct construction.”

The rest of the expenses include the site study, architecture and engineering fees, and general development.

Regarding the extent of the renovations, Whitney said the field’s green AstroTurf will be removed and replaced, not only due to aesthetic concerns, but also safety issues posed by its age.

Ulisses Ramirez / THE GATEPOST As part of the renovations, the track will be resurfaced.

“It’s a newer-version carpet, so it has some new features. It has something called a thatch layer with sand and pellets ... which gives players protection. Over time, if you do any plowing,” she said, referring to cleaning and maintenance, “it removes sand and those pellets.”

She added, “It’s like a new car. ...

It’s a new, better iPhone model.”

Whitney said additional drainage pipes will be installed underneath the turf “to help get water off the field more quickly.”

Sand and stone will also be added to make the playing field more level, she said.

Football isn’t the only sport that uses the field - the school’s track and

Ulisses Ramirez / THE GATEPOST field teams will also practice on the track surrounding it. The renovations The AstroTurf will be replaced on the Maple Street football field.

will include track resurfacing as well.

“They will fix the cracks in the asphalt and repaint the track,” she said.

“They’re not making it any wider they’re just replacing the surface.”

Whitney said she and her department have been working closely with the FSU Athletics department, especially Tom Kelley, head football coach, and Carey Eggen, associate director of athletics, to make sure construction doesn’t conflict with the Athletics department’s schedule.

“It shouldn’t affect any games,” Kelley said.

He said he hopes the “drainage problem” will be fixed following the completion of the renovations.

CONNECT WITH NADIRA WICAKSANA nwicaksana@student.framingham.edu

Angela Salas selected as next provost

By Bailey Morrison Editor-in-Chief Angela Salas, associate vice chancellor of academic affairs at Indiana University Southeast, has been appointed as the provost and vice president for academic affairs at FSU. Salas was among four candidates who spoke at open forums during the months of March and April.

During her forum, she emphasized the importance of social justice in the framework of higher education, as well as clear communication with staff and students.

Salas obtained a Ph.D. in English from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She is also the founding director of Indiana University Southeast’s honors program.

In an email, Salas said she is “excited to become a member of a university with such a fine and historic past, as well as a sense of its future. The value and purposes of higher education are the source of much conversation, and FSU has positioned itself well to both respond to cultural change and maintain its sense of purpose and True North.”

She said, “The future of this nation, and of the world, depends on the wisdom and the knowledge of the people - most particularly, those younger than I am, who will be making all sorts

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of decisions about familial, local, national, and world priorities.

“My entire career has been spent trying to assure or protect the conditions necessary for student success, so that students become graduates, and graduates move forward to build thoughtful and consequential lives,” Salas added.

Salas said she hopes to “identify priorities” of both students and staff during her first 100 days. “The way forward will become more clear as I become more familiar with all the players, and with the gifts and perspectives they bring to bear.”

FSU President F. Javier Cevallos said Salas “brings a wealth of academic experience and a track record in student success. In addition to her academic experience, she brings great energy and enthusiasm to the job and will be a great member of our community.”

Suzanne Wright, a senior who attended all four student open forums, said, “I appreciated how Dr. Salas went out of her way to talk to us after her open forum, especially in a way that felt like casual conversation. You could tell that she considers her job as an administrator to be very student-centered, which is a good quality to have.”

She added, “I can see her being very approachable and active with campus

life in her role as provost.”

English professor Desmond McCarthy, chair of the search committee, said, “In Angela Salas, President Cevallos has chosen a provost who is a worthy successor to Linda VadenGoad - a collaborative leader who will inspire students and faculty alike and who not only firmly believes in the purpose of a liberal arts education, but who can also articulate its value in the 21st century.

“She is someone committed to helping us achieve the goals faculty have laid out in our five-year plan,” he added. “She will help us continue to become a more diverse faculty who are better trained and equipped to serve our increasingly diverse student body.

McCarthy added, “She will be a transformational academic leader not only at Framingham State, but in our region as well.”

Adam Scanlon, a student representative on the provost search committee, said, “The provost search was a very intensive, but collaborative process.”

He added, “Learning about the different backgrounds from these various individuals was a very rewarding experience. The diversity on the committee was essential in selecting a provost who would be representative of the entire campus.

Courtesy of Indiana University Southeast Scanlon said, “I am pleased with the outcome because the process was fair and well-executed. Everyone acted in good faith - therefore, the outcome was bound to be a positive one.

Dr. Salas is an extraordinary person and leader in education. The campus and she will be lucky to have each other. Her abilities will allow her the leverage to tackle the difficult challenges awaiting.”

[Editor’s note: Dr. Desmond McCarthy is advisor to The Gatepost.]

CONNECT WITH BAILEY MORRISON bmorrison1@student.framingham.edu

NEWS

Science on State Street

Bailey Morrison / THE GATEPOST Teachers from the iCode School teach children how to use the Makey Makey kit.

Continued from pg. 1 Junior Jacob Mixon from the Aspiring Health Professionals Club gave a presentation on how an electrocardiogram machine works. The club also displayed a model of a human diaphragm.

“We do it to show children and their families the importance of diet and its impact on the cardiovascular system,” Mixon said.

Cameron Danwah, the former president of FSU’s Pre-Engineering Club, and Karima Bukenya, the president of the Rocketry Club at UMass Lowell, displayed two rockets built to-scale by the club while the Star Wars theme song played in the background.

According to Bukenya, the larger rocket was capable of reaching altitudes of approximately 30,000 feet.

“I’m proud of all of us for getting this completed,” Bukenya said.

Danwah, who transferred to UMass Lowell after completing the twoyear engineering program at FSU, said, “Every major solves problems, so anyone can be an engineer. Everyone has a myriad of passions they can bring into the club.”

Approximately 40 other non-FSU organizations and science-based companies came to put on exhibitions, including the MetroWest STEM Education Network (MSEN), New England Sci-Tech in Natick, The Massachusetts Audubon Society, and Southwick’s Zoo. Some exhibitors, such as FrankenS.T.E.A.M. from Avon and iCode from Wellesley, emphasized a “STEAM”-centered education initiative, as opposed to the widely known STEM-centered curriculum.

In recent years, many companies have incorporated the A, which stands for “art,” in order to highlight the role of the arts and creativity in STEM education.

Soundarya Shastri, a manager at iCode, demonstrated how to play with a kit called Makey Makey. iCode’s demonstration included a circuit board, alligator clips, Play-Doh, and fruits to create a virtual piano.

The circuit board was hooked up to a laptop with the Makey Makey piano game. In order to create sound, participants would touch the PlayDoh and fruits - to which the alligator clips were hooked up – and as a

result, different notes would play on the piano.

Shastri said kits like Makey Makey teach children about “invention literacy” in a “hands-on way.”

Tony Ghelfi from the program FrankenS.T.E.A.M. brought his fleet of Dashbot Robots, created by the company Wonder Workshop.

Participants were able to program the robots using an iPad app that controlled the robots’ directions and movements. They were also able to make the robots play basketball and soccer against each other by controlling their arms, which had grippers to pick up the balls.

Mass Audubon brought baby snapping turtles and displayed them in small tanks.

Wendy Ernst, a teacher naturalist at the society, said, “The biggest issues that turtles face are habitat loss, cars, and pollution.”

She added, “They’re also having problems with reproduction, because people keep taking them home and then they’re not able to reproduce.”

Southwick’s Zoo also had animals on display - four Madagascar hissing cockroaches. They also brought samples of snakeskin and feathers belonging to exotic birds.

Matt Charpentier from the New England Wild Flower Society, which is becoming the Native Plant Trust, brought samples of flora native to the New England region.

“We send out volunteers to find rare plants - it’s like a treasure hunt!”

Charpentier said.

Representatives from the Society of Black Engineers also had a table where they advertised their Boston-based professional and pre-collegiate programs.

Ladi Olaoye talked about the importance of diversity and inclusion in the STEM fields. “The area is a leader in STEM education but lacks in representation - especially from Black and Latino communities,” he said.

Olaoye added, “We have days where we do all-expenses-paid trips for high schoolers to the Museum of Science in Cambridge. It gives a lot of them their first real exposure to STEM careers, and that’s really im-

Bailey Morrison / THE GATEPOST The Massachusetts Audubon Society shows off baby snapping turtles and tadpoles to festival attendees.

MAY 3, 2019 | 5

portant.”

The Christa McAuliffe Center for Integrated Science Learning, which has a planetarium located in O’Connor Hall, put on shows throughout the duration of the festival facilitated by senior Mary Teresa and freshman James McColley.

One of the shows, “Oasis in Space,” highlighted the role of Earth as the only source of liquid water and intelligent life in the entire solar system.

This year’s keynote speaker was astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell, who staffs the Chandra X-ray Center at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in Cambridge.

The center oversees the Chandra X-ray Observatory, a telescope launched almost 20 years ago to “observe X-rays from high-energy regions of the universe, such as the remnants of exploded stars,” according to its website. The observatory is also “NASA’s flagship mission for X-ray astronomy.”

At 2 p.m. in the McCarthy Center Forum, McDowell gave a talk called “Moon Race: The U.S.-Soviet Competition to Put a Human on the Moon,” detailing the events of the Space Race that took place in the latter half of the twentieth century. The talk was part of the “Moon Landing in Context” series.

“Who here has been to Australia?”

McDowell asked the audience. “It’s a long flight, but you could do it. And going to the moon - going to Australia, and back, 12 times ... that’s the equivalent of going to the moon.

“So, it’s not so unimaginably far,” he said.

Irene Porro, director of the McAuliffe Center, thanked sponsors - giving a special shout-out to MathWorks - and McDowell for their involvement in the festival.

At the keynote introduction, Porro said, “Everyone who comes, both to present their activities or to participate as an audience, comes because we have a shared passion for science and engineering - but also the idea of doing fun and intelligent things together.”

Porro said attendance was partially tracked through bracelets given out at a welcome table outside May Hall.

She estimated approximately 400 to 450 people attended the event, less than half the previous year’s crowd of more than 1,000.

“The wind and the cold temperature kept people indoors on Saturday, but those who were brave enough to come out had a wonderful time,” she said.

The outdoor event is consistently scheduled “rain or shine,” according to MSEN. Porro added, “The event was wonderful. Our exhibitors brought their A-game to the festival.

“We had a smaller attendance by the public than in the past, but one cannot plan for the ideal weather,” she said. “We plan everything else very accurately, but, of course, we have no control over the weather!”

CONNECT WITH NADIRA WICAKSANA nwicaksana@student.framingham.edu

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NEWS

6 | MAY 3, 2019

ITS addressing increase in spam emails

FSU IT department working to strengthen cybersecurity and tackle phishing

By Jillian Poland Associate Editor FSU’s Information Technology Services (ITS) department plans to implement new “next-generation” spam-filtering software over the summer to combat an increase in spam emails, according to Mike Zinkus, director of systems and networking.

For 12 years, the University has been using a system called the Barracuda Spam Firewall to combat spam. But now, ITS is exploring new options, such as Mimecast or Proofpoint, which Zinkus said are cloudbased and more advanced.

Zinkus added ITS is also looking at additional methods of protection, such as Cisco Umbrella, which makes the spam emails that do slip through filtering software “inert” by blocking dangerous links and other attachments.

He said, “Realistically, the goal and the timeline is to have it in place over the summer, so when everyone comes back next fall, it will be in place.”

ITS does not anticipate many additional costs with the new software.

Zinkus said, “We have Barracuda, which is a physical appliance that sits on campus, and there’s annual recurring costs for that. A lot of the new products are actually cloud based, so there isn’t something physical on campus. In some ways, we’re trading the cost of one for the other.”

He added, “The cost is dependent upon the product we go with, their licensing model. … To say exactly what [the costs] are at this point is a little difficult. But for the most part, it should be in line with what we’re already paying. We’re just reallocating existing monies to cover that.”

Throughout the semester, students and faculty have been receiving fraudulent emails in their school accounts. The messages seem to be coming from FSU accounts and sometimes even refer to campus clubs or email groups, such as those for Security Desk Attendants.

On Jan. 17, a mass email was sent to FSU students that appeared to be from Linda Vaden-Goad, provost and vice president for academic affairs.

The University’s ITS office emailed students to warn them the email was fraudulent and contained an attachment that could “compromise” students’ user accounts and computers.

Nora Ingram, a junior, is currently studying abroad in England. She said, “I got hit with a spam email and then my account started bugging out. I ended up sending at least 1,000 emails worth of spam. It took me a few hours to stop the spam after resetting my password multiple times.”

She added, “I haven’t been able to send emails through my FSU email since then, but I receive both important emails and even more spam emails.”

@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

Protect yourself by looking at: Sender Address FSU emails end with @framingham.edu or @student.framingham.edu Attachments Do not click attachments in suspicious emails Links Hover your cursor over the link to reveal the actual web location If it directs you to a login page… It could be a fake login page to steal your information If it is asking for information… It may ask for bank account or other sensitive information If it sounds too good to be true… It probably is

Information on how to avoid falling for scams, courtesy of Framingham State University.

In December 2018, hackers stole over $800,000 from Cape Cod Community College using a virus that likely got into the system through an unsolicited email, according to Campus Safety Magazine.

Zinkus said, “Shortly after that incident is when Framingham State started to see an increase in targeted phishing attacks. I do believe the two are related.”

He added, “What happens in that scenario is, they go, ‘OK, so it worked at Cape Cod Community College let’s look at the other higher ed institutions in Massachusetts.’”

He said, “Luckily, we haven’t been

word for someone who is higher up in the university, and then they spoof that and try to make it look like it’s coming from that individual,” Zinkus said.

He added often, these emails are not originating from accounts in the FSU system. “If you were to do a mouse-over on it, it would show that it actually came from Gmail. … That’s the majority of what we’re seeing.”

The targeted nature of the attacks makes it more difficult for spam filtering software to target and block the emails, so sometimes, the University has to be more reactive than proactive in warding off spam.

“I’d be very careful about emails - that you don’t expect - that ask you to do something.”

- Roy Galang, information security officer breached to that capacity, and I don’t think we will be. We have a lot of controls in place to mitigate that.”

Zinkus said there are spam emails and phishing emails, which “are typically when you get an email that’s looking for some sort of information from you,” such as usernames, passwords, or bank account information.

Phishing emails have now “evolved” into something called “spear-phishing” emails, which are more targeted.

“They’ll have somebody that searches the website of the university and gets a username and pass-

Zinkus added these kinds of attacks are an industry-wide problem, not something specific to FSU. He warned the University would not be asking for usernames or passwords in an email, so if an email appearing to be from the University asks for that information or directs to a login page, it is likely spam.

Roy Galang, information security officer, said, “Cybersecurity is a group effort.” ITS works to block these emails, but students and faculty also need to be diligent about what they are opening.

He said, “I’d be very careful about

Graphic by Kathleen Moore

emails - that you don’t expect - that ask you to do something,” such as input personal data, share a username or password, or buy a product.

Galang said if students interact with these emails, they should immediately change their passwords and report the incidents to the IT department.

“They are trying to defeat how we defend against them,” he added.

“Some of these things aren’t technologically discoverable. The only way that we learn about them is if you tell us about them.”

Madison Rosbach, a junior, said, “I take my school email a lot less seriously than I used to. I check a lot less because I know it’s all going to be spam. I don’t have my phone notifications on anymore, because what’s the point? And I’m worried important messages are getting buried in spam.”

President F. Javier Cevallos said, “I understand how exasperating it is to deal with so many scam emails.

The perpetrators are getting better at disguising their true identity. They use names that are familiar and even use real signature files stolen from our e-mails.”

He added, “Our IT department folks do the best they can to stop them, but the best defense we have is to be extra cautious about opening any attachment or clicking on any link unless you are absolutely certain it is safe.”

Galang said while it may seem like there are many spam emails, ITS does a lot of work to block them. “Of the 20 or 30 or 40 or 50 spam emails that you do see, there are thousands that you don’t see.”

CONNECT WITH JILLIAN POLLAND jpoland@student.framingham.edu

NEWS

MAY 3, 2019 | 7

Candidate visits for the position of vice president of diversity, inclusion, and community engagement continue Robinson tells FSU community members she is a ‘bridge-builder,’ ‘champion’ for students

Walker gives solutions for lack of diversity training among university administrators

By Cara McCarthy Editorial Staff

By Nadira Wicaksana News Editor

Regina Robinson, the third candidate for the position of vice president of diversity, inclusion, and community engagement, answered questions from the FSU community at two open forums April 29.

Robinson is the dean of student affairs at Cambridge College. She is also in charge of managing the aspects of student engagement, health records, international student affairs, and disability services, according to her biography from FSU’s website.

Robinson received a bachelor’s degree in speech communications and a master’s degree in counseling from Liberty University, according to her CV. Her experience includes work on the board of directors of the Evangelical Free Church of America in Minneapolis and leadership at Boston Public Schools as a policy maker.

She said Framingham State has been very “intentional” in creating a role that is a part of making change happen.

Robinson said she comes with a “soldier mentality, not a savior mentality.”

She added, “Having a savior mentality is actually harmful because no one person can come in with a magic hammer and fix things.”

Virginia Rutter, sociology professor, asked Robinson if she could provide

Bonnie Walker, the fourth candidate for the position of vice president of diversity, inclusion, and community engagement, answered questions from the FSU community at two open forums May 1.

Walker works at Worcester Polytechnic Institute as its executive director of diversity and inclusion strategy. According to her CV, she has been working in the field of diversity, equity, and inclusion for nearly 15 years.

Walker said she grew up on a college campus. “It’s sort of in my blood - it’s everything that I care about.”

She graduated from Clark University with a bachelor’s degree in sociology with a concentration in race and ethnic relations, going on to receive a master’s in professional communication.

Walker said she sought out a smallto medium-sized institution as part of her mission to increase outreach and “provide access” in hopes of having a “broader impact.”

She added, “I feel like that would happen at a place like FSU.” Walker stressed the importance not only of diversity in the institution, but also the significance of equity in best practices and ongoing efforts of inclusion.

“I think what is really important to me as a fundamental value - what I know is important to me - is education as far as providing equity, overcoming oppression, and building bridges above and beyond a core social justice value,” she said.

Virginia Rutter, sociology professor, asked Walker how, as part of the President’s Cabinet and in a “high-access position,” she would transform executive policies in the face of systemic racism.

“I’m interested in what experiences you have in helping folks at that level understand and transform policies and programs in order to address diverse-access issues that you’re talking about,” Rutter said. “How do you get that across at the highest level?”

Walker said, “I think a challenge with the idea of privilege is that people don’t know that they have it.”

She added in order to address this issue, she would encourage more introspection among those who are taught to view themselves as the default or above the need for “fundamentally important” implicit bias or cultural competency trainings often required of faculty and staff.

“What we don’t often do - which I think is irresponsible - is to ask our administration at the highest level to do all the same things,” Walker said.

She added, “We need to understand

Kathleen Moore / THE GATEPOST staff members who represent students.

“It’s not just enough to talk about diversity.”

She added, “It was important for me to hire staff and have speakers and opportunities for the students to engage in environments with people who understood their lived experience.”

A student asked Robinson how she plans to reach the students who do not

“Inclusion is about involving all, and all means all.”

- Regina Robinson, candidate for vice president of diversity, inclusion, and community engagement examples of a time when not everyone was on board to work to promote actions addressing systemic racism and accountability.

Robinson described her experience working in higher education, as well as her 10 years serving as a school board member for the City of Boston.

She said at her institution, “We have students that are already coming in with situational barriers.”

Robinson added, “I want to engage the leaders who can make change possible and make change happen. … Not everyone is willing to hear what you have to say and jump on board.”

Robinson said there is a collaboration that needs to take place.

Xavier Guadalupe-Diaz, sociology professor, asked Robinson if she could provide examples of a time when she advocated for queer and transgender students.

Robinson said it’s helpful to have

come to “these kinds of events.”

Robinson emphasized how “critical” it is for leaders to host meetings frequently - not just when it’s convenient for them. “That’s not what inclusion means.”

She added, “Inclusion is about involving all, and all means all.”

Robinson said “being a chief advocate for students, being a chief bridge-builder, and being a chief champion for the needs for students” is important to her.

Zeynep Gonen, sociology professor, asked Robinson to discuss the difficulties she has faced at her previous institutions and how she overcame them.

Robinson said, “Some of the difficulties have been around the students’ voices and wanting to see student change happen in a timely way.”

CONNECT WITH CARA MCCARTHY cmccarthy8@student.framingham.edu

Kathleen Moore / THE GATEPOST where we are. We need to be, on some level, able to facilitate these conversations, even if we are not the actual facilitators. We can’t ask students to do something or become something that we’re not asking of ourselves.”

Margaret Carroll, dean of STEM, asked Walker how she would address the issue of more “reticent” faculty when it comes to issues of diversity. “Some professors say, ‘That’s not what I’m trained to do - I’m trained to be a biologist or physicist.’”

Walker said on her campus, there is no consistent diversity training for faculty. “It’s been more like, ‘Hey, how do I do this?’ And I’ll go by department and work with faculty chairs.

“I’m doing an index to make sure I’m doing this systematically across the faculty ... to make sure everyone’s getting the same foundational training.” She added she makes sure to address department-specific concerns as well.

Walker said she plans to provide ongoing support to faculty in bringing “difficult conversations to the table.”

Walker also addressed issues of hiring more diverse faculty and fostering the relationships between the University and the parents of students - especially those of color and first-generation students.

She said in terms of supporting the development and retention of students, parent outreach and engagement is a “staple.

“Students are not a body by themselves,” she said.

CONNECT WITH NADIRA WICAKSANA nwicaksana@student.framingham.edu

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

NEWS

8 | MAY 3, 2019

Results of the SGA elections

President

Vice President

Donald Halsing / THE GATEPOST Name: Matty Bennet Year: Junior Major: Political science Why I ran: In my current role as vice president, I have begun to meet countless amazing student leaders on campus, and I want to continue supporting their work as president next year.

Courtesy of Abigail Salvucci Name: Abigail Salvucci Year: Sophomore Major: Sociology major with a double minor in political science and anthropology Why I ran: I believe that I will make an effective vice president who would put the clubs first and act as a great liaison between the amazing clubs and organizations and SGA.

Student Trustee

Other positions Student Activities Treasurer: Driana Lebron Publicity and Recruitment Coordinator: Vacant

Secretary

Courtesy of Lexi Kays Name: Lexi Kays Year: Sophomore Major: Interdisciplinary language arts major with a coordinate in elementary education Why I ran: I feel as though this position is completely immersive in the organization. ... My goal as secretary would be ... to show the student body how great it is to be a part of SGA.

Outreach and Events Coordinator

Senators at Large: Jeneba Aruna Kevin Guzman Joel Loor Matt O’Sullivan Olivia Rothwell Emma Sullivan Danielle Umanita Class of 2020 President: Resulted in a tie - will be announced at a later date.

VP: Orlando Osorio Secretary: Michael Medina Treasurer: Griffin Frye Courtesy of Olivia Beverlie

Name: Olivia Beverlie Year: Senior Major: Criminology Why I ran: Over the past two years on SGA, I have been active as a senator, and most recently, as parliamentarian. I feel that I could benefit the student body as student trustee. I am very committed to and passionate about SGA, and I can promise that I will always do the job to the best of my ability.

@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

Class of 2021 President: Anthony Niovelli VP, Secretary, and Treasurer: Vacant Class of 2022 President: Samantha Collette VP, Secretary, and Treasurer: Vacant

Courtesy of Danielle Shaw Name: Danielle Shaw Year: Sophomore Major: Finance with a minor in economics Why I ran: I feel as though I would be a good fit for the outreach and events coordinator position since I am a finance major and have always enjoyed event planning.

I look forward to seeing where the next year takes SGA.

OP/ED

OP/ED

A cup of culture

By Evan Lee Staff Writer A bicycle, a cup of Joe, and this royalty free image of “steel_ruler_closeup” have all come to define an epic debate of immeasurable wit - and lousy gags - between a colleague and me over … systems of measurement.

We’re both the life of the party.

It all began after I wrote an article on my experiences in trying, and failing, to build a Metric-made foreign bicycle with Imperial measured American tools.

A case of “Measurement madness,” as I called it.

But not allowing this tragedy to go in vain, I decided to draw upon it - along with a more important mix-up by NASA in 1999 - to argue that only chaos and confusion prevails when Metric and Imperial collide.

And thus, it is no longer feasible for them to coexist within the U.S. Yet, my colleague has gone “The whole 8.23 meters” to disagree.

He countered in his own article that not only is it unnecessary to move to one system, it would be unwise as the consequences of doing so are culturally catastrophic.

He raised to my article a cup of Joe before dropping a ton of bricks over it. Those being just a few of “the shorthands and standards of American culture” that would be lost to the mediocrity of Metric - the global system likeliest to dethrone Imperial.

And that’s an argument I can sympathize with.

Because I like the Imperial System. It’s worked for me, it’s worked for my colleague, and it’s worked for generations before us - as he pointed out in his article. Not to mention it’s what every tool I’ve owned was once measured by.

But I have to emphasize once now - because I finally built my bike.

It cost me an extra $12 to get the metric tools I needed - on top of something I already paid too much for - but it marked my preparation for the future.

And the future is in Metric.

But why? Why bother changing to Metric when I’ve just conceded that Imperial still

works?

Well, why change to the automobile when horse drawn carriages still work?

Truly, the covered wagon is an American cultural icon. For generations, they took us across the entire continental U.S. while leaving cultural legacies along each rut of every trail they made.

And, as the Amish would contend, they still work just as well today.

Yet by the turn of the 20th century, Americans had begun to abandon the traditional ways of their wagons for a newer system - the horseless carriage.

And while these two systems of transportation did share the roads at first, it inevitably became apparent that such harmony couldn’t last.

Imagine trying to merge a wagon onto Rt. 9 - it’d just be a disaster waiting to happen.

A disaster not unlike the madness of Metric merging with Imperial.

I lost an extra $12 last week because of that mix-up, NASA lost $327.6 million in 1999, and somebody else is probably losing out right now.

When does the systemically driven madness end?

Well, for systems of transportation, it ended midway through the 20th century as the horse drawn carriage culture of America’s past was all but overtaken by the current car culture of today.

The Oregon Trail, despite its countless crossings and cultural significance, was succeeded by Rt. 66 - now a cultural icon in of itself.

And perhaps this foreshadows the end to shared systems of measurement in the 21st century, as the newer Metric System increasingly shows up in our everyday lives.

And not just for big businesses and organizations, but for common Americans who might make the mistake of buying a bike off the internet without checking what system it’s measured by first.

Just as Rt. 66 came to have the nickname of “America’s mother road,” perhaps Metric will come to be known as America’s measurement system.

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!

MAY 3, 2019 | 9

THE GATEPOST EDITORIAL Student debt is the nation’s issue Graduation is less than a month away and many seniors, faced with the harsh possibility of an impending recession, are beginning to fully realize the weight of their student debt load.

For graduates across the United States - and at FSU - the due date of the first loan payment looms just a few months in the future.

With the upcoming presidential election, many potential candidates have made promises to address the crisis and help graduates who have found themselves under the thumb of their loan servicer. We should hear them out.

According to Student Loan Hero, U.S. graduates in 2018 averaged $29,800 in both private and federal loans. There is over $1.56 trillion in student loan debt among 44.7 million Americans.

This is largely seen as a problem that only impacts those who chose to take out loans. But the reality is that when people cannot pay back their loans or struggle to do so, it impacts the nationwide economy.

Last year, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said he feared student loan debt would stunt economic growth because it injures students’ credit scores. This, paired with general lack of funds, can prevent young people from making large purchases, likes cars and homes.

Student loan debt is widely misunderstood as the byproduct of generations that just aren’t “working hard enough.”

However, the prices of college have increased astronomically throughout the years and today, being able to afford college while working one part-time job is impossible.

The website marketwatch.com compares the cost increases between 1987 and 2016 at any university, adjusted for inflation.

The cumulative four-year cost of a degree from FSU, including tuition, fees, and housing, increased 161% between 1987 and 2016, from $31,523 to $82,360.

In 1987, a student working a part-time job at minimum wage (if they only used the money for school) could cover 112% of the cost of FSU. In 2016, a student with an equivalent job could only cover 51% of the cost.

The student in 2016 would need to find a way to afford the $40,136 they couldn’t cover with part-time work, either by working longer hours, asking for parental support, taking out loans, or - most likely - some combination of the three.

Kids as young as 17 are signing on to mountains of debt that can takes decades to pay off. These young people often don’t fully understand the implications of their loans - particularly first-generation students navigating the complicated FAFSA system on their own.

For some - there are options. State and federal jobs offer the possibility of loan forgiveness, but it isn’t a guarantee.

According to Forbes, more than 99% of students who applied for public service loan forgiveness were rejected - only 206 have ever qualified for forgiveness. The program, which has been anemic at best, does not meet the support graduates so desperately need.

Some states have taken it upon themselves to make higher education more accessible. Twenty states offer completely free higher education at community and state colleges.

While few presidential candidates have announced concrete ways to address student loan debt, we should be listening to the candidates who have comprehensive plans to lessen the burden.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a presidential hopeful, has proposed a near-complete elimination of student debt for 75% of Americans who have it. And she has a real tax plan that could fund this.

Some have criticized the $1.25 trillion price tag and the lack of focus on the skyrocketing prices of higher education.

However, this plan would benefit nearly 33.5 million people who are facing years of loan payments. It may not be the perfect solution, but it is a step toward the kind of practical policy discussions we need to be having.

As the crisis continues to mount, it is clear that this is no longer a problem we can write off as one that is simply impacting the individual.

The fight has to be more than simply alleviating student debt. Our country is only in this position due to the prohibitive nature of college costs. While eliminating the debt is important, public colleges should be accessible for every American.

This isn’t just about equity in our educational system, but about preventing loan servicers from continuing to devastate our economy.

This isn’t about giving a “free pass” to people who have completed their degrees, but rather, offering an opportunity for future generations to rise up from underneath their debt and bring the rest of the country with them.

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

OP/ED

10 | MAY 3, 2019

Collaborative Leadership Effort Against Racism (C.L.E.A.R.) We are a diverse group of students who are tired of the culture of racism on this campus. We are tired of students of color being the targets of racial hate crimes. We are tired of the indifference and willing ignorance of the University and its administration.

We want action. This is a list of our demands. The names listed below are students who are committed to making sure these demands are met.

1. We demand an open and public apology from administration to the students of color on campus. Framingham State University and its administration need to take accountability for the harm that they have allowed to occur. This apology needs to include: Explicit acknowledgement of the role administration has played, and continues to play, in allowing seven racial incidents to occur.

Acknowledgement of these incidents as hate crimes. Referring to the incidents as “bias incidents” does not make them any easier to deal with and does not make them any less harmful to those targeted. A hate crime is defined as a traditional offense like vandalism with an added element of bias.

2. We demand the addition of a general education domain of diversity for every student’s required course load; regardless of major.

The classes included in this domain

must be centered on the history and experiences of marginalized groups in this country.

The class must be taken during the first year of enrollment at Framingham State University.

3. The Center for Inclusive Excellence needs to function as a safe space for students of color and needs to be funded adequately. We request an increased allotment of resources for the CIE. The CIE needs to be accessible to students 24/7.

The CIE needs to employ supportive staff of color to be available during normal business hours. These positions can be filled by students, volunteers, or by hired staff in conjunction with Health and Wellness Center.

The CIE needs to be relocated, remodeled, and furnished in a more comfortable manner to make the space more welcoming.

The CIE needs to operate with more transparency and keep organized records of events and meetings held within the space.

4. We demand Framingham State University administration, faculty, staff, and police to complete bias, diversity, and sensitivity trainings once every year.

This should be mandated in the contracts of every person employed by

Framingham State University.

5. We demand changes to how policing on campus is handled.

Resident Assistants must be present whenever Framingham State University police officers enter a residence hall for any reason including walk throughs.

Area Directors of each residence hall should follow up with Security Desk Attendant(s) and Resident Assistant(s) who are present when Framingham State University police officers enter into the residence halls.

6. We demand the implementation of an approved evaluation on diversity and inclusion that is given at the end of the semester, along with the University required SIRIIs. The questions should include: Whether the professor has demonstrated microaggressions against marginalized group.

Whether the professor has demonstrated respect for all students regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, or other status.

7. We demand an adjustment in the structuring of the Intercultural Graduation. This graduation needs to focus only on students of color. It must celebrate the contributions made to this campus and community by students of color. It is necessary to allow this graduation to be a separate occasion for

students of color. We demand the addition of ceremonies to acknowledge the LGBTQ+ community and first-generation students and their contributions to the campus and community.

Students recognized during these ceremonies must be student leaders, or be nominated by faculty, staff, or administration.

Participation in these ceremonies is intended to be intersectional - meaning a queer student of Color who is first generation can participate in all three ceremonies.

8. We demand the diversifying of the Health and Wellness Center. The things we want accomplished are: The hiring of at least two nurse practitioners of color.

The hiring of at least two counselors of color.

Ensurance that all staff are trained and able to provide adequate services for students of color who deal with racism trauma.

Sincerely, Carlos Barbosa, Mercedes Wallace, Cori Farrow, Kaila Walters, Molly Roach, Annie Nitzsche, Mia Ihegie , Salam Kasu, Jesus Ruelas Garcia, Jasmine Dingle-Brown, Aleksandra Jensen, Chelsea Darant, Ana Luisa Asmar, Steffi Fol, Zaafira Kazi, Markiyah Bullard, Melissa Vieira

Campus Conversations Did you take out student loans?

By Evan Lee and Ryan Feinblatt

“Yes, because college is expensive.”

-Summer Kelley, senior

“Yeah, I needed money to pay for class and books. I’m not rich.”

-Emanuel Destine, senior

“Yes, absolutely! I am one of five and that’s how my parents said I’d pay for it.”

-Ryan Buchanan, senior

“Yes, I needed money for school.”

“I did not. I’m in the military.”

-Jordan Porter, freshman

“No, I didn’t have to.”

-Patrice Haney, freshman

-Katherine Sota, freshman

Op/Ed submissions reflect the opinions of their authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of The Gatepost or its staff. @TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

OP/ED

Separating fact from fiction

By Tessa Jillson Editorial Staff In October 2017, President Donald Trump declared the opioid epidemic a public health emergency. His administration allocated $6 billion in new funding to address it - almost the same amount the Trump administration tried to negotiate for their precious border wall before a partial government shutdown.

So, it came as no surprise that one of Trump’s proposed plans to end the opioid crisis was to build a wall.

In his most recent meeting with health care professionals and addiction specialists in Atlanta, Georgia April 24, Trump announced in order to tackle the root of the epidemic, his administration would center their attention on providing more funding for treatment, scrutinizing Big Pharma, and stricter border patrol.

But, of course, instead of focusing solely on opioid addiction, treatment, and prevention - Trump primarily talked about law enforcement crackdown at the southwestern border, drug-sniffing dogs, detaining immigrant drug dealers, building a border wall, and the banning of chemicals/drugs made outside of the country, throughout his address.

He gloated about his efforts to stop drug trafficking, stating that after he signed the STOP Act, the Customs and Border Protection officers have stopped over six times as many “packages,” including a bust of $19 million worth of cocaine in a shipment of Colombian pineapples at a seaport in Savannah.

In fact, in March 2019, while addressing the opioid crisis, the President’s budget proposal requested $32.5 billion for border security, $8.6 billion for a border wall, $478 million to hire 1,750 additional border protection law enforcement officers, $2.7 billion for 54,000 ICE immigration detention beds, $270 million of “drug-related funding”

for the Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection to support the continued construction of the border wall, and $750 billion to pursue National Defense Strategy, according to whitehouse.gov.

In addition, the proposal requested $80.2 billion to fund the Department of Veterans Affairs medical care requirements, $330 million for the Department of Justice to aid state and local efforts to fight the opioid crisis, $1.5 billion to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and $50 million for the Department of Agriculture to address the opioid crisis in rural America, according to whitehousgov.

While, yes, some praise Trump for stressing the importance to combat the opioid epidemic and for requesting large sums of money. However, his efforts seem to focus elsewhere.

It seems as if he is using the epidemic as a distraction for his wall. A red-herring, if you must.

Using the opioid epidemic as a way to fulfill a personal vendetta is a low blow, even for him.

In the past 20 years, overdoses by prescription opioids have taken more than 200,000 lives, including a record-breaking 47,600 opioid overdoses in 2017, according to statistics from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

If Trump actually wants to tackle to opioid epidemic, he shouldn’t be putting billions of dollars toward border security and infrastructure.

Instead I want to see Trump requesting more funding for drug addiction treatments, such as clinics or medication-assisted treatments, better access to naloxone, policies that help address the root cause of addiction, and research on new ways to regulate pain management.

Don’t use the victims of the opioid epidemic as political pawns.

MAY 3, 2019 | 11

GATEPOST

Grievances

Dining services: Give students satisfactory food

By Ashley Wall Editorial Staff

By Donald Halsing Editorial Staff While the FSU Dining Commons has a variety of options to choose from, it’s a far cry from gourmet cuisine.

It’s not “food” if it tastes six months expired and undercooked.

For starters, the choice selection is non-existent. You want a salad?

Great! Help yourself to the same options at the salad bar that have been present since September.

Sodexo has a text line which students can send their feedback to. One student requested more berries at the salad bar. There are berries at the salad bar … but not very often.

Although the line is open to student comments and concerns, there does not appear to be any changes made to the dining commons menu since the beginning of the semester.

In general, choice is limited at the commons. The main line at Classics 1839 serves chicken 50% of the time. There’s beef and pork some other times, but it’s primarily chicken: baked, broiled, or fried.

Not only are we eating chicken half the time, it’s being cooked the same way, over, and over, and over again. But sometimes, it is not even cooked thoroughly.

There’s an endless variety of chicken recipes: browned chicken fricassee, parmesan broiled, Carolina chicken, country kettle, orange glaze, chicken jambalaya … we’re tired of lemon and lime chicken recipes.

Do you want to cook your own meal? Cool! Head over to UCook where you can stir-fry the same chicken, rice, and vegetables for every meal.

It’s great that we can teach college students how to heat up precooked food in a pan. However, some of us actually know how to cook, and it’s demoralizing that the kitchens in the residence halls are better equipped than UCook.

And hey, don’t forget about Magellan’s. You may be hungry for an appetizing breakfast in the morning but don’t be fooled: the only option you’ll get is your choice of omelet.

Framingham State has also begun to offer a new option this semester: their weekly food bar at Classics 1839. It sounds neat in theory but eating the same tacos for a week gets old.

Frequently, similar options are available at both the bar and the main line. Have your choice of two kinds of mac and cheese. If there’s going to be a buffet - it should offer something else.

Even better, the food has degraded in quality since the beginning of the semester. Have you ever really examined the texture of a hamburger bun? Have you ever tasted cardboard? I have at this school.

So dining services: instead of spending $330,000 on unnecessary and frankly lousy - renovations, perhaps you should have used the money toward what the dining hall is really about: the food.

Here is what we suggest: Place yourself into the shoes of students. Would you want to consume the same mediocre, unappetizing meal plan every week?

Try to come up with meal selections that you haven’t tried before. It would be a good opportunity for both students to broaden their taste palette and for the dining hall employees to express their culinary creativity.

If you are going to ask for student input through surveys and anonymous text lines, actually apply their feedback in a timely manner and for more than one week.

So, dining services, listen up and give students satisfactory food back.

[Editor’s note: Gatepost Grievances is a bi-weekly column. The opinions of the authors do not reflect the opinions of the entire Gatepost staff.]

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

12 | MAY 3, 2019

OP/ED

Senior Letters

The past four years have been filled with countless late nights at The Gatepost, dozens of academic papers, and endless cups of coffee. Through all of that, there have been many people who transformed my college career and for that, I can’t thank you all enough.

To my best friend, Jill: Your determination, intellect, and sense of humor are forces to be reckoned with. Thank you for being my sounding board and support system for four years.

To Bryan: I am lucky to have you as a partner. Thank you for always making me laugh.

To Lizzy: You may be small in size, but you have a huge heart.

To The Gatepost staff: You all have proved time and time again that greatness doesn’t come to those who work alone. I am lucky to work with such intelligent and dedicated human beings. You have made me a better leader.

To Desmond McCarthy: Thank you for your sage advice, friendship, and mentorship. Your dedication to our Gatepost family means the world to me.

To Liz Banks: Your passion for journalism is unparalleled.

You are truly a badass.

To Gwen: You have made my tenure as Editor a breeze and I am so thankful you joined The Gatepost family.

To my parents: Thank you for always encouraging my (annoying) curiosity as a child and for fostering my love of reading.

To my brothers, Davis and Race: I would not be me without you two. Thank you for teaching me to always speak my truth.

I love you.

Sincerely, Bailey Morrison

Dear FSU, You were everything I thought you’d be and nothing like I thought you’d be.

But I wouldn’t change a thing.

I did things I never thought I’d do.

I fell in love with my major and landed an internship that got me my full-time job. I want to thank the communications department for fostering a creative environment and supporting me in my thesis.

In my time here I learned more about myself and other people by growing and challenging myself as a person.

I couldn’t have done any of that without being a part of Dance Team or being an RA. I want to thank Jill Hayward and Marcie Dineen who always believed in me and the Dance Team. To my team throughout the years … thank you for pushing me mentally, physically, and emotionally. And to my officers: Nicole, Sam, Gab, and Haley … you’ve become like sisters (literally). I’m so proud of what we’ve accomplished here.

And to my RA job - I believe I am the person today because of you. Thanks to the entire Residence Life staff for being so positive and helpful in every situation, especially David Case.

Your constant support and pushing me to always be better has meant so much to me. To my RA staffs over the years … you’ve become some of my closest friends.

When I think back about my time here at FSU, I’ll think about all of these amazing people I got to spend my time with.

Thank you, Sydney Chase @TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

I have a lot of people to thank for guiding me through four years at FSU, so instead of a sappy introduction, I’ll just jump right into it and save all the sap for later.

Thank you to The Gatepost: Our staff is made up of the most dedicated, intelligent, hilarious, and empathetic people I have ever met. You all made endless Thursday nights crying over crashed InDesign files bearable. You motivate me to do better.

Thank you to Desmond McCarthy: You believe in me so wholeheartedly that it feels like blasphemy to doubt myself. I am incredibly honored to have you as a teacher and a lifelong friend.

Thank you to Liz Banks: I am inspired by your constant poise, intelligence, and fire. You keep The Gatepost grounded.

Thank you to the English department: The English professors at FSU are enthusiastic, dedicated educators who taught me about books and writing, but also about empathy and the excitement of discovery.

Thank you to Residence Life: My two years as an RA were filled with laughter, community, and growth.

Thank you to ASB: From New Orleans to Memphis, I had some of my happiest moments with you all.

Thank you to Bailey Morrison: You are the best friend I never asked for and probably don’t deserve. You make me better and keep me from going crazy. I can’t wait to live in our Death House together.

And finally, thank you to my parents: Your endless love and support - your excitement for everything I accomplish - drive me to become the best and happiest I can possibly be. I love you to pieces.

Sincerely, Jillian Poland In my time at Framingham State University, my desire to pursue a career in chemistry has been influenced immensely by the amazing chemistry faculty that we have here at FSU. Thank you to Dr. Waetzig for being the most receptive and caring advisor during the time I have spent in your classes and research laboratory. Most importantly, I would like to thank you for all of the extra time you carved out of your busy schedule to help me not only in my research, but in helping to plan the next steps of my life.

To Dr. Cok, for guiding me through my course selections, helping me realize that I definitely did not want to be a medical doctor, and providing me with an opportunity that ultimately shaped the direction of my life.

To Dr. Pilkenton, for allowing me to continue to pursue my interests in the applications and upkeep of analytical equipment, as well as continually providing NMR support for my research even when you had a plethora of other tasks to complete.

To Dr. Marcum, for providing me with support and guidance as I worked through some of the most challenging courses I have ever taken.

To Dr. Dignam, for providing me with multiple on campus opportunities both in and out of the laboratory which have given me the ability to see chemistry from many new perspectives.

There is not enough room in this letter to address every faculty member I wish to, but just know that you have all left an impression that will last a lifetime.

And just one last thing, Boiler Up! Sincerely, Joshua Rumple

OP/ED

MAY 3, 2019 | 13

Gay marriage legalization didn’t end the fight

By Thomas Maye Staff Writer Obergefell v. Hodges - the landmark Supreme Court case that made samesex marriage legal across the nation - is barely four years old.

In other words, the recognition that gay marriage is a fundamental, constitutional right is younger than a kindergartener. My dog is literally five years older than the constitutional protection of gay marriage.

But people seem to have forgotten their silence on the matter during these critical moments, now that “wokeness” is as easy as slapping some rainbows and glitter onto their products and photo ops - calling yourself an ally is no longer much of an inconvenience.

Maybe I’m wrong, but I sincerely doubt the middle-aged marketing manager at McDonald’s was a champion of gay rights before unveiling rainbow-colored French fry containers at last year’s pride in New York.

And Pride Parades, of course, have never been just a party - their very founding served as a means of protest, of knocking down closet doors held shut by a homophobic society - but it’s a lot easier to post #pride on a picture of a parade float than to call your senator about their gay rights track record.

This fall, in a series of three lawsuits on the issue of discriminatory hiring practices against LGBTQ+ workers, the nine Supreme Court members will stand once again to decide if gay people’s fundamental rights are worth legal protection.

Nine Justices - who are, as far as we know, all heterosexual - will decide if it’s legal to fire someone for a job they’re otherwise qualified for - over the sheer fact of being gay, bisexual, or transgender.

Where are all the allies now?

In a state where rainbow flags are almost as easy to find as a CVS or Dunkin’ Donuts, it’s easy to forget that LGBTQ+ rights have always been precarious.

Gay marriage has only been legal in Massachusetts, after all, since 2004 that’s shorter than the amount of time

SpongeBob SquarePants has been on the air. Discrimination against transgender employees in Massachusetts was legal until as recently as 2011.

Gay rights have never been a given - and that’s why, yes, even in liberal Framingham, in liberal Massachusetts, continuing to speak out on LGBTQ+ rights still matters.

Just because it’s not right in our playing field doesn’t mean it isn’t of critical importance. The financial stability of an enormous number of people, the American Bar Association estimates 6.5 million employees in the US identify as LGBTQ+, could be legally denied.

And yes, Massachusetts has protections for queer employees - but such legal protections were only possible through the outspokenness of heterosexual men and women in power.

It’s almost instinctive to dismiss the problems of a transgender woman in Oklahoma or a gay man in Alabama out of sight, out of mind, right?

But your voice has power - with historical precedence, too.

Remember the clerk in Kentucky who refused to give out marriage licenses to gay couples? The public outcry that followed - from people across the country and the world, not just Kentucky - was instrumental in making sure her “religious objections” argument didn’t fly as an excuse for state-sanctioned homophobia.

And, undoubtedly, the massive protests outside the Supreme Court during Obergefell v. Hodges weren’t without impact.

“Call your senators” is almost a cliché at this point - but they genuinely want to hear from the populace. And if they get enough messages, they can’t simply pretend they don’t hear you anymore.

We need public pressure, and multiple voices standing against homophobia.

Even if they are not successful, they will serve as a strong message to the international community - and the people at risk - that not everyone in the country stands to support legalized prejudice.

Being an ally is important now more than ever.

A hairy situation

By Kay Ann Staff Writer

It’s about time we have a conversation about pubes.

That’s right, the hair that grows around your genitals. Vaginas usually have hair that grows on the area surrounding the labia and can reach down to the upper thigh. Penises usually grow hair around the base of the shaft and the testicles, but can also grow on the lower part of the shaft.

And let me tell you a secret, pubes are important.

They wouldn’t exist if they weren’t, they give us a mating advantage and they help keep our bodies safe.

“But how!?”

Let me tell you.

All of our body hair serves a purpose - the hair on our head keeps us from getting sunburned, the hair on our eyebrows keeps sweat out of our eyes, and the hair on our toes helps us be sneaky when Gandalf needs us to do something dangerous.

Our pubes are no different. First off, they help us build a “scent profile,” a tool used for centuries by human beings that helps us find a suitable mate that will give us the strongest offspring. The hair collects all the pheromones that leach out of our skin, and this chemical cocktail tells potential partners all about our immune system and genetic diversity, according to the CDC. As a survival trait, we are attracted to people with a different immune system than our own, because it means that the offspring will have a mix of both.

Those inherited immunities bring all the boys to the yard.

People with penises have an external reproductive organ and their pubes are generally thicker around the testicles, an adaptation that helps keep the sperm inside from dying in the cold. Pubic hair is one of the things trying to keep people with penises fertile, according to Men’s Health Magazine.

If only our current political administration was as useful as pubes.

People with vaginas have an internal reproductive system and we don’t need pubes for warmth, but they are vital to our health. They protect the vagina by stopping things like sweat and debris from entering the vaginal canal or the urethra and causing problems, like yeast infections and UTI’s.

See! Pubes are cool. Sadly, there is a ton of societal pressure to shave them off.

For some reason, people seem to think that pubic hair is something to be ashamed of and that it should be fully removed. All genders experience this pressure, but most of the pubic hair shame is directed at those of us who have vaginas.

During No Shave November, a time meant to raise awareness of prostate cancer and encourage people to donate, you can go on Twitter and see a billion comments reminding women that it’s not an excuse for them not to shave their body hair - specifically their pubes.

Listen up, I do NOT need you telling me how to care for my body or telling me how I have to treat my pubes. Just stop.

There are also some people who say things like, “I don’t want to get a hair in my mouth when I’m going down on someone.”

Dude.

You already have a vagina/penis in your mouth - bodily fluids and semen are fine, but a strand of hair is a hard no?

It just doesn’t make any sense.

Plus, I know you don’t floss the recommended amount of times, so maybe this can be a good thing for you.

Either way, wear your pubes the way you want too, and if a person is going to shame you for your natural body hair - they aren’t worth it, and you should just masturbate instead.

But if shaving your pubes makes you more confident and happier, then by all means go for it. Just make sure you are using a new razor and you’re shaving in the direction of the hair growth. This will prevent nicks and ingrown hairs.

Now, go give your pubes some love. Shave them into the shape of a shark and dye them purple. Be the most authentic you.

[Editor’s note: Due to the unfortunate stigma surrounding women discussing sex, the author of this column has requested to use the pseudonym “Kay Ann.”]

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

OP/ED

14 | MAY 3, 2019

Lizzy’s declassified finals week survival guide

By Lizzy Stocks Opinions Editor If you’ve found yourself stressing about finals week, you’re not alone take it from a fellow college student.

According to Mental Health America, finals week is the most stressful time of the semester, often leading students to cope negatively, resulting in additional physical and emotional stress. Some common signs of stress to be aware of are troubles with sleeping, problems with concentration, a change in or loss of appetite, and feeling irritable, nervous, and/or overwhelmed.

These signs and ways to combat them may seem obvious but can be easily forgotten when in the midst of a chaotic week in which caffeine is the

only thing keeping you afloat. Trust me, I’ve been there - which is why I’m here to provide you with some advice I wish I had taken my first (second, and third) years during finals week.

First and foremost, diamonds might be made under pressure, but I can assure you - your final paper should never be written under pressure at the last minute.

I’d be lying if I said I haven’t spent many nights huddled over my laptop, feverishly typing nonsense just to meet the page requirements of a paper due the next day, but with that being said - I highly do not recommend this technique.

Make a clear outline and give yourself multiple days to work on papers and longer assignments - that way

revision and editing can be done with fresh eyes, not at 3 a.m. when you’ve finally completed the paper and decide you get what you get and you don’t get upset Because you will totally get upset.

To go along with that, make sure to stay well-rested. Although it may feel necessary to pull an all-nighter before a huge exam or presentation, it’s definitely not worth it. Staying focused and recalling information you’ll be tested on is much easier after a night of good sleep.

Not only is it important to catch some z’s, but keeping up with your appetite and water intake is also extremely vital. Stress affects the digestive system and often leaves people with a decreased appetite.

If you’re anything like me, getting through meals during stressful times can be really difficult, so to combat this, try keeping a granola bar and a water bottle in your bag - that way you’re consuming something other than your morning coffee.

Lastly, remember you’re not alone during this week of terror. It’s crucial not to isolate yourself for the sake of your studies. It’s common to feel irritable or overwhelmed by the end of the semester, which calls for a night of relaxation. Grab some friends for a fun night out - they’ll probably need it and appreciate it just as much as you will.

Just remember not to overdo it.

This year we are not just surviving finals week - we are thriving during finals week.

GOODBYE GATEPOST SENIORS!

Bailey Morrison

Jillian Poland

Corey McFeeley

Editor-in-Chief

Associate Editor

Associate Editior

English

English

Communication Arts

Tessa Jillson

Matt Ferris

Arts & Features Editor

Sports Editor

English

Finance

@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

15 | MAY 3, 2019

PHOTOS

FSU hosted Science on State Street, its interactive STEM event, for the community April 27.

Science on State Street

Photographs by Bailey Morrison/THE GATEPOST

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

16 | MAY 3, 2019

ARTS & FEATURES

ARTS & FEATURES

Senior studio art majors showcase their senior thesis projects Students spotlight their trauma and sexuality through art

By Cara McCarthy Editorial Staff [Trigger warning: This article discusses sexual assault.]

Three studio art majors showcased their senior thesis projects at the first of two Senior Thesis Exhibitions April 29 in the Mazmanian Art Gallery.

These three students chose to focus on their trauma and sexuality, while also challenging themselves to create pieces out of their comfort zones.

The exhibition features a collection of quilts by Hannah Nesbitt inspired by the Gee’s Bend Quiltmakers - a collection of paintings

by Ema Momtchilova, and a series of pixelized paintings by Kierstyn Brady.

Nesbitt, senior studio art major, showcased seven of eight quilts that she has created. Spotlighting the trauma she experienced at the age of 19 after being raped, she created the quilts to show how she felt, coped, and recovered from that experience.

Attached to every quilt was a poem written by Nesbitt to go along with it.

Nesbitt said, “Each writing is inspired by trauma that I experienced when I was 19 … the trauma, the memories, the feeling of drowning.” She added, “I asked the quilt what it needed. I knew it needed something more - a voice.”

She also talked about how writing poems took her back to the memory the quilt goes along with.

She said the inspiration for the poems came from Maya Angelou.

Nesbitt said, “I gravitate towards people who can use their words in such an immaculate manner. … I appreciate people who know their truth and that they don’t compromise. I like the blunt, honest, gory truth of the experience.”

One of Nesbitt’s quilts was turned around to show the “wrong” side of the fabric on purpose.

Nesbitt, after reading the poem that goes along with the quilt, said, “This was about coming undone after I had been repeatedly raped. I couldn’t mentally take it anymore. I felt like a zombie.”

She said she turned that quilt around to show the “undoing” and “gut-wrenching” feelings she ex-

@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

Two attendees looking at Ema Momtchilova’s artwork.

perienced from her trauma.

Nesbitt also chose to put one of her quilts on the floor.

She said, “I wanted people to interact with it and step on it. …

I wanted people to think, ‘Oh my God! I’m violating something that’s beautiful.’ … I wanted people to feel conflicted.”

Nesbitt added her favorite part about making the quilts was giving them all names and “personalities.”

There were several pieces in Nesbitt’s collection that appeared to be damaged. She said in her statement that she used “unconventional materials” to create her quilts, with the use of house paint, ink, and wallpaper to provide them with a damaged appearance.

She also used bleach, ink, and soap to destroy old quilts to create hers.

Nesbitt said in her statement, “I reconstruct the framework of the memories while preserving the raw narrative of my truth.”

Senior studio art major Momtchilova created six paintings incorporating animals within the female body.

Momtchilova said she wanted to challenge herself with this project.

She said animals in the past had been difficult for her to paint. She also chose to title every painting after a certain animal she incorporated into it.

She said, “I chose animals that I find had kind of superpowers.

“With the jellyfish, it is really beautiful but at the same time it can sting you and it’s poisonous.

The same thing with the scorpion.”

Momtchilova said the scorpion and jellyfish act as armor for the female body.

She also created four paintings with reptilian eyes representing nipples on female breasts.

Momtchilova’s inspiration for this artwork was to incorporate something that challenged her while also having some familiarity with her pieces. She said she has always enjoyed painting nude bodies - specifically female bodies - but she wanted to take it a step further by incorporating animal parts.

“When I chose different body parts, I wanted to show that there was sexuality and empowerment and a magic kind of presence,” she said.

She intentionally made the scorpion stinger and jellyfish textured and brightly colored so that it would take attention away from the body parts in the background.

In her statement, Momtchilova stated, “[The] narrative quickly gives way to aesthetic problems of form, color, and light, which circles back to the story - to a kind of magic realism, a realm of animorphic beings, hyrbid creatures and internalized images of the female form.”

Corey McFeeley / THE GATEPOST

Brady, senior studio art major, showcased four large, pixelized paintings for the senior exhibition.

The paintings depict Brady’s nude body and used pixels to censor certain parts of the paintings.

Brady said, “I decided to focus on myself for this series because that’s really the only thing you know best.”

She added, “By sharing your own, it kind of invites other people in with their own experiences instead of putting your own thoughts in someone else’s.”

Brady said in her statement that social media acts as a “buffer” between people and “close relationships.” She said humans have a “natural psychological characteristic” to want to “fit in.” Brady added people online can take this concept to an extreme in order to get more “likes and applause.”

She said, “Just our human characteristic is to be our best self and present ourselves as such, but it is such an extreme now.”

Brady’s statement said she censored parts of herself she is not comfortable with.

She added, “Although from far away these images may appear to be a glimpse into deeply personal moments, the viewer is forever held at a safe distance.”

CONNECT WITH CARA MCCARTHY cmccarthy8@student.framingham.edu

ARTS & FEATURES

MAY 3, 2019 | 17

ScHoolboy Q showcases growth and maturity on ‘CrasH Talk’

By Jared Graf Staff Writer ScHoolboy Q menacingly chants, “Been popping, ah / Hood legend, ah,” on the opening lines of his highly anticipated fifth studio album, “CrasH Talk.”

At 32 years old, the South Central native delivers some of his most impressive music to date on the insightful, drug-infused predecessor to 2016’s “Blank Face LP.” Since early in his career, ScHoolboy Q has remained a dominant figure on the TDE roster - maturing from the aggressive party rapper the world came to know and love and evolving in front of our eyes.

“CrasH Talk” is a testament to this.

Throughout 14 diverse tracks, Q spits nothing short of raw emotion over production from the likes of Boi-1da, DJ Dahi, and Cardo.

On “Tales,” the naturally aggressive rapper tones things down a bit to reminisce on his early days of drug dealing and gang affiliation. On the second verse, Q carefully weaves together lines addressing the never-ending cycle of gang life and its repercussions.

The following track, “CHopstix,” is a failed attempt at a radio hit. Travis Scott comes through with a weak hook that features a variation of the same two words repeated over the course of eight lines. To add to the excitement, Mr. Scott is even generous enough to throw in an, “It’s lit!” for us, too.

The album’s highlight comes seven tracks deep, with “5200.” Over harrowing production that immediately made me reach for the volume knob, Q flexes his wealth and violent lifestyle - one of the few things that’s remained consistent throughout his career.

ScHoolboy’s introspectiveness reaches a new height on “Black Folk,” as he discusses how society makes many black children feel like they have no skill set or strengths in an attempt to waste their talent. “Wasted, wasted,” Q ominously raps on the hook, tying together the idea of talents being “wasted” due to the street life that’s often associated with less fortunate “Black Folk.”

On “Dangerous,” Q grapples with addiction and reflects on adventures he’s had intoxicated, while Kid Cudi hums a hazy hook over a haunting, paranormal beat with choppy guitar chords and Kanye-esque production, courtesy of DJ Dahi.

Tracks like “CrasH” and “Attention” find Q getting back to his roots. On “CrasH,” Q displays a smooth, polished flow over a sample of “Boom” by Royce da 5’9” and DJ Premier.

Boi-1da does a brilliant job flipping the sample and creating a captivating beat for ScHoolboy to spit game and criticize the younger generation of rap: “Lil’ rappers ain’t impressive / Your tax bracket ain’t impressive / You buy a chain, but won’t

buy no land / That hashtag should say, ‘Desperate.’”

“CrasH” also finds Q giving his daughter a few important words of advice: “Upper echelon, where we stand at / So, girl, be proud that your skin black / And be happy, girl, that your hair napped / ‘Cause the school system won’t teach that.”

The album ends with thorough storytelling from Q on “Attention” - making for a very fitting outro to such an insightful body of work. The song begins with Q discussing recognition he’s received from hip-hop higher-ups and friendships he has with rap peers.

He then delves into his childhood, how he let his mother down, and how music saved his life. “Got the devil on my side while the Lord been pushing me over / I can finally understand why my uncles was never sober,” a tough-talking Q raps over a dreary loop, detailing his thoughts during a laundromat shootout that took place with his daughter present. Real Q fans will agree this song should have been titled “Hoover Street, Pt. 2.”

Although the album wasn’t disappointing by any means, I think it lacked the value and content his previous projects displayed.

6LACK, Kid Cudi, and Lil Baby stole the show from ScHoolboy on his own album and tracks like “Lies” and “Floating” acted as fillers. Without these minor drawbacks, Q could have crafted a near perfect album.

With pristine production and seamless transitions between songs - listen to “Die Wit Em” and “CrasH” back to back and you’ll see what I mean - a perfect project was certainly feasible, but the uninspired, lazy songwriting deterred it from ever reaching its potential.

“CrasH Talk” isn’t something to write home about, but it is a reminder of why ScHoolboy Q is such a polarizing figure, synonymous with gritty, West Coast gangsta rap.

Grade: BQ takes your favorite rapper to school, boy.

CONNECT WITH JARED GRAF jgraf@student.framingham.edu

Suit up for summer

By Lauren Paolini and Caeley Whalen Staff Writers We’ll never claim to be math majors, but there is one equation we never get wrong: your body + a bikini = bikini body.

That’s right. Summer is upon us and for many, that means showing a little more skin. We all have insecurities, and it’s hard for a lot of people to throw on a swim suit and head to the Cape.

Yes, it’s really hard not to feel self conscious at the beach or by the pool, but we’re here to remind you you’re stunning and you got this. You deserve to enjoy your summer just as much as the next person, so wear whatever makes you happiest.

Not a bikini kind of gal? No worries - one pieces are totally in style. They can even double as bodysuits with your favorite pair of jeans. It’s a win-win!

Take the time to treat yourself and find something that makes you feel like the sun-kissed queen you are. Some good quality suits are an investment. They may cost you as much as your tuition, but they should last you for a couple of summers.

If you don’t mind the higher price tag, try shopping at a store like Athleta. Here, you’ll find every kind of style - one-pieces, bikinis, and tankinis (yes, they still make those).

The average bikini top from Athleta will cost you anywhere from $49 to $69, and don’t get us wrong - we know that’s not cheap. But when suits like the ones sold at Athleta are sustainably made, you’re paying for a cute top and an even cuter small carbon footprint.

Athleta is a certified B Corporation, meaning it is legally required to consider the impact of their production methods on the environment, their workers, and customers.

Just think about all the baby turtles.

If your summer job doesn’t pay your desired salary, you can find trendy options at Target or Aerie. We all know you walk into Target just to get toothpaste, then leave with half the store, so next time you’re running a “quick errand,” browse their swim section to find some stylish options.

If you’re looking online, you’ll see Aerie features models of all sizes in their swimwear section as a part of their “Aerie Real” campaign. Starting in 2014, “Aerie Real” was launched to promote a positive self-image, and the brand stopped digitally retouching photos altogether.

Aerie always has a sale going on. In fact, as we were writing this column, Lauren ordered a new swim top for $13.

Can’t beat that.

Regardless of the style, price, or brand of the bathing suit, just know that confidence is the best accessory.

Whether it be a bikini, denim shorts, or any other type of summer attire, try not to be intimidated by society’s ridiculous beauty standards.

We know that’s easier said than done, but just remember: people are more concerned about a seagull attack than what you’re wearing.

CONNECT WITH LAUREN PAOLINI AND CAELEY WHALEN lpaolini@student.framingham.edu cwhalen2@student.framingham.edu

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

ARTS & FEATURES

18 | MAY 3, 2019

Graduating seniors

Courtesy of Framingham State University

Framingham State University’s 2017 Commencement.

Continued from pg. 1 “I’m looking forward to the next educational opportunity,” he said.

Amanda Martin, biochemistry major, said, “FSU helped shape me into the person I am today by providing me with a knowledgeable faculty and involvement opportunities. Had I not been pushed by the school’s encouragement to join clubs and organizations, I don’t think I would have ever put myself out of my comfort zone.”

After graduation, Martin said she plans on enrolling in a Ph.D. program for biochemistry research. With help from chemistry professors Steven Cok and Shelli Waetzig, she hopes to see all the skills she learned here be put into action.

“My time at Framingham State has set me up very well to take this step and receive higher education. Not only am I leaving with a wealth of knowledge, but I am also leaving with new skills in leadership and hands-on lab work I received through countless labs, my experience as a supplemental instruction leader, my capstone research project, and my internship at a bio-pharmaceutical company,” she said.

Matthew Pellegrino, class president and business IT major, said FSU made him into the person he is today because of all the opportunities that were offered.

Two years after becoming a resident assistant his sophomore year, he became an administrative resident assistant, acquiring more responsibilities such as overseeing all other resident assistants in his building.

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In addition, Pellegrino has also participated in two years of Alternative Spring Break (ASB) and became an ASB leader his second year.

“I have found my passion for leadership through this role. It’s nice to try to be an advocate for others, too. It made me value change and to always try to be open,” he said.

Pellegrino said, “I had a learning disability before college, and it was something that I worked hard to overcome. I still sometimes feel as though I have to try harder than everyone else. I honestly don’t tell people that, but I’m a strong advocate for trying to show others that if you work hard it will really pay off.”

Pellegrino said his role as class president has contributed to career skills and readiness because it motivated him to set goals for himself.

He added, “I would like to thank the Class of 2019 as it has been a long/fast four years here and I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

Stephen Donnelly, environmental studies and sustainability major and president of Hilltop, said, “FSU helped me become more independent, and it helped me to put more responsibility on myself. This allowed me to excel more than I ever imagined was possible. … I learned that some limitations or expectations are just guidelines.

You don’t have to be trapped or locked into what others expect of you.”

Although he would love to work in the environmental field after graduation, he said performing on Broadway has always been a dream of his.

His position as Hilltop president has

helped him learn how to plan an event, move forward with ideas, and work as a team with his other Hilltop members.

Donnelly said after graduation, he has a show booked and a couple of job opportunities.

Alexis Gomez, graphic design major, said, “Throughout my time here at FSU, I have faced a number of overwhelming challenges. However, FSU has allowed me to position myself to become a successful student in and out the classroom.

“FSU gives you the tools to be your own individual with great professors.

Professors embrace your style of learning and make it easy to be successful,” he added.

One thing Gomez would like to see changed is class times to be more oriented around commuter students, giving them opportunities to find classes at all times of the day.

He said he has a few jobs that are of interest, and he is hoping to save money for grad school.

Ben Carrington, SGA president and management major, said, “I have definitely grown and changed here in my four years at FSU, and I will always be grateful for the experience. I have learned how to be a critical thinker, how to deal with conflict, how to deal with hate, how to lead, and so much more.”

As SGA president, Carrington is able to home in on his management skills.

“I am now able to have difficult conversations. I no longer am scared to do public speaking. My communication skills definitely improved as I worked with professors, other students, staff

members, and the administration,” he said.

Carrington acknowledged how even though steps are being taken, he would like to see more changes on campus, specifically to better University culture.

Suzanne Wright, history major, said, “The faculty and staff at FSU are second to none. I have been lucky enough to work with many professors, across departments and disciplines, and all of them have been passionate teachers dedicated to student success and achievement.”

She added that she would love to see more extensive resources for humanities majors, such as investing in more electronic databases, and improvements to May Hall.

Wright said after graduation, she will be continuing her internship on the Moon Landing in Context project, as well as beginning an interpretation and visitors’ services internship at the John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site in Brookline. After the two internships are complete, she ideally wants to find a job at a museum or historic site or apply for a post-graduate certificate or master’s degree program.

Megan Machado-Maitoza, criminology major, said, “FSU has definitely had an influence on my development as a person. … Some of the professors here have really shaped how I see and interpret the world. It’s kind of crazy to look back and realize how much I’ve developed because of a few classes.”

In regard to improvements, Machado-Maitoza said, “FSU needs to be more committed to being anti-racist.

ARTS & FEATURES

MAY 3, 2019 | 19

Graduating seniors It feels like we only talk about race and racism when a racist event happens on campus. I think the strategies FSU uses are largely reactionary and don’t really address the roots of the problem.”

While considering her future options, Machado-Maitoza said she hopes after graduation she can work somewhere she enjoys.

“I think I’m most afraid of not knowing what to do next. The uncertainty of it all is pretty unnerving,” she said.

Many seniors are stressed about job availability in their fields and the “unknown.”

Wright said, “I do worry about job availability in the field, even though I am confident in the skills and experiences I have developed here. I am also afraid that I will be required to get a master’s degree before I can find any job in the field. Paying for graduate school on top of the debt I have incurred getting my bachelor’s degree is very scary.”

Martin said, “Obviously, getting a job is one of my biggest fears moving forward. In my field, many of the job opportunities require several years of experience. I also fear living on my own without roommate/community support.”

Carrington said, “Like a lot of se-

niors, my fears are the unknown - it’s scary not knowing where I will be working or where I’ll be living within the next few years, but I know it will all work out.”

Dawn Ross, director of Career Services, said, “Career Services is an excellent resource for graduating seniors who may be feeling a number of different emotions. Seniors might find it helpful to meet one-on-one with a career counselor who will guide you through the process and empower you to make important decisions and create your career tools.”

According to Ross, the office can assess your needs and skills, define networking possibilities and opportunities, research industries, professions, and companies, perfect and target your resume, help you write successful cover letters, conduct mock interviews, and so much more.

Rocha said when he visited Career Services, the women there were more than welcoming and extremely helpful. The career counselor who worked with Rocha went over his resume, pointed out his strengths and things he could improve.

“Nowadays,” Rocha said, “I have a very clean, sharp resume.”

Gomez said, “I had the opportunity

to take advantage of the mock interview that they offer. I found it very informative and helpful for job hunting.”

Ross said while finding a job can be challenging, graduating seniors should keep a positive mindset and be determined to reach their career goals.

“Once you make the initial effort, don’t give up! Persistence, positivity, and following through are key,” she said.

For more advice, Ross said Career Services will be sending all seniors a “Life After FSU” newsletter, made by professional writing intern FSU English major Christen Caragian, which includes “several articles discussing important concerns seniors might have as well as a list of resources for finding and researching jobs.”

Andrew Lipsky, director of the Counseling Center, said, “Graduation can be a time of excitement, pride and relief for many students, as they feel ready to complete this chapter of their lives. … However, many graduates also feel confused, anxious and stressed about next steps, and suffer from loss associated with ending what had become a familiar and comfortable rhythm in their lives. Further, many have housing and other financial insecurity, causing additional anxiety and stress.”

Gomez said, “I have felt a huge relief as my time is coming to an end here at FSU. Being a commuter student who works full time and is a full-time student, sometimes it feels I don’t have time for myself and have become overwhelmed multiple times.”

Lipsky said he recommends students should consider their changing environment and who they are going to seek support from now before they graduate. This includes switching therapy providers or psychiatric providers depending on proximity.

“We encourage a thoughtful balance to their activities and self-care. … Stress is not always negative and counterproductive. Engaging in new activities or challenging oneself positively can be a way of stretching oneself to learn and grow, and to develop more options for what is possible,” he said.

He added, “Aside from their balance of activities, level of engagement, and self-care, we promote the use of exercise, meditation/yoga, and activities that they find soothing and less stimulating, like artistic pursuits, music, reading, taking walks, or hikes in nature, as generally being useful.”

CONNECT WITH TESSA JILLSON tjillson@student.framingham.edu

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

20 | MAY 3, 2019

ARTS & FEATURES

By Noah Barnes Entertainment Correspondent It ended.

It finally ended.

Pack your bags, your Hulk hands, and Spider-Man T-shirts.

It’s done.

Good ol’ Anthony and Joe Russo direct “Avengers: Endgame,” featuring Robert Downey Jr., Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, and a plethora of returning actors from throughout the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The plot takes place five years after “Avengers: Infinity War,” having to deal with the consequences of Thanos achieving his ultimate goal - erasing half of the universe from existence.

Civilization is intact, but struggling, and the broken remnants of the Avengers are set on finding a way to undo “The Snappening.”

They need a solution. They need the Infinity Stones.

First off, this movie completed its objective in concluding the first successful cinematic universe arc in a way that satisfied fans, both old and new.

They catered toward storylines from throughout the series, from as far back

ACROSS 1. What keeps livestock alive 5. Denver omelet meat 8. Took initiative 13. Rod between wheels 14. Word of resignation 16. Tropical fruit 17. Female French artist’s scribe?

20. 21st-century composers’ output?

21. A Gabor 22. It handles checks and checking 23. Solar panel site 25. Poet’s “before” 27. Result of a gallery fire sale?

35. “The Chi” network, briefly 36. No friend 37. Singer Kazan 38. Lowest point 41. TV screen type 43. Style and furnish for buyers 44. “The Prime of Miss Jean ___”

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as “Avengers” and as recent as “Captain Marvel.”

No other company has even scratched the surface on a project nearly as big, containing a total of 22 films, and now, with Endgame, the most successful box office weekend in history at a humble $1.2 billion worldwide.

There are some interesting concepts inside certain narratives, some shameless fan service in the best way possible, and some heartfelt moments.

The action, while not too prevalent, is satisfying. It’s impressive to see what the highest echelon of the film industry can do with CGI, and once again, they’ve shown how real they can make these imaginary worlds look.

Some characters are actually better in this movie than their original films.

We found that Ant-Man felt more like a character beyond just Paul Rudd in spandex.

But what do the Couch Boys think of Endgame as a movie, rather than an experience?

It’s OK. The plot is, for lack of a better term, messy. Each act felt as if it were almost from a different movie, and while each isn’t necessarily bad, together, it felt like orange juice and Lucky Charms.

“Avengers: Infinity War” exceeded

expectations. “Avengers: Endgame” filled the quota.

There are many parallels that can be made between these two films, obviously, but deeper than just themes and characters, there are certain plot details shared between both that “Avengers: Infinity War” seems to pull off more effortlessly, and at the time, was original.

Perhaps the magic of Infinity War was in having the narrative focus on the antagonist, Thanos, rather than the Avengers themselves, as it’s something we’ve come to expect. It’s the classic “subversion of expectations,” but in the structure of the movie rather than a twist.

Following that logic, perhaps this is why Endgame was somewhat disappointing as a movie. It follows a very similar structure to the majority of other MCU films - the “risks” taken were ones they already took in other movies.

In this film, Thanos feels like a one-dimensional character - not having as much motivation as in the last film. It felt as though he was forced in because the Avengers needed to fight a bad guy. The anticipation for the final battle felt as if this was what the Avengers were made for, while Thanos was just there.

46. Small batteries 48. Filmmaker Anderson 49. Episode One of a painting show?

53. It looks like ><><>< 54. MBA’s course 55. Rideshare choice 59. Beehive State native 61. Comedy Central tributes 65. Job interview concern, or a hint to this puzzle’s theme 68. Black or green fruit 69. ___ fail 70. “Thick & Fluffy” breakfast brand 71. Caught 40 winks 72. One may bug you 73. Food, Army-style DOWN 1. Confront 2. One may have an honor code 3. “Frozen 2” queen

4. Want 5. Words of praise 6. Bottom-row PC key 7. Female Arabian 8. A few days ___ 9. Rein in, as enthusiasm 10. “I did it!”

11. See 15-Down 12. Sinister 15. Number that inaptly ends with 11-Down 18. Tons (of) 19. Yuletide song 24. Dunce 26. Pilots’ guesses, for short 27. Maddow’s channel 28. ORD is its code 29. Brand for an all-nighter 30. Quick summary 31. ___ the hay 32. Dumbstruck

Grade: B Snap back to reality it’s average quality.

ADMIT ONE

By Brennan Atkins Asst. Arts & Features Editor

ADMIT ONE

...are in the Endgame now

While some of the Marvel movies have pretty high quality humor, others aren’t so good - looking at you “Avengers: Age of Ultron.” Endgame seems to have reached a happy medium with some funny scenes, but some equally horrible jokes. It sometimes clashed with the serious tone that was set when half the population was wiped out.

Most people are going to watch this movie as an experience, akin to our moviegoer brethren viewing and anticipating Marquand’s “Return of the Jedi” for the first time. This movie seems so big, it feels like a special occasion, and to some, it’s the epitome of what Marvel means to them.

While the Russo Brothers successfully wrapped up so many individual stories in one film, it’s astonishing that it wasn’t messier in certain departments. With so much to cover in only three hours - which isn’t that long for a movie - it’s a fitting conclusion to the first ever cinematic universe.

Or until “Spider-Man: Far from Home” comes out.

CONNECT WITH BRENNAN ATKINS Batkins@student.framingham.edu CONNECT WITH NOAH BARNES Nbarnes@student.framingham.edu

33. West African nation 34. Silly bunch 39. Ore-___ 40. Zester’s target 42. “Solve the rest of this puzzle Downs-only,” e.g.

45. Boredom 47. You may be sworn to it 50. Wonderland cake message 51. Cow’s lows 52. “I’ll be right with you” 55. E.T.s’ transports 56. Tab 57. The “E” of HOMES 58. “Yes, I’ll attend,” for one 60. Omar of “House” 62. Sound of resignation 63. Takeout order 64. Angel-making need 66. Vietnamese New Year 67. Tear

Puzzle solutions are now exclusively online.

ARTS & FEATURES

Blowing the ‘Hinges’ off the doors at the Heineman Ecumenical Center

By Robert Johnson Jr. Asst. Arts & Features Editor

from their instruments, especially in the case of Kirchoff and Staüdlin.

Staüdlin showcased a variety of bizarre saxophone techniques, which include him blowing into it, but producing no sound, as a result.

If sound did come out, it would resemble a squeak.

Kirchoff’s contributions were just as uncanny, if not weirder than Staüdlin’s. In the later points of the composition, he banged under the piano with a rubber mallet, producing more percussion than most pianists are accustomed to giving.

If one were to walk in on the space-like, oceanic fade-out at the end, they would not know that such techniques drove the piece there.

The second arrangement was a performance of Chaya Czernowin’s “Sahaf,” which VanHassel described as “a meat grinder of musical genres” in the break between pieces.

“Sahaf” featured a fast, surf rock-esque intro, only to be quickly dismissed by more ominous sounding melodies by the group.

Then, something new came in during a period of deafening silence: ratchets played by Sharrock.

Several call-and-response sections between Sharrock and the

Nobody expected Dan VanHassel, the brother of Joseph VanHassel, to return to Framingham State University for another appearance in the Midday Performance series, but April 29’s performance proved otherwise.

This time around, VanHassel brought the members of his band, Hinge, a Boston-based contemporary music ensemble, to a crowd of 37 people.

Christian Gentry, a professor of music at FSU, said, “There are some interesting intersections of what you’re going to hear between the punk tradition and that of the rock or pop music tradition, as well.”

The band is comprised of VanHassel - who is the group’s leader - on electric guitar, Keith Kirchoff on piano, Matt Sharrock on percussion, and Philipp A. Staüdlin on three different saxophones.

Hinge opened their five-song set with an original piece, “Ghost in the Machine,” a signature composition of VanHassel’s catalogue.

The song contained a symphony of impressive, industrial-like noises

other members then followed, with the gear-like sound of the ratchets driving the members to perform as if they were wind-up toys.

After that, though, the piece fell into absolute chaos - everyone began to play their own thing at the same time, creating what could be described as an explosion of noise full of chaos, impossible to tame.

One chaotic song later, the audience was given a Hinge interpretation of “It’s Not Up to You,” from Björk’s 2001 album, “Vespertine.”

The arrangement ended up being the calmest piece of the set, allowing Sharrock’s skills on the xylophone to shine through. Audience members could see the passion on each band member’s face, as they added their own quirks to the piece.

They closed out the set with an-

MAY 3, 2019 | 21

other original composition, with the biggest and loudest thing to introduce: Sharrock’s gong.

With a mighty crash of the gong and several thunderous strikes on the drum, the stage was set. This dominating presence reached its peak when VanHassel began to play progressive rock-inspired guitar solos near the end, riding along with the room-shaking degree of noise that was being produced.

Much like “Sahaf,” the band purposely fell into chaos several times, but they stuck it out to the end, leading to a room of applause for their efforts, closing out this year’s Midday Performance series in the process.

CONNECT WITH ROBERT JOHNSON JR. rjohnson10@student.framingham.edu

Courtesy of Hinge

‘Kiss Number 8’ perfectly shows the conflict between religion and sexual orientation

By Robert Johnson Jr. Asst. Arts & Features Editor 2004 was a great year to be a kid.

The Boston Red Sox beat the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series, ending their 86-year long drought, taking the series with a dominating 4-0 performance.

Destiny’s Child released their fifth and final album, “Destiny Fulfilled,” acting as an end to the trio’s work, allowing Beyoncé to begin the monstrous process of making a name for herself as a solo artist.

Also, May 17 was a big day for Massachusetts, for the state legalized same-sex marriage, thanks to a decision made by the state’s Supreme Court.

All these references are not used in vain, though - “Kiss Number 8,” this year’s featured Pride Month read, is a new young adult graphic novel set in the nostalgic year of 2004.

Written by Colleen AF Venable, with art by Ellen T. Crenshaw, “Kiss Number 8” provides the reader with unique characters, but the story focuses primarily on Amanda Orham and her trials and tribulations in sur-

viving her time at Saint Francis Catholic High School.

That, and documenting the eight kisses during her youth.

That’s important, of course.

Amanda is not the only one having a hard time, though - she is joined by her friends, Cat, Laura, and Adam in this experience, and each character has their own backstory and motives to get through life.

Cat is your typical party girl: she smokes, she drinks, she has a hell of a sailor’s mouth, and she’s not afraid to be blunt … or overtly sexual. She reminded me of a close friend I had in high school, honestly.

Laura and Adam, on the other hand, are wildly different from Cat. The siblings live their lives by the book - the “Good Book,” that is - they both avoid doing any activity that could put their relationship with the Catholic faith in jeopardy.

Amanda is the nerdy protagonist in the middle of that scale.

Oh, right, I should elaborate more on the religious angle this story provides.

Every Sunday, the characters go to Mass and they say their

prayers every night, but not all da’s life all have something to the characters are entirely into hide, especially James - with his it, aside from Laura and Adam. secret being worth a $30,000 Cat just makes it into a joke, as check. That’s about as much as per her character.

I’m willing to divulge to you, The other days of the week? reader.

Not so bright.

The writing is snappy and full Much of this story’s con- of emotion, and it really gets flict comes down to the Orham a reader into the mindset that family’s many plotlines. Aman- Venable and Crenshaw want you da’s father, James, is accused of to be in. They want you to expehaving an affair with a woman rience high school again and, my named Dina, and her mother is goodness, it works beautifully. often not in the mood to interact On top of that, they include a with Amanda after a long day at Q&A session at the end of the work. book - that’s something you Couple those with the addi- rarely see in a graphic novel, and tional romance-driven plotline I greatly appreciate that. of finding out about Amanda’s “Kiss Number 8” was a stoown sexual orientation and ry two years in the making and you have a recipe for ridiculous I cannot recommend it enough. stress.

If you want something cute, but Told in a black-and-white also exciting, mysterious, and art style, reminiscent of comic intense, pick this up at a local strips, “Kiss Number 8” is a sto- bookstore as soon as you can. ry that truly encapsulates the phrase, “High school is hell.”

As the story progresses, Amanda’s relationship with the Catholic faith gets more distorted. Her friendships are tested and pushed to their absolute First Second Books limits, and her own sexual identity is put into question.

CONNECT WITH ROBERT JOHNSON JR. That, and the adults in Aman- rjohnson10@student.framingham.edu

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

SPORTS

22 | MAY 3, 2019

SPORTS Baseball takes down Fitchburg State in back-to-back games

Kathleen Moore/ THE GATEPOST Rams’ shortstop Joe Ambrosino rips a single to right field.

By Matt Ferris Sports Editor The Rams traveled to Fitchburg State to take on the Falcons in a conference game April 25.

After a scoreless first inning, Framingham got on the board first in the top of the second. Kyle Lippert drew a bases-loaded walk to push the first run across for the Rams. Joe Ambrosino followed with an RBI groundout to make it 2-0, and Aaron Williams scored on a wild pitch later in the inning to make it 3-0.

The Rams extended their lead in the top of the third as Cory Caraher ripped a two-run single to make it 5-0.

In the fourth, the Rams struck again for two more runs. This time, Robert Higgins roped a two-run home run to make it 7-0.

The Falcons finally got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth. The Rams’ lead was cut to 7-2 by an RBI single and a sacrifice fly, after four innings of play.

Williams and Ambrosino both hit RBI singles in the fifth to push Framingham’s lead back to seven runs, 9-2.

In the sixth, Matt Fogarty hammered a two-run homer over the fence to extend the Rams’ lead to 11-2.

The Falcons added another run in the bottom half of the sixth off a sacrifice fly to make it 11-3. However, Framingham got the run right back in the top of the seventh with a Lippert sacrifice fly, making it 12-3 - the eventual final score.

The Rams had a balanced attack on offense as five different players had at least two RBIs on the day, including Higgins, who also added three hits.

Kevin Connelly picked up the win on the mound for the Rams, going four innings, giving up two runs, and striking out eight.

With the win, Framingham improves to 18-15 on the year and 10-7 in the conference.

FRAMINGHAM STATE 12 FITCHBURG STATE 3

@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

On April 28, the Rams took on the Fitchburg State Falcons again, but this time they hosted their conference foes at Bowditch Field.

Brandon Ferrell led off the game for the Falcons and struck out swinging, but was able to advance to first on a wild pitch. He then stole second and took third on another wild pitch.

Vincent Eramo ripped an RBI single to give Fitchburg an early 1-0 lead.

Framingham responded in the bottom half of the first with three runs. Andrew Curtis roped a two-run double into the gap and Fogarty followed with a sacrifice fly to make it 3-1 Rams.

The Falcons got a run back in the next inning with an RBI single to make it 3-2.

Lippert pushed the Rams’ lead back to two runs in the fourth inning with an RBI single, making it 4-2.

In the top of the seventh, Brennan Cudduahy plated a run with an RBI single to right field to bring the score to 4-3, but back-to-back strikeouts ended the inning.

The Rams shut the Falcons down for the rest of the game to earn the 4-3 victory.

Curtis led the Rams’ offense on the day with two hits and two RBIs. Lippert also contributed two hits and had an RBI. Al Wallach started on the mound for the Rams and earned the win. He pitched 5.2 innings, giving up one earned run, and striking out six batters.

Kevin Scerra pitched the ninth inning and earned the save for Framingham.

With the win, the Rams move to 19-15 on the season and 11-7 in the MASCAC.

FRAMINGHAM STATE 4 FITCHBURG STATE 3

CONNECT WITH MATT FERRIS mferris2@student.framingham.edu

SPORTS

MAY 3, 2019 | 23

Cunningham Continued from page 1 “Going into the year, we knew Liana had a chance to be pretty good. But it’s not an easy job being a freshman point guard on a team that went to threestraight MASCAC Championship games,” Paschal said. “But from the beginning, she showed us that she was more than capable of handling the job.”

Fellow guard Emily Velozo said, “To start as a freshman and learn all of the plays and how we do things is challenging, never mind at the point-guard position. It’s that much harder. You are responsible for not only knowing the plays, but needing to know what plays to call during certain situations.”

She added, “She came a long way from the beginning to the end of the season once she got comfortable and figured out the team dynamics.”

Cunningham recorded at least five assists during 11 different games for Framingham and loaded up the assists total later in the season.

Her control at the point and ability to dish out assists led to the Rams finishing second in pointsscored-per-game in the MASCAC Conference.

Cunningham herself finished third in the Conference for assists, as she contributed 112 on the season.

When talking about how she was able to record so many assists, Cunningham said, “It was definitely my teammates. They made my job easy and I had all the weapons to do it: from sharp shooters to people that knew how to run their lanes, to bigs in the post having good seals so they were easy to give the ball to. I like to play fast and up court, and my teammates made everything so much easier and wide open.”

Her fast-paced style of play seemed to benefit Framingham all season, as they consistently sprinted up the court and nailed a basket before the opposing defense could get set.

Velozo said, “I really love playing with Liana. Her and I have similar games. We both like to go, go, go and attack the hoop. I played point guard my whole life and even for two years here at Framingham.

Point guards just get each other, so we are always on the same page.”

Cunningham’s game benefited the Rams on the defensive side of the ball greatly, as she finished eighth overall in the conference with 44 steals.

Her 44 steals contributed to Framingham’s 8.9 steals per game, which stood third in the MASCAC. Paschal said, “As a freshman, there is a learning curve, so there were times where she would struggle

offensively, but that is just a confidence issue.”

He added, “No doubt that will not be an issue next year. Defensively, she was outstanding all year.”

Her impressive freshman year ended in a tough way, as the Rams fell to Westfield State in the MASCAC semi-finals.

The loss, however, did not bring down the Rookie of the Year’s spirit moving forward.

Cunningham said, “We always had that winning mentality, and now we are just even hungrier for next year and getting back into the gym already and working out together.”

She added, “And now we all understand that it takes even more to get to the top, and we are willing to go that extra mile.”

After having a tremendous second half to her first season, it seems that Cunningham will continue trending upwards as her career moves along.

Velozo said, “I can’t wait to see what she has in store for the rest of her career here.”

CONNECT WITH LIAM GAMBON lgambon1@student.framingham.edu

fsurams.com

Lianna Cunningham average 1.8 points, 4.3 assists and 3.6 rebounds per game this season.

Ashley Wall/ THE GATEPOST Liana Cunningham, the MASCAC Rookie of the Year, dribbles the ball up the court.

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

SPORTS

24 | MAY 3, 2019

Sprinting their way to the top Women’s Lacrosse’s journey to first place

By Liam Gambon Asst. Sports Editor After securing the top-seed in the MASCAC and riding a nine-game winning streak, the Rams Women’s Lacrosse team is firing on all cylinders as they head into the playoffs.

Framingham finished 15-2 last season and 14-3 this season- two records that show their sheer dominance.

The team has also averaged a MASCAC-leading 14.06 goals per game and has only allowed 10 or more goals five times this year. They have also allowed five or fewer goals nine times.

Senior netminder Indigo Fox Tree-McGrath has been a huge reason for why the Rams have given up so few goals.

She has started every game for Framingham, has an astounding record of 14-3, and has made 104 saves on the season - good for fifth in the MASCAC. She is having one of her best seasons in net, allowing a MASCAC-best 7.92 goals per game.

Head Coach James Rippey said, “Indigo has done a terrific job for us since she stepped on campus four years ago. She’s certainly a huge piece of our defense both vocally, and in terms of her play.”

The defense in front of her has also played a major part in keeping the opposition from scoring.

They have forced 197 turnovers on the year, which is good for third in the MASCAC, and have consistently plugged the middle of the field to keep their opponents from having easy shots.

Junior attacker Grace Gamache said, “The defense has really clicked, and they have been the backbone of this team. Everyone is giving 100% when they’re

on the field to help where they can.” are. Nobody is selfish.”

Beyond the defense, the Rams’ offense has been a With all the goals and assists, the Rams have thing of beauty. scored a total of 384 points on the season, a whole With a MASCAC-high 239 goals scored and 125 two-hundred more than they have allowed to oppogoals allowed on the year, they have certainly suc- nents. ceeded in the main objective of scoring more than The 384 points are the highest number scored in the other team. the MASCAC. “Everyone is just doing their job,” Gamache said.

Both Gamache and Marino fall in the top four in “Everyone has had an impactful role on this team, points scored on the year. and we have really come together to have a successGamache stands in second with 81, and Marino ful season.” stands in fourth with 65.

Five Rams have scored 20 or more goals on the With a team stacked with tremendous players and year. leaders - not to mention a highly talented coach - the Alissa Marino has scored 53, the second highest Rams are looking like the favorites to pull off a title in the MASCAC, just one goal behind the top scor- run. er. Gamache has scored 39, which stands for eighth.

Rippey said, “These next two games aren’t going Hanna McMahon has scored 30, Morgan Begley has to be easy, but we’ve been working hard all season to 23, and Nicole Pacheco has 22. put ourselves in this position.”

Fourteen other players have also scored a goal on He added, “Our goal has been to win the title, and the season, accounting for nearly the entire team. now it’s about seizing the opportunities and executRippey said, “The depth of our team is certainly ing together.” one of the most important elements to our success With a game coming against Worcester State in both this year and in the future, too.” the semi-finals, Framingham needs one win to make While the goals are certainly impressive, what is it to the championship. more impressive is the total number of assists the Gamache said, “The energy is crazy. We are all Rams have recorded all season. really pumped up and excited to compete for the The team has a MASCAC-leading 145 assists on championship.” the year, while the opposition has a total of 59 in the matchups against them.

Gamache is tied for first in the MASCAC in assists, as she has recorded 42.

In most of Framingham’s games this season, an assist was made on nearly all their goals.

Gamache said, “I think it just goes to show how CONNECT WITH LIAM GAMBON well we play as a team and how team-oriented we lgambon1@student.framingham.edu

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SPORTS

Women’s Lacrosse impresses on Senior Day

MAY 3, 2019 | 25

Ferr or Foul The Boston Red Sux

By Matt Ferris Sports Editor

Liam Gambon/ THE GATEPOST Alissa Marino sprints back on defense for the Rams.

By Liam Gambon Asst. Sports Editor The Rams took on Worcester State at home for their Senior Day Game April 27.

The matchup was even for most of the first half, as it was tied 3-3 halfway through.

But then, Framingham went on a 6-1 run to end the half.

Head Coach James Rippey said, “Coming into the game, we really wanted to push tempo. They are a good team but don’t have any depth, so we knew if we could keep the pace high and use our bench, we would wear them out.”

He added, “I told my team heading into the game, it might be 3-3 early on, but just keep working hard and we will be just fine. They went up early, but about 20 minutes into the game, you could tell they were gassed and that’s when the flood gates opened, and we rolled from there.”

The Rams outscored Worcester State 8-1 in the second half, securing the 17-5 victory.

The game was dominated by the duo of Grace Gamache and Alissa Marino, as they combined for eleven goals and three assists.

“We scored five goals on penalty shots, and 11 of our 12 goals were assisted,” Rippey said. “Alissa and Grace certainly ended up finishing a lot of those opportunities, but it was a collective of teammates getting them the ball. Senior Shae Riley had a great game in particular on Senior Day.”

One of the main keys to the Rams’ victory came on the defensive side of the field.

They were able to force 27 turnovers and Indigo Fox Tree-McGrath stopped four shots to secure her 14th win of the season.

“The goal of the defense is to get the ball back to the offense - sometimes, that happens by creating turnovers themselves, but often, that means forcing bad shots and giving Indigo the best chances to make saves,” Rippey said.

Tree-McGrath did what she has done all year long and was aggressive in net, causing the other team to rush their shots and often lose the ball.

“Indigo wins a lot of possessions back by coming out of the cage and making plays in passing lanes and fighting for ground balls,” Rippey said.

“We are going to miss her next year.”

The Rams finish the season 14-3 on the year and 7-0 in the MASCAC to secure the first seed in the conference tournament.

FRAMINGHAM STATE WORCESTER STATE

17 5

CONNECT WITH LIAM GAMBON lgambon1@student.framingham.edu

After a full month of baseball, the Boston Red Sox have easily been the most disappointing team in the MLB. So far in 2019, the defending World Series Champions have been nothing short of terrible.

For most of April, Boston sat in last place, not only in the AL East, but in the entire American League.

Currently, the Red Sox are sitting in fourth place in their division at 14-17, and they’re nowhere to be found in the AL Wild Card standings.

The most shocking part about Boston’s horrendous play is, besides the loss of closer Craig Kimbrel, the team has almost the exact same roster it had in 2018 - and that team started the season 17-2.

Unlike the New York Yankees, who seems to have their entire team on the injured list, Boston can’t use that as an excuse.

So what seems to be the issue with the Red Sox? It has to be their bullpen, which lost one of the best closers in baseball, right?

Wrong.

Their bullpen has been the one bright spot this season, as shocking as that might be.

While people like Ryan Braiser, Matt Barnes, Brandon Workman, and Marcus Walden may not be household names, they are all pitching extremely well and may be the only reason the Sox have a halfway decent record.

So let’s start with their stagnant offense.

The Red Sox have one of the most talented lineups in the entire league with players like Mookie Betts, J.D. Martinez, Andrew Benintendi, and Xander Bogaerts.

But they flat out just aren’t producing this year.

Betts, the reigning AL MVP, has not looked like himself at all this year. He is hitting under .300 and has only stolen one base all season.

Betts’ power numbers are decent, as he has smacked six home runs so far, but much more is expected out of the superstar.

Martinez, who finished top five in MVP voting last season, hasn’t been the same, either. Sure, he is hitting for a good average at .312, but he has just four home runs and only 15 RBIs. Considering he hammered over 40 homers last season and drove in a league-high 130 runs last year, four home runs thus far is a huge disappointment.

Benintendi hasn’t been good, either. Batting leadoff this season, he is hitting just .264 and has struck out in almost 30% of his at bats.

But the most concerning part of Boston’s struggle this season has to be the starting pitching.

It has been absolutely abysmal.

Not a single starter on the team has an ERA under 3.00 and nobody has more than two wins.

David Price has easily been the most impressive starter this year for Boston, and that’s not saying much -he has just one win and an ERA over 3.50.

But he has looked like Cy Young material compared to their ace, Chris Sale.

Sale, who will make $29 million in each of the next five seasons, has yet to win a game.

He is 0-5 with an ERA over 6.00.

This has to be a cause for concern for all Red Sox fans. Sale hasn’t looked even remotely the same since his big pay day this offseason. His velocity is down and his breaking ball isn’t nearly as sharp.

Sale was a huge reason why the Red Sox had so much success in 2018.

Without him pitching to his potential in 2019, Boston will struggle to even make the playoffs.

It’s a good thing Boston fans got to see the team win a title in 2018, because the Red Sox have no chance of winning the World Series this season.

CONNECT WITH MATT FERRIS mferris2@student.framingham.edu

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

SPORTS

26 | MAY 3, 2019

Players of the week

Softball clinches second seed in MASCAC tournament

By Matt Ferris Sports Editor

fsurams.com

Mycala Moody went 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBIs in Softball’s 15-2 win over Fitchburg St.

Framingham State hosted the Fitchburg State Falcons for a MASCAC doubleheader April 28.

Coming into the matchup, the Rams needed a sweep to clinch the first seed in the MASCAC tournament.

Both teams came out sluggish in the first game and struggled to get any offense going in the first two innings.

In the third, Fitchburg struck first with a two-run double off the bat of Mikayla Harnois to make it 2-0.

The Falcons added to their lead in the sixth inning.

Audrey Johnson hammered a two-run homer over the left-field fence to put Fitchburg up 4-0.

Framingham finally broke through in the final inning.

Kirsten Dick ripped an RBI double that plated Victoria Ziner to cut the deficit to 4-1. Dick scored later in the inning on a wild pitch to make it 4-2.

However, that was all the Rams could muster, as their comeback effort came up just short.

Laela Pepin led the Rams’ offense with two hits, while Dick contributed a hit and an RBI. Kelsi Gunarathne started the game for the Rams. She pitched six innings, giving up four runs, and striking out a season-high 14.

With the loss, the Rams fall to 19-18 on the year and 11-2 in the MASCAC.

FITCHBURG STATE FRAMINGHAM STATE

4 2

roped an RBI triple to help the Rams jump out to an early 5-0 lead.

Fitchburg responded in the bottom half of the inning when Johnson smashed an RBI double to make it 5-1.

Framingham struck for two more runs in the third inning with the help of a Farrah Adam solo homer to make it 7-1.

The Rams blew the game open in the fifth inning. Mycala Moody stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded and hammered a grand slam over the fence to extend the Rams’ lead to 11-1. Framingham pushed across four more runs in the inning to take a 15-1 lead.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Falcons scored a run on a Framingham error to make it 15-2, the eventual final score.

Framingham was dominant on offense in the win. Six different Rams got at least two hits, including Moody, who also added four RBIs. Caughey pitched for the Rams in the win. She went all five innings, giving up one earned run, and striking out eight.

With the win, the Rams finish the regular season with a 20-18 record.

They clinched the second seed in the MASCAC tournament, going 12-2 in the conference.

FRAMINGHAM STATE 15 FITCHBURG STATE 2

In the second game of the doubleheader, Framingham CONNECT WITH MATT FERRIS came out with swinging from the start. mferris2@student.framingham.edu In the first inning, the Rams pushed across five runs.

Grace Caughey got the scoring started with a two-run double. Lauren Salisbury ripped an RBI single, and Pepin

fsurams.com

Alissa Marino scored six goals and recorded two assists in Women’s Lacrosse’s Senior Day victory.

fsurams.com

Matt Fogarty went 2-for-3 with a homer and two RBIs in Baseball’s 12-3 victory over Fitchburg St.

Carlos Silva/ THE GATEPOST Kirsten Dick covers third base on a stolen base attempt.

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SPORTS

MAY 3, 2019 | 27

Agree to Disagree Matt Ferris

Question

Liam Gambon

Warriors

Which team will win the NBA Finals?

Warriors

Avalanche

Which team will win the Stanley Cup?

Stars

James Harden

Who will win the NBA MVP?

Paul George

Houston Astros

Which team is the best in the MLB?

LA Dodgers

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PHOTOS

28 | MAY 3, 2019

Photographs by Ulisses Ramirez/THE GATEPOST

FSU’s Fashion Department presented its annual student fashion show, “Charisma” on April 26.

Photo courtesy of FSU’s Fashion Department

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