19 Nov. 2021

Volume 90 • Issue 10

FSUgatepost.com

November 19, 2021

Hilltop’s post-COVID-19 debut

Emma Lyons / THE GATEPOST (Left) Senior Noah Barnes, junior Kristel Normil, junior Meeghan Bresnahan, junior Will Nee, senior Elisabeta Cojocaru, and junior Eric Qua performing at final dress rehearsal of Clue Nov. 17.

Board of Trustees discuss perception study

By Haley Hadge News Editor

By Ashlyn Kelly News Editor The Board of Trustees discussed a perception study of the University conducted by the company Elevate and brainstormed the steps to take in response during its Nov. 17 meeting.

Trustee Brian Herr said during his Enrollment and Student Development Committee report that the findings of the University’s perception study show “a lot of great things about the University and a couple of areas of opportunities where we can

improve.”

Lorretta Holloway, vice president of Enrollment and Student Development, said two main points the study showcased were “students really want to be wooed” and they want to feel “special.”

She said the report pinpointed the “biggest concern” for the University is “it is not standing out enough.” The way to combat this is by “highlighting what’s different” about FSU through marketing and outreach approaches.

Holloway said Trustee Clair Ramsbottom asked at a previous Board of Trustees meeting why there is an emphasis being placed on the University’s education program when there is no longer a growing market for teach-

ers.

In response, Holloway asked, “Is that really a viable thing for us to keep emphasizing” - especially considering the other programs the University has to offer?

She said Trustee Nancy Budwig asked if this perception study were conducted at other “regional publics,” would it be that much different?

Holloway followed this point up with the question, “How can the University ‘differentiate’ itself from ‘everyone else?’”

Herr stated in his report that in addition to the initial responses to the study underway, the study will also “need to be imbedded in our

See BOARD OF TRUSTEES page 6

Mazmanian Gallery’s latest exhibitions capture the community

By Caroline Gordon Arts & Features Editor Art professors Tim McDonald and Keri Straka exhibited their artwork, “Internal Blooming and the Ancient Future” at the Mazmanian Gallery Opening Reception Nov. 16.

McDonald said his interest in art began as a child. His grandmother gave him cardboard boxes used to hold his grandfather’s dry cleaning.

In addition to the cardboard boxes, McDonald was gifted small pencils, which his grandfather used to write his golf scores with.

He said the Peanuts comics he read in daily newspapers were the inspiration behind his illustrations.

“I owe my art career to Charles Shultz,” McDonald said.

He said as a child, he did not know one could make an art hobby into a career. Once McDonald attended college he realized, “Oh, I could do that.”

Prior to graduate school, McDonald said he taught art classes at an alternative high school in Providence.

As he lived in the Providence area as a child, he said beginning his career at FSU “was like coming home” as he moved to New England from Tennes-

News NORTH STAR pg. 3 RAMS RESOURCE CENTER pg. 4

Opinions

Donald Halsing / THE GATEPOST RENEWABLE FUEL pg. 7 HALEY’S COMIC pg. 8

Sports

see.

He said art education is crucial because “it’s a thing that humans need in one form or another.”

“If you look around you, everything you see is designed by somebody. We don’t necessarily pay attention to it.

Gatepost Archives Artists of all stripes remind us that HOCKEY pg. 10 things have meaning,” he said.

McDonald said it is important for an artist’s work to “be their own.”

During January 2021, McDonald began creating the drawings now on disWRITING CONTEST pg. 11 play.

Arts & Features

See MAZ GAL COMMUNITY page 13 ‘CAROLINE, OR CHANGE’ REVIEW pg. 12

INSIDE: OP/ED 7 • SPORTS 9 • ARTS & FEATURES 11

NEWS

2 | NOVEMBER 19, 2021

Gatepost Interview

Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief Donald Halsing

Jon Huibregtse

Associate Editors Leighah Beausoleil Kathleen Moore

History Professor

News Editors Steven Bonini Haley Hadge Ashlyn Kelly

By Sophia Harris Interim Asst. News Editor What is your role here at FSU, and what does your job entail?

I am a professor in the History Department. I teach U.S. history classes, mostly, and also some Chinese history every once in a while. So that’s my role.

Interim Asst. News Editor Sophia Harris Opinions Editor McKenzie Ward Sports Editor Danielle Achin

What is your professional and educational background?

I have a B.A. in journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, and also an M.A. from Eau Claire in history and a Ph.D. in history from the University of Akron in Ohio.

Interim Sports Editor Tyler Wahl Arts & Features Editors Caroline Gordon Emily Rosenberg Asst. Arts & Features Editor Ryan O’Connell Asst. Design Editors Maddison Behringer Emma Lyons Copy Editor Patrick Brady Staff Writers Mikey Alves James Barraford Jasmine Castillo Jackson Clyde Olivia Copeland Dan Fuentes Dallas Gagnon Mark Haskell Stefano Hernandez Branden LaCroix Sage Lorenzo Johan Perez Nathan Rogers

What is the best part about being a history professor?

I think the best thing about being any professor is being able to work with students and help students achieve their goals. Even if students are not going to be history majors, I enjoy just being around students and like I said, being able to play a really small role and sometimes a little bit bigger role in helping students to get jobs, start professions, learn, hopefully learn some things that will resonate now and in the future for them.

Multimedia Critics Sean Cabot Jack McLaughlin Austin Riffelmacher Ryan Schreiber

What do you enjoy most about Framingham State?

I really like the students. I really wanted to be at a state school like this.

That was kind of my goal in graduate school because I really believe in state

Advisor Desmond McCarthy

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TH E GA T E

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Asst. Advisor Elizabeth Banks

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What made you want to become a history professor?

I decided I didn’t want to go to law school. No, seriously, I’ve always liked history. And for me, it was one of those subjects that came really easily to me in school. And initially, when I graduated with my bachelor’s degree, I worked as a newspaper reporter for a couple of years, and then decided to go back to get a master’s in history with really no intention of getting a Ph.D., but then one thing led to another and I ended up going on for a Ph.D. Initially, the master’s was just to leapfrog my journalism career.

T TH EGATEPOS

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

Courtesy of Framingham State education. My undergrad and both of my graduate degrees were from state institutions like this. I think that is one thing that I really like about being at FSU. Another thing I really like about being at FSU is the students. They work so hard, both in school and many of them have other obligations - family, work, what have you, that they have to balance, so I really admire that in a lot of our students. And I’ve been here long enough that I just have a lot of friends and a lot of connections at FSU. What advice do you have for FSU students?

The best advice to give students is to do their very best in their classes. To keep open lines of communication with faculty. When problems do come up, don’t hesitate to reach out to faculty. I think, you know, most faculty are pretty

open and willing to help students if they can, but they can’t if they don’t know that there’s an issue. And also, do their best to just enjoy this time. I know, to students, it seems really hard and there are a lot of stresses and God, there’s so many stresses just in the world without even taking school into consideration, but to do their best every once in a while to slow down and enjoy and just, you know, be happy. … Find something that makes them happy that they can go to to relax and get away from all those stresses.

CONNECT WITH SOPHIA HARRIS sharris9@student.framingham.edu

Police Logs @T HEGATEPOST

Thursday, Nov. 11 00:10 Noise Complaint Larned Hall Advised

Thursday, Nov. 11 04:42 Medical Miles Bibb Hall Transported to Hospital

Saturday, Nov. 13 09:45 CODE BLUE Phone Hang Up Normal Hill Parking Lot Checks OK

Sunday, Nov. 14 01:33 CODE BLUE Phone Hang Up Miles Bibb Hall Checks OK

Sunday, Nov. 14 15:16 Well Being Check Towers Hall Checks OK and Advised

Monday, Nov. 15 00:46 Medical Peirce Hall Transport to Hospital

Tuesday, Nov. 16 23:38 Suspicious Motor Vehicle Maple Commuter Parking Lot Checks OK and Secured

Thursday, Nov. 18 08:09 Vandalism Hemenway Hall Annex Report Taken

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NOVEMBER 19, 2021 | 3

FSU joins collective to promote racial equality

By Dan Fuentes Staff Writer Framingham State joined a partnership with 12 other New England colleges and universities and the New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE) to promote racial equity among faculty.

These 13 institutions have signed NEBHE’s new North Star Collective (NSC), a multi-institutional collaborative to boost Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) early-career faculty at New England colleges and universities.

According to a NEBHE press release, “More than one-third of America’s college students are people of color. But only about 5% of college faculty are African American, about 3% are Hispanic, and about 1% are Native American.”

NEBHE appointed two professors - Kamille Gentles-Peart of Roger Williams University and Tatiana Cruz of Simmons University - to serve in the regional organization’s newly created roles of Faculty Diversity Fellows.

Gentles-Peart and Cruz worked together at NEBHE to create the NSC. In an interview, Gentles-Peart said, “We created the program that we want to be in. We are excited about it because we are faculty of color.

“It was created by BIPOC people for BIPOC people,” Gentles-Peart added.

The NEBHE press release states, “Though research suggests BIPOC faculty members contribute positively to an inclusive climate and higher persistence for students of color, a troubling mismatch continues.

“Colleges and universities embody racial hierarchies that systematically oppress and disadvantage BIPOC faculty,” according to the press release.

Gentles-Peart said, “We have experienced - or we are parts of communities that have experienced - the kinds of marginalization that happen to BIPOC people in academia.

“At the institutional level, we are promoting a kind of transformation, and then also in a restorative way. We promote spaces of healing and just support BIPOC people,” she added.

According to NEBHE, colleges and universities embody racial hierarchies that systematically oppress and disadvantage BIPOC faculty.

At predominantly white institutions, BIPOC faculty experience regular harm, including everyday racial microaggressions, tokenism, discriminatory teaching evaluations and lower

Weather

rates of tenure and promotion, according to NEBHE. President F. Javier Cevallos said, “Here [at Framingham State] we have had a group of faculty of color, an affinity group of faculty and staff meet on a regular basis to support each other.

He said, “The first thing is that we have to recognize that faculty of color in particular need support like anybody else, and we have support structures for faculty in place.”

According to Cevallos, approximately 36% of students at FSU are students of color. “Faculty of color is a lot less, obviously,” said Cevallos. “We were around 18% before the pandemic last year, and I don’t know how it has affected that.”

BIPOC faculty are more likely to hold

restoration and healing, which is based on the politics of creating spaces for BIPOC people where they can feel supported when they don’t have to do the performances that are necessary for them to survive within white spaces,” she added.

The name of the NEBHE collective pays homage to the fact that enslaved Africans and African Americans used the North Star in the night sky to guide them to freedom.

Cruz said they don’t want to just build a space of refuge for faculty of color and then send them to hostile environments in their own institutions.

She added, “We’re doing a lot of support work for these institutions, and institutions themselves have been doing work.”

early-career faculty in the humanities and social sciences.

NEBHE and its partners intend to award approximately 24 faculty fellowships for the inaugural cohort in the 2021-22 academic year.

Gentles-Peart said, “We got almost 60 applications from across our 13 member institutions. We have committed to taking two fellows from each institution, so we were expecting our cap to be around 24.”

NSC partner institutions will provide yearly contributions of $5,000 to NEBHE’s NSC. The faculty fellows will receive a $1,500 grant for research, publication, and professional development.

They will take part in an intensive three-day mentored writing retreat

“At the institutional level, we are promoting a kind of transformation, and then also in a restorative way.

We promote spaces of healing and just support BIPOC people.”

-Kamille Gentles-Peart, Roger Williams University junior faculty positions and less likely to be tenured than their white faculty colleagues, according to NEBHE. The NEBHE report also found BIPOC faculty often have difficulty finding mentors and building community. The racial trauma they face in academia can negatively impact their health and overall well-being.

Gentles-Peart said, “We are very committed to creating programs and initiatives that center on BIPOC people, their experiences, and not only acknowledge the harm that they have experienced, but also put things in place to repair that harm, and support healing.”

She added there is some work that needs to be done within white communities, in white spaces around equity and inclusion.

She said, “There’s often a focus on white people, and what white people need to do this work, and not a lot of focus on the BIPOC people who are actually living in the spaces and are being harmed.

“We’re thinking about things like

Framingham State is joined by Bridgewater, Clark, Endicott, Eastern Connecticut, Goodwin University, Rhode Island College, Roger Williams, Salem State, Simmons, the University of Bridgeport, UMass Boston, and the University of Southern Maine as founding members of the NSC. Cruz said, “We’ve seen institutions doing work, acknowledging the harms that have been done historically, and even in the contemporary moment, to BIPOC people.”

NEBHE was also awarded a $20,000 grant from the Hildreth Stewart Charitable Foundation to support the development and implementation of a key part of the program: the NSC Faculty Fellowship.

The Faculty Fellowship will support BIPOC faculty in their writing and publishing endeavors and overall well-being, which are essential to advancement, tenure and promotion.

The goal of the NSC Faculty Fellowship is to provide a nourishing community of care, peer mentorship, and professional development for BIPOC

in January 2022. From there, they will meet biweekly with peer fellows in virtual writing accountability groups and join monthly interactive virtual workshops on issues such as mentoring and tenure. A capstone symposium in May 2022 will allow them to share their fellowship-supported work.

Reema Zeineldin, associate vice president, said the selected fellows will be announced during an event on reparative justice on Dec. 1.

Zeineldin is the liaison to the NSC for Framingham State.

Zeineldin said, “I’m happy that they started this. It’s really important, and I know that the President has supported it, which is really great. It’s important for us to support the BIPOC faculty.”

Cruz said, “This is just the beginning of what we believe will be long-term relationships, and we hope that Framingham will see this as just the first step.”

CONNECT WITH DAN FUENTES dfuentes@student.framingham.edu

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

Sunday night Nov. 21 Rain. Low around 50. S wind 5-10 mph, gusting to 20. 90% chance of precipitation.

Monday Nov. 22 Rain likely in the morning. Mostly cloudy, high near 60. S wind 5-10 mph, gusting to 20. 60% chance of precipitation.

Monday night Nov. 22 Chance of rain before 8pm. Mostly cloudy, low around 35. W wind around 5 mph. 30% chance of precipitation.

Tuesday night Nov. 23 Mostly cloudy, low around 30. NW wind around 10 mph.

Wednesday night Nov. 24 Mostly cloudy, with a low around 30. NW wind around 10 mph.

Tuesday Nov. 23 Mostly sunny, high near 45. W wind 5-10 mph.

Wednesday Nov. 24 Mostly sunny, high near 40. NW wind 10-15 mph.

Thursday Nov. 25 Mostly sunny, high near 50. NW wind 5-10 mph.

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

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Rams Resource Center reopens to regular walk-in hours

By Branden LaCroix Staff Writer

Metal shelves line the concrete walls of the Rams Resource Center, stocked full of the necessities that make life on campus easier.

Canned soup, peanut butter, granola bars, dry pasta, soap, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, shaving cream, razors, and much more are all free for FSU students who need them.

The Rams Resource Center (RRC), FSU’s “food pantry,” opened Sept. 24, 2018. It supplies students in need with non-perishable foods and toiletries.

Last year, the RRC was closed to walk-in visits due to the COVID-19 pandemic and students could only access it by scheduling an appointment with the Dean of Students Office.

This semester, with more students on campus and in-person classes having resumed, the RRC has reopened to its regular walk-in hours with student staff and volunteers recruited at the Student Engagement Day Sept. 29.

Daleri Garcia, a freshman criminology major, works at the RRC as a work-study student. She said, “I was raised not to be embarrassed about getting help.”

Krystalee Fernandez, a freshman food and nutrition major, is a student volunteer and said she volunteers to “be able to help people.”

Meg Nowak Borrego, dean of students, and Robin Kurkomelis, assistant to the Dean of Students Office, are overseeing the operation of the RRC this semester.

Kay Kastner, coordinator of student support initiatives, previously oversaw the RRC, but is currently on a leave of absence.

With fewer students on campus last year, there was far less use of the RRC. Nowak Borrego said the RRC is a “center of convenience” for students, and added that during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, “With students not physically living on campus, it was more convenient for

RRC “and listen to what our population is looking for.

“Initially, when we opened [the Center] three years ago, it was very much food, and it was traditional, all-American food.”

Nowak Borrego said her office is working to add more ethnic foods to the RRC to better reflect the University’s diverse student body. “We’re trying to get a better idea of what those students would like to see … to have more food that’s like home.”

The Dean of Students Office recently partnered with Stop & Shop, which has provided funds for the RRC to purchase groceries and other essentials at its stores.

Stop & Shop also gave a $100,000 grant to FSU to create the “Stop & Shop Scholarship for Diversity in the Field of Food & Nutrition.”

Nowak Borrego said Stop & Shop representatives who visited the University suggested an “Instacart idea” that would allow students to have fresh foods delivered.

She added this semester, the RRC increased its stock of school supplies, baby formula, diapers, and self-care products.

The RRC also receives donations from the nonprofit organizations Dignity Matters and Circle of Hope.

Dignity Matters is a nonprofit that “collects, purchases and supplies feminine hygiene products, bras and underwear to women and girls who are homeless or disadvantaged,” according to the organization’s website.

Circle of Hope, a nonprofit organization based in Needham, provides clothing and essential items to the homeless in the Boston and MetroWest areas.

The RRC donation boxes located around campus that were removed during the COVID-19 pandemic have been returned.

The donation boxes are located in the Game Room, the Snack Bar, and the Dean of Students Office in the McCarthy Center, as well as the Veterans Services Center and the Office of Enrollment and Student Development - both located in Dwight Hall -

Gatepost Archives Rams Resource Center during its original opening in 2018. their cards.

Currently, there is no way to make monetary donations to the RRC electronically.

Aside from volunteering and donating, Nowak Borrego said students and student organizations can help

“I anticipate we will be on par with where we were previously.”

-Meg Nowak Borrego, Dean of Students them to go to pantries closer to their homes.”

She said, “I anticipate we will be on par with where we were previously,” but added student needs may increase later in the academic year.

“We’ll be ready if it does.”

She said the Dean of Students Office is “continuing to upgrade” the

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and the Alumni House.

Outside of donations, students with unused meal swipes on their meal plan can donate their extra swipes to the Emergency Meal Bank through the Dean of Students’ Housing and Food Assistance web page.

Students who need them can request to have the extra swipes added to

by “promoting” and “raising awareness of” the RRC. Garcia said, “Food insecurity is a real thing” on college campuses, adding, “Just letting people know [the RRC] is here is helpful.”

Although she has not used the RRC, Fernandez recognizes that “as the semester goes on, I might need

something.”

She added letting students know about the RRC is helpful “if they need a back-up plan.”

Kaylie Valente, a freshman English major, said she has never encountered any problems with getting help from the RRC and recognizes its importance.

“I don’t think I’ve seen anything like this before, and I think it’s very helpful,” she said.

Chelesae Simpson, a sophomore biology major, said, “I think people look down on others who try to receive help. But sometimes, you just need help.

“College isn’t cheap,” she added.

Simpson said one way students can help is to advocate for others who may be anxious about seeking help and “[encourage] your peers to go use the resources that are there for them.”

The RRC is open Monday and Wednesday from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. and Tuesday and Thursday from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

CONNECT WITH BRANDEN LACROIX blacroix@student.framingham.edu

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Board of Trustees Continued from page 1

accreditation and strategic planning work long term.”

Holloway added there will be a follow-up meeting to review the “deep-data information” of the participants that were part of the focus group of the perception study in order to better understand what sector of the market is being reached and whether this includes the University’s target market.

As an example, Holloway referenced the responses from parents in the study. “There’s only 36 parents in

NEWS

numbers. So I don’t think they’re going somewhere else to be teachers,” she said. “This is a crisis in education because so few people want to be teachers anymore.”

In her Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement report, Holloway “highlighted” some of the “excellent” work of Eric Nguyen, director of the Center for Inclusive Excellence (CIE).

Holloway said Nguyen worked with the Support. Education. Action.

Leadership. Strength. peer health educators to discuss “racial health disparities and how to share this

to assist in the search.

The search committee will meet Nov. 29 to make the recommendation as to which three candidates will be the finalists, according to Foley. The Board of Trustees will hold a meeting Dec. 15 to decide on the next president of the University.

Foley added he and President F. Javier Cevallos have made “headway” toward filling the vacancy on the Board of Trustees that has been open for three years.

In the Compliance Audit and Risk Report, Trustee Anthony Hubbard said the Fiscal Year 2021 audit came

issues, extending the hours for the Whittemore Library, and the new online registration platform.

Nna said SGA also recently sponsored the Campus Safety Walk and identified areas of concern such as CODE BLUE Emergency Phone placement and the need for more lighting and crosswalk signage.

She added SGA has also held open forums “for students to give feedback on the presidential search candidates to WittKeiffer” and to voice their concerns about the white supremacist-related decals found on campus recently.

“It’s time for us to really look at doing a commprehensive strategic enrollment management plan.”

-Lorretta Holloway,

Vice President of Enrollment and Student Development

that group. And that’s only 0.2% of the parents in the state,” said Holloway.

She said the concern here is clarifying who and where these survey participants are, and how to respond to their opinions about the University.

This is important to have clarity about, according to Holloway, because “the rest of the people may not have those other concerns.

“We’ve heard we’re a ‘sleepy campus’ before,” she added. “How do we actually leverage that?”

Holloway said a student she met at a recent Open House for the University said she enjoyed the “laid back” and “relaxed” environment of the dining hall, adding, “I could so see myself showing up in my pajamas and having tater tots for breakfast with my friends.”

It’s important to “accurately represent ourselves” so that the right students find and attend and remain at FSU, added Holloway.

“It’s time for us to really look at doing a comprehensive strategic enrollment management plan,” she added.

During her Academic Affairs Committee report, Trustee Budwig said, “The percentage of white females is really dropping.”

Holloway said these drops have been seen among education majors at FSU adding, “The majority of education majors are middle class white females.

“You look across the board, education programs, they’re all losing

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information with the student body through their upcoming work.”

She added, “He has launched a program called iRAMS: Foundations of Social Justice, which is a five-week social justice program for Framingham State undergraduates.”

She said this program is a step toward answering the questions, “How do we help students advocate for themselves?” and “How do we help students become active citizens in their communities?”

Holloway said students are “very clear” in identifying problems, but need support in figuring out how to enact “sustainable change.”

In the Development and Alumni Relations report, Eric Gustafson, vice president of Development and Alumni Relations, said the University is having a “strong year” for fundraising with approximately $760,000 raised so far.

He said his office has been able to hold in-person, hybrid, and virtual events so far. “Any events that we can easily do in a hybrid format, we will be doing that - definitely folks prefer to attend it that way.”

He added, “It brought in some folks regionally who would have a hard time getting to Framingham for that event on a Wednesday evening but could log in from work or home.”

In his Chair’s Report, Kevin Foley said the Presidential Search Committee has narrowed down the candidate pool to 12.

He said the next step in the process is background checks conducted

by WittKeiffer, the search firm hired

back “clean” and there were no “pervasive risks” of fraud found.

He added the “negative” impacts of COVID-19 were “offset by onetime government funding.

“We actually came out with an increase in our net financial position,” Hubbard said.

In his Administration, Finance, and Information Technology Report, Trustee Michael Grilli said the Finance Committee had been discussing how to handle the “surplus cash.”

According to Grilli, the “surplus” is around $5 million.

He moved a resolution to commit $1 million of the $5 million to create a strategic enrollment management plan “that will probably include upgrading the website.” The other $4 million will be reinvested in “traditional investment vehicles.”

The resolution passed 9 - 0 with no abstentions.

In his President’s Report, Cevallos said all the labor contracts have been “settled.”

He added, “That is really good news.”

Cevallos highlighted two grants the University recently received.

English Professor Bartholomew Brinkman and Interim Henry E. Whittemore Library Dean Millie Gonzaléz received a grant to create a digital humanities center and Whittemore Library received a grant for “The Big Read.”

In the Student Trustee’s Report, Hillary Nna said SGA held an Administrators’ Forum at which students brought up concerns about Wi-Fi

Cevallos introduced Hae Won Ju, department chair of fashion design and retailing, who introduced Gabriela Mendez-Acevedo, a senior fashion design and retailing major, the Student-in-the-Spotlight.

Mendez-Acevedo said after her freshman year, she was recommended to apply to become a Peer Mentor.

“It was a shock to me because there I was barely passing my classes, but someone deemed me worthy of a leadership position,” said Mendez-Acevedo.

She said she currently sits on the Council on Diversity and Inclusion and is interning at Puma in their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion division.

Mendez-Acevedo added she is also completing an independent study titled “The Community Upcycling Project,” which she is “very proud of.”

According to Mendez-Acevedo, most of the clothes will be donated to “Homes to Homes” for distribution to those in need, while some will be upcycled by FSU fashion design and retailing students.

She said, “I always knew that giving back to communities in need was important to me, so I wanted to prioritize that this semester.”

CONNECT WITH HALEY HADGE hhadge@student.framingham.edu CONNECT WITH ASHLYN KELLY akelly8@student.framingham.edu

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OP/ED

THE GATEPOST EDITORIAL

Conversations about college seal imperative The land FSU is built on is the original homeland of the Nipmuc tribe. As we work toward being an anti-racist instiution, we need to begin recognizing this.

Part of that recognition includes changing our University’s current seal and logo.

Framingham State’s seal and logo currently depicts an Algonquian Native American holding a bow and arrow pointing down to signify peace. The design mirrors the Massachusetts state flag and seal, according to an email sent by President F. Javier Cevallos when the changes to the University’s seal and logo were first proposed in September 2020.

In a letter supporting a bill that would ban all Indigenous mascots, names, and logos in Massachusetts public schools, the National Congress of American Indians said, “Indian Country’s longstanding position on this issue has been made abundantly clear for decades - we are not mascots, and we will not tolerate being treated as such.”

For the Native American community, these depictions are not just of mascots.

Stereotypical representations of Native Americans are degrading and mock their cultures and communities.

Misrepresentation of Native Americans is worse than no representation at all.

The decision to change FSU’s seal and logo came after the Massachusetts Senate unanimously voted to form a panel to redesign the state flag and seal.

At the Sept. 23, 2020 Board of Trustees meeting, Cevallos announced the creation of a governance committee to discuss and implement changes to the University’s seal and logo. According to Communications Director Daniel Magazu, the committee included representatives from Native American organizations in the surrounding area.

The committee proposed changing the design of the Algonquian Native American on the seal and logo to May Hall, but nothing has happened yet.

In October, Cevallos said the University is waiting for discussions at the state level before moving forward with changes.

Magazu said another reason the University will not be making major decisions about the seal and logo in the near future is Cevallos’ retirement announcement and the departure of former Vice President of Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement Constanza Cabello.

However, other schools in our state have removed racist representations of Native Americans in their university branding without waiting for the state.

Before 1972, UMass Amherst’s sports teams were known as the “Redmen.” They decided to change the nickname after UMass’ Chancellor Randolph Bromery received a let-

ter from Attorney Bertram Hirsch on behalf of the Association of American Indian Affairs. The organization argued the nickname was a “racial degradation” of Native People, according to the Historical Journal of Massachusetts.

Before 1991, UMass Lowell’s community was known as the “Chiefs,” which changed to the “River Hawks” when the school merged into the UMass system.

Before 2002, the “Trailblazers” of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts were known as the “Mohawks.”

Other colleges and universities in our state have removed racist stereotypes of Naive Americans from their branding.

FSU, what is taking you so long?

FSU does not have to wait for anyone or anything to make changes.

Conversations about how Native Americans are represented at our school must continue, even if there are pending changes in leadership.

According to Boston.com, bills are currently circulating through the Massachusetts House of Representatives and Senate. If passed into law, the bills could legally “end the practice of using Native American mascots” in the state of Massachusetts.

If we as a college community continue the conversation about Native American peoples’ depiction at our school, we can demonstrate to state legislators that we value their appropriate representation. Hopefully, keeping the discussion going will speed up the process at the state level so FSU administrators can make their own decisions sooner rather than later.

It would be a shame to lose all the progress that the committee has made. If this conversation ceases for an extended length of time, we risk forgetting how important and timely this work is.

The conversation can’t stop because we are waiting for the state. Anti-racist work correcting misrepresentation of Native Americans goes beyond changing the seal and logo.

We as a community can brainstorm ways to continue appropriately representing Native American people.

Conversations about misrepresentation do not require a vice president of diversity, inclusion, and community engagement to happen. Everyone can and should participate in these discussions.

If we truly are an anti-racist instiution, conversations about misrepresenting Native Americans will continue at Framingham State because discussions about diversity should always be taking place.

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!

NOVEMBER 19, 2021 | 7

Electric cars won’t solve climate change

By Donald Halsing Editor-in-Chief I love my Dodge Dakota. She’s Atlantic Blue, 19-feet long, and 18 years old.

I love my truck so much I named her Pegasus after a British Rail Class 47.

This truck has cost me thousands of dollars for new tires, a replacement water pump, new exhaust system, and, of course, fuel for the beast.

While the 3.9 liter V6 engine inhales gas, averaging 16 miles per gallon, Pegasus has faithfully flown me to school since 2017. I couldn’t ask for more, and can’t afford a new set of wheels, either.

But if I could get a new vehicle today, I would not buy an electric car.

Last December, Gov. Charlie Baker announced the state plans to ban the sale of combustion-engine vehicles by 2035.

Baker’s plan is the wrong approach to achieving carbon-neutral transportation.

Electric cars cover up the root cause of climate change: an inconceivable amount of greenhouse gasses humans have artificially added to the atmosphere.

While electric cars can receive power directly from renewable energy sources, chances are their batteries are charging on dead dinosaur fuel because of the U.S. power grid’s operational design.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), coal, oil, and natural gas power plants provide electricity when renewables cannot, especially at night.

Solar panels are useless if the sun isn’t shining and wind turbines serve no purpose when the wind doesn’t blow.

Electric vehicles won’t solve climate change if they are plugged into a power grid that still largely relies on fossil fuels.

According to the EIA, 60% of U.S. electricity production in 2020 came from fossil fuels. Electricity production accounted for 32% of the country’s carbon dioxide emissions last year.

I believe combustion engines are an integral component of a carbon-neutral transportation system. Our cars will be clean and efficient once we feed them the right type of fuel.

Biofuels don’t add greenhouse gasses to the atmosphere.

Plants grown to create biofuels absorb carbon dioxide already in the atmosphere.

For example, ethanol is made from corn and already mixed into gasoline.

If we change where liquid fuel comes from, combustion-engine vehicles already on the roads, rails, and airways can become carbon neutral without any modifications.

Biofuel technology is still an emerging field. Just like electric vehicles, the biofuel industry requires more research and resources in order to provide environmentally friendly transportation solutions.

Humanity’s time and resources would be better spent researching new biofuels along with electric cars. Until most electricity comes from renewable sources, including power plants run on biofuel, electric cars will worsen climate change.

If we want to reverse climate change, we need to capture greenhouse gasses out of the atmosphere and put them back in the ground.

According to MIT, carbon capture technology allows carbon dioxide from industrial processes and electricity production to be captured and injected into empty oil wells and other storage reservoirs deep underground.

I believe scientists need to research ways to convert plant biomass into a substance which can be injected back into the ground, too. This research would add a new route to the carbon cycle, speeding up our species’ response to global climate change.

Carbon capture technology has the potential to reverse global warming. But as with biofuels, it needs more research to expand its scope.

Governments and companies should direct research and resources into biofuel and carbon capture technologies. These technologies can stop global warming faster than electric vehicle technology.

I hope my Pegasus stays on the road for many more years. She’s only clocked 123,000 miles and has many more to drive.

My dream will only become a reality if liquid fuels remain a viable option, which is only possible if humans address climate change head on by investing in biofuel research and carbon capture technology.

The only wheel that needs reinventing is the carbon cycle.

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

8 | NOVEMBER 19, 2021

OP/ED

Campus Conversations What are you thankful for this year?

By Maddison Behringer and Emma Lyons, Editorial Staff

“My family, definitely. They always support me. They’re helping me in school.”

- Meggan Law, sophomore

“I’m thankful that all my friends and family are safe.”

“I’m thankful for being able to get back on campus and being able to see friends and professors again.”

“I haven’t really been sick or haven’t gotten sick - in the middle of a pandemic - yet I somehow dodged it all.”

-Giovanni Nicolas, senior

-Jessica Caffarelli, junior

“I’m thankful for starting college as a freshman.”

-Marco Olivares, freshman

-Benjamin Teele, senior

“I’m thankful for a lot of things. I’m really thankful that it’s nice out today, and I get to be outside. I’m thankful for my family.

I’m thankful we’re back in person. I’m thankful that people are actually coming to school and people are happy.”

-Kathryn Washburn, junior

Mur

By Haley Hadge Editorial Staff

ey t e urkey’s first

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anksgi ing

SPORTS

NOVEMBER 19, 2021 | 9

SP O RTS

Fall sports makes their mark in MASCAC conference

By Danielle Achin Sports Editor

By Tyler Wahl Interim Sports Editor It was a busy and exciting time for Framingham State Athletics during the first few weeks of November this year.

The Rams Football team clinched the MASCAC conference title, the Volleyball team won their championship game vs. Worcester State, and the Men’s and Women’s Soccer teams left it all on the field in their postseason matchups.

The action started at home when the Rams Volleyball team won their MASCAC uarterfinal game - against Salem State. Junior Emily Flaherty’s confidence after their first postseason win foreshadowed the team’s upcoming success.

Flaherty said, “We have so much heart and I think that’s what sets us apart in tough matches. I’m excited for the semifinal game and I know that everyone on the team wants it so badly. If we play with heart, everything will be fine.”

The Rams played with heart as Flaherty predicted and clinched a win in their semifinal game vs. Westfield State.

The explosive offensive combination of sophomore alerie Sullivan and graduate student Morgan Failla also helped push the team into the MASCAC championship against Worcester State.

The Rams took the MASCAC title home with a - win over Worcester State, and headed into the first round of the NCAA Division III tournament.

Despite getting knocked out early in the NCAA tournament by RIT - , the team still accomplished their goal of winning a MASCAC championship.

Several individual players were recognized by the MASCAC conference as well. Senior outside-hitter Brandee Thomas and junior middle-hitter Hailey Sanders landed themselves on the All-MASCAC First team, while Failla and Sullivan were selected for the All-MASCAC Second team.

The FS olleyball team finished the season with an overall record of and an in-conference record of - .

FS ’s Football team was also recognized for their achievements after closing their regular season - overall, and securing the MASCAC Championship title against Bridgewater State.

These accomplishments landed the Rams an automatic MASCAC bid to the NCAA Division III Football Championship where they will be facing Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania for the first round game.

Rams uarterback, Junior Nicolas offredo said, “The hardest obstacle we had to overcome was our head coach leaving us right before camp started. We had to get a new staff and head coach and put everything together last minute.

“We also overcame an - start. It didn’t look pretty and not too many people believed in us then but look at us now,” offredo said.

Head Coach Tom Kelley returned to the sideline for the season after the previous head coach unexpectedly retired from the position. Kelley guided his team to victory and earned his fourth MASCAC Coach of the ear honor.

For his efforts, offredo also earned the M P Calder award and First- ear uarterback award this season.

“That to me says everything to what I sacrifice to achieve these goals. I knew what I was capable of and it was only a matter of time before I got to show it,” offredo said.

Framingham’s Soccer teams also had a taste of some MASCAC action during their postseason runs earlier this month.

Women’s Soccer advanced to the MASCAC semifinal tournament game on Nov. after their victory over Salem State in a penalty kick shootout.

The Rams battled throughout the semifinal game against Westfield State where they fell - to the Owls closing out their season.

Men’s Soccer also made it to the first title game of the MASCAC tournament after the Rams scored the game winning goal in the final minute of the second overtime against Bridgewater State. Leading them to the championship game for the third straight season.

The men ended their regular season with a - - overall record.

The MASCAC championship game took place on Nov. where the team was defeated by the Salem State ikings by a score of - , ultimately ending the Ram’s soccer season.

The Framingham State Cross Country team also saw their share of success this season, with sophomore runner Patrick Walsh clinching eighth place in the MASCAC championship K course.

Walsh finished with an astounding time of , but the success did not come without his fair share of struggles.

Walsh said, “My hardest hurdle coming back was definitely the long offseason due to CO ID- . Coming in as a freshman, I haven’t raced since high school before this year, so getting back into the swing of things was tough.”

The long offseason didn’t deter Walsh from his goal however, and the support around him helped push his athletic abilities even further.

“What got me through the season was all the positivity and support from my teammates and coaches. Since we are a small team, that kept us close-knit which was great for morale and chemistry,” he added.

Morale and chemistry seemed to be the story throughout every fall sport this season. reat teamwork, stellar coaching, and positive attitudes helped bring multiple championships and accolades to the FS Athletics program.

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FRAMINGHAM STATE VOLLEYBALL WORCESTER STATE

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SALEM STATE FRAMINGHAM STATE SOCCER [M]

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WESTFIELD STATE FRAMINGHAM STATE SOCCER [W]

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SPORTS

10 | NOVEMBER 19, 2021

Last minute goal secures first win for Men’s Ice Hockey

By Danielle Achin Sports Editor Rams Ice Hockey secured their first victory of the season on home ice in an intense game against Stonehill College - Nov. .

First period began with both teams hustling up the ice with intense speed, already looking for a chance to score and take the lead.

At minute , the Skyhawks gained the lead when sophomore Brendan Nehmer saw an opening between the goalkeeper and blue line passing the puck through Rams goalie, freshman Trevor Stenburg, into the net for a - score.

Coming back to the ice for the second period, the Rams forwarded great aggression, taking away the confidence the Skyhawks had built up from the first period.

“Everyone just came out with a lot more swagger - that’s for sure. We were definitely feeling good,” said sophomore Ethan Cervonayco.

The Rams offense charged halfway through the second period. After they missed an attempted shot, this sent the puck down the ice where the attempted shot by Stonehill was saved by Stenburg.

The Rams continued on the attack, making shot after shot and although the puck never made it into the net, Stonehill’s confidence collapsed making them work for the saved shots against FS .

Stonehill seemed to gain the ad-

vantage when they gained a power play penalty against the Rams.

This did not break the Rams’ spirit and with the help of a hooking penalty called against the Skyhawks, FS tied the score - with minutes left in the second period.

Although they were skating on ice, things between the teams were getting heated within the last couple minutes of the second period - sticks were breaking, players were sliding across the ice. Neither team was willing to let up a goal and the second period ended with a - tie.

“From the start, we were all over them. We weren’t second guessing anything and just backing each other up,” said sophomore Matthew Cucinotta.

The Rams continued their stamina against them looking for every chance to score.

Things only seemed to intensify in the third period when the Rams kept receiving penalty power plays against them, leaving Stonehill at the advantage once again.

Despite the advantage for the Skyhawks, the men were unable to pull themselves together and the Rams took the lead with just over minutes left in the game after freshman Ashton Collazo shot the puck into the net.

At this point, the game became a standstill as officials discussed if the

point would be given to the Rams. After long discussion, the goal was upheld for a - lead for the Rams.

After another penalty called against the Rams, this left the team one man short for the remainder of the game.

The Skyhawks were unable to advance their score and FS held them off for the last minutes of the game for a - victory.

The men said this game was a real representation of what they can do on the ice.

“Everyone trusted each other. No one really had doubts. We just kind of went out there ready and knew what we were doing,” said Cervonayo.

“This game is definitely a turning point.”

Cucinotta said, “It was fun to see everyone just flow and just play hockey. We finally broke through, now we just got to finish the job for the rest of the season.”

The Rams return to home ice on Nov. where they face off against Worcester State.

FRAMINGHAM STATE STONEHILL COLLEGE

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Men’s Basketball falls to Wheaton 83-64

By Tyler Wahl Interim Sports Editor

The Framingham State Rams Men’s Basketball team fell short to Wheaton in a heated home match Nov. .

The first half was a back and forth contest, resulting in three early scoring ties and five overall lead changes.

The first noticeable run came early in the first half when Wheaton rattled off consecutive points to put the Lyons up - .

A few tough driving layups from sophomore guard Brett Okundaye and sophomore forward JD Okafor brought the Rams within one point of tying the game.

The Rams’ scoring run was capped off by a three point jumper from sophomore guard Justin Fitzpatrick. This forced Wheaton to take a -second timeout and regroup.

The Lyons played great defense and were patient on offense for the remainder of the first half, giving them the - advantage heading into halftime.

It was clear the coaching staff for Wheaton was experienced, as the Lyons continuously pushed the score ahead directly after their timeouts.

Despite the great shooting percentage and defense from the Lyons, the Rams were able to keep it close through a few three-point field goals and some free throw op-

portunities.

Both teams were eager to take the court after halftime. Despite Wheaton extending their lead to early in the second half, the Rams continued to fight.

The Rams were able to cut the deficit to eight at one point, but their lack of care for the ball on offense led to the team’s downfall.

Framingham State committed turnovers throughout the match, resulting in points-off-turnovers for Wheaton.

Okafor pointed out the team’s turnover struggles saying, “We have to do a better job of taking care of the ball. We’re getting too many turnovers, which ends up being a momentum shift and has led to a lot of our losses.”

Okafor was the top scorer for the Rams in the match, finishing the game with a total of points on - shooting.

Despite his solid individual performance, he still showed frustration in himself following the loss, adding, “I think it all has to do with our turnovers in the second half. I had seven turnovers myself, which is just unacceptable. I was giving them too many opportunities to score.”

Turnovers are a continuous struggle the team must overcome.

In their away game vs. Endicott

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two nights before, the Rams also gave up turnovers resulting in points for the opposing team.

In the last two games, the Rams have committed total turnovers, resulting in a whopping points from Endicott and Wheaton combined.

Wheaton went on to lead by as many as in the second half and a miracle comeback looked to be out of the picture for FS .

The team fought hard to the final buzzer, but the turnovers and lessthan-stellar shooting percentage from the Rams dug them in a hole they could not escape from.

Wheaton shot . from the field compared to Framingham’s . . The Lyons also moved the ball around more, resulting in total assists compared to six for the Rams.

The Rams looked to bounce back and improve on their - record Nov. against the Wentworth Leopards.

WHEATON COLLEGE FRAMINGHAM STATE

CONNECT WITH TYLER WAHL twahl1@student.framingham.edu

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ARTS & FEATURES

NOVEMBER 19, 2021 | 11

ARTS & FEATURES

The Onyx and English Club make fantasy fantastic

By Ryan O’Connell Asst. Arts & Features Editor

The Onyx and the English Club recently collaborated in hosting a fantasy-based short story writing competition in the McCarthy Center Forum, Nov. 17.

The Onyx, the literary magazine of FSU, which releases a new issue every year, organized the event in collaboration with the English Club.

The event was attended by members of both clubs, as well as a number of students interested in participating in the timed write.

An Onyx advisor, Professor Sam Witt, said although he held an advising role, the club is an entirely student-run operation.

Witt added that while The Onyx had done writing contests in the past, he was “pretty sure” this was the first one that’s been done in “real time.”

“From looking at this and talking to the students who are putting it on, you actually write a fantasy story at the event,” he said. “I think that’s really exciting and really interesting.”

Witt said one of his favorite aspects of The Onyx was how the group had something physical to show for it at the end of the year, and how it was something you could bring into your career.

Kaylie Valente, a freshman and publicist of The Onyx, said her favorite part of being in the club is being able to read all the different applications in the spring. She added she appreciated the club because she felt a lot of students at FSU had things to say but just didn’t know how to share them.

“Honestly, I just love seeing how many ideas people have,” she said.

“What I’m looking forward to [in the] coming spring semester is being able to read all the student’s work.

“I feel like there’s a lot of people here that have a voice, that haven’t really found a place to put it, and being able to send their work to The Onyx will give them that voice,” she said.

Valente also said that while she hasn’t submitted anything to the group yet, she plans on entering poetry and a short story into the magazine’s submissions this year.

She added that as an English major, she feels confident that her participation in the club will help her later on

Wilson said that her favorite aspect of the club was the “automatic sense of belonging,” and how it was a calm and safe environment for creative arts. She also added how she enjoyed that the upperclassmen helped welcome new members into the group.

“This is a really inclusive club that you can just be creative and there’s really no judgement at all,” she said.

“There are older kids in the club, but you don’t feel like they know more than you, or there’s something that you’re missing.”

Wilson also said that she appreciated getting to read other students’ work, saying that “usually [you] don’t have opportunities to do that.”

“There’s a lot of people here that have a voice, that haven’t really found a place to put it, and being able to send their work to The Onyx will give them that voice,” -Kaylie Valente Freshman English Major in her career.

Sofia Wilson, a freshman and secretary/treasurer of The Onyx, said that she too plans to submit to the club. She added that she wanted to submit some of the poems she’s written this semester, saying that they helped her get out of a long hiatus during COVID-19.

Leo Jalali, junior and editor-in-chief of The Onyx, has been with the club for two years. Jalali shared his goals, saying that he was excited for this event to help display “the creative power that is inherent in almost everyone.”

Jalali found the concept “great,” saying how writing is a challenging

Ryan O’Connell / THE GATEPOST (Left) Sarah Sagan, president of the English Club, and Hannah Polanksy, president of The Onyx, behind the grand prize.

field, and that the event will help students to refine their abilities in writing well on a timeframe.

“Writing is competitive, and this type of competition not only displays the nature of the industry in application, but helps sharpen writing skills when up against other talented writers.”

He went on to talk about the collaboration between the English Club and The Onyx, saying that it was “pretty natural,” due to the similarities in subject between both organizations. He emphasized how they learn a lot from other artists on campus, rationalizing the partnership for the Fantasy Writing Competition.

The contest, which allowed writers 30 minutes to create their works, had a little over a dozen entries. Following the initial creation period, the writers were free to chat, enjoy refreshments provided by the clubs, and wait for the winners to be announced.

After writing, Destiny Rios, a sophomore, said that she is a new member of the English Club. She said she hadn’t heard much about The Onyx, due to her first year being mostly online, and her unfamiliarity with campus events.

Rios said she didn’t have any particular prize she was aiming for, but that anything would make her happy. She added that “she had fun writing out the story,” but she hoped she would get her work back, saying that it connected to a larger piece she had been working on before participating.

Aline Genovese, a freshman, expressed her interest in joining the English Club, but said it’s been a difficult time to take it on with her academics. Genovese said that she had fun at the event, and was relieved that the organizers were open to making the competition accessible for writers using computers.

She said her favorite part of the event was getting out and meeting more people, and that she was “much more likely” to join either of the clubs now that she has seen them in action.

The judging was done by Sarah Sagan, president of the English Club, and Hannah Polansky, president of The Onyx.

The event concluded with the third prize going to sophomore Destiny Rios, the second to junior Leo Jalali, and the first to freshman Emily Monaco, who won an assorted basket of goods, and a huge plush dragon.

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

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12 | NOVEMBER 19, 2021

ARTS & FEATURES

‘Caroline, Or Change’ a symphonic musical

By Austin Riffelmacher Multimedia Critic Musical theatre is not known for its subtlety.

That’s not a swipe at the genre it’s just that musicals thrive on explosions - explosions of feeling that lead into a song, explosions of drama that propel the plot forward.

But when Caroline Thibodeaux, in the musical “Caroline, or Change,” out of unmitigated anger whispers to 8-year-old Noah Gellman late in the second act that “Hell’s so hot it makes flesh fry. And hell’s where Jews go when they die,” subtlety doesn’t just work as the unsettling precursor to the explosive number, “Lot’s Wife.”

It proves that when musicals go where you didn’t expect them to go, they are the most productive of theatrical experiences when they challenge us to prick our conscience and observe when we as humans fail each other.

Her hideous statement is in response to Noah’s proclamation that President Lyndon Johnson is building a bomb to “kill all Negroes.” His statement is ridiculous and clearly concocted by the mind of a little boy.

Caroline’s, however, resembles a real-life Anti-Semitic rhetoric. As an adult, she should know better.

The tragedy of the moment is that for the past two hours we’ve seen Noah’s infatuation with Caroline. He loves her and is one of the few people to have complete respect for her, and in her own way, she loves him too.

All this drama starts over a $20 bill left in Noah’s pocket that Caroline found doing laundry. Caroline has been authorized by Noah’s stepmother Rose that she can keep whatever he leaves in his pants.

Noah, in his love for Caroline, purposefully begins leaving change for her, but the $20 was left there accidentally. Noah symbolizes that people are always willing to give change to poorer people, but not substantial amounts of money, whereas Caroline exemplifies the shame people feel when they think they’re getting handouts.

The “Change” in the musical operates on the monetary symbolism and how money changes us. Change is also presented in the characters’ resistance to it.

“Caroline, or Change” has received an extraordinarily uncompromising revival by the Roundabout Theatre Company on Broadway. The production, originally from London, has given this once niche show its moment in the spotlight.

Most of its revelatory nature is due to the purgative performance by Sharon D. Clarke in the role of Caroline.

As the 39-year-old Black house maid to the Gellman family in 1963, Clarke creates fear, heartbreak, and magnetism in our hearts contemporaneously.

It helps, at least for New York audiences, that Clarke is a Brit who trans-

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ferred with the production. One look at her bio, and you realize she is an abnormally gifted performer. In London, she had played everything from Ma Rainey to Linda Loman, and even a stint as Rafiki in “The Lion King.”

Clarke’s current role feels tailored made for her, and the performance is strengthened by American audiences’ lack of history with her. She doesn’t allow us to see the “acting” and just exists as Caroline.

The rest of the company does a fine job not standing in Clarke’s shadow.

Gabriel Amoroso is one of the alternate child actors playing the role of Noah. He seems unintimated by Clarke’s authority. Together, her dominance on the stage and his wholesome presence brings a real veracity to the story.

A musical with roughly 15 actors and the primary setting of a Louisiana basement doesn’t sound like it would be very entertaining, or witty. The librettist Tony Kushner and composer Jeanine Tesori’s clever work around is the magical realism created by the singing Washer, Dryer, and Radio.

It sounds like a fatal decision on paper, but the choice to have the objects come alive and have conversations with Caroline establishes her solitude and her desire for escape.

The Moon is another character in the show, circling back to the show’s theme in the number “Moon Change.”

The celestial body sings above Caroline, “Change come fast, but change come slow, Caroline Thibodeaux.”

“Caroline” is mostly sung-through leaving most of the text reliant on Kushner’s lyric abilities. The playwright, most known for drawn out dramas like “Angels in America” is actually a very good lyricist.

In his review of the original Broadway production in 2003, Ed Siegel wrote in the Boston Globe that “Caroline” was “every bit as smart as Sond-

Courtesy of Joan Marcus heim and every bit as emotionally open and Dionysus lets the fruits of compelling as Rodgers and Hammer- great theater pour down on you.

In the current Broadway revival stein.”

I would go as far as to say that of “Caroline, or Change,” the clouds Kushner is more in line with R+H literally part and let water pour on musicals here because he tackles the to the stage as we move from the subject no Sondheim musical does number “Lot’s Wife” into “Salty Tearexcept for “West Side Story” - race in drops.”

As the most successful heir to America.

The aforementioned “Lot’s Wife” Brechtian methods, Kushner clearly encapsulates the daily psychology of knows that after Caroline asks God to Black alienation. Caroline remarks murder her instead of letting her sorthat someday “Black folks” will live row and bitterness make her an evil like kings, but she won’t because she woman, the audience is crying - not can hardly read. On the other hand, because of how moving a moment it is she recognizes her strength and wa- for the character - it is a recognition gers no one is stronger than she is, an of their own failure in their lives to assertion Noah had at the very top of eradicate hatred within themselves.

“Take Caroline away … take her the show.

Tesori, who wrote the mundane, away I can’t afford her” she sings. As yet earnest musical “Fun Home,” she reconciles with Noah at the end, wrote the music for “Caroline.” The sorrow doesn’t ever go away, and they best numbers in the show are the first may never talk about how they’ve hurt each other. several songs.

But, the lesson of this musical is to As Caroline turns on her appliances, the music, appropriately, is elec- find those subtleties in our lives, good tric. When Noah sings about her, the and bad, and use them to change. music is triumphant, praising her like a war hero. When Rose enters, the recitative is purposefully irritating.

ADMIT ONE Rose’s character is entirely unsympathetic, she really is just trying her best, yet there is something deeply aggravating about her interactions with Caroline.

Michael Longhurst is making his Broadway musical directorial debut Thrilling and with “Caroline” and his staging is distressing lean and nimble. By many standards, the show is small, but it never feels as such. The show moves a lot and the use of space on Fly Davis’ set is unanADMIT ONE ticipated.

Transitions are something audience members take for granted in the theater. It is my opinion that musicals can live, or die, based on transitions CONNECT WITH alone.

Nowadays when a transition takes AUSTIN RIFFELMACHER me by surprise, it’s as if the heavens ariffelmacher@student.framingham.edu

Grade: A

ARTS & FEATURES

NOVEMBER 19, 2021 | 13

Maz Gal community Continued from page 1 He said in addition to the drawings displayed, he painted during the COVID-19 lockdown.

McDonald said the time he spent painting was a coping mechanism to deal with the “noise of the 2020 election.”

He said the isolation period of the pandemic did not affect him as creating artwork is a “solitary” practice.

“The lack of distraction allowed me to really focus and figure out what I was doing. And, take it [artwork] in a direction I didn’t particularly expect,” he said.

He said the most profound challenge of his project, titled “stackshrinesnowswamps,” was “letting it stand.

“I wanted to let that hand that learned how to draw from looking at Peanut cartoons have its way. And, to not refine it and make it look too nice,” McDonald said.

He said the show “inhabits the space between nature and culture.”

“The whole project kind of addresses how we are in the world. I think the idea of nature itself is a cultural construct. We understand it with language. We describe it with language.

We project onto it. It [nature] doesn’t recognize any of that stuff,” McDonald said.

Art professor Keri Straka’s passion for art began with a bar of ivory soap.

“I began creating art as a young child. I was fortunate enough to have a wonderful mother who has always supported my creativity. The first thing I remember sculpting is a whale that I carved out of a bar of ivory soap,” she said.

Straka explained she appreciates how she is able to “play” with art materials and not have a “preordained destination” for her creations.

She said she enjoys the “physicality,” “the possibility of dual meanings,”

Maddison Behringer / THE GATEPOST Keri Straka’s sculpture “Pray Animal” in the foreground, and Tim McDonald’s scroll “ancient future/song of the swamp” in the gallery.

She said displaying faculty work is and the “disorientation of perceived timate space of tide pools” influenced crucial as it engages students. her work. boundaries” artwork offers.

Krakow said both exhibitions refHer sculptures are made from a Straka said she accepted a position at FSU because of the sense of com- combination of soft and hard mate- erence the natural world and our inrials. Straka said she is proud of that teractions with it. munity within the art department.

She said as the Mazmanian Gallery “I have truly phenomenal col- combination.

Straka said she believes art edu- has a central location on campus, she leagues who I love and respect very much. My students are deeply cre- cation is important because art is an considers the impact each exhibition ative intellectuals who are passion- outlet for the understanding of hu- has on the community.

“Given everything that is going ate about what they are creating. This man experiences.

“As a species, we are going to have on with the climate right now, both makes coming to work every day very to cultivate creativity if we are going works, particularly Tim’s, ask us to fulfilling,” she said.

Straka said her portion of the ex- to survive. Artwork has the ability to address climate change and the polithibition was created over the span of say the things we can’t find the right ical situation around it,” Krakow said.

She continued, “That’s an import2020 through 2021. Most of her work words for sometimes. And, the voice within a piece of art isn’t bound up by ant conversation to have on campus.” was created last summer.

Krakow said she “loves” both McStraka said the inspiration of her the perimeter of language,” she said.

Ellie Krakow, director of the Donald’s and Straka’s work. portion of the exhibition was from her Krakow said she visited the interest in the biological processes of Mazmanian Gallery, said every few the human body. Additionally, the years exhibitions from faculty are in- Mazmanian Gallery while the exhibitions were being arranged. She “tiny dramas that play out in the in- cluded. was “so inspired to see the integrity of their creative processes” and the “depth” of their work.

She said prior to the exhibitions being open to the public, people were gazing through the windows.

Krakow said art education is important because it teaches creativity and problem solving.

“We are in an unprecedented time where things are getting more and more complicated and harder to navigate. A department where creativity and problem solving is taught is what’s going to be called for in this next period of time,” she said.

“The things you can do in the arts about expressing your own experiences of the world and contemplating what we are looking at, is an important part of being a human being.”

Maddison Behringer / THE GATEPOST CONNECT WITH CAROLINE GORDON (Left) Tim McDonald’s illustrations, “oracle/slight return,” “no boat’s gonna row,” and “thatz some hip drum s***/still here,” in the gallery. cgordon4@student.framingham.edu

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ARTS & FEATURES ARTS & FEATURES

14 | NOVEMBER 19, 2021 14 | NOVEMBER 19, 2021

Mazmanian Gallery

Keri Straka’s sculpture “Medusa Viscera” displayed in the gallery Nov 16.

Tim McDonald’s drawing “no boat’s gonna row” displayed in the gallery Nov 16.

Tim McDonald’s illustration “3 on 3 (for the poet Natalie Diaz)” displayed in the gallery Nov 16.

Keri Straka’s sculpture “Devotional Recession: tipping point” displayed in the gallery Nov 16.

Spread by Maddison Behringer and Emma Lyons, Asst. Design Editors /THE GATEPOST Photos by Maddison Behringer/THE GATEPOST

@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

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

ARTS & FEATURES

NOVEMBER 19, 2021 | 15

‘Chainsaw Man’ - it speaks for itself, really

By Sean Cabot Multimedia Critic

Where to even begin with “Chainsaw Man?” By all accounts, this is a comic that should not work to the extent that it does. At first glance, it’s a crass, ultraviolent mess that appears to have little purpose beyond being as crass and violent as its publisher will allow.

And yet, Tatsuki Fujimoto’s work has found great success from many readers, with a television adaptation by “Jujutsu Kaisen’s” Studio MAPPA on the way. But more impressively, it has earned praise from the likes of Naoki Urasawa, one of the most celebrated comic writers in Japan.

How does a series where the chainsaw-headed main character rides into a meat tornado on top of a giant shark earn that kind of praise? What’s it even about?

It starts out simpler than you may expect. The series follows Denji, an impoverished teenager who ekes out a living using his chainsaw-dog Pochita to kill devils - malicious beings whose power corresponds with humanity’s fears.

Unfortunately for Denji, his boss gets possessed by a devil and chops him into pieces. He

Puzzles

ACROSS 1. Vamooses 7. What a tire swing may swing from 11. Poker pile 14. Evoke 15. Falco of “Nurse Jackie” 16. “That’s relaxing!”

17. It’s represented by bars 19. Brazilian bossa nova hub, informally 20. Sock’s end 21. Relative of ice cream, for short 22. Chopper part 24. Pie containers 25. Wed 27. Like some diet desserts 30. Kleenex purchase 34. Currency for 19 countries 35. ___ Talk 36. Take out a policy for 37. Scarfed down

only survives when Pochita merges with his heart to save his life, turning him into the titular Chainsaw Man. This attracts the attention of the Japanese Public Safety Bureau chief, Makima. She offers to let Denji live so long as he helps them kill devils that threaten the world - their ultimate target being the all-powerful Gun Devil.

For his new job, Denji is given two partners - the first being Aki, a vengeful Devil Hunter willing to do anything to kill the Gun Devil.

The second is Power - a Blood Devil possessing the corpse of a young woman, whose creator-stated inspirations are Walter from “The Big Lebowski” and Cartman from “South Park.”

This is the most coherent the series ever gets. “Chainsaw Man” is difficult to describe not only because of its strange plot concepts, but also because of how it is constructed.

The series oscillates in tones constantly, moving on a dime between somber melodrama to slapstick comedy to intense hyperviolence.

This idiosyncratic writing style has inspired the name “Chainsaw Man pacing” among the comic’s readership, a testament to how distinctive it is. Though, it might

be a bit too eclectic for some. merely good for what they are, One minute Denji is interacting they’re just plain great drama. with Aki and Power like they’re Ultimately the series is about living in a sitcom, and the next the struggle between one’s lust they’re being thrown into literal for life and balancing that with Hell. If the series’ actual humor the need for love from others. and structure weren’t so strong, Denji’s primary character flaw is it would be easy to mistake the constantly coming up with shortwhole thing for one big joke. sighted goals that allow others All of this is backed by stellar to manipulate him due to his beartwork. What appears to be a se- lief that it is selfish to desire too ries of crude, rough sketches even- much. tually gives way to superb panelEven with its rough edges, ing, framing, and imagery.

“Chainsaw Man” is still a suThe action scenes in particular premely readable comic, wearing are a delight to read, balancing an its most offbeat elements like a unmatched sense of physicality badge of honor. And that kind of against the downright bizarre su- courage is laudable. perpowers on display. And this is to say nothing of Fujimoto’s grasp of visual horror, which rivals that ADMIT ONE of Eisner-winner Junji Ito. But what’s the point to all of this? Surely a series seemingly comprised entirely of bathos wouldn’t have room for actual paA ripthos? roaring riot Surprisingly enough, that’s what truly makes “Chainsaw Man” so worth your time.

The characters, especially the ADMIT ONE main trio, feel surprisingly genuine for all the insanity they participate in and how over-the-top they are. Denji’s struggles with self-worth and his conflicted feel- CONNECT WITH SEAN CABOT ings over his own life goals are not scabot@student.framingham.edu

38. People who made proclamations 40. ___ Antonio 41. Wobble 43. Forest green, for one 44. Shannon of Thirty Seconds to Mars 45. Pulled part of a church instrument 47. Like dough after baking, one hopes 48. Common sleep disorder 49. Taken in pill form, say 51. Taste or touch 53. Spanish mister 55. Initials on a deli menu 58. Prefix with “athlete” 59. Certain computer problem 62. Web exchange 63. Fortune-teller 64. “Can I?” 65. Headbutt, or an animal that headbutts 66. Harvard’s rival 67. Site of a famous opera house DOWN 1. Religious faction 2. Ancient Egyptian queen, familiarly 3. Annoy 4. Knee injury site: Abbr.

5. Island of ___ Toys (place visited by Rudolph) 6. Like a disciplinarian 7. Impose, as a fine 8. “Like herding cats” and “sick as a dog” 9. One might say “Is this thing on?” into it 10. Trips to the liquor store, say 11. Vehicles with many lights 12. Toni Morrison’s birth state 13. Hammerwielding Avenger 18. List of players 23. Mine carts’ contents 24. Chinese “way” 26. Remark to the audience 27. “Swell!”

28. “___ Banks” (Netflix show set in North Carolina) 29. Anticonsumerist ideology 31. State with a potato museum

Grade: A-

32. Deliver a speech 33. Noble gas in arc lamps 35. Curt 38. Cognac brand 39. Actress Patti 42. Touches on the shoulder 44. Rap’s ___ Nas X 46. Graduation cap feature 47. Not often 50. Easy wins 51. Directive in a sauce recipe Puzzle solutions are now 52. Humorist Bombeck exclusively online.

54. To be, in French 55. Stuff in a certain muffin 56. Misplace 57. Card that beats a deuce 60. Congressional approval 61. Teacher’s pen color, often

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16 | NOVEMBER 19, 2021

‘C L Maddison Behringer / THE GATEPOST “Clue” cast members acting during final dress rehearsal Nov. 17.

Maddison Behringer / THE GATEPOST “Clue” crew members changing scenes Nov. 17.

PHOTOS

U E’

Maddison Behringer / THE GATEPOST (Left) Juniors Eric Qua and Will Nee carry sophomore Christina Chinetti Nov. 17.

Emma Lyons / THE GATEPOST “Clue” Director Sabrina Grammatic Nov. 17.

Emma Lyons / THE GATEPOST (Left) Seniors Elisabeta Cojocaru, Eli Pare, Noah Barnes, and sophomore Christina Chinettia performing Nov. 17.

Maddison Behringer / THE GATEPOST Crew members changing scene Nov. 17.

Emma Lyons / THE GATEPOST (Left) Senior Elisabeta Cojocaru, juniors Kristel Normil, and Meeghan Bresnahan performing Nov. 17.

Spread by Maddison Behringer and Emma Lyons, Asst. Design Editors / THE GATEPOST

Emma Lyons / THE GATEPOST (Left) Junior Will Nee, junior Kristel Normil, sophomore Olivia Copeland, senior Noah Barnes, junior Stefano Hernandez, junior Meeghan Bresnahan, sophomore Christina Chinetti, senior Elisabeta Cojocaru, and junior Eric Qua performing Nov. 17.

[Editor’s Note: Olivia Copeland and Stefano Hernandez are staff writers for The Gatepost.] @The Gatepost | FSUgatepost.com