Oct. 29, 2021

Volume 90 • Issue 7

FSUgatepost.com

October 29, 2021

WDJM’s music in the moonlight

Nathan Rogers / THE GATEPOST (Left) WDJM’s Treasurer Jack McLaughlin, member Dillon Riley, and Secretary Ryan Reynolds dressed up for their Open-Mic Night Oct. 26.

[Editor’s Note: Jack McLaughlin is a staff writer for The Gatepost.]

News STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS pg. 4 COVID-19 BY THE NUMBERS pg. 6

Opinions

“LOOK TWICE SAVE A LIFE” pg. 7 COMIC pg. 8

Sports

Student concerns addressed during Administrators’ Forum

By Caroline Gordon Arts & Features Editor

By Lydia Staber Staff Writer Students raised concerns about Wi-Fi, course registration, and current COVID-19 protocols during SGA’s Administrators’ Forum hosted via Zoom Oct. 26.

President F. Javier Cevallos said the searches to hire a Vice President of Academic Affairs and a Vice President of Diversity, Inclusion, and

By Emma Lyons Asst. Design Editor

Arts & Features POETRY SLAM pg. 13 ‘PHANTOM OF THE OPERA’ pg. 14

February and April of the Spring semester.

[Editor’s note: see “Vice President Cabello leaves FSU” in the Sept. 17 issue of The Gatepost for more details.]

Patrick Laughran, chief information officer, addressed the quality of the Wi-Fi on campus.

He said he wanted to take the opportunity to educate students about how Wi-Fi operates. There are three components to the network on campus: the connection to the internet, a

See ADMINISTRATORS’ FORUM page 5

Alvarado and McDonald connect nature and human culture

By Ryan O’Connell Interim Asst. Arts & Features Editor

VOLLEYBALL pg. 9

Community Engagement (DICE) are delayed while the search for a new president is underway.

Cevallos added the presidential search will conclude around the middle of December.

“Vice president positions work very closely with the president. So, it only makes sense for me to wait until that person is appointed. They will have quite a bit of say in who the next two vice presidents are going to be,” he said.

Cevallos said the two new vice presidents will be appointed between

The Arts & Ideas committee presented the Linda Vaden-Goad Authors and Artists Series, featuring Tim McDonald and Beatriz Alvarado on their respective works via Zoom, Oct. 26.

Yumi Park Huntington, chair of Arts & Ideas, opened the event and dedicated it to Linda Vaden-Goad, former provost of Framingham State University. Vaden-Goad attended the event alongside many other FSU pro-

fessors and students.

Park Huntington introduced Ellen Zimmerman, interim provost and vice president of FSU. Zimmerman said once again she was glad to welcome Vaden-Goad, who initially founded the Authors and Artists Series, before introducing the two speakers of the night.

Zimmerman first addressed Tim McDonald, a professor of the art and music department, and an artist. The current academic year marks his 16th working at FSU. She added McDonald has earned two bachelor’s degrees in studio art and English from the University of Rhode Island. Zimmerman also said

McDonald earned his Master’s in Fine Arts from East Tennessee University.

McDonald has been featured in several exhibitions on both a local and national level. Some of his work is currently being featured at MIT as a part of an exhibit about COVID-19.

He will be featured in the Mazmanian Gallery from Nov. 18 through Dec. 10.

The floor was then turned over to McDonald, who thanked Zimmerman for the introduction and Arts & Ideas for hosting the event. He went on to share his screen and began his presentation with a poem he had written inspired by his art titled “Saturday Morning.”

See ARTS & IDEAS page 12

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

NEWS

2 | OCTOBER 29, 2021

Gatepost Interview

Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief Donald Halsing

Lisa Burke

Associate Editors Leighah Beausoleil Kathleen Moore News Editors Steven Bonini Haley Hadge Ashlyn Kelly

By Steven Bonini News Editor

What is your role at FSU and what does your job entail?

My role at FSU is professor of music in the Art and Music Department. And as part of that job, I teach a variety of courses in music.

Opinions Editor McKenzie Ward Sports Editor Danielle Achin Asst. Sports Editor Mikey Alves Arts & Features Editors Caroline Gordon Emily Rosenberg Interim Asst. Arts & Features Editor Ryan O’Connell Asst. Design Editors Maddison Behringer Emma Lyons Interim Copy Editor Patrick Brady Staff Writers James Barraford Sean Cabot Jasmine Castillo Jackson Clyde Olivia Copeland Dan Fuentes Dallas Gagnon Sophia Harris Stefano Hernandez Branden LaCroix Sage Lorenzo Jack McLaughlin Johan Perez Austin Riffelmacher Nathan Rogers Ryan Schreiber Tyler Wahl Advisor Desmond McCarthy

TH E G A N T PE

E

O

Asst. Advisor Elizabeth Banks

@

Professor of Music

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

What is your professional and educational background?

I received a bachelor’s of music degree from the Boston Conservatory, now Boston Conservatory at Berkeley.

And my majors there were music education and classical piano. Then I went on to graduate school, focusing on ethnomusicology and received a master’s and Ph.D. in music from Brown University in ethnomusicology. Some people might not recognize the field of ethnomusicology. It’s actually an interdisciplinary one, which is basically a mashup of music and anthropology. So, studying music, not just for the sound and the structure and all that kind of stuff, but the place of music in a certain society or subsection of society. So, I found that to be an exceptionally interesting field, and one that has really exploded over the past few decades. As part of that, I’ve spent maybe four-and-a-half years living in the Pacific Islands, in Papua New Guinea, where I was doing research, and I was teaching at an arts college, and then some time in the Marshall Islands, doing music research there. And then my actual geographical focus since the 1980s, has been on the music and dance in the culture of the Republic of Kiribati in the Central Pacific. So, those professional experiences have given me definitely a wider view on music in the world and what music means to various people in various cultures of the world.

What would you say your goals are as one of the professors in the music department?

Pretty much everybody likes and enjoys - whatever place music has in their lives. But very rarely, unless you’re in the field of exploring the depth of what music really means, you don’t really think about it in a conscious sense. So, I’m hoping through my classes that I can give students not just, @Tan awareness of Tdo I like S HEGbut, “Oh, I like music,” “Why O ATEP it?” “What does it mean to me?” “What about the music makes this speak to me?” Kind of thinking about the significance of music in your life. Then I teach Music Appreciation, which is basically a Reader’s Digest history of western music from the Middle Ages onward. And

Courtesy of Lisa Burke in that class, I just want students to become aware of the fact that they may actually enjoy classical music, even if it’s not something that they would chase after themselves. And it’s been kind of rewarding because I’ve had a number of students say to me, “I took this class. I didn’t realize it was going to be classical music! I felt disappointed on the first day of class.” But then, by the end of the semester, they’re saying things like, “This music is actually - I can put it on.

It can make me relaxed!” “I like to have it on in the background when I’m doing my homework.” And so somehow, kinds of music they may not listen to all the time, have made their way into important places in their lives.

What would you say is the best part of your job?

The best part of my job, in addition to interacting with my colleagues at work, is simple - being in front of the students and interacting with them. And because we have had this little hiatus due to the COVID pandemic, this aspect of my job had a big hole in it during the whole year when I wasn’t at school. And so coming back now, it’s almost like a rebirth, I think you could say, of really getting to enjoy people in person versus people on a computer screen. It’s been very exciting.

What are some personal hobbies of yours?

I enjoy photography. I like cross-country skiing. I like investigating different types of music. And also, one thing that has taken up quite a bit of time in my life for the past eight years or so is, I’m in a Doo-wop show band

with my husband, and he’s the manager and I manage part of it. It’s a ninepiece group. We have five people who are in the band, and I play keyboard in the band. And then four guys, who are the singers who perform choreographed movements to the Doo-wop songs, and my husband is one of those. And that’s another thing that, unfortunately, we haven’t been able to do since the beginning of the pandemic. But that was a huge part of my life - going out and doing gigs at casinos, or community functions, and just seeing, not only the people who grew up with Doo-wop having fun with it, but also people of all ages and types who would come to these concerts and end up just dancing, and having a blast and saying, “Wow! I never knew this music was so much fun!” And it is fun music, positive energy music.

Do you have any advice for students?

My advice has always been just reaching outside of yourself as much as possible to take advantage of the opportunities - especially now as we’re getting back to campus more - for clubs, for meeting with different types of people you may not normally interact with, to spread yourselves out, take classes that you might not have thought anything about before, but to expand your world view. And you never know where a minor or a gen ed class might actually lead you to in your future.

CONNECT WITH STEVEN BONINI sbonini@student.framingham.edu

Police Logs Friday, Oct. 22 00:42 Suspicious Activity McCarthy Center Parking Lot Checks OK

Saturday, Oct. 23 01:42 911 Hangup Miles Bibb Hall Checks OK

Tuesday, Oct. 26 00:16 Larceny Under $1200 Corinne Hall Towers Report Taken

Thursday, Oct. 28 08:13 Alarm (Fire/Smoke) Horace Mann Hall Checks OK

NEWS

OCTOBER 29, 2021 | 3

FSU implements random sample COVID-19 testing

By Leighah Beausoleil Associate Editor

By Sophia Harris Staff Writer Framingham State University will be conducting random sample testing of vaccinated students and employees starting Nov. 2, according to an Oct. 25 email from President F. Javier Cevallos.

Those selected for random testing will be notified by email, according to Cevallos.

Testing takes place in the Athletic Center gym every Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Those not selected for random testing are welcome to test during the designated times, according to Cevallos.

Each week’s testing will include resident and commuter students as well as employees, with a 100 sample size for each group, according to Ann McDonald, chief of staff and general counsel.

Cevallos explained though random sample testing was discussed as a possibility previously, the main focus at the start of the semester was getting everyone compliant with the vaccine mandate.

According to FSU’s COVID-19 data dashboard, students are 98.1% compliant with the vaccine mandate and employees are at 100%.

McDonald said as the weather gets colder, people will be spending more time inside, and with cold and flu season approaching, now is the time to begin more testing.

She added there have been “breakthrough” cases of people contracting COVID-19 depsite being vaccinated.

McDonald said the agreements initially made with employee unions concerning requirements of masking and vaccinations also included booster shots when they become available and any testing the University chooses to administer.

She said although the University encourages vaccinated students and employees to get tested, this testing is “low stakes because if somebody is unable to come or doesn’t come, there won’t be a penalty per se.”

This initial sample size will be adjusted depending on the level of participation by the vaccinated population, she added.

The partially vaccinated and exempt populations who fail to comply with their weekly testing will face consequences, including possible withdrawal from courses and a

“Different faculty respond in different ways depending upon the nature of the courses and what they’re able to do, but we can’t require them to teach in two different forms.”

-Ann McDonald, Chief of Staff and General Counsel hold on their accounts, which would prevent them from participating in spring course registration, according to McDonald.

In its initial contract with the Broad Institute last year, the University purchased more tests than needed, she said. Therefore, the remaining tests are able to be put toward the weekly testing along with symptomatic testing in the Health Center.

Polymerase Chain Response (PCR) tests are administered for the asymptomatic testing in the gym, while rapid tests will be reserved for symptomatic cases, according to Ilene Hofrenning, director of the Health Center. PCR tests will also be used for symptomatic cases where another test is needed.

Hofrenning emphasized anyone experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 should contact the Health Center and not attend testing in the gym.

Everyone must fill out a survey that asks if they have been experiencing any specific symptoms before entering the gym for testing.

Hofrenning said though she recommends everyone answer the survey honestly, she said she believes the gym is a “low-risk” area for other individuals due to the quick turnaround time for testing - usually under five minutes.

Regarding exposure to COVID-19, Hofrenning explained those who are vaccinated do not have to quarantine, adding being in the classroom

Weather

is considered low risk. Although, if a classmate does test positive, those students are considered a close contact.

Vaccinated students showing no symptoms are to test five to seven days after exposure, she said, adding this timeline allows students on campus to attend designated testing days.

She said, “So the only thing we ask is that you monitor your symptoms and get tested if you develop any symptoms, which people should be doing anyways.”

Those who are exempt or partially vaccinated will have to quarantine if a student in their class tests positive.

If a student cannot come to class due to exposure or contracting COVID-19, professors are neither required to offer a Zoom alternative to their classes nor give allowances on coursework, according to McDonald.

“Different faculty respond in different ways depending upon the nature of the courses and what they’re able to do, but we can’t require them to teach in two different forms,” she said.

Ellen Zimmerman, interim provost and vice president of Academic Affairs, said she has heard no reports of there “being any resistance to making accommodations for students who need to be absent.”

McDonald added the University asks for professors to understand circumstances may require students to miss classes and to “allow [students] to participate in whatever ways they can to complete the course.”

Students who test positive over finals or midterms will have to take the exam on a given make-up date, according to Zimmerman.

She said, “In the past, whenever there have been face-to-face exams, we always have a make-up day.

I think we’re going to have to think beyond that for this semester, just in case.”

CONNECT WITH LEIGHAH BEAUSOLEIL lbeausoleil@student.framingham.edu CONNECT WITH SOPHIA HARRIS sharris9@student.framingham.edu

Correction In the Oct. 15 issue of The Gatepost, we published an incorrect number in the article “Childhood education centers adapt to changing COVID-19 regulations” on page 4. We published the full enrollment capacity of the Early Childhood Center as 17, which should have been 18. We appologize for this error.

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

Sunday night Oct. 31 Mostly clear, with a low around 48. Wind around 5 mph.

Monday night Nov. 1 Mostly clear, with a low around 40. Wind around 5 mph.

Tuesday night Nov. 2 Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Wednesday night Nov. 3 Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40.

Monday Nov. 1 Sunny, with a high near 60. Wind around 10 mph.

Tuesday Nov. 2 Partly sunny, with a high near 55. Wind around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Wednesday Nov. 3 Partly sunny, with a high near 55. Wind around 10 mph.

Thursday Nov. 4 Partly sunny, with a high near 50. Wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

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

4 | OCTOBER 29, 2021

NEWS

Student organizations adjust to in-person gatherings

By Johan Perez Staff Writer Student organizations are getting back on their feet after over a year of remote learning, with many using this return as a rebuilding period.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, student organizations were forced to adapt their meetings and events to a nearly all-remote environment. For several organizations, this wasn’t something that was possible.

In Fall 2019, there were 46 recognized student organizations. This number dropped to 43 in Fall 2020.

Sara Gallegos, advisor of Student Government Association (SGA) and director of Student Involvement and Leadership Development (SILD), said the department had a goal of keeping “at least 75% [of the organizations] active until the end of Fall.”

During the full academic year of 2020-21, 34 of the 43 organizations that began in the Fall were still active at the end of the year.

As of Oct. 14, 2021, there were 33 recognized student organizations.

Senior Emma Sullivan, vice president of SGA, said, “Last year during COVID, we [SGA] saw the drop [in active organizations] and there were next to no funding requests for events.

“Now, we’re reaching out to the clubs, seeing if they need help, seeing how we can help them, and what events they want to do so we can rebuild that community on campus,” she said.

Sullivan added SGA would be “trying to build a new normal.”

Gallegos said this partnership with SGA would lead to a “rebuilding year” for general student engagement. “I think everybody is in the mindset of, ‘We kind of have to start over a little bit,’” she said.

She added SILD is meeting with all of the organization officers to help with this new climate. Some club officers are experienced, but others are brand new to not only managing an organization, but learning to do so during a pandemic.

“It’s basically just reassuring everybody that it’s OK - we’re all just refreshing and doing what we want to do,” she said.

Some organizations struggled to adapt their meetings and events during the height of the pandemic, and are excited about returning to in-person gatherings.

Junior William Nee, technical chair of The Hilltop Players, said being remote was “really difficult because we weren’t able to have an audience for anything.

“For the Suit Jacket Posse, [the show] is 95% audience. The audience is what makes the shows what they are,” they said.

Nee also shared their excitement for being able to perform in front of a crowd again.

“It’s really cool to have the audience back for that,” they said. “That’s basically what makes [the show]

@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

worth doing.”

Senior Sarah Sagan, president of the English and Gaming clubs, said she’s excited to have events with prizes in person be feasible again.

“Remotely, it’s fun too. They go off to some lucky winner,” said Sagan. “But when it’s in person, you get to see people actually get excited for participating in things and winning the prizes.”

Sagan said the prize for English Club’s fantasy short story contest in November will be a large stuffed dragon and she is “excited to see people’s reactions.”

Senior Tim Hodgdon, president of the Math Club, said the club sponsored multiple events throughout the remote period such as working together on Zoom to direct a person through an escape room and watching math-related movies like “Good Will Hunting.”

He said the organization is excited to be on campus and in person again.

“We’re usually all hanging out in the lounge area around the math offices and the professors tell us how nice it is to see students out here working again.”

Junior Christie Jean, president of Pride Alliance, said the remote meetings were “nice, but it really wasn’t the same.

She said while it was a safe space, in-person meetings are ideal.

“The energy is much better in person - you feel like you’re actually there and not just at a computer screen,” Jean said.

Senior Ryan Feinblatt, president

Gatepost Archives Students at the American Sign Language Club table during Engagement Day Sept.

29. nizations were restarted by students this semester.

Senior Ben Heath, vice president of Ski and Snowboard Club, said he worked with the current president to revive the club after all its members graduated.

Heath contacted previous members and the advisor to get things started. “We took it over just last month. We’ve just been working and figuring out what we want to do,” he said.

Heath described things as “smooth sailing” so far. Plans for a trip in the spring semester are already in the works.

“The energy is much better in person - you feel like you’re actually there and not just at a computer screen.”

-Christie Jean, Pride Alliance President of Comic Book Club and director of Best Buddies, said, “Given the opportunity to socialize again has become a great platform with both my organizations.”

In the spring, Comic Book Club held an event with Rob Paulsen, known for his voice work on several cartoons such as “Jimmy Neutron,” “Animaniacs,” and “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.”

“The Rob Paulsen event brought a lot more interest than I thought,” said Feinblatt.

He added there are several events and activities both clubs are planning to sponsor this year, such as trips to conventions and comic book stores for Comic Book Club, as well as fundraisers and charity walks for Best Buddies.

Some groups disbanded after the end of the Spring 2020 semester, and were inactive throughout the next academic year. Some of these orga-

Carl Bergstrom, the Institutional Security Officer and advisor for both the Anime and Gaming clubs said it was sad that both clubs have to rebuild from the ground up.

He added he saw both clubs struggle to keep interest in a remote environment last year.

“The eBoards dissolved, and sadly with them, the clubs as well,” he said.

Both clubs have begun holding meetings again, but with entirely new eBoard rosters.

Some organizations had strong years, despite the challenges of a mostly remote academic environment.

Senior Mia Ihagie, president of the Afro Caribbean Dance Group, said, “We couldn’t have any performances and we couldn’t go to other schools, so we took the time out of our day to practice and get together.”

Since not everyone lived on campus, the group picked members up

from their homes for practice. During this time, they also published a video performance.

“That video gave us a lot of media attention. Now, we have a lot of people who want us to travel to their schools or want us to go to their events and perform,” she added. “We didn’t think all of this would happen during COVID.” The organization held multiple events on campus, such as a flash mob in the Dining Commons during dinner.

“We have two years of [students] who don’t know how college is and what it’s like,” she said. “We’re just trying to get things popping.”

Senior Donald Halsing, editor-in-chief of The Gatepost, said he was “happy that we were able to make it work.

“I’m really glad we were able to find a way to still produce a physical paper every week,” he said.

The team could only have a fraction of itself in the office at a time, with the majority of staff writers and advisors meeting on Zoom, according to Halsing.

“It wasn’t easy to get everybody on the same page,” he said.

He added the energy was “completely different from past years” but they were able to persevere.

“It’s a wonderful feeling to be back on campus and talking to people in person,” Halsing said.

“Having that energy in the room when we come in on Monday and start talking - there’s this sense that we belong, and that we can do it.”

[Editor’s Note: Donald Halsing is Editor-in-Chief for The Gatepost.]

CONNECT WITH JOHAN PEREZ jperez3@student.framingham.edu

NEWS

Adminstrators’ Forum Continued from page 1 campus-wide connection to all of the facilities - or “the backbone of our campus network” - and the wireless infrastructure the community uses.

According to Laughran, during Fiscal Year 2020-21, FSU spent $660,000 on network upgrades, replacements, expansion and ongoing maintenance and support.

“Naturally, this is a critical piece of infrastructure that we continue to invest in. It’s a utility, like electricity or water,” he said.

He said a portion of the money was used to increase Wi-Fi coverage outside because of COVID-19, which allowed people the option to spend time outside on their devices.

As part of capacity planning, he said the IT service department listens to feedback from the community, such as their level of satisfaction with the wireless network, how much the Wi-Fi is used, number of devices connected, and the extent to which they value the Wi-Fi’s performance.

He said the number of reported concerns with the Wi-Fi have decreased. Halfway through Fall 2019, there were 100 incidents reported.

Halfway through Fall 2021, there have been 65 incidents.

Laughran added requests for assistance have decreased. There were over 600 requests during the first half of the fall 2019 semester. This year, there have been 184 during the same time frame.

He attributed the decrease in requests to changes implemented, such as a self-service portal. Through the portal, students are able to get information and submit requests for assistance with internet connection and connecting gaming consoles and household appliances.

Laughran said the IT department wants to replace some of the technology, such as wireless access points.

He said currently, there are “wireless access points for three to four rooms within a residence hall.”

Laughran said this system “creates conflicts as the network is a shared service.” Depending upon what someone is using it for, that can affect the “bandwidth” available to someone next door.

He added the IT Department is implementing more wireless access points with smaller radii.

Laughran noted this system will be a better way to implement “dedicated bandwidth” for each room.

He said West Hall is the next residence hall due for a technological upgrade. Laughran said the IT department is “experimenting” with new devices in West Hall for Spring 2022.

Ellen Zimmerman, interim provost and vice president of Academic Affairs, discussed the availability of study spaces - particularly during the night - and the use of Canvas.

She said due to staffing issues, the library has not been able to stay open as late as it typically does. In order for the library to remain open later at night, there must be one staff member and one student worker present the entire time.

Zimmerman added Millie González, interim library dean, is planning to add an additional staff member.

She said once the additional staff member is hired, which should be within a month or so, the library will be able to stay open until 11 p.m.

In the meantime, González has discussed schedule changes with the library staff and student workers that will allow for the library to stay open until 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday.

Zimmerman said this new schedule will “hopefully” start this Sunday.

“In terms of burning the midnight oil and later - that’s another matter,” she said.

Zimmerman noted the library can only be open as late as it can be staffed. She said González can discuss other late-night study options with students.

Zimmerman also addressed a concern about the University’s new learning management system, Canvas.

Zimmerman noted most faculty and students were introduced to Canvas for the first time this Fall.

ing forward come out plenty in advance.”

John Santoro, interim police chief, discussed the accidents that have occured on Route 9.

He noted Route 9 is a state highway outside of campus.

Santoro said, “Route 9 is under the care, custody, and control, technically of the state of Massachusetts, but the city of Framingham Police Department takes care of handling traffic enforcement issues, speeding complaints, and accidents.”

He added the roads running through campus, such as State Street and Maynard Road, are monitored by the City of Framingham.

He said recently, there have been complaints about speeding vehicles on Church Street, which is a concern the two police departments share.

Santaro also discussed an incident of racist decals found on campus last March.

He said both public and private institutions in the area and nationwide have been targeted by the same group that spreads its propaganda through stickers.

He stated the suspects who tar-

“Being advocates for ourselves is the number one thing we can do to assure our University’s success.”

-McKenzie Ward, SGA President “Whenever you switch to a new platform, it’s a learning process for both the students and the faculty.

For the faculty, it’s not just learning how to access stuff on it - it’s actually learning all the capabilities it has.

It’s a pretty big learning process,” she said.

Zimmerman added, “The faculty that I’ve heard from really like Canvas. They are really pleased with it as an instrument for teaching and learning. They are really trying to become proficient at all the different aspects of it.”

[Editor’s note: see “University assesses transition to Canvas” in the Oct. 22 issue of The Gatepost for more details.]

McKenzie Ward, SGA President, discussed the change in the course registration section of myFramingham.

Ward said she had demonstrated how to navigate course registration to her freshman honors students during her peer mentor session, only to have the system change a few days later.

Zimmerman replied, “I completely agree with you, McKenzie. That needed to be better communicated.

The college deans and I have a meeting on Thursday. We will talk about what those changes are to make sure an explanation gets out now, even though it’s a little late, and to make sure that those communications go-

geted Framingham State were never caught due to the decals being placed at night and their identities being disguised by face masks and hats.

Dale Hamel, executive vice president, addressed a student’s question about parking lots available on campus for commuters.

“We did a count of all the parking spaces to see where we could potentially make some adjustments,” he said.

“We were never at a point where we were out of commuter spaces.”

Hamel said Maple lot, although the “third choice of commuter students,” always has spots open.

“I’m assuming the question is in regard to, ‘Why isn’t there enough closer to campus?’ But, we’ve got three lots, and one’s farther away than the other two,” he added.

Ilene Hofrenning, director of the Health Center, discussed current COVID-19 quarantine protocols.

She said if someone is vaccinated, there is no requirement for quarantine, even if someone they are in close contact with tests positive.

Hofrenning said Health Center staff reach out to those in contact with an infected person to determine if they have any symptoms. She said they are asked to monitor their symptoms for two weeks. Then, they must be tested if they show any symptoms.

She added the CDC recommends those in contact with an infected

OCTOBER 29, 2021 | 5

person be tested every five to seven days - even if they are asymptomatic.

Hofrenning said the health center staff does not require anybody who is vaccinated and exposed to quarantine. Only those who are unvaccinated and exposed to COVID-19 must quarantine.

However, she said if someone tests positive for COVID-19, they must isolate for 10 days.

“We haven’t seen any evidence of classroom transmission. We have seen evidence of roommate and suitemate transmission, but not a whole lot. We are starting random-sampling testing of people who are vaccinated just to see if there is asymptomatic infection. We want to have a handle on that if there is,” she said.

A student asked about the asbestos in May Hall and the construction the building is undergoing.

Patricia Whitney, assistant vice president of Facilities and Capital Planning, said whenever work is done that “disturbs something,” such as pulling up carpet or tearing down walls, testing is always done.

She said there have been a couple of cases where flooring was replaced in classrooms on the second floor.

“We did have an abatement contractor come in and, within the accordance of all the regulations, remove the asbestos so we could provide new carpet.

“None of the air sampling for asbestos has posed any issue,” she added.

Whitney said repairs were made to May Hall’s roof, skylights, and gutters. Bricks were also repointed.

She added, the only indoor work that occurred was in one faculty member’s office where there was damage.

[Editor’s note: see “Renovations underway at May Hall” in the Oct. 22 issue of The Gatepost for more details.]

President Ward wrapped up the forum by thanking the administrators.

“We really appreciate you taking the time, especially after a long day at work, to come and answer our questions and concerns. I want to thank the students as well. Being advocates for ourselves is the number one thing we can do to assure our University’s success.”

After the event, Ward said, “Administrators’ Forum is one of the most important events we hold as SGA. This event gives us the chance to address any concerns or ask questions we may have. While I enjoy the convenience of Zoom, I think having it in person next semester will allow us to ask follow-up questions to the administrators and will make the forum flow better.”

[Editor’s Note: McKenzie Ward is Opinions Editor for The Gatepost.

News Editors Ashlyn Kelly and Haley Hadge contributed to this article.]

CONNECT WITH CAROLINE GORDON cgordon4@student.framingham.edu CONNECT WITH LYDIA STABER lstaber@student.framingham.edu

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NEWS

6 | OCTOBER 29, 2021

COVID-19 by the numbers

By Kathleen Moore Associate Editor

Data collected Oct. 23

­ ­ Data collected Oct. 27

Data sources: U.S. Census Bureau, CDC COVID-19 Data Tracker, Johns Hopkins

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[Editor’s Note: The number of tests administered does not indicate an outbreak of COVID-19.]

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Data source: Framingham State

Data collected Oct. 27

Data sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Worldometer, City of Framingham

FSU receives grant to create digital humanities center

By Ashlyn Kelly News Editor FSU received a $192,000 grant to create a digital humanities (DH) center for the University and greater Framingham community.

The center will be located in the mezzanine of the Henry E. Whittemore Library.

Funding for the center came from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) “Sustaining the Humanities through the American Rescue Plan.”

According to the NEH website, the American Rescue Plan gave the NEH funding “to provide emergency relief to institutions and organizations working in the humanities that have been adversely affected by the coronavirus pandemic.”

English Professor Bartholomew Brinkman will serve as the inaugural director of the center, according to a University press release.

Brinkman said, “When I arrived [at] Framingham State, I was already deeply interested in digital humanities and brought the Modern American Poetry Site with me. I was interested in thinking about how digital humanities could be more present on campus.”

According to Brinkman, it took approximately six weeks to complete the application for the grant.

There was already a good sense of what to do with the grant “in particular to help faculty and students who were most affected by the COVID cri-

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sis,” he added.

He said a “good chunk” of the money from the grant will be used toward projects over the next year directed by six faculty fellows.

There is also money for student interns who will work at the center and new equipment, such as TVs, according to Brinkman.

duction to Digital Humanities class, said, “Digital humanities are so important to so many different majors, and I think a center will really help our DH community grow. It’s vital to understand it now more than ever in our very technological-based world.”

Sophia Wilson, a freshman English major, said she thinks the creation of

“There is a strong DH community nationally, and finally, FSU is a member of this community.”

-Bartholomew Brinkman, English Professor In addition to creating the center, Brinkman said the special collections resources in the library have been “bolster[ed].”

Millie González, interim dean of the library, said one of her goals for the grant was “to connect the analog to the digital.

“I requested museum-quality cases to display artifacts that will be digitized, and requested large digital displays,” she added.

Marc Cote, dean of arts and humanities, said, “It’s a highly visual field often, and so to have expanded monitors and also digital capacity in general, it’ll be helpful.”

Framingham State created a digital humanities minor, which launched this academic year.

Meeghan Bresnahan, junior history major and a student in the Intro-

how to use tools that they might not be familiar with,” Halsing added.

Brinkman said there has not been a lot of conversation about how the center will serve the minor yet because the center is “relatively new.

“My hope is that this becomes a space where faculty members and students … come together and think about the role of digital [humanities] in asking new questions, and providing some different answers for humanities topics that we’ve been thinking about for a long time,” he added.

Cote said he hopes to use the center to work with the surrounding community to do some “civic engagement work.

“I think in addition to getting outside into the communities, that also allows multi-institutional efforts to flourish, I would say, and so you can team with other universities and colleges on projects of similar nature,” he said.

Cote added the center could also foster international work. “The world languages department has an opportunity to be involved with initiatives and perhaps engage other countries.”

González said, “DH projects are innovative and cutting edge. There is a strong DH community nationally, and finally, FSU is a member of this community.”

[Editor’s Note: Donald Halsing is Editor-in-Chief for The Gatepost.]

the center is “a step in the right direction.”

Donald Halsing, teaching assistant for the Introduction to Digital Humanities course, said having a space for digital humanities students to showcase and practice their work is a “great addition to the campus.

“Digital humanities is a relatively new and developing field of study,” he said. “Not many people understand what digital humanities is or how it offers new perspectives to analyze literature, transforms archival material into accessible documents, and creates new pools of data for scholars to explore.

“I hope the center offers extra help for digital humanities students in introductory courses. Mastering the DH approach to literary analy- CONNECT WITH ASHLYN KELLY sis requires a solid understanding of akelly8@student.framingham.edu

OP/ E D

OP/ED

THE GATEPOST EDITORIAL

How to make your vote count

Every November, across the country, citizens flock to polling places to cast ballots in their municipalities’ local election.

This year’s election day is Nov. 2.

FSU is located in Framingham’s fifth district, where elections will be held for mayor, district counselor, school committee member, and library and cemetery trustees.

Each elected official in your town or city matters because they play an important role in making decisions about how your community will function.

If a significant portion of the population doesn’t vote, then elected officials won’t represent the views of the people.

Your town’s selectmen, or city’s mayor, could be your neighbor. They are members of your community who run for local positions so they can represent their neighbors - people like you.

Citizens who serve in locally elected positions make decisions about your community, including tax rates, paying first responders, schools, road repairs, and parks.

Their job is to listen to your concerns and take action to improve your community.

In order to be an informed voter, you must do your research before heading to the polls. Read up on the different candidates and ballot questions, and look up a sample ballot ahead of time.

Sample ballots can be found on each town or city’s website, and are excellent tools to prepare voters for what will be on the ballot on election day.

If you don’t vote in your local election, the people who take office might not address your quibbles and qualms about potholes in the roads and proposed pipelines near your neighborhood.

What matters more than simply voting is informed voting.

You should do your own research and be properly informed about the positions and people you are voting for.

There are many ways to learn about what is happening at the national, state, and municipal levels.

One way is to explore different forms of journalism, including newspapers, websites, and television and radio broadcasts.

However, it is important to know which news sources provide factual, unbiased in-

formation.

When viewing sources, be skeptical but don’t be cynical.

We recommend using mediabiasfactcheck.com. This website allows you to search a news source you may be reading to see if it has a history of misinformation and if it presents any bias.

Always cross-check your information sources with this website.

Another useful website is allsides.com.

This website allows you to see how multiple news outlets are reporting on a story from the right, left, and center of the political spectrum.

Having a balanced perspective of a given situation will allow you to make an informed opinion of it for yourself.

FSU students can also access The New York Times for free by signing up using their student emails while on campus WiFi. Once registered, they can access free, reliable news anywhere.

Attending meetings is also important to casting an informed vote, whether it be virtually or physically. Many towns and cities broadcast their meetings on local TV stations and stream them on YouTube or Facebook.

These meetings can include debates and speeches made by political figures, as well as select board, committee, and town meetings.

The first step to participating in informed voting is to register to vote.

In Massachusetts, you can register to vote online by visiting the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s website. To vote you need to register to vote 20 days before the election.

As election day approaches, take the steps necessary to ensure you are being represented.

Fact-check those new sources.

Inform yourself about what and for whom you are voting.

Use your voice to vote for the people who represent you.

Your vote decides which candidates earn their position - someone who will answer the people’s call, or someone who will ignore their community’s cries.

Voting is valuable, but informed voting is priceless.

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!

OCTOBER 29, 2021 | 7

“Look twice, save a life”

By McKenzie Ward Opinions Editor Every time my boyfriend Charlie lets me know he’s going on his motorcycle - I always tell him “Be safe and come home in one piece.”

I don’t say this because he’s not a good rider. He’s actually an amazing rider and he’s the only person I have ever trusted enough to give me a ride on his Harley.

I say it because everyone around him is distracted while driving.

They’re texting, scrolling through social media, making phone calls basically doing anything but paying attention to the road.

When will people realize that a text back to a friend while driving, will never be worth the danger they put others around them in?

Each time I get onto the back of Charlie’s bike, my head instantly goes to, “What if someone doesn’t see us? What if someone is texting and they sideswipe us when they move into our lane?”

My mind goes a million different places when I’m on the back of Charlie’s motorcycle. I trust my boyfriend, he always drives safer when I’m on the bike, but I will never feel 100% safe due to reckless and careless drivers around us.

In 2019, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA) reported that 5,014 riders lost their lives while on motorcycles.

These deaths accounted for 14% of traffic fatalities in 2019, according to NHSTA. In 2019, motorcycle riders were 29 times more likely to die in a motor vehicle accident than passenger vehicle occupants. They are also four times more likely to be injured than passenger vehicle occupants, according to NHSTA. Unlike drivers or passengers in cars and other enclosed vehicles, riders do not have the same protections surrounding them. And while riders should act responsible by driving safe, other drivers around them have a responsibility to drive safe and always check twice before making any moves while driving.

While it is recommended that motorcyclists wear motorcycle gloves, long-sleeved clothing made from abrasive-resistant materials, and in Massachusetts it is the law to wear a helmet while riding, these do not always protect riders from being killed. Rather they can lessen the physical damage a rider may experience if involved in an accident.

What can save a rider’s life is reminding drivers and riders to look twice.

Over the years “Look twice, save a life” has become a well known slogan used to promote motorcycle safety awareness. What look twice means is checking your blind spots, being extra aware of your surroundings, and using extra caution when driving near a motorcycle.

According to Drive Safely, an online driver education company, most motorcycle accidents happen from motorcyclists being rear-ended by cars. When a car rear ends another car, it is likely just a fender bender.

But, when a car rear ends a motorcycle, it can be fatal.

To avoid rear ending a motorcyclist, it is recommended that cars give motorcycle riders twice as big a gap as you would give a car. While motorcycles are smaller than cars, they can still move just as fast and can stop and turn more quickly than other vehicles. A larger distance will allow a driver of a car to react appropriately to the actions of a motorcycle rider.

Drivers should also always check twice before changing lanes. Motorcycles are not big, and this often makes it easy to miss them when a motorcyclist is in your blind spot. By taking the extra few seconds to check your blind spots before making a lane switch, you can easily save the life of a motorcyclist traveling beside you.

Riding on a motorcycle has been one of the best experiences of my life. Nothing will ever compare to the adrenaline rush I had after the first time I rode on the back of a motorcycle.

But at the same time, the fear that I have of Charlie being injured or killed while riding will always be there, no matter how many times he assures me he’s safe.

So please, when you are driving, look twice because you could save a life.

A 1990 Harley Davidson FXR.

McKenzie Ward / THE GATEPOST

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OP/ED

8 | OCTOBER 29, 2021

Campus Conversations Do you vote in your local election? Why or why not?

By Maddison Behringer, Editorial Staff, and Emma Lyons, Editorial Staff

“I have not voted in my local elections because I’ve always been too young to do so. But I do plan on doing it as soon as I can, or as soon as it happens.”

- Sofia Wilson, Freshman

“I did not because I missed it by 10 days.”

-Kevin Lotter, Freshman

“Yes, I do because I want to make a difference in my community and I feel like it’s important that everyone gets out and votes so that we can make that difference.”

-Katie Ashe, Senior

“I do vote when I’m back home. ... I always want to see a change in my local neighborhood or whatever it’s for, the Board of Ed. ... I just want to vote for someone so they get a nice chance to promote the talent they have.”

-Tarik Rivers, Junior

“Yeah, I do. The reason why I do it is because I do care about politics. I have family that’s in the political world and they’re always trying to preach to me about caring about what’s going on in a city or a state or a country. So I do take pride in voting.”

-Jalen Bruce, Junior

“I think voting is important because, especially around these past couple of years, there’s been a lot of change.

There’s been a lot of division within America, so I feel that voting, it kind of gives us that voice to express what we feel and what political views we believe in. That’s important.”

-Giovanni Flores, Senior

It was the best of thymes, it was the worst of times

By Haley Hadge Editorial Staff

@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

SPORTS

SPORTS

OCTOBER 29, 2021 | 9

Rams Volleyball wins 3-1 against RIC

By Tyler Wahl Interim Asst. Sports Editor The Framingham State Volleyball team continued their strong close to the season against the Rhode Island College Anchormen in a 3-1 win Oct. 26.

The team pulled out a win in their match versus Fisher College Oct. 23, but unfortunately conceded to Connecticut College later that afternoon.

The team looked to snap back into their winning streak versus the Anchormen despite the absence of 18-year Head Coach Richard Casali. he ams looked good in the first set despite missing a few key players due to injury and the absence of the head coach. he first set was hard fought and re uired a lot of great defense from the Rams to maintain a lead. he ams were able to pull out a win in the first set , but it didn t come easily. RIC was not giving up on any ball, and their communication on the court and bench foreshadowed the second set. he nchormen uickly soared to a lead and kept their foot on the pedal for the remainder of the set.

Although RIC outperformed the Rams in the second set, ultimately winning , the ams showed an incredible amount of determination that would then snowball into the remaining sets.

In the second set, we were down by . In rally scoring that s almost insurmountable to come back from,” said Assistant Coach Brian Gerard.

Gerard praised his team for gaining the momentum they needed in the second set regardless of the score deficit.

He added, “When we called a timeout and discussed it - win, lose, or draw - we needed to build our momentum. From that timeout, we outscored them 11-2. We rolled into the third and rolled into the fourth. We did what we needed to do.”

The Rams came into the third set with the same energy they had during their near comeback earlier, capitalizing on the nchormen halfway through the set. espite IC s timeouts, the ams continued to build the momentum erard had mentioned. hey finished off the set to gain a advantage. he fourth set showed what happens when the team s momentum reaches its highest peak as they raced to a lead within minutes of the first whistle.

RIC called multiple timeouts in an attempt to halt the Rams forward momentum, but nothing could stop the team at this point in the match. The Rams finished off the set with a dominating win. unior randee homas finished with a team best digs in the match, and sophomore Emily Flaherty added two aces and 12 digs for the Rams.

Assistant Coach Chelle Manganello still seemed focused after the match adding, ll this win tonight meant is that we re getting ready for our last league match of the season on Saturday. Saturday is the difference between first, second, and third. This game prepared us for that.”

The Volleyball team will take on the Worcester State Lancers in their last league match ct. .

Graduate Morgan Failla getting ready to bump the ball.

FRAMINGHAM STATE RHODE ISLAND COLLEGE

Tyler Wahl /THE GATEPOST

3 1

The team coming together to celebrate.

Rams jump to spike the ball.

Tyler Wahl /THE GATEPOST

Tyler Wahl /THE GATEPOST

CONNECT WITH TYLER WAHL twahl1@student.framingham.edu

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SPORTS

10 | OCTOBER 29, 2021

Men’s Soccer Oct. 23

Field Hockey Oct. 28

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ARTS & FEATURES

A RTS &

OCTOBER 29, 2021 | 11

F E A TU RE S

WDJM open mic night is a fun time

By Emily Rosenberg Arts & Features Editor With students dressed as astronauts, animals, movie characters, and celebrities, WDJM hosted a spooky Open Mic night on Oct. 26 in the Forum.

Performances ranged from a small improv show by the Suit Jacket Posse, students reading poetry, singing, playing guitars and pianos, and stand-up comedy.

After a year of minimal access to WDJM’s radio station and all online events, this Open Mic Night served as a celebration of their successful bounce back.

Sophomore communications major

eBoard meeting in August and that it was fun to see it come together as they ordered all of the raf e prizes and made arrangements with SILD and campus events. he raf es included four baskets and everyone who came to the Open Mic was entered. There was a commuter basket, a residential basket, a spooky basket, and a self-care basket.

Sophomore political science major Ryan Mikelis is the club’s newest eBoard member, the social media manager. He said he helped get the word out for the event by collaborating with The Gatepost to get an ad in the paper and creating Instagram promotions.

Senior Ellen Lucier has been president for three semesters, and the idea

Emily Rosenberg / THE GATEPOST Maxwell Whelan, Ryan Mikelis, and Jack McLaughlin in their Halloween costumes. and treasurer Jack McLaughlin said the idea for an open mic came about because WDJM had a successful one in , and this year was the first time since COVID-19 that they have been able to host it.

McLaughlin added it was challenging last year because it was difficult to gain new members as not a lot of people were on campus and had access to the station.

Senior communication arts major and secretary Ryan Reynolds added he really wanted to be involved with WDJM last year but couldn’t participate as much because he is a commuter and couldn’t come to campus.

McLaughlin said the Open Mic has been in planning since their first

to make it a spooky Open Mic came about only when they decided to add the spooky raf e basket for ctober.

She rated the night a 10 out of 10, and said her favorite part was seeing all the different talents the students who came had to offer.

To many members of WDJM, the station is not just about playing music, it’s the connections they make with their fellow DJs. McLaughlin said his favorite part about being an eBoard member was “meeting all the new people, being able to have my own little spot on campus to play whatever music I want. I get to do it with friends.”

“I really enjoy the social atmosphere,” said freshman Dillon Riley.

Emily Rosenberg / THE GATEPOST Freshmen Kyle Walker and Erin Gemme pose with a trophy they won for performing.

Emily Rosenberg / THE GATEPOST WDJM eBoard members show off their costumes after a successful Open Mic. with someone and he was so nervous.

“I do enjoy my own show … but What I told him was to relax. You meeting new people, going to events want to pretend like you’re in your and just having a better connection own bedroom and you’re talking with with the FSU community rather than a friend,” he said. just leaving … the people make it Mikelis said to take advantage of better.” the resources because the training is Reynolds said his favorite thing not difficult and if you en oy talking about WDJM is that they are like a on the radio, talking to people, or family.

“We’re always there for each other, having a voice on campus,” then he some of us like to hop onto each oth- encourages them to join.

Freshman Jaden Rossi said he er’s shows, just to give more brandrecently did his test hour - a short ing of ourselves, but also support our test to prove DJs know how to safely fellow DJs. “There’s lots of laughs, there’s lots operate the sound board - and that everyone in the club, particularly the of love,” he said. secretary, has been really welcoming He added he used to listen to DJs and “cool.” talk on the radio all the time and he Another new member, Dillon felt like he had a connection with them. “That’s what radio is about. It’s Riley, is interested in pursuing sports media and joined WDJM so he could like a huge community.” host his own sports talk radio show, Mikelis said he feels he adds to where he discusses national sports the University through his contribunews. He said he researched the orgations to the radio station and being nization and reached out to the club involved with other organizations as a senior in high school, knowing such as being an Orientation Leader and working for the Dean of Students he definitely wanted to oin.”

He added once he’s been tenured ffice. into the club more, he hopes to make e added he s excited to finally a “bigger impact” in the future of be at FSU in person and have a “real WDJM. college experience” after a year of Reynolds said a passion project online courses. He is a commuter, of his as secretary has been trying and he said he did not have fun being home 24/7. Being a member of WDJM to get streaming accessible so their shows can reach outside the bounds plays a big role in being involved, he of Framingham. said.

Lucier said another project the Lucier said she loves training new club is working on is a mixtape that DJs to use the board and hearing FSU students will be able to contribeveryone’s different ideas for their ute to so people can hear the “talent shows. we have across campus.”

“COVID really did a number on She added they’re working on a [WDJM] and hearing how they care belated 50th birthday party event as much as I do and having my own for the station. The club planned to private show … It’s nice to feel like host it last year, but due to COVID-19 I’m sharing music with other people restrictions, it was postponed. Lucier - music is something so important to said she hopes to invite alumni and me,” she added. give out the mixtape as a party favor.

As a senior, she said she hopes to WDJM meets in the Paul T. Murphy see future leaders of the club collaboroom on the th oor of cCarthy rate with other organizations, put on Center at 12:30 on Mondays. more open mics, and grow.

[Editor’s Note: Jack McLaughlin is Returning members gave advice a staff writer for The Gatepost] for those looking to join.

Reynolds said not to think too much.

CONNECT WITH EMILY ROSENBERG “Yesterday I was doing a test hour erosenberg@student.framingham.edu

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

ARTS & FEATURES

12 | OCTOBER 29, 2021

Arts & Ideas Continued from page 1 then displayed his piece “Ancient (to the) Future,” an 18-inch by 112inch illustration done with carbon pencil, depicting a landscape of water mixed with large stacks of objects, human silhouettes, and natural wildlife.

McDonald showed an image of reenfield ake in Wilmington, orth Carolina, along with a piece by Wang Hui “Landscape in the Style of Juran and Yan Wengui,” and noted how he drew heavy inspiration from both when creating “Ancient (to the) Future.” e emphasized reenfield ake is an “urban lake,” which helps to understand the setting of his featured piece, and brings clarity to why these familiar objects are submerged. McDonald added that traditionally we think of art depicting landscapes as celebrations of natural things, but he’s been “kind of interested in the opposite of that, recently.” c onald began analyzing his work by drawing attention to the piles of discarded objects stacked above the water level, saying how he drew inspiration from roadside memorials.

“That’s the way I was beginning to see [stacks of objects], like the way you see a roadside shrine,” he said.

McDonald added these ritualistic structures were “kind of a healing thing for the people that survive.” He then connected it to the overall theme of the piece - human impacts will remain long after we’re gone.

“We kind of are everywhere and are leaving our fingerprints on everything,” he said - noting the pieces of trash oating in the water and several signs of humans throughout the piece.

He also mentioned how the water in the piece was both representative of the lake he used as a reference and in a more general sense, rising ood waters.

The illustration included several references to the general wildlife found in the area of the reenfield Lake, as well as genuine static landmarks of the area, of which he included photos in the presentation.

McDonald explained much of the ora and fauna of Wilmington, describing the natural beauty of the swamp’s Cypress trees and adding how much of the American South was covered with pine forests. He said as the area became settled many of these forests disappeared to make room for developments.

“Pine is now at about between 1 and 2 percent of what its population was going back just a couple 100 years or so,” he said.

McDonald’s inclusion of a lone pine forest, along with the high water level and the submerged relics of the American South all help to confirm his message on climate change and the danger it presents to the modern age.

He then spoke about the several silhouettes strewn throughout the illustration. e emphasized the way the piece was up to personal interpretation, but pondered on how they could be ghosts of “future celebration, future lament, possibly.”

As he shifted to the last frame of his piece, he noted a large tree in the background and spoke on the origi-

@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

nal tree that it is representative of. He showed a picture of the 475-year-old live Oak located in Airlie Gardens in Wilmington and talked of how much it has withstood.

“They lost over 300 trees on the grounds of Airlie Gardens during Hur-

Alvarado, who is a visiting lecturer in FSU’s world language department. Zimmerman added Alvarado has earned degrees from Peru to Ohio, ranging from bachelor’s to doctorate.

“She earned her BA and licenciatura in translation, interpreting, and

Courtesy of Tim McDonald A silhouette submerged in water before a “pile” of houses in “Ancient (to the) Future.”

“They lost over 300 trees on the grounds of Airlie Gardens during Hurricane Florence and then 80 during Dorian and several more during [Isaias], but the tree was not harmed.”

- Tim McDonald, Art Professor

Courtesy of Tim McDonald Silhouettes playing music on tree stumps before a large oak in “Ancient (to the) Future.”

“In a simple definition, oral traditions are the means by which knowledge is reproduced, perceived, and transferred, from generation to generation.”

- Beatriz Alvarado, Spanish Professor ricane Florence and then 80 during Dorian and several more during [Isaias], but the tree was not harmed,” he said.

He closed out his presentation with a second poetry reading of “Poem” by Jorie Graham. he focus then shifted to eatriz

linguistics [in] Spanish, English, and French at the Universidad Ricardo Palma in Lima, Peru, where she also earned a master’s degree in studies in higher education,” Zimmerman said.

Alvarado also earned a second master’s degree in foreign, second, and multilingual language education

from The Ohio State University. While there, she also earned a Ph.D. in global education and social studies. At FSU, she teaches multiple language courses at all skill levels.

She began the presentation with a trailer featuring art centered around the stories she collected for her book “Entre el Sol y la Luna,” (Between the Sun and the Moon). The trailer featured work from a myriad of artists, but incorporated many illustrations featured within her book, mostly done

by Ecuadorian artist Ildefonso Franco, also known as Poncho.

Her presentation began by explaining why she chose to write the book in both English and Spanish. The purpose was to expand the knowledge of the ndean and mazonian cultures featured within the book. It also simultaneously creates something to connect people who don’t have a common language and provide a shared experience. lvarado then emphasized the importance of oral storytelling to these cultures. She displayed a map of Peru, and the 48 local dialects of the country. She added many of these local languages do not possess a written form, making oral storytelling an important aspect of their culture’s preservation.

In a simple definition, oral traditions are the means by which knowledge is reproduced, perceived, and transferred, from generation to generation,” Alvarado said.

She then moved on to speak of the myths and legends of Andean and mazonian culture, clarifying the difference between the two before discussing their importance in the presentation. lvarado defined myths as the early history of their people, involving supernatural elements with no evidence based on real facts. She defined legends as stories regarded as historical, but not authenticated, with some evidence based on facts.

She spoke about characters featured throughout several of the stories in her book such as Pachamama or Mother Earth, Mama Killa or Mother Moon, and Papa Inti or Father Son. An audio included in the presentation described the character saying, “Pachamama represents all earthly creations, ora, fauna, and every living thing.”

She then spoke of how all the stories within her book are connected through the Andean cosmovision, the worldview of their indigeneous people.

Alvarado closed her presentation by sharing one of the stories featured within her book “El Río Que Habla” (The River That Speaks).

Vaden-Goad commented at the close of the event she was grateful to see another successful year of presentations, and thanked both of the artists for their time.

McDonald and Alvarado then thanked the audience for their active participation and open ears during the event.

CONNECT WITH RYAN O’CONNELL roconnell1@student.framingham.edu CONNECT WITH EMMA LYONS elyons3@student.framingham.edu

ARTS & FEATURES

Poetry slam a smash hit

By Ryan O’Connell Interim Asst. Arts & Features Editor

By Emma Lyons Editorial Staff The English Department recently held an advertised open-mic poetry night at Sandella’s Flatbread Café, Oct. 22.

Lisa Eck, chair of the English department, kicked off the event by saying how happy she was to continue the tradition of poetry week. She encouraged students to read their own work and consider becoming involved with The Onyx, FSU’s literary magazine.

The Onyx meets every other Wednesday via Zoom, and releases an issue every spring. Eck added that the club is a great opportunity for studio art majors and writers to get their work out there.

“In the fall, it’s a lot about getting together to share work, and then in the spring putting together a publication of art and literature,” she said.

Throughout the night, nine different students shared their work with the audience. Among them, there were contributions from students ranging between freshmen and seniors.

Freshman Eryn McCarter Penney began the show by reading one of her poems, titled “Broken Glass.” Pen-

ney’s poem set the tone of the night as it highlighted the event was a safe place for presentation.

Second to the microphone was sophomore Aleta Sosa, who read her poem “Special.”

The piece continued the mood of the night, and touched upon Sosa’s difficult experiences through elementary and middle school. “I tried to stay more quiet. But of course I couldn’t help myself. I would scream and cry and throw things across the room. I didn’t want to be this way.”

The poem then shifted as she spoke of overcoming these difficulties and how it has gone on to in uence her.

“The new teacher taught us that everyone makes mistakes,” she said.

“The new teacher taught us that we were worth it, and everyone can always improve.”

However, not all of the poems were stand-alone pieces. Sophomore Christina Chinetti shared short excerpts from a collection of poems she compiled for her book, all revolving around each other.

Chinetti shared poems “White Picket Fence,” and “Backyard,” on her first trip to the microphone. She returned to present several times throughout the night, taking advantage of the open mic.

Senior Sarah Sagan, president of the English club, took photos for the club’s Instagram throughout the

event. She also read her poem “Cycle of Life.”

Freshman Emma Geissler then read her poem “The Habit of the Destructive,” a piece about her experience of being “trapped in a relationship that was no good for either of us.” She followed up by reading a connected poem, titled “Keep Your Mind.”

The open-mic event was also opened to those not currently enrolled at FSU. Olivia Banks, former editor of The Onyx from 2020-2021, took the opportunity to read her poems, “Flower Girl (Empath),” “Watered Down,” “Book Character Friend,” and the ending of her poem “Love Language,” which was published in the 2021 edition of The Onyx.

Alphonse Smith, a junior, contributed by sharing her piece, “Sheeple,” which discussed the importance of empathy and challenged the conception that sheep were “mindless.”

Smith’s poem, along with many others read that night, were pieces of writing open to interpretation.

“I have to question, what’s so bad about being a part of the ock? If it means caring about others, checking up on them, not leaving anyone behind,” she read.

The last reader of the night was junior Leo Jalali, treasurer of The Onyx, who read a piece of prose from his series of works connected to New Orleans. The piece touched upon the im-

OCTOBER 29, 2021 | 13

pact of frequent natural disasters on the city.

“I rolled into the outskirts of the city of New Orleans. On the wicked edge of the asphalt, it’s last jabs resonating through my thoughts,” he read. “A sudden thought crossed my mind, and induced panic. Why did we return?”

Eck returned to speak after Jalali’s prose, closing the night by asking for feedback from the audience concerning the structure of the event. leta Sosa was the first of many participants to say that they should “do this again sometime.”

Christina Chinetti agreed, and added that “[she] thought this was all brilliant.”

Eck reminded the audience once more that the English Club and The Onyx are always looking for new members, and that they are happy to hear from anyone interested in writing creatively. She ended the presentation by expressing her joy to hear from all of the poets that night.

She said “we live in the stories and find a home in the stories we read by published authors we don’t know, but on a night like tonight, we can live in each other’s stories.”

CONNECT WITH EMMA LYONS elyons3@student.framingham.edu CONNECT WITH RYAN O’CONNELL roconnell@student.framingham.edu

‘Metroid Dread’ - a triumphant redemption

By Sean Cabot Staff Writer “Metroid” should probably be a bigger deal, right?

Here’s a series that both revolutionized action platforming and featured one of the first ma or examples of a female protagonist in gaming: Samus Aran. But despite all of this, “Metroid” seems strangely obscure compared to its contemporaries.

Part of this is owed to a massive hiatus, which many attribute to the disastrous reception of 2010’s “Metroid: Other M.” A game panned not merely for its confusing design, but for focus on a cinematic narrative that seemed to take every possible opportunity to remove Samus’ agency.

Thankfully, the revival of “Metroid Dread” from development hell signals that this hiatus is definitively over.

After cutting their teeth on 2017’s “Samus Returns,” a 3DS remake of “Metroid’s” oft-forgotten Game Boy sequel, developer MercurySteam now helms the first fully original mainline “Metroid” game in over a decade.

“Dread” continues Samus’ story where 2003’s “Metroid Fusion” left off, with Samus investigating Planet ZDR, where the deadly X Parasite has been sighted. With her Metroid DNA

making her the only being capable of stopping them, Samus ventures onto ZDR, only to be attacked by a member of the supposedly extinct species that raised her the Chozo.

Flung into the planet’s depths after her battle and stripped of most of her armor s abilities, Samus must fight her way out, regain her power, and confront her legacy once and for all.

What follows is one of the most immaculate gaming experiences you can have on a Nintendo Switch.

Samus boasts a variety of new and improved movement options. This includes sliding, wall climbing, dashing, and a more accessible wall jump, resulting in effortlessly smooth exploration.

Her new running melee attack also provides a quick alternative to her iconic arm cannon, helping to keep her both agile and deadly. As a result, simply moving around in this game is gratifying.

This movement comes especially in handy when confronting Samus’ new enemies. Seven robots called E.M.M.I.s will now pursue Samus through designated areas under threat of instant death until she can find a weapon enhancement capable of bypassing their nigh-indestructible armor.

These sections heavily reminded

me of the Tyrant and Nemesis from “Resident Evil 2” and “3,” respectively. I was originally unsure of how to feel about them, but soon realized that they were an excellent way of pressuring players to learn how to quickly navigate the world with all of their abilities.

Thankfully, because “Metroid Dread’s” level design is both fun to navigate and seamlessly guides the player to their goal without excessive hand holding or direction, this pays off in spades. Even when I was momentarily lost, I was able to course-correct very easily.

And to top it all off, “Dread” has some of the series’ best bosses, no contest.

Their attack patterns are very challenging to come to grips with - I died quite a bit on many of them. But the feeling of going from completely overwhelmed to dodging attacks with ease, hits like nothing else I’ve played this year.

With enough effort, one can even acquire upgrades out of the intended order, and this sequence breaking grants unique methods of defeating bosses - an excellent addition for skilled players.

This just leaves the story, and while it’s neither very cinematic nor really paced at all, it sticks its land-

ing by leaning into the perhaps unintentional at first interpretation of Samus as a competent, no-nonsense bounty hunter.

Watching Samus walk up to recurring foe Kraid, a lizard the size of a house, and pop a laser into his roaring mouth without any sign of distress put the biggest smile on my face.

“Metroid” deserves to be a big deal.

Nintendo has treated it like a big deal by featuring “Metroid” content heavily in games like “Smash Bros.” even when Samus was on her sabbatical.

It’s time we treat it like a big deal, and “Dread” provides an excellent reason to do so.

Grade: A

Samus Aran is finally back

CONNECT WITH SEAN CABOT scabot@student.framingham.edu

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14 | OCTOBER 29, 2021

ARTS & FEATURES

‘Dune’ is finally here and it’s worth the hype

By Jack McLaughlin Staff Writer “Dune” is the adaptation of the grand sci fi novel by rank erbert. he film follows the plot of the book, which is about the character Paul Atreides, played by Timothée Chalamet, coming to the planet Arrakis with his family in order to take control over the precious resource indigenous to this planet.

It has been a long time since I’ve been this excited about a movie being this good, and “Dune” has the potential to be the best movie that’s come out this year.

Right away, the most impressive thing about this movie is how it looks and sounds. he filmmakers have done an excellent job making this world look as real as possible and this helped completely immerse me in the experience.

The soundtrack, done by Hans Zimmer, is one of the rare instances where I actively listen to it outside the movie. I found myself looping the whole soundtrack instead of listening to my regular music.

Of the expansive soundtrack recorded for the film, the tracks I return to most often are “Arrakeen” and

“Ripples In The Sand.” hese aspects make the film feel grand, a big experience that requires the biggest and loudest theater to enjoy to the fullest. I made an effort to seek out this type of theater, and it was worth the long car ride filled with traffic and even a near accident.

Without the technical achievements this movie made, you are still left with an engaging story with resonating performances all across the board.

The highlight performances that are stuck in my head come from Timothée Chalamet, Jason Momoa, and Stellan Skarsgård Chalamet carries the important task of being the protagonist for this grand story, and is able to properly convey a character that must suddenly take a great deal of responsibility due to the circumstances he is placed in.

His performance, especially in the second half of the movie, made me finally understand why people are in love with this actor.

Jason Momoa portrays the character Duncan Idaho. His performance adds a much needed levity to the grand and serious story that is being told.

He also has one of the best mo-

ments in the movie, an emotion filled action scene toward the end, that cements the character as one of the best.

But truly the most engaging performance for me was Stellan Skarsgård’s portrayal as the Baron.

His creepy performance, which perfectly accompanies his terrifying design, is one of the best parts and only made me want to see more of him.

If I had to find something that disappointed me in this movie, it’s the ending. his film is posed as part one of a bigger narrative, and the ending re ects that with a pretty abrupt conclusion.

When the film ended, I snapped up from my seat and was genuinely shocked that it had already been two and a half hours.

The director, Denis Villenueve, has made a name for himself over the past few years for his Sci-Fi movies that heavily deliver engaging stories and gorgeous special effects. “Dune” follows this trend as it’s the best project he’s worked on, and my new personal favorite of his.

“Dune” succeeded in making me want to learn everything about this world. After seeing the movie, I now have a desire to seek out the books and join the people who are now anxiously waiting for the second half of

the story to be adapted.

It’s been too long now since there’s been a movie that I’ve deemed absolutely necessary to see in theaters, and if you’ve been avoiding going for the past year, I highly recommend this as your return to the theaters instead of streaming it.

Rating- A: It may just be the best movie that’s come out this year.

ADMIT ONE

Grade: A It may just be the best movie that’s come out this year ADMIT ONE

CONNECT WITH JACK MCLAUGHLIN

jmclaughin7@student.framingham.edu

‘What a night, what a crowd!’

The return of ‘The Phantom of the Opera’

By Austin Riffelmacher Staff Writer

As the chandelier rose in the Majestic Theater on Oct. 22, people cheered, some stood as “The Phantom of the Opera,” the longest running show in Broadway history, resumed its 34-year reign.

The re-opening night audience included the musical’s composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, producer Cameron Mackintosh, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-NY. Speaking to the audience on stage prior to curtain, Schumer affirmed, “With ‘Phantom’ re-opening tonight, we know New York is back, bigger and better.”

Bigger and better remained the theme of the evening. After time in the rehearsal studio, the first for the show since late December 1987, everything from the cast and orchestra to the scenery and costumes, felt fresh and alive.

The stars of this musical have, and will always be, the intersection of Lloyd Webber’s score, Maria Bjornson’s designs, and the late Hal Prince’s adroit direction.

After the past two years, all three seemed so precious to the audience containing mostly “Phans” of the show.

The original London production was abruptly ripped out, by Mackin-

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tosh’s own doing, of Her Majesty’s Theatre in July 2020 and re-opened this July in a version that scales down Prince’s and Bjornson’s original vision. What seemed most blasphemous to “Phans” was the reduction of the orchestra, going from 27 musicians – to 14.

New York’s “Phantom” retains its 28 musicians, and they deservedly received their own ovation. They are resounding and are the best (and biggest) orchestra on Broadway!

Ben Crawford currently inhabits the mask as the Phantom. As the disfigured opera ghost obsessing over the ingenue singer Christine Daae, Crawford has become incredibly confident physically and vocally since he took over the role in 2018.

Impressively, his vocals evoke the baritone Phantoms of the ’90s, while sounding equally as contemporary as his tenor peers.

The role calls for Crawford to perform at the highest levels of emotions, but the actor looked extremely comfortable, even on a night where it felt like the world was watching.

Confidence is not uite as strong in Meghan Picerno’s Christine. Picerno was discovered by Prince when he directed her as Cunegonde in Leonard Bernstein’s “Candide.”

That might come as a surprise to some audience members as Picerno’s voice is very thin for someone from

the opera world. There were several moments of the score, particularly when it called for pianissimo, that the soprano was not even on pitch.

For such a thrilling evening, Picerno turned in a shockingly boring performance.

As Raoul, Christine’s lover, John Riddle plays the character with refreshing compassion and reminds us why - spoiler alert - Christine doesn’t choose the name on the marquee at the end.

The most stellar cast member in “Phantom” right now is Raquel Suarez roen as opera diva Carlotta uidicelli. With an amazing voice, and a blend of humor and viciousness, she is by far the best I’ve seen to play the role in New York.

The audience’s response to the show was incredibly overwhelming.

It s amazing how beloved and pertinent the show remains to theater-goers even as smaller and more contemporary shows like “Hamilton” and “Dear Evan Hansen” embody the avor of the moment. udibly, it s just so unique.

The reason the show has succeeded and continues to thrill is its absolute theatricality. No commercial musical, perhaps except for “The Lion King,” celebrates genuine live theater - the recreation of a boat journey to an underground labyrinth, the Masquerade ball on a grand stair-

case at the top of Act Two, and, of course, the infamous chandelier that rises and falls over the heads of the audience.

The Prologue/Overture remains one of the greatest tour-de-forces in any Broadway musical.

However, the most epic moment of the evening happened after the curtain went down on the performance.

As the audience was ushered out of the theater, Lloyd Webber himself DJ ’ed in the middle of a closed West 44th Street.

The evening made a clear statement.

There is no New York City without Broadway, and there is no Broadway without “Phantom.”

Grad e:

A

There is no Broadway without “Phantom.”

CONNECT WITH AUSTIN RIFFELMACHER

ariffelmacher@student.framingham.edu

ARTS & FEATURES

Puzzles

ACROSS 1. Blanket that isn’t warm?

5. Prefix for “loyal” 8. High hairstyle 12. Give the slip 13. Home (in on) 14. “Grammar” is a common one 15. *Substantially 18. “___ now or never” 19. B&B relative 20. Comes to light 21. *1986 hit about a woman wearing a colorful dress 25. Pass with flying colors 26. (Not my error) 27. Tug 31. Dizzying MoMA works 34. “Butter” nut 36. Compete 37. *Sport that may involve clearing gates 40. Magenta or mauve 41. Lights’ counterparts, on laundry night 42. Green spots in deserts 43. Basra’s country 45. Poor grade 46. “Full Frontal” airer 47. *Where a mechanic often works 53. Seedy tropical fruit 56. Feminine pronoun 57. Body scan: Abbr.

58. Grimm fate? ... and a hint to the last words of the starred clues’ answers 62. ___-checker 63. Paradise in Genesis 64. Hybrids, e.g.

65. Reproachful sounds 66. Kind of milk or sauce 67. You may like one on Instagram

OCTOBER 29, 2021 | 15

DOWN 1. DMV animal in “Zootopia” 2. Vaccine administrator, often 3. Auden’s “___ to the Medieval Poets” 4. Rainy 5. 1992 Cy Young Award winner and AL MVP 6. Nest egg letters 7. Vehicle that soaks up the sun 8. Waiting to be picked up?

Puzzle solutions are now 9. Things for catching or cooking lob- exclusively online. sters 10. Actor Hill of “The West Wing” 11. Lowest digits in Sudoku puzzles 12. Radiate 13. Like Monty Python 16. Take cover 17. Rage 22. “___ and the Real Girl” (2007 film) 23. Played a role 24. Small cuts from shavers 28. Alamo alternative 29. Highest digit in Sudoku puzzles, typically 30. Taproom barrels 31. “Fancy seeing you here!”

32. Come down in buckets 33. Acreage, e.g.

34. “Gay” city in a Cole Porter tune 35. Mythical weeper 38. First and last meals together, maybe?

39. Tiny bit, in recipes 44. Gallon fractions 46. You, in the Bible 48. Bronx MLB team, on scoreboards 49. “And ___ what?”

50. Neglects to mention 51. “... but I could be mistaken” 52. Casual living space?

53. “As if!”

54. Small batteries 55. “Take your ___” 59. Hubbub 60. Preschooler’s downtime 61. Tegan and Sara, e.g.

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PHOTOS

16 | OCTOBER 29, 2021

Haunted Happenings

Emma Lyons/THE GATEPOST

Library staff pose for a group photo at Halloween Fiesta Oct. 28.

Nathan Rogers/THE GATEPOST

Freshman Dillon Riley performing at WDJM’s Open-Mic Night Oct. 26.

Maddison Behringer/THE GATEPOST

(Left) Junior Katie Sharpe and freshman Emily Paterson at library Halloween Fiesta Oct. 28.

Nathan Rogers/THE GATEPOST

Sarah Sagan reading poem at WDJM’s Open-Mic Night Oct. 26.

Nathan Rogers/THE GATEPOST

WDJM President Ellen Lucier performing at the group’s Open Mic Night Oct. 26.

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

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