May 4, 2018

THE GATEPOST Framingham State’s independent student newspaper

Volume 86 • Issue 24

FSUgatepost.com

May 4, 2018

University receives largest donation to date

By Nadira Wicaksana Asst. News Editor

The Hilltop Players put on an energetic production of “Heathers.”

Amanda Martin / THE GATEPOST

Halcyon Mancuso Krebs, FSU English professor, and her husband, Thomas Krebs, launched the Mancuso English, Humanities and Social and Behavioral Sciences Scholarships with a $2.4 million donation in March 2018.

This donation, the largest in the University’s history, was announced on April 24.

These full-ride scholarships will allow select students enrolled in majors in the College of Arts and Humanities and the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences to attend FSU debt-free. The scholarships will cover tuition, fees, and room and board for up to four years.

FSU will start awarding the scholarships in the fall 2019 semester, beginning with the Mancuso English Scholarship - available every year - and the Mancuso Humanities

See MANCUSO SCHOLARSHIP page 3

DFI: Shifting the focus to downtown Framingham

By Jillian Poland News Editor Executive Director of Downtown Framingham, Inc. (DFI) Courtney Thraen burst into the one-room office DFI shares with a local property owner, wearing a raincoat over her business-casual attire and smiling.

“I’ve just had three meetings in 70 minutes!” she explained breathlessly to Project Manager Shanleigh Reardon and the nonprofit’s intern,

Kayllan Olicio.

The Boston Marathon was only a few days away and DFI’s three-person team was busy preparing for the “6 Mile Moment” - an event held at the 6-mile point of the marathon with music and stations from local businesses and restaurants - while also keeping up with their other duties.

Reardon and Olicio, both FSU students, updated Thraen on their progress getting more local restaurants to sign up for the upcoming “Taste of Downtown Framingham” event, be-

fore heading off to plant promotional signs around the downtown district.

Not wasting any time, Thraen grabbed a popup tent from the closet and hauled it down to Depot 417 - known to FSU students as the Depot Diner - where the event would be held.

Thraen walked through the back door of the business as comfortably as if it were her own home, greeting cooks and servers and stopping by the dining room to speak to the restaurant’s manager, Mary Donovan.

See DOWNTOWN FRAMINGHAM, INC. page 15

Rams flyover Florida

FSU’s cheerleading team awarded third place in national competition

By Bailey Morrison Associate Editor Many FSU students know the cheerleading team for their boisterous chants from the sidelines of the football games or their appearances at the pep rallies on campus.

The stunts and routines performed at games were a warm up compared to the stiff competition the cheerleaders faced in April at the National Cheerleading Association’s (NCA) annual competition in Daytona.

The hard work of the 16 cheerleaders paid off.

News

FSU’s cheerleading team, the Rams, placed third in the nation in the Division III All-Girl Intermediate Competition.

The Rams began preparing for the NCA’s national competition last August, said senior and team member Tiffaney Lynch.

Last August, the team bid for a spot to compete in Daytona in the NCA Nationals during a cheer camp at Boston University.

Freshman and team member Nessa Warrington said when the team competed at the cheer camp at Boston University back in August, they ended up with a “bronze bid,” which meant the team

Opinions

qualified for Nationals, but would have to pay for the trip themselves through fundraising.

According to cheerleading coach David Lombardi, the team had to raise roughly $20,000 for airfare and hotel expenses to make it to the competition in Daytona in April.

He said the funds were raised by working a concession stand at Gillette Stadium and hosting competitions for youth cheerleading teams in the Framingham area.

Warrington said the team would spend over eight hours at Gillette selling hot dogs, popcorn and beer. The team cooked and served all the

See CHEERLEADING page 24

Arts & Features

Sports

GATEPOST AWARDS pg. 3

OPIOID CRISIS pg. 6

DRY CAMPUS pg. 12

FERR OR FOUL pg. 23

INTERCULTURAL GRADUATION pg. 4

SENIOR LETTERS pg. 7

INNOVATION CENTER pg. 16

SOFTBALL pg. 25

INSIDE: OP/ED 5 ARTS & FEATURES 9 SPORTS 22

2 | NEWS

THE GATEPOST

Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief Cesareo Contreras

Gatepost Interview Mark Hardie

Director of Entrepreneur Innovation Center

Associate Editors Bailey Morrison Kayllan Olicio

By Cesareo Contreras Editor-in-Chief

News Editors Jillian Poland Shanleigh Reardon

What is your background and educational history?

My background is in entrepreneurship and starting companies. I went to Tufts University and the M.I.T. Sloan School of Management. While I was at Sloan, I ended up working on two different startups - one while I was there for the entire time - and then I left to join a founder launching a research firm.

Prior to that, I had been in an IT career, but I had been in some startup and some small organizations as well. So, the type of work we do here is familiar to me, having done that type of work.

Asst. News Editor Nadira Wicaksana Arts & Features Editor Andrew Willoughby Asst. Arts & Features Editors Zach Colten Cameron Grieves Opinions Editor Lizzy Stocks Sports Editor Matt Ferris Asst. Sports Editors Jose Carrasquillo Liam Gambon Richard Tranfaglia Camille McKenzie Photos Editors Allie Gath Amanda Martin Asst. Photos Editor Corey McFeeley Staff Designer Cara McCarthy Staff Writers Brennan Atkins Noah Barnes Mackenzie Berube Thom Duda Tessa Jillson Robert Johnson Taylor Langmeyer Colton Madore Nick Murphy Cordelia Stark Allison Wharton Shayna Yacyshyn

What led you to come to FSU? The [Entrepreneur Innovation Center hybrid] model, quite frankly - this idea that you could combine co-working with an innovation center and then have an interesting internship program as part of that. I was in the process of launching an incubator and trying to raise capital and was going to do a hybrid model of co-working incubator and career services expertise.

And so seeing that Framingham was launching a hybrid model, I thought it would be interesting to give it a try.

Can you explain how FSU’s innovation center works?

The Framingham State University Innovation Center is a critical piece in the now College of Business ... that supports the entrepreneurship programs and courses that are offered.

One of the drivers behind starting the innovation center was to have a way in which students studying entrepreneurship could get true hands-on experiences where entrepreneurs

Advisor Dr. Desmond McCarthy Assistant Advisor Elizabeth Banks Administrative Assistant Gwenyth Swain 100 State Street McCarthy Center Room 410 Framingham, MA 01701-9101 Phone: (508) 626-4605 Fax: (508) 626-4097 gatepost@framingham.edu

preneurship. We have to serve both of them equally well. That entrepreneurship program works as the glue in between, and my job is to see that the resource appeals to both of those stakeholders.

What’s one thing students might be surprised to know about you?

I know how to knit and crochet.

Cesareo Contreras/THE GATEPOST were. They weren’t left to their own devices to try and find entrepreneurs to work with. What’s unique about Framingham is that they’ve said, “OK, let’s go get the entrepreneurs. Bring them in. Put the students in the same place with them and create or enable this interaction that supports their learning while helping the entrepreneurs get work done.” So, it’s very unique in that sense. You don’t see it at any other campus.

How would you define your role as the director of the Entrepreneurship Innovation Center?

Grow the center. Pure and simple.

Make it bigger. Get it to expand its offerings both to the market and the campus. We have two stakeholders.

We have the MetroWest market - entrepreneurs, remote workers and just people for whom a coworking service would be attractive. Then, we have a campus that we are fully part of with students who want to study entre-

What do you like most about working at Framingham State?

The center and the model and the fact that nobody else is doing it. And the University has been incredibly receptive. We’ve been able to grow.

We get support from the University all the time - the facilities department, the provost’s office, the president’s [and] the different departments that are all encouraged by the fact that this resource is unique and is available to the campus. I think they are happy. I’m 100 percent dedicated to seeing this source grow.

What’s one piece of advice you have for student entrepreneurs?

Don’t be shy. All entrepreneurs start at a stage where you have to communicate what it is that has got you excited on that idea. The more you learn and the better you are at the earliest of stages communicating that idea, telling other people and getting feedback, the further you’ll go. You can’t do it all by yourself sitting in a room writing business plans. You have to take that idea out to the market and get it tested in the form of opinions. ... Entrepreneurship is not a theoretical exercise.

It’s not an academic exercise. It’s very much something you have to do in the market with real customers.

Chris Walsh, a state representative for Framingham, died at the age of 66 on Wednesday, May 2.

He had been battling cancer since 2015.

Staff Photographers Oscairy Tavarez Michael Upton Staff Illustrator Raysam Donkoh-Halm

MAY 4, 2018

In memory of

In a tweet on Thursday, President F. Javier Cevallos said, “We are sad to hear about the passing of @RepChrisWalsh. @FraminghamU joins the family in these very sad moments.

Chris was such a strong advocate for education for all!!”

We at The Gatepost would like to offer our condolences to Walsh’s family and friends.

We appreciate the efforts he put forth while representing the 6th district and FSU.

State Representative Chris Walsh Walsh and President Cevallos during an awards ceremony in 2017.

Announcement created by Shanleigh Reardon Photo courtesy of Facebook

Police Logs Friday, April 28 16:30 Suspicious Activity McCarthy Center Parties Advised

Saturday, April 29 04:40 Domestic Violence North Hall Report Taken

Tuesday, May 1 01:40 Inebriate Larned Hall Transported to Hospital

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

Wednesday, May 2 01:12 Fire Salem End Parking Lot Checks OK

MAY 4, 2018

THE GATEPOST

NEWS | 3

The Gatepost earns regional awards

By Bailey Morrison Associate Editor FSU’s independent student newspaper, The Gatepost, was named the second runner-up for the “New England College Newspaper of the Year” award by the New England Newspaper and Press Association (NENPA).

The Bowdoin Orient was named New England’s College Newspaper of the Year. The Harvard Crimson was named first runner-up and the University of Connecticut’s The Daily Campus was named third runner-up.

Cesareo Contreras, editor-in-chief of The Gatepost, said, “I was very fortunate this year to have a really dedicated and talented staff. Every week, I’m so impressed by the quality of work everyone produces, and I’m very happy we were recognized by such a prestigious organization.”

Additionally, three members of The Gatepost staff won Mark of Excellence awards for writing and photography from the Society of Professional Journalists.

The awards were given to student journalists in Region One - the New England and mid-Atlantic states.

Opinions Editor Lizzy Stocks, a junior English major, won the General Column Writing Award for schools with fewer than 10,000 students.

Her three columns, “Spicing up the Emmys,” “Spacey’s Cards Collapse” and “It’s Hard to Keep Track,” are now in the running for a national column-writing award.

Stocks said, “It was a real honor just to be selected as a finalist considering this is my first year of column writing. Actually, winning the award feels unreal, and I think it solidifies my desire to keep writing and crafting my

voice.”

She added, “Not to say I wouldn’t keep writing if I hadn’t won - I think it just showed me that I have what it takes to keep going and maybe make a difference with my writing.”

Arts & Features Editor Andrew Willoughby, a senior English major, was a regional finalist for the General Column Writing Award for his column, “Musical Musings.”

Willoughby said, “I definitely wasn’t expecting to win anything because my column was just an idea that I had over the summer.

It wasn’t regular enough for me to feel like it should be recognized. When it did get recognized, I was surprised but definitely honored.”

He added, “A lot of people who write about music just write about music, but I feel like it’s important to write about the humans who make the music, too.”

Staff photographer Oscairy Tavarez, a sophomore Spanish major, was a finalist for the Sports Photography award for a feature photo titled “Rams Strike a Pose.” The photograph appeared in the September 15, 2017 issue.

Desmond McCarthy, chair of the English department and advisor to The Gatepost, said, “I am so proud of the commitment to excellence our dedicated student newspaper staff has exhibited this year. To be named one of the best college newspapers in New England is quite an honor.”

[Editor’s note: Cesareo Contreras, Lizzy Stocks, Oscairy Tavarez and Andrew Willoughby are members of The Gatepost staff.]

CONNECT WITH BAILEY MORRISON bmorrison@student.framingham.edu

Mancuso scholarships Continued from pg. 1 Scholarship - available every other year. The Humanities Scholarship can be awarded to students majoring in art history, communication arts, history, world languages and liberal studies.

The Mancuso Social Sciences Scholarship will begin to be awarded starting in fall 2020, and is also available every other year.

Mancuso Krebs has taught at FSU for 18 years, starting in 2000.

While she is currently a parttime instructor, she was formerly a full-time professor and taught professional writing.

Mancuso Krebs said, “I had a few English majors take that course, but not as many as I had really hoped. But I did get a lot of computer science majors, nutrition majors, comm arts majors and business majors.”

She noticed the students in these majors were better prepared for the type of professional writing required for their careers than some English majors.

“And that shouldn’t be,” she said. “English majors, humanities majors - they’re supposed to be very flexible in their thinking.”

Mancuso Krebs added, “Writing is the symbolic act of thinking.”

It was this observation that led Mancuso Krebs to think about the direction in which English her “personal love” - and humanities education were heading, she said. Wanting to see more career and professional preparation for students in the arts, humanities and social sciences, she said she

began to think about a way her department could adapt to her vision.

In 2015, when Mancuso Krebs became a part-time instructor, she said she had more time to think about and develop a prospective scholarship in order for students to not only be able to focus more on career preparation, but also devote more time to academically enriching extracurricular activities.

Mancuso Krebs said her motivation for developing the scholarships stemmed from thinking about her own background. “I was very, very fortunate to have a family that could afford to pay Framingham.edu for my education. My children Halcyon Mancuso Krebs and her husband Thomas Krebs.

- who are all grown now - they were very fortunate to have a ployed,” she said. “It becomes will be able to become more enfamily that could pay for their this vicious circle.” gaged with their community and college.

Desmond McCarthy, chair of initiate projects of their own.

“And they all came out of colthe English department, said, “I The scholarships are open to lege without debt, which realthink Professor Mancuso’s ex- all students who graduate from a ly can often limit your choices. traordinarily generous gift will Massachusetts high school startWhat are you going to do if you raise the profile of the English ing in the spring of 2019. Manhave a lot of debt?” department at Framingham State cuso Krebs said small commitMancuso Krebs said she wants specifically, and arts and human- tees of 3 - 4 people will choose students to be able to have “the ities more generally - not just at the recipients, looking for a GPA full experience of college,” which Framingham State, but through- of at least 3.5 and qualities such includes career mentorship and out the Commonwealth of Mas- as “strong ‘studentship’ skills, strong involvement in campus sachusetts.” habits of mind, critical thinking life and activities - things she Susan Dargan, dean of the skills, and writing ability.” said students often miss out on College of Social and Behavioral if they have to work to be able to Sciences, said, “It is so amazing [Editor’s note: Desmond McCarthy is afford college. what she’s doing - that she decid- the advisor of The Gatepost.]

“Over the years, many of my ed to include social and behavstudents have had fairly signifioral sciences.” icant job requirements. When Dargan added, “It will give you have those kinds of comsome students the opportunity to mitments, you can’t go to clubs. have a degree that they love and CONNECT WITH NADIRA WICAKSANA You can’t have the same oppornot have to worry about working nwicaksana@student.framingham.edu tunities that I did - that my kids 30 hours a week.” Dargan said did - that helped them to be emshe hopes scholarship awardees

@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

4 | NEWS

THE GATEPOST

MAY 4, 2018

Seniors told to reclaim their stories at Intercultural Graduation

By Cesareo Contreras Editor-in-Chief FSU hosted its fourth annual Intercultural Graduation Ceremony at the Warren Center on April 26.

According to sociology professor Patricia Sánchez-Connally, the goal of the ceremony is to celebrate graduating seniors who are either members of Framingham State’s affinity groups or who have in some way worked toward improving the University’s inclusion efforts.

During the ceremony, seniors were presented with their multi-colored graduation stoles, which they are strongly encouraged to wear with their caps and gowns during spring commencement later this month.

Meant to be worn over their shoulders, said Sánchez-Connally, the stoles represent community and serve as symbols of seniors’ academic accomplishments.

“Even though students’ journeys may be different, they have all come and worked together to create a more welcoming and accepting campus climate. We are thankful for that and this is a small way to acknowledge and validate their struggles,” she said.

According to Sánchez-Connally, 80 seniors attended this year’s ceremony - a record number of students.

More students were interested in attending, but given the Warren Center’s size, the University had to cap student attendance at 80.

That’s up 20 people from last year’s 60. And up 55 from 2016, according to Sánchez-Connally.

Poet and Framingham State alumnus Enzo Silon Surin was the event’s keynote speaker.

In 2017, Surin was the recipient of the Brother Thomas Fellowship. He is also a PEN New England Celebrated New Voice in Poetry.

Among his most celebrated work is his book-length poem, “A Letter of Resignation: An American Liberetto,” a “meditation” on American history that works to debunk misguided stereotypes about people of color, according to his website.

In his remarks, Surin said during his time at FSU, he began to question how he came to his own conclusions about his identity as a black man.

What he realized, he said, was that his perception of himself was based on someone else’s perspective on history.

When he came to that realization, he said he began the process of finding his “own truth,” citing his work, “A Letter of Resignation,” as a way of “reclaiming his future.”

Surin said, “When we have a history of liberating ourselves, we have a future of being free, of being critical thinkers, innovators, entrepreneurs and nation-builders. … This is in our future.”

He told seniors to go out and reclaim their own stories.

“The future starts today. It starts with you. And it starts with challenging a narrative that has been repurposed for those who try to oppress us and

Incoming Gatepost Staff 2018-19

deny us of our rightful place.”

Three students were also given awards for their diversity efforts.

M.I.S.S. eBoard members Amari Veale and Luisanna Castillo were given a joint award for their efforts to expand the reach of the club and for their individual accomplishments in making FSU a more inclusive community.

Monét Johnson was also recognized for her strong advocacy on behalf of underrepresented groups and students of color.

Senior Clarisol DeJesus said she thought the event was a success.

“As minorities, we are not recognized enough. But with ceremonies like those, we feel like we make a difference and that it does not go unseen or unnoticed,” DeJesus added.

Senior Tasia Clemons echoed DeJesus’ sentiment.

Clemons said, “The identities who were celebrated in this ceremony are overshadowed or criticized in our society. So bringing them to the forefront, showing them that they are capable and that they rise above the hate that surrounds them is why this ceremony is so significant.”

She added, “This just shows students who are underclassmen and are a part of any of those identities that since we made it, why can’t they?”

Editor-in-Chief Bailey Morrison Associate Editor Jillian Poland News Editor Nadira Wicaksana Arts & Features Editor Cesareo Contreras Asst. Arts & Features Editors Zach Colten Andrew Willoughby Opinions Editor Lizzy Stocks Sports Editor Matt Ferris Asst. Sports Editor Liam Gambon Design Editor Cara McCarthy Staff Writers Brennan Atkins Noah Barnes Mackenzie Berube Thom Duda Tessa Jillson Robert Johnson Taylor Langmeyer Cordelia Stark Advisor Dr. Desmond McCarthy Assistant Advisor Elizabeth Banks

CONNECT WITH CESAREO CONTRERAS ccontreras@student.framingham.edu

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

Record number of students seek STI testing

By Nadira Wicaksana Asst. News Editor A record number of students sought STI testing during the Justice Resource Institute (JRI)’s annual visit to Framingham State on April 18 and 25.

Ilene Hofrenning, director of the Health Center, said this year, with a total of 65 students seeking testing, she saw “the most people ever take advantage of the service.”

JRI, a nonprofit organization focused on public health, comes to FSU every spring to provide free STI screenings and testing.

Like the Health Center, JRI provides testing for chlamydia and gonorrhea, the most common STIs. It also provides testing for syphilis, hepatitis C, HPV and HIV. This initiative is part of a program called RISE, which “offers a

variety of preventive, counseling, testing, case management and group support services for individuals affected and living with HIV/ AIDS,” according to the JRI website.

The program is funded through grants and by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Both Hofrenning and representatives from JRI said FSU students cited a March article in The Gatepost about rising chlamydia rates on campus as the reason they wanted to get tested.

According to Hofrenning, students had a choice in which tests they wanted performed.

Hofrenning said while she expected many students to seek testing for chlamydia and gonorrhea, she did not expect so few students to seek testing for HIV. She attributed this to changing attitudes about HIV.

“Back when HIV first appeared, it was a death sentence,” Hofrenning said. “This generation just does not see that. It’s a chronic disease. People get it. They can get medication - they’ll have to take medication for the rest of their lives - but they can live normal lives.”

Hofrenning said the Health Center might partner with JRI next year to provide doses of pre-exposure prophylaxis - otherwise known as PrEP - to students most at risk for contracting HIV. PrEP is a pill that works to protect against HIV infection.

Hofrenning also stressed the importance of contraceptives and John Gagliardi supported SGA distributing RamThe Gatepost would like to congratulate themed condoms.

CONNECT WITH NADIRA WICAKSANA nwicaksana@student.framingham.edu

John Gagliardi for winning The Gatepost’s logo contest. This is the winning logo.

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

MAY 4, 2018

OP/ED

THE GATEPOST EDITORIAL

An historic donation

Framingham State history was made last week.

On April 24, the University announced that English professor Halcyon Mancuso Krebs and her husband, Thomas Krebs, committed to donating $2.4 million to fund several full-ride scholarships for incoming students with majors in the humanities and social sciences departments.

This is the largest donation the University has ever received and it was given not to the STEM researchers whose work maps a new frontier, but to the underfunded and often overlooked humanities students.

We at The Gatepost would like thank Halcyon Mancuso Krebs and Thomas Krebs for their extremely generous donation.

This donation will give many liberal arts students the opportunity to complete their education, debt free. Without the need to work long hours to afford school, these students will be able to supplement an education focused on developing finely-tuned soft skills with practical applications of these skills through extracurrcular activities and internships.

Often, graduating high school students face pushback from their families when they say they want to pursue a career that people perceive to have a limited number of entry-level positions and low salaries.

However, the long list of successful humanities and social sciences alumni - many of whom return to FSU for career nights and other events - proves that those degrees are not, in fact, “a waste of time.”

Having completed a degree in the humanities or social sciences, students are well-equipped for the workforce because they are effective written and verbal communicators. In recent years, employers across all domains - including STEM - have expressed their interest in employees who can think critically and communicate with ease.

Yet in recent years, the University has focused on promoting the STEM program at FSU. With the new labs, lucrative internship opportunities and increased interest in the STEM fields, other majors are sadly overlooked.

The Krebs’ donation means the world to the students who sit in May Hall, staring up at the looming, multi-million-dollar Hemenway Labs through broken windows that can’t be closed.

In a world where the evaluation of a career choice is closely tied to money, the donors have given their support to students who choose the humanities and social sciences. This donation places a spotlight on the hard work and value of these students.

The worn notebooks and rented textbooks filling the humanities and social sciences classrooms might not seem as impressive as the expensive equipment gracing the lab tables in STEM classrooms, but the work students are doing is just as vital and vibrant.

In addition to this $2.4 million scholarship fund, Halcyon Mancuso Krebs plans on purchasing artwork created by students, which will be displayed throughout the campus as a means to promote students’ artistic skills.

Her promise to support budding artists as they enter the working world recognizes students who feel their art is often ignored. Scholarship donors around the country should take note of Halcyon Mancuso Krebs’ generosity and admirable misson.

We certainly have, and we hope everyone here at FSU can take her message to heart.

5 | OP/ED

THE GATEPOST

A summer request

By Thom Duda Staff Writer As the final week of classes comes to a close and the devil that is finals week draws ever closer with glistening fangs and a coat made of term papers and equations, I found myself thinking of just sleep and a blissful oblivion before having to start work again over the summer.

That was the sum of it. No grand plans, no aspirations or goals, just the monotonous drudgery of work in hopes for money to sustain myself until the semester comes again.

Rather depressing, really.

I started to wonder, how many others are feeling the same way this time of the year? Is everyone just hoping for a quick and simple answer as to what should be done this summer vacation?

Well, I’d like to offer an alternative - one I intend to

that you may not need, but have always wanted to know.

I’ll be trying to teach myself Japanese and writing for publication on my own, so you’ll not be alone.

Just do something, anything, besides just sitting around and working like an expendable machine because that’s what the world may view you as.

Tell the world to be silent by doing something meaningful.

I also suggest watching Neil Gaiman’s speech for Harvard students, “Make Good Art,” as it’s a wonderful speech to inspire your own dreams and Gaiman’s voice is just lovely.

To everyone who has been working like crazy this entire semester, be proud to have survived another term and good luck to you in the future - whether you graduate or return with us in the fall.

do myself, so let’s try this little adventure together, shall we?

I propose this one objective do something meaningful this summer vacation.

It doesn’t have to be anything profound such as creating a life or saving one, though if you manage to do either that deserves high praise. No, instead, I simply request you do something that will produce anything or give a sense of satisfaction that simply earning a wage cannot do.

Have a library of games you want to complete? Take the time to do it and enjoy!

Have a story that’s been brewing in your head? Write it down and share it or tuck it away.

Go for an aimless walk and see the world around you.

Visit another country or city and unplug, make connections with strangers and talk. Learn a new language or skill, one

Campus Conversations What are your plans for the summer?

By Cara McCarthy and Corey McFeeley

“I’m working at the Framingham history center as an intern and going to conventions.”

-Andrew Petry, sophomore

“I’m gonna work, go to the beach, go hiking and try not to get poison ivy.”

-Dallas Ganon, freshman

“Hopefully getting a job. I need money for a car and my license.”

-Emily Bowling, senior

“Working - I might have an internship in New York with And 1. Also going camping in Maine and playing paint ball”

“I’m taking some me time and working on grad school applications.”

-Nada Shaaban, Junior

“Doing a software engineering internship.”

-Jarid Brogan, Junior

-Joey Coraccio, sophomore

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

6 | OP/ED

THE GATEPOST

MAY 4, 2018

Yo, Kanye, I’mma let you finish ... but slavery is not a choice

By Lizzy Stocks

Opinions Editor

After his social media hiatus, Kanye West returned to Twitter mid-April with a slew of tweets, not only to promote his apparel and upcoming albums, but to promote free thinking, loving one another and support for President Trump.

Now, this doesn’t necessarily come as a shock due to West’s endorsement of Trump in 2016, as well as his visit to meet with Trump at Trump Tower shortly after the election.

But, one tweet particularly stuck out amongst the rest: “You don’t have to agree with trump [sic] but the mob can’t make me not love him.

We are both dragon energy. He is my brother.

I love everyone. I don’t agree with everything anyone does. That’s what makes us individuals.

And we have the right to independent thought.”

Yup, the controversial rapper who once declared, “George Bush doesn’t care about black people,” on live TV at “A Concert for Hurricane Relief” four days after Hurricane Katrina, is now declaring his love for Trump via Twitter.

Donald Trump.

The same man who, in 1989, took out ads in newspapers prodding for the death penalty for the five black and Latino teenagers accused of raping a woman in Central Park. Who continued to maintain the idea they were guilty well into 2016 - well after they were proved innocent through DNA evidence.

The same man who unapologetically insisted for years that President Barack Obama had a

fake birth certificate and was born in Kenya rather than the U.S. The same man endorsed by the former leader of the Ku Klux Klan, and who even referred to white supremacists as “very fine people” after riots broke out during the “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.

The same man with such an extensive racist background, David Leonhardt and Ian Prasad Philbrick from The New York Times wrote “Donald Trump’s Racism: A Definitive List,” where you can learn about many more of his disparaging comments toward non-white people.

This is the man West refers to as “his brother.”

Here’s why it’s problematic: Just days after proclaiming his love for Trump, tweeting pictures in his autographed “Make America Great Again” hat, and posting multiple screenshot text messages from

friends concerned about his views, a video of him speaking on slavery went viral.

“When you hear about slavery for 400 years for 400 years?” he told TMZ. “That sounds like a choice. You was there for 400 years and it’s all of y’all? We’re mentally in prison.”

West’s statement completely diminishes the horrible atrocity that is such a large part of our nation’s past. The atrocity many choose to ignore and brush off as a small inconvenience to the many who suffered at the hands of white people.

Though West is notorious for controversial remarks dragging him to centerstage, he’s officially reached an all-time low.

Yo, Kanye, I’m not going to let you finish. We won’t be toasting to the douchebags this time.

TWITTER.COM\@KANYEWEST

Opioid crisis needs better support

By Bailey Morrison Editorial Staff

Every day, dire news is reported by major media outlets - death, destruction, suffering.

With so much negative news circulating, many people can lose sight of issues that aren’t right in front of them.

In recent years, the opioid epidemic has become an issue that millions of Americans struggle with every single day.

An issue that only recently has become something people are willing to openly discuss.

An issue that results in 116 opioid-related overdose deaths per day, according to the U.S Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

One hundred and sixteen lives destroyed per day. Their deaths leaving a permanent impact on the friends and families who survived.

For many years, drug addiction was considered a problem that impacted people from low socio-economic backgrounds.

Drug addiction was a problem associated with criminality.

It was a problem that could be ignored, swept under the rug. But opioid addiction presented itself somewhere it cannot be ignored: the thriving, white middle class.

Now, people are willing to discuss addiction because now it has a “friendly” face - your

neighbor, your childhood friend, your cousin.

This national epidemic has even affected our campus. In a survey conducted by The Gatepost in the fall of 2017, one-third of students said the opioid crisis had impacted their lives. Clearly, the problem no longer can be written off as an issue for people from lowincome neighborhoods.

A New York Times article from April 2018 stated that roughly 2.6 million Americans suffer from opioid addiction. The article also noted that only 10 percent are receiving treatment of some sort.

However, the federal and state governments aren’t doing enough to support citizens struggling with addiction. With 14,000 opioid treatment centers in the United States, according to HHS, the government should be spending more money to expand the treatment centers and provide free services to citizens struggling with addiction.

President Donald Trump has claimed he will be “tough” regarding the crisis that killed more than 42,000 people in 2016. So far, his suggestions have included implementing the death penalty for convicted drug dealers.

So much for an expansion of treatment programs.

With 116 deaths daily, there should be more money spent on treatment, counseling, expansion of current treatment centers and research into the addiction that has been

labeled the worst drug addiction epidemic in American history by Trump himself.

The Trump administration budget for fiscal year 2019 includes an increase in funding to combat the opioid crisis in the amount of $10 million. While this seems like an impressive increase, the language surrounding what will be done with that money is extremely vague.

What’s not vague? Trump’s proposal for a military parade that would cost taxpayers upwards of $30 million.

Apparently the 48,000 deaths between September 2016 to September 2017 reported by the CDC isn’t reason enough to implement specific plans to combat the death rate.

Federal and state governments are failing their citizens.

Every day, 116 people lose the chance to ever recover from their drug addiction.

Every day, 116 families lose a loved one.

One can’t help but wonder how high that number will have to climb before the government starts being proactive.

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MAY 4, 2018

7 | OP/ED

THE GATEPOST

Class of 2018 Senior Letters

The first time I read an issue of The Gatepost, I was on an MWRTA bus getting as close to home as possible because I hated living at FSU. During my first semester here (the only one I “lived” on campus. I spent most of my time on the phone, begging my parents or boyfriend to come pick me up.

My second semester, much like the first, I spent little time here. I commuted and committed little of myself to my classes, ultimately resulting in poor grades and the decision not to return for my sophomore year.

After working full time for a semester, I decided to return and took three classes in subjects that I hadn’t explored during my time as a nutrition student. One of those classes was Sarah Cole’s Oral Interpretation of Literature class, where I realized that school didn’t have to be a chore - and that I could find a major with classes that I actually enjoyed.

After that class, I changed my major to communication arts, and I’ve never looked back.

The following semester, I quit my day job and made the decision to be committed to my studies. Shortly after, I joined The Gatepost and found myself surrounded by engaged, intelligent and hard-working students.

So, thank you: To my parents and Will for being there during every step of my journey. For answering every phone call and accepting every person that I’ve been over the last four years. Without your unconditional support I wouldn’t have taken the chances that have led me to the experiences that have changed me for the better.

To everyone at The Gatepost for doing it all every day. You have all inspired me to be the best version of myself by being the best versions of yourselves.

To the communication arts department for

giving me the classes and professors I needed to realize my passion.

To FSU’s administrators for answering every email (no matter how trivial or how late) and being some of the most accessible, resilient and transparent people at FSU. To my friends and peers on this campus, for representing yourselves during discussions when your voices mattered the most.

Without your openness and acceptance, I wouldn’t have been exposed to the different lifestyles and experiences that each of you have. Talking with you and listening to what you have to say has educated me more than any class.

During my college career, I’ve learned a lot about myself, and that was exactly the education I needed when I came to FSU as a freshman.

I started my college career at FSU scared and unsure of what I wanted to do. I came in as a first-year student undeclared. And deciding what I wanted to major in was hard, especially being a first-generation student and not having many people in my life to help guide me in that decision making process.

But thanks to several kind people, I was able to make a decision that made sense for me. I declared a marketing major with an English minor at the end of my sophomore year.

Adjusting to college life wasn’t easy for me, especially as a commuter. But things changed once I started getting involved in clubs on campus. I joined The Gatepost and The Onyx at the end of my sophomore year.

Through the Gatepost, I was able to make friends and find my voice, and for that I will

always be grateful to the organization and its members.

I would like to thank my parents who were incredibly brave to leave their family and friends in Brazil to immigrate to a country where they didn’t speak the language in order to provide a better life for my sister and me.

To Priscilla: thank you for looking out for my best interests and for always being willing to fight battles on my behalf.

To Desmond: thank you for the unwavering support you have given me, even though I was not a student in your department. I wouldn’t be where I am today without your help and wise advice. It’s a true to privilege to have you as a friend.

To Professor Liz Banks thank you for all the

help and support you have given me in the last two years. You are a true role model and I’m very fortunate that I took your Intro to Journalism class.

To my friends, thank you for sticking by me through all the headaches and heartbreaks.

Thank you for all the great memories we have made together. You all have showed me true kindness and love during my four years at FSU. Thank you to all the faculty, staff, administrators and students who made themselves available to talk to me for the numerus articles I’ve written during my two years at The Gatepost .

Finally, thank you to Framingham State! I’m leaving with not only a degree but a “fRAMily.”

Kayllan Olicio Associate Editor

I’ll admit FSU was not my first choice. I had a good GPA and thought a private college would be the best fit. Then, I discovered I wasn’t smart enough for a private school, and with time running out, I chose FSU because it was the only one to give me a scholarship and it was the closest to home.

I thought I was going to transfer, but for some reason, I ended up spending all four years here.

I was always excited to return after summer to see all my friends and professors for another round of crazy adventures only a college student would experience.

I want to thank my advisor Desmond McCarthy, for encouraging me for four years and

persistently telling me to join The Gatepost.

A big thank you to the entire staff at The Gatepost for accepting me and teaching me about what it means to be a part of something bigger than myself.

I also want to thank Jen Hyde from the study-abroad office for helping me achieve my dream of studying abroad my junior year and Maynooth University in Ireland for being my second home and teaching me what it means to be independent.

My parents, Paula and Philip and older sisters, Emily and Sarah, for their unconditional love and support throughout all my decisions despite how crazy they might have sounded.

My friends, Bridget, Emma, Emily, Meg, Kayla and so many others who have supplied my college experience with laughs and memories I will hold onto forever. I cannot wait to make more with you.

Finally, Thank you to the University! You have become my second family and I will miss you dearly. Go Rams!

Shanleigh Reardon Editorial Staff

Allison Wharton Staff Writer

@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

MAY 4, 2018

8 | OP/ED

THE GATEPOST

I can still remember the first time I visited FSU. Immediately, I was taken in by how friendly my tour guide was, and I was amazed at how connected the campus community felt. Everyone we talked to on the tour spoke about how they were part of a family - or, as I would come to know over my past four years, “fRAMily” - whenever they were on campus. After that tour, I knew I wanted to attend FSU, so I only applied here during my college search, and the rest is history.

There is no shortage of ways to get involved here, and I really tried to get into as much as I could. I joined the ResLife team as an RA, went to Anime Club meetings

for a while, joined the Journal of Critical Thinking, went on Alternative Spring Break and even became a senator for the Student Government Association. Thank you to everyone who has supported me in all of these roles: Dr. Trousdale, Professor Coyne, Marcie Dineen, David Case, my JoCT staff, ASB ’17 people and all of SGA. To Professor Bowen, for helping my love for editing and filmmaking flourish. I will cherish all of my projects from your classes.

To Dr. Springer, for pushing me to join JoCT and for challenging me when I needed it the most. The insight I gained in your classes will stay with me forever.

To my parents and sister for always being

there when I needed it, no matter what. I could not have done this without you.

To Samantha and Andrew, who have been with me for the past four years. We’ve all transformed so much since our days in Larned and Towers.

To every single one of my friends I’ve made along the way, no matter where you are now. I’m so happy we got a chance to meet each other.

Finally, thank you, FSU, for giving me this opportunity to learn and grow. I will forever treasure my memories from these past four years.

Valerie Paradise Class of 2018 Dear Framingham, I’m leaving you. And I don’t know how to feel. You’ve housed me and fed me for four years and it is crazy to think that one day I will wake up and not have a gigantic key on my ring, the Ram Tram won’t make me late, and that it won’t matter if I’ve lost my ID (which I’ve had all four years). I wonder if I will look back on you and smile ... but I cannot be sure. For I am one of the students that put the Black in Black and Gold and I cannot ignore what has happened to us.

For all good things you’ve given us, there have been bad things, but somehow, I feel my heart will forgive you. Because for every door that held a slur on the outside held a friend on the inside, and for every time

admin didn’t support us ... WE supported us. And you made that happen. You helped all these young minds who fight for truth and justice and how can I not thank you for that? But you also protected the other minds that brought oppression our way. For every event that made us feel we didn’t belong, there were events where we were home, and for those I cannot thank you enough. My gratitude stems from surrounding me with people I love and allowing my to become a me that I love, even when people wanted us to be sure that they hated us without even knowing us. And the scariest part is not knowing if new faces will come in to replace the supportive ones who left. All in all, you made me who I am, you’ve given me people who helped me along the way, and

you showed me that the revolution WILL be televised. That’s how I know that Black and Gold never gets old, and that you may be one of the greatest things to happen to me.

So I guess we’ll call it even.

Monét Johnson Class of 2018

Goodbye Graduating Seniors

Kayllan Olicio Associate Editor Marketing Major

Shanleigh Reardon News Editor Communication Arts Major

Cameron Grieves Asst. Arts & Features Editor English Major

Richard Tranfaglia Asst. Sports Editor Communication Arts Major

Colton Madore Staff Writer Fashion Design and Retailing Major

Nick Murphy Staff Writer English Major

Allison Wharton Staff Writer English Major

Raysam Donkoh-Halm Staff Illustrator Communication Arts Major

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

MAY 4, 2018

THE GATEPOST

ARTS & FEATURES | 9

ARTS & FEATURES Hollywood glam dazzles Fram Rachel + Jade Creations showcased at Opulence

Courtesy of Rachel Mullins Rachel Mullins, senior fashion design major, drew inspiration for her "Hollywood glam" garments by creating an inspiration board featuring colors and fashion brands that influenced her creations.

Bailey Morrison Associate Editor

T

he evening of the fashion show has arrived. Illuminated by dozens of spotlights, the runway extends halfway across the room. Music blares throughout and it is unbearably hot as nearly 100 spectators have come to see the models strut down the runway in the designers best.

Two large screens on either side of the runway project a single word: “Opulence.”

Behind a black curtain, models nervously wait alongside the designers.

This isn’t a runway in Paris or Milan. The impressive display was set up by the Fashion Club on April 27 in the gym.

Fashion design students from all class standings worked all semester to put together a portfolio to show off at the fashion show. Fashion Club hosts the event annually as an opportunity for students to display and promote their designs.

One of those designers is senior Rachel Mullins, who created seven outfits to rock the runway.

Rachel was born to be a fashion designer.

From the age of 3, she could be found playing dress up and it

wasn’t just with the clothes in her closet. Rachel would pull long blankets off her bed, drape them across herself and imagine she was modeling glamorous dresses.

“It wasn’t like I was raiding my mom’s closet or wearing princess dresses,” she said with a laugh.

Eighteen years later and Rachel is working toward cultivating her own visual identity and brand “Rachel + Jade Creations.” She posts pictures of all her designs under the Instagram handle @raejade_ creations.

Rachel has spent her last semester at FSU researching, designing and constructing garments for her portfolio, which was showcased at the fashion show.

Before she was certain fashion design was the correct path for her, she said she often turned to fashion for comfort. “It helped me express myself.

“Sometimes with the day-today hustle, we become robots. We don’t necessarily show feelings and I think fashion can convey so many things.” She added, sometimes fashion pieces can hold sentimental value, such as a family heirloom, and they “can connect you with that person and you feel closer to them.”

Rachel’s vision for her proj-

ect was clear from the start - she wanted her pieces to emulate the glitz and glam of Hollywood in the 1950s.

Her project began with a mood board and a title - “Hollywood glam.” She collected fabric, pictures and color swatches that helped her develop her ideas into a design.

Rachel began by creating a color scheme, featuring soft colors such as baby blue and rose. It helped her visualize the mood board.

Her mood board featured timeless Hollywood classics - pictures of Marilyn Monroe, ruby red lipstick, pearls and sweeping mermaid gowns. Rachel drew inspiration from brands such as Yves Saint Laurent.

Rachel partially credits her mom for the idea to create designs from the 1950s. “My mother really gave me my love of vintage fashion.”

“Nineteen fifties is probably my favorite decade because it’s very classic.”

The idea was born when Rachel began researching two of her passions for her senior thesis last fall - film and fashion. While her senior thesis changed, her love of 1950s fashion remained.

Spring semester began and the couture of the 1950s inspired Rachel to design pieces that emulat-

ed the dramatic flair fashion had at the time as part of her senior portfolio.

Rachel’s favorite part of the whole designing process is the sketching. She created rough sketches of her designs before she drew each using Adobe Illustrator.

She said sketching each of them usually takes two hours.

Rachel loves the freedom that sketching gives because she can erase and redraw a design in a second, whereas if she has already committed the design to fabric, it’s much harder to change.

Every day, Rachel visited the Hemenway sewing labs in preparation for the fashion show.

Sewing machines line the walls of the studio and the back of the room is home to 20 or so mannequins ready to be adorned with the fashion students’ latest creations.

She said most days she spent at least two hours in the lab utilizing the sewing machines, mannequins and other equipment available.

To bring her sketches to life, Rachel created a rough approximation of her design using mannequins and loose fabric. “I use a technique called draping, which is figuring out how to size and construct the garment.”

She said, “Because when I was

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THE GATEPOST

Corey McFeeley / THE GATEPOST Model Sydney Chase strutted down the runway in one of the dresses designed by Rachel Mullins.

little I draped blankets on myself, I think draping just comes naturally to me.”

Rachel is no longer yanking blankets off the bed and imagining a fabulous dress in place of the polyester blend.

The first piece in her collection was inspired by the classic Hollywood gown worn by starlets on the red carpet. She designed a softblue, mermaid-cut, off-the-shoulder dress, accented at the bottom with layers of white tulle. Rachel hand-stitched white lace that crept up the sides of the gown and across the back.

“It’s supposed to be more of the sweetheart, 1950s actress,” she said.

The second piece Rachel created as part of her collection drew inspiration from the “sultry side” of Hollywood glam. The black strapless gown is form-fitting, sheer lace, accented with silver stitching and ruffled edges cascading down the sides of the dress. An emerald green lining peeks through the sheer black, giving it a pop of color.

“I wanted to focus on the sultry side of Hollywood glam. You know - Marilyn Monroe, something sexy, something that shows a little skin.”

Rachel said because fashion students aren’t working for a big company with funding, they all have to find and purchase their own fabric.

Rachel’s favorite store is Fabric Place Basement located in Natick.

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“I was not sure what fabrics to get for some of the garments. … Sometimes, you can’t find the right fabrics.”

She said most of her garments are made with woven materials such as cotton and silk. Rachel spent hours searching through the aisles of the fabric store, touching each fabric to see if it would work for her. She said touch is an incredibly important aspect of picking a fabric for her designs. “If I feel like it’s scratchy, I would not want to wear it myself.

“There’s a lot to look for in each fabric before you pick it and say, ‘Oh, this will work for the design.’”

Rachel said fashion design professor Seunghye Cho, who Rachel has known for three years, motivated her to unveil her new designs at the fashion show.

“She is the type of teacher who you can say has changed your life.

She wants the best for her students.

She pushes you in a way that helps you think outside the box,” Rachel said.

“She has really helped me grow as a designer and a person,” Rachel added.

Cho said she is one of the most successful students in the fashion design program. Cho said while Rachel struggled initially with the fabric she used for her classic Hollywood gown, Rachel “willingly took on the challenge … and the dress turned out to be one of the

best garments in her collection.”

Cho added, “Most of her projects in classes truly went beyond class requirements and my expectations.

She has also shown impressive growth in problem-solving capability to provide creative design solutions by applying basic principles that she learned in class.”

Rachel said because her collection for her portfolio was primarily formal wear, it involved a lot of hand sewing and each garment took three weeks to make.

This semester proved to be the busiest one yet - with work, classes and designing all seven garments for her portfolio. Rachel found time management to be her biggest struggle throughout the semester.

With the amount of sewing and preparation that went into each design, Rachel said it was frustrating to find the sewing labs locked during the weekend. “They have May Hall open for the art students, they have the library open for everyone else and we really need this equipment in here.”

She said it’s a “shame” that the labs aren’t open more frequently.

She was told the labs are locked up because one year, a sewing machine “walked off” during a weekend.

She added while she has a sewing machine in her dorm room, other necessities such as the irons, ironing boards and the more industrial sewing machines don’t fit in her room. “There’s quite a lot of resources here that we don’t have access to all the time.”

Rachel said some people see fashion design as superficial or easy. “It takes a lot of skill and practice to be able to sew like this. … I just want people to see more than the shallow surface of fashion. It’s a lot more complicated than people can see.”

When Rachel is not busy working or sketching out designs for her next piece, she enjoys creative writing and hanging out with her best friend, and fellow fashion design major, Alaina Mishley.

Mishley said this semester, the two of them became inseparable as they were both preparing for their pieces to be showcased in the fashion show and facing similar struggles. Mishley said working with Rachel made the coursework more fun. “She motivates me to be a better designer myself.”

Mishley herself designed a small collection of formal wear inspired by “sophistication and elegance.”

The week before the fashion show, Rachel realized she needed one more piece to finish her collection and found herself in the sewing labs late at night designing and constructing a shirt at the very last minute.

Rachel said the week before the fashion show was crazy. “Every day

MAY 4, 2018 was spent in the sewing labs trying to finish up garments between my classes.”

She added, “I was in the sewing labs with fellow designers and friends until 1 a.m. I dedicated all my energy that week into the show and getting the models ready.”

Rachel said the process for finding models was difficult because she wanted to find models who were similar in size to her. “Because making the garments is so expensive, I usually make them to fit me. So, I was looking for someone who was 5 feet 6 inches, had the same waist size.” She added, “It all worked out.”

For her portfolio, Rachel worked with seven models, including herself, to showcase her various designs.

Junior and ARA of Peirce Hall, Sydney Chase, discovered Rachel was looking for models through a Facebook post.

Although Chase is shorter than Rachel, she still wanted to include Chase in the lineup for her models.

Chase said, “She was very accommodating, and it wasn’t an issue at all. She was playing around with a few pieces for me until the day of the show. She decided to put me in the finale gown, which fit me perfectly.”

She added, “I was slightly nervous to trip because of the tulle on the bottom, but once I got out there it was so much fun! The dress was gorgeous, and the crowd loved it. It made me feel like a princess.”

Initially, Rachel wasn’t planning on modeling one of her own designs. Due to one of her models not being reliable, she decided to grace the runway herself in one of her own creations.

The day the fashion show arrived Rachel was ready to show off her hard work. The fashion show began with a display of some of the finest designs FSU students had to offer. Cameras flashed, documenting the hours of work each student put into their designs.

Surrounded by six other models decked out in the garments made during the semester, Rachel knew all her hard work from the semester had paid off.

Because Rachel was a model herself, she did not get to watch the others strut down the runway in her own designs. About walking down the runway, she said, “I was nervous and excited all at the same time. ... It made all the effort for the show worth it.”

She said, “To see some of the pictures from the runway felt so rewarding and amazing. All the late nights, challenges and effort put into this was all worth it for that moment.”

CONNECT WITH BAILEY MORRISON bmorrison1@student.framingham.edu

MAY 4, 2018

THE GATEPOST

11 | PHOTOS Allie Gath/THE GATEPOST

Framingham State University’s Dance Team Presents...

Rhythm Nation Framingham State’s Dance Team put on their first of two performances for its annual spring show on Thursday May 4. The second show will take place Saturday May 5 in DPAC at 7:30pm.

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MAY 4, 2018

Comics come to life

Comm arts student produces TV show

Zach Colten Asst. Arts & Features Editor

At 6 p.m. in North Hall on Thursday, senior Raysam Donkoh-Halm got up in front an audience of about 50, made up of students, faculty and community members, to present his senior independent study project.

The project, which had begun as a simple comic strip for a comic and graphic novels course, depicting “dry” humor on a college campus setting, was now being shown as a live-action two-part television series, starring other students at FSU and directed by Donkoh-Halm.

The presentation began with a short slideshow, with Donkoh-Halm thanking all those involved in the creation of Dry Campus, and pointing out the three lead actors, Adam Tackes, Andrew Carten and Eryca Carrier, who played Eric, Stuart and Sabina, respectively.

Discussing Dry Campus’ original conception, Donkoh-Halm said, “I had this idea … what if there was a campus just like, so dry and devoid of fun and color and light, and what does that look like?”

On screen, the effect of energy being drained from the characters and setting was accomplished by a decidedly grayscale cinematography,

which lined up with the art style of the original comics.

For example, the bags under the characters’ eyes, which emphasized their resigned despair of being on such a dry campus, was done onscreen using makeup. To achieve the same effect in his drawing, which Donkoh-Halm jokingly said was “not particularly good,” he used “a pencil, then a blender, so that way it gives Facebook.com/thedrycampususernamewasnotavalible the effect that these cartoon char- Dry Campus' cast from left to right: Eryca Carrier, Andrew Carten, and Adam Tackes. acters are pale, sleep deprived and it The first episode was ironically been so supportive, and really given really just shows on their face.”

Carten, who was Donkoh-Halm’s called “Spirit Week,” and followed us the right kind of advice. I’m so right-hand man, said that when Eric, Stuart and Sabina as they tried glad that he digs the project as much picking locations to film, they want- to earn “Spirit Coins,” a new curren- as he does,” Donkoh-Halm said.

The project that began as Doned to capture the most barren spots cy established on campus to force students to participate in on-cam- koh-Halm’s individual passion projon campus. ect became a completely collabora“I remember we wanted to film in pus activities.

The awkward silences blended tive experience. the May stairwell because of how old well with riotously funny moments “We’ve gotten so many friends inand rundown it was, but we never got a chance to do that one,” he said. ranging from “Milk Guy,” portrayed volved, because they like it and they Donkoh-Halm added they would by Andrew Willoughby, who filled deliver,” he said. “Not a lot of our cast try to film on overcast days on cam- water bottles with milk and stared at are trained actors at all, but it works. pus, in order to get the on-camera them, to a student-run therapy ses- It’s one of those things where it’s effect of a dismal and depressing day. sion in which Eric ends up playing like, ‘Oh, this looks kind of low-budCarten, who played Stuart in both therapist to the student attempting get,’ but I’m just like, ‘Yeah, well, it episodes, described how he first be- to counsel him, played by Samantha matches their school’s budget!”

Chandler, causing her to reveal her [Editor's note: Andrew Willoughby came involved in Dry Campus. is a member of The Gatepost editorial “I was the first person he ap- own emotional baggage.

Donkoh-Halm and Carten worked board .] proached, because he wanted another person to assist in the whole closely with communication arts process. He just messaged me on Professor Christopher Bowen, who Donkoh-Halm said was a great men- CONNECT WITH ZACH COLTEN Facebook like, ‘Heeeeey.’” tor to them during the process. “He’s zcolten@student.framingham.edu

A dip in dark comedy: Hilltop's "Heathers" Tessa Jillson Staff Writer Incorporating dance numbers, musical renditions and dark, elicit comedy, Hilltop players performed the musical “Heathers” on April 27th and 29th in DPAC. The musical, like the movie, focuses on the life of Veronica Sawyer, played by junior Marielle Scoire, as she tries to befriend high school mean girls Heather Chandler, played by sophomore Danielle Umanita, Heather McNamara, played by sophomore Monique Plante, and Heather Duke, played by junior Megan Chestna. The friendships disintegrate after Sawyer coincidentally kills one of the Heathers. The production also references sensitive topics such as bullying, suicide and abusive relationships.

Hilltop President Tiffany Santiago said, “It is so important for the Hilltop Players to be putting on a show like ‘Heathers.’ Not only for the ’80s nostalgia, but for the hard, sometimes uncomfortable topics that are brought up. … We are all trying to make it out alive and find happiness

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in whatever outlet it may come in. I am so proud of my organization for their maturity in addressing these topics.”

The musical opens with the song, “Beautiful,” as new girl, Sawyer, Sciore, and other Westburg high students sing, “You know life can be beautiful,” dancing around the stage while exposed to high school bullying.

The song is mentioned again at the end of the musical, except then the students are holding hands, united, unconcerned about maintaining their reputations.

Pianist and musical director Leah Marley captures the atmosphere of every scene, designing and sustaining beats to match the movement of the cast members and tones of their performances.

The dance numbers, choreographed by senior Emma Quinn, were entertaining and more often than not, humorous. Each motion reflected the energetic ambience and was perfectly executed to the rhythm of the live band.

Sciore said she was a huge fan of the musical “Heathers,” since her senior year high school when a friend

played her the song, “Seventeen.”

“I instantly fell in love with the music,” she said. “I was so honored and excited to play Veronica. It was truly a dream to bring her character to life.”

Sciore added, “It was challenging pushing my voice to do the music just because I am use to playing characters with higher voices, and the range for Veronica was a lot lower than I am used to. I really think this experience, and challenging my voice, have taught me not to doubt my abilities.”

According to Umanita, the cast began rehearsing at the end of January up until the Thursday before Hilltop’s opening night and rehearsed twice a week.

Director and sophomore Laura Bradshaw said, “Directing the show has been the most surreal experience I have ever had the pleasure to be a part of. … I am so insanely proud of this incredible cast, band and my amazing production staff.”

Producer and freshman Alex Surro said he would like to thank Bradshaw for the amount of work, time and effort she put into the production. “It

Amanda Martin / THE GATEPOST Three Heathers perform the song "Candy Store."

would have never gotten done if it wasn’t for her.”

CONNECT WITH TESSA JILLSON

tjillson@student.framingham.edu

MAY 4, 2018

THE GATEPOST

ARTS & FEATURES | 13

A collage of different perspectives

Studio art majors display their senior thesis projects

Amanda Martin / THE GATEPOST

Part two of the studio art exhibition had been on display since April 30.

Tessa Jillson & Shayna Yacyshyn Staff Writers After a year of developing their ideas and turning them into their own personal installments, studio art majors have incorporated their lives into their senior thesis projects. Students incorporated themes surrounding outlook, social issues, psychological concepts a two-part series, displayed at the Mazmanian Gallary. The showings opened on April 23 and 30.

Recapturing the Past: Emily Bowling - Untitled Converting old family photographs and recent photos taken of close friends into portrait paintings, Bowling shines new colors on narrative and identity, revitalizing perspective by eliminating background. Bowling said the pieces “deal with identity and personality” and illustrate “how we present ourselves to the world.”

The vibrant colors used are there to elicit a more “happy vibe,” she said.

“Colors can have an effect on mood and emotion. … I really like that kind of modern and contemporary poppy style. I wanted a kind of more fun aesthetic to it than just to photograph.”

The portraits are painted with oil and acrylics on multi-sized canvases.

“I wanted to kind of paint them all in the same style and have them all in this contained space - not as separated.”

Furniture or Frame: Kelsey Goossens - “Homebodies” A staircase enclosed with molds of human faces, lamps assembled with manufactured hands and a chair created without a seat - it is fair to assume Goossens has created her own personal horror house.

Goossens compilation is made of plaster, wood, bolts and furniture taken from her own house to make it her “own space.”

The staircase, which Goossens

built from scratch, is crooked and covered with meshed casts of baby doll faces and of her own face.

The faces “all are kind of individual in their own way because I poured the casts differently for all of them, trying to make a variation,” she said.

Goossens said she was intentionally recreating her “own space” to make people feel uncomfortable. “I am inducing the anxiety that I face when leaving my own spaces,” she explained.

The bedside lamp, equipped with plastic baby doll arms and the chandelier installed with molds of Goossens own hands, invokes a feeling of unease - a term Goossens frequently used to describe the overall essence her work generated.

Unraveling Gender Binaries: Hannah Ferrante - Untitled Overlapping black, red and white thread on square-clothed canvases, Ferrante disrupts the way we look at the overarching social structures of society.

Ferrante experiments with form, stitching images of the body and nature together with stigmatized symbols to force embroidery out of the domestic tradition.

Her work disassociates masculine and feminine stereotypes to create a neutral plane - one where identity isn’t subverted by gender roles and customs. In one of her 24 canvases, a red thread silhouette of a man wearing a “women's” plunging cowl halter top is fused together with a black thread image of a bull.

Although some of her embroidered works are easy to interpret, others are left up for debate.

“I definitely want some of the forms to be easily read, and other ones to be kind of ambiguous so you really have to look at them,” Ferrante said. In addition, she wants not only herself, but others, to find “familiarity within images” in order to analyze

how one might perceive their own gender.

“Gender affects how we present ourselves or how other people interpret you based on different representations,” she continued.

Conceptualizing liminal space through animals facing endangerment Sadie Harmon - "Liminal Space" Printmaker Sadie Harmon carved a series of uncommon animals into wooden blocks, which she then used to produce prints.

Harmon’s animal choices, as well as her decision to put black ink on black paper, were very deliberate.

“The species shown are all on the edge of extinction, stuck in a liminal space - printed on black paper, they are on the cusp of being present,” says Harmon.

From the gallery entrance, Harmon’s prints appear to be empty black sheets. However, after approaching her work, the viewer is then able to identify the black outlines of her animals. The absence of contrast between print and paper strengthens Harmon’s visual conception of liminal space.

Harmon uses critically endangered, endangered or vulnerable animals to represent the transitional space in which she found herself.

“I was in a liminal space for the past year as my mother and father both received terminal diagnoses and eventually passed away,” says Harmon.

Focusing on natural forms and patterns to escape from the chaotic reality Rohma Shirwani – Untitled Painter Shirwani displayed paintings depicting abstract observations of natural forms. This close examination of nature allows her to escape from the chaotic and technological world around her.

“My work is an exploration of col-

or, texture and light that resides between illusion, abstraction and fantasy,” said Shirwani.

Shirwani’s canvases vary in paint thicknesses. It holds areas of paint that rise up about half an inch, and other areas where the bare canvas is still visible through paint cracks.

The playfulness of paint application activates all five senses allowing the viewer to feel a physical connection to the paintings.

“I let my curiosity take over, which leads my paintings to look both organic and synthetic,” says Shirwani.

Creating social justice and empathy through painting Kari Long - Untitled Painter Kari Long displayed a series of emotionally provocative works meant to break the confines of culture, gender, race and sexual orientation.

Long’s paintings depict minority figures crying out for justice and peace.

She removes the backgrounds from her paintings to point all attention toward the figures in her work.

“Creating a scene that has no distractions is important because I feel like the focus of a tragedy often gets overshined by interferences whether political or another event,” said Long.

Long began developing her thesis project after reading an article about an 8-year-old boy who was lynched.

“He was the same age as my little brother, so it was the fear that comes with the situation with the cops and black people lately,” says Long.

Long intended for her paintings to produce the empathy necessary to connect people together, therefore lessening the tragedies caused from racial divide.

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Black Student Union hosted its Culture Show in DPAC on April 28. The show included cultural performances and music skits.

Allie Gath/ THE GATEPOST

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ARTS & FEATURES | 15

Downtown Framingham, Inc. Continued from page 1 The two chatted about various happenings downtown while waiting to meet a representative from MediaBoss, a production and digital marketing company partnering with DFI for the 6 Mile Moment, in order to iron out last-minute details for installing a stage in the restaurant’s parking lot for music.

Thraen had to check her phone throughout, responding to emails and messages from business owners, other partners and DFI board members while making sure she wasn’t late for any other meetings or the fashion show she’d volunteered to be in that evening.

Two days later, Thraen and Reardon were in the parking lot at Depot 417 for hours in the cold, driving rain, trying to make the 6 Mile Moment a success despite the weather.

While business-based events such as the 6 Mile Moment and Taste of Downtown Framingham might be most associated with DFI, the small nonprofit does so much more. It aims to serve “both people and local businesses by creating the most vibrant, socially engaged and innovative area outside Boston,” according to its website.

A lot of this work includes partnering with small businesses downtown to help them grow and navigate the minefield of local permitting and politics.

Reardon said most of the businesses they work with are family-run with small staffs. It can be difficult for these businesses to compete with larger companies who have the resources to hire liaisons for the city and send representatives to meetings.

Reardon added, “We can connect with those businesses as much as we want to let them know about some 7 o’clock meeting on a Wednesday night where something important to them is going to be talked about, but if they have to be running their restaurant or dealing with their family, then they’re not able to attend.”

In meetings with town officials and now with city officials, it often falls to Thraen to be the voice advocating for the downtown district. In order to do this effectively, said Reardon, Thraen stays connected with business owners so she knows what they need to run their businesses successfully.

Brian Li, the property owner who offers his office space to DFI rent free, said, “I see firsthand the hard work and hours Courtney puts into the DFI organization. She comes in nights and weekends. … She manages a small team of helpers and is the glue behind the community walks, pub crawls, and restaurant and business ribbon cuttings.”

Mary Donovan said since she first became the manager at Depot 417 in February, she’s worked with DFI to

organize a number of events, including the upcoming “Xchange Depot,” a bi-weekly farmers’ market geared toward T riders.

She added, “The staff and volunteers at DFI go out if their way to understand the issues faced by the area merchants and to offer assistance wherever possible.”

Part of DFI’s mission in hosting events and supporting businesses is to shift downtown Framingham to a transit-oriented model for an urban area. This type of model is focused on creating communities in areas surrounding effective train transport (like the T in downtown Framingham) that allow people to work, live, and shop all within walking or biking distance.

Reardon said the idea is to focus on close and local existing businesses that can fit people’s needs, so people are “not getting in their car and driving to Walmart when they could walk two minutes down the street and get something at a small business.”

This model helps with sustainability by shortening commuting times.

“If you’re buying into Target or Walmart,” Reardon added, “you’re never going to see that money come back to your town.”

In order to make such a model successful, the downtown and its businesses need to be accessible and enticing. DFI has worked to help improve traffic flow and parking in the downtown, add in green spaces and community spaces for people to gather, and promote art projects (such as the recently commissioned mural at CGI Management).

Another aspect, Thraen explained, is “placemaking.” This essentially means not just making a business or the downtown a destination but making it an experience.

That’s why Thraen encourages businesses that want to drive more traffic to offer programming and create that sense of an experience for people.

She said, “If you open up a shop to sell hair products, you better already have the demand there, because if you don’t, you need to offer some type of consultation practice or some other event, like ‘learn how to braid your hair night’ or girls’ night out.”

This gets the community engaged with a business and creates personal investment, so customers want to come back for the experience instead of just running into a chain store and getting everything as quickly as they can.

Business owners and DFI members alike also want to work to change the perceptions people in Framingham and in surrounding towns have regarding the downtown area.

Dale Hamel, executive vice president of FSU and an ex-officio board member for DFI, has worked with the organization in different capacities for

Facebook.com/DowntownFramingham DFI hosts an annual event at the 6-mile point of the Boston Marathon.

over a decade.

He said, “For a long time, there wasn’t a lot of activity that was conducive to encouraging people to go to the downtown. I think a lot of work has been done, working with the social services organizations, which were partly affiliated with what was causing that, and working with the business owners and the town police to try to encourage people to report issues so progress could be made.”

Reardon said she grew up in the MetroWest area and had always heard negative things about Framingham’s downtown district. “So, when I started working there, I was kind of on guard because I’d heard all these horrible things. And then I met Courtney and she was like, ‘All right, let’s go outside.

Let’s walk around. Let’s talk to the people.’ And then I eventually realized that all these things people are saying about this place are inaccurate.”

Reardon said the first step toward breaking the stigmas surrounding downtown is getting people to go down and go to the restaurants and the businesses to meet the community and see the area.

Sumbal Naqvi, owner of Atlantis Dental and a DFI board member, said, “There’s a perception of downtown Framingham that there’s really nothing here, and then [people] come and they’re like, ‘Wow, you have great restaurants. There’s an art community.’ When they come here, they’re surprised, so we just want to get the word out to come and visit and see what we’re all about.”

Colleen Coyne, an English professor at FSU and another DFI board member, started working with the organization in 2016 in order to give her business writing class some practical experience with a local nonprofit.

Since then, she’s connected many students with DFI. Speaking from her own college experience at Johns Hopkins University, Coyne encourages students to be “adventurous and open-minded” when it comes to exploring the downtown.

Coyne said, “The first two years I was at college, I didn’t like where I was.

I never left campus. I was really cranky about it. … Then I made a friend my junior year who was like, ‘Oh, we need to go out and go to all these awesome neighborhoods.’ And as soon as that happened, the whole city opened up to me.”

She added, “There’s a whole rich world down there if you’re willing to go and explore it.”

And if students want more access to the restaurants and the thriving downtown art scene, she said, she knows FSU’s transportation department would be open to listening to student demand for more transportation, but that needs to be made clear and it needs to come from the students, not from faculty or administrators.

Many of those affiliated with DFI agree a thriving downtown district is important for the strength of the community.

Julie Ginn, board director and career services coordinator at MassBay Community College, said, “When you really look back to historical approaches of what makes a city a city and what makes a town a town, it’s where the town hall is. … You should be able to do everything downtown.”

Coyne said the downtown could benefit from a stronger connection with the University, but the University can also benefit. There are not only opportunities to socialize in the downtown, but also for internships, jobs and networking.

“A lot of the startup companies, a lot of the artists, a lot of the nonprofits that aren’t able to find Boston to be a viable option are looking for other places to be, and I think in a lot of ways, Framingham is becoming that place. We’re trying to poise Framingham as that place.”

She added, “Boston is great, but you don’t even have to go that far to have an amazing experience both professionally and socially.”

[Editor's note: Kayllan Olicio and Shanleigh Reardon are members of The Gatepost editorial board ] CONNECT WITH JILLIAN POLAND

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Innovation Center brews new business

Cesareo Contreras / THE GATEPOST

Cesareo Contreras Editor-in-Chief The plan was in motion.

After months of prepping, researching and working with Sodexo, senior Iris Thompson thought she was doing everything possible to launch FSU’s first student-run coffee cart right in the lobby of Hemenway Labs.

But as Thompson had already learned, no amount of planning can save even the shrewdest entrepreneur from occasionally hitting a speed bump on the treacherous and winding road that is running a business.

Yet nothing could prepare her for “the disaster” that was her first official day on the job late last semester, she said.

From the malfunctioning cash register to the wrong-sized lids for the coffee cups, everything went haywire that early December morning.

“Nothing would work on the first day,” she said.

It didn’t help matters that her first customer happened to be business professor Robert Krim, who was responsible for co-founding FSU’s Entrepreneur Innovation Center, which had collaborated with Sodexo to establish the coffee-cart venture.

“He was so excited about the whole idea of this,” she said. “He thought I was the best person to run this, and he was so proud.”

While his order seemed simple enough - a regular steaming hot medium coffee - that’s not exactly what he received.

“We served him coffee and his coffee was full of coffee grains,” Thompson said.

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At that point, with tears welling in her eyes, Thompson turned to one of her Innovation Center peers who was helping with the launch and said, “I’m not doing this!”

What was supposed to be a ceremonious grand opening instead served as a life lesson in business management Thompson said she won’t soon forget.

But according to Innovation Center Director Mark Hardie, that type of lesson is one of the reasons the coffee cart was created in the first place - to educate students about the trials of running a full-fledged business.

Born out of an independent study Thompson completed at the Innovation Center this academic year, the cart also serves as de facto advertisement for students who perhaps want to create businesses themselves.

“The cart is there for the students to learn food service, and it’s there for the center to have an outpost on campus for students to see on a daily basis,” Hardie said.

But Thompson’s business is just one venture being developed at the center, now located at 860 Worcester Road. Previously, the center was housed in the Jonathan Maynard building on Vernon Street, but in 2016 it moved to the bigger space.

At that point, Krim brought Hardie on to serve as his replacement as the center’s director.

Hardie is a graduate of Tufts University and the M.I.T. Sloan School of Business. Before joining FSU, Hardie developed hybrid models similar to the Innovation Centers throughout the country.

“He has run businesses and raised millions of dollars,” Krim said. “He’s a good teacher and he’s a very good leader.”

And in the two years since the center’s move, it has grown and adapted to accommodate both its expanding clientele and the University's efforts to offer more entrepreneurship opportunities to students.

According to Hardie, the services the center provides can be broken down into two categories.

First, the center serves as a co-working space for MetroWest entrepreneurs seeking to grow their start-up businesses.

“Co-working is a trend in the market where startups and entrepreneurs need a place to begin their business and they don’t have the money for a lease for thousands of dollars, so they come to co-working spaces, pay month-to-month and get a chair, a desk, Wi-Fi, coffee things they need to sort of run their business,” he said.

For $135 a month, business owners are given access to the plethora of work tables in the center’s office space, which, according to Hardie, is much more affordable than leasing a space of their own - especially given that most places require a one-year lease.

“You’d rather have something that is pay-as-you-go,” he said.

Some of the other benefits in the center’s monthly subscription-based model include membership to the University's co-working space business partner Workbar - which allows subscribers to use the company’s other co-working spaces in Boston and Cambridge two days every month - and a mailing address and free printing.

The center uses the “hot desk” model, meaning members aren’t given a dedicated office space in the center to call their own, but instead

are free to take a seat at any of the center’s open tables.

Right now, Hardie said the center has 37 members. From a drinkable yogurt startup to a computer software company, from an advertising agency to an engineering firm, the businesses hosted at the center are a varied mix.

“It’s old media and new media,” Hardie said. “It’s online businesses and very classic offline businesses.”

But the center is more than just an incubator for budding startups. It’s also meant to be a place of learning for FSU students who are up-andcoming entrepreneurs themselves.

“The way I like to describe it is that we have two stakeholders - the members who use the center for co-working and the students who study entrepreneurship and use the center for internships and experience in actual start-ups,” he said.

Hardie said while other universities may have innovation centers, few, if any, offer FSU’s hybrid model that combines co-working space for startups and class credit for students who directly help those startups.

Students have always been at the forefront of the center’s daily operations. In addition to having student interns every semester who assist the center’s clients with projects, a number of students have taken on independent studies.

While some students complete independent studies to develop and market businesses of their own, Thompson was brought on to manage the coffee cart years after the University had already decided to put one in Hemenway Labs.

In the fall of 2014, as part of the University's strategic plan, Dining Services conducted a student survey

MAY 4, 2018

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in an attempt to gauge students’ dining preferences.

According to Dining Services Director Ralph Eddy, one of the main takeaways of the results was that although a large number of students spend a considerable amount of time in Hemenway Hall, there was no place in the building for faculty and students to grab a quick bite or a nice warm drink.

So, Dining Services decided to work with the Innovation Center to pilot a business that was not only low-cost and easy to support, but also provided students with the opportunity to gain some hands-on business skills.

Before working with Hardie, the University had already purchased the coffee cart for approximately $30,000. Initially, the plan was to place the cart in Hemenway Labs to address the issue identified in the survey.

But while much of the equipment had already been bought, what was missing was a designated person to run the business.

“It really became a matter of who runs it,” Hardie said. “With that in mind, I agreed that the Innovation Center would be happy to take that on as essentially an opportunity to do a small business, and start something from scratch, from something that didn’t exist - which is classic entrepreneurship.”

After hearing about the cart while attending one of Hardie’s classes, Thompson became interested in helping launch the business in any way she could.

The Honduran native, who is in her mid-40s, said she’s always had a passion for both food and entrepreneurship.

But it was only until recently that she’s decided to pursue a career in which those two areas intersect.

Before attending FSU, Thomp-

son earned her associate degree in human services administration and worked as a children’s coordinator at a nonprofit organization that provides support for women who have substance abuse issues. Thompson’s venture in community outreach was short-lived, however, after she began having children of her own.

But after her fourth child started kindergarten a few years ago, Thompson said she decided to “reinvent” herself and go back to school.

Initially a nutrition major, she changed her major to liberal arts and has since taken a number of business classes. After she graduates this month, she said she hopes to start up her own business.

When she heard about the coffee cart, Thompson knew it would be a

mester, Thompson has been able to get into the swing of things.

Wearing her signature yellow apron, Thompson always greets customers with a smile and has a handful of regulars, whose names and coffee orders she’s memorized.

Over the few months the cart has been open, Thompson said she’s also been able to identify which products sell the most and how much of a certain item she should order on a regular basis, processes that initially were a little mystifying.

“Iris is great,” said Krim. “She has kids. She started a new business. …

Framingham State students are just awesome and I’m so happy we have a center that really works with the students.”

Although Thompson has enjoyed

ARTS & FEATURES | 17 isn’t profitable, but, according to Hardie, at the moment that isn’t the Innovation Center’s biggest concern.

What’s more important is that the cart serves as an educational tool for students and advertisement for the center.

“We aren’t trying to be a profitable service enterprise,” he said. “We don’t have the pressure of a coffee shop in the market because we are here on campus. We’re really more about the operations and planning and the strategy. Whether or not we’re profitable is less of an issue.”

Although the cart has student staffers, it’s essential one student serve as the lead manager of the cart.

And luckily, Thompson said, the coffee cart will be passed on to her successor, who will have their own

“The way I like to describe it is that we have two stakeholders - the members who use the center for co-working and the students who study entrepreneurship and use the center for internships and experience in actual start-ups.”

- Mark Hardie, FSU’s Entrepreneur Innovation Center Director

great opportunity to test the waters.

She thought, “Oh my God, that’s phenomenal. Food has always been one of my things.”

And when the fall semester started, Thompson hit the ground running to prepare for the launch of the business, reading everything she could about opening a coffee shop and then reaching out to other food vendors on campus for advice.

After a rocky launch day last se-

Thompson hands a cup of coffee to a customer.

Cesareo Contreras / THE GATEPOST

her experience at the coffee cart, there are aspects of the venture she wished had played out differently.

Although Thompson thought she had complete freedom, there were limits to what she could accomplish given the cart’s size and the fact that it is hosted inside a university.

“I had a complete idea in my head of what a coffee shop should look like, but this was just a mini-version of a coffee shop. There were a lot of limitations.”

For one, because the cart doesn’t have a sink, the coffee has to be prepared in a separate room in Hemenway Hall.

Additionally, the cart doesn’t accept dining dollars or credit cards as payment, although, according to Hardie, it may in the future.

Another problem, Thompson said, is that it’s difficult to bring outside products from vendors that haven’t gone through Sodexo, because the cart gets its food inventory from the company, while it gets its coffee delivered from Red Barn Coffee Roasters.

“We tried to bring in fresh muffins from my classmate Josh, who owns his own coffee shop, but that didn’t work,” she said. “We brought them in and then we were told we couldn’t have them because there are certain procedures to bring food on campus.”

Right now, the coffee cart also

opportunity to expand the cart’s offerings.

As part of the independent study class, Thompson was also tasked with writing up a manual outlining the process of managing the cart.

Thompson said the manual will be used to train new employees and the new manager.

And while Thompson looks back at her own first day managing the cart with some regrets, she can rest easy knowing that, at least for Professor Krim, his coffee filled with coffee grains wasn’t too bad.

“I thought she had invented a new type of coffee with the grounds in,” he said.

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Brennan Atkins and Noah Barnes Staff Writers The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) debuted in 2008 with Jon Favreau’s “Iron Man” and instantly comic fans rejoiced at what seemed to be a new age of movies for the franchise. What people might not have expected was 10 years in the same universe with 19 movies. The latest movie “Avengers: Infinity War” directed by the Russo Brothers is the culmination of what has been building up for what seems like forever.

Let’s cut to the chase - if you are a Marvel fan it is more than likely you are going to have a great time in the theater.

It has the familiar Marvel elements that people have grown to love. The action, comedy and heartfelt moments are all present in this film. The most apparent, and important difference is that there are stakes in this movie. It provides a level of tension that is essential to the film’s success, as the drama is what really captures the audience's attention However, the movie sacrifices structure to create this tension, and this might be what turns general audiences off from it. It isn’t quite a three-act structure, and it offers cuts to different storylines during the same movie. It’s set up as a “theatrical comic event” rather than a “comic book movie.” At times, this can help the movie, but it also hinders it at points where you just want to know what’s going on in the previous scene. On top of this, it has a pretty hefty runtime of 2 hours and 40 minutes. In a lot of the scenes, it felt as if it dragged on at times, and they could have easily just made the scenes shorter. This would have made the film more fast-paced while keeping it at a time that people actually want to sit in the theater.

“Avengers: Infinity War” takes place right after the events of “Black Panther” and it is the biggest challenge any of the heroes have had to deal with up until this point. Thanos, The Mad Titan, is in search of the six infinity stones so he can reshape the universe in his vision. Many of the stones are either in possession, or in relation, to the heroes that we have been following. This launches an allout war between the most powerful heroes of Earth (and the guardians) and the most powerful man in the universe.

Practically every hero in the MCU is present in this movie, and while it

Image Comics

Robert Johnson Jr. Staff Writer Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

manages to balance out these characters in a surprisingly seamless way, there’s not much to them in this movie. The heroes don’t grow, as their stories have already been told.

And this might seem like a problem if it weren't for one detail.

This is not the hero’s movie - it's the villain's journey.

Thanos is what makes this movie.

He could arguably be one of the best CGI villains in any movie to date.

Much like Killmonger from “Black Panther,” Marvel did an excellent job of making audiences aware of his motivations. The CGI on Thanos is excellent, and there was never a point in the film where it was apparent that it was not practical.

Recently, many films have done this marketing ploy by releasing movies in parts, rather than the whole movie at once. Infinity War is also a two-part movie, but it wraps up in a way that doesn’t seem like a set up for another film. It didn’t feel like there was any way to have included more in the film, and it is well worth the price of admission.

Grade: A+ "Infinity War" lays down the gauntlet for better or for worse.

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While I was working at the Comic Book Club’s table at the second Accepted Students Day, a certain person told me that the comics I cover on this column are not “dark enough.”

“Dark enough” in the sense that there’s not enough violence or death or destruction, and all that other stuff that adults crave, given modern media sensitivities.

If you are one of those people who feel the same way about this column, fret no more, for this week’s comic is the high-octane, action-packed racing series known as “Motor Crush.”

Hot off the overwhelming success of the fourth volume of “Batgirl,” (which consists of Batgirl issues #35 to #52) with DC Comics, the creative team of Cameron Stewart, Brendan Fletcher and Babs Tarr took their combined talent to Image Comics, and with that move, “Motor Crush” was born.

“Motor Crush” showcases the story of Domino Swift, a spunky, worldclass motorcyclist who races in the World Grand Prix, or WGP for short, racing for cash prizes, trophies and the legacy of her father.

From the get-go, she’s established as the unbeatable one. The character that everyone tries to outsmart, but is outsmarted by her.

In short, she’s the champion you want to root for from panel-to-panel.

However, at night, Domino competes for something more than money and trophies - she competes for the titular drug of many a character’s desire: Crush.

Crush is treated like nitrous oxide from the “Fast and the Furious” movies, but on a much more physical level. They are represented as gem-like objects that can be broken up and consumed in liquid form or inserted into one’s motorcycle to obtain an unnatural speed boost.

What once was an organized race becomes a “Road Rash”-inspired romp through the streets for a chance at an easy win in the next sanctioned WGP race, with every racer rolling around with a weapon, intent on taking out another participant with a briefcase full of the stuff.

To understand the parallel between the two racing disciplines,

think The League and The Streets modes featured in “NBA Live 18.”

Luckily for Domino, not everything in this comic is about racing or a matter of life or death. Daily life plays a major role in character development, as well.

A portion of “Motor Crush” consists of Domino hanging out with her family, tuning her ride and Domino’s efforts in rekindling her relationship with Lola Del Carmen, a relationship that has been destroyed prior to the beginning of the series, and the main focus of the non-racing scenes.

The recovery is slow and is not forced at all, giving the healing process a sense of realism that other comics lack when it comes to the topic of broken relationships.

On that note, Stewart’s and Fletcher’s writing gives the world of “Motor Crush” lots of personality, from the characters and their respective bikes to the weapons those characters wield. Everything is written with a purpose, supplemental and to the point. Every action scene feels as tough as Domino’s bare-knuckle punches.

Tarr gives the comic a vibrant coat of paint, utilizing stylistic ESPN-like presentation visuals when presenting WGP races and unique effects and filters during key scenes. Every character is drawn to match their personality, like the spunky Domino, who is drawn in loud, vibrant pinks and dark black.

Sometimes, it makes me feel like I need to wear 3D glasses on some pages! That is a very good thing.

“Motor Crush” is a visual treat for fans and non-fans of racing, providing a fun, brutal twist to the formula everyone is used to watching on TV and in the movies, with heartwarming LGBTQ+ representation and science fiction elements powerful enough to provide a well-needed twist to the genre.

You can check out “Motor Crush’s” first volume that compiles the first five issues, along with an upcoming second volume that compiles six more issues coming later this month. For now, you can get them individually at your local comic store.

CONNECT WITH ROBERT JOHNSON JR.

rjohnson10@student.framingham.edu

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20 | ARTS & FEATURES

MAY 4, 2018

THE GATEPOST

ALBUM REVIEW

One lovely Lily Nick Murphy Staff Writer Introducing Lily, senior Cesareo Contreras’ sweet-toothed poodle and dachshund mix.

Contreras first learned about Lily through his aunt Yocasta, who was living in New York at the time.

While in New York, Yocasta had taken it upon herself to care for many stray dogs. She would then look to re-house those dogs with suitable owners.

A year after losing their dog Kiwi, the Contreras’ had their heart set on getting another dog. Soon after deciding it was time to get a new dog, they found out that Yocasta had just the perfect candidate waiting for her forever home.

As the Contreras’ entered Yocasta’s home, they were greeted by a perplexing looking puppy, whose her hair was pinned up with barrettes. “She looked a little funky when we first picked her up … but she would quickly become the cutest dog to us,” said Contreras.

After a much-needed hairstyle upgrade, Lily embarked on her journey to Massachusetts. Lily had been with two previous families, so it took her a couple of weeks to branch out and open up to them.

Over time, Lily warmed up to everyone and developed a particularly close bond with Contreras’ mother and his older sister, Elizabeth. “She tolerates me, but she really loves my mom and my sister,” said Contreras.

Shortly after bringing Lily home, Contreras discovered she had quite a unique talent. “When she was younger, she would always stand on her hind legs. We joke that she may even break some record for ‘the world's longest hind-standing dog,’” Contreras said.

To bolster her already impressive hind-leg strength, Lily also took to walking down the stairs with her left leg permanently poised in midair.

Calisthenics are no problem for this pooch.

When Lily isn’t practicing her debut performance for the Cirque du Soleil, she enjoys kicking back and mellowing out with a spoonful of ice cream. “She loves vanilla ice cream, but we don’t give her too much because after her previous owners did, she ended up getting an infected tooth,” said Contreras.

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King Cole kills demons Zach Colten Asst. Arts & Features Editor

Courtesy of Cesareo Contreras

Despite a rigorous exercise routine, Lily knows how to live it up. In fact, she once scarfed down a sizeable portion of a custom cake in one sitting, now that’s what I call a successful cheat day.

“It was one of the bakeries featured on Shark Tank … we thought she would get sick from it, but she ended up being just fine,” said Contreras.

The same wasn’t true for the once decadent cake.

After chowing down, Lily finds comfort by hiding out in her nook - which is neatly nestled under the coffee table.

“She’s a princess. She does what she wants, yet, she is such a loving dog,” Contreras said.

While an entire bouquet can be flattering, the Contreras’ found out that sometimes all it takes to steal a heart is one lovely Lily.

[Editor's note: Cesareo Contreras is the Editor-In-Chief of The Gatepost.]

CONNECT WITH NICK MURPHY

nmurphy@student.framingham.edu

“This album is in no way intended to glorify addiction.” These are the select words that adorn the cover of Fayetteville, North Carolina rapper J. Cole’s fifth studio album, “KOD,” which dropped Friday, April 20.

Cole is an artist known for the hard-hitting poignancy of his lyrics, and on this project, he provides just that with his signature blend of party-ready rowdiness and depth of content. However, as this is an album created as a warning against the dangerous drug culture of modern rap and hip-hop music, the songs that seem on the surface to be mere turn-up anthems ironically send a much deeper message.

The opening song begins with a sweet piano chord progression overlapped with rolling conga drums and a sultry trumpet playing as a woman explains that a baby has “two primary modes of communication,” laughing and crying, symbolizing love and joy or fear and pain.

“Life can bring much pain. There are many ways to deal with this pain. Choose wisely.”

The second song on the album is “KOD,” reflecting the album title, which Cole said in a tweet, has “3 meanings. Kids on Drugs, King Overdosed, and Kill Our Demons.”

The song serves as a kind of reintroduction to the constantly reinventing rapper, who spits on the addictive hook, “This is what you call a flip / 10 keys from a Carter brick / Bentley from his mama whip / KOD he hard as sh*t.”

Next up is “Photograph,” a beautiful blend of ballad and banger, finding Cole struggling with “the strongest drug of them all: love.”

In an age when love has “gone digital,” the rapper tries to balance his desire for genuine connection with strong feelings of lust for women he knows only through social media.

“Fell in love through photograph / I don’t even know your name / Wonder if you’d follow back? / I hope to see you one day.”

One of my personal favorite cuts

from the project is “The Cut Off,” featuring kiLL Edward, J. Cole’s alter ego in the concept album’s story. Edward begins the song, singing, “I know heaven is a mindstate, I’ve been a couple times / Stuck in my ways so I keep on falling down.”

Cole’s lyrics on this song center around the theme of loyalty. As his success grows, he begins to see friends and family turning on him or using him as a financial crutch.

Cole sounds entirely self-aware and poised on the song, and sincerely hurt by the fact that some of those closest to him would use him for personal gain.

“Once an Addict” and “FRIENDS” both deal exclusively with the issue of addiction, with the former touching on J. Cole’s fractured relationship with his alcoholic mother, and the latter addressing two of Cole’s friends, whose names were scrambled but can be heard when played in reverse, who are struggling with drug addictions.

Cole raps, “I know you say it helps and no I’m not tryna offend / But I know depression and drug addiction don’t blend.”

The final song, “1985 – Intro to “The Fall Off,” serves as a segue into J. Cole’s next album, but also plants the rapper’s feet firmly in the ’90s and 2000s era of hip-hop.

The production is reminiscent of Mobb Deep and Wu-Tang Clan, and the bars aim to cut the drug-crazed generation of Soundcloud rappers such as Lil Pump down to size.

The album walks the walk as much as it talks the talk. By the end of its first week after release, “KOD” was the number one album in the U.S., with the highest first week consumption of 2018, according to Roc Nation.

Grade: A+ Jermaine heals the game with flames.

CONNECT WITH ZACH COLTEN

zcolten@student.framingham.edu

MAY 4, 2018

THE GATEPOST

ARTS & FEATURES | 21

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22 | SPORTS

MAY 4, 2018

SPORTS Women’s lacrosse finishes regular season at 15-2 to earn second seed in MASCAC

By Matt Ferris Sports Editor Framingham hosted Salve Regina on Thursday, April 26 in a nonconference game.

The Rams opened up the scoring just over 4 minutes into play. Kimmy Foley took a pass from Alissa Marino and ripped it by the Seahawks’ goalie for the 1-0 lead.

The Seahawks responded, scoring two goals in the next 30 seconds to take a 2-1 lead over the Rams.

Foley scored her second goal of the game just over a minute later, this time off a feed from Grace Gamache, to tie the game up at two.

Salve Regina answered back again, 2 minutes later, to take the lead 3-2.

Framingham scored the next four goals of the game in a 3-minute span to take a 6-3 lead.

The Rams got goals from Hanna McMahon, Gamache and two from Nicole Pacheco.

Just 20 seconds later, the Seahawks cut the Rams’ lead to 6-4, scoring unassisted.

Framingham closed the first half, scoring eight unanswered goals to take a commanding 14-4 lead into the break.

On the 8-0 scoring run, Marino contributed three goals for the Rams, Gamache had two goals and Pacheco, Foley and Ashley Gregory all had a goal each.

The Rams started the second half just how they finished the first.

Framingham came out and scored the first two goals of the half to stretch the lead to 16-4. Pacheco and Morgan Begley scored the goals, both assisted by Foley.

Salve Regina scored the next three goals of the game to cut their deficit to 16-7.

Framingham added another goal to push the lead back to 10 goals.

Gregory scored her second goal of the game off a feed from Begley to make it 17-7.

After another goal from the Seahawks, Begley answered back to extend the lead back to 10. Begley scored her second goal of the day unassisted to make it 18-8.

Salve Regina scored the last two goals of the game to make the final score 18-10.

Pacheco led the Rams with four goals. Foley and Gamache were just behind her, each scoring three. Foley also added five assists in the game while Gamache had three.

Indigo Fox Tree-McGrath played 40 minutes in goal for the Rams, stopping four shots of the eight she faced. Mikayla Seavey played the other 20 minutes in net for FSU, making one save.

With the win, Framingham improves to 13-2 on the season.

FRAMINGHAM STATE 18 SALVE REGINA 10 On Saturday, April 28, the Framingham State Rams traveled to MCLA to take on the Trailblazers in a MASCAC game.

Framingham dominated MCLA in the first half, scoring the game’s first 10 goals before the Trailblazers responded.

On the 10-0 scoring run, the Rams had 10 different goal scorers.

Framingham got goals from Kristen Keenan, Casey Bradley, Emily Burnet, Jenna McMahon, Foley, Marino, McMahon, Begley, Gamache and Gregory. All 10 goals were assisted.

After a goal from MCLA to stop the run and make it 10-1, Framingham closed the half out with two more goals.

Bailey Donnelly and Marino scored the goals to send the game into the break at 12-1.

After scoring the final goal of the first half, Donnelly came out in the

second half and scored the first goal to extend the Rams’ lead to 13-1.

MCLA would get a goal back, only to see Framingham extend the lead back to 12 goals less than 2 minutes later.

Keenan scored the goal off a feed from Audrey Duhaime to make it 14-2.

The Trailblazers scored another goal 2 minutes later to make it 14-3, but the Rams responded with three unanswered goals to extend the lead to 17-3.

Mallory Fredericks, Gamache and Marino scored the three goals for the Rams.

MCLA would score the last goal of the day to make the final score 17-4.

Marino led the Rams with three goals, while Donnelly led the Rams in assists with four. Donnelly also contributed two goals.

Fox Tree-McGrath and Seavey split the game in net for the Rams. Neither goalkeeper made a save.

With the blowout victory, the Rams moved to 14-2 on the season and 5-1 in the MASCAC.

FRAMINGHAM STATE 17 MCLA 4 Framingham hosted Mass Maritime on Sunday, April 29 in a MASCAC game and their last regular season match.

Just over 8 minutes into the game, Framingham found themselves down 3-1.

The only goal from Framingham came from Marino, as she took a pass from Pacheco for the goal.

The Rams responded to the deficit, going on an 8-0 run to take a 9-3 lead.

Framingham had five different goal scorers on the run. McMahon had three goals, Pacheco had two, while Marino, Duhaime and Tess Destino all had one goal.

Mass Maritime would get a goal back with 8 minutes left in the first half, but the Rams responded again, closing out the half with three unanswered goals.

Marino, Gamache and Pacheco all scored goals to make it 12-4.

In the second half, Framingham outscored Mass Maritime 7-5 to take a 19-9 victory.

Framingham had six different goal scorers on their seven second-half goals.

McMahon scored two goals in the second half to lead the way for Framingham.

Marino, Gamache, Duhaime, Jennifer Buckley and Maggie Destino all added a goal apiece for the Rams.

Marino led the Rams in scoring with four goals. Gamache had a teamhigh three assists.

In net, Fox Tree-McGrath made four stops for Framingham.

With the win, Framingham finishes the regular season with a record of 15-2. They are 6-1 in the MASCAC which earns them a second seed in the conference tournament.

After a first-round bye, the Rams will play the Bridgewater State Bears in the MASCAC semi-finals.

FRAMINGHAM STATE 19 MASS MARITIME 9

CONNECT WITH MATT FERRIS mferris2@student.framingham.edu

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Ferr or Foul:

Cleveland being Cleveland

By Matt Ferris Sports Editor Going into the 2018 NFL Draft, many Cleveland Browns’ fans were very excited with the Browns’ position in the draft.

In a trade last season with the Houston Texans, Cleveland acquired their first round and second round picks. With their own picks and the two from Houston, Cleveland had four of the first 35 picks in the draft, including two picks in the top four.

With that kind of firepower in a draft, many people would think ,“How could you screw it up?”

But that is exactly what Cleveland did. They pulled a typical Cleveland Browns’ move and messed up all four picks they had.

All offseason, it was debated whether Cleveland would take USC QB Sam Darnold, Wyoming QB Josh Allen or the best player in the draft, Penn State RB Saquon Barkley.

For many people, it came down to these three guys as the first pick in the draft. But the Browns threw everyone a curveball on draft day.

With the first pick in the draft, Cleveland selected Oklahoma QB Baker Mayfield, who was considered by many to be worth a mid-first round pick.

Cleveland chose the undersized quarterback, with troubles not only on the field but also off, over one of the most polished QB prospects USC has ever produced.

Mayfield, who is just six feet tall, is extremely short for the position. In recent history, we have only seen three significantly undersized QBs succeed in the NFL - Drew Brees, Russell Wilson and Michael Vick.

Mayfield doesn’t have the talent of any of these guys.

Not only is being undersized a big problem for Mayfield, but he has a long history of being a problem on and off the field - a characteristic nobody wants from their leader.

In early 2017, Mayfield was arrested in Arkansas after being in a loud altercation. He was charged with three crimes, all of which he eventually pled guilty to, including public intoxication, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

Mayfield has also had his problems on the field.

In one of the final games of the 2017 season, Mayfield was snubbed by Kansas Jayhawks’ captains at the pregame coin flip as they refused to shake his hand.

Oklahoma dominated Kansas throughout the game, and in the third quarter, when they were winning 28-3, Mayfield taunted the Jayhawks’ sideline by making a lewd gesture at them.

This ended up costing Mayfield in a big way as he was stripped of his captain status and did not start in his final college regular season game the next week.

This is a ton of baggage for someone you are literally betting the future of your NFL franchise on.

Mayfield doesn’t seem like the kind of player you would want to be the face of your franchise. He doesn’t seem like the guy you’d want representing or leading your team.

But apparently, he checked all the boxes for the Browns and they selected him before any other player in the draft.

If Mayfield doesn’t pan out, which is a good chance, Cleveland will be set back another 5 years in the rebuilding process.

A 5-year setback is something no NFL team wants, especially a team that has won exactly one game in the last two seasons.

Cleveland’s fans are hungry for a successful NFL team, but unfortunately for them, it appears they will have to continue to wait for that day.

CONNECT WITH MATT FERRIS mferris2@student.framingham.edu

SPORTS | 23

Softball finishes regular season with a sweep

By Liam Gambon Asst. Sports Editor On Saturday April 28, the Framingham State Rams hosted the Fitchburg State Falcons in their final doubleheader of the season.

In the first inning, the Rams struck first with an RBI triple by Megan Downing that scored Mycala Moody.

The next score of the game came in the fifth inning when Grace Caughey singled to score Kristen Dick.

The Falcons would fight back in the sixth inning by scoring two runs to tie the game.

In the bottom of the ninth inning Downing, would reach base on an error that scored Moody to seal the win for the Rams.

Moody led the way for the Rams going, 3-for-4 at the dish with two runs scored.

Kelsi Gunarathne pitched a complete game for the Rams, allowing two runs on seven hits, while striking out 11.

FRAMINGHAM STATE 3 FITCHBURG STATE 2 In the second game of the doubleheader, the Rams got on the board first again in the bottom of the third with two runs. Caughey reached base on an infield single to score Dayna Marchant and Bridget McGrail singled to score Downing.

The Rams padded their lead with a three-run bottom of the fourth inning. Downing would score Camille Desrochers with a sacrifice fly. Caughey followed her with a sacrifice fly as well to plate Marchant, McGrail then singled in Moody.

The Falcons would score the final run of the game in the top of the fifth inning to wrap up the scoring at 5-1.

Jessica Pietersen earned the win in the second game of the double-header as she went seven innings, allowing one earned run on seven hits with two strikeouts.

The Rams finish the season 21-15 and will play in the MASCAC Quarterfinal against Westfield State.

FRAMINGHAM STATE 5 FITCHBURG STATE 1 CONNECT WITH LIAM GAMBON lgambon1@student.framingham.edu

Allie Gath/ THE GATEPOST Kelsi Gunarathne throws a pitch for the Rams in a game against Fitchburg.

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24 | SPORTS

THE GATEPOST

MAY 4, 2018

Rams in Daytona

Courtesty of Micayla Goulet

The Rams pose for a photograph after their win at NCA Nationals.

Continued from page 1

that is when we have to work as a group and not just as individuals,” she added.

During the set, when the team isn’t performing their stunts, the routine is filled with tumbling, jumps and motions. “Tumbling is the acrobatics and flips we perform before and after the stunts. For our jumps, we performed a toe-touch back handspring, and then a front-hurdler toe-touch.”

She said the team performed to a mash-up of “upbeat songs” that included voiceovers that exclaimed: “We are Framingham State!” and “Right here on the bandshell, servin’ up some L’s.”

Lynch said dancing is an integral part of the routine because “the dance is short, but the motions we perform have to be sharp and flawless because it’s the last part the judges see of the routine.”

Nessa Warrington has been a competitive cheerleader for 15 years. As a freshman at FSU, she joined the team in the fall. She said the team had somewhat of a “difficult” start because the Rams were primarily freshmen and transfers with only six members returning from previous years.

Because there were so few members, at the end of September, tryouts were held again. “Unfortunately, almost everyone who had come to tryouts quit at some point in the season. So, multiple times, we had to change everything. We kept making major changes right up until we started competing in March.”

Warrington added, “It was wicked stressful, and it was really hard for us not to get discouraged. But we managed to pull it together and do really well in Daytona.”

Warrington said her favorite aspect of cheering is the community she now has built around her, especially as a freshman.

She said because the sport is so intense, it’s crucial for the team members to be supportive of one another in and out of practice. “Cheerleading is very mentally challenging. You have to trust people you just met to catch you, and you have to convince yourself to do all these insane things with your body and be OK with the fact that if something goes wrong, you could get seriously injured.”

Lynch said, “Our sport relies so much on teamwork. We have to make sure we trust and genuinely care for each other, and not just during practices.”

Lynch said cheerleading has provided her with incredible physical and mental strength.

She added, “Cheerleading is thought of as pom-pom waving and cartwheels. While we definitely do those things, there is much more to the sport than what meets the eye. The physical abilities of cheerleaders have been underestimated.”

She said, “Repeatedly flipping your body mid-air during a 2-minute-and -30-second routine, all while keeping a smile on your face, is not a task most people can handle.”

Though the team placed third, Lombardi said because they had come in sixth on the first day of Nationals, it “almost felt like first place.”

He added, “Taking a team to Nationals is always an exciting time. To be able to see your team compete with and against other great teams from across the country is just surreal.”

food, often staying late in the night at the stadium. She said one evening after a game at Gillette, she didn’t get home until 3 a.m.

She said the team worked 12 events to raise the money.

Lynch said following the successful bid, the Rams spent the fall semester putting together routines and practicing stunts to showcase during football games.

She said, “During the fall, we practice three to four times a week. … We use this time to better our cheer abilities and stamina.”

She said the spring semester is “crunch time,” and the team focuses solely on the routine for Nationals. “We work our hardest during the practices in the spring before the competition.”

Coach Lombardi, a native of Framingham, began cheering at Keefe Regional Technical School when he was in high school. He cheered professionally for The Celtics and came to FSU in 2009 to be an assistant coach.

Lombardi has been head coach of the Rams since 2011.

Lombardi said the team has a regimented practice that involves stretching and warm ups before practicing stunts.

He said the team started practicing “basic skills” and worked up to more “advanced stunts” as the season progressed. “Then, as we got closer to Nationals, we started practicing like we would when we get to Florida.”

Freshman and team member Rikki O’Brien has been cheering since she was 6 years old. She said the sport has taught her “discipline and hard work in a way nothing else has.”

O’Brien said, “I definitely wasn’t sure if we could come in top three, but it was super satisfying to prove that even though we don’t have has as many resources as other schools might, we can still succeed.”

Micayla Goulet, a sophomore and team member, said she has been cheering for 11 years and owes her passion for the sport to her mother.

She said the competition in Daytona was “one of the best experiences as a cheerleader. There are thousands of cheerleaders everywhere, and you get to practice on the beach.”

Goulet said the competition was broken up into two days. Competing in the heat and humidity of Florida against 13 other teams, the first day of the competition didn’t go as well as the team had hoped.

She said the team didn’t perform their “best” on day one, placing sixth of the seven teams that would move on to the second day of the competition.

The team received six deductions during their performance.

Goulet said the team’s performance was “10 times better” and they received only one deduction during their set on the second day of the competition.

Goulet said the team was successful because of the dedication of every member. She said it can be challenging for the team to “hit” the stunts at the same time because each stunt is being performed by three smaller groups of cheerleaders. “Luckily, we were able to come together and motivate each other.”

Lynch said the routine performed at Nationals consisted of stunts, tumbling, jumps and dance.

The team included a stunt in which three team members are thrown simultaneously in the air and caught by the members on the ground. A move CONNECT WITH BAILEY MORRISON such as this requires synchronicity and uniformity. bmorrison1@student.framingham.edu “Stunts are usually the most nerve-racking part of the routine because

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MAY 4, 2018

SPORTS | 25

The good-luck charm

Lindsey Franco is the softball team’s newest member

By Allison Wharton Staff Writer It was a warm spring Saturday afternoon, perfect for a game of softball. The FSU Rams were playing the first game of a doubleheader against Fitchburg State and the score was tied 2-2 in the bottom of the sixth.

FSU scored at the last second and won the first game.

Lauren Salisbury, junior and outfielder, credits this sudden turnaround to 13-year-old Lindsey Franco’s arrival.

Franco is the newest addition to the FSU softball team and according to Head Coach Larry Miller, “She has been our good-luck charm. We have won every game since she joined.”

Lindsey joined the team on April 6 through Boston-based organization Team IMPACT, that pairs chronically ill children with collegiate teams.

She was diagnosed with Williams Syndrome, a genetic condition which is characterized by medical problems such as cardiovascular disease and developmental delays. According to Franco’s mother, Susan, she has difficulty with fine motor skills such as handwriting.

Susan found the organization on Facebook through a post another mom with a child with Williams Syndrome had made. “It was an appealing program. We are a sports family, so I wanted Lindsey to get involved with a team.”

She applied online and days later, she heard from Elizabeth Higgins, relationship manager at Team IMPACT. Higgins said the organization worked with collegiate teams close to her home in Holliston to match her with the Rams.

Susan said the family did not have a choice

regarding the sport, but she specifically requested no ice hockey due to Lindsey’s older brother, who plays the sport.

“She spends way too much time in the rink,” she said.

Aside from being a part of the softball team, Lindsey also competes in gymnastics, basketball and takes part in the Special Olympics, but since the event is short lived, Susan wanted her to make friends closer to home.

Miller, who has been coaching at FSU for four years, already knew about the organization and was immediately interested in signing up the softball team.

On April 6, Draft Day was held to welcome Lindsey. Susan said, “There was a big conference table where she signed a letter of intent.

There was food and cake. Channel 5 was there, so Lindsey got to see herself on T.V. She’s been feeling important lately.”

As a member of the team, Lindsey attends home games, sits in the dugout, attends team dinners and sometimes practices. She even helped decorate posters for senior day.

Lindsey said, “I love everything about this.

The dinners are my favorite. I love sitting with my teammates.”

Her teammates and coach define Lindsey as a goofball. “She dances and cheers inside the dugout,” Miller said.

Senior and outfielder Dayna Marchant said Franco once showed off her favorite dance, “The Monkey,” and it has become a tradition to dance together in the dugout.

“She’s adorable. I feel so fortunate to be a part of this! It’s great for our program and it feels great to make an impact,” Marchant added.

Team IMPACT organized four athletes, juniors Eleanor Callery and Salisbury and sopho-

mores Mcayla Moody and Kristen Dick, to welcome Franco and communicate with her parents about any upcoming team events.

Callery, the team’s catcher, recalled the first time they met Franco. “She came to dinner with us and was joking around and having fun with everyone. … She fit right in.”

Miller said, “Bringing Lindsey into the culture of college sports makes it more than just softball - it’s about making an impact.”

Allison Wharton / THE GATEPOST The FSU softball team poses with their newest teammate, Lindsey Franco.

CONNECT WITH ALLISON WHARTON awharton@student.framingham.edu

work somewhere you apply online at .com/careers or in store at 400 Cochituate Rd Framingham, MA 01701

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Players of the week

Baseball land third seed in conference tournament

By Richard Tranfaglia Asst. Sports Editor

fsurams.com

MAY 4, 2018

THE GATEPOST

26 | SPORTS

Kimmy Foley had three goals and five assists in an 18-10 victory against Salve Regina.

The Rams improve to 17-15 on the season and 8-5 in the MASCAC.

Framingham split its doubleheader against FRAMINGHAM STATE 6 Fitchburg State on April 28.

FITCHBURG STATE 4 The Rams won the first game 6-4.

Andrew Currie started the game off with a The Rams lost the second game 5-0. walk. He managed to get to third on the next at Kyle Hodgson hit Nick Cordeau on the first bat, off an error by the second baseman. pitch to send him to first. Currie then singled to Brennan Cuddahy then hit a sac fly to the inright, followed with a walk by Milliard to load field to score Currie.

The Rams responded in the bottom of the the bases. An errant pitch by Hodgson allowed first. Aaron Williams led off by reaching first on Cordeau to score. Hodgson managed to get the Rams out of the inning with back-to-back an infield single to shortstop.

Kyle Lippert then reached first on an error by strikeouts.

The third inning started with Cordeau getthe third baseman. Cam Borrelli followed with ting hit by a pitch again to get on base. Milliard a single to center field to score Williams and doubled to center, scoring Cordeau. Cuddahy Lippert.

Anthony Venuti doubled down the right field followed with a single down the left field line to score Milliard. line to score Borrelli and make it a 3-1 game.

Matt Pingitore walked to start the fourth inThe Falcons tied the game in the third inning ning, followed by a Brandon Lefebvre single. when Sean Maki hit a two-run shot to center.

Robert Higgins homered to center in the Currie then singled to right field to score Pingibottom of the fourth, giving the Rams the lead tore and Lefebvre.

Ryan Towle had four Ks in the final three again. innings to end the game. He finished with two In the fifth inning, Currie led with a double hits, no runs and 10 Ks. to left field. Cuddahy got his second RBI of the Hodgson pitched four innings, allowing six day with a single to right, scoring Currie again.

Kyle Pileski homered to left to lead off the hits and five runs.

The Rams moved to 17-16 on the season and bottom of the fifth. Lippert followed with a single to center. Borrelli singled as well to put two 8-6 in the MASCAC. men on. Venuti then grounded into a double play, but Lippert managed to score, reaching FITCHBURG STATE 5 the final margin for the game.

FRAMINGHAM STATE 0 Michael Andrews pitched a complete game for Framingham, allowing 10 hits and four runs.

Richard Sharp pitched four innings for Fitchburg, allowing nine hits and six runs.

CONNECT WITH RICHARD TRANFAGLIA

rtranfaglia@student.framingham.edu

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Dayna Marchant went 4-for-4 and scored two runs in a 5-1 win over Fitchburg State.

fsurams.com

Cam Borrelli went 3-for-3 and drove in two runs in a 6-4 victory over Fitchburg State.

Allie Gath / THE GATEPOST Joe Andrews looks into the catcher for a pitch in the first game of a doubleheader against Fitchburg.

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THE GATEPOST

MAY 4, 2018

SPORTS | 27

Agree to Disagree Matt Ferris

Question

Jose Carrasquillo

Warriors

Which NBA team will win the 2018 NBA Finals?

Rockets

Giants

Which NFL team had the best draft?

Packers

Bolt d’Oro

Which horse will win the 2018 Kentucky Derby?

Audible

Getting Ahead

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My Way

Make your summer count!

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• 5-week, 8-week & 12-week sessions • Morning, afternoon, evening, hybrid and online courses • Over 100 courses offered entirely online • Undergraduate and graduate courses*

*Students may take up to 2 graduate courses before matriculation

Classes start May 21, 2018 Learn more at Framingham.edu/summer or call the Continuing Education Office at 508-626-4755

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28 | PHOTOS

THE GATEPOST

MAY 4, 2018

FSU Fashion Club presents...

THE 2018 FASHION SHOW

PULENCE FSU fashion designers showcased their hard work at the annual Fashion Show on April 27.

Corey McFeeley/THE GATEPOST

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