THE GATEPOST Framingham State’s independent student newspaper
Volume 86 • Issue 10
FSUgatepost.com
November 17, 2017
Corey McFeeley / THE GATEPOST “A Piece of My Heart” will be performed in DPAC through Saturday.
News TITLE IX pg. 4 ELEVATOR UPDATE pg. 6
Opinions
FSU holds unity workshop
Faculty diversity rises to 19.8 percent
By Jillian Poland News Editor
By Tessa Jillson Asst. Arts & Features
The University hosted a Unity Workshop for FSU community members on Nov. 13 in response to the recent hate crimes on campus. “DRY CAMPUS” pg. 8 The workshop was intended to “empower” the comBE THE ANGRY FAN pg. 9 munity and start conversations about solutions, said Millie González, interim chief officer of diversity, inclusion and community engagement. González sent out emails to the entire campus comArts & Features munity containing a link to register for the workshop and received 47 responses. “Disturbingly,” of those responses, 21 were anonymous replies that were racist and STAGE READING pg. 10 anti-Semitic, said González. Those responses have been REPUTATION REVIEW pg. 11 sent to FSUPD for investigation. Approximately 55 people attended the workshop. Of the attendees, five were students, including two Gatepost staff members covering the event. At the meeting, González introduced Barbara Holland, founder and CEO of BreakThrough Partners, a consulting firm focused on inclusion, diversity and cultural competence. Holland will be providing trainings for the campus community and offering recommendations for improving campus culture around diversity and inclusion. Amanda Martin / THE GATEPOST Dan Levinson from the Anti-Defamation League, a civil rights organization that fights anti-Semitism and other forms of hate, also introduced himself at the event. Sports He said, “From everything I’ve seen, it certainly seems like what your school and what your community is doing WOMEN’S BASKETBALL OPENS is amazing. I wish, frankly, that every college community SEASON pg 17 and every university where there was an incident could FOOTBALL QUALIFIES FOR BOWL respond like this.” HAME pg. 19
See UNITY WORKSHOP page 3
Framingham State University plans to increase the percentage of full-time faculty members from diverse backgrounds to 21 percent by 2020 as part of its new strategic plan, said Kim Dexter, director of equal oppurtunity, Title IX and ADA compliance. This year, 19.8 percent of full-time faculty are from diverse backgrounds. The FSU strategic plan was initiated to enhance learning and leadership on campus, increase faculty, staff and student diversity and create a diverse, inclusive work environment, according to the Framingham State website. The Division of Inclusive Excellence and human resources updates the University’s strategic plan every five years to set new baseline goals. Susan Dargan, dean of social and behavioral sciences, said, “Twelve years ago, I don’t think diversity was as big a part of the strategic plan as it is now. I think hiring President Cevallos was a great thing because he’s committed to diversity and inclusion and he knows it’s a priority.” Dexter said the 2012-17 strategic plan set a goal of 12 percent, which has been exceeded. Linda Vaden-Goad, provost and vice president for academic affairs, said the University is pretty close to the 2020 strategic baseline already, “so, we probably could raise that and will want to” in the future. FSU’s percentile ranking for full-time faculty from diverse backgrounds is on par with other state Universities. The Framingham State 2016-2017 common data set recognized 37 out of 198 full-time faculty members as members of minority groups. The percent of full-time
See FACULTY DIVERSITY page 3 INSIDE: OP/ED 8 • ARTS & FEATURES 10 • SPORTS 14
2 | NEWS
THE GATEPOST
Gatepost Interview
Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief Cesareo Contreras Associate Editors Bailey Morrison Kayllan Olicio News Editors Jillian Poland Shanleigh Reardon Asst. News Editor Nadira Wicaksana Arts & Features Editor Andrew Willoughby Asst. Arts & Features Editors Zach Colten Cameron Grieves Tessa Jillson Allison Wharton Sports Editors Jose Carrasquillo Matt Ferris Asst. Sports Editors Liam Gambon Richard Tranfaglia Photos Editors Allie Gath Amanda Martin Asst. Photos Editors Corey McFeeley Madison Rosbach Design Editors Shayna Yacyshyn Staff Designer Cass Doherty Staff Writers Brennan Atkins Noah Barnes Stephanie Bennett Aaliyah Colon Christina Fazio Dan Flahive Caitlin Frias Thomas Maye Camille McKenzie Nick Murphy Lizzy Stocks Staff Photographers Oscairy Tavarez Staff Illustrator Raysam Donkoh-Halm 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
NOVEMBER 17, 2017
Nikki Curley
By Nadira Wicaksana Staff Writer
SGA Administrative Assistant
What is your educational background and career history? Everything up until this point has been Framingham State University. I did my undergraduate degree here and I graduated with a major in sociology and a minor in psychology. I graduated in 2013. I started working right away for Career Services at Framingham State, and I was operations facilitator there for two years. During that time, I decided to pursue my master’s, which I did at Framingham State as well in the counseling psychology program. Then, after two years working in Career Services, I transitioned over to SILD as the SGA administrative assistant. What made you want to come back to Framingham State and work with students? I never really even left after graduation. I was really fortunate that a job opened up in Career Services. I loved the atmosphere here and everything about the University, and my experiences in being really involved in college really changed my whole outlook and my perspective on what I wanted to do in my life. I thought that it’d be really amazing to try and give that to someone else and to give back to the University that gave me so much. I really wanted to be here and help students have the positive experiences that I had and show them how much the University has to offer. So, I felt really fortunate to be able to stay here, and then the position in Student Activities opened up. What is your favorite part about your job? The students. I think the students are what make every day so different and exciting. I think it can be really easy when you’re in the same position for things to get boring, but here, working with students every day never gets boring. Every day is something new, and I love being able to hear students’ ideas and see where they’re really passionate about something, for
Also, with people that I’m colleagues with now who knew me as a first-year student, getting their perception to change and see me as their colleague and as another staff member rather than that first-year student coming in here clueless. I think that was my biggest challenge.
Bailey Morrison / THE GATEPOST
them to be able to push forward and realize what they want to do and how they can make a difference. I really love being able to see them and help them grow - see them from their first year here to their senior year - how much of a difference their time here has made, their personality development and leadership growth. What are some of your greatest accomplishments and challenges? I was really fortunate my first year here to win both the Support Staff of the Year Award and the Phenomenal Woman Award, which are both really significant in my life. The Support Staff of the Year is voted on by the student body, so to know that the students are my reason for being here and they see me as somebody that is supporting to them and someone who’s making a difference, really had a profound impact on me. For the Phenomenal Woman Award, the other candidates that were up for the award as well were people that I look up to some really phenomenal people. I think my biggest challenge was probably the transition from student to a staff member, since there wasn’t any gap in between. I just went straight into working. I think it wasn’t only with students who were younger than me who saw me as a student originally and, now that I might be their supervisor or in this professional role, it was hard to really set the boundaries and say, “No, now I am not your peer. I am now a professional.”
Police Logs
Sunday, November 12 19:53 Alarm (Fire/Smoke) Corinne Hall Towers Checks okay
Monday, November 13 15:24 GC Odor North Hall Unfounded
Sunday, November 12 20:52 Motor Vehicle Accident Maynard Road Parking Lot Report Taken
Tuesday, November 14 02:36 Suspicious Motor Vehicle Union Avenue Parking Lot Advised
I saw you climbed the Sydney Harbor Bridge. What was that like? It was terrifying and amazing all at the same time. I was really fortunate - my cousin was studying abroad in Australia, so me and my aunt decided to visit her. It was kind of a graduation present partly for me. I don’t think there’d be another opportunity that I would have thought to go to Australia. So, we went and my cousin said, “You really need to climb the Sydney Harbor Bridge.” And I’m a little terrified of heights. … There were a few times coming down that I was visibly shaking and the tour guide had to ask if I was OK. But I made it without tears, and I am so happy that I did it. It just really helped me realize that sometimes if you are scared, you just need to take that leap, and it paid off. I would have really regretted it if I hadn’t done it. ... It was an amazing experience. What advice do you have for FSU students? You really need to be your own best advocate. I think the University has so much to offer, but you need to be able to take advantage of that, to advocate for yourself. There’s so many people here that are willing to go above and beyond for students, but you need to sometimes ask for their help. … I know that my first semester here as a student, I didn’t really take advantage of opportunities I had. I was more in my dorm room a lot and I thought about transferring, like this isn’t really the place for me. And then somebody really pushed me to be involved in the programming board and in other clubs and really take on leadership roles. My whole experience was completely transformed after being involved and taking advantage of everything here.
Corrections In last week’s Gatepost Editorial, we mistakenly stated that Yvonne Spicer was “the first popularly elected female African American Mayor.” Because of an editing error, we left out the words “in Massachusetts.”
FRAMINGHAM STATE UNIVERSITY’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1932 | FSUGATEPOST.COM
In the Nov. 3 issue, we misattributed the feature photo to Asst. Photos Editor Corey McFeeley. The picture was actually taken by Photos Editor Allie Gath.
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Unity Workshop Continued from page 1
González explained some actions already being taken on campus, including a grant application submitted by Academic Affairs to make curricular changes to 10 courses for spring 2018. The changes will focus on adding more elements of diversity and global learning. After the introductions, the workshop broke into 12 different groups. Each group had a staff member or administrator who facilitated a conversation about different actions that could be taken on campus in response to the hate crimes. The topics included hosting intercultural training, instituting a neighborhood watch and adding cameras in the residence halls and incorporating diversity practices when hiring. Linda Vaden-Goad, vice president for academic affairs, led a discussion about what the community would like new faculty to know coming in. Some professors suggested offering incentives for faculty and staff to attend diversity workshops. Jon Huibregtse, a history professor, recalled the success of paid advising workshops offered to new faculty and suggested that format could be used as a model for diversity workshops. The faculty members had the option to attend the workshop and would receive a $200 stipend if they did.
FSU community members participated in group discussions during the Unity Workshop.
Glenn Cochran, director of Residence Life, helped lead a discussion about what could be done in residence halls. One student recommended having a tip box by the elevators or in the lobbies for residents to write down anonymous tips that they think could be helpful, but may not think are serious enough to warrant contacting the anonymous FSUPD tip line. González said she believed the
Diverse faculty Continued from page 1 faculty at FSU from underrepresented groups was 18.7 for that year. According to the Salem State University Factbook, 19 percent of the university’s full-time faculty were from underrepresented groups in 2016. Based on data in the Bridgewater State University 2016-17 Factbook, the percent of diverse fulltime faculty at Bridgewater State University was at about 18.5 percent. The percent of full-time facul-
ty from underrepresented groups at Worcester State University for 2016-17 was at about 18.8 percent, according to data from the Worcester State University Factbook. According to data from the Fitchburg State Factbook, the percent of 2016-17 full-time faculty from underrepresented groups was at about 10 percent. As of July 1, 2016, 81.8 percent of Massachusetts citizens are white, 8.6 percent are black, .5 percent are American Indian and Alaska Native, 6.7 percent are Asian, 11.5 percent are Hispanic or Latinx and 2.3 percent are two or more races, according to census.gov.
“We will need to institutionalize programs like these so that they are part of the fabric of the University, as opposed to glittery accessories that fall off after one wear.” - Martel Pipkins, criminology professor
Madison Rosbach / THE GATEPOST
workshop went very well. “It was clear that those who attended were interested in sharing ideas and listening to their colleagues,” she added. “At the meeting, some suggested opportunities for faculty, staff and students to connect and exchange stories. ... One person had a novel suggestion in which we plant a ‘Unity Tree’ as a symbol of our commitment to unite the campus against hate and intolerance,” she said.
González said she will be emailing out a summary of what was discussed at the meeting to the campus community. She added, “I am excited about the wonderful possibilities and am eager to support a variety of activities on campus.”
The University defines diversity using the language of the federal guidelines. Factors such as gender, class and international status are not accounted for in the diversity baseline, said Vaden-Goad. The diversity data comes from a self-identification sheet on which FSU employees voluntarily disclose their gender, ethnicity and veteran status. “It is up to somebody if they would like to report, and if they don’t want to, they don’t need to,” Vaden-Goad said. Dargan said since the University’s diversity data does not include international faculty members, the percent of faculty members from underrepresented groups is higher than officially reported. She added she would like to see the number of diverse faculty members on campus increase to reflect the number of diverse students, which currently stands between 24 to 26 percent. This is a challenge since tenured faculty hold their positions for many years. “There isn’t as much turnover in academia, but with our new hiring, we’re doing much better. When we replace people, we get new positions. We’ve really put an effort
into diversifying the faculty,” she said. According to Assistant Vice President of Human Resources Erin Nechipurenko, Human Resources and Academic Affairs promoted new hiring guidelines, training courses and programs to expand diversity and inclusion at FSU. “The Faculty Hiring Guide was rewritten in 2015 and now includes information on strategies for recruiting diverse candidates, recognizing personal bias in the interview process and being on guard against that bias,” said Nechipurenko. Dargan and Dexter have been working on the final version of The Faculty Hiring Guide together. “The guide recommends getting a diverse pool” of applicants, Dargan said. Dexter has recently implemented an Implicit Association Test that addresses biased assumptions. All search committee members are required to take the test, Nechipurenko said. Dexter is also in charge of reviewing the candidate pool, encouraging additional recruitment,
CONNECT WITH JILLIAN POLAND jpoland@student.framingham.edu
Continued on page 7
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4 | NEWS
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NOVEMBER 17, 2017
FSU administration responds to possible Title IX rollbacks By Dan Flahive Staff Writer The University intends to provide students involved in Title IX cases with all the support and options possible, regardless of proposed changes to federal guidelines, said Kim Dexter, director of equal opportunity, Title IX and ADA compliance at Framingham State. Betsy DeVos, the United State secretary of education, announced plans to rollback Obamaera guidelines of Title IX on Sept. 7. The re-evaluation comes because of what she sees as a lack of due process offered to students accused of sexual assault. Title IX is a federal law that states, “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.” In 2011, the Department of Education (DOE) and the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) set out specific guidelines regarding sexual assault on campuses in a document known as a “Dear Colleague” letter. Many lawyers and government officials regarded the letter as “victim-friendly,” as it allowed victims of sexual assault to forgo signing a nondisclosure agreement. It also required schools to take immediate action and strive to finish investigations within 60 days. In her announcement, DeVos also expressed support for sexual assault victims. “One rape is one too many. One assault is one too many. One aggressive act of harassment is one too many. One person denied due process is one too many,” said DeVos. “It is our moral obligation to get this right,” she added. According to DeVos, the previous guidelines were too confusing, to the point that lawyers had trouble interpreting the policy. This then left universities in a difficulty position - having to be both the judge and jury of cases. “This unraveling of justice is shameful. It’s wholly un-American, and it is anathema to the system of self-governance to which our founders pledged their lives over 240 years ago,” DeVos said. “There must be a better way forward. “The system established by the prior administration has failed too many students. Survivors, victims of a lack of due process and campus administrators have all told me that the current approach does a disservice to everyone involved,” she said.
DeVos also wanted to ensure that the survivors and victims were still going to be heard, stating, “We will not abandon anyone. We will amplify the voices of survivors who, too often, feel voiceless.” Dexter said she expects the U.S. DOE to address the issues DeVos laid out soon. “We know that she has indicated some areas where she has heard concerns expressed, and she has expressed those concerns,” said Dexter. “[DeVos] has highlighted wanting a comment and review period on the recommendations or guidance that is provided by the Department of
ing to Dexter. “We know that DeVos would like something a little stricter. We hear a lot about clear and convincing - if I had to guess what might come out in revised guidance, it would be that,” said Dexter. OCR requires schools to use a preponderance of the evidence, in other words, “more likely than not” standard, as the facts of the case are evaluated. “I, and many others, believe this is a very fair standard. It shows there are two sides that we are considering and we look for where there is the most evidence to support somebody’s account of what has oc-
“If the procedures and policies don’t support victims and survivors, then the fear is that reporting is going to go down, and our ability to direct people to support is going to decrease.” - Kim Dexter, director of equal opportunity, Title IX and ADA compliance
Education.” The 2011 Dear Colleague letter, along with other Dear Colleague letters produced by the DOE and the OCR, provides guidelines on how to address sexual-based discrimination and sexual violence for universities that receive federal funding. These guidelines, however, are not “legislated into law,” but are generally accepted to have the effect of law, accord-
curred,” said Dexter. She said she is worried the DOE is going to require students and universities to share information about reports with law enforcement, regardless of the will of the victim. In many cases of sexual assault and rape, the victims feel as though they have lost all control. Title IX offices strive to give the victims that control of their lives back by reviewing their op-
tions and giving them the choice to involve law enforcement if they so choose, she added. “If the procedures and policies don’t support victims and survivors, then the fear is that reporting is going to go down, and our ability to direct people to support is going to decrease,” said Dexter. FSU approaches training on Title IX and sexual misconduct with a wide lens, trying to educate students, faculty and staff on appropriate behavior, she said. Some of these include training modules for students, bystander intervention training for campus leaders (resident assistants, SGA members, peer mentors), activities in residence halls, bringing partners to campus to raise awareness and social media campaigns. “We try to attack training at many different angles because different things resonate with different folks. For our students, the overarching training we have is our online Haven program. We know one online course is not necessarily efficient to get the message across. We offer something similar to employees,” said Dexter. Last year, FSU had about 40 concerns brought to the Title IX office, but only three formal complaints investigated through the student conduct process, according to Dexter. She added these numbers are consistent with national data. Naomi Shatz, a Boston student rights and Title IX attorney at Zalkind, Duncan, & Bernstein LLP, represents students accused of sexual assault, sexual misconduct and intimate partner violence. Shatz said she does not expect anything to come out of the DOE anytime soon. She added, “Formal rule-making processes involve putting out
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Title IX notice and getting public comment, and I think that will take time.” Regarding the Title IX rollbacks, Shatz said there is “a lot still up in the air. … The question-and-answer document issued a few weeks ago gives some sense in direction, focusing a bit more on certain procedural rights [for the accused].” The question-and-answer document Shatz referred to, which explains the new expectations for schools to handle Title IX matters until new regulations are passed, was released on Sept. 22 by the DOE, according to the Department’s website. The new document gives schools the choice to use a preponderance of the evidence standard or the clear and convincing standard when finding a verdict. “One of the big concerns is that the Title IX offices are the judge, jury and executioner, and that is not the recipe for a fair process,” said Shatz. She added she has not heard many concerns from either side abut modifying the way sexual assault cases are handled on college campuses. Shatz believes the optimal way to handle matters is to revert back to having a hearing process, allowing witnesses to testify for both parties, rather than having one investigation with a single investigator. “The Department is putting out a mixed bag of improvements for things concerning the public, and now the public can weigh in. People concerned over the matter should take initiative and speak out about the topic,” said Shatz. Samantha Harris, vice president of policy research for the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, said it is tough to predict what is going to come out of the DOE in the coming months, but by rescinding the 2011 Dear Colleague letter, the Department has taken a step back “from a pe-
Information about Title IX protocol is posted in Dwight Hall.
riod of micromanaging universities’ handling of sexual misconduct claims. “What we do know, and what is a very positive step in the right direction, is that the Department is going to put any proposed new regulations through a period of notice and comment that will allow all stakeholders - whether they be victims’ advocates, due process advocates, university administrators, or otherwise - to have a voice in the process,” Harris added. Colby Bruno, senior legal counsel for the Victim Rights Law Center, said, “We really cannot even begin to speculate” what the DOE intends to do in the coming months. “At this point, it does seem like the Department will roll back civil rights at every chance they get. “I believe that what was previously in place was helpful to all students and that by withdrawing the critical guidances, all stu-
“One of the big concerns is that the Title IX offices are the judge, jury and executioner, and that is not the recipe for a fair process.” - Naomi Shatz, student rights and Title IX attorney
dents will be harmed.” Bruno added the DOE has decided to further confuse the issue with another Dear Colleague letter that is in conflict with existing laws and is no help to schools or the students. Former Vice President Joe Biden released a public service announcement for “It’s On Us,” a national campaign to end sexual assault. “Demand that your school continue to make progress. You know we’ve exposed the brutal reality of sexual assault and now is no time to turn back,” said Biden. “As long as I have a breath in my body I’m going to fight to change this culture. I won’t stop, and neither should you,” Biden added. In late August, four female Harvard University law professors wrote an article calling for additional revisions, similar to the reasons laid out by DeVos. The article, “Fairness for all students under Title IX,” argued the 2011 Dear Colleague letter was never “opened for notice and comment period” and therefore should not be recognized as law. The article goes on to call for those accused to be informed of the complaints made against them. It also suggests providing a hearing for both parties and separating schools’ Title IX officers from the duties of adjudicating and hearing appeals. Dexter said there is a difference between school investigations and criminal trials. “It’s important to recognize that a campus student conduct process does not serve as or replicate a criminal or civil court proceeding. It is in the interest of institutions of higher
Corey McFeeley / THE GATEPOST
education to set behavioral expectations and ethical standards for the members of its community and to monitor and respond to violations of those standards. “Our campus processes are designed to afford students due process in conduct proceedings. Rights, options and responsibilities are clearly outlined, students are afforded equal opportunities to present information and the staff administering conduct processes receive extensive and comprehensive training in investigating allegations and analyzing findings of fact under the language in the policies,” Dexter said. Ultimately, the DOE is expected to modify the guidelines laid out in the 2011 Dear Colleague Letter in the follow-ing years, and Dexter would like to remind students this will not change the resources available to them. She said, “What is important is, we know our students are experiencing sexual violence and relationship abuse and we are going to make sure we keep doing the very best that we can to make sure they have support and options, and that is why we will be closely watching what comes out of the Department of Education.”
CONNECT WITH DAN FLAHIVE dflahive@student.framingham.edu
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SGA discusses issues with Student Transportation Center By Caitlin Frias Staff Writer SGA discussed issues with the RamTram service and handicap accessibility on campus during its meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 14. Senate Chair Mike O’Brien led a heated discussion between two Student Transportation managers and the senate. SGA members asked managers of the Student Transportation Center (STC) questions pertaining to timing issues with the RamTram, specific protocol and what challenges the RamTram staff generally face. Senator Ayanna Ferguson asked why the RamTram has not shown up on time in the past couple of weeks, as she relies on the service to take her to work. STC manager Josh Stiles said, “A lot of the times, when the RamTram should start, there’s massive amounts of people outside. So those buses fill up, and once they fill up, they just leave.” Some SGA members asked
whether the larger issue was the STC being understaffed. Both STC managers assured SGA the issue was not a matter of understaffing, but the result of having to follow the 20-hours-per-week cap for student workers. STC manager Megan Ackerman said, “Most people don’t work up to the 20 hours. We have athletes that work with us, so they only work the 10. “There are other people that don’t even work a minimum of five hours. Last semester, it was different because you could work up to 30 hours and it was easier to get shifts covered,” she added. Vice President Jack Capello asked the STC representatives what problems the Center faces. Stiles responded by stating many people approach the STC desk thinking it is an information desk. This leads to a lot of frustration among the STC staff, as knowing specific information about University events is not part of their job description. “We have people get mad at us asking, ‘Where is this event?’ and
we have no idea. We do our best to try and help out, but sometimes it does get annoying,” said Ackerman. SGA also addressed the issue of campus accessibility for students with disabilities. President Kyle Rosa and Parliamentarian Ben Carrington brainstormed solutions to meet the needs of students with disabilities on campus. SGA decided to propose the Health Center install an automatic door at its entrance to satisfy the needs of its patients. Rosa and Carrington stated they would request funding in the near future. SGA also evaluated funding requests for campus clubs. A funding request was made by the Craft Club for $1,440 to cover the cost of 56 tickets for a trip to Craft Boston at the Hynes Convention Center on Dec. 16. The funds will cover all-day transportation to the event and back to campus. The request was approved. A funding request was made by the Community Service Club for
NOVEMBER 17, 2017
$2,063 to cover the cost of potential transportation for remaining trips. The cost would cover transportation for approximately 1-2 trips per month. A representative from the Community Service Club explained if there were funds not used from the initial funding request, this money would roll back into the Student Activity Fee Account. The request was approved. A funding request was made by SGA for $25,000 to bring Bernice King, minister and daughter of Martin Luther King Jr., to campus to speak. Capello said, “The campus really needs this right now.” Capello explained that although the cost is $25,000, SGA would only be responsible for approximately $5,000 due to collaborations with other universities in the area where the speaker would also visit. The request was approved. Capello presented the U-Rock award to Senator Amanda Taylor. CONNECT WITH CAITLIN FRIAS cfrias1@student.framingham.edu
Library elevator to be fixed early next week By Cesareo Contreras Editor-in-Chief After being out of service for two weeks, the elevator in the Whittemore Library is scheduled to be repaired on Monday, Nov. 20, according to Maureen Bagge Fowler, environmental health and safety coordinator. At around 8:00 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 6, the Facilities and Capital Planning Department was informed by the library staff that the elevator had broken down, she said. Initially, Patricia Whitney, assistant vice president of facilities, assumed the elevator had broken as a result of the power outage repairs the University had completed the previous Friday to restore power campus-wide. Upon inspection, however, the elevator technician found a failed 40-year-old drive inside the elevator, which was used to help it remain level and determine which floor it was on. Since the third-party company FSU contracts to manage the elevators, Delta Beckwith, no longer sells that drive, a custom-made part had to be machined - a process that takes longer than just ordering a new part, Whitney explained. The repairs cost approximately $15,500, she said - $14,400 for the replacement part and an additional $1,100 to have the process expedited.
Whitney said the University might not have paid the additional $1,100 if “it was one of two elevators in a dorm, but because it’s our library, and people take classes there, we felt that we needed to pay the price to expedite it.” Typically, for items over $10,000, the University has to get three bids from a number of third party contractors before purchasing anything, Whitney said. Given the “urgent nature” of the problem, she sent out an emergency waiver to the state, requesting permission to allow the University to move forward with Delta Beckwith. This process also took some time, she said. The University expects to receive the part on Friday, Nov. 17, according to Bagge Fowler. In the meantime, to accommodate students who need the elevator, LaDonna Bridges, associate dean of academic success and the director of the Center of Academic Success and Achievement (CASA), worked with the Registrar’s Office to move a number of classes in the library to other academic buildings for the remainder of the semester. English professor Claudia Springer’s film class was moved from the the library to Hemenway Hall and communication arts professor Robert Johnson’s class was moved to Dwight Hall. Springer said, “It’s has been gratifying to work with the Registrar’s office to quickly and efficiently relocate the class. ... Repairing the el-
Corey McFeeley / THE GATEPOST The elevator in the library has been broken since Monday, Nov. 6.
evator requires the construction of a part that is no longer manufactured, and that will take time, but because of the University’s rapid response, my class has an appropriate room and we haven’t missed any class time.” Johnson said although the elevator has failed many times in the past, he can’t recall it being out of service “for so long.” According to Johnson, there was an email mix-up the day the elevator broke. Although he received an email from CASA informing him that his class had moved, he didn’t see it until “the very last minute,” and thus, was unable to inform the student who needed the elevator that the class had moved. But when he and the other stu-
dents arrived at Dwight Hall, that student, who wished to remain anonymous, was already there. A rumor spread around the campus that the elevator was going to be broken for the rest of the semester - an assumption many made as a result of a few classes in the library being moved to other academic buildings for the remainder of the semester, according to Whitney. Looking ahead to next year, Whitney said the University has sent out a funding request to the state for a project that would involve updating the library and replacing its elevator. “We have our fingers crossed,” she said. “It’s one of the top priorities.” CONNECT WITH CESAREO CONTRERAS ccontreras@student.framingham.edu
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Diverse faculty Continued from page 3
Diverse Faculty at FSU
25 Percentage of diverse faculty
asking for more details about diversity recruitment efforts and postponing the selection process until a more diverse candidate pool can be established. Vaden-Goad said, “We’ve started new programs where we invite a competitive search process for people who will bring diverse points of view to the University in their teaching.” The Mary Miles Bibb Teaching Fellowship is a program that hires individuals who are strongly committed to diversity and inclusion and recently received their Ph.D. “We hire full-time temporary faculty and hope to get them on the tenure track. It’s a way to bring in people who might not come in another way,” Dargan said. Past and current Bibb fellows include sociology professor Patricia Sánchez-Connally, chemistry professor Ishara Mills-Henry and criminology professor Martel Pipkins. According to Sánchez-Connally, who was a member of the second group of Bibb fellows at FSU in 2013, the fellowship allows the school to bring in scholars “with different perspectives in regards to research and from underrepresented communities.” Besides acquiring experience to teach full-time, Sánchez-Connally said her most important achievements as a Bibb fellow were forming the first Employees of Color Affinity Group, collaborating with student leaders to form Student Leaders of Inclusion and Diversity and working on other initiatives such as Intercultural Graduation. Communication arts professor Robert Johnson was hired in 1992 and was the first African American to receive tenure at FSU. Johnson said it wasn’t until the fall of 2013 that he saw a significant increase in “black and brown” faculty and students. He said, “Change starts at the top. If we want more diversity, then we have to act to make it happen. … We live in an increasingly interconnected, interdependent world. Among other things, having a diverse faculty provides all students with role models that help them understand the need to develop interpersonal skills, which employers demand you have.” Dargan said the University is about to launch another Mary Miles Bibb search. “We’re going to sit down, find where the gaps are
20
18.7 %
19.8 %
21 %
15 10 5 0
Framingham State University 2016-17
Framingham State University 2017-18
Year
Projection for 2020
Cass Doherty / THE GATEPOST
Administrators hope to increase faculty diversity to 21 percent in 2020.
and what departments are less diverse.” Junior Jhanai Lee said, “I think diversity within the faculty is important because it definitely makes everybody feel more welcome. I haven’t had a lot of black teachers in my 20 years of life, maybe like three. So, I think it definitely helps students. They can relate to the teacher better and they can open up to that teacher if they are comfortable.” Senior Pixie Smolowitz said, “Having a diverse faculty means having more diverse material. Because there are diverse students, if all they see is white faculty members teaching the same thing, they may not connect and they deserve to have people they can connect to with similar experiences.” Smolowitz added, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen an English professor of color. That doesn’t mean they don’t have one.” Another program to improve diversity in the classroom is Widening the Circle for Faculty, according to Millie González, interim chief officer of diversity, inclusion and community engagement. This program offers workshops and provides faculty with the oppurtunity to revise courses to explore themes of diversity inclusion. Over the past four years, 60 faculty members participated in the workshops. Vaden-Goad said the University also sends faculty members to national conferences “to try and invigorate the pool of diverse candidates” and promote the school. Dargan said, “We want to encourage people not to see this as a zero-sum gain, where if you’re
increasing diversity and inclu- tions,” and educate students about sion, you’re hurting someone else. racism, sexism, classism and naThat’s a lot of the rhetoric going tional boundaries. on in this country right now, but “We will need to institutionalize you’re actually improving things programs like these so that they for everyone. are part of the fabric of the Univer“It’s important for all of our stu- sity, as opposed to glittery accesdents, for our students who are not sories that fall off after one wear,” students of color, to have experi- Pipkins said. ence with faculty from many difJohnson said, “Diversifying facferent groups. … When you bring ulty and staff is a necessary first diverse faculty in, they change the step. The next steps should incurriculum. They’ll add courses,” clude education.” He suggested Dargan said. to improve education, instructors Sánchez-Connally added a of first-year foundations sections course called “Latin@s in the U.S.” should devote the fifth hour to diEnglish professor Jennifer De Leon versity training and the University added a course called “Contempo- could improve the current “diverrary Latinx Literature.” Economics sity minor” by adding courses to professor Luis D. Rosero added a make it a “diversity major.” class called “Latin American PolitHe added, “Long-term soluical Economy.” tions could include making AfriCriminology professor Pipkins can-American studies, women’s is adding two programs to address studies, and queer studies part of issues regarding race following a separate gen ed requirement for the hate crimes that took place all students or developing these in mid-October. Pipkins said, “Ac- as stand-alone academic departcording to a research report on the ments, as many universities have Black Lives Matter Teach-In, a sig- done decades ago.” nificant number of faculty reportSophomore Brianna C a p o n e ed feeling unequipped to discuss said, “I think the teach-ers and issues of race, class, gender and the staff really reflect the way stusexuality in class.” dents think. So, if there is a lot of Pipkins will be running an inter- diversity, the students will be more sectionality reading group for staff accepting of diversity. Teachers are exploring socio-historical con- our biggest role model on campus structions in the U.S. since we don’t have our parents.” He will also be collaborating Dargan said, “We’re hoping that with sociology professor Lina with some of the stuff that’s goRincón and Director of the Center ing on on this campus, that people for Inclusive Excellence Chon’tel realize all of our students need to Washington in the spring to pro- take a course in diversity and invide a series of workshops for fac- clusion.” ulty. These workshops will teach faculty new ways to restructure and enhance their teaching prac- CONNECT WITH TESSA JILLSON tices, “navigate difficult conversa- tjillson@student.framingham.edu
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8 | OP/ED
THE GATEPOST EDITORIAL
Unity event needed better planning In the wake of the recent hate crimes that occurred on campus, many students have been calling on the administration to take action to address our University’s racism problem. In response, on Monday, the University held a Unity Workshop for students, staff and faculty - “the first of several campus unifying initiatives to take back our campus,” according to Millie González, interim chief officer of diversity, inclusion and community engagement, in a campus-wide email. Meant to serve as a forum where all members of the FSU community could make suggestions, the faculty-and-administratrator-driven event was divided into 12 topic-specific discussions. Some of these discussions focused on intercultural training, cameras in dorms and what diversity instruction new faculty should have before starting at FSU. While we at The Gatepost commend the University for offering this workshop, there were problems in how the event was planned and executed. According to a Gatepost reporter who attended the Unity Workshop, including herself and The Gatepost photographer who accompanied her, only five students went to the event. Overall, 55 people attended. Given the workshop was in a basement-level classroom in the Hemenway Annex, we at The Gatepost aren’t all that surprised more students didn’t show up. If location is destiny, then this was destined to fail. First off all, it isn’t the easiest location to find. If students aren’t familiar with the layout of the building, they would have found it difficult to find the room in time to make it to the workshop during the free block. Additionally, the lecture-style layout of the room made it hard for people to move around the space, hindering the dialogue that was needed at an event like this. Many of the attendees found it difficult to move from group to group without interrupting other ongoing discussions. Events such as this work best in the McCarthy Center Forum, where round tables are placed for All-University meetings and networking events - a setup more conducive for Monday’s group’s discussions. It’s also a much easier location for most students to find. In the future, administrators should reach out to student leaders in order to host workshops that draw more student participats The catalyst for Monday’s workshop was the recent hate crimes - it would have made sense for clubs such as Black Student Union and the Student Government Association, among other student groups, to be involved in the discussion of how to implement change on campus in the wake of the crimes. If there had been student leaders who co-facilitated the workshop held on Monday, perhaps more students would have participated. Also, while we understand that event planning takes time, we at The Gatepost believe more students would have gone to the workshop had it been scheduled shortly following the hate crimes, not almost a month later. If this truly is the first of several campus-unifying initiatives aimed to bring this campus together, hopefully administrators will make sure students are part of the planning process for events like this going forward.
THE GATEPOST
NOVEMBER 17, 2017
OP/ED
[Editor’s note: Dry Campus is a bi-weekly satirical comic strip by Staff Illustrator Raysam Donkoh-Halm. Dry Campus takes place on the most dry, depressing and draining campus in the the world. We will follow Eric, Stuart and Sabina on their subpar misadventures.]
Campus Conversations What can FSU do to ensure students attend events such as the Unity Workshop? By Lizzy Stocks and Madison Rosbach
“We need to have more “In general, I feel like the school communication - people don’t check doesn’t advertise well enough. You can’t go if you don’t know about it.” their emails enough. They also need to make it more exciting for people.” -Jack Nephew, junior -Mark Simons, senior
“More advertisement. There’s usually just flyers on tables and not many people go to the dining commons.” -Diane Monteiro, freshman
“You’d see a slight increase if there were other ways of getting the information out. -Austin Sylvester, freshman
“It should be incentivized more - a lot of people have busy schedules and want a reason to go.”
“Have multiple events at alternate times or make it required for one of your courses.” -Kelsey Carvalho, freshman
-Andy Dabney, senior
Op/Ed submissions reflect the opinions of their authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of The Gatepost or its staff.
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THE GATEPOST
NOVEMBER 17, 2017
OP/ ED | 9
Be the angry fan By Lizzy Stocks Staff Writer Sexual predators - they’re everywhere. And I’m not talking about the run-of-the-mill creep that hides behind dumpsters waiting for their prey to turn the corner. I’m talking about the pedophiles sitting pretty on golden-globe pedestals in Hollywood. I’m talking about the perverts performing on the main stage at comedy shows and music festivals. I’m talking about the polluted politicians pushing bills on Capitol Hill. And the pussy-grabbing President in the Oval Office. In the wake of the Harvey Weinstein exposure and the trending hashtag MeToo - a tag used by women and men alike to display the widespread issue of sexual harassment in and out of the workplace. Numerous male celebrities and icons are being revealed as sexual predators through allegations, and some are even coming forward in personal statements
on social media. Kevin Spacey, Louis C.K., Jesse Lacey, and Roy Moore. Just a few of the many high-profile men who have been pinpointed as sexual aggressors. Compared to the others, the only thing Louis C.K. has going for him is that he isn’t a pedophile. As fans, we often develop emotional ties to our favorite actors and artists, and we often feel completely devastated and confused when our idols are exposed as monsters. This mixture of emotions often causes uncertainties, and without an admission, we often times doubt the accusations because we think they’re good guys just because we’ve seen their interviews or been to their concerts. Despite emotion, after one of these “celebrity sex scandals,” there are only two types of fans you can be: the angry fan who condemns their former idol, or the apathetic fan who defends their current idol. Hint: Be the angry fan. End your endorsements.
Take down your posters. Cover up your tattoos. There are many problems with choosing to ignore, or even defend your idol after they’ve been accused of or even admitted to sexual assault. It perpetuates the notion that celebrities can get away with sexually assaulting multiple women and children just because they are famous and have a large following. Money and fame should not outweigh an icon’s conscious decision to assault another human being, especially a child. Turning a blind eye to a celebrity’s sexual misconduct suppresses victims as you show them and others the assault and abuse of another human being does not matter. It sustains the long-taught lesson that sexual assault should not and will not be taken seriously. President Trump and his administration continue to preserve that lesson as his Secretary of Education announced a rollback on Title IX in September, a law that protects student sexual assault
victims. But I guess that’s not too surprising considering Trump himself has been accused of sexual assault multiple times and was even recorded openly admitting to grabbing women inappropriately. Normally, we’re appalled when glancing at the local listings of sexual offenders residing in our own neighborhoods. So, it’s time for us fans and voters to be just as horrified and condemn the celebrities and legislators who are disgracefully lining their pockets and assaulting children.
Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
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10 | ARTS & FEATURES
THE GATEPOST
NOVERMBER 17, 2017
ARTS & FEATURES Hilltop Players bring words to life with staged readings
Left to right: Danielle Umanita as Hope, Tiffany Santiago as Melody and Mike Terra as Craig reading from "Be a Good Little Widow," by Bekah Brunstetter.
By Zach Colten Asst. Arts & Features Editor
S
even o’clock on Friday evening, Nov. 10, found Framingham State University’s student theater troupe, The Hilltop Players, in the Ecumenical Center, along with about 30 audience members. They were gathered for the Players’ production, which consisted of three staged readings of different plays by Bekah Brunstetter, David Ives and David Mamet. The event began with a brief introduction before the lights dimmed and the cast of the first show took the stage. Unlike a fully realized production, a staged reading only requires the actors to dramatize the language of the play, rather than perform every scene. In the first show, “Be a Good Little Widow” by Bekah Brunstetter, the entire cast consisted of five players, including a narrator reading the stage directions, played by Timothy McDonnell. The actors sat across the apron of the stage, each carrying a copy of the play. During their scenes, they would stand and read out the lines. While one may be skeptical
about the entertainment factor in watching actors read a play out loud, The Hilltop Players showed that authentic relationships could be developed and emotions evoked, all with a script in hand. The lack of blocking allowed the language to shine, and the players portraying the main characters Melody, Hope, Craig and Brad embodied them and brought them to life, using only their words. The first show, which was performed almost in its entirety, lasting approximately one hour, followed the story of Melody, a young wife inexperienced in loss, who is suddenly forced to cope with widowhood when her husband dies in a plane crash. The sad but humorous look into the grieving process is made more complex by the presence of Hope, Melody’s mother-in-law and a seasoned widow. Hope’s overwhelming condescension was simultaneously scathing and funny, hyperbolized by actress Danielle Umanita’s strong vocalization. After the first show, and a 10-minute intermission, during which the audience was sternly reminded to turn off their cell phones (about three went off throughout the first show! This is
seriously basic theater etiquette, people!), the second show was able to get underway. Both the second and third productions, “English Made Simple” by David Ives and “Speed the Play” by David Mamet, ran under 10 minutes long. The former focused on the relationship of two characters, Jack and Jill, portrayed by Patrick Keene and Gina Uacoviello, respectively. The wordy comedy utilized quick pacing, tightly synchronized lines and an omniscient narrator commentating on Jack and Jill’s series of awkward romantic encounters to provide the laughs. The audience’s reaction was testament to the cast’s clear preparedness. The show was like verbal slapstick, with puns flying like whipped cream pies. The final show, “Speed the Play,” featured several rapid-fire vignettes, in which the actors would pop up to read extremely short scenes, giving an almost whack-a-mole impression that was very entertaining. The narrator, played by Andrew Carten, was braggadocious, a Mamet-esque figure who achieved a brilliant and hilarious
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Amanda Martin/The Gatepost
image of a masculine stereotype. Carten drove the play’s action with brutal efficiency, along with a healthy dose of the F-word. After the shows, I caught up with one of the cast members from “English Made Simple,” Daniel Regnier, who played the god-like Loudspeaker Voice. He said he hoped seeing the staged readings would make audiences “feel something that isn’t sadness, which is impressive.” Other students, including freshman Kyla Mucciaroni, said they enjoyed the show, and would want to come back to see other Hilltop Players' performances. Mucciaroni also added her favorite was “Speed the Play.” Luckily, there are many upcomming opportunities to catch more great theater at FSU. The Hilltop Players’ improv comedy troupe, the Suit Jacket Posse, will be performing on Monday, Nov. 20 at 7 p.m. in the Forum. There will also be full productions of “A Piece of My Heart,” by Shirley Lauro, Nov. 16-18 in DPAC at 7 p.m., and a run of Stephen Sondheim’s acclaimed musical “Into the Woods,” Dec. 7-9 at 7 p.m. in DPAC. CONNECT WITH ZACH COLTEN
zcolten@student.framingham.edu
NOVEMBER 17, 2017
THE GATEPOST
ARTS & FEATURES | 11
ALBUM REVIEW
Taylor Swift Brand New Allegations By Andrew Willoughby Arts & Features Editor Of all the recent sexual misconduct allegations and admissions, none hit me harder than Jesse Lacey’s. On Saturday, Nov. 11, the frontman of esteemed alt/punk rock band Brand New posted a long-winded and quite frankly insulting letter to fans on the group’s Facebook page. It started out well: “The actions of my past have caused pain and harm to a number of people, and I want to say that I am absolutely sorry. … I apologize for the hurt I have caused, and hope to be able to take the correct actions to earn forgiveness and trust.” As I read the first two paragraphs, I commended Lacey for putting these things out there before any of his victims did. It seemed as if he were ready to start a conversation with fans and anyone he had hurt. However, as I read on, it became clear this was not the case. He goes on to describe his “dependent and addictive relationship with sex,” in what I can only call a forced sob story. I’m sure it wasn’t his intention, but Lacey paints himself to be the victim here. It’s a bit ironic that he claims, “I am working to shed all my narcissism and my self-obsession” in a 614-word essay about himself in which he doesn’t even mention the victim(s). What annoys me the most is that Lacey paints himself out to be nothing worse than a sex-addicted adulterer. What he failed to mention is that he - as a 24-year-old man - had a sexual relationship with a then-14-year-old girl, Leah Cunningham. Now an adult, she commented on his post, detailing her 10-year relationship with Lacey - full of “plane tickets,” “lies,” expensive gifts and “expectations” - and rejecting his “bullshit internet apology.” Brand New has been one of my favorite bands for almost a decade. I’ll have no problem avoiding content made by monsters such as Kevin Spacey or Louis C.K., but letting go of Brand New will be hard. I do not condone Lacey’s horrifying actions, and he’s only one fourth of the band. His bandmates don’t deserve their careers to be ruined - that is, unless they knew about Lacey’s relationship with Leah and said nothing. For now, I’m not sure if I can continue listening to Brand New. However, if more allegations concerning Lacey and his band come out, I’ll be letting them go for good. In Leah’s words, “You still don’t win,” Jesse Lacey.
CONNECT WITH ANDREW WILLOUGHBY awilloughby@student.framingham.edu
By Bailey Morrison Associate Editor Jillian Poland Editorial Staff
On Aug. 21, Taylor Swift posted a cryptic video on Instagram that gave fans the first glimpse of her new album - a snake’s tail writhing against a black background. It was a playful clapback at Kanye and Kim West referring to her as a “snake.” That imagery was repurposed by Swift throughout the album, becoming a new staple in her wardrobe and stage performances. Three months later, Swift dropped an album that has sold a million copies in under a week. We are both die-hard Swift fans who can sing along to every single song without missing a lyric. When we first got a sample of the album with the two singles “... Ready For It?” and “Look What You Made Me Do,” we were both hesitant. The two singles seemed to completely diverge from her classic sound. We agreed both were overproduced and didn’t seem to have the same passion we’d come to expect from Swift. The lyrics of “Look What You Made Me Do” felt superficial, appearing to set the album up as a whine-fest about how misunderstood and mistreated Swift is. When the album came out, we were happy to see that we were wrong. Sure, it has its moments of pure pettiness and disillusion, but at its heart, “reputation” is a linear timeline of Swift coming to terms with her image amidst the passions of new love. After a long discussion where we ranked the songs individually, we decided the three best songs on the album are “New Year’s Day,” “Delicate” and “Don’t Blame Me.” “New Year’s Day” is a nostalgic ballad that builds throughout and truly showcases Swift’s vocal abilities. Compared to the rest of the album, it’s a fairly bare-bones track, but it holds enough emotion and skillful storytelling that you wonder if Swift ever needed all that production in the first place. While it would be at home on the soundtrack of an Oscar-winning drama, we imagine this song will be featured in every melancholy romantic comedy until 2020. Her talent shines in the songs where she allows vocals to take precedence
Big Machine
over the production of the music. “Delicate” is an upbeat track that stands out on the album because of its unique sound. While the song isn’t lyrical in a classic way, it shines because of the use of a vocoder effect, which splits the vocals so that her voice echoes throughout the song to a haunting effect. “Don’t Blame Me” is a sweeping track that hearkens back to the deep emotion of Taylor Swift’s “Haunted” days - sans teenage melodrama. The song’s methodical, dirge-like verses flow right into a soaring chorus that feels like a dance-hall version of Hozier’s “Take Me to Church.” While we loved this album, we felt it lacked lyrical diversity. The 15 songs seem focused on only two topics - the media’s unfair portrayal of her and her love for her new boyfriend. Swift has been known to use her songs to share intimate details of her life, singing about a variety of topics, from her family to growing up to heartbreak and love. We wanted to hear more about her life in the three years since “1989.”
Rating: AA bold departure from Swift's classic sound, showcasing her vocal abilities.
CONNECT WITH BAILEY MORRISON bmorrison1@student.framingham.edu CONNECT WITH JILLIAN POLAND jpoland@student.framingham.edu
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12 | ARTS & FEATURES
The Pawgress Report: Teenie weenie Neenie
THE GATEPOST
NOVEMBER 17, 2017
Dancing to the rhythm of Fantasia
By Nick Murphy Staff Writer Introducing Neenie, junior Jeremiah Wright’s gleeful bichon-poodle mix. Six years ago, the Wrights embarked on a journey to Connecticut to pick up the fluffball soon to be thoughtfully named Neenie. “We thought of the name Snowball, because of how fitting it was for the way she looked. But we ended up naming her Neenie. It’s unique and it was also my grandmother’s nickname,” Wright said. The ride home may have been Neenie’s first ever time in a car, but she quickly found comfort by nestling in Wright’s arms. That did it - the two were inseparable. For the first few months home, Neenie was Wright’s shadow. Wherever Wright went, the dutiful puppy trotted behind. “She wore this collar with a small bell on it, so I could always tell she was behind me when I heard it ring,” said Wright. The only time Neenie’s jolly jingling would subside was when Wright took a trip downstairs. Instead of following, Neenie would plop down and gaze quizzically at Wright, wondering how she, too, could traverse such a daunting downward descent. When it was time for bed, Neenie would try her best to launch herself onto Wright’s bed. Legs firmly planted. Body poised. Woolly tail sufficiently still. It was time for the leap. Conk. Drop. Flop. Time after time, Neenie came up just a few inches short. That was until one final hop propelled her enough to reach her blanketed landing zone. Once atop her palace of pillows, a celebratory tail chase was in order. “She loves to chase her tail, especially when she’s on the bed for some reason. Although sometimes, she gets carried away and spins her way right off the side,” Wright added. What Neenie may lack in grace, she makes up for in resiliency. She now zips up and down the stairs with ease, although she is prone to careening off the last step when she gets too excited, resulting in an impressive somersault worthy of a Wipeout highlight reel. When it comes to strangers, Neenie is no meanie. While she can be a tad apprehensive with new people at first, before long, she is ready for attention from anyone. “For a little dog, she has a surprisingly loud bark, which catches some people off guard when they realize who it’s coming from,” Wright said. Over the years, Neenie has become more independent, especially since Wright has gone off to college. “She’s definitely adapted well, and she’s been growing even closer to my family along the way. It’s good to see her opening up and doing things on her own,” Wright said. “She’s friendly, energetic and affectionate. ... She finds ways to make us laugh,” Wright added. There is no doubt that Neenie was the Wright choice. CONNECT WITH NICK MURPHY nmurphy5@student.framingham.edu
Bailey Morrison/The Gatepost
Wagner lays the beat for Fantasia's performance.
By Cameron Grieves Asst. Arts & Features Editor FSU welcomed the joyful percussion rhythms of Boston-based Grupo Fantasia on Monday as part of the Midday Performance Series. Grupo Fantasia is the brainchild of musical director Angel Wagner, a master percussionist and Berklee College of Music alum. The band was originally formed in 1993 with musicians from all around the world to perform Caribbean music, but also as a way to bridge the Atlantic Ocean and bring traditional African percussion performed on indigenous instruments to the area. Many of the pieces that Fantasia performed were traditional African rhythms from countries as geographically diverse as Nigeria and Mozambique. According to Wagner, these continent-spanning beats form the most critical base of modern American music. “All music is connected back to Africa,” Wagner said, in response to a question posed from the audience on the influence of African music on New Orleans jazz. Most, if not all, of the music coming from Africa that shaped the musical traditions of Latin and American culture in the New World has its roots in religious music, according to Wagner. If you strip away the modern musical processes of contemporary American pop, rock and R&B, you can definitely hear the essence of what Wagner is saying in the beats of Fantasia. The instruments the group uses are all handmade and traditional, ranging from the large and imposing West African conga drum, to the traditional Nigerian “chimpe,” to a quirky oblong-shaped instrument Wagner referred to as the “Afri-
can chicken,” to the simple cowbell. The warped, washed-out sound of the drums was complemented by the sharper, more tinny tones from the cowbell and beads. Halfway through the performance, Wagner encouraged the audience to get involved. “Now it is time for you guys to participate,” Wagner said as a crowd of young children from the daycare program stormed on stage in delight. Audience participation did not begin and end with the kids, however, and FSU students and faculty in attendance were encouraged to go on stage and prove their musicianship as well. Freshman Leo Souza was called to the stage on a couple of different occasions, adding the notes of FSU to the rich sound of Fantasia. “It made me feel connected to the culture,” Souza said. Fantasia ended a set of mostly African traditional rhythms with a Cuban “rumba” featuring a solo conga performance. Rumba is a genre of music that relies heavily on percussion rhythms that can largely be traced back to Africa, according to Wagner. Grupo Fantasia incorporates these traditional African instruments and rhythms in a way that feels genuine and instructive, helping to bridge the cultural divide that separates the music of the Americas from its spiritual roots.
CONNECT WITH CAMERON GRIEVES
cgrieves@student.framingham.edu
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NOVEMBER 17, 2017
THE GATEPOST
ARTS & FEATURES | 13
BOOK REVIEW
The sun and her flowers By Allison Wharton Asst. Arts & Features Editor Poetry has made a comeback. Contemporary poets now personally submit their work on Instagram, thus creating the term “instapoets.” One of the most popular instapoets has transcended the platform and created a physical collection that has consistently appeared on The New York Times Best Seller list. That poet is Rupi Kaur. In 2014, Kaur released “Milk and Honey,” which re-introduced the world to contemporary, free-verse poetry that refers to heavy topics such as abuse, heartache and self-doubt. This book was widely praised and was on the Best Seller list for over a year. I am sure you’ve seen it referenced on Instagram. Three years later, Kaur followed up with the highly anticipated second collection - “The sun and her flowers.” This collection is divided into five separate sections: wilting, falling, rooting, rising and blooming. It follows the theme of flowers and the process of them dying then blooming again. It is
also accompanied with original illustrations by Kaur. Like her first collection, Kaur writes about feminism, grief, immigration, family and empowerment. Each theme corresponds with one of the sections previously listed. Her heartbreaking tone and vocabulary draw readers in. The poems are not specific to a certain situation in her life, creating room for interpretation. She has the gift of making every sentence relatable. It is as if Kaur is a close friend and she is telling you her deepest feelings. “Milk and Honey” showed her pain, and “The sun and her flowers” showcases how she’s healed and how she wants to use her poetry to inspire other women not to submit to objectification. “I stand / on the sacrifices / of a million women before me / thinking / what can I do / to make this mountain taller / so the women after me / can see farther / - legacy.” Kaur takes pain and turns it into female empowerment. She encourages every woman to write her own story and to urge other others
to do the same. She dedicates a section to her immigrant parents and their strength to raise a family in a new country with no concept of the English language: “they have no idea what it is like / to lose a home at the risk of / never finding home again / to have your entire life / split between two lands and / become the bridge between two countries.” The reader can see that Kaur left her heart in this collection. Her powerful words remain with the reader long after the book is closed. She brings the reader close to tears with her authentic expression of trauma, but then brings them back to the surface to see her triumphant return to self-love. This collection lacks a chronological series of events, making the collection appear scattered. It instead shows what it means to find love again, not only with another person, but with yourself. I recommend this collection to anyone who is searching for understanding, for a sense of camaraderie. Kaur not only understands those who are lonely, but offers comfort to them.
Andrews McMeel
Grade: A
Kaur pours her heart into every poem.
CONNECT WITH ALLY WHARTON
awharton@student.framingham.edu
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NOVEMBER 17, 2017
THE GATEPOST
14 | SPORTS
SPORTS Men’s Hockey moves to .500 with two losses
Corey McFeeley / THE GATEPOST Brody McDougal (24) watches as teammate Ryan Paul (10) chases a puck through the neutral zone.
By Richard Tranfaglia Asst. Sports Editor Framingham State got trounced by Worcester State on Nov. 9 by a score of 7-1. The Lancers got off to a quick start as Cody Weaver scored the first goal just 23 seconds into the game. Framingham looked to gain momentum on a power play, but instead went down 2-0 as Tim Drevitch scored short-handed for the Lancers. Brandon Hamner got the Rams on the board in the 15th minute of play, off the assist from Matt Siegal. The score remained 2-1 going into the first intermission. About midway through the second period, Matthew Manning made it a two-goal game when he scored on a wrist shot. In a two-minute span, the Lancers scored two more times as Erik Pritchard and Kyle Griffin scored consecutive goals to extend the Lancers lead to four. The Rams were down 5-1 heading to the third period. Pritchard scored his second goal of the game at the 5:58 mark in the third. Mike Moran put the final nail in the coffin when he scored with just under 10 minutes left in the game. The Lancers outshot the Rams 44-14. Griffin led the Lancers with five shots on goal, while Hamner led the Rams with two. Greg Harney took the loss for Framingham and saved 21 shots before giving way to Adam Calabrese at the end of the second period, who finished with 16 saves. Josh Reinstein recorded 13 saves for Worcester. The Rams fall to 1-2-1 on the season and 0-1 in the MASCAC.
WORCESTER STATE 7 FRAMINGHAM STATE 1 The Rams stole a league win against Westfield State on Nov. 11 by a score of 2-1. The first period was a defensive battle. The Owls took the lead in the 12th minute off a goal from Francois-Xavier Girard. The game was 1-0 going into the second period. Jack Sheehan tied the game after getting the feed from Jake McKinnon. The two teams continued to battle on defense, which resulted in 14 penalties between the teams through two periods. Heading into the second intermission, the game remained tied.
Corey McFeeley / THE GATEPOST Jake McKinnon (7) battles a defender for the puck.
Ryan Paul scored the game-winner on Framingham’s only shot on net in the third period. The Owls outshot the Rams 32-28. Aaron Clancy led the Owls with six shots on goal, while Sheehan led the Rams with four. Harney made 31 saves in the win and Kameron Limburg recorded 26 saves for Westfield. The Rams improve to 2-2-1 on the season and 1-1 in the MASCAC.
FRAMINGHAM STATE 2 WESTFIELD STATE 1 The Rams dropped their game against Assumption College on Nov. 14 by a score of 4-2. After a scoreless first period, Hamner put the Rams up 1-0 off a crisp pass from Paul. Framingham took to the power play when Robert Roche was called for high sticking. After about a minute on the man-advantage, Assumption’s Peter McDonagh found a streaking Cam Laughlin, who beat Harney for a short-handed goal. The Greyhounds took the lead later in the period on a power play opportunity of their own. Brian Farrell got the tally. Matt Damelio made it a two-score game right before the end of the second period. In the third period, Sheehan cut the lead to one about six minutes in. However, the Rams couldn’t tie the game before the final whistle blew. The Greyhounds outshot the Rams 39-36. Laughlin led with six shots, while Hamner led the Rams with six. Harney made 35 saves. Brian Nazzaro made 34 stops for Assumption. The Rams move to 2-2-2 on the season.
ASSUMPTION 4 FRAMINGHAM STATE 2
CONNECT WITH RICHARD TRANFAGLIA rtranfaglia@student.framingham.edu
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THE GATEPOST
NOVEMBER 17, 2017
15 | SPORTS
Ram Player Profile Khaneil Bruce Wide Receiver
Hometown-Cambridge, MA Major- Management Nickname- KB Favorite Movie- “The Dark Knight” Favorite TV Show- “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” Favorite Song- We Ball by Meek Mill Favorite Food- Jamaican Curry Chicken with rice Favorite Athlete- Randy Moss fsurams.com
2017 MLB Awards Award
American League
MVP
Jose Altuve (HOU) Corey Kluber (CLE)
Cy Young Rookie of the Year Coach of the Year
Aaron Judge (NYY) Paul Moliter (MIN)
National League Giancarlo Stanton (MIA) Max Scherzer (WAS) Cody Bellinger (LAD) Torey Lovullo (ARI) @TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com
16 | SPORTS
Ferr or Foul: The future of the NBA By Matt Ferris Sports Editor The number one overall pick in 2016, Ben Simmons, has taken the NBA by storm. After missing the entire 2016 season, Simmons made his debut this season and has been as good as advertised. Not only has Simmons been head and shoulders above the other NBA rookies, but he has been one of the league’s best players in general, playing at an MVP level. Simmons is currently averaging just under 18 points, on 50 percent shooting, while grabbing 9.8 rebounds and dishing out 7.5 assists per game. On top of the individual accolades, Simmons also has the Philadelphia 76ers playing as serious playoff threats - something that hasn’t happened in five years. This couldn’t be any further from the 76ers of recent memory, who were completely uncompetitive. The 76ers have earned a top three pick in every draft since 2014. Now, with Simmons playing the point and running the show in Philadelphia, the future is bright, and 76ers fans have something to be excited about. Not only is Simmons going to be the face of the 76ers franchise for many years to come, but he will also be the face of the NBA within a couple of years. With LeBron James turning 33 years old this year, the NBA is looking for someone to turn the league over to, and Simmons is that guy. Sure, there are other options like Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, Minnesota’s Karl-Anthony Towns or Los Angeles’ Lonzo Ball, who are all very good in their own right, but Simmons is a 6-foot-10 point guard. The NBA hasn’t seen anything like this since Magic Johnson joined the league in 1979. With the exception of the three-point shot, Simmons can do anything on an NBA floor - you name it, and Simmons can do it. If Simmons can develop a jump shot, his potential is unlimited. Simmons’ known shooting struggles still don’t prevent him from getting to the basket any time he wants. Now imagine if defenders have to respect a jumper - he will be unstoppable. Becoming the face of the NBA will be a big step for a 21-year-old man, but one he is capable of taking. Just ask the 76ers and Simmons’ sidekick Joel Embiid. If he just “trusts the process,” the league will be his.
CONNECT WITH MATT FERRIS mferris2@student.framingham.edu
NOVEMBER 17, 2017
THE GATEPOST
Men’s Basketball drops opener By Camille McKenzie Interim Asst. Sports Editor On Wednesday, Nov. 15, the Framingham State Rams hosted the Wentworth Leopards in their home opener. Throughout the first half, the two teams fought back and forth for the lead. With 07:26 left in the first half, the Leopards drilled a three-pointer to take the lead and never gave it up. The Leopards led the Rams 32-22 going into the second half. The Leopards kept a significant lead throughout the second half and won the game 61-45. Tyri Hampton led the Rams in scoring with 12 points. Jason Ganley led the Leopards in scoring with 19 points and earned his 1,000th point late in the second half. Framingham scored 16 points in the paint. Wentworth scored 38 points in the paint. The Rams shot 35.3 percent in the paint, 22.7 percent on three-pointers and 80 per-
cent on free-throws. The Leopards shot 47.3 percent in the paint, 30.8 percent for three-pointers and 55.6 percent for free-throws. Both teams had 32 rebounds. Framingham committed 14 turnovers, resulting in Wentworth scoring 20 points. This loss starts the Rams off 0-1 on the season. The Rams look to have lots of freshman talent that will shine throughout the upcoming season.
WENTWORTH 61 FRAMINGHAM STATE 45
CONNECT WITH CAMILLE MCKENZIE cmckenzie@student.framingham.edu
Upcoming Schedule 11/21 at Regis College 11/28 at Wheaton College 11/30 at WPI
2017-18 Preseason MASCAC rankings 1. Salem State 2. Bridgewater State 3. Fitchburg State 4. Westfield State 5. Worcester State 6. Framingham State 7. MCLA
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Players of the week
Women’s Basketball comes up just short of victory By Liam Gambon Asst. Sports Editor
17 | SPORTS
THE GATEPOST
NOVEMBER 17, 2017
fsurams.com
Napoleon Miller caught six passes for 104 yards and scored a touchdown in Football’s rout of Worcester State.
The Framingham State Rams opened the season at home against Curry College on Wednesday. Both teams scored 13 in the first quarter, but the Rams took a 25-24 lead into the half. The Rams padded their lead by outscoring Curry 13-6 in the third to give them the 38-30 lead heading into the final quarter. Curry took advantage in the fourth, as they outscored Framingham 27-15 and secured the 57-53 victory. The Rams got good production from Tiphani Harris, Mary Kate O’Day, Raegan Mulherin and two members of the bench - Emily Velozo and Bryanna Santos. Harris came away with a double-double by scoring 10 points and grabbing 15 rebounds while also blocking two shots. O’Day was stout defensively as she stole the ball five times, while also scoring seven points and grabbing six rebounds. Mulherin chipped in a team-high 12 points, while also stealing the ball twice. Velozo came off the bench to score six points
and stole the ball twice, while Santos scored six as well. Both teams shot 30 percent or lower from the field and 16 percent or lower from behind the three-point line. Framingham finished the game 16 out of 16 from the free throw line. Turnovers were a big factor in the Rams’ loss. The bench for Framingham outscored Curry’s 18-8.
CURRY COLLEGE 57 FRAMINGHAM STATE 53
CONNECT WITH LIAM GAMBON lgambon1@student.framingham.edu
Upcoming Schedule 11/21 at Lasell 11/29 vs. Newbury College 12/5 at UMass. Boston
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Raegan Mulherin scored 12 points, grabbed four rebounds and collected three steals in Women’s basketball’s first game.
fsurams.com
Tyri Hampton scored 12 points, grabbed four rebounds and dished out two assists in the Rams’ season opener.
Amanda Martin/ THE GATEPOST Raegan Mulherin sets up a play for the Rams, she scored 12 points in the season opener.
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18 | SPORTS
NOVEMBER 17, 2017
THE GATEPOST
Football wins in convincing fashion By Matt Ferris Sports Editor Framingham hosted Worcester State on Nov. 11 in a MASCAC game and the regular season finale. The Rams came out early, showing their bigplay ability. Framingham used a total of just five plays to put up their first 21 unanswered points. The first touchdown came in the first quarter with 3:51 remaining. Framingham used three plays to go 80 yards and take a 7-0 lead. The Rams started the drive with two rushes, picking up a total of six yards. On third down, Adam Wojenski connected with Napoleon Miller for a 74-yard touchdown. Framingham’s next touchdown came with 30 seconds remaining in the quarter. The Rams used just one play to go 32 yards and take a 14-0 lead. This time, it was Nasir Thomas catching a Wojenski pass for the score. On their next drive, Framingham again used just one play to reach the end zone. On their second drive of the second quarter, Wojenski completed a pass to Khaneil Bruce, who took it 45 yards for a touchdown. After the successful point after attempt, the Rams took a 21-0 lead. Just before halftime, the Lancers put together an impressive drive to cut into the Rams’ lead. Worcester went 80 yards in six plays to cut the score to 21-7, going into the half. Quarterback Noah Brum hooked up with Dexter Andrews for a 20-yard touchdown to cap off the drive. After deferring in the first half, the Rams received the second half kickoff. Framingham went 50 yards on this possession and found the end zone to extend the lead. Rufus Rushins capped off the six-play, 50-yard yard drive with a four-yard touchdown run. Kicker Ryan Clifford missed the extra point attempt, making it 27-7. The Lancers went three-and-out on their next drive, but forced a Framingham turnover on defense. With good field position, the Lancers looked to capitalize. On second down, Brum connected with Jacob Mahar for 11 yards and a first down.
After an incompletion, Brum again connected with another one of his receivers for another first down, but Kenneth Bartolo forced a fumble on the tackle. Svenn Jacobson recovered the fumble, giving the ball back to the Rams with good field position. The Framingham offense took advantage of the turnover and went 53 yards in nine plays to extend the lead. Will Cowdry finished the drive with a four-yard touchdown rush, pushing the lead to 34-7. Worcester responded in the fourth quarter. The Lancers went 92 yards in nine plays for a touchdown. Brum found Mahar in the end zone for a one-yard touchdown, cutting the Framingham lead to 21. Framingham came right back with a touchdown of its own to push the lead back to four possessions. Zak Walker found Shaquille Joseph in the end zone for a 33-yard touchdown. The catch capped a six-play, 51-yard drive, making it 41-13. One minute later, Framingham scored again. Set up by a Cory Lombardo interception, the Rams got the ball on the Lancers’ 12-yard line. On third down, Jake Brodeur found Joseph for a four-yard touchdown, extending the lead to 4813. The Lancers scored one more time in the game. Brum connected with Mahar again, this time for a 42-yard strike capping a five-play, 77yard drive. The Rams won the game by the score of 48-20 to extend their win streak to four games. Framingham totaled 588 yards of total offense - 338 coming through the air and 250 on the ground. The Rams had four sacks in the game and forced two turnovers, one fumble and one interception. The Rams had three different players throw for a touchdown - Wojenski, Walker and Brodeur. Wojenski led the quarterbacks with 281 yards and three touchdowns, while completing 60 percent of his passes. Quron Wright carried the ball 26 times for 157 yards, putting him over 1,000 yards on the season.
Corey McFeeley/ The Gatepost Adam Wojenski throws a touchdown strike, as the Rams finish 9-1 on the season.
Five different receivers caught a pass for the Rams and four of them had a touchdown. Miller led the Rams with six catches for 104 yards, with a touchdown. Bruce caught four passes and had 85 yards, with a touchdown. Stephen Beahn had five catches for 64 yards. Thomas had three catches for 48 yards and a touchdown. Joseph caught two passes, both for touchdowns, to go along with 37 yards. Brum and Mahar led the offense for the Lancers. Brum threw for 336 yards and had three touchdowns. Mahar caught 11 passes, totaling 195 yards and had two touchdowns. Theo Bryant and Mike Quinn led the defense for the Lancers. Both players had 13 tackles apiece. The Rams finish the regular season with a record of 9-1, going 7-1 in the MASCAC. Framingham finished second in the conference behind Plymouth State, failing to reach the Division III National Tournament for a second straight year. The Rams did qualify for their second consecutive New England Bowl. Their opponents in the bowl game will be Curry College, which finished 8-2 on the season. Dan Feeley, Joe Wilder and Wright made first team All-Conference on offense while Rodney Thomas, Rushins and Beahn all made second team All-Conference. Wilder not only received this honor, but he also was named Offensive Lineman of the Year in the MASCAC. Jaquan Harris, Nathan Fleming, Campbell Marchant, Joshua Onujiogu, Eli Etienne and Jacobson all made first team All-Conference on defense for the Rams. Thomas Burns received second team All-Conference honors.
FRAMINGHAM STATE WORCESTER STATE
48 20
CONNECT WITH MATT FERRIS mferris2@student.framingham.edu
Corey McFeeley/ The Gatepost Quron Wright broke the 1,000 yard milestone this season with 1,100 yards in 2017.
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19 | SPORTS
THE GATEPOST
NOVEMBER 17, 2017
Agree to Disagree Matt Ferris
Question
Jose Carrasquillo
No
Are the Celtics a legitimate title threat? Who is the best QB in the NFC East?
Yes
Dak Prescott
Who deserved the AL Cy Young? Who is the best player in NCAAM?
Corey Kluber Miles Bridges
Carson Wentz Chris Sale Marvin Bagley Jr.
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20 | PHOTOS
THE GATEPOST
NOVEMBER 16, 2017
Communication arts department presents
A Piece f My Heart Corey McFeeley/ THE GATEPOST
Madison Rosbach/ THE GATEPOST
CREATIVE COMMONS Corey McFeeley/ THE GATEPOST
FSU’s communication arts department put on it’s performance of “A Piece of My Heart,” on Nov. 16 in DPAC. The story follows the lives of six women who served in the Vietnam War. The show will run until Saturday, Nov. 18. Madison Rosbach/ THE GATEPOST
Corey McFeeley/ THE GATEPOST
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