April 6, 2018

THE GATEPOST Framingham State’s independent student newspaper

Volume 86 • Issue 21

FSUgatepost.com

April 6, 2018

SGA funds hand dryers and soap in select dorms

By Jillian Poland News Editor SGA allocated $44,809.73 to eight clubs and organizations, including itself, during its meeting on April 3.

It was the last meeting during which SGA could entertain funding requests for Fiscal Year 2018 and SGA received a historic number of requests.

Student Activity Treasurer Sarah Horwitz said, “We are currently in an unusual situation that has never happened before in SGA history. There have never been 30 funding requests submitted within a one-week time span to be reviewed by SGA.” In order to fund the volume of requests in time, SGA voted to move See CANDIDATES NIGHT page 7

Amanda Martin / THE GATEPOST Actors run a scene from “Pandora’s Mirror,” which will be shown in DPAC Friday night at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.

Sisterhood Season

Making the political personal

M.I.S.S. helps girls prepare for prom

“The Hate U Give” author discusses art as activism

By Shanleigh Reardon News Editor

By Bailey Morrison Associate Editor In 444 pages, Angie Thomas’ debut novel, “The Hate U Give,” addresses issues of race, family dynamics and class.

She said the novel began as a short story she wrote in college exploring the aftermath of a shooting of a young, unarmed black teenage boy by a police officer. From there, Thomas decided to use the art of writing as her form of activism, turning the short story into a novel.

Thomas addressed FSU students and Framingham community members during the first author talk in the “Olivia A. Davidson Speaker Series” in DPAC on April 2.

In her speech, “Making the Political Personal,” Thomas discussed the inspiration for her novel, the importance of connecting and empathizing with others and how she used her own life experiences to create the world in which the main character Starr Carter lives.

Thomas addressed stereotypes about her home state of Mississippi. “I’ve never seen a KKK member in my life. … I’ve never been called the n-word.

See The Hate You Give page 12

News

Members of M.I.S.S. donated prom dresses and heels to seniors from Framingham High School (FHS) during their “Sisters’ Day Out” event in the College Planning Center (CPC) on Saturday, March 31.

M.I.S.S. started accepting dress donations for the event a couple of months in advance in the Center for Inclusive Excellence and ended up with approximately 50 dresses for the high schoolers to choose from, said Amari Veale, M.I.S.S. president.

M.I.S.S. Treasurer Tanaja Jordan said, “I was a little nervous at first because we didn’t have that many dresses, but then in the last few days we got a lot of dresses.”

M.I.S.S., which stands for “Motivation. Intersectionality. Solidarity. Sisterhood.”, is a group of women who work to empower and celebrate women, particularly women of color, and their individuality. They focus on self-confidence and empowerment through events like Sisters’ Day Out. “Our mission is basically to empower women of color and educate them on what they’re capable of and help them figure that out - and networking as well,” said Veale.

Opinions

Ten girls and some of their parents attended the event and were welcomed by five members of M.I.S.S. who helped them pick out prom dresses and talked with them about their post-graduation plans.

Iracely Sanchez, an FSU senior and member of M.I.S.S., works at the CPC and spoke briefly during the event about the services the CPC

See Sisters’ Day Out page 6

Allie Gath / THE GATEPOST M.I.S.S. collected about 50 dresses for the event.

Arts & Features

Sports

ANN MCDONALD pg. 2

DRY CAMPUS pg. 8

HILLTOP’S FIRST ORIGINAL PLAY pg. 13

SOFTBALL FIRST AT MASCAC pg. 18

WOMEN MAKING HISTORY pg. 5

SGA “REPRESENTS” STUDENTS pg. 9

ALTERNATIVE SPRING BREAK pg. 14

WOMEN’S LACROSSE pg. 20

INSIDE: OP/ED 8 ARTS & FEATURES 11 SPORTS 18

2 | NEWS

THE GATEPOST

Editorial Board

Gatepost Interview

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 Opinions Editor Lizzy Stocks Sports Editors 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 Stephanie Bennett Mackenzie Berube Thom Duda Dan Flahive Colton Madore Nick Murphy Cordelia Stark Allison Wharton Staff Photographers Oscairy Tavarez Michael Upton 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 gatepost@framingham.edu

APRIL 6, 2018

Ann McDonald

Chief of staff, general counsel, secretary to the Board of Trustees

By Mackenzie Berube Staff Writer What is your educational and professional background?

I did my undergraduate at Westfield State University - which was then Westfield State College - and my undergraduate was in early childhood education. Then, I did my master’s degree at UMass Amherst in higher education administration.

Finally, I did my law degree at New England Law in Boston. After I got out of my undergraduate, I worked for a short time in the private sector for job development, because there were not a lot of teaching jobs when I came out. I worked with women who were coming off of public assistance and entering the work force and coached them on good work habits and budgeting - all the kinds of things that they needed to transition into work. After doing that for a couple of years, there was a job developer position at Mount Wachusett Community College in the Cooperative Education and Career Planning Department, so I moved there. That’s where I spent the next 31 years - not in that position all those years - by the time I left I was executive vice president.

What led you to FSU? One: My college was experiencing a lot of new changes - we had a new president at Mount Wachusett, which I think got me looking at other opportunities. Two: Framingham State University is public higher ed - my background, except for my law degree, has really been all in public higher ed and I really have both a commitment and a passion for public higher education. I feel like when the states invest in their own citizens, and for the most part students stay in the commonwealth and give back to that, I think that’s just a great opportunity for a student who might not otherwise look at a college because of cost. Although costs are not low, they are not anywhere near the private college education costs - for me, that was a point of access. My mom was a single parent, my dad passed away when I was very young and I had two brothers, so we all went to public insti-

doing it for years. In general, it’s just a more complex organization.

What do you hope to accomplish in your new role?

I know that Rita Colucci was respected and well-liked on campus.

I think that her input - having met her - that she was able to offer a steady hand on the legality of certain things. Frankly, I’d like to continue that and add to her legacy, because it’s great to walk in behind somebody who is doing a terrific Framingham State University job. I’d like to always be responsive to the needs of the University, betutions. I really believe that public cause I think we need to be willing higher ed gives students those op- to work with folks. We cannot have portunities, and I want to be a part compliance or the law stop progress of how that progresses. This posi- on campus. Sometimes, you can’t tion was of interest because a lot just launch off and do things the of my work touched a lot of areas, way you want to because you may so I didn’t serve as general counsel have to conform to an outside polat Mount Wachusett, but I did a lot icy. So, to the extent that I can be a of the legal work on campus. The good support for others that are on chief of staff area of this position campus trying to do those things, on campus means I’m working with that’s really what I want - to be a the vice president and others, which good partner. was really attractive to me. Also, Do you have any advice for stuonce I got a feel for Framingham dents? and met some of the folks that were College is this time in your life associated with it, I was amazed and no matter how old you are - where still am every day by the kind of you get to explore and figure out community that Framingham State who you are. I think that students is. I could not have chosen better - I should really take every opportuhave been in the system for 30 years nity and try things to find out what and have never felt a stronger sense you’re good at and what you’re not of community than I do here. good at. You’ll begin to figure out Do you find any difference work- who you are. I think that’s the biging at a four-year school versus a gest change a student can anticipate community college? from the time they walk through I do, but there are also similari- the door to the time they leave - a ties. The difference is the residence better sense of self. We all can fall life because the community col- into ruts - do the same thing, hang leges are non-residential - students with the same people, eat the same are there during the day and for foods - but trying things helps you the most part, they go home. Here, experience things to find out what students find this as their home, or you like and don’t like. When I was at least for the short term, which I an education major, back then, we think adds to the environment in a had no credits for electives. In my way that’s palpable. I think the oth- final semester I had one-and-a-half er part is the organization, because courses left, so I fit in a fitness reit’s bigger, has a larger faculty and quirement - racquetball. I had never graduate education. Yet, there are played it before and I loved it and some things that the community played it for the rest of my life. It college was doing that Framingham was a silly elective that I needed to State is just starting to work with, satisfy a credit. You have to be willsuch as the K-12 program and work- ing to try things because you just ing with public schools. I am thank- don’t know how it will alter your ful that I can offer some perspective life. on that since [Wachusett] has been

Police Logs Wednesday, April 4 20:25 Arrest North Hall Arrest

Wednesday, April 4 15:49 Motor Vehicle Accident A-Zone Parking Lot Referral Filed

Corrections

We at The Gatepost would like to correct two errors in last week’s Gatepost Editorial, “Transportation Frustration.” Along with part-time student drivers, the student transportation center employs two full-time drivers. Additionally, the student transportation center is overseen by one administrator, Kim Galvani. We apologize for the errors.

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

APRIL 6, 2018

THE GATEPOST

NEWS | 3

SGA kicks off election season with Candidates’ Night

By Kayllan Olicio Associate Editor SGA candidates discussed the upcoming election and gave small speeches during Candidates’ Night on Wednesday, April 5 in the North Hall Commons.

Ethan Feuer, SILD director, explained the campaign regulations to the candidates who were present.

Some regulations Feuer went over included the acceptable poster size, consequences for defacement of campaign materials and what steps will be taken in the event of a tie. All SGA campaign regulations can be found in the student handbook.

Feuer said, “I’m excited for a really good election process. …

We are pumped for this election.”

SGA President Kyle Rosa said, “I know that tonight hasn’t really gone down in history with a good reputation of being the SGA members listened to 2018 election candidates’ speeches. most important night.” He addposed candidate for SGA senaAyanna Ferguson, unopposed ed it is important for candidates tor-at-large said, “I like to talk candidate for student trustee, to give a speech, so students can and debate. I’m a political sci- said, “I really want to represent know who is running. ence major.” the student body. … And hopeOf the 16 candidates running, Erin Johnson, unopposed can- fully make some changes.” six chose to speak. didate for SGA secretary, said, “I Driana Lebron, unopposed Ben Carrington, who currently joined senate this year and I’ve candidate for SGA student activholds the parliamentarian pobeen really interested in the sec- ity trust fund treasurer, said, “I sition, is running for SGA presretary position since I started, have a fond love of math.” ident. He said, “I love being on and I think I would be a really Sophomore Matthew Bennet SGA and getting to know all of good fit.” said he plans to run as a write-in the people on campus - the reAlex Backer, unopposed can- candidate for senator-at-large. sources. Making a change on didate for SGA vice president, Bridget Green, SGA secretary campus is super important.” said he has worked closely with and head of the election commitSGA president is the only offithe current vice president, Jack tee, conducted the ballot raffle, cially opposed position this elecCapello, on a campaign and which determines the order in tion season. “through that, I’ve really seen which the candidates will appear Adam Scanlon, who is also what the vice president does. … on the ballot. running for SGA president, was I’m very interested in working There are no students running not in attendance. with other clubs.” for the positions of SGA Class Stephanie Bennett, unop-

Corey McFeeley / THE GATEPOST

and Club Treasurer, SGA Social Events Coordinator, class of 2019 secretary and treasurer, class of 2020 president, vice president, secretary, treasurer and senator of the class, class of 2021 president, vice president, secretary and treasurer.

Elections will be held on April 18, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., on Ramlink. According to Green, there will be a table in the McCarthy Center lobby from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

CONNECT WITH KAYLLAN OLICIO kolicio@student.framingham.edu

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4 | NEWS

THE GATEPOST

APRIL 6, 2018

Board of Trustees discuss alternative college initiatives

By Shanleigh Reardon News Editor Student fees will increase next year “whether we like it or not,” said Michael Grilli, finance subcommittee chair, during the Board of Trustees meeting on April 4.

Tuition and fees during Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 totaled $9,920, the total for FY2019 will increase this price by $570.

Richard Logan, chair of the board, announced he will not be seeking a fourth term as chair.

Logan said, “This has been the time of my life and I’ve enjoyed it thoroughly.”

This meeting was the first at which Ann McDonald attended as general counsel and secretary to the board. McDonald filled this position after Rita Colucci left the University in January.

Also during the meeting, Colleen Coffey, executive director of The College Collaborative, college access, equity and community engagement at FSU and MassBay, presented to the board about early college initiatives the MetroWest College Planning Center is spearheading in local communities to encourage younger students to enroll in classes that will prepare them for college and careers.

“About half of the population of the MetroWest - which is a huge surprise to most - is not engaged in post-secondary activity,” said Coffey. This means they do not attend college or may have attended but not completed college.

She added, “The numbers are alarming, but if you go out and talk to the community, you’ll find out it’s a logical pattern.”

She noted the changing demographics as well as the socio-economic diversity in the MetroWest are factors that contribute to this trend.

Coffey said to encourage more people to attend and complete college, we need to “train the pipeline.” She suggested engaging different high school grade levels in different ways and stressed teaching high school students that dual enrollment classes should be taken with a major or career path in mind.

According to Scott Greenberg, associate vice president for academic affairs and the dean of continuing education, FSU has been participating in dual enrollment programs for about 10 years.

Sara Mulkeen, manager of digital communications and interactive media at FSU, presented to the board about website accessibility after the University received complaints from a fed-

Amanda Martin / THE GATEPOST

Trustee Nancy Budwig spoke to the board about the Presidential Review Subcommitee.

eral civil rights organization regarding accessibility problems on “framingham.edu.”

Sunny Tam, director of the biotechnology graduate program, and Steve Moysey, director of the MBA program, spoke about the recent addition of a biotechnology operations concentration to FSU’s existing MBA program.

This concentration allows students to pursue careers with an MBA specializing in biotechnology operations. According to Moysey, skilled workers in this field are in high demand in the area, as Boston and the MetroWest hold the second highest number of biotechnology companies after San Francisco.

Karl Bryan, student trustee, spoke from his own experience about the recent Alternative Spring Break (ASB) trip to Memphis, Tennessee. Bryan said his group helped with an urban gardening project and worked on boarding up abandoned homes to decrease their availability to house illegal activities, such as drug use and prostitution.

“It was harder work than I thought it would be,” said Bryan.

Trustee Nancy Budwig asked Bryan if students had to pay to be a part of ASB or if it is financially accessible for all students.

Bryan said he had to pay roughly $300 out of pocket to participate in the trip. He added SILD works with students regardless of their financial situation if they are chosen to participate in the trip.

Lorretta Holloway, vice presi-

dent for enrollment and student development, added she has been a chaperone during previous ASB trips and said it is more of an issue of space and commitment, not cost. She noted the rigorous application process students must go through to be selected and the year-long time commitment students must make to fundraising and meetings in order to participate.

Echoing Holloway’s point, Bryan said he applied to last year’s trip to New Orleans, Louisiana and was not chosen.

During the President’s report, President Javier F. Cevallos reported 70 percent of students receive financial aid. This was in response to a question raised during a subcommittee meeting about financial aid at FSU. He added 33 percent of students receive Pell Grant funding, 68 percent receive loans and 31 percent receive aid from grants, scholarships and other funding sources.

Alyssa Figueiredo, a junior majoring in elementary education and psychology, addressed the board as the Student in the Spotlight. She is the president of the Education Club, treasurer of the Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society, a first-year peer mentor and a member of the Dance Team.

“I would not have been able to accomplish everything I have without the incredible faculty and staff Framingham State University has. There were many times when I doubted myself and faced difficulties, but there was never a time when I felt alone,”

said Figueiredo.

During the enrollment and student development report, Holloway said the University has recorded a higher number of acceptances this year compared to last year. She attributed this to admissions informing applicants whose applications were incomplete what they were missing and giving them a chance to complete the admissions requirements. In the past, students who submitted incomplete applications were automatically declined.

“Despite having a lower number of applicants, we have a higher number of acceptances than we have had in the past. …

I always say it’s too early to get excited - I’m actually not excited until October when I know exactly how many” students enroll, said Holloway.

Budwig, who is a member of the Presidential Review Subcommittee, told the board the Presidential Review is getting underway after a letter was received from Carlos E. Santiago, commissioner of higher education for Massachusetts, “The letter we received this year was really special. It really spoke highly of our president.”

She added, “I just wanted all of you to know - not only that we have the thanks of the commissioner, but we also have a great deal of respect for the leadership team here.”

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CONNECT WITH SHANLEIGH REARDON sreardon1@student.framingham.edu

APRIL 6, 2018

THE GATEPOST

NEWS | 5

FSU celebrates Women’s History Month Six women presented with awards

By Kayllan Olicio Associate Editor FSU held its third annual Women Making History Now award ceremony on March 29 in the McCarthy Forum.

The event honored six women during Women’s History Month who have made significant contributions to the communities they serve, according to the FSU website.

The honorees were Framingham Mayor Yvonne Spicer, Framingham Public Schools (FPS) teacher Marguerite Simpson-Lackard, Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development.

Rosalin Acosta, Chief Risk Officer of the Middlesex Savings Bank Dana Neshe, General Manager at Langer Broadcasting Group Ilma Paixao and Vice President of Enrollment and Student Development Lorretta Holloway.

Millie González, interim chief officer of diversity, inclusion and community engagement, said, “There’s always a plethora of women to choose from.” She added the recipients of the award are chosen by a committee.

Several FSU students read the biographies of the honorees before presenting them with their awards.

Markiyah Bullard, a junior and vice president of Black Student Union (BSU), introduced Spicer and described the work she has done as an educator, consultant and committee councilor.

Bullard said BSU hopes to work with Spicer in the future. She added, “I’m personally inspired by all the accomplishments you’ve done so far.”

Spicer said, “When I think about the journey to becoming Mayor of Framingham, I think about the shoulders that I stand on and all the women that came before me.”

She added she doesn’t take any of her successes for granted and remains humbled and focused.

“With your support, I will lead my city to be the best city in the United States of America. We’re on our way,” Spicer said.

Chon’tel Washington, director of the Center for Inclusive Excellence (CIE), read Simpson-Lackard’s biography. Simpson-Lackard was a pediatrician at Boston Medical Center and co-founded the Walsh Mentoring Program, which offers students emotional and social support.

Simpson-Lackard said she is honored to be among such powerful women.

She added, “We can get distracted by life’s obstacles - sometimes at the very beginning of the dream or at the beginning of the task. That can cause us to

lose our direction - we start to focus on the obstacle rather than the objective. … Don’t fear the obstacles. Stay focused and conquer it.”

Zae Valera, senior and public relations officer for Brother to Brother (B2B), introduced Acosta. She said Acosta “was a widely respected financial and banking service professional with over 30 years of experience in Greater Boston financial institutions.”

Acosta said, “It’s so critical when you are working, and when you are dedicating so much time to what you do, that you understand why you are doing it. Not just how you are doing it, or what you are doing to get it done, but why you are doing it.”

Ariel Deane, first-year student and CIE employee, introduced Dana Neshe.

She said Neshe, who is an FSU alumna, is involved in a variety of local non-profit organizations.

Neshe said, “The thing that is very unique about my story is that I have been able to work with some absolutely amazing people along the way.”

She encouraged people to engage in the mentoring process - to take someone “under your wing.”

She added if enough people get involved in “this kind of work, there is going to be a day where every young woman … and man has somebody they can look up to - a more experienced colleague who can maybe help them find their personal courage and dream their little dream.”

Melissa Bicalho, a first-year student, presented Paixao with her award and spoke about the volunteer and advocacy efforts she has completed on behalf of FPS and the MetroWest Health Foundation.

Bicalho said coming from a Brazilian household, her family listens to Paixao’s radio station every day when they go to work.

She added, “Paixao is very involved in our community and has dedicated herself a tremendous amount.”

Paixao discussed the challenges she faced growing up in Brazil and how she persevered.

She said, “I never learned that ‘no’ was the final answer. Especially when I noticed a ‘no’ without an explanation.”

Deron Hines, senior and president of B2B, introduced Holloway.

Hines discussed Holloway’s achievements during her time at FSU, which include efforts to promote awareness of students who are experiencing housing and food insecurity, as well as being a “champion for college access and readiness.”

Kayllan Olicio / THE GATEPOST Chon’tel Washington presents Marguerite Simpson-Lackard with her award.

Hines said he was honored to plaining your role in society.”

Lewis spoke about his grandpresent the award to Holloway.

He said Holloway has “been a mother, who help shape the permajor part in my growth here at son he is today.

He said his grandmother probthe University. [Holloway] saw things in me that I couldn’t. She ably never received an award in saw my potential. … Who would her life, adding in her era there have known that a ‘D’ letter weren’t any awards that honored grade would place me in your life women and their contributions.

The contributions his grandand place you in my heart?”

Holloway said it was intimi- mother made were forgotten and dating when she found out she “relegated to the shadows.”

Lewis recounted the hardwon the award, adding past recipients have brought the room ships his grandmother underwent. “Faced with abuse and vito tears with their speeches.

She said she wanted to write a olence in the home, she did the love letter “to this room of wom- unspeakable. She left her husen. This is more than a thank you, band and struck out on her own but a chance to recognize your- as a single mother,” he said. “She self and your stories and the lit- broke her own chains of opprestle things that keeps us all sane.” sion, reclaimed her life and did Holloway thanked her mother, whatever was necessary to take care of her children.” whom she believes is “magic.

He added women have been “I don’t mean that she has magic - she is magic,” said Hollo- changing the world since long way. She added, “I think the mag- before awards were given out for ic that I felt from her was never it. Women played a role in society long before anyone wanted being judged.

“Find the person who is the them to. “They formed the invismagic in your life so that you can ible backbone of the American learn to be your own magic and home and work place,” he said.

Following Lewis’s speech, the share that with those around you. …We can be the magic - heaven Afro-Caribbean Dance Group knows the world needs it,” she performed.

Roxanna Cooke, Delta Sigma said.

State Representative Jack Theta Sorority president, gave Patrick Lewis presented the re- the closing remarks.

“I want to invite all of you, cipients with citations from the Commonwealth of Massachu- whether it’s a woman in the room or allies in the room, to figure setts.

Lewis said he had to pause out how to be fearless and get when he was invited to speak at beyond the surface of the differthe ceremony, “Who am I to de- ences that you may see and find liver remarks today, at an event the commonalties,” she said.

Cooke added, “Let us speak up. celebrating women? All of my closest friends are women, and Let us speak out and fight the as a gay man, I’ve been told more disparities that may not be aftimes than I can count that I’m fecting you today, but it may afan ‘honorary woman.’ I never fect you in the future.” quite understood that.”

He added he was conflicted. He said, “I firmly believe that women don’t need more men mans- CONNECT WITH KAYLLAN OLICIO kolicio@student.framingham.edu

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6 | NEWS

THE GATEPOST

APRIL 6, 2018

Sisters’ Day Out

Shanleigh Reardon/ THE GATEPOST Members of MISS welcomed high school girls and their families to the 1812 House, home to the College Planning Center, to help them find prom dresses.

Continued from pg. 1 offers.

Sanchez said, “Come here whenever you want - to the little yellow house.”

To begin the afternoon, Luisanna Castillo, M.I.S.S. vice president, led the group in an icebreaker game in which members of M.I.S.S. and the high schoolers shared their hobbies, favorite high school memories, travel destinations and dream jobs.

“You’ll probably do a lot of these in the coming years, so get used to it,” said Castillo with a laugh while explaining the idea of an icebreaker.

The girls then took turns going through the room of dresses which were organized by size.

Members of M.I.S.S. helped the girls by asking them questions about what styles and colors they liked, and assisted them in figuring out their sizes by telling them what sizes they themselves wear.

The girls were encouraged to try on as many dresses as they wanted so they could find one that fit well and aligned with their own personal styles. Veale said, “Even if you have to try on every dress in here - we’ll find something.”

According to a Yahoo Style survey completed in 2017, “Prom Across America,” including attire, hair and makeup, flowers, tickets and transportation, the average teen in the Northeastern United States spends $699.56 on prom. A survey completed by Visa in 2015 on the cost of prom from “promposal” to prom night - placed the overall spending at $1,169 for Northeastern U.S.

families.

High school senior Isabella Debrito found a red dress that fit her perfectly and said she’s glad M.I.S.S. decided to hold the event.

“It’s really a big expense for something you’re going to wear once. I have other responsibilities that I have to save up for. I’m trying to get a car,” said Debrito.

M.I.S.S. members made everyone feel confident and welcome by cheering and snapping photos of the girls while they modeled the dresses, joining in on conversations some attendees and parents were having in Spanish and offering advice about prom night and college.

Veale said, “If you guys need a date, take me!”

After someone said “yes” to a dress, members of M.I.S.S. would pose them on the staircase of the 1812 House and take their photo so they could post their selection in their prom’s Facebook group so no other prom goers would get the same dress.

M.I.S.S. members would then hang up the dresses in a garment bags for the girls to take with them - just as if they were at an actual dress store.

“Send us pictures from real prom!” said Veale, as the girls were leaving with their dresses.

“We’ll email you!”

Veale said this event aligns very closely with the group’s mission because it helps empower girls during a time they might feel overwhelmed or scrutinized because of all the pressure that comes with graduating high school.

“Prom is a stressful time and that’s when you don’t feel the prettiest if you can’t find the perfect dress,” said Veale.

The event is more than just “charity” or “giving away dresses,” said Veale. It also created an opportunity for the high schoolers to meet the women of M.I.S.S. and make connections with someone whom they may see as a mentor or “big sister.”

FHS senior Esther Kalemba selected a light pink lace dress with the help of M.I.S.S. members. She said she was glad M.I.S.S. held the event and that she was able to meet them.

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“I want to go to college, study and get my degree,” said Kalemba. She added she’s deciding among a few schools right now and “FSU’s one of those options.”

Veale said M.I.S.S. hopes to hold the event again next year and has stored the dresses that didn’t get chosen this year, so they can be used again.

Jordan said she thought the event was “very successful.”

She added, “I literally almost cried like three times. I’m happy, I feel like they’re happy and that’s all I wanted.”

CONNECT WITH SHANLEIGH REARDON sreardon1@student.framingham.edu

APRIL 6, 2018

THE GATEPOST

NEWS | 7

SGA Continued from pg. 1 $25,000 from the reserves account into the Student Activity Trust Fund (SATF). The SATF is an account funded by students’ activity fees.

Horwitz said there is sufficient money in the SATF, but it is not currently accessible because they are waiting on cancelled trip money, ticket revenue and leftover event money that is spread across the accounts of multiple clubs on campus. Moving money from reserves takes priority over other transfers, so SGA would have immediate access.

Horwitz said, “Please be aware that this is OK. We’ve already spoke to our resource person about this, as well as the president of the University, and they agreed that this would be the fastest and safest way of getting money for these events.”

The largest request of the night came from SGA President Kyle Rosa and Senate Chair Mike O’Brien. The two were seeking $17,239 for a “pilot program” to install soap and electric hand dryers in select bathrooms in five residence halls.

Rosa said they intend to install the dryers one male designated and one female des-

ignated bathroom in Horace Mann, Peirce, Larned, Linsley and Corinne Hall Towers.

The cost would cover $8,490 for ten units and the necessary supplies to install them, $6,500 for the electricians and $2,249 for any contingencies. Residence Life will be supplying all the soap, since it is actually cheaper than the hand sanitizer currently provided.

If the pilot program is deemed successful, Rosa said administrators will consider implementing it in all residence halls with communal bathrooms.

O’Brien said the administration is not funding the initial project because a significant amount of money and resources are tied up in state-mandated renovation projects for the next two years, including projects in Crocker and Linsley halls. If students want to see change soon, Rosa said SGA would need to fund the changes.

When the floor opened for debate, senators expressed concerns that this was not the appropriate use of student activity funds and that administrators may not implement changes even if the program is successful.

Social Events Coordinator Hailey Small said she did not

see the administration paying for a full installation in the future. “I feel like, to be blunt, they’re not going to really care after this. And if it goes well, I feel like they’re going to be like, ‘Well this is your problem.

You paid for this, so pay with the rest of it with your money.’”

Rosa said while it’s true they cannot guarantee the administration will go forward with the project if the pilot is a success, he is confident that enough students have advocated for the amenities that the administration cannot ignore it.

Both Rosa and O’Brien added they have had a lot of support from facilities and other departments. Patricia Whitney, assistant vice president of facilities, implemented a similar program at her previous school and will provide electricians to do the work. SGA will only be funding overtime hours for the electricians.

Senator Mikayla Quinlin said, “I know you said this is the activities fee and it should be used as a way for students to voice their opinion, but to me this is just not an activity. I strongly feel that this is something that we, as SGA, should not be funding. I think the school needs to somehow find the budget to do this.”

Quinlin also said SGA needed to acknowledge the large commuter population at FSU. Commuters fees are also used in the SATF, and this use of funds would not benefit them at all.

Senators were also concerned about possible student fee increases if the pilot program succeeds and administrators decide to install hand dryers across campus, a process that would result in significant and costly electrical work in a number of the buildings.

Mike O’Brien said they could not confirm or deny that fees could increase if the administration does take the program further. He confirmed that fees would not increase this year due to the pilot program, however.

After three failed attempts by senators to bring a vote to the floor to allocate $0 to the pilot program, SGA voted 17 to 7 to fund the entire $17,239.

CONNECT WITH NADIRA WICAKSANA nwicaksana@student.framingham.edu

Other funding requests approved by SGA Onyx $5,000 Magazines, stickers and launch event

Anime Club $108

Promotional athletic bags

JOCT $1,404

Journals

Dental Club

$653.79 Water bottles

BSU

$6,086.26 Decorations, food and apparel

Harrasment Ends Here $8,875.62

Speaker Jackson Katz and gym shirts

Food Science Club

History Club

$1,445.66

$797.40

Trivia Night

Waterbottles, pens and temporary tattoos

SGA

Total Money Allocated

$3,200

$ 50,278.98

Bubble Ball event for concussion awareness

Including both SGA and FINCOM

@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

THE GATEPOST

APRIL 6, 2018

THE GATEPOST EDITORIAL

OP/ED

Trust, but verify

Americans distrust of the media is at an alltime high.

According to a recent poll from Monmouth University, 83 percent of Americans believe outside groups and organizations are trying to get news organizations to report on fake stories that highlight false narratives.

Given the developments over the last several days, that statistic may not be all that surprising to you.

This week, a video published by Deadspin surfaced on the web showing a number of Sinclair Broadcast Group news anchors all repeating a scripted message that read like a torn out page of a White House press release.

“But we’re concerned about the troubling trend of irresponsible, one-sided news stories plaguing our country. The sharing of biased and false news has become all too common on social media,” read a portion of the script.

While, on the surface, the message seemed moral - in the clip, all the anchors decry the dangers of one-sided and biased news reporting - internally many of the news anchors were uncomfortable reading the script, but were forced to by an upper management team that has a history of leaning to the right, according to a report from CNN. In response to the backlash, President Donald Trump tweeted, “So funny to watch Fake News Networks, among the most dishonest groups of people I have ever dealt with, criticize Sinclair Broadcasting for being biased. Sinclair is far superior to CNN and even more Fake NBC, which is a total joke.”

In an age when our own president uses his Twitter to attack news sources that publish accurate stories that cast him in a negative light but glorifies those that peddle his agenda, it makes sense why people are skeptical to trust any news source.

But we at The Gatepost believe it is now more important than ever that news readers do their due diligence in becoming more media literate and cognizant of the rhetoric being thrown around by members of both major political parties.

Yes, fake news is a rampant problem that has proliferated due to the rise of the internet and social media, but not every story that goes against one’s set of beliefs can be categorized as fake news despite what our president wants to believe.

It is essential for every person to look at a wide breadth of news sources - if you stick to one news source for all of your content, you will remain ignorant within that one bias bubble. Whether you agree with the narrative spin being produced, it is important to know every side of the story.

People who are unwilling to research their news and trust an algorithm on Facebook to show them news stories are the most susceptible to believing fake news when it actually occurs. We urge you to be smart consumers of content.

It’s OK to trust sources where you regularly get your news, but as the old adage goes - trust, but verify.

If you are unsure of how to identify fake news stories when you see them, stop by The Gatepost’s Fake News Game Show on Wednesday, April 11 at 7 p.m. in the Alumni Room.

8 | OP/ED

[Editor’s Note: Dry Campus is a bi-weekly satirical comic strip

by Staff Illustrator Raysom Donkoh-Halm. Dry campus takes place on the most dry, depressing and draining campus in the world. We will follow Eric, Stuart and Sabina on their subpar misadventures.]

Campus Conversations Where do you get your news from, and why?

By Nadira Wicaksana and Corey McFeeley

“Twitter, usually. It’s always on “Twitter, because it’s pretty easy to access. I’m always on my phone.” my phone.”

-Tommy Herr, junior -Juni Santos, freshman

“I don’t really read the news.

When I’m home, the TV’s on, but I don’t have a TV in my room.”

-Kayla Chan, senior

“I get my news from BBC and the Barbados Advocate. I feel those two are the most trustworthy news outlets.”

-Marquis Knight, junior

“Mostly Facebook. I don’t really pay attention to the news too much lately. A lot of it’s really hectic and depressing.”

-Allie Flood, junior

“Twitter, because I follow very good sources. Moments on Twitter are usually connected to bigger networks.”

-TyAna Simmons, junior

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

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

9 | OP/ED

THE GATEPOST

APRIL 6, 2018

Out of the closet and the census

By Lizzy Stocks Opinions Editor The 2020 Census will fail to question citizens about their sexual orientation.

Now, this doesn’t quite come as a shock considering the fact past censuses have also conveniently left out questions concerning sexual orientation and identity.

But what does come as a shock is the U.S. Census Bureau’s decision to slap LGBT+ folk in the face on March 27 by releasing the Planned Subjects for the 2020 Census Report, which included a sexual orientation and identity category - only to retract the report and issue the following statement: “The Subjects Planned for the 2020 Census and American Community Survey report released today inadvertently listed sexual orientation and gender identity as a proposed topic in the appendix.”

Pardon?

The report goes on to justify the Bureau’s “inadvertent” mis-

take with this quick “fun-fact”: “Neither the U.S. Census, nor the American Community Survey, had ever included questions about sexual orientation or transgender status. (In fact, no federal survey even during the Obama years included questions on transgender status, although some included sexual-orientation questions.)”

So, with that being said - fine.

Don’t count LGBT+ constituents in the 2020 Census.

If the officials writing the census feel it is unnecessary to include sexual orientation and identity just because past surveys have, including even those during the Obama years, then the country clearly is not ready to handle the responsibility of recognizing such a marginalized group.

Of course, I think it’s important for us to have recognition.

Of course, I think it’s important to have representation.

But, that recognition and representation could carry a hefty price tag.

During WWII, the government

gained access to and abused census information from the census that was used to help send Japanese Americans to internment camps.

I’m not proposing the government will do the same to our country’s LGBT+ population, but

living under today’s untrustworthy administration - who’s to say something similar couldn’t happen?

Until our country can quit debating over who can and cannot use a toilet - I’m fine lurking in the gay shadows.

Student government “representing” student needs

By Karl Bryan Student Trustee I have been a member of the Student Government Association since my first week of freshman year. In the nearly four years I have been a part of this group, I have never seen a senate like the one we have now.

As a senate, the individual members are supposed to think of commuter students, residential students, non-traditional students, exchange students and so many more when allocating funds and making decisions. However, most importantly, they are meant to be independent in their decision making, and use the information in front of them as their guide to come to a conclusion.

In this respect, those meant to represent all of us have failed miserably this year.

Since the beginning of this academic year, the people who were supposed to be trusted with allocating the money in the Student Activity Trust Fund that every student pays into, have acted as rubber stamps - approving almost every request that comes before them without much thought.

This has been not only supported, but encouraged by some members of the executive board. A portion of the eBoard almost instructs the senate to vote the way that they want them to vote, and many members go along with whatever they want.

This is not independence, and this is not the proper way to represent the students of this school.

I think this problem is best exemplified by the choice of the senate on the night of April 3. SGA members presented and the senate approved a pilot program to place 10 hand dryers in residence hall bathrooms around campus, excluding West and North halls.

The cost for the test? Seventeen thousand dollars.

Seventeen thousand dollars of student money for 10 hand dryers for a test. Seventeen thousand dollars to solve a problem that can be solved with residents buying a $2 bottle of hand soap and a maybe $5 hand towel or have it be provided for by the RAs who have done so in the past. Commuters and West and North hall resident students pay into this fund and will not have access to these hand dryers unless they get signed into a building.

SGA hopes if the pilot program works well, then the administration will pick up the bill for the rest of the bathrooms. However, if 10 dryers cost $17,000, then the cost for the whole campus will easily be around six figures. In these times of financial constraint, I don’t see the administration picking up the bill for what really is a non-environmentally friendly luxury. They can easily put the bill onto the students, especially since we have already paid for the first steps.

Don’t get me wrong - I think that it would be convenient to have these in the bathrooms, but at what cost to students who are already

struggling to get by? Should our fees increase just for the leisure of having these machines?

I believe senators this year have voted based on what they personally want, without thinking about the bigger picture. Some senators, after the divisive vote, said that they voted for the project because members of SGA worked hard on it and they didn’t want it to be for nothing.

Maybe SGA shouldn’t be allowed to vote on their own funding if they cannot be impartial. This is a huge problem that affects every student on campus and must be addressed.

@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

10 | ARTS & FEATURES

THE GATEPOST

APRIL 6, 2018

USE YOUR VOICE! BE the difference on campus!



LAST CHANCE! Freshman and Seniors take the NSSE survey by April 17th for a chance to WIN a pair of Bose wireless headphones!



EASY TO COMPLETE! The survey only takes 15 minutes of your time, and you can find the link in your FSU email.



MAKE A DIFFERENCE! The National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) assesses students’ participation in academic and extracurricular life. This data helps administrators and faculty make meaningful changes on campus!

Questions? Please contact the Office of Institutional Research at: (508) 626-4043

Sixteenth Annual NES/MAA Dinner Meeting in Memory of Kenneth J. Preskenis

(2018 Preskenis Dinner) The sixteenth annual Preskenis Dinner will be held on Wednesday, April 18, 2018.

Dr. Reva Kasman, Salem State University, will give 2018 Preskenis Lecture, “From Arithmetic to Proof: Creating Mathematicians in the Elementary School Classroom”.  6 PM – 7:30 PM Buffet Dinner (reservations required by Monday, April 16, 2018) Faculty/Staff Dining Room, 3rd Floor, D. Justin McCarthy Center

 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM Dr. Kasman’s Presentation

Alumni Room, 3rd Floor, D. Justin McCarthy Center (everyone is welcome)

 8:30 PM – 9 PM Reception, sponsored by the Office of the Vice President of Academic Affairs, Alumni Room, 3rd Floor, D. Justin McCarthy Center (everyone is welcome)

The cost for the dinner is $23.25 per person for faculty/staff and $10 per person for FSU students.

For more information, visit https://www.framingham.edu/faculty/smabrouk/preskenis/annual/sixteenth.htm

@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

APRIL 6, 2018

THE GATEPOST

ARTS & FEATURES | 11

ARTS & FEATURES Individual Perspective Communication arts seniors display portfolio work in Mazgal

Amanda Martin / THE GATEPOST

Cesareo Contreras Editor-in-Chief

T

his week, the Mazmanian Gallery was home to the work of 10 senior communication art majors with concentrations in integrated visual media.

As part of their senior portfolio class, all the students were tasked not only with showcasing résumés, brand logos and portfolio websites, but also some of the best work they’ve created throughout their time at FSU. On display were a wide variety of pictures, graphic designs and student-created films.

Although a communication arts senior exhibition is presented annually, the unifying theme tying all the students’ work together is always different.

This year, the class decided to title its show “Through Our Eyes,” focusing on the idea of individual perspective.

“Thinking about the lens by which we look at life and our work is unique and individual,” said Jennifer Dowling, communication arts professor and the instructor of the portfolio class.

When thinking about his own individual style, Chris Barajas tries to mix aggressive vibrant colors with his overall vintage aesthetic.

Showcasing his night photography, Barajas said he enjoys playing with artificial light sources in his photographs, as they often cast a striking and vibrant hue over the building or subject in an image.

Taking up a small portion of his exhibit were several late-night photographs Barajas took around Framingham and the Boston area.

Most of these photos are part of Barajas’ ongoing “Night Shift” series that focuses on highlighting people who primarily work after dark.

In one photograph, taken inside a skating club in Cambridge, a radiant, red light envelopes a scene of a man on a ladder, dusting a large window from within an aging building built in the 1800s. In another, taken outside the Red Roof Inn in Framingham, a bright red sign illuminates a white wall just above the hotel’s entrance, dyeing it an almost-blood-orange.

“I really like the motif of using the color red, so any time I see red, I try and capture it,” he said. “As far as the night photography goes, I’m sort of a night owl. I really like being out at night. I like capturing things that are otherwise mundane and capturing it in a unique way.”

Also on display was Barajas’ “sensory deprivation” interactive video piece “Sense of Place.” Inside a large, wooden box adjacent to Barajas’ other work was an iPad running a series of looping videos showing a range of experiences, including traversing New England’s snow-covered streets during a snowstorm, going on a hike in Callahan State Park and visiting Nantasket Beach on a nice summer day.

Once they had the included headphones on, viewers were instructed to place their eyes above

the vertical hole atop the wooden box where the iPad was placed.

Barajas said he hopes viewers would then feel as though they’ve been transported and were actively experiencing one of the aforementioned vignettes.

Barajas said he was inspired by the kinetoscope, an early motion picture device that was developed in 1861. Like his video piece, films shown on the kinetoscope had to be viewed through a peephole.

For their senior portfolios, Audrey Ensor and Marina Coppola decided to collaborate and develop something together.

The results of their efforts?

“The Grim’s Reaper,” a short film featuring the grim reaper and an unlucky FSU student who is given an ultimatum - kill three unsuspecting individuals who have committed a series of heinous acts or die.

Flanked between their individual exhibits, an iMac with a trailer of the film was placed atop a white pillar that was painted blood red to match the film’s gruesome theme.

Both said working on the film was a great experience, as each of them said they’d like to pursue a potential career in filmmaking.

“We got to do the entire thing ourselves - every element - script writing, pre-production, [and] post-production,” said Ensor.

Outside of film production, each also created their own poster for the film, highlighting their design skills and individual styles.

When deciding what to place in

her exhibit, Ensor decided to display work that highlighted both her photographic and design skills.

Hanging on the wall were five black and white photographs Ensor had taken in a number of photography classes here at FSU - some were long exposure portraits and others close-up shots of a variety of objects including a polka dot curtain and a rainy window. Placed within each image were individual words from Elton John’s “Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me.” Viewed together, the series of photos read, “All my pictures seem to fade to black & white.”

Showcasing photos emphasizing the importance of positive body image, Coppola’s individual exhibit featured some of her proudest work, she explained.

In one photograph, a woman in her underwear is shown with the words “My Body My Choice” written in black marker just above her chest and along her stomach. Coppola said this photo served as the catalyst that inspired her to continue highlighting body positivity through photography.

Students’ work will be on display until April 6.

Next week, senior design and illustration students will showcase their senior seminar work. The reception will be held April 10 at 4:30 p.m.

CONNECT WITH CESAREO CONTRERAS ccontreras@student.framingham.edu

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

12 | ARTS & FEATURES

THE GATEPOST

APRIL 6, 2018

The Hate U Give Continued from page 1 … I’ve never been told to go sit on the back of the bus in my life.”

She joked, “Honestly, when I was growing up, if the KKK came to my neighborhood, us kids were so bad we would’ve scared them, and they would’ve run. Some of us would have snatched the sheets off their heads and put them on our beds.”

Thomas and her mother both grew up in the neighborhood where activist Medgar Evers was murdered by a member of the Ku Klux Klan. “When my mom grew up, she lived in the same house that I grew up in. She actually heard the shots that killed Medgar Evers.”

Thomas recounted the story her mother told her as a child of the day Evers died. Thomas’ grandmother received a phone call informing the Thomas family the KKK was in the neighborhood and not to leave their home.

Thomas said, “My mom remembers my grandparents having her get down on the floor and they’re sitting on the floor with the lights out in the entire house and they see flashlights being flashed into the house as pickup trucks come through the streets.

“They hear deep southern drawls saying, ‘Where all the n****rs at?

We wanna have some fun tonight.’”

Thomas added, “I heard that story growing up. I heard a lot of stories like that growing up about Mississippi.”

She said because that was the past, she hoped things were different. However, one story has stuck with her - the murder of Emmett Till.

His story was a significant inspiration for the novel. “It’s one of the reasons I am here in front of you today. I still remember the first time I saw Emmett Louis Till.”

Thomas recounted how she was first exposed to Till’s story when she was 6 years old when reading a feature about Till in Jet Magazine.

She saw a picture of his body after it had been removed from the lake where it had been thrown.

In the picture, she said Emmett “did not look like a human being.

To me, he looked like a prop from a horror movie.”

She said at the time she thought, “Wow, that could’ve been my brother.”

“That day, my mother said something that stuck with me all these years: ‘Know your worth, but also know that not everyone values you the way I do, simply because of the color of your skin.’”

She discussed the importance of telling the stories of young people

@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

like Till and how brutal deaths like his can be used to make the issue of racism in America personal. “It felt personal. Decades after his death, I found myself mourning the death of Emmett Till like it had happened the day before.”

She said she was inspired to use stories like Till’s as her motivation for activism, and while she took his death personally, it still felt “farfetched,” and like a part of history she didn’t experience.

Growing up, Thomas’ neighborhood was often painted as one filled with crime. She said the media focused on stories of drug dealing, gang violence and police officers abusing their power. “My neighborhood was known for all the wrong reasons.”

When asked by an audience member how to change the attitude of residents in her community who aren’t willing to address and discuss racism, Thomas reminded the audience not to “reinvent the wheel” when it comes to community activism. “There are organizations around you that are doing the work that need you. If you need to take some of your affluent friends with you to those organizations, you do that.”

Thomas said a difficult transition in her life was the one she made from high school to college. On her way to college every day, she would cross a bridge from the part of Jackson where she grew up to the “rich” area. She said the bridge felt like a divide between the two sides of her life.

She had gone from a part of Jackson known to have the worst schools, run-down buildings and a high crime rate, to a part of the city where the houses had maids and chauffeurs. “I immediately thought I had to be someone else in this very different world.”

On her first day of classes in college, Thomas began “code switching” - changing the way she spoke and acted to fit in with the other students, the majority of whom were white. “When I left my house, I was playing Tupac - when I got to school, I was playing the Jonas Brothers.”

She said in college she was exposed to people who were unaware of micro-aggressions and she had to advocate for herself because “a lot of people like that don’t know their errors.”

She said a girl she went to college with inspired the character in her book Hailey - a close friend of Starr Carter. Hailey and Starr’s relationship is strained throughout the book because of Hailey’s micro-aggressive behavior, and a big

part of the novel is Starr realizing she has to advocate for herself and others.

Thomas said in her first few years of college, she had a hard time advocating for herself and did not voice her opinions when issues of race were discussed. “There was one experience when I could no longer just say the bare minimum.”

She said she realized she could no longer stay silent when she witnessed oppression and racism in her daily life after she heard about the shooting death of Oscar Grant.

She said Grant was just like the people in her neighborhood. “He was one of us.”

Grant was killed on New Year’s Day in Oakland, California in 2009.

He was shot in the back by a police officer. “It was caught on tape. It showed Oscar lying on the ground, doing absolutely nothing when the officer pulls out his gun and shoots Oscar in the back. He got away with it.”

She said many of her white classmates couldn’t understand why there were protests and riots after Grant’s death because they couldn’t “wrap their heads around the idea” of the injustice the Oakland community was feeling.

Thomas knew she could use her own writing to make issues like police shootings of African Americans into a subject people from all walks of life could understand. “I decided to make the political personal.”

Thomas said she doesn’t condone rioting, but it proves there are citizens who are angry enough about a social issue to destroy their own communities in response. She suggested speaking to people who have chosen to participate in riots to see why they did. Often, their anger was in response to miscarriages of justice. “There’s power to making the political personal.”

“As a writer, I personally believe books are one of the best ways to create empathy,” she said. “Empathy takes listening to someone who isn’t like us. Actually listening without speaking to reach that point of empathy.”

Creative Commons

Emmett Louis Till Born: July 24, 1941 Died: Aug. 28, 1955 Emmett Louis Till was murdered after allegedly whistling at a white woman in a grocery store. He was 14 at the time of his murder. His murderers were acquitted of the crime. Till was one of the many inspirations for Thomas’ novel.

Facebook

Oscar Grant Born: Feb. 27, 1986 Died: Jan. 1, 2009 Oscar Grant was killed by a police officer on New Year’s Day in 2009. At the time of his death, he was lying on the ground with his hands behind him. Thomas emphasized how important it was to take the stories in the media about police shootings personally and that Grant’s story reminded her of her friends and family.

CONNECT WITH BAILEY MORRISON

bmorrison1@student.framingham.edu

THE GATEPOST

APRIL 6, 2018

ARTS & FEATURES | 13

FSU senior directs his own show with the Hilltop Players Zach Colten Asst. Arts & Features Editor

At about 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 4, all is quiet in DPAC. One by one, cast and crew members make their way into the cavernous auditorium. Before the work gets underway, laughing voices sharing stories about classes and social drama create a low hum of sound, filling the empty space. Everyone participating in tonight’s rehearsal is a student at Framingham State, and they are preparing to put on a production of the student-written and directed play, “Pandora’s Mirror,” Thursday night at 7 p.m.

Junior Daniel Regnier, the mastermind behind the play, which is the first full-length production created by a member of the Hilltop Players, both wrote and directed the nearly two-hour show. However, it didn’t start out as the play they are about to perform.

“I wrote this when I was in freshman year. Last semester, I turned it into a script over the weekend,” Regnier said between casual bites of a pear.

The work, originally a book, went through “many alterations” over the process of staging it, and Regnier said it didn’t translate well at first.

“Everyone’s got good ideas, though. They always say, ‘Wouldn’t

it be easier if we just did this?’ or, ‘Shouldn’t we like this instead of this?’”

Wednesday’s run was a full dress rehearsal, which means the company ran the show in full makeup and costume, microphones and with every light and sound cue.

As the actors were fitted with their mics, they painted a captivating tableau onstage. Regnier, the director, sat with an actor on a couch, giving him clearly passionate notes about how to play a specific moment. Meanwhile, another actor paced the front of the stage in a bathrobe, running over his lines to himself.

During the mic check, the sound engineer shouted to the actors to quiet down; they were all giggling and chatting still. He needed them to give a few lines each. One by one, they delivered a few words, some choosing to use lines from the show, others taking alternative routes: “Line, line, lines, f*ck you, lines, lines, lines,” said sophomore Kyle Bunker to roars of laughter.

The sound engineer replied, “I won’t take that personally.”

Once the technical director, senior Brittany Yates, yelled “Going dark!” the actors hurried to the wings to take their places, but not before Regnier could give them last-minute notes and encourage them to give the run all they could.

Although Regnier clearly wanted the run to get going, he remained amazingly poised when the tech team needed to check a few more cues, cheerfully urging them to “take your time.” The smile on Regnier’s face showed how happy he was just to have his vision coming to fruition.

As the run began, I was impressed by how connected the actors were onstage. What was a minute before a rowdy gang of college students having a great time together was now a professional acting company, investing their focus and emotion to putting on a strong run of their show. The mood in the auditorium shifted with the lights, and I was sucked in.

While I won’t give away any spoilers, audiences can expect to laugh and cry at this show. The writing is smart and the acting strong.

It is more than worth the price of the ticket.

Rocha, who plays the role of Paul in the show, said the process has taught him to be “extremely patient” in terms of building his character and working with Regnier.

“He left it up to us to build. We never seem satisfied enough, but then he comes over and tells us everything is fine.”

Kyle Robert Hicks, a junior who plays one of the protagonists, Percy, in the play, said his favorite part

Amanda Martin / THE GATEPOST Percy and Pandora in "Pandora's Mirror."

about his character was his unique “expressiveness,” and “humanistic” nature.

Working with his fellow cast members, he said he loved the “way we conduct ourselves that creates such a contrast between us. You can distinguish who really is who.”

Hicks described the play’s creation as a “double-edged sword,” meaning although it is an original piece leaving much of the creative choices to the actors, there are “a lot of last-minute changes to the script and the blocking, because we have the writer and director in our midst and they can do whatever they want.

“It’s a challenge, but it’s incredibly liberating.”

CONNECT WITH ZACH COLTEN

zcolten@student.framingham.edu

VIDEO GAME REVIEW

Bandai-Namco Entertainment

Isaac Vu Staff Writer One word to easily describe “Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom” is content.

There are handfuls of mechanics and minigames that are jam packed into this game, like controlling a growing army with which you engage in wars or making different pacts with civilians you’ve met to build up your kingdom.

“Ni No Kuni II” follows a young heir to the throne named Evan, whose kingdom of Ding Dong Dell gets overthrown by a walking and talking rat. Throughout the game, you meet different characters who ultimately help you in your quest to build your new kingdom.

With at least 30 hours put into the game during its release week,

I can safely say “Ni No Kuni II” is one of the best $60 I’ve spent so far on a game in 2018.

The gameplay is beat-em-up style, similar to the first game, but in the first game you relied on little spirits to fight for you, while in this game you control a character with their own set of abilities.

There are six playable characters, each with a combination of melee and ranged weapons. No two characters have the same sets of weapons. It allows the combo system to be vast and the player is able to choose a playstyle they enjoy. Every time you slay an enemy with a heavy attack or a skill, the monster dissipates making it extremely satisfying.

If you’ve ever seen “Spirited Away” or “Ponyo,” then you would definitely like the art style of “Ni

No Kuni II,” since Studio Ghibli assisted with the design. With beautiful cel-shaded graphics, stunning settings and a vast overworld, “Ni No Kuni II” is not an exception to a next-generation JRPG visually.

The soundtrack is also gorgeous and very reminiscent to the Studio Ghibli films. The game runs at a smooth 60 frames per second throughout, whether you play on PS4 or PC, with very slight frame drops that happen rarely. If you’re playing on PC, unfortunately, the easiest way to play this game is with a controller; however, it is not impossible to play with a mouse and keyboard.

In typical JRPG fashion, expect to spend at least 60 hours in the game. I say 60 because that’s the average amount of time spent for

a current-gen JRPG. “Ni No Kuni II” has enough content that the player can easily reach 100 hours by completing a plethora of side quests and exploring the world.

The game is not considered a direct sequel to “Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch,” so it is possible to start with this game.

If you have $60 to spare, this game is definitely a must-buy if you’re a fan of action JRPGs.

Grade: A An anime-style beat-em-up with a rich story.

CONNECT WITH ISAAC VU

lvu@student.framingham.edu

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APRIL 6, 2018

508 serves 901: FSU students volunteer in Memphis Courtesy of Garrett Fillion

One of the FSU ASB participants helps with urban gardening work at Landmark Farms.

Jillian Poland Editorial Staff The bunkhouse looked like the “arriving at college” scene from a generic teen movie. Rap music blared from TV speakers and kids in their 20s leaned against every available surface, joking and Snapchatting while balancing paper plates piled with takeout food in their hands or on their laps.

To add to the chaos, people were playing catch across the room with a plastic ball, occasionally nailing someone in the side.

But no more than 15 minutes later, the rowdy crowd had quieted and sat listening as group members shared thoughtful and occasionally tearful reflections on their day’s work.

That’s how nights went during Framingham State’s Alternative Spring Break (ASB) trip - switching between raucous laughter and serious discussion - but during the day, students worked with local leaders in Memphis, Tennessee to learn how to serve the local community.

Alternative Spring Break at FSU does exactly what the name suggests - it gives students an alternative to a typical spring break by offering the opportunity to volunteer for a week.

In 2016, FSU’s ASB students went to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to volunteer with Boys and Girls Clubs and last year, the group volunteered with an organization in New Orleans, Louisiana to help rebuild houses.

This year, FSU coordinated its trip through Serve901, a group that houses college-aged volunteers and connects them with service organizations in Memphis.

Kirsten Hoey, a senior and one of this year’s ASB trip leaders, said, “When deciding on where to take

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ASB 2018, this mission and organization really stood out to me. Unlike most organizations, Serve901 is dedicated to helping students learn and develop skills that will help them in the future. Instead of focusing solely on service, Serve901 truly focuses on service-learning.”

As part of this “service-learning,” Serve901 representatives hosted panels and discussions with local leaders throughout the week to teach students about the social and political history of Memphis, in addition to the revitalization work throughout the city.

Jared Myers is the director of The Heights Community Development Corporation (CDC), one of the non-profit organizations Serve901 works with. He said Serve901 is an example of the type of organization more cities should be involved with.

It builds relationships with nonprofits and other groups, then funnels the “human capital resources of short-term missions into those areas when there is a need,” he added.

Myers said sometimes volunteers come in and tell communities what they’re going to do, but with Serve901, the focus is, “How can we best serve you throughout the days we’re here?”

Because FSU’s ASB group was comprised of 30 participants, they were broken into three smaller groups for the duration of the trip.

Those three groups were sent to work with organizations across the city.

Throughout the week, FSU students picked up trash and debris around the city, repainted bathrooms in a middle school, cleaned up after a huge church event, helped with urban gardening at Landmark Farms, played with kids at the Refugee Empowerment Program and boarded up vacant hous-

es with Bored Up. Bored Up is an annual, four-day program run by The Heights CDC, which aims to tackle blight and safety concerns in the Heights neighborhood of Memphis.

The program runs during spring break for local middle and high schools. Student volunteers from these schools are grouped with outside volunteers - this year, college students from FSU and The University of Alabama at Birmingham - and assigned to an abandoned house in the neighborhood.

When houses are left vacant, they can become home to criminal activity, such as prostitution and drug dealing, Myers told the groups during orientation. At the very least, the broken windows and mildewed doorways can be unsightly, lowering the value of surrounding homes. By shutting up the homes with volunteer-painted boards, The Heights CDC hopes to stop some of the crime from occurring, while also brightening up the neighborhood.

The Bored Up groups measure the windows and doors of the houses on the first day, cut and prime the boards on the second day, paint them with positive images and messages on the third day, then install the painted boards and clean up the houses’ lots on the final day.

Abigail Salvucci, an FSU freshman who worked with Bored Up, said, “It was amazing to actually bond with the kids and using power tools for the first time was awesome. I’ve never boarded up a house before, and it was so much fun to learn how to use the tools.”

Olivia Rothwell, an FSU sophomore who also worked with Bored Up, said, “I loved having the opportunity to meet locals. They were really welcoming to us. One of them even taught me how to use a saw! It was scary at first and definitely out

of my comfort zone, but after I did it, I felt great.”

Bored Up organizers said if the goal was just to board up eight houses, they could do it with one day of hard labor. But Bored Up isn’t just about boarding up vacant houses - it’s also about creating connections between the volunteers and showing younger members of the community how much of an impact they can make.

Bored Up was temporarily headquartered in Treadwell Middle School. Volunteers - high school and college students alike - would show up early in the mornings and play heated games of soccer and basketball in the gym. Afterwards, they were grouped by the houses they were working on and participated in icebreaker activities, like making their own group chants.

Following the work day, all the groups would eat lunch together on the blacktop outside.

All these aspects of the program were designed to break down barriers and get people talking to one another. Even the work itself helped with this - nothing breaks down barriers like five newbies trying master a circular saw together.

And it worked. By the end of the four days, people were swapping stories and Snapchat codes and adding each other on Facebook to share upcoming prom photos. One afternoon, a group did “The Cupid Shuffle” together in the parking lot like it was a middle-school dance.

Emily Pachecho, an FSU freshman, said, "I saw a community take something that was broken and ugly and saw it as an oppurtunity to bring beauty and love!"

Salvucci said the work made her realize she doesn’t do enough for her own community. “Going to Memphis, you see these kids giving up their spring break to work in their own neighborhood to board

APRIL 6, 2018

THE GATEPOST

Courtesy of Garrett Fillion Bored Up groups decorated the boards with positive messages.

up houses and that’s just so commendable, because I don’t do that back home. There’s enough poverty for me to do that and yet, I ignored it.”

During reflection on the last day, one of the local high school students said the week changed her perspective on her own neighborhood and city. Having people come from hundreds of miles away just to learn about them and their community made her realize the unique aspects she’d overlooked.

After making connections with people in Memphis, ASB participants began to raise questions about the work they were doing.

Some participants wondered aloud whether they were doing more harm than good by coming in, making connections with kids and teenagers, then leaving.

Salvucci said, “I don’t think I’m going to see those kids ever again.

And there’s some type of guilt inside of me where I’m like, ‘They’re always going to think of me as just leaving.’ And no, I don’t think that’s going to be the only thing they think of when they think of me, but, you know, we bonded so much that week and all the sudden, we’re just ripped from them.”

Jace Williams, a senior who worked with a few different programs, said, “It’s still a weird thing, going for a week and then just leaving. These people live their lives there and we just pop in and try to help, then leave before it even gets too hard.”

Myers said he has always been cautious of short-term trips. “I believe that best practices in community development call for consistent relationships and to have residents play the lead role in neighborhood transformation. Short-term service projects can enable complacency within a community and also lead

residents who witness these projects to feel helpless.”

Myers said when volunteers come into a community without fully understanding its needs and without acknowledging the need to empower a community instead of simply supplying resources, service can sometimes do more harm than good.

“In the past,” he said, “we’ve had groups kind of tell us what they want to do. And to me that’s not real, true community development.

It needs to be a mutual respect and appreciation for where everybody is coming from.”

Jeff Riddle, director of Serve901, said, “It can be taxing and low return on investment of time for nonprofits to host groups. Nonprofits have limited resources, so coordinating the ins and outs of a service trip can be more demanding than rewarding for their time and resources.”

That’s why Serve901 aims to free up nonprofits by handling the details of service trips for them. Volunteers from service trips provide “extra muscle power” for nonprofits, said Riddle. There are projects that need to be completed for nonprofits to follow their missions, and “any leverage that can be given to them via volunteer assistance helps that mission.”

Short-term trips can sometimes benefit the volunteers more than the organizations and communities they go to help. Riddle said, “Many organizations in Memphis need long-term volunteers and mentors that are rooted in relationships rather than a week-long trip.”

And as for the volunteers, “It's such a long list of benefits for them.

It gives perspective, worldview formation and also community formation. The groups that I meet all

form so many friendships internally through memories of their trip together,” added Riddle.

For FSU’s ASB members, this was definitely the case. Many of the members felt they returned with a renewed sense of purpose and with new friends.

Rothwell said, “I left Memphis with an abundance of knowledge from its community members. I feel that I brought back the resilience and strength that they have, and I hope to spread that to everyone around me.”

Salvucci said she’s had a real sense of confidence since she returned, which encouraged her to join SGA and apply to be an RA. She said she’s also come to fully appreciate things she took for granted before. “Like you have an 8:30 tomorrow, but you get to go to class.”

Williams said, “Since coming back, I tried to remember to be thankful for as much as I can.

I tried to work as hard as I did in Memphis, putting my all into my own community as much as I did for their community.”

Ashleigh Whigham, a sophomore, said she was struck by how grateful everyone in Memphis was for the people in their lives and their opportunities. “I learned that everyone is able to help, but the real change starts when you make yourself available to do so, and that made this trip so memorable.”

ASB Trip Leader Hailey Small has been on three short-term service trips. She said, “A lot of times, service trips have a bad rap for kind of doing more harm than good. It's definitely a legitimate critique of service trips, but with the way that I've interacted with service, we've always made sure that it was al-

ARTS & FEATURES | 15 ways something positive that we were doing, and that we were putting our complete all into it.”

She added, “I think that something that people kind of notice after they leave is that you go through life kind of on autopilot sometimes and you don't always take a step back and look at what you're doing and think, ‘Am I giving 70 percent?

Am I giving 100 percent? Am I giving 2 percent?’"

Most of the students on the trip felt they’d done an overall “net positive,” as senior Karl Bryan put it, by participating in ASB. Bryan said, “I hold the view that everything that helps. … It’s like what we were told down there: There are [thousands of] abandoned houses in Memphis and we did eight. But that’s eight that aren’t messed up anymore.”

Williams said, “It’s hard because sometimes kids get attached to the volunteers, for example. But in the long run? It’s better than no one helping.”

Salvucci said, “You can make a change in a week. It’s not this whole systemic change, but, you know what? If we ever go to Memphis, we can say that we boarded up that house. We made a physical change. We talked to those kids and we made an emotional change with those kids to look at college.”

She added, “It’s like that quote, ‘You can’t change the whole world, but you can change someone’s world.’ And I think that’s how I feel about the one-week trips.”

[Editor's Note: Jillian Poland was a participant in ASB 2018.]

CONNECT WITH JILLIAN POLAND

jpoland@student.framingham.edu

Courtesy of Garrett Fillion FSU students cut plywood boards to size in the parking lot of Treadwell Middle School.

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Colten's Couture The colors of Spring

By Colton Madore Staff Writer As spring cautiously approaches, many students’ wardrobes are also slowly changing in hopes that the warm weather will follow.

With each season that comes along, new colors are predicted to be part of the biggest trends in fashion for the next three or four months. This season, Pantone, a system for creating colors and deeming them appropriate for either the fashion or paint world, has released 16 colors that capture the essence of spring.

The colors for this spring range from brown to off-white hues.

As I have walked to class in previous days, as well as scrolled through my Instagram feed, I have noticed many lighter shades of colors such as light pinks, blues and yellows, all of which I am a huge fan.

Many of you may be thinking, “Wow, how riveting. Pastels for spring.” I know, it seems very much like something out of the film “The Devil Wears Prada,” where Meryl Streep plays the fierce Miranda Priestly, who sarcastically tells a staff member how groundbreaking floral is for spring. In reality, after a long and brutal winter, which seems endless, these lighter shades are a small reminder that warm weather is on the way.

Looking at Pantone’s top-12 color palette, along with the top four classic color palette for spring 2018, many of the colors are similar to those worn by students around campus.

Some of my favorites out of the top-12 color palette include Blooming Dahlia, a peach-like shade that suggests a softly blooming dahlia, with an understated appeal that will surely be noticed.

Meadowlark, a bold and lively yellow shade that is positive to pop, but isn’t too alarming to the eye.

Almost Mauve, a gentle and very light pink color that is delicate and almost seems to appear offwhite, but shows the slightest hue of pink.

If I’m going to be honest, all of the colors are appealing and beautiful, except for Emperador, a rich chocolate brown color that reminds me of a literal piece of chocolate that is too dark for spring.

Come on Pantone, brown for spring? Not a fan.

Out of the classic top-four color palette - Sailor Blue, Harbor Mist and Warm Sand are my favorites. Sailor Blue is a shade of navy with a nautical vibe that makes me long for summer. Harbor Mist is a mid-tone dove gray which is sure to go with anything you wear. Lastly, Warm Sand is a neutral warm tan shade that will connect spring to summer.

All of the colors are sure to help transition anyone’s wardrobe from winter to spring. Sure enough - as I have mentioned before - I have already seen many of these colors around campus and may even see them in my closet very soon.

Oh spring, how I hope you appear soon!

CONNECT WITH COLTON MADORE cmadore@student.framingham.edu

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APRIL 6, 2018

THE GATEPOST

EP REVIEW

Cheer Up, Abel!

The morose music maestro making moves

XO Records

Zach Colten Asst. Arts & Features Editor The Weeknd has quietly been taking over pop music. Since his first U.S. tour in 2012, which included a performance at Coachella, the 28 year-old artist from Toronto has been crafting dark, rapturous R&B projects for a mainstream American now global - audience, culminating in the recent release of “My Dear Melancholy,.”

The compact, six-track “album” finds the self-titled Starboy singing over beats from a constellation of supernova producers, including Grammy award-winning producer, and fellow Toronto native, Frank Dukes, as well as American EDM prodigy Skrillex.

“Call Out My Name” kicks off the EP on an expected melancholy note. The man in the song has recently broken up with a girl, and the Canadian crooner reflects on his part in the failed relationship, singing, “When times were rough / I made sure I held you close to me.”

“Try Me” is up next, and begins very similarly to the prior song. However, once the beat drops it is definitely a more upbeat track, layered with cool, pitched vocals along with claps and hi-hats that hit every pocket hotter than, well, Hot Pockets.

My personal favorite song is “Wasted Times,” where The Weeknd “reminisces” on his past lover: “Wasted times / I spent with someone else / She wasn’t even half of you / Reminiscin’ how you felt.” This track will fit in perfectly to a chill summer playlist, and the mid-song breakdown from Skrillex is definitely a highlight of the project.

The next two songs on the EP are “I Was Never There,” and “Hurt You,” both produced by French DJ Gesaffelstein, who provides the song with smooth beat

switches that allow Abel to showcase his vocal variety, effortlessly changing the vibes mid-song.

The final track is “Privilege,” on which the singer asserts his renewed independence, and warns his ex not to come calling again, since “I held you down when you were suffering.” The song is a strong closer, and definitely emphasizes the “dear melancholy” the Weeknd lays out in the album’s title.

If you are a fan of the Weeknd and have listened to his music before, you know the singer is never far from these conflicted emotions of love and despair, and the two feelings battle and blend on this EP to create a raw, soulful sound for modern ears.

Grade: AThe Starboy comes back to Earth to bring the real.

CONNECT WITH ZACH COLTEN

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APRIL 6, 2018

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ARTS & FEATURES | 17

Ready Player Dumb

By Brennan Atkins & Noah Barnes Staff Writers “Ready Player One” is the newest film by legendary director Steven Spielberg and is an adaptation of the young adult novel written by Ernest Cline. It features Tye Sheridan as Wade Watts, Olivia Cooke as Samantha, Ben Mendelsohn as Serrento and Mark Rylance as James Halliday.

The strongest aspects of this movie are, without a doubt, the visuals and color palette. They jam a lot of different characters from different franchises into the film, yet it doesn’t feel too cluttered.

This isn’t to say that all scenes are like this, as there are some moments where things look so out of place it takes you out of the moment.

The colors in the virtual world known as the Oasis are filled with neon blue and bright red and really bring out an ’80s aesthetic. It contrasts well with the dull dystopian colors that the real world has to offer. This is a good use of color

because audiences are easily able to distinguish the real world from the virtual one.

Unfortunately, these are the only strong positives the movie has to offer. The rest is disappointing, as it was an ambitious adaptation of a book many people seemed to enjoy.

The characters in this movie are more one-dimensional than some of the iconic cameos you see in the movie. They are overused clichés. You have the stereotypical anti-social hero, greedy corporate executive, mysterious romantic interest and a couple of nerdy side characters who do nothing to further the plot.

The only person who really stood out was the creator of the Oasis, and while he wasn't in the movie for very long, he had a somewhat interesting story.

The performances are lackluster at best, and there are moments where it just feels awkward. There are times where they should be displaying a lot more emotion than they actually are.

While plot and writing are argu-

ably the most important elements of a film, “Ready Player One” failed spectacularly on both these fronts.

The world built in this movie is paper-thin, and it offers an insane volume of plot holes, to the point where we’re asking more questions than we’re getting answers.

Instead of force-feeding us the latest gaming trends, show us more of your world - how it works and what it has to offer.

It is hard to say who this film’s target audience is because there are references that just don’t mix well at all. You’ll have references about movies and culture from the ’80s, but then throw in characters from modern gaming franchises such as “Overwatch.”

The plot itself seems lazy, and you can tell that they played it very safe. The movie had no plot twists or any surprises, and it comes off as extremely predictable.

It's hard to believe this is from the mastermind behind such films as “Terminator” and “Jaws.” If you generally enjoy gaming and pop culture, you might find some enjoyment in this film, but don’t go

in thinking that you’re going to be heavily invested in the world.

ADMIT ONE

Grade: C "Ready Player One" isn't an Iron Giant, but at least he's in it ADMIT ONE

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This summer earn credits toward your degree Undergraduate or Graduate – Online or On Campus Maymester: Session 2: Session 3: Session 4:

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18 | SPORTS

SPORTS

Amanda Martin / THE GATEPOST Middle infielders Camille Desrochers (left) and Anna Dziok (right) throw the ball around after an out. Framingham has a record of 8-8 on the season.

Softball beats MCLA twice to jump into MASCAC lead

By Liam Gambon Asst. Sports Editor On Saturday, March 31, the Framingham State Rams hosted MCLA in a double-header.

In the first game of the double-header, the Rams got on the board early with a run in the first inning off an RBI double by Megan Downing that knocked in Dayna Marchant.

Downing scored Marchant again in the third inning with an RBI single.

Then, Anna Dziok followed with a sacrifice fly to score Mycala Moody, putting the Rams up 3-0.

In the fourth inning, Marchant got the scoring going with an RBI single to score Camille Desrochers. Kayla Finacchiaro knocked in Marchant next and was followed by Dziok, who scored both Downing and Moody off a single to stretch the lead to 7-0.

The fifth inning was more of the same as Lauren Salisbury scored Victoria Ziner and Desrocher off an RBI triple. Marchant added her fourth hit of the game in as many at bats when she singled to score Salisbury.

Moody would double next to score Marchant, who crossed the plate for the fourth time in the game.

MCLA put up two runs in the bottom of the fifth, but it wasn’t enough as they took the 11-2 loss.

Kelsi Gunarathne picked up her fourth win of the season as she pitched three shutout innings, allowing two hits and striking out five.

Desrochers, Downing and Marchant all had three or more hits in the game and combined to score seven of the 11 runs to lead the way for the Rams.

FRAMINGHAM STATE 11 MCLA 2

In the second game of the double-header, Framingham once again come out of the gates firing on all cylinders as they scored eight runs in the first three innings. Marchant would score twice and knock in a run, while Downing scored twice and drove in a run as well.

The scoring wouldn’t stop, as Framingham added three more runs in the fifth inning to stretch their lead to 11-0. Marchant scored again and added another RBI in this inning.

For the second straight game, MCLA scored their only two runs in the final inning as they fell well short again, losing by a score of 11-2.

Marchant had a monster double-header as she went 7-for-7 at the dish, with seven runs scored, four RBIs and a walk.

Grace Caughey picked up her third win on the season, pitching three shutout innings, allowing one hit while striking out two.

With the wins, the Rams break even and move to 8-8 on the season and go to 2-0 in the conference.

FRAMINGHAM STATE 11 MCLA 2

CONNECT WITH LIAM GAMBON lgambon1@student.framingham.edu

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APRIL 6, 2018

SPORTS | 19

Agree to Disagree Matt Ferris

Question

Jose Carrasquillo

Rams

Who won the Brandin Cooks trade?

Patriots

Tiger Woods

Who will win the 2018 Masters?

Tiger Woods

No

Will the San Antonio Spurs make the playoffs?

Yes

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20 | SPORTS

Women’s lacrosse rolls to two more victories

By Matt Ferris Sports Editor Framingham State traveled to Worcester to take on the Lancers in their first conference game of the season.

Just 4 minutes into the game, the Rams found themselves in unfamiliar territory - trailing by two goals.

Worcester State jumped out to a two-score lead with goals from Kelly Austin and Mackenzie Little, both from free position shots.

Framingham came storming back, scoring four unanswered goals in the next 8 minutes.

Alissa Marino scored the first goal for the Rams off a feed from Nicole Pacheco, who followed with a goal of her own just 30 seconds later.

Kristen Keenan scored the third goal for the Rams, off a pass from Kimmy Foley.

Pacheco finished off the run, scoring her second unassisted goal of the game to give Framingham a 4-2 lead.

The Lancers got one back as Ashley Perugini scored off a feed from Hannah Sledzieski to make it 4-3.

Framingham countered with another big run - this time, three unanswered goals.

Foley got the scoring started, taking a pass from Marino to extend the Rams’ lead to 5-3.

Marino then scored back-to-back goals, one off a pass from Britney Herskowitz and one off a pass from Morgan Begley, to push the Rams’ lead to 7-3.

Coley Hayes scored off a free position shot to make it 7-4 heading into halftime.

A little over 4 minutes into the second half, the Lancers cut the deficit to two goals, as Kelly Austin scored off a free position shot to make it 7-5.

The Rams fired back with five unanswered goals to take a commanding 12-5 lead.

Pacheco, Marino, Foley, Keenan and Hanna McMahon were the goal scorers for Framingham.

The Lancers got one back when Little scored her second goal of the game to make it 12-6.

Framingham didn’t waste any time getting the goal back as McMahon scored her second goal of the game, extending the lead back to seven goals.

Austin scored another goal for the Lancers 2 minutes later to make it 13-7.

The Rams countered with another 5-0 run to take an 18-7 lead.

Foley scored three goals, Pacheco scored a goal and Grace Gamache scored one during the run.

Worcester closed with three unanswered goals, but it wasn’t enough, as Framingham earned an 18-10 victory.

In the win, Foley had five goals to go along with three assists. Pacheco and Marino followed her, both scoring four goals with two assists.

Indigo Fox Tree-McGrath made four saves in net for the Rams.

With the victory, Framingham extended their win streak to seven games, making them 8-1 on the season and 1-0 in the conference.

FRAMINGHAM STATE 18 WORCESTER STATE 10

Framingham State hosted Smith College on April 4 in a nonconference game.

The Rams got off to a hot start, scoring the first six goals of the game.

Foley scored the first two goals of the game, the first off a feed from Gamache and the second off a free position shot.

Audrey Duhaime scored the third goal of the game unassisted, then assisted Gamache on the Rams’ fourth goal.

The Rams next two goals came off free position shots. Begley scored the first and Gamache scored the second to make it 6-0 just 13 minutes into the game.

Smith College got one back when Caroline Myran scored unassisted to make it 6-1.

Framingham closed out the first half on another 6-0 run.

McMahon started the run as she ripped a shot into the net off a feed from Ashley Gregory.

Marino scored the next one for the Rams as she took a feed from Foley to make it 8-1.

Gamache converted another goal for Framingham, again off a feed from Duhaime to stretch the lead to 9-1.

Duhaime scored the 10th goal for the Rams as she took a feed from Begley and finished it.

Thirty seconds later, Gregory scored another goal for the Rams.

Gamache closed out the half for Framingham, scoring unassisted to give the Rams a 12-1 lead heading into the break.

A little over 30 seconds into the second half, Duhaime extended the Rams’ lead to 13-1, scoring unassisted for her third goal of the game.

McMahon scored the next two goals for Framingham to push the lead to 15-1.

Gamache scored the 16th goal for Framingham off a free position shot.

The Pioneers scored the next three goals of the game to cut into the Rams’ lead and make it 16-4.

Jennifer Buckley scored for Framingham with just under 9 minutes remaining to make it 17-4.

After one more Smith College goal, the Rams scored once more. The final goal was scored by Gregory off a Perin Genaway feed to reach the final score of 18-5.

In the win, Fox Tree-McGrath made six saves in net for the Rams.

Gamache led the Rams on offense with five goals to go along with two assists.

Duhaime and McMahon followed just behind her, each scoring three goals. Duhaime also added two assists.

With another victory, the Rams extend their win streak to eight games and improve to 9-1 on the season.

FRAMINGHAM STATE 18 SMITH COLLEGE 5

CONNECT WITH MATT FERRIS mferris2@student.framingham.edu

Allie Gath / THE GATEPOST Grace Gamache attempts to get by a Smith College defender.

Allie Gath / THE GATEPOST Kimmy Foley gathers a loose ball against Smith College.

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

APRIL 6, 2018

THE GATEPOST

SPORTS | 21

Ferr or Foul:

Framingham State statistical leaders

Notre Dame takes Women’s Basketball title

Softball

By Matt Ferris Sports Editor Over the past few years, women’s college basketball has lost viewers.

The biggest reason for all the neglect the sport is receiving is the UConn Huskies.

During Head Coach Geno Auriemma’s tenure, UConn has been so dominant many people think it’s a forgone conclusion the Huskies will win every year and don’t even bother watching.

However, women’s college basketball is headed in the right direction after this year’s NCAA Tournament.

Considered by many to be the most exciting tournament in the history of the sport, the 2018 tournament did not fail to bring exposure to a sport that desperately needed it.

The fireworks didn’t really start until the Final Four, but once they started, it was quite the show.

In the first national semifinal, Louisville took on Mississippi State in a battle of No. 1 seeds.

The game was tight the entire way through and ended up heading to overtime.

Mississippi pulled away in the overtime period and punched their ticket to the national championship.

Their opponent would be the winner of the second national semifinal.

In this matchup, UConn, which went 32-0 in the regular season, would take on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, again in a battle of No. 1 seeds.

Throughout, this game was not as close as the first semifinal.

Notre Dame jumped out to an early 10-point lead after the first quarter, only to see UConn come storming back in the second, outscoring the Irish by 17 points in the quarter.

The rest of the game was tight, and after a missed field goal attempt at the end of the fourth quarter by the Huskies, fans got to see their second overtime of the night.

Overtime was just as exciting as the second half of the game, as both teams traded baskets during the period.

With just under 30 seconds left, UConn drained a 3-pointer to tie the game at 89.

Notre Dame’s Arike Ogunbowale came down and held the ball for the last shot. She took it as time expired and buried the shot to knock off the Huskies and punch Notre Dame’s ticket to the finals.

Just like the semifinals, the National Championship was just as exciting.

Mississippi State jumped out to a huge lead in the first half, as they took a 13-point lead into halftime.

But Notre Dame came storming back in the second half, to make it a close game in the fourth quarter.

With 2 minutes left, Mississippi State found themselves up by five, but Notre Dame climbed back into it with a 5-0 run to tie the game up with 45 seconds left.

After a Mississippi State miss on the offensive end, Notre Dame found themselves in a similar situation as they did in the semis - a tied game and the last shot.

The Irish again gave the ball to Ogunbowale and she played the role of heroine again. She buried a 3-pointer as time expired to win the National Championship and give Notre Dame its second title in the school’s history.

This is the exactly what women’s college basketball needed.

All the excitement created quite the buzz around the sport and got it the exposure and attention that it need to get back on the map.

Sure, the sport isn’t where it needs to be, but it is definitely headed in the right direction.

It is still UConn’s league to win, but other teams are catching up and starting to compete.

Yes, it took two miraculous buzzer beaters to knock off UConn in backto-back years, but parity within the league is being established.

batting average

1. Dayna Marchant

.525

2. Bridget McGrail

.444

3. Kyla Johnson

.438

4. Mycala Moody

.373

5. Camille Desrochers .353

6. Kristen Dick

.333

Baseball

batting average

1. Aaron Williams .429

2. Jeff Besozzi

.389

3. Cam Borrelli

.313

4. Joe Ambrosino

.313

5. Matt Fogerty

.308

6. Anthony Venuti

.286

Women’s Lacrosse goals

1. Grace Gamache

33

2. Kimmy Foley

28

3. Alissa Marino

4. Audrey Duhaime

5. Hanna McMahon

18

13

6. Nicole Pacheco

16 16

CONNECT WITH MATT FERRIS mferris2@student.framingham.edu

@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

APRIL 6, 2018

THE GATEPOST

22 | SPORTS

Baseball splits a pair of games with MCLA

By Richard Tranfaglia Asst. Sports Editor Framingham spilt its two-game series against MCLA on Saturday, March 31.

They lost the first game 2-0.

The scoring came in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Nick DiSanti led off with a single to left field. Ben Durland followed with a single to left as well. Logan Rumbolt doubled to left field to drive in DiSanti and Durland to make it 2-0.

MCLA pitcher Liam Nolan pitched a complete game, giving up four hits, no runs and striking out seven to pick up his second win of the season.

Michael Andrews took the loss for the Rams, pitching six innings, allowing four hits and two runs, while striking out four.

MCLA 2 FRAMINGHAM STATE

0 The Rams won the second game 10-5 against MCLA. Aaron Williams started the game with a single to left. Matt Fogarty was hit by a pitch, advancing Williams to second.

Jordan Pallazola doubled to left field to score Williams. Anthony Venuti grounded out to the shortstop, but Fogarty scored on the play, giving the Rams a 2-0 lead.

The Rams added to their lead when they came to bat again in the second. Joe Ambrosino led with a double to left. Matt Brockett reached first on an error, scoring Ambrosino.

Williams flew out to the infield, which scored Brockett unearned.

In the top of the fourth, Williams singled to left to score Kyle Pileski, giving the Rams a 5-0 lead.

The Trail Blazers responded in the bottom of the fourth. Rumbolt got on base with a single to center and later scored on a double by Bill Pulasky.

The Rams added another two runs in the fifth by Pallazola and Venuti.

Brockett started the sixth inning with a walk, followed by a single by Williams. Kyle Dembrowski got the RBI, bringing home Brockett. Cameron Borrelli flew out to right to score Williams.

MCLA got two runs in the bottom of the inning Christian Seariac singled, stole second and scored on a wild pitch. Rumbolt also got his second run of the day, scoring off a single by Pulasky.

Framingham added an insurance run in the top of the seventh. Jamal Vilmont scored on a sacrifice fly by Jeff Besozzi.

The Blazers responded with runs by Durland and Rumbolt, but it was not enough.

Kyle Hodgson got the win for the Rams, pitching a complete game. He allowed 11 hits and five runs.

Bobby New pitched just four innings for the Blazers, allowing five hits and five runs.

The Rams move to 8-9 on the season.

FRAMINGHAM STATE 10 MCLA

5 The Rams lost 2-1 against Roger Williams on April 3.

In the top of the fourth inning, Justin Stone walked, stole second then advanced to third on a wild pitch. He scored off a single by Anthony Dominguez to give the Hawks a 1-0 lead.

The Hawks got their second run in the sixth inning when Dean DePreta scored off a bunt by Tyler Rondeau.

Framingham responded in the eighth inning, when Brockett doubled down the line and scored on a single by Venuti to make it 2-1.

Framingham had one more chance to score in the ninth inning, but they were retired in order to end the game.

Sam Bennett got the win for the Hawks, pitching seven innings, allowing one hit and no runs. Ryan Havunen picked up the save for the Hawks, striking out two of the three batters he faced in the ninth.

Fogarty pitched four innings for the Rams, allowing one hit and one run.

The Rams fall to 8-10 on the season.

ROGER WILLIAMS 2 FRAMINGHAM STATE

1

CONNECT WITH RICHARD TRANFAGLIA rtranfaglia@student.framingham.edu

FSU Pitching leaders

Wins

1. Chris Riga

2

2. Kyle Hodgson

2

3. Michael Andrews

ERA

1. Chris Riga

2.02

2. Matt Fogerty

2.57

1

3. Michael Tucci

4. Kevin Connelly

1

5. Blake Waters

1

6. Kevin Scerra

1

Strikeouts

1. Chris Riga

41

2. Kyle Hodgson

25

2.70

3. Michael Andrews

20

4. Michael Andrews

2.90

4. Kevin Connelly

11

5. Kevin Connelly

3.00

5. Matt Fogerty

7

6. Kyle Hodgson

3.41

6. Blake Waters

6

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

THE GATEPOST

APRIL 6, 2018

Players of the week

SPORTS | 23

MASCAC standings

fsurams.com

Aaron Williams went 3-for-4 while scoring two runs and driving in two runs in a 10-5 win vs. MCLA.

1. Framingham State

2. Fitchburg State

2-0

3. Salem State

1-1

4. Bridgewater State

1-1

5. Westfield State

1-1

6. Worcester

1-1

7. MCLA

0-2

fsurams.com

Dayna Marchant went 3-for-3 with two RBIs and scored three runs in an 11-2 victory over MCLA.

fsurams.com

Kimmy Foley scored five goals and had three assists in an 18-10 win against Worcester State.

2-0

Baseball

1. Salem State

2. Mass. Maritime

2-0

3. MCLA

4. Westfield State

1-1

5. Framingham State

1-1

6. Worcester State

1-1

7. Fitchburg State

0-2

Softball

2-0

1-1

Women’s Lacrosse

1. Framingham State

2. Westfield State

1-0

3. Bridgewater State

4. Salem State

5. Fitchburg State

1-0

0-1

6. Mass. Maritime

0-1

7. Worcester State

0-1

1-0

1-0

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24 | PHOTOS

THE GATEPOST

APRIL 6, 2018

Framingham Faces Off Framingham State Women’s Lacrosse faced Smith College on Thursday April, 4. The Rams got off to an early lead, beating Smith 18-5, bringing their overall record to 9-1.

Allie Gath/THE GATEPOST

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