April 27, 2018

THE GATEPOST Framingham State’s independent student newspaper

Volume 86 • Issue 23

FSUgatepost.com

April 27, 2018

3.1 percent of students vote in SGA election

By Shanleigh Reardon News Editor

Students made new friends on a sunny Saturday at Corinne Hall Towers event.

One-hundred-seventy-seven students voted in SGA’s spring election on April 17, according to David Baldwin, associate dean of students. This accounts for 3.1 percent of FSU’s student body.

Last year, 6.3 percent of students voted. The previous year, 11 percent of students voted.

Voting was open on Ramlink on April 17 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Students could also vote in the McCarthy Center lobby, where SGA members hosted a table at which ballots could be cast using laptops.

Junior Ben Carrington was elected SGA president for the 2018-19 academic year. This was the only contested position in this election.

Carrington ran against junior Adam Scanlon.

Current SGA president Kyle Rosa said he believes the newly elected eBoard will “leave their mark on campus.”

He added, “I hope next year, SGA continues to work on our established goals of spreading

Corey McFeeley / THE GATEPOST

See SGA ELECTION page 5

Record-shattering attendance at Science on State Street

By Jillian Poland News Editor Approximately 1,000 people attended the Christa McAuliffe Center’s fourth annual “Science on State Street” festival on April 21, according to Irene Porro, center director.

Attendance was tracked using Science on State Street buttons that were handed out to attendees. Porro said they printed 1,100 buttons and although many adults did not take buttons, there were only 78 left after the event.

She added, “That confirms that at least 1,000 people were in attendance. This is an all-time record for the festival. The largest audience we had in the past was about 500 people.”

The yearly event is intended to be a day of science exploration for the whole family. This year, it featured over forty table exhibits and demonstrations, free planetarium shows in the McAuliffe Center, “STEM on Stage” presentations and a keynote presentation about Mars exploration

by John Grant of the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.

The event was sponsored by a variety of organizations, including FSU, MathWorks, MetroWest STEM Education Network and Avidia Bank.

The display tables were set up throughout Crocker Grove and in the parking lot behind O’Connor Hall. There was a wide range of presenters, from FSU students and professors to outside organizations such as the Massachusetts National Guard and NOVA. Students in the Food Science Club

See SCIENCE ON STATE STREET page 4

Marijuana debate lights up DPAC The debate was divided into a set of 15-minute opening remarks from each side, followed by two 5-minute rebuttals. The representatives then took turns responding to audience questions.

In his opening remarks, the denim-clad Houston joked about the way he and his opponent were dressed. “I guess you all can tell by our respective attire tonight who’s the marijuana legalizer and who’s not.”

Sabet wore a button-up shirt and a blazer.

Houston went on to assure the audience that he was “not going to load you up with statistics.”

The crux of Houston’s opening statement was

a former White House drug policy advisor and founder and director of Smart Approaches to Marijuana.

Aaron Houston argued in favor of legalization. deexperts two as DPAC in high Tensions were co-founded Marijuana Majority, and wrote a He bated Massachusetts marijuana laws on April 24. of laws regarding marijuana, specifically handful The debate was sponsored by the Health and Wellness Center and the Dean’s office. It was in Colorado.

LaGrutta said there are nine states in which moderated by Coordinator of Alcohol and Drug marijuana is legal and 29 that allow recreational Education Joy LaGrutta.

“Sometimes the greatest opportunities come medical marijuana. However, federally, marijuafrom hearing opposing perspectives,” LaGrutta na remains a Schedule I drug. The FDA defines a Schedule I drug as one with “no currently acceptsaid.

Arguing against marijuana was Kevin Sabet, ed medical use and a high potential for abuse.”

By Andrew Willoughby Arts & Features Editor

See MARIJUANA DEBATE page 10

News

Opinions

Arts & Features

Sports

SGA SURVEY pg. 3

DRY CAMPUS pg. 7

ENGLISH CLUB PROFILE pg. 13

FERR OR FOUL pg. 17

INVESTITURE pg. 6

OH PAX LAND pg. 8

30 SECONDS TO MARS REVIEW pg. 15

SOFTBALL pg. 18

INSIDE: OP/ED 7 ARTS & FEATURES 9 SPORTS 16

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 Opinions Editor Lizzy Stocks Sports Editor Matt Ferris Asst. Sports Editors Jose Carrasquillo Liam Gambon Richard Tranfaglia Camille McKenzie Photos Editors Allie Gath Amanda Martin Asst. Photos Editor Corey McFeeley Staff Designer Cara McCarthy Staff Writers Brennan Atkins Noah Barnes Mackenzie Berube Thom Duda Tessa Jillson Robert Johnson Taylor Langmeyer Colton Madore Nick Murphy Cordelia Stark Allison Wharton 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 27, 2018

Elaine Beilin, English professor

By Bailey Morrison Associate Editor What is your educational and professional background?

I did my undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto and I did honors English. In those days, that meant you did all English classes, so I had a very rich and complete education as an English major. For graduate school, I went to Princeton. I specialized in English Renaissance literature. For about half the time I was enrolled at Princeton, I did research in Oxford at the Bodleian Library and that’s the great thing about being a Renaissance scholar - you have to go to really great research libraries in places like England to do the research. I haunted rare book libraries, archives. After graduate school, my first job I was a visiting professor at Mount Holyoke College, and I was hired to teach Shakespeare and creative writing. I was there for five years. I got a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. … The purpose of the grant was for people who were just beginning their careers to work on their research projects. I had just started my research on women writers in the Renaissance. I started in 1976 and it took me 10 years to write that book. During that year, I did a lot of research and writing. ...

After that seminar, I was hired at BU as a visiting professor and I taught there for a couple of years. I had two children at just about the same time in those years. Then I saw an ad for a Shakespeare job at Framingham State. … The moment I got here, I loved it. … I loved everything about this place. That was 1985 when I first came to teach here.

Why did you focus your research on women writers in Renaissance literature?

I was very lucky to be in the right place at the right time. This was the ’70s. The women’s movement was very strong and things kind of came together. I realized through talking to various people and asking the right questions, that nobody really recently had looked at this field of women writers in the Renaissance.

There had been some scholars in the 1930s who had done Ph.D. dissertations and they were great guides for me to figure out what this field was all about. When I started doing the research, there were maybe five or six other people working on this.

I got funding to go back to England to just see what was in the archives, and there were hundreds of women

Police Logs Thursday, April 19 09:13 Threat O’Connor Hall Report Taken

Framingham State University

writers. I really had to ask the question, “Why did I just go through four years of graduate school and nobody talked about any of the women writers of the 16th and 17th century - except maybe one or two?” The more I got into it, the more I realized this was actually my life’s work - bringing those writers to life, writing about them, trying to make sense of the different genres they wrote in, their different circumstances.

That’s where I really wanted to put all of my scholarly energy into. As I say, I really hit that moment. When I finally got the book finished, there was a market for it. People wanted to publish - at last - books that were uncovering women writers of the past.

What have you learned during your time at Framingham State?

Everything! When I came here, I think I was a pretty good teacher. I still had a lot to learn. I think I always had the love of the literature, the enthusiasm. I loved my field. I loved teaching Shakespeare. I think I really learned - which is what I tell everybody else and they tire of me saying it - I really, really learned to teach the students in front of me. I learned that every class is different.

That you have to look at that class, learn who those students are, see them as whole people and be flexible and adjust. You may have an idea of what you want to teach, but you always have to rethink how you are going to teach it for each individual group. … Students have taught me a lot about how to be a good teacher.

What are you looking forward to the most about retirement?

One of the big reasons I’m retiring is because I want to go back to my writing life. At my desk at home, I have quite a few piles of unfinished projects that are all lined up. I think that’s what I’ve neglected the most in the last few years. I’ve kept up my scholarly life. I’ve kept writing. …

But I would really like to get back to being a writer of all kinds of things

Saturday, April 21 13:14 Motor Vehicle Accident Salem End Parking Lot Report Taken

and see where my writing takes me What are you going to miss about Framingham State?

I really think I will miss the students. It makes me kind of teary, actually, thinking about not going into a classroom and meeting students.

There’s sort of a cliché that if you’re a teacher, it’s actually the students who keep you young. I love it when my students tell me things about their culture that I had no idea about. It is educational. I will deeply miss my colleagues, but you know, I have a lot of friends here and I’ll be able to keep up with my friends, but I won’t have that same connection with the students. I think that will be the hardest thing when September rolls around and I’m not getting ready to go into the classroom. I think it’s that give-and-take, the energy, the laughter, the stress. I think the student/teacher bond is what I’ll miss so much.

What is one book you think all students should read?

What a difficult question! My favorite Shakespeare play is “The Winter’s Tale.” With any play, my best advice to students is go see it, even if you’re just watching a video. Because reading it is only half the meaning of it. … “The Winter’s Tale” is really the play of the second chance. It’s one of the last plays Shakespeare wrote. One of the main characters is a king and he does a whole lot of really, really terrible things. He creates havoc and disaster and destruction and death all around him. But this play is not a tragedy. … The great thing about this play and why it’s always been such an inspiration to me is because even someone who has done such terrible things - spoiler alert - he gets a second chance! It’s a very powerful play because it’s about return. Even in the face of death, life asserts itself.

What advice would you give to FSU students?

Be present in classes. I’m an English teacher, so of course I’m going to say, “Do the reading!” but I think it’s being present. It’s really submerging in your education. Be curious. Follow the things you love.

You’re not going to get to do everything you love. You’re going to have to do things - difficult things - you probably don’t want to do. But try to find something positive in everything you do. See this day-by-day as an extraordinary opportunity to grow and learn about things that are new and exciting. Be present in every moment of your education.

Tuesday, April 24 07:58 Harrassment FSU Police Department Report Taken

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Tuesday, April 24 08:49 Vandalism West Hall Report Taken

APRIL 27, 2018

THE GATEPOST

NEWS | 3

Student survey prompts further discussion on cameras in dorms

By Shanleigh Reardon News Editor During SGA’s meeting on April 24, President Kyle Rosa and Kelsey Carvalho, an intern for Millie González, presented the results of a survey regarding student safety in the residence halls and on campus.

“A good majority” of the 159 participants do not live on campus, said Carvalho.

The survey asked questions about how safe students feel on campus, places students identify as unsafe and how additional camera in the residence halls may impact students’ sense of privacy and security.

Students overwhelmingly identified parking lots and outdoor walkways as areas where they feel the least safe. Most recommendations to help this problem included more outdoor lighting. Carvalho and Rosa said they would follow up on this with facilities.

Senator Stephanie Bennett asked if they had encountered any “hostility” from climate change activists on campus when making this request, as more lighting would require more electricity.

Rosa responded they have not been aware of anything themselves. However, they have passed the survey results and recommendations on to the University’s administration regarding actions to be taken in response to their findings.

Regarding additional cameras in the residence halls, 38.36 percent of respondents said they were a “needed response” to the recent bias incidents on campus.

When asked where additional cameras should be installed, 77.99 percent of respondents said main hallways, 72.96 percent said stairwells and 55.35 percent said lobbies. This question allowed for multiple responses to be selected. Other options included lounges, studies and “other.”

Regarding another question about the possible negative impact of cameras, Rosa said, “A majority of students report they foresee negative consequences, but it was a close split. Most of the concerns mentioned were an invasion of privacy.”

Students also expressed concerns about the intentions of the individuals monitoring the cameras and being held accountable for incidents in the residence halls.

Student Trustee Karl Bryan questioned what would happen if footage was recalled by Residence Life or campus police for vandalism or a hate crime and another student was seen in the footage “with a beer can in their

SGA celebrated the newly elected senators and eBoard members during its meeting on April 24.

hand.”

Amanda Haskins, area director and SGA advisor, said, “So, we’ve actually talked about this extensively because that’s a very possible thing that could happen.” She said the cameras will definitely not be watched 24/7 because someone would have to be hired and paid to do that.

“That’s something that Community Standards is probably going to be looking into more, because it’s not like vigilante policing,” she added. “I assume there will be a plan going into it before it actually happens, but that’s a serious thing to consider.”

She said if anyone has ideas or recommendations about how these situations could be handled, they should bring them up to Residence Life.

“We know it’s going to be an issue but what’s going to be helpful is actually bringing a solution forward,” she said.

Rosa said Residence Life has requested funding from the Massachusetts State College Building Association for additional cameras to be installed over the summer.

Carvalho said the survey results aren’t going to be the only reason the University installs more cameras or lighting, but “it’s all going to be taken into consideration.”

Also during the meeting, SGA amended its constitution.

Rosa, explaining why the current eBoard decided to amend SGA’s constitution, said, “After our administrative assistant left, a lot of responsibilities fell back on the eBoard and the bulk of it fell on our lovely secretary, Bridget.”

The amendments primarily consisted of language changes

specifying the duties of eBoard members and the allocation of responsibilities that were previously performed by Nikki Curley, the organization’s administrative assistant. Curley left the University in March.

Ethan Feuer, SILD director, said replacing Curley has been challenging because she was very experienced and passionate about her role.

“Luckily, we have an amazing staff here so Kathleen here in our office took on that role - so she kind of became the new Nikki, and we were able to continue to offer that high-level support to SGA,” said Feuer.

Other amendments to SGA’s constitution included formatting changes in its bylaws’ benevolence awards and the addition of an award that will honor students with disabilities.

Rosa said the formatting changes are “really good and necessary because we’ve had some of our lowest amount of applicants this year for the benevolence awards.” He added he believes the low number of submissions was due to the confusing formatting of the awards in the past.

During the campus life adhoc committee chair report, vice president-elect Alex Backer thanked the senate again for the $7,500 allocated to bring Jackson Katz to campus in the fall as a part of its Harassment Ends Here campaign. Katz is an activist for ending sexual harassment who speaks at events across the country.

He said he hopes to have another table to hand out anti-harassment shirts in the gym sometime next week, pending approval from SILD. Wildlife Club and Equestrian

Allie Gath / THE GATEPOST

Club also made a funding request during the meeting for a joint trip to Honey Pot Hill Orchards when students return in the fall.

The clubs were allocated $2,475 for the apple-picking trip.

Fashion Club also made a funding request for the fall to purchase T-shirts and transportation to a breast cancer walk in October.

Capello asked if the $400 the club requested for T-shirts would be enough money.

Ali Gallo, current vice president of fashion club, said, “We took into account the amount of people that actually participate a lot of people don’t want to get up at 7 a.m. Sundays are a weird day - some people just don’t do things on Sundays.”

She added the club wants T-shirts to only go to individuals who are going to participate in the walk. The club also requested funding for pink tie-dye, which they will use to decorate the shirts during one of their first club meetings in the fall. SGA allocated Fashion Club $1,000 for the event.

Her Campus requested $318 for supplies to make fall wreaths during their Craft, Chat and Chill event in September. President-elect of Her Campus Mary Elizabeth Gallagher said these events have been successful in the past, with 50 people attending their most recent Craft, Chat and Chill earlier this month.

SGA allocated Her Campus the full amount.

CONNECT WITH SHANLEIGH REARDON sreardon1@student.framingham.edu

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4 | NEWS

THE GATEPOST

Science on State Street

APRIL 27, 2018

mato plants,” he added.

Connolly said Science on State demonstrated the difference be- Street is “a great way to educate the tween dough made with gluten and public about science. Additionally, dough made without gluten. it’s a great way for FSU to interact They offered different types of with the community.” dough, and attendees were able to On the walkway in front of Peirce feel the dough and see the differ- Hall, Spc. Luis Diaz and Spc. Richence in elasticity. After, people were ard Watson from the Massachusetts allowed to take samples of gluten National Guard let people run a and gluten-free cookies. “search-and-rescue mission” to reSenior and Food Science Club trieve a package along a ramp using Treasurer Ben Montemurro said, a remote-controlled robot.

“It’s been going great! Everyone’s Diaz said, “It was nice to see all been having a lot of fun playing with the kids coming out. They’re really the dough and they like the fact that interested in learning.” they can touch it. It’s interactive.”

He added, “The staff here was The Wildlife Club set up a “Find friendly and supportive. It was nice Your Wild Side” table where it dis- and I enjoyed it.” played taxidermy animals native to NOVA, Microsoft and Dow ChemMassachusetts, including a beaver, ical shared the space outside Hean opossum and a coyote. There menway Laboratories. Kids scramwere examples of animal tracks that bled for virtual reality headsets at kids and adults alike could try to the NOVA station in order to view identify.

“360°: Why is Greenland Melting?”

Corey McFeeley / THE GATEPOST Wildlife Club member and senior and learned about speed and friction Senior Alex Hiller sawed open batteries for the “Build a Battery” table.

Julia Barrone said kids really enjoyed with Hot Wheels cars at the Microtouching the taxidermy animals and soft table. for the mission. tooth enamel. Inside O’Connor Hall, parents were often excited to see the Dow’s “Stem Ambassadors” used Grant opened his presentation by an engineering student displayed a animals up close for the first time. nature paper to teach about solu- asking, “Is there life on Mars?”

3-D printer and families could see a Chemistry professor Dwayne Bell bility and explain the company’s He continued, “We don’t know if model of the Opportunity rover up and senior chemistry major Alex lithographic process. Improvement there ever was or is, but we’re getclose.

Hiller ran a “Build a Battery” exper- Engineer Lauren Miller said, “We’re ting there.”

Alex Ludwig and his son Lucas iment that let kids get their hands just trying to explain solubility to Grant explained the research be- went to Grant’s keynote address and dirty. After explaining the process kids because it’s one of the import- ing conducted into the presence of saw the 3-D printer in action. Lucas behind what makes a battery work, ant chemical properties in what we water on the surface of Mars and the said he wanted to come to Science Hiller used a hacksaw to cut a bat- make and what we sell.” paths the different rovers took and on State Street “because I wanted to tery in two and then let audience At noon, geologist John Grant the data they found. Following the go to the planetarium.” members help him break it apart spoke in the Dwight Performing presentation, the floor was opened Ludwig said, “We love it. We would with their hands and pliers to reveal Arts Center. His keynote presenta- up for questions from the audience. definitely come back. It’s been very what was inside. tion, “Exploring Mars’ Past: The epic Porro said more than 215 people cool.”

Bell then showed the audience journey of the Spirit, Opportunity, came to the talk.

Ashley Hebert, who graduated how to reconstruct the battery using and Curiosity Rovers,” was directly Greg Hopkins, a Natick resident, from FSU in 2010, brought her three a terracotta pot soaked in salt water, informed by his work with the Mars attended the presentation. He said young children to the event. She said graphite from a carpenter’s pencil, rover missions. it was “very enlightening and pretty she’s brought her kids every year dirt and a galvanized bucket with As the science operations work- deep.” since Science on State Street began. water and salt in it. ing group chair for the Spirit and Ewa Hopkins, also a Natick resiShe added, “It’s a lot of fun to Nearby, the biology department Opportunity rovers, Grant leads dent, brought her son Leo along to come back and visit and see all the created a plant science display and “day-to-day science planning of the Science on State Street and called hands-on experiments. It’s a lot of botany trivia game. Biology profes- rovers,” according to the Smithso- the festival “fantastic.” stuff we don’t get to see at home, sor Bryan Connolly said biology ma- nian National Air and Space MuseShe added, “It’s amazing how too. They love the chemistry tajor Jillian Rizzitano really made it um website. He is also a “long-term many activities people can do. It’s ble where they shatter the flowers. a success. People “seemed to really planner” for the Curiosity rover, opening horizons for kids. … It’s edThat’s a favorite. And the planetarlike it! Many people admired our to- where he helps create strategic goals ucational for all of us.” ium shows, too.”

There was also a series of STEM Hebert was referring to the Chemon Stage presentations covering a istry Club’s popular liquid nitrogen variety of topics, including the ses- experiment, in which members dip a sions “Challenges of Developing rose in the substance then shatter it Foods for Military and Space Feed- against the table. ing” and “Bio-Inspired: Unexpected Porro said she was “pleased” with Innovations from the Book of Na- the event because there was such ture.” a variety of presentations and so John Thompson, who helped op- many people attended. erate a table about free, open-source “Many participants and exhibisoftware with NatickFOSS, said his tors told us they enjoyed the festival grandchildren, ages 7 and 12, both and asked to do it again next year. came to the festival and loved ev- So, yes, we are already planning for erything. next year’s Science on State Street,” Algot Runeman, also with Natick- she said.

FOSS, said, “We got a chance to Porro added, “We would love to talk to a bunch of people. We got to have many more FSU students volsmile a lot. And it was a great day - unteer for the festival in 2019. It is couldn’t have planned it better.” not just to be part of a cool science Runeman showed off a plastic event - it is much more. It is all about penguin named Tux, the mascot of building community.”

Linux software. He 3-D printed it using open-source software.

While waiting in the parking lot behind O’Connor Hall for the planAmanda Martin / THE GATEPOST etarium shows, people could look through a giant kaleidoscope and CONNECT WITH JILLIAN POLAND The Chemistry Club’s liquid nitrogren experiment is a family favorite. learn about the effects of acids on jpoland@student.framingham.edu

Continued from pg. 1

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elections because I felt that since so many people had things to say, they would reflect their opinions in votes,” she said.

“This unfortunately was not the case,” as this election had the lowest turnout in recent years, Green added.

Erin Johnson will fill Green’s position on next year’s eBoard.

Johnson said, “I now know how to debate respectfully with my fellow senators, and how to handle all the assumptions that students may come in with after serving as a senator on SGA. I hope next year to work toward breaking down those assumptions and helping all students feel more represented by the senators.”

Allie Flood was elected Class and Club Treasurer. She said, “Through this position, I hope to enrich student life as well as communicate effectively with the student body as to what SGA’s role is on campus.”

Also on the ballot this election were candidates for faculty and staff member of the year. According to Ethan Feuer, director of SILD, the winners of these awards will be announced during the All-University Banquet on May 4.

“That is a secret until the banquet,” said Feuer.

Feuer added the awards announcements process is not the only process his department has decided to change since he started at FSU in January.

Feuer took over SILD after Claire Ostrander left the University last year.

He said after his first semester here, it’s come to his attention that student leaders often feel ill-equipped to handle their new positions. This past Friday during a student leadership training session, a new system was announced that will streamline club and organization processes for events and initiatives. SILD also plans to revamp the current model of student leadership training.

“A lot of student leaders said, ‘You know what, we come into this role and we really actually don’t know all the mechanics,’” said Feuer. He said student leaders have struggled with the range of responsibilities they take on from ordering equipment to conflict management and agenda setting.

He added, “We do great work here. We’re just trying to listen to students to see what we could do better.”

unity across campus, improving student resources and getting creative with outreach programming, all while creating their own original initiatives.”

In a statement to The Gatepost, Carrington said he plans to continue efforts to promote diversity and inclusion next year as SGA president.

“This year, I collaborated with the Black Student Union to put on our first ever Dinner & Dialogues event, where we spoke on contemporary issues that our society and campus face,” said Carrington.

He added, “I really want to tackle the gap that exists between our student population and SGA. I plan on improving our open forum marketing, as students are not aware that open forum is a platform for any student to bring concerns to SGA, and we can communicate these concerns to the administration and advocate on their behalf. … I also want to publicize office hours of eBoard members and senators so students can come and voice their concerns.”

Vice President-elect Alex Backer said he and Carrington plan to invite speakers to campus to hold a “tough talks” series next year. Topics would include diversity, racism, sexual assault/ harassment and homophobia.

“We want to spark a dialogue on campus to have the students truly understand these issues and to be able to freely discuss some unsettling/uncomfortable topics, because that is the only way we can grow as a community,” said Backer.

Backer added he was honored to be elected vice president after only serving one year as a senator on SGA. He said the current vice president, Jack Capello, empowered him to run for the position after he helped Backer spearhead the “Harassment Ends Here” campaign to fight harassment in the gym.

“It’s good to know that someone will be by your side and assist you when you need guidance toward your goals,” said Backer.

Current SGA Secretary Bridget Green was the primary organizer of this spring’s election. She said this election was important to her because she has served on SGA throughout all four years of her career at FSU and these elections would decide her replacement.

“In the past few weeks, SGA has been talked about across campus in both a negative and positive light. With that being said, I was ready for a great turn out with CONNECT WITH SHANLEIGH REARDON sreardon1@student.framingham.edu

NEWS | 5

2018-19 SGA Representatives Based on results provided by SGA Secretary Bridget Green

President

Ben Carrington Vice President

Executive Board

SGA election

THE GATEPOST

Alex Backer Secretary

Erin Johnson SATF Treasurer

Driana Lebron Class and Club Treasurer

Allie Flood

Social Events Coordinator

Matt O’Sullivan Student Trustee

Ayanna Ferguson

Senators-at-large

APRIL 27, 2018

Class of 2019 Open Positions: Secretary Treasurer

Class of 2020 Open Positions: Vice President Secretary Treasurer Senator of the Class

Class of 2021 Open Positions: President Vice President Secretary Treasurer Senator of the Class

•Abigail Salvucci •Kaylie Siow •Stephanie Bennett •Olivia Rothwell •Matthew Bennett •Alexa Dello Iacono •Ashleigh Whigham

President

Matthew Pelligrino Vice President

Kayleigh MacMaster Senators

Kayleigh MacMaster Amber Magin Alyssa Figuerido President

Olivia Rothwell

Senators

Danielle Shaw Olivia Beverlie

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6 | NEWS

THE GATEPOST

APRIL 27, 2018

SGA celebrates itself

By Jillian Poland News Editor

SGA members addressed concerns about the organization’s spending and behaviors during its meeting on Tuesday, April 17.

Senator Seth Signa began open forum by saying he wanted to address “the elephant in the room” regarding funding at previous SGA meetings.

He said, “I think going forward, there needs to be some sort of discussion about SGA funding itself past a certain amount and whether SGA itself can do that or if an outside body needs to do that.”

He added, “I wasn’t here, but I just want to voice my opinion and say last week’s meeting was a horrible event. … I think SGA and senate did not take into account about half of the student population.”

Senator Marquis Sims said he is concerned that many students don’t realize what SGA does or that the money SGA allocates comes from students’ fees.

President Kyle Rosa said, “I’d like to address that a lot of different people here have a lot of different opinions and feel a lot of

different things. And I’d like to acknowledge that that’s a good thing and it’s positive that we don’t all agree. If every single decision was unanimous in this room, then there would be a problem.”

He continued, “What I do want to acknowledge is that it is not OK to say that the majority made the wrong decision and that meetings went horrible, just because one opinion didn’t shine through.”

Rosa also reminded senators they all have the same amount of power and can use that power to make changes in SGA if they see fit. He encouraged people to go to eBoard members, SILD or the SGA advisor with any plans.

“Decide what you want and then implement it. If you want changes, make them,” he added.

Rosa also presented the SGA year overview. He shared a document titled, “Campuses View’s [sic] on SGA this year,” which included positive statements from various administrators and students from Brother to Brother (B2B) and the Equestrian Club.

He also shared a list of SGA’s accomplishments for the year.

He highlighted for the audience

Corey McFeeley / THE GATEPOST President Kyle Rosa shared positive messages about SGA from the campus.

the implementation of the online open forum, the increase in the number of SGA members, the organization’s handicap accessibility initiatives and new SGA campaigns and committees.

Rosa said he wanted to acknowledge all the SGA members as student leaders and thank them for their work.

During his senate chair report, Mike O’Brien announced Corinne

Hall Towers would be getting a kitchen and some new furniture over the summer.

Also at the meeting, members of B2B shared about their experiences at the conference they attended in Florida.

CONNECT WITH JILLIAN POLAND jpoland@student.framingham.edu

Seniors urged to “run towards the roar”

By Jillian Poland News Editor Seniors donned their caps and gowns for the first time during Senior Investiture on April 23 in DPAC. The ceremony opened with a processional of faculty, librarians and staff members, followed by the national anthem and remarks for graduating seniors from administrators, alumni and current students.

Approximately 25 seniors attended the ceremony.

Meg Nowak, dean of students, gave the welcoming address.

She encouraged students to “be present and open to moments” in their finals days at FSU before introducing President F. Javier Cevallos.

Cevallos urged students to take a break from their studies and their stress to soak in the experience of their last few weeks, connect with faculty and friends, and reflect on their time at FSU. “Think of all the memories that you have of your years here - those long evenings in the library, at the McCarthy Center, at Angry Hams,” he added to laughs from the crowd.

After his opening remarks, Cevallos introduced Josiah Curtis, a graduate of the class of 2009 and a senior associate at Berry Appleman & Leiden. Curtis specializes in business immigra-

tion law.

“It was a difficult year to be an immigration attorney,” he said.

He said he works with clients who want results that aren’t necessarily attainable in the current climate, which can lead to frustration among his clients and among his colleagues.

Curtis added, “A lot of my colleagues are complaining about the situation in which they find themselves, instead of finding an opportunity in that moment to develop a relationship with a client stakeholder or to solve a complex problem in maybe a way you didn’t think to solve it before.”

Framingham State taught him how to react to difficult circumstances in a positive way, not a negative way - unlike some of the more prestigious schools his colleagues attended, he added.

“This place has given you everything that you’re going to need when you’re out in the working world, whatever it is that you’re going to be doing,” he said.

Curtis reminded seniors that when they enter the working world, they will be advocates for Framingham State and all the students who will come after them.

Jackie Carlson, vice president of the class of 2018, addressed the crowd next. Carlson reminded seniors to “fake it till you

make it,” as so many did during their freshman year and in difficult classes.

She added, “I need to let you in on a little secret which, by now, you may have already figured out. When you fake it till you make it, in reality, you’re actually just making it. You’re really doing it.”

Millie González, interim chief officer of diversity, inclusion and community engagement, gave the reflections from the faculty.

She encouraged students to wear their struggles as a badge of honor as they leave FSU. She told students to stay grateful and humble, live to the truth, and “run towards the roar.”

She added, “I heard this Af-

rican proverb, ‘run towards the roar,’ many years ago, and I rely on its sage advice to this day.”

González shared a story about old and young lions in the wild, the moral of which was that you must go toward things that scare you in order to survive and succeed.

Cevallos delivered the closing remarks and then junior Inessa Burnell led the crowd in the alma mater, “Live to the Truth,” to end the ceremony.

CONNECT WITH JILLIAN POLAND jpoland@student.framingham.edu

Corey McFeeley / THE GATEPOST Josiah Curtis, class of 2009, spoke during Senior Investiture.

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APRIL 27, 2018

THE GATEPOST EDITORIAL

Weak voter turnout We at The Gatepost are taken aback by the dismal voter turnout in this year’s Student Government Association election.

A whopping 3.1 percent of students voted. To put that in context, there are over 5,000 students on this campus.

Only 177 of them voted.

While it’s no secret student involvement on campus has been on the decline in the last few years, there aren’t any justifiable reasons more students didn’t vote.

As the adage goes, voting is a citizen’s civic duty.

Many people don’t think to vote in local elections, let alone college campus elections, but they are still vital.

The student government decides where your money is being spent. When you deposit the $70 for your student activities fee, SGA is deciding where that money goes next.

SGA members vote on what to do with those funds when faced with requests from clubs.

If hearing that $17,000 is being spent on hand dryers or $5,000 on promotional items surprises or upsets you, it would benefit you to participate in the elections of your SGA representatives.

We at The Gatepost believe there are a number of factors that contributed to this year’s poor turnout and would like to offer some suggestions to SGA. While Dean of Students Meg Nowak sent out a campus-wide email encouraging students to vote, there was little advertisement about the election around campus. Furthermore, the two candidates running for SGA president did little to no campaigning.

In fact, one of the candidates didn’t attend Candidates’ Night at all - so, it’s not that surprising more students weren’t aware of the importance of this election.

Additionally, other than the presidency, every position was uncontested. Many of the candidates also chose not to speak at Candidates’ Night.

In any election, it’s important to know what issues your representatives will be championing.

In the future, it would be beneficial if SGA created more opportunities for the campus community to be involved in the election. With more widespread advertising both on social media and around campus, students would have a better opportunity to be involved in the election process.

More events promoting the importance of student government are also needed to garner interest from the student body.

Why was Candidates’ Night the only planned event for students to hear from the nominees? Why wasn’t there a planned debate between Ben Carrington and Adam Scanlon, the two students running for president?

If students were given more opportunities to learn about their prospective SGA representatives, they would be better informed on how to cast their vote.

There should also be more voting booths set up in other parts of the campus, including the library and the athletic center. It should also be made clearly that students don’t have to vote at one of SGA’s designated tables. They may also vote on Ramlink on either their computer or phone.

It is the responsibility of individual students to participate in voting, but it is the student government’s responsibility to ensure every student is made aware of the resources available for them to vote.

THE GATEPOST

7 | OP/ED

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.

This is the final comic in a series where we followed Eric, Stuart and Sabina on their subpar misadventures.]

Campus Conversations How do you feel about the legalization of marijuana in Massachusetts?

By Lizzy Stocks and Allie Gath

“Drugs are illegal. Why would you “I think it’s a good thing. ... consider legalizing them? ” Marijuana is a lot more than -Andy Zhang, sophomore some drug used to get high - it’s an actual medicine.”

-Willdan Leuture, sophomore

“It’s better than other drugs.

There’s no negative side effects other than memory loss.”

-Ashley Pierre, junior

“I think it’s fine. Incarceration for drug use doesn’t help anyone in general and as far as I can tell, there are no negative side effects unless you use it too often.”

-Christopher Duffy, sophomore

“Love it. It’s healthier than other drugs and you can’t biologically get addicted to it.”

-Jade Ayisomo, junior

“It doesn’t make any difference to me, but hopefully, people get happier from it.”

-Thomas Belcher, sophomore

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

8 | OP/ED

THE GATEPOST

APRIL 27, 2018

Oh PAX land...

By Thom Duda Staff Writer While I recover from the “PAX Plague,” as my fellow con attendees often refer to it, I find myself wishing I were back at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center (or BCEC) and right in the thick of the swarm of human bodies milling about.

PAX is one of those events that I think everyone, even those not usually acquainted with video games, should attend, if just to go through the mind-boggling convergence of hundreds of nerds congregating in a single space for a weekend.

No, I’m serious: I think this is a beneficial exercise and here’s why.

You are face-to-face with people who are passionate about their hobbies. Whether it’s the streamers hoping to grow online communities with only a cam at their faces and a computer at their fingertips, the cosplayers in their often incredible displays of sewing and crafting skills or just the few who come for their favorite developers’ next project, there is an abundance of enthusiasm in the air.

Hell, even the Pinny Arcade fans are ecstatic about finding the newest pins put forth from the expo and the developers - hunting for the next treasure and trade in the crowd!

Pins are like gold here.

The real world vanishes for a time in PAX land even with all the troubles facing us both on the individual and national scales.

It’s not the time to be worrying about work or El Trumpo’s next tirade, it’s the time to be worrying about that panel you want to see about writing in games or how to make it in the industry you love.

Therein is the next aspect of attending. You get to speak with people in the video game industry, especially in the patch of booths in the middle of the expo floor that are all games made by indie developers.

Have a question about why a developer made a game about monsters fighting for a date to prom? Talk to the devs!

Want to know how long it takes to make a game? Why having a publisher is sometimes evil?

Perhaps you just want to know why these people don’t have “real jobs” and how you can get in on this deal.

PAX is the place to ask all the questions and try to learn a little bit about this facet of the entertainment industry, particularly so from international teams coming here to try to attract eyes and hearts to their work.

Of course, this applies to the table top gaming area as well, although sadly this area seemed meager in comparison to past years.

Yet, you could still meet the writers of roleplaying games, meet craftsmen offering luxury goods for the nerdiest amongst us and you can just meet new people at a table.

Of course, PAX also teaches the virtues of cleanliness, as all those bodies are often seemingly devoid of anti-perspirant, and you can’t help but notice the washing of hands

(or lack thereof ) - immediately identifying a patient zero to avoid at all costs when they swiftly leave the room.

PAX is not a time for melancholy, but excitement. It’s a time to learn about games and people, even on subjects like psychology, which you would’ve never associated with games such as Final Fantasy or Zelda.

Come to PAX land some day. I assure you, it’ll be a treat - though do watch your cash and guard your pins well!

Hate and racism are not limited to southern states

By Lizzy Stocks Opinions Editor After yet another long season of unpredictable snow and trudging through muck to get just about anywhere, last weekend finally brought along sunny, 60-degree weather just in time for FSU’s Science on State Street. Students and faculty gathered with Framingham residents to soak in the sun and take part in the hands-on STEM activities held around campus.

Nearly 1,000 miles away, at the same time as our campus’ celebration of science, members of the National Socialist Movement were gearing up for a celebration of their own: a white supremacist rally in Newnan, Georgia, followed by a swastika-burning in Draketown, Georgia.

To those of you whose first thought was, ‘not so unpredictable for Georgia,’ I initially had the same reaction. But, think again: the only difference between the white nationalists in Georgia and the unknown perpetrator(s) of the six racist hate crimes in Framingham is a face and name linked to the hate.

Saturday’s neo-Nazi celebration might have occurred nearly 1,000 miles away from Framingham, but the University must not ignore the eerie parallels between the nation’s escalating racism and our own campus’ escalating racism.

Earlier this month a swastika drawing was found on the window of West Hall’s fourth

floor lounge. Though the drawing was not accompanied by the phrases, “white pride” and “America 4 whites” as it’s been depicted in graffiti on our campus in the past, the incident is nonetheless racist and anti-Semitic.

All too often we’re fed the ideas that those who conceal their identity and commit “isolated” acts of racism “don’t know any better” or “were just joking around.”

It’s 2018. “Not knowing any better,” is not an excuse when a majority of the nation is walking around with access to the internet sitting in their pockets. It literally takes the Google search engine .55 seconds to retrieve the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum’s (USHMM) “History of the Swastika” page.

There, you can learn the swastika existed thousands of years before Adolf Hitler and is actually Sanskrit for “good fortune” and “well-being.” Despite its positive origin, when Nazis gained control of Germany it became “a potent symbol intended to elicit pride among Aryans, it also became a symbol of Nazi racial ideology that called for the elimination of Jews and other groups deemed inferior.”

A symbol that calls for the elimination of any race or religion is not a joke.

Not one bit.

Though I commend President F. Javier Cevallos for addressing “the rise in racism and anti-Semitism that has occurred nationally, including on our own campus last semester,” in his public letter to the University published

in our last issue of The Gatepost, I think addressing the racist drawing in a school-wide email sent to the entire campus population would have reached additional audiences.

Despite the University’s efforts through “No Room for Hate” posters crowding the walls of almost every building on campus, despite the “Hate is not a Framily value” hashtag at the bottom of most faculty emails and despite the work of the Bias Education Response Team, the hate our campus has no room for still finds ways to rear its ugly head in our dorms and classrooms.

It’s easy to believe hate and racism do not affect liberal Massachusetts. But racism is an institutionalized ideology - though it may not be a “Framily value,” the racism running rampant across our nation and our campus proves it’s time to seriously confront racism within institutions such as our own, and truly educate those amongst our Framily with racist ideologies.

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APRIL 27, 2018

THE GATEPOST

ARTS & FEATURES | 9

ARTS & FEATURES “A Breath of Fresh Air”: FSU honors student writers during Student Writing Awards

Allison Wharton / THE GATEPOST Nathaniel Abadao shakes professor Sam Witt's hand as he accepts his second-place award in the Marjorie Sparrow Awards for Poetry for his poem, "I Dedicate."

Zach Colten Asst. Arts & Features Editor

T

he world is full of great literature, and Framingham State is no exception. On Thursday, April 19, about 70 students, parents and faculty crowded into the Ecumenical Center to hear the recipients of this year’s Student Writing Awards read their original works and join in celebrating their accomplishments.

English professors Sam Witt and Patricia Horvath hosted the event, which included four separate awards, each awarding excellence in a different genre of writing. After a short introduction welcoming the community to the annual ceremony and praising the student winners and runners-up for their contributions, Professor Witt brought up English professor Claudia Springer to announce the winner of the night’s first award: The Colleen Kelly Film Studies Award.

Colleen Kelly was a senior at FSU, majoring in English with a concentration in film studies, before she was tragically killed while crossing Route 9 in 2012. The award is dedicated to her memory, honoring the best formal film studies essay. This year’s winner was Diego Rocha, for his essay “The Perfect Crowd,” analyzing the 2016 film, “La La Land” for Springer’s Language of Film

class.

The essay dug into the intricacies of the film, lauding its beautifully constructed shots and mise en scène. Rocha’s strong voice projected his lyrical, yet strikingly clear language out to the audience as he read from his essay, but not before giving Springer an affectionate shout-out as “his Hollywood sweetheart on campus.”

The next award presented was the Richard Chartier Award for the best essay on any topic in American literature. The winner, Michael Gusella, shared his essay, “Criticism Inspires Creation: The Collaboration of Marianne Moore and T.S. Eliot,” expounding on the two authors’ close working relationship and the critics who wrote about them.

The Howard Hirt Awards for Fiction and Creative Nonfiction honored a first, second and third place winner, as well as two honorable mentions. Third place went to Monica Jean Swanton for her short story, “Mount Misery,” second place to Cameron Sughrue for “Mixed Signals,” and first place to Jillian Poland for her story, “Leaves in the Fall.” Honorable mentions went to Andrew Michael Dabney for “Extradition,” and Megan Muise for “Whiskey Whispers.”

Poland discussed the process of drafting her first-place story. “You

just get images in your head. Either you actually witness them or they just pop into your head, and you find a way to string the images together.” Her piece, “Leaves in the Fall,” was written over the course of a few weeks for Horvath’s Creative Writing class.

“We had a two-week section to write it, then I edited it with her.

She wanted me to submit it, so I decided to actually do the edits instead of throwing it in the garbage!”

Cordelia Stark said she was happy for all of the student writers awarded at the ceremony, and particularly for her friend Sughrue.

“I heard his story about two years ago, so it was pretty cool seeing that he actually got to submit and win for that one,” she said.

The final award of the evening was the Marjorie Sparrow Awards for Poetry. The collection of poetry honored included a topical range from the introspective and deeply personal, in poems such as Muise’s honorable mention, “Cigarettes,” to the politically potent and socially conscious “America Now,” written by the first-place winner Thomas Duda.

One of the standout readings of the event was the second place winner for the Marjorie Sparrow Award, Nathaniel Abadao. After reading his poem, “I Dedicate,”

a powerful piece committing the poet to working for equality in the wake of all who came before him and still struggle today, Abadao broke into song, showcasing the real rawness of the emotions imbibed in the poem, and earning the only standing ovation of the event.

Other recipients for the award were third-place winner Shana Sullivan for her poem, “Dedicated to Tracy’s Former Lover,” and honorable mention Kellie Guitarr, for “The Beauty of Her Sin.” Witt said, “There was an extraordinarily passionate sense of community and politics represented in the poems and stories that won this year.”

“To hear student pieces as varied as a satirical prose piece about a fictional country called ‘Vinland’ to a piece about America in the age of Trump to a poem about the Black Lives Matter movement was a breath of fresh air,” he said.

[Editor's note: Thomas Duda, Jillian Poland and Cordelia Stark are all members of The Gatepost.]

CONNECT WITH ZACH COLTEN zcolten@student.framingham.edu

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10 | ARTS & FEATURES

THE GATEPOST

APRIL 27, 2018

Marijuana debate

Corey McFeeley / THE GATEPOST Kevin Sabet and Aaron Houston debated Massachusetts marijuana laws in DPAC on April 24.

Continued from page 1 the fact that “we are locking human beings in cages for a plant that grows in the ground,” a sentiment he repeated throughout this portion of the debate. He called it “a moral outrage.”

He said in his experience he has observed that officials fall on either extreme of the debate - there are very few people in the middle.

However, he confidently said, when it comes to marijuana policy, “I’m right.”

In his opening remarks, Sabet urged those in the audience to “do your own research… come to your own conclusion.”

He said there is a “false dichotomy” when it comes to marijuana.

He emphasized that he agrees with Houston when it comes to incarceration for possession. However, he said those arrested for marijuana-related charges should seek help.

Sabet also claimed the marijuana lobbies “manipulate search results” in order to propel their cause, to which Houston replied, “You give us too much credit,” laughing.

The main focus of Sabet’s argument was the commercialization of marijuana. He said he’s afraid it’s mirroring that of the tobacco, pharmaceutical and alcohol industries. “Do we want another industry like prescription drugs or alcohol?

“Legal pot shops aren’t in upper-class white communities,” he

@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

said.

He added older white men will profit off of lower-class minority communities.

In his first rebuttal, Houston said that D.C.’s “grow and gift” laws create “zero commercialization.”

In Washington, D.C., it is legal to grow marijuana in limited quantities and gift it to friends and family.

“There are a few people trying to make money off of gifting. They’re getting arrested, though - so, the law is working as it should,” Houston said.

He added, home-growing marijuana will “alleviate exactly what [Sabet is] talking about… a commercial industry.”

Sabet rebutted by saying D.C. law goes much further than current Massachusetts legislation, but it’s still “a heck of a lot better than commercialization.”

He also added that the use of marijuana should be restricted based on whether it’s in public, the user’s age, if they’re around children, if they’re driving while high, if they’re at work.

“There are so many contexts,” he said.

An audience member asked about the benefits of medical marijuana use.

Houston said, “It’s a highly individualized thing. Every body is different.” He spoke about a woman he worked with who has fibromyalgia. Marijuana curbed her pain and she fought to make medical use le-

gal on the federal level.

Sabet responded, “If this is about medical use, why didn’t the law stop at medical use? For those people who need it for medical reasons: God bless them. I want them to get better - if methamphetamine helps them, give it to them.”

Sabet’s argument kept coming around to the commercialization of marijuana, especially edibles.

He worries that colorfully wrapped THC-infused candies would attract a younger audience.

He said children could also accidentally consume an edible form of THC and need emergency medical treatment.

While Houston agreed that enticing younger demographics is a bad thing, marijuana dispensaries don't market to children.

Underage people aren’t allowed in and are often carded at the door.

Houston also added, the only alternative to commercialization and legal pot stores is the black market.

Senior Logan Hennessy said Sabet’s “argument about how kids can pick up edibles off the ground and then have to be transported to the emergency room” was a bit farfetched. “What stops a child from going into the fridge of their home and cracking open a beer? The fact that he believes that the marijuana industry is trying to appeal to children because gummi bears are ‘colorful’ is laughable.

Another student asked the professionals about addiction to mar-

ijuana.

Again, Sabet compared the situation to alcohol. He said, “Ten times more people drink than use any illegal drug.” He added once the substance becomes more openly available, more people will develop addictions to the substance.

Houston said he believes marijuana has the potential to be psychologically addictive, but in no way physically addictive, to which Sabet replied both types of addiction should be treated equally.

When asked about low-income people being allowed access to medical marijuana, Sabet said it should “be regulated like all other medications. … I have zero problem with that, but of course, they could still be abused.”

He went on to say that the real issue is “businessmen, not pharmacists.”

In Houston’s response, he accused Sabet of being “pro-pharma,” and said putting big pharmaceutical companies in charge of marijuana would be a “big problem.”

In his closing statement, Sabet again pushed those in attendance to do their own research and reach their own informed opinions.

In Houston’s final remarks, he urged Sabet to reconsider his opinion that marijuana users should be sent to “treatment centers,” as many have been linked to human trafficking rings.

CONNECT WITH ANDREW WILLOUGHBY awilloughby@student.framingham.edu

THE GATEPOST

APRIL 27, 2018

ARTS & FEATURES | 11

ADL comes to campus to discuss hate symbols Kayllan Olicio Associate Editor

In response to the recent swastika drawing found in West Hall, FSU hosted an Anti-Defamation League (ADL) presentation titled “Recognizing Hate: Why Symbols Matter,” on Tuesday, April 24 in North Hall.

The event was the first of a twopart program on community values, according to Millie González, interim chief officer of diversity, inclusion & community engagement.

Daniel Levenson, associate regional director of ADL New England, gave the presentation to an audience of five, which consisted of administrators and a faculty member.

No students attended.

ADL was founded in 1913, “to stop the defamation of the Jewish people,” said Levenson.

He added the league works to combat hate through education and training for students starting at the pre-K level through the university system. The organization also provides those services to community groups, corporations, religious organizations, civic associations and

law enforcement agencies.

Levenson said symbols have different meanings and contexts depending on where and when they are seen.

He added not every Celtic cross is a white supremacist symbol. “In fact most of them are not.”

In Massachusetts, for something to be considered a hate crime there has to be a crime that is committed, such as vandalism or assault. Then, law enforcement has to prove there is an underlying bias that is involved, Levenson said.

He added regardless of whether something is determined to be a hate crime, the impact it has on a community is real.

“You can have symbols that look very similar and one isn’t necessarily derivative of the other or they’re not connected. You can also have a situation in which different groups or organizations decide to appropriate these symbols and use them for their own purposes,” Levenson said.

The swastika is an example of the misappropriation that happens to symbols, he said. Up until World War II, the symbol represented good luck among many cultures.

Adolf Hitler adopted the swastika and turned it into a symbol of hate.

Since then, it has become the most recognizable symbol of hate in the world, he said.

According to Levenson, when a hate symbol is displayed or used to vandalize something, “We have to take a step back and ask ourselves the question, ‘What’s the message?

What are they trying to convey in these different situations?’ Because every situation is not exactly the same.”

Levenson discussed other hate symbols and actions that are common today, such as cross-burnings by the KKK, the number 14, which is shorthand for, “We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children,” and the number 88, which is the numerical code for “Heil Hitler.”

“People who are looking for different group to hate or have some kind of hate they want to express will often look for a convenient target or a group they deem less then,” according to Levenson.

He added there are a lot of hateful actions and situations going on “and it is upsetting and offensive, but we should be optimistic, be-

Amanda Martin / THE GATEPOST Levenson discusses the evolution of hate symbols.

cause there are so many communities not willing to put up with this stuff.”

Levenson said, “When people ask for an example of a school that is willing to deal with issues that come up on campus in a transparent way, I point them to the work that Millie and the president, and the faculty and staff and students are doing here. … No place is perfect, but I have to say this is the example I give people.”

CONNECT WITH KAYLLAN OLICIO kolicio@student.framingham.edu

Free Speech with Community Values Cameron Grieves Asst. Arts & Features Editor Professor John Ambacher, Ann McDonald, chief of staff and general counsel, and Cassidy Flynn, senior and president of the College Republicans hosted a forum on “Free Speech and Community Values” in the Center for Inclusive Excellence on Wednesday, April 25.

Four students attended the event, as well as one FSU community member.

Millie González, interim chief officer of diversity, inclusion & community engagement, introduced the three speakers and set the agenda for the discussion.

What constitutes free speech, what is its impact on society, particularly in relation to social media, and what can be defined as “un-free speech” were the main issues the forum wished to address, according to González.

Ambacher said, “The good news is our legal system provides greater protections for free speech than any other country in the world … the bad news is our legal system provides greater protections for free speech than any other country in the world.”

Free speech is the lifeblood of American democracy; however, there are times when our freedom of speech is restricted, according to Ambacher. Local authorities have the ability to impose reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions on marches and protests, but they also have the ability to define what “reasonable” means.

“They know they can’t get you for the content of your speech, so they get you by imposing unreasonable restrictions on the time, place and manner of the protest,” Ambacher said.

On campus, it is important to note that one doesn't shed their First Amendment rights at the schoolhouse door. Rather, a university is supposed to be a place where differing ideas can flourish side-by-side, according to McDonald.

“There are always going to be consequences for speech, speech has an impact. With this right comes responsibility,” McDonald said.

Generally, speech in the United States is protected unless it falls into one of three categories - defamation, obscenity, and incitement speech.

Defamation includes libel and slander, the written and vocal ridiculing or defamation of another person’s character by spreading false statements. This type of speech is difficult for public officials to fight against, as they must prove not only that the statements were false, but also that they were presented with reckless disregard to the truth, according to Ambacher.

Obscenity includes language that appeals to a prurient interest in sex without any redeeming social, political, scientific or literary value. One way communities police obscene language is by zoning them, for example, confining an adult bookstore to a particular part of town, Ambacher explained.

Incitement speech includes any words that produce a clear and present danger of imminent lawless activity.

According to Flynn, another issue that comes with the freedom of speech is its impact on online discourse, particularly in relation to social media. One issue is that for some young people, posting controversial opinions online has become more dangerous.

“Social media is a place where

a lot of people feel they can say whatever they want. You need to be careful what you post on social media. It can negatively affect your opportunities at school and in careers,” Flynn said.

However, she went on to stress the importance of respecting other people’s opinions on the internet.

“You want to be able to say your political opinion or any opinion, as long as it isn’t harmful, without being afraid,” Flynn said.

McDonald also added that this shouting down of controversial opinions doesn’t only occur online, but also on college campuses, where controversial speakers have been threatened out of giving speeches or otherwise shouted down while giving their speech.

McDonald said, “An effective alternative to combatting these controversial speakers and expressing your discontent with them is for students simply to turn their backs.

It sends a powerful message ignoring a speaker like that instead of acknowledging them by shouting them down,” Donald said.

CONNECT WITH CAMERON GRIEVES cgrieves@student.framingham.edu

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12 | ARTS & FEATURES

THE GATEPOST

APRIL 27, 2018

Who Runs FSU’s Got Talent? (Follis and Bulgar) Allison Wharton Staff Writer FSU’s Dance Team hosted its annual FSU’s Got Talent show in DPAC on April 12. Talents ranged from dancing and singing to magic.

Judges were Marcie Dineen, Larned Hall’s area director, Meg Nowak, dean of students and David Baldwin, associate dean of students.

The program began with a Fusion Team dance set to a Beyoncé medley including songs such as “Love on Top” and “Run the World (Girls).”

Next, junior Stephen Donnelly sang “She Used to Be Mine” from the musical “Waitress.” A handful of “boos” came from the audience when Dineen said she did not feel emotion from his singing.

Kristian Bandeira came out next wearing all black with a Jabbawockeez mask on. He danced to a mashup of One Republic’s “Apologize” and 50 Cent’s “In the Club.”

Junior Josh Rumple, accompanied by his guitar, sang “I See Fire”

by Ed Sheeran. Baldwin commended Rumple’s choice to begin the song by singing a capella.

“God bless you,” Baldwin said.

Junior Mike Terra was the only magician at the talent show. He asked three women to come up on stage so he could read their minds.

He asked each of the women a dif-

@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

ferent question, had them write their answers down on a piece of paper, then placed them in a baseball hat.

Terra got all the answers correct, leaving the judges guessing how he did it.

Then, three dancers, sophomores Elinam Kumahia, Christine Nwafor and freshman Nancy Amankwah from the African Student Association (ASA), came on stage wearing multi-colored cargo pants .

They danced to a medley of songs.

Dineen said she enjoyed the dancers’ stage presence. “Loved the pants,” she added.

As soon as sophomores Kevin Follis and Ciarra Bulgar came on stage, the crowd went wild. The crowd continued to cheer as the duo danced to a Beyoncé medley. They received a standing ovation from the entire audience and the judges.

Allie Gath / THE GATEPOST Kiyanna Chataigne, a freshman, Sophomores Kevin Follis and Ciarra Bulgar danced to some of Beyonce's greatest hits. said, “Ciarra and Kevin were my favorite. They were so in sync and definitely had the most energy.” the baritone, but the dance moves room, as well as highlighting the Taylor Anderson, a freshman, put me over the edge.” amazing talents of my peers.” agreed, “The coordination and music After a final burlesque dance numMargaret Richardson, a sophochoice was the perfect combination ber from the Fusion team, the judges more, said, “I would’ve picked the of flawlessness.” announced the winners. Third place same people.”

Following the dance duo, senior went to Donnelly, second went to Sarah Horwitz, a senior, said, “I’ve John Ferrera sang “Long Black Train” ASA and first went to Follis and Bul- gone to this event in the past. This

by Josh Turner. He danced during gar. year was the most diverse yet!” the instrumentals and got the crowd Donnelly said the talent show clapping along. “gave me the opportunity to show CONNECT WITH ALLISON WHARTON Baldwin said, “I was surprised by what I can do outside of the class- awharton@student.framingham.edu

APRIL 27, 2018

THE GATEPOST

ARTS & FEATURES | 13

CLUB PROFILE

English club wants YOU Taylor Langmeyer Staff Writer During her freshman year, sophomore Sara Senesac was unsure of whether she could find students she could relate to.

As an English major, Senesac was looking to find people who were interested in reading and writing as much as she was.

But as a student, Senesac was having a hard time balancing classes and an on-campus job. Finding time for friends, as well as trying to find a way to fit into a club just seemed daunting.

Unable to find many people who had similar interests to hers in the classroom, Senesac took a leap of faith and decided to try out the English club.

Luckily, she found what she was looking for.

“Going into my first club meeting, it was nerve-wracking and I didn’t know what to expect. When I got in here and met everyone and got to see what we were doing, I felt

comfortable almost immediately,” said Senesac.

English club meets bi-weekly on Wednesdays in May Hall 112A during the universal free period, 1:30-2:20 p.m.

During their weekly meetings, club attendees not only discuss literature students are reading in and outside of the classroom, but also spend that time thinking about upcoming events to help garner more interest in the club.

Most recently, the club hosted a Harry Potter movie night. Last semester, during the Halloween season, it hosted a “Spooky Reading.”

During that event, members of the community were invited to bring in their favorite scary book and read it out loud to the audience.

According to Club President Ashley Merola, the club is also always looking to collaborate with other writing-and-reading focused clubs, such as The Onyx, the University’s literary magazine.

Moreover, students are also encouraged to bring in their writing

assignments for peers to look over for grammar and style.

Merola says one of her main goals is to show the value of literature and writing to every student and help spark an interest in English students might not know they have. That in turn, might help them become a more established member of the FSU community, she said.

“English club is open to all students,” she said. “You don’t have to be an English major or minor to join. It is a way that students can make connections and communicate in the community.”

And with such a small roster, the club is always looking for new members, she said.

Merola has been in the club since her freshman year. And as president this year she said she hopes to bring the club back to its glory days when it was much more involved on campus. Merola said she has been working hard to keep English club strong for current and future students.

Since joining English club, Senesac said it has “changed my life.”

She said, “It gave me new friends.”

CONNECT WITH TAYLOR LANGMEYER

tlangmeyer@student.framingham.edu

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

14 | ARTS & FEATURES

APRIL 27, 2018

THE GATEPOST

"Symbiotic Earth" challenging our concept of evolution Cameron Grieves Asst. Arts & Features Editor A screening and discussion of the film “Symbiotic Earth: How Lynn Margulis Rocked the Boat and Started a Scientific Revolution” was presented as part of the Duty and Disobedience Series in DPAC on Thursday, April 19.

Director John Feldman and Margulis’ son and long-time writing partner Dorion Sagan facilitated the discussion following the film screening.

The film tells the story of Lynn Margulis, who as a young scientist in the 1960s was ridiculed for positing the theory that symbiosis is a key driver of evolution. This went against the Darwinian view that life evolved only through random genetic mutations and competition. Margulis instead presented a symbiotic narrative in which bacteria joined together to create the complex cells that formed animals, plants, and all other organisms.

Margulis was always attracted to what was considered outlandish,

according to Feldman.

“What really started Lynn down this path was being a young student at the University of Wisconsin, one of the only female students at the time, and being largely dismissed by her colleagues,” Feldman said, adding that Margulis was driven to prove them wrong.

The documentary offers a coherent look at Margulis’ theory and also extensive interviews and feedback from various scientists around the world that Margulis collaborated with on this theory of symbiotic evolution.

Traditionally, science has viewed living organisms as machines, and in order to study them has used a reductionist approach, which breaks things down into their component parts.

Now, thanks to Margulis’ research, scientists are beginning to use a holistic approach - putting the world back together again, exposing properties that emerge from the system itself, and challenging our delusions that we can control and subjugate nature, according to

Feldman.

Sagan stressed the importance of applying these ideas to our current issues with medicine, nutrition, and the environment, which he believes we are not addressing under the correct scientific lens.

“The real objective is to get people talking about these things. In some cases, particularly with evolution, people have been hesitant to latch on to these beliefs because they fear their views will be seen as unscientific. However, a lot of these ideas have scientific validity,” Sagan said.

One issue that the film seeks to address is the way we view organisms, particularly bacteria, as being foreign agents in our bodies. However, as the film suggests, these bacterial organisms play a crucial role in the formation of our evolution as humans and the maintenance of our health.

“We anthropomorphize so much, place value judgments on bacteria - categorizing ‘bad’ bacteria and ‘good’ bacteria, but there is a bigger picture. When you’re

Hummingbird Films

healthy you have more, not less, bacterial diversity, and our habits as a species are contributing to the decline in species diversity,” Sagan said.

CONNECT WITH CAMERON GRIEVES cgrieves@student.framingham.edu

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ARTS & FEATURES | 15

ALBUM REVIEW

Cameron Boucher deserves "No Halo" Andrew Willoughby Arts and Features Editor Over the last year or so, people - especially women - have been standing up against sexual aggressors, exposing their actions.

Of course, the cases that gain the most attention are the ones that involve celebrities.

These have always hit me hard when they’re about people I looked up to and admired. But, none quite as much as the post made on April 9 and the conversations it had sparked.

In the wake of an announcement from Cameron Boucher saying his bands, Old Gray and Sorority Noise, will be on indefinite hiatuses after their upcoming tours, Nicole Schoenholz, a former member of The World is a Beautiful Place, posted this on Facebook: “My entire experience in the music industry is a bunch of dudes working hard to make sure the bands they make money off are not outed as rapists so f**k [Sorority Noise] and [Old Gray] because [Cameron Boucher] is a f*****g scumbag who raped a friend of mine.”

What immediately struck me was that this wasn’t the victim. It was someone who assumed they were posting on behalf of a friend.

I personally find this disgusting. The victim of a sexual assault should have the right to their own privacy and the opportunity to self-disclose if they wish to do so.

Boucher himself then said Schoenholz’s “accusations are false. … I can confirm that the actions against me are baseless.”

Later, the victim made her own post about the situation that, in my eyes, completely validated what Schoenholz had said.

She described her 2013 encounter with Boucher. I’ll leave out the more vivid details here, but what is important to note is that the two had a consensual encounter and fell asleep together. The next morning, the woman woke up to Boucher attempting to initiate another sexual encounter while she was asleep.

Needless to say, one cannot give consent if they are asleep.

This is rape.

She also said, “I made the decision five years ago to tell people I trusted about this and unfortunately one of them broke my trust.

I never intended to have this in the

public sphere, mostly because I don’t want to deal with backlash or people telling me this isn’t abuse. I wonder sometimes if Cam even remembers it.”

Apart from Boucher’s actions, what really disgusts me is the response. While most comments on the woman’s post are supportive of her and damning of Boucher, there are a striking number that question whether what he did was actually rape.

It was.

A penetrative sexual act that does not involve consent is rape and should be treated as such.

The number of men who can’t wrap their heads around this basic concept boggles my mind.

It’s also important for bands that are close with Boucher to speak up.

Sorority Noise’s final tour was set to be with headliner, The Wonder Years. Sorority Noise made the decision to pull out of this tour.

As of publication, the only thing The Wonder Years has said on the matter is that they will be replacing Sorority Noise’s set with an acoustic set of their own.

Old Gray plans to embark on a farewell tour with long-time friends Cerce and I Kill Giants this summer.

Over a week ago, I reached out to Cerce and asked about their plans for the farewell tour. They responded, “Cerce as individuals and as a group takes sexual assault allegations very, very seriously and we will keep everyone in the loop as soon as we’re given more information about what is going to happen here.”

The band has not said a word since.

Dylan Hanwright of I Kill Giants echoed Cerce’s statement: “We’ve been given no information about the context of these shows moving forward. … We’ll let everyone know what’s gonna happen as soon as we know.” Again, this was over a week ago. Neither Hanwright nor his band has said anything on the matter since.

It’s up to these bands to decide whether they want to support a rapist by continuing with this tour.

I’m not sure what “information” they’re waiting for.

I believe they have all the information they need.

CONNECT WITH ANDREW WILLOUGHBY

awilloughbyvvv@student.framingham.edu

30 seconds to garbage Cordelia Stark Staff Writer 30 Seconds to Mars recently dropped its long-awaited album, “America.”

Months prior, the band released the first song from the album titled “Walk on Water” and it was an instant hit. Not even a week after its release, the song was played during Celtics games and on a plethora of commercials, so one would assume the rest of the album would be rocking, right?

Wrong.

I sat down to listen to the entire album and was more disappointed than I can begin to explain. I’ll be honest - I didn’t finish listening to most of the songs. Jared Leto has always been one of those people who doesn’t seem to age and has the ability to be good at everything from acting to creating music, but this entire album screams one thing: old.

I’ve been a fan of 30 Seconds to Mars for as long as I can remember, and this resembles your oncecool dad attempting to create EDM vomit compared to their typical punk-styled screams followed by memorable and emotional lyrics.

Every group has to switch it up once in a while, and no one expected Jared Leto to continue writing songs such as “The Kill” and “Hurricane” from previous albums, but this is just, well, bad.

The album features popular artists such as A$AP Rocky and Halsey on a few tracks to perhaps heighten the record itself. It seems as if Leto needed them in order to create a song that would be played over and over on 107.9, but honestly, they seemed to make the songs worse.

Halsey sings along with Leto on the third song, “Love Is Madness,” and is barely audible when Leto lets out his famous screams that sound more like he is trying not to drown under water and let out a screech for help. The lyrics were written for someone like Katy Perry - no offense to the Katy Kats out

Interscope

there - rather than famed rocker Leto, who’s been pretty successful over the years.

“One Track Mind” features A$AP Rocky rapping in between Leto’s sadly mediocre lyrics. Just as the song almost starts to sound good, the chorus comes and becomes a heap of auto-tuned humming from Leto that makes me want to press pause and never listen again.

Rocky’s verse sounds sloppy and forced instead of intense.

The only two decent songs are “Walk on Water” and “Dangerous Mind,” both of them still sounding like a somewhat resemblance of what 30 Seconds to Mars became famous for. You’re still able to hear the familiar sound of Shannon Leto’s drums pounding in the background, while Jared’s voice sweeps you into an entirely different musical universe. Either way, they are reaching for the monkey bars, and falling flat on the pavement.

If this was Leto’s attempt at becoming more modern in terms of what’s on the radio nowadays, I wish I could have just told him one word, “No,” and to stick with what he’s good at.

Grade: CFor the effort and because 30 Seconds is classic, but it's time to Jared Let-go.

CONNECT WITH CORDELIA STARK

cstark1@student.framingham.edu

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

APRIL 27, 2018

THE GATEPOST

16 | SPORTS

SPORTS Baseball splits a doubleheader with Salem State to remain in fourth place in MASCAC

By Richard Tranfaglia Asst. Sports Editor Framingham State split its doubleheader with Salem State on April 24.

The Rams lost the first game 4-3.

Aaron Williams started off the top of the first with a single to left field. He then stole second to get himself into scoring position.

Cameron Borelli reached on an error by the shortstop, scoring Williams to make it 1-0.

The Vikings responded in the bottom of the first. Brendan Greene reached first base on a fielder’s choice and managed to advance to second on an error thrown by the second baseman.

Alex Toomey singled to left field, which scored Greene unearned.

The Rams had a quick 1-2-3 inning which gave the Vikings a chance to take the lead.

In the bottom of the second, Mac Daniel Singleton started off with a triple to left. Shawn Rebello scored Singleton with a sacrifice fly to right field.

Salem made it a 3-1 game in the fourth inning. Jose Cedano doubled to left and scored off a triple by Singleton.

The Rams got within one in the top of the sixth. Williams scored his second run on the day off a double by Kyle Lippert. The Rams flew out three consecutive times to end the inning.

In the bottom of the inning, Cedano singled to right, followed by a single by Singleton. R.J. Warnock singled to left to score Cedano and extend the lead to two.

In the top of the seventh, Kyle Dembrowski got the Rams within one with a homer to left. Framingham could not get anything else out of its offense and ended with a strike out by Joe Ambrosino.

Both starting pitchers pitched the whole game. Kyle Hodgson allowed eight hits and four runs for the Rams and Brock Riley allowed three runs and four hits.

The Rams move to 15-15 on the season and 6-5 in the MASCAC.

Framingham took the second game 8-2.

The Rams started off strong with a double by Lippert. Borrelli followed with a double to left to score him. Kyle Pileski singled to right to score Borrelli and take a 2-0 lead.

The Rams’ offense continued to work in the top of the third inning.

Lippert started again with a single to left. Jordan Pallazola singled to left to advance Lippert. Pileski followed with a double to right to score Lippert.

Dembrowski singled to right, and an errant throw by the right fielder allowed Pallazola and Pileski to score. Anthony Venuti followed with the fourth single of the inning that managed to score Dembrowski.

After two scoreless innings, Venuti homered to left to start the top of the sixth.

The Vikings answered in the bottom of the inning. Singleton singled down the third base line. Cedano followed with a single to left. Fisher scored both Singleton and Cedano with a double down the line.

The Rams added an insurance run in the top of the seventh and then finished with a quick 1-2-3 inning to end the game.

Michael Andrews pitched a complete game for the Rams, allowing eight hits and two runs. Dylan McCormick went 2.2 innings for the Vikings, allowing eight hits and six runs.

The Rams improve to 16-15 on the season and 7-5 in the MASCAC.

FRAMINGHAM STATE 8 SALEM STATE 2

CONNECT WITH RICHARD TRANFAGLIA rtranfaglia@student.framingham.edu

SALEM STATE 4 FRAMINGHAM STATE 3

Baseball

batting average leaders

Upcoming Schedule

1. Aaron Williams

.405

4/27 at Keene State

2. Jeff Besozzi

.333

3. Anthony Venuti

.315

4. Matt Fogerty

.308

5. Cam Borrelli

.290

6. Kyle Pileski

.286

4/28 vs. Fitchburg State (2 games) 4/30 at Plymouth State

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

APRIL 27, 2018

THE GATEPOST

Ferr or Foul:

SPORTS | 17

MASCAC standings

Cowboys release Dez Bryant

By Matt Ferris Sports Editor

Softball

1. Worcester State 10-2

On Friday, April 13, the Dallas Cowboys cut one of their best wide 2. Framingham State 8-4 receivers in franchise history; Dez Bryant.

Bryant, who is 29 years old, was scheduled to make $12.5 million this season. By cutting the receiver, Dallas will save $8.5 million in cap space.

During Bryant’s eight-year tenure with the team, he ranked in the top three in receptions, top five in receiving yards and number one in receiving touchdowns in franchise history.

Dallas presumably cut Bryant because his production over the last few seasons did not measure up to the salary he was receiving.

Bryant has failed to cross the 1,000 yard threshold in each of the last three seasons, and failed to catch double-digit touchdowns in each of those seasons.

Frankly, that kind of production does not deserve the pay Bryant was lined up to make in 2018.

Cutting Bryant leaves the Cowboys quite vulnerable at the position, leaving Terrance Williams as one of their biggest threats. Williams has never had a 1,000 yard season and has only caught for over 800 yards one time in his five-year career.

Dallas also has Cole Beasley, but much like Williams, Beasley also has never had a 1,000 yard season and has only had over 800 yards one time in his six-year career.

The Cowboys brought in free agent Allen Hurns during this offseason which could be a major help. Hurns has had a successful career in Jacksonville, catching over 1,000 yards with double-digit touchdown catches in his career. However, the problem with Hurns is his health.

Hurns has had a difficult time in his career staying healthy, playing just one full, 16-game season in his four-year NFL career.

As for Bryant, he is now a free agent looking for work for the upcoming NFL season.

Many NFL teams have shown interest in Bryant, including the Washington Redskins, San Francisco 49ers, Houston Texans and the New York Giants.

But perhaps the most intriguing location for Bryant is the Baltimore Ravens.

The Ravens have already revamped their receiving corps this offseason, bringing in Michael Crabtree from Oakland and John Brown from Arizona, but they could use an experienced outside receiver like Bryant.

Baltimore has had a history, under Head Coach John Harbaugh, of bringing in older receivers who appear to be on the downside of their careers and reviving them.

The Ravens have brought in aging receivers such as Anquan Boldin, Steve Smith, Sr. and Mike Wallace in recent memory and turned their careers around.

Boldin came to Baltimore and produced over 800 yards in all three seasons. He also helped the team to a Super Bowl victory, catching over 100 yards with a touchdown in the game.

Smith Sr. came to Baltimore in his mid 30s and caught 1,000 yards once in his time with the team.

Wallace went to the Ravens fresh off a season in which he played in every game and only caught for 400 yards for the Vikings. In his first season in Baltimore, Ravens’ quarterback Joe Flacco turned him into a 1,000 yard receiver.

If Dez Bryant wants to revive his career and become productive yet again, Baltimore is the spot for him.

The Ravens are interested in Bryant and already have a very good defense. If Bryant goes to Baltimore, he would seriously improve the offense and spring the Ravens into the Super Bowl-contender conversation.

3. Bridgewater State 8-4

4. Westfield State

8-4

5. Fitchburg State 6-6 6. Salem State 5-7 7. MCLA 2-10

Baseball

1. Westfield State

2. Mass Maritime

8-4

8-4

3. Salem State 7-5

4. Framingham State 7-5

5. Worcester State

6-6

6. MCLA 5-6-1 7. Fitchburg State 5-6-1

Women’s Lacrosse

1. Westfield State

2. Bridgewater State

6-0 5-1

3. Framingham State 4-1

4. Worcester State 3-3

5. Fitchburg State 2-4 6. Salem State 2-4

7. MCLA

1-4

CONNECT WITH MATT FERRIS mferris2@student.framingham.edu @TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

18 | SPORTS

APRIL 27, 2018

THE GATEPOST

Women’s Lacrosse’s 10-game win streak snapped

By Matt Ferris Sports Editor On Friday, April 13, the Framingham State Rams hosted the Fitchburg State Falcons in a MASCAC game.

The Rams came out and dominated the Falcons in the first half, outscoring them 9-2.

Framingham had six different goal scorers in the half.

Grace Gamache led the way for the Rams with three goals in the first.

Alissa Marino followed right behind her with two goals of her own.

The other four goal scorers for Framingham were Kimmy Foley, Britney Herskowitz, Nicole Pacheco and Hanna McMahon, who all had one goal each.

Framingham had assists on six of the nine goals they scored in the first.

Gamache led with two assists, while Foley, Audrey Duhaime, Morgan Begley, and Jacey Salvie all added an assist each.

The second half was much closer, but the Rams still outscored the Falcons 9-7 to earn an 18-9 victory.

Foley led the Rams in the second half, scoring three goals.

Aside from Foley, Framingham had six other goal scorers.

Marino, Pacheco, Duhaime, Gamache, Begley and Caitlyn Baril scored the six other goals for Framingham. Gamache also added five assists in the second half.

Foley and Gamache both had four goals in the victory to lead the Rams. Gamache also led Framingham in assists, as she set up seven goals on the day.

Indigo Fox Tree-McGrath faced 18 shots in net for the Rams and stopped nine of them.

With the victory, Framingham extends their win streak to 10 games and improves to 11-1 on the season and 3-0 in the MASCAC.

FRAMINGHAM STATE 18 FITCHBURG STATE 9 On Tuesday, April 17, Framingham traveled to Westfield State to take on the Owls in a conference game.

Framingham came out looking good, scoring two goals in the first 3 minutes of the game.

Gamache scored the first goal for the Rams off a feed from Pacheco to take a 1-0 lead.

The second goal for Framingham came from a free position shot from Marino, making it 2-0.

Just 10 seconds later, the Owls got one back to cut into the Rams’ lead.

In the next 5 minutes, the Owls scored two more goals to go up 3-2 with 20 minutes left in the half.

Framingham fired back, scoring two unanswered goals, giving them a 4-3 lead over the Owls.

The first goal came off the stick of Marino from a feed from McMahon for her second goal of the game.

Pacheco scored the second goal for the Rams with the assist going to Gamache.

Westfield tied things up less than 2 minutes later, but the Rams responded again to put themselves up 5-4. Again it was Pacheco off a Gamache assist to break the tie.

Westfield closed out the half with four unanswered goals to take a three-goal lead into the break.

Framingham scored the first two goals of the second half to cut the Owls’ lead to just one.

Gamache scored the first unassisted and Foley scored the second off a feed from Duhaime.

Westfield would counter with two unanswered goals of their own to extend the lead back to three.

With 10 minutes left, McMahon took a feed from Pacheco and put it in the back of the net to cut the Owls’ lead to 10-8, but that was the last goal the Rams scored on the day.

Westfield scored two more goals to push the final score to 12-8.

Fox Tree-McGrath made 15 saves for the Rams in the losing effort.

With the loss, Framingham’s 10-game win streak was snapped. They fall to 11-2 on the season and 3-1 in the MASCAC.

On Saturday, April 21, Framingham hosted the Salem State Vikings in a MASCAC game.

After just a minute of action, Framingham already had a two-goal lead.

Just over 20 seconds in, Pacheco found the back of the net off a Marino feed to make it 1-0.

Fifteen seconds after that, Marino scored a goal off an assist from Gamache to make it 2-0.

Kristen Keenan added to the Rams’ lead just 2 minutes later to give Framingham a three-goal lead.

The Vikings got a goal back to cut their deficit to two goals, but that would be the closest they got to the lead for the rest of the game.

Framingham closed the first half with eight unanswered goals to take an 11-1 lead into the break.

The Rams had seven different goal scorers on their 8-0 scoring run.

Pacheco, Marino, Herskowitz, Duhaime, Foley and Jennifer Buckley all had a goal each and Gamache had two to give the Rams a 10-goal lead.

Of the eight goals, seven were assisted. Foley had three of them and Gamache added two.

Salem State showed a little more life in the second half, but it was still too little, too late. The Vikings scored five goals in the second half, but so did the Rams.

Gamache scored two more goals - one off a free position shot, and one unassisted. Foley, Pacheco and Keenan all added one more goal to their tallies to secure the 16-6 victory for the Rams.

In the win, Fox Tree-McGrath made three saves in net, before giving way to Mikayla Seavey, who made two saves.

With the win, Framingham improves to 12-2 on the season and 4-1 in the conference.

FRAMINGHAM STATE 16 SALEM STATE 9 CONNECT WITH MATT FERRIS mferris2@student.framingham.edu

WESTFIELD STATE 12 FRAMINGHAM STATE 8

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

APRIL 27, 2018

SPORTS | 19

THE GATEPOST

Players of the week

Softball jumps up into second place in the conference

By Liam Gambon Asst. Sports Editor

fsurams.com

Kelsi Gunarathne threw a two-hit complete game shutout with eight strikeouts in a 10-0 win against Bridgewater State.

The Framingham State Rams took on Bridgewater State in a MASCAC doubleheader on Saturday, April 21. They earned a win in the first game.

Megan Downing and Grace Caughey recorded three hits each in the Rams’ 13-hit performance.

Downing went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI, while Caughey went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles, a run scored and two RBIs. Kayla Finacchiaro and Kirsten Dick each had two hits in the game. Finacchiaro went 2-for-3 with a run scored and two RBIs, while Dick went 2-for-3 at the dish.

Kelsi Gunarathne threw a complete game, two-hit shutout to pick up the win. Gunarathne walked two and struck out eight over five innings.

FRAMINGHAM STATE BRIDGEWATER STATE

10 0

In game two, the Bears jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning to get things going.

After the Bears stretched their lead to 3-0, the Rams rallied back, scoring three runs of their own in the top of the seventh inning to tie the game at 3-3. Caughey did the damage for the Rams as she hit a two-run single with the bases loaded to tie the score.

The Bears would hit a walk-off homer in the ninth inning to seal the victory over the Rams.

Gunarathne took the loss for the Rams in this half of the double-header. Gunarathne gave up three runs on three hits and two walks while striking out seven.

Dayna Marchant, Mycala Moody and Downing all collected two hits in the game to lead the way offensively for the Rams.

fsurams.com

Kyle Pileski went 3-for-4 with a double, three RBIs and a run in an 8-2 victory over Salem State.

BRIDGEWATER STATE FRAMINGHAM STATE

6 3

The Rams took game one of a MASCAC doubleheader against Salem State on Tuesday by a score of 3-1 before taking a 10-2 loss in game two.

In the first leg of the doubleheader, Gunarathne tossed a complete game. Gunarathne allowed just one unearned run on four hits while striking out seven.

The Rams scored a pair of runs in the top of the second inning to take the lead. Finacchiaro led off the inning with a home run and Dick later scored on a passed ball.

The Vikings scored once in the fourth to draw within one.

The Rams finished the scoring in the top of the sixth off an RBI double by Lauren Salisbury.

Moody, Finacchiaro and Salisbury had two hits each in the contest.

FRAMINGHAM STATE SALEM STATE

3 1

In the second game, the Vikings put up three runs in the bottom of the first to take a 3-0 lead.

The Vikings added another run in the bottom of the second. The Rams responded as they got on the board in the top of the third off an RBI single by Caughey that scored Moody. Salem State shot back with a five-run bottom of the inning to make their lead 9-1.

The Rams scored once more in the top of the fifth off an RBI single by Caughey, and the Vikings also scored once in the bottom of the same inning to wrap up the game.

Caughey took the loss as she allowed three runs, two earned, on three hits.

The Rams are now 19-15 on the season and 8-4 in the MASCAC.

SALEM STATE

FRAMINGHAM STATE

10 2

CONNECT WITH LIAM GAMBON lgambon1@student.framingham.edu

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Grace Gamache scored four goals and added seven assists in an 18-9 win over Fitchburg State.

Amanda Martin / THE GATEPOST Megan Downing (5) fields a ground ball and makes the throw to first base.

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20 | PHOTOS

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APRIL 27, 2018 Corey McFeeley/THE GATEPOST

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Spring Fever Rises at FSU

Framingham State students and families enjoyed many of the spring events that occured on campus over the weekend and into the week. These events included the McAuliffe Center’s Science on State Street, SUAB’s Back to the FSUture, Marketing Club’s FRAMpalooza, and Towers Hall Council’s “Towers Bought a Zoo.”

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Amanda Martin/THE GATEPOST

Amanda Martin/THE GATEPOST

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