February 6, 2015

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Who will be the next Ram Idol?

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Framingham State University’s independent student newspaper since 1932 volume

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Dale Hamel announces state-wide budget cuts at All University meeting

By Mark Wadland Editorial Staff

FSU’s budget could be slashed by $350,000 if the Massachusetts Legislature approves budget cuts according to Executive Vice President Dale Hamel.

“Back in December, we had a reduction that really impacted the internship program,” he said. The second round of budget

cuts has been proposed, but still needs to go through the legislature.

Because the budget cuts “are coming so late in the fiscal year, it’ll predominantly hit equipment and some capital projects that we can defer to the following fiscal year,” he said.

President F. Javier Cevallos said when planning FSU’s budget for 2015-16, admin-

istrators anticipated statewide budget cuts would be approved by the state legislature.

Hamel said there are three phases of the Hemenway Hall construction project - the new addition, infrastructure work, and a “backfill component.”

He said this aspect of the project will occur during the summer of 2016, and the project will be completed by fall of 2017.

Brad Leuchte/The Gatepost

Cevallos said once O’Conner Hall is repurposed as faculty offices, and the new residence hall opens, there will be a net gain of 50 new beds. The administration also plans to refurbish Crocker Hall, according to Cervallos.

Hamel said, “For a long time, we’d considered the demolition of it [Crocker], but - Continued on page 5

Board of Trustees approves funding for new facilities building

By Joe Kourieh Associate Editor

Brad Leuchte/The Gatepost

Brad Leuchte/The Gatepost

FSU students display artwork chosen by juror Clara Lieu in the Mazmanian Gallery for the Annual Juried Student Exhibition.

Amal Hamada speaks about the political science community’s perception of the Arab Spring

By Phil McMullin Staff Writer

Fulbright Scholar in Residence Amal Kamel Hamada gave a presentation in the Forum Tuesday Feb. 3, titled “Political Science in the Arab Spring.”

The presentation highlighted the need for the political science community to focus more on the people of a nation, as opposed to simply the government, when examining historical events. To support this, Hamada relied on her personal experience in the Arab world.

Hamada earned her Ph.D. at Cairo University where she studied the Iranian Revolution before gaining cred-

Unlikely hero makes late interception and saves the Super Bowl 13

ibility as an expert on the Arab Spring in 2011, having studied the conflict.

“The region seemed very dangerous for political science,” said Hamada.

“Actually, it was a field of study, but always a field of study on the government - on the state. Never the people.”

She added, “The bottom line is that political science as part of the humanities has been struggling to prove its credibility as science, and recent developments in the Arab region have added to this difficulty.”

She claimed that most literature projects a destiny onto Egypt - the destiny of authoritarianism. She said the academic community assumes that

countries which don’t imitate “western democracy” will inevitably fall into totalitarianism.

Hamada said because political scientists did not pay attention to the rise of non-governmental-organizations (NGOs) in Egypt, they failed to predict or understand the Arab Spring in 2011.

She added that nearly 70 million civilians are disregarded when discussing Egyptian society because the civilians are more varied than the academic community realizes. “We do not know Egypt.”

Despite being disenfranchised, some demographics, such as women

Inside Restaurant Review: Sichuan Gourmet 11

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Opinion: You shall not pass! (the footbridge) 6

The Framingham State University Board of Trustees approved financing for the acquisition and renovation of a new property to house the Facilities Department.

The first motion involved the acquisition of the new property located at 860 Worcester Road, Framingham for $1.2 million, with $1.5 million set aside for renovations to the property.

According to the report by Executive Vice President Dale Hamel, the building is in good condition and located conveniently in the vicinity of the campus.

The building will “address short term and longer-term office needs” with its 8,000 square feet of office space on three floors, according to the report. Specifically, this will allow for the relocation of the Facilities Department, whose current office building near Maynard Parking Lot will be demolished to make room for the new dormitory.

Hamel pointed out that the property’s 37 parking spaces will help

- Continued on page 3

Student Profile: The two-year contract 9

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Editorial Board 2014-2015 Editor-in-Chief Kaila Braley

Associate Editors Joe Kourieh

Michael B. Murphy News Editor

James M. Sheridan Jr. Assistant Editors Alexandra Gomes Mark Strom

Interim Assistant Editor Julia Sarcinelli

Arts & Features Editors Avarie Cook

Sara Silvestro Assistant Editors Scott Calzolaio Kristen Pinto

Sports Editor Mike Ferris

Opinions Editor Mark Wadland

Photos Editors Melina Bourdeau

Danielle Vecchione Assistant Photos Editors Brad Leuchte Jeff Poole

Web Editor Jill Chenevert

Design Editor Brittany Cormier

OK. I graduated from the Faculty of Economics and Political Science at Cairo University in Egypt in 1989, and I did my graduate studies in Egypt, most of the time, doing my master’s and Ph.D on Iran - on the Iranian revolution. I came, early in the “90s, to the University of Virginia, Charlottesville for my masters. … Then I went back home, and this is where I finished my graduate studies. Later on, I worked as a university professor. I’ve developed an interest in what I call the “non-formal politics.” I’m not into the study of institutions, constitutions, elections, political parties and electoral systems.

These are things, though important - and I understand they are important - but they are not my interest. My interest is more of the study of how people interact in the broader sense of politics. How do they produce concepts and relations that is effected and affecting politics without really being involved in elections or voting, for instance. Most of my work was based on Iran, up until 2011, when the revolution started in Egypt and then the Middle East – in the Arab world, I mean. So I started more and more focusing on the Egyptian case and military relations, the concept of “deep state,” social movements in Egypt, etcetera.

What are your favorite books?

Cesareo Contreras

Not political science books. I love reading novels. Novels are my favorite. Biographies - I love reading biographies. I used to read comic books, but not anymore.

Corin Cook

Kylie Dembek

Cameron Grieves Phil McMullin

Jennifer Ostojski Kyle Torres

Morgan Zabinski Staff Photographers Jennifer Wang Kyle Torres Advisor

Dr. Desmond McCarthy Assistant Advisors Elizabeth Banks Kelly Wolfe

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Fulbright Visiting Scholar, sociology and political science

By Phil McMullin Staff Writer

Staff Writers Danielle Butler

Amal Hamada

Gatepost Interview Can you briefly describe your resume and educational background?

February 6, 2015

see - well I have a different approach to the concept - but I’m trying to develop - to do the literature review and to develop the concept, hoping that it would help me and others to understand why things developed in Egypt, in Turkey, and elsewhere the way they did, and why didn’t they take a different course.

What was your best undergraduate experience?

My best undergraduate experience actually, I had two remarkable experiences. One is that - do you do simulation models?

What projects are you working on?

I’m working on, actually, a long-term project. I’m working on the concept of “deep state,” which is something new to political science. It’s a concept which emerged in the last decade, describing the Turkish political system, specifically, and it was important to describe, quote, unquote, the counter-revolution in Egypt. So, I’m trying to approach the concept to

What was your favorite course in college, and why?

Oh wow, this is old. You know what the course I hated most is? The one I’m teaching now.

Yes.

Which is?

OK. This was back in the “80s. We had the first simulation model ever in the American University, in Cairo, and in Cairo University, and I participated in this one. And, for me, this was - wow - quite an experience, because I represented the delegate of Algeria, and we went to meet the ambassador. And, I was, 19, so for me this was big - wow - and the guy sat with us and told us everything.

“Political Thought.” I didn’t hate it, but it was too traditional for me, and it had like hundreds of details I needed to memorize, and it did not make any sense back then, when I was a student. And, I ended up teaching the same course. So, I’m trying to make it more relevant to students, because I can see them. I hear them. I feel that, if it is done the same way I had it, it would be a complete waste of time.

It doesn’t make sense to study Plato unless you can relate Plato to what is happening around us. … But, when I ended up teaching it, I just felt the responsibility to make it more fun. And I believe that I have succeeded in doing this. The feedback and reaction I get from my students - that it helped them see things differently - and this is important.

How would your students describe you?

Can you tell me about your biggest accomplishments?

Wow. That’s a big question. Well, on the personal level, I like to think of myself as a good mom and wife – which, my kids do not share the same feeling. I like to think of myself as someone who accomplished a family, and this is important for me. On the professional level, actually, my main accomplishment is that, after 25 years after graduation, I still enjoy discovering. So, I don’t feel that I’m in command, or the master of what I’m doing. I feel like I’m still learning, and things I read, things I see, people I meet and discussions I have still have the ability to surprise me.

And, for me, this is an accomplishment, because once I feel established in a sense that “I’m there,” for me, this would not be an accomplishment - this would be like the beginning of the end. So, thank God, so far, I still have this ability to be surprised.

attempt to connect everything we’ve done throughout the college year, together, to make sense, and to help the person pause and absorb. Because sometimes, you read like, hundreds of pages, and nothing remains with you, because you don’t have the time to absorb. You don’t have the time to allow things to rest in you. And there is no such course.

Melina Bourdeau/The Gatepost

And we had to embrace the Algerian character to represent them. So this was really, for me, new. And another thing, I read Machiavelli - “The Prince,” and I did a paper in one of the classes about how much the Egyptian foreign policy adapted the ideas of Machiavelli. So, for me, it was another “wow”, because this was new. At least, for me.

What class do you think every student should take before they graduate?

My kids go to French schools in Egypt, and when they were young, they had a class called “Life Coaching.” So, “Life Coaching,” I think, is crucial. And, in terms not of guiding, but helping students to pause.

Because sometimes, when you are in university, you’re pushed all the time to take courses, to do readings, to follow a path, but I think at one point it’s very important to help students and professors, as well, to pause for one course and reflect. So, kind of connecting everything together. So if I am to design this course, it will not be on a topic. It will be like an

I don’t know about them here. I have to wait until the end of semester to find out. But I think - this is what I get from them - I’m colorful and fun.

Colorful in the sense of colors, real colors, and colorful in the sense of ideas, because I’m not manipulating them but, wow, this sounds bad, I’m kind of capable of taking them through different ideas, contesting ideas, opposite ideas. So, colorful in this sense, that it’s not like, a monotonic approach to things. So, probably, this is how they would describe me.

What advice would you give to students?

Well, to be sincere to themselves about what they want to do. Because sometimes - and this is global - I had students in Egypt in American University in Cairo, here in the States in 2008 and this year, and in Germany, and sometimes you feel that students are not true to themselves. They don’t know what they want to do, and they just go with the flow. They have no answer to “Why do we study political science?” for instance, “Why do we take this course?” And this is tough, because when you’re not sincere to yourself, when you do not try, at least try, to figure out what to do with your life, then I really feel bad because I feel that every minute spent in college is like a waste of time. And, second is to have fun at what they’re doing. Life’s too short, so enjoy it and have fun.

February 6, 2015

Board of Trustees - Continued from page 1

alleviate the ongoing parking shortage.

The property acquisition and renovation will be financed through a “non-revolving line of credit” with Mutual One Bank in Framingham, according to the Board’s resolution.

The Board approved a motion to reappoint 40 non-tenured faculty members for the year, according to the trustees’ report. Also appointed were one full-time temporary, one tenure-track, and one tenured faculty member, and five new administrative staff members. Three resignations, one retirement and seven emeriti were also approved.

Also approved was a motion to appoint Robert Richards as trustee emeritus, a position which President F. Javier Cevallos said “is a way to recognize the many years of dedicated service Robert Richards contributed to the Board.”

As trustee emeritus, Richards will be welcome to attend and participate in Board meetings, but will not vote on motions, according to Cevallos.

Also present at the meeting was Sociology Professor Daisy Ball, who coordinates a program called InsideOut, which involves Framingham State students visiting and studying side by side with prison inmates. Ball explained how the program functions, and introduced a presentation by Student Trustee Brandon Martinez, who completed an Inside-Out course in sociology last semester.

Martinez described how he gained not only academic knowledge throughout the course, but also cultural knowledge from the “insiders” who participated, and called the experience “eye-opening” and “rewarding.”

In other business, Cevallos gave an update on three strategic goals established by the administration - diversity, compliance and efficiency.

For the goal of diversity, Cevallos explained that, as of Fall 2014, 18.7

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percent of full-time faculty are part of underrepresented racial groups.

Additionally, Cevallos noted the hiring of a Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, FSU’s participation in the Leading For Change Consortium, the creation of gender-neutral bathrooms, new courses centered on diversity and public discussions such as Diversity Dialogues, as advancing this goal.

Regarding the second goal, compliance, Cevallos said that changes have been made in order to meet compliance standards laid out by the Department of Higher Education regarding academic and student affairs.

A motion was approved to create a Compliance, Audit and Risk subcommittee. This committee, according to the report, “reviews, considers and, as necessary, makes recommendations to the Board of Trustees on matters concerning the University’s internal and external audit controls, and compliance and risk assessments.”

Finally, Cevallos discussed how, based on the goal of efficiency, the administration will look to streamline student services such as Financial Aid, and implement new “informed course scheduling” to better determine the amount of courses each department should offer each semester.

Present for her first meeting was the newest trustee, Nancy Budwig, who was introduced by Chair Joseph Burchill.

Budwig, who received her B.A. from Vassar College and her Ph.D. from the University of California at Berkeley, is currently the associate provost and dean of research at Clark University, where she is also a professor of psychology. Budwig is also active in publishing, according to Burchill. She recently authored an article in “Change: The Magazine of Higher Learning.”

“She certainly is a needed and welcome member of our Board,” Burchill said of Budwig. “Her academic background will serve us well. I’m very

SGA allocates over $12,000 to the History Club

By Mark Wadland Editorial Staff

SGA allocated $12,468.95 to the History Club for it’s annual trip to Washington, D.C. The breakdown of the trip’s costs is $4,500 for round trip bus tickets, $1,531.25 for the Metro, which will be reimbursed when the trip concludes, $3,622.70 for the hotel, $400 for meals for the chaperones and $2,415.00 for student meals.

SGA also allocated $3,350 to WDJM Radio Station for a Mac computer and sound equipment.

The equipment costs include: $229 for a mixer, $125 for a wireless microphone, $160 for two speaker stands, $38.55 for a speaker stand case, $255 for a case to carry the equipment, $34.99 for a black light, $88.99 for special effects, $72 for a tote to carry the lights, $269.99

for a cart to carry the speakers, $144.48.

SGA allocated $1,896 to Pride Alliance for its LGBT conference in New York from April 10-12.

Registration fees are $425, the hotel costs $526, transportation costs $700 and $176 is allocated for meals.

The Food Science Constitution was approved.

SGA’s Constitution and by-laws were approved.

In other news: • A 5-K run will be held in Melrose on Saturday, April 18 in memory of Colleen Kelly.

• “The Yellow Dress,” a play about domestic violence, will be performed on Thursday, Feb. 19 at 7 p.m. in the McCarthy Center Forum.

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pleased to welcome her to the Board.”

Also introduced to the Board was the recently hired Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Sean Huddleston.

Cevallos praised Huddleston’s strong background in diversity and inclusion efforts in higher education.

Huddleston was also welcomed by Student Trustee Martinez, who told Huddleston that “students are very excited to work with you.” He also read a letter to Huddleston from the chair of SGA’s Gender Inclusion Ad Hoc Committee thanking the new CDIO for helping to advance inclusion initiatives such as gender-neutral bathrooms.

Vice President for Enrollment and Student Development Susanne Conley updated the Board on her office’s progress toward six goals for the 2014-15 academic year, as detailed in her report.

The first of these goals is to effectively use data from last year’s “EBI Campus-Wide Student Climate/Diversity Survey” to guide initiatives.

Conley explained that the results indicated that students of color did not feel welcome on campus. This was the impetus for several Diversity Dialogues last semester - “to create a more welcoming environment and keep diversity top of mind for students, faculty and staff,” she said.

The second goal is to “collaborate with Academic Affairs to facilitate a campus-wide discussion of ethical student conduct and citizenship in an academic community.” With that goal in mind, Conley said that the Dean of Students met with a group of faculty and staff members, as well as representatives from the Center for Excellence in Learning, Teaching, Scholarship and Service, in August, and have since begun to implement discussions of ethical conduct in first-year seminars and a “BlackBoard-based tutorial” that will be ready for use this semester.

Conley’s third goal is to pilot a new

“co-curricular transcript offering” through CollegiateLink, which will be issued for the first time to students involved in the University Leadership Academy and Emerging Leaders Program at the end of the semester.

In order to improve the enrollment process for new students, which is the fourth goal, Conley’s office will work with Admissions to streamline deposit payments, use social media more effectively and “implement a comprehensive graduate recruitment plan” through outreach and participation in conferences around New England.

Conley’s fifth goal involves improving the function of the Financial Aid office, especially in regards to new students, making their initial award picture “more responsive, timely and competitive” by “utilizing early estimation” of Financial Aid packages, “de-emphasizing” deadlines and penalties, and “empowering admissions counselors to share accurate FA information with recruits.”

Conley’s final goal is aimed at improving Student Records and Registration Services by promoting and training personnel in data systems such as Banner, Argos and DegreeWorks. The office hosted several training sessions for this goal last semester.

The Board was also updated by Trustee Barbara Gardner on the progress of Academic Affairs’ five-year strategic plan, which is in its third year.

Gardner’s report outlines six overarching goals: “Develop and retain quality faculty and staff,” “Strengthen new student preparation, induction and early academic success,” “Pursue excellence and engagement in the academic experience,” “Prepare students for global citizenship and competitiveness,” “Strengthen and expand STEM programs and student success in STEM areas” and “Respond to labor market trends in academic program and center development.”

Police Logs

Friday, Jan. 30, 2015 1:29 - Georgetown St. Framingham Mutual Aid FPD – FPD Advised.

Monday, Feb. 2, 2015 6:05 – Maynard Road Parking Lot Snow Removal Tow – Snow removal Maynard Parking Lot.

Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2015 20:41 – Athletic Center 1 Male with a dislocated shoulder – Transported to MWMC. Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015 1:56 – Hemenway Hall Elevator entrapment – services rendered. Facilities filing referral with elevator company.

Thursday, Feb. 5, 2015 10:23 – Towers Hill Slip and Fall – Transported.

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News

February 6, 2015

Winter graduates told to ‘live large,’ ‘do good’

By Joe Kourieh Associate Editor

Five hundred and twenty-three students - 248 graduate and 275 undergraduate - officially became Framingham State University alumni during Winter Commencement ceremonies in the Dwight Performing Arts Center on Saturday, January 21st.

The graduate ceremony took place at 10 a.m., with the undergraduate degrees being awarded at 1 p.m.

After the National Anthem was sung by class of 2011 alumni Barbara Pierre, the graduating students, along with their friends and families, were welcomed by Linda Vaden-Goad, provost and vice president for academic affairs, and university President F. Javier Cevallos, as well as Claire Ramsbottom, class of 1979 graduate and president of the Alumni Association Board of Directors.

“I encourage you to wear your black and gold proudly,” Ramsbottom said. “And I encourage you to be proud alumni and come back to share your expertise.”

Vaden-Goad described the graduating class as “a tremendous collection of brain power, talent and perseverance,” after reminding them that this ceremony represented the moment they had been working toward throughout their years of higher education.

During his introductions, Cevallos called for a moment of silent reflection to honor those who helped bring the students to this point, then asked them to stand and present themselves to their friends, families and faculty. He then introduced the commencement speakers for each ceremony.

The graduate students and their guests were addressed by Robert Martin, former interim president, who held the position before Cevallos was hired.

“Today, too much of our world is painted in absolutes,” Martin said in his address. “In ‘blacks and whites’, if you will. It doesn’t allow for much genuine communication or understanding.

Don’t view your education as ‘over,’” he said. “If you do, we will have failed you. … Stretch yourself, as I hope you have been stretched here. And in so doing, you will come to know the world as having many shades of gray.”

The crowd was addressed during the undergraduate ceremony by university trustee Colin Owyang, who is also the executive vice president of regulation and general counsel at National Grid USA, and the newly appointed deputy attorney general of Massachusetts.

“Live every day like you’ll have to tell someone about it,” Owyang told the crowd during his speech, “because you probably will.”

“All of you, someday, will have the great blessing of offering insight or advice to someone in need of something only you can offer,” he continued, “whether you’re a woman or man of the church, of science, of sports, just a free spirit, whatever it may be. … There wouldn’t be more of us every year if there weren’t something

different and new to do - some way for us each to leave our own mark on this place. Whoever you are or whatever you stand for, whoever you have to thank for being who you are, make your mark.”

Owyang closed his address by reminding the FSU class of 2015 to “live large, leave something behind for the rest of us, do well for yourselves and do good for someone else along the way.”

Following each address, the time came for graduating students’ degrees to be given out by the administration.

The degrees were certified by Cevallos, and officially conferred by Board

the students were provided their honorary hoods by their respective deans.

Kim Taton said that “graduating is liberating, freeing, terrifying, exciting, intimidating, and wonderful” after receiving a degree in English.

“We’ve spent years preparing ourselves for our future and our eventual careers, but we’ll still have to stumble and maybe fall a few times before we find our way.

But that’s how life is,” she added.

Monique Vacon, whose degree is in Education, is looking forward to her new endeavors.

“After completing my undergraduate degree at FSU, I have been present-

Jennifer Wang/The Gatepost

Taton, Vacon, Murkison and Scully have officially received their degrees as of Saturday’s ceremony, but have all decided to walk in the graduation ceremony in May in order to have more friends and family present, or, in Vacon’s case, to work and save money in the meantime.

Brigid McCarter, who graduated in sociology, was disappointed in the guest restrictions due to the size of DPAC. “I loved the intimate setting, but I feel that the university can definitely do more for winter graduates. …

Graduation is a huge part of someone’s life, and only being able to have three

Jennifer Wang/The Gatepost

Alumni Association President Claire Ramsbottom, ‘79, invited graduates to return to FSU in the years to come to share their expertise with future generations.

February 6, 2015

All University - Continued from page 1

we’re moving forward with upgrades at this point.”

Lorraine Fountain, a sophomore biology major, said she is pleased FSU will be renovating Crocker Hall. “They should definitely not tear it down,” she said, but added, “I wish they’d make it more relevant for students.”

Hamel said that this project will most likely be long-term and could begin this summer with window replacements.

Sean Huddleston, the recently appointed chief diversity and inclusion officer, said, “If we think about inclusive excellence, we’re thinking about the ability to look at inclusion from a very, very important lens.”

He added this will “ensure that inclusion is embedded into everything we do” at FSU. Huddleston said he will focus on four main areas of inclusive excellence - removing access barriers to the school and ensuring that FSU is diverse from a “representation perspective,” making sure that students, faculty and staff have the opportunity to engage with one another, growing continuously in terms of education and finally, making students feel safe and valued while at FSU. “We’re actually going to develop a scorecard, so we’ll have a way to measure these things,” Huddleston said. “We’ll use that data to form how we move forward.”

To reach inclusive excellence, Huddleston said he wants to utilize “collective impact,” a tool that has been used in nonprofit organizations and by administrators in higher education for the last few years.

One of the main areas of collective impact include a common agenda consisting of three main goals Cevallos set for the university last fall.

The other aspects of collective impact include determining which activities are most beneficial in attaining inclusive excellence, keeping a continuous communication in terms of the progress made in inclusion, maintaining a backbone organization, such as the CDI, and developing a common

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measurement tool.

“With all these things in place, I believe that we’ll have a strong opportunity to move inclusion, diversity and equity” throughout campus so everyone can own it, Huddleston said.

To improve STEM retention, Margaret Carroll, dean of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, said the McCauliffe Center is working with the MetroWest STEM Education Network to increase supplemental instruction to help students perform well in their STEM courses.

She also said adminstration will work to decrease class sizes, increase professional development in STEM areas and identify students who may be close to failing STEM courses. She added the administration has begun planning a “bridge program” to identify those students most at-risk of failing these classes, which will launch in the summer of 2016. Students struggling with STEM courses will come to campus before the semester begins, and will be provided “support, both academic and social, to improve their transition to college and their campus success.”

Currently, some STEM courses exceed 120 students. She said administration would like to cut that number roughly in half, which will allow for more flexible scheduling.

Last fall, Cevallos was one of 100 university presidents from across the country to be invited to the White House to discuss how to improve STEM retention. FSU wants to “increase the number of STEM students it prepares,” according to Carroll.

Recently, administration submitted a “system-wide grant” to the Department of Higher Education. If funded, FSU administrators will be able to put some of their ideas for STEM retention into practice, according to Carroll.

“We have four on-going searches for new faculty members,” she said, and added that seven new tenure-track faculty members were added to the STEM program last fall. There are 1,113 students in the STEM program, Carroll said.

Under a grant from the Massachusetts Computing Attainment Network (MassCAN), the MetroWest Network and the McCauliffe Center will be working together to prepare high school science teachers this summer, she said.

FSU faculty from the chemistry, biology, physics and earth science departments collaborated to submit a grant, which, if approved, will allow them to train middle school science teachers as well. Carroll said she believes the grant will be approved “very soon.”

She added the Massachusetts State University system, including FSU, is attempting to “host a regional network of Project Kaleidoscope,” a national effort to “reform STEM education and graduate more students in the STEM fields.”

The computer science and business departments are collaborating with IBM, as well as local businesses, to “develop a new certificate program in mainframe computers,” said Carroll. She added very few institutions train students in mainframe computing, but it is a necessary skill be-

cause “mainframes are used in corporate America.”

Marc Cote, dean of arts and humanities, said FSU received accreditation by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) in October 2014, and is now eligible to join the National Portfolio Day Association, which creates portfolio reviews for juniors and seniors across the U.S. He said administrators may renovate or relocate the ceramics room in May Hall. He added he does not know where it may be moved.

Cote said a new Mac computer lab has been installed in one of the communication arts integrated visual media classrooms.

He added the installation of two new Mac computer suites is underway in the art and music student lounge. An electro-acoustic music composition lab is nearly complete in the Henry Whittemore Library.

Cevallos said the construction projects are “kind of a domino effect,” in that one project leads to another, “so you have to be moving things around” to make it all work.

since 1987 and has raised over $20 million for the care and services of homeless individuals in Boston. The group encourages individuals, businesses, foundations and charitable organizations to help its goal of ending homelessness in Boston.

“We focus on removing the final barriers of transition that often city and state programs don’t have the means to cover,” the non-profit said in its mission statement, adding that there is an emergency shelter on Woods Mullen, now that the Long Island shelter is closed.

Dost initially reached out to the group in order to provide volunteer opportunities for club members, however, because the shelter is now closed, Friends of Boston’s Homeless requested donations instead.

“I believed FSU’s donated goods would best serve the individuals who receive services from the Friends of Boston’s Homeless,” said Dost. She added that this organization offers help to its patrons for shelter, education and life-

skills programs, which help those who are homeless to obtain and keep housing.

Dost encouraged those interested to reach out to her at her email, volunteer@ framingham.edu, for more information about Friends of Boston’s Homeless or other volunteering opportunities.

Murray said the organization requests any hats and socks that are donated to be new for sanitary reasons, but she encourages students to bring any other items that they don’t need anymore, such as extra mittens and scarves.

“This is the first time we are doing this drive,” said Ski and Snowboard Club Treasurer Carrie Duff, a sophomore, who hopes that this will help those in need. She added that the club hopes to have a good turnout.

The Ski and Snowboard Club began soliciting donations on Monday, Jan. 26 during the clubs and activities fair. Since then, the club received about 30 donations - mainly of gloves - said Murray, but the club is hoping to have

more to give to the Friends of Boston’s Homeless by the end of the drive.

The last time to donate is Friday, Feb. 6 in the McCarthy Center lobby from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Michaela Lombardo, a sophomore, said she will definitely donate. “This is the time of year when people are complaining of being cold in classrooms, but there are people who really need to stay warm. People should really think about giving back if they can.”

However, Sophomore Kaylee Slafkosky said she had not heard about the drive. “I wish I knew earlier, though, and I would have grabbed some scarves from home, but that’s a good cause.”

Sophomore Colleen Jenkins also said she didn’t know about the drive.

“I don’t think it was well publicized. I would have brought stuff if I had known about it over break.”

Freshman Holly Brown said she would try to donate, adding, “I have a lot of scarves.”

Jeff Poole/The Gatepost

New Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Sean Huddleston announces his plan to reach inclusive excellence at FSU.

Ski and Snowboard Club host winter accessories drive for the homeless

By Julia Sarcinelli Interim Assistant News Editor

Jennifer Wang/The Gatepost

of Trustees Chair Joseph Burchill.

“By the authority vested in me by the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education, and the Board of Trustees of Framingham State,” Burchill said, “I hereby confer upon you the appropriate bachelor’s degree and enter you into all the attendant rights and privileges. Congratulations!”

Each undergraduate who participated in the ceremony was announced by the dean of his or her associated college – Marc Cote for Arts and Humanities, Susan Dargan for Social and Behavioral Sciences, Margaret Carroll for STEM and Education Department Chair Julie Zoino-Jeannetti for Education students. For the graduate student ceremony, names were called by Dean of Graduate Studies Yaser Najjar, and

ed with many opportunities, including a long-term substitute position and a teacher in a behavioral classroom,” she said, adding that it “feels great to graduate from college. It was such a huge accomplishment and couldn’t have been possible without the support from professors and my family.”

Kayla Murkison, who received a degree in communication arts, said that graduating was “the biggest accomplishment I’ve ever made, so it feels great.”

Chelsie Scully, also in communication arts, said, “It’s an indescribable feeling knowing that I don’t have anything scheduled or planned out for me anymore.”

She added, “Now I’m on my own and have to forge my next path.”

people witness this event was sad.”

Transfer student Joe Dennis, who received an undergraduate degree in history, described his graduation experience as somewhat “anticlimactic” due to his short time at FSU, but said that “it feels good.

I’m the first of my siblings to finish, so it’s nice,” he added.

Casey Rhodes, who graduated in elementary education, described walking the stage on Saturday as “surreal.

“It was that moment when I realized that I was done, and my time at Framingham was complete,” she said.

“I am looking forward to this next stage of my life now that I have my degree. It is a nerve-wracking time, but it’s also very exciting and I can’t wait to see what the future holds!”

The Ski and Snowboard Club is holding a winter accessories drive for Boston’s homeless collecting hats, gloves, scarves and any other winter clothing students may have to donate.

“There’s a large population that doesn’t have enough to stay warm,” said the Ski and Snowboard Club’s President, junior, Caitlin Murray. Together with Tori Dost, the service intern for Student Involvement and Leadership Development (SILD), the Ski and Snowboard Club began a winter accessories drive in January to give back to the homeless during the winter season.

The club is donating all items collected to Friends of Boston’s Homeless, an organization that helps people who are homeless with shelters, emergency care and other beneficial programs.

On their website, Friends of Boston’s Homeless describes itself as a non-profit organization that has been operating

February 6, 2015

6

The Gatepost Editorial

More than the diploma

On graduation day, FSU students don their caps and gowns and proudly walk across the stage to shake the president’s hand and receive their diplomas. Years of slaving over text books, writing papers, working on projects and sitting through lectures have led to this moment - the moment they officially earn their degrees.

Graduates take these pieces of paper home and keep them as representations of all of the hard work they’ve completed which will hopefully earn them get a good job. But in reality, students have gained much more than diplomas in the time between freshman orientation and walking the stage.

Framingham State University’s most recent Common Data Set shows that 51 percent of the class that enrolled in 2007 has graduated from FSU. One third of those FSU students who graduated did so after more than four years.

A university’s success is based not only on retention rates, but on how quickly students complete their programs and graduate. Universities are constantly trying to improve these percentages in order to impress prospective students and their families.

Although 1/3 of FSU students who graduated did so in more than four years, many are not unhappy about spending extra time here. Some have needed to take time off from school in order to gain clarity about what they plan to do with their lives. Others have taken an extra semester or two to finish a minor in a field that they only recently realized they are passionate about. Many students change their major in the course of their college career.

Spending extra time at school, only a few months in some cases, could alter what jobs these students apply for and what they devote their lives to.

Throughout their college career, students have learned about themselves and what they’re passionate about, gained invaluable experience through extracurricular activities and taken internships to hone their skills. Students’ personal development throughout the years in which they attend college is essential to who they become and what they achieve long after they leave this campus.

And while many students want to graduate on time in order to save money or because of the pressure they feel from their families or friends, college is an investment, and putting a little more into that investment in order to find the trajectory that will allow them to live a life they are passionate about is well worth it.

FSU investing in student success doesn’t necessarily mean investing in programs that will make the school’s statistics look more impressive.

It means offering advising support and adequate courses to ensure that students who are on track to graduate on time are able to - but also acknowledge the benefits some students gain from taking some extra time before getting their diploma.

Encouraging students to take this extra time, if they need it and choose it, creates more successful alumni in the long run, which is an investment for the school as much as it is for the students themselves.

While statistics are a measurable way to assess student success, sometimes the most valuable lessons are the ones that aren’t measurable, and don’t show up on paper. As important as that most cherished piece of paper - the diploma - may be, it cannot reflect the true value of a college life well lived.

Op/Ed

Crocker Hall is all it’s crocked up to be

Recently, FSU administrators made the decision to begin refurbishing Crocker Hall, the oldest building on campus. Built in 1886 as a dormitory, it now houses faculty and administrative offices.

I’m excited for the renovations to begin. I hope they will include an upgraded heating and air conditioning system.

As long as the building is structurally sound, it should not be torn down. Its uniqueness and appeal lie inside - the creaking floorboards, close-knit offices and narrow staircases. It has a different atmosphere than any other building on campus, and I am glad it’s here to stay, at least for a little while longer.

The building has survived multiple disasters and still serves a purpose on campus. It will also be celebrating its 130th anniversary next year - tearing it down one year prior would be shameful.

Geographically, it sits pretty much directly in the middle of campus - taking it away would remove not only one of the most historical structures, but also the heart of FSU. Sure, the 129-year old building has its faults, but without it, we’ll all just be stuck in a bunch of modern-day buildings that just aren’t as appealing.

When I walk into Hemenway Hall, for example, I get a nervous sensation in the pit of my stomach because it brings up painful memories of science and math classes - not exactly my strong suit. However, when I walk into Crocker Hall, it’s as though as though I’m entering a different time. The building has a different feel to it, which makes sense because it was built long before anyone on this campus was born.

I think the renovations will pay off in the long run, both economically and socially. I believe students will appreciate an updated Crocker Hall and hopefully, the faculty working there will enjoy it as

well. I view Crocker as the glue holding this university to the past. This institution, as some of you may know, is the first public teacher’s college in the U.S. Without Crocker Hall, I feel as though FSU would lose a lot of its charm and history, so I agree with the decision to renovate it. Even if I graduate before the renovations are completed, I think faculty will appreciate the upgrades.

One day, I hope Crocker will be transformed into a clubhouse of sorts, where students can go to hang out and socialize in a different type of setting - one with a fireplace and bathtub. In my mind, Crocker will be a more social environment, filled with several couches, a few ping pong tables and a minifridge. This will help students come together to create lasting memories and an unforgettable time at FSU.

Framingham State University is an island surrounded by heavily trafficked roads. This poses a problem for students on foot who are hoping to get to the commuter parking lots, University Pizza, Mad Willies or anywhere else on the other side of Route 9.

Dean of Students Melinda Stoops reminded those of us traveling to and from campus that crossing Route 9 can be dangerous. In an email sent on September 4th, 2014, she wrote, “I strongly encourage you to cross at the designated pedestrian crossing, which is a footbridge. … This footbridge has lights and marked crosswalks.”

The email came nearly two years after FSU senior Colleen Kelly was struck and killed by a car while crossing Route 9.

Despite the concerns of the administration, the journey across the footbridge became dangerous following the historic snowstorm that hit New England last week, as well as the snow that fell Wednesday.

After navigating the slippery, snow-covered sidewalk of High Street, the next obstacle students encounter is the crosswalk. There are two buttons on either side of the sidewalk which light road signs to alert oncoming traffic of pedestrians crossing the road.

Although these buttons are potentially life-saving, no care was taken to keep them functioning.

On the side of the road where the footbridge is located, snow has been plowed over the button, making it inaccessible to students who may be coming back to campus in the dark.

While the stairs to the bridge have been blocked for weeks due to crumbling steps, students are able to use the handicap ramp to get to the other side of Route 9. Once there, there is another crosswalk that leads them over a one-way on-ramp to the highway. Unfortunately, this crosswalk is currently of little service to students, because the other end is

blocked by a snowbank that is several feet high. So, if they want to cross, they have to take their chances walking across an intersection, hoping drivers see them over the snowbanks.

Massachusetts is known for being prepared for snowstorms. It is shocking, then, that a bridge which is crucial for the transportation and safety of thousands of students would be allowed to fall into such disrepair. A student recently died crossing Route 9. Will it take another death before this issue is addressed? Functions of state and local governments are infamously uncoordinated and slow, but perhaps when it comes to a crossing that has claimed the life of a 21-year old girl, they could rise to the occasion and develop a sense of urgency.

Brad Leucthe/The Gatepost

Mark Wadland Opinions Editor

You shall not pass! (the footbridge)

Brad Leucthe/The Gatepost

Sign reads: “Push button to turn on warning lights.”

Phil McMullin Staff Writer

The Gatepost welcomes submissions from students, faculty and staff for the Op/Ed page.

Please send submissions under 300 words to gatepost@framingham.edu.

The Gatepost editors reserve the right accept or reject submissions, and to edit spelling and grammar as is deemed necessary.

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

February 6, 2015

7

8

February 6, 2015

ARTS & FEATURES

Winners announced for Annual Juried Student Exhibition Second place was awarded to Laurie Leavitt for her wood cut piece, pictured below, titled “Good Company.”

Brad Leuchte/The Gatepost

Brad Leuchte/The Gatepost

First place was awarded to Aric Davis for his sculpture, pictured above, titled “Family Tree.”

By Scott Calzolaio Asst. Arts & features Editor

The Mazmanian gallery opened with a juried showing of the most notable work from some of FSU’s students.

The variety of artistic expressions and materials used range from portraits to ceramic and canvas pieces. The student work occupies the space, with every wall decorated, pedestals with pieces on top, as well as pieces on the floor and hanging from the ceiling.

Clara Lieu, whose mezzotint series “Hiding” was on display in the gallery through Dec. 2014, was the solo judge on Feb. 3.

“Our juror, Clara Lieu, was impressed with the quality of the work submitted, which made her job difficult,” said Tim McDonald, art professor and the Mazmanian Gallery director. “In her eyes, these works displayed not just a quality in the making and craftsmanship, but an extra something that she did not expect.”

Lieu awarded Aric Davis, an art education graduate student with first place for his piece, “Family Tree.”

The skeleton of the tree is composed of a wire frame and screen mesh covered in papier-mâché. The surface texture of the sculpture is made from very light paper, the markings made from handmade, woodcut prints. The woodcut prints form a bark-like pattern, but also deeply resemble the texture of muscle tissue in the way the lines intertwine.

Upon closer observation, the branches and trunk contain patterns of vertebrae and other bone structures such as skulls, femurs and finger bones. Small

Brad Leuchte/The Gatepost

accents of red, blue and yellow from the papier-mâché faintly show through the light paper, adding just the right amount of color to an otherwise black and white piece. The base of the piece is made of wood and contains carved impressions of skeletal structures.

“This piece was a good way for me to explore many of the issues I have been dealing with [regarding] members of my extended family,” said Davis.

“We all have skeletons in our own closets. I was trying to give light to the ones in my extended family in the only way I know how.”

He added, “I am very honored to have had a few pieces in the show this year, and a bit flabbergasted that my piece was selected for the first place honor.”

Lieu awarded Laurie Leavitt, an art education graduate student with second place for her piece, “Good Company.”

“I chose to work from a photo I had taken of my daughter and dog,” said Leavitt.

This piece is also printed from woodcuts, and contains only four colors - red, black, white and gold.

Each color adds a layer to the portrait creating an abstract sense of foreground and background. The dog, featured in white and surrounded by a gold aura, sits directly below a young girl, distinguishable by the black of her hair. The grain of the wood gives the portrait a faded, naturalistic style, unseen in other submissions.

Leavitt expressed how she was surprised she was awarded second place. “I wasn’t aware that it was being judged,” she said.

Lieu awarded third place to a ceramic piece entitled “Asteroidea” by Meagan St. Laurent, a studio

Third place was awarded to Meagan St. Laurent for her sculpture, pictured above, titled “Asteroidea.”

art major. The coil sculpture is about a foot tall, and highly resembles a piece of a coral reef. The piece is actually two individual pieces that wrap around one another, with accents of yellow, green, red and purple, resembling different marine plants found on coral reefs. The focal point of the piece is an orange starfish that sits at the top of the reef.

“I liked the idea of having a single piece separate into two individual pieces that wrapped around each other, so that’s what I started with,” said St. Laurent.

“The shape then began to remind me of a coral reef, not only in shape but also in color, so I stained the main piece of the clay with neutral colors and upon firing, used acrylics to paint the sea life with vibrant colors that capture the viewer’s eye.”

Other pieces include Jaime Taborda’s papiermâché sculpture, “Surrender,” which features a fullsized woman on her knees, with her hands out to her sides and closed eyes to the sky. The piece sits on the floor and is impossible to miss.

One of the only collage pieces in the gallery was an untitled piece by studio art major Maria Katinas.

The collage is made from a variety of colored paint samples.

“It took many trips to Home Depot and lots of time,” said Katinas. “But the process of making it was fun because I really couldn’t mess up with it.”

Art Professor Keri Straka said, “I think this collection of artwork is exceptionally strong, and it shows the range and depth of our students at FSU. … All of us in the Art Department are very proud of these emerging artists as they forge a path for themselves that is deeply embedded in the fabric of contemporary art and critical discourse.”

February 6, 2015

Arts & Features

9

T he t wo-y e a r con t r ac t

By Melina Bourdeau Editorial Staff

“It began only this past summer, actually,” said Aoife Lee, a sophomore psychology major at Framingham State. “I sort of walked into it. It’s not like I had grand aspirations to be a model, a successful model, any of that.”

When Lee isn’t in her room reading or eating her favorite fruit - bananas - she can found modelling.

It’s her hobby and third job.

Her career as a professional model happened by coincidence, as she described. Lee began working at Brandy Melville, a retail clothing store, in Boston last June. Unbeknownst to Lee, Brandy Melville only hired her because they thought she was a model.

After being photographed for their Instagram and website, Lee caught the attention of Click Model Management Inc. She laughed as she described the company’s request. “[They] saw my photos and said ‘Hey are you signed with anyone?’ Because Brandy Melville only hires models. ... They were like, ‘Sign with us.’”

Lee paused, mimicking her surprised and confused expression.

“I thought, ‘Okay, this is weird. It’s a two-year contract, and how serious is this going to be? How strict is this going to be, because I don’t want to be a model. I want to be a clinical psychologist.’”

After deciding that she could balance modelling with her academics, she signed the two-year contract.

Without any training on how to be a model, Lee jumped into her first shoot completely inexperienced.

“They taught me nothing,” Lee said. “All I had to go by was what I had seen when I was a little girl watching ‘America’s Next Top Model’ - what I thought looked good. For my very first shoot, I was

Photo Courtesy of Aoife Lee

Photo Courtesy of Aoife Lee

Aoife Lee describes fashion as “lovely and significant. It’s what sets us apart, makes us individuals. One might assume that I am obsessed with fashion, but no. I just want to be a clinical psychologist.” booked in a studio in Boston, and I had no idea what to expect. I was really nervous.”

Luckily for her, the photographer taught her a few lessons on how to model.

Lee demonstrated some of the positions that models are required to do, none of them natural or comfortable. Models have to stick out their chins, but

Photo Courtesy of Aoife Lee

In this shoot for Petite Morte, Lee sits with Lola, the dead raccoon.

She wore deer, bear and fox with contrasting high fashion dresses.

“ABC Nightline” will be premiering the episode on the designer and her company later this week.

keep their necks back. They have to create a variety of angles with their bodies and try to look as tall as they can.

Even at 5-foot-7 Lee is considered short in the modelling industry. Ideally, women are supposed to be at least 5-foot-10 or 5-foot-11. Lee noted that her long legs were helpful, because they create an illusion that she’s taller than she really is.

Throughout the past eight months of being a model, Lee worked with an assortment of people and animals. One of her most recent shoots was with designer Pamela Pacquin.

Pacquin specializes in clothing made from animal fur. Instead of killing the animals purely for their hides, Pacquin uses animals that are hit by cars and left on the side of the road. Her designs were featured on “ABC Nightline,” and Lee modelled for the photo shoot they were filming.

Lee spoke highly of wearing the fur clothing as she detailed her favorite part of the shoot.

Pacquin asked Lee if she would lay next to the body of a dead raccoon that hadn’t yet been skinned and treated in the process of becoming a fashionable wear.

“I said yes because I knew that it meant a lot to her,” said Lee, “and I was honored, and touched actually, that she asked me to be the model for such an important shoot with such a message. I did it. And it brought her to tears. I felt really good doing that.”

Lee referred to the raccoon as Lola as she scrolled through a couple of the photographs from the shoot.

Not all of her shoots are as unusual. Lee described her “normal” routine for a shoot - when she arrives on scene, “gross, tired, cold and in sweatpants,” she spends hours to have her hair, make-up and clothes put on before getting in front of a camera. Each detail is done to meticulously, sometimes with major adjustments, like pinning clothes back.

Once the photographer sets up his or her lighting equipment and accessories, Lee is moved around until she is in the proper place in front of the camera.

“Finally,” she exhaled, “we get the position, do some shots. Boom - different look, different outfit, different hair and it just it takes a while, but I love it.

The kind of stress and business is what drives me.”

-continued on page 11

Arts & Features

10

February 6, 2015

Amal Hamada speaks about the polictical science community’s perception of the Arab Spring -continued from page 1

and minorities, are gaining political traction in Egypt after the revolution, according to Hamada.

She then discussed the qualities of a good government, which she said should include transparency, voting and freedom of expression, among other qualities. However, she warned against a political science theory that puts a one-size-fits-all definition on democracy. According to Hamada, political scientists’ overwhelming focus on improving governments ultimately takes away from a political science that could “make the people better, and more influential in making the government better.”

Hamada presented a slideshow and examined pictures of the Arab Spring.

One of the pictures included a man standing in front of a tank, challenging its authority. Since the man’s face is hidden from the camera, and his identity is unknown, Hamada said that the picture resonated among Egyptians, because the subject of the photo could be any of the 90 million Egyptians struggling in a tumultuous country.

Another photo showed women struggling with police officers. Hamada said the photo proved the perception of Arab women as feminine and docile is largely inaccurate. “From the very beginning of the revolution, women were there hitting police officers and policemen, as much as men [were]. And this is something we brag about,” she said.

Other pictures showed women leading protests, a historic development in the patriarchal society of Egypt.

The audience of about fifty people let out a collective gasp at a photo of a giant wall put in the middle of the street to block civilian rebels from proceeding. The wall had been painted to look transparent, with the image of the other side matching the sky and the tops of buildings that could be seen over the

wall itself. This reinforced Hamada’s earlier statement about the important effect of civilians mocking the government - an effect which is never studied in political science, she said.

The slideshow ended with the quote, “You can’t send them home, we need to listen and understand.”

Some students were surprised by the presentation.

“It wasn’t what I thought it was going to be,” said Sherry Rankins, a sophomore psychology major. “But I thought the pictures and the stories she shared at the end were pretty interesting.”

During a Q&A session, political science Professor Coelho said, “I wanted to know your understanding, your opinion, about how US foreign policy throughout the decades have impacted Egypt’s potential to become more democratic.”

After a pause, Hamada answered, “Is that a trick question?” drawing laughter from the crowd. She argued that the American government supports whomever they think will be the inevitable victor of a conflict. She said the US must decide if it will “remain a superpower telling a small country what to do.”

English Professor Lisa Eck asked Hamada about her views on voting.

Specifically, she asked whether voting might misrepresent the culture, showing it as a “monolithic voice,” and asked, “How do you build consensus through culture versus the vote?”

This sparked Hamada to comment that representative democracy is “functional,” but not perfect, and that attention must be paid to the disenfranchised who do not go out to vote.

Hamada said that another revolution is not likely to happen in Egypt over the next few years. While she may not think President el-Sisi is perfect, she said, “If not Sisi, who else?” The real change, she speculated, will come

Brad Leuchte/The Gatepost

“Even in clashes, we had people singing,” Hamada said about the protesters in Egypt during her presentation “Political Science in the Arab Spring.” from the next generation. In the average Egyptian home, she claimed, there is a changing dynamic between parents and children.

Commenting on this, senior English major Mike Bousquet said, “It’s amazing to think that here, you don’t see that or feel it. You don’t really know what’s going on, but something so

small will make a dynamic difference in our future.”

Despite her studies of the turmoil in the Arab world, Hamada has hope for Egypt. “Coming from a country that is 7,000 years old, time for me is nothing,” she said. “We can wait for 10 years, 20 years. We have been there.”​

Restaurant Review:

Sichuan Gourmet

By Cameron Grieves Asst. Arts & features Editor

Adventurous eaters should take a trip across Route 9 to Sichuan Gourmet a comfortable inexpensive Chinese restaurant.

Set back from the hustle and bustle of Route 9, Sichuan Gourmet is a beautiful jewel of a restaurant hidden inside a nondescript building. It occupies the upper floor of the two-story complex. The first floor is an Asian market.

Sichuan Gourmet specializes in Sichuan cuisine, one of the eight official culinary traditions of China. Specials on the menu cater to this unique provincial flavor, which is characterized by bold and spicy ingredients as

well as liberal use of garlic and chili peppers.

Sipping a cup of hot green tea, I awaited the appetizer course of Chengdu spicy dumplings, which smelled as good as it tasted. This restaurant is very authentic, and if you come here expecting a watered-down Americanized version of this rich culinary heritage, then you will leave disappointed.

There is nothing better on a cold winter’s evening than the savory house special lo mein, which I got as my entre. I left Sichuan Gourmet satisfied but not overstuffed. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone who would like to try authentic Chinese cuisine.

Mondays at 6:30

February 6, 2015

Arts & Features

11

T he t wo-y e a r con t r ac t

-continued from page 9

Since she started in June, Lee modelling in multiple locations in Massachusetts, Maine and Connecticut, with plans to go to New York next month.

Despite being in over 50 shoots, Lee is humble regarding her experiences, and admits that she has not adjusted to some elements of her hobby.

“I’m still not used to photographers taking photos and the crew around telling me I’m beautiful, or that the image is beautiful,” Lee said. “I’m still not used to that. I don’t think I will be. I don’t know what to do when that happens. I get weird and uncomfortable.”

She doesn’t think of modelling as being about looking beautiful or perfect, but considers it to be an art form, similar to acting.

“Along with selling the product,” Lee contemplated, “I like to think I make a character. Like, ‘Who am I today? I’m a sad widow. I’m going to express sadness. I’m fire, like anger.’”

Lee does experiments with her friends or family.

She explained that her parents are her favorite subjects. She shows them a photograph from one of her sessions, and asks their opinions.

“My dad will say, ‘Oh you look angry and I don’t like this,’ and I say, ‘Good! Because it’s not traditionally or conventionally pretty - you’re feeling something. It doesn’t matter what it is, as long as you’re feeling something. If you’re feeling what I’m expressing, that’s great. That’s what makes me happy.”

Lee has been published in “Elegant Magazine” and in advertisements for Tom’s of Maine.

She does editorial and beauty fashion shoots, but not a lot of commercial shoots.

Photo Courtesy of Aoife Lee

Photo Courtesy of Aoife Lee

As part of a shoot in November, Lee was on a beach in a bikini, and had to get baby oil and sand slathered onto her body in order to get the desired look for the photograph.

Arts & Features

12

February 6, 2015

Campus Conversations W h a t i s yo u r fav o r i t e superbowl snack?

By Cesareo Contreras and Danielle Vecchione

“Mustard, just mustard.”

“Boneless barbecue chicken.”

- Julianna Coughlin, senior

- Anthony Grassetti, freshmen

“Pigs in a blanket.’”

“Pizza.”

John Smith, senior

-Jaime Bailey, sophomore

“Probably just like buffalo chicken.”

“Chips and guac [guacamole].”

- Joy Rizzo, freshmen

- Amie Serino, sophomore

Edited by Timothy E. Parker February 6, 2015 PECK AND CHOOSE By Mary Jersey ACROSS 1 Baylor University’s locale 5 Smugly superior type 9 Samantha of the silver screen 14 Musical miscellany 15 Skedaddled 16 Carried, as by the wind 17 Parent of 39-Across 19 Sandy shade 20 Busy bug 21 Number on a grandfather clock 22 Fuddy-duddies 24 Scottish clans 26 Regret 27 Philosopher Jean-Paul 30 Lack of slack 35 Brainless sort 36 Husky food?

37 Splashy party 38 Not “for here” 39 Offspring of 17-Across 40 Degree candidate’s exam 41 Nutmeg cover 42 Considered individually

43 Terra- ___ (potting material) 44 Raccoonlike carnivore, surprisingly 46 Adorned with a cummerbund 47 Personal connections 48 British quart 50 Melancholy poems 54 “All the Things You ___” 55 Heavy drinker 58 Type of tape 59 Incumbents on their way out 62 Words before a high note?

63 Priestly garb 64 Introduction to psychology?

65 High times 66 Untidy state 67 Part of a galaxy DOWN 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Infant’s former home Burn-soothing plant Use as an example “___ la la!”

American flag feature “Good field, ___” Metal, pre-smelting Kingsley and Stiller Flow back from the shore Awesome provider

11 Diluted rum 12 Diarist Frank 13 Some Major Leaguers 18 Rival of Navratilova, once 23 Place to put bags 24 Police informer 25 Impassive (Var.) 27 Eastern lute 28 Be crazy about 29 Unbending 31 Foot span 32 Terra firma 33 Patio flooring, sometimes 34 Caesar or chef 36 Nigeria neighbor 39 Burn a perfume stick 43 Had a conscience 45 Charged particles 46 Strain 49 Poetic feet 50 Caught up 51 Prefix with “type” 52 Edible corm 53 Harshly criticize 55 “Shoo!”

56 Stew vegetable 57 Pre-revolutionary ruler (Var.) 60 Andy Capp’s brew 61 Bullish times

13

The Moment of Truth

Sports

February 6, 2015

Student-athletes or athlete-students?

By Mike Ferris Sports Editor

Despite it being my favorite sport, there are several issues with NCAA basketball.

Some would say it’s coaches like Kentucky’s John Calipari, who illegally recruits prospects and then abandons the program, leaving it to deal with the problem on its own. Others would say it’s the issue of “oneand-done” players, freshmen who go to college with the intentions of only playing one year and then declaring for the NBA Draft.

Personally, I feel the biggest problem the NCAA needs to address is programs prioritizing academics and basketball in the wrong order.

Anyone with any common sense knows that academics should come first and basketball second. The money, on the other hand, says basketball first, academics second.

Syracuse University placed a self-imposed ban on itself February 4, in which it declared itself ineligible for the ACC Tournament, NIT Tournament and NCAA Tournament in 2015.

Two years ago, in 2013, the University of Connecticut suffered a postseason ban making it ineligible for that year’s Big East Tournament and NCAA Tournament.

Every year, multiple programs see their best players fail off. In recent years, Georgetown has seen its NBA-bound center Joshua Smith fail off, Notre Dame has seen its star guard Jerian Grant lose eligibility and Syracuse watched as its now turned pro center, Fab Melo, sat out due to grades.

These players all have something in common, they’re all going somewhere in basketball and as a result have no incentive to strive in the classroom and the schools have no reason to care because as we all know, money speaks.

In 2008, the University of Alabama raised $123,769,841 in athletics alone, a figure raised by a couple hundred athletes. With an out-of-state tuition of $23,000, it would take the Crimson Tide over 5,000 students to raise this amount.

Because we all know universities love their money, why not cater to athletes and why make them focus on academics when they’re raising money playing sports?

TV contracts alone are enough of an incentive to put athletics above academics and this thinking funnels right down to the student-athlete, a somewhat comical term for all but some division I athletes.

The University of North Carolina has recently been caught fixing classes. Tar Heel athletes were put into classes that turned out were never really classes at all, just a way to “earn” a letter grade.

These players were enrolled in classes, but it turns out the classes didn’t technically exist. They were just there to receive an A and boost the team GPA so the program didn’t wind up like Syracuse or UConn and suffer academic bans - bans that ultimately cost the schools millions of dollars.

According to designntrend.com, one UNC player, Rashad McCants, “never went to class but got straight A’s.”

In a CNN article, former congressman Tom McMillen, said, “Kids who are walking out of these schools cannot read. They are getting degrees that are worthless.”

I understand that money talks and people like money but something needs to be done about this. Is a oneyear ban from the postseason really enough to stop these players? And what about the other programs that are doing what UNC was?

Colleges need to put the student before athlete and produce true “student-athletes.”

Photo Courtesy of New England Patriots-AP

Butler’s late pick lifts Pats in Super Bowl XLIX

By Mike Ferris Sports Editor

For many Patriots fans, Malcolm Butler became a household name in a matter of seconds after his heroic interception late in the fourth quarter of New England’s 28-24 Super Bowl XLIX victory over the Seattle Seahawks.

Moments before, Butler was responsible for Jermaine Kearse, who made what would’ve been the most significant play in the game had it not been for the goal line pick.

Kearse made a catch that was originally tipped by Butler, that he then kicked to himself, setting the Seahawks up with first and goal and just over a minute to play in the fourth quarter.

The catch had some Patriots fans saying “Again?” in reference to David Tyree’s famous helmet catch to beat New England in Super Bowl XLII. The game ended controversial, but first lets rewind and see how this Super Bowl, one that has been labeled as one of the best ever, got to this point in the first place.

It started as a defensive battle, with neither

team putting up any points in the first quarter, and Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson failing to even complete a pass in the first 15 minutes.

The closest either team came to its opponent’s end zone in the opening quarter came when the Patriots drove the ball down to the Seattle ten. On third and six, Patriots’ quarterback, Tom Brady dropped back, pressured by Seahawks’ Michael Bennett, the throw was hurried and cornerback, Jeremy Lane intercepted the pass.

Lane was hit hard on the play, landing on his wrist. He went back to the locker room and his return was listed as doubtful, he ultimately never returned, proving to be costly for the Seattle secondary.

In the second quarter, the scoring started, and New England struck first. Former Panthers’ receiver Brandon Lafell, who played a significant role in Foxboro all year, capped a nine play, 65yard drive, when he caught an 11-yard touchdown pass from Brady. Stephen Gostowski’s -Continued to page 15

Women’s basketball snaps three game skid, .500 in MASCAC

By Melina Bourdeau Editorial Staff

This past week, the Rams recovered from a three-game losing streak with their win against Fitchburg State on Feb. 3.

After a MASCAC game at home against Worcester State was rescheduled due to snow, the Rams lost 64-52 on Jan. 29.

Despite having a 70 percent free throw average for the game, the Rams couldn’t get enough points to beat out Worcester State.

The top rebounders in the game were Payton Bruegger with 7, Alycia Rackcliffe with 5 and Nicole Bostic with 5.

The Rams travelled to Westfield State, playing another MASCAC bout, but came back with a loss of 68-56.

In the first half, the Rams held a lead over the Owls when Lauren Donahue made a threepoint jump shot which put them ahead 9-7.

They couldn’t hold onto it though, because less than a minute later Westfield tied up the game.

For the rest of the matchup, Westfield shut down any attempt the Rams made to catch up.

In this week’s game, the Rams traveled to

Fitchburg State to take on the Falcons in their third consecutive conference match.

Without hesitation, the Rams scored and held a lead over the Falcons 12-0 in the first three minutes.

As the Falcons put points on the board, the Rams maintained their healthy advantage, leading by double digits three times in the first half. The score at the break was 35-25.

Out of the locker room and into the second half, the Rams continued to score. Bostic and Donahue sank lay ups in the first two minutes of the half.

The two teams held each other scoreless for three minutes, until Bruegger made a free throw.

The Falcons were caught up to the Rams as the second half continued, with 15 points scored in the last seven minutes.

But it was a free throw by Johanna Annunziata that secured the team’s four point lead and the win for the Rams.

The Rams currently sit at 12-7 overall, 4-4 in the conference.

Sports

14

February 6, 2015

Ice hockey loses two of three, fall to 4-13-2

By Mike Ferris Sports Editor

The Rams saw their season slide a little more last week as they dropped two of three by a combined score of 20-9.

The week started off on an extremely rough note as Framingham traveled to Plymouth State for a conference matchup.

The Panthers handed the Rams a 12-2 defeat in which Framingham had a revolving door at the goaltender position.

Alessio Muggli got pulled after allowing four goals in 13:30, Matthew Crescione got the hook when he let three goals in in 6:30 and Dylan Knox played the final 40 minutes, allowing five goals.

Framingham got goals from Vaughn Guetens and Brendan McCarron.

Plymouth scored the first two goals of the game before Guetens responded with his goal assisted

by Ryan McDonald.

From there it was all Panthers, as they scored ten unanswered before McCarron’s late goal assisted

by Richard Hill with 3:14 remaining in the game.

The next outing for Framingham was not much better as it traveled to Stonehill for a nonconference bout.

The Rams played strong for most of the night, as they were tied 2-2 after two, but allowed four third period goals to drop their second straight.

Framingham got on the board first as Peter Mingus tallied an unassisted goal midway through the

Gatepost Player of the Week 1/29-2/04

Despite having five players with double-digit points, the Rams sit in seventh place in the MASCAC. opening period.

After two Stonehill goals, Sean Parker netted the equalizer with 15 minutes to play in the second period, but from there, it got away.

The Rams had Muggli back in net despite pulling him in favor of Crescione in the previous game.

On Feb. 3, Framingham was on the road as it traveled to Fitchburg State and got back into conference action.

After a scoreless first period, Cameron Snyder lit the lamp for the Falcons. The power play goal made it 1-0, but Framingham

The Week Ahead...

Men’s Basketball 2/7 vs. Bridgewater St. 3:00 p.m.

2/10 @MCLA 7:30 p.m.

Sarah Palace - 14.33 PPG this week in three games. 12 vs.

Worcester St., 14 at Westfield St., 17 at Fitchburg St.

Ice Hockey 2/5 @Westfield St. (late) 2/7 vs. Umass. Dartmouth 7:50 p.m.

2/12 @Salem St. 7:00 p.m.

by Tyler Colacchio, and was followed less than a minute later when Zachary D’Errico gave the Rams a lead with his goal assisted by Gregory Stoya and Melvin Nichols.

Stoya tallied a goal of his own midway through the third on an unassisted goal, and Dylan Cosford put the icing on the cake when his shot found the empty net with 48 seconds remaining.

The win is Framingham’s fourth in the MASCAC as it now sits at 2-4-2 in the conference and 4-122 overall.

Men’s basketball drops 3 straight

By Mark Wadland

Women’s Basketball 2/7 vs. Bridgewater St. 1:00 p.m.

2/10 @MCLA 5:30 p.m.

Photo Courtesy of fsurams.com

would answer.

After Fitchburg’s Stephen Carlette went to the sin bin for elbowing, Richard O’Connor capitalized and knotted the game at one.

He was assisted by McDonald and McCarron.

Fitchburg took the lead into the intermission but Framingham came out hungry in the third.

As Stonehill had done to them a few nights before, Framingham posted four third period goals to defeat Fitchburg 5-2.

Mingus got the third period scoring started as he was assisted

Jeff Poole/The Gatepost

Editorial Staff

The Framingham State Rams suited up to play MASCAC rival Worcester State on Thursday, Jan. 29.

Down by only one point at halftime, the Rams looked to outperform Worcester State in the second half, but came up just shy, falling 41-37. The loss kept them winless in the MASCAC and 5-12 overall.

The Rams shot 23 percent (1147) from the floor. Junior Guard Tim McCarthy led the Rams with 13 points.

Two days later, the Rams played Westfield State, which sits in second place in the MASCAC standings.

The Rams jumped out to a 30-21 lead at halftime, but came up short in the second half, losing by a final of 65-56. The Rams shot 34 percent

(20-59) from the floor. Sophomore guard Daniel Gould led the Rams with 17 points, while freshman forward Tony Alexandre grabbed 12 boards.

With the loss, the Rams fell to 5-13 on the season.

On Tuesday, Feb. 3, the Rams traveled to Fitchburg State to take on another MASCAC opponent.

In the second half, the Rams fought to overcome a nine-point deficit at halftime, but could not topple Fitchburg, falling 59-54.

The Rams shot 43 percent (2251) from the field. Alexandre led the Rams with 13 points and seven rebounds, while sophomore guard Patrick Gould dished out five assists.

The loss keeps the Rams winless in the MASCAC standings and 5-14 overall.

February 6, 2015 -Continued from page 13

extra point made it 7-0.

The quarter wound down some before Seattle answered with a touchdown of its own.

With 2:16 left to play until Katy Perry took the stage at halftime, Marshawn Lynch proved to be “Beast Mode,” when he bullied his way across the goal line for a three-yard score.

With the score tied 7-7, the Seahawks’ “Legion of Boom,” which consists of Richard Sherman, Byron Maxwell, Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas, had a chance to prove they were the best defense in the game and hold New England.

They were unable to do so, as Brady had his way.

Without Lane, and a healthy Chancellor, whose injury was reported Monday morning as a torn MCL, Brady spotted a mismatch with Comeback Player of the Year, Rob Gronkowski, on the outside. He took the snap from the 22, looked off a safety and lobbed a ball over the top that “Gronk” came down with.

The touchdown came with 31 seconds left and it appeared this would be the score at the half, but Wilson and company had other ideas.

With only half a minute to play, the Seahawks appeared they were going to run the clock out as Robert Turbin was handed the ball for an inside run. After he broke a couple tackles and gained 19, Seahawks’ coach Pete Carroll decided points could be had and burned his first timeout.

Wilson showed his mobility on the next play, running for 17 and followed that up with a 23yard pass to Ricardo Lockette that had ten additional yards tacked on as the result of a Kyle Arrington face mask penalty.

This set Seattle up at the New England 11, and with six seconds left Carroll had a tough decision, kick and take the points or throw to the end zone and risk having the clock expire.

He chose the latter and it paid off as Wilson

Sports threw a beautiful back shoulder curl to Chris Matthews who came down with the ball and sent the Seahawks to the half tied 14-14.

As play resumed, Seattle dominated the third quarter, scoring ten unanswered and ultimately 17 unanswered, including the first half, to take a 24-14 lead.

The scoring plays in the third consisted of a Steven Hauschka 27-yard field goal, and a Doug Baldwin touchdown catch, his only reception of the game as he battled Patriots’ cornerback Darrelle Revis for the evening.

“It’s a big accomplishment ... it’s just crazy. It was just a big time play and lifechanging play.”

-Malcolm Butler, Patriots cornerback

Down double digits, Brady did as Brady’s always done, he led the Patriots on two fourth quarter touchdown drives.

The first of these drives was highlighted by a Danny Amendola four-yard score and the second a Julian Edelman three-yard touchdown catch.

Edelman’s go ahead touchdown came with 2:02 to play, but the Seahawks came out firing on all cylinders.

The final play before the two minute warning was a 31-yard reception from Lynch, and after an 11-yard catch from Lockette, Kearse made

15

the play that took the air out of the room for Patriots’ fans.

On first and goal following the spectacular grab, Lynch carried for four yards down to the one. This is where the controversy comes in.

Many feel Seattle should’ve run Lynch again and followed the phrase, “stick with what got you there.” Carroll did not.

Wilson threw on second and goal and Butler jumped the route, intercepting the ball and sealing Super Bowl XLIX for the Patriots. All that was left to do was a Brady kneel down but that was preceded by a large scrum that saw Seahawks’ defensive end, Bruce Irvin, get ejected.

The win captured the ever-elusive fourth Lombardi Trophy for the Patriots, all of which have come in the Brady-Belichick era, and puts the two in elite company.

Brady, who took home game MVP honors, joins Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw as the only three quarterbacks with four championships, while Belichick and Chuck Noll are the only coaches to accomplish this feat.

Brady finished the game with 328 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions, while Wilson threw for 247, two touchdowns and the lone pick in the waning seconds.

Lynch carried the ball 24 times for the Seahawks, gaining 102 yards and scoring once, while LeGarrette Blount gave the Patriots 40 yards on the ground on 14 carries.

Each team had a receiver with 109 yards, Edelman for New England, Matthews for Seattle. Gronkowski added 68 yards and Shane Vereen had 64 for the Patriots. Lockette and Kearse gave the Seahawks 59 and 45 yards, respectively.

Despite all of this offensive output, Butler’s play was most significant, and he said it best when he and Edelman shouted into the camera, “We’re going to Disneyland!”

February 6, 2015

16

Ram Idol Second place winner Lucy Pendergast (below) per for med, “Ma ke You Feel My Love” and “Don’t Forget to Remember Me.”

Ch r istina Kapinos, (below) the thi rd place winner, wooed the audience with her renditions of “Adia” and “Ma ma’s Song.”

Brad Leuchte/The Gatepost

“If you have voice, use it.

You just might surprise yourself.” said SUAB’s 2015 Ram Idol winner, Kaitlyn Gordon (above). Gordon was one of several students who used their voice to entertain the audience Wednesday night in DPAC. Brad Leuchte/The Gatepost

Brad Leuchte/The Gatepost

Brad Leuchte/The Gatepost

Ram Idol, a campus-wide singing competition, was hosted by 2014 Ram Idol Tyler DeMoura.

DeMoura said, “The most rewarding part of being involved in Ram Idol is that I get to work with SUAB on an event.”

Demoura is also a member of the Hilltop Players.

Brad Leuchte/The Gatepost Brad Leuchte/The Gatepost