March 27, 2015

The

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Lady Rams avenge season opening loss Page 16

Framingham State University’s independent student newspaper since 1932 volume

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Fired FSU employee pleads guilty to felony theft, sentenced to two and a half years in prison

By Michael B. Murphy Associate Editor

Former FSU employee Robert Walmsley, 35, was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison after pleading guilty in Middlesex Supe-

rior Court on March 6 to charges he stole over $110,000 from the university.

Once released from prison, Walmsley, who pleaded guilty to three counts of larceny over $250 and two counts of presenting a

fraudulent claim to employer for payment, will be placed on five years’ probation. Walmsley will be regularly drug screened as a condition of his probation.

A restitution hearing will be held on May 19 to determine the amount

Walmsley will pay back to FSU. The March 6 guilty plea brought to an end a nearly two-year investigation by the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office into the suspicious spending habits of the former - Continued on page 3

Sophomore Alex Brown waits patiently while donating blood to the American Red Cross Thursday afternoon in The Forum.

FSU supports student success in STEM through SI, new practices

FSU Student Privacy Not Fully Protected

By Corin Cook Staff Writer

Your personal information may not be as private as you think.

Framingham State University offers many privacy policies which promise confidentiality of personal information, but in many cases, loopholes which may breach a student’s privacy do exist.

Many FSU students have heard

Brad Leuchte/The Gatepost

the horror stories of students developing an embarrassing medical diagnosis and somehow getting this information sent to his or her parents. With the Health Center’s required privacy policy, this should not be plausible, but it is.

In regards to the health center, FSU Dean of Students Melinda Stoops said, “Our Health Center - Continued on page 4

By Sara Silvestro Arts & Features Editor

Following Massachusetts’ initiative for excellence in STEM education, Framingham State University has implemented a number of programs to improve STEM retention with its sister schools.

STEM stands for a group of disciplines - science, technology,

engineering and mathematics.

Massachusetts has created goals for excellence in STEM education. The STEM Education Coalition, (a national advocacy group) works to show the importance of the country being an economic and technological leader, and is now working on getting the rest of the country on board.

- Continued on page 3

Inside Opinion: Allow us to think and drink 6

Around the Horn: American League preview 16

Album review: Earl Sweatshirt, “I Don’t Like Shit, I Don’t Go Outside” 11

We came, we saw, we nom-nom-nom: Cupcake Wars 20

News

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

Associate Editors Joe Kourieh

Michael B. Murphy

James M. Sheridan Jr. News Editor

Alexandra Gomes Assistant Editors Julia Sarcinelli Mark Strom

Tanya Ström Arts & Features Editors Avarie Cook

Sara Silvestro Assistant Editors Scott Calzolaio Kristen Pinto

Interim Assistant Editor Cesareo Contreras

Sports Editor Mike Ferris

Opinions Editor Mark Wadland

Photos Editors Melina Bourdeau

Danielle Vecchione Brad Leuchte Jeff Poole

Web Editor Jill Chenevert

Design Editor Brittany Cormier

Staff Writers Danielle Butler Corin Cook

Amelia Foley

Cameron Grieves Robert Jones

Phil McMullin

Jennifer Ostojski

Morgan Zabinski

Staff Photographers Jennifer Wang Advisor

Dr. Desmond McCarthy Assistant Advisor Elizabeth Banks Kelly Wolfe

March 6, 2015

Jessica Linehan

Gatepost Interview

Larned Resident Director

By Julia Sarcinelli Assistant News Editor

What is your favorite part about your job?

Can you briefly tell me your educational and work background?

I love helping students. I think that is one of my favorite things about this position, whether it’s supervising the staff and encouraging them to do better in seeking whatever they want in life, like, “Hey you got this.” I’m a huge supporter, so that’s one thing.

I went to Rivier University in Nashua New Hampshire for four years and I got my degree in criminal justice and a minor in psychology. And currently studying with a tutor for the GRE’s so I can get my master’s in Counseling.

Do you have any advice for students who may want to become an R.A.?

I’m not from Kentucky. It started as a habitat trip through Rivier when I was an undergrad and I just fell in love with the area and went back every year to volunteer, so it’s been five years of volunteering down there in eastern Kentucky.

How do you like it so far?

I really do love it here. My co-workers are great and supportive. The whole department is supportive. The students are wonderful, and they take a lot of initiative here, which I’m not used to, so it’s very nice.

How are they taking initiative?

I think a lot of students here are very proactive. They have a lot of clubs on campus. They start a lot of clubs on campus, and I feel like every student is at least involved in two or more clubs - or at least from what I’m finding out.

How do you think your residents and R.A.s would describe you?

That’s a tough question. I don’t know.

I would like to think I’m pretty easygoing and laid back as a person ,and I am like that in my work, too. I don’t like to be too tense. I like to keep that behind closed doors, you know. If anyone sees me stressing it happens.

I would hope all nice things.

There’s the administrative side and then there’s the on-call side. So I’m dealing with incidents, incident management and just your everyday interaction with students and my R.A.s.

There’s a lot of different branches for our job.

I love running. One of my favorite things to do is hiking. I love anything that is outside, like kayaking. Those are definitely the top. I just signed up for a half marathon, so I’m training for that.

Are you from Kentucky?

This is my first year. I started in July.

What does your job entail?

What are some of your favorite hobbies?

I was a residence director for two years at Rivier, where I got my undergrad. I worked as an R.A. Before that, I did my time in retail for twoand-a-half years. I worked at a bunch of camps - one in particular was Camp Sunny in Kentucky. I do a lot of volunteer work down there.

How long have you been an R.D. for Framingham?

Absolutely. And I was very close with my R.D. staff, too, so that really helped.

Photo courtesy Jessica Linehan

Then, if a student comes to me with concerns - whether it’s roommate-related or family-related or something serious - just to guide them in the proper places where they can find resources here on campus or if they just want to talk to someone, I’m always here for them.

What is some advice that you would like to give to students?

Just never give up. You can’t. Whatever it is, just keep going. And there’s definitely going to be some bumps in the road, but they have to get over that in order to pursue what they need.

If a student wants to become an R.A., I would definitely say go for it if you have that, you know, drive to help other people and the ability to just keep up with the work. It is very demanding, but if they feel like they can, then I would definitely recommend going for it. Because I think I was very reserved in college, and then I was like, “No, I’m going for this R.A. position,” and I did it, and here I am now as an R.D. What would you say is one of your best memories from your undergraduate experience?

My R.A. staff. We’re still very close.

Some of them are getting married this summer, so we’re in each other’s weddings, and it’s just one big family. That was one of my favorite moments of my undergrad. And of course going to Kentucky.

What do you think are some of your biggest accomplishments?

What do you like most about being at Framingham State?

For one, I know this sounds very cliché, but I graduated college. I was the first one to graduate college in my family, so that was a huge accomplishment. And I pretty much paid for my own tuition at a private school, so that’s a lot of money, so I think that’s one of my biggest accomplishments. And then making the transition from R.A. to R.D. and just being more accomplished in that area in my career.

The support system. Whether it’s my boss or my co-workers, and my staff is very supportive as well. Coming here and being new, they were like, “Here’s how we do things, but feel free to adjust as you will,” and I was like OK, because I’m completely different from the person that was here last year. So everyone is just wonderful here.

Did your time as an R.A. influence your decision to want to become an R.D.?

Is there anything else you would like to say about your job?

I am very thankful and fortunate to be here.

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March 6, 2015

Fired FSU employee

- Continued from page 1

assistant director of Alumni Relations.

According to a March 6, 2015 press release from Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, the investigation began in July 2013 after FSU officials expressed their concerns about Walmsley’s use of his FSU-issued procurement card to the Attorney General’s Office.

Walmsley was later arrested on Aug 5, 2014.

According to an August 2014 press release from the office of former Massachusetts’ Attorney General Martha Coakley, Walmsley was terminated from his position as FSU’s assistant director of alumni relations in June 2013 after school officials discovered he had charged the university over $100,000 in ille-

STEM

- Continued from page 1

“The goal is to make the student more successful,” said Margaret Carroll, dean of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

“Currently, if a student comes in, having declared a major in science … the chance that they will still be a science major in the fall of their sophomore year is about 69 percent,” said Carroll. “That is up from 59 percent just a couple of years ago.”

According to Carroll, in 2011, the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education came to FSU, and its sister institutions, and asked how the schools were going to improve STEM retention.

Representatives from each university started meeting to discuss and share their best practices to improve these fields. Over the years, each institution has implemented different initiatives to improve STEM retention, said Carroll.

For example, FSU’s STEM departments tested Supplemental Instruction (SI), while Bridgewater State University’s STEM departments experimented with a summer bridge program.

David Cedrone, the vice chancellor of higher education, has attended the meetings a number of times since 2011, and said he would give some money to support the programs if the institutions put together a grant, according to Carroll.

At the end of January, the universities wrote a proposal for a grant of $45,000 for each institution to support STEM retention. This includes SI, professional development, reducing class sizes and a summer bridge program.

Carroll said she hopes to hear back from the Department of Higher Education soon. Once the proposal is approved, the STEM departments would have until the spring of 2016 to spend the money.

SI is a “tutoring model” in which a student, who has already taken the class, preferably the semester before, sits in on all the lectures as an SI instructor.

SI is a way for students to have

News

gitimate expenses to “fund his drug use.” The Attorney General alleged that Walmsley spent the majority of the stolen funds on cocaine.

ports to the university to justify his spending.

“He signed and submitted those fraudulent documents … to FSU,

“He signed and submitted those fraudulent documents ... to FSU, falsely caliming they were for work-authorized purchases.”

- Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey Walmsley, an FSU alumni, is believed to have stolen the $110,000 using an FSU-issued procurement card between July 2011 and May 2013. During this time, Walmsley sent in falsified monthly expense re-

falsely claiming they were for workauthorized purchases,” according to Healey’s press release.

Procurement cards are company charge cards assigned to employees and they are intended to be spent on

a resource to review, practice and develop study skills outside of the classroom, said Carroll. SI instructors are required to hold meetings and scheduled hours for students.

“It is a very structured form of tutoring,” said Carroll. “We started it in, I believe, 2011 with maybe three or four courses. There are maybe 36 courses this semester with supplemental instructors.”

Carroll added, “SI has been funded in part from the Academic Affairs’ budget because we believe that we need to support these students and their chances for success.”

Student fees and the state finance all tutors, according to Carroll.

Another approach is professional development for instructors and fac-

would know their placement scores in math if they plan to attend college. Students would have senior year to better prepare themselves.

College students are more likely to stay in their majors and be more successful if they can pass their courses the first time and have access to the tools they need, according to Carroll.

Another approach is to reduce the size of lectures from roughly 120 students to no more than 60. The STEM program grew very rapidly, said Carroll. In 2010, there were 660 science students at FSU. In the fall of 2014, there were 1,033. As a result, lectures grew in size as well.

When there are 120-150 students in a classroom, “a professor

“The goal is to make the student more succesful.”

- Dean of Science Margaret Carroll ulty members. The universities were given several Vision Grants from the state to support professional development over the years.

Since then, faculty have been meeting at least twice a year to present on their teaching practices.

Some faculty members used Ken Bains’ concept called “Natural Critical Learning Environment” to readjust their “gateway” STEM courses such as pre-calculus.

This spring, Carroll is hoping FSU will be hosting a conference on teaching new pedagogies, or way of teaching, for it’s sister institutions and faculty on campus.

In addition, FSU is working with Framingham Public Schools to improve teacher prep, or professional development, for middle school science teachers. A grant was submitted with the Framingham Public Schools, specifically for the Advanced Math and Science Academy Charter School, said Carroll.

Also, juniors in high school are offered the Accuplacer exam so they

just stands in front of the room and talks,” said Carroll.

“That’s all you can do.”

To increase enrollment, more sections of classes will be offered in the fall semester. This will make scheduling more flexible for students, said Carroll.

“In the future, we’ll be able to offer sections in reverse, so if a student comes in and they aren’t ready, they can take a semester to [better prepare themselves],” said Carroll.

“If they fail one of those courses, they won’t have to wait a whole year to retake it.”

Catherine Dignam, an associate chemistry professor and STEM retention coordinator, Sarah Pilkenton, the chair of the chemistry and food science department, and LaDonna Bridges, the director of Academic Support and Disability Services and co-director of CASA, have analyzed and compared data from admissions to better numerically identify which incoming students are at risk of failing a STEM subject, such as biology

3

company-related business expenses.

Once Walmsley’s misuse of his FSU-issued procurement card was discovered, university officials temporarily shut down the use of all employee charge cards. However, limited usage of FSU-issued procurement cards was re-introduced at the end of September 2013.

Director of Communications for FSU Dan Magazu said the university had no comment regarding Walmsley’s guilty plea and prison sentence.

(Editor’s Note: for more on the use of procurement cards at FSU, read “Procurement cards re-introduced after alleged embezzlement incident” By Kerrin Murrary in the Nov 22, 2013 edition of The Gatepost.)

or chemistry, said Carroll.

To better prepare incoming students, FSU is planning to offer a summer bridge program, according to Carroll. The students who have already been accepted into the University but are identified to be at risk, would be offered the chance to take the courses in advance over the summer, which would be taught

by FSU faculty. The program has an emphasis in the math fields, she said. It also promotes community building.

“If they build a support structure and they get to know each other in advance, they are more likely to move forward together,” said Carroll.

Likewise, Dignam said research shows that “when students in any discipline feel like they belong to a group that is invested in trying to accomplish something - in this case their bachelor’s degree in a science, which is very challenging” - then the outcome will be more successful.

Mikaela Ranahan, a sophomore biology major with a focus in premedical, said, “Our society always needs new inputs to help further advance in science. As a STEM major, you learn a lot about scientific analysis and how to look at things from a different perspective … a scientific one.”

Ranahan believes the courses are difficult and stressful, but her secret to sticking with the major and succeeding is studying, going for extra help and taking advantage of SI. Ranahan said, “The advice I would give to STEM [coordinators] would be to have more faculty. So many students cannot get into the classes they need. Also, I think it would be great if they could focus on students’ grades and if they notice almost all of the class not doing well, they could bring in more extra help for students.”

Kenechi Izuchi, a senior biology major, said, “There are so many different career opportunities in STEM. I think FSU does a wonderful job getting people ready.”

Madison Casey, a freshman biology major, said she found that the - Continued on page 4

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March 6, 2015

SGA moves $30,000 out of reserves to unallocated for the first time

By Julia Sarcinelli Assistant News Editor

The Student Government Association had to dip into the reserves account to move $30,000 to the unallocated account for the first time, according to Treasurer Cassandra Zullo.

She said this is not because SGA has been approving more money for clubs and events, but because the unallocated account started at “much less than usual” for this school year.

Candidate’s night for SGA elections will be Tuesday, March 31 at 6:30 p.m. in the Ecumenical Center.

This is mandatory for all candidates, and the lottery for ballot placement will be held then. The SGA meeting will start at 7:45 p.m. that night instead of 7:00 p.m.

All nomination forms are available in the SGA and SILD offices, but must be turned in by Friday, March 27 to SILD. Candidates can only apply for one e-Board and/or one senate position.

Gender neutral housing will be available next school year in every residence hall except Peirce and potentially Towers, according to President Kendall Valente.

“When you check off housing, there is going to be a box that says gender neutral housing, and you can request it,” said Valente. “You will have to check off the gender you

Melina Bourdeau/The Gatepost

Senators discuss upcoming SGA elections in their weekly meeting. identify with and it will be a word box so you can type in whatever you want. …Then you will be put in with someone who identifies as the same gender as you.”

SGA allocated $8,900 for 500 copies of the spring 2015 publication of The Onyx. Nora Chan, vice president for The Onyx, said this is the same amount of money the club was allocated for last year’s publication.

However, they are ordering 200 fewer copies in exchange for “a bigger and better” issue that will include a cut-out feature on the cover, sections for the board and artist pro-

files that will be in color, according to Chan.

The Pride Alliance Club was allocated $3,487.90 for 560 T-shirts to hand out for Day of Silence on April 17. The day before, the Pride Alliance Club will be handing out the shirts along with badges that explain what Day of Silence is and other flyers and packets of information.

President Kimmy Awiszio said Day of Silence “is just to show support and remembrance of those who may have committed suicide due to hate crimes against the LGBTQ community.” Awiszio added the past

three years, students have shown their support for the event.

The Journal of Critical Thinking was allocated $2,030.93 for publication of 400 issues. The club initially asked for $2,538.67 for 500 issues, but because they average 100 leftover issues a year, the extra issues were dropped from the budget.

The Fashion Club was allocated $1,500 for 200 T-shirts. The shirts will be handed out at fairs and other events at the end of this school year and going into the 2016-17 school year, according to Treasurer Samantha Pajer.

In other news: • The All University Banquet’s first round of invitations goes out March 31 and are due by April 7. On April 8, all remaining tickets will be available online for “first come, first serve,” according to Sarah Cowdell.

• SGA allocated $2,500 for police details for the 2016 school year.

• The “Best of our Childhood” Musical Show will be held April 1 at 8:00 p.m. in Dwight Performing Arts Center. There will be songs, movies, TV commercials and more that reflect on childhood.

• The graduation fair will be held April 1 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the Form in the McCarthy Center.

• The U-Rock was given to Dan Costello.

STEM

- Continued from page 3

biggest complaint from students is that “you are behind before you have even started.”

She said a student is not set up for failure, but the amount of work that is on a science major’s plate is overwhelming.

Samantha Harris, a junior elementary education major with a math coordinate, tutors in the math lounge on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

“I have definitely seen a few more people this year coming in,” said Harris. “I used to hang out in here, and not a lot of people showed up.

A lot more people come in now and ask for extra help.”

She added, “Sometimes, it’s better to get another students perspective than a professor’s perspective.”

Seana Carrigan, a junior environmental science major, said “STEM majors are important because without them, we wouldn’t have students researching and discovering new ideas and ways to do things and figuring out new solutions to world problems.

“I also think it’s important for more women to pursue STEM majors because it is a male-dominated field,” she added.

Sydney Hurrell, a sophomore biology major, said, “I think it takes a lot of drive and personal discipline to succeed as a STEM major. It’s a lot of work, but if you like what

Brad Leuchte/The Gatepost

The new science building, funded through a national STEM initiative, will provide 16 new labs and state-of-the-art scientific equipment to students and faculty.

major you’ve chosen, it will all be worth it in the end. You just have to think about the end goal and it gets you through the tough parts.

“It is really important for the departments to work cohesively together to offer the best that they can to their students,” she added.

Ezequiel De Leon, a sophomore chemistry major, said, “The University’s retention rate, not necessarily just that of the STEM disciplines, is

in need of improvement, and it is a topic that is certainly not being ignored. I have myself seen our low retention rates beginning with my first-year general chemistry class where during the first weeks, students did not have a place to sit until three quarters of the way through the semester where one third of the seats were empty.”

Leon believes SI has helped his class performance. “As a current

Supplemental Instructor for the Biology Department, I have seen how successful SI is at helping other students develop a deeper understanding of the material at hand,” he continued.

Leon added, “I know the education I am getting from FSU is one of quality and one of affordability and I am proud to be obtaining my Bachelors degree from Framingham State.”

News

March 6, 2015

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Privacy Not Fully Protected - Continued from page 1

follows both HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) and state laws with regard to patient confidentiality. They would not release information, without permission, unless it is an emergency situation.”

HIPAA is a federal law, enacted in 1996, which among other provisions, promises privacy to individuals covered under health insurance.

While HIPAA should keep student information private, there are still ways in which a student’s health information can be exposed without his or her permission, many of which are clearly stated in the FSU Health Center’s Notice of Privacy Practices.

The five-page document begins by ensuring that students’ personal information is confidential and protected, but a few pages in, there is a page titled, “How We May Use or Disclose Your Personal Health Information,” with a list of instances in which students’ information might be released without their permission.

While most are very rare instances, there is one exception that affects many students campus-wide.

FSU’s Health Center Director Ilene Hofrenning said, “If the student is on their parents’ health insurance, the insurance company may send an EOB (estimation of

around that just so they have the full privacy, especially since college is 18 and over, so your parents shouldn’t have to know.”

Freshman Layla Soares suggested, “If they know the student is on campus, they might as well send it to the dorm or something, or add it to the [tuition] bill,” so a student’s private health matters are not exposed.

Hofrenning said the healthcare staff always “discuss with students and have signs saying a bill may be going home in the waiting room and in the exam rooms. We know for a fact that this deters students from getting needed health care.”

She added, “We have had an outside agency, JRI/Project Rise, do free, confidential HIV testing on campus once or twice a year. The last couple of times they’ve been here, they’ve done chlamydia and gonorrhea testing as well. We were surprised at the number of students who wanted this testing, and they all said it was because they were afraid a bill would go home if they had it done through the Health Center.”

The privacy policy is 11 years old, which shows that there has been a lack of attention to the issue of student privacy for years.

In regards to finding solutions to this issue, Hofrenning said, “Unfortunately, the issue goes beyond

“We encourage students to be responsible for themselves, including academic progress, health and safety.”

- Dean of Students Melinda Stoops benefits) home, or if there is a copay or deductible, a bill may go home.”

These EOBs and bills show a list of the treatments given, which gives parents direct knowledge of the illnesses their children contract.

The majority of students on campus are enrolled under their parents’ health insurance.

Hofrenning said, “This problem has gotten worse in the last few years since more and more insurance plans have deductibles, so it’s usually an issue earlier in the year when the deductibles kick in.”

Senior Brianna Tarantino said, “I feel like it’s hard because they’re on their [parents’] health insurance, so I don’t know how you can get around that, but I feel like they should look into a way they can get

us. Since a vendor, usually the lab, wants to get paid, they will send the bill to the responsible party. …We have negotiated a lower price for lab tests if the student pays out of pocket rather than going through the insurance company, so students could opt to pay it themselves. …

There is a statewide group that is working on a statewide policy, and possibly legislation to protect students’ privacy.”

Senior Patrick Merrill is appalled by this issue, calling it a complete invasion of privacy.

“The point of college is to grow, not only in education, but in life,” Merrill said. “Every single person has made mistakes in life. It is up to them to learn and grow from them. Having your parents hear every little detail is not going to al-

low the student to grow. If a student has enough power to drop out without parental permission, then they should have the power to keep their records sealed.”

ment said, “The only exception under FERPA with respect to outside notification relates to situations in which university officials have reason to believe that a student’s

“If a student has enough power to drop out without parental permission, then they should have the power to keep their records sealed.”

- Senior Patrick Merrill In regards to other aspects of privacy on campus, students are mostly protected.

“Student records are protected under federal law (FERPA),” said FSU Dean of Students Melinda Stoops. “In addition, it is important for students to know that we respect their privacy and will safeguard that to the extent possible and appropriate.”

Student records include grades, student conduct records and advising records, among others.

FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Acts) is a federal law that protects the privacy of all of a student’s academic records and applies to all schools funded by the U.S. Department of Education.

It gives students complete ownership of their own records and promises that these records will not be shared with any other party.

This means that parents will not receive access to grades without a student’s permission, and they are not notified if a student is failing or suspended. They will also not be notified about student judicial or legal issues.

“There are times when a parent wants information and is told that we can’t disclose that information.

However, we do try and explain the reasons for it and give them some general information that might be helpful to them,” said Stoops.

Hofrenning encounters the same issue in the health center.

“As soon as the child is 18, no information can be given to parents without the student’s permission - this is often very confusing for parents,” she said. “Sometimes, parents have become very upset with us when we will not disclose information. … Sometimes, we try to be proactive about it and ask, if a student has been seen by us for something serious, what information the student would like released to parents if they call.”

Susanne Conley, vice president of enrollment and student develop-

health or safety is at risk or if the student poses a risk to others.”

Stoops added some of these instances include “when we are significantly worried about a student’s physical or emotional well-being, if a student is identified as missing, if they are under 21 and violate our alcohol or drug policy, if a student is hospitalized.”

Students worried about a specific incident being reported to their parents can request that this information be withheld from release through the Student Conduct Office, but there has to be a legitimate reason for the request.

While FSU has the obligation to protect private student affairs, much of the protection is the responsibility of the student.

“Students should know their right to privacy under FERPA as college students,” Conley said.

The management of personal affairs in college is a challenge for many students who are transitioning from complete dependency to adulthood.

“I can point to a student and say, ‘Yes that person’s information should be private - they really have their life together,’ but I can point to another student of the same age and say, ‘No their information shouldn’t be withheld from their parents. They need help keeping their life on track,’” said senior Trevor Gorman. “Finding that line between being a self-sustaining adult and being dependent on your parents is hard, and personally, I’m not sure we ever truly stop being dependent on our parents,” he said.

Dean Stoops said, “We encourage students to be responsible for themselves, including academic progress, health and safety. Students enter college at different levels in terms of their ability to do this and we try and assist them in developing additional skills of independence.”

march 27, 2015

6

The Gatepost Editorial

Mass. Sunshine laws more dismal than the weather

Despite the snowfall during FSU’s spring break, this week was known across the country to journalists and public officials as Sunshine Week.

Every year, during this designated week, journalists test their state’s public record access laws to see how easily information can be accessed. These Massachusetts laws are notoriously weak and are often not enforced with sufficient penalties.

These records are often denied using vague language in the laws to justify that decision, or the person requesting the information is required to pay an exorbitant amount of money for the record.

Fuelling the fire for Massachusetts journalists this year was Secretary of State William Galvin’s ruling that police departments can use their discretion as to whether to include names in arrest records - allowing them, in this particular case, to withhold the names of five police officers who were arrested for drunk driving.

Local newspapers, including The Boston Globe, The Boston Herald and several GateHouse Media outlets were so appalled by the state of these laws in Massachusetts that they agreed to write coordinating editorials during the same week to put pressure on Galvin and the legislature to increase transparency.

In an interview on WGBH’s Greater Boston, Galvin defended his decision, saying he was following the law, and that there would be a ballot question to potentially amend this law.

The editors of the major newspapers were unconvinced that a ballot question would solve these problems, and neither are the editors of The Gatepost. If information can be withheld from the public based on the opinions of individual police departments, then there might as well not even be a law.

The sanctity of any law depends on its enforcement and its effectiveness. Those who amend, make, or enforce laws should not be the ones who are exempt from following them.

What Massachusetts needs is a law that clearly outlines what is required to be given to the public and to media sources with clear penalties that will deter public officials from bending or breaking this this law.

Transparency is essential for citizens to be able to hold anyone who commits a crime accountable for their actions, and makes possible the availability for the public information that can be essential to their safety or their informed decisions as voters or community members.

Gatepost reporters frequently experience the same lack of transparency and ability to gain records and information in a timely and thorough manner from our own campus police office, which is a concern for student safety and for the public’s right to know about the crimes committed in the community.

For example, most recently, a news reporter requested a police record before spring break, and has still not received that report - well past the 10-day time period allotted for gathering and sending the report.

This is unfortunately not an isolated incident.

This lack of response is not only disrespectful to our student reporters, it is disrespectful to the community at large.

Not allowing us to do our job doesn’t allow the community access to the information they deserve to have.

Massachusetts desperately needs reform in its public access laws. But FSU Campus Police needs to adhere to the law that exists and provide us with the information we have a right to obtain.

The way things are now, it’s a struggle to get this information into the light of day.

Op/Ed

As sun shines, so do the moods of FSU students and faculty It’s finally happening. The snow is melting and, for once, our iPhone temperatures are reading above freezing. Not only is the temperature up, but it seems so are everyone’s spirits. The return of grass on campus is making everyone smile, even if it is brown and soggy - at this point, we are all willing to take whatever signs of spring we can! Soon all the snow will be gone and we will be able to crawl out of the dorm rooms we have been banished to all winter.

Instead, students will get to enjoy the sun while lounging on benches and tables we forgot even existed under all the snow. Full weeks of classes have also come with the warm weather. While we will miss the days off, it is great to finally get in the routine of going to class every day. Our professors are as happy as we are to no longer be cramming three classes worth of information

into one. We no longer have to constantly check Blackboard for updates, notes and homework our professors were trying to send us while we were snowed in. I think most of all, we are all thankful to not have to pray we won’t fall down the treacherously icy hill of campus.

Fearing the steep, slippery slope from Larned Hall to the McCarthy Center had become an everyday thought for students. Finally, we can travel around campus worry-free! Hopefully Mother Nature will spare us any more snow and keep temperatures rising so we will have at least one thing to enjoy with finals right around the corner.

Amelia Foley Staff Writer

FSU does not allow for personal responsibility

I dare anyone to challenge this statement: students are babysat at FSU. And I strongly encourage any kind of high-horse/high-road morality argument.

A long time ago, at a school called Framingham State College, there was a bar with decent beer, live music and hours of entertainment and socialization. This was a day of social responsibility without administration breathing down the necks of the of-age students who pay to go to this school. Students made new friends over cheap wine and Budweiser, listened to local bands and felt like they lived at a place they could enjoy and call home.

Fast-forward about 30 years. That bar is now a grill. At this exciting place you can get bottomquality deep-fried food at top-shelf prices. Social aspects include two small televisions and uncomfortable chairs at which students can sit at for about 20 minutes or so before getting bored.

Here is a hard fact: alcohol is dangerous. It can lead to dangerous decisions and situations in which someone may get injured or even killed. In fact, the act of drinking itself can lead to poisoning.

Here is another hard fact: alcohol is fun. In intelligent moderation anyone, college-aged students included, can be perfectly safe while having a drink after a long day of classes. It always seemed like a liberty one earned and deserved.

The point of enforcement of the alcohol policy rests on the shoulders of Student Desk Attendants, who check the bags of any person entering a residence hall. Is this an unnecessary invasion of privacy or does it actually achieve the goal of preventing students from bringing alcoholic beverages into residence halls?

In 2010, Salem State University hired a thirdparty contractor to conduct a campus-wide market study to determine how happy resident students were with their living situations. They determined that checking bags was unproductive

and led to students being less satisfied with their living situations.

Being known as a “party school” has never killed a university’s reputation or led to a lower application rate (this means less revenue, for all the administrators reading this.) Case in point, - Ohio State, Arizona State, UPenn and UMass Amherst.

Of course, banning alcohol has its advantages - on paper. It makes the institution look better because it seems like a safer place. The operating word being “seems.” This is, without a doubt, a false conclusion.

Students will drink.

Here are some more facts: • It is beyond easy to get alcohol into the dorms, even with an SDA • If students cannot party in a safe environment on campus, they will leave campus and have to find a way to get back, including, but not limited to: walking alongside Route 9, paying a lot of money for a cab, driving while or being in a car with a driver who is intoxicated, or staying at a house where one may not be comfortable.

• If you state that students should simply make the decision to not consume alcohol you are turning a blind eye to the fact that it happens no matter what.

Here is a solution: designate a house on campus that is 21+ where students who are of-age can consume alcohol in a safe environment. I believe that if young adults are able to consume alcohol freely, in a safe environment, then they will not feel the need to sneak it around and potentially drink to excess while they have the opportunity.

Brad Leuchte Editorial Staff

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.

march 27, 2015

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Elections will be held on April 14th 2015 from 9am-5pm You can cast your vote in the McCarthy Center Lobby or on CollegiateLink Stop by the SGA office (McCarthy Center 404) with any questions or email Kendall Valente at Kvalente@student.framingham.edu

Thirteenth Annual NES/MAA Dinner Meeting in Memory of Kenneth J. Preskenis Thursday, April 16, 2015, 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM in the Alumni Room, Third Floor, D. Justin McCarthy Center James E. Brennan, University of Kentucky, presents “In Search of Infinity.”

Abstract: “The infinite! No other question”, declared David Hilbert, “has ever moved so profoundly the spirit of man.” Without assuming any specialized knowledge of the audience, it is my goal to lay the foundation for a deeper understanding of Hilbert’s remark by engaging in a conversation around some of the paradoxes associated with the concept of infinity. The most famous are perhaps Zeno’s paradoxes of motion which are still being debated today. On the other hand, one of the works in the Aristotelian corpus, known as Mechanica, contains a problem which attracted wide attention at an earlier time, but is now hardly mentioned. That is the problem of Aristotle’s Wheel, which is exemplified in something as ordinary as a common rolling pin. Nevertheless, more than two millennia after its inception, the problem surrounding the Wheel played a central role in Galileo’s greatest work, Dialogues Concerning Two New Sciences, published in 1638. The occasion in the Dialogues prompting a discussion of the Wheel is a question as important as the ultimate constitution of matter.

After examining a few seemingly paradoxical ideas and noting their impact in the long history of thought, I hope that by evening’s end you can, with William Blake, begin to see a World in a Grain of Sand and a Heaven in a Wild Flower, Hold Infinity in the Palm of your Hand and Eternity in an Hour.

Please visit http://www.framingham.edu/~smabrouk/preskenis/ for more information.

March 27, 2015

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Photos by Jeff Poole/The Gatepost

The Suit Jacket Posse recently celebrated its 10th anniversary.

Current members perform multiple shows a month, such as the two pictured here.

ARTS & FEATURES

March 27, 2015

9

Framingham State honors its Most “Phenomenal Women”

By Cesareo Contreras Asst. Arts & Features Editor

Students and faculty came together to recognize some of the notable women in the FSU Community on March 9 in the Forum, in the annual Phenomenal Women Ceremony.

The winner of the award was senior Kaila Braley, editor-in-chief of the student newspaper The Gatepost. Nominated by English Professors Desmond McCarthy and Kelly Wolfe, Braley was described as being a strong leader in her written recommendations.

“She has a vision for the newspaper and uses quiet authority to maintain the highest quality publication possible,” Wolfe wrote. “Every week, she guides and directs a staff of about twenty student journalists. She works tirelessly, making numerous editorial decisions.”

Braley was also commended for her impactful article “Coming to Terms with Rape: One Student’s Journey Toward Understanding.”

“A Phenomenal Women is a leader who listens to and supports other women, and empowers them to make positive changes in their lives, or to understand and tell their stories,” McCarthy wrote in his nomination. “The most important article to appear in Gatepost in the last two years is ‘Coming to Terms with Rape: One Student’s Journey Toward Understanding’ (in the Dec. 10 edition). In this ground-breaking feature, Kaila creates a space where it is possible for an anonymous student, ‘Jane,’ to tell her story about coming to difficult realization that she had been raped by someone she loved and trusted. … This is an extraordinary piece of writing - one which had a transformative effect on our community at a time when a long-overdue national conversation about sexual violence on college campuses is taking place.”

Braley later said that winning the award was special, and that she felt honored to be nominated among so many other great candidates.

“It was very, very flattering, especially being nominated among a group of such incredible women, and truly phenomenal people,” she said. “When you win something you always feel really special, but when you win something that is such an important award to begin with, and also when all the people you are nominated with are such good people, it’s sort of extra special.”

Assistant Dean of Students David Baldwin led the ceremony, and Yves Salomon Fernandez, a vice president at Mass Bay Community College, was the event’s keynote speaker.

The ceremony started off with a video made my Yue Chen, a senior, in which some women in the FSU community recited the poem from which

“Phenomenal Woman”

By Dr. Maya Angelou

Pretty women may wonder where my secret lies I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size.

But, when I start to tell them, they think I’m telling lies.

I say, it is the reach of my arms, the span of my hips, The stride of my steps, the curl of my lips.

I’m a woman phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman, That’s me.

I walk into a room just as cold as you please, And to a man, the fellows stand or fall down to their knees.

Then they swarm around me, a hive of honey bees.

I say, it is the fire in my eyes, and the flash of my teeth, The swing in my waist, the joy in my feet.

I’m a woman phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman, That’s me.

Mebn themselves have wondered what they see in me.

They try so much, but they can’t touch my inner mystery.

When I try to show them, they say they still can’t see.

I say, it’s the arch of my back, the sun of my smile, The ride of my breasts, the grace of my style.

I’m a woman phenomenally, Phenomenal woman, That’s me.

Now you understand just why my head’s not bowed.

I don’t shout or jump about or have to talk real loud.

When you see me passing it ought to make you proud, I say, it’s in the click of my heels, the bend of my hair, ‘Cause I’m a woman phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman, That’s me. the ceremony gets its name - “Phenomenal Woman,” written by Dr. Maya Angelou.

After the video, alumni Meredith Amaral and Barbara Pierre sang “Strength, Courage, and Wisdom” by India Arie.

In her keynote speech, Fernandez stated the importance of gender equality, described her path to success and praised FSU. “Framingham State University is a special place for me, as someone who has been very involved with teacher education, but also because of my work at MassBay,” she said. “Framingham State University is a key partner for us in advancing the status of women and men who walk through our doors from local areas, as well as from places far, far away.”

Fernandez called FSU a historic center for women.

“Framingham State University and

its antecedent, the Normal School, holds a special place in history for women, as its foundation is rooted not only in providing opportunity for women to acquire a post-secondary credential, but also as a place to prepare teachers and ensure future generations receive a high-quality primary and secondary education,” she said.

“As the Normal School, Framingham State University claims among its earliest Alumni Mary Elizabeth Miles, its first African-American graduate, and the first African-American graduate of any public teachers’ college in the United States.”

Fernandez explained that she immigrated to this country at the age of 12, and was the oldest of seven children.

She was given many responsibilities from a young age.

Fernandez said that she worked hard to gain success, and that her background forced her to have “a strong

work ethic.” Through hard work, Fernandez earned her bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate at UMass Boston, London School of Economics and Boston College, respectively.

Today Fernandez is vice president for Strategic Planning, Institutional Effectiveness and Grants Development at MassBay, as well as their Campus Executive for Framingham. She also described herself as a proud mother.

“I understand the statistical anomaly that I am,” she said. “For that, I work very hard to make sure that we create enough statistical anomalies so that we change the trend. Women who start, girls who start, where I started - I work very hard to make sure they can reach the heights that I have, so that they are more than just a point, an outlier, but really become the norm.”

Twenty-two FSU women were nominated for the Phenomenal Women award, including both students and faculty.

The nominees were Education Department Administrative Assistant Carol Bacon-Nichols, English Professor Elaine Beilin, Dean of Students Office Administrative Assistant Kathy Bohner, Editor-in-Chief of The Gatepost Kaila Braley, Coordinator of Campus Events Shana Calvao, SGA Administrative Assistant Meg Carlisle, Curriculum Librarian Kim Cochrane, SUAB Vice President Sarah Cowdell, Education Professor Mary Grassetti, Director of the Health Clinic and Wellness Center Ilene Hofrenning, Director of the Center for Inclusive Excellence Kathy Martinez, Administrative Resident Assistant Jessuly McCabe, Black and Gold Orientation Leader Michelle McGonagle, Director of Career Services and Employer Relations Dawn Ross, Academic Diversity Fellow Patricia Sanchez-Connally, CHOICE Program Graduate Assistant Kristin Sementelli, Business Professor Beverly Soriano, Dean of Students Melinda K. Stoops, Administrative Professional Marjorie Sudmyer, Residence Life Administrative Assistant Terrie Sullivan, SGA President Kendall Valente and Sociology Professor and Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs Ellen Zimmerman.

McCabe, a junior, said that the nomination was “a very nice surprise!

“I wasn’t expecting it at all,” she said, “but it felt really good to be nominated.”

Valente said that the other nominees are “all amazing.

“I love sharing their stories, especially Kaila’s,” she said. “When they read all of them, that was very exciting. It’s amazing to know all the things that are happening on this campus. Sometimes we don’t appreciate it.”

Arts & Features

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March 27, 2015

Album Review: Earl Sweatshirt ‘I Don’t Like Shit, I Don’t Go Outside’

By Avarie Cook Arts & Features Editor

Following the trend of unexpected album drops, Earl Sweatshirt released “I Don’t Like Shit, I Don’t Go Outside: An Album by Earl Sweatshirt” on Monday, with the only hint being a tweet that said “2 MORE DAYS TILL YOU FEEL ALL OF THIS,” which itself was even misleading.

The 30-minute album plays like a single track with interludes, intros, and outros that lead the listener along like they’re hearing an old story. Earl clearly has a lot to say, and doesn’t hold back.

In this album, Earl touches on his relationship with his girlfriend, missing his grandmother and how he feels about progressively becoming more famous.

The opening track, “Huey,” gives off a feeling of relief like discovering something that you didn’t know you were missing. Earl’s recognizable flow shows in the first few lines, with the classic slowdown spotlighting lyrics that he knew needed their own moments. “My bitch say this spliff take the soul from me,” he raps, and later, “I spend the day drinkin’ and missin’ my

grandmother.”

He speaks to his audience, aware that it contains all different kinds of people, including the members of his record company, critics, fans, family, other members of his rap group Odd Future and even his competition. He does this by criticizing reactions to his music and telling stories about what his life has been like since deciding to pursue a rap career.

“Mantra” presents itself after “Huey” as the track that makes you mindlessly decide to go deaf from turning the volume up too loud in your headphones.

Earl immediately comes in after the first beat with an aggressive, but unifying first verse that turns into the track you’ll be blasting in your friends’ cars throughout the summer. And he isn’t kidding when he says “Imma show you how it’s done right nigga,” as the beat drops.

Earl’s voice sits comfortably on top of the beat of “Mantra,” which contains the perfect amounts of echo, reverb, background sounds and fade-in/ fade-out effects.

While ranting on Twitter about how Sony Music Global wronged him by changing the release date of his video

for “Grief,” Earl explained to his fans that he wanted them to be able to focus on the video before having to handle “the hype of an album.”

After watching the video for “Grief,” it’s clear what Earl was trying to do.

The video is entirely shot in negative, with Earl rapping and walking through an abstract environment. The slow and muddy beat moves along in a snaillike manner with Earl’s opening lines being: “Good grief, I’ve been reapin’ what I sow / Nigga I ain’t been outside in a minute / I’ve been livin’ what I wrote” telling you that this song contains most of Earl’s dark thoughts on the album.

In the video, he smokes while wandering around and rapping revealing lyrics, such as, “Step into the shadows, we can talk addiction / When it’s hard for where you goin’ / And the part of you that know it don’t give a fuck.” At the end of “Grief,” you’re left either thinking about what Earl could possibly be going through, or how he managed to put what you’re going through in a few verses.

Throughout the rest of the album, Earl shows off his ability to tackle any beat and make it an “Earl Sweatshirt

Photo Courtesy of wegetpress.com

thing.” He collaborates with fellow Odd Future member (and non-rapper) Na’Kel on “DNA,” which features an almost dirty-South-gone-West-Coast flow from both of them. On “Grown Ups,” the only track produced by fellow OF rapper Left Brain, Earl exhibits a stairway flow of going up or down with each word that makes it too easy to nod your head. Earl collaborates with Manhattan rapper Wiki on “AM” with tongue-twisting fast lines that he decided to use sparingly on this album compared to others.

“I Don’t Like Shit, I Don’t Go Outside” is Earl’s third album that leaves his fans anticipating what he will come up with next. His style is evidently maturing, becoming more adult along with the fans that were right with him at sixteen when his debut, “EARL,” was released. The anchor of the album, “Wool,” has a neo-‘90s-WestCoast rhythm and beat featuring Earl’s usual partner in music, Vince Staples.

Vince’s intro verse is set up for Earl to pick up on and end his album on a note that makes you want to do exactly what he advised when people complained about it being too short: listen to it again.

New Technology Review: LG G Watch

By Ceasareo Contreras Asst. Arts & Features Editor

In an age where smartphones and tablets are becoming increasingly more commonplace, companies like Samsung, LG and Apple have started putting some of their focus on a somewhat new mobile category - smart watches.

Essentially an extension of your smart phone, these high-tech fashion statements elicit the kind of futuristic awesomeness only ever seen in sci-fi and spy films like “Star Trek” and “James Bond.” The real question, however, is whether these new devices live up to this ideal. I tested out the LG G Watch for a couple of months, and here is what I think.

- Continued on page 11

The LG G Watch, realeased in the summer of 2014, gives users access to their smartphones from their wrists.

Kaila Braley/The Gatepost

Arts & Features

March 27, 2015

11

10 Completely Random Questions for: Thomas Barry, senior economics major 1. What are three words to describe your favorite candy:

Fruitful, chewy, delectable.

2. If you were to choose a new school mascot, what would you pick?

The Raging Cajuns.

3. How many pairs of shoes do you own?

Ten. 4. What is your favorite side dish?

I like cheesy fries with bacon on them.

Photo Courtesy of Thomas Barry

5. If you had to pick a new first name, what would you pick?

Lord. Or Archibald. I would be a great Archie.

8. What’s the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?

Snooze the alarm.

6. Tell me about the last lie you told and why.

I said that I had a good time and that I didn’t mind hanging out with somebody when I did actually mind. But, you know.

9. Who would be playing at your ideal musical concert?

Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Tupac and Biggie performing together, DMX, and just for good measure, Steve Martin playing the banjo throughout the whole show.

7. What would you name your pirate ship?

The Duchess Windbird. But after I won more than ten battles, I would be The Great Duchess Windbird.

10. If you were to tattoo two words across your knuckles, what would they be?

Live Free.

G Watch - Continued from page 10

Coming in with a 1.65-inch IPS LCD color touch display, this watch certainly does feel like something from the future. The watch comes in twocolor options- white and gold or just plain black. Though it isn’t as sleek as something like the Asus Zen Watch, and doesn’t have a circular display like the LG G Watch R, and the newly announced Huawei Watch, the G Watch still feels like something special.

The software running the show is Android Wear, Google’s software meant to run on the wrist. It gets notifications from your Android phone and uses Google Now to bring you relevant information. Basically, Google keeps track of your Internet activities -Google searches, emails and location data - and send relevant information to your phone. The watch is pretty much Google Now in a vertical card-like in-

terface and is pretty intuitive.

All one has to do is say, “OK Google,” and ask the watch to search the web, text a friend or create a reminder.

For instance, a user could ask, “OK Google, remind me to take out the trash in 20 minutes,” or “OK Google, how tall is Mt. Everest?”

The user is sent notifications and will be able to interact by voice or by touch.

While the app selection is currently limited, my personal favorite has to be the Find My Phone app. Since the phone and the watch are connected via Bluetooth, this app is able to determine how far away you are from your phone, and alerts you when it senses you may have misplaced it. This app has saved me from leaving my phone behind a number of times Battery life on the watch is decent. I manage to get through the day without any problem, but I do have to charge it

every night. Compared to other smart watches like the Pebble Steel with its seven-day battery this watch pales in comparison.

While the square shape doesn’t amount to the most comfortable experience on the wrist, and some may not be partial to its boring design, I think this watch looks and feels OK. Also, the ability to swap out the digital watch face and the watchstrap allows the user to customize it to their liking.

And while there are certainty more attractive watches, this watch did come out all the way back in the summer and was the one of the first of its kind, so I give it a break for not being the most beautiful timepiece I’ve ever seen.

That’s not to say I didn’t find real problems with the LG G Watch. I personally had issues with the strap of the watch when it fell off once when I was looking for something between my couch cushions. Another issue is

the price. The LG G watch retails for $229 – but I found an online deal for $150. Also, I wish the battery life was better and more than once I had trouble connecting to my phone via Bluetooth.

While the LG G Watch in the end doesn’t exactly live up to the dream of the idealized smart watch, it does a pretty good job in making me feel like I’m living in the future and gives a solid smart watch experience overall.

Some have argued that smart watches aren’t useful, that they offer no real added value to the mobile lifestyle experience. They argue that smart phones already do all the things the watch does and better. While smart phones are certainly more capable, smart watches do have their place. Smart watches offer up a great marriage of technology and fashion that not only look nice but also offer far more functionality than your typical watch.

Arts & Features

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March 27, 2015

Framingham Student Living in Labyrinth A look into a life residing with a hoarder

By Tanya Strom Staff Writer

From outside, the small blue house where Jon Harris, 21, has lived for most of his life fits in with the quaint neighborhood.

However, upon crossing the threshold, the dim lighting is anything but inviting. Piles of paper and office supplies lay scattered across what once was a usable dining room table.

The trail of papers, opened envelopes and boxes spill off the table and into a living room that has slowly transformed into a bedroom. Clothes and shoes muddle the space. A pile of wood stands in a corner by the door.

Down a hallway is Harris’ room. It is cozy and comfortable. The walls are covered with posters of his favorite athletes, clippings from newspapers and a high school football jersey. The room is extremely ordered and clean, everything from his shoes to his hats are precisely placed.

There is one window but the blinds are always closed, as is the door. The room is isolated from the rest of the house - and for good reason. The house has become a home for not just Harris, his older brother and his father, but for all the stuff that his father has been accumulating over the past 14 years.

Harris grew up poor. He remembers how, when he was eight, the boiler broke. It is still broken to this day.

His father has fixed it temporarily so that the hot water works. “Instead of having a company bring oil, he goes to the gas station and gets diesel fuel himself,” Harris said.

“We used to not have hot water all the time,” he said. Unable to fix the boiler completely, his father built a wood-burning stove in order to heat the house. He even found a makeshift way to fix the dryer when it broke, Harris said.

“We didn’t have a lot of food growing up, … or money. It was terrible.

“

Sometimes I would go to bed hungry,” said Harris.

The clutter consumes the dining room, the living room, the den, a linen closet, the garage and what was Harris’ father’s bedroom.

Harris’ father sleeps in the living room because his bedroom is uninhabitable.

“He has a bedroom, but he doesn’t sleep there because he says there is mold,” said Harris. “I haven’t seen the mold. … But every time he cleans it [the bedroom], it isn’t clean enough to sleep in.”

Growing up, there were five people

“What ultimately needs to happen,” said Harris, is “taking everything and throwing it out and starting over.

“I tried to convince him to get a dumpster over the summer, because if you saw the garage, you would freak out,” Harris said.

“Nobody that isn’t my family has seen the garage,” he said. “I was five or six, the last time I remember the garage being used for a vehicle.”

The 12-by-22-foot garage is packed high full of stuff. Boxes, suitcases, furniture, board games, plastic bins and other miscellaneous items tower eight feet high. The floor is not vis-

It felt like I had no space of my own. There was a lack of respect for my personal space. living in the three-bedroom house.

Harris was the youngest, and had to sleep on the sofa in the living room.

“It felt like I had no space of my own,” Harris said. “There was a lack of respect for my personal space.

“My mom left before that. … I was seven,” Harris said. “When my mom was here, the house was spotless.”

After she left, Harris lived in the house with his two brothers, his uncle and his father.

“I didn’t like how dirty the house was, growing up,” said Harris.

Now, it is only Harris, his brother and his father. Harris and his father coach high school football together in the summer. While they have a good relationship, Harris doesn’t know where his dad is most of the time.

When asked what his father does for work, Harris said, “He does odd jobs - I have no idea.”

Although he has talked to his father about the accumulation of stuff throughout the house, Harris described those conversations as “a joke.”

ible, and it is impossible to get to the other side without climbing over the massive mountain of possessions.

“There was a little path,” said Harris. “We would have to climb through to get to the fuse box, if one went out,” he added.

At 16, Harris was almost evicted from his home.

“We were on the foreclosure list,” he said. When Harris asked about the eviction, he remembers his father “played it off like he didn’t know.”

It wouldn’t be the first time Harris would be close to eviction.

When Harris’ eldest brother returned home from college to take a year off, the clutter had gotten so overwhelming that there was no room for him, and he decided to move out.

Paul Welch, a licensed independent clinical social worker at Framingham State, said hoarding is “genetically and environmentally based.

“Seventy-five percent of those who have this disorder also have a mood disorder,” he added. This includes depression or anxiety.

Welch described having a personal

experience with a friend who is classified as a hoarder.

“He is very sensitive about the word hoarder,” Welch said.

According to the American Psychiatric Association, the estimated occurrence of “clinically-significant hoarding in the United States and Europe [is] approximately two to six percent.”

Charles Sachs, an assistant professor at FSU, has a PhD in psychology and his own practice. He said there are varying degrees of hoarding, but that all cases of hoarding have specific characteristics. It is only considered hoarding, he said, when it impacts living space, the things collected have no inherit meaning and the excessive accumulation of things causes for minimal functional space.

“Most hoarders are egosyntonic, meaning they are OK with their hoarding. They have their reasons [to hoard],” said Sachs. However, “these reasons are not usually rational.”

Both Welch and Sachs agree it is important to have and show compassion for the person that hoards, to help them recognize that they have a problem.

Harris’ living situation is strenuous and causes him discomfort, he said.

“I used to be embarrassed when people would come over, especially if they had a clean house,” he added.

Even now, Harris doesn’t invite people over to his house.

“I have, but they come straight into my room,” he said. He intentionally avoids showing the rest of the house.

Nestled in the cozy neighborhood, the little blue house fixed between pine trees and evergreens conceals the hoarding in plain sight.

Although his father’s hoarding has negatively impacted Harris’ life, like any son, he loves his father.

“My dad is the coolest,” he said.

“I would rather have my dad and a shitty house then another dad and a nice house.”

”

[Editor’s note: Jon Harris is not this student’s real name. He has asked to remain anonymous.]

Arts & Features

March 27, 2015

13

Students musicians fill in as Spring Concert openers

Brad Leuchte/The Gatepost

Brad Leuchte/The Gatepost

Left: Senior Molly Buckley opened for Jana Kramer with just a guitar and her voice.

Right: Jana Kramer introduces her lead guitarist to the DPAC audience.

By Melina Bourdeau Editorial Staff

“This was probably the funnest college show that we’ve had,” said Jana Kramer, country singer and headliner for the SUAB concert. “Everyone was really engaged, interacting, enthusiastic and fun, and there were some really special moments. It was a great crowd.”

Kramer, a “One Tree Hill” actress turned singer, performed with her band in DPAC on March 5.

During the concert Kramer sang her new single “I Got the Boy.” “It was a true story about my high school sweetheart Matthew,” said Kramer. “So the first time I heard the song I was like, ‘This is my song.’

I feel like everyone can relate to it,

even if it’s not about their high school sweetheart.”

Despite snow delaying Kramer’s plane, the concert was not rescheduled.

The opening band, however, cancelled at 3 p.m. the day of the show due to the weather.

SUAB Concert Co-Chairs Denae Pieroni and Maddie Alper were able to find three students to open for Kramer.

“With three openers instead of one, there was a little bit of a time change that we had to work out in order to still get Kramer on stage by 9, but it ended up working out,” said Pieroni.

Junior Anthony Martel, senior Molly Buckley and sophomore Kaitlyn Gordon were able to prepare and perform with a few hours’ notice.

Ram Idol winner Gordon sang three covers on stage as the first opener of

the night.

“If I had a couple weeks to prepare,” Gordon said, “I would have psyched myself out. It was overwhelming, but I couldn’t give up on an opportunity like that.”

Martel played the acoustic guitar and sang original songs titled “Reason for your Company,” “Join Singing” and “I Don’t Want to Feel This Way Every Day But…” Buckley played two songs concluding student performances.

“It was so much fun to be up there performing,” Buckley said. “The audience was clapping, singing along and it just seemed like everyone had fun.

My friends all came out to support and made a beautiful sign for me, which meant more to me than I think they’ll ever know.”

The organization of this year’s concert started with the election of the concert co-chairs last April. After SUAB’s general board voted on the genre of music they preferred, the chairs booked an artist. In the fall, the main focus was on publicity and advertising.

In the spring semester, their work increased. Ticket sales, designing Tshirts, booking a room and organizing the concert committee all occur within three months.

“Music has always been a passion of mine, so to get the chance to do something like this was really exciting for me, and I learned so much,” said Peironi. “Although there were a few obstacles along the way, it was all worth it in the end, and I’m really happy with the way it turned out.”

Brad Leuchte/The Gatepost

Junior Anthony Martel and Sophmore

Kaitlyn Gordon filled in as openers for Jana

Kramer in DPAC at the annual spring concert.

Brad Leuchte/The Gatepost

14

Arts & Features

March 27, 2015

Campus Conversations

Three words that best descr ibe your ma jor “Stressful, exciting, rewarding.”

“Challenging, interesting, experimental.”

- Amber Andrews, junior, elementary education

- Brenna Roche, freshman, biology

By Amelia Foley & Jeff Poole

“Anti-social, rewarding, complex.”

“Engaging, simple, informative.”

- Shane Burton, sophomore, computer science

- Tyler Montville, freshman, psychology

“Reading, stressful, papers.”

“Fun, challenging, creative.”

- Tim Randall, senior, English

-Briana Tarantino, senior, fashion merchandising

Edited by Timothy E. Parker March 27, 2015 MEALTIME By Tim Burr ACROSS 1 Snatches 6 Cornfield sounds 10 Semisolid foods 14 In a lather, old-style 15 Toolbar graphic 16 Very full hairstyle 17 “Jealous?”

20 Flub 21 Enough, in some cases 22 Scaling aids 23 Fourth in a series of 12 25 Write footnotes 26 Cheese nibblers 28 Scone, e.g.

32 Bony cavities, anatomically 34 Wheel nuts 35 “Kapow!”

38 “Feed me now!”

42 Render less than perfect 43 Nondormant one 44 Came to 45 Bud holder 48 Steinbeck title starter 49 Italics do it

51 Hardly zesty 53 Signify 55 Wharf’s cousin 56 Cross type 59 Nosh 62 What makes green eyes green 63 Easy verbal exchange 64 Makes a long story short?

65 Macedonian’s neighbor 66 “Silent night, ___ night ...”

67 Great sadness DOWN 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 18 19

Butter used by Indians Act like a startled horse Drawing card, essentially Pay the price for Hound’s trail There’s simply no end to it Throbbing pain Distress Break suddenly York peppermint product Not on horseback Shape a shrub They don’t say “when” Military body Leg-powered taxi (Var.)

Last issue’s solutions:

24 Andean land 26 Hurt and disable 27 Andean civilization 29 Word with “false” or “fire” 30 Director’s cry 31 Khan’s title 33 Firm, spaghetti-wise 35 Karakul pelt 36 Seeks some answers 37 Convene 39 Buck’s companion 40 Suffix with “command” 41 “APrayer for ___ Meany” 45 Thick-trunkedAfrican tree 46 State of existing 47 Sheltered valley 49 Sailor’s time off 50 Come on stage 52 Holding one’s piece?

53 God, in Latin class 54 Carve in stone 55 Thunder sound 57 Choral designation 58 Cold war inits.

60 Which person?

61 Tokyo, formerly

March 27, 2015

Ads

The Search Committee for the Dean of the College of Education at Framingham State University invites the campus community to meet Dr. Arlie Woodrum, a finalist for the Dean position. Dr. Woodrum is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership in the College of Education at the University of New Mexico. He completed his doctorate and a master’s degree at Harvard University. He also holds a master’s degree from the School for International Training, and a bachelor’s degree from Ohio State University.

As part of his campus visit, an open meeting for the campus community is scheduled: Date: Monday, March 30, 2015 Time: 1:15 pm-1:45 pm Location: Alumni Room in the McCarthy Center A copy of Dr. Woodrum’s curriculum vitae can be obtained from the Education Department Office, Dwight 302.

15

monday, march 30, 2015 5 p.m. alumni room, mccarthy center Event jointly sponsored by the Committee of Arts and Ideas, The Global Studies Program, The Department of Sociology, and The Committee on Diversity and Inclusion.

Too A Wound l? ea Deep to H

NIAN THE ARME 100 T A E D I C O GEN The year 2015 marks the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide: the massacres and forced deportations that claimed the lives of more than one million Armenians. The political and academic contention over the interpretation of this genocide continues to divide the communities of Armenians and Turks, despite efforts at dialogue and reconciliation. The speakers will describe their own efforts toward a constructive conversation to heal the historical wounds.

panel members:

Pamela Steiner, Ed.D. Fellow, FXB Center for Health ad Human Rights, Harvard School of Public Health Gonca Sönmez-Poole Filmmaker/Founder of TAWA Harry Parsekian President, Friends of Hrant Dink Paula Parnagian President, World View Services

For more information, please contact Dr. Kaan Agartan at kagartan@framingham.edu.

16

Sports

March 27, 2015

Lady Rams explode on offense, start season 1-1

By Mike Ferris Sports Editor

The Lady Rams opened their season on the losing end of a 13-10 game against Regis College.

Despite outstanding production on offense, Framingham couldn’t contain the Regis attack, ultimately costing it in what turned out to be an offensive shootout.

Framingham and Regis both recorded 27 shots. For the Rams it was 10 in the first, 17 in the second. For Regis, vice versa.

Turnovers were fairly even as well, as Framingham turned it over 16 times to Regis’ 15.

Ultimately, the difference in the opening contest turned out to be saves. Regis’ goalie, Emma Decker, made 10 saves while the Rams’ Alysha Cericola came up with six.

Zoe Reilly led the way for Framingham, scoring three goals and recording two assists. Of her 11 total shots, eight were on goal.

Kristen Hoggins, Kimberly Foley and

Nicole L’Heureux followed Reilly, each tallying two goals of their own.

Hoggins only needed two shots to record her two goals, while Foley took four shots and L’Heureux took three.

Stephanie Leonard contributed the other Rams goal.

Despite such a close final, Regis jumped out to an early lead of 7-3 before Framingham tied it at eight, and then again at nine.

The Rams pulled even three times, but never led at any point.

In a matchup with Mitchell College, Framingham continued to be strong offensively.

The Rams scored 19 times and held the Mariners to only four.

Aside from falling behind 1-0 just minutes into the game, the Rams answered within a minute to even the game, and never looked back from there.

The remainder of the game proved to be sheer domination for Framingham. It outshot Mitchell 41-8, and committed only seven turnovers- 10 less than its opponent.

Brad Leuchte/The Gatepost

The Lady Rams have tallied double-digit goal totals in each of their first two games.

Morghan Cassella paced the Rams’ offense with four goals, while Hoggins and Leonard contributed three goals of their own.

Jessica Graham, Marissa Burns and Claryssa Cunniff all scored two times, and Foley, Kristen Keenan and Lindsey Nixon

added a goal each. Nixon and Keenan also added two assists.

Despite scoring 19 times, the Rams only recorded five assists.

In a game that was all Framingham, Mitchell goalie Taylor Dansereau came up with 17 saves, despite giving up 19 goals.

American League Preview Baltimore Orioles

2014 record96-66 (1st in division)

Boston Red Sox

2014 record 71-91

Manager - Buck Showhalter (6th season) Key Acquisitions - Nolan Reimold, Jayson Nix, Everth Cabrera Key Departures - Nick Markakis, Nelson Cruz, Andrew Miller Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore, MD (Hitter-friendly)

Manager - John Farrell (3rd season) Key Acquisitions - Pablo Sandoval, Hanley Ramirez, Rick Porcello Key Departures - Yoenis Céspedes, Rubby De La Rosa, Will Middlebrooks Fenway Park, Boston, MA (Hitter-friendly)

Chicago White Sox

Cleveland Indians

2014 record 73-89 Manager - Robin Ventura (4th season) Key Acquisitions - Adam LaRoche, Jeff Samardzija, David Robertson, Melky Cabrera Key Departures - Paul Konerko US Cellular Field, Chicago, IL (Hitter-friendly)

Houston Astros

2014 record 70-92 Manager - A.J. Hinch (1st season) Key Acquisitions - Pat Neshek, Luke Gregerson, Jed Lowrie, Colby Rasmus Key Departures - Dexter Fowler Minute Maid Park, Houston, TX (Hitter-friendly)

2014 record - 85-77 Manager - Terry Francona (3rd season) Key Acquisitions - Brandon Moss, Gavin Floyd Key Departures - Nyjer Morgan Progressive Field, Cleveland, OH (Pitcher-friendly)

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

2014 record 98-64 (1st in division)

Manager - Mike Scioscia (11th season) Key Acquisitions - Huston Street, Matt Joyce Key Departures - Howie Kendrick, Jason Grilli Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Anaheim, CA (Pitcher-friendly)

New York Yankees

Tampa Bay Rays

Toronto Blue Jays

2014 record 84-78

2014 record 77-85

2014 record 83-79

Manager - Joe Girardi (8th season) Key Acquisitions - Andrew Miller, Didi Gregorius, Nathan Eovaldi Key Departures - Alfonso Soriano, Derek Jeter, David Robertson, Ichiro Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY (Hitter-friendly)

Manager - Kevin Cash (1st season) Key Acquisitions - Ernesto Frieri, Asdrúbal Cabrera, John Jaso Key Departures - Jeremy Hellickson, Matt Joyce, Wil Myers, Ben Zobrist Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL (Pitcher-friendly)

Manager - John Gibbons (3rd season) Key Acquisitions - Marco Estrada, Russell Martin, Josh Donaldson Key Departures - Brett Lawrie, Brandon Morrow, Melky Cabrera, Colby Rasmus Rogers Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (Hitter-friendly)

Detroit Tigers

2014 record 90-72 (1st in division)

Manager - Brad Ausmus (2nd season) Key Acquisitions - Yoenis Céspedes, Shane Greene Key Departures - Rick Porcello, Torii Hunter, Max Scherzer Comerica Park, Detroit, MI (Hitter-friendly)

Oakland Athletics

2014 record 88-74 (wild card runner-up) Manager - Bob Melvin (5th season) Key Acquisitions - Billy Butler, Ben Zobrist, Brett Lawrie Key Departures - Josh Donaldson, Brandon Moss, Jeff Samardzija, Jon Lester, Derek Norris Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, CA (Pitcher-friendly)

Kansas City Royals

2014 record 89-72 (wild card winner) (AL Champions) Manager - Ned Yost (6th season) Key Acquisitions - Kendrys Morales, Edinson Volquez Key Departures - Billy Butler, Nori Aoki, James Shields Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, MO (Pitcher-friendly)

Seattle Mariners

Minnesota Twins

2014 record 70-92 Manager - Paul Molitor (1st season) Key Acquisitions - Torii Hunter, Ervin Santana Key Departures - None Target Field, Minneapolis, MN (Pitcher-friendly)

Texas Rangers

2014 record 87-75

2014 record 67-95

Manager - Lloyd McClendon (2nd season) Key Acquisitions - Nelson Cruz, Rickie Weeks Key Departures - Kendrys Morales, Corey Hart Safeco Field, Seattle, WA (Pitcher-friendly)

Manager - Jeff Banister (1st season) Key Acquisitions - Yovani Gallardo, Anthony Raunado Key Departures - None Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Arlington, TX (Hitter-friendly)

March 27, 2015

Ferr or Foul?

Sports Column

Sports

17

Graphic by Brittany Cormier/The Gatepost

The Road to the FINAL FOUR

Jeff Poole/The Gatepost

By Mike Ferris Sports Editor

Every year when the NCAA Tournament rolls around, someone successfully tries on the glass slipper.

This year, the UCLA Bruins have taken the role of Cinderella at “the Big Dance.”

The Bruins were the subject of much debate a few weeks ago after squeezing into the field of 68 on Selection Sunday. Analysts all over ESPN argued that UCLA didn’t belong, and the selection committee had made an unforgiveable error.

Nearly two weeks later, the Bruins are still dancing and proving everyone wrong, as they’ve earned a berth into the Sweet 16.

UCLA was placed into the South Region, headlined by Duke, Gonzaga and Iowa State, as an 11-seed.

The Bruins, who played their first two games in Louisville, not only won both, but did so by an average score of nine.

This stat, however, is a little deceiving, because UCLA pummeled the 14-seeded UAB Blazers in the Round of 32, 92-75, but struggled in pulling the upset over the 6-seeded SMU Mustangs, coming out on the better side of a 6059 final.

The SMU game was surrounded by controversy, however, as point guard Bryce Alford put up a three for the win with seconds remaining.

The shot appeared to be an air ball, but the officials blew the play dead and tagged the Mustangs with a goaltending call- a call that ultimately put the Bruins up 60-59, the score that would go final 13 seconds later.

While these wins have been impressive and somewhat unlikely, UCLA is in for a battle Saturday when it plays the 34-2 Gonzaga Bulldogs.

UCLA has not gotten much bench production, as it has gone only seven-deep for the better part of two games.

Coach Steve Alford knows what his team is capable of and is aware that they have a legitimate shot come Friday.

Welcome to

Indianapolis

The Bruins continue to dominate opponents on the glass and shoot an extremely high percentage from the floor, as they shot 46 percent against SMU and 60 percent against UAB. Alford, who is the son of the coach, continues to prove the most important piece for UCLA. In the first game, Alford put up 27 points, 9-11 from three, in 39 minutes and provided 22 points in 39 minutes two days later against UAB. While the Alfords look to continue their success, Gonzaga looks to put an end to it. The Zags are also dominating teams on the glass and shooting lights out in their first

two games, which should mean that whatever team rebounds better and takes better shots should come out on top.

The Final Four is looming and the Bruins have their eyes set on Indianapolis, but Gonzaga and Duke may have something to say about that.

One thing is for certain- the Bruins should be proud of what they’ve accomplished so far, taking pride in proving all of the doubters wrong and leaving everything on the floor this weekend, as they look to advance to their first Final Four since the Kevin Love era.

Cinderella is set to tip against

Gonzaga Friday night at 7:15 p.m., and if the clock doesn’t strike midnight then, Alford’s squad would have a monumental matchup with Mike Krzyzewski’s Blue Devils, barring an upset in the Duke-Utah game, that would send the winner to Indianapolis.

Sports

18

SOFTBALL

By Tanya Strom Editorial Staff

Weekly Whiparound The Lady Rams were defeated in the season opener, 8-0 by Wisconsin-Stout. Sophomore Kylie Boyle and freshman Megan Downing were the only players able to record any hits in the entire game but were unable to score any runs.

Anna Dziok had the only walk of the game.

Despite reaching base twice, Bridget McGrail was left stranded.

Framingham State (0-1)

0-8 F/6

The Rams came out strong against Wesleyan. In the bottom of the first, sophomore Tiffanie Marsh hit a ground ball past the Cardinals’ shortstop, allowing Dziok time to score the first run of the game.

Carried by her momentum, Kylie Boyle fired a frozen rope to center, giving Marsh time to score FSU its second run of the night.

Wesleyan was able to recover quickly in the second with three runs, taking the lead from the Rams.

At the top of the third, FSU’s Megan Downing hit a double, sending Marsh home, knotting the game.

The Wesleyan pitcher Amanda Roosa shut

Framingham State (0-2)

(0-3)

Framingham State (0-4)

On March 18, Framingham faced Clarkson, but was unable to capture the win, losing 10-2.

Although Boyle started off the top of the first with an RBI single up the middle, the Golden Knights answered back with two runs of their own.

Clarkson took off with the game in the bottom of the third, gaining another four runs.

Holly Greet had the second sacrifice of the night in the sixth inning, giving Framingham

Framingham State (0-5)

Wesleyan

Washington and Jefferson

way.

Marsh and Boyle supplied the two RBI’s, while Dziok and Fanning came across the plate with the Rams’ three runs.

Arseneau pitched four innings and gave up 12 hits and seven runs, six of which were due to errors.

The final score was 8-3, adding to the Rams’ four-game losing streak.

3-8

Amherst

their second and final run.

Arseneau suffered the loss, allowing eight runs, three earned, on nine hits. In her three innings, she had five strikeouts, while Marsh threw two innings of relief.

Framingham had only seven hits in comparison to their opponent’s 14. The Rams committed five errors, allowing Clarkson to capture the lead and run away with it.

2 - 10 F/6

FSU was unable to continue its winning ways when it went up against Buffalo State College.

The Bengals took the lead early in the first when they tagged Rams’ starter, Marsh, for three runs.

Arseneau had her shot, pitching 1.1 innings, but she allowed three runs on four hits, forcing Coach Miller to call on Kourtney Kacian to pitch the final 1.2 innings.

The three pitchers gave up 10 hits and walked seven.

McGrail recorded two of Framingham’s

Framingham State (1-7)

Framingham State

Clarkson

(1-6)

Framingham State (1-8)

Framingham State (1-9)

Framingham State (2-9)

Hamilton

Underclassmen gave Framingham the four hits of the game.

Marsh took the loss in the circle going 1.1 innings allowing seven runs, six earned, on seven hits.

0-8 F/5

The Lady Rams got back on track on March 26 when they took down Lesley College, 11-0.

The game started slow, as both teams posted scoreless innings in the first and second. The Rams would wake up, though, exploding for seven runs in the third inning.

Marchant started the scoring, stinging a single to center field that scored Williams. Boyle followed up with a double that plated Marsh

Univ. of New England

Olivia Gozdz sparked the Hamilton offense, taking Greet deep in the bottom half of the fourth.

Framingham pitching struggled to overpower Hamilton, only striking out one over six innings. Unearned runs again proved detrimental to the Rams, with only three of the seven allowed being earned.

Boyle hit an RBI sac fly allowing Dziok to score the only run of the game in the top of the seventh.

1-7

In the final game of the week, Framingham was shutout by Lawrence, 8-0 in five innings.

The Rams allowed three runs in the first and four in the second. Lawrence scored their eighth and final run in the bottom of the fourth.

St. Lawrence

late-inning rally. The Rams scored three unanswered runs, taking the lead 8-7.

In the seventh, Greet singled to left field driving in Marchant.

The game-winning run was driven in by Dziok, with an infield single in the bottom of the eighth.

Arseneau scattered eight hits and seven runs over 3.2 innings and was relieved by Marsh.

Marsh gave up three hits and zero runs in her 4.1 innings.

The team as a whole committed four errors.

8-7 F/8

The Rams’ last two games in Florida proved to be difficult because of their inability string together hits.

Hamilton struck first, taking the lead by three in the second inning. Framingham fell behind early, unable to answer.

Hamilton increased their lead by three in the bottom of the fourth.

Arseneau gave up four hits and three runs in two innings. Greet relieved her, but gave up three runs.

The Rams struggled offensively, only tallying three hits.

Buffalo State

Marsh and Arseneau combined to pitch seven for the Rams. Marsh pitched four innings, scattering 10 hits, eight runs and a walk.

Arseneau held St. Lawrence hitless in her three innings, allowing no runs and conceding only two walks.

Errors killed the Rams, as only two of Marsh’s eight runs were earned.

The Rams stole three bases, one by Dziok, one by Marchant and another by Fanning.

Despite coming up with ten hits, ultimately the Rams could not recover from all of the unearned runs.

5-8

The Lady Rams snapped their six-game losing streak by defeating the University of New England, 8-7.

Despite being out-hit and scored in the first inning 4-1, as well as in the fourth inning 3-0, the Rams did not back down offensively.

FSU got something going in the bottom of the fifth inning, looking to cut into UNE’s 6-1 lead. With the bases loaded, Bridget McGrail hit a grand slam to center field giving the Rams four RBI’s.

UNE did not score in the sixth, seventh or eighth inning, giving FSU the opportunity for a

Framingham State

three hits, while Marchant added another when she doubled in the third.

The Rams continued to struggle defensively, committing three errors, which amounted to three unearned runs.

After Framingham missed their chance, Buffalo State College exploded in the bottom of the fourth, with four runs on two hits. It proved too much for the Rams’ offense and the Bengals walked away with a 12-2 victory.

Buffalo State scored in each of its four frames, tallying three in the first, two in the second, three in the third and four in the fourth.

2 - 12 F/5

The Rams rebounded offensively in the nightcap against St. Lawrence, recording the most hits of any game thus far- 10.

They were unable to take the win, however, as St. Lawrence defeated Framingham 8-5.

St. Lawrence gained its lead in the top of the second with six runs. Kylie Boyle fired back with the Rams’ first run of the night, blasting a long home run in the bottom of the second.

Of the 10 hits for FSU, two were doubles, and the leaders in hits were Dziok and Marchant, with two each.

The Rams tacked on four more runs in the fourth inning.

(0-6)

was hitting. Marsh had the only hit of the game.

She pitched four innings and gave up nine hits and eight runs, eight of which were unearned.

0 - 10 F/5

In its second game of day, against Amherst, Framingham started off slow. The Rams were unable to score in the first two innings.

Amherst was leading 2-0 at the top of the third when Framingham’s Kylie Boyle grounded into an RBI fielder’s choice.

Shut out in the fourth, Framingham came back in the fifth with two runs. However, it allowed four runs in the home half of the fifth.

Framingham was held scoreless the rest of the

Wisconsin-Stout

out the Rams in the fourth inning. However, the Rams were not so fortunate, giving up four more runs, Wesleyan found itself up three in the fourth.

Framingham refused to give up in the fifth.

With two women on the corners, Marsh grounded one out to center field, driving in a run by Dayna Marchant.

In the final inning, the Cardinals gained an addition seven runs, increasing the lead to 14.

The Rams were unable to score.

In the circle, Marsh scattered nine hits and 11 runs over 5.1 innings with two K’s. She faced 30 batters.

As a team, Framingham totaled 10 errors.

4 - 18

On March 16, Framingham lost, 10-0 to Washington and Jefferson College.

The main issue that the team struggled with

Framingham State

Natasha Arseneau 4.2 innings, giving up eight hits and six runs, only one of which was earned. Arseneau faced 22 batters in the circle.

Stout took the lead in the bottom of the third when Liz Seipel scored the only earned run of the game. The Blue Devils scored five runs in the fifth inning and an additional two runs in the sixth because of fielding errors by FSU.

March 27, 2015

Lawrence

and Marchant.

Another single, this time by McGrail, added to the lead, before Danielle Belliveau would add the exclamation point in the form of a three-run homerun. The lead would increase in the fourth, as the Rams scored four more.

Arseneau took the win in the circle for Framingham, throwing a complete game shutout and striking out five Lesley batters.

11 - 0 F/5

Lesley

Sports

March 27, 2015

BASEBALL

By Robert Jones Staff Writer

Around the Horn The Framingham State baseball team kicked off their season on March 12 with a convincing 12-1 win against Johnson and Wales University.

Due to rough weather, the “home” opener was played at the New England Baseball Complex in Northborough, Massachusetts.

Senior Zack Kirby was given the ball as the opening day starter for the Rams, and did not disappoint. Kirby went eight innings, recording nine strikeouts, and allowing only one unearned run on four hits.

Framingham State (1-0)

12 - 1

The Rams then traveled to Florida, where they kicked off a week of baseball with a double header against Oswego State, on March 14.

In game one, Framingham was handed their first loss of the season, 11-0. Oswego starter Charles Arcuri kept the Rams off balance at the plate, surrendering only one hit, while collect-

Framingham State (1-1)

(1-2)

Framingham State (2-2)

(3-2)

(3-3)

William Paterson

The second game featured solid outings from both starting pitchers, as Kirby and Amherst starter John Cook tossed complete games.

The two recorded nine and 10 strikeouts, respectively.

Framingham started the scoring in the bottom of the third, when Gerard scored on an error by the Amherst catcher.

Amherst would respond quickly, scoring four runs in the next half inning behind two singles, a double and a passed ball.

The two teams traded a scoreless fifth inning, before the Rams would plate Gill when

Framingham State (3-4)

Framingham State (3-5)

(4-5)

Framingham State (5-5)

Framingham State

again it was the top of the lineup that did the majority of the damage, driving in five of the seven runs.

New England College made a late push, scoring four runs in the top of the ninth, before Christopher Riga closed the door and earned his first save of the season.

7-6

New England Coll.

The game was tied at three when Amherst opened up a lead in the bottom of the fourth, thanks to a Framingham throwing error and pair of RBI doubles.

The Rams showed signs of a late comeback, when Gray delivered an RBI single to left that scored Derosier. The rally would prove too little too late, though, as Amherst pitching would end the run and preserve the win.

4-6

Amherst

Framingham State (7-5)

Framingham State (8-5)

Trinity

Riga would again grab the save, this time working harder, as he completed the six-out save.

Framingham had a tough day at the plate, but got RBI’s from Colon and Gray to earn the victory.

Gray’s RBI proved to be the difference maker, as Trinity pitching walked in the winning run in the bottom of the eleventh.

2-1 F/11

Framingham continued their winning streak when they won their first game since returning to Massachusetts, 19-0 against Lesley University, on March 25.

The Rams dominated from the plate and from the mound, winning every statistical category in the game.

The offense was led by Colon who went 4-5,

Sewanee

of the contest, earning him the save.

The Rams were inefficient at the plate, leaving eleven runners stranded on base, but RBI doubles from Pallazola, Colon and Gray, as well as an RBI single from Gill, proved to be enough for the win.

Mainini’s aggressive base running led to three of Framingham’s six stolen bases.

5-2

The Rams last game in Florida proved a challenge as they squeaked out a 2-1 victory in extra innings.

Pitching dominated all game long. The two teams combined to record 26 strikeouts in the 11 innings of play.

Kirby threw a gem, going nine strong and allowing only one run. He accounted for 10 of team’s 12 strikeouts and walked just one.

Sewanee

five RBI’s.

The Rams were active on the base paths as well, stealing four bases on the day, with Mainini, Colon, Gill and Driscoll each swiping one.

Connelly 3.1innings on the hill and earned the win. Brendan McDonough, Tevin Moore and Brian Quinn also saw time on the mound for Framingham.

14 - 5

The Rams ended their Florida trip strong with a pair of wins against Trinity College on March 21.

In the first game, Framingham topped the Bantams 5-2 behind strong pitching and timely hitting.

Corliss picked up the win, giving up only two runs in his 6.1 innings of work on the rubber. Riga would come in and record the final out

WisconsinWhitewater

when Gerard ripped a double to left field, scoring Pallazola.

The Rams opened the floodgates in the bottom of the third, scoring seven runs and increasing their lead to 10-1. Runs continued to pour in, as Framingham put another seven on the board in the fifth.

Framingham used 18 hits, 15 RBI’s and seven walks en route to the 17-3 victory.

Monroe earned the win on the mound for the Rams, going five innings and allowing only two hits.

17 - 3

Game two proved to be much of the same.

The Rams took the victory, running away, 14-5.

The offense again carried its weight, posting 17 hits, 14 RBI’s and four walks. Five Rams registered multiple hits and four drove in more than one run.

Gerard was a monster in the leadoff spot for the Rams, going 4-5, including two doubles and

Amherst

of his own to left-center. Later in the inning, a Gerard single scored Gill and Gray.

Pitching dominated in the third and fourth innings, until Framingham’s bats exploded for seven runs in the top of the fifth. The Rams recorded four hits in the frame and batted around the order. Derosier, Gray, Driscoll and Mainini all drove in runs in the inning.

Whitewater’s bats would wake up too, as they scored five in the sixth, two in the seventh and three more in the bottom of the ninth, including the game-winner.

11 - 12

Another double-header was on the docket for the Rams on March 20, this time against Sewanee.

Framingham dominated both games, winning by a combined score of 31-8. The wins snapped a threegame losing streak for the Rams.

In the first game, the offense struck early and often. Derosier started the party in the bottom of the first, on an RBI single that brought in Mainini.

Colon would add the second run of the inning when he scored on a failed pickoff attempt.

The scoring would continue in the second,

Framingham State

Pallazola doubled to left in the bottom of the sixth. Amherst countered with a run of their own in the top of the seventh, which extended its lead to 5-2.

Much like the first game of the day, the Rams would make a late-inning surge. Ivan Colon started the charge with a double to left field that scored Gerard. Gray would follow up with a sacrifice fly that drove in Mainini.

However, the late rally would again come up just short and the Rams were handed their second loss of the day, 5-4.

4-5

Framingham was put to the test on the 19th when they squared off against last year’s Division III National Champion, Wisconsin-Whitewater. The Rams would give the defending champs all they could handle before eventually falling 12-11 in an offensive showcase.

Whitewater struck first in the bottom of the opening frame on a two-run homerun. The Rams would join the Warhawks on the scoreboard in the next half inning by scoring three and claiming the lead.

Derosier started the scoring with a homerun

(6-5)

The Rams lost a pair of close games the following day at the hands of Amherst College.

Framingham fell behind early in game one, as Amherst struck first, scoring on an RBI double.

The Rams would answer in the top of the second, when Gill went deep, notching his first homerun of the year. Junior Jake Wardwell also drove in a run in the inning when his single plated Driscoll.

Framingham State

Oswego State

The Rams offense was on fire from the start, as they scored three runs in the top of the first, thanks to a William Derosier two-run homerun and a John Gill double that plated RJ Gray.

Later homeruns from Gerard and Mainini extended the lead and secured the win.

9-3

The Rams recaptured a winning record on March 16, putting them at 3-2 on the season, by defeating New England College, 7-6.

Christopher Monroe provided another stellar pitching performance, going eight innings while surrendering only two runs.

Eight Rams recorded hits in the contest, but

Framingham State

Oswego State

man Jordan Pallazola recorded Framingham’s other RBI on a double in the top of the fourth.

The Ram’s were leading midway through the contest, before Oswego tallied runs in the fifth and sixth to tie the score. An Oswego walkoff single in the bottom of the seventh would seal the loss for the Rams.

5-6

Framingham snapped their two-game losing streak the next day by defeating William Patterson University, 9-3.

Game one featured a strong performance on the mound from freshman Kevin Connelly, who went 7.2 innings, allowing three runs, only two of which were earned.

Johnson & Wales

ing 10 strikeouts in five innings of work. Framingham could muster only three hits on the day, all of which were singles.

The lone bright spot for the Rams was the performance of junior pitcher Dillon Corliss, who recorded four strikeouts in his 3.1 innings on the hill.

0 - 11

The Rams rebounded offensively in the nightcap, but weren’t able to take the win, as Oswego completed the sweep, defeating Framingham 6-5.

The top of the Ram lineup was particularly effective, as Gerard and senior Mark Mainini both accounted for two hits and an RBI. Fresh-

Framingham State

Framingham’s offense was led by catcher Kevin Driscoll, who went 3-3 at the plate, including three RBI’s and two runs scored.

Driscoll was not alone, however, as all nine of the Ram starters recorded at least one hit. The exclamation point came in the eighth inning, when senior Matt Gerard delivered a two-run homerun.

Johnson and Wales avoided the shutout, scoring its lone run of the game in the eighth, on a throwing error after a strikeout.

19

Trinity

including two homeruns and five RBI’s.

The rest of the team did its part too, as the Rams torched Lesley pitching on their way to 13 hits, 18 RBI’s and six extra-base hits.

Five Rams combined on the mound to throw a four-hit shutout. Corliss went five innings, while McDonough, Moore, Quinn and Daniel Moran each threw one.

19 - 0

Lesley

20

March 27, 2015

Battle of the Bakers Photos by Brad Leuchte/The Gatepost

Students enjoyed a “make your own cupcake� bar while the competitors created their own baked treats.

On Wednesday evening, five teams competed for the top spot in the Cupcake Wars in the cafeteria.