September 23, 2022

Kiwibots now cruising across campus

Community outraged following comments at Trustee subcommittee meetings on

By Leighah Beausoleil Editor-in-Chief

Board of Trustees Chair Kevin Foley and Trustee Mike Grilli made com ments during subcommittee meet ings last week that were deemed “deeply offensive,” according to President Nancy Niemi in a commu nity-wide email Sept. 16.

The first instance occurred during the Academic Affairs Subcommittee meeting Sept. 13, according to Niemi in an Duringinterview.thismeeting, Kristen Por ter-Utley, provost and vice president of academic affairs, who chairs the

subcommittee, gave a presentation on her goals for the year, according to OneNiemi.ofthe

“pillars” of her goals was advancing the University’s mission to become an anti-racist institution, Niemi said.

Foley “questioned whether or not the term ‘anti-racism’ was the best use of the term or could it be stated more positively - like inclusiveness or eq uity,” she said.

Niemi explained Porter-Utley’s re sponse to this comment. “She stat ed that this was a specific term that referred to a whole theory and prac tice of the way we behave when we’re

trying to become an institution, or an organization, that works to improve and get rid of racism and to make an equitable institution.”

The second instance occurred during the Enrollment and Student Devel opment Subcommittee meeting Sept. 14, according to Niemi.

The enrollment report was presented by Niemi, and in reference to the loss of approximately 1,000 white women over the last few years, Grilli made an “inappropriate” remark regarding the actor Jussie Smollett, she said.

In 2019, Smollett falsely reported a hate crime that he had staged.

By Emily Rosenberg Associate Editor

A parent waves as they wipe a tear from their eye and watch their firstborn child enter their residence hall.

There’s a long line at the campus bookstore and ID office.

There are signs everywhere direct ing people where to go, and welcoming people to campus.

And in front of the McCarthy Center, there’s a booth with the smiling faces of orientation leaders and Deans inviting new and returning students to decorate the ground with chalk.

Every year, New Student and Family Programs, which has been broken into

two offices following orientation, the Dean of Students, and Student Involve ment organize orientation and a wel come week known as “Black and Gold Beginnings” (BGB) for new students.

Black and Gold Beginnings was spread out over a week, lasting from the day first-years moved in to the last day of the first week of classes. This is un like previous years, when it lasted the length of move-in to the first day of classes.Sara

Gallegos, executive director of student experience and careers, said the Black and Gold Beginnings Plan ning Committee decided to stretch out the events into a welcome week due to the odd scheduling of the beginning

of the academic year. The first day of school was on a Friday, which led into LaborInstead,Day. they planned a “welcome week,” which is traditional for other universities. There were approximately the same number of programs, but stu dents had more opportunities to attend them because they were spread out over the week, rather than overlapping.

Programming included an SGA-spon sored movie night, a scavenger hunt and a tote bag decorating session with orientation leaders, a back-to-school barbeque, and more informational pro gramming such as “questions that need

KIWIBOTS

Leighah Beausoleil / THE GATEPOST

Framingham State Kiwibot team member Jorge Bonilla, who handles operations, hosts a table with Victor Castro, who handles maintenance, giving away various prizes to students. Prizes were awarded through a game where participants attempted to throw three balls into a Kiwibot’s food compartment.

The Gatepost Archives

Editorial

CarolInterviewGray

Mary Miles Bibb Teaching Fellow

By Sophia Harris News Editor

What is your professional and ed ucational background?

I went to Wesleyan University for my undergraduate degree and I developed my own major in African Studies. After my B.A., I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do for the next step, so I did a num ber of jobs before going to law school. I went to Northeastern University School of Law in Boston. Then, I went straight from there to a fellowship at George town University Law Center. I was a Prettyman fellow in their criminal jus tice clinic. One of the things I did before law school is I was an investigator with a federal defender in Washington, DC. I knew I wanted to become a public de fender when I went to law school. The Prettyman fellowship at Georgetown ba sically trained you to be a public defend er. I also got an LL.M. degree at George town as part of that fellowship, which is a master’s in law. … I guess I like school because I went back later, and I got a di ploma in international human rights law at American University in Cairo, where I was a Rotary International Ambas sadorial Scholar, and I happened to be there when the Arab Spring broke out, which was an amazing experience. I got a Fulbright research grant. I worked on an oral history that I’d begun in Cairo. After that, I went back to school again and I decided I wanted to teach full time at the college level. I wanted to get a Ph.D. My most recent degree is a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Connecticut. … I am very interested in all different kinds of human rights. I also got graduate certificates at the Uni versity of Connecticut in feminist stud ies, human rights, and race ethnicity in politics.

What is your role at Framingham State and what does your job entail?

I’m Mary Miles Bibb Postdoctoral Fellow. I’m so honored to have this fel lowship because Mary Miles Bibb was an amazing woman. I’m a teaching fel low. I’m in the Department of Political Science, Law, and Global Studies. I’m teaching American politics, the presi dency, and the Supreme Court.

What is a Mary Miles Bibb Fellow ship?

The fellowship was created in re sponse to student concerns over [the lack of] faculty of color hired at FSU. … Obviously, I’m not a person of color. However, it’s also for white allies - for people who are going to be invested in

supporting students of color and an an ti-racism curriculum. So a lot of my re search deals with civil rights and human rights. Part of what drew me to FSU was they are very strong in their anti-rac ism platform. And I believe in that and I support that. Mary Miles Bibb was an ama ing woman. She was the first lack woman to graduate from FSU in 1843, and she went on to teach in Boston and Philadelphia. She later moved to Cana da with her husband, Henry Bibb, who was an escaped slave. After the 1850 ugitive Slave Act was passed, they fled to Canada, and they formed this news paper called The Voice of the Fugitive. One thing I love about Mary Miles Bibb is I love oral history, and she was an oral historian. She was interviewing fugitive slaves who got to Canada, and she was recording their stories and publishing them in this newspaper. She also helped fugitive slaves resettle to Canada.

What do you enjoy about being a teaching fellow at Framingham State?

I love to teach. The department I’m in is very supportive and really cares about students, which is why I teach. I think that education is one of the most important ways to help students go for ward in their careers, but also to teach about things like social justice and an ti-racism and feminism and civil rights.

What would you say some of your goals are as a teaching fellow at Framingham State?

One of my goals is for students to learn both from me and from each other, and to learn about politics and history and its relationship to both tools that have oppressed but also liberated people. …

Politics is like a hammer. It’s a tool that can both crush and build up and inspire. It’s really important for people to learn about it. I’m excited by the role that pol itics has in people’s lives, and I want to share that excitement with students.

What do you enjoy doing outside of your work?

I’m a parent. I have a 17-year-old and he and I love to go camping. We are great supporters of the national parks. We’ve gone across the country camping and visiting national parks and that’s been really great.

What advice do you have for stu dents?

I would advise them to study things that you care about and that you’re pas sionate about. Don’t worry if there’s things you don’t know or that you might give a wrong answer. Just raise your hand and participate. You form your own edu cational paths, and you can take that in whatever direction you want. An educa tion and a career path doesn’t have to be a straight line. And for me, it’s been all over the place. I think some of the most interesting lives have gone in many dif ferent directions at different times, and that’s fine. If you don’t know what you want to do yet, that’s OK. I hope every one can use their education to somehow make the world a better place. I think that’s one of the most rewarding things that you can do. And it may not come with the biggest salary, but hopefully, it will make you happy and it will help other people.

Courtesy of Framingham State

Sodexo implements robotic delivery service

By Leighah Beausoleil Editor-in-Chief

Sodexo introduced a new delivery program this semester that uses robots to transport food across campus.

The company Kiwibot has formed a partnership with Sodexo to deploy over 500 robots across 26 college cam puses in the United States, according to the Kiwibot website.

This semester, that number is closer to 30, according to Julian Echeeverri, a Kiwibot manager. He said the goal for the company’s partnership with So dexo is to reach 100 campuses by the end of next semester, but he foresees the company reaching 60.

Though it is a U.S. company, Kiwi bot was founded by a Colombian team in 2017 after they were accepted into UC Berkeley’s acceleration program, SKYDECK, according to Echeeverri.

According to Aretha Phillips, direc tor of Dining Services, Framingham State students can download the Ev eryday app to order from Sodexo and the robots will then deliver the food.

The delivery time is estimated to be 25 minutes or less. The food com partment of the robot is insulated and consistently sanitized by employees, according to Echeeverri.

Students have the option to pay for delivery for each order, which is $2 with a 10% service fee, or opt for one of the offeredTheresubscriptions.arethreesubscription op

tions: Silver is $40 per semester for 15 deliveries, Gold is $109 per semester for 45 deliveries, and Platinum is $159 per semester for 70 deliveries.

Phillips said the Kiwibot delivery fees are more affordable than current delivery services such as GrubHub.

As of Sept. 12, Framingham State is number one in the country for Kiwibot subscriptions with a total of 17 - 16 Silver subscriptions and one Gold. The college ranked second has a total of 11 subscriptions, according to Phillips.

Echeeverri said Sodexo plans to merge the Kiwibot subscriptions with meal plans in the future.

According to Echeeverri, Sodexo pre-paid for the program and aims to make up the cost through delivery sub scriptions.Giventhat Framingham State has 15 robots, he said Sodexo will have to sell approximately 370 Gold subscriptions to match the cost of having them on campus.Echeeverri added Sodexo and Kiwi bot hold monthly meetings to main tain an open dialogue between the two companies.FSUstudents have the option of ordering from locations on campus, including resident dining, Dunkin’ Donuts, Sandellas, and the Rams’ Den Grille. There are also options that can only be purchased through the Kiwibot delivery service, which includes Pardon My Cheesesteak, Mariah Carey’s Cook ies, and Mr. Beast Burgers.

Phillips said these additional op tions will change periodically through out the year, adding Sodexo staff will be trained in the preparation of these new“Itoptions.seems to be going pretty good,” Phillips said. “I think it’s going to be great for all the students, faculty, and staff that actually utilize it. I think it’ll pick up especially on rainy days and snow days. I think that’ll be a great convenience factor for everyone, so it’s kind of exciting to have it on campus.”

She said the robots will still be able to function in a few inches of snow, adding it’s an “all terrain” machine.

The robots have seven cameras in total. Six on its exterior for mobility and one interior camera to ensure no one puts anything inside when pick ing up their delivery. These cameras live stream to a remote location, where Kiwibot employees can monitor the ro bots in situations such as crossing the street, according to Echeeverri.

The cameras do not record the sur roundings, so no footage is collected by the robots, he said. The cameras use ar tificial intelligence sensors to identify faces, license plates, and addresses and blurs them in the live feedback for user protection and privacy.

This live video also does not in clude sound as the robots do not have the capacity to equip a microphone, Echeeverri

Framinghamsaid. State has its own Ki wibot team that operates at the former Juice Bar inside the Athletic Center, ac cording to Phillips.

The team is comprised of Jorge Bo nilla, who handles operations, and Vic tor Castro, who handles maintenance. Both live off campus.

This team works to maintain and care for the robots on a day-to-day ba sis, including regular maintenance, A.I. testing to ensure the sensors are work ing, and assessment of safety features.

Echeeverri said the Kiwibot team at Framingham State hopes to hire student interns, both STEM and nonSTEM majors, in the future to help with theHerobots.saidthe Kiwibots are covered un der an “umbrella insurance” that pro vides protection for any damage that occurs to the robot or that the robot causes.“We’re really excited to be part of the campus and the community,” Echeeverri said. “We do actually try to merge with the community such as be ing a part of the events - being a part of sports

“Theevents.robots are brandable so we love to be part of say, Health Awareness Month or Cancer Awareness Month,”

he Phillipsadded. said, “I think it’s great to have it on campus and I hope everyone appreciates it and gets to utilize it and I hope it’s convenient for everyone.”

She added, “I think it’s one of the most popular things that a lot of uni versities are starting to do now, so it was great to have it here on campus.”

Norah Louisville, a junior crimi nology major, said she did not real ize Framingham State had the robots at first until she saw one “down the street.”Louisville said she has been seeing them around college campuses, such as Bridgewater State University.

“They’re everywhere,” she said of the robots at Bridgewater. “We literally cross with them. It’s crazy.”

Ava Murphy, a senior biology major, said it was “weird” seeing the robots at first.

“I did not know what was happen ing,” Murphy said. “I didn’t pay atten tion. I just saw a little robot roaming around.”Though she is a commuter student and does not have a use for them, she said they are “really cool.”

Jaden Streeter, a freshman biology major, said, “I love them.

“I was walking through the court yard, and I saw him - I fell in love,” she added.“Iwas instantly like, ‘Oh, my god,’ he’s smiling - his eyes are happy,” Streeter said. “My heart just warmed the second I saw him. I’m so happy we have them on campus.”

Correction

Weather

Sunday night Sept. 25

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. S wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Monday Sept. 26

Partly sunny, with a high near 72. SW wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Monday night Sept. 26

Partly cloudy, with a low around 53. SW wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Tuesday Sept. 27

Mostly sunny, with a high near 70. SW wind around 10 mph.

Forecast Weather

Tuesday night Sept. 27

Mostly clear, with a low around 49. W wind around 5 mph.

Wednesday Sept. 28

Mostly sunny, with a high near 63. W wind around 10 mph.

Wednesday night Sept. 28

Mostly clear, with a low around 45. W wind around 5 mph.

Thursday Sept. 29

Mostly sunny, with a high near 63. NW wind around 10 mph.

Leighah Beausoleil / THE GATEPOST

Three Kiwibots waiting outside the McCarthy Center to recieve food orders.

CONNECT WITH LEIGHAH BEAUSOLEIL lbeausoleil@student.framingham.edu

Leighah Beausoleil / THE GATEPOST A Kiwibot waiting to cross State Street.

In the Volume 91, State Eric Gus Hofrenning is director of the Health Center. She is not director

Board of Trustees

“There is a lot of context around that - none of which got discussed at the meeting,” Niemi said. “It came out just like that or worse and he’s made that comment in other venues.

“It could have been taken any num ber of ways, not the least of which was that any racism was just made up - that racism wasn’t real,” she added. “Making reference to that not only made no sense, but that made it real ly offensive to many of us, including

Themyself.”Sept. 16 email sent by Niemi in formed faculty, staff, and students about the comments.

“I write today to strongly reaffirm the University’s commitment to eq uity and anti-racism, two ideals that I view as central to our mission,” Niemi stated in the email.

She referenced Framingham State’s history in regard to anti-racism ef forts. In the 1840s, Principal Samuel J. May “threatened to resign if Mary Miles Bibb was not admitted to the “Bibbschool.would graduate in 1843 and go on to become one of the first Afri can American female teachers on the continent,” Niemi added.

In regard to the trustees who made the comments, she said they “have since reflected on their words, ad dressed the comments, and commit ted to furthering their education on the significance and importance of our anti-racism stance.”

Shortly following this email, the community received a second email sent on behalf of Foley.

In this email, Foley stated, “My com ment regarding the term anti-racism was not meant to be critical of the efforts that I have long supported. My intent was to consider a change in the terminology to fit with our strategic brand efforts and reflect a positive connotation.”

He added, “If I expressed myself poorly and offended anyone then I truly regret that and sincerely apol

Foleyogize.”said he had spoken to Grilli, who “regrets these hurtful state Inments.”aninterview, Foley said he was “appalled” by Grilli’s comments and that he “chastised him” privately.

Foley discussed his own comments made at the Sept. 13 meeting. “I was coming in from a different angle. I’m not part of academia, so I’m not familiar enough with some of the “So,terms.my bad, you know, complete ly,” he said. “I’ve already taken some steps to both reflect and to also edu cate myself, as well.”

At the Sept. 21 Board of Trustees meeting, Foley reaffirmed his com mitment, along with that of his Board members, toward Framingham State’s anti-racism mission, adding this “experience” is an opportunity to “learn and grow.”

Foley said the apology he made in his email the week prior was not enough. “I want to reiterate my apologies for these situations,” Foley said. “I sin cerely express my regrets to all those who are offended by my comment questioning the use of this term.”

Therefore, Foley announced three commitments he and the Board have made to become more educated on

diversity, equity, and inclusion. He said he will hire a consultant to hold an anti-racism educational training session for the entire Board.

This will take place within the next 90 “Secondly,days. in addition, we will work with the administration to schedule periodic educational updates for the Board and what that looks like,” he said. “We could have a peak portion

nity members have reacted to these comments by calling for the resigna tion of Mike Grilli and Kevin [Foley].” The letter concludes with a list of de mands they expect a response to by Sept. 28, he said.

These demands include a meeting between the Board and faculty, staff, and students; for the Board to par ticipate in anti-bias and anti-racism training; and for there to be more

commitment to being an anti-racist University,” Barros said. “From my second week on this campus back in 2019, I myself have seen and experi enced racism - I still do to this day. My experience and the experience of all students of color at FSU has been invalidated by the alleged comments by the Board of Trustees member.” Barros requested Foley “identify” why he associates a negative conno tation with the term “anti-racism.” In regard to FSU’s branding, she added, “If a student does not want to come to FSU, because they are against anti-racism, we don’t want them Duringhere.”her report to the trustees, Niemi said, “We need to work togeth er to talk, to listen, to act, to be edu cated, and to remember that the arc of change bends towards justice, but not without strong currents as well as deep ebbs and flows.”

She added she came to work at FSU in part because of its commitment to “Ianti-racism.knowthat I’m fully committed to this work, but make no mistake: it is very, very hard,” she said. “We need to refocus on diversity, equity, and inclusive practices, knowing that our advances in policy, curriculum, prac tice, and enrollment and admissions mean that we will need to continu ously hold ourselves accountable to the ways in which we are called to meet the needs of our Framingham Latercommunities.”oninthe meeting, following the Student-in-the-Spotlight pre sentation, Alumni Trustee Diane Finch made a statement both Barros and Student Trustee McKenzie Ward have declared to be racist.

of each of every other Board meeting specifically dedicated to them.”

Foley added he has communicat ed with Board of Higher Education Commissioner Carlos Santiago, who has agreed to join the November Board Santiagomeeting.willdiscuss the “strategic initiative for racial equity proposed for Massachusetts higher education,” he Grillisaid.did not attend the Sept. 21 Board meeting due to “personal rea sons,” according to Niemi.

Though Grilli said he was willing to be interviewed about his remarks at the subcommittee meeting, he did not make himself available before The Gatepost’s publication deadline. The Board moved the public com ment portion of the meeting to the beginning for the faculty, staff, and students who came to speak out against Foley’s and Grilli’s com Sociologyments.

Professor Benjamin Alber ti said a letter of concern that was put together by members of the fac ulty and staff had been sent to the Trustees earlier in the day. The letter currently has 104 faculty and staff “We’resignatures.here today to emphasize the gravity of the crisis this has pro voked,” Alberti said. “Our communi ty is hurt, sad, angry, and outraged.” He added, “We would like to high light that it is especially concerning that the chair allowed and contribut ed to a culture of blatant racism.” Alberti said, “Many of our commu

Black, Indigenious, and people of color on the Board, according to Al Heberti.noted this letter had been written prior to Foley’s announcements at the start of the meeting.

Approximately 11 students came to the meeting, standing in a line at the back of the room while members of SGA spoke.

Raffi Elkhoury, vice president of SGA, read aloud Former President F. Javier Cevallos’ email that originally announced FSU’s commitment to be coming an anti-racist institution in “We2020.ask all members of our commu nity to reflect on the historic, racist policies and actions of our country and the bias created by them,” he read. “With this knowledge, our com munity will actively work together to ensure the physical and psychologi cal safety and success of our commu nity members of color, especially our Black community.”

Dara Barros, president of SGA, said she was attending the meeting to represent the student body as an elected leader. She read aloud a letter members of SGA had written.

“We are tired of emails with no affir mative action,” Barros said. “There was a lack of accountability from the trustees that said these comments as well as those that remain silent and continue to do so.”

She said a member of the trustees has “allegedly” stated there has only been one incident of racism at FSU. “I was attending FSU prior to the

When discussing FSU’s mission to become an anti-racist institution, Finch said, “I am continuing to learn to be a non-racist because I have a daughter-in-law now whose parents grew up in Nigeria and she’s Nigeri an, and so therefore, it took a lot for me to deal with that.”

In an interview, Barros said Finch should not have taken time away from the Student-in-the-Spotlight, “especially to make comments that are embedded with racism.”

She added, “Therefore, the Board should have been training way before this incident. We committed to an ti-racism two years ago. Why didn’t they also commit to the education and guidelines stated by the previous Wardpresident?”said she was “taken aback” when she heard Finch’s comment.

“While I believe that Trustee Finch thought her comment was well-in tended, many students were offend ed, including myself,” she added. Ward said, “Sometimes when we speak and hurt others, we aren’t even aware of it. But once we become aware of the damage we have caused, we need to be concerned with lis tening, reflecting, apologizing, and committing to do better in the fu Niemiture.” said she understands why stu dents are “hurt” by this comment, adding she cannot speak for Finch, “but I imagine that she will want to understand how concerning her comment was, and work to learn

Leighah Beausoleil / THE GATEPOST

Board of Trustees Chair Kevin Foley during the Sept. 21 meeting.

Board of Trustees

about the ways in which our privilege shapes our words and actions.”

She said, “I do believe that based on her other comments during the meeting, she is genuine in her desire to learn more about anti-racism and help Framingham State recommit to being an anti-racist institution. But her comments also underscore just how important it is for the Board to receive further training around these issues and continue to reflect on them on a regular basis.”

Ann McDonald, general counsel and secretary to the Board of Trustees, discussed why the University is lim ited in its ability to reprimand the Board members who made the com McDonaldments. said all of the Board mem bers, with the exception of two, are appointed by the governor.

The two exceptions are the Student Trustee, a position currently held by senior English and history major McKenzie Ward, and is appointed by the students, and the Alumni Trust ee, currently Diane Finch, who is appointed by the Alumni Board, she McDonaldsaid. said Massachusetts gener al law states that the only instances when a trustee could be removed is for lack of attendance for approxi mately three or four meetings and if “they are unable to perform their du ties as Thoughtrustee.”theduties of a trustee are not detailed in the law, McDonald said the Board of Trustees is there to generally serve as a fiduciary board to the Therefore,University.shesaid their required training focuses on those aspects of being a Board member.

This training is eight hours long, with each hour covering a different area of their duties, and includes no diversity, inclusion, or equity train ing, she McDonaldadded.said when problems arise with Board members, they are dealt with on a case-by-case basis, adding the University is still “processing” what occurred at the subcommittee meetings and has not yet implement ed a plan or taken action.

She said Matt Noyes, director of trustee and governmental relations, acts as the “bridge” between the Board and the Massachusetts De partment of Higher Education. When asked for a response, Noy es said, “The Department of Higher Education has no comment at this Wardelltime.” Powell, interim chief diver sity and inclusion officer, said he was “appalled” when he first heard of the comments made by Foley and Grilli. In regard to the emails sent out fol lowing the comments, Powell said he believed Niemi’s was “fine,” but as for Foley’s, “I don’t think it went far Heenough.”highlighted how Foley’s email spoke for Grilli, adding, “It lacks sub Powellstance.” said the Board members should “constantly” be “reflect ing” on and “examining” their own thoughts, words, and actions as they serve a University with a commit ment to anti-racism. He said in his role, he is working to

ensure campus community mem bers have the ability to express their thoughts and feelings regarding the comments and how they were af fected by them. He is also ensuring community members have access to resources “to help them heal.”

Powell added, “This is a difficult thing because how do you create trust when you have these events? How do we help the campus commu nity to know that hate has no place? “We’re trying to build trust that the University is committed to anti-rac ism and then this happens,” he said.

Cara Pina, chair of the Council on Di versity and Inclusion (CDI), said she was not at the subcommittee meet ing, but was “surprised that anti-rac ism was considered a term with a

will ensue, in which the message changes and moves farther and far ther away from the truth as it makes its way from one person to the next,” he said. “We owe it to our students to be transparent about what has hap pened, involve them in this process, and solicit their feedback about what they’d like to see happen next.”

Jen Lin, chair of the Employees of Color affinity group, said, “What we need to do is listen to our BIPOC community members and refrain from dismissing their pain, refrain from interrupting or speaking over them, refrain from becoming defen sive, and believe them when they share their pain and their truth.”

Lin added she would like to see coun selors of color hired for the Counsel

“We deserve better.”

- Jen Lin, Chair of the Employees of Color Affinity Group

negative connotation and that it is in consideration for removal from [the University’s] branding.”

Pina added, “I think working toward having an anti-racist campus is an excellent goal and supports the in clusivity of all our students, staff, and faculty of color who experience the harm of racism.

“Although CDI does not have the ability to enact policy, we serve as a community forum to gather ideas or concerns and bring them forward and highlight what the community believes is needed,” she said.

Pina said there is no one way or best way to support people of color during moments like these, but it is “im portant we acknowledge what has happened, make space for those who have been harmed, and ensure FSU is listening to those voices.”

Eric Nguyen, director of the Center for Inclusive Excellence, agrees there is no “one-size-fits-all” way to sup port campus community members.

Nguyen emphasized the benefits of holding spaces for people to “come

“It’stogether.also important to remember that what happened at these meet ings are not isolated incidents,” he said. “Things like this happen against the backdrop of systemic racism, and each time something like this hap pens, the harm is compounded.”

Multiple spaces have been and con tinue to be held by Powell and var ious affinity groups to support fac ulty, staff, and students who were affected by the comments made.

Nguyen said not many students come to these spaces, which worries him.

“My fear is that as students discuss these incidents, however well-inten tioned, a vicious game of ‘telephone’

ing Center who have experience and training in helping individuals cope with racial trauma.

“We deserve better,” she said. Mirari Elcoro, a member of the Em ployees of Color affinity group, said Niemi’s email was “timely, mean ingful and reaffirming,” but Foley’s “lacked sensitivity” and was “not an Elcoroapology.”highlighted the importance of processing spaces and said the affin ity group is organizing a processing “Isession.cannot emphasize enough how hurtful, disruptive, and draining this has been,” she said.

Trustee Beth Casavant said she at tended the Sept. 14 subcommittee. Casavant said she believes the Board of Trustees has “demonstrated a commitment to anti-racism” since she has been a part of it.

“I was taken aback by the comments that I heard on Wednesday [the sub committee meeting],” she said. “I think it’s really important for people to understand that those comments don’t represent the Board of Trustees collectively, and they certainly don’t represent who we are as a school community - as Framingham State SheUniversity.”added, “We’re all still lifelong learners, and I think people are in different places.”

Casavant said though this does not excuse racist comments or system ic racism, she tries to be conscious of how people can be made aware of their mistakes and “continue to grow from the experience.”

Trustee Claire Ramsbottom, the chair of the Enrollment and Student Development Subcommittee, said she believes Grilli’s comments were

Ramsbottom“misplaced.” said she believes Grilli may have been looking at and inter preting data “out of context.”

She added these comments are “dis tressing” and “I think that we have a commitment from the Board to work on these issues.”

Student Trustee Ward said she at tended the Sept. 14 subcommittee “Imeeting.wasextremely taken aback as a student, and also as a trustee mem ber,” she said.

Ward said what “stood out” to her at the meeting was how only Niemi and Ramsbottom responded to the com ments Grilli made.

She added she is not surprised by the comments made because “I’ve heard problematic comments from other Board of Trustees members during other meetings.”

Given that these comments have all been made during public meetings, she said she wonders what is being said “behind closed doors.

“If their values aren’t aligning with our University values, how well are they truly representing each of our students here at FSU, especially since half of our population is BIPOC?” Ward asked.

She said she does not believe the emails sent following the subcom mittee meetings were an “adequate” response, pointing out how Foley’s email used the word “if.”

“It’s not an ‘if,’ Chairman Foley. You did hurt and offend people - multiple people in that meeting and multiple people since that meeting,” Ward

Sheadded.said Niemi’s email should have included the names of the two trust ees who made the comments.

Concerning Grilli, Ward said, “He has really not taken responsibility or been forced by the University to take responsibility for his comments and actions during this meeting.”

She added Foley stating these trustee members will “educate themselves is not Niemienough.”said,“Working toward being an anti-racist organization - toward being a fully equitable, diverse orga nization, is really hard work, and we have to do it, and we have to trust each other and help each other do it.”

She added, “The work of being an ti-racist and being equitable is never finished.”

Resources: Counseling Center: Phone: 508-626-4640, Email: finitytionRamlinkspaces:InstagramCenterDiversityandingwebsitetheCommunityracialvidesframingham.eduTheselingcenter@framingham.educounCounselingCenterpageonthewebsitealsoproresourcesforracialtraumaandjustice.memberscanalsovisitInclusiveExcellencepageoftheforinformationonreportbias,additionalonlineresources,informationontheCouncilonandInclusion.FollowtheforInclusiveExcellenceonforupdatesonprocessing@framstatecie.listsandprovidesinformaontheUniversity’sstudentafgroups.

CONNECT WITH LEIGHAH BEAUSOLEIL lbeausoleil@student.framingham.edu

THE GATEPOST EDITORIAL

Hold the Board of Trustees accountable

During two Board of Trustees’ subcommit tee meetings last week, members of the Board made comments that we, and the FSU commu nity, deem highly offensive.

During the Sept. 13 Academic Affairs Sub committee meeting, Chair Kevin Foley called into question Framingham State’s use of the term “anti-racism” in its branding.

Foley said he believed the term to have a “negative connotation.” In response, Kristen Porter-Utley, provost and vice president of academic affairs, explained the importance of the word and its implementation in theory and practice.During the Sept. 14 Enrollment and Student Development Subcommittee meeting, Trust ee Mike Grilli responded to President Nancy Niemi’s enrollment report and the loss of ap proximately 1,000 white women over the last few years with a reference to Jussie Smollett.

In 2019, Smollett falsely reported a hate crime that he had staged.

Niemi said Grilli’s comment had nothing to do with the discussion taking place.

On Sept. 16, Niemi sent out a campus-wide email informing the community of these two incidents.Weappreciate the speed with which Niemi informed the community, and thank her for her transparency.Shortlyafter, an email was sent to the com munity on behalf of Foley.

This email was intended to be an apology, but failed to demonstrate any sensitivity or substance in regard to the comments that were made at the subcommittee meetings.

In this email, Foley stated, “If I expressed myself poorly and offended anyone then I truly regret that and sincerely apologize.”

However, it was never a question of “if.”

This wording reflects no accountability for hisDuringactions.the Board of Trustees meeting Sept. 21, Foley admitted his email fell short of being an apology and offered a genuine one to the community. In addition, he reaffirmed his and the Board’s commitment to Framingham State becoming an anti-racist institution.

Though we acknowledge this apology, it is not our place as an important institution at Framingham State to accept it. Nor is it the role of white community members to accept it. This apology is for our community members of color who have been hurt by his comments.

And yet, amidst it all, Trustee Grilli - where are you?

You didn’t show up to the Board meeting due to “personal reasons.”

You have not released a statement. Instead, Chair Foley apologized on your behalf.

You have not provided a response to The Gatepost when given the opportunity for an

interview.Thisisunacceptable.Foroneofthemost powerful members of this University to suddenly go into hiding after making offensive comments is shocking. It’s childish.Wedemand accountability.

As for the Board of Trustees itself, why is the idea of being anti-racist and inclusive so foreign to you?

One of the University’s most significant ef forts during the last few years is to become an anti-racist institution. It has been the subject of countless emails, discussions, workshops, and policy reviews.

Not to mention a whole vice president posi tion has been devoted to this.

Becoming educated about diversity and working toward anti-racism is nothing new at Framingham State.

The Board should have been a part of these efforts a long time ago, and these latest inci dents, and even comments made at this week’s meeting, prove this.

At the Board meeting, Alumni Trustee Diane Finch decided to share how having a Nigerian daughter-in-law “took a lot” for her to “deal with.”No one at the meeting said a word.

Instead, faculty, staff, and students of color had to sit there and take in another wounding remark by a white Board member.

Our community deserves better.

We applaud Foley’s commitment to provide education and training about diversity and inclusion to the trustees by bringing in a con sultant and reaching out to the Massachusetts commissioner of higher education.

To the consultant: whoever you are, you’ve got your work cut out for you.

However, this should only be the beginning. We expect full transparency from the Board throughout this process and ongoing commu nication about what they have learned and how they will use that knowledge to better them selves and our institution.

As Niemi said, anti-racism and equity work is never finished.

It’s time for the trustees to begin.

COVID-19 is not over

By Emily Rosenberg Associate Editor

There was no bit of surprise in me as I watched my COVID-19 rapid antigen test turn positive.

Writing and copy editing this in isolation, wiping fever sweats from my forehead and coughing contaminated air onto my laptop, I’m upset that I finally - as what I’ve been telling my friends - “lost my COVID virginity.”

I’m wondering how I could’ve prevented this from happen ing.I

wore my mask to every class and to most places on and off campus. That should be enough, right?

However, wearing masks doesn’t help too much when you’re one out of 24 students in a compact, unventilated classroom.

Mask-wearing is a team effort, as fighting the coronavirus has always been. Wearing a mask does not provide a lot of pro tection if the person who has COVID-19 is not wearing one as well.Framingham

State no longer requires PCR testing. There fore, there is no campus-wide data, but in my experience, I’ve now known five students and three professors since start ing the school year who have had to quarantine because of COVID-19 diagnosis.

Last year, when the University mandated masks, I only knew two people who contracted the virus throughout the entire ac ademicClearly,year.mask-wearing made a tremendous impact on our campus’s transmission of COVID-19.

Although the University is no longer requiring students, fac ulty, and staff to wear masks, they are still requiring those who test positive for COVID-19 to go into isolation for at least five days consistent with CDC guidelines.

The isolation requirement proves the University and the CDC still views COVID-19 as a threat to our health.

Even those who experience mild symptoms are required to be isolated while they have COVID-19 because it is highly con tagious and some people, especially the elderly and immuno compromised, develop severe symptoms that require hospital ization.Ourvaccines are not advanced enough to prevent everyone from developing severe symptoms. They also do not prevent the virus from spreading.

If people still consider COVID-19 to require isolation, they should still be encouraged to wear a mask during times of high transmission, which is now - the fall and winter.

Although the University does not require mask-wearing, professors should be highly encouraging it or asking students to do so in their syllabus.

Classrooms are where students spend hours in unventilated spaces sitting closely with people they don’t know well.

Students should also strongly consider masking up at events and student activities.

With jobs, internships, student organizations, and nights out, there are hundreds of different people and places you could contract COVID-19 from.

Wearing a mask is the easiest way to ensure you don’t get it. Even if you’ve gotten it before and aren’t afraid of being sick, you should still be careful and wear one because it takes up to five days to realize you’re contagious. During that time, you could be spreading it to people who have pre-existing condi tions or cannot afford to isolate.

Not to mention, you yourself do not want to have to be iso lated. Isolation is inconvenient not only because you fall be hind from your normal schedule, but also because being sick is painful.Iunderstand the longing not to wear a mask and get back to normal times. I miss the times when I wore lipstick to my math class and didn’t worry about smudging it all over the inside of myHowever,N95. we will never be back to normal times, if we don’t continue to stop the spread.

We need to take the necessary steps to protect our loved ones and stay healthy.

Wearing a mask can be uncomfortable, but COVID-19 is ex cruciating.

Campus Conversations

What are your thoughts on the KiwiBots?

By Maddison Behringer, Emma Lyons, Editorial Staff and Ryan Schreiber, Staff Writer.

“I think they’re cool. I see them driving around.”

-Justin Rivas, junior

“I think they’re cool but they’re expensive to use. … I don’t like them, but they’re cool. They should just make it cheaper.”-Fernando Climaco, sophomore

“I think they’re hilarious. They’re phenomenal. They keep me up at night. I just want to go home and they’re in the way. … I don’t know what their purpose is, but all I know is that they’re a part of the community.”-Cristian Acuna, freshman

“I think they’re cute. I think they’re awesome.”

“They’re so cute. I think they’re funny, but I really don’t know the purpose.”

-Julie Messuri, junior

“I think the robots are nice, but they tend to bump into you. I don’t mind, but I do feel like they could be a bit faster.”

Knile McDowall, senior

Joseph Antonio, freshman

Christopher Alano / THE GATEPOST

Don’t be an airhead, it’s an airpod!

SU women’s soccer drops 1-0 loss to Wellesley

By Adam Levine Staff Writer

The Rams women’s soccer team hosted ellesley College Sept. 1. Only one goal was scored by the ellesley lue, taking down the Rams. ellesley came out strong and put the Rams on the defense. Rams Olivia Colling and goalkeeper Jetta Oskirko were in sync during the first half. Colling was able to stop ellesley’s advances on multiple occasions, with Oskirko in the net making save after save.

The Rams went on the offense and had an opportunity to score after minutes of play. Aurora Kilrain saw a chance to score with a free kick, but the Wellesley defense proved unwavering.

Oskirko had another big save to end the half and kept the game at 0-0 going into the second half.

The second half began and both teams came out with fresh legs. FSU pushed down the field and saw an opportunity within the first five minutes of the half. The play was stopped with an offsides call, shifting the energy over to Welles ley’sWellesleyoffense.gave the pressure back to FSU and saw two opportunities at the Rams’ net. The first was a corner kick seven minutes into the half.

Oskirko once again held steadfast and protected the net. ive minutes later, Oskirko was there for another Rams’ save. ellesley continued to attack SU’s defense for the rest of the half.

Eventually, Wellesley’s Paige Stangston broke through and scored a goal with ust 1 minutes left in the game.

ith the Rams down 1-0, they were able to put ellesley on the defense and pressure their opponent’s net.

ellesley’s defense proved too strong, and the Rams came up short with a final score of 1-0.

The Rams fall to 0- in the season and 0-1 in their conference.

Oskirko praised her teammates as a “good defensive team,” specifying that “we have a really good back line.”

Assistant Coach Brian Linnehan reiterated his team’s defensive edge as they have “definitely changed the formation the last couple games to be a little bit more defensive, and it’s worked really well.”

The Rams look toward their second conference matchup at ridgewater State Sept. , where they will be looking for their first win of the season.

Linnehan added Bridgewater State “may be the best team in the MASCAC,” and reminded his players to “stay positive.”

Oskirko is aware that ridgewater “has some good strikers, so staying defen sive is a big thing.”

By Danielle Achin Sports Editor

The FSU volleyball team dominated on home court securing the 3-0 victory against Northern Vermont University - Lyndon Sept. 20.

Both teams set up on the court ready to spike, but FSU was determined not to let a repeat of last week’s frustrating 3-2 loss against St. Joseph’s College of Maine happen.

Despite the Hornets being the first to add to the board, the Rams brushed it off and took control of the court.

Framingham immediately tallied points, and it didn’t take long before the Rams were leading by 1 against the Hornets. y the end of the first set, the Rams only let up four points, winning the set - .

Their stamina showed no signs of slowing heading into the second set. The Hornets gave their last bit of strength and managed to trail - at the start of the set.

SU once again took control and led by a 1 -point margin before winning the set - .

In the third and final set, not only did SU take the victory, but they let up the least number of points of the game.

Right from the start, the Rams ran away with the lead 1 -1.

The Hornets managed a two-point streak in the middle of the set, increasing their lead to a 1 - score before the Rams finished it off leading by a 10-point margin, ending the game with a - victory.

Junior outside hitter Anna Szymanski said she felt good coming out with a win after last game’s defeat.

“We really came together as a team. We have some pretty tough games head ing into this weekend with our first league game, so we’re glad we came together now and I think we’ll do well this weekend,” she said.

Szymanski reiterated the team’s dynamic and the way they executed in the game came from the strength and trust they have built together over the season.

“We’re just really working hard to make sure there are fewer errors on our side of the court so we get better each game,” she added.

Junior middle blocker and hitter Hailey Sanders was also more than pleased with her team’s performance, commenting, “ e’re definitely starting to click, and I was happy to see everyone be able to be put in because we all work so hard at practice.”

The team looks to start their conference season this weekend, Sept. , when they will be facing off against the estfield State Owls.

FSU volleyball takes the 3-0 win over Northern Vermont University

Adam Levine / THE GATEPOST

FSU soccer players dribbling the ball in their game against Wellesley College Sept. 21.

Danielle Achin / THE GATEPOST

FSU volleyball team huddling during their game against Northern Vermont.

Men’s soccer falls on the road -1 vs. Middlebury

By Tyler Wahl Sports Editor

The Rams men’s soccer team held a - -1 record heading into their game against the Middlebury Panthers Sept. 20.Middlebury has proven themselves to be a stellar team this season, only losing one of five games so far. Despite their previous success, they were un able to score on SU for the first minutes of the Framinghamhalf.State’s defense held firm, while Middlebury’s offense searched for an opening in the Rams’ last line of protection.

Around the 1 minute mark, a shot from a Panthers’ midfielder whi ed toward the FSU goal, but was saved by junior goalkeeper Joseph Sturzo.

The pressure from the Panthers’ of fense was consistent until a free kick was awarded to FSU graduate student midfielder ryce ardi i.

Nardizzi made clean contact and sent the ball hurling toward the Mid

dlebury net, but it was swatted down just in time to keep the scoreboard at an even Middlebury0-0. kicked off the scoring with less than 1 minutes in the half when Panthers’ Eujin Chae put it in with a quick rebound shot.

However, Framingham State quick ly responded to the goal off a passing play from ardi i to sophomore Rams forward Gustav HemmingsenHemmingsen.redirectedhis shot into the Panthers’ net to make the score 1-1 heading into halftime.

The second half was not as kind to the Rams, as the Panthers took control of the game quickly with two goals in the first 0 minutes of the half.

The remainder of the game consist ed mainly of the Rams’ defense strug gling to fend off the onslaught of Mid dleburyDespiteshots.great effort from goalkeep ers Sturzo and senior Jake Hartshorn, the Panthers were able to squeeze one more goal by the defense to make the score -1.

The game ended in a -1 win for Middlebury as they dominated FSU in most aspects of the box score.

Middlebury finished with shots on goal compared to an underwhelm ing 10 for the Rams.

The FSU goalkeepers did a good job to stop the bleeding with eight saves of their own, but it was not enough to pull the Rams back into this game.

After the game, senior FSU defender Brian Sullivan said, “I think we have to do a better job at staying focused to ward the end of the game.”

SU’s first half production far ex ceeded what they did in the second half, and Sullivan thinks it’s an issue that’ll be simple to resolve.

He said, “ e had a great first half, but made simple mistakes in the sec ond half that led to a few late goals.”

Middlebury is also considered one of the better Division III men’s soccer

teams in the country, and while not in FSU’s conference, it proved a great challenge for the team, Sullivan ex plained.“Playing against one of the best D-III teams in the nation is a great experience. It’s nice to know that we are able to score against such an elite squad and compete against them,” he said.Although this was an exciting matchup for the team, they have their sights set on Bridgewater State for their first conference home game of theTheyear.FSU men’s soccer team will face off against the Bridgewater Bears Sept. on home field.

CONNECT WITH TYLER WAHL twahl1@student.framingham.edu

Mazmanian Gallery showcases Soe Lin Post’s musical masterpieces ARTS & FEATURES

By Emma Lyons Arts & Features Editor

The Mazmanian Gallery hosted a reception with graphic designer Soe Lin Post to introduce his new exhib it “Typosonic” in the Alumni Room Sept.

Post20.is the director of design at Wellesley College and has worked there for the past 11 years. He has previously worked at Harmonix, a Boston-based game development company, as a user interface designer.

Professor Stephanie Grey wel comed everyone to the event and in troduced Post. She explained she met him when they attended the Rhode Island School of Design both pursu ing their master’s degrees.

“Soe Lin’s contemplative nature and curious outlook was readily ap parent. He was always deeply devoted to design, to the design process,” Grey said.Post’s devotion to design resulted in a thesis project centered around

playing a montage of clips from ’80s movies over the song “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” by Tears for Fears. He explained that he was born during the “MTV generation” and he had to individually rent videotapes from MTV.

“I just couldn’t get enough. But what I was really interested in was also the gadgets - the instruments that the musicians would use,” Post said.He said using sound in his art was sparked by his interest in musical in struments.Postsaid he originally studied phi losophy in college, but was introduced to graphic design through helping a publication department.

He showed an image of a mini disc player, calling it his “little time ma chine” which allows him to take the past into the present.

As the moments from the past are taken out of context, they allow art ists to give them new meanings, he said. “It’s this act of recontextualiza

as his “inquiry into sound and its re lationship to graphics.”

He had the crowd sit in silence for a few moments in order to observe that noise still exists within silence. He spoke about John Cage, a musician, who used silence and chance opera tions to create music from his audi ence sitting in silence.

Post connected Cage’s experimen tation with chance operations to his own design process. “To me, chance operations are really initiating an ac tion and simply observing the unpre dictable behaviors in time,” he said.

He presented an example of his own work with chance operations by showing an excerpt of Dutch writing in which he identified patterns with in the letters. From those patterns, he created a choral composition based on what he thought the pattern would soundPostlike.showed another example of chance operations that did not need any computer programs. He displayed clippings of various posters he had

then explained how he used Adobe Il lustrator in order to add to the image so they could blend together to make words.“You can kind of manipulate dif ferent things with [Adobe Illustrator] and then come up with these things that you normally might not be able to see immediately,” Post said.

Post displayed some newer studies with typsonic he had created specifi cally for the gallery - some of which were posters he had crafted to illus trate songs he liked.

He explained he used Adobe Au dition to see the sound waves of the music and superimposed them over an image related to the song. In do ing that, it distorted the image and morphed it to the shape of the sound waves.After creating the image, he added some typosonic waves he had previ ously created in order to form the en tirePostposter.then moved on to talk about his experimentation with the radio wave feature in Adobe After Effects. He explained he spent a lot of time playing with features to familiarize himself with the program.

In order to illustrate a bit of the process of learning the program, he showed a video of his computer screen as he used different aspects of the programing to create different waves and explained how it worked.

To end his presentation, Post showed a final video, in which he used the radio wave feature to write out “Typosonic” and have each letter blend

Emilytogether.Monaco, sophomore studio art major and intern for the Mazma nian Gallery, said working to assem ble the exhibits and being able to see the work that is displayed helps her find perspective of where her future career could bring her.

typography and sound, she said.

Grey also read a text from a friend of Post’s, who connected Myanmar culture to his work. “This breaking of boundaries in order to reassemble them into new systems of knowledge is exactly what Soe Lin is doing in his design work,” she said.

Grey added the work displayed in the gallery was created through sev eral years of Post refining his experi mental“Thiswork.connection between the maker and the work illuminates for us the valuable process that is necessary for a lifetime of sustained creativity,” GreyPostsaid.thanked Grey along with Ellie Krakow, the director of the Mazma nian Gallery, and the University.

He began by playing a video dis

tion that speaks, and that sparks my creativity,” he said.

Post discussed how voices and words can become incoherent when recording a large crowd, and those sounds become a chorus of voices with no clear meaning.

He showed his experimental nature by using Hype software - commonly used to create website prototypes - in order to make his presentation for the event.He then read an excerpt from his thesis about procrastination. “The be ginning always seems to be the hard est part - so let’s start with the end. But where is the end? And where is the beginning? Maybe they both exist simultaneously,” he said.

Post then began his presentation on the exhibit. He defined typosonic

designed, and demonstrated that through rearranging the posters in different order, something new could be “Nowmade. they’re out of context, and then you can recontextualize them to create a new poster every time,” he said.He then moved on to talk about the idea of sound having physical proper ties and what they would look like.

Post explained how the main com ponents of sound could be translated into graphic properties. He compared volume to the size of a piece, duration to motion, pitch to intensity, timbre to different colors.

When he began with his typosonic work, he created images for each let ter based on the shape that a mouth makes when speaking the words. He

“It’s also a really great opportunity to meet artists in the field and learn about their experiences,” she said.

Grey is a friend of Post’s and was the person who reached out to him and brought his work to the campus community. “We were classmates in grad school, and I thought Soe Lin would be a good person to represent design to our students,” she said.

She added a lot of students could benefit from seeing Post’s work dis played as it showed professional de sign work alongside experimental de sign

“[Thepieces.exhibit] has a lot of beauti ful, thoughtful, and practical design work set aside a lot of experimental work that also speaks to the design and art process,” she said.

CONNECT WITH EMMA LYONS elyons3@student.framingham.edu connection between the maker and the for the valuable process

Spread by Design Editor Maddison Behringer

Soe Lin Post’s design work for Wellesley College displayed in the Mazmanian Gallery Sept. 20.

Soe Lin Post’s poster design for a production of “Much Ado About Nothing” displayed in the Mazmanian Gallery Sept. 20.

Soe Lin Post’s design plans for a poster design displayed in the Mazmanian Gallery Sept. 20.

Soe Lin Post’s artwork displayed in the Mazmanian Gallery Sept. 20.

(Left) President Nancy Niemi and Soe Lin Post discussing his design work Sept. 20.

Photos by Raena Doty

Orientation

answers” tabling and classroom tours.Gallegos said students she talked to appreciated the change because they were able to participate in more events. She said the first few days of move-in and learning about the campus can be overwhelming, so ex tending the schedule allowed them to offer more class tours and library sessions, which she found to be “a lot moreShewelcoming.”addedhaving “the second week really afforded a lot of opportu nities for commuter students because it was so traditionally based, in the past, around move-in.”

Rachel Lucking, assistant dean of engagement, said, “It gave us more programming while our student orga nizations get up and running.”

Gallegos and Lucking said the stu dent organization and career fairs were some of the highest-attended events, and were especially useful because they help first-year students learn how they can get involved right off the

Therebat.were also changes made to orientation sessions. Leah Mudd, ori entation coordinator, said advising and registration was removed from students’ orientation day and they could schedule an appointment be fore or after in person or virtually.

She said this added more time for students to work one-on-one with their orientation leaders and group activities.

She said, “We were able to give the students more time to connect with each other and more time to connect with their orientation leader in those small group times.”

Mudd added it also made the day a lot shorter, which was beneficial par ticularly for transfer students. “Our transfer students are a really diverse population in terms of what they need, and so a lot of times, it’s harder for transfer students to take a whole day out of work or childcare or what ever the case may be.”

She said it was great to see stu dents who met during orientation hanging out at Black and Gold Begin nings events and some of them even became roommates. “One of my main goals and something that I tell them at the very beginning during my wel come - that I hope they get out of the day at orientation - is that I hope you have a familiar face that you can grab lunch with or get Dunkin’ with.”

Ben Trapanick, director of Family Engagement - who formerly oversaw orientation - said his favorite part of helping lead orientation was at the end of the day when they offered first years dinner. He stood at the door and asked them how their day was. “‘Good day,’ they said. You want them to feel like they have connected with the University, and that made me feel good.”Mudd highlighted the “fantas tic job” the orientation leaders did throughout orientation and Black and Gold connecting with students.

Kathryn Washburn, a senior cam

pus engagement ambassador who runs the “Newfsurams” Instagram, said working as an ambassador for BGB has helped her understand stu dents on a much deeper level.

She said her goal is to make sure students know what resources are available to them and that they have a familiar face on campus.

Dillon Riley, a sophomore orienta tion leader, said he viewed his role as ensuring new students had a “support system” and guiding them to friend ships coming into FSU.

“I think it’s good to have the con nection, even if it’s just like, ‘Oh, I have a face I [know]’ knowing that, OK, I’ve gone through the exact same thing only just a year ago,” he said.

Evelyn Campbell, a sophomore orientation leader, said, “We are real ly the first people that new students interact with. We do provide students with a lot of helpful information and help them get accustomed to college life.”She added even now, after orien tation and BGB has ended, she still makes sure to say, “Hi,” to students because she can serve as a familiar face and allow them to feel they be long on Campbellcampus.said she is especially proud of how two students she met in her first orientation session “kicked it off” throughout the day and she was able to convince them to join SGA and they are also now roommates.

Orientation leaders have shared how these programs aren’t just spe cial because of the wide impact they

make on new students, but because of the lasting memories they and pro gram directors make with each other.

Austin Van Lingen, a senior orien tation leader, said, “I love that with out being an orientation leader, I wouldn’t have met all the people that I met. And I think very strongly that we are going to have a lifelong con nection because of this.”

He added the belief system he grew up with was a lot different than what they teach at the University and at training. “With our team-bonding exercises, and our deep and loving conversations that we had with one another. … [They] changed me com pletely. I’m thankful for that for sure.”

Campbell said, “I truly feel like I will be friends with them for the rest of my life. Even from the very first group interview, everyone clicked automatically, and we ended up get ting dinner after. We have had a few bumps in the road. However, with all of us being the natural problem-solv ers we are, we tend to work out issues ratherTrapanickquickly.”said the relationships he’s built with the Black and Gold Orientation leaders as well as differ ent Orientation Coordinators have meant a lot to him.

He said there was a reunion for Black and Gold leaders in 2019 during Homecoming weekend and some stu dents who had been gone for 10 or more years returned.

It being Washburn’s last year of participating in BGB, she thanked ev eryone for coming to events.

She added one of her favorite memories was the Back to School Bar beque. “Behind the scenes, we put a lot of work into that event, and to see it come so successfully to fruition was special for me. As a senior, it was also the beginning of my last year, which is really Luckingbittersweet.”saidthevibes created on campus during BGB were amazing. “It just felt like there was a lot more ex citement and buzz around campus. So to me, that was a big shift in coming out of the pandemic and feeling this sense of community and excitement about being back on campus.”

She added, “That’s something I re ally had missed a lot of when we were restricted.”Gallegos said what makes Black and Gold Beginnings great for her is seeing the connections students make with each other. “I saw a cou ple groups of students that were first years that just made these instant friendships and they were going to everything together. And then I saw them hanging out together in the Game Room. And so I see them to gether now in the Dining Commons, and that’s my favorite part. That’s the whole point of it - it’s wonderful.”

CONNECT WITH EMILY ROSENBERG erosenberg@student.framingham.edu

Courtesy of Instagram

Orientation Leaders posing for a group photo.

Team Undergrad victorious in third annual Dueling Dishes

By Emma Lyons Arts & Features Editor

The Framingham State Dining Ser vices hosted the third “Dueling Dish es” challenge at the UCook station Sept.

Two22.teams of students cooked a meal in 45 minutes incorporating the mystery ingredients: fennel and man go.The teams were Team Alumni: senior fashion design and retailing major Malik Martin and sophomore psychology major Samira Sarkis, and Team Undergrad: senior hospitality management major Andy Thompson and sophomore biology major Neir men

TheEldam.competition was judged by

President Nancy Niemi, Vice Pres ident of Academic Enhancement Lorretta Holloway, Area Director of Corrine Hall Towers Shakira Rosado, and senior history and English ma jor McKenzie Ward and international business Mark Haskell.

The teams and judges were chosen through forms posted on the Dining Service’s social media pages.

“We started it back a few years ago, having it once a year, but we’re try ing to have it every semester because we’ve had so many students want to do it,” Hanna McMahon, marketing coordinator for Framingham State Dining Services, said.

Team Undergrad made fried rice us ing curry powder, paprika, and fennel, along with a fried shrimp dish with

cilantro and cumin. They served their dish with a salsa made with mangos, jalepeños, tomatoes, and onions as well as a salad.

Team Alumni made a spicy fruit salad, consisting of celery, mangoes, fresh fennel, strawberries, pineap ples, and oranges. The sauce for the salad was made of hot sauce, honey, soy sauce, fennel, and rosemary. They served the fruit salad alongside a spinach salad and chicken breast sea soned with jerk seasoning.

After the judges tasted each dish and voted anonymously, McMahon and Executive Chef David LaFleur announced that Team Undergrad had won the competition.

“It’s definitely awesome. Definite ly came into this a little nervous,”

Thompson said.

Eldam said, “It feels really good to have won considering I did it last minute. I didn’t know I was doing this untilMartin,today.”who had been a part of the last two competitions, said he planned to continue participating in the event. “It’s a good way to practice cooking skills,” he said.

Sarkis said, “I had so much fun do ing it.”

[Editor’s Note: McKenzie Ward is Opinions Editor for The Gatepost. Mark Haskell is a staff writer.]

CONNECT WITH EMMA LYONS elyons3@student.framingham.edu

Zachary Sorel / THE GATEPOST

(Top) Team Undergrad’s finished dish. (Bottom) Team Alumni’s finished dish Sept. 22.

Zachary Sorel / THE GATEPOST (Left) Team Undergrad, sophomore Neirmen Eldam and senior Andy Thompson celebrating their win at Dueling Dishes Sept. 22.

Emma Lyons / THE GATEPOST

Dining Services staff, competition judges, and contestants posing for a group photos after Dueling Dishes Sept. 22.

Zachary Sorel / THE GATEPOST (Left) Team Alumni, sophomore Samira Sarkis and senior Malik Martin, plating their dishes at Dueling Dishes Sept. 22.

Alumni House fabric week helps students sew much

By Ryan O’Connell Arts & Features Editor

Fashion students can immediate ly find yards of fabric free of charge at the Independent Alumni House, thanks to another of their recurring “fabric weeks.”

The redistribution, which takes fabric and sewing donations from alumni and stores, is set up to help fashion design and retailing majors financially by providing access to an assortment of fabric and sewing ma terials.The fabric drive, while not new to Francesca Cerutti-Harris, has contin ued during her time as the executive director of the Independent Alumni House.Cerutti-Harris said her predeces sor had created the fashion and art supply center, when she overheard an illustration intern and her roommate talking about the added costs their majors both had in their education.

“I’m sure science majors have add ed costs and books and things like that, but it just seemed like a problem that alumni could help solve. She put out a call to alumni - many [of] who are artists or sew,” she said.

Cerutti-Harris said even before COVID-19, they had gotten large do nations from stores that were closing down, but there was too much fabric to organize. She said this led to “fab

ric weeks,” and that usually several of them happen a semester.

She added the Alumni House tries to plan them during the first few weeks of school, or before a long break, so students could have some thing to work on at home.

Cerutti-Harris said the Alumni House views fabric weeks as not only a way to help students, but also to “tell them that we exist.” She added the Alumni House is an open space for students and alumni to study and re lax, and they even award some schol arships.“Wewant students to be aware of who we are, so that we’re reaching the students who need that assistance,” she“It’ssaid.a win-win,” she added. “You have older alumni who are downsiz ing, cleaning out their sewing rooms, and they want this stuff to be used. They have a love of sewing and they want to pass that on. So now you have students who are excited to receive it and people who are excited to give it.”

For students like junior fashion de sign and retailing major Lola Mwilelo, the Alumni House’s fabric week saves both time and money.

Mwilelo - who does not have a car on campus - said without the Alumni House’s fashion and art supply cen ter, students would be expected to ar range a ride to and from a fabric store as well as buying the materials.

She added while the RamTram does take students to Hobby Lobby, the convenience and comfort of the Alumni House’s supply section drives her to visit whenever she’s in need.

“I go there every day! I have a proj ect, I’m just going to go look at what they have, what’s new, because it just feels like a home to me, especially when I need something for a project. And I myself like to collect fabrics,” she said.

Mwilelo said she has benefited from every fabric week she’s been in volved with, and she likes to visit the house with friends when looking for fabric, notions, or to relax.

“The Alumni House is definite ly a good place to have, … especial ly, [since] we live at a school where there’s not a lot of stores where you can find the fabrics that you need,” she

Sophomoresaid. fashion design and re tailing major Daniel Moore deals with some of the same problems, despite having his own car on campus. Even with the freedom of visiting any store he chooses, supplies and gas costs add up.Moore, who said he has loved fash ion all his life, couldn’t believe an opportunity like the Alumni Houses’s fabric week existed.

“I overheard two of my classmates talking about it and I was just kind of like, ‘That’s not real, you’re lying.’ But

‘Clerks 3’ delivers a dull finale

By Jack McLaughlin Staff Writer

“Clerks 3” is the passion project of filmmaker Kevin Smith and is a con clusion to a trilogy of movies that started with his debut film “Clerks” in 1994.The story brings us back to the Quick Stop convenience store, where Dante and Randal are still working af ter the events of the second movie 16 years ago. After surviving a near fatal heart attack, Randal enlists the help of his fellow employees to help him make a movie about their lives.

It’s been a long time since Smith has delivered on a project that’s been nearly as good as “Clerks,” so it shouldn’t be surprising that this film has glaring issues that hold it back from being good.

The concept of recreating memora ble moments in the characters’ lives gives the story an excuse to be heavily reliant on references to the previous two films in this trilogy. Unfortunate ly, this results in a series of unfunny moments that pale in comparison to the scenes they are trying to refer ence.Humor is where this movie suffers greatly. With a fantastic cast that have worked together in these films before,

it hurts to see their talent wasted on a script that makes eye-rolling jokes about NFTs that will feel dated in just a few years.

Jeff Anderson as Randal in the first two installments gave a witty perfor mance with terrific observant humor. His performance here feels like those qualities have been stripped from him, and what’s left is a crushingly unfunny character who unfortunately has the most screen time.

The iconic duo Jay and Silent Bob return for an attempt of comedic re lief, but their familiar routine of ston er humor ends up making you realize how unamusing they are, especially considering they’ve been doing the same jokes for almost 30 years.

There were a few attempts at hu mor that worked. My favorite being a reference to Kevin Smith’s brief work on the TV series “Degrassi” which was the only moment the film got a genu ine laugh out of me.

Where “Clerks 3” excels is the more dramatic scenes that are sprinkled throughout the barrage of annoying comedic bits.

Brian O’Halloran’s performance as Dante continues to be the most inter esting character Kevin Smith has ever written. The internal struggle of hat ing his current situation in life yet be

ing too comfortable to try changing it, serves as a contrast to Randal trying to make the most of the time he has left by making his movie.

Dante’s story not being the main focus is the film’s biggest missed op portunity. There’s always a noticeable boost in both writing and perfor mances once it transitions away from the filmmaking plot with Randal and it’s baffling how little it’s focused on.

The climax of the film sees O’Hal loran giving the best performance I’ve seen in any of the films in this series. His years-long anguish with his life finally being unleashed outside of his thoughts was a riveting moment that feels out of place in comparison to the quality of the film surrounding it.

The last 20 or so minutes inter twine these two stories into an ending that just barely misses the emotional blow that it was going for. Anytime there was any sort of heavy emotion, it is undercut by an unfunny quip that will take you out of the moment en tirely.The unsatisfying ending will leave you with a dull feeling when it’s over and just irritate you that this is the conclusion to the story of these char acters.“Clerks 3” always felt like a gamble of whether it would work considering

then I went there, I checked it out, and it was incredible,” he said.

Moore added the supplies the house had stocked extended beyond fabric, and the “notions” you could take with you - smaller pieces like buttons and zippers - rack the price up quickly at stores.“Extra stuff like zippers, thim bles, sewing needles - they had a ton of that stuff too, which is super, su per helpful, because it all definitely adds up when you’re going to a fabric store,” he said.

“I had a lot of fun there,” he said. “It’s kind of like a kid in a candy store getting to go around and see. … When you have an eye for creativity, you see all the possibilities with all this free stuff you can just grab and go crazy with.”

CONNECT WITH RYAN O’CONNELL roconnell1@student.framingham.edu

Kevin Smith’s poor track record and the current age of the actors. It’s safe to say this film is about 10 years too late and what was released did not live up to the expectations despite a few decent moments.

BSU Back to School Bash!

@The

Adrien Gobin/ THE GATEPOST

Student pickng out paints at theBSU Black & Gold Welcome Back! Sept. 17.

Adrien Gobin/ THE GATEPOST Students at the BSU Black & Gold Welcome Back! getting ready to paint Sept. 17.

Maddison Behringer/ THE GATEPOST Tahnyia Black painting at BSU Black & Gold Welcome Back! Sept. 17.

Maddison Behringer/ THE GATEPOST

(Left) Antonne Toney, BSU event coordinator, Malik Martin, BSU President and Faith Hensley at BSU Black & Gold Welcome Back! Sept. 17.

Maddison Behringer / THE GATEPOST

Students jump-roping at the BSU Black & Gold Welcome Back! Sept. 17.