September 27, 2019

THE GATEPOST Framingham State’s award-winning independent student newspaper since 1932

Volume 88 • Issue 3

September 27, 2019

FSUgatepost.com

Framingham State senior arrested on child pornography charges Student allegedly posted explicit messages in chatroom

Junior Rosalind Black (bottom left) discusses environmental issues during a climate walkout Sept. 26.

By Nadira Wicaksana Editor-in-Chief

FSU senior criminal justice major Rufus Rushins, 23, has been charged with the possession of child pornography, according to a Sept. 18 report submitted to the Framingham Juvenile Court.

Framingham Police arrested Rushins Sept. 20 at 9 p.m. at FSU, according to prosecutor Francesca Cone. Rushins’ arraignment took place Sept. 23 at the Framingham District Court.

A Sept. 20 supplement report from the Framingham Police Department states Det. Sgt. Tyson E. Mohr, who submitted the application for criminal complaint, was informed by Det. Sgt. Robert Sibilio “about an Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) alert involving an internet user making reference to a rape of a child.”

ICAC, according to its website, “is a national network of 61 coordinated task forces representing over 4,500 federal, state, and local law enforcement and prosecutorial Donald Halsing / THE GATEPOST agencies.

See STUDENT ARREST page 3

Board of Trustees holds first meeting of the academic year Members discuss finances, diversity, and WiFi connectivity issues

By Evan Lee Asst. News Editor

By Leighah Beausoleil Interim Asst. News Editor Framingham State’s Board of Trustees held its first meeting of the academic year Sept. 25 in the Alumni Room.

They discussed an array of topics ranging from the University’s financial and marketing strategies to bias incidents and diversity on campus.

Eric Gustafson, vice president of development and alumni relations, discussed the University’s fundraising efforts as well as endowments it received during fiscal year 2019.

“As of June 30th, we closed the fiscal year with just over 4 million dollars in private fundraising,” Gustafson said.

He also highlighted several gifts and pledges the University received, including three $25,000 gifts to create “endowment scholarship funds” for students who are campus leaders majoring in elementary education and business, respectively.

“Donors have been very respon-

News

sive in making sure we have the funds available for the future to make sure students receive the support they need,” Gustafson said.

He added his office had a “busy summer” hosting many local and regional events, which brought FSU’s alumni together.

“Really, the root of our fundraising success is getting alumni engaged and connected,” he added.

Trustee Michael Grilli, chair of the board’s finance committee, also reported on FSU’s finances - specifically its investments and budgets.

“We feel good about the budget you all allowed us, the finance committee, to execute,” he said.

Grilli added, “The budget is not a deficit budget.”

He said, “Investments have been exceeding their benchmarks, bumping up against 10%.

“All we hear about is what a great economy we have and we’re riding that wave successfully, rather than being left behind,” he added.

Constanza Cabello, vice president of diversity, inclusion, and community engagement, discussed the division’s Bias Education Response

Opinions

Team.

“Given our history of racial incidents on campus, I’m paying a lot of attention to that group,” she said.

“We’re trying to ramp up our presence on bias education response.”

The group will be split into two committees, according to Cabello.

One will focus on “prevention and education,” while the other will focus on “communications.”

The first committee will work to spread FSU’s community values to students “the moment they enroll,” and the second will work to engage the campus in conversations about hate crimes and other incidents, she explained.

Cabello highlighted that “Framingham State is now an emerging Hispanic-Serving Institution [HSI].”

She explained FSU’s student body is “likely going to land around 17% Latino or Hispanic students,” which classifies the University as an “emerging HIS,” according to “Excelencia in Education,” a D.C.-based nonprofit.

“To be an HSI by distinction from the federal government, we need to hit 25%, which I think we will do in

Arts & Features

the coming decade,” she added.

Becoming a fully recognized HSI will allow FSU to receive educational grants from the federal government’s Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions program.

“We are not concerned with simply being Hispanic-enrolling - we want to be Hispanic-serving,” Cabello added.

Lorretta Holloway, vice president for enrollment and student development, brought up some highlighted some things from her division’s report.

“EAB [Education Advisory Board] pipeline analytics and financial aid optimization implementations are near completion,” she said.

EAB is a “best practices firm” that uses research, technology, and consulting to address challenges within the education system, according to its website.

Its pipeline analytics can be used to predict and track student enrollment outcomes, as well as compositions of the student body.

The division will use these analytics when looking at the struc-

See BOARD OF TRUSTEES page 5

Sports

IGNITE pg. 7

ANTONIO BROWN pg. 9

PORCH PARTY MAMAS pg. 12

FOOTBALL pg. 16

HOMECOMING pg. 8

GATEPOST GRIEVANCES pg. 10

“AD ASTRA” pg. 14

VOLLEYBALL pg. 19

INSIDE: OP/ED 9 • ARTS & FEATURES 12 • SPORTS 16

NEWS

2 | SEPTEMBER 27, 2019

Gatepost Interview

Editorial Board

Editor-in-Chief Nadira Wicaksana Associate Editors Cara McCarthy Ashley Wall News Editor Donald Halsing Asst. News Editor Evan Lee Interim Asst. News Editor Leighah Beausoleil Arts & Features Editors Brennan Atkins Robert Johnson Jr. Asst. Arts & Features Editors Jared Graf Sara Senesac Entertainment Correspondent Noah Barnes Interim Fashion Correspondent Caeley Whalen Opinions Editor Thomas Maye Sports Editor Liam Gambon Asst. Sports Editor Carlos Silva Design Editor Kathleen Moore Interim Copy Editor Lauren Paolini Staff Writers Mackenzie Berube Patrick Brady Kaitlyn Cullen Dia Kilgore Lizzy Stocks Dylan Thayer McKenzie Ward Staff Copy Editor Jordan Bacci Staff Photographers Amanda Garny Caroline Gordon Advisor Dr. Desmond McCarthy Asst. Advisor Elizabeth Banks Administrative Assistant Gwenyth Swain 100 State Street McCarthy Center Room 410 Framingham, MA 01701-9101 Phone: (508) 626-4605 Fax: (508) 626-4097 gatepost@framingham.edu

@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

Joseph Adelman History professor

By Cara McCarthy Associate Editor What is your educational and professional background?

I did my undergraduate degree in history at Harvard. Then, for two years after undergrad, I worked as a communications director for a state assemblyman in New York. I was doing everything from constituting correspondence, to press releases, to media communications, and also - because it was a small office - worked on some policy areas related to telecommunications. I decided I wanted to go back and go to graduate school and be an early American historian, so I did my Ph.D. at Johns Hopkins down in Baltimore, and I have been at Framingham State since 2012.

What made you want to be an early American historian?

I have been interested in the American Revolution since I was eight years old. I had a second-grade teacher who gave me a book about the revolution I don’t remember what book. But it set me on my path and I have been fascinated by it ever since. Obviously, as an adult, it’s grown into more than just an obsession with reading and rereading the novel ‘Johnny Tremain.’ But as I got into college, I started thinking about reading real historians and reading original documents, thinking about the revolution and how it happened, how and why those 13 colonies decided - and actually made - real independence is a question that has been with me for a really long time.

Can you describe your book and why it’s important?

My book is called ‘Revolutionary Networks’ and it’s my way of answering that big question about the [American] Revolution. What I did in the book is look in the printing trade, which was - for all intents and purposes - the media in the 18th century and how their business practices and interests shaped the politics of the revolution. I looked at the people who were working in the printing offices, who were master print-

Police Logs

Cara McCarthy / THE GATEPOST ers, tradesmen who worked with their hands. But they also interacted with lots of elites and they edited newspapers, almanacs, pamphlets, and all sorts of other things and made lots of choices about what to print in those publications, and having a pretty big impact on what people read and how people see events that are taking place.

What do you consider to be your greatest accomplishment?

That is a tough one. I think the book is a pretty big accomplishment. It took me about 15 years to do the research and writing. It’s been a thrill to actually have it and hold it in my hands. I’m really proud of my kids and that they are healthy and growing up strong. I wouldn’t necessarily call it my biggest accomplishment, but I feel like the work I do is important - whether that’s something like writing and engaging with an audience who reads the book, the work I do every day in the classroom, or working with students, getting students to help see how crucial it is to think about the past and get people to think about the past in new ways.

What advice do you have for new historians?

My advice is to think about what you want to do with your life and what

kind of impact you want to make in the world. Hopefully, we’ve [FSU] helped give you the tools to think about how history - not so much as a set of content, but as a set of skills - as a way of approaching the world, can help inform what you do.

What advice do you have for FSU students?

I think the thing I would say to FSU students is that we - meaning the faculty and the staff - see and know how hard you’re working. We understand the effort you’re putting in and we want you to come to us for help when you need it.

One of the things I think that is hard to see is when you’re working really hard and struggling with something. I know moments in my life when I’ve been in that place, that it’s hard to stop and ask for help. But it’s what we’re here for. So, I think that would be my one piece of advice. Ask for help, whether it’s from a professor, a staff member, or an RA. It might not even be the person who’s necessarily the right person to answer the question. But reaching out to somebody will lead to help in whatever the issue is. Don’t worry about asking for help - that’s what we want you to do.

CONNECT WITH CARA MCCARTHY cmccarthy8@student.framingham.edu

Friday, September 20 21:10 Elevator Entrapment Larned Hall Services Rendered

Friday, September 20 21:15 Assist other Agency North Hall Services Rendered

Monday, September 23 09:15 Alarm (Trouble) Athletic Center Alarm Reset

Monday, September 23 10:06 Investigation Normal Hill Parking Lot Referral Filled

Monday, September 23 23:28 Motor Vehicle Accident Maple St. Athletic Lot 2 Report Taken

Wednesday, September 25 09:07 Found Property FSU Police Dept.

Report Taken

Wednesday, September 25 09:32 State Parking Enforcement A-Zone Parking Lot Citations Issued

Wednesday, September 25 12:49 Motor Vehicle Lockout Maple St. Athletic Lot Unable to Unlock

Thursday, September 26 00:17 Alarm (Fire/Smoke) Whittemore Library Box and system reset

Thursday, September 26 10:04 Suspicious Motor Vehicle Campus Way GOA

Thursday, September 26 14:10 Parking Complaint Adams Rd. Parking Lot Unfounded

Thursday, September 26 14:23 Medical Foster Hall Transport to Hospital

Student arrest

NEWS

SEPTEMBER 27, 2019 | 3

Continued from page 1

“These agencies are continually engaged in proactive and reactive investigations and prosecutions of persons involved in child abuse and exploitation involving the internet,” it states.

The particular alert from ICAC sent to Sibilio refers to an alleged post from Rushins. It stated the “individual describes molesting [a] friend’s 5-year-old niece when babysitting and mentions they will do it again when babysitting the same girl next,” according to the supplement report.

It was posted on the gamer-focused text and chat app Discord Sept.

18, using the tag “rufdog14#9426.”

The report includes a string of messages posted between Sept. 15 and Sept. 18. Rushins allegedly interacted with other users in a “pedi room,” which Mohr stated he “understood to mean a chat room specific to pedophiles.”

Other messages from the tag include admission to having past childhood sexual encounters with a family member and plans to have sexual encounters with his future daughter.

In a Sept. 18 interview with Rushins, Mohr and Det. Sean Wilson presented evidence linking Rushins to the Discord messages, according to the report.

“When given a transcript of the messages in question, Rushins was obstinate that he would never post anything like that even in jest,” Mohr stated in the report. “When asked, Rushins state[d] and was adamant that he has never, nor does he currently babysit for any child as he is a full-time student who lives on campus, nor does he have a niece.”

According to the report, one of the personal email addresses Rushins provided to police, rufdog1996@ gmail.com, was associated with the Discord tag used to post the aforementioned messages.

Additionally, the IP address used to post the messages traces back to FSU, according to the ICAC alert.

Mohr stated in the report, “I was able to confirm thru [sic] the FSU IT department that said IP address comes back to the general FSU WiFi network.”

Mohr stated in the report, “When [confronted] with this information, Rushins admitted that he did in fact post the messages in question and added that there was no validity to them and that he was just ‘talking

Weather

Courtesy of Framingham Police Rufus Rushins was arrested by Framingham Police Sept. 20. s***’ and being ‘edgy.’”

Rushins is also reported by Mohr to have said “he was trying to shock people” when he was asked about the “specific reason for why he posted these things.”

In the report, Rushins “concede[d] that he has a lot of ‘porn’ on his phone,” referring to it as “loli porn.”

In Japanese animation, “loli” is a colloquial shortening of “lolita,” a genre centered on young-looking girls, often portrayed in sexually suggestive situations.

“He added that there were also CGI cartoons of a sexual nature depicting children, which he described as being a little older than 5,” Mohr states.

According to the report, Rushins’ cell phone was “seized pending the issuance of a search warrant.” He also “voluntarily” gave Framingham City Police his school-issued laptop.

Following Framingham Police’s procurement of a search warrant “based on an investigation of a National Center for Missing and Exploited Children cybertip,” Det. Sean O’Hare searched the contents of Rushins’ cell phone.

Another Sept. 20 supplement report states that on the phone, there was a video of a young child who “appeared to [be] between the ages of 3 [and] 5” performing a sexual act on a man.

Sunday night Mostly clear, with a low near 40.

Light and variable winds.

Monday night Partly cloudy, low near 50. S winds around 5 mph.

Monday Sunny, high near 70. E winds around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Tuesday 30% chance of showers in the morning.

High near 70. SW winds around 10 mph.

“Based on my training and experience conducting child pornography investigations, I believe ... this video to constitute child pornography,” O’Hare wrote.

Cone asked Judge Jennifer Stark to order Rushins not to use any electronic devices. His lawyer, Todd Segal, requested Rushins be allowed to possess a phone without Internet access, to which Stark agreed.

The terms also barred Rushins from having contact with minors aged 16 and younger.

He was released on $750 bail following agreement per these orders.

He is due back in court Nov. 5 for a pretrial conference.

Rushins was a full-time resident student in North Hall, as well as a fullback for the Rams football team.

He has since been taken off the football roster on fsurams.com.

Thomas Kelley, football coach and Athletics director, declined to comment.

He has also been placed on interim suspension and is not allowed on campus pending the results of the criminal case, according to Dan Magazu, FSU director of communications. This is per University policy, according to FSU President F. Javier Cevallos.

Rushins informed the Dean of Students Office Sept. 23 he would be

taking a leave of absence from the University, according to Magazu.

Meg Nowak Borrego, dean of students, declined to comment.

Although The Gatepost requested further materials from Framingham Police, the request was denied by the department “on the grounds that providing the requested records would violate the Criminal Offender Record Information Act (CORI).”

Patrick Laughran, FSU’s chief information officer, said the University “does not monitor the content of what students access or share from the campus network.

“However, some basic information such as what is referred to as “log files” are used to capture and record activity on the campus network,” he said. “Each device that connects to the campus network is able to be identified using this information in order for the University to provide authorized users of network services with access to a secure and reliable network that performs well.”

Laughran added every device that connects to the campus network becomes part of a “complex ecosystem of components” that makes “seamless” internet connection possible.

“Since everything is interconnected through the campus network, including student devices, any one component has the potential to create problems for everyone else and everything else that is connected,” he said.

“This is why log file information must be gathered,” Laughran added.

Browsing histories are maintained locally on individual users’ computers, but every particular login instance creates a unique address assigned to a device in order to send and receive specific data, according to Laughran.

Cevallos announced Rushins’ arrest at the Sept. 25 Board of Trustees meeting. “Reports of a student being arrested was in the [local] newspaper.”

He added, “We will wait for the outcome [of the criminal trial] before we do anything related to that student.”

As of publication time, there has been no formal communication from the University regarding Rushins’ arrest and impending trial.

CONNECT WITH NADIRA WICAKSANA nwicaksana@student.framingham.edu

Forecast provided by the National Weather Service www.weather.gov Tuesday night Wednesday night 30% chance of show30% chance of showers. Mostly cloudy low ers. Mostly cloudy, low around 60. S winds around 60. SW winds around 10. around 10 mph.

Wednesday Partly sunny, high near 80. W winds around 10 mph.

Thursday 40% chance of showers Mostly cloudy, high near 70. W winds around 10 mph.

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

NEWS

4 | SEPTEMBER 27, 2019

SGA welcomes DICE to its weekly meeting

By Sara Senesac Editorial Staff

SGA welcomed the Division of Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement (DICE) team to its meeting Sept. 24.

President Matty Bennet invited Constanza Cabello, vice president of DICE, and Patricia Birch, director of inclusive excellence initiatives, to speak to SGA about what they want to accomplish this year.

Cabello wanted to address the bigger plans for the future, discussing her “internal and external focus” for DICE. The purpose of the internal focus is to “create not only a diverse campus environment, but also an inclusive one,” she said.

“Diversity is really about numbers.

Diversity is about representation. Inclusion is about climate. Do people feel they belong here? Do they feel they can be successful here? That’s really what we are moving toward,” Cabello added.

The external focus is aimed toward community engagement and the need to reach further than just the FSU campus.

“As a public institution in the MetroWest community, we have a responsibility to be good neighbors,” Cabello said.

She also noted their team is “small, but mighty.” Roxana Marrero, executive administrative assistant of DICE, is leaving the team Friday to start her new position as director of the MetroWest Early Scholar program.

Cabello also discussed the different groups DICE works with on campus, such as the Bias Education

Response Team and the Council on Diversity and Inclusion. She said having all of these groups working together is what creates that sense of community.

Birch then told the group what she does as head of the Center for Inclusive Excellence (CIE), including programming around diversity and inclusion, working with affinity groups and clubs, and working with faculty to further enhance student experience.

She emphasized the importance of communication with students and keeping the CIE a student-centered program.

Bennet then opened the meeting up for questions.

Student Trustee Olivia Beverlie asked Cabello how she would address a racist incident, such as the hate crimes that occurred in recent years.

Cabello said, “Whenever there’s a hate crime on campus, it’s so import-

Amanda Garny / THE GATEPOST Patricia Birch, left, and Constanza Cabello, both from DICE, speak to SGA.

“Diversity is really about numbers. Diversity is about representation. Inclusion is about climate.”

-Constanza Cabello, vice president of DICE

ant to acknowledge the intent and the impact on people. At the center of these incidents are often individuals.

“Sometimes we focus so much on wanting to get the information, and

SGA eBoard listens to the DICE presentation.

what we need to do is focus on the people who are being impacted negatively.”

Bennet asked if there had been any updates on the investigations over the summer.

Cabello said she did not have

Amanda Garny / THE GATEPOST

much new information to share, but she believes conversations about the incidents between students and administration have improved. She stressed the importance of keeping communication open, and making sure students know they are always being heard.

SGA then went over their officer reports, during which Beverlie informed the group of an “exciting” update.

“We’ve been having issues in public relations with Campus Police. … President Cevallos informed me during my meeting with him that we’re adding a community service officer in a few weeks.

“They’re going to be the person for student concerns, and they will be working on improving the community service aspect of Campus Police,” Beverlie said.

Bennet announced SGA will be meeting with Lorretta Holloway, vice president for enrollment and student development, and Meg Nowak Borrego, dean of students, Oct. 8 to discuss the lack of student engagement in clubs.

Secretary Lexi Kays reminded everyone of the upcoming Election Day on Sept. 26.

CONNECT WITH SARA SENESAC ssenesac@student.framingham.edu

CLUB MEETING TIMES Monday Education Club, 1:30 pm, Club Room 1, MC 413 Nutrition Club, 1:30 pm, HH 111 Wildlife, 1:30 pm, HA 325 Catholic Student Group, 1:30 pm, EC101 Food Science Club, 1:30 pm, HH 227 Gatepost, 6:30 pm, MC 410 Dance Team, 6:30 pm, Aerobics Room 207/208 MISS, 7:00 pm, O’Connor CIE Tuesday Math Club, 11:30 am, HA 430 WDJM, 4:30 pm, MC Paul T. Murphy 520 Pride Alliance, 6:30 pm, Club Room 1, MC 413 Hilltop Players, 6:30 pm, HA 136 Black Student Union, 7:00 pm, O’Connor CIE SGA, 7:30 pm, MC Alumni Wednesday History Club, 1:30 pm, MA 111B

@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

Wednesday (cont’d) Christian Fellowship, 6:30 pm, Ecumenical Center Fashion Club, 7 pm , HH 218 Young Democrats Association, 7:00 pm, MC Paul T. Murphy 520 Comic Book Club. 7:30 pm, Club Room 1, MC 413 Thursday Gatepost, 6:30 pm, MC 410 African Caribbean Dance Group, 7:30 pm, AF 207/208 African Student Association, 7:00 pm, North Hall Commons Brother to Brother, 7:30 pm, O’Connor CIE Marketing Club, 7:00 pm, HH 101 Friday African Caribbean Dance Group, 7:30 pm, AF 207/208 Gaming Club, 12:30 pm, Club Room 1, MC 413 Sunday Symphonic Band, 6 pm, DPAC

Board of trustees Continued from page 1 ture of financial aid to “make changes based upon the kinds of students that we’re getting,” Holloway said.

She also highlighted a new “cable commercial and marketing campaign” the University will be starting up soon and announced the office of International Education has been moved into her division.

Holloway then introduced the “comprehensive enrollment update” before handing the floor to Jeremy Spencer, dean of enrollment management.

Spencer pointed out one part of the report that detailed an increase in enrollment over the summer, specifically during the month of August.

“We took a look strategically at where we were in enrollment on August 5th, where you see that there’s a headcount of 4,092. And you can see that between August 5th and to the day after add-drop, we were seeing 5,207,” Spencer said.

He added, “I’m pleasantly able to say that our new entering student registration targets are higher than anticipated.”

Virginia Rutter, a sociology professor and vice president of the Framingham chapter of the Massachusetts State College Association (MSCA), had three letters to share with the Board of Trustees.

The MSCA is a union comprised of faculty and librarians at the eight Massachusetts state colleges and universities.

The first was “a statement about part-time retroactive pay,” which took the form of an open letter to President F. Javier Cevallos signed by “118 members of the faculty and

NEWS

librarians.”

This letter was published in the Sept. 13 issue of The Gatepost.

“We have a situation where our part-time faculty, on September 28th, will have gone 1,000 days without receiving their raises. Although full-time faculty have received our retroactive pay, our part-time faculty have not,” Rutter explained.

She added, “This is not the creation of Framingham State, but we, together, are responsible for it.”

The second letter addressed a “bi-

zled by the fact that this process has nearly completely excluded our academic deans,” Rutter said.

Those deans receive the thoughts and concerns of faculty over how best to advocate for students and community values, so the MSCA is “very troubled” by their lack of involvement in restructuring, Rutter explained.

Olivia Beverlie, student trustee and a new member of the board, discussed a “frustrating issue” regarding how difficult it is to connect to

“One of the main issues that’s been brought up at our SGA meetings is WiFi connection issues across campus - not only for students, but also for administrators, faculty, and staff.”

-Olivia Beverlie, student trustee zarre argument” over the holdup of retroactive pay, Rutter said.

She called it “a petty fight over 13,000 dollars statewide in order to hold up paying our part-time faculty.”

The third letter discussed “concerns about potential restructuring of the University,” according to Rutter - specifically, a restructuring proposal for Academic Affairs offered by President Cevallos and Angela Salas, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs.

“We have been enormously puz-

FSU’s WiFi network.

“One of the main issues that’s been brought up at our SGA meetings is WiFi connection issues across campus - not only for students, but also for administrators, faculty, and staff,” she said.

SGA is currently reaching out to the IT department to see what’s being done about the issue, according to Beverlie.

She also said one of her goals for SGA is to increase the diversity of its members.

“It’s something we’re consistent-

SEPTEMBER 27, 2019 | 5

ly trying to improve on, considering that we’re the voice for students on campus,” she said. “We need to represent our students well.”

During his report, Cevallos gave the floor to Desmond McCarthy, chair of the English Department, to introduce the board’s Student-in-theSpotlight, senior Nadira Wicaksana, editor-in-chief of The Gatepost.

Wicaksana, a DACA recipient who came to the U.S. from Indonesia at the age of 2, spoke about the path that led her to FSU from her home state of North Carolina.

She said because of her DACA status, she was unable to receive financial aid for college and could only afford to attend the community college in her home town.

After she finished community college, she was encouraged by her parents to further her education at a university where out-of-state tuition was cheaper than in North Carolina.

One of those institutions was Framingham State University.

“I knew nothing about Framingham State or what I would encounter when I got there,” she said.

After arriving and meeting McCarthy, she was encouraged by him to consider majoring in English and joining The Gatepost.

“The mentorship I received from Desmond and many other members of the English department is unlike anything I’d ever encountered,” she said.

Wicaksana also told the trustees that joining The Gatepost was one of the best decisions she ever made.

“I would not trade my long late Thursday nights and early Friday mornings with The Gatepost for anything,” she said.

“The feelings of camaraderie that permeate The Gatepost office and the supportive culture we and previous generations have worked hard to cultivate are irreplaceable,” she said.

Due to financial difficulties, Wicaksana said she didn’t think she’d be able to return to FSU for her senior year and would therefore lose the opportunity to serve as editor-in-chief of the University’s student newspaper.

She explained, “I was entirely ready to accept the fate my financial instability decreed for me, but Desmond was not willing to let that happen, and for that, I am entirely, endlessly grateful to him.

“I do not know if this would happen at any other university,” she added.

After the meeting, Cevallos praised Wicaksana’s presentation, saying it was the “highlight” of the evening.

[Editor’s note: Nadira Wicaksana is editor-in-chief of The Gatepost.

Dr. Desmond McCarthy is advisor of The Gatepost.]

CONNECT WITH EVAN LEE elee5@student.framingham.edu

Caroline Gordon / THE GATEPOST Lorretta Holloway, vice president for enrollment and student development (left), speaks to the board.

CONNECT WITH LEIGHAH BEAUSOLEIL lbeausoleil@student.framingham.edu

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

6 | SEPTEMBER 27, 2019

NEWS

FSU recognized for fifth time with diversity award

By Nadira Wicaksana Editor-in-Chief

By Donald Halsing News Editor Framingham State has been awarded a Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) award this year, according to a Sept. 18 University press release.

This is the fifth time FSU has been given this recognition since 2014, awarded by the oldest and largest diversity magazine and website, “Insight into Diversity.” FSU is among 93 schools across the nation to receive the award.

Additionally, this year, FSU is the only public institution in Massachusetts on the list of recipients.

According to the Insight into Diversity website, the HEED award “measures an institution’s level of achievement and intensity of commitment in regard to broadening diversity and inclusion on campus through initiatives, programs, and outreach; student recruitment, retention, and completion,” as well as “hiring practices for faculty and staff.”

It also states, “Applications are comprehensive, covering all aspects of campus diversity and inclusion.

One of the goals of the application process is to help institutions of higher education assess their diversity efforts in order to build on their success and improve where necessary.”

FSU hired Constanza Cabello, vice president of diversity, inclusion, and community engagement, and Patricia Birch, director of inclusive excellence initiatives, this past summer. Cabello is the first person to hold this position at the vice presidential level, which was renamed after Millie Gonzalez served as FSU’s interim chief officer of diversity, inclusion, and community engagement from 2017-2019.

When asked about the award, Cabello said, “It’s really exciting any time we can be recognized nationally

for the work we’re doing around diversity and inclusion.

“There’s some impressive organizations on here,” she said, “so it’s nice to be in their company.” The list includes Ohio State, Princeton, and Texas A&M, according to Cabello.

She said the award is exciting because it “is really a recognition of the hard work of many people on our campus who really are committed to issues of diversity, inclusion, and equity.”

Cabello added the award signals the University’s commitment to the necessary work to maintain diversity.

“So as prospective students or employees look into our institution,” she said, “I think it’s a signal to folks that we do have some really impressive work happening on this campus.”

happening, but the work that we need to do.”

She added, “The reality is social justice work will never be done.”

“It’s an affirmation for where we’re at currently,” Cabello said, “but definitely, for me, continues to challenge us in a way to remain committed to these issues and topics so we can be the best institution possible.”

She spoke about the diversifying “demographics of our geographic area” and the importance of responding to changes in the composition of the community as a regional public university.

“I also think about the intersection of identities,” Cabello said. “What does it mean to be a student of color and a student with a disability, or, a student of color who identifies as part

“I think the award is, for me, an indication that we’re on the right track - but it doesn’t relieve us of any of the continued work that needs to happen to support diverse populations on campus.”

-Constanza Cabello, vice president of diversity, inclusion, and community engagement With respect to clubs and organizations on campus, Cabello said the award is an “affirmation” of their values, especially toward “creating a sense of belonging.

“When I think about diversity,” she said, “I think about a lot of different identity groups,” Cabello explained, speaking of “students of color, or veterans, or students with disabilities.”

Cabello said the award is a “really positive indicator of our values as an institution … not only the work that’s

of the LGBTQ+ community?

“I think the award is, for me, an indication that we’re on the right track - but it doesn’t relieve us of any of the continued work that needs to happen to support diverse populations on campus,” she said.

When asked about FSU’s record of hate crimes on campus in the past few years, Cabello said, “Hate incidents on campus are so unfortunate, and sadly growing across the nation.

“What’s really important is how

we respond in those moments as a community,” she said. “How do we encounter acts of hate on our campus and support one another and take it as an opportunity to not only provide an educational space, but also challenge each other to be better?

“While I do think it negatively impacts our ability to be recognized for this work,” Cabello added, “I think it also provides an opportunity to step up to the plate and show that we are committed to these issues.”

Cabello said she believes there are opportunities to increase prevention and education efforts and work closely with students.

“While I do think that the administration holds a special responsibility in terms of leadership,” she added, “I think we also need to engage the larger community in a response.”

On the topic of future programs, Cabello said, “I think it’s a little pre-emptive for me to say, ‘Here are all the plans I want to have,’ because I still think I need to do a lot of listening.

“There’s some pieces that are critical of not just thinking about how we diversify the campus, but how we create a culture of inclusion,” she added.

Cabello stressed, “How do we ensure that people feel a sense of belonging?”

When discussing preventative measures, Cabello said the Bias Education Response Team now includes a “prevention and education subgroup.

Cabello said she hopes she can “change minds and hearts” to prevent future racial bias incidents.

FSU President F. Javier Cevallos said, “The University is honored to once again be recognized with a HEED award for our efforts around diversity, equity, and inclusion. These are core values we hold as a University, which is why we work hard to promote a climate on campus where everyone feels welcome, respected, and valued.”

He added the University still has progress to make, but with the addition of two new staff members dedicated to diversity efforts, he expressed his optimism for the coming year.

Cevallos said, “We also recognize that we are not perfect in these areas and must continually strive to do better. I could not be more pleased to have Dr. Cabello on board to lead our efforts around diversity, inclusion, and community engagement. She is a leading voice in her field nationally and brings a wealth of knowledge to the University as well as a strong ability to connect with students on a personal level.

“I’m also excited to have Patty Birch here as our director of inclusive excellence initiatives. Patty has already made a positive impact on the Center for Inclusive Excellence in her short time here and I know she has a lot of excellent programming and training planned for this academic year.”

Cevallos added, “Overall, I think the University is well-positioned to be a leader in the state in diversity, equity, and inclusion moving forward.”

CONNECT WITH NADIRA WICAKSANA nwicaksana@student.framingham.edu

@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

Courtesy of insightintodiversity.com

CONNECT WITH DONALD HALSING dhalsing@student.framingham.edu

NEWS

SEPTEMBER 27, 2019 | 7

IGNITE hosts “Period Packing Party”

By Thomas Maye Editorial Staff IGNITE, a student-run women’s leadership group, hosted a “Period-Packing Party” in the CIE, providing free menstrual products after conducting a spring 2019 survey that found 73% of students were “concerned” about the price of pads and tampons.

The group also discussed the lack of education concerning women’s health and drafted campus-wide solutions to address “period poverty” at FSU. The event occurred amid plans from the Health Center to improve healthcare access on campus by installing a “Self-Care Station” vending machine in the McCarthy Center to provide free health products for students in need.

Junior Stephanie Bennett, president of IGNITE, defined period poverty as both financial difficulty affording period products and a difficulty in acquiring them.

She said the group came up with the concept of the packing party after finding that in the McCarthy Center, only two of the pad/tampon dispensers worked. Neither of them distributed both pads and tampons.

“It was either-or,” she said.

“So you’re going on this wild goose chase to stop bleeding! That’s very distracting as a student, or as a faculty [member],” she said.

In IGNITE’s survey of more than 100 students, 41% of respondents said dispensers were out of operation in public restrooms on campus. Additionally, 90% of students believed they should not have to pay for tampons and pads, which cost 25 cents from the campus dispensers, according to the survey.

Senior Erin Johnson, vice president of IGNITE, said the responses to the survey were “kind of shocking.”

She added many college students have financial pressures that can make it difficult to afford sanitary products. “I feel like the broke college kid trope is pretty prevalent,” she said.

According to an IGNITE Facebook post, the lack of access to period products reflects “overwhelming financial insecurity.”

Sophomore Rachel Spivey, IGNITE secretary, said she was further inspired to bring period reform to FSU after a friend from the University of New England successfully campaigned to have the university provide free pads and tampons.

Spivey said she hopes to make women suffering with period poverty “feel a little less isolated.”

At their meeting, IGNITE members discussed other issues with women’s reproductive and sexual health education.

Sophomore Beta Cojocaru expressed concern about sexual education in public schools. “We watched

IGNITE President Stephanie Bennett explains the purpose of the “Period Packing Party.” a video from the 90s, and that’s the only thing we got,” she said. “Public schools need to bring more education to what’s happening to your body.”

Spivey elaborated on Cojocaru’s point, discussing a lack of education about birth control side effects and medical reactions. “I had to go to urgent care because of side effects [from birth control],” she said.

Junior Alex Backer, IGNITE treasurer, said there was a dearth of scientific research about women’s health, such as side effects from different means of birth control. He said historically “women were used as guinea pigs,” suffering severe reactions due to a lack of prior research.

He said it was important men educate themselves about women’s issues. “I grew up around guys - no one talked about periods or vaginas.

Backer added, “We don’t necessarily talk about periods at all. It’s a taboo topic, and I’m surprised more people wouldn’t speak out about it on a campus that’s so open.”

Bennett said there can be an element of “slut-shaming” in talking about periods or birth control, responding to a sexist anonymous comment on the survey. She said she went on birth control following a doctor’s recommendation to help prevent cancer risk factors - something a slut-shaming narrative overlooks.

She stressed the importance of allyship and spreading knowledge about the issue. “Awareness - that’s what the party’s for,” she said. “It’s not for, ‘Here, here’s your free products.’ It’s for, ‘Let’s bring awareness to this. Let’s start a conversation at our meeting,’ and maybe some faculty will take notice and start advocating for students themselves.”

Bennett said shutting down conversations about periods “just because it makes you feel uncomfort-

Cara McCarthy / THE GATEPOST

able isn’t an option.” you would get there would be someShe added students dealing with thing you would pick up to have on period poverty can message IGNITE hand to use at a later time,” she said. on social media to have members “The Self-Care Station is to provide deliver menstrual products directly a one-time dose for a current need to their dorm rooms. She said she is i.e. pain reliever for a headache, dealso discussing plans with SDAs to congestant for a cold, [or] menstrual provide better access to menstrual products if your period started unexproducts in dorms. pectedly.”

Sophomore Selena Cheehy, secreVirginia Rutter, a sociology protary of M.I.S.S., said at the event the fessor who studies gender inequaligroup plans to coordinate with IG- ty, said issues of period stigma and NITE to co-host future projects and inequality have wide-ranging hisinitiatives to advance missions of torical and religious precedent. “The women’s empowerment and diversi- Bible calls women unclean,” she said. ty.

“The thing about period equity Ilene Hofrenning, director of the and period poverty is that every sinHealth Center, said it currently offers gle woman understands this term infree tampons and pads from baskets stantly,” she said. “And yet, speaking in the bathrooms of the building and as a woman in my 50s, it’s a relatively at the Rams Resource Center, but new thing in the past decade that it’s added many students weren’t aware getting researched and studied and of the services provided. organized around.”

She said the stigma surrounding She said the issue was exacerbatmenstruation can prevent students ed by male-dominated politics that from coming for help at the Health failed to take women’s concerns into Center. “Girls and women are made account, such as a “pink tax” on peto feel embarrassed or ashamed to riod products across multiple states talk about their periods,” she said. which does not include MassachuHofrenning also discussed the up- setts. “Cupcakes are tax-free, but coming “Self-Care Station,” a vend- tampons are not in these states,” she ing machine that will provide free said. medical products to students to imRutter said the conversation beprove healthcare access. In addition gan to shift alongside the “Our Bodto providing pads and tampons, she ies, Ourselves” movement of the said it will include cold, sleep, and 1970s, which aimed to educate womstress “kits,” as well as condoms and en about their anatomy and bodily over-the-counter painkillers, free of processes. She said young people are cost to students. beginning to change attitudes and She said it will have a “grand open- reduce the stigma about women’s ing” in October. It will be located in bodies. the alcove near the stairwell on the “Conversations are always slower third floor of the McCarthy Center. to catch up with the younger generaHofrenning said expenses for the tion, because the people running the machine will come out of the Health conversations are older, and they’re Center budget and staff will put the looking backwards,” she said. kits together themselves, which will “But I think that conversations are reduce costs. getting better,” she added.

“The [Rams Resource Center] is open limited hours, so most of what CONNECT WITH THOMAS MAYE tmaye1@student.framingham.edu

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NEWS

8 | SEPTEMBER 27, 2019

FSU’s Homecoming Weekend connects students and alumni Athletic, dining, and other fun events brings campus community together

By Brennan Atkins Editorial Staff FSU hosted its annual Homecoming Weekend with a variety of events, including sports games, the annual “Moonlight Breakfast,” and a “Friends and Family-Fest” carnival for students, alumni, and parents Sept. 2021.

On Saturday, the FSU community met at Bowditch Field to cheer on the Framingham State football team as they played against Westfield State.

According to Eric Gustafson, vice president of development and alumni relations, Homecoming events (excluding the carnival) cost approximately $6,000, and was paid by the school entirely.

At the “Alumni End Zone” event at which approximately 150 students and alumni gathered close to the end of the field and enjoyed a free barbeque lunch.

Thomas Kelley, football coach and athletics director, said athletics are a vital part of the relationship between alumni and students.

“I just think it’s a great time for the campus to show off, and there’s a lot of guys coming back for the first time, people traveling long distances, and they see the campus and they’re really impressed with how beautiful it is and how much it’s changed since they’ve been here,” he said.

Kelley added, “It’s a time for those guys to appreciate the guys who have already been here and built what we have right now.”

This past weekend’s game marked the 100th win of Kelley’s career at Framingham State.

Kelley also had the opportunity to reconnect with many alumni athletes from the 70s and 80s.

“We tweeted out a picture this weekend and I was standing with our all-time leading rusher. He was the all-time leading rusher in New England, a big-time player. ... I love to see those guys come back and reminisce even for a short bit of time.

“It was kind of a cool day for me,” Kelley said.

On Friday evening, SUAB and SGA co-hosted the “Friends and Family Fest,” a carnival with rides, games, and food trucks. Free food vouchers were given to the first 200 students who came.

The budget for the carnival was $13,000, according to Sara Gallegos, director of SILD. Members of SUAB and SGA worked the event, operating carnival games such as “Tumble Alley” and “Axe Throw.” The rides included twirling teacups and rotating swings.

Gallegos said homecoming strengthens the relationship between students and alumni.

“It’s about the sharing of the campus community. It’s bringing together students, faculty, staff, alumni - even the greater Framingham area - to come together and celebrate Framingham State,” she said.

Gallegos added, “I would say there’s probably a little more work to be done on both sides. I work directly with the students - they’re my priority - but we can have a bunch of student groups working more closely with the alumni, and vice versa.

“There’s a lot of opportunities to bring alumni in to work with the students,” she said.

Matty Bennet, a senior and SGA president, said he thinks this year’s events were “so much better” than last year’s.

“Moonlight Breakfast is everyone’s jam, and I am so incredibly excited for this,” he said. “This carnival, I couldn’t have expected it would look this good.

“I think it’s just a great event - even with [the risk of] EEE,” he added.

Mark Haskell, a freshman international business major, said, “I came out to homecoming to have a change of pace. ... My goal these four years is to go out and have some fun sometimes.”

Mitchell Distefano, a freshman, said homecoming “shows a sense of pride in the school and that we are a real community here, that everyone accepts each other.”

Kyle Glinner, a freshman commu-

Members of the FSU community gathered for carnival games and rides Sept. 20.

@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

The Rams football team took on Westfield State Sept. 21. nication arts major, said, “You’re going to be here for the next four years.

These are the people you’re going be with, so it’s good to communicate and make new friends.”

James McColley, a sophomore sociology major, said, “I think it’s important because it gets everyone together. It’s a fun place to interact with people, meet new people, show people around, and show what Framingham has to offer.”

Over at the Danforth Museum, Gufstafson’s office hosted alumni award ceremony Sept. 21 at which Wanda Monta received the “Inclusive Excellence Award,” given to those who display “distinguished achievement in their chosen field, has championed issues of diversity, equality and inclusion, and has supported the Framing-

Carlos Silva / THE GATEPOST

ham community,” said Gustafson.

Approximately 60 people attended the event, he added.

“The Alumni Association gives out a number of alumni achievement awards every year, which recognize alumni who have had great successes since they’ve left. ... There’s a Leadership and Service award [and] a professional achievement award,” among others,” Gustafson said.

The “Inclusive Excellence Award” is the newest award, and members of the FSU community submitted nominations to the alumni board of directors, which then reviews the candidates and selects the recipient, Gustafson added.

“The decision was made to present this one at Homecoming because we have our Alumni of Color Network,” he said.

The network is one of many affinity groups that exists among faculty, staff, and alumni - a space created several years ago for alumni of color to connect and share their experiences during and after their time at Framingham State.

The other Alumni Association awards will be presented next June during alumni reunion weekend.

Moonlight Breakfast is an FSU tradition at which the community gathers at the McCarthy Dining Commons to enjoy late-night breakfast cuisine.

Naomi Zingher ’15, said, “I loved Framingham State. I have made so many friends here. I’m now lifelong friends with a lot of my classmates but also my professors, and even the [security officer] who walks the campus.”

She offered advice to students, saying, “Take your time. It’s going to work out - don’t stress too much.”

Noah Barnes / THE GATEPOST

CONNECT WITH BRENNAN ATKINS batkins@student.framingham.edu

OP/ED

OP/ED If Antonio Brown was on your fantasy team, I’m not sorry

By Lauren Paolini Editorial Staff I will never pretend to be a sports expert, but I love a good Pats game as much as the next guy.

What I don’t love is how the NFL prioritizes players’ stats over their criminal histories.

Antonio Brown was released from the New England Patriots just 11 days after he signed with the Super Bowl champs - amid multiple sexual misconduct allegations.

Brown is currently accused of sexually harassing and exposing almost his whole body to a woman who was working at his house in 2017. This woman also reported that he sent her “intimidating text messages,” according to NPR. In addition, Brown’s former trainer has accused him of sexual assault in two instances in 2017 and rape in 2018, also according to NPR. A quick Google search will give you all the disappointing details, but they will probably be overshadowed by Brown’s career achievements and his short run with our beloved Patriots.

Of course, I realize everyone is innocent until proven guilty. Maybe the algorithm behind my Google search is programmed to bring up football first. I understand there are different factors that effect this.

My point is I heard more people say, “The Pats already released Antonio Brown” than “Antonio Brown has been accused of sexual misconduct.”

And the former was said with more surprise.

The NFL has a history of employing offenders of violence and sexual assault.

A Sept. 23 Washington Post article written by Mark Maske suggests that Brown’s football career may not be completely over.

The article reported that Brown’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, had spoken to multiple NFL teams

about the possibility of him playing for them in the future.

Really?

The same article said it is likely Brown will play in the NFL again, just after these allegations are taken care of.

Unfortunately, Brown wouldn’t be the only player to continue playing after sexual assault allegations.

In 2010, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was accused of sexually assaulting a 20-year-old girl at a nightclub in Georgia. The charges were eventually dropped after inconclusive DNA testing, according to an NFL article.

Again, I know an accusation does not mean someone is automatically guilty.

I do think it is important to keep in mind less than 10% of rape allegations are false, according to the BBC. According to RAINN - the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network - one out of every six women have been victims of rape or attempted rape, and every 73 seconds someone is sexually assaulted in the United States.

This is unacceptable.

It seems most times when there is a scandal regarding a high-profile athlete, it is covered for a hot minute in the news and then it’s on to the next game.

We need to do better.

On Sept. 22, Antonio Brown tweeted that he “will not be playing with the @NFL anymore.”

He might be done with football, but I’m done with players’ athletic histories overshadowing their criminal ones.

Have an opinion?

Feel free to email it to: gatepost@framingham.edu Opinions should be approximately 500 words.

Anyone can submit.

We look forward to hearing from you! @TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

SEPTEMBER 27, 2019 | 9

THE GATEPOST EDITORIAL What happens on the internet does not stay on the internet Internet socialization has shaped the minds of millennials and Generation Z more than any other social force. Though throughout these two generations there can be vastly different experiences with technology, we are essentially the first to grow up on an easily accessible internet.

Our generation gets on the internet for communication and acceptance. We turn to social media to find someone, anyone out there who will validate even the most trivial thoughts and opinions we might have.

In turn, we have also become the most vulnerable populations to land in dangerous online forums and websites with content so vulgar, tasteless, and even morally reprehensible.

We are all too aware of the way multiple mass shooters, white supremacists, and other terrorists are radicalized by conversations on obscure chat rooms and secret forums, and sites on the deep web. Media outlets paint these environments as difficult to access, but even just a few searches and clicks could lead an unsuspecting person - sometimes children and other minors - to dark places.

The internet has become a platform that drastically shapes the way people view social norms, niceties, and taboos alike, and makes them believe they can get away with typing things they would normally not be able to in “real life.”

Not only does the relative anonymity afforded to users of sites such as Omegle, Discord, 4chan, and Reddit, among countless others, create an environment for sexual harassment and unchecked bigotry - racism, misogyny, ableism, and so on - it also desensitizes them to what most people would find shocking and distasteful.

This problem exists on such a scale the generations before us cannot even fathom. Decades ago, privacy and a relative lack of free-floating personal information was a boon our generation would find difficult to conceptualize.

Our generation is accustomed to participation in internet communities - some more than others - but we evidently do not all have the same level of mindfulness of the fact that what we do on the internet is not inconsequential and will have an impact on our lives outside of it.

The recent arrest of a Framingham State football player for the possession of child pornography has many students feeling disturbed, on edge, and even distrustful of the rest of the community. People are in disbelief and shock.

They lived down the door from an alleged predator.

They were in the same class as a potential abuser. They cheered on a team with a possible criminal.

This incident is a testament to the fact that what we consume and engage with on the internet is not divorced from what we do and who we are in the real world - especially in this day and age.

While we may create internet personas and swear they are nothing like our real selves, the margin between our online lives and our real lives are razor-thin. The impact of what we read and watch day-to-day, regardless of medium, manifests in the ways we carry ourselves and interact with others.

And while the internet is - at its core - something beneficial that can be used to educate and promote positivity, there are people in the world who abuse the convenience of the internet. For as long as the internet has been around, people have used it for evil.

In an ever dynamic technological world where the internet will never become any less of a cornerstone of modern life, it’s imperative we remain vigilant and cautious about what we consume and post - and pay close attention to others, as well as keeping them accountable for their content.

If we do not, we will reap the consequences of our negligence and live in a world where those devoid of compassion or even a modicum of decency will feel as though they have free reign to bring into the real world the abject horrors we thought were restricted to the intangible confines of the World Wide Web.

OP/ED

10 | SEPTEMBER 27, 2019

GATEPOST

Grievances

Would you want to park that far away?

By Ashley Wall Associate Editor

By Donald Halsing News Editor As a Framingham State student, have you ever gotten ticketed for parking behind McCarthy because you were late for your 8:30 a.m. class and all the close commuter parking lots were full?

We have.

Have you ever slipped and fallen on ice trying to get to your car in the Maple Lot because the RamTram takes too long and you were late for your job interview?

We have.

How about sending numerous emails and phone calls to Campus Police trying to determine the status of your resident parking pass two weeks after the fall semester has started?

We definitely have.

Oh, and don’t even get us started on guest parking.

Parking at Framingham State is clearly a hassle. From overpriced parking permits to inadequate time restrictions for commuter and guest parking, the list of complaints goes on and on.

Framingham State is supposedly a commuter-friendly university 53% of the population in fact - but the worst issues found within the parking department come from those who are commuters or visitors.

Commuters can choose from three glorious parking lots, all for $100, but they must leave campus before 2 a.m.

Fortunately, resident students are able to sell their souls for $500 in order to receive a parking permit.

In doing so, they will receive the wonderful gift of waiting an outrageous amount of time for a RamTram, or the opportunity to participate in a 30-minute cardio workout, just to get to their vehicles.

The latter mode of transport is especially true when the RamTram stops running at 2 a.m. and doesn’t start again until 6:10 a.m.

That’s inefficient and counterproductive if you ask us.

Our University also offers limited support for overnight guest parking.

Guests have to go through a tiresome process of applying for a temporary parking permit as well as registering their car within the department.

This can only be done after 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday and after 3 p.m. on Fridays. It seems pretty unlikely to us that visitors will want to wait around so late in the day to be able to register their cars and park.

Additionally, all temporary parking permits for overnight guests expire at 7 a.m. the next morning.

Let’s be real with one another for a minute - as an overnight guest pass recipient, we all know you won’t be awake and willing to move your car that early in the morning.

If you’re reading, Campus Police, we’ve got some questions for you: Firstly, why are you expecting college students to pay such large amounts of money to park on a campus that is already setting us up to have to take out second mortgages on our future homes?

Next, why are the time restrictions for commuter and guest parking so inadequate?

Lastly, how many broken legs are you willing to allow students to get before you find closer parking solutions for those dreadful winter months?

We contacted Campus Police this week for a comment on these issues.

Chief Brad Medeiros responded he has “forwarded [our] request to others who oversee various components of the information [we] are seeking.” This was truly a helpful response.

Don’t worry - we have some suggestions for you!

Begin by listening to students’ parking experiences that have been expressed year after year.

While the same issues continue to occur, your department is more focused on ticketing students instead of offering them better parking options to begin with.

Imagine for a moment you are a student on this campus. Would you want such restricted parking times and inconveniently located lots?

So, Campus Police, do you need to pay to park on campus? Would you want to park that far away?

[Editor’s note: Gatepost Grievances is a bi-weekly column. The opinions of the authors do not reflect the opinions of the entire Gatepost staff.]

We need to stop normalizing abusive relationships

By McKenzie Ward Staff Writer In 2019, why do people still want to find their Romeo? Did they even bother to read the end of the play?

Romanticizing abusive and unhealthy relationships in the media is nothing new.

Shakespeare did it, J.K. Rowling did it, and even my beloved Gilmore Girls are guilty of it.

But why does the media continue to idolize unhealthy and abusive relationships knowing that viewers will perceive them as ideal?

By not holding the media accountable and allowing them to continue to romanticize controlling and possessive relationships, we are teaching people to ignore the major relationship red flags - controlling behavior, lack of communication, gaslighting, and so much more.

The media is teaching us to normalize not just physical abuse, but also mental, verbal, and sexual abuse.

The number of normalized unhealthy relationships is appalling. It seems as if almost every “perfect relationship” or every couple that is “meant to be” in media is actually really toxic - Rory Gilmore and Dean Forester, Harley Quinn and the Joker, and even Ross Gellar and Rachel Green.

Regardless of whether you agree, Ross did cheat on Rachel during their “break.”

On the other hand, we cannot just blame the media for this issue because society is equally at fault. There is not nearly enough funding being dedicated to providing education to teens and young adults about the differences between a healthy and an unhealthy relationship. The misconceptions surrounding domestic violence are immense.

According to the non-profit organization, Future Without Violence, most students believe abuse means only violence, which is not true in all cases.

Abuse can be more than just physical - it can be verbal, mental, and/or sexual. This belief that abuse is only physical can be extremely dangerous because it makes it harder for individuals to recognize what is considered toxic and abusive.

We often teach young children that if someone is mean to them, it is because they “like” them. This statement teaches young children to associate abusive behavior with love.

In the article, “You Should Never Tell Your Kids ‘He’s Mean Because He Likes You,’” author Joanna Schroeder argues the statement, “They’re mean because they like you,” can be considered victim-blaming because the child did not ask for this negative attention. By writing negative behavior off as a crush, it can make children believe they do not have a proper support system when needed.

A major misconception is that women are the only victims of abusive relationships.

Even Framingham State’s website page on their domestic violence unit only focuses on women as survivors of domestic abuse. However, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, one in three women and one in four men have experienced physical violence with an intimate partner.

According to the US Department of Justice, men are less likely than women to report abuse when it occurs.

As a society, we should not be allowing men to suffer in silence in fear of no one hearing them or believing them.

But how do we fix this problem surrounding domestic abuse and toxic relationships?

We can start by pushing schools to educate students about healthy relationships and addressing adolescent dating violence.

As a community, we should be pushing Framingham State to be more aware that domestic abuse does not only affect women. FSU provides a domestic violence training program through their crime prevention unit, which can be very helpful in preventing future cases of abuse.

We also need to push administrators and leaders on campus to discuss this topic more often so that our University is more educated on the normalization of unhealthy relationships in both media and our society.

Rachel Matos, outreach and prevention coordinator at Voices Against Violence in Framingham, suggested to me that as a campus, we should bring in more workshops to cover these topics and create campaigns which explain the harmful messages the media presents to adolescents.

One of these workshops led by Voices Against Violence educates people about Media Literacy and how it contributes to gender-based violence.

To the individuals in abusive relationships: we hear you and we are there for you.

For those who are in abusive relationships and would like to seek help or guidance, here are some resources on and off campus that you can contact.

Voices Against Violence Hotline: 1-800-593-1125 Framingham State University Police Department Domestic Violence Unit: (508) 626-4911 Framingham State University Health Services: (508) 626-4900 Framingham State University Counseling Center: (508) 626-4640

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OP/ED

SEPTEMBER 27, 2019 | 11

Metal straws aren’t enough

By Mackenzie Berube Staff Writer Walking into Framingham State University’s McCarthy Center, there is one thing in particular you may notice if you pay close attention - metal straws.

Metal straws in Dunkin cups, metal straws in reusable cups, metal straws poking out of backpack pockets for later use - they’re everywhere.

The metal straw trend has taken off across younger generations in an attempt to slowly, but surely, help save the Earth from the climate crisis. With “reduce, reuse, recycle” already programmed into our brains, there is an ongoing attempt to do anything to help save the Earth.

And why wouldn’t we? After all, Millennials and Gen Z are part of the majority who may end up having a devastating future ahead.

The temperatures are rising, the Amazon is burning, and as Smash Mouth once famously sang, “The ice we skate is getting pretty thin / The water’s getting warm / so you might as well swim.”

Our world is, indeed, on fire and I do not believe the younger generation needs any convincing of that. However, there is something young gener-

ations might not understand - while individual work for the environment is important, the large corporations are the ones who need to step up their game, not us.

The younger generation is actively trying to better themselves and the world, not just by using metal straws and reusable cups, but also extreme life changes, such as veganism.

According to a research report by the firm GlobalData, the percentage of those in the United States who claim to be vegan rose by 600% from 2014 to 2017.

All of this is fantastic, and, in fact, I encourage people to keep going. I, myself, have a lot more I can do to help the Earth, being a plastic straw user, personally. However, I believe we need to put as much energy into protesting as we do into recycling.

Our true inspiration should be Greta Thunberg - the 16-year-old climate change activist taking the world by storm.

Her anger over the state of the world is inspiring, and it’s something every adult should be feeling as well.

In fact, we should all be angry.

Angry about the pressure placed upon the shoulders of those who make minimum wage.

Angry there are billionaires sitting

on their money, literally watching the world burn.

Angry our own President thinks the climate crisis is a joke.

Some people say Thunberg should be in school, or she is too young to fully understand what is happening.

Those people are the same people who are continuing to burn fossil fuels and dump tons of plastic into the ocean.

Thunberg knows what she is talking

about, and so does much of our generation. However, we can’t do this alone, which is why I think the biggest step for us to take is to get the large corporations to accept partial blame for the polluting the Earth.

Individuals doing their share is part of the process, but the overall end of corruption from a select few will be what truly saves us.

Campus Conversations What was your reaction to Trump’s possible impeachment?

By Amanda Garny and Caroline Gordon

“This has been coming. Not surprised that he could possibly be impeached.”

-Shae Haggs-Szabo, freshman

“I was kind of doubtful, even though I don’t support him. I don’t think it’s possible for him to be impeached.”

-Marianna Clark, freshman

“Surprised. I would be happy if he was impeached.”

“Not surprised at this point since he’s divided our country.”

“I wasn’t surprised. I actually don’t think he will be impeached because of how the senate works.”

“I was excited but also cautious because I don’t want Mike Pence in office.”

-Dominic Acusta, junior

-Michael O’Day, sophomore

-Zach Hopfmann, freshman

-Aiden Estrella, junior

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

12 | SEPTEMBER 27, 2019

ARTS & FEATURES

ARTS & FEATURES

Porch Party Mamas bring folk fun to FSU

By Robert Johnson Jr. Arts & Features Editor

The “Midday Performances” series for the 19-20 academic year has finally begun after a summer of anticipation.

Boston-based folk act, the Porch Party Mamas, performed a medley of songs from their self-titled debut album and songs from their second outing, “The Life I Own.” The performance also included cover songs and selections from unreleased album music to a crowd of 42 people in the Forum Sept. 23.

Members of the band included Felicia Brady-Lopez (vocals, accordion, guitar, and bass), Jane Grondin (vocals, violin, and guitar), Ksenia Mack (vocals, guitar, and the glockenspiel), Katrin Peterson (vocals and percussion), and Kelly Riley (vocals, guitar, and bass).

However, for this performance, Riley was covered by Liz Cook, who has been with the band for the past year.

Their introductory song, “This Would Be the Thing,” was a tune that deals with the rapid-fire scenarios falling in love entails. Through performing it, the group showcased their harmonizing skills, accompanied by Peterson’s skillful percussive techniques.

As the band tuned up and switched instruments, they bantered with the audience and transitioned into the powerful melodies of “Moscow to Moses.”

The track, which began with a vio-

lin solo from Grondin, eventually exploded into a symphony of percussion from Peterson, as well as involvement from the rest of the band, giving the audience some mid-tempo, country vibes.

“Life I Own,” a Grondin-written piece, is a song that takes influence from Parisian music and made great emphasis on Grondin’s violin play, complete with the act of pizzicato - fingerpicking - to make it truly her own. Brady-Lopez’s accordion added to the immersion of the scene they tried to set upon the audience.

“I wrote this a few years back,” Grondin said. “I was approaching a monumental birthday - my sixth decade coming up on this world. … It was a time of reflection for me and it’s relevant to, really, everyone.”

However, after that reclamatory tune, the Mamas went into a slow, sad, yet recollective song called “Still, Within” - a song dedicated to “those that we have loved deeply and have lost,” according to Grondin’s preface.

Throughout it, Peterson uses a rather unique instrument, the udu, a drum of African origin with two holes on its side, presented in the form of a clay pot.

The udu contributed the low tones and percussive aspects of the melody, whereas everything else came in the form of acoustic guitar techniques, complete with a solo from Grondin and Mack.

Two tracks later, the Mamas performed their own version of Neil Young’s 1974 song, “Love Is a Rose,”

Donald Halsing / THE GATEPOST Porch Party Mamas performing in the McCarthy Center Forum. taking inspiration from Linda Ronstadt’s 1977 cover.

However, the 10th song was the crowd favorite - a cover of Arlo Guthrie’s 1969 hit, “Coming Into Los Angeles.”

The Mamas went all out on this track, after a history lesson from Grondin, making use of quick acoustic guitar strumming techniques, Peterson’s bongo proficiency, Mack’s soulful singing, and a fair bit of calland-response between Peterson and the band.

Midway through, Mack and Peterson played their hearts out with solos, with Mack shredding away on the acoustic guitar and Peterson slapping furiously on the bongos, showing off for the audience as she used her elbow

to buffer out any loud noises from the percussion instrument as she played with one hand.

Before the crowd and the Mamas parted ways, they performed a funky jaunt in the form of “I Can’t Get Through,” a tale of unrequited love and great frustration, with Brady-Lopez performing vocals and skillfully playing the accordion during the chorus sections.

You can learn more about the Porch Party Mamas at porchpartymamas. com.

The next Midday Performance will feature the Four Corners Nov. 4, with a workshop at 1:30 p.m. and a performance at 4:30 p.m.

CONNECT WITH ROBERT JOHNSON JR. rjohnson10@student.framingham.edu

IGNITE sparks new meaning of the word “activism”

By Cara McCarthy Associate Editor Anyone who’s been paying attention to social media lately has probably heard of a small, recently founded club on campus - IGNITE. A national organization dedicated to preparing the next generation of women political leaders, IGNITE has found its way to Framingham State’s campus.

Under the leadership of President Stephanie Bennett and Vice President Erin Johnson, IGNITE is well on its way to becoming an impactful club in FSU’s lineup.

Last year, Bennett was scrolling through Instagram when she stumbled upon a post for the Oakland, California-based organization.

Bennett said she had never seen an organization that was “geared toward young women in politics” before. She knew the community did not have a similar club on campus, so she sought to bring it to FSU.

@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

According to IGNITE National’s mission statement, IGNITE “encourages young women to advocate and lobby for issues they care about.”

Framingham’s chapter of the organization has already gotten underway with this mission by holding a “Period-Packing Event” Sept. 26.

Bennett noticed the issue of “period poverty” that plagued campus. After conducting a survey last spring, IGNITE found that 73% of their respondents could not afford menstrual products or had problems acquiring them.

IGNITE saw this as an opportunity to use its position to advocate for the women on campus - students, staff, and faculty alike - who do menstruate.

Johnson said IGNITE aims for “more advocacy for people on campus.” She believes people want to be involved in politics, but don’t always have an outlet to do so.

“I think the best way to get people involved in what’s going on in the world is to give them that out-

let,” Johnson added.

IGNITE meets earlier in the day in the CIE. Bennett said it plans meetings according to the University free period to make it more accessible to students - especially commuters.

She added students have approached members of IGNITE expressing interest in joining the organization, but couldn’t wait the extra two hours between classes and their original 7 p.m. meeting time.

“So, we made our meeting times to accommodate commuters, so it’s more accepting of their schedules,” Bennett said.

Bennett and Johnson would like to make it clear that while IGNITE is geared toward the political activism of women, the club is open to anyone and they encourage everyone who cares about politics to join.

Alex Backer, a junior and member of IGNITE, said being a part of the club is “different” from anything he has ever experienced - especially being a man in a woman-focused group.

He said, “You’re a minority in a group that is majority women - and that’s awesome.”

Backer added, “You get to empower women. You get to give them a platform to talk about the issues that go unnoticed in society, and I love it.”

Cara McCarthy / THE GATEPOST Members during the Period-Packing Event.

CONNECT WITH CARA MCCARTHY cmccarthy8@student.framingham.edu

ARTS & FEATURES

SEPTEMBER 27, 2019 | 13

Rick Ross struggles to execute his vision on “Port of Miami 2”

By Jared Graf Asst. Arts & Features Editor

This past August, luxury rap aficionado Rick Ross delivered his 10th studio album, “Port of Miami 2,” picking up right where he left off 13 years ago.

The album, which serves as a sequel to the rapper’s 2006 debut “Port of Miami,” finds the South Florida native showcasing maturity, development, and lavish rhymes that prove why he should be renowned as one of hiphop’s most elite figures.

Instead of telling us why he’s the “biggest boss” in the game, Ross prefers to show us.

He does this best with songs like, “Act a Fool” and the Blaze production “BIG TYME” by exaggerating the most outrageous moments of his life.

“My barber gotta come to me because I’m big time!” Ross bellows in his signature raspy tone on the latter, while directly addressing his listener on the former: “20 billboards in the city, who the f*** is you?”

Lines like these make you reimagine opulence, while feeling inferior at the same time.

Although “Act a Fool” is a testament to Ross’ ability to make trap anthems, he could have picked a different introduction for the album. The Wale-assisted record lacks originality, and feels as if it’s already been created by the Miami rapper a million times before.

One of the major faults I found with

the highly anticipated album was its sequencing. Ross’ albums usually feel like a score - however, the “Port of Miami” sequel didn’t quite feel that way.

Most tracks on the album don’t seem to fit a similar theme. They seem thrown together at random with no correlation and very little thought behind their ordering. Songs like “BIG TYME” or “Fascinated” would have served as appropriate introductions that could have possibly steered the project in a much more cohesive direction.

While I wasn’t pleased with the sequencing of the project, I enjoyed seeing the amount of growth Ross has shown since the album’s predecessor.

He sounds like a new person, reinvented and ready to tackle a wide variety of content.

“I Still Pray,” featuring YFN Lucci and Ball Greezy, finds Ross in his most vulnerable state yet, as he looks back on waking up from a two-day-long coma after being found unconscious in his home as the result of a seizure.

“Wake up out a coma, frozen in the moment / You could have the biggest clique, but you gon’ die a loner,” he raps meaningfully.

The song only gives us a glimpse into the MC’s 2018 health scare, and I felt it could have gone more in-depth.

Knowing what a descriptive rapper Ross is, the bar for story-telling is set much higher than average. YFN Lucci proves he can’t keep up after struggling to stay on topic in his verse,

greatly taking away from the song’s impact.

On “Rich N***a Lifestyle,” Ross’ verse has the ability to make a Toyota feel like a Rolls Royce as he spits bars about how he’s meant to flourish over brash production courtesy of Cardiak.

Teyana Taylor provides a head-nodding hook, while the late Nipsey Hussle swoops in with a guest spot full of cocky one-liners and boastful rhetoric.

He even sends a shot at Tekashi 6ix9ine in an appropriately timed verse: “I can’t name a fake n**** that was not exposed / How y’all so surprised that Tekashi told?” Nipsey asks from the grave.

The pinnacle of the project comes 12 tracks in at “Running the Streets.”

With help from A Boogie wit da Hoodie and fellow Sunshine State native Denzel Curry, Ross, along with his counterparts, seem to question the loyalty of a significant other. A Boogie shines on the song, as he questions whether his lady would be there for him if it weren’t for his riches and fame: “But would you still be f****** with me / If I was wearing the same jeans for a week? / If I was hungry and I ain’t have nothing to eat?” Curry also contributes a powerful feature that details the lack of love in the streets and even conveys a message to his unborn son.

If every song on the album displayed this much passion and attention to detail, the project would have been the best of the summer.

Standout features, such as A Boo-

gie’s, came as a surprise. This was due in part to the fact the project contained more features than actual songs. The album suffered greatly from this - often feeling weighed down, only to be carried by its guests. Out of the 15 tracks that appear on the album, a mere three are solo efforts.

Rick Ross is at his best when he has a prime focus.

Unfortunately, he seems to lack that here. His ear for beats is still unrivaled and his ability to craft descriptive, thoughtful lyrics in a captivating way hasn’t gone anywhere.

But next effort, Ross should really focus on catering to himself - not his 16 different guests.

Grade: C+ Florida’s biggest boss has made great strides in the last 13 years, but takes a step backwards with “Port of Miami 2.”

CONNECT WITH JARED GRAF jgraf@student.framingham.edu

SAVE THE DATE Professional Development Days

Pre Event BAKE-OFF Wednesday, January 8, 2020 , 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm.

2 Full days Thursday, January 9 and Friday, January 10, 2020.

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

14 | SEPTEMBER 27, 2019

ARTS & FEATURES

“Submerged” is a watery, yet awesome race against time and a city in danger

By Robert Johnson Jr. Arts & Features Editor

@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

By Noah Barnes Entertainment Correspondent In Hollywood, it seems as if contemporary filmmakers share as much interest in the topic of space as astronauts themselves.

In fairness, the setting of space can set up different themes, moods, and aesthetics that aren’t possible if it were to take place on our big blue marble.

Feeling isolated while also being a “representative” of the human race is a fascinating internal conflict that can lead to interesting character development.

What a majority of contemporary sci-fi films seem to get wrong is using the space setting as the plot itself, rather than using it as a platform to tell its story.

With how quickly new software is making CGI look better and better, it begs the question: Will 2019 be the year we receive something akin to “2001: A Space Odyssey?”

“Ad Astra,” directed by James Gray is a sci-fi mystery in which Roy McBride (Brad Pitt) must venture across the treacherous outreaches of our solar system in order to find his father, H. Clifford McBride (Tommy Lee Jones), to stop a galaxy-sized catastrophe.

What is most impressive in the film has to be the camera work, special effects, and the cinematography as a whole. This is due to the work of Hoyte van Hoytema, a veteran cinematographer who has worked on films such as “Interstellar” and “Her.” The film showcases beautiful planets, such as Neptune, in detail unlike anything seen in film before.

However, the best shots in this movie aren’t on a planet. Rather, the most memorable shots are the ones in which there isn’t much of anything - nothing, even.

There’s a certain shot in which Pitt is surrounded by nothing but space, darkness encroaches on every stitch of the spaceman’s suit, and it’s quite a daunting, yet thought-provoking image.

Is space travel all it’s cracked up to be?

Is it really so amazing to venture into space and discover what man perhaps was never meant to see?

Or is it lonely and sad? Is it the tragic realization that discovery may not be so essential when we have family, friends, and life on Earth?

These are questions that come up not so much through dialogue, but through the extraordinary imagery captured within the film.

Simple, yet memorable melodies interweave the chilling silence of space to create audible tension for the audience - there’s a very cliched way of doing an eerie, violin-heavy soundtrack, but fortunately, this film used it in the best ways possible.

Pitt was given the hard task of playing McBride, as the character is a calm and collected astronaut, but because of his father’s mysterious circumstances - he faces new anxieties.

While the many monologues, and dialogue are adequately executed, Pitt really shines through his movement. He thoroughly understands body language and uses it to his advantage in this film.

It’s the little twitch in the eye or shudder of the lip that really sinks the audience into the character’s psyche, and these little aspects make a good performance great.

While shooting for the moon in terms of visuals, it seems as if the story is ultimately grounded it back on Earth.

This movie might leave people wanting more, but its length deters the audience from becoming invested.

It’s an odd feeling of promoting more interest in the films themes than the story itself. They prioritize the cinematography over the narrative, and although this movie may be visually flawless, it ultimately results in a less than stellar storyline.

It’s not “boring” by any means - but it still has a slow start.

Unfortunately, Stanley Kubrick will have to keep his throne as the king of space flicks, but don’t let that detract you from watching this.

There are elements that “Ad Astra” provides, such as the aforementioned visuals and interstellar performance from Pitt, that make this a great movie to cap off the summer.

CONNECT WITH BRENNAN ATKINS batkins@student.framingham.edu CONNECT WITH NOAH BARNES nbarnes@student.framingham.edu

Grade: B+ “A decent painting inside a magnificent frame.”

ADMIT ONE

CONNECT WITH ROBERT JOHNSON JR. rjohnson10@student.framingham.edu

By Brennan Atkins Arts & Features Editor

ADMIT ONE

Full disclosure: I hate centipedes.

Like, I really, really hate them.

Enough to the point where I bought my own bug spray during the summer, stashed underneath my computer table, just in case one decided to sprint its way along my walls.

Surprisingly, none of them showed up in my proximity this summer, but “Submerged” makes up for that lack of insectoid interruption tenfold.

“Submerged,” aside from being the current instigator of my multi-legged fears, at least for the first half of the story, is more than that - it’s a compelling and moving fantasy-adventure that adds dashes of psychological horror to really drive the point home.

Written by Vita Ayala, drawn by Lisa Sterle, and published by Vault Comics, “Submerged” is a fast-paced but short read that drives home how scary finding a sibling really is, and how useful public transportation in a time of crisis can really be.

In it, the reader follows the Puente family - a family that, while appearing to be your average Latino family on the surface, is a real circus of abusive interactions among different family members.

For most of the story, however, you spend your time focused on two particular members: Elysia Puente and her brother, Angel, who, in this story, gets lost in the New York City Subway prior to the story’s events.

Now, from experience, I can understand how Angel got himself lost in the NYC Subway - that system is bizarre and requires a lot of research for one to truly understand.

Suddenly, I am more thankful for the MBTA. That’s beside the point, though - in Elysia’s mission to recover her not-so-dear brother, she has to overcome a series of difficult encounters and learn a thing or two about sacrifice.

That would be easy at face value, but there’s also that whole “being submerged” problem she has to worry about, too, which I should probably describe.

As Elysia embarks on this quest, New York is getting slammed by, as the first page of chapter one quotes, “the largest hurricane in recorded history.”

There is not an exact amount as to how much rain is coming down, but it’s an amount that would get someone to say that it looks like the plot - and setup - of Genesis: a world-consuming flood.

I never thought I’d make a Biblical reference in a column, but I’m sure my mom will be proud of me for this one.

As if that isn’t enough, Elysia has to protect a dog - which, I am sad to write, does not survive - and a little kid who, while being the source of much of Elysia’s annoyance, ends up being a close companion.

Oh, yeah, and she also has to go toe-to-toe with monstrous beings, like a giant bird wearing a cloak and one of those extremely large centipedes. This, as I’m sure we all can agree, is not a fun situation.

Throughout the book, Ayala’s writing is peppered with Spanish phrases and the occasional bit of Spanglish, which made me feel really guilty about forgetting all the Spanish I learned in high school.

It should also be noted that I am Afro-Latino, so this is especially embarrassing to admit.

Sterle’s art is realistic and gritty, while also being tense and powerful. It gets the reader to clutch their chest in anticipation for what could come next as things progressively get worse for Elysia.

There’s also a unique panel layout used midway through the third chapter which the reader has to turn the book sideways to look at everything. That’s brilliant!

If you’ve been looking for a read that’s not only compelling, but also scary, look no further than “Submerged.”

Though, if you’re scared of insects with an ungodly number of legs, look elsewhere.

I’m not kidding.

“Ad Astra” caps off the summer with beautiful planetary visuals

ARTS & FEATURES

43. Like a fictional hatter 45. Former Chevrolet subcompact 47. Bossy’s mouthful 48. *Certain jazz piece (letters 6-13) 53. Wide-ranging 54. Letter-shaped fasteners 55. First installment 56. Collared 60. In the style of 61. Foundation foundation? ... or a hint to the starred entries’ indicated letters 66. Slop-serving spot 67. Sounds off 68. Top-of-the-line 69. Plea for help 70. Stunning weapons 71. Tear up ACROSS 1. Daily delivery 5. Walk unsteadily 11. 52, in ancient Rome 14. Berry harvested from a palm 15. Night light?

16. ___ Taylor (fashion store) 17. *Prominent place for an NBA team’s logo (see letters 1-8) 19. E.R. figures 20. Legendary 21. It may be inherited 23. For all to hear 26. Egg designation 28. *Farm family’s food source, perhaps (letters 7-14) 32. Kimono accessory 33. Vivacity 34. Put mileage on 35. Gala 37. “In seventh heaven” or “on cloud nine” 39 .Big Mack?

DOWN 1. Cheese partner 2. One-hit wonder?

3. Blackbeard portrayer McShane 4. Acid test paper 5. Small fruit pie 6. “That hurts!”

7. Deanna on the Enterprise 8. Froot Loops mascot, e.g.

9. Drop the ball 10. Noisy crib toys 11. Hedy in old films 12. Rainbow color before violet 13. Top of a foot 18. Singer Gorme 22. Speeds (along) 23. Beginning 24. Garage service 25. Final notice 27. Keen insight 29. Presentation parts, often

SEPTEMBER 27, 2019 | 15

30. Wee bit 31. “Giant Brain” of 1946 36. “The Lego Movie” hero 38. ___-lacto vegetarian 40. Neutral shade 41. Mixed breed 42. Altar declarations 44. Small stone fruit 46. Good-sized chamber group 48. Six-point completion, informally.

49. Theater district Puzzle solutions are now 50. Tanning bed emanations exclusively online.

51. Game with sets and matches 52. Win over 57. Dermal woe 58. ___ Rabbit 59. Porgy’s girlfriend 62. ___-Locka, Florida 63. Curly companion 64. Rural stopover 65. Crossed (out)

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

16 | SEPTEMBER 27, 2019

SPORTS

SPORTS

Football’s Coach Kelley earns 100th career win

By Carlos Silva Asst. Sports Editor Framingham took on the Westfield State Owls in their first conference game of the season Sept. 21.

The Rams started off strong with a dominant first half as they outscored the Owls 34-7.

In the second half, the Rams were able to score 14 more points while running the football for almost the entirety of the final two quarters.

After a lackluster performance his first two games, Adam Wojenksi showed up for the Rams by throwing for 230 yards, two touchdowns, and zero interceptions. He also rushed for 57 yards and a touchdown.

Wojenski was the recipient of the 2019 Calder Award, which is presented annually to the most valuable player of the Homecoming Day game in memory of former Ram John Calder.

Rams’ tight end Jacob Maher said, “Adam Wojenski is an absolute stud.

Either he’s scrambling for a first down, or he’s throwing the ball 70 yards for a touchdown. I will say it again: he is a stud, and I could not be playing for a better teammate or quarterback.”

Maher himself had a great game catching four passes for 45 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed the ball on the goal line six times for two more touchdowns.

Coach Thomas Kelley said, “It’s great to have Jacob here. He is a phenomenal player and athlete. We haven’t even scratched the surface yet with this guy.”

Following the win, the Rams improved to 1-2 on the season.

This Rams’ victory marked Kelley’s 100th career win as the Rams’ Football head coach.

“It’s not something I thought about too much. The coaches and players talked about it more than I did,” Kelly said.

“This season is more about getting us back on track toward winning another championship. If that 100th win is in there, so be it. It’s more about these guys and them performing well.

“We started the season slow, but we played some very good teams.

We got a big game coming up next. We have a bye week before playing against UMass Dartmouth. They are a huge test for our team and what we can do.”

UMass Dartmouth is currently 3-0 and presents a huge opportunity for the Rams to prove to the rest of the conference they are still a championship contender in the MASCAC.

FRAMINGHAM STATE WESTFIELD STATE

48 21

CONNECT WITH CARLOS SILVA csilva14@student.framingham.edu

Women’s Soccer clutches their first win of the season over Homecoming Weekend

By Sara Senesac Editorial Staff

The Rams’ women’s soccer team hosted the Fitchburg State Falcons for their homecoming game Sept. 20.

The Falcons took the lead early with a goal by Elizabeth Read during the sixth minute, but the Rams were quick to recover.

Samantha Beninati tied the game for the Rams in the 20th minute with an unassisted goal from her own rebound off the crossbar.

The defense played hard, but Read was able to get another shot in for the Falcons to bring them up 2-1 right before halftime.

But the Rams weren’t done yet.

At the 51-minute mark, Jasmine Lees scored off an assist from Beninati, tying the score once again.

A short five minutes later, a foul by the Falcons set Lees up to drive another goal in, giving the Rams a 3-2 lead.

Lees said, “Even if I hadn’t been the one who scored, our team had so much heart to go out on the field and not give up. It takes a lot of patience to be able to keep a small lead and not let the other team break through, and I’m really proud of our team for being able to work together to get our first win.”

The unbelievable performance by the Rams’ goalie, Madison Brown, allowed them to hold their lead. Brown had a whopping 18 saves by the end of the game.

Brown said, “There’s definitely been a huge improvement since the beginning of the season, and we’re definitely getting better. Eighteen saves was a lot. I’m proud of my performance, but most importantly, I’m proud of my teammates who have my back.”

The Rams are now 1-4-1 on the season.

FRAMINGHAM STATE FITCHBURG STATE

3 2

CONNECT WITH SARA SENESAC ssenesac@student.framingham.edu

Carlos Silva / THE GATEPOST Captain Stephanie Beaumont (18) defends against the ball

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

SPORTS

Men’s Soccer wins one of two and moves to 3-5

By Dylan Thayer Staff Writer After a rocky 2-4 start to the season, the Rams came out and destroyed the Fitchburg State Falcons 7-1 on Sept. 21.

The first Rams’ goal came 9 minutes into play by Isaac De Souza, and they never looked back. After a 3-0 halftime lead, the Rams scored four more goals while only allowing one, and finished off the Falcons 7-1.

The Rams’ seven goals came from seven different players, but one of them played for the other team. De Souza, Odane Scale, Ibrahim Kyeyune, Dante Mancini, Bryce Nardizzi, and Austin Botelho all scored once each.

The Falcons’ offense struggled severely, leading them to be outshot 27-10 for the contest.

FRAMINGHAM STATE FITCHBURG STATE

7 1

The Rams entered the game at 3-4 against a surging 6-1-1, non-conference opponent, the Pine Manor Gators Sept. 24.

After an early Pine Manor goal, Gustavo Cassemiro scored on a cross from Jared Nardizzi to bring the Rams right back into the game and tie it at 1. A pair of converted penalty shots five minutes apart by Noel Rios of Pine Manor and De Souza led to a 2-2 tie at the end of regulation.

Three minutes into extra time was all it took for the Gators to score the goal they needed to win. They scored on a great free kick from just outside the box by Jose Rodriguez.

In the game, the Rams lost 3-2 in overtime, the Rams were outshot 2513 and spent a lot of the game on the defensive end. Rams’ goalie Corey Davidge was in net for the game, making 11 saves on 14 shots on goal.

Both Cassemiro and De Souza have played very well for the Rams so far and are tied for the team lead with four goals each.

The Rams are now 3-5 on the season, but they are 1-0 in the MASCAC. They look to get a road victory on Friday against a struggling 1-6-2 Mass Maritime Buccaneers team.

PINE MANOR FRAMINGHAM STATE

3 2

CONNECT WITH DYLAN THAYER dthayer1@student.framingham.edu

SEPTEMBER 27, 2019 | 17

Liam’s Lineup: 4K HDR: The way we watch sports

By Liam Gambon Sports Editor

The Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles will be facing off against each other on Sept. 26 for Thursday Night Football.

The game is covered by Fox Sports, as is every Thursday Night Football game.

This game, however, is much different from the rest.

It will mark the first time an NFL game will be delivered in 4K HDR. 4K involves a technology, equipment, or content providing a very sharp image quality, with a horizontal screen resolution of approximately 4,000 pixels. HDR stands for High Definition Resolution.

Displaying the new distribution system on such a huge stage will determine to the world whether it will be known as a bust or a success.

If the system is a success, it will also be used in MLB postseason games. So, there is a lot riding on this Thursday Night Football game.

At least, for Fox Sports.

The Fans themselves probably don’t care at all. Especially the ones that just love to watch the game no matter what.

Whether a viewer sees Tom Brady slinging a fourty-yard touchdown in regular quality, or seeing his glistening cleats moving through the bright green grass, it doesn’t matter either way to the regular football watcher.

The game itself will be broadcast in 1080p HDR, but will be delivered in the new 4K HDR. This means the cameras will be the same as in any other game, but what is recorded will be changed to the new 4K. Considering the cameras on field are staying the same, nothing has to be changed at all. Especially since switching the quality of the game on screen presents little to no change.

Fox Sports has said that 4K will make everything look richer and clearer.

One of the major changes is the viewer will be able to see the players’ faces and expressions better than ever before.

Most viewers don’t mind whether they see a player’s smiles and wrinkles, or if they just see his face from a distance.

And while the game may look clearer, it is already clear enough to where changes like this do not have to be made.

It is just wasting money on changes and advancements that are not neccessary.

Night games in particular will be more exciting, according to Fox Sports, as the viewer will see colors and visuals as they have never seen them before in a night broadcast.

Seeing a night football game in a new vibrant way does sound exciting, but again, is the cost worth the glamorous new appearance? Would Fox’s money be better spent on something else?

As of now, it seems their attention and money is fully invested in 4K. Fox Sports will look to expand and develop their 4K production to be able to eventually have 4K HDR cameras on the field, and not just update the 1080 cameras to 4K. Whichever way Thursday night wraps up, it is clear the way we see our sports games is changing and developing rapidly, even if no one wants or needs it to.

CONNECT WITH LIAM GAMBON lgambon1@student.framingham.edu

Dylan Thayer/ THE GATEPOST Two Rams embrace after a goal scored

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18 | SEPTEMBER 27, 2019

SPORTS

Carlos’ Call: Young Gun QBs take over NFL Week 3

By Carlos Silva Asst. Sports Editor The NFL’s quarterback landscape is changing before our very eyes.

Ben Roethlisberger is out for the season and Drew Brees will miss several weeks. Awful play led to the benching of Eli Manning.

This is the beginning of the end of an era. Quarterbacks such as Brees, Roethlisberger, and Manning are all reaching the end of their careers.

The quarterbacks we love - and love to hate - are almost out of the league.

While some might find this sad, it also presents an opportunity for the NFL’s youngest stars to show why they will be able to carry this league and maintain our love for it for the next 15 years and counting.

This moment has been arriving in short bursts over the past few seasons, like airplanes landing one by one on a single runway. This week, it arrived in full.

Twenty of the 32 quarterbacks who started in the past week are 26 years old or younger. This is the most in the Super Bowl era, which began in the late 1960s.

For anyone who was worried about the future of football once the likes of Brees, Roethlisberger, Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, and Philip Rivers ride off into the sunset, Sunday was your answer. The future is fine.

The youngsters proved they could master the position that takes years to perfect when 10 of the 20 quarterbacks generated passer ratings above 92.9, the 2018 season’s average passer rating, which set the record for the highest single-season passer rating in NFL history.

Twenty-three-year-old Kyle Allen led the way with a 144.4 passer rating, and 26-year-old Dak Prescott just missed the cut with 91.4.

For the past 20 years, we watched Brady and Peyton Manning battle in a war that seemed as if it would never end. We also saw Rodgers emerge as arguably the best-ever thrower of the football until some guy named Patrick Mahomes showed up. Brees finally won his first Super Bowl and so on.

It feels as if we have just gone through the golden age of quarterbacking. We never worried about its end because the end never seemed possible.

What will happen when these quarterbacks leave? Will the NFL ever be the same without those legends? Will Gardner Minshew II wear his awesome suit every week? These are the questions that were answered in the past week.

The youngsters, including Minshew II, definitely hit back with a response that makes all of us football fans excited.

The NFL quarterback is not just the most important position in football, but also the most important position in all of sports. It’s also a position we do not need to worry about for many years to come.

New players come with new rivalries. Who knows? Maybe Lamar Jackson versus Mahomes will be the next Brady versus Manning.

And maybe Mahomes could take Rodgers’ spot as the most talented QB ever.

The end of an era for quarterbacks also means the end of one particular quarterback named Tom Brady. The G.O.A.T, the Comeback Kid, and New England’s favorite son will be gone before you know it.

Although very unlikely, maybe we will see players like Mahomes, Jackson, Prescott, and Baker Mayfield step up and grab the title of the greatest.

CONNECT WITH CARLOS SILVA csilva14@student.framingham.edu

Field Hockey drops to 2-5

By Liam Gambon Sports Editor

By Cara McCarthy Associate Editor Field Hockey faced off against the Eastern Connecticut State Warriors at home Sept. 25.

The Warriors jumped out to an early lead in the seventh minute off a score by Bryce Makula.

Framingham nearly tied the game later in the first quarter, but the Warriors made a solid defensive play to turn the chance away.

Eastern Connecticut extended their lead to 2-0 in the 36th minute with a score from Khiara Valentine.

In the 47th minute, freshman Mallory Weir scored the Rams’ first goal of the game and her second of the season.

Coach Allison Lucenta said, “Mallory is a great player. She is extremely skilled and has been an awesome addition to our forward line this year.

“We are very excited to see her continue to improve and play a significant role for this team.”

Neither team scored again, as the Warriors took the game 2-1.

This loss marks the Rams’ fifth of the season and third in a row.

Sophomore Jordan O’Boyle said, “Although the game was not the outcome we all hoped for, I believe it was a hard-fought loss. We never gave up, even when Eastern Connecticut went up 2-0.

“We fought hard to score a goal early in the fourth quarter. We worked well as a team, communicating and keeping the energy up.”

Framingham took one fewer shot than the Warriors in the game despite the score and took four more shots on goal.

“One thing we lacked was our urgency to score. We had so many opportunities in the circle to score, but just could not get the ball in the back of the net,” O’Boyle said.

“I would say on the defensive side of it, we held our own, especially with the amount of corners Eastern Connecticut got against us,” O’Boyle added.

“Our team is a very unselfish team and does very well working together. This game will help us grow and learn from our mistakes for the games to come.”

As they now sit at 2-5, Framingham is in a position where they need to turn their record around.

Lucenta said, “We are continuing to work hard every day to improve ourselves as a team and individually. We play in a very competitive conference, and each game is going to be challenging.

“Every day, we are getting better and working together to reach our goals.”

EASTERN CONNECTICUT 2 FRAMINGHAM STATE 1 CONNECT WITH LIAM GAMBON lgambon1@student.framingham.edu CONNECT WITH CARA MCCARTHY cmccarthy8@student.framingham.edu

Caroline Gordon/ THE GATEPOST Rams defend the ball against the Warriors.

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SPORTS

SEPTEMBER 27, 2019 | 19

Volleyball improves to 7-6

Players of the week

By Liam Gambon Sports Editor The Rams’ Volleyball team rode a two-game winning streak into a matchup against the New England College Pilgrims Sept. 19 at home.

Framingham came out of the gates slow, as the Pilgrims took an early 7-1 lead and seemed to be in complete control of the match.

The Rams bounced back, making the game 14-14.

After tying the game, Framingham took off and won the first set 25-20.

The second set involved both teams trading points as the score was kept close throughout.

Framingham took the lead late and kept it until they won the set.

The Rams’ blocking played a significant part in breaking the close score and giving Framingham the 25-22 win.

One player in particular, Natalie Reid, improved the whole team’s blocking ability each time she took the floor, and was crucial in the second-set win.

Coach Richard Casali said, “Natalie is very good at setting a block and that helps her, as well as our middles, to get the job done.”

Another player, Hailey Sanders, backed Reid up and aided in the set win as well.

“Hailey leads our league in blocks per set,” Casali said.

The third set was dominated by Framingham up until the end when the Pilgrims made a comeback.

But before they could steal the lead, the Rams pushed past them and secured the 25-20 third-set win.

Brandee Thomas led the team with 10 kills and just four errors. She was at the head of nearly every Framingham attack on the night.

Thomas has been a critical member of the Rams’ team ever since she returned from injury earlier this season.

“Brandee’s offense has always been important to us,” Casali said. “And having her healthy again gives us another go to play when we need it.”

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Alyssa Cafarelli came away with 14 digs in Framingham’s 3-0 win against Lasell.

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The Rams took on the Lasell University Lasers in Newton, Sept. 24.

Framingham controlled the first set early, jumping out to a 12-8 lead.

Lasell made a comeback late and pulled within two of the Rams, making the game 19-17.

From there, Morgan Failla took over the game.

She stepped up to serve and delivered five straight service points to give Framingham the 25-17 first-set win.

Thomas said, “That was a huge moment. It was the turning point of the game for all of us.”

She added, “Everyone was super excited, and it showed in how well we played after that point in the game.”

The Rams went on to dominate the second set, winning 25-14.

The third set was much closer, as the Lasers and Rams battled throughout, tying at 24-24.

Needing two points to win, Brandey Rodriguez delivered the Rams’ first point with a kill.

Freshman Emily Flaherty followed her with the game-winning service ace to secure the three-set victory for Framingham.

Thomas once again ended up at the top of the stat sheet in kills for the Rams.

This marks the eighth time Thomas has either led the team in kills or was tied for the lead.

“My success definitely comes from the work my teammates and I put in at practice,” Thomas said, “along with listening to Coach during games on which spots in the court are open.”

Alyssa Cafarelli led the team in digs with 14 and was followed by Flaherty, who had 12.

Framingham has now won five of its last six games.

After starting the season at 2-5, the Rams have flipped their season around, as they now sit at 7-6.

“At the beginning of the season, we had people playing out of position as an attempt to see what works best for us as a team,” Thomas said. “We recently reached a point where everyone is comfortable and we are doing what seems to work best for us, which is really exciting.”

Casali said, “Young players and new starters are now getting used to playing within the system.”

After their four-game winning streak was snapped before this game, the Rams will look to develop a new one and keep improving on their season.

FRAMINGHAM STATE LASELL

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Jacob Maher received a touchdown and ran for two in Framingham’s 48-21 win against Westfield State.

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Madison Brown made 18 saves with a .900 save percentage in Framingham’s 3-2 win against Fitchburg State.

CONNECT WITH LIAM GAMBON lgambon1@student.framingham.edu

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PHOTOS

20 | SEPTEMBER 27, 2019

Photograph by Noah Barnes/THE GATEPOST

Photograph by Noah Barnes/THE GATEPOST

Photograph by Noah Barnes/THE GATEPOST Photograph by Noah Barnes/THE GATEPOST

Photograph by Carlos Silva/THE GATEPOST Photograph by Noah Barnes/THE GATEPOST

Photograph by Carlos Silva/THE GATEPOST

FSU hosted Homecoming and Family Weekend 2019 for students, family, friends, and alumni.

Some highlights included the carnival, moonlight breakfast, and football game.

Photograph by Carlos Silva/THE GATEPOST

Photograph by Carlos Silva/THE GATEPOST

Photograph by Carlos Silva/THE GATEPOST

Homecoming and Family Weekend 2019 FRAMINGHAM STATE UNIVERSITY’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1932 | FSUGATEPOST.COM