01-22-2010

Hockey continues to struggle

At the movies: Youth in Revolt

pg. 7

pg. 10

T he G atepost T he Inde pendent Weekly Student Ne wspa per of Framingham State College Since 1932

find us online at www.thegatepost.com volume

78 l number 13

2 2 ,

j a n u a r y

2 0 1 0

gatepost@framingham.edu

Drake McCabe/The Gatepost

Photo courtesy of The Huffington Post

Photo courtesy of The Telegraph

Tom Higgins/The Gatepost

FSC community joins world efforts to aid Haiti in earthquake aftermath.

HAITI EARTHQUAKE 2010 NEEDS DONATIONS FOR RELIEF EFFORT DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS https://donate.doctorswithoutborders.org/ YOU CAN ALSO CALL 1-800-REDCROSS OR 1-800-257-7575 OR TEXT “HAITI” TO “90999” TO DONATE $10 LOOK FOR BOXES AROUND CAMPUS TO GIVE YOUR DONATIONS, OR GO TO THE DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS WEBSITE TO DONATE DIRECTLY QUESTIONS PLEASE CONTACT, ADAM GOLDFARB, IN SILD agoldfarb@framingham.edu or 508-626-4615

Women’s basketball looks to improve in new year

pg. 11

FSC Raises Awareness, Funds for Haiti Earthquake Victims

By Ngozi Nwabeke

Staff Writer

Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2010, 4:53 p.m. While Framingham State students were moving back to school, some 1,600 miles away, Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital city, was destroyed in thirty seconds.

The earthquake measured 7.0 on the Richter scale, the largest quake the small island country has seen in over 200 years.

Many of the country’s landmarks have suffered irreparable damage, most notably, the Presidential Palace, which completely lost its second story as it collapsed into the first.

The Haitian government estimated the death toll to be 200,000, according to the Associated Press.

With no shelter or food readily available, makeshift refugee camps have been put up in Port-au-Prince, according to Boston.com.

People are forced to forage for food in the rubble and are afraid to stay inside buildings that might collapse, especially because of the multiple aftershocks. According to The Associated Press, up to 50 percent of the buildings are destroyed or damaged and people are resorting to sleeping outdoors and forming tent cities.

According to The Washington Independent, The U.S. State Department told NBC News that of the estimated 45,000 Americans in Haiti at the time of the earthquake, there are 5,500 missing. As of Jan. 18, there have been 3,325 Americans evacuated, according to cbsnews.com.

Chris Donovan, president of Global Change Initiative (GCI) pointed out that many Americans have connections to Haiti, and he was moved when he heard about so many people losing family members, espe-

Devastated but not alone

Rooted in, branched out

pg. 9

pg. 6

-Continued on page 3

The Gatepost

Page 2

Gatepost Interview

Police Logs

Dr. Richard Beckwitt Biology Department

Thursday, January 14, 2010 13:55 MV assist motorist - Maynard Road Parking

Lot. Vehicle stuck on ice. Freed, removed.

Madison Dennis

Associate Editor Lauren Byrnes

News Editor Amy Koski

Assistant News Editors Roya Bahrami, Lindsay Chase, Rakel Hjaltadóttir and Sara Mulkeen

Arts & Features Editor Matthew Bushery

Assistant Arts & Features Editors Pam Barberio, Spencer Buell, Amanda Lefebvre and Tom O’Brien

SPORTS EDITORS Nenia Corcoran and Josh Primak

Assistant Sports Editors Jeff Mandeau and Chris McCabe

Opinion Editor Leanne Paradiso

PHOTO EDITORS Matt Bennett, Tom Higgins, Josh Kruger, Andrew Martin, Drake McCabe and Matthew Mikaelian

Comics Editor Steve Monroe

Advertising Editor Staff

ONLINE EDITORs Liz Anders and Jen Perrin

Administrative assistant Betty Brault

Advisor Desmond McCarthy

General Staff

Bryan Dagley Kelsey Loverude Krysta Davis Ashley Moran Nicole Dygon Shaeleen Perreault Sara L. Fortin Ariana Shuris

Monique Thomas

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FRIday

FROM WWW.WEATHER.COM

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100 State Street, College Center Room 410 Framingham, MA 01701-9101 Phone: (508) 626-4605 Fax: (508) 626-4097 www.thegatepost.com gatepost@framingham.edu

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GP: Where did your interest in zoology and biology come from?

Beckwitt: The best class I ever took as an undergraduate was a field biology course. We spent the entire semester living in a marine laboratory and working in the field every day. It was probably the most sustained and concentrated fun I’ve had in a long time. And it really cemented my desire ... to be a marine biologist and want to work in the field.

GP: What courses are you teaching this semester?

Beckwitt: I teach the Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology class and I’m also teaching the Processes of Organic Evolution course.

GP: Are you currently working on any special projects?

Beckwitt: My current research activities are in association with the Army Labs. I work for a section called the Combat Feeding Directory.

I’m working with food biochemistry.

GP: What is the best part about working in the FSC Amanda Lefebvre/The Gatepost community?

Beckwitt: I started out as a pre-med student and I took a Dr. Richard Beckwitt class as an undergraduate in inBeckwitt: I like the students vertebrate zoology just to fill one of the requirements for and I like my faculty peers. I think both those aspects the major, and it was just a lot of fun. We got to go out have been real positive for me. I find that the students and poke around in tide pools and dig up mud flats, look are very good to work with - I really like the study body at strange little animals I’ve never seen before, some and their attitude. And, I really like members of my dethat were very odd looking. It was just a lot of fun - I partment. I find them to be really interesting, energetic definitely wanted to be a marine biologist. and friendly - having these as the people I work with makes coming to work every day a little bit easier.

GP: What is the most challenging part of your job?

Beckwitt: I’m teaching the basics of molecular biology. The hardest thing, I think, is to get students to think about molecules, get them to think about structures that are so small you can’t see them and how they interact with each other. That’s what molecular biology is all about: how these molecules interact with each other to end up causing how cells work - and in turn, how things live - at this very, very, small level. And that’s very hard because you can’t see it - it’s not intuitive - there’s no common sense way to approach this, and I guess that’s the challenge. But I also enjoy it. I think that all the most exciting ideas in biology in the last few years have come from understanding biology at a molecular level.

GP: How do you, as a professor, overcome such challenges?

Beckwitt: I try everything. Some people are very visual, and so I do try to use diagrams, little animated cartoons, things like that that are provided by the textbook.

I also try other ways to explore some kind of analogy

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GP: Do you have any advice for your students?

Beckwitt: Stay awake in class, and I think showing up helps. But I also think that the person who’s teaching that class particularly loves that material, because that’s why they picked that for a career. Go there with the attitude like, “I don’t know what this class is about, but the person teaching the class clearly found something very satisfying about the material.” I think if you try and figure out what they think is interesting about it - what do they find satisfying or gratifying - and pay attention to that, then you will find it is also interesting. Anything that you pay attention to with enough seriousness becomes interesting, so go there with that attitude.

GP: What are some of your hobbies outside of the classroom?

Beckwitt: I like to go outdoors, and I play the guitar.

To quote another old musician, “I wanted to play jazz in the worst way.”

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Editor-in-Chief

GP: What is one of your fondest memories from college?

WednesdaY

2009-2010

Beckwitt: I went to the University of California at Berkeley as an undergraduate major in zoology. Then, I went to graduate school at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles and got my Ph.D in marine biology. Then, I also did a post-doctoral fellowship at USC in molecular biology. ... My first teaching job was at a school called Occidental College out in Los Angeles. I worked out there for a couple of years ... for an environmental consulting company. I taught part-time at California State Los Angeles and California State Northridge. I took the job here at Framingham State in 1985 and I’ve been here ever since. I was department chair from 1996 to 2002, and I’m actually acting as department chair right now, also. I have had a consulting position with the U.S. Army Natick Lab off-and-on since 1989.

Tuesday

Editorial Board

that might make some sense that can help students with the concepts. But there is no one secret way how to do it.

GP: Would you share your educational background and a brief summary of your resume?

Monday

Wednesday, January 20, 2010 10:16 Medical - May Hall. Female fainted. FFD

notified. Transported via FFD. 16:46 Harassment - FSC Police Station. Investigate,

report forward to dean of students.

By Amanda Lefebvre Staff Writer

Sunday

Tuesday, January 19, 2010 15:37 Medical - State Street - Transported to hospital.

19:20 MVA exchange, campus - Maynard Road

Parking Lot. Minor accident.

January 22, 2010

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January 22, 2010

The Gatepost

Haiti relief efforts abound at FSC day afternoon in the College Center.

Donovan said, “Our own members did a great job yesterday. We had a really well-attended meeting and literally everyone brought something. It was just a really good feeling that everyone could contribute something.”

GCI is holding a clothing drive in the Dean’s Office, located in Dwight Hall, and has plans for another drive on Feb. 11 to collect more essential suppplies such as clothes and medicine.

Both group representatives said the fundraisers would continue as long as the need persists. “It’s tough to put an end to something like this. It’s not like when March gets here they’re not going to need things. This semester, it [Haiti] is going to be our focus,” Donovan said.

Lucking forsees a very active and involved future ahead for HHH. “It was very evident in our meeting

Page 3

ting a good start on it. We jumped on it pretty quickly and we’re doing as much as we can in a little amount of time,” cially because he has worked with Haitian immigrants. said Giebler, excited that after only two hours, HRAC had Tracy Pierre-Louis, a junior at FSC, said she has an already collected almost $100 in donations. aunt and uncle who are residents of Port-au-Prince. After “We’ve had a couple people come up and put like a first hearing about the earthquake on the news, she immetwenty dollar bill in and walk away,” said Giebler. “That’s diately tried to get in contact with her family. “They are all a lot for college students to do, considering the amount of fine, thankfully,” she said. But Pierre-Louis is uncertain of work they do at school and then they have jobs and other the exact location of her relatives at this time. commitments and whatnot. So it takes a lot for a person to Sergio Labathe, a sophomore sociology major who is give money like that.”

Haitian-American, said his older cousin will be adopting Cassie Derosier, a sophomore at FSC, said she wouldn’t his younger cousin who was abandoned after his father mind donating to a program such as the one she experiwas injured. His mother is nowhere to be found. enced last holiday season.

When she swiped her card at Since last Tuesday, international support has been ofthe register, she was asked if she would like to donate one fered and many countries have agreed to donate hundreds dollar to a charity.

Derosier found this was a very simple of millions of dollars in aid to Haiti, the poorest country way for her to donate because, she said, “I don’t have to in the western hemisphere, including go sign up, or call the number and say $100 million in aid President BarI would like to donate such-and-such rack Obama has promised on behalf amount of money …

I think that’s a of the United States, according to the great idea.

I think every store should Associated Press. try that.”

Members of the FSC community Derosier also praised the commerbegan showing their support immecials that prompt one to text HAITI to diately, with the Office of Student In90999.

“And the commercials that say, volvement and Leadership Develop‘Text this number to donate money’ – I ment (SILD) holding a meeting last think that’s a great idea, too,” said DerFriday, Jan. 15, to coordinate efforts osier, “because again, we’re lazy. We around campus to help victims of the care, but we’re lazy. earthquake in Haiti.

“I just think it’s a great way because Rachel Lucking, Director of it just allows so many more people to SILD, said, “Our office is coordidonate.

If you have a cell phone, you nating a group of FSC community can do it. If you have ten dollars to members interested in being inspare, what is that? That’s going out to volved with relief efforts on all leveat with your friends. You’ll totally do els - from fundraising to collection it – if you have a soul.” of items to educational pieces. We David McGaha, a junior at FSC, has are in the planning stages for mova friend whose family lived in Haiti ing things forward for events, but and whose father runs a church and our initial financial donation will be an orphanage there with about 40 childirected to the American Red Cross.

Drake McCabe/The Gatepost dren.

“All the orphans and the people “Additionally,” said Lucking, The College Center lobby is one of many places to donate. are fine.

They’ve been sleeping outside “our group, Helping Hands for Haiti because they’re scared of the after(HHH) is a place for individuals, departments and clubs that our group wishes to create sustainable efforts this shocks.

Their building is fine,” said McGaha, “but they’re to share events and ideas. It will hopefully generate motitranslates into creating a soft structure [committees] for still unsure.” vation to help, but also prevent a duplication of efforts.”

In order to try to help, McGaha donated to his friend’s The goals for HHH are not expressly laid out yet, but the group to maintain itself for the coming months,” said Lucking. mother’s non-profit organization called Servants for Haiti.

Lucking said thus far, raising awareness about Haiti and “We do not want to only be part of the first wave of ef“I’m actually thinking about seeing if I can go there in the impact the earthquake has had on the country as well forts. ...

We hope to be in existence to assist with rebuildMay. …

I’ve seen a lot of FSC Haiti Facebook groups goas supporting both directly and indirectly the people afing and other long-term related efforts. Basically, as long ing on and I think we should make a trip. fected by the disaster are the group’s main objectives. as Haiti needs assistance, and our group “The problem Adam Goldfarb, SILD’s MACC Americorps VISTA is motivated, we hope to be around!” with the orphanvolunteer, said, “I’ve been working with Sodexo and Dinshe said. age is they ran ing Services to get the … containers up by the cash regThroughout the semester, Giebler out of food and “Personally, I hope that our community feels isters. That’s what we’ve been doing … just to get people sees HRAC making Haiti fundraising water and they to donate. You know, if people already have their wallets empowered to help out with something larger and relief efforts a part of everything couldn’t get any out, they’re more likely to give.” than we can comprehend - and know that indi- money out of the they do.

“It’s a really big issue right now The Student Union Activities Board (SUAB) is just viduals can make a difference.” banks because one of the groups involved in the HHH initiative, and in- and they need as much help as they can get,” said Giebler. the banks were tends to collect donations at their events for Partners in - Rachel Lucking Though GCI is taking donations of all closed down.

Health, a Boston-based organization that supplies nine There was food poor countries around the world with modern medical non-perishable food and clothing and HRAC plans to conduct a clothing drive and water at all care, according to the Partners in Health Web site. in the near future, Goldfarb explained, the stores but FSC’s Human Rights Action Committee (HRAC) was “Right now, all they can take over there is money.

They they didn’t have any money,” said McGaha.

“So, my another of the groups to step up and begin taking donadon’t want anything except for money because they can’t friend’s dad who runs Servants for Haiti, he and anothtions, setting up a table in the commuter cafeteria on do anything with anything else yet … and then they use er guy flew down there with tons of cash – which is so Wednesday, Jan. 19. that money to buy supplies that they need.” sketchy but they did it to get money to them so they could HRAC President Julie Giebler said, “With the relief efGiebler expressed her desire to go over to Haiti and buy food and stuff.” fort, we’re trying the best we can to collect money and help out in a more personal way, but noted the difficulty of Donovan hopes that in addition to giving, his peers donations and we’re travel in and out of the country due will educate themselves on the situation in Haiti, and not collaborating with the to damage of the airport from the only on the current natural disaster. He said, “Just out of Global Change Iniquake.

“The way things are going, respect, take out the newspaper or go on CNN.com and tiative … in order to “I just think that everyone has to realize that they’re having a lot of issues trylearn a little bit about it [Haiti]. Because it’s something raise as much in bulk, ing to get supplies there,” she said. no one ever really thought about until an earthquake hit, even though Haiti’s not right next door, that we as opposed to little “But money is what’s really going and that’s really alarming considering 80 percent of the have to be open to helping them because we are bits at a time.” to help them because they can buy country was in poverty before it happened. So just take a At the end of one human race and we’re supposed to be there the supplies over there as opposed little bit of time out of your day to learn.”

April, the members of for each other no matter what happens.” to us trying to push supplies.”

Lucking said, “Personally, I hope that our community HRAC are hoping to Julie Giebler So far, the response for help feels empowered to help out with something larger than hold a music festival from students and faculty on camwe can comprehend and know that individuals can make called “Peace Through pus is significant.

Lucking exa difference.”

Music,” Giebler said, pressed her amazement at the imGiebler said, “I just think that everyone has to realize from which all of the mediate response she has seen and said she is “touched that even though Haiti’s not right next door, that we have proceeds will go toward Haiti relief. by the outpouring of individuals in this community who to be open to helping them because we are one human “It’s actually a documentary, so we’re going to have a are interested in being involved.

Based upon this alone it race and we’re supposed to be there for each other no matwhole day of music, and at the end of the day, we’re going would indicate that people are supporting Haiti, and tryter what happens.” to have a documentary and a bunch of vendors. It’s going [Editor’s note: Ali-Rae Clark contributed to this arto be really fun and outdoors,” said Giebler, though she ing to figure out the best way to do just that.”

Giebler was proud to report that with such an early reticle.] said nothing is official yet.

FSC’s GCI also began helping out by hosting a table in sponse to the crisis and people willing to start relief efcollaboration with HRAC to collect donations on Thurs- forts, HRAC is making good headway. “I think we’re get-Continued from page 1

The Gatepost

January 22, 2010

Page 4

Survey: FSC students’ opinions divided about campus technology

By Matthew Bushery Editorial Staff

By Tom O’Brien Editorial Staff

By Rakel Hjaltadóttir Assistant News Editor

According to an unscientific Gatepost survey of 400 students conducted between Nov. 1 and Nov. 25, student opinions differed sharply regarding various technological features available at FSC. Questions on the survey ranged from how helpful the library’s databases, Blackboard, class blogs and digitized classrooms are to learning, to how many students use Facebook and Wikipedia for educational purposes, to how effective online courses are for students.

Only 28 students of the 400 surveyed - or 7 percent - said they have taken an online course at FSC. When asked if online courses serve as a successful alternative to traditional on-campus classes, 196 students said yes, while 199 students said they don’t think online courses work well.

“I would never be motivated enough to get any of my work done. I need to go to an actual class!” said one student respondent.

Another student stated, “Students don’t receive the one-on-one attention they need in an online course that they would get in a class.”

Another survey respondent said, “I prefer actual human contact to doing things online. I feel any questions I might have get answered quicker that way.”

One survey respondent thinks all students learn differently. “It’s up to the student to learn the material, not the teachers. If you can handle an online class and force yourself to learn on your own, more power to you.”

Another student said the success of an online class depends on the instructor. “It depends on who’s teaching the class. I’ve had a terrible experience with online classes and don’t plan on ever taking one again. For others, though, it might work out. It depends on your self-

“Students don’t receive the one-on-one attention they need in an online course that they would get in a class.”

- Student survey respondent

motivation and whether or not the teacher knows what he/ she is doing.”

Senior Toni O’Cheltree, a history major, is conflicted about the merits of online classes. “I don’t think online classes are for everyone or every subject,” she said. “There are certain subjects, such as math or science, where the teacher’s guidance is irreplaceable.

“On the other hand, a history course usually consists of lectures and student research, so an online class is a great alternative. The student also has to be dedicated and have the ability to manage time very well.”

Nicole Dorman, a junior business administration major, found the online classes she recently took to be very advantageous. “I used to take them because they are a lot easier. If you can use Google and an open textbook to help with homework and texts online, then that’s really

helpful.”

Sophomore Suzanne Carroll, a business management major, doesn’t see the point of taking an online class unless it’s necessary. “[Online classes] aren’t nearly as effective as on-campus classes, but I guess if those kinds of classes are all you can take, they’re OK. They’re a good alternative for some, but not me.

“I’ve never actually taken an online class. … I’ve really only heard about some of the classes that are offered online, and only a few of my friends have taken an online class. So, I know these classes exist, but I’m not sure if I’ll take one.”

be more involved in actually evaluating what we have. …

We’ve been adjusting instead of just piling on more and more stuff, so we have more relevant information. That’s ongoing.

“It used to be that when you did research, you first looked at an index and it would give you a list of things that were relevant and then you’d go and find it. … We’re trying to develop ‘lib guides,’ which is one-stop shopping for a certain subject,” so students can easily find the subject they are researching. “It’s constantly being adjusted.

Librarians and faculty are adding to that list or taking things away, so it’s always evolving and changing. … It’s a work in progress,” Mitchell added.

She said the librarians are always easily available and can be contacted through the phone, e-mail, instant messaging and even by text message.

Junior Patrick Hart, an English major, said interlibrary loans “are a nightmare,” and take too long. “[Interlibrary loans] are too trying of a process for too little of a result. … I commend the staff for their efforts. It’s not their fault it takes so long.”

Mitchell said interlibrary loans have always been an issue. “We’re trying to figure out a way to streamline that process.” She added, “When we buy [online] databases, we try to have all, or most of them, be in full text so students have access to the content and can either print it or read it, so it’s right there and they don’t have to wait for it to come.”

In regards to teaching students how to use the library and its resources, Mitchell said, “We Drake McCabe/ The Gatepost always try to target freshmen and give them a Computers in a classroom in Hemenway Hall. foundation. … We’ve also got a growing numJunior Steven Kelliher doesn’t think online classes are ber of online class [faculty members] asking for librarians reliable. “I don’t trust them. ... I just don’t know if they’ll as ‘embedded librarians’ and that means that they are emwork when you have stuff due - stuff like homework, on- bedded into the class [through] Blackboard as a contribuline quizzes and even tests that are due. Internet connec- tor. … They chat on the discussion board and students tion plays a big role in this, too.” in that class can just ask the librarian [if they have any On a scale of one to five, with one being “not helpful” questions].” and five being “most helpful,” students were asked how Mitchell said the library has started offering this conmuch of an aid the Whittemore Library’s online resourc- tribution to daytime faculty who use Blackboard as well. es, including JSTOR and other databases, are in regards “Even though they’re on campus, it’s a way that they don’t to studying and homework. One-hundred eighty-one stu- have to bring the whole class over here. … They have a dents rated the library’s resources as a four or five, while 92 students believed the resources to be average and 125 students circled one or two. “[Interlibrary loans] are too trying of According to Bonnie Mitchell, director of library sera process for too little of a result. … I vices, a national online perception survey was done in order to find out what the library needed to improve in terms commend the staff for their efforts. It’s not of services. She said, “The [online] resources were an istheir fault it takes so long.” sue because a lot of students didn’t want to have to come - Patrick Hart to the building. They wanted to stay in their dorm rooms.”

She said another problem with the online resources is accessing them. The databases needed to authenticate users as being linked to the campus in some way - either as librarian that’s kind of assigned to them to help out.” students, faculty or staff. “Sometimes it worked, someShe added, “We’re trying to reach out to students to be times it didn’t. … That’s been improved.” as helpful as possible. Maybe those 125 that are having According to Mitchell, the cost of buying databases problems are mostly freshmen.” can range from $2,000 to $10,000. She said a group of When asked how helpful digitized classrooms are to Mass. public higher education institutions buy databases their education, which include the use of PowerPoint, in a “group purchase, so we get a better price for a pack- computer access for all students and digital presentations, age deal.” Electronic journals are also purchased in pack- 161 students said these classrooms are a useful aid to their ages of eight or nine, because each journal can be $1,000 learning. One-hundred forty-six students believe digitized and getting a bundle of many journals is ultimately a bet- classrooms are ineffective in their education. ter deal.

Freshman Luisa Montes, an elementary education maShe added the library has “gradually been buying more jor, said she thinks digitized classrooms are better than electronic resources - more e-books - trying to offer more the traditional style. “Some teachers don’t have good penof a variety of things. … Instead of just continuing buying manship, so it’s easier and clearer to understand exactly more and more databases, we’ve been asking faculty to what they want.”

Scholarship and Loan Opportunities The Independent Association of Framingham State Alumni is planning to make awards from twenty-five scholarship funds for the 2010-2011 academic year and to make Interest-free Loans for the Fall of 2010 Specific qualifications vary with the award.

The deadline for applying for most 2010-2011 Independent Association of Framingham State Alumni scholarships and loans is March 15, 2010.

Application forms and information are available at: Alumni House ~ 42 Adams Road or online at www.AlumniHouse.org (Click on Grants and Awards to download an application) For more information call 508.872.9770 or email Office@AlumniHouse.org

-Continued on page 5

Textbooks bought and sold, new & used, online buybacks. Buy, sell, rent at cheapbooks.com (260) 3996111, espanol (212) 380-1763, urdu/hindi/punjabi (713) 429-4981, see site for other support lines.

Child Care Needed in Ashland Ma for after school 2:30-6:00 M-F for 7 and 11 year old children. Must have reliable transportation to bring kids to activities. Must be reliable, dependable and organized to assist with various household operating. Must be good with kids. Additional hours may be available. $12-13hr. Call (508)231-1197

The Gatepost

Page 5

January 22, 2010

Hamel: Technology “not an option but an expectation”

-Continued from page 4

Blackboard is a commonly used online resource for classes at FSC, on which professors provide students with homework assignments, due dates, study guides and other educational resources.

Students were asked how helpful Blackboard and teacher blogs/Web sites are to their education. The survey found that 158 students rated them as helpful or very helpful, as a four or five, while 136 rated them as not useful, as a one or two.

English Professor Patricia Lynne said she has used Blackboard, but advocates for “alternative options” when working with student/teacher networking. “We just have to see that there are many other options out there.”

Lynne uses her own Web site to post and receive assignments, but said, “There is now a committee in charge

“I don’t like the Internet connection. Not all schools have this much of a firewall. I’m surprised more people don’t complain about Xbox Live being taken away.”

- Michael Kearse

of discussing whether or not we will be using Blackboard in the future. … If it turns out to be the best option, we’re going to use it.” She added there are several networking clients other than Blackboard that will be discussed, including one from Google.

Senior Jaymie Haley, a fashion major, thinks Blackboard is “a good tool for teachers to communicate with students, other than e-mail.” She also noted the convenience of having all of her assignments and syllabuses on the Web site. “Say you lose [them] - you can just look at it right there [on Blackboard].”

Senior Danielle Dembowski noted how Blackboard allows for easy contact with faculty. “Blackboard is a good, quick way for students to communicate with teachers as well as other students,” she stated. “It’s also efficient for sharing assignments.”

Holly Brouillette, a sophomore double major in English and art, discussed the difficulty one of her English professors is having with Blackboard. “My class has honors and non-honors students in it, and there are two sections on Blackboard for these sections of students, and sometimes I get the wrong assignment on the site from my professor.

She’s just having trouble getting the right work to the right section.”

Christopher Horne, a sophomore at Colby College, said, “I’ve never used Blackboard, but my school uses MyCampus, and I’m sure the problems we have are about the same as Blackboard’s. … It’s mostly just a place for the administration to lay into us with online swine flu pamphlets ” Harrison David, a sophomore at Columbia University,

By Amy Koski

said, “Internet clients like that are going to vary with each school and contract. Regardless of how they operate, they should be emphasizing the need for students to actually communicate with their teachers. … Try e-mail.”

The students surveyed were asked how often they use Wikipedia for schoolwork. On a scale from one to five, one being “never” and five being “always,” 88 students said they never use Wikipedia and 97 said almost never, circling a two. Fifty-nine students said they always use Wikipedia to help with schoolwork and 72 said almost always, circling a four.

Freshman Liz Piantedosi, a corporate communications major, doesn’t trust Wikipedia when it comes to schoolwork “because [she has] seen how anyone can edit information and text on the Web site. If you end up using the information on there for homework or in the classroom, then you’d look like an idiot.”

Steve Hull-Allen, a junior English major, only uses Wikipedia as a guide for his studies. “I only use it to get a rough idea of what I want to be looking at for my schoolwork because my teachers don’t want me citing Wikipedia as a scholarly source. I only use it as a guide.”

Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of Graduate and Continuing Education Scott Greenberg believes the school has plenty of resources to help both students and faculty. “I think many of our faculty use technology as an effective teaching tool to enhance the learning process,” he said. “I would also hope that students are making use of the technological resources available to them, such as the library’s online databases, the eportfolio, technology in the classroom and on Blackboard.

“Here in DGCE, we’ve seen tremendous growth in our online courses and programs. The college has made a strong commitment in this area and our faculty who teach online are particularly effective. Our Division of Academic Technology and Distance Education provides orientation programs for faculty teaching online and for students taking their first online course. They also provide continuing workshops to faculty in the use of new educational technologies. This encourages our faculty to remain in the forefront of this ever-changing field.”

Senior Vice President of Administration, Finance and Technology Dale Hamel concurs with Greenberg’s statements. “It has been said that ‘technology is a tool’ used to support the teaching and learning process. I personally believe it has moved beyond that. Technology today is part of everyday life. It is not an option but an expectation. It will further transform the teaching and learning process into one that is much more collaborative in nature.”

He added, “This college has done well to be on the forefront of support for various academic technologies due to the acceptance of faculty in integrating it into the classroom environment.

“In short, I believe that there is great potential to effectively use technology. This potential is only beginning to be tapped. The key will be acceptance, training, and support for its further integration into the teaching and learning process.”

Some student respondents identified problems with technology on campus not address by the survey.

SGA allocates funds to Men’s Lacrosse

News Editor The spring, 2010 budget for the Men’s Lacrosse Club was decided upon at the SGA meeting Tuesday evening.

Andy Lunn of the Men’s Lacrosse Club requested $6,017.50 for the spring, 2010 semester. He said the total covers expenses for referees, materials, bus transportation, law enforcement, water bottles and the coach’s salary.

SGA passed a motion to allocate funds not to exceed $6,017.50 to FSC’s Men’s Lacrosse Club.

SGA Vice President Daron Carlson said because the Hilltop Players and the Criminology Club have not filled out progress reports for last semester, their budgets have been frozen.

Additionally, junior Edwin Cruz was sworn in as a senator-at-large.

Welcome Back FSC!

Freshman Alex Kroohs thinks the school needs to supply more areas to plug in students’ computers. “One of the worst qualities that FSC has is their lack of outlets in classrooms,” Kroohs said. “People hate it! Students need to be able to charge their laptops.”

Freshman Michael Kearse said, “I don’t like the Internet connection. Not all schools have this much of a firewall. I’m surprised more people don’t complain about Xbox Live being taken away.”

Leanne Sukenik, a sophomore, said, “I’m happy with technology on campus, but would like to see more printers in the buildings that work well.”

Sophomore Lisa Filteau has problems with the IT staff.

She said she would like to see “people who work in Information Technology that don’t try to fix every little computer problem with ‘reimaging.’”

One aspect of the survey also identified 355 students of the 400 respondents who said they use Facebook. Onehundred twenty-seven students - nearly 36 percent - of those use Facebook for educational purposes, while the vast majority of users said they simply use the site to keep in touch with family and friends for general social networking or for other purposes.

Junior Jim Belisle acknowledges the educational assistance Facebook can provide. “I have a lot of friends on Facebook who I have classes with, and I’m able to easily communicate with them for classwork and group work.

It’s a great technology to have available to students for now and in the future.”

Freshman Jolene Reynolds said, “The new privacy set-

“I’m happy with technology on campus,

but would like to see more printers in the buildings that work well.”

- Leanne Sukenik

tings on Facebook may make it less ‘controversial’ for teachers to have their own page. With almost every person here on Facebook, it’s obviously going to be the most easily accessible and most visited option.”

Sophomore Shana Cohen doesn’t think that Facebook is “professional enough” to be used in the academic world.

“I just think that there are too many people willing to mess with Facebook pages that might be really important to students’ grades. I would have to put a lot of trust into something that is so busy.”

Freshman Bryan McKenna said, “I don’t think Facebook would really work out. People sign in and leave their accounts open on computers all the time. ... If the teacher required assignments and blogs and posting, anyone could get in and change information, and who’s to say that it wasn’t you?”

The Gatepost

Page 6

January 22, 2010

ARTS & FEATURES

Rooted In BranchED Out

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Szegedi and Pratt”s ‘Roots and Branches’ illuminates Nature”s wooden wonders

By Amanda Lefebvre Assistant Arts & Features Editor e are fortunate to live in a place where resting against an oak tree or daydreaming below the awe-inspiring beauty of an aging maple is considered a luxury is commonplace. For two local artists, these wonders of nature are much more than “Roots and Branches” - ironically enough, the name of the new Mazmanian Gallery exhibit.

Vibrant earth tones, large grainy brushstrokes, expressive, impressionistic shapes - those are just some of the characteristics of Hungarian oil painter Zsuzsanna Szegedi’s brilliant pieces. An array of ten pieces with poetic names such as “Fallen Beauty,” “Enduring Demise” and “Torn Identity II,” the gallery possesses a much-needed demanding but meditative quality in a world whose natural environment seems to be shriveling moment by moment.

With this series of paintings, Szegedi made one groundbreaking discovery. “I realized that I can bring everything that I see in nature into a little square, so I try to focus on one element that captured my attention, and somehow, through that subject, brings the person into that piece, and you feel its structural presence,” she revealed.

Mounting the walls of the gallery are wild tree trunks and branches, their juxtaposing warm and cool colors colliding on the canvases. It’s almost as if all the separate images are trying to weave together their natural outstretching arms of curvilinear branches and bulbous roots to create a forest.

Aptly named “Forbidden Embrace,” one of Zsuzsanna’s masterpieces stars two branches - perhaps of the same tree - effortlessly trying to embrace and become one single form. The coupling branches are overcome by cool colors with hints of brown, red and yellow, resembling the natural sparks of passion that all living beings possess.

Having painted trees for ten years, she has some experience in untangling natural elements into their most fundamental and vulnerable state - as simple shapes of emotive color. One startlingly impressive example of this is one of her larger pieces entitled “Nearly Departed.” The canvas is mounted in the middle of the wall, and the very close-up perspective - a technique that is repeated in all her other works - has placed the main focus on the whimsical shapes and curves of trees, a part of nature that most of us take for granted on any given day.

“When you look at things, sometimes it’s to notice

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them because we’re so used to seeing pictures of nature,” Zsuzsanna remarked. “Sometimes we forget about all the unique little details, and that’s why I tend to bring attention to them and see what happens.”

Her balance of cool and warm colors brings a somewhat meditative power to each composition. Yet in particular paintings, Szegedi depicted one tree with two distinct halves branching out, one gushing with green and blue tones, the other side swarming with strong red and yellow strokes. The effect of such an astounding piece is to highlight the different forces of nature that unite under one principle: that of beauty.

Her favorite piece, “Wall Drawing,” is an enormous sketch of a tree drawn right onto the back wall (she affectionately calls the piece, “Branches at Framingham State College”). With what resembles a large mountain at first glance with branches trailing off to the left, this work was titled “Wall Drawing.” At first overwhelming, daunting and fiercely contrasted - with the black and white composition - due to it’s size, the intense shading and frantic marks of graphite leads one to believe that Szegedi went with the flow and experienced her art as her hands moved with the movement of the lines.

“When you finish your drawing, you are looking for when it’s going to end, when it is finished,” said Szegedi.

“This process is about pushing over that ... and pushing it in a way that I move forward.”

As the years have progressed, Szegedi has been finding herself narrowing in on the evolution that occurs from the time she places a pencil on the canvas to the time she makes her final stroke of color. “My work is getting more and more about process, and my trees are becoming more and more about the tools you use. … It’s almost like the subject becomes not really about the trees anymore.”

The other artist featured in the gallery is mixed media artist Vivian Pratt, who only just started creating wood carvings four years ago, ten of which are on display.

Making your way from carving to carving, it seems that each individual wood sculpture seems to be coiling and yearning to branch out to the floor and the surrounding podiums like polished vines. It’s easy to get caught up in the tangled knots of roots, in the untamed character of the branches, maybe coming to the conclusion that many pieces are comparable to animals, even to inkblots. Hoping that everyone come to his/her own conclusions, she left every uprooted bit of nature open to interpretation and

kept all her pieces untitled.

“I want everybody to see what they want to see. If I called [the exhibit] ‘Battling Titans,’ then everybody would relate to that, and I want people to relate to whatever they see,” she explained.

In one of her more unique carvings, “Untitled 10,” in which two serpent-like branches lay face to face, one is green, the other is teal, but both look to be confronting each other with a menacing red eye. Appropriately enough, placed right in front of Szegedi’s “Nearly Departed,” both pieces have the chance to simultaneously showcase the opposing forces at play in our natural world.

Another prime example of how Pratt has attempted to tame the otherwise free-spirited quality of the wood is in her piece “Untitled 5,” the first piece that one sees when stepping through the doors. A tiny two-legged, teal tree form, the top of which is a whirlwind of scraggly thin branches where a bird’s nest rests in the center, is contained in a glass box. Its presentation being the unconventional for the theme of the exhibit, nevertheless hones in on the message that nature can not only can be seen and touched, but captured and animated.

“I think of them in terms of taking something that’s dead and turning it back into something alive,” Pratt stated. “But I also think that these are kind of a little bit humorous - I want people to enjoy them.”

The one similarity that stems from both artists is the notion of experimentation, of expecting the unexpected. Pratt became inspired when she was out gardening. “I dug up a root that was in my way, I looked at it, and I said, ‘This is interesting’ and I started carving. That root never got made into anything - it was too complex - but it got me started.”

Even though Pratt is primarily a two-dimensional artist, she continued experimenting with the unusual material. She said, “I took this other root that had a lot more potential and just started carving, and I didn’t know where I was going, didn’t know what to think of what it was going to look like.”

Szegedi commented, “I don’t know where [the direction] goes yet. And that’s how you do it. You don’t know what comes out of it.”

All the pieces in the show truly make the viewer look at what is being shown and feel what comes as naturally as a root or branch growing into its own. “Roots and Branches” will be open to students and faculty to view until Feb. 12.

The Gatepost

January 22, 2010

Page 7

At the Movies

Youth in Revolt

By Matthew Bushery Arts & Features Editor

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hen you think of Michael Cera, “tough” isn’t necessarily the first adjective that comes to mind. In fact, “nerdy” is more like it. Honestly, have you seen him in a role yet where his character isn’t nerdy?

From his all-too-short-lived stint on the cult TV show “Arrested Development,” to his first few film roles, including the megahit “Superbad” and the mega-dud “Year One,” audiences have only seen the capable young actor portray the sarcastic, meager, lovelorn teen, seemingly always trying to get the girl who’s just out of his reach.

Such is the case once more in Cera’s latest flick, “Youth in Revolt.” This time, however, his character shows off his tough, adventurous, take-action side ... sort of.

Nick Twisp (Cera) is a self-admitted loser. The high school student lives with his uncaring mom and her sleazy boyfriend, his dad is never there for him and his best friend is the only kid essentially more pathetic than himself.

As for his love life? Well, it’s non-existent. The only thing Nick wants to accomplish in his life is to lose his virginity before reaching college: an intimidating and ostensibly impossible task - until he meets Sheeni Saunders.

After meeting this teenage beauty, Nick is determined to win her over, despite her claim that she doesn’t have feelings for him and already has a poet/jock boyfriend.

Nevertheless, Nick declares his undying love for her, and states he’d do anything to be with her, even though he has to move away from her after their all-too-brief summer fling. Flattered from this confession, Sheeni teasingly advises Nick to get kicked out of his house so the two can find a way to be together and out of sight from their inattentive and overbearing families.

The problem arises, though: how will Nick get booted from his home by his negligent mom, who depends on Nick to stay for her child support check, if he’s too nice and innocent to bend the rules and break the law? “Be bad,” Sheeni proposes.

“Be really, really bad.”

Enter François Dillinger, Nick’s dangerous and daring alter-ego, who’s willing to take over for the feeble Nick and ultimately get him into the sack with the one girl on earth who’s willing to be with him - a task which requires Nick/François to

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AMPUS

By: Ali-Rae Clark

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“We decided to collect donations for Haiti ... We raised $100 - $150 in 3 hours.”

- Amanda Kirdulis, junior

do just about anything.

Director Miguel Artera’s astute comedic direction of this bone-dry, witty script from the clever minds of screenwriter Gustin Nash and novelist C.D. Payne, “Youth in Revolt” is a fresh addition to coming-of-age, 21st-century teen comedies.

While the film doesn’t boast any monumental laugh-out-loud moments, the storyline is efficiently well-paced and drawn out, never pausing for a moment of overthe-top, gross-out humor other teenage stoner comedies tend to go for these days.

One of the great attributes of the film is the randomness of Nick’s erratic behavior. The old saying must hold true - love makes people do strange things. In Nick’s time of peril, avoiding the police and trying to get laid, he throws all reason out the window and relies solely on François’ devilish instincts to guide him to his anxiously awaited personal satisfaction.

Though perhaps an odd comparison for a movie such as this, one can’t help but think of Cera’s two distinctly different personalities in the mold of the Tyler Durden storyline in “Fight Club,” except here, François is a little more toned down in regards to violence and evil motives (in other words, more sane and suave than screwball and savage).

No, that doesn’t make Cera Brad Pitt, but “Youth in Revolt” does show character range for the otherwise untested thespian. This role helps Cera show he’s more than just a one-trick pony.

The supporting cast in the film features an impressive mix of some of Hollywood’s more sardonic and droll actors, such as Steve Buscemi as Nick’s completely confused father, Zach Galifianakis as Mrs. Twisp’s white-trash lover (a real stretch for him) and even Ray Liotta as the jerk cop out to get Nick.

As Sheeni, newcomer Portia Doubleday is captivating and refreshing. She exhibits an uninhibited vixenous side, striving for Nick’s complete attention, but also displays a vulnerable and embittered longing to escape her humdrum life in her northern California trailer park for bigger and better things - possibly with Nick.

At the end of the day, it’s the perfectly (and carefully) adapted script, an unordinary yet sensible and creative direction, a perfectly-meshed cast and a well-puttogether alt/pop soundtrack which make “Youth in Revolt” a special film - not one without its comedic flaws, but definitely a distinguishably fun and entertaining one, nonetheless.

ONVERSATIONS

What are you doing to help the relief effort for Haiti?

“I’m trying to start a fundraiser in Dwight! There will be singing, dancing, reading and a craft fair.”

- Allison Lee, freshman

“I also donated money as well through my phone service and the school.”

- Deborah Armand, freshman

“I got my whole family to donate bags of clothes.”

“I plan on sending a text message to donate $10.”

- Emily Tobin, freshman

- Scott Wolling, junior

Page 8

The Gatepost

January 22, 2010

Students’ rock band gaining recognition T

By Krysta Davis Staff Writer

he basement floor rattles and vibates as a Medway home turns into a venue for a metal show on Tuesdays and Thursdays hosting the talented group of five young men in the band Fifth World. When the five are not busy with classes or jobs, they “rock out.”

Corey Saksik is a junior at Framingham State College who plays an instrument in the band during his free time for pleasure. Saksik is the bass player for Fifth World, in which he and the other four band members - a drummer, a vocalist and two guitarists - play gigs off campus.

“I have been playing for a while,” said Saksik. He and one of the guitarists in his band decided one day after “jamming” that maybe they should take their playing to the next level and start a band. After gathering other people who were also interested in playing progressive metal, a progressive rock sub-genre that mixes powerful guitar-driven sound of metal with the complex compositional structures and intricate instrumental playing of progressive rock, Fifth World was born.

Saksik and his band manage to practice in the drummer’s basement for threeto-four hours in Medway, Massachusetts. Here, they are able to generate ideas for new songs and simply rock out.

Fifth World has played in venues in Worcester such as Club Oasis and Tammany Hall. The band gets paid for their appearances at these shows.

Fifth World has been contacted by promotional companies to play at their shows and the band puts the money away for the bands’ future necessities, such as new instruments and recording equipment.

“I would love for it to be my career. It would be unreal,” Saksik noted leaning back in my desk chair.

Saksik works part-time at Framingham’s local Stop & Shop when he is not practicing with his band or participating in one of his four classes. Despite Saksik’s busy schedule, “Playing music releases so much stress,” he said with a grin. Sometimes his schedule can interfere with class work. “It’s nothing too serious,” Saksik commented, such as passing in late papers or falling behind in homework.

Fifth World just recently released a five-track demo for which the band members did all of the artwork, CD burning and promotional needs. The band does plan on playing at one of FSC’s open-mic performances in the future.

Saksik shared that his favorite part about being in a band is just being able to play the music he loves. He and the other four band members so far all get along and tend to agree on what they write and create.

“It gives me goose bumps when we play well. ... When people like what we play, that’s awesome, too,” Saksik said as he hunched forward, eagerly to share his passion for playing.

All five think playing progressive metal is “Badass, and it’s what we have all been playing.”

Saksik and his other four band members manage their time to not only attend school full-time but work other jobs, too, while practicing in a band. The experience Saksik has already gained while working in a band is “invaluable.” He hopes to make a future career out of his music, but for now, he is just appreciating the music he plays, “Writing it, creating it and jamming.”

Saksik and Co. practicing some of their latest tunes.

January 22, 2010

The Gatepost Editorial Devastated but not alone

Last week, the people of Haiti were subjected to a devastating natural disaster - a 7.0 Richter earthquake. Cities were destroyed and hundreds of thousands lost their lives or their families and their livelihoods.

Death tolls in Haiti are increasing dramatically by the day estimates are now reaching upwards of 200,000 in a country of 9 million. These victims are not solely Haitian, however. PortAu-Prince, Haiti’s capital city, is a hub of activity, attracting citizens from every corner of the globe - including ours. There are still at least 5,500 Americans left missing or “unaccounted for” in Haiti.

Bodies of the deceased pile up in the streets and litter the walkways due to lack of burial space and personnel, while those still trapped in the country’s debris slowly expire under the rubble because of untreated injuries and dehydration.

Meanwhile, survivors are frantically searching for their missing friends and families among the debris, hoping they are alive, while battling for the basic necessities of survival - food and clean water, safety and shelter. The hundreds of thousands of injured are desperate for medical attention, which is terribly rare and limited, consisting mostly of amputations and crude treatments, referred to as “Civil War-Style Medicine.”

Aid is incredibly difficult to transport to and through the wreckage that the earthquake left behind - planes can’t land, trucks can’t move around the streets, masses of people try to leave and arrive at once, creating disorder and confusion and as a result, the people are left to fend for themselves in a terrible state of desperation.

As Americans, we’re in our own time of uncertainty. With an unemployment rate of 10 percent, the economic challenges we face as a country leave many Americans struggling to get by. As college students working our way through school and trying to stay afloat in a poor economic market, we easily see the difficulties our own nation is going through.

We are also not strangers to devastation. Nine years ago, the United States lost 2,973 people in a heartbreaking terrorist attack against our country. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina tore through New Orleans, killing 1,836. We know what it is like to face disaster.

But in the aftermath of Haiti’s devastating earthquake, as we watch survivors pick through the rubble they call home, it’s easy to see that we have much to be thankful for.

It is our responsibility to reach out to the people of Haiti in their time of need - to help them as they struggle to pick up the pieces of their lives and rebuild their country.

We at The Gatepost are proud of our FSC community for its proactive response to the Haitian disaster. It is inspirational to see the commitment and dedication that the FSC community has displayed.

Donation jars are easily accessible all over the College Center, allowing students, faculty and staff to make contributions to the earthquake victims. Clubs are putting forth every effort to collect donations for Haiti, and the Student Involvement and Leadership Development Office is taking the lead on campus in organizing the relief efforts by forming a group called Helping Hands for Haiti (HHH).

SUAB collected donations during their Welcome Week events for Partners in Health, which works to aid nine poor nations with modern medical care.

HRAC also collected donations at their table in the College Center, and GCI is holding a clothing drive in the Dean’s Office. Both clubs are working collaboratively to plan a music festival in April. The proceeds will go toward Haiti relief.

To donate on your own, visit www.redcross.org , dial 1-800-REDCROSS or make one by cell phone. Text “YELE” to 501501 to donate $5 to Yele Haiti’s Earthquake Relief Efforts or text “Haiti” to 90999 to donate $10 to the Red Cross Relief Efforts.

However, these donations can only go so far. The efforts cannot stop here.

Once the streets are cleared and stability is reestablished, the process of rebuilding Haiti will begin. In the months to come, the media attention will fade and efforts to help Haiti will dissipate.

We challenge the FSC community not to let this happen.

We are proud of the students at FSC, who we see dropping $20 bills into the donation jars - which isn’t easy for working college students to do. We are proud of the humanitarianism and support we have seen, and the discussions we have heard about the devastation in Haiti. We are proud that our fellow students are talking, are helping and are caring.

We are appealing to the FSC community to make sure this spirit continues.

To the people of Haiti: You are not alone.

The Gatepost

Op/Ed

Page 9

Letter to the editor In November 2009, our resident students participated in our first ever energy reduction program in the residence halls. The outcome was a reduction in the use of electricity by 7,546 KwH and a reduction in water usage by 434,130 gallons - almost $9,000 in cost savings for the college (as calculated by Warren Fairbanks, Director of Facilities). But more significant than the monetary savings was the realization of just how much a small community can do in only 30 days to make our campus, and our world, a little greener. Our students have shown us that each one of us can make a difference by making small changes every day. The campus community commends and thanks our students for leading by example.

Kimberly R. Dexter Assistant Director of Residence Life

Saving the green I am proud of Framingham State College for eagerly pursuing green practices and maintaining a consistently reasonable cost. I am not proud of the fact, however, that my dorm room gets so incredibly unbearably hot that I have to keep each of the six windows open at almost all times. Remarkably, that is still often not enough to stop my incessant downpour of perspiration. I have so much heat pumped into my room that I keep a fan on to blow the scorching air and money I pour into room and board fees out the open windows. I understand that the location of certain rooms creates a situation quite conducive to some literal overheating, but I’m a little upset that I’m paying to live here, paying to heat the dorms and paying to open the windows and blow out the heat my money is being wasted on! There has to be some efficient way to regulate the heating in the residence halls without wasting our money while remaining green.

Amy Koski

Editorial Staff

A problem with parking policy My story begins during finals week of last semester. All of my finals were finished well before the end of the semester, but I had agreed to keep my friend company while she worked as a residence hall desk attendant through some ungodly hours during the night. I arrived at campus around 11 p.m.

I normally park at the Elk’s Lodge, about a mile away from campus, but I had wanted to park in Maynard lot so that I could leave early in the morning the next day. I went to FSCPD for a parking permit for Maynard, but being a resident who parked off campus, they placed me in Union - right next to the Elk’s Lodge. I still fail to see the reasoning for this as about 80 percent of the campus population had gone home for break and Maynard was essentially empty. Though I specifically asked for Maynard, I was told I had to park in Union and just take the shuttle back.

Little did I know, the shuttle was not running the next day. Lets just say I had a cold walk.

Tom Higgins

Editorial Staff

Too much on our plates Some big changes have been made in the cafeteria, and although we were preparing to go trayless every Friday of last semester, I think it’s fair to say that some people were still a little shocked to find that there really weren’t trays when they returned to school this semester.

I applaud the cafeteria for making changes to the way we deposit our dirty dishes now. The system, although not very attractive, is much easier to deal with than the conveyor belt chaos we had on Fridays during the fall.

However, I think that both the students and the caf workers would benefit if Framingham State did away with the tiny plastic bowls and ridiculously small and oddly shaped plates that we’ve been using. The students wouldn’t have to make as many trips if they were able to fit all of their food on one plate or in one bowl, and the cafeteria workers wouldn’t have as many dishes to clean if we didn’t need one plate for a sandwich and another for fries.

Having larger plates might also eliminate some of the mess that’s left on the tables after people leave. The average student does not want to make anymore than one trip to the trash bins. When people leave things on the table, it’s usually not because they didn’t go to the trash, but because they couldn’t carry everything they had, so they just leave the remainder on the table.

I think it would be in everyone’s best interest to just trash the decorative plates, and give us something useable. They would be less mess and less fuss. Everybody wins!

Nenia Corcoran Editorial Staff

We at The Gatepost welcome Op/Ed submissions from all members of the FSC community. Please limit opinions to 300 words and letters to the editor to 200 words.

E-mail submissions to Gatepost@framingham.edu.

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

Page 10

SPORTS The Gatepost

January 22, 2009

Hockey Continues to Struggle

By Josh Primak Sports Editor

With a 1-8-1 record during the 2009 portion of its 09-10 season, the Rams’ hockey team was looking for a new start with the new year.

Unfortunately, 2010 got off to a rough start for the team when they lost a 6-1 decision on their home ice against the Assumption College Ice Dogs on Jan. 7.

Although the score would indicate a blowout, it was more a testament to the play of Assumption goalie Nick Blanchette. The Florida native, who came into the game with an impressive .917 save percentage for his career with the Ice Dogs ,was on his A-game against the Rams.

The flurry of Framingham shots was no match for Blanchette, who stopped 30 of 31 shots. Despite outshooting the Ice Dogs by a 31-24 margin, the lone bright spot for the Rams came in the third period when forward Brett Casavant connected for his second goal of the season with assists by fellow forward Jason Anderson and defenseman Blair Nickerson.

The Rams next took to the road to face off against the Westfield

the Rams continued their downward spiral in their matchup with the Fitchburg State Falcons.

The Falcons came into the game fighting with both Westfield State and Salem State for the top spot in the MASCAC and took over the game quickly - steamrolling over the Rams.

Within the first two minutes of play, Fitchburg built a 2-0 advantage and led by four at the end of the first period. Things didn’t get any better for the deflated Framingham squad in the following periods as they mustered just one tally from Captain Jeremy Schmidt en route to a 9-1 lambasting by the Falcons.

The game was a complete victory by Fitchburg as they nearly doubled the Rams in shots, and scored on four of their five power plays.

While things are looking down for the Rams, they still have almost half their schedule remaining, including several MASCAC matchups which can give a Drake McCabe/The Gatepost rebuilding program something to set its sights on.

Kevin Kelley keeps the puck in the ofensive zone Thursday night.

Owls on Jan. 14. The Owls, who came into the game atop the MASCAC Ice Hockey standings, showed why they are the number one team in the league with another 6-1 thrashing of FSC. Westfield never trailed in the game, and received stellar play from forward

Lucas Romero, who scored two goals, as well as forward Pat Nelson, who netted a hat trick - scoring goals in each period. The win kept the Owls undefeated in the MASCAC, and kept the Rams in the league’s cellar.

Coming off back-to-back 6-1 losses,

Drake McCabe/The Gatepost

Framingham State celebrates their first goal from Thursday nights 5-3 loss.

SPORTS The Gatepost

January 22, 2009

Page 11

Women’s basketball looks to improve in new year

By Nenia Corcoran Sports Editor

While the majority of gthe student body was enjoying a much-needed vacation, the Women’s Basketball team remained on campus, attempting to claw their way up the MASCAC standings. With less than a month left in the season, the Rams are currently seated last in the league with an overall record of 6-8.

The Women’s Basketball team practically had the gym to themselves

over the vacation, and with no classes to attend or homework to worry about, the players were able to put some extra energy into practice, and work a little more on their individual skills as well.

Shortly after the new year, the Rams traveled to Mount Ida College in Newton, where they picked up their first win since the start of December.

Toya Chester led her teammates with 22 points in the game that ended in a close score of 69-62.

On Jan. 9, the team again traveled to Fitchburg State, where they lost to the Falcons 69-59. Emily Clark led the scoring with 18 points for the night.

The Rams took the road again on the twelfth when they visited Bridgewater State.

Despite Clark and Minor dropping 17 points apiece, the Rams were unable to gain the advantage in the second half, which led to a 71-60 loss.

As the school settled back into a routine, the Rams took on Lasell College at home. Coming off the two-game losing streak and playing their first home game since early in Drake McCabe/The Gatepost December, the Rams were looking to win. The score Framingham State went on a 17-1 run was close throughout the in the last five minutes against MCLA.

entire game, and with only 29 seconds left in the second, the Rams led by only one point.

In the time remaining, the Rams managed to convert four Lasell fouls into four points, which was enough to give them the win over the Lancers, 57-52.

The Rams hosted Worcester State on the sixteenth. They battled against the Lancers in a close game that led to a devastating loss of 6058, after coming back from a 10-point deficit at halftime.

On the nineteenth the Rams headed to Salem State, where they were unable to control the pace of the game. Salem State ran away with the score, ending the contest 79-48.

Drake McCabe/The Gatepost Last night, the Rams took on MCLA at home, Kia Minor takes an off-balance shot Thursday coming off another twonight against MCLA. game losing streak. The Rams were eager for a win. After a teams in our conference, and I think close game, the Rams went on a 17-1 we’ll keep improving throughout the remainder of the season.” run to end the game 63-44.

The Rams will continue their Clark is optimistic about the rest of home stand on Jan. 23 when they host the season. “We’ve been playing very competitively and evenly with the Westfield State at 1 p.m.

Rams still in playoff hunt

By Chris McCabe Assistant Sports Editor

Men’s Basketball came up big, erasing a seven-point deficit against Salem State, giving them a much needed win in the division.

The Rams improve to 6-8 on the season and 2-2 in the MASCAC with their 74-67 victory.

Senior Josue Almodovar and junior Royce Veal combined for 45 points on the day - over half of FSC’s total offense. Veal shot 6-7 from the field, making the most of every look, and also shot 10 of 12 from the line.

The Rams started out strong against Salem State, building a lead of five early on in the first half. However, Salem State made the necessary adjustments to clamp down on the Framingham State shooters.

The game quickly swung in favor of Salem State as they built their own lead of five points over the Rams and

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Men’s basketball secured a key comefrom-behind win against Salem State.

would take the advantage into the half.

FSC looked as though they would continue on their downward slope as the second half began. Salem State kept on the pressure and continued to capitalize their opportunities. They would extend their lead to seven until Captain Darius Yarrell broke the streak by hitting a jump shot.

The Rams began to put together a few scoring streaks of their own from that rallying point and chipped away at Salem State’s lead. The Rams were down by just three points when, once again, Yarrell stepped up and made a big play. He hit a jumper

to bring the score to within one. The Rams forced a turnover and Yarrell sank another shot to give the Rams the lead.

Salem State was kept at bay. The Rams would not relinquish the lead for the rest of the game. They found the weak spot in Salem’s defense and took advantage by getting inside to Almodovar as often as possible.

The Rams have gone 3-2 in their past five games since winter break began.

They have played divisional opponents well during the stretch as they beat up on Fitchburg State 64-52, defeated Salem State by a score of 74-67 and lost a close match to Bridgewater State 66-62.

The Rams are in the playoff hunt, and so far, have proven they can play fellow MASCAC teams well. Look for the Rams to make a run deep into the playoffs if they can maintain their level of play.

The Gatepost

January 22, 2010

Page 12

Bringing in the new semester at FSC

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Happy Un-Birthday in Larned

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Bingo!

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Comedian Pete Lee

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