Rams advance to MASCAC in thriller
Ben Stepner jazz trio pg. 7
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T he G atepost T he Inde pendent Weekly Student Ne wspa per of Framingham State College Since 1932
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78 l number 18
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Survey shows recession affecting more than half of FSC students By Roya Bahrami Assistant News Editor By Pam Barberio Editorial Staff
Josh Kruger/The Gatepost
Ngozi Nwabeke particpates in the “Pie an RA” event in Larned Hall to raise money for Haiti.
The “starving college student” lifestyle is familiar to those who struggled financially for four years while attaining a degree. In 2010, the image of the starving college student is arguably more real than ever. An unscientific Gatepost survey of 400 Framingham State College students found the economic downturn to be impacting the majority of students’ lives and for some, their educations. According to survey results, 261 respondents said a parent has been laid off, or their family’s income has decreased within the past year. Sixty-seven said a parent
By Sara Mulkeen Assistant News Editor has been laid off from work, 83 have had a decrease in income due to cut hours at work, 61 responded that their parents experienced pay cuts, 42 said their parents lost yearly bonuses and 36 said their parents lost the opportunity to earn extra money through working overtime. One survey respondent wrote that one of his or her parents “quit because business was failing,” while another said, “My dad has his own business and less people are hiring him.” Because of the impact of the recession, some students are working more hours during the school year to pay for -Continued on page 4
FSC remembers Dr. Douglas Bloomquist
By Madison Dennis Editor-in-Chief By Lauren Byrnes Associate Editor
FSC lost a beloved member of our community on Feb. 11 with the death of Dr. Douglas Bloomquist, a devoted faculty member, caring family man and friend. Bloomquist was an FSC psychology professor for over 30 years, and also served as department chair. He retired in 2006, but continued to teach part-time until October, 2009 when he could no longer teach due to his declining health. “He played a major role in shaping the psych department and the psychol-
ogy program as we know it. A lot of the things that the department does now, and prides itself on doing, he had a role in starting,” said Dr. Robert Martin, vice president of academic affairs. Among his many contributions to the FSC community, Bloomquist helped to start the FSC Psi Chi Chapter, an honors society for psychology majors. He was very dedicated to the society, attending Psi Chi ceremonies with his wife and daughter up until his death. Bloomquist was also known as the only professor who taught the Conditioning and Animal Learning course, better known by
Women’s basketball season ends with playoff loss pg. 10
psychology majors as “the rat lab.” “It hasn’t been taught since he left - no one has been able to continue that,” said Professor Anna Flanagan, current psychology department chair. Professor Flanagan has been Bloomquist’s colleague for the past 12 years she has been working here. Bloomquist was also involved with Division II of the American Psychological Association, and was a president of the New England Psychological Association (NEPA). His involvement with the NEPA helped the FSC psychology department meet with and -Continued on page 3
Matt Mikaelian/The Gatepost
Students sign a letter to Gov. Deval Patrick requesting funding for the Hemenway project.
Half an education?
Crazy without connection?
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