Baseball splits double header with Bears pg. 19
Take back the night pg. 10
T he G atepost T he Inde pendent Weekly Student Ne wspa per of Framingham State College Since 1932
Find volume
us online at www.thegatepost.com
A
78 l number 23
p r i l
1 6 ,
2 0 1 0
gatepost@framingham.edu
Tom Higgins/ The Gatepost
Students engage in a lively game of patty cake while participating in the Day of Silence, which was sponsored by 10% Alliance and Allies.
Final three VPAA candidates visit FSC
Dr. Linda Vaden-Goad, dean of the School of Arts and Sciences at Western Connecticut State University By Madison Dennis Editor-In-Chief
Dr. Linda Vaden-Goad, current dean of the School of Arts and Sciences at Western Connecticut State University, met with the FSC community last Friday to answer questions regarding her candidacy for FSC’s vice president for academic affairs. Vaden-Goad hopes to fill the vice president position when Dr. Robert Martin, the current vice president of academic affairs, retires at this end of this fiscal year. Vaden-Goad received her Ph.D. and master’s degrees in psychology from the University of Houston, where she worked as Chair of the Department of Social Sciences from 1999-2002 until she was hired as Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences at Western -Continued on page 3
Dr. Jonathan Lincoln, assistant vice president for academic affairs and dean of graduate education at Bloomsberg University By Roya Bahrami Assistant News Editor
Dr. Rosemary E. Sutton, vice provost for undergraduate studies at Cleveland State University
Dr. Jonathan Lincoln, a candidate for the vice president of academic affairs position, emphasized a strong administrative influence on his approach to handling academic affairs during his visit to FSC on April 8. Lincoln, who is the assistant vice president for academic affairs and dean of graduate education at Bloomsberg University, a small state-funded college in central Pennsylvania, referenced many of his experiences and accomplishments in his current position when discussing potential academic affairs policies at FSC. He said that, along with the Red Sox and good food and music, his passion as an administrator lies in “student success [and creating] experiences that will help
By Sara Mulkeen Assistant News Editor The last of the six candidates for the vice president of academic affairs position, Dr. Rosemary E. Sutton, rounded off the series of candidate open forums with a brief overview of her resume and a question-and-answer session. Sutton, who now holds the position of vice provost for undergraduate studies at Cleveland State University, said she was “lucky enough to find her love for teaching right after college,” and has worn a number of academic hats at the institution which she has called her home since 1984. After earning her bachelor’s degree in mathematics and psychology from Victoria University of Wellington
-Continued on page 7
-Continued on page 6
The Gatepost
Page 2
Gatepost Interview
Police Logs
Dr. Lisa Eck English Department
Monday, April 12, 2010 15:17 Disturbed person - Whittemore Library. Report of disturbed female party.
2009-2010 Editor-in-Chief Madison Dennis
Associate Editor Lauren Byrnes
News Editor Amy Koski
Assistant News Editors
Roya Bahrami, Lindsay Chase, Rakel Hjaltadóttir, Chris Kopacko and Sara Mulkeen
Arts & Features Editors Matthew Bushery and Tom O’Brien
Assistant Arts & Features Editors Pam Barberio, Spencer Buell, Krysta Davis and Amanda Lefebvre
SPORTS EDITORS
Nenia Corcoran and Josh Primak
Assistant Sports Editors Jeff Mandeau and Chris McCabe
Copy Editor Ngozi Nwabeke
Opinion Editor Staff
PHOTO EDITORS
Matt Bennett, Tom Higgins, Josh Kruger, Andrew Martin, Drake McCabe and Matthew Mikaelian
Advertising Editor Staff
ONLINE EDITORs Liz Anders and Jen Perrin
Administrative assistant Betty Brault
Advisor
Desmond McCarthy
Kelsey Loverude Monique Thomas
High 48° Low 40° Precip: 70%
Saturday
Rain
FRIday
FROM WWW.WEATHER.COM
Forecast
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
Eck: I think I wanted to be an English professor since I was a zygote. We have this family legend that my mother, when she was pregnant with me, took GP: What classes are you English classes at Auteaching? gustana and I actually had a professor in utero Eck: Actually, because in - the same class, it was the spring I have the honor of a Milton class - in the supervising student teachers winter. And some 20 ... I have a course reduction, years later, I was in this so I’m teaching two courses class ... all warm and a currently - Contemporary Matthew Bushery/ The Gatepost World Lit by Women and a little sleepy and all of a sudden I had this sensanew one, Contemporary EuDr. Lisa Eck tion like, “Wow, I’ve ropean Lit. been here before! I’ve heard this voice as if underwater!” I can’t remember a GP: Do you have any upcoming projects? time when I didn’t want to be the teacher. Eck: I just got the news that I have a sabbatical apGP: What is your favorite part of being a professor proved for Spring 2011, and I have really exciting plans. at FSC? I have two projects that will make bookends of the sabbatical. My plan is to travel to India, to Delhi in January Eck: I love the students at Framingham State. I feel of 2011, and I’m working with a study abroad provider that they’re amazing intellectual companions, and I feel an agency out of Chicago that contracts or has programs that they’re just great company to keep, and I pitch my at University of Delhi at Jaispur National University. ... classes as high as I did at “elite” private schools, but I My aim is to design a study abroad course for Framfeel like I have a lot more academic freedom here to ingham State students that I would give during either a invent and reinvent my courses. I really prize the com- J-term or summer school course, but given the heat in pany and the fact that I try to surrender my courses and Delhi, the goal is January. It would be a combination of make them as student-centered as possible, and again site-specific learning and studying with faculty at the and again the students don’t let me down. ... I really universities. And, then I would probably do a writing like the size of the school - the scale of it. I feel fearless component or potentially my own sort of post-Anglohere. I like the fact that I can ... make an impact outside phone, Indian fiction component. So, I’m going there to of my class. figure out what’s the synergy between myself and my colleagues and to learn from them and sit in on classes, GP: What is the biggest challenge of being a profes- and to tag along on some of their field trips. ... I’m apsor? plying for a short-term Fulbright to go to a university in China. Eck: I think it’s just the stamina it requires. I know the sort of “word on the street” is that professors have this GP: Do you have any hobbies? open schedule ... but nothing could be farther from the truth. I feel like I’m in the courses I teach - that I’m tak- Eck: I had this former secret life in a professional dance ing them, and then some. So sometimes, I think, “Ah, company and on occasion I have a chance dance. So, I’m still in college!” So, that sort of wonderful, manic modern dance is my hobby. Sometimes I choreograph energy of the semester that has to go in spurts - there’s and sometimes I perform. Then I hang out with sevenno way to pace it evenly, or give your final in Novem- year-old twins. ber.
Rain High 45° Low 39° Precip: 80%
Sunday
General Staff
Ali-Rae Clark Nicole Dygon Erika Kruger
GP: When did you decide you wanted to be a professor of English?
Eck: One of the great things about college, by double majoring, [was that] I was seduced by philosophy. I feel like philosophy gave me courage to ask the big questions, and that means I will never be bored. And I choose to ask those questions in literary settings. ... My other favorite memory is of meeting my future husband on my first day of my sophomore year. In terms of enriching experiences ... one thing that really struck me was, I remember every lecture, every extra thing and this is why I’m motivated to bring more things to Framingham State, in terms of campus programming. I loved meeting authors. I met Maxine Hong Kingston, I met Kurt Vonnegut, I met the convicts who were performing Beckett, I remember what the woman from the Namibian Independence Movement told us. ... All these things really stayed with me, and each event planted a question or an awareness, or a place on the map.
Few Showers
High 54° Low 42° Precip: 30%
Partly Cloudy
High 57° Low 45° Precip: 10%
Partly Cloudy
High 60° Low 46° Precip: 20%
Partly Cloudy
High 61° Low 46° Precip: 20%
Thursday
Editorial Board
Eck: I have a bachelor’s degree from Augustana College in English and philosophy and then my master’s and Ph.D. [in twentieth century literature] are from Washington University in St. Louis. ... My first job after the prolonged adolescence called “graduate school” was at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. I taught there for two years and it was a visiting position, and then from there, I was lucky enough to apply and get my job at FSC. I came here in the fall of 2003.
GP: What is your favorite memory from college?
WednesdaY
Wednesday, April 14, 2010 13:47 Medical - O’Connor Hall. Female having panic attack. No medical problem. Units clear.
GP: Could you give a brief summary of your resume and educational backround?
Tuesday
19:52 Malicious mischief - Union Avenue Parking Lot. Checks OK.
By Amy Koski News Editor
Monday
Tuesday, April 13, 2010 18:39 Suspicious activity - Maple Street Athletic Fields. Male suspected of being trespassed.
April 16, 2010
Few Showers
High 61° Low 48° Precip: 30%
April 16, 2010
The Gatepost
Page 3
Vaden-Goad emphasizes community awareness global studies. She said that at WCSU, “we do a lot of sabbaticals are so nice.” travel … so that students, regardless of background, are When asked about her feelings regarding faculty conConnecticut State University. able to study in other parts of the world.” tracts and how new faculty members should be considVaden-Goad, who has worked in higher education Vaden-Goad also emphasized the importance of studyered for tenure, Vaden-Goad said “obviously, I’ve been in since 1990, said, “I’m very interested in public higher ing and researching abroad, both for students and faculty. a bargaining environment - I like it, I think it gives us all education. I’ve had opportunities throughout my career to She said students often travel with faculty members to aid rules to go by, and hopefully it always represents quality, be a mediator in universities for problems across various them in their research projects, which has proven to be so I think well of the contract.” states and at the national level as well, and I really care very beneficial for both parties. One of the most recent exHowever, she said, it is also important to make sure about this mission we have … to create the kinds of citiamples she discussed was a research trip that some Spanfaculty contracts and expectations for tenure are very zens we want for the next century. ish and biology students clear and straightforward. She said at WCSU, the con“For me … wherever took to Nicaragua. tract wasn’t clear enough to their new faculty members. I am in higher education, Teaching students “to be “It didn’t really help the newer people - they felt adrift,” it is because I really care able to understand global isshe said. about the public schools To fix the problem, each department was asked to come doing everything we can to “I’m very interested in public higher education. sues in rational ways” is a major role of public higher up with a set of standards describing how their academic be that place for the com- I’ve had opportunities throughout my career to education, Vaden-Goad discipline moves forward in terms of teaching, research munity - for our students, be a mentor in universities for problems across said. We need to help them and creating activity. for our faculty, for our staff various states and at the national level as well.” “see themselves as others “Academic disciplines are different - I think we have to make this world much, see them and learn enough to have some respect for that. I think we have to listen much better.” - Dr. Linda Vaden-Goad about other cultures so they when a department says, ‘This is what is meaningful to Vaden-Goad said should can be a part of this small us.’ … We expect people can, with adequate feedback, she get the position, she world we are creating.” make whatever change they need to in order to be a better hopes to actively publicize Vaden-Goad said comfit for the institution where they are,” she said. the achievements of FSC bined student-faculty reShe believes the resultant system worked very well for and get the local commusearch can be very helpful for faculty trying to conduct new faculty. “I like that approach I like to be as clear as nity more involved with and excited about the college. their research, and incredibly beneficial for students interpossible, but not constraining.” She said WCSU “was considered one of Connecticut’s Vaden-Goad was also asked to share her views on the best kept secrets,” but shouldn’t have been kept “secret” ested in a career in that field. “At my institution, the teacher-scholar model is a big various academic programs both at FSC and at WCSU. for so long. part of what we do. We really love the idea … of learning Writing professionally was one topic she discussed in “One of the things I tried to do is to help what I call ‘get the intellectual skills of the field. One way to really do that detail. “It’s a big issue, but a very important issue. And the buzz out’ about the great things that were happening at well, is by getting into that field early on.” there are lots of ways to approach it.” that institution,” she said. Vaden-Goad found her own experiences in faculty-stuEmployers are looking for applicants who can prove “We’re very proud of the kinds of things we’ve been dent research to be invaluable. “Through that experience, they know how to write and communicate effectively, she doing and the kind of impact it has had,” she said. BeI learned how to put together my own programs of resaid. At WCSU, she spent time with local employers to cause of this, we want to make sure “the community is in search, I learned how to involve other students in the work find out what they were looking for in terms of writing our university all the time. … It’s about getting the right I was doing and it was as skills from recent graduates people together to collaborate.” Vaden-Goad said it was exciting to them as it was in order to “make sure we are particularly helpful to develop relationships with local to me.” She said, “they creating the right kind of setcorporations in the community to receive input in terms of [the students] thought of ting for them to continuously employment research and hiring trends. “We should be very grateful and never forget things I would never have learn how to do that at everShe discussed one initiative in particular that WCSU that whatever somebody gives is significant, thought of. … It was wonincreasing kinds of complexhad started, in which the university’s academic departand I think that’s a problem that sometimes derful to have the students ities.” ment raised money to work with local high schools to help happens that people forget to be grateful thinking with me about She said one possible way prepare students academically for college. some of those things. of increasing writing skills for those gifts.” “I’ve made many presentations to the corporate com“Those kinds of experiis to develop courses with a munity about that. … They are so excited about the fact ences,” she said, referring focus on discipline-specific Dr. Linda Vaden-Goad that … they can help us make the students’ lives richer to the trip to Nicaragua, writing, and at more than just in their last year of high school, which is what we’re re“are wildly invigorating the introductory level. She ally doing, and then have them really ready to take part in for everybody. … We proalso suggested looking into what’s going on around them in the university. vide that pipeline that other institutions’ programs “We’ve gotten lots of money … because they believe in this project and we’ve had just striking results with it.” entry into this world that we have come to love so much to get ideas on what types work. When asked about first-year programs, Vaden-Goad Another way in which the academic department of and being able to enlarge the field with new knowledge that we construct together.” said in her experience, the most successful have been WCSU has tried to include the community is in terms Vaden-Goad said she takes faculty research and develthose which took place in the community doing field their relationship with alumni, Vaden-Goad said. opment very seriously at WCSU. “I’m someone who sees work, and involved both faculty and student research. “Alumni have a very special feeling for where they real value in the idea of inquiry and inquiry-based work. “To think more of learning in context for the first year, went to school, and in particular, usually, for the faculty “Research is how we all got into our fields. We are peowhere you’re outside walking around and doing things in that taught them.” She said the university began accepting ple who are curious. We ask questions because we want other places, being in the community - I think that’s going department-specific gifts, which worked out incredibly to know more about it, so the idea of inquiry is native to to be a better approach, to a certain extent. well and benefited the college significantly. She noted she who we are” she said, noting that she believes this sense “That kind of a situation is just so much more meanhad worked on phone-a-thons and other forms of outreach of inquiry is native to most students, as well. ingful,” she added. to raise these funds. Many faculty research In terms of creating new programs, Vaden-Goad “We do a lot of bringefforts are supported stressed the importance of completing needs assessments ing them back to the things through faculty developbeforehand. “The good thing about it is that you have a that matter to them,” and ment monies at WCSU, she sense of … what it is that they really want.” “I really care about the public schools doing work with many of the difsaid, but some are also fundShe noted this was also the case when it came to reeverything we can to be that place for the ferent departments of the ed by grants and compensavamping current programs. university to make alumni community - for our students, for our faculty, tions like reassigned time. At WCSU and the University of Houston-downtown, relationships successful. for our staff to make this world She said the university tries Vaden-Goad sat on a number of academic and administraShe said that re-connecting much, much better.” to supply materials the factive committees, including strategic planning committees, with alumni who have lost ulty might need to conduct curriculum committees and assessment committees. touch with the college is - Dr. Linda Vaden-Goad their research, as well. Vaden-Goad has worked on approximately 14 recent particularly interesting for “It’s up to the institution federal grants and earmarks, and has nine published her. to help put that together for works, among other non-published documents. Vaden-Goad emphapeople.” She said a good She has traveled to and worked with universities in sized the importance of begrant office is essential in India, Puerto Rico, Crete, Estonia and Geneva, and has ing grateful for every gift given to college programs, esorder to provide faculty with money for their scholarship been awarded a number of prestigious honors, such as the pecially those from alumni. “I think you have to recognize endeavors, because faculty “might need help packaging 2008 Governor’s Award for Public Service and the Teachthe fact that not everybody feels comfortable right now that idea for grant agencies.” ing and Leadership Excellence Award from the University with giving large amounts of money, if they don’t have it.” She noted though the workload and expectations of the of Texas in 1999. She said that even five dollars is a significant gift, and faculty at WCSU are high, “there has to be a humanity in Vaden-Goad said she hopes to “create the most welthat “we should be very grateful and never forget that the work setting so that you can live your life. coming kind of environment that we can, both through the whatever somebody gives is significant, and I think that’s “We’re as devoted as we can be, but there has to be academics we do, through the kind of citizenship work a problem that sometimes that happens - that people forget some time to create mind space so that you can be crewe do and really do high-quality, excellent work where to be grateful for those gifts.” ative. Sometimes, if you’re just doggedly pursuing someeveryone’s working toward common goals, in perhaps difA major part of this goal of involving the community, thing you never have the chance to step back that’s why ferent ways.” Vaden-Goad said, was to create more of an emphasis on -Continued from page 1
Page 4
The Gatepost
April 16, 2010
Vi c e P re s i d e n t f o r A c a d e m i c Affairs Candidates President Timothy Flanagan is expected to decide the new VPAA by the end of the semester
Dr. Rosemary E. Sutton
Drake McCabe/The Gatepost
Dr. Jonathan Lincoln
Photo courtesy of Bloomberg University
Current Vice Provost for Undergraduate Studies at Cleveland State University
Current Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Graduate Education at Bloomsberg University
- Ph.D. in human development from Pennsylvania State University - Extensive experience in assessment: three years as director of assesment at CSU - Prefers peer-evaluation system for assessment - Four teaching and excellence awards - Wants to work toward diversifying faculty by recruiting Ph.D. graduates.
- Served as the chair of the earth and environmental studies department at Montclair University in New Jersey. - Bachelor's and master's degree in geology from Boston University and a Ph.D. in geology from Northwestern University. - Collaborated to create new global education opportunities and expanded and revised general education requirements at Bloomberg and Montclair Universities
Dr. Lori Dawson
Matthew Mikaelian/The Gatepost
Current Worcester State Interim Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs - Has written/co-written 13 publications - Has served on over 40 committees at WSC - Specializes in social-personality psychology (M.A. and Ph.D. in social-personality from University at Albany, State University of New York) - Twice nominated for the Alden Award for Teaching Excellence
Dr. Guiyou Huang
Matt Mikaelian/The Gatepost
Current Dean of the Biscayne College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
- Supports a multicultural curriculum for the college, including study-abroad options and more globally-diverse general education requirements. - Promotes importance of shared governance between faculty, staff and administration, studentcentered learning and teaching, use of technology and a global education - Holds a Ph.D. in English from Texas A&M University at College Station, and has written numerous books and publications on American and multicultural literature
Dr. Linda Vaden-Goad
Drake McCabe/The Gatepost
Current Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences at Western Connecticut State University
- Recieved her Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Houston - Recieved the 2008 Governor’s Award for Public Service - Emphasizes community involvement in public higher education - Would like to more actively publicize the college’s achievements
Dr. Ellen Zimmerman
Drake McCabe/The Gatepost
Current Interim Dean of Academic Affairs at FSC - Recieved her Ph.D. in anthropology and linguistics from the University of Chicago - Recieved the 2004 Framingham State College Distinguished Faculty Award - Emphasizes collaboration and communication as important factors in academic affairs - Believes she can offer a fresh perspective to the position as an FSC faculty member
See thegatepost.com Web site for resumes
April 16, 2010
The Gatepost
Class of 2010 gathers at Senior Investiture
By Lindsay Chase Assistant News Editor
day of spring semester and sitting with the same people at dinner every night since freshman year. She described this time of the seniors’ lives as a time to recognize and celebrate moving on. Stoops told the soon-to-be graduates to “enjoy the adrenaline rush, enjoy
Page 5
to the vice president of enrollment and student success at Wheelock College. “When I was first asked to do this, I thought it was perfect because I’m a young alum,” Slavin said. ApparOn move in day of her freshman year, Kathleen Mulently that was not the reason she had been asked to give rey loaded a plethora of boxes into a speech at this year’s Senior InO’Connor Hall. She accepted help vestiture. “It was actually because from the kind man standing in the I’m an active alum. … I’m also a lobby and he assisted her in lugging proud alum.” up a laundry basket full of shoes to Calling her story “simple and her new room. almost cliché,” Slavin said she had Doing his best to calm her nerves, a tough time throughout her first he asked where she was from and year at FSC. However, with the what her major was. Before he left help of the people at the college Mulrey to settle in, he introduced coaches, professors and advisors himself. she survived the year. “He said, ‘I’m Timothy Flanagan, Slavin eventually joined SGA president of Framingham State Colafter a few of her friends thought it lege,’” Mulrey recollected at Monwould be funny to write her name day’s Senior Investiture in Dwight on the ballot during elections - and Hall. became a Black and Gold leader, Mulrey, secretary of the Class of president of the Dance Club and 2010, began her speech with a reflecmade it onto the Dean’s and Presition of her first day at Framingham dent’s Lists. “Like I said, simple State. She then went on to say what and cliché,” Slavin confessed. exactly it was that she loved most Matthew Mikaelian/The Gatepost “What you learned here will about her time here. always be with you,” she told this A group of enthused graduates getting carried away outside of the Investiture. “Everyone takes the time to get year’s graduating class. to know you and say ‘Hi’ to you by the ceremony, enjoy this moment.” “I know that there are all kinds of emotions in this name,” Mulrey said, referring to professors like the ones Flanagan then welcomed the Class of 2010 and reroom right now,” Slavin added. “Framingham State will she had freshman year who still say a personalized greetcalled urging them to challenge themselves four years be with you for the ride regardless of what you’re feeling when they see her. “The faculty like us - the faculty ago at their freshmen convocation. “I urged you to cultiing today, tomorrow or even next month.” like teaching us,” she said. FSC professor Timothy McDonald, of the art and muMulrey raved about two faculty members in particular vate, nurture and grow. “I hope you’ve taken advantage of the faculty,” he sic department, also gave a speech at the investiture. - Rachel Lucking and David Baldwin - who helped her added. “I hope you leave from the very beginning. Framingham State College “Without them, I wouldn’t with a sense of gratitude for be standing up here.” the faculty. … I hope you Framingham State “Do not let yourself be defined by continue to pursue knowlgives students opportunithings outside yourself.” edge.” ties to explore other interFlanagan said the 2010 ests, according to Mulrey, graduates sitting in Dwight - Timothy McDonald and that is what readies had shared some accomplishstudents for the future. ments with FSC - including “It’s the instances that a $1 million gift to the colhave shaped you,” she lege, campus renovations and said, inviting her fellow emerging majors have been In his brief and straightforward speech, he advised the graduates to reflect upon identified with the help of future graduates to question authority, be skeptical and their time at the college. feedback from everyone. defy expectations. In her speech, Dean “As you continue to grow “Do not let yourself be defined by things outside yourof Students Dr. Melinda and evolve,” Flanagan said, self,” he said. “Don’t be afraid to fail. Go ahead - fail. Go Stoops said, “College “so will Framingham State down in flames. traditions and individual College. “The world is deep, broad and mysterious,” he added. traditions combined have “Excel in everything you “Be curious, creative, passionate. Go out and live your shaped your experience do and speak well of Framlives.” here.” ingham State College - that Before Flanagan introduced the FSC Chorus, he ofFSC is no exception to is the best gift you can give fered a lighthearted and final word of advice for the gradtraditions, Stoops added, [FSC],” he added. uates. “I know Tim said to question authority, but listen naming a few - monthly Flanagan then introduced to me when I say this: take your stuff when you leave.” Bingo night in the College the keynote speaker, Lisa Center Forum, sitting on Drake McCabe/The Gatepost the lawn on the first warm Kathleen Mulrey, secretary of the class of 2010. Slavin, of the Class of 1999 and current special assistant
The Gatepost
Page 6
Sutton “seeking out a new challenge”
-Continued from page 1
in New Zealand, Sutton traveled to the U.S., where she obtained her master’s and Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Pennsylvania State University. She began work with CSU’s College of Education as a coordinator for the computers and education program and quickly moved from assistant professor to associate professor. She became full professor in 1998. Sutton became director of assessment at CSU in 2004. In her current position as vice provost for undergraduate studies, Sutton holds responsibility for university retention and oversees the general education and honors programs, as well as many centers on campus. Sutton said she is “seeking out a new challenge” by coming to FSC. She said her experience as a teacher will help her collaborate well with FSC faculty to create “a successful environment for students,” and she is also used to working across campus in many areas as an administrator. Sutton also noted CSU has the same ratio of graduate to undergraduate students as FSC. One faculty member asked Sutton what she thought of blocking forms of wireless technology in classrooms, which can be a distraction to students. Sutton said she understands the issues presented by texting and Web browsing in the classroom, but added, “people expect to be able to get in contact if there’s an emergency,” citing older students who might have children or students with elderly or sick parents. Many faculty and staff members who participated in the candidate conferences asked similar questions of each. One faculty member said he was new to the school and asked Sutton what she would recommend he do to
achieve tenure status. Sutton’s advice was to “make sure you really understand what your priorities and rules are. Work very hard on teaching and be responsible - be on time for meetings.” One member of the Office of College Advancement inquired as to how Sutton would promote alumni involvement at the college and engage them in future alumni events. “The best thing you can do for alumni is have a really
“The best thing you can do for alumni is have a really strong school.” - Dr. Rosemary E. Sutton
strong school,” Sutton said, adding that people want to be associated with their alma mater because of positive memories both academically and socially. Sutton suggested a strategy her current institution is utilizing to attract diverse faculty, which involves current faculty and administrators contacting Ph.D. students who are about to graduate and recruiting them as new faculty. Another audience member asked how Sutton would gather student input in regards to adding courses to the curriculum. She responded that questionnaires and advising relationships would be two methods of gathering student opinions and suggestions.
All College Awards Banquet
Congratulations to all of the Nominees!
Barbara Dias Class and Club Achievement Award • • • •
April 16, 2010
Sutton pointed out that “students are struggling to get through [college] in four years,” and any changes to the curriculum should reflect an effort to alleviate some of these problems. Many candidates were asked to express their thoughts on distance education and the effectiveness of online courses. Sutton said she believes “older and commuter students like Web-based courses for scheduling issues,” but the non-traditional courses have “implications for faculty.” She said the courses are more work for professors and have a different “rhythm” than courses taught in a classroom, which takes some adapting on the part of faculty. Sutton also addressed the difficulties first-year students face after leaving home for the first time. She said colleges and universities tend to have an “insider’s language” that is “incomprehensible to firstgeneration students and their parents.” Also, Sutton said students find it hard to identify a professor’s standards because each are different. Sutton said an important task for incoming students is getting acquainted with faculty offices and the advising process. When asked how she would handle faculty assessment, Sutton referred to her current institution’s policy, which she recently played an integral part in changing from the university’s old system. She suggested a peerreview process, citing the nine-month contracts CSU offers to faculty to evaluate their colleagues. The decision as to which candidate will become the next vice president for academic affairs is expected to be made by the end of this semester, leaving time for them to become familiar with the position under the guidance of current Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Robert Martin.
Don’t know what to do with your old, broken cell phone?
Anime Club FSC Cheerleaders Human Rights Action Committee Student Union Activities Board
Encore Award •
•
Dance Club’s Fall Show: Dancing Around the World - Sponsored by FSC Dance Club Improv Shows - Sponsored by the Hilltop Players Casino Night - Sponsored by SUAB Haunted House - Sponsored by SUAB How To: Read Braille Sponsored by SUAB “How To” Series - Sponsored by SUAB
• •
Donate-a-Meal/Care Packages for Soldiers - SUAB & SGA Spring Blood Drive - SGA
•
Sandbox - SUAB
• •
FSC’s Veteran Association Random Jam
•
Richard Davino - Student Government Association Deborah McMakin FSC Dance Club
• • • •
Shining Star Award
RECYCLE IT! Visit the Geographical Association’s table at the GREEN FESTIVAL on APRIL 22nd from 3-7pm in the ATHLETIC CENTER. Drop off your old cell phones, learn facts about recycling cell phones, play a game, and win prizes!
The Harmony Award Rookie of the Year
Advisor of the Year •
Student Leader of the Year • • • • • • • •
Allison Chisholm Christopher Donovan Julie Giebler Rachel Keir Jenny McRae Sara Mills Nicole Sousa Steve Whittemore
• •
Sara Mills Steve Whittemore
Senior Legacy Award
The leadership and club awards will be presented at the All College Awards Banquet on Friday, April 30 at 6:30 p.m. at Sheraton Hotel in Framingham, MA. 2 complimentary tickets per club. Additional guests will be $15 each and placed on a waitlist.
Contact: fscgeoclub@gmail.com
SGA announces last senate meeting of the semester
By Roya Bahrami Assistant News Editor
At Tuesday’s meeting, SGA President Steve Whittemore announced that Tuesday, April 27 would be the final senate meeting of the year. This will also be the last meeting Whittemore will preside over before the position of SGA president is passed onto Presidentelect Mike Long. “We’re going to make it sort of informal,” said Whittemore. “At the end it will sort of be like a party.” Whittemore also congratulated the new senators and officers who won last week’s SGA elections. He announced that the retirement party for Dr. Robert Martin, vice president of academic affairs, will be held on April 26 at 4:30 p.m. in the College Center Forum. Julianne Cormio, student trustee,
thanked members of SGA for attending Statehouse Day, stating that it was “a success.” Both Cormio and Whittemore reminded members of SGA to attend the student leadership conference this April 16. SGA Vice President Daron Carlson collected student information for the 2009-10 yearbook. Carlson noted that the yearbook files include basic information, spots for ‘gold stars’ and “a ‘Remember when?’ spot.” Carlson’s comment regarding gold stars prompted members of SGA to give out gold stars to each other as well as other members of the campus community including Rich Davino, director of career services and advisor to SGA.
Page 7
The Gatepost
April 16, 2010
Lincoln: good citizenship expected of students
-Continued from page 1
them be successful.” In terms of academic policy and general education requirements, Lincoln said, “General education is becoming more and more important as there is an evolution of programs that tend to be more and more professionally oriented,” and the requirements for general education “are the responsibility of the entire institution.” However, Lincoln added he “still finds a liberal arts background valuable.” The combination of a liberal arts and pre-professional general education program is, according to Lincoln, important for students to develop “core skills and responsibility. “We expect students to exhibit good citizenship,” he added. Lincoln said Bloomberg University is currently revising their general education requirements and accreditation standards and creating a more efficient general education system. Regarding distance education and technology in the classroom, Lincoln said other colleges in more rural areas of Pennsylvania have more of a demand for online courses than Bloomberg, and although he has previously taught a hybrid course on geophysics, he did “not have a lot of experience” regarding the development of online courses. However, Lincoln noted that online courses are often the “best delivery method for that type of course” and that some courses are more successful when taught online. According to Lincoln, partnerships with community colleges and faculty training and support for new technologies in the classroom would be his priorities for information technology and distance education within academic affairs. When asked about how he would incorporate students into his academic policies, Lincoln said he was “used to having student representation” on the committees he presided over and referenced the success of the “Living and Learning Communities” (LLC) program that was developed to aid first-year resident students at Bloomberg University in their transition from high school to college. According to Lincoln, students who live on campus at Bloomberg have the option to join one of these living and learning communities corresponding to their major or interests. Lincoln referenced the most successful of these programs, the Frederick Douglass LLC, which provides incoming undeclared freshmen with the opportunity to “be housed and take classes together.” Lincoln said the Frederick Douglass LLC emphasizes the importance of community service, which is “included in the coursework” required for the program. He also said “students are involved in determining the direction of [this] program,” and due to the 90 - 95 percent graduation rate for students in this program, it appears to provide the
structure needed for students to succeed. To encourage more student leadership and scholarship at FSC, Lincoln said he would be “working closely with the Office of Residence Life and Housing to create more programs like this.” He added that “almost one-third of the freshman class is going into these programs now and later becoming mentors.” When asked where he believes the ultimate responsibility for student learning lies, Lincoln replied, “I believe the vice president for academic affairs is responsible for
“The library plays a role in helping students learn responsible use of information - more than just books - the appropriate use of electronic resources [and] research techniques.” - Dr. Jonathan Lincoln
delivering the academic mission, and that includes student learning.” He said that the responsibility for student learning can be “broken down” into a hierarchy that also includes faculty and staff. Lincoln connected the responsibility of student learning with the success of residence life programs which emphasize student responsibility, such as the honors program and LLC programs at Bloomberg. As the vice president of academic affairs and advisor to faculty, Lincoln said he would place an emphasis on
”General education is becoming more and more important as there is an evolution of programs that tend to be more and more professionally oriented.” - Dr. Jonathan Lincoln
service and scholarship as contributors to student learning, as well as their own research and development. “It’s difficult sometimes for faculty to find that balance,” he said. Though he said that he was “not familiar” with FSC’s faculty Center for Excellence in Learning, Teaching, Scholarship and Service (CELTSS), Lincoln said “teaching and scholarship should be integrated,” and discussed different ideas on how to approach the financial strain on
funds granted to faculty for research and development. Lincoln cited grant writing as well as the solicitation of local businesses and nonprofit organizations for support. “This is not completely separate from funding for faculty development,” he explained. “[The local businesses and industries] come in and work with faculty who have ideas about community-based learning and developing projects for the community.” When asked how he would handle issues surrounding faculty advising, Lincoln said it was “not uncommon for some disconnect” in the area of advising, and discussed the use of the Teaching and Learning Enhancement Center (TALE) at Bloomberg to help alleviate some of the issues surrounding advising. According to Lincoln, administrators at Bloomberg have been using TALE to hold faculty seminars “on how to better advise students.” Lincoln said that professional advisors and members of the faculty “who feel they have successful advising models” lead these seminars, which are meant to better the faculty’s approach to student advising. “I will not claim to have solved that problem,” he added. Lincoln said he would create a new faculty advising day, similar to one which has been established through Bloomberg’s TALE. This advising day would include workshops and sessions focused on how to integrate scholarship and service. These workshops would also bring in established and successful faculty to discuss approaches to advising. Lincoln also discussed the role of academic libraries in promoting student success, saying, “The library plays a role in helping students learn responsible use of information - more than just books - the appropriate use of electronic resources [and] research techniques.” He said that the academic library environment is conducive to students developing successful study skills, and noted the increase in student demand to use the library as a study space. Lincoln also added that he would “work with students to design the study space” within the library. Lincoln received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in geology from Boston University in 1982 and 1985, respectively. Lincoln later received his Ph.D. in geology from Northwestern University in 1990. Prior to his current position at Bloomberg University, Lincoln served as the chair of the earth and environmental studies department at Montclair University in New Jersey from 1994 to 2003. At both of these institutions, Lincoln has worked together with administrators, faculty and students to create new global education opportunities and expanded and revised general education requirements. In addition to his academic and administrative work, Lincoln has written numerous publications and papers on oceanography and geology.
Are you a communication arts major? Have an interest in public relations or marketing?
Join the Gatepost Public Relations Team! Tuesdays at 6:00 p.m. CC 410
Page 8
The Gatepost
April 16, 2010
The Gatepost
April 16, 2010
Op/Ed
The Gatepost Editorial
Zimmerman for Academic VP The search for a new vice president for academic affairs is quickly coming to an end. The six finalists have visited the campus and met with the FSC community. Each finalist’s resume has been reviewed and assessed by the search committee. President Timothy Flanagan has now completed closing interviews with all the candidates. All that’s left is for Flanagan to make the decision on whom to hire. We at The Gatepost strongly urge him to choose Dr. Ellen Zimmerman. Zimmerman has worked as a faculty member in the sociology department at FSC for nearly 20 years. She has actively served on and chaired multiple academic committees, developing departmental curriculums and establishing standards for college tenure. Most importantly, however, Zimmerman has taught in FSC’s classrooms. In 2004, she won the Framingham State College Distinguished Faculty Award for her exceptional performance as a professor. Clearly, Zimmerman has an excellent reputation for instructing FSC’s most important assets - students. Needless to say, she knows FSC. Over the past two decades, Zimmerman has become a member of the FSC community beloved by both faculty and students. She appreciates the small, close-knit community that is FSC and understands that collaboration and face-to-face communication are key traits of our character. She prioritizes the same values that we, as a campus, hold to be important. It is no secret that many faculty members have been feeling detached from and uninvolved with administrative decisions at the college - the lack of attendance at the academic vice president candidates’ public forums is a prime example. Zimmerman is exceptional at collaboration with and re-engaging faculty. As an FSC professor herself, she has faced many of the same issues faculty members cope with in the classroom and at the college. She excels at synthesizing different viewpoints, and would be able to improve facultyadministrative relationships significantly. Professors trust her to ensure that their best interests, and the interests of their students, will be upheld. Not to mention, students adore her. FSC students are comfortable with the idea of talking to Zimmerman and providing feedback about their classes and academic programs, and she is willing to listen. Students’ views should be heard - it is our education, after all - and we at The Gatepost trust that Zimmerman would act on legitimate student concerns. The other finalists who were brought to campus were not nearly as impressive as Zimmerman. Her presentation to the campus community was eloquent - she answered every question effectively and articulately. She was optimistic, but honest. She was direct, but respectful. And she knew every detail about FSC’s academic programs inside and out. This, however, isn’t really much of a surprise. For the past year, as Interim Dean of Academic Affairs, Zimmerman has trained with and assisted Dr. Robert Martin, the current vice president of academic affairs, in all his administrative duties. Over the past year, Zimmerman has worked on program development and assessment for each of FSC’s academic departments. She has collaborated with community colleges on developing academic course agreements. She has already been collaborating with FSC faculty on academic policies and has been responsible for making many major academic executive decisions. Zimmerman has also been working on many of the high-priority academic programs at FSC. She has worked with CELTSS to expand faculty research and development. She has taken charge of the diversity-hiring initiative at FSC. She has chaired the college’s general education review committee in the past. She has taught online courses, which are an increasingly popular option among college students. Essentially, she has already been fulfilling many of the roles of an academic vice president, and, as Martin has said on multiple occasions, has been enthusiastically received by the FSC community. President Flanagan: Dr. Zimmerman is more than qualified for this role. And we at The Gatepost hope to see her in it next year.
Page 9
A thank-you from the student trustee-elect
I want to thank all of the people who took the time out of their busy schedules to vote in the SGA elections. I am extremely grateful to all of my supporters who helped to get out the vote, by wearing stickers, handing out brochures and talking to their friends. Together we won this election, and made a clear statement that we want a Student Trustee who means action! Our campaign, however, does not end with this election. As your next Student Trustee, I cannot do everything myself. I need your continued input and involvement in order to act on the issues that matter to you. Most importantly, we need to band together as students and work together to solve the issues that matter to us the most. Alone, my voice is nothing, compared to the collective voice of the student body. I urge you to take part in our weekly “Legislative Action Council” meetings next semester to voice your thoughts as to how we can make our community a better place. Call me with any ideas you may have at 508-3188-MAX or shoot me an email at mmorrongiello@ student.framingham.edu. Remember, though, that in many cases you may not even need my help as Student Trustee to resolve a matter that affects you. Talk to the appropriate administrative official about your problem they are often all too eager to help. If that doesn’t work, find some friends and start a petition, or write an Op/Ed in The Gatepost. As your Student Trustee, I will always be on your side and work with you to find a solution. Thank you for electing me as your next Student Trustee. Together we can work for a better tomorrow.
Maxwell Morrongiello Student Trustee-elect
Take back the night, take back our lives On Tuesday evening, Women’s Empowerment hosted an event called “Take back the night.” The event was held in order to educate the campus community about sexual assault and to inspire men and women to be aware of their surroundings, but also to live their lives without fear. Women’s Empowerment handed out 81 T-shirts prior to the event. However, approximately 20 - 25 people attended, mostly women. The event was inspiring and empowering, but it was disappointing to see that such a small number of people attended. Every two minutes in the United States there is a sexual assault. These victims of sexual assault are our sisters, mothers, friends, neighbors and classmates. According to www.rainn.org, collegeaged women are four times more likely to be sexually assaulted. There needs to be more support and interest for these events on campus. Anyone can be a victim of sexual assault, but by becoming more aware and learning how to be less fearful of an attack, college students can feel safer. As a woman, there are always times I look over my shoulder, guarded and nervous while walking back to my dorm late at night, and I know plenty of women who do this as well. No matter how safe a place seems to be, sexual assault can happen anywhere. I hope more students will become involved if this event is held again next year. The danger of sexual assault will always be there, but by participating in events like this one, we can all learn better ways to protect ourselves, and to live without constant fear of who might be lurking behind us.
Lauren Byrnes Associate Editor
Day of Silence: Silent or not? April 15th was FSC’s Day of Silence in support of the LGBT community. As the Vice President of 10% Alliance and Allies, the club that hosted this day, I became very upset when I was repeatedly ridiculed for talking while wearing the shirt. The silence is not a requirement! I participated last year and was silent for the day, but only because I wanted to, not because I had to. People are failing to see the actual purpose behind the Day of Silence. The Day of Silence is an effort to bring attention to the name-calling, bullying and harassment - in effect, the silencing experienced by LGBT students and their allies. Being a very large supporter of the LGBT community, I love taking part in the Day of Silence, but not everyone can be silent. There are matters of life that require a person to talk, such as classes and work. I think people need to truly understand what something represents rather than just complain.
Crystal Hederson V.P. of 10% Alliance and Allies
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
Drake McCabe/The Gatepost
The Gatepost
April 16, 2010
Drake McCabe/The Gatepost
ARTS & FEATURES An
Empowering Experience
Drake McCabe/The Gatepost
Women’s Empowerment spreads their message across campus By Lauren Byrnes Associate Editor
C
hants were heard echoing all over campus, through closed doors and windows, drawing the attention of the campus community last Tuesday evening. “We have the power! We have the right! The streets are ours! Take back the night! “We won’t be raped, we won’t be beat! Out of our homes and into the street!” chanted a sea of men and women sporting lavender tees with the phrases, “Stop the violence,” and, “I’m taking back my night.” As dusk fell on Framingham State last Tuesday, Women’s Empowerment led a group of students on a walk through campus for their Take Back the Night event. The event, a first at FSC, was held to empower women on campus and raise awareness about sexual assault. It began outside of the College Center where energetic, excited women and a few men listened and sang along to a cover of Taylor Swift’s “You Belong With Me.” As they walked, the group stopped at various points on campus to tell stories about sexual assault and shout empowering declarations. The members of Women’s Empowerment chose the direction of the walk and the locations where the group would stop on campus. Members chose the locations if they were deemed places they felt unsafe, said senior and Vice President of Women’s Empowerment Ashley Barry. The group walked down Maynard Road, up Adams Road, around the construction site near O’Connor Hall, by both May and Hemenway Halls and ended by the library. “No means no, yes means yes!” was shouted by the group of empowered men and women throughout their walk on campus. There was a stop outside of May and Hemenway Halls by the recycling bin for a “shout out” of empowering phrases. Senior and President of Women’s Empowerment Chelsea Hastbacka started the exercise. “I’m not scared!” she screamed to a cheering crowd. “I’m strong, I’m brave, I’m powerful!” One woman shouted, “We’re making the world a little better every day! “I am compassionate and strong!” another cried. “I’m just as good as any man!” a woman screamed. After walking up the hill to Hemenway Hall, Hastbacka stopped at the beginning of the path behind the building to read a heart-wrenching story of an anonymous girl on campus who, when she was 15 years old, was sexually assaulted by a boy she barely knew from choir practice. “I saw a change come over his expression that startled me. … He was no longer a cute boy - he was scary. … I barely had a second to react before his powerful hand clenched across my mouth so tight that [it] mashed my lips into my braces cutting them. The back of my head was slammed into the cement wall sending out shocks like electrical currents. “I stood there pressed against the wall, dazed and confused, much like a deer
in headlights unable to move as he roughly told me he was going to rape me,” Hastbacka read. “No, stop! But he wanted what he wanted and the whimpering little girl in front of him was who he was going to get it from,” she read to the silent group. The event came to an end next to the library, where John Sage, a member of the band Grip on the Sun played acoustic guitar and serenaded students with his own song “Denial State” and a cover of “Use Somebody” by Kings of Leon. Many students left buildings on campus to gather around to see him perform. Eighty-one T-shirts were handed out at a table in the College Center, said Barry. However, only 20-25 people participated. “I would like to see more people here. … A lot of people took shirts who didn’t intend on coming, but I at least hope that in taking them, they were at least being aware of what was going on at the very least, and I hope that next year, maybe they do come,” Barry said. She hopes that in the future the event will be as “wide” as A Day of Silence, which is held “to protest the actual silencing of LBGT people due to harassment, violence and abuse in schools,” according to www.dayofsilence.org. Hastbacka said, “We could have had more people, but I think making it an intimate event is also good.” Treasurer of Women’s Empowerment Amanda Kardulis said, “I hope that people will wear their shirts with pride and speak out against rape and domestic violence. … We’re planning on holding another Take Back the Night next year and hopefully we can make it an even bigger event.” Hastbacka said many members had had similar events at their high schools and the group began planning the event after the idea had been suggested at a meeting. Barry said the event has been held globally since the 1970s. “Sexual assault is such an important issue. … I feel like talking about it in different ways is really important because it helps involve everybody,” Hastbacka said. “I’ve heard over the past couple of weeks there have been a few girls who have been roofied when they’ve been out at clubs. I mean, in the last couple of years, there were a few incidents of domestic violence and those were the people that I was hoping to reach in doing this event, so they knew that they weren’t alone,” Barry said.
Women’s Empowerment meets on Monday evenings at 7:00 p.m. in CC 216
The Gatepost
April 16, 2010
Page 11
TRANSDORMERS A peek inside some stylish FSC dorms ...
By Tom O’Brien Arts & Features Editor
W
hether decorated or disheveled, a college dorm room is always an eclectic space. Geared toward being a streamlined learning environment, or maybe just a comfortable college chill-pad, a student’s dorm room is his or her place to live while at school. With just weeks left in the 2010 spring semester, FSC students’ dorm rooms have come quite a long way since move-in day. For most students, a dorm room is more than just a desk, bureau, bed and optional MicroFridge package - it is a home. Rooms originally sporting blank walls and modest, cookie-cutter dorm furniture now run rampant in both color, texture and style - all aspects which reflect and represent diverse interests and unique personalities of the rooms’ occupant(s). Tapestries, DVD collections and other items from home form their own niche Tom O’Brien/The Gatepost
among the glorious array of “stuff,” which dorm rooms seem to collect over the passing of a school year. In many rooms, stacks of handouts clutter the desks and fill the drawers. Bed risers (the freshman’s rash pre-fall semester purchase) sit unused next to a pile of surplus extension cords. In some dorms, flat screen TVs illuminate the video game systems, which choke the room’s outlets. Christmas lights may encompass the ceiling, while guitars line the walls. Textile hangings may cover the windows, spraying the room with opaquely colored light. All of these are unique qualities which make a student’s room unequivocally his or her own. No matter the amenities, theme or cleanliness, all dorm rooms are a student’s own corner of the world of dorm living. Below are a few rooms of FSC students which have evolved over the academic year.
3.
2.
Tom O’Brien/The Gatepost
1. 4.
5.
7. 6.
Tom O’Brien/The Gatepost
Tom O’Brien/The Gatepost
12.
Tom O’Brien/The Gatepost
Tom O’Brien/The Gatepost
8. 9.
Tom O’Brien/The Gatepost
Tom O’Brien/The Gatepost
11.
10.
11. Tom O’Brien/The Gatepost Tom O’Brien/The Gatepost
1. This double in Larned Hall features posters, flags and an extensive book collection. 2. One acoustic guitar is never enough. 3. Pictures, album art and music posters.
4. Photo collage and stuffed animals in Corrine Hall Towers. 5. A Larned resident’s library. Note the Hunter S. Thompson. 6. This room’s residents chose to put one of their mattresses on the ground. They call it “the cave.”
Tom O’Brien/The Gatepost Tom O’Brien/The Gatepost
7. A classic college student desk. 8. This Larned resident framed a collection of his favorite CDs. Ben Folds, City and Colour, The Format and Jack’s Mannequin to name a few.
9. Bongos and an electric drumset make this room great for jams.
10. A DVD collection in Towers. “Almost Famous,” “28 Days Later” and “The Punisher” to name a few. 11. A resident’s record player and collection.
12. Calendar turns into makeshift posters in this Towers dorm.
Page 12
Spencer Buell/The Gatepost
The Gatepost
An Interview with ...
By Spencer Buell Assistant Arts & Features Editor quick glance at Cactus Attack’s instruments - a couple guitars, a fiddle, two banjos and some silverware - might bring about images of Appalachian moonshiners line dancing in a barnyard.
A
Spencer Buell/The Gatepost
Derek Danger, banjo and vocals
However, the sound Attleboro hometown heroes have crafted is more quirky, experimental Indie than cattlewrangling Bluegrass. The boys from this self-proclaimed “newgrass” four-piece stopped by the Clayton and Alexander Show at the FSC radio station, WDJM 91.3, last Sunday to play some of their raucous numbers for the eager crowd huddled in the cramped, soundproof room.
Spencer Buell/The Gatepost
The Gatepost caught up with Ryan Jackson, the group’s bearded, wanderlust-stricken frontman, who, between spastic bouts of his patented down-home guffaw, shared stories about booze, music, catfish and broken bones on the Alaskan tundra.
Spencer Buell/The Gatepost
Ryan Jackson, guitar and lead vocals
GP: How would you describe the Cactus Attack sound? Jackson: Well, we kind of coined a phrase because we couldn’t explain our sound really. We have a lot of traditional bluegrass instruments, but we kind of do what we want with them. We call it “newgrass” because it’s not bluegrass- That’s for sure. I mean, our music has a lot of the same sound, but we put a lot of our own spin on it, so we call it “newgrass.” GP: I noticed you guys stay true to traditional bluegrass roots by playing the spoons. Jackson: We actually have a pretty funny story about the spoons. We were in a recording studio in Boston last Tuesday and we told the guy we had to throw down a spoon track. He said, A spoon track? You’re telling me I’m about to use a $5,000 microphone on a set of kitchenware? GP: Well, how did it sound? Jackson: Phenomenal. It was a $5,000 mic. GP: How did you guys get together? How did you find people with similar taste in music? Jackson: I blew my knee out while I was in Alaska and I was pretty immobile because of the surgery. I had met Tyler earlier because I’d known his girlfriend for a long time and we had jammed together before. I was just trying to get something together. I was like, “You know, let’s do something different,” so we got together. Me and Derek had also been in bands in the past, so we got together and he played banjo. So, the original band was me, Derek and Tyler. We just kind of played a bunch of fluffy gigs - not real gigs, just like playing in people’s bathrooms- It happened. Believe me. We also played some open mics at Stonehill College. Then, we picked up Cole “Big Britches” Wuilleumier here on the side of the road in Memphis, Tenessee. Seriously, though, he’s the youngest one in the band. He’s still in high school and we just kind of picked him up out of the wind. He’s brought a lot to the group. Then, we picked up a bassist named Jessie Bridges, but he left to join a band called Sasquatch and the Sick-A-Billies, which is a wonderful band. GP: So have you guys been playing shows locally? How have your performances been? Jackson: It really varies. Sometimes, it’s the greatest thing we’ve ever seen. You know, its like, a lot of people will show up. At the Middle East, we played for a really good crowd. There’s a local bar and grill in Attleboro called Morin’s we play at, and we have a lot of fans in Attleboro who will show up and it gets pretty rowdy. For the most part, though, it’s hit-or-miss. GP: Rowdy? Rowdy how? Jackson: There’s always some serious boogy-woogying. The kids work themselves into a frenzy and they throw up and pass out in a fit of joy - And it’s all from the music. It’s like an orgasm.
Spencer Buell/The Gatepost
April 16, 2010
Tyler Rosenholm, guitar and banjo
Spencer Buell/The Gatepost
Cole Wuilleumier, fiddle and spoons
GP: You played a song earlier called “Catfish.” So what’s the story behind that? Jackson: Liquor. There was a night of passion with a guitar and a piece of glass. GP: Catfish? There was a catfish right? Jackson: Well, I got drunk and I wrote a song and it was about a catfish. I was really embarrassed to show everybody because it was about a catfish. Then, I showed everyone and they were like, “Oh a catfish, good job man.” GP: So what’s the future of Cactus Attack? Jackson: Well, today - it’s Framingham. Tomorrow - the world. I don’t really want to go to college and I’d just really rather travel around in a van with my best friends for the rest of my life. I mean, I don’t know what they’re up to, but they’re coming with me whether they like it or not. Seriously, though, I really can’t describe that enough. Each member of this band is indispensible. They all just bring something very unique to the table. GP: You guys are obviously pretty close. How does the writing process with everyone usually go? Do you all write together? Jackson: It’s a mixed bag. We all participate. We all help out. Sometimes, I’ll show up with a cool lick or something. For the song ‘Heist’ we played earlier tonight, Tyler showed up with it and I hated it and I wanted to shoot it down. We ended up making it happen, though. I don’t know how we did it. GP: I understand that you lived in Alaska for a while. What made you decide to move to Alaska? Jackson: I have something I like to call “idiot syndrome.” I tend to convince myself of things that aren’t real or are just kind of outlandish. Everyone was applying for college and everything out of high school and I was kind of thinking, “You know, college is not my thing. Alaska’s my thing - Alaska’s my promised land.” GP: Why did you think Alaska was your thing? Jackson: I have no idea. I was just like, “I’m gonna move to Alaska. Everyone can do what they want, but I’m gonna live life. It’s the journey not the destination.” I got all self-righteous and got in my car and drove the thousands of miles up to Alaska. I had a good time, but when I wrecked my knee skateboarding, I lost my job and had to come home. GP: Did you write any songs? Jackson: Not one. I was really frustrated. I was living out of my car for a long time. GP: So, I have to ask, why the hell “Cactus Attack?” Jackson: It was written to me in a message from the Lord. I don’t know if you guys believe in God, but you should. Actually, somebody said it when I was a sophomore in high school, and I just thought it was a stupid thing and it ended up being our band name - And now we’re on the Internet.
April 16, 2010
The Gatepost
Page 13
Former white supremacist speaks out against hate, intolerance
By Roya Bahrami Editorial Staff .J. Leyden, a former skinhead and former leader of the white supremacist and neo-Nazi movement, spoke out against racially-driven hate and violence in his address at FSC on April 12. Leyden, who is a father of five, said after 15 years of being an active member in several neo-Nazi and white supremacist movements, he realized that he did not want to raise his children to be second generation racists after witnessing his oldest son refer to the popular 90’s television show “Gullah Gullah Island” with a racial slur. It took 18 months for Leyden to leave the white supremacist movement after this life-changing event, causing many of his former friends and fellow white supremacists to threaten and lash out against him in their music and through all means of communication. Leyden was also forced to share custody of his two sons with his first wife, who remained a member of the white supremacist movement until six years ago. Leyden referenced the racial demographics of his hometown of Fontana, CA as being a breeding-ground for hate and racial prejudice. Leyden’s hometown is not only where the Hells Angels gang was started but is also the southern California headquarters for the KKK. “I grew up in a very, very white town. … It was rare to find blacks, Hispanics, Asians in my neighborhood at any given time.” As a young child, Leyden was forced by his father to fight against his brothers and cousins, and “always lost.” Leyden became more and more violent as he grew into a young adult, and noted that on many occasions he and other gang members had beaten people nearly to death. However, he and others were able to get away with these violent crimes because witnesses were often too scared or intimidated to talk to the police. “The truth is this - more so today than when I was a teenager … kids are more afraid to talk to police officers than they are to gang members.” When he was a teenager, Leyden became involved with the local southern California punk rock scene of 1978. Two years later, his parents got a divorce - allowing him the freedom to spend more time with his friends and the “skinhead punk” gang that he had joined. This divorce was, according to Leyden, “what I thought was the greatest favor my parents could ever do for me. My mom wouldn’t talk to my father, my father refused to pick up the phone and call my mom at all. My life became very simple - ‘Mom, I’m hanging out with dad,’ or ‘Dad, I’m hanging out with one of my brothers,’ when really I was doing was hanging around on the streets and getting involved with more than punk rock.” Leyden explained that the punk rock subculture of the 80’s was ruled by the concepts of anarchy and violence. “Anarchy basically means this: might makes right. The biggest, baddest, toughest boys always win.” Older members of the punk rock scene approved of Leyden’s violent nature and invited him into their punk rock “skinhead” gang, which, at the time, was bi-racial and included Hispanics as well as whites. Leyden explained the violent mindset of the punk rock gang he belonged to, which was exemplified by “slam dancing” and lashing out at other punks who attended hardcore shows. “We went to a show that night and we liked it, everything was great, no problem. We went to a show and got bored, we walked around the crowd looking for victims - the way you acted, the way you dressed, your attitude. If the band sucked that night, we would jump on stage and beat the shit out of the band to teach them a lesson for the next time around.” Leyden explained that racial overtones of “Oi!” music, the preferred type of punk rock listened to by skinheads, divided the skinhead gang into skins and “SHARPS,” or Skinheads Against Racial Prejudice Skinheads. Although both gangs of “punk rockers” dressed the same and listened to similar music, skinheads were racially prejudiced and looked to fight anyone who was not white, and SHARPs looked to fight with skinheads. “The one thing that makes them completely identical is their love of violence,” Leyden added. Hippies and “nice looking” white kids from the neighborhoods surrounding Leyden’s home were often the victims of his violent outbursts. “We would beat you up because it was fun,” he said. However, Leyden noted that
T
“if someone was black, Hispanic, or Asian, and they were caught in my neighborhood, they were lucky to get out without being beaten. … We considered this to be a bonus. … We figured this: ‘I can’t walk in your neighborhoods after dark, why the hell do you think you can walk in mine after dark?’” Eventually, Leyden and his friends found themselves in and out of jail for their violent deviance. “I myself went to county jail so many times in L.A. county and southern California that two of the booking officers there still know me on a first name basis. But thanks to the greatest legal system of all time, I, to this day, have not one single felony charge on my record.” Leyden cited the failures of the legal system for the reason why he and so many other violent offenders are able to get away with their crimes. “If your mommy and daddy have enough money, they will buy you a good lawyer. You go up against a [substandard] D.A. … they will offer to make you a deal. They want a good conviction rate so they can get a better paying job. … But if you give a cop enough time, they will build a good case and you will lose.” Constantly recognized by local police and law enforcement as a troublemaker, Leyden opted to join the U.S. Marines as an escape from the troubled life he had created for himself in southern California. However, according to Leyden, the military did not discourage his racist beliefs. “I also brought my racial prejudice and bigotry with me into the United States Military,” he said. “When I was on active duty, the military policy was that you could belong to any racially-motivated hate group and serve in the United States Armed Forces as long as you were a passive member.” Leyden did a large amount of recruiting for the white supremacist movement while he was in the Marines, and even passed out copies of “The Turner Diaries.” This particular neo-Nazi propaganda is a fictional narrative about an underground white supremacist army written by William Pierce, leader of the National Alliance, which is the largest neo-Nazi organization in North America. Leyden said, “I didn’t know this, but at the exact same time I was handing out this book in a Marine Corps uniform, there was another young man passing out this book in a United States Army uniform - his name was Timothy McVeigh.” Leyden also named other racists like McVeigh who have committed or attempted to commit terrorist acts against the United States government, including Eric Rudolph, John Allen Mohammed, Terry Nichols and Michael Fortier. Each of these domestic terrorists has one thing other than racism in common, according to Leiden - they have each been trained by the United States Military. Leyden explained that in the military he learned about “separatism,” or “the politically collect word for racism.” Separatism is accepted by all racially-motivated hate groups, including the KKK, Nation of Islam and Hawaiian Nationalists. “One thing they agree on is that they could never live together in harmony. Whites, blacks, Hispanics - we separate ourselves. We divide ourselves into different parts of town. We can’t live together.” He also added that all of these large racially-motivated hate groups were anti-Semitic and continue to hold major control over the prison system. At one time during the peak of his activity in the white supremacist movement, racially-prejudiced and offensive tattoos covered Leyden’s body. These included a large swastika on his leg and arm, the words “white power” in German, and an SS neck tattoo. Since then, he has had several of them removed by lasers. As he became more and more involved in the white supremacy movement, Leyden said that his role in the U.S. Military became devoted toward recruiting members of the military to “break up the United States Military at all costs,” which he believed would eventually lead to an overthrow of the U.S. government. This led to his placement by the Marines into a treatment program in Rhode Island and an eventual honorable discharge from the armed forces after he “flunked out” of treatment. As a recruiter for the white supremacist movement, Leyden said they specifically looked for people who appeared to be victims and who they could “tear down and build up,” a similar strategy to that which the military uses during basic training at boot camp.
According to Leyden, “not all racists are rednecks.” He explained many intelligent and powerful men have become prominent white supremacists - including Ben Klassen, who invented the electric can opener, William Pierce, who has a Ph.D. in physics but left teaching for a more lucrative position within the white supremacist movement and Pastor Richard Butler, who has invented and co-invented many technical devices that are found on commercial aircraft. Leyden’s overall message emphasized a need for change in our current society where racism seems to be growing exponentially with the explosion of the internet and mass media. According to Leyden, technology has benefitted the white supremacy movement incredibly. Racists can now access more than 100,000 Web sites on the internet, listen to and share racist and violent music, play racially-motivated video games like “Ethnic Cleansing,” “White Law” and “Manhunt,” read racist magazines and purchase racist clothing from clothing lines such as “Aryan Wear” and “Hatecrime Streetwear.” When Geraldo Rivera’s infamous “Skinhead Brawl” aired in 1988, the white supremacy group that Leyden belonged to in California suddenly jumped from 22 members to over 100 in only one night. Shows like this and Jerry Springer bring desired attention to the white supremacist groups and, according to Leyden, essentially do the recruiting for them. This year alone, the number of hate groups in the U.S. has grown to almost 1,000. Leyden said that without the influence of his family and people who made him “look at life differently,” he would not have been able to leave the white supremacist movement. During his discussion, he encouraged students to mentor and help to promote positivity in today’s youth. He said acting out in hate or retaliation against racists is “giving them exactly what they want.” Since he left the white supremacist movement, Leyden has worked with government agencies such as the FBI and CIA as well as local and state law enforcement agencies to train officials and spoke at the Clinton White House Conference on Hate. He has also been featured on the History channel’s Gangland and recently finished filming an episode with Dr. Phil. Leyden is also the co-author of "Skinhead Confessions," a memoir of his experiences as a skinhead and member of the white supremacist movement. “Watch them, yes - but don’t give them the attention that they’re looking for,” said Leyden. “Did you ever see Martin Luther King at a Klan rally throwing rocks at the Klan? No! He fought racism where it was hidden and institutionalized - not out in the open!”
Matt Mikaelian/The Gatepost
T.J. Leyden recently spoke at FSC about his former life as a skinhead.
The Gatepost
Page 14
April 16, 2010
Campus Conversations By Spencer Buell and Tom O’Brien
Which professor and/or class would you recommend to fellow students? “I think I would suggest Professor Alberti. I’ve never seen him in a bad mood for a class.” Matt Pepin, junior
“I would recommend my Human Biology class with Professor Kolnicki. She was very outspoken and made the class interesting.”
“I would recommend Anthropology with Poliandri, or any class with Professor Perry.” Laura Jarvis, freshman
Alex Martin, freshman
“I really like Professor Bruno. He has such good methods. He helps his students one-on-one.” Aaron Gullah, freshman
April 16, 2010
The Gatepost
Page 15
Professor Horn reads new poetry at Heineman
By Chris Kopacko Editorial Staff ast Thursday evening, English Professor Bernard Horn held a poetry reading in the Heineman Ecumenical Center from his recent book, titled “Our Daily Words.” A collection of poems and prose, “our daily words” was published just earlier this month, and is the winner of the 2009 Old Seventy Creek Poetry Prize. Horn opened his poetry reading with the book’s title poem, which he described, in terms of his poetry, as an introduction to “what he is all about.” The introductory poem revealed much of what Horn says his earlier poems are all about: “a close examination of moments in family life.” Beginning with an epigraph by Peter Abelard, “Our Daily Words” is a wonderful reflection of a snowed in Tuesday afternoon shared with the family, and captures a soft-hearted sentiment too tender to ignore. It was followed by a poem entitled, “Late Afternoon: A Phone Call,” a poem which Horn wrote nearly 30 years ago. Before reading the poem, Horn acknowledged fellow poet and friend, Alan Feldman, who said the poem was the one in which Horn had “found his voice.” Horn described the poem - a sonnet - as a disconcerting phone call between a woman and “a man she didn’t marry.” Horn also spoke of the late Charles Olson, a poet and Horn’s former college professor, who he described as a “centric, giant of a man.” Prior to Thursday’s poetry reading, Horn had attended a centenary celebration of Olson and his work, which Horn said allowed him to reflect on his own work as a poet. He said that although much of Olson’s work was related to geography, he takes on his work with a different approach. “The core of whatever I’m writing about is not a place, but my family. I think it provides the same kind of vertebrae to everything that I do,” Horn said. Horn then read a pair of poems entitled “Neighbors” and “Letter from Israel (March 3, 2001),” both of which are set in Israel. The poems express his growing awareness of the fact that the older he grew, the more the world around him became part of the poems. He spent nine months in Israel in 2001, where, in addition to writing several poems about the country, he taught American Literature at Haifa University. He followed these poems with a piece of prose writing in the book called, “My Father, the Swimmer.” In the peice, Horn recounts memories of his father throughout the years - from spending Sundays at the beach in the summer of 1947, to visiting his father in a hospital bed after having a stroke 30 years later. After reading a short poem about his wife, who painted all of the illustrations which appear in the book, Horn shared a poem about art titled, “The Florence Pietà,” in honor of former FSC President Helen Heineman. After the reading, Horn opened the forum for questions, and announced that signed copies of his book were available. “Our Daily Words” has already been hailed by authors such as Lawrence Kushner “Kabbalah: A Love Story” and Robert Pinsky “Landor’s Poetry”, and has even been recommended by American playwright David Mamet, writer of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play, “Glengarry Glen Ross.” Horn has also translated poems by Israeli poet Yehuda Amichai, which appear in literary magazines such as The New Yorker and The Mississippi Review, and has authored a book titled, “Facing the Fires: Conversations with A.B. Yehoshua,” which is the only book written in English about the Israeli novelist.
L
Tom Higgins/The Gatepost
English Professor Bernard Horn reads from his new award-winning poetry book, “Our Daily Words.”
Join The Gatepost! The school year may be winding down, but it’s never too late to join our student newspaper. General meetings are held on Tuesdays at 6 p.m. in Room 410 of the College Center.
SPORTS The Gatepost
Page 16
April 16, 2010
Coaching Gap
As Spellman steps down, search begins for successor
By Josh Primak Sports Editor
In his near decade as the head coach of the FSC Men’s Basketball team, Don Spellman took the program from obscurity to respectability, coming just four points shy of capturing the MASCAC championship this past winter. But even as the team prepared to lose several prominent contributors to graduation this year, its biggest loss may have come this past Tuesday, when Spellman announced his resignation, effective immediately. According to FSC Athletic Director Tom Kelley, the move was not a surprise. “We had been discussing it for a couple of years now. … We kind of knew at the beginning of the season that this was probably going to be Don’s last hurrah, but you always kind of leave the door open for the coaches because sometimes in the heat of battle, things change. … But we knew eventually this was coming because in his life like with all part-time coaches - priorities change, and things in your personal life change, and we certainly understand and respect that.” A former member of the Suffolk basketball team, Spellman began his time on the bench for FSC as an assistant head coach, spending four years in the position before being promoted to head coach. During his tenure, the team rapidly improved from a perennial loser, winning just one game during
Drake McCabe/The Gatepost
Spellman leaves Framingham State as second all-time in wins with 104. Spellman’s first season as assistant coach, to a yearly contender for the MASCAC crown, appearing in three MASCAC championship games. He was named MASCAC Coach of the
Do you have what it takes? Test yourself against the U.S. military’s physical fitness standards!
Saturday, April 17th 12 to 4 pm
Mock Boot Camp Physical training test Marching Obstacle course Team building Cookout to follow Meet us at noon by the flagpole in front of Dwight Hall. Brought to you by the Framingham State Veterans Association
Year in 2005. Never shying away from tough competition, Spellman has had the Rams playing one of the toughest competitions in their region with the toughest opponent. His training has forced the Rams to become one of the better fundamental teams in the league. A “tenacious recruiter,” according to Kelley, Spellman has recruited several all-conference players, including forward Josue Almodovar, who ended his career at Framingham this past season in second place alltime for points scored. To his players, Spellman was both a coach and a friend. Guard Bill Carey, whose senior season this past winter included his thousandth point as a member of the Rams, as well as several clutch shots, will miss spending time with his former coach. “He’s a cool guy. He was my coach, but at the same time I could joke around with him. … We used to laugh together a lot, but also, when he got mad it was a sight to be seen. My teammates and I used to be able to laugh about things later and still to this day. If you can’t laugh and have fun playing, the game then what the hell is the point?” With Spellman’s tenure as coach now a memory, the program will begin the process of hiring a new head coach. With a plethora of candidates, Kelley will have a tough decision to make.
“We’re going to open it up. I’m not saying we’ll be doing a national search - it is still a part-time position - but I’ve been receiving a lot of resumes and calls, and it’s out there, even before he officially resigned. “We’re going to take a good, hard look at what’s best for the program, whether it’s someone from within or someone from the outside, but we’re going to make what we feel is the best choice for the program.” With roster overturn in addition to the coaching change, Kelley isn’t expecting the new coach to immediately continue the program’s recent upward surge, but is instead looking for a coach that embodies certain qualities. “We’re looking for a good person, and we want the best experience for our basketball players that we can get. … Recruiting is first and foremost - they’re going to have to be a tireless recruiter and just a good role model and person, and loyal, which is always big on my job description. “We’re going to go until we find the right person. In fairness to the program and to do it right, we’re going to open it up, and we need to see whose coming out of the woodwork. Needless to say, we’ve had some very interesting phone
calls.” While the resumes pile up on Kelley’s desk, and his phone continues to ring, the next head coach of the team could already be roaming the athletic center. In addition to interviews with outside candidates, Kelley will be looking at the assistant coaches as potential canidates to fill the vacant position. Nothing is set for Spellman’s future in basketball, but Kelley believes this will not be the last time he steps onto the hardwood as a coach. “I think he’ll be back at some point. Wherever he goes, they’ll be getting a pretty good coach. I think he needed to catch his breath for a year, especially when you work as hard as he does. Sometimes you need to take a break.” Even though the program has been successful recently, the head coaching change marks a major transition for a team that was on the precipice of making the NCAA tournament this past year. While Kelley believes the program still has a lot of talent on its roster, the end of Spellman’s tenure leaves the team without its centerpiece, and Kelley knows the new coach, whoever he is, will have huge shoes to fill. “Don was a tireless worker and Framingham State was certainly important to him and he loved it here. We’ll miss him for sure.”
April 16, 2010
The Gatepost
Page 17
Player Of The Week Steven Tramontozzi
Nenia Corcoran/The Gatepost
After a week in which he hit .353 with a homerun and 10 RBI, Rams’ outfielder Steven Tramontozzi was named MASCAC player of the week for the week ending April 11. A two-time second-team all MASCAC selection, Tramantozzi once again leads the team in RBI’s, and is tied for the team lead in homeruns while boasting a .291 batting average, and has been major factor in the Rams’ 3-1 record in conference games.
Women’s Lacrosse picks up first NEWLA loss
over Worcester. However, goals from Brittany Mclean, Kerry Kiley and Ashley After beating Simmons College Noonan would not be enough on Tuesday 20-15, the Framingham for Framingham to keep the lead State Women’s Lacrosse team took on throughout the half. A streak of seven NEWLA opponent Worcester State at Worcester goals would send the Rams home on Thursday afternoon. into halftime trailing, 9-6. The Rams took the lead early in The Lancers began the second half the match when just 56 seconds into with a goal, but Framingham answered the game, Stephanie Corrales scored back with four consecutive goals to tie an unassisted goal on the Lancers the game at 10 all. goalie Haley Erickson. Less than three The tie was broken first by Worcester, minutes later, Corrales added a second who scored three quick goals, which goal to her tally for a 2-0 advantage were then answered by three goals from the Rams to again tie the game. A g a i n , Worcester broke the tie, and again, Framingham answered with a goal keeping the game tied at 14. As time was winding down, both teams were looking for a goal to break the tie. It was Worcester, however who found the goal first with just 45 seconds remaining in play. Framingham was unable to answer Drake McCabe/The Gatepost this final goal, making the final Framingham State beat UMass Dartmouth at score 15-14. home on Saturday, 16-13. The loss gave the Rams a record By Nenia Corcoran Sports Editor
Nenia Corcoran/The Gatepost
Framingham State comes up short against Worcester State on Thursday afternoon, 15-14. of 4-3 overall record, and made this their NEWLA record 1-1. Corrales was the high scorer for the afternoon with four goals and one assist. Noonan, McLean and Kiley were close behind Corrales with three goals and one assist apiece.
“It’s too bad we lost but we played really well as a team, definitely one of our best games. Everyone gave it their all and it showed,” McClean said.
The Gatepost
Page 18
April 16, 2010
On The Sideline Softball Captain Megan Dumas By Josh Primak Sports Editor
support from anyone but our coaching staff and Kathy Lynch. Although our field is now closer to campus, which is more convenient than in past years, we still don’t have dugouts, bleachers, a press box, or much of anything else to make it actually look like a college softball field.
GP: How did you get involved with softball? Did you play any other sports growing up? Dumas: I’ve been playing softball since my town [Holden, MA] started a recreational league when I was in third grade. I played farm-league baseball before that. I tried playing soccer as a kid, but could never really get into it. I also played basketball starting at a very young age and played all through high school.
GP: How does it feel to be named captain of the team? What does the role mean to you?
GP: Who is your favorite athlete? Dumas: My two favorite athletes are Derek Jeter and Michael Jordan. They are both classy ball players with a lot of talent, dedication and some championship rings! GP: What is your most memorable moment playing for FSC? Dumas: My most memorable moment was my freshman year when we won the MASCAC championship. We beat Bridgewater State 1-0 in a must-win game for both teams. It was the most intense game I have ever been a part of. In the bottom of the 7th inning they had the bases loaded and two outs and we got the girl to ground
Dumas: Having the role of captain was very important Photo Courtesy of Richard Orr to me coming into this season. In past Megan Dumas leads the 2010 Rams as one years, we have had of the four captians. some trouble with team unity, and out to shortstop. I will never forget it. therefore had trouble winning games. GP: How do you feel the My goal coming into this season program has progressed during was to really make this a team on your time with the team? and off the field. I took the girls to a ropes course for some team-building Dumas: It is hard for this program to activities and we had team movie progress because we don’t have much and game nights throughout the year.
GP: How do you feel the team has played so far this season? What are your expectations for the rest of the season? Dumas: The team has been playing incredibly well this season. We are a young team, as I am the only senior, but you would never know it by watching us play. We look like we have been playing together for years. I tell the girls every day this is the best team I have played on in my four years, including the championship team of ’07. They have more heart and more fight than any team I have ever played with. We all have our eyes on the big prize, a MASCAC championship! GP: Do you have any pre-game rituals? Dumas: I don’t have any actual rituals - I just like to remind myself to have fun and play hard. GP: What will you miss most about FSC softball when the season ends? Dumas: I will miss the game, but I will miss my teammates the most. They are not just teammates and not just friends - they become your family. I have a special bond with each player and will miss them more than they know!
Upcoming Schedule
Ram Round-Up Baseball (12-11) 4/10 Loss 5-3 vs. Bridgwater State Win 5-3 vs. Bridgwater State 4/13 Win 10-2 at Fisher College Win 10-9 at Fisher College Softball (7-13) 4/12 Loss 2-1 vs. Bridgewater State Win 8-3 vs. Bridgewater State Women’s Lacrosse (4-3) 4/10 Win 16-13 vs. UMass Dartmouth 4/13 Win 20-15 at Simmons College 4/15 Loss 15-14 vs. Worcester State
Baseball 4/16 at WPI at 3:30 P.M. Softball 4/16 vs. Brandeis at 3:30 and 5:30 P.M. Women’s Lacrosse 4/17 vs. Thomas (Me.) at 2 P.M.
The Gatepost
April 16, 2010
Page 19
Baseball splits double header with Bears By Josh Primak Sports Editor
After opening up the MASCAC portion of their schedule with a sweep of MCLA, the FSC baseball team has continued its improved play, including a split with perennial powerhouse and MASCAC rival the Bridgewater State Bears, this past Saturday. The team came into their matchup with Bridgewater trying to prove that their early success in the conference was not a fluke, after dropping two games in a row to non-conference opponents UMass Dartmouth and St. Joseph’s. The losses were especially difficult to swallow as the Rams dropped both a pitcher’s duel to UMass Dartmouth, 0-4, in which the FSC offense mustered just one hit, and a high-scoring game to St. Joseph’s 11-10. While the Rams were in a rough stretch, the Bears walked out to the
Bowditch Field diamond having won their previous game with Johnson & Wales in dramatic fashion, scoring six runs in the bottom of the eighth inning en route to a 10-5 victory. In the first game of the doubleheader, the teams got on the board early, exchanging runs in the second inning with a homerun by Bridgewater during the top of the inning and a string of singles by Framingham in the bottom half of the inning, which allowed a runner to score on an RBI groundout. The Rams then took a two-run lead in the fourth, highlighted by outfielder Steven Tramontozzi’s solo homer, which was just a part of Tramontozzi’s week-long offensive explosion that earned him MASCAC Baseball Player of the Week honors. Unfortunately, Bridgewater had their own award-winning weapon on the hill pitcher Jeff Puopolo, who despite the early damage he took from the Rams,
did not allow another run after the tworun fourth, pitching all seven innings, striking out two and allowing just one walk. The solid performance from Puopolo was the low note in an otherwise spectacular week for the Bears’ hurler. In his other appearance on the mound for Bridgewater, he fired a one-hit shutout against Salem State. Bridgewater broke into Framingham’s slim lead in the top of the seventh, ruining Rams pitcher Charlie Spear’s bid for a complete game victory. The potential Framingham victory was lost on the bat of Bridgewater’s Matt Greenberg, whose three-run homer off of Spears secured the 5-3 come-from-behind win for the Bears, and ruined Spears’ day, which could have been a career highlight, as he struck out 11 and nearly went the distance, before being chased out of
Ram Talk
the game in the seventh. The frustrating loss for the Rams in the first game seemed to refocus their efforts in the end cap of the doubleheader, as they scored five runs in the bottom of the first inning off Bears pitcher Brian Guillotte, capped by back-to-back two-run doubles from first baseman Ryan McCarthy and Tramontozzi. The early offense by the Rams would be all they would need for the victory as the combination of starting pitcher Tommy Lindberg and reliever Mike Cain gave the Rams a split of the crucial matchup with the Bears. Outfielder Chris Cole is impressed with the team’s recent play and believes they are poised for big things against the rest of the conference. “I think that when we play the way we can, and not beat ourselves by making errors and not hitting at the right time, we are the team to beat in the conference.”
By Nenia Corcoran
Describe the craziest fan you’ve ever seen.
Nick Magliozzi
Rugby Player “The craziest fan I’ve ever seen was at a Celtics game this year against the Kings, and it was a kid dressed in all green spandex completely covered - and he kept getting on the big screen.”
Taylor Ezzold and Allyssa Shea Softball Players “A fan dressed as the opponents coach at one of the games.”
Allen Saint-Surrin Basketball Player “A group of fans were painted all red at one of our away games.”
Jorge Cruze Football Player “I saw a guy painted orange and black who went to every single game for all four years during high school.
The Gatepost
Page 20
April 16, 2010
Students participate in campus events
Tom Higgins/The Gatepost
Tom Higgins/The Gatepost Matt Mikaelian/The Gatepost
Students support the Day of Silence to raise awareness of harassment in the LGBT community. Tom Higgins/The Gatepost
Tom Higgins/The Gatepost
The Geographical Association held a beach cleanup day at Harding Beach in Chatham. Tom Higgins/The Gatepost
Tom Higgins/The Gatepost
Matt Mikaelian/The Gatepost
Tom Higgins/The Gatepost Drake McCabeThe Gatepost
Monday night’s Random Jam entertained students with live music.