Massai performers entertain, educate
Hockey starts with a tie
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T HE G ATEPOST T he Inde pendent Weekly Student Ne wspa per of Framingham State College Since 1932
VOLUME
WWW.THEGATEPOST.COM
78 L NUMBER 9
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O V E M B E R
Servicemembers and veterans celebrated at reception
By Roya Bahrami
AssistAnt news editor Members of the college community gathered on Monday night to honor servicemembers and veterans and to commemorate Framingham State for having recently become a Servicemember’s Opportunity College (SOC). “It’s really important that people who have done so much for the country are made to feel welcome and appreciated,” said Ellen Zimmerman, dean of academic affairs. President Timothy Flanagan said, “For the servicemembers and veterans, my goal is to provide them with a welcoming, efficient and challenging academic experience. ... They want to finish their baccalaureate degree, and we want to help them any way we can to make that possible.” The event was attended by veteran and servicemember students and alumni who were praised by professors and ad-
ministrators for their accomplishments both on campus and during their military service. Dr. Frederick Liberatoire, one of the first veterans to have graduated from FSC in 1970, was a guest of honor at the reception and spoke regarding his lifetime experiences as a veteran and an academic. Liberatoire served in the Air Force and utilized the G.I. Bill to enroll at Framingham State to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Biology. Later, he went on to receive a Ph.D. in Biochemistry, and now teaches at Becker College in Worcester. Liberatoire described the various phone calls, office visits, and extensive paperwork he had to complete in order to receive his funding for schools from the military—a stark difference from the automated system currently in place. “I had to do it [fill out the paperwork] myself. … A green check used to come in the mail every month from the Air Force [and that was] for school,” said
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Drake McCabe/The Gatepost
Field Hockey ended their record-breaking season against Endicott.
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Sodexo going “green,” planning cafeteria reconstruction with school
By Matthew Bushery
editoriAl stAff
With the help of Sodexo, FSC plans to reconstruct the resident and commuter cafeterias in summer, 2010 to add more seating. The renovations will be completed before school begins next fall. According to Director of Dining Services Ralph Eddy, the cafeteria expansions is a project Sodexo and FSC have been working on for the past few months.
Tom Higgins/The Gatepost
Eddy said, “The college is in partnership with Sodexo, and is currently in the design and development phase of several projects that will enhance the dining locations in the College Center and add possible new locations on campus.” He said these projects would be phased in over the next several years. Regarding the increase in resident students at FSC over the past few years and its effect on the amount of seating avail-
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A student practices tight-rope walking in front of Dwight Hall.
Field hockey ends record-breaking season pg. 13
Calling FSC to duty pg. 7
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EVE 6 turn FSC inside out pg. 8
The Gatepost
Editorial Board 2009-2010 Madison Dennis
ASSOCIATE EDITOR Lauren Byrnes
NEWS EDITOR Amy Koski
ASSISTANT NEWS EDITORS Roya Bahrami, Lindsay Chase, Rakel Hjaltadóttir and Sara Mulkeen
ARTS & FEATURES EDITOR Matthew Bushery
ASSISTANT ARTS & FEATURES EDITORS Pam Barberio and Amanda Lefebvre
INTERIM ASSISTANT ARTS & FEATURES EDITOR Tom O’Brien
SPORTS EDITOR Josh Primak
ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITORS Nenia Corcoran, Jeff Mandeau and Chris McCabe
INTERIM ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR Shaeleen Perreault
OPINION EDITOR Leanne Paradiso
PHOTO EDITORS Matt Bennett, Tom Higgins, Josh Kruger, Andrew Martin, Drake McCabe and Matthew Mikaelian
COMICS EDITOR Steve Monroe
ADVERTISING EDITOR Staff
ONLINE EDITORS Liz Anders, Chris Chagnon and Jen Perrin
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Betty Brault
ADVISOR Desmond McCarthy
General Staff Ashley Moran Ariana Shuris Monique Thomas
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GP: Are you currently working on any special projects?
Noon: I’m a proud graduate of Framingham State College in the clothing and textile program, and I studied fashion merchandising. And then I went on to Kansas State University where I got my master’s degree, again in clothing and textiles, focusing on apparel design. GP: What courses are you teaching this semester?
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Noon: I do some consulting work in the area of technical design and quality control. This summer, I worked at a company called Red Maple Sportswear - they import Alpaca sweaters from Peru. So, I try to stay involved in the industry as well as maintain my contacts with many of my colleagues and peers, and I encourage students to make those connections and be involved. GP: If you could give your students any piece of advice, what would it be? Noon: I think the main thing would be just to study hard, work hard and play hard, and experience as much as you can. And when you’re given an opportunity, just take it, and just go for it - make the most of every opportunity.
GP: Please give a brief summary of your resume.
Noon: For the past 20 or so years, I’ve worked in the garment industry. I’ve lived and worked overseas in Hong Kong and Korea. I worked for a company GP: What is one of your … called Bennett and fondest memories from Company, and we manuyour time in college? factured lady’s lingerie for major U.S. brands - VictoNoon: I think just the ria’s Secret and all that. Amanda Lefebvre/The Gatepost time spent with friends And then I worked for on campus and living Virginia Noon three years in Korea for a in the dorms - I lived company called Otto Verin O’Connor Hall. So, I think just developing those sand, and I worked as Quality Control Manager, where friendships, that’s really it. I oversaw production of men’s and women’s garments - leather jackets, sportswear, cut-and-sewn knits, sweatGP: What do you like the best about working at ers. I’ve recently transitioned into teaching higher ed. FSC? and I was teaching for the past two years at Mount Ida College in Newton in the fashion design department, Noon: For me, it’s like coming home after being away where I taught design, construction and pattern-making for so long, having spent four years here as an underclasses. graduate, and it’s friendly, and people are very helpful, GP: When did you first discover a passion for fashion? Noon: That was when I was very young, in the about the fifth or sixth grade. I just started sewing, and I loved the process of putting things together, creating things, and I’ve just been a sewer ever since. And that led me into the area that I ended up working in, which was technical design, quality assurance and quality control of garment production in mass production. GP: What is your favorite part of your job? Noon: I think my favorite part really is working with the students and seeing the progress that they make, especially - from that entry level - working with freshmen to working with seniors and seeing what a great distance they come. And even within a semester, or a project,
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GP: What is your educational background?
Noon: I’m teaching two sections of the World Market class, Textiles to Retailing, and one section of the Senior Fashion Merchandising Internship class.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Bryan Dagley Nicole Dygon Kelsey Loverude
seeing the growth of the students. It’s very rewarding and fun.
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and it’s just a nice place to be. Also, Dr. Judy Zaccagnini Flynn was my advisor as a student here and retired last spring, and so I’m trying to fill some very large shoes. It’s a real neat thing to come back to this school and do the same thing that I studied. GP: What do you enjoy to do outside the classroom?
Noon: I love to travel. I travel often. I have family in northwest Africa in Mauritania, so we travel as family often to West Africa. I’ve been all over Europe. I’ve been all over Asia. [But] I think there’s so many places I haven’t been - I haven’t been to South America, Central America. I don’t really know that much about that part of the world. Let me tell you, I had never been on a plane until my junior year in college - I went to Bermuda, never been on a plane. But my life took me in that direction, and so I love to travel - I love other cultures.
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THURSDAY
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By Amanda Lefebvre editoriAl stAff
WEDNESDAY
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TUESDAY
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Virginia Noon Fashion Department
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Saturday, November 7, 2009 Fire - Athletic Center. Report of small fire in cigarette ash tray. Fire extinguished. Sunday, November 8, 2009 Suspicious activity - May Hall. Report of older male sleeping on the 1st floor. Thursday, November 12, 2009 Arrest - Maple Commuter Parking Lot. Prisoner transport - Maple Commuter Parking Lot. One male transported to Framingham District Court. MVA - Maple Parking Lot 1. One MV hit while parked. Exchange, services rendered.
November 13, 2009
Gatepost Interview
Police Logs
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November 13, 2009 By Lindsay Chase
Assistant News Editor
The Gatepost
Enrollment at FSC will continue to increase
This fall, enrollment has increased at the college, and there are plans to further raise enrollment each year through “new initiatives.” Currently, there are 3,357 day division students enrolled at FSC. This is a 2.9 percent increase from last year’s 3,260 day division students, according to Dr. Susanne Conley, vice president for enrollment and student development. Of those 3,357, there were 725 freshmen and 310 new transfers admitted. Last year, there were only 650 freshmen, which makes this year’s number an 11 percent increase, said Conley. While there was an enrollment increase, the number of applications the college received decreased from 5,395 in 2008 to 4,553 this year. With that 16 percent difference, Conley said, only 2,753 new students were accepted this fall, compared to last year, when 3,087 students were accepted. This year’s yield rate, however, “climbed significantly,” according to Conley. This means that even though the number of applications was lower than the previous year, more people accepted admission to the college. Therefore, the yield rate went up to 34 percent, while last year, it was 27 percent. That is “a very healthy yield for us,” said Conley. Last year, there were 14 international students enrolled at FSC. This year, according to Conley, there are 15 international day division students at the college - three freshmen, one sophomore, three juniors and eight seniors. Fourteen percent of new students this year are students of color, while last year, it was 13 percent. “We’re really thrilled about [the number going up],” said Conley. For FSC, the average SAT score of freshmen in 2008 was 1038 - the highest of all Mass. state colleges - and Conley said this year’s average should be “right around there,” but the college will not know until January. The average high school GPA was also high at 3.14. Conley explained that Adams scholarships were obtained by 14 incoming freshmen. These scholarships are tuition waivers that are earned by students who score highly on the 10th grade MCAS tests in English and mathematics and who are in the top 25 percent of their district’s graduating class.
Five Tsongas scholarships were offered this year to incoming freshmen, while last year, six were offered, according to Conley. Tsongas scholarships are given to those who graduate high school within three years with a 3.75 GPA and an SAT score of at least 1200.
Matthew Mikaelian/The Gatepost
Students in the resident cafeteria.
In order to increase the number of applicants, “a lot of new initiatives” are starting to be put in place by the college, according to Conley. FSC is staying in “constant communication” with applicants, earlier packaging of financial aid is being sent out and the accepted students’ reception will be an opportunity for new students to meet with professors, making the college more appealing to prospective students. Conley said “significant quality time” will be spent with potential students at these receptions, which she hopes will influence their decisions. The college is “not quite sure about the application situation,” she said, but these new market initiatives are being implemented to
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“turn it around.” Conley added that FSC is “so affordable” - therefore, it is a viable option during such poor economic times. Freshman Jess Phinney, a communication arts major, said increasing enrollment would be beneficial, “especially if more students lived on campus.” This “would create a more diversified environment and give the college more of a social life.” Phinney added that as it is now, the size of the student body “doesn’t seem overwhelmingly big or too small,” which allows for individual attention in classes. Ilda Zenelaj, a freshman biology major, said there would most likely be fewer cliques on campus if there were more students. “People would be more open to meeting other new people,” she said. “[The college] should be called Framingham State University, too, if there’s going to be more students on campus. It wouldn’t be known as a small school anymore.” Freshman Luisa Montes, an elementary education major, said if more students enrolled at the college, it would take away from her overall experience. “I would like to meet new people, but I like a small campus.” Melinda Collins, a freshman communication arts major, said increasing enrollment each year would then increase class sizes, and this would cause her to have a harder time paying attention in bigger classes. “I like the amount we have now,” she said. “I wouldn’t be too happy if [enrollment] increased a lot every year.” The plan is to increase enrollment by one to two percent each year. Conley said this year’s 2.9 percent enrollment increase exceeded what FSC planned for, but “considering the revenue situation, [the college wasn’t] in the position to be turning away very good students. “I will not apologize for robust enrollments,” she added, “especially in economic times like these.” Conley said the way students talk about the college, how faculty members participate in recruiting students and the work admissions does proves that “we do function as a community” to keep up with healthy enrollments, and this year, she said, it “really paid off.” [Editor’s note: Nick Figueroa, dean of undergraduate admissions, was not available for an interview with The Gatepost, despite repeated efforts to contact him.]
SGA denies Chorus Club funding By Rakel Hjaltadóttir Assistant news editor SGA passed the constitution for the FSC Chorus Club for the second time at the meeting on Nov. 10, but denied the club funding for FY 2010. Chris Chagnon, president of the Chorus Club, said there are two groups within the club - classical and contemporary - and the funding would be used for music for the contemporary section. Chagnon said, “We are mooching off Arts & Humanities and their generosity. … They are willing to buy music and donate [it] to us.” There was some confusion about differentiating between the Chorus Club and the chorus class, and the music each would be rehearsing and performing. Chagnon said the budget is for the Chorus Club only, not the class, but said some people are members of both. “If you’re in the club, you have access to club materials,” he said. SGA voted not to allocate any funds to the FSC Chorus Club for FY 2010 until the club establishes a meeting time outside of class. After the decision had been made, Chagnon said, “As a club, we can’t exist without funding. We can have meeting times, but without money or the funding, we can’t get our supplies. … We can’t meet and rehearse nothing. In order to exist, we need music. … I could go out and download 1,000 copies of something, but that’s illegal.” SGA also unanimously passed the constitution for the U.S. Military and Veterans’ Club for the second time as amended. John Paul Dowe, vice president of the
club, said, “The purpose of this club is to bring together veterans, U.S. military members, students, as well as family members and supporters.” During the SGA open forum, junior Walter Rice talked about voter registration and a way in which high school and college students would be able to register to vote when they sign up for classes. The bill has not yet been passed, but Rice said it had support from Gov. Deval Patrick. Rice said, “There’s really no negative criticism other than the money for it.” He added that it is an historic bill because it is student initiated, and this program will be the first of its kind. Rice explained the program students use to register for classes would be able to recognize a student’s name and register the student to vote in whichever town he or she lives. “This makes it more of an automatic process [to register to vote],” said Rice. President of SGA Steve Whittemore talked about the Veterans Day banner students were able to sign in the College Center lobby on Monday, Nov. 9. “When I brought the banner up to Dean Stoops to sign, she literally had a hard time finding a white spot to sign her name.” The banner will be hung in Stoops’ office. The FSC for FHS constitution was also accepted as amended for the second time.
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The Gatepost
Cafeterias to be reconfigured due to student increase
November 13, 2009
the new residence hall. Before construction begins in the resident cafeteria, Hamel said the school will extend its contract with Sodexo. Per the contract, Sodexo will help with the majority of the funding for the project, though Hamel was unsure how much money the school could potentially receive from Sodexo. “The funds [from Sodexo] aren’t needed now, but rather in the fiscal year of 2010, right around the time the new
Hamel stated. Eddy said that along with the cafeteria expansion, able in the resident cafeteria, Eddy said, “The focus of Sodexo has several plans in place for next year to make these projects is increased production capacity in our FSC’s campus more “green.” Eddy, an alumnus of FSC, kitchen facilities, alternate locations for meal plan dining outlined several ways in which Sodexo has already made and enhanced retail dining venues. With that said, I am the campus more environmentally friendly, as well as fuvery confident that we are staying ahead of the curve in ture plans to do so. anticipation of the additional students who will reside on “Currently, we provide recycling bins for all plastic campus once the new residence hall is completed.” beverage containers,” said Eddy. “In addition, the college Dr. Dale Hamel, senior vice president of has instituted single stream recyadministration, finance and technology, discling which allows all approved cussed the specific aspects of dining expanrecyclable materials to be dission on campus. “The school hasn’t finalized posed of in the same container. the scope of the project yet,” Hamel stated, As part of upcoming renova“and therefore hasn’t developed a firm cost tion plans, we are incorporating estimate. We anticipate that all components equipment that will reduce the - snack bar relocation and expansion, new amount of waste entering the grab-and-go dining, seating enhancements waste stream. and kitchen enhancements, including selec“We are [also] looking at tive equipment - will have costs which will means of reducing non-biodeexceed $2 million.” gradable waste and/or replacing According to a preliminary rendition the it with biodegradable waste,” school commissioned for the renovations, Eddy stated. the grab-and-go dining services, called He added the school has been “Take 5,” will be located near the window active in trying to eliminate tray facing the Maynard Parking Lot. A pizza and use in the cafeteria, intended pasta station, as well as a sandwich and deli to reduce food waste and wastation, will be set up in the center of the cafter consumption. “By January, eteria. The State Street Grille will move to 2010, we plan to be 100 percent where McCarthy’s Pub is currently located. trayless.” Matthew Mikaelian/The Gatepost The cafeteria furniture will consist of Whitney Simpson, a junior round tables and booths with a few of the elementary education major, A long line forms at the Global Cuisine counter in the resident cafeteria. long, rectangular tables currently in the cafetesaid, “Going trayless is great for ria remaining. renovations will begin,” Hamel said, “so [the school] will the school. It’ll encourage students and faculty on campus The renovations will expand the resident cafeteria by know then.” to get greener and more environmentally conscious.” creating one large space, Hamel said, where the current Maddy Wakelin, a junior sociology major, loves the One of the chief ways in which Sodexo is helping resident cafeteria, the commuter cafeteria and McCarthy’s idea of the cafeteria expansion. “I think it’s awesome,” the environment is recycling waste vegetable oil, which Pub are located. said Wakelin. “The cafeteria is way too small now, and is picked up by Mass. Bio Fuel, a biodiesel heating oil “The wall to McCarthy’s will be knocked down, and this’ll help out in the long run for us students.” provider, which then utilizes the oil to create a more enthe barrier between both cafeterias will be taken out,” Senior Rebecca L’Ecuyer, a history and politics major, vironmentally friendly heating source, to heat “homeless Hamel stated, “creating a more accessible, spacious eating shares Wakelin’s sentiments regarding the renovations. shelters and other similar venues,” according to Eddy. area for residents and commuters.” She stated, “It’s fantastic. Right now, it’s hard to find space Jeffrey D’Andrea, a senior communication arts major, Junior Jim Belisle, a commuter majoring in politics, down [in the resident cafeteria]. I won’t be around next is glad Sodexo and Mass Bio Fuel are giving back to the likes the idea of combining the resident and commuter year because I’m graduating in the spring, but I’m glad for community. “It’s good that they care about the welfare of cafeterias. “I think the new cafeteria will offer commuters the classes behind me who get to have this.” others,” he said. “In general, both Sodexo and the school better food choices than just the State Street Grille. I also Junior psychology major Amanda Levitan said, “The play a big part in the school going green, so setting an like that commuters aren’t separated from the residents - I extra space is a big need in the cafeteria. I hate fighting for example is important.” always feel like I’m in the back of the bus in the commuter tables down there.” She added the new grab-and-go dining Other changes Sodexo is making this semester include cafeteria.” will help students who “want a quick, cheap snack on the new menu choices created by celebrity chef Roberto SanHamel said, “We can meet the continual demand for way to class.” tibanez, which is part of the “Mex to the Max” food menu seating for resident and commuter students with this Hamel said student feedback is being considered in the available in the resident cafeteria throughout the semester, work.” He noted the amount of new seats available will be new cafeteria plans. “A couple of years ago, we held con- as well as new recipes from chef Mai Pham, whose Viet“substantial,” but the final figures aren’t known yet. versations with students about what they want from din- namese and Asian cuisine will also be featured this fall in Students will be allowed to use their plans at all dining ing services around campus, and unfortunately, we’re only the cafeteria. areas of the cafeteria, as well as the restaurant planned for now getting to use their ideas to help further these plans,” -Continued from page 1
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November 13, 2009
The Gatepost
New transfer policy will help incoming students
By Shaeleen Perreault Editorial Staff A new policy in Massachusetts guarantees a community college graduate in good academic standing full transfer of credits and discounted tuition at a state college. The MassTransfer Policy, promoted by the administration of Gov. Deval Patrick, has a few stipulations and requirements a student must meet. The MassTransfer policy allows a student who opts to take 34 college-level credits of general education requirements, and who maintains a 2.0 GPA, to transfer all credits to a state school. In this scenario, a student will automatically satisfy the gen. ed. requirements of the state college he or she has chosen to transfer to, but the school may add a maximum of six additional credits or two courses to the students’ gen.ed. requirements. Dr.Robert Martin, vice president of academic affairs, said this two course or six credit option for receiving schools has been implemented for a few reasons. He said, “NEASC [New England Association of Schools and Colleges] requires that four-year institutions have gen. ed. programs of roughly 40 credits. ... Allowing a receiving institution two additional courses to require makes it possible to get up to that 40-hour minimum.” Martin explained this policy does require state colleges to give up a little of their distinctiveness since they are obligated to accept courses from another school to fulfill students’ gen. ed. requirements. The student who benefits the most from this policy is one who chooses to take the route of getting an associate’s degree at a community college that will link to a bachelor’s degree at a four year public college. A student who completes a bachelor’s degree at a community college and then decides to transfer to a state college can fall into one of three categories under the new MassTransfer Policy based on his or her GPA. With a minimum 2.0 GPA and an associate’s degree, a student can transfer with no admission fee or essay to a state college. Also, the student’s credits will fully transfer. The gen. ed. requirements will be considered fulfilled with the exception of those state colleges that have chosen
to add up to six credits or two courses of classes extra for the student to complete. A student with a 2.5 GPA is also guaranteed admission to the public college of his or her choice. A student with a 3.0 GPA additionally receives a waiver of 33 percent off his or her tuition along with the benefits other incoming community college graduates receive. Dr. Ellen Zimmerman, dean of academic affairs, is working with community colleges to try to make the transition from a community college to a state college easier
“The MassTransfer [Policy] would solve many problems that students have concerning their credits in the process of transferring to a school where they can concentrate more on their intended career choice.” - Christine Coburn
for students who have already chosen their majors. Zimmerman said she and other professors and administrators at Mass. schools are aiming to “try to reach a common understanding about what a particular course should bring to students.” She explained that a course at a community college may not cover the same quality material as the same course at a state college. The idea is to have the counterparts from each department meet and discuss what is important for students to learn in each class so the credit can be transferred and they will still have the knowledge base they need to succeed in their majors. Zimmerman added that what has happened is students have found they are being forced to retake courses because when they transfer from a community college to a state college, the previous classes did not cover the same material, which is discouraging to students.
“We are trying to sit down with the community college people to say, ‘OK - what can we do to get our courses in sync with each other?’” said Zimmerman. Faculty members agree that meeting with their counterparts at community colleges is the best way to make this policy work. Walter Czarnec, chair of the mathematics department, said, “It is my understanding that each department is supposed to meet with their counterparts at the community colleges to ensure that the courses are acceptable. If this is done, I see no reason why the courses can’t be accepted.” Martin said with this new policy, if a student completes the gen.ed. requirements at a community college, he or she will transfer to a four-year public college, despite the differences in the gen. ed. programs. Martin added this policy “is supposed to make it easier for [transfer students] to come to a four-year institution to come and start where they left off and not lose course requirements or credits in the process.” Students at FSC have a positive outlook on this new policy and see it as something helpful for the incoming class. Laura Metcalf, a junior English major, said, “That would be really helpful! Transfer credits have been a pain for every student I know who has had to go through the process.” Christine Coburn, a junior English major, said, “The MassTransfer [Policy] would solve many problems that students have concerning their credits in the process of transferring to a school where they can concentrate more on their intended career choice.” Some students are even looking to this new policy as a way to recruit students to state colleges such as FSC. Danielle Foley, a senior communication arts major, said, “I think that it is a really good idea. A lot of people are always worried about credits transferring over or about trying to pay for another two or more years of college, so it is definitely a good way to get more students.” Senior Brianne Mosher said, “I think a lot of people would benefit from that, because it seems like more and more high school seniors are considering community col-
FSC’s banner at the new Veteran and Servicemember Resource Center.
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Thomas Higgins/The Gatepost
FSC becomes Servicemembers Opportunities College
Liberatoire. According to an Aug. 31 press release, FSC’s role as a Servicemember’s Opportunity College is to help ease the transition veterans encounter when entering or transferring to a college. To be a Servicemember’s Opportunity College, FSC must allow for other credits to transfer easily. They must also give credit to veterans and servicemembers for military training and experience and nationally recognized testing programs, like the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) general and subject exams. Colleges participating in the SOC program must also allow for reduced academic residency requirements for servicemember and veteran students. This means that they will still be considered for academic residency even if they have only completed 25 percent of their degree requirements, and do not have to declare a year of graduation. FSC is one of four Massachusetts state colleges which is a Servicemember’s Opportunity College, along with the University of Massachusetts campuses. Dr. Melinda Stoops, dean of students, said, “I think that the guiding principles of SOC really match up with our priorities. Our membership is fairly recent, and we’ve been talking for the past year or so about reaching out to veterans and servicemember students. … This is one step in terms of easing the registration process, for example, for veterans and servicemembers coming here for the first time.” Members of the administration said they would like to see another element of diversity brought to the student body by the presence of veterans and servicemembers on
campus. Flanagan said, “We hope to attract strong, ambitious students to the campus who have had a wide variety of life experiences that enrich our classrooms and advance the maturation and development of all of our students.” Flanagan and Stoops expressed gratitude for the progress that servicemembers and veterans on campus have made in organizing and maintaining a Veteran and Servicemember Resource Center desk and recently creating a new veteran’s club. The Veteran and Servicemember Resource Center desk is located in the office of the dean of students on the fifth floor of the college center. According to Deborah Dalton, the associate director of the office of the dean of students, only student veterans and servicemembers are currently staffing the desk. “Right now, [the veterans] are all volunteering their time,” said Dalton, who explained that the students are at the desk in the morning Monday through Thursday, and that the desk is staffed “sporadically” in the afternoons. Stoops said, “This year, the students who have been volunteering with us have been really active in getting a club started, which is sort of their own initiative, and is not something that we [the administration] are actively involved in. I’d like to see them really get that up and going this year.” The FSC US Military and Veterans Club is advised by Dawn Ross, who also works in Career Services as the office manager. Ross, an eight-year Navy veteran, was also at the reception and expressed excitement and enthusiasm about the club. “We encourage more people to join and support our club,” said Ross. She added the club was start-
ed this year and has already expanded to over 20 members. Members of the veteran’s club hope to expand their presence on campus by inviting family, friends and supporters of those who have served in the military to join. Some of the changes they plan to make around campus include revising the way flags are handled and raised, and creating a scholarship for veterans. “We’d like to bring patriotism back on campus,” said John Paul Dowe, a veteran and vice president of the new club. The veterans and servicemembers hope the club and their military backgrounds and experiences will enrich the student body as a whole. Leife Martin, the president of the club, said, “We bring a unique background and experience to the campus. … The college has been very good to us and they understand everything that we have been through.” Dowe added, “One of the best things for me is that I get to bring a sense of professionalism to students. … While we relate on a common ground as students, they can ask me questions about what’s going on in the country, you know, any curiosities they might have about the military [or] events that are happening overseas.” The administration would like to see future expansion of the new club and eventually a larger presence of veterans and servicemembers on campus. “I’d like to see us [the administration] this year really fine-tuning some things, increasing our visibility, helping students in whatever way they need to get the club off the ground, … [and] working with Admissions as they recruit more veterans and servicemembers,” said Stoops.
November 13, 2009
The Gatepost Editorial Calling FSC to duty
During the 1960s and 1970s, Framingham State College was a community changed by Vietnam. The constant reminders of war were inescapable even here at our small state college, where protestors picketed on campus and classmates were called away to serve. When veterans hiked up State Street in their military garb to return to their classes, the adjustment back to college life could not have been easy. At FSC, however, administrators offered servicemembers a multitude of resources, including a full Veterans’ Center in Crocker Hall, the assistance of resource persons, a veterans’ club and financial aid. And there wasn’t even a “Servicemembers Opportunity” title to get out of it. FSC administrators’ efforts were solely for the purpose of helping veteran students. Many servicemember students, who could be found spending time at the Veterans’ Center, helped to ease the transition back to college life, providing a support system for strength and encouragement for themselves and others. Furthermore, students and professors compassionately welcomed veterans to FSC and helped them adjust to college life. The resources FSC offers student veterans today are inadequate compared to the support and guidance provided to student servicemembers during the 1970s. With tens of thousands of college-aged servicemembers at war in Iraq and Afghanistan, FSC should make more of an effort to support and appreciate student veterans on campus. Obtaining the distinction as a “Servicemembers Opportunity College” is not enough. We at The Gatepost believe veterans deserve to be appreciated every day for the risks they have taken and the sacrifices they have made for our country. For FSC, the real work is left to be done. The administration must recognize that student servicemembers have specific needs which are different from those of other students. They must ensure servicemembers receive the help they need, not only to graduate, but to feel welcome and supported throughout their transition from life in the military to life on campus. The FSC administration should take direction from other Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges. Our sister colleges provide their student veterans with numerous resources to ensure their social and academic needs are met. UMass Amherst, and Bridgewater and Salem State colleges offer ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps.) programs which provide students considering life in the military a chance to work and bond with student servicemembers on campus. Additionally, they all provide student servicemembers with the assistance of their own resource persons who are employed by the colleges themselves. Their sole jobs are to serve student veterans. The resource persons are easily accessible to student servicemembers, and can be found in their specific offices, available to advise and mentor them. A veteran center would not only serve veterans, but would also offer prospective student servicemembers a place to get more information about the benefits FSC could provide them when they return from military service. Student veterans need to be offered more than just a desk in the dean’s office. It is insulting to those who have risked their lives for their country to be provided with a desk as a substitute for a full veteran resource center. Student servicemembers should be given their own space where they can meet other veterans, spend time together and get away from the hassles of everyday life. Student veterans need to be able to have each other’s support. They can’t do that if there is no reasonable place for them to find each other. The spirit of volunteerism among FSC alumni is deeply rooted in our community. Veteran alumni would certainly be willing to help support student servicemembers. The administration has taken a step in the right direction by working with some veterans in their effort to support student servicemembers. However, there are hundreds of veteran alumni who would be willing to get involved in assisting their fellow servicemembers on campus, and it is FSC’s responsibility to recruit them. Many FSC students, like most college students today, do not know enough about the wars in the Middle East in which their peers are fighting. FSC administrators and faculty members should be doing more to improve the civic-mindedness of students. Faculty need to discuss more than just what is required for their courses. There are opportunities to discuss current events and the wars in the Middle East in many classes at the college. Furthermore, new courses need to be designed in order to educate students about the history of the Middle East, as well as about the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The spirit of patriotism is lacking on campus. We at The Gatepost are challenging our campus community administrators, faculty and students alike - to give FSC veterans the support and honor they deserve for their willingness to sacrifice everything for our safety and freedom. We are calling FSC to duty.
The Gatepost
Op/Ed
Page 7
Honor Veterans’ Day
“We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude” -Cynthia Ozick. For many people, Veterans’ Day is merely a day on the calendar. Most people look forward to it simply because it allows them a much-needed break from their busy schedules, and gives them hope that they can make it all the way to Thanksgiving. Although having a day off is always enjoyable, it is important that we remember the true reason behind this holiday. In 1919, President Wilson declared the first Armistice Day, saying, “To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory.” In 1954, the legal name of the day was changed from Armistice Day to Veterans’ Day, and in 1975 Veterans’ Day was declared a federal observance by legislation. Veterans’ Day is designed so America can take the time to remember all those who have dedicated, and in many cases given, their lives to defending complete strangers. You will never know the names of all the brave men and women who have sacrificed and suffered for you. You may never know the pain and heartache that comes with loving a soldier be it as a parent, spouse, sibling, child or friend - but remember, those who wait also serve. You may never know the horrors of war, and you may never be able to relate to those who have seen them, and that in itself is something to be grateful for. It is important that we all take the time out of our own busy lives to acknowledge the men and women of our military and all that they have done for us. It is imperative that we do not lose sight of the original intentions of the holiday. Although Veterans’ Day may have already passed, it is never too late to express your gratitude for the gifts that have been given to you by the selfless members of our armed services. A simple gesture of thanks can go a long way and no gesture is too small. To all those who have fought, and to those who have continued to defend, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Nenia Corcoran Editorial Staff
Rakes - not leaf blowers Aside from the annoyance of being awoken by the roaring sound of a leaf blower outside my dorm room window at 7 a.m., and the added annoyance of struggling to hear my classmates speak over said leaf blowers throughout the day, I am of the opinion that these infamous leaf blowers are not in keeping with our school’s proposed “green initiative.” While I appreciate the fervent efforts to keep up the aesthetic appeal of our charming campus, I do not appreciate the hypocrisy of telling students they will no longer be able to use trays in the cafeteria because it saves water, while the school is paying for a special machine that sucks up leaves that have been blown into a neat little pile by those unsavory leaf blowers. There is a new-fangled contraption called a rake. Perhaps someone could look into it. It is November. We live in Massachusetts. No one is going to be shocked or offended if there are a few extraneous leaves on the ground. What’s the next step? Purchasing a state-of-the-art vacuum that sucks the leaves off of trees before they have the chance to fall? Let’s keep things in perspective here. The battle against falling leaves in autumn is not one we are going to win. If we are trying to maintain a reputation as a “green” campus, we might want to start by accepting the fact that there may occasionally be a few stray leaves on the ground of our lovely New England school. These machines are obviously costly, and clearly environmentally unsound. Trust me, there are plenty of students on campus who would be willing to pick up a rake for 20 minutes. What would they ask for in return? Nothing. The ability to sleep through that precious last hour before your 8:30 a.m. class and the chance to hear what is going on in that class would be well worth the effort.
Leanne Paradiso Opinions Editor
EVE 6 at FSC I just wanted to say a huge thank you to all of the SUAB members who helped out at the EVE 6 concert on Friday night! From what I could tell, it took a lot of hands to make a popular band like EVE 6 even come here in the first place, let alone blow everyone away with an amazing show! And I know that both bands had tons of heavy equipment, but everyone showed enthusiasm setting everything up and taking everything back down at the end of a long day, so, great job! In addition, I also wanted to thank Angel Seto, Jordan Viola, and Claire Ostrander (who all work in the SILD office) as well because without your help, the concert could not have been possible! Thank you very much, and I hope this sets a precedent for all the concerts that follow!
Amanda Lefebvre Editorial Staff
We at The Gatepost welcome Op/Ed submissions from all members of the FSC community. Please limit opinions to 300 words and letters to the editor to 200 words. E-mail submissions to Gatepost@framingham.edu.
Op/Ed submissions reflect the opinions of their authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of The Gatepost or its staff.
The Gatepost
Page 8
November 13, 2009
A R T S & F E AT U R E S Matthew Mikaelian/The Gatepost
INSIDE OUT
By Amanda Lefebvre Editorial Staff
“
EVE6 TURN FSC
By Ashley Moran Staff Writer
Yes…yes yes yes!” Lead singer Max Collins stepped out from behind the shadows to the front of the Dwight Performance Arts Center on Friday, Nov. 6. At one of the biggest events of the year, an indescribable energy pulsed through FSC’s auditorium, as EVE 6 jammed out in an exhilarating and wildly entertaining concert. “We’re psyched to be here. I’m feeling rad tonight!” Collins exclaimed to the crowd. On electric guitar was Matt Bair, who throughout the show, would stand on his tip toes on the brink of the stage with his instrument high above his head, encouraging the crowd to jump, cheer, clap and be more energized than they had ever been. For one of their songs in the middle of the performance, Collins pushed the audience to “loosen up. ... You want to feel like a ninja - a rock ninja!” It’s that kind of vivacious attitude that got them started in the music business, and it’s their down-to-earth interaction with their audiences that have kept them popular. EVE 6 was formed in California circa 1995 by high school singers and guitarists Max Collins and Jon Siebles. Drummer Tony Fagenson later joined the band to complete the famous trio. In 2004, EVE 6 split up after nine years of creating music together. Fagenson and Collins formed the band Sugi Tap, but recently decided to reunite EVE 6. They brought in a new guitarist, Bair, to replace Siebles (who is busy producing in L.A. and playing with his band Monsters are Waiting), and from the performance on Friday, it seems to have been a good move. Bair was captivating, and the band was completely
in sync. Junior Christina Cheli, SUAB’s concert coordinator, encountered some difficulty initially selling tickets to this event. “Ticket sales were hard at the beginning, but everyone bought them at the last minute,” bringing in a total of nearly 300 sold, but if you counted everyone in SILD and SUAB who helped out, it came to almost 380 in attendance. No doubt, this was a huge turnout, and Cheli could not have been happier. SUAB President Rachel Keir commented, “I hope everyone is having as much fun as I’m having!” Keir admitted to dancing in the aisles during the show, justifying it by saying, “They’re from the 90s, so it definitely brings you back.” Cheli admitted that “the biggest challenge was picking a band that everyone would like. I didn’t want to stick to a certain genre.” She felt that EVE 6 would “bring people back” to their middle school and high school days. “They’re not local, but people know them.” SUAB began looking at options back in August, but the event truly came together in the last two weeks. Keir believed they made the correct decision. “It [EVE 6] is right in line with what SUAB can afford and handle.” The opening band for EVE 6 was Fiction 20 Down, from Baltimore, Md. Their sound certainly came straight from the heart. When EVE 6 came on stage, their energy was electrifying, causing the audience to stand, cheer and sing along to fan favorites such as “Promise,” “Think Twice” and “Here’s to the Night.” The audience illuminated the sentimental lyrics to “Here’s to the Night” with the lights of their cell phones. The audience got a preview of songs on the
band’s upcoming album, such as “Little Tiny Everything” and “Red Black,” both of which were met with enthusiasm. When the band played their smash hit “Inside Out,” Collins started off the song by saying, “I wrote this song when I was an asshole.” With lyrics such as “Rendezvous then I’m through with you,” that statement is easy to believe, but it did not stop the audience from belting out every word. In the middle of the song, the band
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Matthew Mikaelian/The Gatepost
Guitarist Matt Bair’s guitar skills on display.
Ev E 6 rock the house at dpac The Gatepost
November 13, 2009
Matthew Mikaelian/The Gatepost
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Matthew Mikaelian/The Gatepost
Drummer Tony Fagenson moving at the speed of sound.
Matthew Mikaelian/The Gatepost
- Continued from page 8
snuck in an unexpected version of Miley Cyrus’ “Party in the U.S.A.” EVE 6 ended with the track “At Least We’re Dreaming” off their most recent album, It’s All in Your Head. After the song, Tony Fagenson threw his drumsticks out to the audience as a final testament to their rock star status and an explosive end to the show. Freshman Stephanie Labelle caught one and gushed, “I thought it rocked! Great time to just let loose and head bang … and I got the drumstick!” EVE 6’s loyalty to their followers was evident Friday night when they gave an encore. After the concert, Bair was rushing out to catch a flight to New York, but before the other two left for L.A., they made a few comments on the performance, this tour and what we can expect from their new album. “I love Boston,” Fagenson commented. He claimed this college concert to be their “best one ever.” Collins added, “This audience was really good. They were very responsive - even to the opening band.” Fagenson said, “It was a cool room, a cool sounding room.” When asked to comment on the upcoming album, Fagenson said, “I can think of one word ... awesome, awesome, awesome.” Collins agreed, describing the upcoming album as “mind-blowing,” and referred to it as the “best album ever made.”
C
AMPUS By: Tom O’Brien
C
ONVERSATIONS
Top: Lead singer Max Collins rocks out for FSC fans.
Bottom: Students are more than happy with the show.
What does Veterans’ Day mean to you?
“It represents the appreciation and recognition of our soldiers.”
“It’s a day of respect. I talked to my brother who is in the Marines, and my mom made almost $200 in donations.”
“Veterans’ Day is a day to honor all soldiers. We need to donate more to fix veteran hospitals.”
- Bryan McKenna, freshman
- Julie-Anne Borrelli, freshman
- Matt Gelbein, sophomore
“My friend is in Iraq right now, so I wrote him a letter.”
“I donated my lunch through the school.”
- Sujaya Paul, sophomore
- Kalina Flood, sophomore
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By Amy Koski Editorial Staff
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The Gatepost
November 13, 2009
Maasai Performers entertain, educate
Supa,” a man and woman in vibrant red, bead-covered, traditional Maasai garb called to the audience gathered in FSC’s DPAC on Wed., Nov. 4. Tentative shouts of “Ipa!” were returned, as students, faculty and other members of the Framingham community tried to repeat what was taught to them only minutes earlier. Francis ole Sakuda and Grace Salau, of the Simba Maasai Outreach Organization (SIMOO), performed traditional Maasai dances and answered questions about their culture. The Human Rights Action Committee, multiple FSC cosponsors and Dave Favreau, FSC class of ’02, of Cultural Survival, a non-profit group, organized the event. President of HRAC Leila Boudouani, a sophomore sociology major, said it is important for people of other cultures to come educate with their stories. “The mission of HRAC is to act and inform,” and “education [global and local] is a huge form of activism” and human rights awareness, she said. Ole Sakuda told the audience that SIMOO was founded in 1994 in order to better the living conditions of the Maasai people, who live in southern Kenya and northern Tanzania. He said, “We are very happy this evening to talk about our cultures and the challenges we are facing in the 21st century.” The organization works to send children to schools closer to their homes, to empower Maasai women and to raise the standard of living in the Maasai community, especially by modernizing Maasai housing. While SIMOO works to make education more easily available to Maasai children, the group is simultaneously working to make water more accessible to these families. Ole Sakuda said “maybe 20 percent” of Maasai children get to go to school. He said the three most prevalent reasons for the “about 95 percent” of illiteracy in Maasai communities are “bad infrastructure,” obligations that force students to quit school and poverty. Bad infrastructure, Ole Sakuda said, is due to the fact that, for most Maasai students, their schools are at least 10 - 20 miles away. More boys receive educations than girls, he said, because many girls have to babysit younger siblings, while their mothers walk many miles to collect water every day. They cannot leave their siblings alone and eventually end up never returning to school. Salau said empowerment of women is very important to SIMOO. Maasai women create a lot of beadwork, and SIMOO helps these women sell their finished products. She said the women are more empowered since they have been able to partake in business, especially involving their own handiwork. SIMOO aims to protect women in the Maasai community. Traditionally, Maasai women are wed in an arranged marriage at any point from age 15 - 20. During this time, the women are circumcised, as well as Maasai men of the same age, Ole Sakuda said. He added that SIMOO aims to eradicate female circumcision in the Maasai community. He said it is very important to “stop female genital mutilation.” The organization’s Web site, www.simookenya.org, says it also has programs to help Maasai girls who do not want to take part in an early, arranged marriage.
Drake McCabe/The Gatepost
Members of SIMOO perform Maasai dance for the audience.
Drake McCabe/The Gatepost
Salau and ole Sakuda had much to say about Kenya and America.
Because Maasai men work in the fields during the day with each family’s livestock, Maasai women take care of the children and are responsible for carrying the average six gallons of water they must collect each day very long distances. Maasai homes are made of cow dung, urine, twigs, grass and ash. Maasai families cook over open fires as well, so the houses are “small, smoky and dark,” ole Sakuda said. SIMOO hopes to modernize Maasai housing. One of the first steps they have taken is providing tin for community houses. With tin roofs, Maasai houses are better protected against the elements, and families can even collect water pooled on the roofs or draining off. The organization is also building wells in Maasai communities to save women from having to walk such great distances every day. Ole Sakuda and Salau performed a traditional dance at the event. The dance was one which warriors returning from slaying a lion would perform. The most victorious warrior on this hunt is the man who manages to obtain the lion’s tail before it dies. He then becomes the “most popular” man in the village, ole Sakuda said. He added only men jump in this dance and, “men who jump the highest are more likely to get a girlfriend.” Maasai young men and women are allowed to have “boyfriends” and “girlfriends,” ole Sakuda said, but their relationship cannot go beyond that of a friendship. An audience member asked how the Maasai felt about arranged marriages, and Salau said, “It’s not a big deal if a bride cries when she gets married” because she may not meet her husband until the day of the wedding. Ole Sakuda laughed and said, “The boys - we don’t care very much.” He added only the man who has obtained a lion tail on a hunt can choose his first wife. The Maasai community is a polygamous one, but a man must obtain permission from his parents to take a second (or third) wife. Ole Sakuda has one wife, he said. Ole Sakuda said the Maasai are semi-nomadic pastoralists. They move, when necessary, to find water and grass for their sheep, cows and goats. Though there are no hospitals in the Maasai community, ole Sakuda said many Maasai live to very old ages. He said, “My dad is over 100 years and still very healthy!” Most early deaths are due to lion attacks, though according to ole Sakuda, lions only attack men. He said they do not attack women or children. He recounted two instances in which a child was lost for five days and was finally found being cared for by a lioness that tried to “adopt” and look after the child until he or she was found. Ole Sakuda and Salau ended the night with thoughts about America. While they both enjoy coming to the U.S., they said, they do not like the lackluster community strength here. Salau said it is “very different” where they come from, in regard to community, because “you know everyone.” She said she had 1,000 guests at her wedding, and no invitations were sent out - their community is so strong everyone just knew about it. Ole Sakuda answered affirmatively, “Yes, very much,” to a question from the audience about whether he feels western culture is a threat to his culture. He said private companies are starting to commercialize Maasai land and conservancies and sanctuaries which are built do not benefit Maasai people in the least. He said it is important for he and Salau, as representatives of SIMOO, to come to the U.S. because “America is a superpower” and, since the Maasai are being affected by global warming, if the U.S. can “lead the fight against” it, then the Maasai “livelihood” can be saved.
The Gatepost
November 13, 2009
Page 11
Energy cr isis FSC students find unique ways to get amped for school By Sara Mulkeen Editorial Staff omework, classes, internships and jobs - it’s hard to believe some students can fit them all into one 24-hour day. Sleeping and socializing are bonuses only for masters of time management. What is the secret to doing it all? It can come in a can, Styrofoam cup or even in pill form. The means by which consumers across the globe are getting a fix of “fake energy” are becoming increasingly creative. Morning classes at FSC begin in eight minutes, but nine sleepy-eyed students do not seem to mind the time as they wait in line at the College Center Starbucks for their morning caffeine fix. Though the pricy beverages may be a rare treat for some, for others, they are part of a daily ritual. Groans of, “I can’t think right now, I haven’t had my coffee” waft through the Cyber Café, along with the scent of fall delicacies, such as spiced pumpkin lattes and hot apple cider. FSC sophomore Christy Ulak said she doesn’t discriminate when it comes to caffeine. “I drink coffee, energy drinks and soda,” she said. “I have at least three caffeinated drinks a day.” Ulak added, “I wouldn’t say I’m addicted, but I do get headaches if I don’t have [caffeine]. It’s more of a habit.” Students file out of the State Street Grille carrying their afternoon pick-me-ups in the form of extra large cans. The beverages sporting neon “M” logos or Rockstar brand names have become a universal symbol for overcoming exhaustion. Shaky hands and jittery knees are a small price to pay for hours of ambition to do homework or simply stay awake in class. Sophomore Chris Nappier said although he drinks about
H
three caffeinated drinks per day, increased energy is not his goal. “It just tastes good!,” he said. Nappier added, “I mostly drink soda, occasionally energy drinks, but never coffee - that’s gross.”
Drake McCabe/The Gatepost
FSC provides students plenty of energy fixes.
With so much to do and so little time, some students take a more drastic route, resorting to the use of unprescribed medication. When the thought of laboring over a ten-page paper or
studying for final exams seems to be more than a few cups of coffee can handle, students seek out the prescription drug Adderall, commonly used to treat ADHD and narcolepsy. One FSC student who wishes to remain anonymous said she frequently takes Adderall to assist her with school work. “When I take [Adderall], I get so much work done in one day, and I’m able to pay attention in class a lot better than if I were not to take it,” she said. “I take it at least a few times a week, Monday through Friday, but not on the weekends - unless I’m doing school work.” The student added she is aware of the side effects of Adderall, which include loss of appetite, sleep disorders and mood swings, but for her, the benefits outweigh the consequences. “Even though [Adderall] helps me tremendously now, I always think about the way it will affect me in the future,” she said. Another FSC student who uses Adderall has a more humorous outlook on the pros and cons of the drug. “I don’t think I have a problem. … Massive amounts of caffeine sprinkled with Adderall on top is delicious!” she said. The student explained although she is not overly concerned about the risks of taking Adderall, she has cut back on the drug within the past year. “I rarely take [Adderall] now, probably just a couple times a semester, but last year, probably twice a month,” she said. With homework to do, bills to pay and parties to attend, few college students can attest to sleeping the recommended eight hours per night on a regular basis. Luckily, energy supplements are available in forms to fit everyone’s tastes - just pick your poison.
Toys for Big Boys and Girls
NEW! Hosted by Pure Romance
FILM SCREENING MONDAY NOVEMBER 16TH 6:45 pm – 9:00 pm McCarthy Campus Center Forum ONE OF THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL FILMS ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT EVER MADE! FREE ADMISSION FREE REFRESHMENTS Items for purchase: DVDs, bumper stickers & T-shirts Prescreening and Post screening Discussion Moderated by: Dr. Audrey E. Kali, Communication Arts Event Sponsored by the FSC Animal Rights Club
Toys for Big Boys and Girls
NEW! Hosted by Pure Romance
Unlock your sexual desires… Unlock your sexual desires…
Wednesday, November 18th, 2009
m in HH G36
Wednesday, November 18th, 2009
7:30 pm in HH G36
ored by:
“WE MUST NOT REFUSE WITH OUR EYES WHAT THEY MUST ENDURE WITH THEIR BODIES” - Gretchen Wyler, Humane Society of the United States
SPORTS Field Hockey ends record-breaking season
November 13, 2009
Nenia Corcoran Assistant Sports Editor
The field hockey team took to the field for the last time this season on Wednesday, when they faced off against sixth seed Endicott College in the 2009 Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) New England Division III Field Hockey Championship. The Rams entered the game having been seeded third, but were upset by the Seagulls 2-0 in the match. However, the Rams have nothing to be ashamed of. The Rams ended the season with an overall record of 15-5, setting the school record for the most wins, which previously was 12. Framingham finished second in the MASCAC standings with a conference record of 4-1. The Rams had four players named to the 2009 Little East Conference (LEC) field hockey all-conference teams. The first team roster featured junior Kristen Sacco and sophomore Kayleigh Force. The second team recognized seniors Kali Barrett and Katie Wotherspoon. Sacco, who was named LEC Rookie of the Year in 2007, was ranked third in the conference with a total of 43 points and 20 goals. Sacco had a record-breaking season, as she became Framingham’s alltime lead scorer after breaking the school records for goals in a season and goals in a career. Force now holds the school record for assists in a single season with 11. She was tied for second place in the conference for assists and also tied at
The Gatepost
tenth for points with 23. Barrett is making her second straight appearance on the all-conference team. Barrett had 27 points and 11 goals, making her sixth in the conference and second on Framingham’s all-time lead scorer list behind Sacco. Wotherspoon is being acknowledged for the first time in her career after leading the team with three defensive saves for the season. Goalie Allesha Kenyon was not recognized by the conference this year, but that didn’t stop her from setting a
new school record for wins in a single season. Kenyon had a record of 15-4, including four shutouts. She holds an average of only .82 goals against, after allowing only 15 goals in over 1200 minutes of play. In a four-way tie for first place in the LEC, the Rams made it to the semifinal round of the conference tournament for the first time. They were eliminated by Keene State in the 3-0 loss. Despite being knocked out of the tournament, the Rams are holding their
Page 13
heads high. “This season was fantastic,” said Force. “The coaches made field hockey a place where we could have fun and get work done at the same time. We were a family on and off the field. We always put our heart into every game and every practice. This was most likely everyone’s best season they’ve ever had. We went 15-5 this year and that was a great feeling. “Next year is going to be different because we are losing four key seniors, who will be missed greatly. But we still have a core group of girls and some great leaders for next year to help us carry on our winning record!” Force was not alone in her feelings. Teammate Wotherspoon added, “Our season was unbelievable. We all really stepped it up this year. With the help of new coaches, we really made a difference in the Framingham State field hockey program, we set so many new records, both team and personal records, and we are all very proud! I think we learned so much from our new coaches, but we also learned a lot from each other and we played like a family this year and I think that is what led to our success.”
Field Hockey was upset by Endicott College in the first round of the ECAC playoffs. Drake McCabe/The Gatepost
For coverage of Football’s 2009 season, turn to page 14.
Page 14
SPORTS
November 13, 2009
The Gatepost
Football fizzles in second half By Jeff Mandeau Assistant Sports Editor
The 2009 Framingham State Rams’ football season came to an end last Saturday with a heartbreaking loss to the Coast Guard Academy Bears. The Rams ended the season with a 5-5 record for the second year in a row. Although it’s not an improvement, the young team is confident they will have winning seasons in the very near future. Captain Anthony Pappagallo said, “Our future is looking really good. We’ve brought in a few good recruiting classes in a row and it is starting to show on the field.” Captain Dave Leach said, “This team is set up to be real good next year. We were a real young team this year.” The Rams will also have three out of their four captains returning next season. However, the captain who will not be returning will be missed. James McCarthy said, “Losing the seniors isn’t easy, especially one like Anthony Kewley, who did so much for the program. His leadership and toughness meant a lot to me and he’ll really be missed.” Leach said, “It’s hard at the end of the season losing the seniors. Anthony Kewley is going to be a tough loss. He’s a four-year player who was here when the program wasn’t good, and now he was a part of back-to-back .500 seasons. His hard work and playmaking ability will be hard to replace, but hopefully, the team sees what it takes to be successful from watching him day in and day out. He’s one of the best football players I’ve ever stepped on the field with.” Leach had an incredible recordbreaking season, winning the Boston Globe Division II/III Golden Helmet Award for a superb game against MASCAC rival Fitchburg State. Leach ran for almost three-hundred yards and scored four touchdowns, carrying the team to a pulse-pounding 40-37 win.
In the process, Leach broke the school record for carries in a single game with 43 and tied school records for points and touchdowns in a single game. This season, Leach also became Framingham State’s all-time leading rusher, shattering the previous record of 2,211 yards and so far has rushed for 2,407 yards as a Ram. Leach said, “I don’t go in a week aiming to break records. If it happens, that, great. I’m sure it’s going to mean more to me after I leave here and look back on what was accomplished. Also, I truly believe everyone on a team should take pride in a record being broken. Without my stud o-line, I would not be able to run the ball 43 times and get in the end zone so many times.” The Rams had a hot start to the season, winning four of their first five games, including a thrilling Homecoming victory against the Fitchburg State Falcons. The second half of the season wasn’t as successful as they only won one of their last five games. The Rams’ last game against Coast Guard Academy was an especially disappointing loss. A win would’ve given the Rams a winning overall record - something they have not had in 23 years. Statistically, it would appear the Rams had won the game, gaining 157 more offensive yards than the Bears, outgaining them in rushing and passing yards. However, they could not outperform the Bears in the most important aspect of the game: the scoreboard. All season, the Rams have cost themselves games by committing too many turnovers and in their last game of the season, it was no different. The Rams threw four interceptions and had a fumble, making it a total of five turnovers in one game. The Bears’ Chris Costello had a record-setting game, catching three
of the Rams’ four interceptions. The Rams also uncharacteristically had 15 penalties, giving the Bears 95 yards. The Rams had the lead early in the second quarter when quarterback Patrick Franey connected with McCarthy on a 38-yard touchdown pass, giving the Rams a 6-3 lead. However, the lead wouldn’t last very long, and on Coast Guard’s next possession, they drove 70 yards for a go -ahead touchdown. The seesaw game would have another lead change, when Franey completed a 54-yard touchdown bomb to Brandon Holbrook to give them a 13-10 advantage. Those would be the last points of the season for the Rams, and it wouldn’t be enough to win the final game. Again, the Rams couldn’t enjoy the lead for very long, as the Bears would answer the Rams’ touchdown with one of their own, giving them a four-point lead. That’s all the Bears would need and the Rams would fall by the final score of 20-13. The loss dropped the Rams’ record in the MASCAC to 3-4 and an overall record of 5 -5. Leach said, “We were looking to finish over .500 this year, and even though we didn’t get the record we were looking for, it was still a successful season. We showed the league that last season wasn’t just lightning in a bottle. We showed the league that Framingham is a contender.” McCarthy said, “I can’t consider the 2009 season a successful one because we’re still not playing into November, which is the playoffs. We started off 4-1, and dropped four out of the last five. We’re still young, and have a lot to grow, but we left games out there that could have won. When all the other teams in the league started to get better as the season went on, we didn’t.” Pappagallo said, “The highlight of our season this year was our Homecoming
win over Fitchburg. Our defense and offense both stepped up at the end of the game, and that needs to happen all next year for us to get to where we want to be.” A young squad with a strong dedication to playing tough is in prime position to have success next season. Leach said, “I don’t really have one moment that sticks out to me as my favorite part of the season. For me, it’s the fact that we built a family out of this team. We have become a tight-knit community, and we expect to come out next year and win the league.”
Drake McCabe/The Gatepost
For the second season in a row, Rams finish 5-5.
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November 13, 2009
SPORTS The Gatepost
Page 15
Hockey starts with a tie By Josh Primak Sports Editor
Down 3-1 with less than six minutes to play in regulation, the FSC hockey team’s opener against Suffolk had the look of recent years for the team. However, with a new coach behind the bench and a more physical style of play, the Rams were able to net two goals in the final minutes of the third to play to a 3-3 tie in front of an enthusiastic crowd at Loring Arena. The tie marks the first time the team hasn’t opened up with a loss since the 2003-04 season. Suffolk, which came into the game having outscored Framingham by a 13-4 margin in their last two meetings, struck first just four minutes into the game. After a cross-checking penalty sent Framingham’s Matt Lally to the box, Suffolk took advantage when forward Zach Barron batted in the rebound past goalie Andy Joyce to give Suffolk the early lead. Lally was able to atone for his penalty towards the midway point of the first period when some good passing from fellow forwards Trevor Johnson and Jason Anderson and a fortuitous bounce led to the first tally of the game for Framingham – knotting things up at one. The Rams’ increased physical play and checking would not help them on the scoreboard in the second period. Despite outshooting Suffolk by an 18-9 margin in the period, Framingham was unable to net any goals of their own and still did not control the offensive tempo – spending a good chunk of time protecting their own zone. Suffolk was able to take the lead when forward Jason Molle netted his first goal of the season. The lead was extended to two when forward Andrew Monesi scored towards the end of the second period – with the assist by Molle and forward Matt Robertson. The third period would feature a flurry of action as Framingham would again bring their physicality to the ice. Still down by two goals towards the middle of the period with Suffolk seemingly cruising to another victory, Framingham’s Brett Casavant leveled
a Suffolk player toward center ice. The crushing open-ice hit caused a stir, both from the Framingham bench, as well as the subdued crowd , and gave momentum back towards the fledgling Rams’ squad. Momentum would also be shifted back in Framingham’s favor as Suffolk would play undisciplined hockey in the waning minutes of regulation. After killing off two penalties in the first half of the period, Suffolk would take a penalty for having too many men on the ice, followed by a delay of game penalty just 1:19 later as a puck was sent out of play as Suffolk tried to kill of the previous penalty. Now with a 41-second two-man advantage, the Rams were able to step up the offensive pressure on Suffolk and a previously anemic Framingham power play finally capitalized with about five minutes left in regulation. With Suffolk’s fourth man racing out of the box to help the penalty kill, Casavant was able to rip a shot past the Suffolk defense and into the back of the net to cut the lead to just one. Less than two minutes later, Joe Hurley tied the game as Framingham continued its momentum boost, pushing Suffolk back on its heels. The end of regulation yielded a jumbled overtime period, with neither team able to put together any sort of offensive attack, as both teams had just one shot, ending the game in a tie. Although the game didn’t end in the victory the Rams were looking for, the team’s ability to come back from a serious deficit late in the third was seen as a positive sign for the team. Forward Jon Vaillancourt said of the team’s performance, “It was the first time that we played with our set lines, and our set systems. I think it shows a lot in a team to come back like that in the third. You see a lot of teams fall apart after going down by two - it was a good test for our team.” The team opens up its road schedule this Saturday night against SNHU.
Nenia Corcoran/The Gatepost
Hockey’s third period push gained them a come-from-behind tie against Suffolk in the opener this past Wednesday.
Nenia Corcoran/The Gatepost
Trudeau records 1,000th career kill By Chris McCabe Assistant Sports Editor
Women’s Volleyball recorded another successful season in ’09. However, their playoff run was cut short as they were bounced by Westfield State in the first round. FSC had to beat MASCAC rival Salem State, just to make the playoffs. They passed the final test with flying colors as they defeated Salem State 3-0 and gained the final seed in the playoffs. The Rams’ season ended in a 3-0 loss to Westfield in the MASCAC Tournament. FSC dropped the first two matches by the same score of 25-11 as they fell behind two games to nothing. But something awakened in the Rams during the third match. Both teams kept fighting, and the score flipped
back and forth. The two teams found themselves in a tie at 18 in the final match. It was at this point when Westfield State began to pull away. They managed to grind it out for a 25-21 win, capping off the 3-0 game victory, allowing them to advance to the MASCAC Finals. There was a silver lining to the dark and dreary cloud, though. In the course of the game, Captain Ashley Trudeau recorded her 1,000th kill of her career at Framingham State. The Rams enjoyed a bit more success in the regular season than in their playoff endeavors. They ended the regular season with a record of 14-17 and had a very strong home field record of 8-3. They also had a
respectable 3-3 record against fellow MASCAC opponents. On three different occasions, the Rams enjoyed a three-game or better win streak during the season. They recorded very convincing wins against teams such as Mass. Maritime, Anna Maria and Maine-Fort Kent - all of which resulted in 3-0 victories for Framingham State. The Rams also managed to play tough teams in tight situations and come out on top. They defeated Suffolk 3-1, and more notably, they managed to win probably the closest game of the year against MCLA. The Rams and MCLA alternated wins in their matches. Framingham State took the first one by a score of
27-25. The match went into overtime, but FSC remained strong and held on to get the two point advantage to claim victory. The next matches were more definitive until the fifth and final game. The Rams had to dig in once again to come out with the final win, 15-9, giving them the victory they needed to beat MCLA. Looking toward next season, Trudeau said, “I feel that if the girls on the team work hard and train offseason and play as much volleyball as they can, we will do a lot better next year. So there is only one way to go and that is up!”