Happy Hilltop Games
Hockey wins 1st of the season
Students perform cabaret in
Rams defeat Southern N.H. 9-3 - p. 14
Ecumenical Center - p. 9
“Lincoln” Review Spielberg brings 16th president’s story to the big screen - p. 12
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Cafeteria expansion expected to start in April By Rachellyn Makuch STAFF WRITER
Freshman Cameron Zamagni and Colleen Leary perfom as Beethoven and CB’s Sister in Hilltop’s production of “Dog Sees God.”
FSU faculty and staff meet to discuss proposal for tobacco-free policy By Samantha Cusella STAFF WRITER
The FSU All College Committee hosted a faculty and staff forum to discuss the possibility of a tobacco-free campus on Nov. 21. The meeting was run by Vice President for Academic Affairs Linda VadenGoad, Professor Francis Kemegue, and SATF Treasurer Paul Manning. Vaden-Goad opened the forum by presenting an early draft of the policy. The policy would prohibit students,
faculty, staff, contractors and visitors from using, distributing or advertising any type of tobacco product on campus property, including the parking lots. The policy would also disallow the improper disposal of tobacco product such as throwing cigarette butts on the ground and spitting smokeless tobacco. The policy’s tentative effective date is Sept. 1, 2013. “In a sense, what we expect from the community is to shape the draft to the needs of our community and satisfy-
ing the different groups that we have,” Kemegue said. “We have to insist that we respect the will … of everyone on campus.” Vaden-Goad then opened up the forum to comments and questions. Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Continuing Education Scott Greenberg asked how the policy would be enforced and monitored. Vaden-Goad said some universities - Continued on page 4
An expansion of the FSU residence cafeteria will be undertaken this summer and construction is expected to be completed by the start of the fall semester. The outside work will begin prior to the end of this school year, said Executive Vice President Dale Hamel. “Basically, as soon as the ground is warm enough … probably as early as April 1.” Ralph Eddy, director of dining services for Sodexo, said, “The primary element of this FSU-funded project is to provide additional seating for the Dining Commons and the construction of a new kitchen space to accommodate the past and future growth of the university.” Hamel said, “It will be completed, or at least completed where it really isn’t disruptive to the inside operations by the beginning of the fall semester.” The expansion will be added onto the back of the McCarthy Center. Hamel explained, “If you’re in the dining commons and see the seats along the windows, it [the cafeteria] will go out from there. It will be a story-and-a-half structure basically on the green space between the current dining area and the parking lot.” The expansion of the cafeteria will have no effect on the rest of the McCarthy Cen- Continued on page 7
A performance to die for By Sara Silvestro EDITORIAL STAFF
A visible tension between a Bandanawitch arises during a life and deathbased musical. The two are spotted throwing punches at each other, the witch pulling the rock star’s hair in front witch’s hat off. “We were encouraged to get physical,” said sophomore Tyler DeMoura, a Hilltop player. The Hilltop Players presented “The Hilltop Games,” which played from Nov. 15-17 in the Ecumenical Center. The show was directed by John Gazard, a senior. Lenell Wyman, the music director, helped determine the theme of
the show, based on popular musicals, such as “Rent,” “Wicked,” “Spring Awakening,” “Hairspray,” “Rock of Ages,” and “Annie.” Patrick Powers, a sophomore and the producer, also helped come up with the idea. Powers, Gazard, and Wyman may have been the brains behind the theme of the play, but the 23 cast members were the ones to make the play come alive. FSU students played the characters inspired by those from many known musicals, from Mimi in “Rent” to Janet from “Rocky Horror Picture Show.” The Hostess, played by junior Deirstrict top bun opened up the show with a strong sense of bittersweet satire, as she introduced each of the tributes by pulling out slips of paper from a glass bowl.
She shared with the audience the horrid truth that it was “reaping day,” and only one of the tributes would survive. Little did the audience know that Powers was improvising the entire show all three nights. The cast members did not know what to expect from her witty comments and were laughing behind the scenes. Powers’ sarcasm and dark humor clearly expressed the theme of the Hunger Games accompanied by hysterical laughter from the audience. zies take their clothes off I would go to UMASS on a Thursday night, “ said Powers after the second performance with Sherrie, played by freshman Courtney Taylor, and Staci Jaxx played by DeMoura. Taylor came out wearing
as she put Staci Jaxx in his place with the song “I Hate Myself for Loving You” from Rock of Ages, and gave him a tempting lap dance. The song ended away as Sherrie left Staci Jaxx. Another performance had the crowd laughing from the sudden change of heart that the song took on. Elle Woods, played by freshman Kellie Wallman, and Warner, played by sophomore Aislyn Zybert, performed “Serious,” from “Legally Blonde.” Warner misled Elle into thinking he was going to propose at dinner, but instead he was getting “serious” with his life and moving on without her. Elle, in her hot pink dress and her dog in her purse decided she was going to “kill” Warner herself. The reasoning? “He compared me to a - Continued on page 9
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Police Logs
Gatepost Interview Carol O’Malia
Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012 13:54 Medical - Maple Street Athletic Fields. 1 male transported to MWMC for leg laceration.
Sunday, Nov. 18, 2012 01:22 Medical (alcohol related) - Peirce Hall. Report of an intoxicated female. Transported to MWMC via an ambulance.
Monday, Nov. 26, 2012
November 30, 2012
Art & music department By Deanna Collins EDITORIAL STAFF
Please provide a brief summary of your resume and educational background. I went to the Rhode Island School of Design. I was an illustration major, and I always worked in oil paint even as an illustrator. Then, I went back later to the University of Massachusetts in Dartmouth for a painting degree. That was my M.F.A.
I was in graduate school - and that was in the late ‘90s. I have another show at The Art Complex Museum in Duxbury. paintings. Tell us more about your show.
Half of them are boxers. In my building, a boxing gym opened. About a year and 15:29 Suspicious Activity -MWYMCA Day Care. a half ago, I was walking in after teachReport of a male sleeping in a taxi. Advised/ ing a class at Framingham State and it removed. was snowing in March, which was crazy, What were you and I was carrying all 22:35 Narcotics Investigation - Linsley Hall. doing before you my stuff to go back to Report of smell of marijuana. Unfounded. came to FSU? my studio to work. And this guy was standing Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012 Oh my gosh, what out there in a T-shirt haven’t I done? I and shorts in a half-foot 11:30 Larceny - Hemenway Hall. got out of RISD, of snow. I said, “What Report of an ongoing larceny problem. Report and I went to New are you doing out here York right away in shorts and a T-shirt?” and decided to be He says, “I own a a freelance illustragym.” I’m like, “What tor. I would sit in do you mean you own Grand Central Staa gym? I’ve been in tion, at a magazine this building forever. kiosk, and look There’s no gym in this up every art direcbuilding.” Turns out tor’s name. Then, this guy moved in and I would get on the started a boxing gym. phone and call Spencer Buell Carey Scouler So I thought, “I have them ‘cause it was Editor-in-Chief Copy Editor to try it out because before the Internet. all I have to do is walk I would interview down the stairs.” So Joe Kourieh Deanna Collins around the city, I started boxing and Associate Editor Staff designer Deanna Collins/The Gatepost meet art directors it was good to get in Kerrin Murray and do drop offs, shape, but also I was Associate Editor Patrick Carreiro always looking for work. I left New York down there always going, “This place Online Editor after about a year or so and moved back looks like a theater.” And that’s what I Kathleen McDonough to the Boston area. I started teaching by talk a lot about in my show, that it looked Staff Writers: News Editor picking up some substitute teaching in like you were walking onto a stage. Like Kärin Radock Natasha St. Amand the public schools, and quickly realized I this is not real - this is part of some alterNews Editor Kaila Braley wasn’t cut out for that. I worked my way native world. The bottom line is if that up age groups until I realized I was best gym hadn’t moved in, I probably would Michael B. Murphy Scott Calzolaio suited for college-age students. I taught Assistant News Editor Samantha Cusella classes at MassArt for about ten years. Adam Farah And I was still freelance illustrating. But is very theater-like because it’s red and Talia Adry Ashley Kazijian I always wanted to be a painter, so I went black and has dramatic lighting. I started Arts & Features Editor Stacia Kindler back to grad school to earn my graduate hiring some of the guys to model for me Zachary Comeau Samantha Lockard degree in painting. The larger the scale and they ended up in my paintings. Since Arts & Features Editor Tom Lustig of my painting, the happier [I became]. then, the show also features young men Alex Shuman Rachellyn Makuch Then, I stopped teaching for several lakeside. I hope to show the psychology Assistant Arts & Bryan McKenna years, and ended up painting, illustrating, of the two different worlds - similar asFeatures Editor Craig Pease and doing some graphic design work. pects of play, but two completely differSara Silvestro Kristen Pinto Slowly, over time, I ended up only paint- ent ways of coming toward it… It’s very Assistant Arts & Cristina Valente ing interesting. Their gestures and moveFeatures Editor ments mirror each other. That’s where What classes do you currently teach? that series came from. You can come and Staff Matt Cook see it! It’s open November 18th through Photographers: Well, I’ve taught drawing. I taught a digiFebruary 17th in Duxbury. Sports Editor Margaret Walsh tal course. And painting, obviously. But Jess Thomas Elizabeth Chauppetta I can teach a whole bunch of peripheral Do you have any advice for students? Assistant sports things like that, too, because I’ve illuseditor trated children’s books [and] worked What I’ve found that’s worked best is just Dr. Desmond McCarthy in both ends of publishing - from being go to your studio and do your art, in some Advisor Samantha Rawson the illustrator to hiring illustrators. I’ve form, every day. As long as I do my art on Meredith O’Brien-Weiss Opinions Editor some small scale every single day, then Assistant Advisor a graphic designer. I have a whole bunch I’m still doing my art. I don’t quit. I think www.thegatepost.com of tools in my bag just [from] years of that’s part of the reason I like the boxers. Alexis Huston Photo Editor being out there. The boxers say there are no quitters. You Danielle Vecchione 100 State Street, McCarthy Center Room 410 can’t quit. Never throw in the towel - just You have a show coming up, a few Photo Editor stick with it. Even if you have other jobs Framingham, MA 01701-9101 shows, correct? Allie Card - just keep your eye on what you [love]. I Phone: (508) 626-4605 Assistant Photo love painting. I knew it wouldn’t be necFax: (508) 626-4097 I do. I have two solo shows this year. I just Editor essarily the easiest thing to do without gatepost@framingham.edu had a solo show out in Park City, Utah - having another job. But, just stick with it. Just stick with it.
EDITORIAL BOARD 2012-2013
@TheGatepost
November 30, 2012
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Undocumented immigrants in Mass. to pay in-state tuition By Spencer Buell EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Under a new directive from Gov. Deval Patrick, some of Massachusetts’ undocumented immigrants will now be eligible to pay in-state tuition at public colleges and universities. Patrick sent a letter to the state’s Board of Higher Education Monday, Nov. 19 indicating that young people approved for the federal deferred action program would qualify for the lower rates, effective immediately. Immigrants who apply for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, announced in June of this year, must be under the age of 30 and have immigrated here before the age of 16, among other requirements. Those given federal approval are granted working permits and are protected from deportation for two years, at which point they have to re-apply. The move brings Massachusetts’ 29 state colleges and universities in line with a policy which, since 2008, has allowed all immigrants with work permits to pay in-state rates. In-state tuition and fees for one year at FSU come to $8,080, with out-ofstate coming to $14,160 - a difference of $6,080 per year. Per the announcement, schools will have to refund the additional cost for any undocumented immigrants approved under DACA who are currently paying outof-state tuition. Current estimates put the number of people eligible for DACA at between 15,000 and 17,000 - only a “handful” of whom have actually been approved, said Heather Johnson, spokesperson for the “The fraction of that 15-17,000 people that this will ultimately apply to is very small,” Johnson said. “Even three or four years down the road, we don’t expect this to be a capacity issue on campuses. It’s not like there are suddenly going to be thousands of people applying to any one campus. Spread out over the 29 pub-
lic campuses, we’re not expecting a huge impact.” The government does not keep a record of how many undocumented immigrants currently attend public institutions of higher education, because those num-
Rita Colucci, FSU’s chief of staff and general counsel, said, “It will be interesting to see” whether FSU will see increased enrollment from Framingham’s immigrant community at some point in the future, adding, “If we do, we’ll follow the guidelines of the [Department of
“Having to pay out-of-state tuition has for many been a non-starter, effectively precluding lots and lots of young people from being able to afford to go to college,” Ferraro added. Kira Gagarin, a local immigration atFramingham, said of the governor’s announcement, “This is huge.” Gagarin said she has helped numerous one of which has been approved so far. Because non-citizens are not eligible
Photo courtesy of www.facebook.com/devalpatrick
Gov. Deval Patrick’s directive extends lower rate to recipients of President Obama’s deferred action program. College applicants will still have to meet established requirements for instate tuition in Massachusetts - one year of residency for public colleges and universities and six months of residency for community colleges. Although the move will not have a large impact on Framingham State right away, Sociology Department Chair Sue Dargan said it’s a step in the right direction for the state as a whole. “I think it says that we have a more welcoming attitude in Massachusetts toward immigrants,” Dargan said. “That’s a small number of people, but it’s a sign, in general, in Massachusetts, that we value diversity.” Dargan is the former chair of FSU’s Diversity Committee.
Higher Education].” Vice President of Enrollment and Student Development Susanne Conley said she couldn’t speculate on the move’s impact on FSU’s admissions. “We simply do not know how many young people have been avoiding the public colleges and universities in Massachusetts (with their separate in-state and out-of-state price structures) before now,” Conley said in an e-mail. Vin Ferraro, a sociology professor who teaches a course on immigration policy, said in an e-mail that Patrick’s announcement “promises to allow the 1.5 million generation - those children who came here prior to age 16 - the opportunity to pursue higher education, an opportunity that motivated many of their
many will still face barriers to education or might only be able to afford to take a few classes at a time - an issue that could be addressed in future federal immigration reform. “It’s not the end, because it doesn’t allow kids who have lived here their whole lives to get the full college experience,” Gagarin said. Justin Perry, a junior history major, said he recognized the subject is “a complicated issue.” However, he said, “If they have a work cant amount of time, we shouldn’t punish them, I guess.” Jacqueline Lovell, a freshman food and nutrition major, said, “If those kids for cancer, why should we deny them the opportunity to go to school?” Jerry Etienne, a sophomore food and nutrition major, said, “I feel that if you’ve lived in the state, you should be able to pay in-state, just as other people who live in the state do.” Cassandra Gay, a senior sociology major, said, “If they live here, they should. It doesn’t make sense that they shouldn’t.” Michelle Valerio, a sophomore communication arts major, said she didn’t support the move. “If they’re undocumented, they’re not legal. I don’t think they should have the privilege of paying in-state tuition,” Valerio said.
FSU offers personal Internet connections for student dorms MICHAEL B. MURPHY ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
Framingham State University students living in residence halls can now purchase a subscription-based Internet access which allows them to play video games online, as well as stream content from online video sites, with a private bandwidth. In an e-mail to students at the beginning of the semester, a personnel from the FSU Student Helpdesk informed students they could opt to pay for their own “personal and private connection apart from what is provided by the university.” Mike Zinkus, director of systems and networking at FSU, said the decision behind the supplemental Internet offering was for students to have the “option for recreational Internet use for items, such as gaming with Xbox, or other high Hulu.”
When asked if the decision to sell private Internet connections was based on, in any way, problems with the current FSU Internet network, Zinkus said, “no.” “The majority of issues that occur on the campus network are isolated and speStudents can help prevent the campus network from experiencing problems such as Internet browser crashing and sluggish Internet speed, he said, “through basic steps like installing anti-virus software, making sure their operating system is patched and up to date and running frequent scans with anti-malware products.” Zinkus said the idea for providing students with a higher bandwidth that they proximately two years ago.” In fall 2010, an infrastructure upgrade that was needed to make the offering possible was completed. - Continued on page 5
Danielle Vecchione/The Gatepost
A student goes online with the Wii in their dorm.
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November 30, 2012
FSU faculty and staff meet to discuss proposal for tobacco-free policy Continued from page 1
use a reporting line, and if the violation occurs in the residence halls, there are different punishments. Kemegue said the approach is not intended to “have the police outside to put people in jail because they were found smoking.” Individuals who are observed smoking will be reminded of the policy. If they are repeat offenders, human resources, health services and academic affairs will work together to discuss the policy with them. Greenberg said students already rarely obey the 30 feet rule, which states that students must stay at least 30-feet away from buildings while smoking, without being reprimanded. “In actuality, there’s no real punishment,” Greenberg said. Vaden-Goad said the current draft policy states that violators will be issued two verbal warnings. The implementation and compliance section of the draft policy states that if a second warning is ignored, a penalty will be issued. A campus telephone number and e-mail address will be promoted to report violations. The section also indicates that students, faculty and staff are responsible for enforcing the policy. Vaden-Goad said the section of the draft which covers implementation and compliance needed attention, since it mittee wanted the community to help come up with a clear penalty. Director of the Child Development Lab Valerie Hytholt said the day-care children have to go through the non-smoking area during pick-up and drop-off times. She said students often disregard the rule, and some students repeatedly smoke in the area after being asked to leave. “We have to walk through secondhand smoke and cigarette butts and the litter,” she said. “Something that is becoming increasingly unpleasant is the chewing tobacco and the spitting of the chewing tobacco.” Hytholt said she was concerned about the enforcement of the policy. Associate Dean of Students and Director of Residence Life and Judicial Affairs Glenn Cochran suggested that after a second verbal warning, violators of the policy would have to go through the campus judicial process, which would relieve the committee of having to specify a penalty
in the policy. Cochran also suggested changing the name of the initiative to a “smoke-free, tobacco-free” policy because hookah, not necessarily a tobacco product, is listed as a forbidden product. Vaden-Goad made the suggestion of instituting a task force to help people quit smoking, if that was their choice, “to help
tion of the sidewalks. Associate Vice President of Capital Planning and Director of Facilities Warren Fairbanks said the public street sidewalks are town property and not campus property. Fairbanks said the implementation and compliance section of the proposed policy, which states that all tobacco waste
Danielle Vecchione/The Gatepost
A new policy could prohibit students, faculty, staff, contractors and visitors from using, distributing or advertising tobacco products on campus. the policy ease into our community.” Cochran said the section of the policy which states that FSU does not accept direct or indirect funding, including gifts or anything else of value, from tobacco companies would be “tricky” to uphold. “Indirect funding seems like it can be a ‘can of worms’ kind of thing,” he said. “It’s like tracking [relationships] of companies.” He suggested that the indirect funding portion be eliminated from the policy. Greenberg said, “There are so many conglomerates these days, and who knows who Philipp Morris is funding?” Vaden-Goad added another section of the proposed policy, which prohibits companies that sell tobacco from participating in campus events such as career fairs, could apply to a place like Walgreens. She said the committee will reword the two bullets. Greenberg said he was “torn between the idea of the smoke-free campus and the tobacco-free campus” because secondhand smoking is dangerous to others, while chewing tobacco is only harmful to those who use it. Greenberg asked who has the jurisdic-
management product will be removed from campus, will make the littering problem worse. He suggested if a penalty for littering were to be implemented in the policy, it might help decrease smoking on the public roads and sidewalks. penalties for breaking this policy, I think ful.” Fairbanks said because littering is more of a public health issue than a law enforcement issue, campus police “might state property. Cochran said the no-smoking signs around campus should also warn against littering. He also suggested the policy should specify whether possession of an unopened pack of cigarettes constitutes a violation. “If that’s not the case, then the word ‘use’ needs to be included somewhere,” he said. Committee on Diversity and Inclusion member Emmanuella Gibson said the school needs to put an optimistic spin
on the policy and put out “positive health messages.” She said that at one of FSU’s sister schools, administrators passed out “thank you for not smoking” cards to encourage students to quit. Administrative Assistant to the Ofthe start date will be unfair to incoming freshmen who have already applied to the school under the impression that smoking will be allowed on campus. She suggested a one-year transition period so that the information packets can be changed to include the policy and current students can take part in cessation classes. Greenberg said he is concerned that the tobacco-free policy will prevent potential students and staff from applying to the school. Kemegue said the intent of the policy was not to discourage people from applying, but to persuade people to “get rid of your cigarette and dispose of it before you come to campus.” Gibson said people will “look at Framingham State as a school that provides great education and a great school environment,” and that the policy won’t necessarily discourage them from attending. Vaden-Goad and Kemegue reminded participants in the forum that an electronic form of feedback has been set up on MyFramingham and encouraged them to include edits of unclear wording within the policy. Vaden-Goad said she is “optimistic that at the end of the process, we will have A student forum will be held in the alumni room on Monday, Dec. 3 at 1:30 p.m.
Check out an early draft of FSU’s tobacco-free campus policy here
framingham downtown renaissance presents
second annual
saturday, december 8, 2012 11:00 am – 2:00 pm downtown framingham Come celebrate a Downtown Framingham winter tradition! Enjoy the festivities with music, food, raffles, hot cocoa, window painting and more community activities for children & adults! artists & window sponsors needed
Contact: Holli.Andrews@+1%-0@'31ìeì @ @
In association with Downtown Merchants Design: Framingham State University Art & Music Department Students
Facebook.com/DowntownFramingham
November 30, 2012
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Subscription-based Internet connections now available in dorms Continued from page 3
A “test-pilot” phase was “administered to several students during the spring of 2011,” said Zinkus. This was undertaken to detect any before the offering went public to the entire university. He said that it was fully launched for students at the beginning of fall semester 2012. The broadband connection is provided by an outside company, Campus Televideo, which currently provides cable TV services to the FSU campus. FSU allowed outside companies to bid for its “contract for data services,” Zinkus said. Campus Televideo secured the contract after a “competitive process.” The service allows students to choose between two options of broadband Ethernet - basic or premium. According to the Campus Televideo website, the basic offering will give subscribers a modest internet connection of up to 3Mb down / 768k up for $16.99 a month. The premium bandwidth will provide a much faster internet connection with up to 10Mb down / 768k up will cost students $29.99 per month. So far, 12 students have signed up for the service - nine have signed up for the 3M rate and three have signed up for the 10M rate. Students need a valid credit or debit card to buy the service, and there is a $25 activation fee. Once signed up, students will receive a self-installation kit that will be mailed to their dorm rooms. Zinkus said that outside of some “difthemselves,” students should have no
problem using their new Internet connection. up the device can receive “technical assistance,” he said. Timothy Fredette, a junior computer science major, said while he understands why students would pay for a private Internet connection with a higher bandwidth capacity, he does not believe it’s worth the price tag. “While 10 MB isn’t bad, $30 for the restrictions of having no wireless connections is not desirable,” Fredette said. That the connection would only be accessible through a hard line - an Ethernet cable in a dorm room could pose “a potential problem for some people or room setups.” Having seen fellow students play Xbox Live and stream video content from websites like Hulu using the campus’ free Internet network, Fredette said he’s not sure whether what FSU and Campus Televideo is offering is worth the money. “I personally would rather just suck up the poor bandwidth sharing to play subscription,” Fredette said. Art major Linnette Rodriguez, a senior, said she believes the offering is a good idea, but has no interest in paying for it. “I have enough bills and art expenses,” she said, “that I don’t think I would bother with taking on another monthly bill, you know?” Minnie Salhotra, another senior art major, said, “I think it’s a good idea but I think it’s kind of silly that they went through all this trouble just so students could play video games online.”
Alexis Huston/The Gatepost
Student gamers no longer have to share bandwidth with the rest of the campus.
Alexis Huston/The Gatepost
Ethernet cables connect game consoles and computers to a high-bandwidth broadband connection.
SGA grants History Club funding for Washington trip By Talia Adry EDITORIAL STAFF
ing break, SGA allocated $8,103 Tuesday to The History Club for its upcoming trip to Washington D.C. this March. The History Club will be traveling to Washington from Mar. 16-20 touring the capital and visiting museums. The funds allocated will cover the cost of travel and lodging for 25 students. $3,564 of the $8,103 will cover the Amtrak tickets, and History Club President Justin Murray said he plans to get Metro passes for transportation around the city. Murray said that all of the Smithsonian museums are free of charge and that he also hopes to get passes for all the students to visit the Pentagon. The trip will cost $75 per person in addition to funds allocated by SGA. Tickets will be sold in the game room at the start of next semester. The Ski and Snowboard Club requested $1,340 for a tubing trip to Nashoba Valley, with tickets totaling $1,040. The remaining $300 will cover the cost of the bus. The tubing trip would be free of charge for students as to President Kendall Valente. Senator Nikki Curley asked why the
club only planned on taking 40 people bers of the Ski and Snowboard Club said that in the past the trips only allowed 40 students so that there would
be room on the bus for the ski equipment, but as this was a tubing trip this might not be an issue. The motion passed. The Black Student Union requested
$3,777.10 for a trip to the Southwestern Black Student Leadership Conference in Texas. $821.10 covers the cost of lodging for the students and advisor, and the $900 conference registration covers the cost of food. The students will attend workshops focused on stucollege. Last year, BSU attended the conference and President Samantha Michel said it was “an interactive way to get FSU students involved.” Michel said she implements what she learned at the conference in her weekly meetings with BSU to do “something different - you don’t want to give the group the same thing every week.” The club was awarded the full amount for the conference. SGA President Hannah Bruce told Michel, “I just want to let you know, you’ve done so much for BSU.” In other news: Hilltop players will be performing “Dog Sees God,” Friday, Nov. 30 and Saturday, Dec. 1 in DPAC at 8:00 p.m.
Danielle Vecchione/The Gatepost
Senators look over the previous meeting’s minutes.
SILD’s Kiss a Pig Fundraiser will have a table Friday, Nov. 30 in the McCarthy Center Lobby and will run through next week until Friday, Dec. 7.
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November 30, 2012
FSU goes mobile, one device at a time By Alex Shuman EDITORIAL STAFF
This summer, Biology Professor Aline Davis, Instructoral Technologist Clair Waterbury, Director of Technology Robin Robinson and contributors from and other staff members were recognized for their efforts at the Blackboard World Conference. Blackboard World hosts an annual out about Blackboard updates and enhance their learning experience,” according to Davis. An iPad project, piloted by the FSU team, placed gold in the mobile er teams from across the country. Davis and Waterbury, along with other members of their mobile task force, have spent several semesters developing new mobile technology at FSU. “We have a lot of initiatives on campus,” said Waterbury. According to Waterbury, the Leonhard Lab started a yearly grant, the MSL Grant, for which faculty can apply to fund ideas researching how they can en-
hance their teaching and learning using technology. The MSL Grant can range from $10,000-$30,000, according to Waterbury. Davis’ iPad project was granted about $20,000 this year for purchasing iPads for staff for “testing purposes” and 20 additional tablets with keyboards for students. Waterbury said that most likely, not all of the grant money will be used for the project because project coordinators overestimated the amount of money they needed for purchasing Lenovo tablets. According to Waterbury, approximately 10 faculty members applied for the grant last spring. Three of the technology-based projects received funding: Davis’ Apple versus Lenovo tablet project, Art Professor Marc Cote’s researching of digital publication for his students’ graphic novels, and English Professor Lynn Parker’s research using tablets to look at social media. In December 2010, Davis conceived the idea of piloting iPads in class. According to Davis, there have not been many studies conducted about the effectiveness of tablets in the classroom.
University College at UMass Boston WINTER SESSION: JANUARY 7-25, 2013
Photo courtesy of Clair Waterbury
Students use iPads in the classroom. Davis’ experiment was about getting to “know what [tablets] could do that regular computers couldn’t,” and the willingness of students to test tablets in the classroom. Last fall, Davis provided one-third of her Anatomy and Physiology class with iPads which were rented through ITS, on the condition that students use iPads to access the class eBook instead of the textbook. Davis chose the iPad because at the time, it was the only color tablet available which she said was essential for that class. “This [iPad] is amazing,” said Davis. “I really wanted to get students exposed to it and integrate it somehow into the classroom.” Last spring, Davis began another pilot in which 16 of 17 students in her Neurobiology class were given iPads. “Everything was on a volunteer basis,” said Davis. She explained that the one student who was not given an iPad and did not
participate was in the experiment the previous semester. Because FSU is what Davis called a “PC-based school,” she aimed to incorporate Lenovo tablets, which are Android based, into her current study. This fall, Davis chose her Anatomy and Physiology class again, but gave half of the class Lenovo tablets and the other half iPads. Each tablet had the same features and included keyboard cases. The study researched whether Android or Apple tablets are more useful for college students. For each study, students were asked to take surveys and participate in focus about using tablets. Waterbury said that the surveys concluded that improved that right now, graphing on iPads is possible, but the graphs cannot be imported - Continued on page 7
When you take a class over winter break...
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News
November 30, 2012
7
FSU faculty members integrating mobile technology into the classroom “I’m excited,” said Parker. “I hope it
Continued from page 6
to other devices. “We know what the iPads can do,” said Davis. “We are learning more about it every semester. We want to see if it makes a difference.” Davis said the tablets for the studies were not monitored. “We actually encourage tablet use for other things,” she said. “When you play games on it, you learn about how to use it. “It would not have worked without … everybody working together,” said Davis. “If any components had said no, the whole thing wouldn’t have worked as well as it has.” Parker’s MSL Grant will be funding research to incorporate social media into her Victorian Period class in the spring. The grant covers the costs of hiring an assistant for the pilot, purchasing iPads, and hosting a “Victorian-style party” for the class late next spring. Parker attempted a small pilot using social media last year in a linked gen. ed. class with Art Professor Elizabeth Perry. “It was really fun, so I’m making it bigger. … I’m going to integrate it more into the system,” said Parker For the class, Parker explained students will utilize the iPads to create footnotes using annotation software, ENotation Classics. Later in the semester, they will be combined to create a class eBook. Students enrolled in the class will also be given Victorian-related roles which they will use to interact with classmates and create journals around their characters. Parker said students will also be able to use their annotation research database to research their Victorian characters.
of learning to the classroom.” The “mobile task force” has also developed a new mobile web application called FSUgo. According to Waterbury, the app has been “worked on and developed,” but has only been soft launched. FSUgo provides information about RamTram schedules, dining hours and menus, upcoming events, FSU athletics
an app called Poll Everywhere that replaces using Audience Response System (ARS) remotes with mobile devices to record answers for exams and discussions. Poll Everywhere is an ARS app which can be downloaded to smartphones and tablets. The app is universal and gaining popularity with agencies and organizations such as Google and the U.S. Census, according to the app’s website.
“I’ve noticed the attention span of some of the students is quite short. I think [technology] helps people focus a lot.” - Sociology Professor Linnea Carlson
scores and much more. “How can we help students and faculty better get the information about Framingham State on devices they are using?” asked Waterbury, referring to the usefulness of FSUgo. The technology center and ITS have also made improvements on the Blackboard website and released a mobile Blackboard app. On the Blackboard website, the login page had graphic design work implemented to better serve students. Waterbury said the new mobile app has been very successful. In about four weeks, the app had seen over 13,300 unique visitors, peaking at about 600 unique visitors per day, according to Waterbury. She explained the statistics are Davis also introduced her classes to
“You can respond with something you carry around with you every day,” said Davis. “We’re trying to give stuDavis also began a pilot in which half of her class downloaded the Poll Everywhere app to their smartphones or iPads, and the other half used traditional ARS remotes. The app is free for small groups, and costs as little as $15 for larger groups, which is less expensive than buying ARS remotes, which can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars to purchase online. Davis and Waterbury also recommended some essential resources which they found are useful for students. Skydrive, which is a free feature on FSU Outlook accounts, is a storage base in which documents, folders and images
can be stored and accessed on different devices. The feature is located under the recent documents. Evernote is another free app that on nearly any device. This app enables students to access class notes without having their laptops or notebooks on hand. Atomic learning, which is a free service linked to MyFramingham, is a tutorial system which can help improve skills on more than 130 common applications, including Photoshop, InDesign and Excel. The feature is located under the Accounts tab in MyFramingham under the Technology box. “[When it comes to] technology in the classroom, I’m kind of both ways,” said sophomore communication arts major Hunter Seabrook. “On one hand, I’m paying for the class, so I should have the right to do what I want [by using cellphones]. On the other hand, being on a cell phone means you’re distracted and not learning during that time.” Sophomore pre-engineering major Rich Sullivan said “It can be very helpful, but it also has its downsides, like distracting people. But it also can be useful Sociology Professor Linnea Carlson uses technology as an important component in her sociology classes. “I’ve sort of moved away from taking students away from their technology,” said Carlson. “I’ve noticed the attention span of some of the students is quite short. I think [technology] helps people focus a lot.”
Cafeteria expansion expected to start in April Continued from page 1
ter. The cafeteria will be expanded by more than 5,000 square feet, said Hamel. Some students have complained that the current size of the cafeteria has failed to accommodate their needs. “There are times when I had to wait for a table to open up during lunch, or ask Edith if I could take my food out to the commuter caf where there were more seats,” said sophomore Tony Coletti. Eddy said, with the increase of seating, there will be “ample space for all students to utilize the Dining Commons
Eddy said this functional space could be utilized during off-peak periods for student events, meetings, banquets and conferences. Hamel added, “It [the cafeteria] will have its own entrance and a separate area where there’s bingo and stuff like that. They [SUAB] will be able to have two
remain the same, though. It was last renovated in 2005, said Eddy. There will be no real renovations to the current cafeteria other than adding different seating options, said Hamel. “It’s a possibility in the future we are hoping to put in some booth seating.” Hamel added, “The expansion is be-
with FSU, said Eddy. Meal exchanges will continue to be provided even with the additional seating. Eddy said, “Meal exceptions will still be available for students who cannot make it to a meal due to class, work or an internship.” Junior Audrey Farenga said, “It’s im-
Marketplace or utilize a Meal Exchange, The current residence cafeteria holds 520 seats and it is expected to increase by a net of 250 seats, said Hamel. The expansion will not only offer more seating, but it will have additional restrooms and prep area for the kitchen. Eddy said students would be happy to have restrooms inside the Dining Com“I hate having to use the bathroom when I’m in the caf. … I ’d have to let the person swiping cards know where I was going so they’d let me back in without swiping my card again,” said sophomore Nina Anketell. The new dining area will also have a wall that can close to make it a separate forum area.
the Food Service Trust Fund Account. “Essentially, the meal revenues that come in are deposited, and we pay for expenses when we build up a balance in there, so we were able to use $150,000 from that balance in FY12. In FY13, we’re also scheduling an additional $100,000 from that trust fund.” A total of $300,000 was provided by FSU from the college operations support fund. The school also received an $850,000 contribution from Sodexo, Hamel said. Sodexo has been partnering with the university for almost 30 years now and
Alexis Huston/The Gatepost
The current cafeteria will be expanded to create additonal seating.
events going on at the same time. Especially on Friday nights or weekends where we can get away with not having all the additional seating, it becomes available for functional space.” The layout of the current cafeteria will
ing funded by multiple sources. It’s a 3.7 2.4 million of that through the State College Building Authority. We went out and pledged revenue, like a mortgage. Hamel said FSU took $150,000 from
sometimes. I’m glad they’ve taken notice of the amount of students who try to eat there, and I’m excited they’re going to expand it.” Junior Kendall McLellan, said, “Sometimes, I’d rather have a meal exchange than go to the caf. I think the food there is better and I don’t mind sitting by myself if none of my friends are around to grab food with me.”
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NOVEMBER 30,2012
This week in photos
Danielle Vecchione/ The Gatepost
Students show off their moves at FSU’s So You Think You Can Dance competition.
Alexis Huston/ The Gatepost
Dining Services employees compete in a cook-off at the Fire Pit.
Danielle Vecchione/ The Gatepost
Horace Mann ARA leads residents in a game of Sex Jeopardy.
Alexis Huston/ The Gatepost
SUAB hosts Framily Feud in the Forum.