MazGal hosts faculty show
Rams blank UMass Dartmouth
Art professors showcase their
FSU shuts out Corsairs in dominant
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Kickin’ it Performance group displays cultural art form - page 8
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Parking, dining commons expansion discussed at Board of Trustees’ meeting By Kathleen McDonough NEWS EDITOR President Timothy Flanagan revealed this year’s short-term goals for the university and announced recent news about FSU at the Board of Trustees’ meeting last Tuesday, Sept. 11. Flanagan said the year is off to a good of institutional health are in the right direction.” He added that he is impressed with the and good citizens,” and the work of the current students who helped to make the transition smooth for new students. The strategic plan, developed in the spring of 2012, helped to generate conver-
Alexis Huston/The Gatepost
Vice President of FSU’s Ultimate Frisbee Club Matthew Donchin springs to make a catch.
Suspect in August shooting near campus arrested By Kerrin Murray ASSOCIATE EDITOR The Framingham State University Police Department [FSUPD] used the FSU Alert system on Saturday, Aug. 25, to notify the community of a shooting 2.2 miles away at 10 Richardson Circle. FSUPD Chief of Police Brad Medeiros said Framingham Police indicated that the
as Gregory Sweets, 28, of Framingham.
and was armed and dangerous - carrying a 9 mm 40-caliber handgun. The shooter was described in the FSU gerous black male reported to be in a neighborhood surrounding campus.” In a press release on Sept. 4, Middlesex
individual was later apprehended on Sept. 8 in a motel in Tewksbury, Mass. by the regional SWAT team.” Leone said Framingham District Court Judge Robert Greco ordered the defendant to be held on a $50,000 cash bail under the conditions that he is also must submit to random drug screenings, refrain from contacting both the victim and any witnesses and have no weapons in his possession.
the alleged shooter as Damon Johnson, 26,
victim and his girlfriend allege the defenweapon. According to police, the victim and the defendant had an altercation the night before. The victim was transported to the hospital where he was treated and released.”
He was later arraigned in Framingham District Court on the following charges: -
years and how we want the institution to be a different place in 2017,” said Flanagan. Flanagan highlighted three major concepts which guided the development of the strategic plan: expanding opportunity, developing community and promoting student success. a broad phrase, Flanagan said that keeping costs low for students is an example of
the danger there is that no matter how good we are, we’re going to get to a point where we’ve priced ourselves out of the market. For the students we are attracting to Framingham State, there is a difference between $17,700 and $18,100 because that $400 really matters.” panding opportunity,” Flanagan said FSU
arm without a license, intimidating a witness, and receiving stolen property.” Leone said the alleged shooter, Johnson, is expected to reappear in court on Oct. 9 for his next hearing. Medeiros said FSUPD took the necessary precautions by securing a perimeter to more than $2 million annually, plan courson Salem End Road and State Street, even es to help students graduate in four years and though there were only a few early arrival look at the employment marketplace to make students and staff on campus. A short-term view of priorities and goals for the year in relation to the strategic plan didn’t have a full school,” said Medeiros. has a new nomenclature, ABCDE: Academ- Continued on page 4 ic program development, Building (as seen in the new addition to Hemenway Hall), Capital campaign and cost containment, Diversity and Environment. Flanagan said a goal of cost contain-
Students, volunteers reach out to Framingham’s immigrant entrepreneurs
By Spencer Buell EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
As part of the nationwide, week-long Welcoming America initiative, six FSU students joined community organizers Tuesday on a good will trip to downtown Framingham. After coffee, bagels and a group presentation in the Alumni Room sponsored by FSU’s Committee on Diversity and Inclusion and the Sociology Department, the student volunteers teamed up with local, state and national advocacy groups to en-
courage business owners to sign a pledge to promote communication in Framing-
Welcome Here” on their windows. The event was the result of collaboration between the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy coalition (MIRA), Framingham Downtown Renaissance and Welcoming Framingham, a community branch of the national Welcoming America organization. Their goal, said FSU Sociology Professor Vincent Ferraro, was to make the town more friendly for its diverse residents.
at the center of a lot of public rhetoric, and the debate around immigration has often been marred by misinformation,” Ferraro tunately, the result has been to create distance and distrust” in many communities such as Framingham. tive is to bring together community members outside of rhetoric and outside of politics to provide space for get to know one - Continued on page 4
the environment goal, he added that North A new Student Services Center was created over the summer, combining the Financial Aid, Graduate Admissions, Registrar’s these organizational changes will provide a ness of being a student becomes invisible, so they can go about the academic work of being a student.” The university will now be putting much - Continued on page 3
News
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Police Logs Saturday, Sept. 15, 2012
Gatepost Interview Dr. Yaser Najjar
21:35 Suspicious Activity - Mayhew Street. 15:55 Referral (facilities) - Normal Hill parking lot. Glass breakage. Sunday, Sept. 16, 2012 02:33 Mutual Aid - Town of Framingham. Driver’s side door will not unlock from outside. 03:28 Suspicious Activity - Maple Commuter parking lot. Two individuals sleeping in vehicle. Parties check OK/advised. 22:33 Narcotics investigation - O’Connor Hall. Burning of hookah smell inside res. hall. Burned brownie.
EDITORIAL BOARD 2012-2013
Spencer Buell
Carey Scouler
Editor-in-Chief
Copy Editor
Joe Kourieh
Melinda Collins
Associate Editor
Staff Designer
Kerrin Murray
Patrick Carreiro
Associate Editor
Interim Online Editor
Kathleen McDonough News Editor
Kärin Radock News Editor
Michael B. Murphy Assistant News Editor
Talia Adry Arts & Features Editor
Zack Comeau Arts & Features Editor
Alex Shuman Assistant Arts & Features Editor
Matt Cook
Staff Writers:
Dr. Desmond McCarthy Advisor
Meredith O’Brien
Interim Assistant Sports Editor
Assistant Advisor
Alexis Huston Photo Editor
Danielle Vecchione Photo Editor
Allie Card
Assistant Photo Editor
By Natasha St. Amand STAFF WRITER
What is the best part of your job at FSU?
Can you please provide a brief summary of your resume and educational background?
I think the campus is a very close-knit campus. I can interact with faculty and students, people from all walks of life. The students are really eager to learn about other cultures. As well as the traveling around the world for my job with students.
I am an urban planner with a geography background. High school in Jordan. Bachelor’s degree in Lebanon. Bachelor’s degree in Alexandria [Egypt]. A diploma in urban planning in Tokyo, Japan. University of Cincinnati - master’s in city planning and Ph.D in geography and regional planning.
Are you currently working on any projects? Yes. I am currently setting up a VIP tour to Egypt where the students can experience the historical and cultural sites of Egypt such as the Pyramids of Giza and a three-day cruise on the Nile River.
Why did you decide to major in Geography? As a matter of sire was to be a pilot. I have always loved nature and wanted to see nature from the top, but my parents wanted me to go to medical school since I
in my family to get an education. While I was waiting to be accepted into medical school, I decided to go to school for geStaff Photographers: ography. When Joel Kayima cepted into medical school, I decided inJames Lindsay stead to continue with geography because Margaret Walsh I really do love nature.
Jess Thomas
Opinions Editor
Geography Professor
Do you have any hobbies? I play soccer once a week, and I love to go on trips with my family. We usually go on two trips every year.
Adam Farwwah Stacia Kindler Samantha Lockard Tom Lustig Bryan McKenna Natasha St. Amand
Sports Editor
Samantha Rawson
September 21, 2012
www.thegatepost.com
What was your best experience in college? cause your undergraduate years stick with you. You are moving from being a teenager to many other things. What courses do you teach?
World Regional Geography, Geography of the Middle East, Introduction to Ur100 State Street, McCarthy Center Room 410 ban Studies and Planning, and Methods for Planning Analysis and Plan Making. Framingham, MA 01701-9101 Those are the main courses I teach and the Phone: (508) 626-4605 last one I designed myself. Fax: (508) 626-4097 gatepost@framingham.edu
Alexis Huston/The Gatepost
Do you have a role model?
My dad is one of my role models. He was not educated. He only went up to fourth grade because of the economic situation. He was a hardworking man. He kept helping me, encouraging me, and pushing me toward education. That’s how I am where I am today. Do you have any advice for students? My advice to students is to appreciate the opportunities and educational resources here in the United States in comparison to other countries - especially third world countries. Number two: widen your horizons. The world is not just the United States. The United States is part of the world. Yes, the United States is the leader of the world, but in order to appreciate the United States, you need to go see how other people live.
[Editor’s Note:] In last week’s article, “Hemenway Hall gets $3.3 million facelift,” Stephanie Williams was represented as having been at Framingham State for four years. Williams is actually a transfer student who graduated from MassBay Community College in 2010.
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News
September 21, 2012
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First year of capital fundraising deemed a success - Continued from page 1
more attention on graduate education in order to grow the programs. Flanagan said with 2,000 students, the percentage of enrollment in the graduate program is the highest of any state university in Massachusetts. The university is conducting an internal search for a dean of graduate studies, who will be a senior faculty member whose graduate programs. This job was previously performed by Scott Greenberg as Dean of Graduate and Continuing Education (DGCE), but now he will be able to focus on continuing education exclusively. While the Board of Trustees currently demic subcommittee, Flanagan called on the board to consider nominating themselves for a third subcommittee, called the development subcommittee, which will be formed to work with Eric Gustafson, executive director of development and alumni relations, on the capital fundraising camformal link between the Board of Trustees and the fundraising campaign over the He also asked for two volunteers from the Board of Trustees to serve on the board of directors of a new entity being formed called the Supporting Organization that will work with the FSU Foundation to ac-
of the incremental bargaining agreement. However, the state funded these costs, resulting in an excess of about $600,000, according to Hamel. Half of this money will agreed upon by the Board of Trustees’ last from $1.4 million to $1.7 million, which is almost to the $2 million goal in the strategic plan. The remainder of the money will be built into the base budget of the university for any unexpected costs that arise throughout the year, added Hamel. He also reported that a project is underway to expand the dining commons in the McCarthy Center though a bond issuance in January. There is a target of a new residence hall by fall 2015 to accommodate the increased student population called for in the strategic plan. The new residence hall would need to issue,” said Hamel. They are currently looking at options for expanding parking starting this summer hopefully through the same bond issuance. Lisa Humes of CCS and Gustafson upcapital fundraising campaign, in which they designed operating materials, leadership groups and prospect lists of individuals, corporations and foundations to solicit. As of August 30, 2012, which is slightly past the one year mark, the campaign
Danielle Vecchione/The Gatepost
Board of Trustees Chair Joseph Burchill and President Timothy Flanagan discuss the university’s strategic plan. the campaign is $1.2 million dollars. alumni and donors to get to know the people who are going to support the campaign, said Gustafson. A goal for this year is to have a minimum of 400 face-to-face, nonduplicated meetings with prospective the better - we need to be out there seeing folks,” added Gustafson. Humes said the goal for the second cial commitments from all of the inside boards of the school, including the Board of Trustees, the Foundations Board and the Alumni Association Board by December 31 as well as engage these boards in the your networks.” There is also a subcampaign this year
Alexis Huston/The Gatepost
Administrators plan to expand the Dining Commons to allevite capacity issues. now do.” Executive Vice President Dale Hamel said the university approved an operating budget for this year conservatively, assuming the university would have to pick up
raised $2,309,486 in cash and pledges toward the $10 million overall goal for the seven-year campaign. Since the goal for year one was $800,000, and FSU surpassed year.” The actual cash received in 2012 was $1,262,428. The goal for year two of
to create a culture of philanthropy on campus by asking all faculty and staff to make a gift. This shows the external community that faculty and staff are committed to their university. This is also an opportunity to educate the FSU community about the capital campaign. At the request of the Board of Trustees, FSUPD Chief of Police Brad Medeiros reported the outcome of the weeklong police department underwent at the beginstarting on Sept. 7. While normally, two instructors would conduct training for 15 trainees, Medeiros
having four instructors for six students. FSUPD went through a strict regimen learning muscle memory, meaning being able to know everything about the placement of their guns and how to draw them while keeping their eyes on an armed assailant. It took nearly 800 draws to correctly get the gun out of the triple retention holster and back in it so securely that no one could get it out again, said Medeiros. They also had classroom training where they were instructed on policies and laws. They conducted tactical training in the range in every different weather condition and target training. rounds of ammunition during training that hands - cuts, scrapes and bruises. It was an intense six days - the best training program we could possibly have,” said Medeiros. He was pleased to report that all 12 Although 15 were originally scheduled to go, one was released from duty shortly before training started, one was deployed in training because of a medical condition. Medeiros has heard nothing but positive feedback from the student body. out walking around to see if anybody noticed. I had one staff person running down the hall in the cafeteria screaming, ‘Chief, chief, you have a gun! I can’t believe it!’ and the whole cafeteria turned around and looked at me,” said Medeiros,” but so far, of school as well.
SGA debuts new senate chair position By Michael B. Murphy ASST. NEWS EDITOR The SGA meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 18, was brief. It did feature Elizabeth Cameron Senate Chair. as Elizabeth Cameron took her role as the senate chair,” SGA Vice President Larry meeting running senate, I think that she did a fantastic job and will continue to do so for the remainder of the school year.” Appointed last week by SGA President Hannah Bruce, Cameron was then elected by the entire senate. Cameron said she looks forward to business being brought before SGA now on, I know more clubs will be coming forward and that I’ll be challenged in my poing curve - knowing all of the procedures and rules can be a lot, but I’m incredibly honored to be appointed.” Cameron described her newly created job as a liaison between the senators and
the executive board. Student Trustee Molly Goguen reported back from a Board of Trustees’ meeting at which freshman enrollment numbers were reported to be smaller than usual. The Board of Trustees said that all Campus Powell-trained in their use. SGA dedicated most of the meeting’s activities and ice breakers.” Scott Shea student social events coordinator said that the exercises demonstrated that everyone in SGA serves a purpose. important role,” he said. In other news: The Curriculum and Student Affairs Committee needs members. The Student Government elections are on Wed., Sept. 26. A meeting for club presidents is on Sept., 24, at 1:30 pm. To gain access to Club Room II, go quired form.
Alexis Huston/The Gatepost
Elizabeth Cameron (middle) presides over
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News
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to the dining hall to be with students, and
man never stepped foot onto FSU property. Another safety measure FSUPD utilized was the FSU Alert system, which was
campus. Medeiros said that the Framingham State police stayed within the perimeters of the campus and were not dispatched to the scene of the shooting.
text, phone and e-mail. The FSU Alert system is in place to notify the campus and surrounding community about emergencies occurring on or near
September 21, 2012
Both Medeiros and Santoro received positive feedback from both the Framingham State community as well as the neighborhoods surrounding FSU. ceive FSU Alerts as well because they have young children playing outside,” said
Purchase new alert system” in the Oct. 6 edition of The Gatepost online). [via text] at 5:02 p.m. and the last one went out at 9:07 p.m.” cies are in and around the area continuing to search for the suspect. It is still advised that everybody stay indoors. Updates will continue.” Later in the evening, a follow-up text ing the immediate area of FSU for gunman. You can resume all normal activities at this time. He has not been apprehended.”
Medeiros. He added that the teamwork between FSUPD and the Tewksbury, Framingham cellent.” Medeiros said President Flanagan addressed students and staff in the McCarthy sume all activities.” Along with students, said Medeiros, Vice President for Enrollment and Student Development Susanne Conley, Sergeant William Kelley, Resident Directors Jay Hurtubise and David Case, and Deputy Santoro, were present. Senior psychology major Angela and I wish I did because it’s important information.” Undeclared sophomore Anthony BoFSU Alert] about the man on campus.” Sophomore psychology major Rick someone would be that stupid to go on campus with a gun.” Senior education and psychology major
to send updates, and people were not held waiting for information. We were able to provide feedback quickly.” Though FSUPD advised students to
to the caf, there was one campo there while we were eating. I thought it was good that they [FSUPD] texted us.” Senior communication arts major An-
present enough to cause concern,” it did not call for an immediate lockdown, said Medeiros. If there were a need for an immediate lockdown, Medeiros explained that this would require locking and barricading doors, turning off lights, closing blinds and blocking windows.
during early arrival and some of my friends were working desk, so I was concerned.” Junior psychology major Mary BrinkAlexis Huston/The Gatepost
FSUPD Deputy Chief John Santoro (right)
people who lived right near where the shooting happened.”
Welcoming Week initiatives promote inclusion in Framingham’s downtown core - Continued from page 1
Joe Kourieh/The Gatepost
State Rep. Chris Walsh presents Gov. Deval Patrick’s “Welcoming Week” proclamation to MIRA Campaign Organizer Cristina Aguilera in the Alumni Room. another as members of the same shared community.” As was announced in a proclamation read by State Rep. Chris Walsh in the Alumni Room, Gov. Deval Patrick has signed a proclamation declaring the week event will be recognized annually. State Rep. Tom Sannicandro spoke at the event, sharing his grandparents’ story of immigrating to Framingham from southern Italy in the early 1900s, and his family’s subsequent success here. At the meeting, MIRA campaign organizer and Welcoming Framingham program director Cristina Aguilera said she hopes people living in Massachusetts will to come to the United States, leave your family and your country behind, and then take on the challenge of fully feeling inte-
Courtesy of Renato Castelo
Different Fashion owner Italo Pinto speaks with student volunteers in his shop on Concord Street.
grated into this new society.” After putting on matching Welcoming T-shirts and boarding a shuttle downtown, the students and other volunteers split into four groups. For about an hour, they each visited a half-dozen businesses, spending time chatting with the owners of the various bakeries, clothing and technology shops and convenience stores lining the downtown core on Union Ave and Concord Street. Some of the entrepreneurs had
sister Tania, discussing the decade and a half of cultural and economic changes he’s witnessed. They spoke with Italo Pinto, who has been running Different Fashion, a cramped triangular shop offering jeans, blouses, watches, iPod cases and other
decade, while others were just starting out.
need to work their asses off,” Fernandes volved to see what the community wants. Sometimes we’re too busy, we don’t have time to deal with the town, we get so involved with what we’re doing.” Pinto admitted he was very busy keeping his store in order, but, he told one
were still struggling to learn the language, sometimes communicating through one of MIRA’s multilingual volunteers. They met storeowners like Elias Fernandes, who for the last 16 years has coowned the Padaria Brasil Bakery with his
Both said they didn’t necessarily feel unwelcome in Framingham, but knew they relied on a healthy relationship with the community to thrive.
Seniors Ammari Edwards and Marie Coleman said they hadn’t really spent much time downtown, as the Natick Mall tends to be the most popular destination for students to spend a few dollars. But they said getting involved Tuesday might change that. downtown Framingham,” Coleman said. should be no questioning of who’s invited or who’s welcome in this area, because everyone is.” to make the immigrants feel welcome, but [the Welcoming initiative] is also for one is Welcome Here” sign in store windows], they’re going to feel like they can come in.”
ARTS & FEATURES
September 21, 2012
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Last Days of Summer
Alexis Huston/The Gatepost
Dining Services offers tasty fall-themed entrées at Apple Fest.
SUAB hosts their semi-annual Casino Night in the Forum.
Alexis Huston/The Gatepost
Students sample local fare at Dining Services’ on-campus picnic.
Alexis Huston/The Gatepost
FSU’s new Ultimate Frisbee Club enjoys the late summer weather. Danielle Vecchione/The Gatepost