February 14, 2020

THE GATEPOST Framingham State’s award-winning independent student newspaper since 1932

Volume 88 • Issue 15

FSUgatepost.com

February 14, 2020

FSU retention rate steady at 74%

Students in Professor George Bentley’s Digital Earth and Our Changing World class flew a drone above Larned Beach Feb. 12.

By Abigail Saggio Staff Writer FSU’s retention rate for academic year 2018-2019 was 74%.

Retention refers to the percentage of first-time, full-time students who return to FSU for their second academic year in the following fall semester, according to Lauren Keville, director of student retention and graduation success.

FSU calculates retention based on guidelines set by the federal government, Keville said.

“During fall 2019, when we reviewed this specific fall 2018 group of 752 students, we calculated that 74% of them returned for a second

year at FSU,” she said.

FSU’s retention rate for the past few years stayed “around the low seventies” and has been “pretty consistent,” according to Associate Dean of Academic Success and Director of CASA LaDonna Bridges FSU retention rates have also fallen short of average retention rates among other Massachusetts state universities. FSU had a 74.2% retention rate for the 2016 cohort, whereas the entire state university system had a retention rate of 78.2%, according to the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education Data Center.

Keville said the University is also required to track the yearly transfer student cohort. The retention cohort

for 2018 that matriculated into FSU was 77%.

Bridges said FSU has changed some academic policies in an effort to increase rates of student success.

First-year students who were on academic probation are at risk for academic suspension if they do not raise their GPA to 1.7 or higher. Starting last year, any first-year student who appealed their academic suspension was invited to attend the following fall semester. These students were required to attend a workshop in CASA before the start of their second year.

A year after losing the MASCAC, James Rippey and the Framingham women’s lacrosse team are back.

With 30 seconds remaining in last year’s MASCAC Championship game against Westfield State, the Rams allowed a goal that ended the match 13-12 and left fans and players shocked and stunned.

“When the final whistle blew, I think I personally was just kind of in a state of denial. I just felt like it should’ve been ours and was a tough one to swallow,” Senior Captain Grace Gamache said. “The loss defi-

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION pg. 4 FOOD WASTE pg. 6

Opinions

IMPEACHMENT pg. 10 BODY IMAGE pg. 11

Rippey and the Rams nitely hurt for days to follow and still does. I kept replaying the game over and over, thinking of “what ifs” and if I could’ve done more.”

But on Feb. 22, the reigning MASCAC Regular Season Champions will have a shot to redeem themselves.

Led by Gamache, who has set a handful of records the last couple of seasons, the Rams are already getting ready.

“We have definitely been doing what we need to do in the off-season to get ready for this spring. Girls are constantly in the gym either running, playing wall ball, shooting around, or getting a lift in,” Gamache said. “Everyone came into this semester ready

News

See STUDENT RETENTION page 5

Revenge Tour:

By Liam Gambon Sports Editor

Donald Halsing / THE GATEPOST

Arts & Features

for the season and ready to compete, and I think that all starts in the off season. We are a new team and it’s a MIDDAY pg. 12 new season, so we are all very excited KAITLYN’S KOSMETICS pg. 14 about that.”

Framingham brought in some new faces this year in the form of 10 freshmen. The new additions have bolstered the team’s offensive depth, and by bringing in keeper Alexis Burleigh, they now have a second option in net with the departure of previous starter Indigo Fox Tree-McGrath.

“We have a great freshman class that can step up and fill the roles Gatepost Archives ICE HOCKEY pg. 16

Sports

See REVENGE TOUR page 17

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK pg. 19

INSIDE: OP/ED 7 • ARTS & FEATURES 12 • SPORTS 16

NEWS

2 | FEBRUARY 14, 2020

Editorial Board

Gatepost Interview

Editor-in-Chief Ashley Wall Associate Editor Cara McCarthy News Editors Donald Halsing Evan Lee Asst. News Editor Leighah Beausoleil Arts & Features Editors Brennan Atkins Robert Johnson Jr. Asst. Arts & Features Editor Jared Graf Entertainment Correspondent Noah Barnes Opinions Editor Thomas Maye Columnist McKenzie Ward Sports Editors Liam Gambon Sara Senesac Asst. Sports Editor Carlos Silva Design Editor Kathleen Moore Asst. Photos Editor Caroline Gordon Copy Editor Lauren Paolini Staff Writers Mackenzie Berube Patrick Brady Kaitlin Burch Soren Colstrup Kaitlyn Cullen Rylee Holmes Dia Kilgore Mitchell Leonard Abigail Petrucci Alain Puma Abigail Saggio Lizzy Stocks Staff Copy Editor Jordan Bacci Staff Photographer Amanda Garny Advisor Dr. Desmond McCarthy Asst. Advisor Elizabeth Banks Administrative Assistant Gwenyth Swain 100 State Street McCarthy Center Room 410 Framingham, MA 01701-9101 Phone: (508) 626-4605 Fax: (508) 626-4097 gatepost@framingham.edu

@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

Jorge Gonzalez

Incoming assistant director of student development

By Donald Halsing News Editor

so that when you leave here, you can point to your involvements and say, “Hey, that helped me in my future job.”

What is your educational background?

I got my undergraduate degree over at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire. I got a Bachelor of Arts in politics while I was there. And then a little while later - I went to Merrimack College and I got my master’s in higher education administration in an accelerated one-year program.

You previously worked at Bridgewater State University. What was your role there?

I was there for about two years and two months as their Coordinator for Student Programs. I advised this organization called “Program Counsel,” or their programming board. It would be their version of SUAB. I would help advise them on everything in the event process, their budget, and all that good stuff, to ensure there was a full campus calendar of events. We would average roughly around 60 events a year. The goal was always three events a week.

I would also be a big part of ensuring major campus traditions would occur. I would have a lot of hand in helping plan their spirit week, which is a week full of events including their homecoming pageant, different showcases and talent shows, and things like that - and then their homecoming and family day fair where they combined their family day and their traditional homecoming. It’s a day-long thing where we had thousands of people showing up.

Why did you come to FSU? I had been there for a bit - at Bridgewater - and I was looking for the next step up. The opportunity arose, but what drew me here was to be able to work with the state-school population.

Also, what drew me here - as I did more and more research - is you all have a good reputation of being a school with passionate people and kind people, but also value diversity and inclusion, which is something - as a Latino professional in higher education - that I’m craving in my work environment.

What do you think of the University’s hiring of two Latina administrators?

Based on my brief research and my small experience here, I think it’s an incredibly positive thing. Representation at an institution is something of crucial importance, and also putting your money where your mouth is when talking about inclusion. I think you see at oth-

Donald Halsing / THE GATEPOST er schools it’s kind of lip service, but to actually hire people and be dedicated to that mission is, I think, something that looks promising.

What do you plan to focus on at FSU? My main role would be supporting clubs and organizations, so I’ll be advising a few of those. I’ll act as an advisor to SUAB, as well as overseeing the office of Student Involvement and Leadership Development. My goal is to observe and see what things we do incredibly strong, and get myself integrated into that, and then start examining where our opportunities are for growth. So, “Are we missing certain types of programming?

Do we need to react more to a campus culture that’s going this way?” things of that nature.

Do you have any short- or longterm goals?

The onboarding process - people might think it’s only one week - but when you really think about it, I’m getting used to your big, major campus traditions. In six months, I want to be fully integrated and be able to do things almost second nature, or at least be able to know where to point people to. If we’re going more long term, it’s looking at where we’re successful in our programs, what new advisement styles we can introduce to the campus community, and how can we make things more efficient and more fiscally responsible as well.

And also, how do we boost student satisfaction in those regards? Additionally, SILD is dedicated to career readiness, so it is making sure the experiences here are connected to that career readiness,

Do you think state college programs help prepare students for working in a professional environment?

I think if there’s an intentional involvement within the programs - yes, whether it’s involvement, or different leadership development opportunities.

I remember there was a study done by Gallup, that employers are actually looking for involvement at a really high rate of influence. The top things that they look at are your GPA and major, of course, but the next thing is they’re looking to see what involvements you have and how that would translate.

What happens is in the clubs and organizations, you learn leadership development, how to work on a team, how to collaborate, public speaking, budget, things of that nature. While that might seem small in the moment, it actually has really big impacts later in life. They actually found that students who are involved are two times more likely to be satisfied in their career in the first five years.

Do you have any hobbies or interests?

I kind of look at myself as a taco aficionado. I actually have an Excel sheet of taco places I go review with myself or friends in search of the best taco. I call it “Taco Watch.” Other than that, I love to go to live music: concerts, festivals, things like that. And, I am an avid pro-wrestling fan.

Do you have any advice for FSU students?

When you’re becoming involved, and you’re choosing what to be in, balance the quality versus the quantity of your involvement. That might sound counterintuitive, it’s like, “Oh yeah, I get involved in everything.” But what you need to actually be thinking about is, “What is this contributing to my experience and my future career goals or personal development?” It’s one thing to be involved in a hundred things at a level that you’re not getting your best, but it’s better to be involved in several things and really be exceptional. … Be intentional about everything, but also be happy in the present. The future is coming, regardless. So, provide the right amount of planning for that, but don’t forget to cherish the memories you have today.

CONNECT WITH DONALD HALSING dhalsing@student.framingham.edu

Police Logs Sunday, Feb. 9 00:41 Medical Protective Custody Church St. Parking Lot Report Taken

Tuesday, Feb. 11 15:29 Larceny FSU Police Dept.

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Tuesday, Feb. 11 19:27 Slip and Fall FSU Police Dept.

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Wednesday, Feb. 12 18:34 Suspicious Activity FSU Police Dept.

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NEWS

FEBRUARY 14, 2020 | 3

Hamel: University budget will account for declining student enrollment

By Leighah Beausoleil Asst. News Editor Student fees will increase by $280, or 2.5%, during Fiscal Year (FY) 2021, according to Dale Hamel, executive vice president.

Hamel explained to SGA, during their Feb. 11 meeting, details behind the student fee increase and emphasized no University personnel would be laidoff.

“You’re probably going to see the 2.5% in the next few years, unless enrollment changes,” Hamel said.

In terms of budget ratios, the University is doing well, but enrollment is declining and the University is taking steps to manage this, according to Hamel.

“This is my 19th year here,” Hamel said. “I was 10 years at the Board of Higher Ed. and I was a CFO before that. So, I’ve seen fluctuations like this before.

“We’ve done this before - we’ve responded - we’ve actually come out of them well positioned to move forward after we go through these periods,” he added. “They come around and you respond as necessary.”

Some of the reasons for the enrollment decline include fewer high school graduates staying in-state for school, private colleges with poor finances are cutting costs, and lower community college enrollment has led to a decrease in the number of transfer students.

Hamel contextualized the budget by explaining the “key financial ratios” and how they compare to the University’s sister schools.

One is the “discount rate,” which reflects the amount of tuition and fees going back into financial aid.

This rate will be going up in a strategic move to target financial aid and increase enrollment.

Hamel explained it will cost extra to do this because the University decided it would not reduce current financial aid, but instead create additional financial aid.

Another change that will have to be made due to declining enrollment is the number of personnel.

“We need to bring some control back into the number of faculty and staff that we have, more in relation to what changes we are seeing in enrollment,” Hamel said.

“That does mean reductions in positions over the next couple of years through attrition,” he said.

“Attrition means no layoffs,” Hamel added.

Around five faculty leave the University each year, partly due to retirement. Attrition means in the next couple of years, when those five people leave, the University will not refill all of their positions, but instead only fill three of those five.

Staff levels will also “move closely up and down with enrollment,” Kathleen Moore / THE GATEPOST Hamel added. “Those will be difficult Dale Hamel presented information about the FY21 budget and fee increases during decisions that will have to be made the Feb. 11 SGA meeting. going into the next couple of years.”

Olivia Beverlie, student trustee, of it, and you are able to return,” the “As enrollment stabilizes” the provided an update for those who purchase. number of full-time equivalent fachad concerns with the bookstore.

For those who had concerns perulty, full-time faculty, and staff will Beverlie explained the bookstore taining to book rentals, “They said begin to stabilize as well, Hamel said. is “actually able to look up your re- that 69% of our booklist for this seFollowing Hamel’s budgeting preceipt on the computer in the case mester is rentable and 70% was rentsentation, SGA officers began their that you don’t have a physical copy able in the fall,” Beverlie said. reports.

“Additionally, with the rental options, the big issue is on professors because if they want to have rentable options for their books, they have to submit it by a certain time,” she said.

When professors submit their booklist later, the bookstore only has time to find new versions of those books, Beverlie added.

Beverlie said the “shop by the author” organization of the bookstore was “piloted from other schools.”

Although the rock remained in the office for the duration of the meeting, the “U-Rock” award was presented to Ayanna Ferguson, publicist and recruitment coordinator.

Courtesy of Dale Hamel

FY2021 budget review

Weather

Sunday night Feb. 16 Partly cloudy, low near 30. SW winds around 5 mph.

Monday night Feb. 17 Partly cloudy, low near 25. NW winds around 5 mph.

Monday Feb. 17 Mostly sunny, high near 40. W winds around 6 mph.

Tuesday Feb. 18 50% chance of rain.

Mostly cloudy, high near 45. S winds around 5 mph.

CONNECT WITH LEIGHAH BEAUSOLEIL lbeausoleil@student.framingham.edu

Forecast provided by the National Weather Service www.weather.gov Tuesday night Feb. 18 Wednesday night Feb. 19 60% chance of rain.

Partly cloudy, low near 20.

Cloudy, low near 35. S NW winds around 10 mph. winds around 5 mph, becoming W after midnight.

Thursday Feb. 20 Wednesday Feb. 19 Sunny, high near 30. NW Partly sunny, high near winds around 10 mph.

40. W winds around 10 mph, gusting to 25.

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4 | FEBRUARY 14, 2020

NEWS

Changes to leadership scholarship discussed by Alumni Association Board of Directors hear Career Services presentation

By Evan Lee News Editor

A “revamp” to the application requirements of next year’s Alumni Association Leadership Scholarship was discussed during the Alumni Association Board of Directors meeting Feb. 6.

The scholarship committee felt “very strongly” that the essay portion of this scholarship should be eliminated, said Diane Finch, vice president of the Board. In its place will be an “applicant’s personal statements of leadership.”

The personal statement format will allow students to address specific points of leadership the scholarship committee is looking for, Finch said. This will make scoring “more equitable and fair.”

Finch said the committee also discussed increasing the minimum number of faculty recommendations to two, as well as setting the range of required leadership documentation to be between one and three sources.

Documentation can include pictures, press coverage, or other materials that demonstrate a student’s leadership qualities.

The scholarship also has a resume

requirement. Finch said the committee would like to see student applicants review their resumes with Career Services before they apply. This would help create an “important connection” between students and that office, she added.

An extension to the scholarship’s application deadline and an increase to the amount awarded by the scholarship committee were also considered, Finch said.

Changes would be applied to next year’s Alumni Association Leadership Scholarship. The deadline for this year’s scholarship was Feb. 3.

Selected recipients will receive the scholarships in their student accounts the following fall semester.

Jennifer DeFronzo, director of Alumni Relations, updated the Board on upcoming events and social media usage.

The Henry Whittemore Library will be hosting a 50th anniversary 70’s Dance Party, with music DJ’d by WDJM, the University’s student radio station, March 27.

“If you do have any of those 1970s clothes hanging around, here is your opportunity to use them,” she said.

The dance party is a fundraising event, DeFronzo said. Its proceeds

Amanda Garny / THE GATEPOST Wendy Davis, office manager of Career Services, gave a presentation at the Alumni Association Board of Directors meeting Feb. 6.

@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

will supplement funds used to pay the salaries of student library workers.

Coincidentally, WDJM is having a 50th anniversary celebration as well, according to Matty Bennet, SGA president. He told the Board the student radio station will host a “birthday party event” April 10 from 4 to 6 p.m. in the McCarthy Center Forum.

“They’re planning on doing a whole series of events for students throughout that week, celebrating

graduates,” she answered.

One such program that brings alumni and students together is Suitable Solutions, Davis said.

“We ask our alums, especially, and a lot of employers to come back and do one-on-one mock interviewing [with students],” she said. “That really shows them how to do it in the real world.”

In addition to mock interviews, the Suitable Solutions program provides students with a clothing stipend and

“I am terrified of TikTok, but we can talk about it.”

-Jennifer DeFronzo, Director of Alumni Relations each of the decades,” he said. Alumni are invited to the party as well.

Those who cannot attend can tune into WDJM at 91.3 FM. DeFronzo also announced an “Alumni Board Instagram takeover,” where one Board member will be able to “takeover” the Framingham State Alumni Instagram account for a day.

“I’m looking for someone who has about five different photos they could share,” she said. “One of them has to be of you so we know who’s taking over our Instagram.

“I thought that would be a really fun way for people to know what our alumni are doing,” she added.

One Board member suggested creating an Alumni TikTok account.

“I am terrified of TikTok, but we can talk about it,” DeFranzo jokingly responded.

Wendy Davis, office manager for Career Services and Employer Relations, gave a presentation to the Board, asking them “What makes FSU Career Services so unique?

“With over 30,000 FSU alumni living in Massachusetts, many come back - as you know - to mentor and hire our current students and new

advice on purchasing professional attire to wear at real interviews.

During academic year 2018-2019, career services hosted 293 career events for students, according to Davis. These were attended by 759 employer partners representing 500 companies.

Davis further highlighted the University’s new job and internship search engine, Handshake, which she said is available for alumni to use as well as students.

Handshake replaced the University’s old job search engine, RamTrack, during summer 2019.

Students can register for an account using their FSU email address, while alumni can contact Career Services to verify their graduation status and register for an account with any email.

“We don’t shut you off,” Davis said. “You are always welcome at Career Services!”

CONNECT WITH EVAN LEE elee5@student.framingham.edu

NEWS

Student Retention Continued from page 1 Bridges added that CASA’s goal for the student at risk of suspension is to counsel, coach, and offer all their services in order to promote success in the student’s third semester at FSU. She added the policies in practice have not become “more lenient,” but “more student-centered and supportive.

“The University has taken a stand from a policy standpoint to be more acknowledging that students struggle in transitioning into college.

“There’s an entire area of scholarship dedicated to transitioning into college. People get their Ph.D.s in higher education. They’re looking at how to help students transition into college.”

When a first-year student is placed on academic probation, “it doesn’t mean they’re not college-ready or they’re not capable of doing this work. It was just really rough to make that transition. … We do not approach it from a deficit standpoint.”

First-year students placed on academic probation must go through a program called “Academic Success 101,” Bridges said.

The program is a day-long workshop for students who appealed their suspension and were invited back for the fall semester. The workshop focuses on success strategies and building academic confidence.

“You need to make sure you’re taking classes that give you the greatest chance at success,” said Bridges.

CASA also holds “Academic Success 102” for students who have their probation extended, but are not suspended. Academic Success 102 is a self-directed online module on Blackboard that focuses further on student success efforts.

Bridges said CASA offers many tutoring and mentoring services based on each student’s individual academic need in an effort to increase retention.

“Yes, we do a lot toward retention, but we like to think of them as our student success efforts,” Bridges said.

CASA provides academic strategy peer tutors who serve as “academic role models or mentors,” Bridges said. These academic strategy peer tutors are generally junior and seniors.

Any student can meet with a peer tutor weekly for an hour-long appointment. The goal of these meetings is for peer tutors to teach students how to organize their time, communicate with professors, track grades, and learn basic academic skills.

Bridges said, “We know that a good student teaching you is going to have a different impact than me saying the same thing over and over.”

She added there may be instances where working with a peer is not ideal for a student. In these cases, CASA also offers academic coaching with one of their full-time staff members.

Additionally, CASA offers a supplemental instruction program,

which targets courses students have difficulty in.

Bridges said these classes are usually “gateway courses into a major” that are generally 100 level courses that have high drop/withdrawal/failure rates.

Junior math major Ellen Lucier works as a Supplemental Instruction

“To see how much they are already juggling - kids, jobs, other classes, and social lives - it takes a lot to make time for extra math practice.

It makes me really happy to hear that my help makes things easier for them,” she added.

The math department now holds math emporiums to help students

“I love to help. I want to be a teacher one day, so this is a great opportunity for me to get experience helping others and trying different approaches. I feel that students can be more comfortable around me.”

-Ellen Lucier, Junior math major and Supplimental Instruction (SI) tutor (SI) tutor for CASA and said she was personally recommended by one of her professors to be his SI tutor.

Lucier said SI sessions are “a really good approach to teaching students about math in a less intimidating and more practical setting.”

She added that during her sessions, she helps whoever comes. “I

learn more outside of class, she added.

Bridges said, “It’s really intended to say that you are going to take a credit-bearing math class, you’re not going to be behind everyone else, and we are just going to give you a boost to get you through.”

Math department chair Julie Le-

“The University has taken a stand from a policy standpoint to be more acknowledging that students struggle in transitioning into college.”

-LaDonna Bridges, Associate Dean of Academic Success and Director of CASA usually redo practice problems from class with different numbers or work from the textbook examples.”

Lucier said being an SI tutor is a great experience for her as well. “I love to help. I want to be a teacher one day, so this is a great opportunity for me to get experience helping others and trying different approaches. I feel that students can be more comfortable around me.

vandosky said the department is aware some students struggle with mandatory math classes.

She added some students take advantages of the extra help provided

by CASA and the math department.

“Usually the weakest students are so intimidated. I keep trying to encourage them,” she said. “I don’t know if they feel that there’s a stigma around asking for help when strug-

FEBRUARY 14, 2020 | 5

gling in class.”

Levandosky said she has discussed new strategies with her department for helping students who are struggling in class and has attended off-campus workshops with state institutions.

“We work a lot on how to support these students,” Levandosky said.

Keville said Starfish outreach plays a vital role in the University’s retention efforts.

According to Bridges, CASA administers an “Early Academic Alert Survey” through Starfish, which is sent out between the third and fourth week of classes. The survey asks faculty to identify students who may be struggling early in the course.

Once the alert is sent to CASA, the team responds to the flag and contacts students to remind them about the tutoring services FSU provides.

“Starfish helps with our retention efforts because it helps us identify students who appear to be struggling.

It allows us to reach out. It allows us to see a pattern and decide how to intervene with that student from an academic standpoint,” Bridges said.

She added the sense of community at FSU is a large factor in retention.

The New Student and Family Program holds FSU Foundations classes, Rams 101, and first-year seminars to help first-year students transition into life at FSU. “I think you can’t discount all the things that are done in Student Affairs,” Bridges said. “All that sense of community work, whether it’s the heavy lifting done by the Counseling Center to help students who are distressed by being here, or Res Life … all the work the RAs and the area directors do to help students figure out the space they’re in … the Dean of Students’ office - it’s all kind of endless.”

She added all efforts for retention are “absolutely holistic.

“While we can do all of these things academically, you have to be OK outside of class too. They’re so connected. You are not going to do well academically if you are not doing well emotionally.”

Bridges said retention “may be the buzzword, but I think that really, at the core of it, we really want students to be successful. We want students to earn degrees. We want students to realize the benefits of obtaining a higher education.”

She added when she sits down with a student, retention is not what’s on her mind.

“It’s figuring out what their barriers are and how can we help them overcome those barriers to become a successful student,” she said.

“There isn’t a cookie-cutter approach to all of it, and I think that’s where the heart comes in and where the time comes in to find a student success.

CONNECT WITH ABIGAIL SAGGIO asaggio@student.framingham.edu

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NEWS

6 | FEBRUARY 14, 2020

Food wasted in Dining Commons

By Brennan Atkins Editorial Staff FSU Dining Services held two events showcasing the amount of food wasted in the Dining Commons Oct. 8 and Nov. 5.

Rachael Bissonnette, field marketing coordinator for Sodexo, designed the events to place all unconsumed food in plastic bins that were then weighed for waste totals.

“The goal of the event is to bring light what happens every day in the back - to show the amount of food waste that is thrown away on a daily basis,” Bissonnette said.

The Oct. 8 event resulted in 170 pounds of food wasted in two-anda-half hours. This weight equates to 140 meals, according to Feeding America.

An organization that strives to help those who are hungry.

The total weight of the food collected in two hours on Nov. 5 weighed in at 120 pounds, which is equivalent to 100 meals wasted, according to Bissonnette Annalisa Marzeotti, a sophomore criminology major said, “I expected [the weight] to be a bit higher because of the amount of stuff I see people throw away. It’s good that it isn’t that high, but I think we can still take steps to lower it.”

Describing the process of food removal, Bissonnette said, “All the food that gets deposited on the dish re-

turn line goes into this machine that grinds up all the food and dehydrates it. It compresses it, and it makes it smaller.” The processed waste is then given to Casella Waste Systems. “It’s not like it just goes in the trash,” Bissonnette said.

Bisonette also described how sodexo use external organizations in order to take away uneaten food. “In

“I see people grab food all the time, touch it, say ‘this is gross,’ and then just throw it away.”

-Mike DaGirolamo, junior sports management major the past, we’ve worked with the Food Recovery network. ... What they do is, on a designated day of the week, they’ll come to us and see what we have that can be frozen, or what is non-perishable, and they would take it to donate somewhere.”

Maddie Brown, a sophomore food and nutrition major, said, “I feel like it’s good to know how much food we aren’t eating. I think we are wasting way too much food. I think Dining Services should take note of what

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students aren’t eating, and stop making it.”

Bissonnette discussed certain factors affecting the weight of food waste on a daily basis. She said, “There might be busier days during the week or we might have an event where more food waste is produced.

For example, on the days that we serve chicken nuggets, the food

waste tends to be much higher.”

Gwen Morton, a junior studio art major, said, “I wouldn’t place any blame on Sodexo employees because they can’t help what materials they have to work with.”

Mike DaGirolamo, a junior sports management major, said, “I see people grab food all the time, touch it, say ‘this is gross,’ and then just throw it away. While I’m not completely aware of the everyday amount of food wasted, I feel like anything over

100 pounds in two hours is mental.”

Sodexo use WasteWatch powered

by Leanpath, a program which is used to measure food waste and keep track of data.

Bissonnette said, “It benefits us in two ways. One, it lets us know if we are buying too much so we can cut back on costs, and second, it helps us reduce the amount of waste that we are creating when we make meals.”

Sodexo has other ways in which it strives to be environmentally friendly. The napkins in the dining hall are biodegradable, and they support organizations that fight against food waste, such as Stop Hunger and The Campus Kitchen Project.

Bissonnette encourages students to be thoughtful of their food waste.

“Don’t take as much as you think you’ll eat, because you can always go up and get some more in the Dining Commons. The amount of full meals that we see come down the dish line is crazy.

She added, “Outside of the University, you can do the same thing.

Don’t buy more than you think you might need,” she said.

The next Weigh the Waste events will take place March 24 and April 21.

CONNECT WITH BRENNAN ATKINS batkins@student.framingham.edu

OP/ED

OP/ED

THE GATEPOST EDITORIAL

FEBRUARY 14, 2020 | 7

GATEPOST

Guidance

Pencils vs pens - the Common sense for the ultimate showdown common cold

By Ashley Wall Editor-in-Chief

Coughs and sniffles may be spreading through your classes faster than the latest TikTok trend, but a few simple steps can drastically cut your chances of suffering during this flu season.

Vaccinations are an important step, but they aren’t a cure-all - the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) adds the current flu vaccine is only 58% effective in preventing infections.

Between 22 and 31 million people caught the flu between October 2019 and February - with close to 1% of cases resulting in death, according to the CDC Ultimately, prevention is key.

A good diet will go a long way in strengthening your immune system, as will getting enough sleep and physical exercise.

Chicken soup for the soul, are we right?

But if you are going to break a sweat, make sure you’re wiping down machines at the gym before and after your workout. You don’t know what germs you may be carrying.

And, as obvious as it sounds - wash your hands, you nasties. Typhoid Mary can tell you all about how skipping out on a good scrub is a really bad idea.

If cases around you are particularly severe, take a cue from the Korean fashion influencers and rock a medical face mask (and feel free to add a snail mask while you’re at it). Most doctors offices will offer them free of charge. Even if you don’t have symptoms, fask masks can help prevent the germs from spreading - protecting yourself, your friends, and others around you.

Face masks may not be your style, but we doubt walking around with a stuffy nose is, either.

If these prevention tips don’t work and you still catch the flu, please go to the Health Center as soon as possible.

The Health Center is open Monday through Friday from 8 A.M to 5 P.M. They can diagnose your sicknesses and provide you with flu and cold kits at no cost, so you do not have to worry about going to the store to get your cold medicine.

If you run out of cold and flu supplies before you get to go home, or you get sick on the weekend, take advantage of the self-care station on the third floor on the McCarthy Center. Again, you don’t have to pay anything to make use of the products available.

If the Health Center does determine you have the flu - they will likely recommend you go home until you are no longer contagious - we recommend you listen to them.

Although heading home isn’t an option for everyone, staying in the dorms leads to a greater risk of spreading your sickness to your roommates, and can hinder your ability to heal faster.

Plus, your roommate is probably less willing to cut the crusts off your grilled cheese while you warm up with some soup.

The Health Center - and your parents, for the matter - will likely recommend drinking plenty of fluids, resting, and taking OTC painkillers like ibuprofen to help lower your fever.

Finally, please do not go to class while you’re sick. Not only is it no fun to sit through class while you are sick, you are putting others at risk.

We all know how much professors attendance policies can discourage us from taking care of ourselves - but no professor wants you in class if you are going to be blowing your nose every 10 minutes.

Stay safe this flu season.

We’ll get through this together.

By Donald Halsing Editorial Staff While we live in a modern world of keyboard clicks, college students still scrawl scribbles across sheets of paper time and again.

But what tool is best to use for writing?

Traditional pencils and pens are frequent favorites among tiresome fingers. They’re reliable, easy to find in stores, and timeless.

Besides commonplace pens and pencils, there are also mechanical pencils and erasable pens. Additionally, both come in a variety of colors and styles.

With so many options, each with their positive and negative components, one writing utensil must reign supreme.

To start, keeping a fresh point to draw with is important to keeping calculations and contentions clear. Standard pencils must be sharpened, which is a hassle. Mechanical pencils, however, easily replenish their tips with writing material without the need to find a pencil sharpener.

However, some pencil lead is weak, and with strong hands, breakage is likely to occur, causing angered, bold words across the page.

Whatever is written by a writing utensil must be readable. Pens develop smooth, clear lines, and are more ergonomic to write with than pencils.

Writing made with graphite pencils varies in darkness depending on how much pressure the user applies, which can be problematic.

Don’t forget about color. Both pens and pencils come in a variety of hues and shades.

While regular pencils make gray or black marks, colored pencils offer some variety. However, colored pencils are also notoriously difficult to sharpen.

Pens come in a variety of colors, although blue or black is the default choice of professors.

Another important consideration is how long your notes will last. If your marks fade away, it’s unlikely you will get good marks in your class.

Pen can be easily smudged. But, once it dries, it is very difficult to modify.

Anyone with sweaty palms knows pencil often smears at the most inconvenient times of studying.

But what if you need to change something you wrote? Pencils usually include a small eraser on one end for correcting mistakes, but words written by pens are notoriously permanent.

What if there was a writing utensil with the permanence and clarity of a pen, but also with the flexibility of a pencil?

Erasable pens are the solution.

Erasable pens don’t need to be sharpened and produce clear, easy-toread lines.

They also include the convenience of an eraser to quickly correct mistakes.

And, of course, erasable pens come in a full rainbow of colors!

For our left-handed writers: we see you. Erasable pens provide the perfect solution for those oh-so-unavoidable smudges.

So the next time you reach for your basic number two pencil, remember: erasable pens are the writing utensil of the future.

[Editor’s Note: Gatepost Guidance is a bi-weekly column. The opinions of the authors do not reflect the opinions of the entire Gatepost staff.]

Have Letter to the Editor?

Have a question for Gatepost Guidance?

Feel free to email it to: gatepost@framingham.edu Letters should be approximately 500 words.

We look forward to hearing from you!

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8 | FEBRUARY 14, 2020

OP/ED

One size does not fit all

By Kaitlyn Cullen Staff Writer Have you ever gone to your favorite store to pick up a new pair of reliable jeans? The same style, same fit, and same size - but they’re too tight?

I would usually say don’t worry, you’re not the only one - but you should worry. And then you should do something about it.

I’ve seen posts going around social media where women post pictures of their jeans side-by-side, and I know you probably have too, but each post is unique. Some jeans are all the same size on the tag, but clearly not in reality when compared to each other.

Other jeans are all fitted to the same person but vary from size to size on the tags.

Yet both have the same message.

The numbers on women’s jeans are just that - numbers, and they don’t make sense.

The average pants size of women in the U.S. in 2019 was 18-to-20, and the average size for teenage girls was 12, according to Daniel Bubnis, who has a master’s degree in exercise science and health promotion.

These sizes aren’t even available in most stores women and girls shop at in your average mall!

Men’s jeans are more accurately sized specifically based on waist and length, whereas most women’s jeans found in popular stores are a bit less sensible, with waist and length mea-

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surements consolidated to even sizes ranging from 00 to 16, not even counting most plus-sizes.

“The US, in general, uses the Size 0 standard, which corresponds to a waist and hips range for jeans sizes,” says Blitz Results. “There is a ½ inch difference between both the waist and hip for every size up. A size 4, for example, could fit women with a waist size of 26-26 ½ inches and 34 ½-35 inches hip measurement.”

After comparing several current denim size charts from Aéropostale, Charlotte Russe, Liverpool Jeans, 1822 Denim, and Miss Me Jeans, it appears Blitz Results’ claim is mostly true - but many companies differ slightly.

In the past year alone, I have gone from a size 4 to a size 8 according to Aéropostale’s jean sizings. However, my old size fours fit better than my new size eights, and they’re hardly even stretched out.

So why has Aéropostale changed their sizing so radically this past year?

Many other popular stores like Aéropostale, including Charlotte Russe and American Eagle, target girls and women from teenagers to young adults as their primary sales audience. These stores’ ever-changing size charts are toxic to impressionable young girls’ and women’s body imaging and self-confidence.

There’s already a known issue of body shaming and bullying in the U.S., especially within these age groups, and large, successful clothing companies should be fighting AGAINST it, not kindling the cause.

Female bodies are naturally curvier than men’s, and even so they can be quite skinny due to high metabolisms or they can be packed with extra love, making it incredibly difficult to find any size on the all too basic current sizing charts - jeans, dresses, and jumpsuits included.

Getting all of your clothes personally tailored WILL rack up your bills,

so it’s understandable that most people wouldn’t even consider that an option. A more feasible option would be to change the way we measure the sizes of jeans for women - by their waist, length, AND hip size.

This is why I urge women to stand up to big companies and demand a better sizing regime. And in the meantime, remember that size is just a number!

We will NOT be bullied by clothing companies who try to tell us that we need to be small to be beautiful.

OP/ED

FEBRUARY 14, 2020 | 9

‘Parasite’ deserves all the recognition it got

By Brennan Atkins and Noah Barnes Editorial Staff “Parasite” deserves all the recognition it got.

We don’t always agree with the Oscar nominations and winners, over the last couple of years, we’ve actually been somewhat disappointed by their decisions.

Whether it’s a film that never got nominated we feel as if should’ve gotten recognition, such as “Waves”

by Trey Edward Shults, or a film we feel as if shouldn’t have won, such as “Bohemian Rhapsody” winning Best Editing, sometimes the Oscars leaves us wanting more.

However, one thing that we will never do is crawl to Twitter to vehemently attack other people’s opinions - If you enjoy a film, you should be allowed to do so openly without people belittling your views.

Unfortunately, This seems to be the case all over Twitter and Youtube when it comes to Bong Joon Ho’s “Parasite,” which got the Oscars’ for Best Foreign Language film, Best Original Screenplay, and the main topic of debate - Best Picture.

Parasite is an excellent film - We are aware that if the movie didn’t get as much attention with American audiences as it did, the Academy would have likely ignored it for Best Picture.

But the proof is in the pudding, and it did extremely well in the American box office for a foreign film, grossing at $35 million.

Boon Jong Ho got recognized at the Cannes International Film Festival with the Palme d’Or, a Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language film, and won best international independent film at the British independent film awards. It’s even getting added to the Criterion Collection, which for many directors, is a dream come true.

So then why is Bong Joon Ho facing so much resistance for winning Best Picture at the Oscars.

Similar to how they ruin anything they touch, one huge problem emerging from Twitter are blatant racists.

If you don’t want to read, sure, but it crosses the line of criticism when you legitimately say it’s less of a film if it’s in a different language.

One viral tweet via @Millerstream writes “A man named Bong Joon Ho wins #Oscar for best original screenplay over Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and 1917. Acceptance speech was: ‘GREAT HONOR. THANK YOU.’ Then he proceeds to give the rest of his speech in Korean.

These people are the destruction of America.”

While he continued to backpedal after making that tweet, it created an outlet for many other racist comments to be circulated through the web via comments. We genuinely don’t understand why these people even watch the Oscars, as film is becoming more progressive every single day.

Another reason people are unhappy with “Parasite” is the fact that it won both Best Foreign Language film and Best Picture. Some believe that if it’s the best foreign film, it should be immediately disqualified from being nominated for best picture. While it’s true that a foreign film has never won Best Picture, this is something that happens almost every year with other categories.

Take Peter Farrelly’s “Green Book” for example, on top of winning Best Picture it also received the Oscars’ for Best Screenplay and Best supporting actor.

Why should some films be restricted to certain accolades while others aren’t?

Film, like many other art forms, can be enjoyed universally. Even without subtitles, one can appreciate certain elements in film such as cinematography, the actors’ physical acting,

soundtracks and editing.

If you genuinely didn’t enjoy the writing from Boon Jong Ho, or the acting from Kang-ho Song, or any other element of the film, it’s absolutely fine to be dissapointed with it winning Best Picture. We wanted “The Lighthouse” to be nominated for Best Picture, and were surprised to see it only got nominated for Best Cinematography.

Admittedly, we were a bit upset by this - But we would never verbally attack someone for disagreeing with what we believe. If you like something that we reviewed as not particularly great, that doesn’t mean we think you’re wrong, we simply have different tastes.

Anyways, we couldn’t be happier that “Parasite” won, and it’s temporarily being brought back to theaters if you didn’t catch the chance to watch it.

‘Give as Much Love as You Can,’ not just romantically

By Robert Johnson Jr. Editorial Staff Ah, yes. Valentine’s Day. The one day in a given year that contains more self-loathing and romance-related jealousy than any other day - and, yes, New Year’s Eve comes very close.

Every year, the game plan for single people like myself is one in the same - look on social media and observe all the mushy “happy Valentine’s Day to my one-and-only” posts and many reposted memes about people receiving that one message Team Snapchat sends every user of the service - you know which ones I’m talking about.

Don’t act like you don’t.

While most of us look back in anger and resentment toward the act of romantic love, I do have a proposal for you, and not a proposal of the romantic kind. Listen, rings don’t come cheap, and I’d rather use that money for video games and comics, thanks.

This Valentine’s Day, I challenge you to not shake your fist at your Facebook timeline or your Instagram feed, but, rather, I implore you to give love to those who mean a lot to you in your day-to-day life.

Yes, I know that saying “I love you” to people that you have no romantic affiliations with is a tough thing to do for people who only recognize that simple phrase as a “phrase you only use with your significant other,” but there’s no need for something so sweet

to be held back by societal “standards” of the past.

Instead, let those words fly! You only have one life and you have a lot of loving potential in you!

For most of us with favorable parental units, telling them that you love them is a very natural process, and, hopefully, you’re not in a romantic relationship with either of them.

Why can’t you do the same with your friends, whether you’re in a relationship with them or not?

If your friend is into hugs, give them a tight one, but with consent.

If your friend likes being kissed on the cheek, go give ‘em one, but with twice as much consent.

If your friend is feeling down about not having a significant other for the seventh year in a row, go and tell them that they deserve love, too!

Love should not be reserved for that one person you’ve been eyeing on Instagram for weeks on end, it should be shared openly with everyone. And while many readers of this newspaper might have that special someone in their lives, which I am definitely not bashing in the slightest, I challenge you to make sure that love gets spread to those around you.

Heck, if you’re not even into being mushy, do something kind for another person, or get in the habit of going out of your way for someone you care

about. There are many ways to convey and display love!

The world is already tough enough as it is - do your best to make sure that love is always going around for those who need it the most.

FRAMINGHAM STATE UNIVERSITY’S INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1932 | FSUGATEPOST.COM

OP/ED

10 | FEBRUARY 14, 2020

The ire of impeachment

“Politics” are a waste of time

By Evan Lee Editorial Staff

By Donald Halsing Editorial Staff

One year ago, I wrote that President Trump’s constitutionally controversial acts could lead to his downfall.

My column, “The cost of crisis,” suggested Trump’s declaration of a national emergency to secure funding to “build the wall” - enacted Feb. 15, 2019 - could sway independent voters away from him during his bid for reelection.

And so the cost for him, I wrote, was 2020.

One year later, Trump has become the third president in American history to be impeached - largely due to his continually controversial acts.

House Democrats, responding to a U.S. election scandal involving Trump and the Ukrainian government, accused the president of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. Their majority vote adopted two articles of impeachment against him Dec. 18.

However, their effort to actually remove the president was never realistically the goal - given Trump’s grip over the Republican majority Senate.

Trials there unsurprisingly ended with his acquittal on both articles Feb. 5. Though, Republican Mitt Romney did break the partisan line by voting guilty on abuse of power.

Regardless of the odds, House Democrats pushed the impeachment process forward.

Elijah Cummings, former chair of the House Oversight Committee, said, “When the history books are written about this tumultuous era, I want them to show that I was among those in the House of Representatives who stood up to lawlessness and tyranny.”

His quote was included in Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s speech made before the impeachment debate was introduced to the House.

“If we do not act now, we would be derelict in our duty,” she argued.

“It is tragic that the president’s reckless actions make impeachment necessary. He gave us no choice,” she added.

Republicans think differently.

Mitch McConnell, majority leader of the Senate, said, “The House’s vote yesterday was not some neutral judgment that Democrats came to reluctantly.

“It was the pre-determined end of a partisan crusade that began before President Trump was even nominated, let alone sworn in,” he said, referring

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to Democratic members of Congress who voiced their desire to impeach the president before his inauguration in 2017.

“This week wasn’t even the first time House Democrats have introduced articles of impeachment. It was the seventh time,” he added.

The opinions of the Congressional leadership largely reflect those of their parties back home, according to a recent national opinion poll by NBC and the Wall Street Journal, released Feb. 2.

The polling suggested that 84% of Democrats were supportive of Trump’s removal, calling it “necessary,” “justified,” and “warranted” when asked what one word they’d use to describe it.

Republicans, meanwhile, disapproved of Trump’s removal by a rate of 94%, using words such as “ridiculous,” “wasteful,” and “sham” to describe it.

Neither set of data is particularly surprising.

What matters most over the impeachment issue - just as it did during the national emergency issue last year - is where independent voters stand.

As controversial and divisive as President Trump may be, the impeachment process is just as controversial and divisive of a method Democrats used.

Which is why independents were divided over Trump’s impeachment in the opinion poll, with 50% reported as opposing his removal and 45% approving it.

The polls did favor disapproval, however. And as an acquitted Trump attacks Democrats for trying to remove him prior to the election, disapproval over his impeachment may rise further. “‘I don’t think we should go down that path because it divides the country… it’s just not worth it.’ That was Nancy Pelosi a year ago, right?” Trump rhetorically asked after his acquittal.

“Instead of wanting to heal our country and fix our country ... they want to destroy our country,” he said of their impeachment effort.

It’s a statement that independent voters may take with them to the polls.

[Editor’s Note: The referenced column, “The cost of crisis,” can be found in the Feb. 22, 2019 edition of The Gatepost.]

When citizens elect people to represent them in government, they expect those people to dedicate their time, effort, and resources to solving issues.

But, in the United States, our politicians are not always focused on bettering the lives of their constituents.

Many are focused on maintaining their positions and questioning their counterparts across party lines.

Our government wastes time, resources, and taxpayer dollars on insignificant quarrels when far more pressing issues are on the line.

Our environment is irreversibly damaged. Our people live with insufficient food, water, and shelter. Our system of healthcare fails millions of citizens. Our wealth distribution is unequal. Our transportation infrastructure is crumbling.

Meanwhile, our country’s leaders - especially those at the federal level - are not prioritizing these problems.

Instead, they focus their valuable time in office on staying in control and ensuring no one will dethrone them.

President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial is the worst example of hours lost.

U.S. Congress halted working on important issues in favor of arguing about impeaching Trump. Was this the best way to spend Congress’ time?

Each week - except on Sundays U.S. representatives, and later, senators, spent the entirety of each day sitting through hours of impeachment arguments, according to The New York Times. Collectively, this took months.

This was time wasted.

Your taxes paid for our federal legislators to sit idle for hours at a time.

We could be using our time more effectively.

The point is, impeachment proceedings distracted politicians from performing their duties at their full potential and making laws. Even if they lost half a day to attend the trial, that was half a day they were not writing bills, researching legislation, and dealing with day-to-day business.

Research by the Heritage Founda-

tion found the Trump’s impeachment trial cost over $3 million in taxpayer funds, including lawyers, personnel, security, travel, and supplies.

This included the salaries of over 100 congressional employees, “who largely didn’t attend to normal duties from September through December,” reported the Daily Signal, a conservative news site.

Let’s hope the 2020 presidential election doesn’t further distract representatives from their responsibilities - but the aftershocks of the impeachment trials are sure to be on their minds.

Running for president is a massive time commitment - one which requires full dedication.

Usa.gov instructs candidates to announce their intention to run in the spring the year before the election. By the spring of the election year, candidates are out on the road and busy attending debates and rallies.

Candidates have presidential glory on their minds two years before the inauguration - at least. How can they focus on their work while daydreaming about sitting in the oval office?

And, during the year of the election, candidates will spend most of it away from Washington. If taxpayers provide salaries for congresspeople to work in the Capitol, they shouldn’t spend a whole year sightseeing the country!

It is unfair to the American people when sitting politicians run for president. They are neglecting their obligations to serve the people.

U.S. politicians are wasting time at a critical moment in history.

Our government’s time-wasting impacts not just our citizens - it detracts from our role as a global superpower and in addressing international problems.

Using environmental crises as an example - a quarter of Australia’s land burnt to a crisp while our Congress listened to Trump’s phone calls with Ukraine.

If politicians continue to focus on their own egos - and neglect time-sensitive issues - the clock may run out before we even realize.

OP/ED

FEBRUARY 14, 2020 | 11

Don’t let Instagram define your body image

By Caroline Gordon Staff Writer At 13 years old, my dad handed me a small white box with a shiny, first model, iPhone inside.

My young self, already fascinated by taking pictures, wanted to become interested in the photography world of Instagram - or so I thought. What I didn’t realize is how unhealthy the social media outlet would be for my body image.

I noticed friends posting pictures of themselves at the beach wearing cute, two-piece bathing suits - something I already struggled to do.

Comments on my friend’s accounts like “skinny,” “your body is goals,” and “I wish I looked like you,” filled my head.

I began following celebrities who posted similar revealing pictures whose fan base constantly complimented their slender physiques.

There were hashtags like “Skinny Minnie,” “fitness goals,” and even “anorexic” that I noticed young women using when commenting on each other’s accounts.

I felt like everywhere I looked on Instagram, I saw models and famous people showing off their seemingly effortless bodies. My competitive friends always talking about how they wished they looked like Kendall and Kylie Jenner.

At the time, I experienced feelings of distance from my peers because I did not paint my face with foundation and post selfies. Nor did I post bikini pictures like my friends did, as I was insecure of my body. My role models were the unrealistically tiny celebrities of Instagram who raved about juice cleansing.

As a young teenager, I quickly realized Instagram was not about posting cool photography, but instead it was a virtual environment for a middle-school girl to succumb to a lowered sense of self-esteem.

Turns out, I was not alone.

The website, The Inquisitive Mind, talked about a study which correlates social media and poor body image. The study consisted of 100 seventh-grade girls and discovered that adolescent girls who posted more photos, and used more appearance editing apps, felt worse about their image. They were also more likely to develop eating disorders as a result of trying to mimic their Instagram “role models.”

Furthermore, Amherst Wire discussed a study done by Mercy Multiplied, a charitable organization. They concluded 90% of women who have eating disorders are between the ages of 12 and 25. Seventy-two percent of that population utilized Instagram

daily.

Being a 13-year-old when social media was just starting out was difficult enough for me and many others.

Now, with more features to edit your

appearance, I can’t imagine how today’s generation of young girls is feeling.

Campus Conversations What was your favorite Valentine’s Day memory growing up?

By Amanda Garny

“Every year my family and I go skiing up in North Conway, New Hampshire at Bretton Woods.”

-Mollie Pimentel, freshman

“Whenever you were in class and everyone traded little candies and hearts.”

-AJ Roile, sophomore

“My favorite thing was coming home from school and finding a giant basket on the table.”

-Keileghley Card, senior

“In school when we would each have our bags of 20 Valentine’s and you would put them all in the decorated shoebox.

Then when you get home you would get to look at all of them.”

“Last year I had surgery and my friends came to my house and brought me flowers because I couldn’t walk.”

-Tylah Briscoe, freshman

“Getting the holographic Valentine’s cards - the ones where you turn it and the picture changes. I loved those.”

-Manny Miranda, freshman

Op/Ed submissions reflect the opinions of their authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of The Gatepost or its staff.

-Camille Duesrochers, freshman

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12 | FEBRUARY 14, 2020

ARTS & FEATURES

HEARTS & FEATURES Sawaari takes FSU on a musical ride

By Robert Johnson Jr. Arts & Features Editor After a nice, long winter break, the Midday Performances series at FSU resumed with a workshop and a performance from the Boston-based band, Sawaari, for the penultimate concert in the series, Feb. 10.

The band comprises of five members - Fabio Pirozzolo (vocals and percussion), Jussi Reijonen (oud), Mike Rivard (sintir and double bass), Andy Bergman (saxophone, clarinet), and Amit Kavthekar (tabla), each of them with a diverse background just as diverse as their musical range.

As 34 members of the FSU community sat in the audience, the band opened with “15,” a song that combined the melodies of Indian percussion with jazz-like compositional stylings. At some point in the song, it broke out into something similar to that of a rock number.

One of the biggest components of “15” comes from Kavthekar’s vocals, which open the song, but also appear in some spots in the middle. Combining this with his virtuosic banging on the tabla and a well-supported saxophone solo

by Bergman, the band gave the audience a taste of what was to come in the performance.

The second song in their set was described by Pirozzolo as “a popular tune from Tunisia.” “Bahdha hbibti” wasted no time when it came to getting loud.

With percussion reminiscent of a ballroom dance, “Bahdha hbibti” had a great emphasis on the percussive efforts of Pirozzolo and Kavthekar. Bergman’s saxophone playing brought the piece together, and Reijonen and Rivard traded solos with each other, truly making their interpretation of the song a collaborative and fun time.

“Both Ways,” the next song on the setlist, was one that “doesn’t come from any tradition but ours,” in the words of Pirozzolo.

Boasting a prog rock-like time signature of 27/8, this song has “been through many versions” and had everything a listener could want - a soft opening reminiscent of a ride along the countryside, call-and-response sequences, virtuosic, quick playing from all five

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Sawaari performing in the McCarthy Center Forum, Feb. 10

members, pitch changes, and a whole lot more.

This song’s spotlight was on the dynamic duo of Reijonen and Bergman, with a lengthy oud solo from Reijonen taking space in the middle, with a backing track accompanied by Bergman playing underneath it. However, once that solo concluded, Bergman got one of his own, making use of the brief motifs found earlier in the piece.

The fifth tune in the concert, “Lo Jocu di la palumbella,” came from the place of Pirozzolo’s native Calabria, Italy.

“I don’t know if you are familiar with Italian geography, but if you mention Italy as being ‘the boot,’ this tune and this dialect comes from the heel - the one that borders with Sicily,” Pirozzolo said.

He added, “The lyrics are like one of those southern Italian dramas where somebody falls in love with someone - in this case, this young girl falls in love for a young, handsome guy who wants to be a soldier.”

The song opened up with an introduction by Reijonen’s oud, but this opening passage also gave way to Pirozzolo’s passionate vocals in Italian. Once that introduction passed, Kavthekar and Rivard joined the fun, but Berg-

man jumped in after an intense percussive hit on the calabash by Pirozzolo, sending the song into a different, more serious tone than the opening initially let on.

Bergman’s saxophone work, complemented to Pirozzolo’s vocals, full of solo potential with Bergman taking advantage of two key moments, where his soloing was accompanied by the quick diddles of Kavthekar. As the song concluded, all of the instruments fell out, one-by-one, until Bergman remained.

The song that followed was a composition by Rivard called “5 of Swords,” a melody that, naturally, placed an emphasis on Rivard’s sintir techniques, with the occasional playing around with weird, unidentifiable time signatures from moment to moment.

Perhaps the most exciting bit for the audience came in the form of a “drum battle” between Kavthekar and Pirozzolo during the later parts of the song.

The two traded technical blows back and forth to each other, but, as the other instruments played underneath this friendly duel of percussive proportions, the two men smiled at each other, making their chemistry known to the entranced audience.

Brennan Atkins / THE GATEPOST

After all that drumming and a song that got people to get up and dance, Sawaari’s ride came to an end with a selection called “Neqsha,” a slower-paced tune with lots of interaction among band members.

Bergman played on a flute-like instrument alongside Reijonen’s oud, playing a few of the opening passages together, but as the song went on, Bergman began to perform trills on the flute that Reijonen responded to in kind.

Not one to go out slow, the band accelerated their way to the end with quick playing. And Kavthekar slapped the tablas furiously, one last time for the audience.

If you want to learn more about Sawaari, visit them on passim.org/ artists/sawaari.

The final Midday Performance of the school year will take place April 13, in the Heineman Ecumenical Center at 1:30 p.m., with the Entwyned Ensemble.

CONNECT WITH ROBERT JOHNSON JR. rjohnson10@student.framingham.edu

ARTS & FEATURES

FEBRUARY 14, 2020 | 13

Would you ‘Stand by Me’

By Patrick Brady Staff Writer Rob Reiner’s classic 1986 film, “Stand

by Me,” is one of the greatest coming-ofage films ever made.

The film stars Wil Wheaton as Gordie, a boy who is dealing with the loss of his older brother, and River Phoenix as Chris, a boy who is mistreated by his father.

Additionally, the film features actors such as Corey Feldman as Teddy Duchamp, Jerry O’Connell as Vern Tessio, and Kiefer Sutherland as Ace Merrill.

Vern overhears his older brother and his brother’s friend talking about a boy’s dead body they found on the railroad tracks. He tells his friends - Gordie, Chris, and Teddy - about the discovery, and they decide to venture out of town in order to find the body. But Gordie is hesitant at first, since his brother just died, and the thought of seeing the body disturbs him.

Each boy deals with their own traumatic experiences in the film and are far from perfect. As they travel farther and farther from town, they begin to realize things they didn’t know about each other - for better or worse. They are being hunted down by Chris’ brother, Ace, and his friends who have learned about the motive behind their disappearance.

“Stand by Me” is perfectly cast - both the teenagers and kids act realistically and never lack emotion. Even the kids from “Stranger Things” can’t compete with Phoenix and Wheaton’s acting ability.

Despite the exceptional writing, the film was snagged from receiving an Academy Award for best screenplay.

Raynold Gideon and Bruce A. Evans the screenwriters of the film - produced the most realistic and natural dialogue I have ever heard in any movie. And the cast’s execution of it was flawless.

Whether it’d be from Chris opening up to Gordie about his troubled past, to the four boys joking with each other in their treehouse at the beginning of the film, it is difficult to tell if you’re watching a movie or not.

Above all else, the chemistry among the four main characters succeeds on all different levels. For this reason, the film never lacks heart, even in the darkest of scenes.

While the movie does deal with some uncomfortable subject material, it sprinkles humor in too. For instance, there is a scene in which the four boys talk around a campfire while hilarious dialogue ensues. The first time I watched the film, the scene had me in stitches.

The soundtrack of the film is superb as well. And while it could be considered slow by present-day standards, it helps to set the somber tone.

Although the soundtrack and screenplay of the film are astounding, there was one aspect film that stood above all else - the cinematography. Whether the scene was shot from a distance or up-close, the backdrop of the four main boys was beautiful.

Even though the story in which the film is based off of was set in Maine, “Stand by

Red carpet ready

By Lauren Paolini Copy Editor

Columbia Pictures

Me” was filmed in Brownsville, Oregon.

Therefore, the background is often rolling green hills covered with blossoming trees - with the occasional river.

While the landscape can be distracting at times, it also progresses the plot forward, since nature is often associated with innocence, and the driving theme of the film is loss of innocence.

The ending can be off-putting for some, but it certainly matches the underlying tone of the film. As a society of filmgoers, we have grown used to happy endings, but the film pushes us to accept the fact we’re all human and life isn’t a fairy tale. Even though it came out in 1986, the film was well ahead of its time, since it dared to explore character-based territory many films hadn’t ventured into before.

“Stand by Me” shows the loss of innocence in adolescence - and even though it might be terrifying, we all experience it sooner or later.

ADMIT ONE

Grade: A The film explores the struggles of growing up through loss and friendship.

ADMIT ONE

CONNECT WITH PATRICK BRADY pbrady@student.framingham.edu

The 92nd annual Academy Awards took place this past Sunday, but more importantly, celebs walked the Red Carpet before the show. It’s no secret our favorite actors shined in this year’s top movies, but I am here to assure you they saved some stardust for the pre-show carpet.

Well, most of them did.

I’ll give you the bad news first. One of our favorite female comedy duos, Kristen Wiig and Maya Rudolph didn’t exactly serve the looks we were hoping for. Wiig wore a bright red Valentino gown with outrageous side ruffles and long black gloves. Although the color is flattering for the “SNL” alum, I can’t help but agree with the Twitterverse on the dress giving major lasagna vibes.

No shade to lasagna - I’d just rather eat it than wear it.

Wiig’s partner in crime, Rudolph, also missed the mark in terms of Oscar attire. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll always support a sequin-covered queen, but the orange hue of her Valentino gown ruined the look for me. The dress could have worked in a black or even navy blue, but the orange is off putting and leads to the illusion of too much fabric.

I love you both, but after that “Bridesmaids” catastrophe of a wedding gown, you should have learned to choose a better dress.

Another unfortunate fashion decision was made Sunday

by Sigourney Weaver. The actress wore a long-sleeved Dior gown with a braided belt. The hunter green is a striking color on Weaver, but this dress looks like grandma’s favorite curtains and has far too much ruching.

Sigourney, you’re 70 and you look amazing. My advice to you is to have Stanley Yelnats throw that dress in a hole, and find an outfit which highlights your timeless beauty.

Aside from the mentioned celebs, the majority of the Oscar attendees cleaned up quite nicely.

Brad Pitt elevated the classic black tux with a velvet Brioni jacket tailored to perfection. His black bowtie perfected the classic-yet-modern look.

Brie Larson looked absolutely heroic in her blush Celine

by Hedi Slimane gown.

This, my friends, is how you rock a sequin.

Larson’s accessories, hair, and makeup perfectly complemented the V-neck gown.

And yes, the dress did have a cape. Captain Marvel, anyone?

I am ashamed to say that I have yet to see the movie adaptation of my favorite book, “Little Women.” However, I am grateful to have seen Florence Pugh’s Oscar-night ensemble.

The up-and-coming actress stunned in a green Louis Vuitton dress. The fitted top and tiered skirt of the dress were matched with strappy heels of the same color, creating a monochrome.

Pugh’s hair was pulled back into a braided topknot and her makeup was kept neutral, allowing for the dress to take center stage.

Last, but certainly not least, is Natalie Portman.

If you haven’t heard, the Academy are not the most inclusive bunch. Portman used Sunday to make a statement on the lack of female directors nominated this year. The actress wore a custom black and gold Dior gown with the names of female directors who didn’t get nominated embroidered on her cape.

I’m not part of the Academy (I know, shocking) but my award for best dressed goes to Natalie Portman.

CONNECT WITH LAUREN PAOLINI lpaolini@student.framingham.edu

FRAMINGHAM STATE UNIVERSITY'S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1932 | FSUGATEPOST.COM

ARTS & FEATURES

14 | FEBRUARY 14, 2020

‘Dolittle’ does little right...

By Brennan Atkins Arts & Features Editor

By Noah Barnes Entertainment Correspondent “Dolittle,” directed by Stephen Gaghan, features a star-studded cast including names such as Robert Downey Jr., Tom Holland, Selena Gomez, Antonio Banderas, Ralph Fiennes, John Cena, and even Oscar-winning stars such as Rami Malek and Octavia Spencer.

The film is based on the beloved Doctor Dolittle character created by Hugh Lofting, and is played by Robert Downey Jr. (RDJ), who is arguably at the height of his career.

RDJ’s iteration of Dr. John Dolittle is interesting to say the least - he has a very strong Welsh accent, and it sounds as if his lines may have been dubbed over - poorly at that. Some scenes that are exploding with action have him whispering at best, while other times, he’s screaming in a quiet room.

RDJ doesn’t bring anything special, and this is certainly one of his more forgettable roles to date. RDJ is an excellent actor given the right script, but ultimately looks bored and unsure of himself throughout the film.

It feels like there’s a strong possibility this casting choice was the only reason the rest of the film was made.

It’s as if they’re taking a page from the “Cats” playbook. They overload the movie with huge stars only to lack content.

The story revolves around Dr. Dolittle, a physician with the unique ability to talk to animals. With his crew of animal companions, Dolittle embarks on a quest to an unknown island.

That just about wraps up the whole story. There isn’t much here and it’s your typical “it’s about the adventure, not the destination” plot in which the characters all grow together.

Of course, this is a kids’ film, but so is Eddie Murphy’s “Dr. Dolittle,” and at least that didn’t have headache-inducing attempts at comedy.

The humor is juvenile and lazy, not to mention thrown into every other line in the film. A lot of the jokes are callbacks to jokes they’ve already made.

Yes. We get it. The goose (played by Oscar winner Octavia Spencer) thinks the celery are forceps - it’s the fifth time.

Not a single joke lands, to an extent that you almost feel bad for the film.

Almost.

The cinematography featured in this film simply gets the job done and nothing more. It’s mostly continuity editing for the sake of keeping the movie intact, but not many creative

Kaitlyn’s Kosmetics

By Kaitlyn Cullen Staff Writer

I’ve seen so many ads for this brand and, honestly, I don’t hate them.

I hate their products even less!

The goal of oVertone is to deposit color in hair not only without damaging it, but while reviving it as well.

Their two color-depositing products are the Coloring Conditioners and Daily Conditioners.

The Coloring Conditioner is exactly as its name advertises - a hydrating color-depositing conditioner, perfect for initial hair “dying.” It only takes 10-to-15 minutes to fully deposit color, significantly less than traditional hair dyes. For brighter color, apply to dry hair.

The Daily Conditioner is a slightly weaker version of the Coloring Conditioner. It’s perfect for daily use to

@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

liberties were taken behind the cam- what this film was going to be about, era. what the actors are going to do or say, To be blunt, the animals may be or how to write comedy because this the worst part of the whole film. film is extremely forgettable.

That “star-studded” cast we were It’s definitely a kids’ movie to the talking about earlier is ultimately core, but that doesn’t mean it can’t wasted on semi-decent renders of contain compelling characters, a Dolittle’s best mates. Rami Malek gripping story, and jokes that take plays a gorilla that’s scared of every- more than 13 seconds of writing. The thing, Tom Holland plays a dog with Oscar-winning “Toy Story 4” was able glasses, and John Cena plays a polar to accomplish all of these feats and bear that ... gets cold easily. can still be dubbed “a kids’ movie.”

Each animal has an odd “humorous” character flaw that is used in about every bit of their respective dialogue. If you say it enough times, it’s funny, right?

It’s just very odd to blend this kind ADMIT ONE of cookie-cutter comedy with an intense action movie - it destroys the pacing of the film. One scene - which actually wasn’t awful - is when TomIf it were my (Harry Collett) is riding a giraffe up to us, we through London streets.

This goofiness quickly wears off would stick when, seemingly out of nowhere, Doto Eddie little gets in a naval battle with Dr. Murphy.

Blair Müdfly (Micheal Sheen) and all the animals are bracing for impact ADMIT ONE - definitely an odd direction for the narrative.

The CGI in some scenes could’ve looked a lot worse - some of the world elements, as well as some of the an- CONNECT WITH BRENNAN ATKINS batkins@student.framingham.edu imal renders, actually look pretty good.

CONNECT WITH NOAH BARNES It feels as if Gaghan had no idea

Grade: D-

nbarnes@student.framingham.edu

Over the Moon for oVertone

maintain color and hydration. This product should be left in clean, wet hair for three-to-five minutes for optimal use. Most conditioners suggest a leave-in time of one-to-three minutes for optimal softness, but the extra time is needed for proper color renewal.

The third product I want to highlight is The Remedy.

This is a zero-color product which gives intense hydration to your hair much like a hair mask. You leave it on for 10-to-15 minutes in wet hair and your hair is left feeling like it’s mermaid-quality.

So, the big question - does it work?

Yes, yes, a thousand times yes!

I used the Basics Ginger Complete System in lieu of constantly dying my hair. If you know hair, you know red is the hardest hue to keep. The fact this product not only has the Coloring

Conditioner AND Daily Conditioner, it also comes with a mini travel bottle of the Daily Conditioner!

Bonus - with my online purchase, I got a free sample of The Remedy.

The advertisements for oVertone always say, “Scared of stains? Use gloves!”

This is imperative information for the WHOLE process.

Every order comes with a pair of disposable dying gloves, but make sure you keep them around for the rinsing process. You might also want your own reusable pair when using the Daily Conditioner for every other day touchups.

I had people asking me if I had jaundice or if I was molding pottery due to the residue that stained my hands when I rinsed my hair gloveless - lesson learned.

I am more than happy with these

products. The Coloring Conditioner brightened my hair enough that the Daily Conditioner is only needed every so often, so I can use my (second) favorite conditioner whenever I want to. The Remedy felt clean, light, and hydrating.

My rainbow hair days are on pause for now, but from what I’ve seen from their brighter samples, they work just as well. Of course, all hair coloring products work best on lightened hair, but oVertone’s For Brown Hair line really shows that this company is all about catering to an audience that wants the look without the damage.

I wholeheartedly give this product an A.

CONNECT WITH KAITLYN CULLEN kcullen1@student.framingham.edu

ARTS & FEATURES

FEBRUARY 14, 2020 | 15

VRAM: The Konami Arcade Championship informs the uninformed that DDR is not dead

By Robert Johnson Jr. Arts & Features Editor News flash, and this might come to you as a shocker - “Dance Dance Revolution” is still a thing in America.

Although “Dance Dance Revolution” lost mainstream relevancy stateside after the release of 2006’s “Dance Dance Revolution SuperNOVA,” people in Japan and other Asian countries kept stepping on metal pads and grabbing onto bars, maintaining a competitive grassroots community in the process.

At the same time in America, the internet - especially YouTubers who were looking to prove themselves - was fixated on rhythm games like “Guitar Hero” and “Rock Band,” despite the former running itself into oversaturation with a new game every year from 2008, onward.

However, while people were spending every waking moment banging on plastic drum kits and strumming on plastic bars that moved up and down, the competitive community for “Dance Dance Revolution,” adjacent games, such as Roxor Interactive’s “In The Groove,” kept operating as normal in the United States.

All of this context might seem unnecessary, but it sets the stage for an event that happened 12 years after a

ACROSS 1. Early educational lesson 5. You love, in Latin 9. DJ’s supply 12. Evil-natured 14. Yard parts 15. For a farm machine?

17. Not in use 18. “Moving right along ...,” e.g.

19. ___ Valley (city near Los Angeles) 20. Facts and figures 21. Teacher’s favorite 23. For a metric weight unit?

25. For the sovereign government?

30. Rage 31. Stuff in Bubble Wrap 32. Trash, like a plan 34. Discontinues 38. Bamboozle 40. Large bags 42. Whiffenpoofs’ college 43. Eco-friendly energy type 45. Old-fashioned showdowns

“SuperNOVA” exploded into arcades - the ninth installment of the Konami Arcade Championship (KAC), that went from Feb. 1 to Feb. 8, spread across two weekends.

When the first KAC happened in 2011, it was a Japan-exclusive event, in the sense that only rhythm game players from Japan could duke it out with their fellow countrymen and women, but as of the most recent edition, people from the United States, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, and a whole slew of other countries can enter and prove themselves to be the best BEMANI player in the world.

Games such as “Pop’n Music,” “Jubeat,” “Nostalgia,” “Sound Voltex,” “DANCERUSH,” and even “Dance Dance Revolution” were put on display for spectators to witness.

Of course, with these games, there have to be competitors, and with those competitors, there are stories - much like those you would see in something like baseball or American football.

In “Pop’n Music,” spectators were treated to more of the same. This is a good thing if you’re TATSU, a repeat winner of the biggest tournament in BEMANI. He has attended and won every KAC for the game since the event’s inception in the Male Division - which, as a concept, was added in the 2016 edition of KAC. The Female Division winner of

“Pop’n Music,” 8322, claimed her second straight title, but fourth overall, thanks to 10kai’s victory over her in 2018’s KAC, disrupting the streak.

However, the biggest story of the tournament cycle was found in Chris Chike’s journey in “Dance Dance Revolution A20,” being the United States’ “golden boy,” favored to win the tournament.

Chike, or “iamchris4life” as he’s often known, has a background in rhythm games that dates back to before 2008, being a prominent member of many “Guitar Hero” communities, setting world records left and right in “Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock.”

This domination over the game led to a Guinness World Record for his efforts in conquering the game’s hardest song, DragonForce’s “Through the Fire and Flames.” This was a record he traded with Danny “GuitarHeroPhenom” Johnson until Johnson got the upper hand in that duel.

On the topic of “Dance Dance Revolution A20,” though, he was the number one seed in the six-man bracket, and while his rival, FEFEMZ, was not able to attend the ninth KAC, due to his mandatory military service, Chike’s run to the top was still not going to be easy.

Yet, somehow, after an hour-and-ahalf of close matches and thousands of steps on metal pads, Chike hoist-

47. Solo on the big screen 48. Jr.’s son 50. For an imperial weight unit?

52. For actress Shelley or Nia? 56. Internet picture extension 57. Kachina doll maker 58. Anthracite, for one 61. Trees, shrubs and such 65. Last word in prayer 66. People who say “aye,” or an alternate title for this puzzle 68. Competed on “The Voice” 69. Exam often taken in a blue book 70. Tennis center?

71. Usually nocturnal insect 72. Some are named for queens DOWN 1. Band aids?

2. Unadorned 3. Plumbing problem 4. Ab strengtheners 5. Santa ___ 6. PC alternatives 7. Start to freeze?

8. Walk angrily 9. Wood whose smell can kill 71-Across larvae 10. Triangle in the Greek alphabet 11. Locomotive power 13. Welcomes 14. Antsy 16. “FourFive-Seconds” singer, to her fans 22. Diplomacy 24. Surgery sites, briefly 25. Quarterback’s option 26. Puerto ___ 27. Spoken 28. Stepped (on) 29. Relish 33. Pressure source at school 35. Diamond Head locale 36. Think ahead 37. Post, as a letter

ed a trophy above his head in victory - his second in the four KACs he has attended, so far.

What I’m saying through all this is the following - rhythm games can be just as competitive as your favorite contemporary esport, and the stories are just as impressive, if not more so than most. If you have an afternoon to spend in front of a laptop, I advise you check out a few of the KAC archives on YouTube and see some truly worldclass talent on Konami and BEMANI’s biggest stage.

Courtesy of Robert Johnson Jr. CONNECT WITH ROBERT JOHNSON JR. rjohnson10@student.framingham.edu

39. Posting, as a letter 41. Tedious crossword puzzle, say 44. 2016 Olympics host 46. All gussied up 49. Machu Picchu builder 51. Recently 52. Terrible twos, e.g.

53. Like the numerals on a sundial 54. Starts the bidding 55. Hebrew folklore figure 59. In addition Puzzle solutions are now 60. Lean to one side exclusively online.

62. Done (with) 63. Civil rights icon Parks 64. Creative endeavors 67. “Not happenin’!”

FRAMINGHAM STATE UNIVERSITY'S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1932 | FSUGATEPOST.COM

SPORTS

16 | FEBRUARY 14, 2020

By Sara Senesac Sports Editor

SPORTS

Ice Hockey’s playoff hopes dim after back-to-back conference losses

The Rams’ ice hockey team is now 1-12-1 in the MASCAC after consecutive losses this past week.

Framingham hosted the UMass Dartmouth Corsairs for a conference game Feb. 6.

The game looked promising for the Rams early in the first, when freshman Matt Paiotti sent one in off a pass from junior Soren Colstrup.

The lead was short lived, though, as the Corsairs’ Ryan Mascali responded with his first career goal just a short minute later.

UMD then managed to score two more goals just five minutes apart, leaving the Rams trailing by two heading into the second period.

Less than five minutes into the second, the Corsairs scored again to increase their lead by three.

The remainder of the second and the entirety of the third saw a lot of back and forth from both teams, with neither being able to score again by the end of the match.

UMD outshot the Rams 50-36 and went home with a 4-1 victory over Framingham.

The Rams traveled to Plymouth State to take on the Panthers for another conference match Feb. 8.

PSU was awarded an early power play in the first five minutes of the game, where Leo Stolpe capitalized to put the Panthers on the board.

Plymouth maintained that momentum heading into the second, where they once again managed to score less than five minutes in.

Less than a minute later, sophomore Trevor Lewandoski snuck one past the goalie to show signs of life for the Rams.

But the Panthers were quick to respond and extended their lead by two once again by the end of the second period.

The final period was much of the same, with Plymouth managing to put up one final power play goal before the end of the match. PSU secured their victory over the Rams 4-1.

Plymouth outshot the Rams 41-24, but Black Carlson still managed an impressive 37 saves for the Rams.

Framingham is now 2-17-2 overall and 1-12-1 in the MASCAC. They host Fitchburg State for another conference game Feb. 15.

[Editor’s Note: Soren Colstrup is a staff writer for The Gatepost.]

UMASS DARTMOUTH FRAMINGHAM STATE

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PLYMOUTH STATE FRAMINGHAM STATE

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CONNECT WITH SARA SENESAC ssenesac@student.framingham.edu

O’Connor and the Rams remain undefeated in the MASCAC

By Sara Senesac Sports Editor The Rams’ Women’s Basketball team traveled to Worcester State to take on the Lancers in a conference game Feb. 8.

The Rams and Lancers played a close game during the first quarter with Worcester trailing by only four points heading into the second.

The second quarter was much of the same, with both teams battling back and forth. The Lancers eventually pulled ahead to take a 34-33 lead at the halfway point of the game.

Worcester held onto their lead for the entirety of the third, outscoring Framingham 14-12. They had a 48-45 lead over the Rams at the beginning of the fourth.

Framingham eventually took off, fighting hard in the last quarter and coming back to take a final 71-64 lead over the Lancers.

Freshman Flannery O’Connor led the team with 27 points, 10 boards, three blocks, and two steals.

Senior Mary Kate O’Day followed behind her with 16 points, nine boards, two steals, and four assists.

FRAMINGHAM STATE WORCESTER STATE

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The Rams then travelled to North Adams to take on the MCLA Trailblazers for another conference match Feb. 12.

The Trailblazers held the score close for the first quarter of play, but eventually lost their stride in the second, allowing the Rams to find their fire.

With the score tied, the Rams went on a 17-3 run that left them leading 41-23 by the end of the first half.

The Rams remained untouched for the rest of the game, shooting 41% and securing a 79-54 victory over MCLA to hang on to their undefeated MASCAC run.

O’Day and classmate Emily Velozo led the floor with a combined 36 points for the match.

The two wins bring Framingham to 17-5 overall and 9-0 in the MASCAC. The Rams will host Salem State on Feb. 15 in the hopes to push their win-streak to 10.

FRAMINGHAM STATE MCLA

CONNECT WITH SARA SENESAC ssenesac@student.framingham.edu

@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

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SPORTS

FEBRUARY 14, 2020 | 17

Revenge Tour: Rippey and the Rams Continued from page 1

of the seniors we lost,” Gamache said.

Along with the incoming freshmen, there are many key players returning this year, mainly the team’s four captains.

The four leading the team into the new season are Gamache, Nicole Pacheco, Jenna McMahon, and Casey Bradley.

Gamache, who has been on the team for four years, set two school records last year, holds 12 in total, and is tied for one. She also became one of two players in MASCAC history with fifty-plus goals and assists in the same season her sophomore year.

“Grace has certainly been one of the top players in the MASCAC since she stepped foot on campus freshman year. Her first year she was asked to do a lot individually and we didn’t have a complete group on the offensive end who could create, distribute, and score like we do now,” Head Coach James Rippey said. “Last year, we had more players emerge on the circle for us and we didn’t have to use her as much there. We were able to increase her role as a playmaker and distributor because we had more players step up who could finish in the biggest moments of the season.”

Along with them, Casey Bradley is entering her second season as a captain as she looks to continue holding down the defensive side of the field. Jenna McMahon is aiming to join Gamache and Pacheco on the offensive side for another year, as the three have combined for 332 points over the last two seasons.

Courtesy of fsurams.com

Courtesy of fsurams.com

Pacheco follows right behind Gamache with five school records.

And just like Gamache, she is entering her first season as a captain.

“Being a captain is truly an honor. We have such a great group that makes being a captain fun,” Pacheco said. “It’s also so crazy to think that four years ago, I was looking up to my captains. So, to think a group of dedicated girls are doing the same to me is a pretty good feeling.”

Gamache, Pacheco, and Bradley - along with Jennifer Buckley, Morgan Begley, and Emily Burnett - are all seniors this year, so this is their final shot at the MASCAC. “This senior class has worked tirelessly on and off the field since their freshman year in shaping this program,” Rippey said. “We’d all love to see them go out as MASCAC tournament champs and earn the program’s first-ever NCAA tournament berth.”

“This team is looking like MASCAC Champions. We are all competitors and I know that we are all striving for this as a goal. We compete day after day, wake up early, and push ourselves to be the best FSU Lacrosse team,” Pacheco said. “I’m beyond excited to have one last ride here as a part of the FSU Women’s Lacrosse team. It’s going to be quite the performance for you all to come watch.”

And with the season quickly approaching, the championship loss last year is fueling the team for another run at the title.

“We definitely have some unfinished business to take care of and I think we are ready for the challenge,” Gamache said. “The onegoal loss really stung, and I think stayed with everyone for a while.

That loss is in the back of all of our minds, and it is giving everyone a little push because we don’t want to experience that again.”

Courtesy of fsurams.com

Courtesy of fsurams.com

CONNECT WITH LIAM GAMBON lgambon1@student.framingham.edu

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18 | FEBRUARY 14, 2020

SPORTS

Men’s Basketball rises to victory and ends losing streak

By Carlos Silva Asst. Sports Editor The Rams took on the MCLA Trailblazers in a MASCAC game Feb. 12 at the Amsler Campus Center.

Framingham struggled to begin the game and found themselves trailing by seven points after just a couple of minutes of play.

The Rams’ offense began to spark as they went on an 11-2 run to tie the game at 25-25 with 2:02 left in the first half.

As the half was about to end, John Kalton hit a corner three-point shot to give the Rams a 32-27 lead at the end of the frame.

The Rams continued with their momentum by extending their lead to 39-31 early in the second half.

Old habits started to catch up to the Rams defensively and MCLA took the lead with a 50-48 score midway through the second half.

Despite the sketchy defensive play, the Framingham offense showed no signs of stopping as they answered with a three-point shot by Tyri Hampton.

As time was running off the clock, the two teams went back and forth scoring constantly on offense.

In the final minute, Jared Gordon-Anderson was two for two from the free throw line to give the Rams a three-point lead.

Ki-Shawn Monroe answered back with two free throws of his own to bring the deficit to one point.

Both sides looked nervous after this as each team was called for a charge in consecutive possessions.

Keith Hollman sunk two free throws to give the Rams a three-point lead with 4.4 seconds left on the clock.

The Framingham defense stepped up big by forcing a turnover just before the Trailblazers could chuck up a shot.

With this win, the Rams avoid tying the school losing record.

Framingham is now currently 1-8 in the MASCAC and 2-20 overall.

FRAMINGHAM STATE MCLA

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CONNECT WITH CARLOS SILVA csilva14@student.framingham.edu

Courtesy of fsurams.com

@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

SPORTS

FEBRUARY 14, 2020 | 19

Players of the Week 1st Player of the Week: Flannery O’Connor

The freshman standout center recorded 38 points on 16-25 shooting, while crashing the boards for 19 rebounds.

She also came away with four blocks and four steals. She was key in the Rams’ victory against Worcester State Feb. 8, as she dropped in eight points on 4-4 shooting late in the close 71-64 win. She led the game in points (27) and rebounds (10) as well.

Courtesy of fsurams.com

2nd Player of the Week: Mary Kate O’Day

O’Day ended the week with 35 points on 12-20 shooting, dished out five assists, and pulled down 16 rebounds.

She stepped up defensively and stole the ball four times as well. Like O’Connor, O’Day proved clutch in the late game victory against Worcester State as she hit seven points while shooting 100% from the field. But she contributed the most to Framingham’s 79-54 victory against MCLA, where she led the game in points with 19 and shot 5-7 from 3-point range.

Courtesy of fsurams.com

3rd Player of the Week: Tyri Hampton

Framingham’s forward Tyri Hampton managed 29 points and 14 rebounds for the week. He shined the most in the Rams’ 67-64 win against MCLA, where he scored a game-high 17 points and grabbed six rebounds.

Courtesy of fsurams.com

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20 | FEBRUARY 14, 2020

PHOTOS Photographs and spread by Caroline Gordon/ THE GATEPOST

S T U F F A B E A R

SUAB held their annual stuff-a-bear event Feb. 12.

FRAMINGHAM STATE UNIVERSITY’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1932 | FSUGATEPOST.COM