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Mascot mayhem!

Baseball crushes MCLA in striking 23-4 win

By Izabela Gage Sports Editor

The Rams triumphed over the MCLA Trailblazers 23-4 with a nine-run surge in the fifth inning April 9.

This win evens their conference record to 3-3 and brings their overall record to 5-15.

Freshman Massimo Mondi said their decisive victory is attributed to how “we never got comfortable. We always kept our foot on the gas.”

Both teams had a slow start with two quick, scoreless innings.

MCLA failed to capitalize on their early base runners, stranding two in scoring position in the second inning.

Framingham mirrored MCLA’s slow start, with the Trailblazers’ pitcher keeping Framingham’s hitters off the bases, striking out five in the first three innings.

Christian Cox, a freshman, tried to get the Rams going in the bottom of the second on a single to center field, but he was called out at second base on his attempt to get in scoring position.

The Rams cracked the game open in the bottom of the third. With the bases loaded and no outs, Mondi stepped up to knock an infield RBI single - a hit that decisively opened the floodgates for the Rams.

A sacrifice fly from Cox brought home another run, bringing the score to 2-0.

Senior Dane Frellick capped off the inning with a single to center field, advancing freshman Rosco Palmer home for another run.

By Sophia Harris Editor-in-Chief

Welcome, Gatepost readers! You may have noticed something a little different about our paper this week. We changed formats, and if you are reading this in print, then, well, we did it successfully. This has been an all-consuming process for many people at this University and beyond. Thank you to all who helped see this feat come to fruition. It is my absolute pleasure to introduce The Gatepost’s new look to you all!

This process started over winter break when I received an email from our previous printing press, Gannett Publishing

From the hockey boards to the boardroom

Jeremy McDonald’s path to graduation

By Sophia Harris Editor-in-Chief

Framingham State senior and Student Trustee Jeremy McDonald has made the most of his two years on campus, balancing a full academic course load, collegiate hockey, internships in public service, and successful law school applications.

Originally from Buffalo, New York, McDonald arrived at Framingham State in Fall 2023 after playing two years of junior hockey. His path to the University was driven by a long-standing dream to play college hockey - but once on campus, his goals quickly expanded.

“I’ve always known I wanted to be a lawyer,” he said. “Even

in high school, I saw it as a way to create real change. That’s been a driving force for me.” That early passion shaped not only his academic pursuits but also his professional aspirations. “I want to help people - especially those facing systemic barriers - navigate a legal system that can work against them,” he said.

Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST

(Back) Sam the Ram competes in a race against Stormy the Shark from Simmons University April 4.

Alexis Schlesinger / THE GATEPOST

Attendees at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the solar canopy in the Salem End Lot April 4.

Sunshine on Salem End

E ditorial Board

Editor-in-Chief

Sophia Harris

Associate Editors

Maddison Behringer

Ryan O’Connell

Copy Editor

Emma Lyons

Asst. Copy Editor

Allie Mosher

News Editor

Dylan Pichnarcik

Asst. News Editor

Bella Grimaldi

Opinions Editor

Izayah Morgan

Sports Editors

Izabela Gage

Sophia Oppedisano

Asst. Sports Editors

Taylor Kimmell

Kyra Tolley

Arts & Features Editors

Francisco Omar Fernandez Rodriguez

Owen Glancy

Asst. Arts & Features Editors

Sarah Daponde

Liv Dunleavy

Bella Omar

Photos & Design Editors

Adrien Gobin

Alexis Schlesinger

Illustrations Editor

Ben Hurney

Asst. Illustrations Editors

David Abe

Ronnie Chiu-Lin

Emily Monaco

Staff Writers

Jesse Burchill

Raena Hunter Doty

Kristel Erguiza

Paul Harrington

Dan Lima

Antonio Machado

Anthony Pintado

Anthony Sims

Michael Trueswell

Staff Photographers

Eliana Buono

Meg Dame

Julien Fernandez

Oné Green

Staff Illustrators

Charlotte Fabrizi

Marcus Falcão

Advisor

Desmond McCarthy

Asst. Advisor

Elizabeth Banks

Gatepost Interview

Sam Collette

Coordinator of Community Standards & Student Support

By Bella Grimaldi Asst. News Editor

What is your academic and professional background?

I went to Framingham State. I graduated in 2022. My bachelor’s is in fashion design, and I have a minor in sociology. While I was here, I was an RA for three years. I was an orientation leader for two - just very involved on campus. And so I liked my fashion stuff, but I like my student involvement stuff a little bit more. And then I have a master’s degree in higher education from UMass Amherst.

What brought you to Framingham State?

When I was 18, what brought me to Framingham State was that I was looking for a school where students were really hard-working, and they came from a background similar to mine. Where

holistically, not just thinking about them as a number. I really wanted to be at a university that supported me as a student and that I got to support students as a professional.

What is your favorite part of your role?

My favorite part of my role, currently, is some of the programming that I get to do. I mean, student conduct is challenging. I have a lot of challenging conversations every single day where students are often getting told information that they really don’t want to be told. When I get to do programming like the SHAPE resource fair, being able to positively engage with students and teach them about policies, hopefully before they need to use them, it is really excellent. So right now, I’m teaching students about the medical amnesty policy … but to

hobbies?

My biggest hobbies are reading romance novels and going to fitness classes. I’m also a fitness instructor. Occasionally, I substitute teach fitness classes, and I love dancing. If I’m not doing student conduct, I’m probably reading Emily Henry, or dancing at the gym.

What is your favorite memory as a student?

I honestly think one of the things that I look back at most fondly is when I was 18 and it was my freshman year. I had just gone through all of the RA process stuff. It was so stressful, and it was a really competitive process. It was even more competitive than it is now to become an RA here. I was so scared. I was like, “I’m a first-year student. I don’t know if I’m going to get it,” and I think one of my favor-

position that I’m in now. But coming back here has been really excellent. It’s called the “fRAMily” and I feel like it is that through-and-through. So I feel like that was just so apparent to me, both at 18 and then thinking about professionally - I really wanted a community that felt like home, that felt engaged, that really supported students

Weather

Police Logs

hopefully make them safer in the future. And I can see the gears turn like, “Oh, that policy makes sense. I could see how maybe I would use that or tell a friend about that.” It’s really exciting to see that reaction.

What are some of your

students to know the policies because they might know a friend or a peer who is not making a good choice. I think to hear encouragement of how to use policies or how to engage in the community in a safe way from a peer is so much more meaningful.

Monday, April 7 6:45 Alarm / Trouble Signal, Corinne Hall Towers False Alarm Tuesday, April 8 10:22 Motor Vehicle Accident / Crash, Maynard Road Parking Lot Report Taken Wednesday, April 9 12:25 Court Duty, Framingham District Court Call / Assignment Completed Wednesday, April 9 11:58 Alarm / Fire, Larned Hall Report Taken

Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST

SGA holds administrative forum during club representative meeting

By Bella Grimaldi Asst. News Editor

SGA held its biannual Administrative Forum for students to raise concerns about the University’s executive offices on April 8.

The administrators in attendance included President Nancy Niemi; Meg Nowak Borrego, vice president of Student Affairs; Sarah Gallegos, executive director of Student Experience and Career Development; Kim Dexter, assistant vice president of Human Resources and Equal Opportunity; Glenn Cochran, associate dean of students; Ann McDonald, chief of staff and general counsel; Kristen Porter-Utley, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs; Michael Newmark, director of Dining Services; Harry Singh, Framingham State Police Department Sergeant; Eric Gustafson, vice president of Development and Alumni Relations; Lorretta Holloway, vice president of Student Success; Robert Totino, vice president of Finance, Technology, and Administration; Iris Godes, vice president of Enrollment Management; and Jeffrey Coleman, vice president for Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement.

The event was moderated by Student Trustee Jeremy McDonald.

McDonald opened the meeting and asked what the proposed changes in tuition and fees for the upcoming year in the areas of housing, tuition, and meal plans are.

According to Totino, the proposed change in tuition and fees for next academic year is approximately a 2.9% increase, or about $781. This is approximately $301 for academic costs, $290 for the average dorm, and $190 for an average meal plan.

He said the increase for the previous year was 2.5%, or approximately $660.

According to Totino, the upcoming year’s increase is higher than the previous year’s due

art club president, asked about accessibility to the May Hall basement studios and fallout shelter located in the basement.

Rainville said the broken elevator in May Hall has made the basement inaccessible for students who use wheelchairs and walking aids and made it harder for students to join the art club.

She said she brought her concerns to SGA and was told accessibility to the basement wouldn’t be “feasible.”

Totino said, “Our director of Facilities, Danny Giard, has looked at May Hall to see if there are any alternatives to help students reach the ground floor or certain areas of May Hall, and I know they tried to bring a consultant to look at it - it’s not conducive to do that.”

Totino added, “I’m asking my staff to start taking inventory of buildings so that we can see what the useful lives are of these mechanical operations, roofs, electrical systems, plumbing systems, the elevators - things like that.”

He said the Facilities team is working closely with Nowak Borrego’s office to notify students as quickly as possible to find ways for them to access club spaces, classes, and studios.

Totino said he will work with his team and follow up with Rainville to see what can be done for the rest of the semester.

Sophomore Khoa Bùi, SGA treasurer, asked, “Is there any current or future possibility of a scholarship program for international students like myself?”

Godes said selecting international students for scholarships is “tricky” because scholarships are based on financial need, which is determined by FAFSA.

According to Godes, international students aren’t eligible to complete FAFSA.

She said, “Your names don’t come up when we’re looking for students who qualify for scholarships.”

Gustafson said many of FSU’s scholarships are funded by donors to the University, and they sort of set the criteria for which

ing Services began offering Halal options two years ago.

He said Halal hamburgers and chicken are always available, on request, at the grill station in the Dining Commons. Halal hamburgers are also available on request at the Ram’s Den Grille.

He said Dining Services is looking to add Halal chicken to the new Kalamata station.

Dining Services has expanded all catering on campus to incorporate Halal options, according to Newmark.

He added Dining Services is working with the Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement to incorporate more food options for Arab Heritage Month.

Junior Cristian Acuna, president of Brother2Brother, asked about the possibility of extending the gym hours and opening Sandella’s on the weekends.

weekends for students. This programming is also always under review by Dining Services. In response to Acuna’s question about extending the gym hours, Nowak Borrego said, “One of the things that the institution is doing is looking at how we distribute work-study money to campus offices, and I think the improved plan for the future - meaning next yearmay allow for us to do that. But we really can’t do that until our students are here and working at the fitness center.”

She added student workers would have to be staffed for more hours in order for the gym to be open beyond 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Nowak Borrego said she is conducting a “weekend survey” to see what students are doing on the weekend and what services the University should provide.

to the “large increases” in labor costs and a rise in payroll.

He said his office will have to work with the Board of Trustees at the end of April for a Finance Committee Meeting.

The Board of Trustees will be voting on this increase in early May, according to Totino.

Sophomore Paige Rainville,

the scholarship is awarded.”

He added he would be willing to start working with donors to build scholarship funds for international students.

Sophomore Adnan Sajid asked about having more Halal food options available for Muslim students. According to Newmark, Din-

Newmark said extending Sandella’s hours of operation is “always on the table” and a topic he has discussed with Totino.

He added opening Sandella’s on the weekends last spring semester found some success.

According to Newmark, Dining Services has previously offered additional catering on

She said it “is a way to tell us when we should be doing this. If we have a lot of students here on Friday night, then Friday night might be the night we want to keep Sandella’s” open.

Dylan Pichnarcik / THE GATEPOST

Robert Totino, vice president of Finance, Technology and Administration at Administrative Forum April 8.

Dylan Pichnarcik / THE GATEPOST

Attendees of the Administrative Forum posing for a group photo April 8.

The Gatepost wins journalism awards from NENPA

By Dylan Pichnarcik News Editor

Past and current members of The Gatepost’s editorial board won five awards from the New England Newspaper and Press Association (NENPA) Better Newspaper Competition, on March 29.

NENPA is the professional trade organization for newspapers in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, and Rhode Island. NENPA serves over 450 newspapers throughout the region.

According to the NENPA website, the organization’s goal is “to help newspaper professionals successfully fulfill their mission to engage and inform the public while navigating and ultimately thriving in today’s evolving media landscape.”

Sophia Harris and Maddison Behringer, class of ’25, Adrien Gobin, class of ’26, and Adam Levine, class of ’24, were recognized at the New England Newspaper Convention in Portland, Maine for work they produced during the 2023-24 academic year.

Harris, The Gatepost’s Editor-in-Chief and primary author of the weekly Gatepost Editorial, won second place in the category of editorial writing for the editorial, “Does the Refer a Ram program promote equity?” published on Feb. 23, 2024.

Harris said winning the award “felt incredibly fulfilling to me.”

She said the entire staff of The Gatepost spends countless hours each week working hard to produce a weekly newspaper.

“Being recognized for that hard work solidifies not only the importance of journalism but the importance of working with such a dedicated and collaborative team.”

Harris said she is most proud of the relationships she has made while on the staff. “I am truly inspired every day by my peers and fellow student journalists. When I graduate in May, I will look back on how impactful they were to me.”

She said editorial writing is important because it brings together editors from each section to collaborate and come to one decision and pose a possi-

ble solution. Ryan O’Connell, associate editor for The Gatepost, assists in writing the weekly Gatepost Editorial. He said it is “extremely thrilling” to have won second place.

O’Connell said he helps convey the ideas of the Editorial Board into the weekly editorial and ensures it is well-researched and provides a strong argument.

He said the editorial that received the award provided fuel for discussion about the “Refer a Ram” program.

Behringer, also a Gatepost associate editor, said everyone on the editorial board should be proud of the award. “Everyone who was in the meeting talking about the points and what they saw wrong with the ‘Refer a Ram’ program contributed to that win.”

First place was awarded to The Equinox of Keene State College and third place was awarded to The Daily Campus of the University of Connecticut.

Behringer won second and third place in the feature photo category. Her photograph, “Cosmic Connections!” which appeared on the front page of The Gatepost’s April 12, 2024 issue, won second place and her photograph, “Saying goodpie to another year,” which appeared on the front page of The Gatepost’s May 3, 2024 issue, won third place.

Behringer said she is happy that the work published by The Gatepost continues to be recognized by professional organizations such as NENPA.

“I feel like it’s a win for everybody because of the collaboration and the hours we put in on Thursdays. So it’s just nice to see that our work is getting recognized,” she said.

Behringer said this is her third year winning an award for photography or design, something she never expected when she first joined The Gatepost.

The first place award in the category of feature photos went to The Equinox of Keene State College.

Adam Levine, class of ’24 and the former sports editor of The Gatepost, won second place in the category of sports game sto-

ry for his article, “Women’s basketball wins conference title in record-breaking season.”

He said winning the award was “the cherry on top of a great two years and all the hard work that I knew I put in.”

Levine said a former sports editor for The Gatepost, Lauren Campbell, class of ’14, taught him to write “beyond the box score,” a strategy he enjoys.

He said he incorporated more than just the winnings into his storytelling.

“I tried to talk to players beyond just, ‘How’d you feel about scoring?’”

He said he tried to put more of an emphasis on the impact of the game on the players.

“I felt like that really came through in the article about the championship,” he said.

Levine also credited the work of Photo & Design Editor Adrien Gobin for a spread that ran with the article, “Celebratory Champions.”

He said Gobin “made a phenomenal spread and took phenomenal photos, which really brought the article to life … which shared the fold with my story and also received an award.”

In the category of sports game story, first place was awarded to The Quinnipiac Chronicle and third place was awarded to The Daily Campus of the University of Connecticut.

Gobin’s “Celebratory Champions” spread won third place in the category of photo series.

Gobin said she is grateful for

Levine’s article. She said without it she would not have had the opportunity to create the corresponding spread. Gobin said winning the award was “amazing.”

She said, “It was a really cool experience. Maddi [Behringer] taught me how to make spreads, so it was a full-circle moment for us.”

In the photo series category, first place was awarded to The Huntington News of Northeastern University, and second place was awarded to The Vermont CYNIC of the University of Vermont.

Gatepost Advisor Desmond McCarthy said, “I’m so proud of everyone whose work was recognized by NENPA. The Gatepost’s culture of journalistic excellence, professionalism, and commitment to serving the Framingham State community is so admirable and it’s a privilege to be your advisor.”

[ Editor’s Note: Sophia Harris is the Editor-in-Chief for The Gatepost. Maddison Behringer and Ryan O’Connell are Associate Editors for The Gatepost. Adrien Gobin is a Photos & Design Editor for The Gatepost. Desmond McCarthy is the advisor for The Gatepost. Liz Banks is the assistant advisor for The Gatepost. ]

CONNECT WITH DYLAN PICHNARCIK dpichnarcik@student.framingham.edu University cuts Cedrone Center programs following comprehensive

By Sophia Harris Editor-in-Chief

After more than 30 years of providing graduate education to students around the world, Framingham State University has announced it will be discontinuing the programs offered through the Cedrone Center for International Education.

This decision comes after an institutional review, led by President Nancy Niemi and under the consultation of the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).

“I wanted to celebrate and amplify the great things about our unique centers. I also wanted to know, from an operational standpoint, how they serve us because they exist outside of the normal departmental, academic structure - they’re part of our community,” Niemi said.

She said it was important for the University to know all of the operational details that go into its centers - “their budgets, their space, their personnel, and so on - just so we can be responsible.”

Niemi said the process of shutting down the programs was started in November 2024 and was not influenced by President Donald Trump’s recent threats to international students.

The Cedrone Center has served as the umbrella for several international graduate education programs operating in partnership with International Education Programs, Inc. (IEP), a third-party provider, Niemi said.

With the discontinuation of the IEP-affiliated programs, the Cedrone Center will cease to exist, Niemi said. The name “Cedrone Center” has been used for many years. It functioned as a designation for these international programs rather than a fully distinct entity with separate operations.

These programs were unique in that they served internationally located students - some of whom are U.S. citizens living abroad, while others are citizens of other countries - through a model that relied heavily on online coursework and cohort-based learning, according

to Marilyn Cleary, dean of graduate and continuing education. Niemi added, “It might seem like canceling programs would seem like we wouldn’t have our students’ best interests at heart, but we do in the long run.”

She said although the internationally located students receive a degree from Framingham State, “They almost never will set foot on our campus.”

Shortly after this internal initiative began, the University was also preparing for an accreditation visit by NECHE.

Kristen Porter-Utley, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, said the visiting team requested clearer evidence that FSU regularly assesses and reviews its international programs using the same standards as on-campus offerings.

Cleary said because the Cedrone Center programs are operated internationally through a third-party IEP contract, “It became apparent that we were going to have some challenges in really being able to do the on-the-ground assessments because these programs are of-

fered in other countries. … Because we can’t travel to all of these countries, this was definitely a concern for us.”

Currently, the Cedrone Center oversees four master’s programs and one certificate: Master of Education in International Teaching (Non-Licensure), Master of Education in Special Education (Non-Licensure), Master of Arts in Educational Leadership, Master of Education in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), and Graduate Certificate in Special Education.

According to Cleary, the programs are currently serving 175 students. This is across 11 cohorts in eight countries, including Guatemala, Mexico, Thailand, Vietnam, Honduras, South Korea, Panama, and Italy.

Cleary said each cohort is geographically based and students either progress together at the same pace or can function as a rolling group with staggered entry points for student enrollment.

Courtesy of Sophia Harris

(Left) Adrien Gobin, Maddison Behringer, Sophia Harris, and Liz Banks at the NENPA Awards March 29.

Cedrone Center

Continued from Page 4

Niemi said Framingham State is actively supporting students currently enrolled in these programs through a teach-out partnership with Fitchburg State University.

Cleary said students in the TESOL and Special Education programs will be able to complete their degrees at FSU.

She added these two programs are also offered on campus, which makes the transition seamless and cost-neutral.

Students in the International Teaching and Educational Leadership programs will complete their studies at Fitchburg State University, which offers similar degree paths, Cleary said.

She added students will now pay Fitchburg’s regular graduate tuition, which is an increase in cost from what they are currently paying for the program.

Cleary said, “We’re really excited to partner with Fitchburg. We have such a good relationship with them.”

She added, “We had opportunities to partner with other institutions, but some charged higher tuition or accepted fewer transfer credits.”

Porter-Utley said, “Fitchburg offers great value, and the programs closely mirror what we have been offering. It was important to us to ensure a smooth, high-quality transition.”

She added to help students with this transition, the University has appointed a full-time aide, Raquel Riberti-Bill, in the Division of Graduate and Continuing Education, who will be the main point of contact for current students in these pro-

grams.

Porter-Utley said Riberti-Bill has been working closely with

partnership and a warm handoff to ensure students are supported every step of the way.”

both FSU and Fitchburg State to make the transition easier for students.

Cleary said, “There have already been information sessions [at Fitchburg State], and our teams are in constant communication. … We’ve created a true

Letter from the Editor

Continued from Page 1

Services, a day after Christmas. The email stated that The Gatepost would no longer be printed by their company and terminated our contract effective immediately. This was because the company had to close its Providence Journal printing plant due to supply-chain issues with the proprietary printing plates used there. It necessitated moving a large volume of the company’s work into its remaining print facility in Auburn, where the Framingham State University newspaper was produced. The Gatepost was among the titles displaced by these changes.

It is safe to say that after receiving this news, neither I nor Desmond McCarthy, advisor of The Gatepost, had a relaxing winter break - especially knowing we had approximately three weeks to sort this out and have a newspaper for our community when we returned to Framingham State in January.

Luckily, Auburn Chaplin, an employee of Gannett Publishing Services, advocated for The Gatepost. She made it possible for our newspaper to continue using Gannett’s services this academic year while we worked to find a new printer. It is because of her dedication to uplifting and advocating for student journalists that we were able to have a print issue for our community when we returned from winter break. Thank you, Auburn, for your dedication to print journalism and to all of us at The Gatepost!

Still, Desmond and I needed to obtain bids from printers all over New England, negoti-

ate contracts, and visit printing presses - all with the understanding that The Gatepost has a limited budget despite the generosity of SGA. Thank you, President Evelyn Campbell, and members of SGA for approving our budget request for the new printer!

Natasha Bizanos-Ashe, director of procurement and contracts management in Framingham State’s Business Office, was instrumental throughout the bidding process. She offered invaluable assistance and reassurance and played a key role in helping us finalize a contract. Thank you, Natasha, for your support and dedication!

In order to have a fair contract selection process, Desmond and I had to scout out newspaper presses all over New England. This process was more challenging than ever because changes in the printing industry have resulted in the closure of many companies.

Gatepost Assistant Advisor Liz Banks provided crucial information to us about the printing industry. Liz worked in print journalism for more than 30 years, and her insights and guidance throughout this process were very helpful! Thank you, Liz!

Over winter break and through the first month of the spring semester, Desmond spent countless hours working with me to crunch the numbers in order to make the best professional and financial decisions. Most of the contracts we obtained were nearly double what The Gatepost had been spending on printing previously, which was not feasible.

sitioning to Fitchburg, “They’ll be earning a degree from institutions with long histories of excellence in teacher education.”

Niemi said, “We did a fair amount of due diligence and came to the conclusion that it was not in Framingham State’s best interest to keep the programs going. So we are in the process of no longer offering these programs.”

She added, “We are trying to make sure that we do right by them. And even though it might not seem like closing a program would be in any student’s favor, we’re trying to make sure that we keep their interests close at heart.”

Senior Sofia Wilson said, “International students are being bombarded by hateful rhetoric and even federally sponsored ICE attacks. So of course, there are students out there who may want to participate in the programs without actually traveling” to Framingham State.

She added 175 students “may seem like a small number compared to the total population of FSU, but imagine 175 people standing around you and it becomes a much bigger, more realistic number.”

Niemi said FSU has created a partnership with Fitchburg State because “we care deeply about the students in these programs.”

Porter-Utley said whether students are completing their degree at Framingham or tran-

Because of his efforts, we were able to find a new printer. It is because of people like Desmond that Framingham State students continue to feel supported by their University. What really stood out to Desmond and me about our new printer, North of Boston, is the kindness Jim Falzone extended to us when we first met him. He gave Desmond a tour of the press and even extended that offer to the entire Gatepost staff. Jim was patient and understanding in all of his correspondence with us, knowing this was a big change for our newspaper and we might need some extra support. The Gatepost is looking forward to this partnership, and we hope it lasts for many years to come! Thank you, Jim! North of Boston prints in different formats than Gannett, which is why we chose our new broadsheet format. This comes with some learning curves. One of the things The Gatepost counts on every Thursday night, along with the dedication of each other and our advisors, is our layout template. Now, we have had to invent an entirely new style guide, color page distribution, and legacy formats for our paper. The Gatepost staff has been absolutely incredible while rising to this challenge. They have all approached it with grace and a common understanding that we are all learning alongside each other. Although The Gatepost strives for perfection, we hope you will be patient as we make this transition over the next couple of weeks. As always, we will try our best to deliver fair, complete, and exciting cover-

Sophomore Marlín Polanco said she thinks “this decision will have a significant impact since online classes made education a lot more accessible and even more affordable for a lot of students.”

She added, “I think this may cause some harm to some of these students.”

CONNECT WITH SOPHIA HARRIS sharris9@student.framingham.edu

age of the University, but there might be some glitches in the layout.

Thankfully, Liz has shared her expertise from laying out broadsheets during her career. And Leighah Beausoleil, class of ’23 and the current editor of Dartmouth Week, took time out of her hectic schedule to help her family in McCarthy 410. She spent the entire night, starting at 6 p.m. Thursday until approximately 4 a.m. Friday morning, using the skills she has learned in the field to help us lay out this first broadsheet edition of The Gatepost. Her commitment to Framingham State and The Gatepost has never wavered, and she and so many other alums continue to show up for us each and every time we call. Thank you, Leighah!

I am passionate and excited about this change to the newspaper because it is a physical manifestation of all of the hard work of so many Framingham State community members. This transition was possible because of our community and it was done for our community. The Gatepost looks forward to continuing to serve the FSU community and we hope you enjoy our new format!

Sophia Harris, Editor-in-Chief

Dylan Pichnarcik / THE GATEPOST

THE GATEPOST EDITORIAL

Proposed GenEd model uninspiring

A proposal to overhaul the general education model is currently being reviewed by the University Curriculum Committee (UCC).

The model is boring and simplistic and we at The Gatepost are concerned!

While the intention for the change is to create a more flexible and accessible system for students, the new proposal may unintentionally compromise the depth and breadth of a well-rounded education.

The new framework, which was developed by the General Education Advisory Board (GEAB), retains core courses such as writing, math, and world languages, which The Gatepost supports. However, it also simplifies course requirements and adopts a reductionist approach that decreases the value of a holistic educational experience in favor of expediency.

While the current GenEd model identifies skills and ways of learning by requiring courses in areas such as quantitative reasoning, the proposed model just states that students should take two courses from each college. That means any two general education courses from each of the respective colleges of the University: STEM, Arts & Humanities, and Education and Social & Behavioral Sciences.

Rather than fulfilling domains that may happen to fall under specific colleges or more than one college, the new model proposes students select GenEd courses based on college, not what specific goal or skill might be gained from taking them.

General education is not just about meeting minimal discipline-area requirements - it’s about ensuring students are exposed to diverse ideas, interdisciplinary skills, and new ways of thinking.

The purpose of general education is to develop students’ diverse and comprehensive interests and expose them to a wide range of skills that are necessary for excelling within an academic community and as citizens and professionals in a 21st-century world.

The new model should communicate to students what Framingham State’s educational values are.

Fitchburg State University does an amazing job of accomplishing this. Fitchburg’s program states that every student must take both a civics and ethics course; a stand-alone diversity course; a stand-alone course in fine arts; and both a

literature and history course, among other requirements.

It is clear what Fitchburg State’s values as a university are because of this model.

Framingham State’s proposed model does not accomplish this. Maybe that is why the UCC is considering adding “overlays” to the proposed model. Rather than being specific general education requirements, overlays are skills or areas of knowledge that would be fulfilled someplace in the general education model.

If something is important enough to be proposed as an overlay, shouldn’t it just be a requirement for a general edu -

Many of the models at our sister institutions require students to take civics courses, oral communication courses, quantitative reasoning courses, and creative expression courses (such as studio art or creative writing). Some of these categories exist in our current model but are now being proposed as overlays.

These models at our sister state universities have clear and definitive learning objectives for their students that reflect their institutional values. Framingham State’s proposed model does not.

Also, if one of the concerns about our current model and

cation course?

The Gatepost Editorial Board has reviewed the GenEd systems for many of our sister state universities. They do not have overlays. They have easyto-understand general education categories that reflect the institutions’ values.

Salem State University, for example, has QUEST, an exciting, easy-to-understand approach to general education. According to the university’s website, the acronym stands for: Question in many ways and in many settings; Understand your and others’ identities and how society and contexts shape them; Explore the world at large and the various areas of human activity and ways of knowing; Share by learning to communicate effectively with different audiences, using a variety of tools in a range of settings; and Take action by putting your knowledge into practice on campus, in the community, in your own life and for a just and democratic society.

Salem State requires students to take courses in engaging categories such as Diversity, Power Dynamics, and Social Justice.

its learning objectives is that it is too complicated, as was suggested at the March 28 UCC meeting, how does a system of overlays alleviate that concern?

In the current GenEd model, students are able to take interdisciplinary courses, such as Introduction to Digital Humanities, to fulfill their quantitative reasoning domain. Taking a course such as Digital Humanities helps students - especially Arts and Humanities majors - to connect their GenEds to realworld dilemmas, such as the one we are all currently facing with the rise of AI.

We recommend retaining a quantitative reasoning GenEd requirement rather than a technology overlay.

Interdisciplinary courses are particularly effective at fostering critical thinking, creativity, and cultural awareness - all of which are indispensable for developing engaged, thoughtful citizens.

Particularly given the current political climate, cultural awareness and critical thinking are more important and needed than ever. Humanities studies, which actively develop these

skills, are becoming less prioritized.

When we reviewed the GenEd models of our sister institutions, we were impressed because of their focus on the humanities. It is clear other public universities in Massachusetts value the transferable skills learned through this discipline. We would like to see more of that in the proposed model.

Framingham State is only now determining what specific competencies it wants its general education model to promote through a discussion of overlays. The overlay system should be the start of determining what our new GenEd model should be. It’s where FSU’s specific values will lie - not in a “take two courses from each college” approach.

In the “just take two courses from each college” approach, students will be left with the unfair responsibility of choosing courses only guided by which course sounds the “coolest” or by what easily fits into their schedule, rather than being shown why and how these courses are important to their academic growth.

By reducing the complexity of the GenEd system, the University may inadvertently shift the burden of decision-making onto students who are ill-prepared to handle it, ultimately compromising their academic success.

This is particularly concerning given that retention rates are a critical issue for Framingham State, and early academic failures are a significant predictor of student dropouts.

The new system may increase student frustration and diminish the overall educational experience.

While freedom of choice is an important principle, it cannot come at the cost of a wellrounded education. Students need both the opportunity to explore their academic interests and the guidance necessary to navigate a complex educational landscape. The current proposal, while well-intentioned, may be more overwhelming than liberating, particularly for freshmen who are still finding their footing in college.

As the UCC continues to hold open forums about this proposal, it must consider the long-term impact on student success and the importance of a well-rounded education that includes a strong foundation. It is time to head back to the drawing board!

Oné Green / THE GATEPOST

Bring humanity back to bookselling

By Dylan Pichnarcik Editorial Staff

I just finished another book. Instead of picking up my phone and scrolling through Amazon in search of another gut-wrenching mystery novel to occupy my attention for a short time, I made one of the most important decisions of my life.

I decided to grab my keys, make the long trek down Adams Road, get in my car, and drive to my local Barnes & Noble. After a short time, I emerged from the store triumphant, with my next read tucked neatly in a bag. Without any time lost for shipping and handling.

While this may seem small, it is not.

This sacred practice of physically going to a bookstore is under siege by major corporations, like Amazon.

While Barnes & Noble is also a large corporation, they have something Amazon does notpersonality.

This is a calculated strategy by Barnes & Noble’s CEO James Daunt, who in 2019 was appointed to turn the company around, according to a video published by The Wall Street Journal.

The strategy implemented by Daunt gave power over selections and displays to Barnes & Noble retailers at individual stores, according to The Wall Street Journal video.

This was done to appeal to

Black men and education

By Izayah Morgan Opinions Editor

According to the New York Times, Howard University is arguably the most prestigious historically Black college - 30% men in general and 19% Black men. A shockingly low statistic, I know, but what makes this even more concerning that it is happening in other institutions nationwide.

Black men’s graduation and even enrollment in college is falling nationwide. The issue itself is, like many things, multifactored and encompasses issues that are not just personal but systemic.

First let’s start with how Black boys are treated in the classroom. This starts as early as in elementary schools - where Black boys often face the stereotype of being “the problem child” in the classroom.

According to The National Library of Medicine, “By gender, 37% of Black boys report ever having been suspended or expelled by age 9 compared to 10% of White boys, 17% of Black girls, and 4% of White girls.”

Even if they don’t face suspension, they tend to be disproportionately represented in special education. The 2020-21 Civil Rights Data Collection tells us that Black students make up 15% of the U.S. K-12 student population, but represent 17% of the special education population.

In contrast, white students - who make up 46% of the U.S. K-12 student population - only account for 13% of those students in special ed. This is part of the never-ending cycle that keeps Black families in poverty.

Part of this perpetuating cycle is the fact that Black men don’t have many role models who look like them in the K-12 system. I speak for myself here, but I know one reason I chose higher education was because of my strong

connection with the few Black male teachers I did have.

They encouraged me to learn and educate myself.

Next, at least on social media, I see more succumbing to “get rich quick” schemes - which promote the idea that you can get money quickly and buy all the luxury items that will attract women to you.

Well they won’t, or maybe they will attract women who just

seeing some of the only people to be successful, at least in the media, are entertainers such as MJ, Lebron, Eddie Murphy, Kat Williams, etc., we as Black men have trouble seeing anything else as a way to gain wealth, especially education which has been massively increased in price.

Education itself is an investment. But when you lived your entire life in poverty how can you have the confidence to in -

want your money.

The schemes seem to target men, and the first men to get affected by this are going to be Black men. For many Black men they are raised in an environment they are trying to constantly get out of poverty, and as quickly as you can.

It’s a cycle that consumes Black men the moment we are of the age to start earning money at our first jobs. Since we grew up

vest in yourself?

The thing they don’t tell you is that just as quickly as you earn it, you can lose it. A disproportionate number of wealthy Black people who gain vast amounts of wealth end up going broke. In an article from Sports Illustrated, “78% of former NFL players have gone bankrupt or are under financial stress because of joblessness or divorce,” and “within five years of retirement, an esti -

mated 60% of former NBA players are broke.”

According to ESPN the percentage of Black players in the NFL is 53.5% and in the NBA 70.4% were African American. If you come from an environment that doesn’t know about money you’re more likely to lose it all to bad decisions when you get it.

Professions with some of the most millionaires include the obvious - accountants, attorneys, and engineers. But you know what else?

Teachers. And the reason is because they are consistent, with good financial habits. They don’t become millionaires in five to 10 years, but over many decades building themselves up.

A question I have been pondering is, why don’t some of these issues persist with Black women, who are getting their degrees at a higher level than Black men?

According to Pew Research, 38% of Black women aged 25-34 hold a bachelor’s compared to 26% of Black men.

I would argue that there are some differences in the way Black boys and girls are raised. Black women I find are more encouraged to explore education, and seeking education creates your own financial security away from a man.

As many educated Black women will tell you, “They can take my house, car, job, but they can’t take away my degrees.”

This mentality I don’t think is passed to Black men. We are not encouraged to go for a higher education, and when we get there most people don’t look like us or even understand our experience.

Last week I was walking in one of the University buildings, stopped, and turned around. It was another Black man. I went to his office and talked to him. I thanked him for just being here and showing up.

Campus Conversations

“What is your comfort food?”

By Maddison Behringer, Associate Editor and Izayah Morgan, Opinions Editor

senior

“Ramen. I used to eat it all the time when I was little.”

- Skyler Young, senior

“My favorite comfort food is rice and beans. It’s what I grew up eating and you just really can’t go wrong with it.”

- Teddy Gay, junior

“I like Cheetos and snacks like that with lemonade.”

- Alejandro Corado-Rodriguez, freshman

“Mac and cheese ’cause I was eating it since I was a kid when I was living in Florida. And it was a really huge impact for me.”

- Teyjeonn Mathurin, sophomore

“Grilled cheese sandwich. I think when I was little, my parents used to make it whenever it was the middle of the night and we were hungry.”

- Angelina Casucci, senior

“My go-to comfort food is mozzarella sticks.”

- Ashati Coston,

Marcus Falcão / THE GATEPOST

Women’s track and field thrives in two-meet weekend

By Kyra Tolley Asst. Sports Editor

The Framingham State women’s track and field team placed second out of 17 teams at the Regis Spring Classic April 4 and eighth out of 14 teams at the Jim Sheehan Invitational at Fitchburg State April 5.

The two meets brought the team major success as five school records were broken, 21 personal bests were recorded, and 15 women qualified for the MASCAC Championships.

Head Coach Mark Johnson said the meets went incredibly well and the Regis meet “was one of the strongest meets that we’ve had as a program, just across the board.”

At the Spring Classic, sophomore Kate Buban broke the school record for the 5K with her time of 18:59.33, beating the previous record holder’s time by 18 seconds.

This performance landed her a second-place finish out of nine competitors. She was just shy of first place by 0.28 seconds.

Buban said after crossing the finish line for the 5K, she was eager to find out if her time was under 19 minutes and that she is excited and hopeful to break the 10K school record at the MASCAC Championships.

Sophomore Cassandra Toth broke the school record for the

Baseball

Continued from Page 1

In the bottom of the fifth, Cox singled to right field. Senior Steven Burbank stepped up to bat and homered to left field. These runs strengthened the Rams’ lead to 6-0.

Senior JC Espinal hit a single to right field and advanced to third after a single to left field from Frellick. Freshman Jakob Lindkvist was substituted as a pinch runner for Espinal.

A walk for senior Lucas Basile advanced Frellick to second, and Lynch hit an RBI single to bring in Frellick and Lindkvist and give the Rams an eight-run lead.

With the bases loaded once again in the fifth, Palmer singled to center field, Paquette advanced to third, and Basile dove into home plate.

The Rams’ aggressive base running lent itself to their offensive strength, with Palmer stealing second, and Paquette stealing home, tallying another run for the Rams to make the score 9-0.

After a walk for Mondi, Cox tripled to center field, and Mondi and Palmer both scored.

With a sacrifice fly from Burbank, Cox was able to slide into home plate once more to wrap up the fifth inning 12-0.

The Trailblazers finally put a couple runs on the board for MCLA in the sixth inning with back-to-back hits, bringing the score to 12-2

In the bottom of the sixth, Frellick grounded out to the Trailblazers’ shortstop, and Basile followed up with a strikeout.

Lynch singled to center field and advanced to second base after Paquette reached first on a fielding error.

Palmer doubled to left field, allowing Lynch to score and Paquette to move to third base.

Cox launched a shot to right

400-meter dash - which she already held. She finished in 10th place out of 17 with a time of 1:04.41.

Toth said, “I am incredibly grateful to have been able to do it, and I hope to continue to drop even more time.”

A 4.44 meter long jump by sophomore Jamie Moniz landed her in 13th place out of 24 while also breaking the school record.

The Rams debuted a sprint medley team, who came in fourth place out of seven teams. Toth, sophomore Natalie Grimaldo, freshman Stella D’Ambrosio, and Captain Meghan Johnston, a junior, collectively ran the race in 4:40.34.

The 4x400 meter relay team placed first out of three teams. Moniz, sophomores Justinne Quinanola and Norah Russell, and freshman Grace Avery produced a time of 4:47.99 in the event.

Avery also competed in the steeplechase, coming in third out of six with a time of 13:20.88.

She said, “A lot of the race is mental, especially with the barriers and the water jump, but I embraced the challenge.

“During the second half, my body kicked into autopilot. It was all about trusting my training,” Avery said.

The performances of Framingham’s leading throwers, Captain Alyssa Caputo, a senior, fresh-

field for a home run, igniting Framingham’s offense yet again in the bottom of the seventh.

Burbank followed up with a single to the left side, and freshman Cam Bradford filled in as a pinch runner.

The Rams kept the pressure on after Lindkvist walked and a flyout from Frellick advanced Bradford to third.

Basile walked as a result of a hit-by-pitch to load the bases, setting up Lynch for a strong offensive move for Framingham.

Lynch delivered a clutch single to center field, bringing in two runs and moving to second on the throw, while Basile advanced to third. This sequence brought the score to 16-2.

A wild pitch followed, allowing Basile to cross home plate, pushing the Rams even further ahead.

Pinch hitter Pete Rubini walked and Palmer came through with an infield single to give Lynch an opportunity to slide into home plate.

Another pitch helped both Palmer and Rubini advance, and Mondi capitalized with a two-RBI single up the middle.

The Trailblazers had a scoreless eighth inning.

For the Rams, senior PJ Moniz pinch hit for Lindkvist and rocketed a double to right field and advanced to third on the next hit by freshman Austin Buda, who was pinch hitting for Frellick.

Basile singled to left field, and Buda slid into second base, with Moniz making it to home plate.

After another single to center from Lynch, the bases were filled once again.

Following a sacrifice fly from Rubini, Buda scored to wrap up the eighth inning.

MCLA added two final runs in the ninth after loading the bases, as a hit-by-pitch brought in a run and a sacrifice fly plated another, but junior Christian Morrissey ended the game with two big strikeouts.

man Ashley Caputo, senior Kaylee Beck, and Moniz, were instrumental in the team’s impressive overall score of 76, accounting for 36 of the team’s total points.

Alyssa Caputo qualified for the DIII New England Championships for her first-place discus throw that reached 35.44 meters. She beat 42 competitors to take the top spot.

Her throwing prowess continued in the shot put, where she placed second out of 47 competitors with an 11.19 meter throw.

Alyssa Caputo said her goal this season is to make it to the NCAA Regional Championships for shot put, only having to throw it 0.01 meters further than her attempt at Regis to qualify.

She said, “I felt like Regis was a true testament to what I can do because it was a wicked nice day out, and I actually felt good. … I was actually really proud of that.”

Beck’s best throw of the weekend was her 10.75 meter toss in the shot put at Regis, in which she placed third.

Ashley Caputo placed fourth out of 43 in the discus with a 29.14 meter throw.

Moniz earned the team 8 points with her javelin throw, coming in second place out of 22 competitors. The throw reached 31.13 meters.

At the Jim Sheehan Invitational, Moniz recorded a time of

20.29 in the 100-meter hurdles, establishing a new record for Framingham.

Johnson said, “It was great to just see the team is thriving right now, and I hope we keep pushing as we head to the championship season.”

The team’s next meet is the Ed Daniels Invitational in Manchester, New Hampshire April 12.

Stats sourced from fsurams.com and MASCAC.com

CONNECT WITH KYRA TOLLEY ktolley@student.framingham.edu

After starting pitcher Nicholas Kutcher’s, a freshman, strong four-inning performance, a parade of relief pitchers - including three juniors, two sophomores, and one freshman - combined to limit MCLA to just four runs on seven hits across nine innings.

Kutcher limited the Trailblazers to only four hits in four innings and struck out two batters.

Lynch said, “Our success … came from the pitchers pounding the zone and attacking the hitters of MCLA. They did a great job of trusting their defense behind them and letting us make plays for them.”

Mondi went 2-for-5 at the plate with two runs scored and three RBIs.

Mondi said he worked hard during the offseason to develop “all aspects of my game. I think what that did for me was give me the trust in myself to know that I can get the job done.

“As the leadoff hitter, my job is to get on base for the guys behind me and to score. I haven’t felt like I’ve had to do too much because I trust them to drive me in. I just have to put them in the position to be successful. I feel like I’ve done a good job of that so far, and I hope to keep it going,” he added.

Cox contributed to the win with a triple, a home run, and

four RBIs, driving in runs in three innings.

Lynch was an unstoppable force at the plate, collecting four RBIs and going 6-for-6 at the plate.

Lynch said he has been trying to keep it simple and just “put the ball in play. … My teammates telling me to trust the process was big for me and eventually led to having a good day at the plate.”

Palmer went 4-for-6 with three RBIs and two stolen bases, constantly applying pressure to MCLA’s defense.

Most recently, the Rams fell to Springfield College 11-6 April 10.

The Rams are back in action against the Worcester State University Lancers on their home field April 11.

Mondi said the best thing the team can do to keep the momentum going from this win is “to continue playing loose. We always talk about it, but it feels good to start doing it.

“We just have to take it one game, one inning, and one pitch at a time, and I know we will be fine,” he added.

WITH IZABELA GAGE igage@student.framingham.edu

Izabela Gage / THE GATEPOST

(Back) Grace Avery taking the baton from (front) Norah Russell in the 4x400 meter relay at the Regis Spring Classic April 4.

Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST

Johnny Lynch about to make contact with the ball in win against MCLA April 9.

ARTS & FEATURES

Exploring classroom generative AI through workshops

By Francisco Omar Fernandez Rodriguez Arts & Features Editor

By Raena Hunter Doty Staff Writer

The Educational Technology Office (ETO) hosted two workshops aiming to empower educators to use artificial intelligence (AI) in their teaching.

The first workshop, held April 8, was called “Guiding Students to Create and Explore with AI.” It hosted Jennifer Dowling, professor of art, and Steven Courchesne, director of academic technology.

Dowling presented on her RAMS101 course taught in the Fall 2024 Semester, which was called “Real or Digital? Creativity and Artificial Intelligence.”

She said the class taught “creative exploration and practical approach to combining pixels and paint” using AI and traditional creative methods. This included fine art as well as other creative outlets, such as graphic design and creative writing.

Dowling said she proposed the course after a sabbatical leave in spring 2022, which she spent exploring the ways AI and art can intersect with one another.

Topics in the course included exploring how AI can improve creative workflow, using it for research, and idea generation.

Dowling said some students were hesitant to use AI, either because they had been previous ly disallowed from it in high school or because they had ethical concerns with using the technology.

“They were con cerned. ‘Is my cre ativity going to be stolen?’” she said.

“However, be ing the incurable optimist, even though I’ve been with technology for many years, I said, ‘We need to be encouraged,’ or at least I encourage them to try to put aside their tendency to be hesitant and just have that sort of healthy skepticism in terms of writing and learning and creating.”

In comparing the student-made logos to those generated by AI tools, Dowling said the AI tools - especially those not made specifically to help design logos - could sometimes struggle to make viable designs, and often the designs wouldn’t resemble those made by the students.

One student, who had designed a logo for Expedia, said the AI-generated logos were “less simplistic than the one I made and seemed more like movie posters than logos.”

The next assignment she covered asked students to use a story posted on StoryCorps, a website hosting many short, non-fiction stories about American lives.

In the assignment, students had to hand-draw a storyboard based on a StoryCorps story, then feed a summary of the story into an AI model that would expand on the story. They were asked to reflect on how well the AI model expanded on the story, how it compared to their original storyboard, and what they liked and disliked about the new story.

While reflecting on the assignment, one student said, “I feel like if you wanted to come up with something original, AI would not be a helpful tool. However, if you just need to get a plot in mind and are not worrying about originality, AI would be helpful.”

He said his thought experiments can be used to help students think more deeply about the past, future, or historical and fictional characters.

Courchesne gave two examples of thought experiment lesson plans. The first was called the “AI Misinformation Campaign,” from the AI Pedagogy Project at Harvard, in which students had to prompt AI to generate a misinformation campaign.

He said the lesson was geared toward helping students develop critical thinking skills around persuasive articles and misinformation. By understanding and analyzing the way AI models use rhetorical devices for information they know is wrong, students may be better suited to assess sources.

Courchesne added it can also help better understand what AI can and cannot do - specifically, though many AI tools are programmed to correct information, they may still be used in malicious ways, and this assignment can demonstrate that.

The second thought experiment was a roleplaying activity, where Courchesne showed how generative AI tools may be used to create personal experiences with historical or fictional figures. In his example, he roleplayed with the titular character from “Hamlet.”

Dowling covered several different projects that she assigned her students, including different examples of the finished products.

The first was a logo project where the students had to create a logo for a travel agency, either real or imagined, then attempt to prompt AI to create the same logo that they had.

“What I wanted to convey to [the students] was that graphic designers are using AI. Yes, it could be considered a cheat or a workaround, but it also does help with those mundane tasks, so it enhances creativity,” she said.

“It can help facilitate the process. It doesn’t replace it, and there’s a lot of concern that, ‘Oh, graphic designers aren’t going to be needed,’ but there are still valuable aspects to human comprehension and creative processes.”

One student reflected that, though they “do not really like generative AI and will probably still avoid using it,” the course helped them understand how it is not replacing human-made artwork and can facilitate creativity.

Dowling acknowledged some of the ethical questions surrounding use of AI, and said these new technologies allow people to use and mimic the art of others in entirely new ways, which presents concern for many about copyright and intellectual property.

“And one last note is that I remember when digital imaging was just starting to enter the art world. It wasn’t considered an art form, just like when photography was introduced, so there’s always going to be change or adaptation to new technology,” she said.

After her, Courchesne presented his work in developing what he calls “thought experiments,” small lesson plans that allow teachers to integrate AI into their lessons and deepen student understanding.

“I was curious to know - could this be a way that we could engage with a play, for example, or with other kinds of creative works?” he asked.

Courchesne said he asked a few different types of questions - first factual questions that can be tested for right or wrong, then questions that were “adjacent” to the play, such as advice for what to do if he suspects his uncle stole from his father. He said the answers generated by the AI model seemed very in character for Hamlet, and overall considered the test successful.

For anyone interested in doing this thought experiment on their own, Courchesne said it’s best to use a well-known character or historical figure, as more obscure options may not get the best results.

To end, Courchesne directed educators toward Harvard’s AI Pedagogy Project, which he said contains many valuable resources for educators who want to integrate AI into their classes.

The second workshop, “(Easily) Create an AI Powered Classroom Chatbot For Your Students With Google NotebookLM,” was held April 9. Kevin Kennedy, instructional technologist, led the short seminar.

NotebookLM is a Google product that can be used to create a chatbot, he said. It can be useful for students and for instructors. It does require signing in with a Google account, he added.

NotebookLM can be used to make an online notebook for students “for when they have questions about class at 2 in the morning and you are not awake at 2 in the morning,” Kennedy said.

In his example, he had a notebook already set up. He had uploaded a syllabus and two big assignments onto it, he said.

The chatbot in the notebook

only knows answers based on the uploaded documents, he said. He asked it when a specific assignment was due, and it gave him the due date and cited its sources. If it doesn’t know the answer it’ll say it doesn’t know, though it might add that the sources may indicate something, he added.

While this already makes NotebookLM a great tool, “this is the least of what it can do,” Kennedy said.

It can also be used as a course reference, he said.

In another example, he had a notebook prepared for an astronomy course. Textbooks and chapters were uploaded, he said.

It was able to answer multiple questions about astronomy asked by the audience. It was not able to answer a question about the best flavor of ice cream though, saying that its sources did not contain relevant information.

The notebook can create a timeline, he added. It created a general timeline of astronomy, based on the provided information from the sources.

It can also make a mind map, he said.

It categorizes all of the sources into sub-contexts and shows it as a map.

Clicking on a sub-context generates a question about it straight into the chatbot.

It is useful for large sums of information, such as a whole subject, he added.

The study guide feature creates a review of key concepts, Kennedy said.

For smaller subjects, NotebookLM can be useful in different ways, he said.

It can create a podcast, he said. The one he had as an example was 42-minutes long, but usually they’re 10 to 20 minutes.

It can only create one downloadable podcast per day for everyone in the free version though, he added.

Different roles can be assigned to determine what people can do.

For bigger concepts though, the podcasts can focus more on the big picture and not cover the smaller details that students are more likely to need, he said.

It can also create a frequently asked questions page, he added.

Students can create their own notebooks to organize their thoughts and compile research, he said.

“I’ve also found that sometimes it makes connections between sources that I myself would not make,” Kennedy said.

NotebookLM can also be used in noneducational ways, he added.

“I used this in ‘Dungeons & Dragons’ all the time,” Kennedy said.

There is a limit on how many people can be added to the notebooks though, he said.

Also, because this is a Google product it follows Google’s privacy policy, he added.

CONNECT WITH FRANCISCO OMAR FERNANDEZ RODRIGUEZ ffernandezrodriguez@ student.framingham.edu

CONNECT WITH RAENA HUNTER DOTY rdoty@student.framingham.edu

Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST Kevin Kennedy presenting at the workshop April 9.

McDonald

But before law school, there was hockey - and a bit of a detour.

After high school, he spent two years playing junior hockey, a common path for competitive players. He first stayed in Buffalo, New York, playing for the Buffalo Junior Sabres, then moved on to play for the Utica Jr. Comets in Utica, New York. Though many players take an extra year before entering college, he was recruited early to Framingham State and made the leap - a decision that allowed him to begin his college education while pursuing his dream of playing NCAA hockey.

McDonald entered Framingham State as a second-semester sophomore, thanks to advanced placement and dual-enrollment credits earned during high school. He completed his degree in just two years by enrolling in winter and summer courses and earning academic credit through internships.

In addition to his academic achievements, McDonald became deeply involved in student leadership.

He joined the Student Government Association in October 2023 after attending the University’s Club and Organization Fair. Encouraged by Professor Maria Bollettino, he saw SGA as a platform to make meaningful change on campus.

President of SGA Evelyn Campbell said from the moment McDonald joined Student Government, “he jumped into meaningful work.”

“In the past two years, he has truly grown as a leader and left a lasting impact on campus,” she said.

Campbell highlighted some of McDonald’s accomplishments on campus, including arranging for the RamTram to bring students to the hockey games and working to improve the meal swipe system to better accommodate athletes.

Campbell said McDonald also organized a lawyer panel to support students interested in pursuing law. He also helped students earn more credit for their internships through academic policy changes.

“His leadership is thoughtful, student-focused, and impactful,” she added.

Campbell said what makes McDonald such an incredible leader on campus is that he “leads with integrity and heart.

“He’s thoughtful, dependable, and always willing to step

up for others. His leadership comes from a genuine desire to make a difference, and he’s the kind of person people naturally look to for guidance. With his drive and dedication to helping others, I have no doubt he’s going to make an incredible lawyer one day,” she said.

By April 2024, McDonald was elected student trustee and officially sworn in the following September.

“I was initially planning to run for vice president of SGA, but after a conversation with a fellow student leader, we realized our strengths would be better suited in different roles,” he said. “I had already been working on administrative committees, and I knew I wanted to focus on university governance.”

He said, “It just made sense. I’d already been serving on the Strategic Planning Committee and I was really interested in administrative work.”

As a student trustee, he followed in the footsteps of Ryan Mikelis, who mentored him through the transition. “[Mikelis] showed me the ropes, and I’ve really tried to make the role my own since stepping into it,” he said.

Ann McDonald, general counsel of Framingham State and secretary to the Board of Trustees, said his determination led him to where he is today.

[ Editor’s Note: Ann McDonald and Jeremy McDonald are not related. ]

Ann McDonald said, “He wanted to get involved on campus and stepped up” when he saw the opportunity.

She said Jeremy McDonald has a sense of perspective and approaches problems with a unique set of skills and a lens of equity.

She said his decision-making abilities “reflect a level of maturity, in the way of looking at a fairly simple issue, but really, truly understanding all the details of it, just versus taking it at face value.”

Ann McDonald added, “I’m thankful to have had the time to work with him, and he absolutely has a great future ahead of him.”

Despite a demanding schedule, McDonald has remained committed to the hockey team. He described team bus rides and shared meals in the dining hall as among his favorite campus memories.

“People underestimate how important those moments are,” he said. “Having a builtin group of 30 friends made the

transition to college so much easier.”

That sense of camaraderie extended to campus life, too.

“We had this table in the dining hall right next to the salad bar. We called it the hockey table,” he said, laughing. “No matter when you went in, you’d find someone from the team sitting there.”

Time spent with his teammates off the ice was just as important to McDonald.

“People underestimate the time spent on the bus to away games,” he said. “Those trips gave us a chance to really bond.”

Many of his teammates also played on the club lacrosse team in the off-season, creating another layer of team spirit and community support. “Even if you didn’t play, you’d go out and cheer them on. It made campus feel like home.”

Teammate Luke Yubeta said McDonald inspired him to become more involved on campus. He is now running for the student trustee position.

“I would not be as involved as I am without his influence. I think just seeing him has encouraged me to do more with myself at Framingham State and just strive to be the best I can be,” Yubeta said.

Yubeta said the entire hockey team saw McDonald’s potential both on and off the ice.

“We all love playing hockey, and that’s why we’re all here, but it’s been pretty clear that Jeremy has a bigger plan past hockey. We’re all very happy for him, very excited for him,” Yubeta said.

In the summer of 2024, McDonald interned with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which helped confirm his interest in labor and employment law.

“It was so eye-opening to see how the federal government helps people facing workplace discrimination,” he said.

He is currently interning with Congresswoman Katherine Clark’s office, where he has participated in local events and engaged with the community in Massachusetts’ Fifth Congressional District. Reflecting on the internship, he said, “It’s meaningful to give back to the community where I’ve lived these past two years.

“The EEOC gave me insight into workplace discrimination, and working with Rep. Clark allowed me to connect with the local community.”

He also cited two classes as particularly impactful: “Moot Court,” which helped him build

legal reasoning and oral argument skills, and “Race, Politics, and the Law,” with Professor Julia Maycock, which examined systemic inequities in the legal system.

Political Science Professor Giuliano Espino, who taught Moot Court, said, “He gives his full heart to” everything he accomplishes.

Espino said McDonald showed up to every class having read the material multiple times and even offering points that Espino himself did not think of.

“Some of those points he made I would actually incorporate into my own teaching and argument around the cases,” Espino said.

He added, “The thing that’s great about Jeremy is, you can tell he has that team spirit from being a hockey player because he was so collaborative and cooperative with classmates.”

Espino said he was a “blessing” to have in his class and he was just one of those students “every professor dreams of.”

After taking the LSAT in the fall of 2024, McDonald applied to several law schools and toured campuses across the Northeast. In the end, he chose the University at Buffalo School of Law - just 15 minutes from his childhood home.

“I’ve had a connection to that university my whole life,” he said. “My artwork hung in their performing arts center when I was a kid, and I ran on their track. Returning there as a law student is incredibly rewarding.”

Reflecting on his time at Framingham State, McDonald emphasized the relationships he’s built and the University’s commitment to access and community.

“The size of this University allows for deep, meaningful connections,” he said. “Whether it’s faculty, staff, or trustees, so many people here have invested in me.

“This school has helped me grow in so many ways - personally, professionally, and academically,” he said.

As he prepares for graduation in May, as a commencement speaker and his college’s marshall, no less, McDonald said he’s proud of what he’s accomplished and grateful to the community that helped him get to where he is today.

“Hockey brought me to Framingham,” he said. “But what I found here was so much more.”

Courtesy of Jeremy McDonald

Dylan Pichnarcik / THE GATEPOST

ARTS & FEATURES

Reverend Vernon Walker shares climate advocacy experience

Seasoned director of grassroots social justice organizations speaks on current administration, paths forward

By Ryan O’Connell Associate Editor

Arts & Ideas, in conjunction with Campus Sustainability Coordinator Megan Mayer, hosted the Rev. Vernon Walker to speak on the importance of climate policy and his experience working toward legislation April 3.

Mayer introduced Walker, who has held a number of leadership positions in advocating for climate and social justice in the past.

Walker is currently the director of content and external strategy at the Progress & Poverty Institute (PPI) in Princeton, New Jersey, and was formerly a program director of both Clean Water Action Massachusetts and the Communities Responding to Extreme Weather program in Cambridge, Mayer said.

She added during Walker’s time as a climate and social justice advocate in Boston, he was featured in The Boston Globe, Boston Herald, and Commonwealth Magazine, among other publications, and on a variety of news syndicates, such as Fox 25, NBC10 Boston, and CBS Boston.

Walker first said he was glad to be with the FSU community, despite the “uncertainties of the times we are living in,” and sent warm greetings from his colleagues at the PPI.

He first explained the name of the institute, which had recently changed from the Robert Schalkenbach Foundation to its current title, and its 1925 origin.

“The foundation was created to share the ideas of Henry George, especially those … in his seminal work, in a book that he published called ‘Progress and Poverty,’” he added.

Walker said he was happy to be back speaking at FSU, and had last been at the University in January 2024 as a keynote speaker for the Martin Luther King programming series hosted by the Greater Framingham Community Church.

“I’m also delighted to be here at Framingham State, as it is - as you all know - one of the most reputable public universities in the state of Massachusetts,” he said.

“And is a school where fu-

ture leaders are being shaped … across a wide range of disciplines, including the arts, humanities, sciences, and professional fields as young people are being prepared to be change agents … in our society,” he added.

Walker said since he was last at FSU, the world has changed drastically, but was grateful for the opportunity to share what he thinks is necessary for “effective climate advocacy in the era of Trump.

“There are a lot of social justice issues that are worthy to fight for. For example - immigration rights, human rights, educational justice rights, housing justice. The preeminent social justice issue of our time, I believe, is climate change,” he said.

Walker said climate change is not a single special interest issue, and is instead a layered and complex problem which affects public health, foreign policy, agriculture, the economy, civil rights, immigration, and much more.

He added to many people, the effects of climate change start and stop with the polar bears.

This is not true, he said. Climate change does melt the poles, but it also causes heat waves, droughts, wildfires, and floods in other parts of the world, killing and disrupting lives, he added.

Walker said climate change is connected to issues of racial justice as well.

“Those who are disproportionately harmed by the climate crisis are those who are also disproportionately harmed by educational injustice, so these issues are inextricably linked,” he said.

Walker then addressed President Trump’s handling of the United States’ environmental policy.

He said since reelected, Trump has rolled back pollution regulation, boosted the fossil fuel industry, cut federal grants to green energy, fired thousands of employees across a number of agencies - including the EPA - and paused billions of dollars in grants for projects which include climate and energy use - some of which authorized by the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law - among

other actions which minimize or deny the effects of climate change.

Walker said the federal government’s actions have made it more difficult for state initiatives, such as Massachusetts’ goal to have net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, to be completed due to the removal of funding.

Non-profits, he said, are also feeling the changes from the federal government. The Mystic River Watershed Association had a $500,000 grant eliminated, which was awarded to address heat issues caused by the urban heat island effect in cities like Chelsea, Malden, and Everett, he added.

Walker talked about the federal abductions of a Tufts student and a member of Colum-

bia University, who were both taken because they were vocal in their support of Gaza, he said.

“In all aspects of our society, segments of the population are really being impacted by the federal administration’s approach to housing justice, to climate justice, to racial justice. Therefore … we are perhaps taking a major step back,” he said.

Walker said he finds hope from history’s changemakers.

“When I think of previous social justice advocates like Dr. Martin Luther King and Fannie Lou Hamer and so many others, that they had the strength to endure the fight of their generation,” he said.

“We, each of us, individually and collectively hold the pow-

er to work toward a world in which all people can live lives of dignity, wellbeing, and love,” Walker said.

“If I was in church I’d ask you to say ‘amen,’” he added.

Walker encouraged attendees to support organizations fighting against racial, housing, and climate injustice, with money, or time, or both.

“History teaches us brothers and sisters that when we unite, that is when change happens,” he said.

He added now is the time for activists of all kinds, people of all faiths, and elected officials fighting for a Green New Deal to join hands and advocate for change.

“It is time to get up and to know that love wins, that justice wins, that righteousness can win.

“When we connect and we strategize, when we connect and we organize, when we connect and we mobilize we know that love will win,” he said.

Walker asked attendees to understand the importance of putting love for others at the center of their advocacy, and to understand the necessity of standing up even when it is not popular.

“Rosa Parks didn’t think that when she sat down, she was standing up,” he said. “By her sitting down and refusing to give up that seat she was saying ‘no’ to injustice, she was saying ‘no’ to racial inequity, she was saying ‘no’ to dehumanization.

“So as many of you are finishing up your studies or perhaps finishing up this semester and going toward the completion of your degree, remember and never forget that we are stronger together than we are apart.

“Remember and never forget that our togetherness is an instrument of redemption. Our togetherness can produce systemic change.

“As this generation continues to rise up and say ‘no’ to injustice, … it is then that we can live out that American dream, where everybody, as Dr. King said, can be judged by the content of their character and not the color of their skin - and this is what gives me hope.”

CONNECT WITH RYAN O’CONNELL roconnell1@student.framingham.edu

CIE hosts Arab American Taste of Culture event

By Francisco Omar Fernandez Rodriguez Arts & Features Editor

The Muslim Student Association (MSA) hosted the Arab American Heritage Taste of Culture in the Center for Inclusive Excellence (CIE) on April 8.

The MSA gave an introduction. Abdallah Mohamed, a freshman and secretary of MSA, gave a presentation on Egyptian culture and food.

Taimoor Khan, a junior and president of MSA, discussed misconceptions that people might have about Arab people and Muslims.

These two terms are not interchangeable, he said.

Islam is a religion practiced by almost 2 billion people worldwide, while Arabs are an ethnic group which make up about 400 million people primarily located in the Middle East and North Africa, he said.

“Only 20% of Muslims worldwide are Arab, meaning that 80% of the remaining Muslims are non-Arab, and come from non-Arab countries such as Indonesia, Pakistan, India, Ni-

geria, among many other countries,” Khan said.

Arabs are not universally Muslim - there are many Arabs who are Christian and who practice Judaism, he said.

“Countries such as Lebanon, Egypt, Syria, Iraq, and Pales-

tine host vibrant communities of Arab Christians,” Khan said.

Arab cultures have a diverse range of traditions, languages, and practices that vary across different regions and countries, he said.

After the discussions, the food was served.

At first the tables were spread out across the room but the attendees decided to move them together, forming a long table.

Khan said the MSA worked with the CIE to host the event for Arab American Heritage Month.

“I think by having this event, we’re showing that there’s a diverse group of people within the Arab community, so I’m hoping that this will show that to people,” Khan said.

He said he’s happy they were able to work with the CIE, and that they were very supportive.

Mohamed said food is an important part of Arab people’s culture.

“I think it’s an accurate representation of what Arab people expressed themselves as,” Mohamed said.

Sofia Mohamad, a sophomore, said the food was amazing.

The way that they got to sit together, enjoy the food, and connect with each other was a good representation of Middle Eastern culture,she said.

“It was delicious, great Middle Eastern cuisine,” Mohamad said.

Marlee Griffin, a senior, said the food was delicious. She had never had Egyptian

food before, so she wanted to try it out, she added.

“I like the spices and the different combinations of veggies,” Griffin said.

Ella Rose Utterback, a sophomore, said there was a good balance between speaking about the culture of the food and touching on deeper topics.

“I think it provided just an overall good amount of information,” Utterback said.

The food was very good, especially the dessert, she added.

Ali Raza, an alum, said he liked how the speakers talked about the culture and the Egyptian food.

He also thought the discussion on misconceptions about Arab people and Muslims was insightful, he said.

“It was a good way to get in touch with other people who are also interested in the culture,” Raza said.

He only wished that more people came.

CONNECT WITH FRANCISCO OMAR FERNANDEZ RODRIGUEZ ffernandezrodriguez@ student.framingham.edu

Ryan O’Connell / THE GATEPOST Reverend Vernon Walker speaking in the Alumni Room April 3.

Eliana Buono / THE GATEPOST Arab food at the Taste of Culture April 8.

After a wicked year, Ariana Grande has ‘Brighter Days Ahead’

By Antonio Machado Staff Writer

Last year, Ariana Grande broke her four-year hiatus with the release of her seventh studio album, “eternal sunshine,” which she said was “kind of a concept album” loosely based on the events of the film “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.”

Now, a year later, after an Oscar nomination for her work starring in “Wicked,” Grande has released a continuation of her record, “eternal sunshine deluxe: brighter days ahead,” alongside a short film, “Brighter Days Ahead,” to further explore the sentiments shared on the original album.

The deluxe, which features five new tracks and an extended version of “intro (end of the world),” exemplifies why Grande is one of the biggest pop stars of the 21st century. Intricately designed tracks explore different aspects of Grande’s signature style in an elevated fashion.

She demonstrates what happens when the sun refuses to shine in “intro (end of the world) [extended].” The song, which originally asks, “How can I tell if I’m in the right relationship?” now transforms after Grande learns the answer.

The extended intro perfectly encapsulates and sets the stage for the tracks to come. Grande remains within the thematic and sonic margins of the existing record but replaces the warmth with a gentle melancholy as she writes the last of her thoughts on her divorce and newfound love.

Grande ruminates on her previous relationship during “twilight zone.” Harmonies that echo after their phrases like a lingering thought create a dreamy, nostalgic synth-pop track that exemplifies Grande’s proficiency for crafting impossibly catchy melodies.

With the help of executive producer Max Martin, who has produced over 25 Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles, magical vocal layers and ’80s drums craft an atmosphere evocative of a hallucination, leaving Grande lost in disbelief that her relationship even happened.

A light autotune elevates Grande’s voice to the clouds on the mid-tempo dance pop of “warm,” and she effortlessly navigates the skies as she daydreams about the comfort of being held in a partner’s arms. She wistfully sings, “I’m cool on my own / but it’s warmer in your arms.

“Can you hold the space I require or will you turn the page?” Grande self-referentially coos as she wonders if a partner is willing to meet her

where she is in life - a wonder that seems to matter very little in the next track.

In “dandelion,” Grande is horned up - in more ways than one. A deceitful jazz intro fades into a trumpet sample that plants the seeds of a trap-R&B fusion reminiscent of Grande’s work on “thank u, next.”

Playing into every possible innuendo, Grande lusts, “Boy, just come blow this / know I’m on your wishlist.” Grande’s charisma shines brightest in this track - hypnotizing, sultry harmonies blossom into a delightful experience for the ears.

Atop neon strings, Grande delivers a spine-chilling belt in “past life.” A lustrous synthR&B instrumental is beautifully juxtaposed to Grande’s soft, feathery vocal.

Though it may seem like the most straightforward song of the deluxe lyrically, “past life” offers one of the most intriguing double entendres of the record, where Grande sings about reclaiming herself both from the media’s expectations of her and from a partner.

“You think I’m lost, but that’s just how you found me / well, maybe I’m the stranger after all,” she howls alongside dozens of her own vocal stacks in the most mellifluous manner. It’s impossible not to be entranced by Grande’s spellbinding delivery on this impeccably produced track.

Intentionality has become synonymous with Grande. Beyond just being a vocal powerhouse, Grande demonstrates her talent as a vocal producer and arranger in each track, crafting beautiful and intricate vocal stacks and harmonies that make her stand out among her peers.

These vocal stacks reach a climax in the piano-driven farewell ballad, “Hampstead,” but they might be overlooked when considering the subject matter of this track.

Grande faced much criticism for her newfound relationship with “Wicked” co-star Ethan Slater, even more so for playing coy on “yes, and?” where she sang, “Why do you care so much whose d**k I ride?”

Titled after the residential community Grande lived in while filming “Wicked,” “Hampstead” serves as her long-awaited response to the claims regarding the nature of her relationship, and unfortunately for any haters, it’s absolutely gorgeous.

“I know it seems f***ked up, and you’re right / but quite frankly, you’re still wrong about everything / so far off, your seat’s nowhere near the table,” she says in earnest. Her playful opaqueness disputes any claims against her.

“What’s wrong with a little

bit of poison? Tell me / … / Fear

me stranger, a little bit of sugar, danger / I’d rather be seen and alive than dying by your point of view,” she belts on the chorus.

There is such a captivating essence to the emotional delivery on this track. The buildup of tension and eventual resolution via the sweetness of Grande’s intricate harmonies that envelop herself after every lyric, almost as though she were comforting herself amid all the distress, create the most wonderful listening experience.

Grande’s diary-esque lyrical content paired with exceptionally elaborate vocal layers set this album apart from typical pop records. The tracks from “eternal sunshine deluxe: brighter days ahead” are more than just songs that didn’t fit the original record’s track list.

They’re an elevated continuation of the deeply personal narrative Grande tells about her life and relationships, and they’re beautifully incorporated into the accompanying short film that further expands the record’s narrative.

Co-directed by Ariana Grande and Christian Breslauer, “Brighter Days Ahead” continues the storyline of Peaches, a character featured in multiple of Grande’s previous “eternal sunshine” era music videos, as she continues her search for happiness through the alteration of her memories.

The Brighter Days Clinic, inspired by Lacuna Inc. from the film “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” where patients could have their memories permanently erased, now offers a treatment to alter and relive memories in any way that incites the most joy.

An elderly Peaches, who’s a frequenter of the clinic, returns to relive the last of her existing memories.

The first few of Peaches’ memories are drawn directly from Grande’s early life and pop-star career. However, these direct parallels dissipate as the memories begin to take on a more metaphorical, sci-fi interpretation of Grande’s life.

The film has nearly no dialogue. Instead, a selection of songs from both the deluxe and regular editions of “eternal sunshine” play as Peaches re-experiences her memories.

Each song perfectly encapsulates the emotions and experiences captured within each memory, serving not as background music but rather as an inner monologue.

The film serves not solely as music videos for the select tracks featured in it but as a deeper exploration of the themes discussed within the record.

Throughout both the film and the record, Grande reevaluates the meaning and sources of her happiness alongside the despairing memories that allow for the moments of joy to feel that much better.

As stated in the synopsis, the short film serves as the epilogue to the “eternal sunshine” era, and it does so beautifully, visualizing Grande’s experiences through the lens of Peaches and serving as a heartfelt conclusion to the record as a whole.

After so many years in the public eye, Grande has perfected the cloth with which she veils herself as she shares her heart through her art, and with this project, she allows us to glance through it.

There is such a palpable honesty within this film and record. Grande knows exactly what story she wishes to tell and how to deliver it in a way that’s emotionally compelling and sonically captivating.

“Eternal sunshine deluxe: brighter days ahead” feels like an amalgamation of everything Grande has learned throughout her career.

She pries her heart wide open through a luscious showcase of her vocal layering talents as she balances on the tightrope of pop-R&B. Grande has undoubtedly forged herself into a legend in her own right, and this record serves as proof of her immense talent and artistry.

‘Solo Leveling Season 2’ is a level up

By Owen Glancy Arts & Features Editor

For anyone even remotely familiar with anime, the name “Solo Leveling” should be one you’re more than familiar with. As one of the most popular manhwa in the world, it’s no surprise that when it was time for “Solo Leveling” to receive its own anime adaptation, people were hyped.

Unfortunately, season 1 received very mixed reception, with many citing lackluster animation, forgettable side characters, and a lack of development from the protagonist Sung Jin-Woo as major issues that kept the show from reaching its full potential.

When season 2 was announced, most were cautiously optimistic. It’s not often that anime look better in their second season compared to their first, especially if the animation isn’t anything special in the first season.

Upon season 2’s release in January, “Solo Leveling” immediately corrected its reputation.

Season 2’s most noticeable improvement over season 1 is in its animation. The show has finally graduated from still character movements, poorly choreographed fight scenes, and a lack of animated attention paid to anyone who isn’t Jin-Woo.

Now, every single fight scene is appropriately dramatic and

well animated. Even characters who don’t act as the protagonist get some time in the limelight, with characters like Cha Hae-In and Goto Ryuji in particular standing out in their fights.

It’s not just in the fights where “Solo Leveling” improves visually, it’s also in the quieter, more personal moments. Things like the specifics of how a character breathes, how the wind blowing affects a character’s hair, and even the way characters react to emotional events are captured in subtle and elegant ways.

This increased focus on the smaller, more emotional moments in the story is the biggest improvement made in season 2 of “Solo Leveling.” Jin-Woo was a good, but a little bland, protagonist in season 1, with much of the character development surrounding him mostly happening in short lines.

He would often say that his main motivation is to make money for his sister to go to school and to potentially cure his terminally ill mother, but we didn’t frequently see him actually doing these things. Season 1 was mostly just JinWoo fighting monsters and other hunters - there wasn’t a lot of time to get to know him as a person.

However, season 2 pulls back and while it has fewer fight scenes than season 1, it gives Jin-Woo the proper time to develop into an actual character

and person. His interactions with the other S-rank hunters show how simultaneously cocky and humble he is, both an ode to his beginnings as an E-rank hunter and a great showcase of just how powerful Jin-Woo has become.

It’s his interactions with his mother that really elevate JinWoo’s character however. We see him fight through literal hell, seemingly endless armies of demons and monsters standing in Jin-Woo’s way,yet he fights almost non-stop regardless, all to get an item that he isn’t even sure can cure his mother in the first place.

Jin-Woo’s portrayal as a badass killing machine that can never lose and will only get stronger from season 1 is completely shattered as there are some scenes where Jin-Woo even cries, something the character from the latter half of season 1 would never do. This additional development makes the audience care more about Jin-Woo, making every fight feel more tense than the last as his opponents only get stronger and stronger.

It’s not just Jin-Woo who gets more time in the sun though, as many of the side characters from the first season are expanded on. Cha Hae-In is the most obvious example as her budding curiosity toward JinWoo drives much of her development. She wants to become stronger, to stand on the same stage Jin-Woo does.

‘A Minecraft Movie’ doesn’t

By Kristel Erguiza Staff Writer

There have been a lot of bad movies about video games, and “A Minecraft Movie” is no exception to that rule.

I watched “A Minecraft Movie” after opening day, and the theater was still fresh with enthusiasm and laughter.

ters had no depth. It felt like watching paint dry whenever they would be on screen. I never watched “Wednesday,” so I have not seen Myers in other roles, but this script was just not it for her. Brooks’ character felt the same, disingenuous and lacking depth.

square up

er memes, were uttered in my theater and while it made me laugh, it started to annoy me once the little kids shouted louder than the actual movie just for a meme that’ll be forgotten in a few months.

The homages to certain ingame characters (commonly known as mobs), gameplay elements such as blocks (some

Baek Yoon-Ho gets some much needed development as well, as we explore his feelings of inadequacy and PTSD after the Jeju Island raid that happened before the events of the show. The introduction of his friend Min Byung-Gyu also gives Yoon-Ho a character to have meaningful interactions with, something he desperately needed in season 1 as much of his chemistry with characters like Jin-Woo felt forced.

“Solo Leveling Season 2” is not just an improvement from season 1, but a phenomenal anime in its own right that takes everything great about the original manhwa and translates it to the screen. While season 3 could go any number of ways, there’s no doubt that it will stand on the shoulders of a titan.

sen, and not a character with qualities that do not resemble a true main character.

“A Minecraft Movie” being advertised with “be as creative as you can!” and collaborating with McDonald’s to create a Happy Meal and a regular exclusive Minecraft Meal was honestly annoying.

What I really hated the most though?

How the female charac-

fast and really rushed. “Chick en jockey,” “the Nether,” and “flint and steel,” amongst oth -

The movie poster - why is Momoa on the front? It should’ve been Black or Han-

I loved the meal, don’t get me wrong, but the advertising everywhere was an eyesore.

Yes I understand this movie was primarily made for kids, but what about the adults who grew up playing “Minecraft”? Knowing that this was our only “Minecraft” movie that we might get in our lifetimes and it being reduced to a meme about a baby zombie on a chicken or Black saying random items in “Minecraft,” I cannot believe it.

I loved playing “Minecraft” as a kid, and even now I still play the game when I can, but this movie does not represent the “Minecraft” universe at all. It just seems like a cash grab like most movies based on games are today.

Rating: C-

I’d rather be in the Nether than watch this movie

Ronnie Chiu-Lin / THE GATEPOST

‘The Lion King’ prequel - that’s also a sequel. And still

By Francisco Omar Fernandez Rodriguez Arts & Features Editor

“Mufasa: The Lion King” came out Dec. 20, 2024. It is a prequel to “The Lion King,” and it follows the story of how Mufasa became king of the Pridelands.

The movie stars Aaron Pierre as Mufasa, Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Taka - better known as Scar - and Blue Ivy Carter as Kiara. Yes, the cub Simba and Nala have after defeating Scar.

The story actually starts after “The Lion King,” making the movie sort of a sequel as well. Nala is about to give birth to her second cub, so she and Simba leave Pride Rock for a while. Their daughter, Kiara, is left in the care of Timon and Pumbaa.

After a brief attempt to retell Scar’s defeat - or at least a version of it where Timon and Pumbaa defeat Scar - Rafiki joins them.

To keep Kiara’s mind off of the storm outside, Rafiki shares the story of a brave lion - Mufasa.

Mufasa wasn’t born to royalty - he and his parents were common lions. On their way to Milele, a thriving land of myth, a flash flood separates them. Young Mufasa barely survives, hanging onto a piece of wood.

When crocodiles try to eat him, another lion cub - Prince Taka - finds and rescues him. King Obasi, Taka’s father, threatens to kill Mufasa, but agrees to let his fate be decided by a race between Mufasa and Taka. Taka lets Mufasa win, and the two become brothers over time.

Years later, the Outsiders - a

Puzzles

pride of lions led by Kiros - attack. Mufasa kills Kiros’ son in the battle. Knowing that another fight - one they can’t hope to win - is imminent, Obasi orders Taka to flee, and for Mufasa to protect him.

Along the way to Milele, Mufasa and Taka join Princess Sarabi, her scout Zazu, and Rafiki.

The group is hunted down by the Outsiders as they search for a myth ical land, all while a love triangle be tween the lions takes root.

Throughout the story Timon and Pumbaa inter rupt to make side comments. Their inclusion in this movie at all feels forced, as if the writers had to include the funny characters from the original.

there emotionless - are bland. Also, that particular poster has almost every character, except Sarabi. How did Zazu get on there and not her?

Mufasa and Taka were difficult to tell apart, except when either one was talking. This was particularly difficult in fight scenes. They have slightly different fur colors, but one CGI male lion with an average-sized mane looks similar to another.

This film is photorealistically animated - the same way that “The Lion King” remake in 2019 was. It looks live-action-esque, but obviously the animals had to be CGI.

The 2019 remake was already seen as more lifeless than the original, so the choice to make a prequel to that version is definitely… a choice.

In comparison to the 2019 remake, the characters do have more visible emotion though, even if it’s only somewhat. But in comparison to any of the traditionally animated movies, they still seem lifeless.

Even the movie posters - especially the one with Mufasa and the others just standing

ACROSS

1. Taking off 6. Swamp snapper, for short

10. “Don’t say a ___!”

14. Knight’s garb

15. Energy field

16. Arab leader

17. What foes may settle

18. Degrees for many CFOs

19. Deets

20. *“Today” co-host from 2008-2019

23. “Narcos” org.

King,” while also making sure he maintains some sort of stable relationship with Mufasa, since he’s living with them on Pride Rock in the future. This results in a confusing character arc that feels very forced.

In fact, a lot about the story felt forced. Character arcs, plot lines, the entire ending - it’s passable but not the best.

In a movie focused primarily on different packs of lions fighting, this issue could’ve been much worse. But the Outsiders are distinct from the others because their fur is much whiter, thankfully avoiding that confusion. This white fur could also be why they were cast out of their original prides.

The music is OK. There are some songs, but they’re not as catchy or memorable as the songs in “The Lion King,” except for maybe “I Always Wanted A Brother.”

I doubt most fans watched the Disney Junior show “The Lion Guard,” but it technically follows the original movies. This movie, however, completely ignores the lore it tried to set up, with the only nod to it being Kiara getting a little sibling.

The story tries to show Taka’s change from an ordinary - if a little self-absorbed and cowardly - prince to the Scar we know from “The Lion

24. Baby’s cry

25. *Avoid a stickysituation

30. Capital of Canada

34. Hidden valley

35. Many moons

37. “What ___ you do?”

38. “Shoot!”

39. Took a shot, say

40. Tortilla option

41. “R u kidding?!”

42. Put up, as a statue

43. Black-andwhite cookie

44. Square dance step

46. *1965 No. 1 Beach Boys hit

49. Puppy’s bite

50. European peak

51. Irritates to no end ... and a hint to the starred clues’

answers

58. Beat very fast, as a heart

59. Revise, as an essay

60. “King Kong” actress Watts

63. Greek love god

64. “Africa” band

65. Big striped cat

66. Came and ___

67. Give kudos at a poetry slam

68. Makes a winter blanket? DOWN

1. Helium, e.g.

2. Tolkien monster

3. “All good here!” 4. Former “SNL” cast member and “Home Economics” actress 5. Hansel’s sister 6. Top that may have a built-in bra, for short

But that is to be expected with any direct prequel - they can’t stray too far from the original, but also need their own story. This film does a good enough job with what it had but could’ve done better on several fronts.

Overall, “Mufasa: The Lion King” felt like they were forcing a new story out of a franchise that already has several stories available. It’s here to make money, and it’ll probably do that just fine. But it’s just not that great.

And please, stop with the realistic yet lifeless animals.

Rating: D-

More of a bother than a brother

CONNECT WITH FRANCISCO OMAR FERNANDEZ RODRIGUEZ ffernandezrodriguez@ student.framingham.edu

7. ___ Goldberg machine

8. Spoken 9. Load for a counselor in

social services

10. Wrestling statistic

11. Prefix meaning “all”

12. Improvised bit of jazz

13.21. Evil computer in “2001: A Space Odyssey”

22. Has a bagel, say

25. -

26. Battle site to “remember”

27. Arctic floaters

28. Literary heroine Jane

29. Instruct

31. Absolutely love

32. Electrician, at times

33. -

36. Initial poker bet

39. Exercise technique that involves gradually reducing the load

40. Whine

42. Actress Falco

45. Buy stocks, say

47. Field for Saul Goodman of “Better Call Saul”

48. Some double agents

51. Took a card

52. Steak specification

53. Clickable desktop image

54. Kake ___ (Japanese noodle soup)

55. Gyro bread

56. Resting on

57. The Target bull’s-eye, for one

61. Cry from a kitten

62. Fed. tax agency

Puzzle solutions are now exclusively online.

Ben Hurney / THE GATEPOST

Dwight Performing Arts Center: 6:45 p.m. Wednesday, April 8th.

Members of the “8 Minutes Left” cast and crew run their final dress rehearsal.

[Editor’s Note: Antonio Machado and Michael Trueswell are Staff Writers for The Gatepost]

Spread by Photos & Design Editor Alexis Schlesinger

Scene: “At home. 4:26 PM”

(Left) Abrianna Ouellette and Audrey Ouellette look at a photo album.

Alexis Schlesinger / THE GATEPOST

Scene: “The Playground. 4:29 PM” Audrey Ouellette delivers a monologue.

Scene: “At home. 4:26 PM” Zachary Morrison holds a cue card.

Alexis Schlesinger / THE GATEPOST

Maddison Behringer / THE GATEPOST

The cast and crew of “8 Minutes Left’” after their final dress rehearsal.

Alexis Schlesinger / THE GATEPOST

Scene: “The diner... Again. 4:22pm” (Left) Kira James and Abrianna Ouellette stand back-to-back.

Scene: “The bunker. 4:24 PM” (Left) Michael Trueswell runs toward Antonio Machado and Leah Hall.

Maddison Behringer / THE GATEPOST

Scene: “The Couch. 4:32 PM” Antonio Machado sits by the couch.

Maddison Behringer / THE GATEPOST

Alexis Schlesinger / THE GATEPOST

Scene: “A park. 4:25 PM” (Left) Abrianna Ouellette and Leah Hall sit on a bench together.