Drag Race at Framingham State!
By Sarah Daponde Arts & Features Editor
Framingham State hosted Regie Gibson as the chosen speaker for the annual Miriam Levine Reading in the Heineman Ecumenical Center on Wednesday, April 1.
The event was co-sponsored by the Arts & Ideas series and the English Department.
Jennifer De Leon, professor
of English, welcomed Gibson, “poet, performer, and educator,” to the stage.
De Leon said Gibson was selected from over 100 applicants to become the first poet laureate of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. He was sworn in by Governor Maura Healey on May 30.
The nominating committee concluded Gibson would become the “defining voice of
poetry and creative expression across the state,” said De Leon.
Gibson is a professor at the Berklee College of Music and an instructor at Clark University. De Leon said he has worked alongside “luminaries” such as Kurt Vonnegut, Gwendolyn Brooks, and John Legend, among others.
By Sophia Oppedisano Editor-in-Chief
By Dylan Pichnarcik Associate Editor
Nelson Peña de Jesús, president of Nestlé USA’s Global Culinary Kitchen division, has been selected as the 2026 undergraduate commencement speaker.
Nestlé oversees the Toll House cookie brand, made famous by Alumna Ruth Graves Wakefield, Class of 1924, who is credited as the inventor of the chocolate chip cookie.
To make this decision, Dan Magazu, executive director of Marketing & Communications, said, historically, a committee of faculty, staff, administrators, and students is formed. Magazu also serves as chair of this committee.
He said the committee’s process has been to seek recommendations for speakers from graduating seniors, brainstorm with the working group, and vote to produce a ranked list.
This list is then submitted to President Nancy Niemi, who makes the final decision.
Magazu said the speaker is not paid, however, the University does offer to pay for travel expenses.
Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST
Former RuPaul’s Drag Race finalist Jujubee performing at FSAB’s Drag Bingo event in Dwight Hall March 30.
E ditorial Board
Editor-in-Chief
Sophia Oppedisano
Associate Editors
Adrien Gobin
Dylan Pichnarcik
Multimedia Editor
Antonio Machado
Copy Editor
Cole Johnson
News Editor
Bella Grimaldi
Asst. News Editor
Avery Slavin
Opinions Editor
Izayah Morgan
Sports Editor
Izabela Gage
Asst. Sports Editor
Taylor Kimmell
Arts & Features Editor
Francisco Omar Fernandez Rodriguez
Sarah Daponde
Photos & Design Editor
Alexis Schlesinger
Asst. Photos & Design Editors
Christy Howland
Onyx Lovely
Illustrations Editor
Marcus Falcão
Staff Illustrators
Rileigh Kelley
Tobias Cotton-Selman
Staff Writers
Zaynab Ahmed
Jesse Burchill
Kristel Erguiza
Julien Fernandez
Paul Harrington
Dan Lima
Kate Norrish
Wenchell Pierre
Nathan Piette
Andrew Ramirez
Staff Photographers
Meg Dame
Advisor
Desmond McCarthy
Asst. Advisor
Elizabeth Banks
Graduate Advising Asst.
Emma Lyons
By Avery Slavin Asst. News Editor
Gatepost Interview Philip Di Blasi
FSUPD Chief of Police
What is your academic and professional background?
I have a BA in English literature from Suffolk University. I also have a JD from Suffolk University Law School. I served as a patrol officer at Suffolk University from 1994-2000. In 2000, I was promoted to sergeant at Suffolk University, and I served in that capacity until 2004. In 2004, I was hired as a lieutenant at Wellesley College. I served as a lieutenant from 2004-2020. In 2020, I was made interim chief of police until 2022. In 2022, I was hired by MassBay Community College to be their chief of police. I served as MassBay’s chief until March 2026, when I was hired as chief at FSU. I have been a member of the Massachusetts Bar since 2001.
What drew you to Framingham State?
I enjoy the community of a residential campus. I feel there are more opportunities to engage with and assist our students and staff.
What do you like best about your new role at FSU?
Working with a great team at the FSU Police Department. I also like the culture of FSU and the pride everybody has in that culture. It is something that is obviously near and dear to the whole FSU community. As chief of police, it is my goal to ensure that we at the police department do what we can to protect that culture and FSU students’ and staff’s right to a peaceful way of life.
What are some of your favorite hobbies?
My passion is reading. I enjoy everything from literature to science fiction, philosophy, some modern fiction, non-fiction, history, and biography. I have read Russian, Greek, and English authors over the last few years. I enjoy baseball, auto racing, cricket, snooker (a form of billiards), and rugby. Outside of baseball, I tend to enjoy more European-based sports.
What advice would you give to students?
Take some time to look away from your phone and get lost in a good book. I would also say it is important to know your surroundings, so be aware of what is going on around you.
CONNECT WITH AVERY SLAVIN aslavin1@student.framingham.edu
Monday, March 30 11:50 Fire Alarm, Larned Hall
Police Logs Weather
April 4
Tuesday, March 31 9:23 Welfare Check Corinne Hall Towers
Wednesday, April 1 10:53 Medical Emergency, Corinne Hall Towers
Wednesday, April 1 12:32 Motor Vehicle Accident, Salem End Lot
April 6
April 8 Sunny with a
April 9
SGA approves club funding
By Dylan Pichnarcik Associate Editor
SGA approved funding requested by student organizations at a meeting on March 31.
The largest funding request came from the Martial Arts Club, represented by President Mariella Greenan, a sophomore.
Greenan said the club’s sensei conducted a series of 41 classes from 2024 to 2025, totaling $100 each. These classes have gone unpaid.
Greenan said as the newly elected President, she is trying to address this now by funding these previous classes. However, the club’s current budget totals $1,700.
The total cost of these previously held classes totals $4,100. A motion was made to approve an allocation of $2,400 by Senator Johnathan Sundberg and seconded by Senator Jobe Murphy. It passed with a 17-0-1.
Another funding request was made by Salvation Youth, represented by President Faith Greene, a senior.
The funds will be used for their annual “Fresh Fire” event, in which nine universities gather for Christian fellowship, workshops, speakers, and music.
The allocated funds will be used for a band, instrumentalists, equipment, transportation, and lead and backing vocals. The total cost of the event will be $2,500.
“We are students, we make mistakes, and if these things happen … the mistake has already been made, and we all understand that, and we learn from this thing,”
- Shubham Valand SGA Vice President
A motion to approve the allocation was made by Senator Glanzer Mar and was seconded by Sundberg. It passed 17-0-1.
The Students of Caribbean Ancestry, represented by Treasurer Vilmarie Santana, a junior, requested funding for their upcoming “Bounce to the Beat” party, which will be held in the Forum on April 17.
Santana said the event “will be soca-themed. It’ll be primarily for not only our Caribbean students, but anyone else who wants to enjoy that culture as well. I know in our community on campus, there have been a lot of hardships. There’s been a lot of grief, and I feel like this is something that is genuinely needed to bring everyone together.”
The funding will go toward event security, a DJ service, and wristbands.
A motion to approve the allocation was made by Mar and was seconded by Secretary Merlin Clive. It passed unanimous-
ly.
Alpha Omega, represented by President Stephanie Larrieux, a senior, requested $97 for an event held on March 6.
The event was a worship night held with another Alpha Omega ministry.
This funding request was made to create a paper trail for the funds spent on the event, according to Vice President Shubham Valand.
Events Coordinator Alix Ayoub questioned the funding request because Alpha Omega previously had its funding frozen. However, Valand said after this motion, the funding would be reinstated.
“We are students, we make mistakes, and if these things happen … the mistake has already been made, and we all understand that, and we learn from this thing,” Valand said.
A motion to approve the allocation was made by Senator Nathan Piette and was seconded by Clive. It passed 17-0-0.
Black Student Union, repre-
sented by President Laila Jenkins, a senior, requested $5,000 for their event “FRAMNIK,” which will be held on April 25.
Funds will go toward a food truck, security, and floodlight rentals. A motion to approve the allocation was made by Clive and was seconded by Ayoub. It passed 16-0-0.
The Hilltop Players, represented by President Zachary Sorel, a senior, requested $1,122.99 for use toward the organization’s rebrand and branded items.
Sorel said the Hilltop Players recently rebranded and commissioned an art student to redesign the organization’s logo. Now, they would like to purchase branded T-shirts, stickers, pens, and a tablecloth.
Sorel said the request is being made because the club has other expenses this semester, and the organization will only have $5 left in their account.
A motion to approve the allocation was made by Piette and seconded by Senator Kennedy
Thompson. It passed 17-0-0.
The Volunteers of FSU, represented by President Nathan Piette, a senior and an SGA senator, requested $1,317 for a recruiting party, which will be held on April 24.
Funds will be used to pay for food and supplies for the event.
A motion was made to approve the allocation by Ayoub, and seconded by Senator Kait Eller. It passed 13-4-0.
[ Editor’s Note: Nathan Piette is a Staff Writer for The Gatepost. ]
Dylan Pichnarcik / THE GATEPOST
Members of SGA discussing funding requests from various student organizations on March 31.
The Gatepost ranked third best New England college newspaper by NENPA
By Bella Grimaldi News Editor
The New England News & Press Association (NENPA) awarded The Gatepost six awards, including third place in the “Newspaper of the Year” category, at the 2025 New England Better Newspaper Competition on March 14.
NENPA is “the professional trade organization for newspapers in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, and Rhode Island,” according to the association’s website.
The organization seeks 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.”
The Gatepost placed third in the New England College Newspaper of the Year category, with Middlebury College taking first and Suffolk University taking second.
The judges comments on The Gatepost stated, “The writing stands out as consistently stronger than other papersprint presentation is solid, but the website needs work on its look and ease of navigation.”
Both current and past Gatepost members were recognized for their work, including Maddison Behringer, Class of ’25, Alain Puma, Class of ’25, Sophia Oppedisano, Class of ’26, Izabela Gage, Class of ’27, and Taylor Kimmel, Class of ’28.
Behringer was recognized in two categories. She placed first in College Feature Photo for “Magic at Mile 6,” and second place for “Boston Marathon” in the College Photo Series distinction.
The judges comments said her work displayed “nice expression at the marathon” and a “nice variety of images.”
Behringer said, “I remember struggling a lot with the creation of that spread initially. I had a ton of amazing photos from all the photographers who had gone to the marathon. Yet I was just experiencing a lack of inspiration when it came to cre-
ating an actual design for the spread.
“But, it was Thursday night, and a spread had to be made, so I pushed through my inspiration block,” she added. “I chose photos I believed encapsulated the energy that the community of Framingham brings as they cheer on the athletes who are running through the city on their way to Boston.”
Including these awards, Behringer has been recognized five times by NENPA since her freshman year on The Gatepost.
She said, “Honestly, it feels really unexpected! I’m super proud of all the work I have done for The Gatepost over the years.”
Oppedisano and Kimmel were awarded first place for their co-write of “Men’s basketball wins first playoff game in 15 years in spectacular fashion” in the College Sports Game Story category.
The judges said Kimmel and Oppedisano “were able to project the importance of this huge game. Not only were the game details incredibly concise, but they were also successful in capturing the electricity in the gym.”
Kimmel said, “The article was a collaborative effort, so there were different working parts we focused on.
She added, “I think for this article in particular, we also put a heavy emphasis on our interviews to cover as many bases as possible. We talked to coaching staff, younger players, and older players so we could try to involve as many players as possible. ”
Oppedisano said, “This article was really exciting because of the gravity of the game. I had worked closely with Coach Donald Morris Jr. in the past and knew how important that game was to the team.
“It was very special to be able to tell the story and watch our home team win. The emotion of being a home fan for such a big game is definitely a huge part of what makes the article great. And, to do it with Taylor makes this even sweeter,” she said.
Puma won second place in
Commencement speaker
Continued from Page 1
This year, while the committee pursued their candidates, Niemi ran a parallel effort to honor Wakefield at this year’s ceremony.
President Nancy Niemi said the committee’s first, second, and third choices were unavailable, and she suggested contacting Nestlé to showcase the connection to Wakefield. “The Toll House cookie is on the back of that package, and everybody can visualize that yellow package, and Ruth Wakefield is probably one of our most famous alumni,” she said.
A letter was sent to Nestlé headquarters in Switzerland. In response Nestlé recommended Peña de Jesús.
His “deep connection” in his professional role to the history of Framingham State is really what excited Niemi. Further, she said his Puerto Rican heritage is representative of “part of our community.”
Magazu said Peña de Jesús is originally from Puerto Rico and is a “dynamic speaker” with a
College Feature Story for “Making Framingham home: Brazilian community key to downtown’s economic revival.”
NENPA judges said Puma’s article was “A lovely story to read, regardless of whether you’re in the college community or not. An excellent example of good observation, listening, and storytelling that brings to life the critical place of downtown Brazilian businesses in local life.”
Gage received an honorable mention for her College Sports Story, “A night in the rain shows women’s soccer’s resilience.”
Judges commented the article featured “Excellent description and vivid detail, bringing the reader onto the soccer field on a dreary, early spring day in New England.”
They added, “Gage does an excellent job capturing what it’s like to be a collegiate athlete at a small school with no indoor training facility to fend inclement weather: It’s all about heart, passion and love for the sport.”
Gage said, “I created the idea because one of my best friends is on the women’s soccer team and I thought as the sports editor, it would be funny to be on the sideline for once.”
“I contemplated not going
because of the weather, but I thought it would be an interesting perspective to take because not every practice or game for an athlete is picture perfect,” she added.
She said, “I am so proud to earn an honorable mention for such a highly-contested and prestigious award.”
The Gatepost Advisor, Desmond McCarthy said, “It’s gratifying that professionals in the field recognize the quality of the work editors, reporters, photographers, and designers at our independent student newspaper produce week after week.”
Oppedisano, who is now the editor-in-chief of The Gatepost, said, “I am so immensely proud of the work of every single award winner and our entire staff for the finalist award for Best All-Around Newspaper. It’s a privilege to lead this team.”
[ Editor’s Note: Sophia Oppedisano is the Editor-in-Chief for The Gatepost, Taylor Kimmel is the Assistant Sports Editor for The Gatepost, Izabela Gage is the Sports Editor for The Gatepost. ]
CONNECT WITH BELLA GRIMALDI igrimaldi@student.framingham.edu
very interesting personal story of his early life.
Magazu said, “I’m really excited. If there are folks who are disappointed, I’m sorry to hear that, but I hope they won’t let it become a distraction towards what’s really about celebrating the graduates and what should be a really wonderful commencement.”
Peña de Jesús currently oversees the Toll House brand in America, Magazu said.
He added, “we really think it’s a great way to pay tribute to Ruth and her story, and connect that to graduates at a time when they’re going out into the world and sort of showing them that even small changes can make a huge impact.”
After the announcement, a group of Framingham residents and community members contacted Niemi expressing concerns over FSU’s choice to select a representative of Nestlé.
Two community members, Esta Montano, a former adjunct faculty member in the teaching English as a second language program and Grace Snedden,
the parent of a current student, received the same letter in response from Niemi, according to Snedden.
The letter, which was shared to Montano’s Facebook, read in part, “I do not expect that my answer will make you feel any differently about our decision to have Mr. Peña speak at commencement, but your thoughts deserve a respectful answer.
“Mr. Peña’s role as a steward of the Toll House brand connects directly to that legacy. Our invitation reflects an opportunity to highlight the enduring impact of one of our most well-known alumni and to bring that story to life for our students at a milestone moment in their lives. We also want to acknowledge and celebrate the innovation that has come from the women of this universitysomething that is not done as much as it should be,” the letter continued.
Niemi’s letter stated, “At the same time, we recognize that large, global companies - including Nestlé - have complex and often dark histories and
have been the subject of legitimate public scrutiny and criticism. Inviting a commencement speaker does not represent our endorsement of any corporation in its entirety, nor does it diminish the importance of thoughtful dialogue about corporate responsibility and ethical practices.”
Six individuals, including Montano and Snedden wrote a letter to the editor of the MetroWest Daily News, which has not yet been published, Snedden said.
Senior Jordayn Padilla said, “I’m disappointed and wish we had a powerful woman as a speaker.”
Senior K-la Vazquez said, “We should not be rewarding a company that did horrible things. As a community we should stand up and change it.”
CONNECT WITH SOPHIA OPPEDISANO soppedisano@student.framingham.edu
CONNECT WITH DYLAN PICHNARCIK dpichnarcik@student.framingham.edu
Courtesy of Desmond McCarthy
Members of The Gatepost Editorial Board on a trip to the College Media Association Conference in New York City in March.
OPINIONS
THE GATEPOST EDITORIAL
A bittersweet commentary
On March 25, President Nancy Niemi announced via email that the 2026 Undergraduate Commencement speaker will be Nelson Peña de Jesús, president of Global Culinary Kitchen at Nestlé.
Niemi cited Framingham State’s connection to the chocolate chip cookie as the reason Peña de Jesús is a “sweet” choice for a commencement speaker.
Ruth Graves Wakefield, Class of 1924, invented the chocolate chip cookie and became a Framingham State legend for the global impact of her invention.
Wakefield had a passion for cooking. She and her husband, Kenneth, started the Toll House Inn, where Wakefield invented the chocolate chip cookie, which she called the “Toll House Crunch Cookie,” according to the Henry Whittemore Library Blog.
This is the recipe Wakefield gave to Nestlé, as well as the Toll House name, in exchange for a lifetime supply of chocolate and the inclusion of the cookie recipe on the back of every package of chocolate chips - something that is still done today.
Wakefield’s invention and its impact have a lasting effect not only here at home but on the global community, and her legacy is not to be ignored. Honoring her is important.
However, this commencement speaker is not the best or most appropriate way to do that.
While The Gatepost Editorial Board acknowledges Peña de Jesús himself will be a great speaker, he is representing a company with a historically troubling past.
Nestlé has a long history of using forced labor and child labor, as well as paying agricultural workers unfair wages in West Africa and China. According to the Harvard Law School’s Systemic Justice Project (SJP), Nestlé has repeatedly tried to sell the narrative that their use of child labor is “not as bad as it looks.” The company maintains that these children are working to help their parents.
Is this how we want to honor a great alumna inventor’s legacy? Choosing a president of one of Nestlé’s divisions as a commencement speaker is essentially a statement that the University endorses this company.
Commencement speakers are not mere figureheads. They reflect our morals, values, and mission as a University, and should be individuals who can relate to our students. Many members of our community do not stand for this corporation’s recent actions.
If we truly want to honor Wakefield’s, why not invite a new female inventor, an alumna, or explore other connections to Wakefield?
Framingham State has had no shortage of commencement speakers who reflect our University’s values. The late U.S. Congressman and civil rights activist John Lewis spoke in 2019. U.S. Representative Ayanna Pressley spoke in 2023.
Just last year, NBC Boston News Anchor Latoyia Edwards gave an inspirational speech at the 2025 Undergraduate Ceremony. Her commitment to the truth is deeply rooted in our University’s values, and her background and experiences are relatable to many students.
Why are we choosing to step away from that precedent this year?
Niemi wrote in her email that the connection to this speaker is “close to home.” This is a forced tie between the alumna who invented the chocolate chip cookie and a billion-dollar corporation that bears almost no weight on our community.
Her statement feels like a half-baked way to thread the needle between Framingham State and a company headquartered in Switzerland.
We can do better. University administrators need to take accountability for what they are endorsing.
Campus Conversations
“What is your favorite spring activity?”
By Adrien Gobin, Associate Editor and Izayah Morgan, Opinions Editor
“I’m
“I am really looking forward to traveling. I’m going to Paris so I’m excited for that.”
- Shiba Nankya, junior
“I’m really looking forward to swimming before it gets too hot out.”
- JayJay Johnson, sophomore
“Walk around here. There’s some really nice ponds and rivers.”
- Adnan Sajid, junior
Atkins: “I’m looking forward to reading on the lawn.”
Snyder: “I’m looking forward to hanging out with my grandparents.”
- Larry Atkins and Ruby Snyder, freshmen
excited because I’m taking a trip to Mexico.”
- Czion Inge, senior
“In general, I play basketball, here or on the court back home in Boston.”
- Wellbi Perez, freshman
The failures of the Democratic Party
By Izayah Morgan Opinions Editor
I was introduced to politics at a young age. I was in the seventh grade when I woke up on November 8, 2016 - right on the dot at six in the morning to catch my bus at 6:45 a.m.
However, I remember this day was different. My mom seemed less energetic than she usually was - and not just because of my long gaming sessions the night before. As I looked throughout my classrooms, all my teachers and peers had a look of defeat.
I arrived for my social studies class near the end of the day, and our teacher stopped class to hear what everyone had to say on Donald Trump winning the presidential election.
Many of my peers were frightened, angry, and were at a loss for words. This was my first introduction to politics. It wasn’t Obama, the Black man who had won back to back elections, who little me could have looked up to, instead it was someone who struck fear into the people I loved and cared for.
It has felt like the two-party system in America blended together more and more over the past decade. When I was young, I remember hearing the saying that the “Democratic and Republican parties are just two sides of the same coin.”
While this can seem even truer now as a lot of Americans refused to go to the poll because of the feeling nothing changes no matter the party. we need to examine what the Democratic Party was before to understand how they got to this point.
The New Deal was an act under Franklin D. Roosevelt to combat the Great Depression and was a sum of many federal programs and reforms to circumvent the depression’s negative impact on Americans.
In an article by the LPE project, it is said that “beginning in the 1970s, Democrats moved away from their traditional emphasis on new policies towards a more market, friendly business, friendly agenda.”
This marked a shift towards
neoliberalism.
For those unaware, according to Oxford languages, neoliberalism is defined as “a political approach that favors free-market capitalism, deregulation, and reduction in government spending.” It believes in “free markets,” meaning the markets themselves, not governments, can best allocate resources. It minimizes the control the government has over each state and focuses on the individual more than the whole.
Largely this was a bipartisan deal and former President Ronald Regan was one of the main leaders of this movement. Regan had won the election in a landslide as according to The American Presidency project, every state had voted red except Minnesota.
The utter dominance of the Republican party throughout the ’80s caused Democrats to
have to respond accordingly.
The Third Way was their response. It was a movement that held a largely centrist position, which blurred the lines between Democratic and Republican ideologies.
President Bill Clinton, Tony Blair, Jean Chrétien, and Gerhard Schröder were affiliated with the Third Way Movement and were in a large part why it became so popular.
This push inevitably led to the place we are in America currently, where Republicans are dominating and Democrats are struggling to get voters out to the polls.
I find myself agreeing with the saying “Republicans and Democrats are two sides of the same coin” more and more.
It has reached a point where the question is not “Which side has better policies?” but instead, “Which side is a bit more progressive?”
Virtue signaling and social grandstanding aren’t enough to convince Americans to run out to the polls - especially when everything feels so out of their control.
President Obama always had a certain swagger during - and after - his presidency. He related to general people, whether it’s his love of basketball or showing his annual summer playlists, you never forget he’s a person, too.
He also brought compassion to politics, which is less and less common each passing day. When he responded to hecklers, it wasn’t to call them a lunatic or stick up the bird at them, but to meet them and respond accordingly.
Contrastingly, Trump’s victory in 2024 marked a key difference in the country’s thinking compared to when he won in 2016.
His victory in 2016 shows a turn against traditional politics in favor of Trump, appealing to Republicans because of his business tactics.
In his victory in 2024, on the other hand, what attracted Republican voters was Trump’s
cult of personality.
Unlike the 2020 election, many Americans were downright done with the Democratic party. They felt that the Biden administration was not so different from any Republican administration. This led many Americans to not even show up to the polls at all.
So how do we shift the narrative away from Democrats just being Republicans but blue?
Trump’s current administration has attacked basic human rights and sent ICE agents running through the streets. Democrats have to take initiative and show voters that they will respond to these attacks on American citizens.
We have to push back against what Republicans are currently attempting to make the norm. Democrats need to double down on their commitments to their party and to the American people.
We must continue to support the social and cultural rights of people regardless of their gender, age, religion, race, or religion.
We must remain active in politics, running whenever possible. Democrats need to make their presence felt, especially in communities they aren’t traditionally known to be popular in.
We must contrast the damages Republicans have done to this country. Democrats must explain how they are going to fix them. Make sure that when you’re telling people how it’s going to be fixed, you focus on the person and how the change will fix their issue, not so much on the policy you’re implementing.
I hope the Democrats can respond accordingly. We are at a time where people are scared, tired, and worn out, yet they still manage to protest to put the nation on notice.
Democrats, you got punched in the face during the election cycle. The question is: are you going to fight back, or stay down?
Courtesy of Unsplash
Courtesy of Unsplash
SPORTS
Softball splits doubleheader against Anna Maria
By Izabela Gage Sports Editor
In their first conference doubleheader, the Framingham State Rams lost the first game, but came for redemption in the second against the Anna Maria Amcats March 29.
After this loss and win, their conference record now stands at 1-1, and their overall record is 5-9.
The Rams opened the first in ning with immediate pressure, as sophomore Ellie EtemadGilbertson earned a walk, then moved into scoring position with a stolen base and advanced to third on a passed ball.
Though sophomore Isabella MacDonald popped up for the first out, Captain Eliza Cari gnan, a junior, capitalized on the opportunity, grounding out to shortstop and driving in Ete mad-Gilbertson for the game’s opening run.
Sophomore Amanda Roche struck out to end the inning, but the Rams had estab lished a 1-0 lead.
The early advantage was reinforced by a domi nant performance in the circle by sophomore Audrey Gauthier, as Anna Maria’s lineup struck out consecutively in the bottom of the first.
Sophomore Ava Gray singled and stole second in the second inning, but following two strike outs, she was unable to score.
Anna Maria failed to respond offensively, managing only a walk while striking out twice more.
In the third inning, Fram ingham extended its lead after freshman Nina Buda singled and moved into scoring position on a passed ball before Etemad-Gilb ertson hit another single.
MacDonald advanced to first on an error, allowing Buda to score an unearned run.
The Rams’ next two runners popped up and grounded out, but the top of the inning ended in their favor 2-0.
The Rams’ defense remained sharp in the bottom half, retiring the Amcats in order again with two more strikeouts and a ball caught at second base.
After an uneventful inning for Framingham, Anna Maria made it onto the scoreboard in the bot tom half of the fourth inning. A walk and an error put runners in scoring position, and a sequence of walks forced in a run.
inning, as they recorded their first hit of the game and loaded the bases with two walks.
However, Framingham’s defense held firm, forcing two outs on fielder’s choices to end the inning without allowing a run.
The Rams added another run at the top of the seventh inning. Etemad-Gilbertson walked and
Anna Maria’s Emelia Carvalho walked and stole second base before Ella Moon singled to right field, allowing Carvalho to make it home.
After their next batter struck out, Meaghan Doyle sent a fly ball to center field, and Moon scored unearned.
Angela Marie Gilmartin
Jocelyn Pepe singled and was replaced by freshman Grace Geddes, who advanced on a sacrifice bunt. Yuricheck then delivered an RBI single and Geddes scored, extending the lead to 6-4.
The Rams responded immediately in the fifth. Buda singled and advanced on a stolen base, setting the stage for MacDonald, who delivered an RBI single to center field.
The inning ended with a runner thrown out at home, but Framingham earned a two-run cushion at 3-1.
Anna Maria struggled to generate offense in the bottom of the fifth, with three back-toback outs.
In the sixth inning, the Rams were set up with walks, but after a pop-up ball to the pitcher, Framingham was unable to score.
The Amcats had a chance to score in the bottom of the sixth
inning. EtemadGilbertson walked, and MacDonald reached on an error before Carignan advanced both runners.
Gray then delivered a two-run home run that gave Framingham a 3-0 lead.
Gray said, “When I had two runners on, my mindset was to drive the ball up the middle and get at least one run in. The home run just ended up coming from that approach.”
She added, “Between every pitch, I like to step out of the box, take a deep breath, and reset. That routine has really helped me stay focused and locked in during my at-bats.”
The Amcats answered in the bottom half of the third when
fifth, tying the game 4-4 with a run driven in on a groundout following a leadoff single and a stolen base.
In the sixth inning, Yuricheck hit a single and advanced on a sacrifice bunt before EtemadGilbertson added another bunt single.
MacDonald drove in a run on a fielder’s choice, giving the Rams a 5-4 lead when Yuricheck made it to home plate.
Junior Peyton Farris delivered clean pitching in the bottom of the sixth, and the Rams’ fielding held up good defense, not allowing the Amcats to score and preserving the one-run advantage heading into the final inning.
In the seventh, sophomore
The Amcats mounted one final push in the bottom of the seventh, scoring a run on a sequence that included two singles
Farris then closed out the game with a strikeout, securing a hard-fought 6-5 victory.
Gray said, “Our biggest challenge in the Anna Maria games was not making adjustments early enough in our at-bats. In the second game, we focused more on staying back and hitting hard line drives, which made a
“As a team, we also made a conscious effort to forget about the first game. We came in with better energy and a fresh mindset, which helped us come out with the win,” she added.
Most recently, the Rams fell to the Babson College Beavers in a non-conference doubleheader, These losses bring their overall record to 5-11, while their conference record remains at
The Rams host the Bridgewater State Bears for their next conference doubleheader April
MacDonald said the team is planning to go in with what they have learned from the last few losses and overcome the struggles they experienced. “We need to keep our energy up and have a good mentality, and we will get it done. We have the skills to do it - we just need to go out there
Carignan said the team’s mindset “is to stay up the entire game, no matter the outcome. The more we stay positive, the better we will do. We can build off of each other’s energy and
She added their coach prepares them with non-conference games against teams that will challenge them, so “when it comes to conference games, when it matters, we will be the most pre-
This year, the softball team consists of no seniors, four juniors, 11 sophomores, and three
Gray said it has “definitely been an adjustment compared to last year. Last year, we had three great seniors with a lot of experience. However, our captains have really stepped up into leadership roles and have done a great job guiding the team.”
Carignan said, “I love it because we are going to play together for a long time. This allows us to get to know each other more on and off the field. We have such a strong bond with one another, and I think that also reflects on the field. … The longer you play together, the better you will be. This is just a step to next season.”
Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST
Women’s lacrosse falls to USM despite late comeback
By Izabela Gage Sports Editor
By Taylor Kimmell Asst. Sports Editor
After fighting to reach a tie and battling back from a 7-1 deficit early on in a non-conference match, the Framingham State University Rams fell to the University of Southern Maine Huskies 12-9 April 1.
This matchup brings their overall record to 3-7 and leaves their conference record at 0-1.
The Huskies were quick to gain an offensive edge, winning the opening draw control and scoring the first goal of the match 31 seconds in.
USM maintained a steady offensive press, winning the following draw control and sending in another shot, this one going wide of the net.
Just short of 2 minutes in, a turnover by the Huskies placed the ball in possession of FSU Captain Isabella DiMare, a senior.
Both teams traded possession for the next 2 minutes before the Huskies took control, making a decisive drive to the net for their second goal.
USM continued to build on its successful offensive streak, scoring again less than 2 minutes later.
After a foul by FSU, the Huskies took advantage of their rally, scoring once again on the Rams’ net, bringing the score to 4-0.
Assisted by freshman Kate McGovern, freshman Jenna James sent a hard shot to the back of the net, putting a point on the board for Framingham 10 minutes in.
The Huskies refused to yield, capitalizing on a failed clear attempt by the Rams and scoring once again.
USM scored twice more before the end of the quarter, gaining a significant early lead of 7-1.
The Rams began their comeback early on in the second quarter, with a goal from sophomore
Emma Kendzulak just 35 seconds in.
Sophomore Maddie Bosma attempted another goal for Framingham in the following minute, but her shot was saved by USM goalkeeper Maggie Jones.
Using the turnover to their advantage, the Huskies managed to find a gap to score again.
A green card against senior Kelley DeBellis forced the Rams to play a man down, but good defensive plays kept USM from breaking through for another goal.
The next goal came from DeBellis off an assist by McGovern on a man-up play to bring the score to 7-3, still in favor of USM.
The first goal of the third quarter came from the Huskies on a free position shot a little over 3 minutes in.
After another 5 minutes of strong defense by both teams, the Rams broke through, with sophomore Lily Malloy scoring off an assist by Kendzulak.
DeBellis won the ensuing draw control for Framingham, but the Huskies capitalized on a ground ball pickup and netted their ninth goal.
Shortly after, USM committed a foul against Kendzulak. She made the most of her free position shot, sending it flying past Jones and into the back of the net.
FSU maintained control of the ball for the final minute of the third quarter, with Malloy winning the next draw control, leading to a shot by James that unfortunately bounced off the crossbar.
Two consecutive goals in the first 3 minutes of the final quarter allowed the Rams to gain momentum. The first goal came from James, assisted by Bosma, and the second was scored by McGovern, also assisted by Bosma.
Six minutes of strong defensive pushes ensued before a yellow card was issued against USM, allowing the Rams to take
advantage for a man-up goal by Kendzulak on a free position shot to bring the score to 9-9 for the first tie of the match.
A minute later, USM began a strong offensive drive, scoring three times during the final 5 minutes of the match, resulting in a score 12-9 in favor of the Huskies.
Kendzulak scored four of FSU’s nine goals.
In terms of finding scoring opportunities, she said, “I look for the cuts and I keep my head up. I look around for my teammates, and if they cut in and I see a great opportunity, and if there’s no one near them, I pass it to them so they can find a gap.
“Our biggest challenge is not getting a lot of the ground balls, and not getting the draws. We need to get possession in order to score, so that’s one of our downfalls. We’ve been practicing catching during our rides, clearing and getting open,” she added.
McGovern had a goal and two assists during the match. She said when anticipating scoring opportunities, the most important part
is “relying on my teammates. … Scoring-wise, my teammates set me up with passing, feeding, everything like that.
“We started kind of slow. Seven-to-one is kind of a hard way to come back, but I think with our momentum, we just kind of kept getting fired up after every goal, and just seeing the ball hit the back of the net, it gets everyone going,” she added.
The Rams will host the Fitchburg State Falcons for a conference matchup April 4.
McGovern said, “We’re going into Fitchburg like every other game - keep improving on the stuff that we’ve been working on.”
Kendzulak said, “We have the opportunity to win this game if we put our hearts into it.”
Stats sourced from fsurams.com and MASCAC.com
CONNECT WITH IZABELA GAGE igage@student.framingham.edu
CONNECT WITH TAYLOR KIMMELL tkimmell@student.framingham.edu
Izabela Gage / THE GATEPOST
(Front) Kate McGovern setting up for a pass in loss against University of Southern Maine on April 1.
ARTS & FEATURES
Campus Sustainability hosts awareness events
By Francisco Omar Fernandez Rodriguez Arts & Features Editor
There is a mural in the dining hall listing several facts and statistics about food waste and how students can help reduce it.
There is also a sign outside O’Connor Hall depicting the Earth with the north and south hemispheres flipped, and with fists of various skin tones and Pride flag colors.
Outside of Hemenway Labs there is a small white sign with an image of a bee. It recognizes the University as a member of “Bee Campus USA.”
These signs were put up in collaboration with the director of Campus Sustainability. Previously, the position was filled by Megan Mayer. Now she currently co-chairs the Bee Campus committee with Aviva Liebert.
Ruirui Zhang, who became the director of Campus Sustainability last year, oversees the Bee Campus committee.
Even before becoming the director, she said she attended monthly meetings and participated in events.
One of the goals of Campus Sustainability is to educate students, faculty, and staff on the importance of sustainability, Zhang said.
“It’s not only about the environment,” Zhang said. “It’s not only about economic sustain-
By Alexis Schlesinger Editorial Staff
Sharing is an essential part in having success in the music industry.
As a musician, you may be sharing vulnerable pieces of yourself in your lyrics, or when you interact with fans who have been inspired by you. Maybe what you share is simply the time you give when you get on stage and perform for your fans.
For Philadelphia-based bands Slow Burning Daydream and It Helps Me Sleep, they aren’t just sharing their time, music, and passion. They’re also sharing two band members.
It certainly makes touring together a whole lot easier.
Emo thrash metal band Slow Burning Daydream and post-hardcore band It Helps Me Sleep kicked off their March 2026 tour at Philly Style Pizza in Philadelphia on Thursday,
ability. It’s not only about society’s sustainability. It’s about a balance between the three. It’s a triangle.”
Higher education institutions can go down two paths - the easy way, and the right way, she said.
“I see our University really has a dedication to the right way, which I’m very happy about,” Zhang said.
She said the essence of sustainability is reciprocation and circularity.
“I think it’s very important to create that … circular system, that we want to make materials circulate in the community,” Zhang said.
She said she wants to create this sort of relationship between faculty and students.
Mayer said the University has a Climate Action Plan that was written in 2007, but Zhang is working on updating it.
Zhang said the plan is being updated with initiatives the University is committed to for the future.
She wants sustainability responsibilities in the plan to be “clearer and more actionable,” she said.
“The updated plan organizes our work into four key themes and specific actions so that different units across campus can see how they contribute to the university’s sustainability goals,” Zhang said.
March 19.
I’ve been in a handful of interesting spaces in my time going to shows, but a pizza place was not one I expected to be in.
Despite the unexpected setting, the show was fantastic. SBD and IHMS certainly have the ability to make any room feel like a concert hall, even when you’re 2 feet away from them on the wooden floor of a local pizza shop.
The kickoff show was unique from the rest of the tour, as Henry, the bassist from IHMS, and Sean Crawford, the newest vocalist for SBD, were both unable to join the two bands for the rest of the shows.
The sound of each band with or without their non-touring members was different, but not any better or worse either way. All of the musicians of both bands are so strong and tight with their performance, they’re able to adapt to however many members they have to perform with.
Following the Philadelphia kickoff show, and the sad departure from the members staying behind, the two bands started their northward travels to Western Massachusetts.
For the remainder of their tour, Slow Burning Daydream consisted of guitarist/vocalist Elijah Senter, guitarist Catharine Daubert, bassist J.D. Joseph, and drummer Trent Huber.
It Helps Me Sleep was composed of guitarist/vocalist Catharine Daubert, lead vocalist Allie Bilger, and drummer Elijah Senter.
There are great music scenes
She believes everyone in the community contributes to sustainability in a significant way.
When Mayer was Campus Sustainability coordinator, she helped set up a textile recycling program, built a social media presence, hosted more activities, and achieved a Bee Campus USA certification, she said.
She said she also worked with graphic design students to create signage for residence halls to remind students to turn off their lights when they leave and to be mindful about water usage.
“I also worked with art students to create signs and murals that are up in different parts of the campus,” Mayer said.
Liebert said she served as the interim coordinator for Campus Sustainability while Mayer was on leave.
During that time, one goal she advocated for was making the coordinator a larger administrative role, she said.
The role of sustainability coordinator, now known as the director of Campus Sustainability, is filled by a “faculty member who just teaches one less course and coordinates all of this themselves - and it’s a lot,” Liebert said.
“I think that’s where we need to go if we really want to make more sustainable changes to campus,” she said.
all over Massachusetts, but if you’re looking for a hardcore scene, Western Mass is the place to go.
SBD and IHMS played with two fantastic local bands, Rhubarb Duo and GLASSS, for their last tour stop inside the United States.
The tour then took the two bands across the eastern region of Canada over the span of a week, with shows in Montreal, Sherbrooke, Halifax, and Moncton.
Of the four shows, Slow Burning Daydream’s most stand-out performance was in Montreal.
SBD played third in a lineup with four additional punk acts, a bill the band liked to call a “tour sandwich,” due to having the touring act directly in the middle of all-local talent.
The pressure to show up and show out was on that night, as SBD contained not only the youngest performers for the night, but were also the only non-Québécois act, and the only band lacking the spiky, alternative, “punk uniform” everyone else seemed to be in.
These guys played in their sweatshirts.
However, having something to prove only made them play harder than they did on any other show of the tour.
The crowd seemed to be just as impressed as I was, and many approached the band following their set to express their compliments.
It Helps Me Sleep had their best set during the Halifax show at Gus’ Pub.
Every set each band played
Liebert and Mayer meet with Zhang to discuss the Bee Campus Committee, and Zhang holds regular meetings that anyone can attend - though not many actually do, Liebert said.
She added she also works with other departments across campus.
She said there’s also a student group that works on sustainability called the Green Initiative.
“I think it would be good to have students on the club side be more integrated with what the faculty are doing, and have everybody working toward the same goals,” Liebert said.
CONNECT WITH FRANCISCO OMAR FERNANDEZ RODRIGUEZ ffernandezrodriguez@student.framingham.edu
was fantastic, but there was something special that night.
The band’s crowd interaction had gotten noticeably more natural and confident since the beginning of the tour, and led to IHMS having their liveliest crowd yet.
There is endless praise to be sung about these two bands’ musical talent, but after having the opportunity to spend an entire tour with them, it can’t go without mentioning how great they are in character and what they stand for.
Both bands have released and performed music with themes of activism, human rights, community, or reflections on personal struggles, all of which have connected with their fans from all over.
Upon getting to know them on a personal level, it’s clear to see each band member embodies their passion and love for their music, their community, and the greater world through their actions in their everyday lives.
This tour wasn’t their first, but it was mine.
I don’t think I could’ve been any luckier, or picked a better choice of bands to share my first tour with.
CONNECT WITH ALEXIS SCHLESINGER aschlesinger@student.framingham.edu
It Helps Me Daydream
Tobias Cotton-Selman / THE GATEPOST
Regie Gibson
Continued from Page 1
He is a former National Poetry Slam Individual Champion and was selected as one of Chicago Tribune’s Artists of the Year for Excellence for his poetry.
The poet laureate specializes in “bluesey, jazzy” sounds.
“Regie Gibson’s voice carries the full sweep of American experience,” De Leon said.
This event was his second visit to Framingham State. De Leon said he previously hosted a “Shakespeare to Hip-Hop” event.
De Leon, also a published author, said she first met Gibson around 20 years ago, and the two writers have been friends ever since.
She said it is important for writers to “get out in the world,” and find a community to share their work.
“When you write, it’s solitary. It’s you and the blinking cursor, or you and the pen and page, but writing is something that I believe is meant to be shared,” De Leon added.
Gibson greeted the audience as “fellow word nerds.”
He said he loves getting together with people who believe in the power of storytelling.
“This language thing that we do, this communication thing we do as human beings, can actually reach out, heal, connect one another,” he said. “Story-telling is one of our first technologies.”
Gibson was born in Mississippi and raised in Chicago. He said music was everywhere in his neighborhood and it be-
Hop
came a comfort to him long before he could read or write.
His great-grandfather was a “railroad caller,” someone who made up songs for the other workers to hit spikes to, he said.
“He could not read, so he had to sing and make up verses and stories and poems as mnemonic devices to be able to remember,” he added.
Gibson said he grew up around several churches, and gospel singing was common. He said sometimes, as he walked by a church, a voice would “arrest” him.
When hearing a voice like that, Gibson said, “Your covalent bonds just split your atoms, lifted you up, grabbed you by the ankles, and shook you.”
Gibson discussed how important empathy is in human interactions.
Throughout history, human beings have always needed each other, he said. Making “individualism into a religion” is not the way people should act.
When teaching in a prison, Gibson said prisoners were punished through solitary confinement.
“You would think with all the degradation, all the craziness, all of the violence that an individual is subject to, that they would crave to be put in solitary confinement,” Gibson said. “But no, we need each other, even if that interaction is going to be less than humane.”
He said humans need to feel music, poetry, and “whatever comes from the human soul.”
Gibson shared a few pieces he created about Jimi Hendrix, one of which he imagined to be an interview in his voice after
his “phenomenal” performance at Woodstock ’69.
“Here’s a couple about James Marshall Hendrix, in honor of him - if you don’t know who that is, your life is impoverished,” Gibson added.
Gibson closed out the reading with “The Song of Massachusetts,” an excerpt taken from a longer written piece of his, which he read at the induction ceremony to become the poet laureate.
He said he was working on two separate pieces to read at the inauguration. His wife, who he said described herself as a “Massachusetts girl through and through,” helped him decide on “The Song of Massachusetts.”
“She’s never led me wrong in that situation,” added Gibson.
The oldest poem out of the ones he read at the event was
about his wife, Kate, and son, which he wrote over 20 years ago, he said.
Gibson’s inspirations include Nina Simone, whose voice he described as “haunting,” as well as Danielle Ponder, Gwendolyn Brooks, and D’Angelo.
“If you don’t know who D’Angelo is, your life is impoverished,” he added.
He is a member of the Lexington Symphony, where he said he goes to draw inspiration from classical music.
De Leon said, “I really think that all of us in the room and on Zoom can say that we’re so inspired by the visit by Regie Gibson at Framingham State.”
over to a theater and see “Hoppers” today!
By Francisco Omar Fernandez Rodriguez Arts & Features Editor
I’ll be honest - I didn’t think I was going to like “Hoppers” as much as I did - which was a lot. The trailers didn’t seem particularly appealing to me, but it at least seemed funny. And it was that and so much more.
This Pixar movie hit theaters March 6, and it is easily worth a watch.
The story follows college student Mabel, who lives in Beaverton. She grew up with her grandmother beside a for est glade close to the city.
The movie takes a while to get to the main story, but each minute is spent develop ing Mabel’s character and the reasons why she acts the way she does. Personally, I believe it’s time well spent that isn’t going to lose impatient audi ence members.
Mabel argues frequently with Mayor Jerry, who wants to destroy the forest glade so he can build a highway. He points out that the animals have left, so there’s no legal reason he can’t build there.
After failing to convince Jer ry or the public to protect the glade, she stumbles upon her professor’s secret project - the Hoppers program. Dr. Sam has somehow invented technology that can transfer a human mind into a robot animal. As a robot animal, she can communicate with real animals and they assume she’s a real animal.
attempt to bring back the missing animals and save the glade.
The story is easily one of the high points of the film. It kept me hooked in the theater and had more depth than I was expecting.
I love how the movie isn’t afraid of dark humor.
In about a day, Mabel discovers what the scientists and professors had never thought possible - which, to be frank, goes to show how ineffective those scientists and professors were with this technology.
While George explains the pond rules to Mabel, several animals that say “Hi” to their king get eaten by nearby predators, and the characters just have to move on like nothing hap-
a voice and personal- ity are eaten or otherwise killed - also known as “squished” - usually with comedic timing.
Against Sam’s direct orders, Mabel transfers her mind into a robotic beaver and escapes from the lab. She launches herself into the wild world of the animal kingdom in a desperate
This is especially apparent in the wilderness, where Mabel saves a beaver from being eaten, only to be asked why by the bear. She had unknowingly broken the “pond rules,” where if a predator catches an animal, they get to eat it. Because she broke their rules, they take her to their king, a beaver named George.
And yet, the deaths are quick and never focused on too much, so it still gets by as a kids’ movie without any issue. Who cares if a random unnamed dragonfly gets eaten, even if it was nice enough to say
“Good morning!” to you?
Also, the dynamic between Mabel and George is sweet and touching for the most part. George is the guy who wants to trust everyone and give everyone a second chance, while Mabel thinks some people are simply evil and can’t be trusted.
Speaking of which, her dynamic with Jerry is amusing right from the start. The film goes through a few quick clips of the two of them arguing at various situations, from the steps of city hall in the middle of the day to the steps of his
private home in the middle of the night.
Each of the main characters go through significant growth as the plot takes several unexpected but fully welcomed turns.
The ending could have been better, but without going into spoilers, it gets the job done and still has a strong emotional feeling to it.
The story is great, and the movie both looks and sounds amazing. Overall, I had a great time seeing this in theaters and would recommend anyone to give it a try.
Christy Howland / THE GATEPOST
Regie Gibson performs at the Miriam Levine Reading on April 1.
13. Blond shade
Dog name from the Latin for “to trust”
Bothers repeatedly
2-Down, in Spanish
Word before “maze” or “tag”
Solo at an opera house
“I don’t believe it!”
“Uh-huh, sure ...”
Some Chipotle orders
Call your teacher “Mom” by accident, say
“Casablanca” heroine
23. Cocktail garnished with mint
24. UFC fighting style
25. Minor star, maybe?
28. “Holy smokes!”
30. Actor Damon or LeBlanc
31. Be behind on bills
32. “And how is this surprising?”
36. Altar promise
37. Hard to look at
38. Ending for “movie” or “church”
39. 2014 campaign designed to destigmatize assertiveness in girls
42. Short hairstyle
43. Stow away
44. “Handling that right now!”
46. “The Simpsons” shopkeeper
49. Advanced HS science class
50. Manipulate into feeling ashamed
52. Astronaut Armstrong
53. Manipulated into feeling angry
54. London art gallery
55. Fuel brand with a torch in its logo
56. Regarding
57. ___ out (barely made)
58. Comedian Davidson
59. “___ queen!”
DOWN
1. “Somebody That I Used To Know” singer
2. Significant ___ (partner)
3. Prickly shrub
4. Part of a vampire costume
5. “Wanna quit already?”
6. Student loans, for example
7. Mine material
8. Third-largest city in Italia
9. “Can I leave now?”
10. Feminist slogan since the ’90s
11. ___ OFF 5th (discount store chain)
14. Undefeated boxer Ali
17. Black Sea peninsula
20. Hot dog holder
23. Ballet jump
24. Speed stat
26. Crafty marketplace
27. Fishthrowing Muppet Zealand
28. Written in it this clue is
29. “No need to be afraid of me!”
30. Parts of a gig
32. Sis or bro
33. Rear end
34. “Just can’t help myself!”
35. Bawl
40. Left unexpectedly, in slang
41. Bear, in Spanish
42. “The Hobbit” protagonist
45. Nephew’s sister
46. Like a creative and crafty person
47. Michelangelo sculpture in Vatican City
48. Some prom hairstyles
49. Initial poker bet
50. Bananagrams or Scrabble
51. Aunt, in Spanish
53. Kendrick Lamar’s genre
“IMPROV”FOOLS DAY
Suit Jacket Posse presented their “Landscaping our Bushes” improv show on April 1.
Editor’s Note: Onyx Lovely is an Asst. Photos & Design Editor for The Gatepost.
Spread by Associate Editor Adrien Gobin and Asst. Photos & Design
Editor Christy Howland
Antonio Machado / THE GATEPOST
Antonio Machado / THE GATEPOST
Antonio Machado / THE GATEPOST
Antonio Machado / THE GATEPOST
Antonio Machado / THE GATEPOST