Sept. 17, 2021

Volume 90 • Issue 1

FSUgatepost.com

September 17, 2021

‘Our flag was still there’

Donald Halsing / THE GATEPOST The Framingham Fire Department and University Police raise the American flag in memory of those lost on 9/11 during Andrew Card’s visit to campus Sept. 8.

News COVID-19 BY THE NUMBERS pg. 4 CABELLO’S DEPARTURE pg. 6

Opinions

PROCESSING 9/11 pg. 9 REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS pg. 10

Sports

Students are 81% compliant with COVID-19 vaccine mandate

By Leighah Beausoleil Associate Editor Framingham State students are currently 81.1% compliant with the University’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate that went into effect in May 2021, according to FSU’s COVID-19 data dashboard on Sept. 11.

All students were required to provide their vaccination status on the Medicat site by Aug. 1, according to an May 12 email from Ilene Hofrenning, Health Center director.

FSU employees are currently 86.5%

cording to McDonald.

The Massachusetts State College Association represents the faculty and librarians. The American Federation of the State, County, and Municipal Employees represents the administrators and clerical employees on campus and the Association of Professional Administrators represents management.

Compliancy means the student or employee provided information to the University that they are vaccinated, exempt, or partially

See VACCINATIONS page 8

Andrew Card Speaks at FSU for 20th Anniversary of 9/11

By Emily Rosenberg Arts & Features Editor

One of the most iconic images of 9/11 is of a member of President George W. Bush’s executive staff leaning in to tell him that the planes crashed into the Twin Towers.

Bush’s Chief of Staff Andrew Card Danielle Achin / THE GATEPOST was the man in the photo.

WOMEN’S SOCCER pg. 11 Card visited DPAC Sept. 9 to recount his experience as an important player in the nation’s survival during and after the devastating attacks. A Massachusetts politician, he served ALEXIS RIVERA pg. 13 as George H.W. Bush’s Secretary of Transportation from 1992 to 1993 BEST OF SUMMER pg. 16-17 and as George W. Bush’s chief of staff

Arts & Features

in compliance with their designated union mandates, according to the Sept. 11 data. All union vaccine mandates were in effect by Sept. 14.

There are four groups of employees on campus, according to Ann McDonald, chief of staff and general counsel.

The first group is not represented by a union and was required to get the vaccine when the students received the mandate.

The next three are union groups that were each mandated to get the vaccine by different dates throughout the first two weeks of September, ac-

from 2001 to 2006.

Just as it is said how everyone can recount what they were doing when they heard the nation was under attack, Card has vivid memories as well.

“Not a cloud in the sky,” Card said.

“It was a perfect day everywhere in America.”

He said he had heard people discussing a plane crash in New York City as he exited the motorcade which prompted an insignificant phone call to the national security advisor before meeting the second-grade class at a Florida school - the same class Bush was reading to when informed of the attacks.

Card then went into Mrs. Daniels’

classroom to see a line of second graders, “on their best behavior,” patiently waiting for the arrival of the president.

This is when the national security advisor informed the president that a “small twin engine prop plane” had crashed into one of the towers at the World Trade Center.

“The president, the principal, and I all had the same reaction. ‘Oh what a horrible accident, the pilot must’ve had a heart attack or something.”

After Bush proceeded into the classroom with the principal, the

See ANDY CARD page 15

INSIDE: OP/ED 9 • SPORTS 11 • ARTS & FEATURES 13

NEWS

2 | SEPTEMBER 17, 2021

Gatepost Interview

Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief Donald Halsing

Benjamin Day

Associate Editors Leighah Beausoleil Kathleen Moore News Editors Steven Bonini Ashlyn Kelly Asst. News Editor Haley Hadge Arts & Features Editors Caroline Gordon Emily Rosenberg Asst. Arts & Features Editor Patrick Brady Opinions Editor McKenzie Ward Sports Editor Danielle Achin Staff Writers Mikey Alves James Barraford Madison Behringer Sean Cabot Jasmine Castillo Jackson Clyde Olivia Copeland Dan Fuentes Sophia Harris Stefano Hernandez Branden LaCroix Emma Lyons Jack McLaughlin Ryan O’Connell Austin Riffelmacher Nate Rogers Ryan Schreiber Advisor Desmond McCarthy Asst. Advisor Elizabeth Banks

By Steven Bonini News Editor

Director of the Counseling Center

What is your role here at Framingham State University and what does your job entail?

I am the director of the Counseling Center at FSU, which means that I oversee the therapists work within the Counseling Center, providing counseling to students, both undergraduate and graduate students.

What is your professional and educational background?

My undergraduate degree is from Harvard University in biology, and my graduate degree is from the Boston Graduate School of Psychoanalysis. I came here from my last position, where I was the executive director of the Marblehead Counseling Center in Marblehead, Massachusetts. I have a fairly extensive background working with young people, adults, and children where I, for the most part, provided therapy for individuals with a wide range of mental health issues from straightforward anxiety, and depression, and more severe and persistent mental health issues like bipolar, schizophrenia - things of that nature.

What do you anticipate will be the best part of your new job here at Framingham State University?

I’m working with what I like to call the emerging adult population. I think this is a time in an individual’s life when they have all this potential. And they’re trying to grapple with “What does it mean as an individual to move forward in my life?” “How do I navigate that?”

“How do I become - emerge - as a fully formed adult?” And they come in just starting sort of at that first moment when they’re out of the house, and then four years later, they come out as an individual with their own aspirations, and so that is exciting to be part of that, for those individuals who might find that they have a need to fill some of those questions with a therapeutic approach.

So, I find that part of it to be very exciting - to be part of their journey, as it were.

How do you feel about your work this year as compared to last year regarding the pandemic?

Well, I think what we’ve all experienced was sort of a dislocation, of having to do everything virtually - virtual classes, virtual study, and then virtual therapy as well. And I think for a lot of individuals, all of those were challenges.

And certainly, while therapy done virtu-

Courtesy of Framingham State ally via Zoom format of one form or another, while that was valuable, it’s better than nothing at all. The idea of being able to have - to face the student - one on one in a session live is exciting, because I think more nuance is gained being face to face with an individual that can’t be achieved just through a Zoom call, as it were.

Do you have any hobbies that you’d like to tell the community about?

The curious thing is that we [therapists] tend to not discuss a lot of that stuff just because we tend not to do that. But certainly, I’m a runner, so I run nothing like a marathon or anything like that, but, I do spend a lot of time out doing those sorts of things. I do some writing, some performing as well. … When I had the free time, a little more acting. I don’t have as much free time anymore.

Do you have any advice for campus students?

I think the key right now is - because everyone right now is trying to navigate this post - not really post - but post-COVID reality - which was everyone off campus. While we’re still in the midst of it … I’m going to spend some of my time face to face and I’m going to spend some of my time on virtual calls of one form or another. What does that look like? How do I feel comfortable with that? I think part of the process of moving forward is feeling comfortable with this hybrid mix, as it were. What does that mean, for me as the student?

What does it mean for me as the therapist or even as a professor? … How do

I acclimate to this new reality? And so, I try to advise people to find the thing that may provide them with some pleasurable moments to feel comfortable with a group of individuals. … Find a group that feels comfortable. Find an activity that makes one feel connected.

Find connections that reduce the anxiety that comes from - the natural anxiety - that comes from being part of this new reality, as it were. … I think people respond better when they can create a way of feeling connected, and a routine.

Find a routine that makes sense and do those things that allow one to feel less anxious. Anxiety comes about from feeling dislocated - from being unsure about what is going to happen. And to create an environment that feels secure and feels pleasurable - I think is something that we should all be striving for.

Is there anything else that you’d like to tell the campus community about yourself?

I like to remind people that the Counseling Center is here for people to take advantage of. We try to ensure that people who have the need to maybe have a little extra space to speak about their issues and feelings, that we’re available for them to come and to not hesitate.

It’s a no-judgment zone. It’s just a place for people to feel that their needs can some of their needs - can be addressed, and that we’re here to help, and be part of this sort of healing and re-discovery of what it means to be on a campus.

CONNECT WITH STEVEN BONINI sbonini@student.framingham.edu

Police Logs 100 State Street McCarthy Center Room 410 Framingham, MA 01701-9101 Phone: (508) 626-4605 Fax: (508) 626-4097 gatepost@framingham.edu @TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

Friday, Sept. 10 22:33 Large group/Crowd Vernon Street Advised

Monday, Sept. 13 16:49 Found Property State Street Assignment Complete

Tuesday, Sept. 14 01:24 Missing State Property State Street Report Taken

Tuesday, Sept. 14 23:45 Found Property Sandella’s Report Taken

NEWS

SEPTEMBER 17, 2021 | 3

SGA holds first meeting of the fall semester

By Ashlyn Kelly News Editor SGA discussed issues with parking, Wi-Fi, and vaccine policy at its first meeting Sept. 14.

Secretary Samuel Houle said he was concerned about residents and commuters being ticketed for parking in the wrong lot after the Franklin Street Lot was closed due to construction.

“The whole parking situation is confusing,” said Houle. “They announced [the parking change] at the last second and then just immediately started ticketing for the wrong parking lot.”

He said he spoke to Officer Katelyn Kelley about issuing warning tickets for the first few weeks so University Police is not “preying on the confusion.”

President McKenzie Ward said the Wi-Fi continues to cut out on campus despite the University going remote last year, forcing students to rely on the internet for classes.

During a meeting with Lorretta Holloway, vice president of enrollment and student development, Ward said Holloway’s internet cut out three times in 20 minutes.

She said every semester, students get told the Wi-Fi has improved, but it never does.

Dara Barros, diversity and inclusion officer, said she is concerned for students who may work late due to places on campus closing early.

Barros said Sandella’s used to be open until 12 a.m., but now it closes at 10 p.m.

She added during her first year, the library was open until 1 a.m. Now, it closes at 9 p.m.

Students who have later schedules are “not given the same opportunity,” said Barros.

SGA members also discussed their upcoming TV raffle for vaccinated or religiously or medically exempt students.

According to the Framingham State University 2021-22 COVID-19 Data Dashboard, as of Sept. 11, only 81% of students have either uploaded their vaccine information or received an exemption.

Ward said SGA is hoping this giveaway will motivate students to comply with the vaccine policy.

She added the winner would be chosen by an automatic generated lottery.

During the Diversity and Inclusion Officer’s Report, Barros said she had

Weather

been working with Constanza Cabello, former vice president for diversity, inclusion, and community engagement, over the summer to create an affinity group space on campus.

Barros added she will be continuing the work with Eric Nguyen, director of the Center for Inclusive Excellence (CIE).

She wanted the space to help create a mentorship program for the smaller affinity groups “to help them be more established on campus,” said Barros.

There is an upcoming Engagement Day for affinity groups on Sept. 24 at 4 p.m. in the CIE, according to Barros.

During her President’s Report, Ward said she was “glad” the University was taking a strong stance on COVID-19 precautions.

She added students risk removal from campus if they do not upload their vaccine information or receive a religious or medical exemption.

During her Advisor’s Report, Sara Gallegos, director of Student Involvement and Leadership Development, outlined goals the SGA e-Board drew up over the summer.

The goals included working with University Police to improve dialogue among officers and students, the Health Center and Dean of Students to clarify the medical cannabis use policy, collaborate with student organizations, and offer more diverse events on campus.

Gallegos also asked SGA members to hold their peers accountable for not wearing masks.

“I can go around and yell at everybody to put their mask on as much as possible, but then immediately, they take it off - particularly in lots of common spaces,” said Gallegos.

She added if she gets any more complaints about the Game Room through University Police, she will have to shut it down.

During the meeting, SGA swore in Senator sophomore John Finkle, and two e-Board members, Barros and Houle.

Now that they’ve returned to in-person meetings, SGA’s traditional “U-Rock” award was given to Barros.

Secretary Samuel Houle being sworn in.

Leighah Beausoleil / THE GATEPOST

Leighah Beausoleil / THE GATEPOST

Diversity and Inclusion Officer Dara Barros being sworn in.

[Editor’s Note: McKenzie Ward is Opinions Editor for The Gatepost.]

CONNECT WITH ASHLYN KELLY akelly8@student.framingham.edu

Senator John Finkle being sworn in.

Leighah Beausoleil / THE GATEPOST

Forecast provided by the National Weather Service www.weather.gov

Sunday night Sept. 19 Mostly clear, with a low around 55. Calm wind.

Monday night Sept. 20 Mostly clear, with a low around 55. Light and variable wind.

Tuesday night Sept. 21 Partly cloudy, with a low around 58. Southwest wind around 4 mph.

Wednesday night Sept. 22 Partly cloudy, with a low around 61. South wind 3 to 6 mph.

Monday Sept. 20 Sunny, with a high near 75. Light and variable wind.

Tuesday Sept. 21 Sunny, with a high near 78. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Wednesday Sept. 22 Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. South wind around 5 mph.

Thursday Sept. 23 Partly sunny, with a high near 75. Southwest wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

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

NEWS

4 | SEPTEMBER 17, 2021

COVID-19 by the numbers Week of Sept. 17, 2021

Vaccinations Fully vaccinated individuals

By Kathleen Moore Associate Editor

4,570,664 / 66.3%

Framingham State University Testing - past 7 days

Data collected Sept. 11

Vaccinations

180,086,143 / 54.1%

2.358,787,653 / 30.3% Data collected Sept. 16

Data sources: U.S. Census Bureau, CDC COVID-19 Data Tracker, Johns Hopkins

Active Cases

Tests administered: 219

Positive tests: 1

0.5%

= 11 negative tests = 11 positive tests

[Editor’s Note: The number of tests administered does not indicate an outbreak of COVID-19.]

Framingham

United States

0.3%

2.9%

192

9,597,842

Massachusetts

World

= 127 Fully vaccinated or exempt

0.9%

0.2%

= 127 Partially vaccinated

63,399

7,789,921,600

Fully vaccinated: 3,034 Partially vaccinated: 82 No data provided: 567

= 127 No vaccination data provided to University Data source: Framingham State

Data collected Sept. 16

Data sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Worldometer, City of Framingham

Sandy Hartwiger awarded Dr. Robert A. Martin Outstanding First-Year Advocate Award

By Dan Fuentes Staff Writer English Professor Alexander “Sandy” Hartwiger is this year’s recipient of the Dr. Robert A. Martin Outstanding First-Year Advocate Award.

Hartwiger was recognized at a ceremony and gave a speech in the McCarthy Center Alumni Room Sept. 1.

Director of New Student and Family Programs Ben Trapanick stated in an email, “His understanding of the needs of first-year students, collaborative nature, and advocacy on behalf of students makes him an excellent choice as this year’s recipient.”

In an email from the Dean of Students on behalf of Trapanick, Hartwiger was announced the recipient of the award on May 18.

“We’re at an institution where the commitment to the success of firstyear students happens at every level,” Hartwiger said. “To be recognized for that at an institution that really emphasizes the success of first-year students is humbling.”

Hartwiger is a co-coordinator of the Rams 101 Program.

Hartwiger said, “The idea of the Rams 101 course is an integrated experience for first-semester students that they are getting both the rigorous academic content and the transition to college elements.”

According to the University course catalog, Rams 101 is a course designed to engage first-year students in “the work of historians and facilitate their transition to the Universi-

@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

ty.”

Hartwiger attended Appalachian State and received a Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Hartwiger lived and taught in India, Hong Kong, and Lebanon before joining the faculty at FSU. Trapanick said, “He’s great in that role. He’s very personable. He understands the needs of first-year students and he knows how to structure his [Rams 101] class in the appropriate way to help students along.”

History Professor Sarah Mulhall Adelman, co-coordinator of the Rams 101 Program and past recipient of the award, said, “It’s an honor because it’s a recognition from the University of the value of the work that you’re doing.”

Adelman said, “Sandy is a fabulous co-coordinator because he’s incredibly reliable and detail-oriented.”

She added, “He’s able to step back and see the big picture - what needs to be done and get it done effectively.”

Hartwiger said, “We have students now who are coming out of their high school experience where the last year and a half was dominated by COVID, so we’re working on making sure that their transition to Framingham State is successful.”

Trapanick said, “It’s really important that we recognize people who are really working hard for first-year students.”

According to Trapanick, the past recipients of the award review the

Leighah Beausoleil / THE GATEPOST (Left) Alexander Hartwiger and Benjamin Trapanick after the Sept. 6 award ceremony. nominations and make a decision on each other’s mental, emotional, and who it will be awarded to. physical health.”

“It was named for the former Vice Hartwiger’s name has been addPresident of Academic Affairs Robert ed to the Dr. Robert A. Martin OutMartin, who did a lot of work creating standing First-Year Advocate Award a really holistic and supportive envi- plaque located in O’Connor Hall. ronment for first-year students. He’s the one who got Foundations up and running,” said Trapanick.

Hartwiger said in his award speech, “As we start our academic year … I hope we remember to take CONNECT WITH DAN FUENTES care of one another and look out for dfuentes@student.framingham.edu

NEWS

SEPTEMBER 17, 2021 | 5

Athletic Center temporarily closes after students fail to follow mask mandate

By Patrick Brady Editorial Staff Thomas M. Kelley, director of athletics and head football coach, decided to temporarily close the Athletic Center Sept. 3 because many students were not wearing masks during workouts.

In an email addressed to the FSU community, he stated his decision does not affect students participating in fall varsity athletics.

The Athletic Center reopened to students Sept. 13.

Although Kelley didn’t know the exact number, he said a “good majority” of students in the weight room were not wearing masks.

“It wasn’t just on one occasion - it was several,” he said.

Kelley said approximately 80% of students in the basketball gym either weren’t wearing masks or wearing them properly at the start of the academic year.

“The fitness center was the same deal - let’s say 80% of them were maskless,” he said.

“Maybe even more. I’m probably being a little conservative by saying 80%.”

Although Kelley didn’t know the weight room’s capacity, he said there were enough people there to make it an issue.

He said, “Social distancing wasn’t being adhered to by them.”

Once the Athletic Center re-opens, Kelley said he believes his staff will be able to monitor whether students are wearing their masks and “following protocol.”

If these guidelines are met, Kelley said he’ll most likely keep the Athletic Center open.

He said he hopes the students who are wearing masks while working out will encourage maskless students to do the same.

Kelley said he’s responsible for the health and safety of not just student athletes, but the general population as well.

He said, “I’m not trying to be a hard guy or anything, but I think they needed to hear a message and might as well do it early. It’s like herding cats - I go into the gym and let’s say there were 25 people in the gym playing basketball, so I went in there and I addressed it.

“I fix it. I leave. I come back and it’s the same thing,” Kelley added.

“How many times can you do that before you say, ‘OK, they’re not hearing the message.’”

Kelley said the same applies to the fitness center.

“We have student workers trying to do the best they can,” he said. “You ask a student athlete to do something and they ignore you.”

Kelley added, “How many times can you hit yourself on the toe with a hammer before you say, ‘Ow! It

hurts!?’

“If you’re in this building, you better have a mask on because someone’s going to address it,” he said.

Kalie Ryan, a freshman biology major, said she hasn’t been to the Framingham State gym yet, but goes to other gyms off campus.

Even if students are fully vaccinated, Ryan said they should wear a mask going forward.

“They need to have staff strongly enforcing wearing a mask,” Ryan said.

Alec Silva, a junior communication arts major, said he’s frustrated the fitness center was shut down because he was going to start working out again.

He said a staff member, rather than a student, should be monitoring the fitness center.

Students don’t necessarily listen to other students, but if an authority figure were in charge, there would be more adherence to the guidelines, Silva said.

He added guidelines should be posted outside the gym.

“People are going to break the rules eventually,” said Silva. “Shutting the gym isn’t the best way to go through with it.

“We are adults and should act like adults,” he added.

Tim McCarthy, a sophomore hospitality management major, said he’s surprised the staff shut down the fitness center.

“They had to do it because of the COVID-19 mandates, but it is good for student athletes [who still have access to gym] to train before they go to their out-of-town games, so they’re well prepared,” McCarthy said.

Even though McCarthy hasn’t been to the fitness center yet, he said students should be able to use it because it’s an “asset” offered to them.

Alexandra Hebert, a junior psychology major, said she is a member of the dance team.

She said she went to the gym to walk or play basketball between one and three times a week before its closure.

Herbert said there should be a student worker at the gym for a majority of the time it’s open.

Anna LaPolt, a senior psychology major, said the few times she was able to go to the gym, it seemed only “around five” students were wearing masks and the rest were not.

She said it might be helpful if the student workers keep a list of people who are breaking the rules.

Eddy Olu, a senior computer science major, said he went to the gym a few times before its closure.

He said a lot of the students there were wearing masks below their chins.

“It’s like people put in participation effort, but don’t do what they’re

supposed to do,” Olu said.

He said it would be hard to enforce rules because students don’t like to be told what to do.

“I can sympathize with the people who don’t wear masks - it’s so hard to work out and wear this thing at the same time,” Olu added. “If you’re tired of the school’s rules, work out elsewhere.”

Neirmen Eldam, a freshman biology major, said she’s disappointed about the fitness center being shut down, as it was nice to not pay for a membership.

Because she’s a freshman, Eldam said she only used the weight room three or four times before it got closed down.

She said it’s both fair and unfair “to an extent” for athletes to continue to use the room.

“Athletes need to stay in shape, but it shouldn’t be one-sided,” she said.

To prevent another closing, Eldam said staff should ensure everyone has their ID, so they can be identified if they’re not wearing a mask.

Additionally, she said students should use hand sanitizer before and after they use the equipment.

Fernando Climaco, a freshman pre-engineering major, said he saw a mix of people wearing and not wearing masks while working out.

He said a staff member should check in every hour or two to see whether students are following guidelines.

Kelley said there’s almost always a full-time staff member students can go to if they have questions or need help.

He added he heard from faculty and staff about the lack of students wearing masks.

“They’d walk by and they’d see a group of students in the fitness center and they weren’t wearing masks,” Kelley said. “They were a little concerned about what was going on in this building.

“The best way to send the message was to close down for a week,” he added.

Kelley said he’s the “point guy” and it was his decision - with the support of the administration - to shut down the Athletic Center.

“I didn’t close this willy-nilly just because I felt like it,” Kelley added.

Kelley said he enjoys the Athletic Center being busy and occupied.

He added he doesn’t think enforcing the fitness center’s guidelines is too much responsibility for a student.

If students don’t want to wear a mask, he said they could work out outside, find a basketball court, or go run on the track.

Kelley said varsity athletes are being supervised in the weight room, either by a strength and conditioning professional or a coach.

“It’s a population that we have

structured and we can control,” Kelley said.

He added, “With the general population, we don’t have that flexibility or luxury.”

Kelley said it would be “pretty hard” to structure students’ times in the weight room the same way varsity athletes’ times are structured.

If any of the students who weren’t wearing masks were from the varsity team, he said they’d be asked to leave just like anyone else.

“They’re just a regular student when it comes to this stuff,” he said.

Once the Athletic Center opens back up, Kelley said student workers and his staff are going to supervise it as much as they can.

“If someone doesn’t follow the rules, they’ll be asked to leave,” he said. “We’ll probably check their names and I don’t know if we’re going to say, ‘OK, you’re gone for a week.’”

Kelley said checking students’ names becomes a “slippery slope” as the building becomes busy at night.

When the fitness center and gym opened up last spring, Kelley said he thought the staff did a “pretty good job” regulating students.

“This spring, our general population wasn’t huge and it was by appointment only, so the traffic in this building wasn’t great,” he said.

“When we came back this fall, I think returning students and new students … thought that they could come over here and masks weren’t going to be an issue.”

Once the Athletic Center opens back up, Kelley said student workers and whoever’s supervising the weight room will enforce mask mandates going forward.

“During the day, there’s a lot of us here, and at night, there will be a full-time supervisor here,” he said.

“They’ll be making the rounds and making sure that everybody’s following protocol.”

Kelley said the last thing student athletes need is to have an outbreak.

“There’s people that weren’t taking it [COVID-19 protocols] seriously, and the last thing I want is for this place to have an outbreak and close again,” he added.

The last year and a half has been the most “miserable” of his career because he doesn’t like the sight of an empty Athletic Center, he said. He wants to get back to some sense of normalcy.

Kelley said living on campus and participating in campus life is what makes the student experience enjoyable.

“We want it to be as close to normal as possible,” he said. “Once again, wear a mask - it’s that simple.”

CONNECT WITH PATRICK BRADY pbrady@student.framingham.edu

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6 | SEPTEMBER 17, 2021

NEWS

Vice President Cabello leaves FSU Search for replacement to begin later in fall

By Donald Halsing Editor-in-Chief Constanza “Connie” Cabello, FSU’s first vice president of diversity, inclusion, and community engagement (DICE), departed the University for a new role at State Street Corporation, according to an email from President F. Javier Cevallos July 30.

Her responsibilities as vice president have temporarily been distributed among other individuals at the University, according to Cevallos.

Cabello served in her role as vice president for two years. Before Academic Year (AY) 2019-20, Henry Whittemore Library Dean Millie González served in a similar role as chief officer of diversity, inclusion, and community engagement.

At State Street, Cabello has joined the global inclusion, diversity, and equity team as vice president of equity programs, according to the July 30 email.

Biology Professor Cara Pina and elected student Gabriela Mendez-Acevedo have been appointed co-chairs of the Council on Diversity and Inclusion (CDI) until an election is held to determine AY 2021-22 cochairs.

David Baldwin, associate dean of students, and Kim Dexter, interim assistant vice president of human resources and equal opportunity, are now co-chairing the Bias Education Response Team (BERT) which reports to the Dean of Students Office.

Dexter is also chairing the Institutional Inclusive Excellence Committee.

Dean of Enrollment Management Jeremy Spencer is chairing the Hispanic Serving Institute Task Force temporarily.

Cevallos said the search for a new vice president of DICE will begin later this fall because candidates for the next University president should have a voice in the search.

“It’s very important for the vice presidents to work with the president,” he said. “I don’t want to appoint somebody that the next president may not agree with. So, I want to involve that person in the search process.”

He said hopefully the position will be filled early in the spring semester.

Cevallos added, “I am really sad to see her go because she was doing such a wonderful job for the institution. She brought so many ideas and so much energy to the position. She’s going to be hard to replace.”

He said he’s also happy for Cabello because she will have the opportunity to impact diversity and inclusion at a gigantic corporation on a global scale. “I think Connie is certainly a wonderful person, and she will have a brilliant career.”

Cevallos said he expects FSU’s DICE division will continue to ex-

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pand and grow over the next few years.

He added, “In an ideal world, we wouldn’t need to have a program for diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism because we wouldn’t have those issues. But we do have them.

So we have to continue to make progress and to move forward.”

Mirari Elcoro, a psychology professor, said the opportunity Cabello accepted “is going to be good for her,” and during her short time as vice president, she “accomplished quite a bit.

“I felt like her leadership style f

about the University’s commitment to anti-racism in June 2020. The statement was co-written by Cabello, along with former Assistant Director of the Center for Excellence in Learning, Teaching, Scholarship and Service Lina Rincón, who also departed the University during the summer.

He said the statement “changed a lot of our practices” and had a “real effect” on the FSU community.

Vargas da Costa also said following the murder of George Floyd in May 2020, processing spaces arranged by DICE “were very important to bring us together.”

Courtesy of Framingham State Constanza Cabello, former vice president for diversity, inclusion, and community engagment. cilitated communication across sections of the University that may be pretty fragmented,” she said. “Her work in educating and establishing conversations across higher administration, faculty, and staff was very important.”

She added Cabello helped her and Psychology PProfessor Jen Lin establish a diversity committee for the department of psychology and philosophy. Cabello also shared departmental guides each semester containing resources and activities to develop conversations about diversity.

Elcoro said she “felt at ease” because she could reach out to a Latina in a position of leadership for advice and help. She trusted Cabello, and felt comfortable meeting with her to discuss “navigating microaggressions” and “resistance in conversations about diversity and inclusion that involve changing the curriculum.”

Everton Vargas da Costa, a Spanish and Portuguese professor, said he is happy about Cabello’s opportunity to join the team at State Street.

He said it was “very important” when Cevallos issued a statement

He said Cabello visited the Spanish Language Table during University events, sharing her own experience and speaking Spanish with the students.

Vargas da Costa said he is worried about the future of the discussion on diversity and inclusion at FSU because two diversity and inclusion leadership positions are unfilled.

“Now I’m concerned, because how can we continue that work?”

Susan Dargan, dean of education and social & behavioral sciences, said she is happy about Cabello’s opportunity to join the team at State Street, but is “sad to see her go because I didn’t want us to lose momentum.

“We can’t lose ground,” she added.

“For all of our students, it’s important that they understand equity, diversity, and social justice.”

Dargan said Cabello steered every department onto a path to intentionally reflect on “policies and practices that may have unintended, negative, disproportionate impacts on our students of color.”

She said addressing anti-racism initiatives is a “very important” part of her job. “It’s hard to move things

forward when you don’t have leadership, and Connie provided the leadership.”

Dargan said she is worried because under Cabello’s leadership, diversity and inclusion work was “centralized.” Without a vice president, this work “feels somewhat decentralized.

“I am hoping that we get some great candidates from the search that’s happening,” she added.

Marc Cote, dean of arts and humanities, said Cabello’s accomplishments during her relatively short time at FSU were “remarkable.”

He said Cabello was the leading force in establishing FSU’s commitment to anti-racism initiatives as a “method of operation, where units across the University began to elevate the consideration of racial equity in recruitment, retention, hiring, curriculum, and policy.

“Her efforts to infuse diversity and inclusion deeply into our strategic planning leave a legacy of initiatives that will continue past her departure,” Cote added. “Her impact was felt from faculty and staff, to students, and even as high as the Board of Trustees.”

Cabello said diversity and inclusion work is “core to [her] existence” because she identifies as an immigrant, first-generation college graduate, and a woman of color. “That’s what I live and breathe on a daily basis, which is why I really do feel like my life’s mission is to advance diversity and inclusion.”

She said her goal was to leave FSU better than she found it. While compiling the University’s 2020-21 Divisional Anti-Racism Efforts Report, she was “really proud that the entire University came together to do that.”

Cabello said working through the University’s current strategic plan allowed diversity and inclusion work to become institutionalized across every department. “In our strategic plan, under goal four, we added elements of anti-racism, training, education, and commitment, which really helped us focus more on our efforts.”

As one of her final projects, DICE hosted a Racial Equity Policy Review Institute Aug. 3 and 4.

“We had gotten about $60,000 for this review, and used a lot of money to hire an external team to lead us through that review,” she said. The institute included coaching sessions for department leaders and policy assessment through the lens of looking at “race in our policies and the impacts on students.”

Reflecting back on her time at FSU, Cabello said one of her first objectives as vice president of DICE was to refine the BERT protocols, ensuring “we were really transparent with what we were doing around bias incidents, who was on the team, and how we responded.”

See CABELLO’S DEPARTURE page 7

NEWS

SEPTEMBER 17, 2021 | 7

May Hara appointed new CELTSS director

By Haley Hadge Asst. News Editor May Hara, professor of education and social and behavioral sciences, was appointed the new director of the Center for Excellence in Learning, Teaching, Scholarship and Service (CELTSS) for this academic year.

Hara was appointed by Ellen Zimmerman, provost and vice president for academic affairs.

Lina Rincón, professor of education and social and behavioral sciences, was scheduled to assume the role this fall, but she has since accepted a new position as the director of faculty diversity and inclusion at Sacramento State University.

Rincón said, “Leaving Framingham was one of the hardest decisions of my life.”

This job opportunity arrived from collegiate connections and a shared passion to “change the picture of higher education” by developing diversity, inclusion, and equity education programs for faculty, she said.

She added the support and encouragement she received throughout her six years at the University led her to realize her own potential and actualize her long-term goal to work in higher education administration.

Though CELTSS has transitioned in leadership, the continuity of its services will remain, said Rincón.

Hara said, “There’s a learning curve every time you come into a new position, but I feel lucky to have benefited from my past experience.”

Rincón said she worked closely

with Lissa Bollettino, CELTSS assistant director, to map out their goals for the program. They identified the importance to “continue to have a team as strong as us,” she said.

She added she is “more than confident” in this new team’s leadership.

“They are going to be stellar,” said Rincón.

In spring 2020, she and Hara worked together as interim director and interim assistant director, respectively, she said.

“We were brainstorming on how to create spaces for faculty to learn about inclusivity” as well as “to mentor and support faculty,” Rincón said.

Bollettino said Hara is “extremely organized, extremely competent, and has a vision that will bring CELTSS into the future.

“She came on board late, but she came on board running,” she added.

Zimmerman said CELTSS “helps faculty stay current with up-to-date teaching strategies and best practices.”

She added CELTSS provides funding for faculty research, workshops, and the current best practices.

According to Zimmerman, funding for CELTSS is provided by Academic Affairs and the University. However, faculty make all the decisions.

“CELTSS does a very good job of identifying the needs for professional development,” she said.

She added the CELTSS steering committee has “broad representation” from every academic department on campus.

Bollettino said she and Hara have had multiple conversations on their

“strategic priorities” as a team and have experience collaborating.

Hara said they have “always worked well together.”

They co-facilitated the Teaching Pairs Program in which faculty can observe and learn from each other’s practices, according to Bollettino.

She added, “Dr. Hara brought a new theoretical framework to that program” in which faculty meet ahead of time to share their goals, take notes throughout each other’s lessons, and rejoin to share their observations, advise, and ask questions.

The combination of Hara’s experience in this work and the team assembled is a recipe for success, she said.

“A real perk of just being at Framingham State is that people are really collegial and always willing to help,” said Hara. “It has been a collaborative effort.”

The CELTSS team wants to continue to increase their understanding of anti-racist work and equity within the Framingham State community and beyond, she said.

Furthermore, Hara said the team wants to “continue to build faculty, staff, and student community, making sure that we’re thinking about everybody’s health and well-being and how that interplays with teaching and learning on our campus.”

She added they aim to be “flexible” and adaptable in their training to reach this goal. This will be accomplished through a hybrid approach to their training and outreach events - offering Zoom and in-person accessibility.

Biology Professor Amy Knapp, director of mentoring, said they are “prepared to roll with the punches.”

She explained the option of virtual training has been beneficial outside the context of COVID-19. Seminars can be recorded for people who could not attend, therefore increasing their accessibility.

Knapp added, “Faculty really need mentoring throughout their careers.”

Hara said CELTSS leaders want to “engage more deeply with students” so faculty and students have an environment in which they can “come together around research endeavors.”

According to Hara, they have sent out a “needs assessment survey to all the faculty and staff” asking a range of questions.

Two questions they asked were, “What sorts of professional development initiatives would be most useful to you right now?” and “What are you hoping that CELTSS can offer you to help you flourish as a scholar/ professor/staff member?” she said.

This data informs the decisions CELTSS leadership makes and tunes them into what is happening in people’s lives, said Hara.

She added, “CELTSS has long been a linchpin of faculty, staff, and professional development” and the CELTSS team is “committed to continuing that legacy in a way that’s responsive to the needs of the moment.”

CONNECT WITH HALEY HADGE hhadge@student.framingham.edu

Cabello’s departure continued from page 6

Cabello said the work she was most proud of was how the University responded following the murder of George Floyd. “A lot of places will just say things and not do anything,” she said. “It was just really rewarding to say we believe Black Lives Matter and to put words to those actions.”

She also said she is proud of the University’s recommitment to becoming an anti-racist institution as well as “making sure that equity was at the center of our entire COVID-19 response.”

Cabello said she was drawn to FSU because working “with the communities, students, and families that public education serves was really important.” She added access to education has the power to transform the lives of first-generation students and immigrant families.

She hopes the work of DICE continues to be “part of everything that happens” at FSU. “I hope that the staff continues to grow so that they can do more partnership work.”

When asked about what projects she would like to see her successor continue, Cabello said “taking a critical look at our policies and how they impact students” is half the battle.

She also asked, “How do we sup-

port folks who are experiencing racial trauma?” She noted with many people coming back to campus after experiencing isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is possible to “do some healing work together.”

Cabello said she felt “cheated” by the pandemic. “I wish that there was more opportunity to bring students into conversations, to do more with students in person.”

However, she said one of the greatest indications of a person’s success is that their work continues even after they leave an organization. In regard to her work, she said, “I’m positive that that will happen.”

After joining the Global Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Team at State Street, Cabello said her work in programming, training, and policy review have proven to be helpful in her new role.

“I’m taking all the lessons learned with me and wishing the FSU community continued success and momentum,” she added. “I am so thankful for the opportunity I had at FSU to do the work with colleagues and students who are deeply committed.”

CONNECT WITH DONALD HALSING dhalsing@student.framingham.edu

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

NEWS

8 | SEPTEMBER 17, 2021

Vaccinations Continued from page 1 vaccinated and in the process of getting fully vaccinated, according to Meg Nowak Borrego, dean of students.

Everyone who is on campus is required to be in compliance as well as engage in masking while indoors, according to Nowak Borrego. The

partment of Public Health and they had conducted a test that showed the test was 90% accurate in detecting the COVID-19 delta variant.

She explained it is because “there’s a lot more virus [to detect], so it’s easier to pick up.”

Those experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 should call the Health

“We want to make sure they [students] engage in the vaccination process because we as an institution believe it’s important.”

-Meg Nowak Borrego, Dean of Students requirement for masking was a University decision as the City of Framingham and state of Massachusetts do not currently have any mask mandates in place.

As a result of a lack in mask compliance, the Athletic Center closed to non-athletes from Sept. 3 to Sept. 13 to enforce the importance of masking, according to a Sept. 3 email from Tom Kelley, athletics director and head football coach.

Students were warned of the consequences of improper mask wearing in a Sept. 13 email from President F. Javier Cevallos, “If we continue to observe widespread mask violations, the University may elect to discontinue or modify a program or service in order to prevent potential exposure or spread of the COVID-19 virus.

This includes essential services such as dining and housing.”

There is no campus wide testing this semester because it is no longer required by the state, according to Nowak Borrego. Those not in compliance, exempt, or partially vaccinated must test weekly.

However, Hofrenning said the University is considering random sample testing of students.

Nowak Borrego said, “A lot of what we’re doing across campus this year versus last year is what was required by the CDC - the state - and last year the state dictated to us who we needed to test, when we needed to test, and how we needed to test. We don’t have that same mandate this year.”

Testing is now conducted on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the Athletic Center, according to Hofrenning. The University is continuing to use the Broad Institute for testing.

Two different types of tests are used by the Health Center - the usual polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test as well as BinaxNow, which is a rapid test that provides immediate results, said Hofrenning.

The University was hesitant to use a rapid test in the past out of fear of inaccuracy, but Hofrenning said she spoke with the Massachusetts De-

@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

Center to set up a test in Foster Hall, she added.

Those who test positive for COVID-19 will be placed in isolation either off campus or on campus, Hofrenning said.

Vaccinated students who are exposed to COVID-19 will not be required to quarantine unless they receive a positive test, she said. Vac-

pancy over the past year, with currently approximately 1,300 students compared to the 726 students last fall.

Residents on campus are 100% in compliance with the vaccine mandate, according to Cochran.

Another residence hall change is the permittance of vaccinated guests as long as they have proof of vaccination, he said.

According to Hofrenning, to target the commuter students, the University offered two vaccination clinics providing the flu vaccine as well as the Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines on Sept.

2 and Sept. 8.

Hofrenning said the first day was “disappointing” with less than 50 people attending.

Nowak Borrego said some students may have received their vaccination or exemptions, but have just not uploaded it to the Medicat system yet.

She added before add/drop ended Sept. 10, the University was still trying to sort out who was enrolled before they could sort out who still needs to provide their vaccination status.

The data provided from the dashboard represents the number of students in compliance subsequent to the add/drop period.

“At this time, we are working to identify students who are not in

ing has been decided yet, un-enrollment of students who are not in compliance remains an option.

“We are not a private institution we’re a public institution,” she added.

“There are just different things we’re allowed to do and not to do. We’re also part of a system - the university system in Massachusetts - so a lot of our decisions have to be similar, and so that’s still getting sorted out.”

She said, “We want to make sure they [students] engage in the vaccination process because we as an institution believe it’s important.”

According to Sara Gallegos, director of Student Involvement and Leadership Development, at this time, social distancing is not required, but it is recommended.

This means there are currently no capacity limits for organization meetings except for those designated for fire safety, she said.

Organizations are permitted to hold in-person meetings, but are required to keep attendance through the new Ramlink app for contact tracing, she added.

As of Sept. 7, there were 33 fully active organizations, Gallegos said.

According to Aretha Philips, director of Dining Services, there are currently no COVID-19 restrictions in terms of dining, except for the required masks while not seated and eating.

Courtesy of Framingham State cinated students are required to test within three to five days of exposure.

On-campus isolation and quarantining is now located in a wing of West Hall, according to Glenn Cochran, associate dean of students and student life. There is room for 20 to 30 students.

Last year, Linsley Hall had been the main on-campus location, but it was changed to accommodate full use of residence halls, Cochran said.

The residence halls have seen an approximate 80% increase in occu-

compliance,” Nowak Borrego said in an email. “They are being reached out to in a variety of ways - blanket sanctions have not been determined at this time.”

In his Sept. 13 email, Cevallos said those not in compliance “risk removal from campus.”

In an interview, Cevallos said, “I just would encourage anybody who has not been vaccinated yet to do that because it does make a difference.”

Nowak Borrego said though noth-

This means there is no longer a limit to the number of people at a table, and no limit in time spent at the Dining Commons, she said.

Philips added she believes the students did a “phenomenal job” keeping the number of positive cases down.

“Kudos to you,” she said.

CONNECT WITH LEIGHAH BEAUSOLEIL lbeausoleil@student.framingham.edu

OP/ED

OP/ED

THE GATEPOST EDITORIAL

We can’t forget if we can’t process

Last Saturday marked 20 years since Sept.

11, 2001 - a day that changed the world forever.

Gen Z students who populate college campuses in 2021, for the most part, hadn’t even been born at the time of the attacks on the United States. Even those of us who were alive were too young to remember anything from that day.

Our memory of 9/11 is not of one singular day, but rather, the aftermath spanning years and years.

The drastic but necessary increased security measures across the country.

The disgusting Islamophobia against Muslims and the heightened racism that followed the attacks.

The unwavering fear of the constant unknown.

We are constantly told to “never forget,” but how can we forget something we never knew?

Though we do not have first-hand trauma from the events that occurred on 9/11, we suffer from their lasting effects.

This generation is still processing the inherited grief of 9/11.

We are trying to fathom that infamous day by comparing it to traumatic events in our own memory.

We are still processing and still rebuilding.

We remember the Sandy Hook Shooting.

We remember the Boston Marathon Bombing.

We remember the Parkland Shooting.

We have been forced to become hypervigilant and fearful - fearful of large crowds, of going to sporting events, of traveling, even of going to school.

That anxiety has constantly been fueled by the “War on Terror” - which former President George W. Bush announced in the days following 9/11.

Those battles have dragged on throughout our entire lives, playing out in foreign theatres of war, and we don’t even know why they’re being fought anymore.

The only time our generation can remember when the U.S. was not actively fighting a war has been the past three weeks.

Even though President Joe Biden withdrew troops from Afghanistan at the end of last month, that doesn’t mean the “War on Terror”

has ended.

It remains omnipresent in our memories - unerasable and permanently etched in our minds. We cannot perceive a world without fighting and terrorism.

The “War on Terror” was America’s longest war. Thousands of American service members have been killed in the war since it began in 2001.

Most recently, thirteen soldiers were killed in an attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, Aug. 26.

Five of these soldiers were only 20 years old.

These young soldiers were fighting a war that started before they were born. Their untimely deaths were unfair because they made the ultimate sacrifice defending a notion they were told was important - not one contrived from their own beliefs.

Without context, the war is meaningless to us.

Neither 9/11 nor the “War on Terror” are events our generation can process.

Our generation is frustrated because we don’t share the horrible, awful, painful memories of our elders that haunt them on a level deeper than we can imagine.

We are frustrated with the complexity of our grief and the fear that remains post-war.

Processing our grief and trauma will grant us peace within ourselves and with others but is that guaranteed?

We want peace of mind and freedom from fear. We want to fully grasp what happened on 9/11 so we can mentally rationalize the existence of the “War on Terror.”

But we can’t.

We can’t find out why because there are no answers in the first place. Nobody can answer all the questions about 9/11. So much will remain a mystery, even to those who saw the hijacked planes disintegrate in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania.

Therefore, we will continue our attempts at processing the terrifying events taking place throughout the country.

We cannot forget any of these tragedies if we can’t process them and we will continue living on in fear of what may happen next.

Without a way to process, our grief will always haunt us - ghosts of each passing tragedy.

SEPTEMER 17, 2021 | 9

THE GATEPOST EDITORIAL REPRINTED FROM SEPT. 14, 2001

We will persevere

We at The Gatepost are deeply saddened by the events that occurred on Tuesday. Human life is precious and should never be taken in such a manner.

The terrorists’ actions have sent a shock wave through people all across America.

Americans should mourn the loss of those who died and suffered in New York, Washington D.C. and Pennsylvania.

Within the last several decades, the United States has invaded South and Central America to spread democracy. The US fought in Vietnam and in Korea to stop the spread of communism.

Therefore, it comes as no surprise that there are people in other countries who hate Americans and perceive most Americans in a false manner.

At our best, Americans stands for freedom, democracy, and civil liberties.

Because of this, we at The Gatepost are concerned about reports of people lashing out at certain racial and ethnic groups.

This is a time for Americans to come together to support each other and the loved ones of the victims.

In this issue of The Gatepost we have talked with FSC administrators, faculty, and students about Tuesday’s tragedy.

We hope you will draw strength from reading about what people on this campus have done to have those affected directly and indirectly by this event.

There is no doubt that the lives of Americans were changed forever on Tuesday. Our sense of security has been shattered and for a day, at least, it seemed that life stopped.

As time goes on, Americans will return to their daily lives, but nothing will ever quite be the same.

Perhaps, after this tragedy, Americans will pay closer attention to foreign affairs.

The government has already implemented more intense security measures, and there are probably more on the way.

Now is a time to focus on rebuilding both the nation and our own lives. Americans are strong and we will persevere.

[Editor’s Note: This editorial is published without modification from its original publication on Sept. 14, 2001.]

Courtesy of the City of Framingham 9/11 Memorial at Cushing Park in Framingham, Massachusetts.

Have an opinion?

Feel free to email it to: gatepost@framingham.edu Opinions should be about 500 words.

Anyone can submit.

We look forward to hearing from you!

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

OP/ED

10 | SEPTEMBER 17, 2021

Keep your filthy paws off my reproductive rights

By McKenzie Ward Opinions Editor On May 19th, 2021, the Texas Legislature passed Texas Senate Bill 8, the most restrictive and unconstitutional law regarding abortion in the country.

On Sept. 1, it went into effect - infringing on the rights of every woman living in Texas.

Senate Bill 8 prohibits an abortion occurring as soon as any cardiac activity is detectable, according to NPR. This includes pregnancies that are products of incest or rape.

Usually, cardiac activity is detectable at around six weeks - which is when many women find out that they are pregnant or notice they have missed a period.

Therefore, the bill is a complete ban on abortions in Texas.

Arguably, Texas has taken overturning Roe v. Wade into their own hands.

The bill also allows private citizens to sue abortion providers and anyone else who may provide someone support in seeking an abortion, including assisting someone financially or providing transportation to their appointment, according to NPR. Those who win these lawsuits could be awarded up to $10,000 under this law, which encourages bounty hunting.

According to The Los Angeles Times, because this law relies on private civil lawsuits, any person who is facing the lawsuit cannot bring the state or any state officials to court to strike down the lawsuit because technically, it is not the Texas government enforcing the law.

Instead, it’s our neighbors.

Our “friends.”

Our family members.

Essentially, it is anyone who is greedy enough and believes that a woman’s right to her body and reproductive system is not as important as their own personal beliefs, political agenda, or gaining $10,000.

What those who support such restrictive and unconstitutional abortion bans fail to realize is that by passing these laws, they are not truly banning abortions.

Instead, they are just banning safe abortions.

Women will be forced to swallow gunpowder, throw themselves down a flight of stairs, beat their stomachs with a meat tenderizer, and attempt the infamous hanger method to end pregnancy.

All of these unsafe abortion methods were used prior to Roe v Wade and we will see them be used again if Congress does not act swiftly to overturn

this law.

During the 1950s and 60s, just years prior to the Roe v Wade decision, the estimated number of illegal abortions in the United States ranged from 200,000 to 1.2 million each year, according to the Guttmacher Institute.

The Institute also reported that in 1965, illegal abortions accounted for 17% of deaths related to pregnancy and childbirth.

By making it illegal for women to safely terminate pregnancies, the Texas government is only risking the unnecessary deaths of women.

More women will die at the hands of those who call themselves “pro-life.”

How can someone call themselves pro-life when because of this law, women will be forced to risk their lives in order to terminate a pregnancy?

When will those who are “pro-life” for fetuses be pro-life for the sake of girls and women?

In 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court set the precedent that the United States’ Constitution protects a women’s liberty to choose to have an abortion without excessive government restriction.

However, it seems as if Texas has decided to disrespect the Supreme Court and go against the precedent that our country’s highest court set 48 years ago.

Congress needs to intervene and pass federal reproductive laws that will protect the rights of every woman in the United States.

Women should not have to wake up every morning in fear of their rights being stripped by the government.

Campus Conversations What is the most interesting thing you did this summer?

By Jasmine Castillo, Staff Writer

“I was a camp counselor in Medway. ...

It was a camp in my home town.”

-Kay Champagne, Freshman

“I worked at Hartford Golf Club in Connecticut, which was a summer camp.

I was a camp counselor and that was definitely the most interesting thing that I did because it’s just so much fun and I worked with kids every day and I loved it.”

-Anna Szymanski, Junior

“I would say the most interesting thing I did over the summer was go to New York and Florida. In Florida, the Tampa Bay area and in New York, upstate New York.”

-Ryan Gryglewicz, Sophomore

“Go to Germany to see my sister. She’s in the Army and she just had a kid, so we went to go see her.”

“Probably practice for soccer here [FSU].”

-Rodane Gordon, Freshman

“Most interesting thing I did over the summer was go to Las Vegas. I met a lot of new, nice people.”

-Abigail Clark, Sophomore

@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

-Jalen Bruce, Junior

SPORTS

SPORTS

SEPTEMBER 17, 2021 | 11

Rams’ Field Hockey FSU Women’s Soccer celebrates first earns second win of the season win over Anna Maria College

By Leighah Beausoleil Associate Editor

By Danielle Achin Sports Editor Framingham State’s women’s soccer team took to their home field on Tuesday where they claimed their first victory of the season against Anna Maria; 3-1.

Coming back from the long break due to the restrictions caused by COVID-19, the team started their season off to a rough start, having an overall record of 0-3-1.

Despite their frustration, this kept the women fired up, never slowing down on the field.

“We definitely struggled, but we came in today and we killed it,” junior Abbie Kurtzer said. “We have a young team and I couldn’t be prouder of the way we came out today. The energy was great.”

The Rams were the first on the board when Captain Camryn O’Leary, junior, scored in the 23rd minute of the game leading them 1-0.

Anna Maria quickly tied the score right before half leaving both teams amped to get back on the turf.

“I play off of my team. If the energy is up and going, then that’s how my energy kicks off,” Kurtzer said.

The Rams came back in the second half, scoring two back-to-back goals in the 71st and 73rd minutes of the game.

Kurtzer added, “Today we completely came together. The energy was fantastic, even when they tied it up. We just kept it up and were able to get those other two goals.”

O’Leary broke the tie, chipping the ball across the defenders with a pass from freshman Calen Frongillo past the keeper for the 2-1 lead, scoring her second goal of the game.

Following this, the Rams scored again after Frongillo completed an assist by freshman Megan Ethler for the final goal of the game.

Moving forward, the women say they plan to keep the winning streak going and technique is going to be the main focus for future practices, Kurtzer said.

Graduate and Captain Jasmine Lees said she already has her eyes set on the MASCAC tournament games and making it to the championship “I think we can go really far this year, we have a really talented team.

“It was weird coming back after pretty much two years of not playing, but now that I’m getting my touches back and remembering how to move with the game and not just with practice - it’s really exciting to get back on the field,” Lees said.

FSU’s Field Hockey team finds themselves 2-1 this season after their 7-0 win against Regis College Sept. 15.

The team had a strong start with junior Isabella Kondi scoring the first goal within two minutes of the start of the first quarter with an assist from sophomore Angelina Serra.

Sophomore Kaitlin Loughlin proceeded to score another two goals in the quarter for the Rams first at 10:37 followed by the second at 14:48 - both were assisted by junior Corlene Guenard.

The beginning of the second quarter saw the Rams’ first loss of control, but the team quickly gained it back as Serra scored their fourth goal of the game with assistance from Kondi at 16:41.

Five minutes following halftime, the Rams continued their winning streak with a goal scored by sophomore Abigail Clark with an assist from Guenard.

After three goal assists, Guenard scored herself in the fourth quarter at 48:03, with an assist from Clark.

The seventh and last goal of the game was gained by senior Jordyn O’Boyle with an assist from junior Bridgette Hasbrouck.

Guenard said she was able to play competitively her freshman year of college and that it feels “so good” to be back playing games again.

“I think the team has come back stronger,” she said.

She added how “amazing” it felt to be able to score a goal and make a couple of assists, crediting it to the “team’s connection.”

“I think we did pretty good,” Guenard said. “We definitely have to work on covering in the circle for the next game because the next team’s very offensive minded.”

Head Coach Allie Lucenta said it’s “so nice” to be able to play games again after last season.

“It was definitely tough going through a whole school year with only practicing and it was very nice to now get into regular games,” Lucenta said.

With last year’s freshmen unable to compete and this year’s new freshmen, half of the women on the team are new to competing on the college level, she said.

Lucenta added, it’s “great for them to be able to actually experience it and it kind of makes it like a fully new team because half of the girls are new.”

However, Lucenta said this makes them “super motivated and super hard working to be able to be successful this season,” Lucenta said.

She said the day’s game was “awesome” with lots of offensive playing.

“We had every player contribute and get on the field tonight, so that was great and there were girls that had never even scored before,” Lucenta added.

She said it was a “good start” to the season, and “hopefully we keep going.”

Danielle Achin/THE GATEPOST Leighah Beausoleil/THE GATEPOST Junior Abbie Kurtzer against Regis College player 12 at the game Sept. 14.

FSU’s Field Hockey team celebrates goal at game Sept. 15.

FRAMINGHAM STATE ANNA MARIA

3 1

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FRAMINGHAM STATE REGIS

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SPORTS

Welcome Back Teams!

Football game on Sept. 4.

Leighah Beausoleil /THE GATEPOST

L E T S Women’s Soccer game on Sept. 14.

G O

Danielle Achin /THE GATEPOST

R A M S !

Field Hockey game on Sept. 15.

Leighah Beausoleil /THE GATEPOST Spread by Leighah Beausoleil /THE GATEPOST

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ARTS & FEATURES

SEPTEMBER 17, 2021 | 13

ARTS & FEATURES

‘En Serio’

Alexis Rivera discusses mental health and systemic challenges facing young men and women of color

By Branden LaCroix Staff Writer Alexis Rivera has lived his whole life in Framingham serving his community, a trait that was planted in him through his family.

His mother used to work for SMOC - the South Middlesex Opportunity Council - was a housing case manager and family partner, and now works for the Key Program in Framingham as an executive accountant. His father has “always been in the dry-cleaning business,” he explained, and also owns a food truck that sells pinchos - “best in the city! - right outside the hood.”

Alexis Rivera is a therapist at Advocates, a non-profit that focuses on mental health, and is the director of the Intercultural Family Support Center. His center focuses on helping Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking communities throughout Framingham.

The center also works to set up various events open to all ages of the community, including art classes, yoga and meditation classes, bodyweight strength classes, as well as “respite nights” for the caregivers of people with autism and mental disabilities, all of which are offered to the community for free.

The center is also an overall resource center that provides food, toiletries, and clothing to those in need, as well as referrals to mental health counseling.

The purpose of the panel was to discuss and raise awareness of mental health wellness in communities of color, and the cultural and systemic obstacles that hinder young men from fostering healthy emotional well-being.

“Mental health is non-existent - it’s always swept under the rug - for Latino communities,” he said.

Part of Rivera’s mission as a therapist is to tackle the idea of masculinity in young people of color.

In college, ethnic and gender studies was where Rivera’s attention was the most. “I think I learned more about myself in that program than I learned about everything else in that class,” he said.

“I learned more about what it means to be a Puerto Rican man,” he said.

It was his capstone course, “Latino (Mis)Understood,” where Rivera was first challenged on his views on masculinity.

Rivera recalled the first time he met his professor, a gay Puerto Rican man,

who he said “was the first man that looked at me and was like, ‘what makes you think that I want you?” to which Rivera responded by saying “the same thing all young men say: ‘I don’t have a problem with gay men, just don’t come on to me.”

It was at that moment that Rivera

let it go,” he said.

He then brought the discussion back to young men of color and their relationship to dealing with mental health.

“When I hear somebody telling me that a young Black man or a young Latino man has anger issues, my ini-

“There needs to be a place for you to let it go.”

- Alexis Rivera, Therapist at Advocates was directly called out by his professor, and he began to understand more about himself and the culture of masculinity around him.

Rivera remembers how his seminar would last long into the night “just having these deep conversations on masculinity. How is it that Puerto Rican men came to be Puerto Rican men?

How is it that ‘machismo’ is something that is so influenced in our society?”

“We do a lot of policing,” he explained. “We do a lot of putting people into boxes the second that there’s an emotion.

tial instinct is depression,” he said. “I don’t see that person as having anger issues. It’s more so the fact that that child doesn’t have a safe outlet to let that go.”

Rivera went further in depth into his method of therapy.

“I’m very biased in the sense that I will work with kids more than I would work with adults,” he said. “Adults are very stuck and firm in their ways - kids I can still work with them and get into a place of understanding.”

Rivera explained, “I don’t give them direct advice. It’s more of a conversa-

“Mental health is non-existent - it’s always swept under the rug - for Latino communities.”

- Alexis Rivera, Therapist at Advocates “There’s not much being done to foster this emotional awareness,” he said.

Rivera referenced the book “Man Enough” by actor Justin Boldoni, who equates “machismo” to a suit of armor.

“That suit of armor is us policing ourselves back into this male box.

“By becoming more emotionally aware, by having these conversations, we take them off,” he said.

Speaking to the men in the room, Rivera said, “I’m sure that you hold on to a lot of things. I’m sure you hold on to your emotions, or shouldn’t question yourself or double guess whether or not you should say something to your significant other.

“There needs to be a place for you to

tion that I have with them because I feel that young men and women have enough people talking to them and at them that don’t take the time to understand what’s going on.”

Part of Rivera’s approach to therapy is the “VCR” method, a model that was created by Dr. Kenneth Hardy, a couples therapist at Drexel University in Philadelphia.

Rivera explained VCR stands for “validate, challenge, and request,” which he employs because “oftentimes when we get into conversations with people, you see that defensiveness that people may have, and that apprehension to talk a little bit more because that person doesn’t feel validated - that person doesn’t feel heard.”

Rivera made a point to explain that “‘validation’ does not mean ‘agreement’.”

He said VCR isn’t about changing someone’s mind “right then and there,” but “it’s to make that other person feel that they’re being heard, while also planting that seed.”

Rivera was also highly critical of the US education system, and how it is an impediment to the well-being of young men and women of color. He particularly focused on the No Child Left Behind program enacted by the Bush administration in 2001.

“The reality of that bill was it should have been called ‘Child Left Behind’,” he said, explaining that the intention behind the bill - taking resources from schools that underperformed on standardized testing and transferring those resources to better performing schools - was highly damaging to schools that were predominantly attended by Black and Latino children.

Rivera referenced the book “Pedagogy of Freedom” by Brazilian philosopher Paulo Freire, who wrote about “teaching with love,” as well as what he called the “banking method of education.”

“Teachers deposit information into your head that you’re going to regurgitate onto a test,” Rivera explained.

“The banking method of education is only teaching you to test - It’s not teaching you to love what you’re doing.”

Rivera explained that, while this approach may work for some kids, it does not work for people like him.

Part of the services Rivera provides is to make sure kids who are on IEPs Individual Education Plans, a program developed for students with special needs - are having their basic needs met “to the fullest,” as well as to “make sure that whatever services they may need, are also added on to it, because these are the services they’re entitled to,” he said.

Rivera also touched on the effect the COVID-19 pandemic had on the Latino communities he served.

He said what he saw happening the most was serious job losses across the Latino community. “As Latinos, as people who are undocumented, they can work in the restaurant business or they can work in very minimal locations, and a lot of these locations were shutting down,” he said.

CONNECT WITH BRANDEN LACROIX blacroix@student.framingham.edu

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ARTS & FEATURES

Luke Hemmings faces a reflection of his life in first solo album

By Leighah Beausoleil Associate Editor

Luke Hemmings, lead vocalist of the Australian pop-punk band 5 Seconds of Summer (5SOS), on Aug. 13 released his first solo album, “When Facing the Things We Turn Away From.”

Starting his singing career making cover videos on YouTube, Hemmings joined 5SOS when he was only 15 years old. Now, 10 years later, Hemmings is reflecting on his life and the time he has spent in the spotlight.

“When the world shut down last year, I had a lot of time to reflect on my youth and the person I had been, who I’ve become, and who I wanted to be,” Hemmings told Apple Music. “It just so happens that the best way for me to face those things and process my thoughts is by writing songs.”

And that’s exactly what Hemmings did. This 12-track album is full of songs facing the life he’s lived and reflecting on how it has shaped him as a person.

The first track in the album is “Starting Line.” This was also the first single he released in promotion of the album, along with a music video July 9.

The song opens with a slow, steady piano as Hemmings voice enters singing softly the first verse. As he reaches the chorus, Hemmings’ voice grows louder into his usual singing voice only to continue increasing until he is

yelling the final lyric of the chorus, “I think I missed the gun at the starting line.”

The vocals break into the instrumentals of the song now heavily filled with a drum beat.

The rhythm of the song with the build of vocals creates a satisfying flow of sound that instantly fills the listener with energy.

This build is also a nod to the building panic he reveals in the chorus as he feels time is passing too quickly, whereas the first verse was soft and reflective of his memories.

Hemmings reveals he feels he is missing out on a life of memories, but he isn’t sure if they are his memories to be made. This unsureness is causing pressure as everyone in life seems to speed past him, with him feeling he has missed his mark.

The second track, “Saigon,” shows listeners where the album title comes from. Another moment of Hemmings’ reflection is demonstrated as he sings of chasing a happier time - acknowledging how people don’t realize how happy an experience had been until it becomes a memory.

The song has a much more steady sound than the last - setting the tone for the rest of the album - with most tracks having a much quieter quality than the first track.

The seventh track, “Mum,” is an apology to his mother for having been distant at times both physically and emotionally. Having left home

so young to pursue his music career, it would make sense for Hemmings to carry some regrets when reflecting on his family during that portion of his youth.

The song is very powerful and full of emotion, with the chorus bearing a sound almost like modern day Christian worship music.

“I’m so heavy / Jump into my ocean / Can’t you see me sinking? / Love that fear of falling / Don’t you know I’m too young? / Can’t you hear me calling you? / Nothing hurts me now” The metaphor appears to represent the ocean as the life of fame Hemmings goes on to live, and falling deeper into the water’s depths as his success grows, increasing the distance between himself and his family.

The first line of the second verse being, “Mum, I’m sorry, I’m still falling,” demonstrates his continued success tied with his guilt for not being able to be around her as often as he’d like.

“I’ll be home December morning,” follows, with the start of 5SOS’s “No Shame” Tour beginning in Australia Nov. 26 into early December - the first time he will be able to see his mother in approximately two years due to the pandemic.

The song is very heartfelt and full of emotions, with a beautiful rhythm to it - easily making it my favorite track from the album.

The 10th track, “A Beautiful Dream,” was a bit difficult to enjoy at

first, with the lyrics being undistinguishable due to some effect placed on Hemmings’ voice. However, despite the song’s flaws, listeners can’t help but feel the power and emotion the song emits.

The lyrics end midsong with the instrumentals breaking into this beautiful moment that can only ever seem to be felt during an important cinematic moment. As the drum beat pounds down powerfully, it is impossible to let earlier indiscretions affect the overall beauty of this track.

It may be my least favorite on the album, but it is still a favorite.

Grade: AHemmings faces his life beautifully.

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‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’ sets the bar high for the new MCU

By Olivia Copeland Staff Writer

Marvel movies are back!

Once again, superhero fans can hustle into theaters and witness this increasingly complex cinematic universe unfold on the big screen.

Over the summer, we got our first taste of the Phase 4 movies when “Black Widow” was released in July.

But that movie was more of a conclusion of the old era, putting to rest the last of the original Avengers.

The new era begins with “ShangChi and the Legend of the Ten Rings”.

Xu Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) is the son of Xu Wenwu (Tony Leung), a cruel warlord with 10 insanely powerful rings, and Ying Li (Fala Chen), the former guardian of a magical dimension called Ta Lo. After training his entire childhood to be an assassin for his father, he completes one mission then flees to San Francisco rather than return home.

There, he befriends Katy (Awkwafina), a fun but directionless young woman, and they lead average lives as valet workers.

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His adventure begins when his father forcefully recruits him and his sister, Xu Xialing (Meng’er Zhang), to save their late mother from Ta Lo, where Wenwu believes her to be held captive. Wenwu vows to destroy Ta Lo if his late wife is not retrieved.

The siblings, knowing their mother is dead, escape from Wenwu and adventure to Ta Lo to prevent their father from destroying it. They are joined by Katy, whose loyalty to her friend overshadows her lack of combat experience.

This movie does great justice to its “comic relief” character. Katy is simultaneously hilarious and multidimensional. She has an aimless, nonchalant attitude toward life that contributes to her humor, but also limits her to mediocrity. She grows and learns throughout the film to have a sense of serious purpose and agency, while still maintaining her intrinsic humor.

Awkwafina’s performance beautifully illustrates Katy’s journey. The contrast the actress was able to pull off between Katy’s comedic and serious moments made each facet of the

character equally powerful.

However, more time ought to have been spent on Shang-Chi’s oft forgotten little sister, Xialing. Her contribution to the story was more than crucial, but she did not get the screen time she was due.

Surprisingly, Shang-Chi himself was not particularly memorable as a character. While Liu’s acting was believable and emotive, Shang-Chi rarely seemed to take the lead in his own movie, as other characters often overshadowed him.

Though “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” serves as the origin story of a hero who will certainly return, the story was so original and complete that it could exist on its own, outside the Marvel universe, and still be a quality movie.

The movie also ties into the Marvel Cinematic Universe just enough for fans to speculate on what Shang-Chi’s role will be in other MCU projects.

Yet, it leaves certain questions unanswered, such as the origin of the Ten Rings and where their power comes from. Questions like this demand that Shang-Chi not be forgot-

ten quite yet, and keep people eagerly waiting for the sequel. Creating hype for sequels is a Marvel staple, but it also takes away from the excellence of the movie itself.

The movie, which centers around Chinese characters, celebrates Chinese culture rather than exploiting it for surface-level aesthetics. By focusing on family, it embraces the Chinese value of respecting and learning from elders.

At the same time, the movie’s main antagonist is Shang-Chi’s own father.

This dichotomy adds to the complexity of the film and of Wenwu’s character, and makes the mission of defeating him all the more emotional.

“Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” takes the action genre in an unexpectedly sentimental direction. It sacrifices large-scale, violent fight scenes for moments of introspection and growth while still maintaining high energy and high stakes.

Hopefully this movie sets the precedent for future MCU films.

CONNECT WITH OLIVIA COPELAND ocopeland@student.framingham.edu

ARTS & FEATURES

SEPTEMBER 17, 2021 | 15

Andy Card Continued from page 1 national security advisor advised Card that what they thought was a small plane was actually a commercial jetliner.

“Captain Lauer came up to me and said, ‘Oh, my God. Another plane hit the other tower at the World Trade Center,” he said. “My mind flashed through three initials - OBL. Osama bin Laden.

“I knew about the attack on the World Trade Center in February of 1993. I knew about Al Qaeda.”

It was Card’s job as chief of staff to ensure that Bush had all of the tools to make the right decisions.

The president was being conducted through a dialogue with the second-graders and they were just about to take out their books to read with him when Card caught the president off guard.

Card said he did not want to interrupt the dialogue or do anything to scare the children, but the president needed to know.

“A second plane hit the second tower. America is under attack,” is what he whispered in the President’s ear.

Card said he could see Bush imagining his obligation as president as he nodded his head to that statement. “I believe that was the day he truly became president. It wasn’t his agenda.

It was his obligation to keep his oath.”

For a few moments, the press team stood in confusion of the president who continued to nod in shock while the children stayed attentive, waiting for him to start reading.

Card made several quick decisions to get the crew back on Air Force One, call the FBI and inform the vice president. Bush, who was scheduled to speak about education, immediately told his audience that he needed to go back to Washington, D.C. While on the plane back to Washington, Bush called Russian President, Vladimir Putin, to tell him that the U.S. is not doing anything that would generate a war with him and he does “not want him to react in a way that is not appropriate.”

“I was very impressed that he did that,” Card said. “No one told him to do that, but he did.”

He said Bush also ordered the National Security Team to shoot down any commercial jetliners that would not respond to their immediate request to land. “[Bush] leaned across the aisle and said to me, ‘I cannot imagine receiving that order.’”

United Flight 93 crashed into Shanksville, Pennsylvania a few minutes later.

Card said he had wondered if it had been someone from national security who caused the crash, but instead, it was passengers of the plane who had learned about the attacks and decided

to “do something about it.”

“They were the first heroes of the War on Terror,” Card said. “And every one of them would have earned a Medal of Honor had they been in the military.”

Card and the executive team then flew to Nebraska with only the essential staff.

“It was straight out of the movies,” he said. “You could hear all of the communication between the FAA and the military … the misinformation.”

Card said they kept mistaking U.S. planes for unidentified planes out of fear.

He added Bush wanted to return to D.C., and on their flight back, they were able to watch what was happening at the World Trade Center on a television.

“It was haunting,” Card said. “That image still haunts me to this day. The EMTs, firefighters, policemen that ran toward the building rather than away from it saved lives and gave theirs.”

Card acknowledged the 95 people from Massachusetts who died in the attack. He also asked everyone old enough to remember to never forget the brave men and women who sacrificed their lives to try to save others, and also told those too young to remember about what happened on 9/11.

“There is a picture of me whispering in the president’s ear on Sept. 11. I am not iconic. The picture is. It defines an era,” Card added.

Card also mentioned how in the days that followed, Bush gave an empowering speech that united the nation as Congress was voting on a war resolution that passed almost unanimously.

“Everyone that day [Sept. 14] dropped some of their favorite labels.

Republican, democrat. We all proudly said ‘We are Americans.’

“Record numbers of people said they wanted to become a police officer. ‘I want to become a firefighter. I want to join the military. I want to join the intelligence services.’ We celebrate that.”

Card added that we need to recognize the pain that still lingers even after 20 years and amongst the families of the Massachusetts citizens who sacrificed their lives during the 9/11 attacks.

“They will never forget and we promised we wouldn’t either,” he said.

Card also encouraged the audience to get involved with democracy through voting and running for office, and thanked those who have already been taking part.

“We’re a great democracy,” Card said, “Polish it.”

CONNECT WITH EMILY ROSENBERG erosenberg@student.framingham.edu

Courtsey of Framingham State

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ARTS & FEATURES

The

Best of

By Austin Riffelmacher Staff Writer Sea creatures collecting land garbage. Parental figures warning against the human world. Fish living in fear of being eaten for dinner.

Yes, that’s the plot of “The Little Mermaid,” but it’s also the premise for the most recent Disney/ Pixar film,“Luca.”

Unlike newer Pixar films such as “Soul,” existentialism is dropped in favor of a more traditional coming of age story. The result is a more emotionally nuanced family film that will surely be with viewers of all ages for decades.

The film charts the young sea monster Luca’s interest in what’s beyond his family’s underwater farm. Luca meets another young sea monster, Alberto, who shows Luca the ability to develop a human form on the surface.

The two boys find themselves in a small Italian village called Pontorosso seeking to win a local race so they can buy a Vespa. Along with a local girl named Guilia, Luca and Alberto learn valuable lessons of acceptance and friendship.

The film has a subtextual message about what makes the human experience beautiful: our constant quest for knowledge, and the fragile connection we have with nature.

“Luca” was released on Disney+ at the beginning of the summer.

Although some cinemas carried the film theatrically, the film’s emotional and physical scale are more suitable for streaming.

“Luca” is perhaps the most intimate of the Pixar films, making it the most narratively delicate.

Many viewers over a certain age will find the relationship Luca has with Alberto to be, well, complicated. This is due in large part to the filmmaker’s choice to really narrow in on the protagonist’s sensitivity.

This achievement is supported by the captivating animation and Dan Romer’s effervescent score.

“Luca” was indeed a delightful summer escape. However, the last five minutes of this moving tale will have you saying, “Santa Mozzarella!”

Courtesey of imdb.com

By Sean Cabot Staff Writer The original “The World Ends With You” [TWEWY] was a triumphant cult hit, combining a graffiti-inspired, counter-cultural aesthetic with a poignant story, fascinating characters, and one of the single greatest original soundtracks of any game ever released.

As such, “NEO: The World Ends With You” was aays going to have big shoes to fill. And while its thematic elements aren’t quite as strong as its predecessor’s, it still nails what any sequel to TWEWY should: the aesthetic.

“NEO” follows a new cast of characters across Shibuya, the introverted Rindo, fashion-forward Fret, and self-conscious geek Nagi. The group is forced to team up in a seven-day battle royale in the afterlife against four other teams.

Under the guidance of the manic, math-obsessed Sho Minamimoto, the group competes to win their way back to life.

While the plot progresses slowly, the characters are likeable and entertaining, bolstered by strong vocal performances. Andy Hirsch’s Minamimoto in particular is one of the best this year.

The gameplay is similarly excellent, with an abundance of moves that can be assigned to each party member. The variety of combat options meshes exceptionally well with the abundance of enemy types.

But the show stealer is the aesthetic.

While the graphics are decent, anime-style 3D models a lot of the time, the 2D character art is gorgeous, and the soundtrack more than lives up to the legacy from the first game.

With so many genres covered and so many new and remixed tracks, the music is worth the price of admission alone.

“NEO: The World Ends With You” could’ve been a quick return to an obscure brand to cash in on a desperate fanbase, but it turned out to be one of the best games of the summer. If you missed the first one, don’t miss this.

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Courtsey of BestBuy.com

ARTS & FEATURES

SEPTEMBER 17, 2021 | 17

Summer 2021

By Emily Rosenberg Arts & Features Editor You are living under a rock if you have not heard “SOUR” by Olivia Rodrigo. The 19-year-old “High School Musical:The Musical: The Series” star dominated the charts this summer with angsty bops like “good 4 u,” and “traitor.” With the blasting success of “drivers license” in January, there was reasonable criticism that Rodrigo would become a one-hit-wonder.

However, Rodrigo establishes herself as a strong competitor in the music industry through catchy lyrics and a made-in-heaven voice in this phenomenal album.

There is not a single song worth skipping on this dynamic collection of diary entries.

She is influenced by classics such as Taylor Swift, Paramore, and Lorde. Some even argue that “good 4 u” straight out copies Paramore’s “Misery Business,” but Rodrigo still manages to produce a one-of-akind sound, something we’re not used to on the top 40s.

It starts off with “brutal,” a pop-rock track, where she whines about how she’s “so sick of 17.” Had this song come out when I was 14, I would be jumping up and down viciously in my darkest clothes - it captures the frustration of being a teen perfectly, as does “good 4 u.”

Another favorite is “hope ur ok” which tells the stories of three of her friends who had troubled lives, but she lost touch with them. This somber piece touches upon gay rights and it left me longing for the days when roaming a sandbox with my school friends was enough.

She sings, “I hope that you are happier today, cause I love you and I hope that you’re okay,” which is a tragically fitting finish as she spends most of the album ragging on exes who hurt her.

Olivia Rodrigo’s debut may be “SOUR” but the art she is creating is anything but.

Courtesy of Wikipedia

By Emily Rosenberg Arts & Features Editor Devi is a sophomore brainiac and harp player who just lost her father to a heart attack. After a season of chasing varsity swimmer, Paxton, getting mauled by a coyote, shoving her friend in a pool, and kissing her frenemy, Ben, Devi is back with twice the amount of drama.

The second season starts where the first left off. They’re spreading her fathers ashes on Malibu Beach, and Devi’s mom still wants to move back to India. Now with two guys interested in her, Ben and Paxton, Devi thinks she can get away with dating both of them before she leaves the U.S. forever.

Spoiler alert, they find out and they’re wicked pissed.

Oh and guess who doesn’t want to move to India anymore?

So now Devi has to spend the rest of the season proving to Paxton, Ben, and her friends that she can do better. However, this is a little tricky when a new Indian girl shows up - she’s the only Indian girl in school! providing her with some unwanted competition for the boys’ attention.

Devi’s got the “worst s***” as she also has other issues as her mother is considering a relationship again, and her cousin Camilla is rethinking her marriage.

“Never Have I Ever” is set in a high school, but it is for everyone. It was my favorite thing to watch after coming home from 12 hours of working at a sushi shop.

Written by “The Office’s” Mindy Kaling, this dramedy is jam-packed with unique jokes and loveable characters.

Though Devi’s f***up’s can be extremely unbearable to sit through sometimes, it all comes together in the end through little triumphs such as her friend’s coming out, their win at the relay race, and the epic Gatsby trial.

“Never Have I Ever” season 2 is one rollercoaster that didn’t last long enough.

Courtesy of Wikipedia

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18 | SEPTEMBER 17, 2021

ACROSS 1. Sound-related 6. Say “I’m the best,” say 10. Novak Djokovic, nationality-wise 14. Pride members 15. Actress Headey 16. Defendant’s declaration 17. Hollywood in-crowd 18. When Romeo meets Juliet 19. Kazakhstan’s former country: Abbr.

20. Bird’s base 21. Miniaturize abhorrent rodents?

23. High school musical 25. The Arctic is the smallest one 26. Game of chance 28. Container for making textile colors 32. “What a superficial person I am!”?

36. “Whip It” band 37. Not home 38. Genetic letters 39. Words preceding “mode” 42. Disabled vehicle’s need 43. Where to find an observation post?

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ARTS & FEATURES

45. “The boxwood got blown over!”?

48. Pastry fried in ghee 51. Key also called Return 52. Year qualifier 54. Superior groups 58. Features of partially fleeced animals?

62. 40-day observance 63. (Thanks for rubbing my belly!)

64. Come ___ play 65. Open space in the woods 66. Settled on a flower, e.g.

67. Perfect garden 68. Ancient Greek storyteller 69. Alternative to passes 70. “September” or “Back to December” 71. Makes beer DOWN 1.“Dough” or “cheddar,” for “money” 2. Edmonton NHL player 3. Loud racket 4. Lay, as a carpet 5. Winter hrs. in Waco 6. Drab 7. Fun space in the basement, maybe 8. Goofy act 9. Came out ahead 10. Jilted 11. “Frozen” character in a blue dress 12. Take a break 13. Friday night destinations 21. Determined to accomplish 22. Mary ___ cosmetics 24. Convinced 27. First word of “Jabberwocky” 29. Bill rejection 30. Declare 31. Just a dot on the map?

32. Has a good cry 33. Polynesian dance 34. Elemental bit 35. Bring in, as a salary 40. Old instruments with long necks

41. Eve’s second son 44. Vehicles that children can drive 46. Encourage 47. Dentist, at times 49. Title for a knight 50. Ground forces 53. Like an achiever’s attitude 55. Kid around with Puzzle solutions are now 56. Supply with funding exclusively online.

57. Recipe parts 58. Practice jabbing and feinting 59. “The Handmaid’s Tale” streamer 60. Activist Brockovich 61. King ___ (movie monster) 65. “Gift” for chitchatting

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PHOTOS

20 | SEPTEMBER 17, 2021

The Game Room

Freshman Donovan Henkel playing pool.

Freshman Brian Tinoco playing ping pong.

(Left) Junior Tadiwa Chitongo and senior Nick Ribeiro competing in Smash Bros.

Freshman Jeff Occius playing pool.

Freshman Kailara Andrade playing ping pong.

Spread and Photos by Leighah Beausoleil /THE GATEPOST @The Gatepost | FSUgatepost.com