March 27, 2026

March 27, 2026

Volume 94 • Issue 19

FSUgatepost.com

Reaching new heights

Meg Dame / THE GATEPOST (Center) Biology Professor Brandi Van Roo demonstrating how to climb up the trees outside of Dwight Hall for students March 26.

Phenomenal Woman, that’s Jessica Davis

RN-BS student named 2026 Phenomenal Woman

By Sophia Oppedisano Editor-in-Chief

The Dean of Students Office recognized 39 nominees for the 19th annual Phenomenal Woman Award Ceremony in recognition of Women’s History Month.

The honor was presented to RN-B.S. nursing student Jessica Davis at the ceremony March 26.

Rachel Spezia, associate dean of students, broke from tradition and rather than reading just an excerpt from Davis’ nomination, she read the nom-

ination in its entirety. “It’s a very beautiful nomination,” she said.

Her nominator wrote, “What distinguishes this person is the way she has used her lived experience as a domestic violence survivor into a powerful source of leadership and advocacy, rather than allowing trauma to silence her. She has stated that she has chosen to move forward with clarity, courage, and a sense of responsibility to others.”

Davis “imagines primary

health care, not simply as a clinical service, but as an act of social justice, one that honors the mind, body, and spirit of every survivor. This is not an abstract ideal for her. It is a mission she is already pursuing through her academic work, her advocacy, and her daily interactions,” her nominator added.

The 2025 Phenomenal Woman, Meghan Larkin, associate director of Student Experience, presented the award to Davis.

See PHENOMENAL Page 11

Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST (Left) Jessica Davis, the 2026 Phenomenal Woman, accepting the award alongside (center) Meghan Larkin, 2025 Phenomenal Woman and associate director of Student Experience, and (right) Associate Dean of Students Rachel Spezia.

New Orleans needs a hand, not a hero

By Izayah Morgan Opinions Editor This spring break, I took the opportunity to travel with the CIE Director Jerome Burke and Program Coordinator Emma Laurie along with nine other students to New Orleans to volunteer for service work.

We worked in partnership with a local organization called HandsOn New Orleans. They are a non-profit organization of just three people: Executive Director Chris Cameron, Director of Operations Ellie Duff, and Assistant Director of Programs Kristin Hartlage.

Together, they are the glue that holds the organization together.

Their mission is to empower volunteers and create service projects to help build up the community. This looks different depending on where the service project is located.

These can be projects relating to public schools, neighborhood development, gardening, disaster management, and youth recreation.

See NEW ORLEANS Page 10

INSIDE: OP/ED 5 • SPORTS 7 • ART & FEATURES 9

News GPI pg. 2 SARAH HOOKE pg. 4

OP/ED

Sports

Arts & Features

SUCCESS pg. 5 LETTER TO THE EDITOR pg.

WOMEN’S LACROSSE pg. 7 SOFTBALL pg. 8

SEASHELLS pg. 9 DINERS, DISHES, DYL pg. 11

NEWS

2 | MARCH 27, 2026

Gatepost Interview Joseph “Jay” Cigna

Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief Sophia Oppedisano Associate Editors Adrien Gobin Dylan Pichnarcik Multimedia Editor Antonio Machado

Professor of Biology

By Bella Grimaldi News Editor

Copy Editor Cole Johnson

What is your academic and professional background?

So I have come to Framingham News Editor State as an adjunct professor. I Bella Grimaldi have a PhD in physiology. I have a physical therapy license - a physical therapy degree. I teach huAsst. News Editor man biology, human physiology Avery Slavin here at Framingham State, and I teach at other universities. And Opinions Editor so my background fits in very well Izayah Morgan with the curriculum I teach, because I’m teaching human bioloSports Editor gy to students and I can approach it from a physiology or PhD levIzabela Gage el and I can approach it from a clinical level. … I practiced for a Asst. Sports Editor couple years in physical therapy.

Taylor Kimmell I worked as a professor at Northeastern in the physical theraArts & Features Editor py department for seven years. I Francisco Omar Fernandez Rodriguez published in injury prevention. I published in the Journal of PhysSarah Daponde ical Therapy on what happens after people have an injury. So the Photos & Design Editor publication was about people who Alexis Schlesinger work lifting things like baggage handlers, and they get a hernia.

Asst. Photos & Design Editors There’s no effective rehabilitation program. So I developed a Christy Howland protocol with the Baptist HospiOnyx Lovely tal in Boston and we published that. Then I worked with the Illustrations Editor Neuromuscular Research Center Marcus Falcão - which was at BU while I was at Northeastern - and we looked at Staff Illustrators mapping the back muscles.

Rileigh Kelley What drew you to FramingTobias Cotton-Selman ham State?

I was looking for an outlet that Staff Writers was beyond anatomy and physiZaynab Ahmed ology. … And when I interviewed Jesse Burchill at Framingham State, I instantly enjoyed the people at FramingKristel Erguiza ham State who interviewed me.

Julien Fernandez Aline Davis [former chair of the Paul Harrington biology department] hired me Dan Lima and she offered me this job of Kate Norrish teaching human biology. Now I’m Wenchell Pierre a physiologist, so that’s great, but Nathan Piette in human biology, we talk about other things than just anatomy Andrew Ramirez and physiology. We talk about cell biology. We talk about reproducStaff Photographers tive biology. We talk about geMeg Dame netic engineering and changing Dylan Sibley genes and evolution and ecology.

And I have great guest speakers.

Advisor Desmond McCarthy Asst. Advisor Elizabeth Banks Graduate Advising Asst.

Emma Lyons

Courtesy of Joseph “Jay“ Cigna

that’s one of my things. My other hobbies - I love to ride bikes. I’m a former triathlete. I’m a former marathoner. I ran a 2:55 marathon in San Francisco. That’s pretty fast, but I’ve always kept cycling.

What inspired you to work in I like to do cycling in the summer.

I train in the winters, then I’ll go biology?

I’ve always loved biology. My out for like 40-50 miles, which is undergraduate degree from Bos- like three hours. ton College was in biology and I What is your advice for stualways sought a different dimendents at FSU? sion of biology. I didn’t want to be Live your dream. Find out what a doctor, MD. It was not the way I makes you happy - what excites wanted to go. But I loved biology, so I pursued it, as I did in Florida you. And then go do an internship State, and then I started to trickle to see if it is something you really like. Because we can’t tell you into some different ideas. what to be, but we can give you What are some of your hob- the place to explore it at Framingbies or something students ham State. The internships are the most valuable thing you can would not expect about you?

I always wear bow ties to class. do in a university because there I’m one of those professors who are so many things that take place loves to wear the bow tie. You at Framingham State. know Indiana Jones, the movie, Dr. Jones - he always wears a CONNECT WITH bow tie because he’s a professor. BELLA GRIMALDI And I always loved Harrison Ford, igrimaldi@student.framingham.edu and so I kind of emulate him. So … So I’m in my absolute wonderful place at Framingham State. I get to teach a class that started at about 28-30. It’s up to 62 - I have 62 students this semester.

Police Logs Tuesday, March 24 4:14 Gas Utility Odor, Hemenway Hall

Tuesday ,March 24 7:10 Panic Alarm McCarthy Center

Wednesday, March 25 7:56 Disturbance, Miles Bibb Hall

Wednesday, March 25 10:19 Fire Alarm, Miles Bibb Hall

Weather

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

Saturday, March 28 Partly sunny with a high near 40.

Monday, March 30 Partly sunny with a high near 60.

Wednesday, April 1 Mostly cloudy with a high near 60.

Sunday, March 29 Mostly sunny with a high near 50.

Tuesday, March 31 Partly cloudy with a high near 60.

Thursday, April 2 Mostly cloudy with a high near 65.

NEWS

MARCH 27, 2026 | 3

Shubham Valand announces candidacy for SGA president

By Bella Grimaldi News Editor SGA held their annual Meet the Candidates Night and a Senate Meeting on March 24.

At this meeting, students announced their candidacy for all eBoard and senate positions.

The sitting SGA President, César Matos, said elections will be held from March 30 to April 2. Voting will occur online through RamLink.

Matos said candidates will be notified on April 3 of the results by the Election Committee.

He added candidates are allowed to campaign as long as they follow the election guidelines, which include not slandering members of SGA, tampering with others’ campaign materials, and following rules regarding posting campaign posters.

Before opening the floor to the candidates, Matos said, “I have to say this has been the most amazing year in my time at SGA. … I’m really looking forward to what comes of SGA next year.”

The current SGA vice president, Shubham Valand, was the first candidate introduced. He is running uncontested for the position of president.

Valand said his experience on SGA and his work as an orientation leader and assistant in the ID Office have helped prepare him for the role of president.

“One thing becomes very clear to me - students have ideas, concerns, and needs, but sometimes, it feels like they are not loud enough to be heard by people,” he said. “As a president, my goal is simple - to make SGA more approachable.”

Valand said he wants more students to understand what SGA does and for the organization to build more connections with the campus community.

“At the end of the day, being SGA president isn’t about me it’s about all of us,” he said.

Senator Nathan Piette announced his candidacy for vice president.

He said as vice president, he will continue to encourage SGA members to volunteer and cultivate clear communication.

Piette said he wants to create a positive space for students in SGA to work together outside of time scheduled by the eBoard.

Matos introduced the candidate for student trustee, Jamie Kuenzel, who is running unopposed.

Kuenzel is not a current member of SGA but is looking to fill a position currently held by Luke Yubeta, a senior.

She is the president of the Model UN Club - which she reactivated in her freshman year - a CASA tutor, and a tour guide at the Danforth Art Museum.

“I believe that my experience on campus and in a number of different roles, and my experience with government, make me an ideal candidate for student trustee,” said Kuenzel.

She added as student trustee, some of the policies she would like to put in place would be expanding the 4+1 programs and access to research opportunities within the University.

Kimberly Martinez was introduced as the only candidate running for secretary.

She has been acting secretary since Ling Zhang, who previously held this role, stepped

(Center) SGA Vice President Shubham Valand gesturing toward SGA senators. down.

Martinez said she didn’t expect to join SGA or become secretary when she came to Framingham State, but now she enjoys being a part of the organization.

“It’s very much bureaucratic, which is not something a lot of people enjoy. But I find myself liking a little bit of structure.

I like to take the notes. I like to listen to the meetings,” she said.

Senators Jobe Murphy and Cameron Higbie were announced as candidates for treasurer.

Current Treasurer Khoa Bùi is not running for reelection and announced his candidacy for a senate position.

Murphy said he worked closely with Bùi on the Finance Committee and wants to “take up the mantle he has built for everyone else.”

He added his work with the clerk of his town when he was in high school and being part of the Big Budget meeting this year provided him with the experience to fulfill the treasurer role.

Higbie said he believes he would be suited for this role because of his experience working with others in extra-curricular activities in high school and as a math tutor.

“I know that given the effort that I put in everything else, I could achieve very high standards for this - for some reason - unwanted position,” he added.

Matos introduced senators Mari Awuah and Kait Eller as the candidates for events coordinator.

Awuah said she wants to bring more events to campus.

“Over the past semester, I’ve noticed that as a community, we have not been hosting enough fun events here on campus,” she said. “As it is important for us to have a steady and profit-

able experience, we also want to make sure we’re having fun.”

Eller said her experience working in customer service and attending a community college taught her how impactful social events are.

She added, “I’d really like to just create events that are really a positive impact on campus, but also create some opportunities for those students who may not feel as seen or outgoing.”

Diversity and Inclusion Officer and junior Merlin Clive announced their candidacy for reelection. Clive has held this position since Ana Julia Ribeiro resigned.

Clive is the president of Latinos Unidos N’ Acción - a club they reactivated their freshman year at FSU - and the logistics coordinator for orientation.

They said, “I’m very passionate about building community, especially with people I’m not involved with right now.”

Senators Cia Rosado and Kennedy Thompson were named as candidates for publicist.

Rosado said, “I want to make sure that every student feels informed and excited about what student government is doing.

With my current involvement in SGA, I know there’s a lot we can build on, and I am here for it.”

Thompson was not present at this meeting.

Matos said the senators seeking reelection are Jonathan Sundberg, Michael Weber, Glânzer Mar, Cam Rokes, and Bri Camilli. Ribeiro is also running for a senate position after stepping down from her role as diversity and inclusion officer.

Bùi, Sundberg, Weber, and Mar gave speeches about why they are looking to be elected to the senate.

Bùi said he stepped back from treasurer so the role could be passed on before he graduates next semester.

“I want to stay in SGA as a

Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST

senator, not just to help the treasurer, but to help build a legacy in SGA that’s going to last, not just for when I graduate, but for 10 years to come,” he said.

Sundberg said he helped students clear snow off their cars after the February snowstorm, even though he is a commuter student. “That day, I was there for students in Maynard Lot, and I will continue to be there for the FSU students.”

Weber said he was not involved on campus before becoming an RA in the last year.

Now, he is looking to support students and be a bigger part of the Framingham State community.

Mar said he has student government experience after working in student leadership at his previous school and wants to be a voice for students at FSU. During the Senate Meeting, SGA appointed a new senator, Ana Maxwell.

Maxwell said she is joining because she wants to be involved in student leadership and the campus community.

The motion to approve Maxwell was made by Events Coordinator Alix Ayoub.

SGA reviewed a $7,005.69 funding request from ASL Club for their DeaFSU “Build Bridges Not Walls” event.

Piette motioned to approve this allocation and it passed unanimously.

Piette said there will be another safety walk taking place next Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. with a smaller group participating to check on the suggestions that were made after the fall safety walk. [ Editor’s Note: Nathan Piette is a staff writer for The Gatepost. ] CONNECT WITH BELLA GRIMALDI igrimaldi@student.framingham.edu

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

NEWS

4 | MARCH 27, 2026

Remembering Mason Albano

By Dylan Pichnarcik Associate Editor

The Framingham State community is mourning the loss of sophomore Mason Albano, who tragically passed away on March 21. He was 20 years old.

Mason, a Milford native, was a first-generation student, a business management major, and a campus resident.

He was known to be a quiet, kind presence on campus and his impact will be felt among his friends and across the campus community long after his passing.

In an email to the campus community, President Nancy Niemi said Mason was “known to many across our campus, and his absence will be felt in

classrooms, residence halls, and among the friends and peers who knew him well.”

Close friends of Mason’s described him as funny and loyal.

One friend said, “From the very first moment we all met Mason he has been one of the very best friends we could ever ask for. He was always there when you needed him and was always the first person to defend you no matter what.”

He added, “He has an energy he brings to the room that never fails to make you laugh and smile.”

The women’s lacrosse team held a moment of silence for Mason at their home game against Keene State March 25.

Those who knew Mason are invited to attend the calling

hours at Buma-Sargeant Funeral Home, 42 Congress St., Milford, on Sunday, March 29, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 pm.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, March 30, at 11:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, 187 Hopedale St., Hopedale, with a private burial to follow.

Mason had a strong interest in canine rescue. In keeping with this passion, a Comfort Dog event with Ramsey and other comfort dogs will take place on Thursday, April 2, from 11:30 a.m to 2 p.m. in the McCarthy Center Forum.

According to Mason’s obituary, he “will be remembered for his fierce loyalty, generosity, kind heart, humble nature, sophisticated mind, and creative

energy. He had a deep love for his family and their traditions.”

His obituary also encourages those who are impacted by his passing “to take a walk outside and appreciate the simple beauty of nature that surrounds them in Mason’s honor.”

Our campus community has been deeply affected by loss over the past month. If students are in need of support, the Counseling Center, Residence Life staff, and the Dean of Students Office are available for students who are struggling.

CONNECT WITH DYLAN PICHNARCIK

dpichnarcik@student.framingham.edu

Sarah J. Hooke selected to be the new dean of the library

By Avery Slavin Asst. News Editor Sarah J. Hooke was announced as the new dean of the Henry Whittemore Library on Feb. 20.

Provost Kristen Porter-Utley sent the announcement to faculty, stating Hooke’s role of dean would be effective March 2 and she is “truly thrilled about the expertise and excitement Ms. Hooke will bring to the role.”

Hooke said being selected “means a lot to me, professionally and personally. I love the students and faculty, and I love the approach to education here.

I really wanted to become permanent dean and it was a very rigorous process, so I know I wasn’t just a shoo-in just because I was familiar with the place.”

While serving as interim dean of the library for nearly a year, Hooke was very focused on creating connections between the library and the rest of campus, which stood out to Porter-Utley.

“Sometimes when you hire somebody into an interim role, one of the things they do is just keep the wheels on the bus.

They keep it running, which I think she did really well. But she didn’t just do that. Sarah went above and beyond from my point of view,” she said.

President Nancy Niemi said, “Sarah has really thought about what state university libraries are and can be for the community. They’re such - and will always be, as far as I’m concerned - part of the heart of any learning community. She had great ideas for what it is and what it should be.

“She wasn’t afraid to work fast and learn deeply about our particular library and the strengths it had and the places where we could grow to do an even better job of being the library this community needs,” she added.

The hiring process was typical for most dean roles, consisting of reviewing candidates’ materials, compiling a short list of people to interview over the phone or on Zoom, and choosing 3-4 candidates to come in-person to conduct open forums and meet with many different people at the University before the position is offered, according to Porter-Utley.

She said to form the search committee that helps give suggestions on candidates’ strengths and weaknesses, she

Gatepost Archives

reached out to the deans of the colleges first, and then they looked for “student-facing” staff and faculty who would be willing to be a part of it.

The committee consisted of T. Stores, dean of Arts and Humanities; Sara Gallegos, executive director of the Center for Student Experience and Career Development; Jerome Burke, director of the Center for Inclusive Excellence; Sandra Rothenberg, coordinator of Library Instruction and reference librarian; Colleen Previte, Special Collections librarian and archivist; and Bartholomew Brinkman, English professor and director of the Center for Digital Humanities.

Hooke said she does anticipate some challenges while navigating this role, though.

She said that when coming into a role like this one, sometimes people are not as enthusiastic about your plans as you are.

One of her main goals she wishes to achieve during her time as dean is creating a more active community within the library, but a challenge that comes with that is “busyness,” she said.

“There’s a lot happening on campus, a lot of activities and things people want to do and go to. Plus, people have their core studies or their core jobs. However, the University is in a good place and the library has a lot of resources, so getting people to

@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

know more about what resources we have and how we can work with them can help them in their jobs and studies,” she said.

Porter-Utley said the committee was looking for someone who was excited about libraries and had a long-term vision for the library, saying they wanted to find someone who was “really innovative and had creative ideas. Someone who honors the tradition of the library, but is also thinking about what the next generation looks like.”

Niemi said she thinks libraries are “the best invention in the world” and hopes that the campus library “continues to evolve into a central place of learning, inquiry, scholarship, research, a real hub of learning for the community.”

Junior Estrella Barbel said, “As an education major, I really like the curriculum library.

It offers great resources. I also like the seating arrangements.

There are so many areas in the library, so I can always find a place to do my work.”

Junior Andrea Zereski said she can really focus when she’s in the library and she enjoys all the different seating options.

Senior Emma DePina said, “I really like the library. It gives me a place to be by myself between classes since I’m a commuter, and I can go to the Red Barn and get some snacks while I do my work.”

Sophomore Ria Padayachee

said she thinks it would be nice if they had book displays or genre spotlights, similar to Barnes & Noble.

Junior Indigo Allain said it would be nice to see the library open later on the weekends.

Hooke said one area where she wants to dive deeper during her time as dean is the digital repository, where papers and documents can be digitized and displayed as an “exhibit or collection” that can pop up with a quick internet search.

“Right now, one of the projects we are involved in is with the Hilltop Players. Our archives had some programs from them, but not all, and some of the Hilltop Players had a lot of their old programs. So we’ve combined them and digitized each program of the shows they’ve done over the years, and it becomes searchable and findable online,” she said.

Porter-Utley said she would love to “walk into a library and see it vibrant with a lot of students and they’re doing a variety of different things.”

She added through the Campus Master Plan, a library renovation or reconstruction is being prioritized, and she’s excited to have Hooke be a part of that. However, the plan is still a work in progress.

CONNECT WITH AVERY SLAVIN aslavin1@student.framingham.edu

5 | MARCH 27, 2026

OPINIONS THE GATEPOST EDITORIAL

Set yourself up for success this spring Spring has sprung on campus with warmer, sunnier weather, and many important deadlines, due dates, and events are popping up as we prepare for the conclusion of another school year.

During this time, you may feel compelled to spend more time outside with friends, grab an ice cream at a local stand, or soak up the sun on the lawn outside of May Hall. While all of these activities are great ways to unwind and enjoy the extra hours of sunlight, you should keep up with your academics and upcoming obligations.

While coursework and finals preparation are incredibly important for your success this semester, there are many other tasks outside of academics that you should complete before you leave campus, such as selecting your housing for next year, choosing your fall courses, and - for graduating seniors - registering for commencement.

If you complete this work now - while you’re on campus and it’s on your mind - you’ll be setting yourself up for future success and an enjoyable summer vacation.

The most important objective to accomplish over the next few weeks is to meet with your advisor - that includes graduating seniors.

Meeting with your advisor is not only required to obtain your PIN for registration, but it’s also a great opportunity to connect with a member of your department’s faculty and track your progress toward graduation.

For seniors, meeting with your advisor is still required and is an excellent opportunity to take one more look through DegreeWorks and ensure you’ve checked all the boxes for your degree requirements.

You can also use this final meeting to connect on LinkedIn, exchange contact information, and just say “thanks” for their assistance and support throughout your time at FSU. Your advisors will soon become colleagues in your field, references for jobs, and personal confidants. Take a few moments to ensure you can stay in contact with them.

Once you’ve determined your degree requirements are officially completed, give yourself a pat on the back and take pride in know-

ing all your hard work and late-night study sessions have paid off.

Then, fill out your Notification of Candidacy form found on the Commencement SharePoint, and order your cap and gown. The long-awaited day is on May 23 at the DCU Center in Worcester.

If you have any questions about Commencement, the very friendly Robin Kurkomelis can be found in the Dean of Students’ Office on the fifth floor of the McCarthy Center between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. and is incredibly knowledgeable about all aspects of graduation and commencement.

If you’re returning to Framingham State next fall, have you filled out the housing application?

If you have, remember you still have to select a room for next year. Students will have until March 31 to select a room in the residence hall of their choosing. After March 31, students will be placed in a room by the Residence Life staff - the sooner you complete this task, the higher the chance you will get a room that is ideal for you!

Any questions about room selection can be directed to Justin Smith, coordinator of assignments and housing operations.

While choosing classes and selecting your room for next year is very exciting, it is also important to ensure you have funding.

There’s still time to fill out the FAFSA application - which must be completed each year. Financial aid staff are available Monday through Friday on the fifth floor of the McCarthy Center and can answer any questions.

If you’ve rented textbooks from the University Bookstore or borrowed books from the Henry Whittemore Library, make sure they are returned promptly before the end of the semester. Parting with these books may make you sad - until you remember the stress of reading on deadline - but be strong, and return these books for other FSU students to enjoy. You may also incur charges if these materials are not returned.

Take these last few weeks of cold temperatures and intermittent rainstorms to get things done and get on track for a successful end of your semester, and know that in a few weeks, when you’re lounging in front of May Hall in the April sunshine, you’ll have peace of mind before the chaos of finals takes shape.

Letter to the Editor The Power of Luxury, how high‑end fashion is competing for Gen-Z attention Luxury fashion has long represented exclusivity, craftsmanship, and heritage. Today, however, even the most established high‑end brands are reshaping their strategies to connect with a new generation of consumers.

With Gen Z holding increasing purchasing power, companies such as CHANEL, Louis Vuitton, and DIOR are investing heavily in social media campaigns de@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

signed to capture younger audiences.

These digital campaigns do more than highlight products they influence how young consumers interpret luxury, identity, and personal expression.

As a result, social media has become a major driver in determining which luxury items Gen Z is most likely to purchase.

To better understand this

shift, a short 10-minute survey is being conducted to explore which luxury goods students are most inclined to buy based on the ads they encounter online. Your participation is kindly requested, as your responses will directly inform ongoing research on how digital marketing shapes luxury purchasing behavior.

QR codes linking to the sur-

vey can be found on McCarthy floors 3 and 4, in the McCarthy Center and in Hemenway Hall.

Your input is greatly appreciated.

Best, Joan Kigotho.

OP/ED

MARCH 27, 2026 | 6

Campus Conversations What was the most exciting part of your spring break?

By Dylan Pichnarcik Associate Editor and Onyx Lovely Editorial Staff

“I mostly just relaxed. I took care of my girlfriend while she was sick, and I find that enjoyable.”

- Jobe Murphy, freshman

“I mainly rotted in bed all day. But, I was just working on a bunch of things.”

- Lehi Colon, freshman

“I didn’t really do much, but probably babysitting, because I made money.”

“Going to the aquarium with my 3-year-old cousin.”

- Makayla Gillette, freshman

- Taryn Gerber, freshman

“Going to Boston for St. Patty’s Day.”

“I created a dashboard for SGA and all of the bills and amendments that come through SGA.”

- Norah Russell, junior

- Cesár Matos, senior

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

SPORTS

MARCH 27, 2026 | 7

Softball sweeps Simmons in doubleheader

By Taylor Kimmell Asst. Sports Editor After shutting out the Simmons University Sharks 8-0 during their first match March 25, the Framingham State Rams closed out the second 13-5.

In accordance with the “8 after 5” mercy rule, the second match only lasted until the fifth inning.

This win brings the Rams’ record to 4-8 and is the team’s first home game following their match during their spring break trip in Florida.

On the mound for FSU was sophomore Audrey Gauthier, who started the Rams off strong, striking out Simmons’ first batter.

The second batter caught hold of a pitch, sending a grounder to freshman Nina Buda at shortstop, who flung the ball to first for the out.

Batter number three for the Sharks managed to walk to first, but the top of the inning came to a close shortly after when the following batter sent a fly ball to sophomore Gianna Paolino in right field.

Simmons’ fielding team managed to hold off FSU’s batters, with pitcher Piper Kinney striking out sophomores Ellie Etemad-Gilbertson and Amanda Roche.

Sophomore Isabella MacDonald managed to get on base with a single, but a third out came quickly after, with a caught fly ball to center field by Captain Eliza Carignan, a senior.

At the top of the second inning, Simmons’ Teagan Buckly walked to first, then successfully stole second before advancing to third when the following batter grounded out to third.

MacDonald struck out the third batter, then sophomore Mikayla Yuricheck fielded the ball at second before sending it to sophomore Ava Gray for the out at first.

After an unsuccessful atbat by Captain Jocelyn Pepe, a sophomore, Gray stepped to the plate and sent a ball flying deep to right field and over the fence for an out-of-the-park home run, scoring FSU the first run of the game.

Paolino and Gauthier both struggled at the plate, sending the game into the third inning.

Two Simmons’ batters managed to make it on base during the third, but stellar pitching and fielding from FSU kept the runners from advancing home.

The bottom of the third passed quickly with three consecutive outs and no batters making it on base for the Rams.

At the start of the fourth inning, the Sharks managed to make it on base with two singles, but FSU held runners on second and third.

Carignan scored the Rams’ second homer of the game, sending a rocket over the fence in deep center field.

Though Pepe singled and advanced to second, she was unfortunately left on base as the inning came to a close.

Simmons’ batters managed two singles in the top of the fifth,

Ava Gray at bat in doubleheader sweep against Simmons University on March 25.

but strikeouts by MacDonald and fielding plays by Buda kept the runners from scoring.

In the bottom of the fifth, Buda popped a ball up to second, marking the first out. On the next play, Etemad-Gilbertson battled back from a 0-2 count and sent a hard drive to the gap between shortstop and second for a single.

MacDonald stepped to the plate next, sending another ball to the gap and making it to first.

Etemad-Gilbertson was able to advance to third on the same play, a credit to her excellent base running.

Carignan worked the count during her at-bat, walking to first and loading the bases as Roche stepped to the plate.

Roche singled, sending a perfectly placed hit to the gap and allowing both Etemad-Gilbertson and MacDonald to cross the plate, bringing the score to 4-0.

Framingham’s defense kept the top of the sixth scoreless for the Sharks, then heated up the bats as Gauthier stepped to the plate to lead off what would be the final inning.

Gauthier singled, advancing to third when Buda dropped a wellplaced bunt and made it to first after an overthrow.

Buda stole second on the next play, then a single by EtemadGilbertson brought the two runners home.

MacDonald and Carignan loaded the bases before Roche stepped into the batter’s box.

Roche sent a hard drive down the third base line, bringing in Etemad-Gilbertson and MacDonald for an 8-0 walk-off victory.

The Sharks used the first inning of game two to their advantage. Their first run came when, after a batter singled and stole second, a ball hit to center allowed said runner enough time to cross the plate.

A throwing error by the Rams allowed Simmons’ next batter to

Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST

reach first and bring in a runner. Paolino advanced, with the latAfter another stolen base, a sin- ter scoring. gle to shortstop was enough to Etemad-Gilbertson stole secscore a third run before the in- ond, putting her in a position to ning came to a close. score directly after Yuricheck on Despite two hits by Etemad- a MacDonald double.

Gilbertson and Carignan, FramCarignan and Roche each hit ingham was unable to match the a single to the outfield, bringSharks in runs. ing in MacDonald and Carignan, The Rams fielded grounders respectively, for a Rams’ lead of and junior pitcher Peyton Far- 9-5. ris struck out a batter to make A single to center field marked quick work of the top of inning the Sharks’ only success during two, holding Simmons to only the fourth inning, as plays by one hit. the Rams’ defense quickly tallied After a strikeout by Paolino, three outs.

Yuricheck singled off a line drive A Gray single to center put her to center field. Sophomore Kate on base and allowed her to steal Brodzinski took the field to pinch second on a wild pitch - perfect hit for Buda, sending a shot to scoring position. deep left field and advancing to Paolino hit a double, and an ersecond while driving Yuricheck ror by Simmons’ defense allowed home. her to both advance to third and Etemad-Gilbertson stepped bring in the run from Gray. into the box next, hitting a single.

Paolino then scored on an RBI MacDonald’s next hit bounced hit by Brodzinski. off the shortstop’s glove, earning Framingham kept the Sharks her a base and allowing Brodzin- at bay, holding them scoreless ski to score and Etemad-Gilbert- during the top of the fifth. son to advance to third.

MacDonald singled, but was Carignan hit a fly to left field thrown out at second on a hit by that was caught, but a tag-up Carignan. A wild pitch allowed play by Etemad-Gilbertson Carignan to advance to second, scored a run regardless to bring then freshman Maddie Belette the score to 3-2 Sharks. worked the count to walk to first.

The Sharks scored twice durWith two runners on, Gray hit ing their time at bat, runs com- a hard ball to force an error by ing off a triple hit to right field the first baseman, reaching first, and a ground ball to shortstop. advancing Belette to third, and In the bottom of the third, the scoring Carignan. A wild pitch Rams made an impressive come- allowed Belette to find an openback. Pepe started off strong for ing, stealing home and scoring FSU, sending a ball to deep cen- the only run the Rams needed to ter field for a triple. On the next take the victory. play, Gray grounded out to first The match ended 13-5 FSU. to bring in the run.

After winning their home Paolino stepped to the plate opener, the Rams will host the next, sending a ball to shallow Anna Maria Amcats for their first center and making it to first. conference matchup March 28.

Yuricheck’s hit allowed her to make it to first while advancing Paolino to second. Brodzinski singled to shortstop, advancing Stats sourced from fsurams.com both runners to load the bases. and MASCAC.com Brodzinski and Etemad-Gilbertson were fielded out during a CONNECT WITH TAYLOR KIMMELL double-play, but Yuricheck and tkimmell@student.framingham.edu

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

8 | MARCH 27, 2026

SPORTS

Women’s lacrosse falls to Keene St. in home opener

By Izabela Gage Sports Editor The Framingham State Rams were defeated by the Keene State Owls 8-4 on their home field in a non-conference matchup March 25.

This loss brings their overall record to 3-5.

This is the Rams’ first game back following their spring break trip to Florida, where they faced off against two teams.

Captain Bella DiMare, a senior, said, “Florida was a good chance for us to build chemistry and grow as a team, especially since we’re still pretty young. We had a lot of energy going into our home opener and wanted to set the tone early, which I think we did in the first quarter.

“Obviously, the result wasn’t what we wanted, but it showed us where we need to improve, especially in maintaining that energy for a full game,” she added.

Freshman Kate McGovern said the team “had two really strong practices that helped us get back into the swing of things on our own field. It felt good to be back in our normal environment, and there was a lot of excitement around it being our home opener. We focused on going over our plays and getting comfortable again as a team.”

Freshman Jenna James said, going into their home opener, “We focused on working together and getting back into our rhythm after the trip. Even though the result didn’t go our way, it showed us what we need to improve on as a team moving forward.”

At the opening draw control, Keene won possession, and they earned a free position attempt a minute later. DiMare saved the shot, though, and set the tone for a defensive effort that was consistent throughout the game.

Framingham’s midfield and defense worked to keep the pressure on Keene, with turnovers caused by James and Captain Alessia Lye, a senior.

Framingham put the first point on the board just over 3 minutes into the first quarter when McGovern found the back of the net off an assist from senior Kelley DeBellis.

McGovern said, “It was definitely exciting to score the first goal, especially in the home opener as a freshman. I think that helped set the tone early and

gave us a lot of energy right away.

Even when we started to fall behind, I think that initial momentum carried through and kept us motivated and determined to keep pushing.”

The Rams’ defense held firm through a series of the Owls’ possessions, highlighted by another two saves by DiMare.

Following multiple turnovers and ground ball battles on both sides, a yellow card on Keene created a man-up opportunity for Framingham. James netted the ball off a pass from DeBellis to extend the lead to 2-0 with 1:53 remaining in the period.

James said while having an extra player advantage, the team focuses on “moving the ball quickly, finding the open player, and taking smart shots to finish and get the ball in the back of the net.”

The Owls answered quickly, as they scored with just over a minute left to make it 2-1 heading into the second quarter.

Keene opened the second period with increased pressure, eventually tying the game less than 2 minutes in.

Shortly after, a Framingham penalty gave Keene a man-up opportunity, and they capitalized on it to give the Owls their first lead of the game 3-2.

The following 10 minutes of play were uneventful, except for one wide shot from Keene.

With 1:55 remaining, the Owls scored to extend the lead to 4-2.

Lye tried to tally another goal for the Rams, but a save

by Keene’s goalkeeper, Katelyn Nicotera, preserved the two-goal lead heading into halftime.

Sophomore Emma Kendzulak made one last attempt to score before the clock ran out, but the shot was high.

In the third quarter, Keene remained aggressive and took a shot on goal only 2:33 in, which was saved by DiMare.

After a series of clears by both teams and a save by DiMare, the Owls scored 5 minutes into the quarter to bring the score to 5-2.

Only 2 seconds later, DiMare made her seventh save of the game, but unfortunately, Keenestruck again only 1 minute and 40 seconds later, stretching the lead to 6-2.

After earning a free position shot, Keene broke through DiMare’s defense to take a 5-point lead with under 5 minutes left.

Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST (Left) Lindsey Cox running with the ball in loss against Keene St. on March 25.

DiMare made another save on a free position shot, keeping the Owls at a 5-point advantage entering the final quarter.

After a shot by freshman Katie Pizzardi, which was saved by Nicotera, the Rams finally broke through in the fourth quarter when sophomore Madeline Bosma scored to cut the deficit to 7-3.

Following a wide shot by sophomore Lily Malloy, the Owls scored a man-up goal to take a 5-point lead once again.

Malloy won the next faceoff, and sophomore Sarah Lewis converted a free position shot a minute later to shrink the gap to 8-4.

Both sides traded possession, with Framingham’s defense forcing turnovers and maintaining ball movement that kept them determined despite Keene’s scoring.

The Rams continued offensive pressure in the closing minutes of the game.

Lye launched a shot that flew wide, and Lewis tried to find the back of the net with 1 second remaining on the clock, but it was saved by Nicotera.

The match ended in the Owls’ favor with a score of 8-4.

DiMare earned a .500 save percentage, saving eight of the 16 shots she faced.

She said she focused on “staying composed and competing every shot. Even when they started to build momentum, I focused on staying present and giving my

team a chance.

“Defensively, we had strong stretches where we communicated well and made things difficult for them. The biggest thing is putting that together consistently for all four quarters,” she added.

McGovern said the team’s offense was “pushed into dodging more than we usually do instead of running our typical offense through feeds from down low. I think it was clear at times that we were a little uncomfortable with that, but we adjusted and handled it as best as we could.”

She added, “Even though it was a tough loss, there’s still a lot we can take from it. We might need to go back to the basics, which could really help us reset and improve.”

James earned MASCAC Rookie of the Week for the second time this season on March 23.

James said, “I really credit my teammates for it. I trust them to put me in good positions, and my job is to be ready to catch their passes and finish in front of the net.”

The Rams travel to take on the Westfield State Owls in their first conference game of the season March 28.

James said the team is prioritizing “moving the ball faster, limiting mistakes, and doing a better job of taking care of our possessions.”

DiMare said, “Going into Westfield, the biggest thing for us is consistency. We showed we can compete, especially early in games, but now it’s about putting together a full 60 minutes.”

She said as a team, they are “focusing a lot on communication, limiting mistakes, and playing more disciplined. Being a young team, every game is a learning experience, and we’re using this one as motivation going into conference play.”

McGovern said as a whole, the team is working “on better communication and doing a stronger job moving the ball up the field.

I’m excited to see how we respond and how we perform once we get into conference play, especially heading into our game against Westfield this weekend.”

Stats sourced from fsurams.com and MASCAC.com

Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST CONNECT WITH IZABELA GAGE igage@student.framingham.edu (Left) Kelley Debellis celebrating a goal with Kate McGovern in loss against Keene St. on March 25.

@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

MARCH 27, 2026 | 9

ARTS & FEATURES

From the criminology department to the craft fair Indigo Allain brings seashells to FSU

By Sarah Daponde Arts & Features Editor The temperatures were in the negatives and the red brick pathways of Framingham State University were covered in a sneaky layer of ice, ready to sweep unsuspecting students off their feet.

But that did not stop Indigo Allain from making her way through the cold.

Inside the warm halls of McCarthy, The Winter Craft Fair, hosted by the Art Club, was in full swing on Dec. 12. There were dozens of vendors lining the walls, their crafts colorful and their hopes high. But Indigo Allain, with her bright smile and luminescent crafts, stole the show.

What she and her glue gun had spent so many meticulous minutes piecing together was a sight so welcome in the bitter cold encompassing the campus on the night of the Winter Craft Fair: seashells!

A small fragment of warm weather to come - that is what Indigo sold on her table. Pairing her beachy crafts with her warm, welcoming disposition, passing customers could almost feel the sunshine.

Of course, the seashells did not collect themselves.

Indigo was born and raised in Rhode Island. She has always loved collecting seashells at the beach, which is what inspired her to use them to make something new and unique to hold her jewelry in.

And each jewelry holder is unique.

All of her creations are a little bit different from each other, all beautifully crafted with delicately placed gems and pearls for added charm.

“My biggest inspiration is my grandfather. He’s an extremely talented artist who has been so supportive of all my crafts and

Courtesy of Indigo Allain

to start selling her crafts and showing others what she was creating. The holders range in price - the larger ones are $20 and the smaller ones are $15.

As a person, Indigo is just as unique as her crafts.

With a glance at her artwork, or her colorful name, it might be assumed that Indigo is an art major. But no, she spends her days studying criminology with a psychology minor on the path to becoming a forensic psychologist.

“I’m really interested in why people commit crimes and the psychological aspect of why crimes occur,” she said.

When she is not crafting or studying, Indigo works as a mental health worker in the inpatient unit at a psychiatric hospital. “I love being able to help people and be there for them. I’ve learned a lot. I’ve seen a lot,” she said.

As a native of Barrington, Rhode Island, she chose to study at Framingham State because of the criminology program. “I don’t really know how I came to be here, but that played a major role,” she added.

Seeing as she has sold over 50 jewelry holders, her community seems grateful she brought her creativity with her.

Junior Shelbie Greenaway is a friend and classmate of Indigo’s, but also a customer.

Greenaway said she has four seashell jewelry holders - and her mother has two.

Courtesy of Indigo Allain “I love Indigo because she’s

encourages me to keep creating art,” Allain said.

Allain said she has been making her crafts for a while, but this is her first year selling her jewelry holders and she hopes to continue growing her business.

Her mother encouraged her

just so many interesting things all at once. She’s creative and artistic, but also so funny and smart,” she added.

Ollie Mainguy, another customer of Allain’s, said she finds the jewelry holders to be beautiful and one of a kind.

“It’s not too common for people to enjoy arts and crafts once they’re in college. Everyone is so busy doing homework and scrolling on their phones. I think more people should create things like Indigo because you can tell it makes her so happy - and it makes us so happy to see what she makes.”

The Art Club is hosting their next craft fair on April 28.

Miranda Allicon, vice president of Art Club, said she is so excited for the spring fair. “Everyone is so creative and I’m glad people feel confident in sharing their skills to others,” she said.

Regarding Indigo’s crafts, Allicon said she “has no words for how creative they are. I’ve been watching her progress on Instagram stories and I’m always seeing them. I know so many people looking forward to getting them this time around and I hope she will continue to be a part of it in the future.”

Indigo said she is excited for the craft fair and selling more of her jewelry holders - this time in warmer weather.

CONNECT WITH SARAH DAPONDE

sdaponde@student.framingham.edu

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ARTS & FEATURES

10 | MARCH 27, 2026

New Orleans Continued from Page 1

According to their website “HandsOn completes 60+ community service projects each year by recruiting 5,000+ volunteers to serve low income residents.”

For the three days of service we committed to, we ended up working on two different projects undertaking various activities such as moving stones, painting a roof and putting up fences in community gardens owned by local residents.

One of the gardens was owned by Gloria Ward. She was moving her garden out of her apartment complex to property she recently purchased where she also hopes to build a house. She’s moving to a space where she’ll have more freedom over her garden.

“Im too old to fight over a garden,” she said.

For Gloria, it is all about bringing the community together. She has people from all over the city come to visit her garden. As we were helping Gloria, a local band came over to practice playing before their show.

She has different activities in the garden for the community that could run until 10 o’clock at night. For example, every year, she has a big sock puppet show that’s free to everyone.

Her hope with a new garden is that she’ll be able to host more events for the community such as cooking or art classes with children.

With the group’s service work, we were able to move her one step closer to starting her new garden.

On the second and third day, we helped Karl Washington. He again was a local community member who bought a home years ago and has been repairing it since. His home was near completion, so our job was to build his fence and paint around the property.

He is an integral member of the community, as junior Eli Onyeabor pointed out, you could see the love the community had for him. As we were waiting for the bus to pick us up, Onyeabor pointed out how

Courtesy of Izayah Morgan

everyone passing would stop and wave at Karl.

One thing I learned from Karl and Gloria was that age is nothing but a number. Primarily working on Karl’s fence, along with me, was Burke, sophomore Ezra Mason, and Karl himself. Gloria was helping our group move heavy stones all day. Both still moved as if they were in their early 30s, guiding us and teaching us throughout the service.

As I spoke to Cameron, he wanted people to know that New Orleans still has work to complete. After Hurricane Katrina ravaged the neighborhoods, relief was hard to come by.

Before Cameron took on HandsOn New Orleans, it was on the verge of being shut down. He said, “All the Katrina money had been mismanaged.”

He spent three months listening to community partners and volunteer leaders the organization said they had trained.

After a three-month listening tour, Cameron came back to the board of directors and said, “We’re keeping the name, you have nothing here, we’re not rising to the moment, and we’re going to change it.”

At that time, he had about $25,000 in the bank with a $100,000 grant on the way. Today, he has about $1.7 million

in non-profit funds 14 years later.

Cameron said, “ Everyone has the power to be a change agent. It requires you to listen more than you ever speak in order to listen to hear their needs. You need to know how and why they got to this place, and what help they need.”

This is what makes a good volunteer - not someone looking to save a community, but someone who will listen to the community they are serving.

From what I learned, sometimes the best service is not even much service at all but listening. This can be a cultural shock to many first-time volunteers but nevertheless critical to being an ally to that community.

Burke’s goal was to develop the alternative spring break to center students and create an experience that produces meaningful learning opportunities that can go beyond the classroom.

He chose New Orleans because of the “rich cultural history” and because after Hurricane Katrina, it is still recovering. He wanted students to see how a disaster can have long-lasting effects on a community.

And it was so true. Karl shared some of that history with us. “It took about 15 years

Courtesy of Izayah Morgan

for us to get back to some sense of normalcy after Katrina.”

The service in Burke’s eyes, was amazing and allowed students to see the tangible effects they had on a community. No doubt it was hard work as I almost passed out a couple of times because of the heat, though HandsOn New Orleans had more than enough water, so that’s on me.

Senior Oscar Rubyck said his favorite part of the trip was exploring the city’s rich history and trying memorable food, his favorite being the Waffle Time restaurant.

Mason had a similar experience being able to “adventure through the French Quarter with our group and eating at Cafe Du Mondes, lounging in Jackson Square, and being able to look at all the artwork being sold and displayed.”

In Massachusetts, public transit can be hit or miss sometimes. CIE Program Coordinator Emma Laurie said, “Navigating public transport and delving into the local community” was one of the most memorable parts for her.

According to Burke, there are many ways to improve the trip moving forward, including “enhancing reflection sessions during and after the trip to deepen learning outcomes,” hosting information sessions, sharing student testimonials, and creating tangible campus activities to build interest.

Looking ahead, even though I will be graduating, I hope the CIE will be able to expand this trip to other areas and include more students. Burke said dream locations for this program include places like Ghana, Jamaica, and Germany.

Each place has its own history, political systems, and culture to learn from.

Even though those are dream locations, Burke stressed, ”We will continue to partner with organizations across the U.S., serving one community at a time.”

All in all, that’s what it’s about: not saving a place, but offering your hand in service to help a community that needs it.

One hand at a time.

CONNECT WITH IZAYAH MORGAN

imorgan@student.framingham.edu

@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

ARTS & FEATURES

MARCH 27, 2026 | 11

Phenomenal Continued from Page 1

Prior to the presentation of nity more than ever. We need the award, President Nancy each other’s love and support Niemi gave the opening re- to become who we most want marks. “We have to keep fight- to be. We need events like this ing. And as we keep fighting to bring us together and help and making equity, we also us become visible to each othhave to keep singing, and we er,” she added.

David Baldwin, director of have to keep celebrating, beHuman Resources and founder cause we need to recognize the phenoms who we already are. of the event, presented all of We are phenomenal, and I am the nominees. He gestured out thrilled to celebrate that phe- to the crowd of nominees and nomenalness with you,” she their guests adorned in the color purple. said.

“Purple represents royalty.

Following Niemi’s address, the keynote speaker and 2017 … [Spezia] has you wear purPhenomenal Woman Lisa Eck, ple today, because you’re all chair of the English depart- queens, and you need to stand in that and be ready to accept ment, gave her remarks.

Eck has found college cam- that, because that’s most impuses to be “the place where I portant. No one in this room have felt most empowered, to would be here without a wombecome my best uncensored an,” he said.

The ceremony concluded in self, to take risks, to take influaccordance with a tradition ence, and to feel and to collaborate with others to make new that has stood since the inaugural Phenomenal Woman things happen.”

Her advice for “living your Ceremony in 2007: a video of own best phenomenal life” the Phenomenal Woman poem included committing to your performed by Maya Angelou. community, travelling “so that you can learn to feel at home in this phenomenal world,” and finding joy in your body and “the ongoing performance that is you.”

Eck said every nominee this year has changed Framingham State and committed to our community by simply being CONNECT WITH their own phenomenal self.

“Looking out at all of you to- SOPHIA OPPEDISANO day, I appreciate our commu- soppedisano@student.framingham.edu

Star House has an extensive menu featuring the classic offerings of any American Chinese restaurant, a l o n g w i t h traditional meat, poultry, vegetable, and seafood dishes.

Staff at the restaurant are friendly and prompt, but what’s truly remarkable is t h e

Star House Chinese Restaurant

By Dylan Pichnarcik Associate Editor There’s a quiet confidence that comes from restaurants that have been around for decades - the weathered signs and deep cracks in their parking lots serve as a reminder that they’ve proved their excellence through passion, service, and years of feeding the community.

If you’re looking for incredible Chinese food at an unbeatable price, skip P.F. Chang’s at the Natick Mall and take a trip down Waverly Street to Star House Chinese Restaurant.

Located at 595 Waverly St., Star House is about an 8-minute drive from campus. The building is small and has minimal advertising, which makes it easy to drive past. But if you do miss it, turn around quickly - it’s worth it.

Seating is currently unavailable, but their website offers fast and easy ordering options.

You can also have food delivered to campus for additional charges.

quality of their food and its freshness.

After driving from Star House to campus, parking in Maynard Lot, and making the long trek up to your residence hall while your mouth waters, you can expect your food to be hot, flavorful, and worth the money.

True highlights of their menu include the beef lo mein, which includes tender beef teriyaki, sauteed onions, and savory lo mein noodles. A small portion of beef lo mein costs $9.50 and is anything but small. This can be easily split up over two meals if you’re just one person.

To accompany beef lo mein, an order of classic Boston-style chicken fingers pairs well. A small order consists of about 8 large pieces of chicken, with a light, crunchy coating and a mild, savory flavor. A small order costs $7.95.

The quintessential part of any Chinese take-out, though, is duck sauce. This is often made in-house and varies from restaurant to restaurant. Star House’s duck sauce is light and tangy, with a strong amount of sweetness and a vague fruity flavor. It pairs well with chicken fingers.

Star House is a must-visit for any college student looking for a quick and cheap bite.

It’s nearly perfect. However, there’s one part of Star House that is out of the ordinary their egg rolls.

Two egg rolls will set you back $5.50, which for the size is an excellent price.

Star House’s

Chinese food. It’s a small business that may be overlooked as it’s off the main path of Route 9, but the quality, service, and price make this a must-stop for Framingham foodies.

The final word? Don’t knock their egg rolls until you try them.

egg rolls are crispy and packed with a flavorful mix of cabbage and beef. When you take your first bite, you

may think, “Why do I taste cinnamon and sugar?”

There’s no explanation for it, but Star House’s egg rolls have a distinct, unexpected flavor. But if beef and cabbage for dessert is your thing, these are for you.

Star House is certainly worth a visit if you’re in the mood for

Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST

CONNECT WITH DYLAN PICHNARCIK

dpichnarcik@student.framingham.edu

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

ARTS & FEATURES

12 | MARCH 27, 2026

40 years of Cologne - a crash course into high life

By Dan Lima Staff Writer Everybody should know by now that, in the field of arts and media, the Japanese remain undefeated.

It’s not every day you get an industry with so many great titles to its name. From cinema classics to animation icons, they sure put up some tough competition.

Music is no different. The Land of the Rising Sun has great things to offer in many genres, but city pop, music associated with the economic bubble of the ‘70s and ‘80s, remains its musical crowning achievement.

Though not widely known outside of Japan, the sound of city pop won over the hearts of many with its influence from Western styles like jazz, funk, and R&B mixed with lush production and a nostalgic atmosphere.

Although it fell out of style by the 1990s, it was rediscovered in the 2010s through vaporwave artists using it for samples and aesthetics. Online music sharing contributed to its revival, with a couple of classic tracks - like Miki Matsubara’s “Stay With Me” - trending now and then. But this is only a sneak peek of what city pop has to offer.

As is the case with basically every music genre, you have to dig a little deeper before you start to see gold. City pop is already consistent in quality, so chances are you could come across your new favorite artist.

So let’s start our deep dive with a very respected figure in the genre, Ms. Kaoru Akimoto.

Starting out as a backup singer for J-pop legend Yumi Matsutoya, she landed on the radar with her single “Paradox,” featuring two songs written for the “Fire Tripper” anime OVA. Akimoto released her only studio album, “Cologne,” on March 21, 1986, which would go on to become a hidden gem within the city pop world.

The intro track, “Beginning,” gets you in the zone through cloud-like strings paired with Akimoto’s comforting voice singing lyrics translating to “A melody I’ve longed for, spreading out - so dear to me - With trembling hands, I hold you close.” It’s a great way to set the tone for the album, and it serves its purpose to prepare the listener for the next track.

“Narcissist plays out in a tone very similar to Bonnie Tyler’s “Holding Out For a Hero.”

The pulsating drum beats with flashy electronics immediately set the dance floor ablaze.

Its marbling synth-line segues into the highlight of the album, “Dress Down,” easily one of the best city pop tracks ever made. With such a catchy chorus and a Madonna-esque presentation, Akimoto takes the listener back to the ’80s.

The album takes a complete left turn on the track “Two Call” by favoring mellow and playful instrumentation over fiery, danceable beats. While the cute and innocent synths make the song sound like something from “EarthBound” or “Sailor

Moon,” Akimoto contrasts that imagery with melancholic lyrics about making amends over the phone.

“When the Night Ends” follows that same route with ambient synths and a power ballad approach being the driving force – very typical of what many other artists were doing at the time.

The dance effect returns on “Puzzle of Sorrow,” painting the scenery of a masquerade ball. Lyrics about love games paired with the orchestration and salsa-like beat adds to the song’s drama and romance.

“Selfish High Heels” brings newfound nostalgia with its whimsical sound, keeping the city pop spirit alive. Pair that with a funky bassline and it can get anybody dancing in the titular high heels.

“I’m All Alone Tonight” plays it safe with a calm electronic melody as Akimoto sings melancholic lyrics.

The track stands out with the ending keys transitioning into the next track, “Love Letter,” where soft vocals sing catchy lines. The keys and synths come together to create an epic finale but suddenly come to a halt.

After constant partying, “Moonlit Night” brings the album to a close with a ringtone-like synth and orchestration, complementing passionate singing about resting beneath the moonlight. By the end, a piano starts playing the same motif from the intro track, bringing the album full circle.

Tobias Cotton-Selman / THE GATE-

For having just one album, Akimoto makes up for it beautifully. High-caliber feminine energy worth a year’s supply of HRT is exactly what makes this album a cult classic. Every song will have you reminiscing about the high life from 40 years ago.

Her backing band also deserves a lot of praise with some notable city pop artists, too, like backup singer Mayumi Yamamoto, who also joined in on the fun under the stage name Cindy.

Akimoto has had minimal activity after the album’s release. After joining short-lived supergroup Shambara and releasing another single in 1991, she stayed working with other musicians until the end of the decade. However, she made a small reappearance by collaborating with future funk project Night Tempo back in 2023.

If you’re wondering where Ms. Akimoto is now, you can find her living her best life on Instagram!

CONNECT WITH DAN LIMA

dlima2@student.framingham.edu

The Book Report: The Hound of The Baskervilles

By Kate Norrish Staff Writer

Everyone knows Sherlock Holmes. Everyone loves Sherlock Holmes, and if you need an introduction to classic literature, I believe that this series, and in particular, this book, is the ideal starting point.

Published serially between 1901 and 1902, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was famously sick of writing about this character, due to the character being influenced by the struggles of both his mentally ill father and patients in his practice. He tried killing him off, but the public literally rioted Sherlock Holmes back from the dead.

Therefore, he wrote “Hound of The Baskervilles,” another novel, and many short stories, allowing Sherlock Holmes to live long enough to retire and become a beekeeper.

It starts with Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, eccentricities and all, having a client, a nervous man named Dr. Mortimer, claiming that his missing family member disappeared after he saw a giant ghost dog. Needless to say, Sherlock Holmes does not believe there are poltergeist pups roaming the moors, but regardless, the game is afoot.

One of the reasons I consider “Hound of The Baskervilles” to be the best Sherlock Holmes story is because I find most of the “mystery-of-the-day “ characters in other stories to be fairly forgettable. While Irene Adler and Moriarty are notable exceptions, this book is filled with characters like

them - from Stapleton, the silly entomologist, to the far more complex Dr. Mortimer.

And then, of course, there are the stars of the show - possibly the most famous friendship in fiction. In some stories, I could not care less about the mystery, but these two could spend a novel locked in a basement together and I would love it. Holmes wrangles out the weirdo Watson always had inside of him.

Watson wrangles Holmes out of dangerous situations - place h i m and his “ d e a r Watson” in nearly any situation, and they can make it fun and meaningful.

There is endless debate as to the nature of Holmes’ and Watson’s relationship - platonic life partners, a closeted romantic couple, even a neurodivergent man and his caregiver - at this point, I prefer to read the books with the viewpoint that these are two men who love each other. After a hundred years, that is all.

This leads to a bit of an elephant in the room. Sherlock Holmes is not just an autistic icon, he is THE autistic icon. Between his lack of body awareness, constant rocking

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and finger tapping, and obsession with both classical music and, of course, deductive reasoning, people have suspected that he may be on the spectrum for almost as long as we’ve known what autism is.

This has always been a series deeply Ma intertwined rcu sF alc with the ã

force the audience to also fall in love with everything from trees to roofs. As an example: “To [Stapleton’s] eyes all seemed beautiful, but to me a tinge of melancholy lay upon the countryside, which bore so clearly the mark of the waning year, Yellow leaves carpeted the lanes and fluttered down upon us as we passed, The rato/ tle of our wheels died away as TH EG ATE we drove through drifts of rotPO ST ting vegetation-sad gifts, as it seemed to me, for Nature to throw before the carriage of neuro- the returning heir of the Baskdiver- ervilles.” gent You now have permission to com- judge me. muIf you’re in a Victorian short nity, story and someone tells you, a s “hire Sherlock Holmes,” that is code for “you better hope Doyle this weirdo who can tell what c i t e d kind of dog you have from your his ex- cane can figure things out. perience Otherwise, you can just accept with insane your upcoming doom and quite asylums and likely death.” pediatric care as This series, and this book esinspiration for the char- pecially, is a celebration of difacter, imagining what might ferent kinds of brains, and has happen if one of those patients long been a valuable story for received the support they actu- the neurodiverse communially needed, according to a bi- ty. Between a bizarre premise, ography by Michael Sims. and fun characters who hold Before I continue, hear me the raw inelegance of humanout. Arthur Conan Doyle has ity, “The Hound of The Baskmy favorite writing style in all ervilles” is one of the most faof fiction. mous detective stories in the Yes, I love Oscar Wilde. Yes, world for a reason.

I love John Milton. However, Sherlock Holmes is a series that demands a particular brand of description, and Doyle nails it.

Holmes has long ago infected CONNECT WITH Watson with his intense love of KATE NORRISH the world, and the descriptions knorrish@student.framingham.edu

ARTS & FEATURES

Puzzles

ACROSS 1. Electrically versatile 5. Bros 10. Aspen pairs 14. Asian language where farang means “foreigner” or “guava” 15. Motionless 16. Bit of power 17. Diplomatic quality 18. *“Long Island Medium” star Caputo 20. “Why Should ___ Over You?” (Frank Sinatra song) 21. Badge wearer 22. What a work party is designed to boost

23. *Includes in a Gmail convo 26. Private Instagram convos 27. Super nitpicky 28. Opposite of discard 30. “For Pete’s ___!”

33. Site for centrifuges 35. (Honk!)

37. Pub delivery 38. *Exam for an aspiring DA 42. *Belt one out 44. Crest approval letters 45. Bacon hunk 47. Hostess ___balls 48. World’s largest toy company by piece count 50. Some Seoul music 52. What lathes do 55. Lead-in to “Pen” 57. *Drunk ___ skunk 60. Salad green 63. Broadway sellout letters 64. Numbered area at an airport 65. “Ain’t gonna happen,” or a hint to making sense of the starred clues 67. Actor Kapoor 68. “Top ___!” (“Beat me if you can!”)

69. Dryly funny 70. Widely admired person 71. Ticked off, or achy 72. Leaves full 73. Tiny iPod model DOWN 1. Top story?

2. Cuban dance 3. Polyester fabric 4. Urban fortification 5. Skip, as school 6. Free, like a fish 7. Section of the internet that

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standard search engines can’t access 8. Slip up 9. Flower part 10. Killer bee groups 11. Japanese motorcycle maker 12. Slanted typeface: Abbr.

13. Eyelid problem Puzzle solutions are now 19. Turf exclusively online.

24. Pupil’s course 25. Catches on 29. Church benches 31. Barbieland “accessory” 32. Shell + white + yolk 34. Pitcher’s slipup 36. Capris or chinos 38. Film villain spelled by the letter before each letter of IBM (!)

39. Poem full of praise 40. Engaged in conflict 41. Spanish snack 43. “Back for more, eh?”

46. Archery range?

49. Certain narcotic 51. Early release from prison 53. African country home to mountain gorillas 54. Georgia, but not Alabama 56. Brown, but not Rice 58. Cries of pain 59. Mello ___ (soft drink) 60. Sinus docs 61. LA nabe with an arts district 62. Wraps up 66. Pop music’s Rita

Word Hunt

11. Library

5. Electrons

12. Adjunct

6. Baseball

13. Wellness

7. City

14. George

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PHOTOS

14 | MARCH 27, 2026

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