February 10, 2017

THE GATEPOST VOLUME 85 • ISSUE 14

FSUGATEPOST.COM

FEBRUARY 10, 2017

Gatepost survey finds majority of students fear consequences of student debt

By Andrew Willoughby Arts & Features Editor Sarah Sousa Staff Writer Paola Florencio Staff Writer

Allie Gath/THE GATEPOST Students spend their snowday sledding on the sidewalk of Larned Hill.

Gatepost Survey finds students struggle balancing work and school

By Allison Wharton Asst. Arts & Features Editor Richard Tranfaglia Staff Writer Kate Shane Staff Writer Twenty six percent of FSU students work over 20 hours a week during the school year, according to an unscientific survey conducted by The Gatepost.

The survey was administered to 400 students from Sept. 29 to Oct. 7, 2016.

The survey found 46, or 11 percent, of the survey respondents work 25 hours a week or less.

Twenty-nine respondents, or 7 percent, work 30 hours a week or less. Fourteen respondents, or 3 percent, work 35 hours a week or less. Seventeen, or 4 percent, work

40 hours a week or less and three survey participants, or 1 percent, work over 40 hours a week.

Sixty-five respondents, or 16 percent, work 20 hours a week or less. Fifty-one participants, or 13 percent, work 10 hours a week or less and 51 respondents, or 13 percent, 15 hours a week or less.

Eighty-one respondents, or 20 percent, do not work during the school year. Thirty participants, or 7 percent, work five hours a week or less.

Thirteen participants, or three percent, did not answer.

President F. Javier Cevallos said he is concerned about students working more than 20 hours a week.

“It is very hard to maintain a full academic load and work so many hours,” he said. “The majority of

See STUDENT WORKERS page 4

Fifty-six percent of FSU students fear they will have to accept a job they don’t want based on salary because of their student loan debt, according to an unscientific survey conducted by The Gatepost.

The survey of 400 students was administered from Sept. 29 to Oct. 7, 2016.

According to the survey, 76 respondents, or 19 percent, are unsure of their current student loan debt. Sixty-one, or 15 percent, do

See STUDENT DEBT page 5

Travel ban discussed at immigration open forum

By Bailey Morrison News Editor An open forum, held on Monday, Feb. 6, addressed the travel ban issued by President Donald Trump and immigration.

The forum was attended by eleven audience members. A panel of four FSU professors answered questions regarding the heightened border security and immigration issues.

The panel consisted of English professor Alexander Hartwiger, history professor Stefan Papaioannou, communications professor Leslie Starobin and sociology professor Kaan Agartan.

The idea for this “open dialogue” was brought to the Center for Inclusive Excellence (CIE) by senior Cindy Nelson and junior Jace Williams, said Chon’tel Washington,

Alexandra Gomes/THE GATEPOST Senior, Cindy Nelson, and Junior, Jace Williams, collaborated with the CIE to host the forum.

director of the CIE. Nelson said she initially planned the immigration forum as a rally, but wanted to open the discussion to students with different opinions.

See IMMIGRATION FORUM page 3

INSIDE: OP/ED 8 • ARTS & FEATURES 10 • SPORTS 16

2 | NEWS

THE GATEPOST

Gatepost Interview

Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief Alexandra Gomes Associate Editors Brittany Cormier Julia Sarcinelli News Editors Bailey Morrison Asst. News Editors Kayllan Olicio Jillian Poland Arts & Features Editors Cesareo Contreras Andrew Willoughby Asst. Arts & Features Editors Tessa Jillson Allison Wharton Sports Editors Matt Ferris Mike Ferris Asst. Sports Editors Jose Carrasquillo Opinions Editor Phil McMullin Photos Editors Allie Gath Amanda Martin Darian O’Donnell Asst. Photos Editors Erin Fitzmaurice Design Editor Shayna Yacyshyn Asst. Design Editor Emily Robinson Copy Editor William Mills-Curran Staff Writers Cass Doherty Jessica Duff Amelia Foley Jen Fortin Liam Gambon Nick Murphy Linday Nixon Jesse Sannicandro Kate Shane Sarah Sousa Richard Tranfaglia Staff Photographer Nick Cunningham Joe Rydzefski Athena Venetsanakos Advisor Dr. Desmond McCarthy Assistant Advisor Elizabeth Banks Administrative Assistant Debra Fowler Clare 100 State Street McCarthy Center Room 410 Framingham, MA 01701-9101 Phone: (508) 626-4605 Fax: (508) 626-4097 gatepost@framingham.edu fsugatepost.com @TheGatepost

FEBRUARY 310 2017

Michael Wong-Russell Professor and Department Internship Director, Spanish

By Kayllan Olicio Assistant News Editor

erature. Latin American in particular and the themes are not often really appropriate for high school What is your educational back- ages. So, I thought if I really want to do this I better look for teaching ground and work history?

My bachelor’s and master’s degree at university. So, my wife and I both I did at Illinois State University. For my bachelors, I kept adding on majors. So, it took me five years. I ended up with three majors. I started out in Russian because that was the hot topic of the time. Studying Russian was where it was at and there were a lot of government subsidies - that was still during the Cold War period. They wanted Americans to learn Russian. … Then, I added French to it because I had done French in high school. I never did learn how to speak French. Those Courtesy of framingham.edu days, you just did reading and writing in classes, not like today where you do a lot of speaking. Then, applied to schools around here. We I thought, “There is something came back and went to Boston Uniwrong with this picture,” studying versity. She did her M.B.A. and I did French all those years and not be- my Ph.D. in Hispanic literature. … ing able to speak it. So, I thought, Then, I was a teaching assistant at “Cool, I’ll go to France.” That was BU for six years and then in 1995 I in the days where there were no came here. providers or companies with the organized study abroad programs. Did you pick up the language … So, I studied at the University of while you were in Hong Kong?

Grenoble in France. Then, I went I did. It’s kind of fading away. I back to Illinois State. ... I found never did get that into the writmyself speaking Spanish all the ing because holding on to Spanish time outside of classes. ... So, I add- in Hong Kong was a full-time job, ed Spanish to it and so I ended up too, because you just don’t hear it with the three. Then, I went on to spoken anywhere. The Chinese lando my master of arts in Spanish. I guage came kind of in the natural taught for a couple of years in the approach. It wasn’t a good place to south side of Chicago and my not- learn Chinese because it was still yet wife was finishing her under- a British colony in those days, so grad and had to go back to Hong it was English everywhere. But I Kong because her visa was running lived in a couple of smaller villagout. So, I thought, “Alright, let me es where no one knew English, so see if anybody in Hong Kong needs that’s where it happened. Now, if I a Spanish teacher.” Well, there go back to visit I need probably a was a really good school that did. I couple of days and a pretty big glass thought, “Okay I’m doing it, I’m up of wine to get the Chinese flowing for it.” I went to Hong Kong with again. It’s still there, just tucked the idea of spending a year or two. away. That’s how languages are.

I ended up staying 16 years. We got married while we were there and Your research interest is in the then I was teaching at a really pow- representation of science and erful high school. It was the Hong medicine in the 20th century Kong international school. The Latin American Literature. What students were all sons and daugh- inspired you to take that route? ters of businessmen and diplomats Just before we left Hong Kong to and they were really high power move here … our dog got really sick students. I started getting into lit- and passed away. So, I thought, “You

know, there is this dog I had for all this time, suddenly there is nothing there.” Coincidently, I was reading literature from South America that dealt with traveling spirits and a spirit leaving a body and planting itself into another body. ... I realized through more reading of Latin American literature that that was a primary focus in the 20th century.

The issue of the soul and the essence of material goods - it was a belief at the time not only in South America, but in the U.S. and Europe, that the soul had a material base to it. … It just seemed fascinating and all the science was implicit in the writing of Latin American authors of that period. It seemed that they were hearing all these discoveries going on in the laboratories during this period of scientism, as they called it, and they would pick up on these theories and create their own uses of that scientific principle in a very fictional way, but just as a “what if.” … That’s where you get all this crazy literature from Latin America that’s just fascinating to read. … Fortunately, I got in touch and became a member with a group at Rutgers - it’s called Ometeca - that has dedicated itself to the combining of sciences and literature. I thought, “Perfect. This is where I am and we have conventions in strange places around the world. It’s other people like me who see science as it is represented in literature and can see it as science as much as fictional deployment of a story.”

What advice would you give to FSU students?

To get out of their towns and into the world. Hopefully including some language studies because they are just not aware now, the focus, and understandably, is on graduating and getting a job. But then why go back to school? To get these things you could have gotten as an undergrad. … It knocks down barriers.

CONNECT WITH KAYLLAN OLICIO kolicio@student.framingham.edu

Police Logs Saturday, February 5

Monday, February 6

Thursday, February 9

Medical Towers Hall 20:07 Summary: Transport to MWMC

Narcotics Investigation McCarthy Center 16:36 Summary: Checks OK

Well-being Check Linsley Hall 8:26 Summary: Checks OK

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FEBRUARY 10, 2017

THE GATEPOST

NEWS | 3

Immigration Forum

Alexandra Gomes/THE GATEPOST A panel of FSU professors answered questions regarding the travel ban.

Continued from page 1 The executive order, titled “Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into The United States,” put a strict travel ban on seven middle eastern countries Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Iran, Somalia, Libya and Yemen, according to Nelson.

Jeanne Haley, an FSU counselor, asked the panel about the latest developments regarding the travel ban.

Hartwiger said a Seattle judge has temporarily blocked the ban, and thus far, it has not been overturned.

He said one of the more interesting ways to look at the executive order is through the “legal framework. If we think about this in terms of the structure of our government, where the checks and balances occur … in forms of pushback … it was relatively quick.”

He added, “The executive order was issued on Friday, and very quickly, the ACLU in Boston and other cities took action to work with those who were stranded in airports.”

Nelson said, “Part of the issue is people were detained. They were not citizens, but they are lawful residents, so that has been struck down. … They’re allowed to come into the country. That clears up some of the confusion about what the ban actually means, because we’re not giving visas to people from these restricted countries.”

One student said her friend married in Syria two years ago and planned to move to the United States with her husband. “This happened and they couldn’t. But

yesterday, they bought tickets to come tomorrow. … So they’re trying to race the clock to come here.”

Agartan said some people attempting to enter the country were rejected and had their visas stamped, which now means they must reapply.

“People who don’t have any stamps, they can still use those visas. … If they were unlucky enough to try and come to the United States and got their visa stamped, they’ll have to try again,” he said.

He added there are certain airlines that won’t accept travelers from the seven countries because of the “ambiguity.”

Williams asked the panel, “Is it true that people [trying to enter the country] are being asked their opinions of Trump and having their social media searched?”

One forum attendee said she heard some travelers’ social media had been searched during their initial screening upon entering the United States.

She added, “I’ve been hearing anecdotally online that people from other countries are being much more heavily scrutinized when they go to get their visa. … I think that is even more troubling because that expands to everybody, and it isn’t just those countries from the initial ban.”

Papaioannou said during a time with a “radical change” in government policy, people are often left confused due to the vague nature of it.

Hartwiger added, “One of the major criticisms has been about the rollout. The lack of communication in terms of the details and specifics of the policy and the policy not

being vetted by departments that have a stake in the implementation - like the Director of Homeland Security. … I think that’s created a lot of anxiety.

“That becomes very problematic when it’s on a case-by-case basis. It’s not working evenly. It’s not working structurally. It’s a bit of a gray area,” he added.

Nelson said the executive order allows for religious minorities to enter the country as refugees, and the order does not ask them “questions about their allegiance to Trump but if they are from a religious minority within these countries. Mainly, this would be Christians in these restricted nations.

There is this idea that officials will be testing the religiosity of those who claim to be Christians.”

However, “The Quran and the Bible are very similar,” she said.

An attendee asked if religious minorities would include Shiite Muslims in a predominantly Sunni country.

English professor Lisa Eck said, “It doesn’t seem like the intent, but that brings out the irony in this ban, because to be a Sunni in Iran is to be a religious minority.”

Hartwiger said the executive order has language that is “couched in emotion. It elicits fear and anxiety.”

He added, “It seems like, as a result, having a nationwide conversation is increasingly difficult.

Because the two bases of the conversation are coming at two different issues. It becomes a non-starter if somebody is saying, ‘This is about safety and security,’ and somebody else is saying ‘This is about discrimination,’ which doesn’t allow

for a lot of middle ground.”

One student said her friends share the same opinion as her, but she has trouble talking to her parents because they are “very conservative.

“I was talking to them about this and saying, ‘This is immoral. You can’t do this to people,’ and they kept saying, ‘We don’t want 9/11 to happen again.’ I didn’t know how to help them understand … that there’s so much terrorism going on inside the country, like school shootings, and a very small percentage of those were non-white or non-Christian.”

Another student said she comes from a “pretty conservative part of Massachusetts,” but she had the support of her family.

She added, “There’s five churches in my hometown. To me, the good Christian thing to do would be to take everyone in that we can and help them. I’m under the impression that after a lot of immigrants come in there’s an economic boom.”

Papaioannou said, “I don’t want to make general statements about refugees. In my study of refugee populations, on a whole, they tend to be people who won’t want to be involved in politics. … They’re often fleeing a deadly situation. …

They’re leaving, usually, because they have no other choice.”

He added, “They do add to the economy of the host country.

They’re often people who want to be safe.”

The forum also addressed the media coverage of the travel ban.

Eck said it has developed in two forms. “One is stories of real refugees that create empathy and makes you take place of the refugee and the other category is all these stories of middle class and affluent people who are affected too. People who were doing their Ph.D. research, people whose parents can’t come to their gradation.”

As the forum ended, attendees addressed how to get students involved in the discussion who may not share the same opinion.

Eck suggested taking a counter opinion and flush it out by doing thorough research.

Williams said they hope to be able to engage the Republicans club at Framingham State in further discussions as well.

Nelson said, “I’m happy with the turnout and discussion that was had but I wish more opinions were expressed. This is a great step in the right direction.”

CONNECT WITH BAILEY MORRISON bmorrison1@student.framingham.edu

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4 | NEWS

THE GATEPOST

FEBRUARY 10, 2017

Student Workers Continued from page 1 our students work, and I believe it is a positive experience as it is an investment in the future. But it is crucial to find the right balance of work, study and leisure time.”

Melinda Stoops, dean of students, said the more hours a student works, the closer they are to a “tipping point” of stress due to the lack of personal time.

She added, “It comes down to choices. When you look at sacrifices, I think it might mean they don’t have as broad a range of activities as people who don’t work as many hours.”

SGA president and senior Ezequiel De Leon said, “I imagine that working large numbers of hours must certainly negatively affect students’ schoolwork, as well as their social experiences.”

He added that work “shouldn’t be such a burden that it inhibits student achievement and development.”

According to a U.S. census report conducted in 2011, 72 percent of undergraduates work. Twenty percent of the students work full-time, or 40 hours per week.

Fifty-two percent of the students work less than 40 hours per week and 26 percent work 20 hours or more. The report also said college professors suggest students should work between 10 to 15 hours.

Many students said it is hard to balance their work hours with their school commitments.

Senior Ryan Toomey said he is an SDA who works nine hours a week.

“It’s still difficult to balance the heavy load,” he said.

Junior April Navarro said “it is hard making time for homework” since she is a server who works nights.

Hailey Smith, a sophomore, works at the school Starbucks four days a week. She said, “I end up staying up really late and I don’t get a lot of school work done.”

Sophomore Nada Shaaban, who works as an apprentice for Company 1 Theater, struggles with whether to “focus more on work or school.”

She added, “I don’t know where to put all my energy.”

Paul Welch, director of counseling services, said the effects of long-term stress that can arise from trying to balance work and school include poor sleep, inadequate nutrition and no exercise opportunities.

“Those effects should be signs to self-evaluate your priorities,” he said.

Students need to “find a bal-

40+ hours/week, 1% 40 hours/week 35 hours/week 30 hours/week 25 hours/week

7%

5 hours/week

13%

10 hours/week

4% 3%

13%

7% 11%

16%

15 hours/week 20 hours/week

Amount of Hours Students Work Brittany Cormier/THE GATEPOST

ance” when it comes to work and school, said Welch.

Junior Kelly Barden said, “It’s hard to manage time for both school and work. Work expects you to work whenever you aren’t in class, but you also need to find time for homework, as well as time for yourself. By the end of the day, I’m drained from work and school, and do not want to do more work.”

Senior Tori Clark said, “It’s hard, because some professors want me to focus solely on their class and don’t realize work is what’s allowing me to come to school.”

Joe Botteri, a freshman, said, “I work because I like having money. It allows me to go out with my friends and do activities that get my mind off school when I’m stressed.”

Sociology professor Virginia Rutter said, “There’s no such thing anymore as a traditional college student. When people say traditional college student, they tend to talk about somebody that has a lot of freedom, between the ages of 17 and 23, to discover themselves.”

Rutter said students not only work to pay for educational expenses, but life expenses as well.

“In my experience with my students, it’s not just they are trying to take care of themselves and meet their personal needs, but I have a lot of students who are

meeting the needs of their families,” she said.

While some students and faculty focus on the stress of working while attending classes full-time, some believe there are benefits to having a job.

Food and nutrition professor Susan Massad, who has taught consumer economics, said a parttime job can be “good” for college students because it teaches them how to “organize” and “balance.”

She added, “It gives them work experience and an appreciation for being in college because they are working to help pay for it.”

Sam Patjane, a junior, said, “Working while being at school can be challenging, but it helps me discipline myself to balance school and my job.”

Junior Andrew Robinson said, “It’s a good experience to work and go to school because you learn how to manage your time effectively.”

Some students said they have learned from past experiences and cut back on work even though they might not earn the desired amount of money.

Junior Kaylee Willard said, “Last year, I worked three days a week.

All my free time devoted to homework was pushed back. … I only work Saturdays now.”

Jay Wenzel, a freshman, works in landscaping solely on the week-

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ends. “It’s a tiring job, so if I picked up more hours during the week my school work would be affected.”

Freshman Jillian Kokernak said, “I work as a food runner at a restaurant over the weekend in my hometown. It separates work and school.”

Junior Christine Connolly said, “I had to find a happy medium balancing my social life, school work and work. Working on the weekend while going to school during the week isn’t bringing as much money as I would like, but … I’m a much happier person since I’m not stressing over an over packed work or school schedule anymore.”

Rutter said there are many students who have more “complicated demands” related to the “uncertainty in the economy.”

She added this an economic issue that “goes beyond economics.

“It not just about the numbers, it’s also about the way we live and the pressures we put on our college students.”

CONNECT WITH ALLISON WHARTON awharton@student.framingham.edu CONNECT WITH RICHARD TRANFAGLIA rtranfaflia@student.framingham.edu CONNECT WITH KATE SHANE kshane@student.framingham.edu

FEBRUARY 10, 2017

THE GATEPOST

NEWS | 5

SGA addresses gym hours and RamTram stops

By Lindsay Nixon Staff Writer SGA discussed current gym hours at its meeting on Feb. 7, 2017.

Senator Cassandra Tedeschi suggested extending gym hours on weekends. “More people are staying on the weekends. The gym closing on Friday at 7 p.m. is very inconvenient,” she said.

Senator Steven DeMeo also asked if there was any way to extend the gym hours until 11 p.m. on weeknights. “I really think people would use it until then,” he said.

He said it would also add more Allie Gath/THE GATEPOST hours for the student workers.

As the open forum continued, SGA President Ezequiel De Leon discussed his meeting with the Department of Higher Education Senator Mike O’Brien brought up SGA voted Steven DeMeo as the student concerns about RamTram the Academic Policies Committee. meeting last Friday. He said there stops. “It’s getting really cold out- She said the school has decided were discussions about threats to- senator of the month.

Student activities trust fund side, and a lot of people have to sit to push the withdrawal date from ward immigrant students, includnine weeks to ten weeks due to feding the travel ban and DACA. treasurer, Sarah Horwitz, nominatthere and wait,” he said.

He added there was also a dis- ed DeMeo, and said, “He’s doing inHe suggested sealing off the bus eral financial aid laws.

She added starting in the next cussion about funding and budget credible. He’s always so active and stop waiting areas. academic year, the school has de- cuts for sanctuary cities, including always has input for everything.”

Also at the meeting, the MMA cided to give students a “reading Framingham.

Senator Bridget Green presented and Comic Book clubs were schedSenate Chair Jack Capello an- the U-Rock award to Capello. uled for funding requests, but both day” before finals, which allows meetings were rescheduled to next students more time to study for ex- nounced that SGA is looking for volunteer opportunities to start in week due to lack of attendance by ams.

SGA President Ezequiel De Leon, early March. He listed some possithe clubs. explained what was said at the bilities, including working with the Mikayla Quinlan, social events Department of Higher Education YMCA or local retirement homes. CONNECT WITH LINDSAY NIXON chair, discussed new updates from lnixon@student.framingham.edu

Student Debt Continued from page 1 not know how much they will owe upon graduation.

Twenty-five students, or 6 percent, currently have under $5,000 of student loan debt and 45, or 11 percent, have under $10,000 of student loan debt.

Thirty-four students, or 9 percent, have under $15,000 of student loan debt, 47 students, or 12 percent, have under $20,000 of student loan debt and 34 students, or 9 percent, have under $25,000 of student loan debt.

Eighteen students, or 5 percent, currently have under $30,000 of student loan debt, 13 students, or 3 percent, currently have under $35,000 of student loan debt and nine students, or 2 percent have under $40,000 of student loan debt.

Seventeen, or 4 percent, currently owe $40,000 or more in student loans.

Seventy-one students, or 18 percent, currently have no student loan debt.

The survey found 54 students, or 14 percent, anticipate no student loan debt upon the time of

graduation. Twenty-six students, or 7 percent, anticipate owing under $10,000. Fifty-seven, or 14 percent will owe under $20,000.

Ninety-one, or 23 percent, anticipate to owe under $30,000. Fifty-eight, or 15 percent, expect to owe under $40,000. Forty-four, or 11 percent, anticipate over

is a higher number than our average debt - in the $20,000 range. It is one more reason for us to continue to work to find funding to keep our costs down.”

Director of Financial Aid Deborah Altsher said the number of students who don’t know their student loan indebtedness is a

“Our cost is still very reasonable in comparison with other public and private schools. It is, nonetheless, significant and places a burden on our students and their futures.”

- President F. Javier Cevallos

$40,000 of student debt while 66, or 15 percent, don’t know how much they’ll owe upon graduation.

President F. Javier Cevallos said he was surprised by the number of students with this much debt. “It

“reflection on society and financial literacy.”

According to a 2014 survey conducted by the Massachusetts Department of Education (DOE), the statewide average student debt was $29,391 for “public 4-year in-

stitutions and private nonprofit 4-year institutions.”

According to the DOE, 65 percent of Massachusetts graduates will leave college with some amount of debt.

Cevallos said the average tuition and fees for public Massachusetts universities have been on the rise. “It is the result of … decreased state funding. Although, our cost is still very reasonable in comparison with other public and private schools, it is nonetheless significant and places a burden on our students and their futures.”

He added, “It is a national issue. As states have reduced their support of higher education the costs have increased and the debt … has escalated across the nation.”

The average debt of the FSU class of 2014 was $18,027. Nineteen percent of that class had no student debt, according to the DOE. SGA President Ezequiel De Leon said, “It’s important to be informed about your students loans, so that when you leave our

See STUDENT DEBT page 6

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FEBRUARY 10, 2017

Student Debt Continued from page 5 institution you’re prepared to handle the fiscal responsibility associated with our education in the current system.”

Student Trustee Karl Bryan noted 14 percent of students anticipating no student debt after four years is surprisingly high.

“That’s great - I just wish it was 100 percent.”

Eric Gustafson, executive director of development and alumni relations, said his department is in the midst of a comprehensive fundraising campaign which has been going on for seven years, accumulating over $12 million.

“Many donors want to support financial aid because they were students here,” he said. “They worked and they struggled with financial aid to pay for school so they understand how hard it is for students to not only succeed aca-

eral or institutional money. This money comes in the form of work studies, grants, scholarships or loans, said Altsher.

She said work study is provided to students who apply for it based on need. Eligibility is determined by factors such as the size of the student’s family, the family’s income and the number of college students in the family.

The DOE gives the Financial Aid office an “allocation of just over $100,000” to use for work study payment, Altsher said.

“We’re required to meet 25 percent of that allocation with institutional money. We actually meet it with about 50 percent, so the institution itself puts a lot of money into work study.

“We just don’t get enough [money] from the federal government,” said Altsher.

“When you think about the

“Every $1,000 scholarship is $1,000 that doesn’t have to be borrowed” - Eric Gustafson, executive director of development and alumni relations

demically, but work and try not to graduate with a crushing amount of debt.”

Gustafson said scholarships generated by Alumni Relations “will never run out and there will always be scholarships available. … As long as there is a Framingham State, these scholarships will be available for students.”

The department currently gives out 30 to 40 scholarships each year. “Every $1,000 scholarship is $1,000 that doesn’t have to be borrowed,” he said.

Altsher said there are between 3,800 and 3,900 FSU students who receive some type of financial aid.

The FSU Financial Aid Office encourages all students to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Approximately 80 percent of the student body completes the FAFSA forms, said Altsher.

She said the University hosts FAFSA days on which students can receive assistance filling out the forms and have any questions about it answered.

By filing the FAFSA, students are applying to receive state, fed-

number of students who want [work study], it doesn’t go very far,” she added.

Altsher said the University provides more money for work study because “students want it. Students need it. Students need to work. It’s good for the school. It’s good for the students.”

About 200 students are awarded work study and about 175 students are currently employed through the program, said Altsher.

Students currently participating in a work study are completing four to six hours weekly, according to Altsher.

Upon reviewing an application, the Admissions Office determines a student’s eligibility for certain scholarships based upon factors such as financial and academic status. Admissions distributes merit scholarships, said Altsher.

She said the Financial Aid Office manages scholarships and grants based on students’ financial needs. The John and Abigail Adams scholarship is administered by the Financial Aid Office.

According to the DOE, the John

Amount of Student Debt 18%

No Student Debt

6%

≥$5,000

11%

≥$10,000

9%

≥$15,000

12%

≥$20,000

9%

≥$25,000

5%

≥$30,000

3%

≥$35,000

3%

≥$40,000

4%

<$40,000

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

Brittany Cormier/THE GATEPOST

FEBRUARY 10, 2017

THE GATEPOST

NEWS | 7

Student Debt and Abigail Adams Scholarship is granted to high school students in the top 25th percentile of their class who have scored advanced and proficient in 3 categories of one of the Massachusetts standardized tests. The recipients are given free tuition to any Massachusetts state institution.

The grants administered based upon financial necessity include Pell Grants, Supplemental Educational Opportunity grants and Framingham State University grants, said Altsher.

These grants range from $100 to $5,000. Students can receive a number of grants at the same time based upon their eligibility for them.

Altsher said students are given plenty of information about the loans they sign for. Sometimes they just don’t accurately read through it.

“They’re definitely given the information, but I think it can be so overwhelming sometimes with the way it’s presented. People kind of look at it and go, ‘Ah! It’s too much!’” said Altsher She said students should not be afraid to look at their student loan balances. “People have a real fear of finances,” she said.

Susan Massad, food and nu-

Student Debt Facts

! ! !

56% fear they will have to accept a job they do not want based on salary because of student loan debt 19% are unsure of their current student loan debt

15% don't know how much they will owe at the time of graduation

Brittany Cormier/THE GATEPOST

trition professor, who taught a course on consumer economics at FSU, said, “There are so many students who have over $40,000 of debt. This is a state school and should be affordable to everyone.

The thing with Massachusetts is that the fees are so high because we are towards the bottom when it comes to public support for higher education.”

Sophomore Nicole Valerio said,

“I fear loans in general.”

Senior Leah Forristall said, “I don’t fear accepting a job based on salary. I’d rather work a job I enjoy rather than one I hate just because I’m going to get paid more for the other one.”

Senior Philippe Noel said he is somewhat scared of the debt that he has - approximately $25,000.

“Thoughts of my future cross my mind. Being in debt stops me

from things like buying a house and getting a car.”

Sophomore Josh Rumple is currently $10,000 in student debt. “I went to a state school because I knew it would be cheaper and I got a pretty great scholarship,” he said.

Rumple plans to attend medical school after graduating from FSU and said he isn’t necessarily concerned about his student debt.

Senior Rachael Thomas also has $10,000 in student debt. “I owe it all back, plus interest. I haven’t paid any of it back yet, none of it,” she said.

Alum Christopher Wisdom said, “I’m not sure how many students really pay attention to the loans they take. I know people who don’t really understand what their debt is going to be and how that will affect their future. …

People need to understand what they’re getting themselves into.”

CONNECT WITH ANDREW WILLOUGHBY awilloughby@student.framingham.edu CONNECT WITH SARAH SOUSA ssousa3@student.framingham.edu CONNECT WITH PAOLA FLORENCIO pflorencio@student.framingham.edu

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

8| OP/ED

THE GATEPOST

THE GATEPOST EDITORIAL

Students need debt education So far, the new Trump administration has said very little about one of the biggest threats to our economy - the student debt crisis.

At FSU, 27 percent of students owe over $25,000, according to a recent Gatepost survey.

Currently, the national student loan debt is over a trillion dollars, and 70 percent of American college students are burdened by student loan debt, according to studentloans.net.

While President Donald Trump has said he plans to consolidate all current repayment plans into a single income-based repayment plan, according to studentdebtrelieft.us, it doesn’t seem to be a priority. He has a wall to build, you know.

So if the Trump administration isn’t going to help, who can?

The University.

We at The Gatepost believe Framingham State should lead by example and educate its students on their student loan debts.

Perhaps more troubling than the shocking amount of money students owe is the number of them don’t actually know what they owe.

The Gatepost survey found nineteen percent of FSU students are currently unsure of the total amount of their student loan debt.

Additionally, according to a 2016 study conducted by Lendedu, a company that provides information on student loan refinancing options, only 7.9 percent of students surveyed know their current interest rates, and only 6.1 percent know their repayment terms.

The University has taken steps to help students with their FAFSA applications. There is a whole page of the University website dedicated to student loan information. The University has also designated FAFSA days every spring semester dedicated to helping students fill out their federal financial aid application.

However, we at The Gatepost believe the website and FAFSA workshop are not enough.

Knowing how to fill out and submit the FAFSA is pointless if students don’t know what they are signing up for.

The University should hold a workshop once a semester in which staff educate students about the difference between subsidized and unsubsidized loans, and private and federal loans.

Students also need to be taught which loans accumulate interest while they are still enrolled, how interest rates work, the risks for a cosigner and their options after graduating, such as student loan refinancing.

In addition to the workshops, a class on student loans should be taught during the mandatory Foundations course all freshmen take at the start of their time here.

If the loan crisis is to be solved, people need to know what the loan crisis is.

And since it is becoming clearer every day that the Trump administration will sit idly by for four years as Millennials drown in debt, it is up to universities and colleges to help their students.

FEBRUARY 10, 2017

OP/ED

President F. Javier Cevallos

Another example of an immigrant who gets the job done.

Samuel McGuire/ THE GATEPOST

Campus Conversations What are your thoughts on student debt?

By: Phil McMullin and Cesareo Contreras

1

“I got good financial aid, but I feel like it’s an issue for most schools.”

-Michaela Goulet, freshman

2 1

“The government knows what they’re doing. It’s good for business, but they don’t really care about us.”

-Jensen Ayuk, junior

2 3

“ I’m from Ireland, so coming here is a really big shock. Here, college is a racket.”

-Liam Glynn, freshman

4 3

“It’s definitely a challenge. It makes it hard to afford books and tuition.”

-Cheryl Thomas, freshman

4 5

“I hate it. I know I’m going to be in debt when I leave.”

-Rachel Paolecci, freshman

6

“They’re paying to get a job later on. It seems counterproductive.”

-Dana Arburr, freshman

5

6

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

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

FEBRUARY 10, 2017

THE GATEPOST

OP/ ED | 9

Living with people who support the Muslim ban My parents never understood other religions. To them, it was only Catholics or Protestants who had the right to express their opinions.

Hindus or Muslims were a nuisance. They were intellectually stubborn when it came to their belief in different practices.

My parents grew up in a primarily white town, with only two men of color in their high school class. They never got the chance to learn about different cultures in school or experience non-western religions.

A few months ago, before Trump’s inauguration, my parents went grocery shopping at a local Stop & Shop. In the midst of gathering their regular home goods, they came across a man of Islamic faith screaming about the prophet of Muhammad and praising Allah.

In their recount of the situation, they described shoppers moving past the man in fear, gathering their kids in their arms and moving as far away from the man as possible. My dad, being a big tough guy, walked up to the man chanting about his religion and ordered him to leave the store immediately. When the man refused, my dad forced him out.

When my parents came home, they described their “terrifying” encounter to my brother and I. My brother agreed how crazy the event had been, but I disagreed, asking them if they knew who Allah was. Sure enough, they did not.

When I told them that Allah meant God, they waved it off, saying that the man had no right to scare everyone in the store. My mom recalled how she thought he had a gun, although he showed no evidence of violence.

Frustration engulfed me. I don’t necessarily blame my parents since they grew up in a culturally secluded area, which possibly might have affected their development and understanding. Yet, their minds were never open to the facts outside their judgment. I would say America was founded upon the principles of intersectionality, but they would complain about terrorism. It was always a one-way discussion.

The conversation ended with them yelling at me for my “radicalized” perception, and although I tried my best to explain the man was only celebrating his Islamic religion, it was as if their ears had been blocked by an invisible force.

I never really considered my parents a huge fan of Trump, although my mother bought his book. She liked his plans on money management and keeping Americans in power.

A couple weeks after Trump’s inauguration, I was reading a book in the living room - my mother and my brother watching the news beside me. A news broadcaster brought up the incident pertaining to Muslims travelers being detained at airports. My brother and mother started a conversation about the ban, stating how happy they were that Trump had kept his word, unlike past presidents.

I tried my best to shut out the conversation, sticking my nose further into my book, knowing it would lead to an argument if I countered their comments. Unfortunately, the conversation only got worse.

They began to talk about the wall between Mexico and the U.S.A. My brother agreed that the wall was a good idea, stating how it would create more jobs for “real” Americans. My mother, of course, agreed with his response.

I couldn’t hold back and joined the conversation, telling them that America was full of opportunity. It was always a competition, and that everyone should have a chance to find a glimpse of success here whether they were born here or not.

It wasn’t long before my mother and brother were yelling at me about how some Americans don’t have jobs because people are “forced” to hire people from diverse backgrounds. How we were “better off” with the ban and the wall to protect the American economy and keep Americans in power.

However, according to The New York Times, most jobs in America are lost due to technology, and not due to immigration.

The only negative comment my mother had to say about the ban was that it would be the cause of more terrorism and hatred toward America.

There was no use arguing with them anymore. I took my book and went to my room in silence, their conversation seeming to get louder almost purposely, echoing through the house.

The problem is I will never be right to them and they will never be right to me. Although the conversation may be irritating, don’t keep quiet. Argue facts and after awhile, maybe they will listen and learn.

Tessa Jillson Editorial Staff

Shayna Yacyshyn/ THE GATEPOST

Have an opinion about something happening on campus? Send it in 500 words or less to gatepostopinions@gmail.com. Anyone can submit. We look forward to hearing from you!

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

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

10 | PHOTOS

THE GATEPOST

FEBRUARY 10, 2017

Amanda Martin/THE GATEPOST

FSU’s Annual

Drag Show

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

FEBRUARY 10, 2017

ARTS & FEATURES | 11

THE GATEPOST

ARTS & FEATURES Disability and self-identity Writing a memoir

Photo courtesy of Patricia Horvath Horvath’s memoir, “All the Difference,” will be published in August 2017.

By Jillian Poland Editorial Staff Patricia Horvath has written about a shrinking woman in her fiction, but now she has written about another in her nonfiction herself.

Horvath, an English professor here at FSU and author of the forthcoming memoir “All the Difference,” was diagnosed with osteoporosis in her thirties, nearly twenty years earlier than the average.

Osteoporosis is a condition where bones become brittle and weak from the loss of tissue.

Bones can be easily fractured and patients typically experience a gradual loss in height. “I had to fight to get a diagnosis,” she said, “but I had full blown osteoporosis.

I was very upset, and I started crying when I found this out.”

Horvath said she often writes to figure out things that bother her, so it’s no wonder she began writing about her experiences with the bone disease.

“I wrote this story,” Horvath said, “in which somebody was shrinking and shrinking, and eventually she had to carry a milk crate around to stand on, and nobody noticed her disappear.”

She added, “When I workshopped [the story] with some friends of mine, they asked me about the genesis for it, and I was

telling them about my osteoporosis, and how upset I was when I was diagnosed. ... My friends said, ‘You shouldn’t write this as fiction - you should write this as nonfiction, and you should write the actual story.’”

Her osteoporosis diagnosis was not the first physical challenge she has faced. As a child, she had severe scoliosis, a condition where the spine curves sideways.

shocked by the difference in the way I was perceived and treated by people.

“Boys who wouldn’t give me the time of day suddenly wanted to go out with me,” she said with a laugh.

“They would say, ‘Oh you’re so smart. Can I copy your homework?’ and I thought, you know, this isn’t about me being smart, because I’ve been smart all these years and you didn’t want to talk to me last year when I was smart.”

Horvath’s workshopping group was surprised to hear about her struggles with scoliosis as a child she’d never mentioned it to them, even after years of friendship.

“They said, ‘That’s the story you need to write.’ I said, ‘No, I don’t want to write that. It’s too personal - it’s too upsetting.’ And they said, ‘Well, that’s why you need to write it.’ They were right.”

And so Horvath began work on her memoir, a project that would span years. “I would write some and revisit it and rewrite it. … I wrote many drafts and rewrote them,” she said.

“I had to do research,” she added. “I had to find my old medical records. I found documents my mother had written from around that time.”

The book is more than just an exploration of her own experiences, however. Through her

“I said, ‘No, I don’t want to write that. It’s too personal - it’s too upsetting.’ And they said, ‘Well, that’s why you need to write it.’ ” -Patricia Horvath, English professor

She spent her youth locked up in braces and casts that bound her from chin to knee. One surgery left her in bed for months, unable to move. After this ordeal, she had to relearn how to walk.

She said, “Eventually, abruptly, close to the time I was graduating high school, all of those braces and casts and things came off and I was pronounced healed. I was

writing, Horvath tried to find the ways in which disability can shape self-identity. She said, “The question I’m asking is ... ‘What happens to one’s sense of self when a physical disability ceases to be visible?’ And within that, I’m interested in ways historically - in literature, because I’m an English professor - physical disability has been conflated with moral failing.”

The memoir won’t be Horvath’s first published work. She has had essays and stories published in many reputable literary magazines, such as “The Massachusetts Review,” “The Los Angeles Review,” and “Shenandoah.” In 2013, she was a special mention for a Pushcart Prize - a prestigious literary accolade - in the category of Best of Small Presses.

Amid her career as a writer and her time working in educational program development for low income students in Boston, Horvath found her way to FSU. Samuel Witt, an FSU English professor and Horvath’s colleague, said watching her teach a class is like watching “a ship being guided with a really light hand.

“I remember she was trying to teach students how to make writing non-abstract,” said Witt.

“She started off by talking about a new dog she had gotten and the students were constructing these pictures of it. She described the dog but didn’t give them any particular descriptive language ...

The students all imagined different kinds of dogs. And then she revealed at the end that the dog was this little tiny lap dog, and then it turned out that she didn’t even have a dog.”

Horvath’s current student, Robert Renaud, is grateful for the opportunity to learn with her. He said he’s “older than most of the other students at FSU” but Horvath’s “patience with my lack of self-confidence has turned a truly terrifying time in my life into a very pleasant and enjoyable experience.

“She was the first person to suggest trying to do something more with my work,” he continued.

“Taking her advice, I submitted to the Onyx and the Literary Awards. ... I never would have tried if she didn’t make me feel comfortable.

That confidence is something I will always be grateful for.”

Horvath is having the same effect on students that stories once had on her. She said, “From the very first time somebody said those magic words to me, ‘Once upon a time,’ I was transported. … It never occurred to me not to write.”

CONNECT WITH JILLIAN POLAND

jpoland@student.framingham.edu

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

12 | ARTS & FEATURES

FEBRUARY 10, 2017

THE GATEPOST

Framingham gets Framin‘glam’

Amanda Martin/THE GATEPOST From left to right: Lili Whiteass, Destiny, Rainbow Frite, and Miss Kris Knievil field questions from the audience

By Tessa Jillson Asst. Arts & Features Editor Fierce in style, makeup unblemished and striking in personality, perfection seemed to ooze off the DPAC stage as four drag queens - Destiny, Rainbow Frite, Lili Whiteass and Miss Kris Knievil - put on a dazzling performance.

As the road was covered in an icy blanket of snow and slush on Tuesday night, students packed into Dwight Hall, removing the thought of tedious weather from their minds and watched as the lights faded and the music engulfed them.

Lili Whiteass said the snow was a good omen. It snows every year they perform at FSU and in the future, if it doesn’t snow, she speculated something bad might happen.

The performance kicked off with Rainbow Frite, Lili Whiteass and Miss Kris Knievil lip-syncing “You Gotta have a Gimmick” from the 1962 drama-film production “Gypsy,” which is about the life of Burlesque dancers.

The group said they have been performing together since 1996.

Each drag queen had a specialized talent. Lili Whiteass had a strong voice and Miss Kris Knievil had the crowd roaring in laughter, but Destiny was the superstar of the group.

When Destiny was called to the stage, the crowd screamed 10 times louder. The other drag queens praised how beautiful Destiny was, comparing her to Beyoncé and other female artists. She eats a lot of sriracha to

stay fit, they joked.

Destiny performed a mash-up of songs by Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj.

Freshman Samantha Ross said, “They announced Destiny and the girl at the end of the row went wild. I was totally surprised someone was that excited. But when she came out, I completely understood why.”

When asked who does her dance mixes, Destiny said she makes them herself using GarageBand.

Lili Whiteass danced and sang throwbacks from the ’80s, including songs from The Bangles and Depeche Mode. Rainbow Frite lip synced “Barbie Girl,” and Miss Kris Knievil performed her comedy routine, which included a range of song parodies.

Days later, sophomore Elizabeth Stocks couldn’t stop singing Miss Kris Knievil’s parodies. “She was fabulous. ‘I love cock and balls.’ … Hilarious,” Stocks said, referring to the parody of the song “I Love Rock and Roll.”

Lili Whiteass also had the crowd in stitches with her commentary on the current political climate. She told Trump off and advised him to “fix the water” in Flint, Michigan and to “watch” his mouth.

Although the show was comical, they all advocated universal diversity and equality during segments.

“We’re Americans and we’re all-inclusive,” Lili Whiteass said. “If you want to do something, do it now - don’t wait.”

Amanda Martin/THE GATEPOST (Above): Lili Whiteass sang throwbacks from The Bangles and Depeche Mode.

(Below): Destiny danced to a mashup of Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj.

CONNECT WITH TESSA JILSON

tjilson@student.framingham.edu

“They announced Destiny and the girl at the end of the row went wild. I was totally surprised someone was that excited.

But when she came out, I completely understood why.”

-Samantha Ross, freshman FRAMINGHAM STATE UNIVERSITY’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1932 | FSUGATEPOST.COM

Amanda Martin/THE GATEPOST

FEBRUARY 10, 2017

ARTS & FEATURES | 13

THE GATEPOST

ACLU informs students of citizens’ rights

Amanda Martin/THE GATEPOST Verma spoke to students about the importance of knowing their rights.

By Crystal Stevens Staff Writer Students and faculty discussed citizens’ rights with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) on Wednesday evening as part of Hope-in-Action.

ACLU attorney Charu Verma answered the audience’s questions regarding their rights as citizens at schools, protests and during police encounters.

The presentation opened with a discussion of the First Amendment, and how it applies to protesting and encounters with law enforcement.

The remaining discussion covered citizens’ rights during police encounters. Each situation has different guidelines, but it was reiterated throughout the discussion that it is important for citizens to use their right to remain silent.

In addition, when being stopped by law enforcement, asking the question “Am I being detained?” can help in an unfamiliar situation. If the answer is “No,” then it is the right of the citizen to leave, Verma said.

Immigration was also discussed - the ACLU is now encouraging naturalized citizens to carry their naturalization papers at all times. Immigrants are also being encouraged to have their immigration papers with them.

“We are in unprecedented times and the landscape is changing quickly,” said Verma.

“Since the election, the ACLU has received an increased number of requests for trainings. … I’ve done three of them and I have three booked within the next two weeks as well,” she said.

Verma has been conducting training sessions with the ACLU, providing a platform for citizens to learn about their rights.

Her presentations aren’t just limited to schools, either, she said.

“I have been doing ‘Know Your Rights’ trainings for a couple of years. I go to community organizations, churches and schools,” she said.

Verma also gave tips for any future protesters.

“I think, especially for college students,

there’s really been a desire to protest and to know your rights when you’re out there protesting,” she said. “I think it is really something specific for college students.”

When Verma isn’t doing a training at a college, she’s “not going to talk about protests because that’s not the issue that’s important to the audience.”

She added, “We tailor-make our presen-

“I think, especially for college studetns, there’s really been a desire to protest.”

-Charu Vera, ACLU attorney

tations depending on who is requesting them and what their needs are.”

Miguel Arias, a sophomore, said, “There’s some rights I did not know I had. For example, when you’re in a car driving and you get stopped, your friends don’t have to show their IDs, which I didn’t know.”

Verma emphasized the importance for citizens to know their rights so they can handle law enforcement encounters effectively.

“It’s always important to know your rights, because you never know when you are going to engage with law enforcement,” Verma said.

CONNECT WITH CRYSTAL STEVENS cstevens4w@student.framingham.edu

Beauty by Bailey

By Bailey Morrison Editorial Staff Last October, YouTuber and beauty guru KathleenLights released an eyeshadow palette in collaboration with Morphe. The palette features eight matte and eight shimmer shadows. This palette was designed to create daily wearable eye looks with a pop of pigment.

The shadows are packaged in a small, simple black palette with red embossed lettering - an ideal size for travel. This palette is on sale on Morphe.com for $14.99.

It is not only affordable but versatile, making it a great starting point for any new makeup lover and a great addition to the makeup collection of someone who is always looking for something new to test out.

Highlights The first shadow that stood out to me is the bronze shimmer shade. The pigmentation alone makes the shade one of my favorites in this palette. The warm tone can spice up a look when blended in with a tan shade.

Another stand-out shadow is the emerald green. This shadow is ultra-shimmery with flecks of silver mixed into the pigmentation.

An intense color to dive right in with, it works well when making a statement with your eye look. All of these shadows are tightly-packed powder formulas but have a buttery consistency that makes blending quick and easy.

Of the matte shadows, one that immediately drew my attention was the mustard color. Traditionally, mustard isn’t a color featured in my makeup collection, but this one changed my mind. The subtle pigment of the shadow makes for an amazing blending shade and can be used when creating a more natural eye look.

Let downs Though I love this palette, the shadow pigmentation throughout was not consistent.

Some of the matte shades lacked the pigmentation of the shimmer shades and were a little harder to work with.

The first shade was the off-white base shadow. This color is meant to lighten the eyes and give the makeup artist a consistent platform to work on. It wasn’t terrible but there are many other palettes that have this same shade and achieved a higher pigmentation. I found myself dipping back into this shadow more times than others to achieve uniform coverage over the eye.

There are two plums shades in this palette.

The darker one works well when trying to achieve a smoked-out look to the eyelid. But the lighter shade, again, lacks the pigmentation seen in the rest of the palette. When applied, it is more of a pale magenta shade rather than the darker plum that is packed in the pan.

Overall, this palette is a great addition to my makeup collection and at the affordable price. It’s worth trying it out!

CONNECT WITH BAILEY MORRISON bmorrison1@student.framingham.edu

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

14 | ARTS & FEATURES

THE GATEPOST

FEBRUARY 10, 2017

The Menzingers grow up with “After the Party”

By Andrew Willougbhy Arts & Features Editor In 2012, The Menzingers released “On the Impossible Past,” an infectious punk rock album that was a breath of fresh air for the genre.

The band’s 2014 follow up, “Rented World,” had a similar sound, but it was a bit of a letdown for diehard fans when it came to creating truly memorable songs.

The Menzingers’ fifth record, “After the Party,” does everything right that “Rented World” did wrong.

“On the Impossible Past” was a record that - hence the name primarily focused on the past. But the aging punks seem to have finally realized they’re not getting any younger on “After the Party,” although they do occasionally take breaks to reminisce on tracks such as “Lookers.”

The record opens with “Tellin’ Lies,” an energetic ballad which repeats the mantra “Where are we gonna go now that our twenties are over?” The Menzingers took the chance to show their more mature side with this record and it pays off.

While many punk bands write songs about how growing up sucks, The Menzingers already have grown up. “After The Party” tackles

themes of problem landlords, religion and of course rock n’ roll.

Most of the songs on “After the Party” are punk ballads with hard-hitting and catchy riffs on top of simple bass grooves. Admittedly, the instrumentation is not the main attraction on any Menzingers album. But that doesn’t mean these guys don’t have talent - there are quite a few guitar riffs here that are just as catchy as the vocal melodies.

The intro to “Charlie’s Army” and the ending of “House on Fire” are standout examples.

The Menzingers know how to write a memorable hook. Even after my first listen, I couldn’t help but sing along to “House on Fire” and “Thick as Thieves.” That’s not to say that these are the only catchy songs. Every single track on this record has a memorable chorus, something that was missing on their previous release. The Menzingers are the type of band that’s best when belted along with in the car.

Yes, many Menzingers songs are often predictable. They rarely break from the verse-chorus-verse formula and don’t stray far from their established sound on this record.

But the well-written lyrics and infectious hooks make up for that.

The closing track, “Livin’ Ain’t Every one of his recordings sounds Easy,” is the biggest departure great and this record is no excepfrom their usual sound. The re- tion. The vocals are front and cenverb-drenched guitars sound as if ter, the guitars blast and you can they’d be more at home on a Pix- feel every drum hit. The biggest ies record. But the vocal melody issue is, at times, it’s hard to make sounds as if it was ripped straight out the bass, although that hardly from “Sun Hotel,” a song off “On ruins the record. the Impossible Past.” Luckily, this is “After the Party” is a fantastic rethe only point on the album where turn to form for The Menzingers. It’s it feels as if I’m listening to some- not often that a band releases a rething I’ve already heard from the cord without one forgettable song. band.

This is definitely one of the first “After the Party” was produced must-listen punk records of 2017. in Philadelphia by Will Yip. Yip has worked with everyone from Arc- CONNECT WITH ANDREW WILLOUGBHY tic Monkeys to The Wonder Years. awillougbhy@student.framingham.edu

The Menzingers

“Tourist in This Town” sheds light on artist Allison Crutchfield

By Cameron Grieves Staff Writer Love and nostalgia collide with anxiety and regret in Allison Crutchfield’s debut full-length album, “Tourist in This Town,” recorded in her adoptive hometown of Philadelphia with producer Jeff Zeigler.

The Alabama native has been touring as part of various bands (often alongside her twin sister Katie of Waxahatchee) for about a decade now, but this is her first LP release as a solo artist. She began to branch out with her solo work

Allison Crutchfield

after Swearin’, the pop-punk group she co-founded with Kyle Gilbride, disbanded. The end of her relationship with one of the band members is the source of the album’s lyrical content.

And in an era strewn with deliberately anonymous party-pop lyricism, the personal nature of Crutchfield’s ambient lo-fi songwriting is heartbreakingly real.

This is largely a break-up album that ties in very closely with events in the artist’s own life.

The album begins with one minute of eerie a cappella on “Broad Daylight” as Crutchfield sets the stage for the nostalgia, anxiety and regret she layers on top of these ten songs. “When the light we once saw in each other flickers and fades / When the two of us become one in a completely different way / With the fear of waking life and the thoughts of you and I / Our love is unquestionable, our love is here to die,” she sings as doo-wop style cooing provides background ambience.

Crutchfield showcases a divergent instrumentation from her pop-punk past that is laden with Zeigler’s ample use of ’80s-style synthesizers, lending electronic

distortion to her otherwise clear and crisp vocals. Tinny marchingband-style drums are also notable on many songs including “Dean’s Room” and “Chopsticks on Pots and Pans.”

Everything is used sparingly, even the synth, and often on a single song electronic synth may give way to a driving drum beat or simplistic guitar melody that only serves to better amplify Crutchfield’s warm Southern voice.

Whining synth melts into twangy guitar riffs reminiscent of country ballads more than Phillystyle bedroom-pop on the song “I Don’t Ever Wanna Leave California.” Crutchfield’s sweet, honeyed voice belts out some hard truths about her relationship troubles.

“We’re pretty far away from Philadelphia / And that’s fine with me ‘cause I’m really starting to hate you / And anyways I’m looking to move / I keep confusing love and nostalgia / I don’t ever wanna leave California,” she sings.

A close-listener can follow the disintegration of Crutchfield’s relationship in her poetic lyricism, but even so she often backtracks on her emotions, sorting through past events to examine faults in herself

and her lover. “There is so much between you and me / The secret lives and deaths that we lead / The liberty in this kind of grief,” she sings on “Secret Lives and Deaths.”

This is what makes this album so personal - Crutchfield’s ability to accurately depict in her songwriting the rollercoaster of emotions that accompany a break-up, and the search for answers that comes after. The simplistic piano and guitar melodies, accompanied by Zeigler’s driving synth and her sister’s haunting background vocals, layer the introspective lyrics in blankets of lo-fi warmth.

“Tourist in This Town” is not an overtly sad album and different messages may be dug out of it depending on the listener’s own relationship experiences. Crutchfield forces us to examine our own past through her past mistakes.

What can we learn from a failed relationship? How should we define ourselves after a break-up? What should we do with our memories, both the good and the bad? Crutchfield offers us no easy answers to these questions.

CONNECT WITH CAMERON GRIEVES cgrieves@student.framingham.edu

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

FEBRUARY 10, 2017

ARTS & FEATURES | 15

THE GATEPOST

Edited by Timothy Parker February 10, 2017 CHOOSY CHOICES By Timothy E. Parker ACROSS 1 New England fishes 5 2.2 lbs.

9 Noted British race course 14 Creature like Shrek 15 Bustles 16 Look without blinking 17 The definition of secondhand store (Part 1) 20 Nose divider 21 Slithery fish 22 Type of sign or its gas 23 “Before” of old 24 U.K. fliers 26 Deceptive ploy 28 Small bills 30 Gets on a train 34 Furnace fuel 37 Fizzles out, as a fire 39 Set ___ (plan for an accomplishment) 40 The definition of secondhand store (Part 2) 44 OK to Johnny Law 45 Amphitheater level 46 Superman’s logo 47 Common breakfast order 49 Fit of fever 51 Grazing sites

53 54 57 60 62 64 67 68 69 70 71 72 DOWN 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 18

Medium’s claim Busy bee in earlyApril Starchy pudding stuff Back muscle, for short Crowned headwear The definition of secondhand store (Part 3) Swung around, as on a pivot Ireland, romantically What a comic strip lightbulb indicates Some church renditions Thing to hum Minding not just your own business Dense growth of bushes Bold observer on a beach Hang, as curtains Religious subgroup Nepal’s capital (var.)

Altar affirmation Easy swinging gait Weaving willow Make inquiries “The Flintstones” time period Typical 10-Down dwelling Sandwich cookie Small, slender gull Continental cash

Last issue’s solutions

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

19 10-Down weapon 25 Deceptive move 27 Enjoy a hot bath 29 Brownish pigment 31 Used a cab 32 Artistic light touches 33 Entertainers Stone and Stallone 34 Largest Norwegian city 35 Object 36 Olympic coaster 38 Extensive, drawn-out attack 41 Emulate a shocked person’s mouth 42 Get outta Dodge 43 ___ over (hardening) 48 Barber’s powder 50 Much-longer-than-usual film 52 “Goodness ___ alive!”

54 Statement of faith 55 Removes skin from 56 Determine the value of 57 Beauty pageant wear 58 TV’s McBeal 59 Dour 61 One wet behind the ears 63 Much in the same vein as 65 Driver’s licenses, birth certificates, etc.

66 ATM user’s need

16 | SPORTS

THE GATEPOST

FEBRUARY 10, 2017

SPORTS MBB

Ram snap six-game skid with ten-point win over MCLA

Amanda Martin/ THE GATEPOST Framingham Stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Manny Harris (2) looks to pass the ball across the court to his teammate Daniel Gould (11)

By Matt Ferris Sports Editor Framingham State hosted the Westfield State Owls in a conference home game on Feb. 4.

The Rams came out of the gates slow as the Owls started the game on an 8-2 run in the first eight minutes of play.

Framingham snapped out of its funk and struck back with a 7-0 run of its own, to gain a 9-8 lead with nine minutes left in the first half.

The rest of the half went back and forth. Both teams traded baskets until Wesley Ogbevoen knocked down a triple to put the Rams up 21-19 going into halftime.

Ogbevoen led the Rams in scoring in the first with eight points of the bench adding a rebound and an assist. Chalres Valbrun also came off the bench for the Rams, as he scored four points with three rebounds in the first half.

The second half started with the same back-and forth play that much of the first half saw. The first seven minutes consisted of six ties and eight lead changes.

With 13 minutes remaining in the game, the Owls took off on a 10-4 run to go up by seven.

The Rams came out of a timeout and cut the deficit to four, but this was a close as they would get, as it was all Owls from here on out.

Westfield closed out the game on a 21-9 run to earn a 63-47 victory over the Rams.

Tim Mangano led the Rams in scoring with 12 points on 6-of-9 shooting, he also grabbed three rebounds and had a blocked shot. Ogbevoen finished with 10 points and three rebounds. Tony Alexandre ended with six points and 10 rebounds.

Jesus Sanchez had a game high 24 points for the Owls, he also grabbed five rebounds and dished out two assists.

The loss dropped the Rams to 6-16 on the season and 3-6 in the MASCAC.

WESTFIELD STATE FRAMINGHAM STATE

63 47

The Rams hosted the MCLA Trailblazers in a MASCAC game on Feb. 8.

Before the game, Framingham honored its five seniors in the annual Senior Night ceremony. Twins Daniel and Patrick Gould, Mangano, Alexandre and Ogbevoen were the five seniors playing in their final regular season home game.

MCLA came out of the gates firing early. The Blazers started the game on an 8-3 run.

The Blazers held a lead for much of the first half, until a 7-0 run towards the end of the half helped Framingham grab its first lead of the game. Framingham would go into halftime with a 28-27 over MCLA. The Rams started the second right where they left off. Framingham would go on a 7-2 run to open the half to go up 35-29.

The Rams would take this lead and run with it. Framingham never gave up the lead and went on to win the game by the score of 60-50.

The win for the Rams snapped a six-game losing skid and improves their record to 7-16 overall and 4-6 in the conference.

Alexandre led the Rams in scoring with 15 points. He also grabbed 13 rebounds for a double-double and dished out three assists.

Mangano scored 11 points for Framingham while also contributing six rebounds and two assists. Daniel Gould also had 11 points with two assists and a rebound.

Patrick Gould scored nine points with two assists and two rebounds.

Ogbevoen had two points and grabbed four rebounds.

Manny Payton came off the bench to contribute 11 points for the Rams.

Framingham currently sits in sixth place in the MASCAC and will look to close out the season strong with its two remaining road games. The Rams will travel to Worcester State on Feb. 15 and will close out the season by traveling to Fitchburg State on Feb. 18.

MCLA FRAMINGHAM STATE

CONNECT WITH NATT FERRIS on Twitter using the handle @GatepostSports

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FEBRUARY 10, 2017

THE GATEPOST

SPORTS | 17

HOCKEY

Rams drop fifth in a row, continue to search for answers

Darian O’Donnell/ THE GATEPOST The Rams battle to gain control of a faceoff in a game played at the beginning of the season. The Rams haven’t been able to gain much traction as the season rolls on.

By Richard Tranfaglia Staff Writer Framingham State fell to Fitchburg State 4-0 on Thursday, Feb. 2.

Fitchburg got on the board early in the first period after Framingham’s Ryan Donohue got called for hooking. Kyle Hillick capitalized on the power play opportunity with a goal.

The rest of the scoring happened in the second period, as Joshua Suboyu, Jordan Furlane and Mike Fish all tallied a goal for the Falcons.

Suboyu’s goal went short side on Ram’s goalie Greg Harney to make it a 2-0 game.

Furlane got his first goal of the season with Michael Fretz and Corey Hayashi assisting on the play.

Fish also capitalized on a man advantage, making it a four-goal game after Donohue got called for his second hooking penalty of the game.

The Falcons outshot the Rams 28-20 in the contest. Harney made 24 stops in net and Kirby Saari saved all 20 shots he faced.

The Rams move to 2-17 on the season and 1-12 in the MASCAC.

FRAMINGHAM STATE FITCHBURG STATE

0 4

FALCONS- HILLICK 1 G, 1 A RAMS - HARNEY 24 SAVES

The Rams lost to Worcester State on Feb. 5 by a score of 4-1.

The Lancers’ Alex DeWitz scored at the 4:45 mark in the first period, poking the puck through the five hole on Harney.

Worcester State outshot Framingham 18-3 at the end of the first period.

In the second period, DeWitz added another goal on a power play opportunity. Jim LeNoir also contributed a goal, scoring from just inside the blue line.

Andrew Etheridge added an insurance goal early in the third period on a wrist shot.

John Sheehan tallied Framingham’s only goal late in the third on a power play after Nick Patullo got a penalty for hooking.

The Lancers outshot the Rams 42-20. Harney recorded 38 saves in the loss and Corey Lignelli made 19 saves for WSU. The Rams fell to 2-18 on the season and 1-13 in the MASCAC.

FRAMINGHAM STATE WORCESTER STATE

1 4

LANCERS - DEWITZ 2 G RAMS - HARNEY 38 SAVES

The Rams lost a tough fight with Southern New Hampshire by a score of 6-4 on Tuesday, Feb. 7.

SNHU struck first midway through the first period. Kyle Valliere scored his third goal of the season.

About five minutes later, Jared Goudreau made it a two-score game with a wrist shot.

Zachary D’Errico got Framingham on the board a minute later, off the faceoff win from Keith Barnaby.

The second period started off with an explosive three goals in the first two minutes. Chris Moquin scored just 54 seconds in. About 40 seconds later Mark Essery answered for the Rams keeping it a one-goal game. Just 20 seconds after Essery’s goal, Joe Collins increased the lead back up to two for

SNHU. A back-and-forth battle between the two teams ensued until the 10-minute mark, when Goudreau scored his second goal of the game making it 5-2.

Tyler Colacchio capitalized on a power play for FSU cutting the lead to two again.

The third period was a defensive battle until Brandon Gourdeau tallied SNHU’s final goal of the game.

Ryan McDonough capitalized on a man advantage after Kaleb Godbout got called for hooking for the final goal of the game.

SNHU outshot FSU 39-29. Adam Calabrese started the game for Framingham, but was replaced by Harney halfway through the second period, who made 19 saves. Alex Reissis recorded 25 saves for the Penmen.

Framingham drops to 2-19 on the season.

FRAMINGHAM STATE SNHU

4 6

PENMEN -GOUDREAU 2 G, 1 A RAMS - ESSERY 1 G, 1 A

CONNECT WITH RICHARD TRANFAGLIA on Twitter using the handle @GatepostSports

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18 | SPORTS

THE GATEPOST

FEBRUARY 10, 2017

WBB

Rams get 57-point win on Senior Night

By Liam Gambon Staff Writer The Framingham State Rams hosted Westfield State on Feb. 4.

The Rams were neck and neck with Westfield State all game long. Westfield State finished the first and second quarters in the lead.

They surrendered it to Framingham State in the fourth quarter after the Rams tied the game at the end of the third. The Rams would go on to win the game 75-71.

Framingham benefited from the scoring outputs of their guards and bench players. Starting guard Raegan Mulherin posted 19 points and also had nine rebounds and seven assists while also stealing the ball twice and recording a block as she stuffed the stat sheet.

Fellow starting guard Lauren Donahue came away with 10 points and five assists and also stole the ball three times and recorded two blocks.

Alycia Rackliffe recorded eight points while pulling down 14 rebounds and blocking the ball four times.

Quinn O’Connell anchored the bench as she dropped 17 points and contributed with five rebounds, two assists and a steal. Tiphani Harris recorded 11 points while also pulling down eight rebounds and two steals.

WESTFIELD STATE FRAMINGHAM STATE

71 75

The Rams hosted and dominated MCLA beating them 99-42.

Framingham had a huge lead early as they finished the first quarter up 32-9 and then extended that lead even further at halftime as they led 65-19.

The Rams had a huge scoring night from the starters and the bench. Starting center Rackliffe recorded another double-double as she scored a game-high 22 points and pulled down 12 rebounds with three steals and six blocks.

Mulherin scored 17 points, shooting 100% from the field and a ridiculous 5-of-5 from three-point range. Donahue contributed with 11 points and nine rebounds while also stealing the ball three times on the night.

Sarah Palace had 10 points, five rebounds and four steals. Monta Connolly contributed with six points, four rebounds and four assists while also collecting a steal and a block.

O’Connell made an impact off the bench with 10 points, eight rebounds, five assists and four

steals. Mary Kate O’Day also contributed off the bench with ten points and four rebounds and two assists.

Harris put in all three of her shots for nine points while collecting a rebound as well.

MCLA never led in the game as Framingham shot a solid 58.3 percent from the field to MCLA’s lackluster 23.8 percent.

The Rams will face Worcester State next on Wednesday, Feb. 15.

MCLA FRAMINGHAM STATE

42 99

CONNECT WITH LIAM GAMBON on Twitter using the handle @GatepostSports

Women’s Basketball Team Leaders POINTS PER GAME

RAEGAN MULHERIN ALYCIA RACKLIFFE QUINN O’CONNELL

FG PERCENTAGE (MIN. 50 ATTEMPTS)

REBOUNDS PER GAME

14.0 13.5 9.8

ALYCIA RACKLIFFE MONTA CONNOLLY TIPHANI HARRIS

10.8 5.4 5.2

MONTA CONNOLLY 54.0 ALYCIA RACKLIFFE 53.0 TIPHANI HARRIS 50.5

MASCAC Standings as of February 9, 2017 Men’s Basketball SALEM STATE (8-2)

FITCHBURG STATE (7-2) BRIDGEWATER STATE (6-3) WESTFIELD STATE (4-5) WORCESTER STATE (4-5) RAMS (4-6) MCLA (0-10)

Ice Hockey -.5 1.5 3.5 3.5 4 8

PLYMOUTH STATE SALEM STATE UMASS DARTMOUTH FITCHBURG STATE WORCESTER STATE WESTFIELD STATE RAMS

Women’s Basketball 11-1-1 9-2-2 8-6 7-6-1 5-7-2 4-10 1-13

RAMS (9-1) WESTFIELD STATE (8-1) WORCESTER STATE (6-3) BRIDGEWATER STATE (5-4) SALEM STATE (2-8) MCLA (2-8) FITCHBURG STATE (1-8)

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

-.5 2.5 3.5 7 7 7.5

FEBRUARY 10, 2017

THE GATEPOST

SPORTS | 19

Tweet of the Week

TWITTER

Agree to Disagree Mike Matt YES

IS DUKE THE REAL DEAL THIS YEAR?

NO

YES

WILL THE WARRIORS COME OUT OF THE WEST THIS YEAR?

NO

YES

WILL THE FALCONS STILL BE SUCCESSFUL WITH NEW OC STEVE SARKISIAN?

YES

NO

WOULD CARMELO ANTHONY BENEFIT CLEVELAND?

YES

NO

WILL THE CHICAGO CUBS REPEAT AS WORLD CHAMPIONS?

YES

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20 | PHOTOS

THE GATEPOST

FEBRUARY 10, 2016 CREATIVE COMMONS

Frigid Framingham Julia Sarcinelli/THE GATEPOST

Allie Gath/THE GATEPOST

Allie Gath/THE GATEPOST

Alexandra Gomes/THE GATEPOST

Alexandra Gomes/THE GATEPOST

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