Men’s ice hockey shuts out Corsairs in home opener
By Izabela Gage Sports Editor
The Framingham State Rams shut out the UMass Dartmouth Corsairs 5-0 in their non-conference home opener Nov. 6.
This win evens out their overall record to 1-1.
The initial faceoff was won by the Corsairs, but the Rams gained possession of the puck, and senior Robert Bernier took the first shot on goal of the game, which was saved by UMD’s goalie Marshall McKallip.
UMD took the puck back into Framingham’s defensive zone and made a goal attempt on senior goaltender Owen Swanbon, but could not get it past the goal line.
After four minutes of fighting for the puck, the Corsairs set themselves up to try to break through Swanbon’s defense once again, but he stopped the shot with ease.
Junior Nathan Gines made a pass to freshman Connor McLachlan, who slid the puck right past McKallip’s pads, scoring his first collegiate career goal.
McLachlan said tallying his first goal “means a lot to me. It helps get all the tension off my back, and it helps the team head in the right direction.”
Following two shots on goal by junior Scott Bugarin and three by UMD, Framingham started on the power play after a hitting-from-behind penalty by the Corsairs.
Their defense remained strong through the penalty kill, and their offense took three shots on goal in 10 seconds once they regained possession of the puck.
Both teams fought hard to keep the puck in their offensive zones for the remainder of the first period, with Framingham receiving two minor penalties.
Bugarin won the faceoff at the start of the second period, but the Corsairs pushed the puck past the Rams’ blue line soon after.
By Bella Grimaldi News Editor
Framingham State is the only institution in the Massachusetts State University System to receive a Higher Education Excellence and Distinction (HEED) award.
The University was recognized by the Insight into Academia magazine for on-campus mental health support, the increase of diversity in faculty and the student body, and “outreach efforts to diverse communities,” said Jeffrey Coleman, vice president for Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement.
According to the Insight into Academia’s website, the HEED award “measures an institution’s level of achievement and intensity of commitment to ac-
ademic excellence and belonging on campus through initiatives, programs, and outreach; student recruitment, retention, and completion; and hiring practices for faculty and staff.”
Coleman said, “This is why I really like this award. It gives you an opportunity to show leadership in diversity, equity, and inclusion in various aspects of the campus. It’s just really rewarding and fulfilling to be at an institution where people are naturally doing a lot of this work.”
He said he hopes this communicates to current and prospective students that “DEI is in the DNA of Framingham State.
“This is who we are and we are unapologetic about it, and we’re not trying to hide it. … This is what our community looks like and we must embrace it,” said Coleman.
President Nancy Niemi said, “Not only do we mean it when we say we are committed to being diverse and inclusive,” but “we hope it leads to equity for our students, so they can live thriving and inclusive lives.”
In addition to the recognition for diversity, Niemi said she is glad the University is recognized for its on-campus mental health support.
She said, “It’s wonderful that other folks see that we are committed to everybody’s mental health, and now that it has become far more acceptable to talk about one’s mental health as part of one’s overall well-being.”
Coleman said, “The HEED Award selection committee noted that FSU has great mental health support on our cam-
Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST
(Front) Robert Bernier and Anthony Venezia celebrating a goal at the men’s ice hockey home opener on Nov. 7.
E ditorial Board
Editor-in-Chief
Sophia Oppedisano
Associate Editors
Adrien Gobin
Dylan Pichnarcik
Copy Editor
Antonio Machado
News Editor Bella Grimaldi
Opinions Editor Izayah Morgan
Sports Editor
Izabela Gage
Asst. Sports Editor
Taylor Kimmell
Arts & Features Editors
Francisco Omar Fernandez Rodriguez
Owen Glancy
Asst.
Sarah Daponde Liv Dunleavy
Photos & Design Editor
Alexis Schlesinger
Illustrations Editors
Ronnie Chiu-Lin
Marcus Falcão
Staff Illustrators
David Abe
Staff Writers
Zaynab Ahmed
Jesse Burchill
Kristel Erguiza
Julien Fernandez
Paul Harrington
Cole Johnson
Dan Lima
Kate Norrish
Wenchell Pierre
Andrew Ramirez
Avery Slavin
Kennedy Thompson
Staff Photographers
Corban Allen
Meg Dame
Christy Howland
Onyx Lovely
Advisor Desmond McCarthy
Asst. Advisor
Elizabeth Banks
Graduate Advising Asst.
Emma Lyons
Gatepost Interview Bruce Bucci
By Sophia Oppedisano Editor-in-Chief
Professor of American Sign Language
What is your academic and professional background?
I went to Rhode Island College for my bachelor’s degree in social science and teaching license in social studies for middle school and high school students. Then, I went to McDaniel College for my master’s degree in deaf education, and then later on, I went to Gallaudet University for my Ed.S. in educational leadership. So that’s my education - my journey. I started teaching ASL when I was young, actually - some of my hearing friends wanted to learn. I volunteered at the community center, and I volunteered at the police station to teach ASL. So I had all of those experiences and I’m from a deaf family. Then, I decided to become a teacher. I wanted to teach deaf children, and so I taught social studies to middle school and high school deaf students at the Rhode Island School for the Deaf, and also at the Maryland School for the Deaf, and also at the Texas School for the Deaf. So I would say, altogether, I taught for about 12 years. … I was working at the Rhode Island School for the Deaf … and then Boston University hired me to teach American Sign Language, and I was teaching two classes. So I was teaching at the Rhode Island School for the Deaf, teaching children, and then teaching ASL at BU twice a week. Then, BU had a full-time position available, and they asked me to apply, and I thought, “You know, it’s time. I think the universe is telling me, ‘Go for it.’” So I’ve learned over time - I’m a builder. I’m not in for the status quo. I have a dream. I have a vision, and I move on it. I want to empower the community to grow and build a strong foundation in the program. … So I did that for about 10 years, and then FSU opened the door, and the major focus was on the two tracks: ASL English Interpreting and Deaf Studies.
How do you believe the ASL program has grown since you started at Framingham State?
The ASL program grows by the professors whose hearts are beating. You know, you can’t just hand someone a book and a curriculum and say, “Teach!” You have to have professors who are passionate and who believe in our “smiley ball.” [The smiley ball] teaches our students all the soft skills. There are about 12 soft skills that we’ve identified, and this little guy - in conjunction with the curriculum, the passion, and the experience of our professors - all three of those things in the same space connect to student-centered learning, and that connects with the community. The ASL Club, the different events, activities, inviting different language models from the Deaf community, and building a strong collaboration between FSU and the community through the Center for Inclusive Excellence and The Center for Student Experience - all of those collaborations really become our programs. Really, the advocacy and the sup-
port is from the professors. All of the ASL classes are taught by deaf professors. All of the Deaf Studies courses are taught by deaf professors. So for Deaf Studies and ASL courses, the program coordinator is deaf: me. We also have a coteam in Angela Herbert, who is amazing. She’s our newest professor, and she focuses on the interpreting program, and together, we work to serve all of our students as one group. We encourage all of our students to be involved in the ASL Club. We encourage them to get out in the community, volunteer, and learn from what they see in the community. Some of our students work at the Learning Center for the Deaf, some in deaf service agencies, and all of that collaboration brings them back to our safe space here at FSU, where we can have open, honest discussions. They can make mistakes, and it’s a safe space.
What do you love about the community at Framingham State?
The Ram! I love that Ram! Familia. Family. Live to the truth. Family plus our smiley ball. We’re a small University, but we have empathy and compassion. We always want to make sure that our students feel loved, respected, valued, and diversity is up on the top. At the same time, we face a lot of challenges. … We have a big dream of how to support our faculty and staff, and it’s amazing.
What are your hobbies or things you like to do outside of your professional life?
I love spending time with my family, and I love taking my two daughters traveling to national parks. I really want my two daughters to understand the value of Mother Nature. Mother Nature created life for all of us - not their phones. … I think it helps my two daughters really do an analysis of themselves and look at the human nature involved in nature, right? … I also love swimming. Not only in a swimming pool - I’m like a polar bear. I went to Colorado, in the mountains. The water was freezing, but in I went - jumped right in! So I love challenges. That freezing cold water is really good for my mental awareness and acuity. It really helps me build a vision. It gives me energy to hop into that freezing water. It gives me youth. So I love travel-
ing. I love swimming. I love community service. I love advocating for Deaf people’s rights. … I love storytelling as well. What advice would you give to students about bridging the gap between the hearing and Deaf communities?
This upcoming spring, we have a big event called “Building Bridges, Taking Down Walls.” Our students are builders of bridges, right? They’re building understanding in terms of the history of Deaf people, the understanding of social justice - specifically through a Deaf community lens - understanding their role, and what they can do with their degree. If they’re ASL English Interpreting majors, what will they do when they graduate? They will be communication facilitators, but it’s also critical for them to be sensitive to the culture. Those majoring in Deaf Studies often become teachers, maybe psychologists or social workers, but they have to understand the Deaf community, and they have to understand the value of American Sign Language as a language. They have to understand the Deaf culture, and beyond that - diversity. They have to have an understanding of all of that. They have to be accountable in terms of going to community events. They have to volunteer, oftentimes at different community events. … They have to keep learning, right? They want to keep improving their ASL skills and internalizing all of that. That’s their responsibility, and that helps build a bridge so that the Deaf community can cross over. They can walk across that bridge and know that students are building a healthy, strong bridge, and Deaf people walk that bridge, and they can trust us. They’ll share their journeys. They’ll share their culture with those who have graduated with the right attitudes because they know the values. So building bridges, those bridges go both ways, right? Deaf people crossing and hearing people crossing.
[ Editor’s Note: Bruce Bucci’s interpreter for this interview was Janie Greenwald Czubek. ]
Dylan Pichnarcik / THE GATEPOST
Bruce Bucci standing in front of the Ram statue holding the “smiley ball.”
SGA approves Diversity and Inclusion ad hoc committee
By Julien Fernandez Staff Writer
Student Government Association approved the creation of a Diversity and Inclusion ad hoc Committee (D&I), chaired by Diversity and Inclusion Officer Ana Julia Ribeiro, at a meeting on Nov. 4.
Ribeiro said, “We live in a society that looks down upon young people, and unfortunately, that is our reality, and as young people, we need to stand up … for our beliefs and our values and our passions. I really have full faith in this community and every single person in this room for us to make a difference on this campus.”
Publicist Taylor Royal asked for clarification on what the D&I Committee is for and said it is similar to the Events Committee in its goal.
Ribeiro said, “[The D&I Committee is] specifically advocating for diversity topics on campus like racism,” and “building on what is lacking on our campus.
Ribeiro said she plans for each committee member to have an assigned task.
She added, “Diversity is a really broad term, so it’s easier to have a group of people working together to set a goal and reach that goal than to have just one person representing one thing that is so large.”
Events Coordinator Alix Ayoub asked Parliamentarian Grant Alleyne and SGA Advisor Rachel Spezia if there needs to be a vice chair for the D&I Committee and if the election for that position would be held that night.
SGA President César Matos said it would not be necessary.
He said, “For an ad hoc committee, it could follow the structure of a normal committee, which does have a chair and vice chair, but an ad hoc is less formal. … [This] would effectively function as an ad hoc committee.”
Matos said the vice chair did not need to be selected, but once the D&I Committee was formed, the members could then vote on a vice chair.
Senator Caleb Connors asked how the work of this committee would be different from other diversity initiatives on campus.
Royal clarified Connors’ question, and asked what the D&I Committee is going to do.
“‘What will the focus be?’ …
‘How are we going to address racism?’ … ‘How is this committee going to function and what are the objectives going to be?’”
After the line of questioning, Matos called for an executive session.
The motion passed with two senators in opposition.
Weather
Saturday, Nov. 9
Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 62.
Once the executive session had concluded, the formation of the D&I Committee was approved 16-1-0.
During the meeting, History Professor and Chair of the Academic Policies Committee (APC) Stefan Papaioannou was in attendance to speak to students about how the APC functions and what its role is in University governance.
Papaioannou spoke to SGA to inform them about the purpose and function of the APC and to encourage them, or other students, to get involved in the APC.
Papaioannou said there are three committee slots open to students.
He said students who are in good academic standing, fulltime, and are a junior or a senior are eligible to join.
Papaioannou said the APC oversees the criteria for admission to FSU and “policies governing selective retention,” which determines what causes a student to be expelled from Framingham State.
He added, “There’s a lot that academic policy does that deeply affects the lives of the students.” The committee oversees the approval of the academic calendar every year and the timing of registration for students and student-athletes.
The committee also sets the guidelines for what counts as an academic policy infraction, Papaioannou said.
Papaioannou added an APC subcommittee is responsible for hearing appeals made by students charged with academic dishonesty. Students serving on APC also have the opportunity to join this subcommittee.
He said students who are not formally members of the committee can still attend the meetings and can make a proposal called a log.
Matos said these meetings take place on Fridays at 2:30 p.m. on Zoom.
Matos, who has been on the APC, said, “If you found yourself confined by the current structure of the University, as it stands right now, the Academic Policies Committee is really the opportunity for you to expand what Framingham State has to offer to you and all the other students who are on campus.
“I value it a lot and I felt valued while I was a part of APC. I know that the few times I got to speak there, a lot of faculty and staff who were on the committee were very respectful with everything that I had to say and took me seriously, and I appreciate that,” he added.
During the announcement portion of the meeting, senators detailed their recent initiatives.
Senator Jobe Murphy announced he is officially “spear-
Monday, Nov. 11
Sunday, Nov. 10
Rain likely, mainly after 3pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 57.
heading” the “donate-a-meal” program with the Rams Resource Center to establish a system which will donate meals to students in light of the recent federal government shutdown and budget cuts to SNAP.
Murphy said he is hoping the student government and the University fulfill this role for fellow students and commuters who don’t have access to the Dining Commons.
Murphy said he hopes to work with the administration to provide a system that stockpiles a certain amount of unused meal swipes at the end of each week to guarantee students can eat at the Dining Commons.
If a student runs out of swipes or doesn’t have any, they will be able to fill out a form to receive donated swipes, Murphy said.
He said his first steps are to spread the word with posters on campus, working with Royal on social media posts, setting up a table at the Dining Commons, and bringing awareness to students in Student Lounge.
Connors asked if there are going to be any initiatives to revamp commuter spaces on campus.
Spezia said commuter spaces will be evaluated, and Executive Director of the Center for Student Experience and Career Development (EXP), Sara Gallegos, will meet with SGA at a future meeting to discuss the commuter spaces.
Senator Jada James said EXP posted on their Instagram about different commuter spaces where students can go and relax.
Ayoub said she and Royal are working on a passion project concept and encouraged senators to take initiative.
Royal elaborated the passion project concept will be on social media, consisting of one-minute interviews they hope to post
A chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 54.
Tuesday, Nov. 12
Mostly sunny, with a high near 44.
covering each senator and their individual initiatives on campus.
She said as an example, Murphy could be interviewed for his donate-a-meal program and Connors’ passion project could focus on revamping commuter spaces and working with EXP.
Royal said, “That way, the student body can get involved” with what SGA is doing, and it would also get the senators involved in each other’s initiatives.
She said Connors can reach out to Matos and EXP to improve commuter spaces, and this could be his passion project this semester.
SGA voted to appoint a new senator, Junior Kimberly Martinez, and all were in favor.
Martinez said, “I want to be a lawyer in the future - I’m a political science major. … I’m taking a bureaucracy class this semester, and what is a better way to expose myself to bureaucracy?
“I heard about it. I met with César. He was like, ‘Join.’ I was like, ‘Who am I to say no to the president?’ and I figured it was my best course of action, you know? I yield my time. God bless,” she added.
After her speech, Martinez took her oath of office and was officially appointed.
Matos said the upcoming Administrators’ Forum is on Nov. 18.
Royal presented the U-Rock RAM to Matos, acknowledging him for his initiative in working with Murphy on the donate-ameal program.
The U-Rock was passed to Senator Xiera Montes for her engagement during tabling events.
CONNECT WITH JULIEN FERNANDEZ jfernandez6@student.framingham.edu
Thursday, Nov. 14
Mostly sunny, with a high near 50.
Wednesday, Nov. 13
Partly sunny, with a high near 49.
Alexis Schlesinger / THE GATEPOST
(Left) Caleb Connors, Jobe Murphy, and Nathan Piette at the SGA meeting on Nov. 4
HEED award
Continued from Page 1
pus, as this issue has become a huge concern on college campuses nationwide.”
Coleman said FSU is one of the 50 universities nationwide to receive an undergraduate institution HEED award.
HEED awards are open to universities in the United States and Canada.
They recognize five different categories of institutions: community colleges, undergraduate institutions, health profession schools, graduate schools, and law schools.
According to Insight into Academia’s website, each “HEED Award recipient receives a complementary access to the HEED award logo for promotional use in print and online marketing materials.”
Applications are reviewed by representatives of Potomac Publishing Inc., which is the publisher for Insight into Academia’s magazine.
According to Coleman, this year is the eighth time the University has received a HEED award.
He said last year, Framingham State was recognized for its efforts in faculty and staff development opportunities, faculty DEI recruitment efforts, and the University’s increase in student diversity. “There’s always an opportunity to excel in multiple areas of the campus.”
Coleman said the University submitted the free application by the end of June. The award was announced in August and is highlighted in Insight into Academia’s October publication.
Coleman said his division completed the application and reached out to other administrators to pull data and infor-
mation to submit. This process took approximately a month to complete.
Niemi said her role was to show her support for the diversity and inclusion efforts on campus.
Niemi said, “I talked about the institutional commitment to diversity, and I explained what diversity looks like on our campus, and what it feels like on our campus.”
According to Coleman, the Provost’s office, the Human Resources Department, the Office of Student Affairs, the Center of
he said.
Sophomore Mya Secka said, “I like that the University is so committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. It creates a welcoming environment for everyone and a safe space for everyone to get what they need, when they need it.”
She added she doesn’t have much experience with mental health support on campus, but is aware there are resources available.
“I always see signs or flyers that encourage students to seek out those resources if they need
“DEI is in the DNA of Framingham State.”
- Jeffrey Coleman Vice President for Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement
Academic Success and Achievement, and the Division of Student Success provided data for the application.
“Everybody’s asked to share some initiatives they have. … [Insight into Academia is] looking to see who’s doing new and innovative things. They’re looking to see if you have any results on any of your efforts,”
them - which I think is great for students to have different options if they need help,” said Secka.
Junior Mac Johns said he believes the University hosts a good number of clubs and groups for people of different backgrounds to join.
He added he believes the University can improve how they
inform students about the mental health resources on campus.
“Maybe have some people from the counseling department come in and speak to us in certain classes,” said Johns.
Sophomore Danielle Piedrahita said she believes the mental health support on campus is a great resource and “the people who work [in the Counseling Center] are so nice and supportive.”
She added she believes the University is diverse and inclusive but there could be more work to be accessible to people with disabilities.
“There are some buildings with no elevator or limited access,” she said.
Junior Luis Rodriguez said he believes the campus is very diverse and the themed nights through Campus Events and in the Dining Commons are “a good step forward.”
He said he believes there is room for improvement in the Counseling Center because appointment times fill up quickly.
Sophomore Elizabeth Rivers said she believes the University is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
“I feel like this is what Framingham State is known for and a lot of people of different races, sexualities, genders, and religions come here. I feel that Framingham [State] is a very accepting and welcoming campus and they always make sure to show that by events they have, services they have,” she said.
CONNECT WITH BELLA GRIMALDI igrimaldi@student.framingham.edu
OP/ED
THE GATEPOST EDITORIAL
Unpublished and unacceptable.
The English department welcomed Professor Emerita Miriam Levine during the Alan Feldman Week of Poetry on Oct. 21.
The event consisted of a conversation between Levine, a published poet, and English Professor Patricia Horvath, as well as recitations of several poems from Levine’s poetry catalog.
The audience included emeriti faculty, current faculty members, and students - some of whom were required to attend for their classes.
Unbeknownst to the English department, Levine elected to bring some of her unpublished work to read at the event.
One of the unpublished poems Levine read was titled “Zing.”
Levine, a white woman, said the n-word three times throughout the poem.
She also used slurs that are offensive toward people of Jewish and Irish heritage.
The only “trigger warning” Levine gave before reading the poem was that the poem contained quotes from “rap lyrics.”
There is absolutely no excuse for this language to be spoken on our campus. Levine, a long-time member of the Framingham State community, should have known better than to use slurs.
Levine’s use of these slurs was incredibly triggering, shocking, and hurtful to students and faculty at the event. Members of The Gatepost Editorial Board, including a reporter who covered the event for our Oct. 24 issue, were present and remain saddened and angered to have heard Levine use slurs in her work.
Levine was allowed to continue on with reading other poems, even receiving applause from the audience at the end of “Zing.”
When she concluded her reading, English department Chair Lisa Eck called for a question-and-answer session.
A Black, female student stood up and asked why Levine felt comfortable using the n-word and why the use of the hard R was necessary.
The use of the n-word by a non-Black person in any capacity is offensive and wrong - but particularly with the hard R, it is a dehumanizing slur that is a reminder of a time when Black people were openly lynched, persecuted, raped, and enslaved.
Levine asked the student to come to the front of the room and repeat herself, inciting an inappropriate power dynamic that put the student on display and forced her to repeat a question she shouldn’t have had to ask in the first place.
Levine said she did not feel comfortable using the slurs, but that was the point of her using them.
There is no scenario in which a white person should feel inclined to use a racial slur, even in a subversive way.
Levine did not apologize for using the n-word in her answer to the student’s question, nor did she do so retroactively.
At no point did any faculty member condemn her use of the word or pause the event to acknowledge the harmful language.
For professors who put a commitment to anti-racism in their syllabi every semester or mention the zero-tolerance policy in their classrooms, this lack of action made that commitment feel
like empty words.
We never think something like this is going to happen until it does - however, the people in power on this campus have a duty to protect their students from being hurt or discriminated against.
No student should ever feel trapped, unheard, or unrepresented.
Taking action in this scenario can be seen as disruptive, which might be the reason why observers succumbed to the bystander effect. However, though it saves everyone from embarrassment, inaction is far more harmful, and stains the credibility of leaders on this campus.
It invalidates everything we “promote.”
If a white woman can come to our campus and have the audacity to say the n-word to a room full of students, including students of color, there is no reason why someone could not stand up and condemn those actions.
There is no excuse.
The Gatepost Editorial Board recognizes this might be news to many students as well as some faculty and staff members. This is due to a lack of transparency and action after the event.
A week after the reading, Eck sent out a statement acknowledging what Levine said and maintained the English department was entirely unaware “Zing” would be read or contain racial slurs.
No broader statement was sent to the entire campus community acknowledging that a speaker invited to an academic event used racial slurs, and little support was offered to students affected by it.
Further, the English department decided to post Miriam Levine on their Instagram to report on the event - with no mention of the incident.
This is absolutely unacceptable. Why weren’t people informed? Are we scared to upset people?
Because we should be upset.
We are upset.
Our entire community should be given the platform to discuss what happened and how we can move forward. And students who are struggling with this incident can visit the Center for Inclusive Excellence or the Counseling Center.
Levine’s connection to Framingham State should not automatically equal our trust - this should be true of any speaker.
We hope Levine will not be invited back.
If the University and its faculty are going to continue to commit to anti-racism and uplifting standards of DEI, we need honest, transparent communication from our campus leaders so we can effectively understand what happened, why it happened, and how we can work together to prevent issues like this altogether and avoid the bystander effect.
We do not condone racial slurs and hurtful language on this campus.
It is not enough to claim that we have anti-racist values.
We have to act on them.
By Antonio Machado Copy Editor
One of the most important aspects of human development is shared experience.
Growing up, I, like many other children of my generation and generations before, was able to share a very specific and very important part of growing up - the overconsumption of corny kids’ TV shows.
The family dynamics of a black cat witch in a family of wizards. A school for a diverse cast of especially talented singers. The online phenomenon of two teen girls orchestrating their own internet show.
Daily, these shows would air, and millions of children throughout the world were able to simultaneously experience the joys brought on by these sitcoms and experience hardship and perseverance in an inoffensive, comedic way.
Although unnamed, most can easily deduce which shows these are - and more importantly, most can attach a face to these shows.
Celebrity worship is something that is rather ingrained into modern society, but not for bad reasons.
The death of the Disney machine
As kids, we are taught to constantly seek out good role models to shape our world view, and the easiest ones to locate and feel inspired by were always those we would spend our afternoons watching, teaching us lessons on acceptance through insane sitcom scenarios.
Most people can easily name their favorite celebrity from their childhood, be it Demi Lovato, Selena Gomez, Ariana Grande, Miley Cyrus, Cameron Boyce, or Zendaya - anyone can name someone who they felt a special connection with growing up.
Kids today no longer have that.
Not celebrity worship - they have that tenfold - but good role models delivered to them in media intended for them.
According to an article by The Wrap, Disney Channel’s audience has dropped by 90% and Nickelodeon’s by 86% since 2016.
There are a plethora of reasons as to why that is. Streaming services allow for anything to be consumed at any time, so naturally, cable loses viewership.
Naturally also, kids begin watching things no longer intended for young children and tweens and seeking out role models in media of which they are not the intended audience.
We used to look up to characters who acted like good peo-
Liv, Laf…: I’m really normal
ple. Now, we idolize people just for being seen.
Through the rise of TikTok and Twitch as entertainment in kids’ spaces, the lines blur between what is intended for children and what isn’t.
Kids today may watch Kai Cenat and IShowSpeed, who are great creators on their own merit but most definitely don’t make content intended for the majority of their audience.
Kids today may watch “Love Island” and “Bridgerton,” which are amazing shows but absolutely not something children should be consuming in any capacity.
Kids today no longer get to grow up alongside the people they admired on TV and see themselves reflected in them in adulthood.
The death of kids TV took with it the death of the “Disney Child Star,” who had their pathway to fame etched out by either the Disney or Nickelodeon machine and would grow up being admired by generations.
Without these positive, ageappropriate role models in children’s lives, they are no longer spoon-fed moral lessons through laugh tracks.
An onslaught of our society’s biggest vices infects their screens and subsequently their lives, and the children of the next generation are forced to grow up too soon because they no longer see other kids being youthful on screen.
person
These shows offered more than entertainment - they offered stability.
In the chaos that is growing up, kids and parents both had a constant source that would show up every afternoon and teach how to problem-solve personal matters with friends and family.
The stars of today no longer perform the slapstick sitcom with the corny moral quandaries - they perform themselves.
Kids are now exposed to the unfiltered authenticity of these artists and internet personalities, and although that authenticity is beautiful, it is not the content children should be exposed to.
Entertainment as a whole has been fractured, as everyone now resides within their own algorithm bubble. Consequently, the biggest bubble of all - kids media - has popped, and children may now be scattered into every corner of the media world with nothing to guide them.
The internet is not all bad, but the impressionable minds of the future don’t have the skills to decipher what is good and bad because they have not yet had a chance to see it on their TVs.
I would argue kids aren’t lacking in childhood role models - they’re just finding them where they shouldn’t be.
Campus Conversations
“What course would you like to see offered here at FSU that is not currently?”
By Adrien Gobin, Associate Editor and Antonio Machado, Copy Editor
“The history of colonization in the Middle East.”
- Alix Ayoub, senior
“The history of slavery.”
- Kira James, sophomore
“A class that involves more life experiences.”
- Sinaiya Lee, senior
“I’m really interested in doll design, and I think it’s kind of hard to find classes that gear toward that. I would say something in toy illustration or marketing with toys.”
- Jojo Siciliano, sophomore
“I would love more creative writing classes. … Novel in verse and stories in verse. I would love more interdisciplinary courses.”
- English Professor Jennifer De Leon
“A class on gardening. I really like gardening and flowers.”
- Logan Pelletier, sophomore
“I guess a cooking class that’s not too ‘science-y,’ more just like cooking.”
- Abrianna Oullette, senior
“How to radicalize and unionize your workplace.”
- Zen Crosby, senior
“I think more peace studies emphasis across the curriculum in the University would be very well met and come in handy for us in the work ahead.”
- English Professor Evelyn Perry
“I actually can’t think of any. I like the classes here.”
- Sean Brooks, junior
“Some kind of analysis of food and what’s developing in food in the world. We’ve got such a great Food & Nutrition and Food Science department, and everybody just loves food.”
- President Nancy Niemi
Cross country shines at MASCAC Championship
By Izabela Gage Sports Editor
By Taylor Kimmell Asst. Sports Editor
Men’s and women’s cross country competed in the MASCAC Championship meet at Stanley Park in Westfield Nov. 1.
Head Coach Mark Johnson said Stanley Park is “a relatively fast course when it comes to cross country. … I would say the biggest challenge the course brings is a sneaky hill toward the end of both races. It’s not the longest hill, but at that point in those races, it takes drive and grit to break it.”
The men’s team placed fourth out of six teams in the 8K, with an average time of 28:50.03.
Sophomore Aaron Corlette was the top finisher for the Rams, placing ninth with a time of 27:11.97.
Corlette said, “It’s a good feeling to have knowing I finished top 10, but I know I could’ve done better, so heading into regionals, I will be looking forward to seeing what I do while having some fun.”
He added the team is focusing on better outcomes and working on “staying tight and together and staying on track. With one more race left in the season, we want the seniors to have a great finish.”
Corlette was named to the 2025 MASCAC Men’s Cross Country All-Conference Team Nov. 5.
Johnson said, “Right out the gate, [Corlette] was with the lead pack, which was exciting to watch.
“As the race was winding down with about a mile to go, Aaron was sitting just outside the top ten for place. I shouted at him if he wanted ‘All Conference,’ he had to knock off a few runners in front of him. And, as Aaron always seems to do, he turned on a new gear, and went at it,” he added.
With a time of 27:27.06, sophomore Vincent Gauthier followed Corlette, placing 12th.
Gauthier said, “We had an excellent team performance at MASCACs when looking at the school’s history. Having a balanced group with good frontrunners, along with some great anchors, really helped us achieve that.”
Junior Ayden Giombetti crossed the finish line next, placing 25th with a time of 29:09.05.
Parker Winters, a senior, finished with a time of 29:55.97, earning 30th place.
Winters said placing 30th “is my best finish in the four years that I have raced as a part of this amazing team. I’m not really concerned about my place, and it doesn’t really change my thought process going into regionals.
“The focus this year has always been on the team,” he added.
Senior Jazmany Reyes placed 35th with a time of 30:26.06, and freshman Jeremy Gale finished next for the Rams, earning a time of 30:44.63 and placing 38th.
Crossing the finish line in 43rd
place, junior Robert Perruzzi earned a time of 31:16.59.
Captain Bruno Barbosa, a senior, followed only 15 seconds behind Perruzzi and placed 48th with a time of 31:33.80.
Barbosa said, “For the entire season, we have had a great mental place, and we plan to keep the same headspace going into regionals. We all have the headspace of, ‘If we fall, we get back up stronger.’”
Senior Biruk Alemu finished with a time of 32:12.12, earning 53rd place.
James Appiah, a sophomore, placed 59th with a time of 32:48.00.
Freshman Liam Devaney was the last Ram to cross the finish line at 38:05.23, earning 69th place.
Winters said, “With the absurd amount of PRs and school records that have been broken this season, you can tell that our team has been pushing ourselves to our max and giving everything we’ve got, and that Coach’s plan has certainly worked for us this season. Many of us have reached and surpassed our season’s goals, and I couldn’t be any prouder of my team.”
In the 5K, the women’s team placed fourth out of seven teams, with an average time of 21:26.33.
Captain Meghan Johnston, a senior, finished first for the Rams, earning 12th place with a time of 20:19.82.
Johnston said being the first finisher for FSU was “really cool, but my confidence honestly comes from the whole season and how much growth I have seen not only within myself, but with the whole team.”
Johnson said Johnston has had a successful year, “stringing together personal bests in both the 5K and 6K. From the start of the year, through MASCACs, she’s done a great job coming in every day with determination, and pushing both herself and her teammates. She took that energy to the starting line on Saturday, and continued to show that drive and determination to our team.”
Less than a minute behind, junior Natalie Grimaldo finished with a time of 21:16.99, placing 21st.
Grimaldo said, “Placing in the top 25 gives me a big confidence boost going into regionals. It shows that all my hard work is paying off, and it motivates me to keep getting better. I’m determined to do even more and make my team proud at the next level.”
She said she is “focusing on just improving my pacing and staying consistent throughout the race.”
Rounding out the top 25, sophomore Grace Avery placed 24th with a time of 21:24.27.
Avery said her placement “has boosted my confidence a lot going into regionals. It has also made me determined to push myself in a field with a lot more competition.”
She said going into regionals, she’s focusing on “mental toughness. Running a tough course puts a lot of things in your head. I’m working to shape my mindset in a way that allows me to enjoy
running, even when it’s hard.”
Senior Justine Pickard followed close behind, placing 27th with a time of 21:34.95.
Next to cross the finish line for the Rams was junior Camille Graffeo at 22:35.59, earning 32nd place.
Freshman Abigail Flanagan finished with a time of 23:08.74, placing 39th.
Following her was Captain Lydia Marunowski, a senior, who placed 42nd with a time of 23:25.83, and junior Justinne Quinanola, who placed 44th with a time of 23:41.11.
Sophomore Alison Hood placed 48th with a time of 24:04.53.
The last two Rams to cross the finish line were juniors Cassie Toth and Olivia Poole, who earned 53rd and 55th with times of 25:04.19 and 25:46.88, respectively.
Both teams will compete in the NCAA Regionals to close out their season Nov. 15.
Gauthier said, “Regionals is just another race - we know how to come to the plate on race day, so we don’t need to think about it too hard.”
Winters said the only thing he is focusing on going into regionals is “taking in the time I have with my wonderful team, fellow seniors, and my coaches while I close out my chapter of being a collegiate athlete.”
He added, “The mindset of the rest of the team is the same as the rest of the season, which consists of trusting Coach’s plan, and finishing this last race with a bang. Practices have always been a blast and will continue to be, and we are just trying to end this fantastic season the right way.”
Avery said she thinks the team “is focusing on building out strength physically and mentally.”
Grimaldo said for her and the team, “It’s all about keeping a positive mindset and trusting our training. We want to go into regionals confident, relaxed, and ready to give everything we’ve got.”
She added, “We’re proud of how we did at MASCACs, but we know there’s always room to grow. As a team, we’re focusing on finishing stronger in the last mile.”
Corlette said, “In my opinion, some of the teams’ growth has come from the power of Gushers and everyone staying together as a team and family. We push each other to be better and keep our heads high, and with, of course, the leadership of our coaches investing so much of their time to help us improve.”
Avery said, “Our team dynamic has contributed the most to both teams’ success. Every day, both teams keep showing up, doing our best, and having fun while doing it.”
Grimaldo said everyone has been supportive and motivated this season, and that has played into the growth they’ve had. “Both teams have really stepped up, pushing each other in practices, staying consistent, and keeping a positive attitude. The energy and teamwork have made
a huge difference, and that’s what’s been leading to all the personal bests and broken records. We always push each other to do better!”
Johnston said, “We all have our good days and bad days, but no matter what, we always have each other’s backs and are cheering each other on.”
She added, “We have been working so hard this season, and it has paid off in our races. The mindset for the team is to be confident in our training, go do what we love, and do our best for the last race of the season!”
Gauthier said as long as everyone sets a strong base with summer training, “then our coach can give us the workouts that will make us perform. With good aerobics, conditioning, and trust in our coach, we excel.”
Barbosa said, “We all are focusing on keeping good form and staying healthy. At the point we are at now, we are thinking of next season and what to do better next season. The biggest thing is going into the next cross country season with a good base. [You] can’t build a building without a good foundation.”
Johnson said, “Going into regionals, I really just want the team to take in the weekendtake in where we are, take in the competition that we’re racing against, and take in the moment.
“We’re just controlling the things we can - taking care of our bodies and finishing on a strong note! We’ve had an incredible year, and I’m excited to be with both of these teams one more time as we head to Hopkinton State Park in New Hampshire next week!” he added.
CONNECT WITH IZABELA GAGE igage@student.framingham.edu
CONNECT WITH TAYLOR KIMMELL tkimmell@student.framingham.edu Stats sourced from fsurams.com and MASCAC.com
Volleyball falls to Johnson & Wales
By Izabela Gage Sports Editor
By Avery Slavin Staff Writer
The Framingham State Rams were swept by the Johnson & Wales University Wildcats 3-0 in a non-conference matchup Nov. 4.
This loss brings their overall record to 15-12, while their conference record remains at 5-2 with only one conference game left in the regular season.
Captain Stella Bailey, a senior, said, “The girls definitely don’t like to lose - no one does. We really find it to be personal because we’ve worked so hard, and I’ve never been part of a team with players who have wanted to be the best with so much passion.”
An unfortunate attack error by the Rams gave the Wildcats the first point of the game.
JWU used the initial momentum to swing the game in their favor, earning two kills and two service aces.
A subsequent bad set and attack error by the Rams kept the Wildcats’ early point streak going.
With JWU in the lead 7-0, junior Natalie Reynolds broke FSU’s scoring drought and put the Rams on the board with a kill, assisted by Bailey.
A kill by the Wildcats and an attack error by the Rams kept JWU ahead.
The dynamic duo of Reynolds and Bailey tallied two more points for Framingham on backto-back kills.
The Wildcats did not let up and responded with three kills of their own, bringing the score to 12-3.
Another set from Bailey allowed Reynolds to break through JWU’s defense and earn another kill, followed by an attack error by the Wildcats.
JWU’s Bailey Koopman tallied two back-to-back kills of her own to maintain the lead, and an attack error by Framingham deepened the deficit to 16-5.
Sophomore Sarah Medeiros brought possession back to the Rams with a kill, and Framingham used this in their favor to start to close the gap.
A service ace by Bailey and an attack error by the Wildcats brought the score to 16-8.
JWU earned a point off a service error by FSU, but the Rams responded and forced an error by the Wildcats.
Johnson & Wales tallied a kill, but junior Emma Dobbins kickstarted a late run for Framingham and answered with one of her own.
A block by Reynolds put another point on the board for the Rams, followed by another attack error by the Wildcats.
Junior Anneli DiVirgilio set the ball to Dobbins, who tallied a kill for Framingham.
JWU counterattacked with a kill of their own and capitalized on possession of the ball, breaking through FSU’s defense with three back-to-back kills.
With the score at 23-13, the Wildcats earned another point off an error by the Rams.
Despite the deficit, Framingham tried not to falter, and Dobbins tallied her third kill of the set. Unfortunately, a service error
by the Rams and a kill by Wildcats’ Brooke Caquelin finished the set 25-14.
Johnson & Wales took another early lead in the second set, earning points off four kills, two service aces, and three attack errors by Framingham.
A Bailey-to-Reynolds kill started the Rams’ action, bringing the score to 8-1.
The Wildcats responded with a kill of their own, followed by two service aces.
The teams switched off service errors to bring the score to 12-2.
JWU remained dominant, pushing FSU into attack errors to maintain their lead.
With the score at 14-2, the Rams found their footing.
Reynolds swung hard and found a hole in the Wildcats’ defense, tallying another kill, which happened to be her 1,000th kill in her collegiate career.
Medeiros kept the momentum, and with a set from sophomore Madysen Cedrone, she struck the ball over the net toward the back of the court, catching the Wildcats off guard.
swing from Bailey, cutting the margin to 20-15.
The Rams kept their momentum going as Medeiros set up Bailey for a kill, whose attack found a gap at the net.
A block error by JWU brought FSU within four at 20-16.
The Rams capitalized again on the next rally when a bad set and an attack error by the Wildcats left Framingham trailing by one, before Johnson and Wales finally broke the run.
Bailey said, “We never give up. It really doesn’t matter how far we’re down. We always strive to play the best game of volleyball possible, regardless of the score.”
Three consecutive kills gave JWU a four-point cushion at 2319.
Bailey connected with Medeiros once again, who delivered a kill. But JWU closed the set with back-to-back points to take it 25-20.
Freshman Kristina SantiagoAlers opened the third set with a dominant service ace before JWU tied it with a kill.
Following an error by Fram-
Framingham capitalized on possession of the ball, and their defense forced Johnson and Wales into an error.
A subsequent kill by Medeiros, once again assisted by Cedrone, brought the score to 14-6.
JWU put two points on the board off a kill and a bad set by FSU, helping to maintain a 10-point lead.
The Rams were unfazed, and their front row caused two attack errors, followed by Bailey serving an ace to shrink the gap to 16-9.
A kill by the Wildcats earned them another point, but the Rams kept up the pressure and forced an error.
With possession of the ball returned to Framingham, a service ace by DiVirgilio gave the Rams another point.
After a long rally, junior Jaimee Lowe took a hard swing at the ball, which the Wildcats could not block, and Lowe earned the kill, assisted by Bailey.
Johnson and Wales carried a 19-13 lead after a kill of their own, but Framingham began to close in.
Reynolds connected on a clean
Two kills by JWU and an attack error by the Rams brought the score to 16-10.
The Rams gained a point on a JWU service error, but they responded with a kill.
Reynolds struck hard on the next play and earned a kill to put the score at 17-12.
The teams switched off points on the next four plays, and a service ace from Reynolds pulled the Rams within four.
The Wildcats earned the next two points, and Framingham collected another point on an attack error, making it 21-16.
The Wildcats capitalized on a service error and two blocks late in the set before they broke through the Rams’ defense and brought it to match point.
Framingham gained one final point on an attack error by Johnson and Wales, but a service error on the next rally closed the set, 25-17, giving the Wildcats a clean sweep.
Bailey said despite this loss, she is always reminding the team, “It’s such a privilege to be able to play volleyball. We are truly so lucky to be healthy enough to be playing at such a high level. Keeping things positive and intentional, I think, helps keep the girls focused on the good.”
Beaulieu said as a senior, “It’s honestly bittersweet. Every time I step on the court, I try to give it everything I have, knowing that I gave it my all for my teammates, my coaches, and everyone who’s supported us and me.”
She added, “My biggest goal is to help the team finish strong and go as far as we possibly can, which is the MASCAC title. I’d love for us to end the season knowing we grew as a team, played with heart, made memories we’ll never forget, and enjoyed every single moment.”
ingham, the Wildcats pulled briefly ahead, 3-1, after a service ace.
The Rams answered with a kill by Dobbins, assisted by DiVirgilio, to stay within reach.
JWU was forced into an attack error, and Captain Carly Beaulieu, a senior, helped shift the rhythm by serving an ace to make it 4-3.
A kill by the Wildcats tied the score once again, but Reynolds responded with one of her own.
A service error by the Rams brought the score to 5-5, but a kill each from Medeiros and Beaulieu in the following rallies gave Framingham a 7-5 advantage.
Johnson & Wales didn’t let up and earned two points to tie it once again.
Medeiros remained determined and found a gap in JWU’s front row, tallying a kill of her own. Despite this, the Wildcats used a series of consecutive kills to pull ahead 13-8.
An error by the Wildcats halted their run, followed by another kill by Bailey to close the gap to 13-10.
Bailey said, “We’ve always wanted to win a championship - that’s, of course, always the goal. We have accomplished something much greater, though - something that is intangible. We’ve learned how to support each other through the hardest of times. We understand that we can only focus on what we can control. That’s a hard lesson to learn, but we’ve grown together and our team culture reflects it.”
Reynolds earned MASCAC Offensive Player of the Week Nov. 3 for the fifth time this season. She was recognized for contributing 19 kills with no errors and earning a .594 hitting percentage in the Rams’ 3-0 sweep against Mass. Maritime Oct. 28.
The Rams host the Anna Maria College Amcats for their last conference game in the regular season Nov. 7.
Bailey said, “I’m a huge believer in the idea of, ‘If you do your job, everyone else will follow.’ And if I’m having a hard time, I know my girls will support me, as I do them.
“It’s just really crucial now, as the clock is ticking, that we play at the highest level possible both individually and as a team,” she added.
Stats sourced from fsurams.com and MASCAC.com
CONNECT WITH IZABELA GAGE igage@student.framingham.edu
CONNECT WITH AVERY SLAVIN aslavin1@student.framingham.edu
Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST
(Front) Sarah Medeiros going for a kill in loss against Johnson & Wales Nov. 4.
Women’s soccer surpasses Salem in quarterfinals
By Taylor Kimmell Asst. Sports Editor
The Framingham State Rams defeated the Salem State Vikings 1-1, earning points during penalty kicks, in the MASCAC quarterfinal match Nov. 5
The Rams ended their regular season with an overall record of 6-5-8 and a conference record of 3-3-2. They entered their first playoff match seeded fifth out of nine teams. Salem was seeded fourth.
Salem started the game with effective strides on offense, sending a shot toward FSU’s goal. The shot was saved by sophomore goalkeeper Savannah Goba.
Salem’s second shot came 5 minutes later, this one finding a gap in Framingham’s defense and sailing into the back of the net.
Salem followed with two more shots - one at 14:11 and one at 14:32 - both saved by Goba.
Five minutes passed before Framingham regained possession. After a series of methodical passes, junior Melissa Romeiro was able to send in a shot, but the ball was saved by the Vikings’ goalkeeper Ava Guyer.
Freshman Sophia Thimm attempted a shot 7 minutes later that went wide. This was shortly followed by another shot from junior Ana Serrano, which was saved by Guyer.
Framingham retained possession for the remainder of the half, and Thimm, Captain Abigail Pratt, a sophomore, and freshmen Leiyani Buckner and Abi-
gale King each made attempts on goal.
Just 58 seconds into the second half, Serrano took two more shots on goal - one flying over the crossbar and the other blocked by a defender.
Sophomore Beyonce Gray attempted the next shot for the Rams, but her shot was saved by Guyer.
Salem stole possession and attempted three shots on FSU’s net, all of which were saved by freshman goalkeeper Amelia Finley, who subbed in for Goba.
The teams swapped offensive drives four more times, with four shots from Salem and two from Framingham.
On the Rams’ following offensive push, Thimm once again lined up a shot, this time directing the ball past Guyer to tie the match 1-1.
Salem had the next shot on goal, sending it wide of the net.
When Framingham regained possession 2 minutes later, Buckner was blocked on her attempt to score.
Salem pressured FSU’s net once again, with four shots over the next 5 minutes. Finley stopped all of them.
Gray made one more goal attempt for Framingham before time ran out, but her shot was blocked by Guyer.
Coming into overtime, both teams stayed evenly paced.
Thimm had the first shot of the period, but Guyer saved it.
Five minutes later, Salem attempted a shot, but the ball was saved by Finley.
Men’s ice hockey
Continued from Page 1
Framingham was aggressive on offense, forcing the puck into UMD’s defensive zone, where Bernier slapped the puck past McKallip to deepen the deficit to 2-0 only 30 seconds into the period.
After another three consecutive shots on goal by the Corsairs, all of which were saved by Swanbon, the Rams earned another power play due to a hitting-from-behind penalty by UMD.
Captain Jake Barcelou, a senior, took advantage of this and found the back of the net unas-
sisted, giving Framingham a 3-0 lead.
The Rams and the Corsairs switched off possession of the puck for the rest of the period until a tripping penalty put UMD back on the power play.
Despite being on the penalty kill, Framingham was able to push into UMD’s defensive zone, and Bugarin shot the puck to Bernier right in front of the net. He then sent it to Gines, who found a gap in McKallip’s defense and earned the Rams a four-point lead.
The Corsairs spent the remainder of the period fighting to find the back of the net and
During the second overtime, both teams struggled to gain an advantage on the offensive end. Buckner attempted to score a minute and a half in, but she was unsuccessful.
Six minutes passed before Serrano came in to attempt another shot, but it was blocked by Guyer.
As the second overtime period came to a scoreless close, the game came down to penalty kicks.
Both teams’ first shots were successful, with Captain Cathryn Cooney, a senior, scoring for Framingham.
Finley blocked Salem’s next three shots while Buckner attempted another for FSU.
Salem scored on their final shot, tying the score 3-3.
Freshman Lily Gouveia stepped to the line for Framingham’s final shot, and with a swift kick, she sank the ball into the back of the net, winning the match and sending the Rams to the semifinals.
Finley said, “We knew that this game was make or break, so if we didn’t want our season to end, then we would have to win. I think everyone really understood that message last night and played to their full potential.”
Finley had a perfect game in net, letting none of the Vikings’ shots in.
Finley said she found success in the net during this match by reminding herself “that I have been in these types of situations before and came out on top. It always helps me when my team-
break their scoring drought, but Swanbon remained a brick wall, saving two more shots before the clock ran out.
UMD came back to the ice in the third period with a new sense of motivation, keeping the puck out of their offensive zone for the first half of the period.
They made eight goal attempts in 12 minutes, with the Rams being unable to make any shots on the Corsairs’ subbed-in goaltender Graham Burke.
At 13:27, freshman Aidan Elbrecht tried to slap shot the puck from right inside the blue line, but it was saved by Burke.
The Rams refused to let up, and attempts by Bugarin, sophomore Devin Shepherd, and junior Cameron Craig in the following two-and-a-half minutes unfortunately could not make it past Burke.
One minute later, sophomore Michael Kennedy made a breakaway, catching the Corsairs’ defense off guard. With only one defenseman in between him and the goalie, he was able to find the back of the net, scoring the last goal of the game.
The game ended with one last glove save by Swanbon with three seconds left, and the Rams rushed to the net to congratulate him.
Swanbon had an impressive performance in net, saving all 38 shots he faced. “I just stuck to my game and trusted my teammates. They were blocking a lot of shots out there, which made my life easy. I was just battling for them, and it was an overall great team effort.”
mates have confidence in me and hype me up.”
The Rams will face off against the Worcester State Lancers in the MASCAC Semifinals Nov. 7.
Finley said she hopes the team will use the energy from this win in their match against the Lancers. She said, “Everyone is really excited for this rematch because it was such a great game the first time we played them. We’re practicing hard and going over film to get ready for tomorrow.”
CONNECT WITH TAYLOR KIMMELL tkimmell@student.framingham.edu Stats sourced from fsurams.com and MASCAC.com
He said the team has been focusing on “sticking together for the full 60 minutes. … Just playing simple hockey, getting pucks past the goal line, going to work, and battling our butts off.”
Gines said, “With such a tight game with 38 to 25 shots, we focused on our defense first, making sure we clean up our defensive zone with great shot blocking and active sticks.”
He added this win “will help us build momentum for when it comes time to play MASCAC in conference games.”
McLachlan said he thinks this shutout win will let the other teams “know that we’re not going down without a fight. This is a whole new team this year, and we’re ready to prove ourselves.”
The Rams travel to UMass Dartmouth looking for another win against the Corsairs Nov. 8 in another non-conference game.
Swanbon said, “We’re going to keep playing our game and keep working hard in practice. Our coaches are putting a lot of trust in us and instilling a lot of good systems. … We’re just going to keep fighting until the end.”
Gines said as a team, they “are focusing on our defensive zone coverage, converting on the power play, and getting more shots on goal. I believe this team has what it takes to make a statement in the MASCAC, and we are hungry.”
CONNECT WITH IZABELA GAGE igage@student.framingham.edu
Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST
Ana Serrano kicking the ball up field in loss against Bridgewater St. Nov. 1.
Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST Owen Swanbon stopping the puck with his blocker in shutout win against UMass Dartmouth Nov. 6.
Field hockey upsets Fitchburg in stunning win
By Taylor Kimmell Asst. Sports Editor
The Framingham State Rams upset MASCAC expectations by defeating the Fitchburg State Falcons 2-1 in overtime Nov. 4.
The Rams wrapped up their regular season with an overall record of 4-14 and a conference record of 3-9, sending them into the playoffs seeded sixth of seven teams. The Falcons were ranked third in the tournament.
Sophomore Finley Hogan started the game, sending the ball toward Fitchburg’s side of the field with a strong lift.
Causing a foot penalty within the Falcons’ 25-yard line, Hogan earned Framingham a corner. From the end line, sophomore Allison Wurms passed the ball to Hogan at the top of the circle, who sent a hard drive directly into the back of the net and scored the first goal of the match just 44 seconds in.
For the next 5 minutes, no attempts were made on either net.
The Rams and the Falcons traded fouls, keeping the ball mostly around neutral territory on the field.
Senior Natalia Roehr attempted to bring the ball down the field, but Fitchburg’s defenders put up a strong fight to bring the game back to the 50-yard line.
Fitchburg sent a hard drive toward the Rams’ side of the field, but defensive maneuvers by juniors Allison Harmuth and Marina Cadena prevented a shot and returned the ball to neutral territory.
At 6:09, Fitchburg sent a shot toward Framingham’s net, but it went wide.
Within the following minute, Fitchburg sent in two more shots, both of which were defended by Captain and goaltender Kaitlyn Tello, a junior.
Framingham regained control shortly after, with sophomore Reese Neale attempting a shot on goal that was deflected by Fitchburg goaltender Bella Corcoran.
The following offensive push by the Rams resulted in a green card against a Fitchburg player for shoving, allowing Framingham to play out a corner with the Falcons down a player.
During the corner, Cadena sent a shot toward the goal, but was prevented from scoring by Corcoran.
Both teams had offensive drives in the following few minutes, but neither could breach the other’s 25-yard line.
A corner allowed the Falcons to take another shot, but Tello stood tall in the net and prevented the goal.
The Rams stole back possession, earning a corner that allowed Roehr to take another shot, but it was blocked by Corcoran.
A minute later, freshman Chloe Moynihan was tripped by a Fitchburg defender, earning the Rams another corner. This allowed shots from Wurms and Moynihan, but neither could find the back of the net.
The second quarter began with the score still 1-0 in favor of Framingham. Playing at a deficit, the Falcons were determined to score.
A shot by Fitchburg, a minute and a half in, went wide of the net, but their shot two minutes
later found success, tying the game.
For the remainder of the quarter, Framingham could not force an offensive drive.
A minute following Fitchburg’s goal, they sent three shots to Framingham’s net. Tello remained vigilant, blocking the first shot with her foot and diving to save the next two.
Fifteen seconds later, Fitchburg earned a corner. The defensive team of Cadena, Harmuth, Hogan, and sophomore Mikayla Malmquist cleared the ball and refused to let a ball get close to the net.
Another five minutes passed before Fitchburg could attempt to score. The team sent in two shots, with Tello saving one and the other sailing wide of the net.
Several more uneventful minutes passed, and with just a minute and change left before the half, Fitchburg shot twice more. Again, Tello saved the first, and the second went wide.
By halftime, the Falcons had already outshot the Rams 12-6, showing Tello’s strength in goal.
Tello said, “I think everyone gets really excited whenever we do things defensively, as everyone has been in the defensive circle at least once, no matter what their position is.
“I think knowing that we all work together so well to make it happen always makes everyone more excited,” she added.
Fitchburg came out strong at the top of the third quarter.
Less than 2 minutes in, they earned a corner. Once again, the Falcons’ offense tested Tello, and once again, she passed, saving two shots.
The Falcons kept the pressure on Framingham’s goal with another shot during a corner just 40 seconds later.
Framingham’s defense prevented Fitchburg from shooting until 2 minutes later, with a shot sent wide of the net.
Harmuth sent a hard drive down the field to try to regain offensive control for Framingham. Moynihan sprinted toward the ball in an attempt to keep it within bounds, but even her diving play could not save the ball from rolling over the end line.
Fitchburg quickly capitalized on their possession, earning a corner and shooting once again, with Cadena saving the ball with her stick.
After preventing the shot, the ball hit Cadena’s foot, earning the Falcons a corner during which they were able to take another shot, again turned away by Tello.
Several minutes passed before Fitchburg made another goal attempt that went wide with less than a minute before the end of the quarter
The first 5 minutes of the final quarter were uneventful, with neither team making it within shooting distance of the goal.
Roehr was the first to break through, sending a shot toward the goal that was blocked by Corcoran.
Great defensive plays from both teams prevented all but one more shot during the entirety of the last quarter. The shot by Fitchburg sailed far wide of the net.
With no goals during the fourth, the game was sent into
thrilling overtime play.
Both teams stayed quick on their feet as the overtime period began. Fitchburg made a determined drive toward Framingham’s side of the field, but a strong play from senior Reese Perry rocketed the ball toward midfield, allowing Malmquist to take it down the field for a shot.
A minute later, Tello saved a shot by the Falcons, sliding on her knees to divert the ball.
Three minutes later, Fitchburg sent in two more shots, both saved by Tello.
Seconds later, the Falcons earned a penalty corner, yielding four shots of which Tello prevented three. The fourth flew out of bounds, earning Framingham possession.
Harmuth and Perry worked the ball up the field. Gaining possession, Hogan earned the team a corner.
Malmquist passed Hogan the ball from the end line. Despite heavy pressure from Fitchburg’s defenders, Hogan found an opening, using her momentum to reverse her stick and flick the ball past Corcoran, advancing the Rams to the MASCAC Semifinals.
The moment her shot hit the back of the net, Hogan was surrounded by her teammates in a jubilant celebration of her goal and their underdog victory.
Hogan said when she shot the final ball toward the goal, she “thought there was no way that it was going in. I basically just sat there in shock until everyone around me screamed. Then I was just overwhelmed with emotion.”
Framingham came into this match ranked three places lower than Fitchburg in the MASCAC standings.
Hogan said the Rams just wanted it more, adding that scoring less than a minute in also helped set the tone of what turned out to be an incredible game.
In addition to Hogan’s and
other offensive plays, the Rams’ strong defense made vital contributions to the win.
Over the course of the game, the Falcons attempted fifteen shots on goal. Of these fifteen shots, Tello saved thirteen, Cadena saved one, and only one was allowed in.
Tello saved four shots during the overtime period. She said during high-pressure situations, she tries not to “focus on the fact that it is overtime or a tie game. I just focus on hyping everyone else up and communicating to distract from the fact.
“I honestly love being so close in these types of competitions. It keeps everyone excited, and it is extremely fun to pull off a win in the way we did,” she added.
Tello said the team’s biggest strength has been “playing together and for each other. … This was a heavy mental game for us, and everyone worked hard for the entire time. We never let [Fitchburg] get to us and really just played our game, which is what resulted in us winning.”
“I think knowing how far we have come since the beginning and the amount of fixes that we have made, and being able to be seen on the field, really motivates everyone to keep wanting to get better,” she added.
Hogan said, “I think our commitment and communication have improved tremendously. We all have each other’s backs and all put everything we can onto the field so that we can reach the goal of winning together as a team.”
The Rams travelled to Westfield State Nov. 6 to take on the top-seeded Owls in the MASCAC Semifinal match.
Despite putting up a hard fight, FSU fell short with a score of 2-0, ending their 2025 season.
Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST
Marina Cadena dribbling the ball up field in win against Salem St. Oct. 18.
ARTS & FEATURES
To be read and remembered - Part I
By Sophia Oppedisano Editor-in-Chief
All of us have walked into a professor’s office for the first time. Whether it’s for office hours, advising, or just to say hello, stepping over the threshold feels like stepping into a capsule of a faculty member’s celebrated and decorated career.
Diplomas, thank-you cards, stacks of research, calendars that may or may not be flipped to the correct month - all of these are staples in the offices of professors. However, there is one crucial element that never fails to fascinate - a professor’s bookshelves.
Indicative of everything from a professor’s academic specialty to their family lives to their passions and personalities, their bookshelves often contain clues to precisely what makes professors at Framingham State so extraordinary.
You just have to be willing to ask.
President Nancy Niemi, a self-proclaimed “voracious” reader, has bookshelves spanning the length of her office with extra shelf space in an adjoining meeting room.
Niemi’s shelves exude an elegance and a strong, scholarly presence in the sunlight that streams through the windows facing out toward campus. Her books sit perched on wooden shelves built directly into the wall, each a vital part of Niemi’s journey from student to university president.
To describe her shelves in one word, Niemi stepped back to admire her many books, journals, and papers and said decisively, “provocative.”
For Niemi, her books often fall into one of two categories: professional or personal. While the shelves in her office con-
middle school students, specifically, “What the intersection was of being female and being in middle school in terms of intelligence, the perception of intelligence, and school success,” she said.
As she pulled books off the shelf with yellowed pages and wrinkled sticky notes protruding between the pages from her days as a graduate student, Niemi confessed she wanted to title her research “Being Smart Doesn’t Make You a Man.”
Niemi said, “This publisher didn’t let me do it, and even my grad advisor didn’t let me do it, but it’s my secret subtitle, because what I found, quite simply, is you could be considered an attractive, popular girl, or you could be considered smart - not both.”
Every book or article Niemi has written or co-written sits on a shelf at the far end of her office. “I’m very proud of this little part over here. … I still can’t believe I ever wrote a book. It just makes me proud, and I understand just how hard it is,” she said.
As she looked over the titles of her own work, Niemi said one of the nicest things anyone ever said to her was when her dad told her, “I was proud of you for writing a book, but you wrote a real book.”
Since Niemi has risen through the ranks of academia from student to university president, she said she deeply enjoys being surrounded by “the knowledge” her books have imparted on her since she was an undergraduate herself.
While Niemi said she enjoys a good fiction story, such as “March” by Geraldine Brooks, she often gravitates toward “well-written stories of perseverance.”
She recommends “The Indifferent Stars Above” by Daniel
ern literature as well as digital humanities, said as far as her reading habits are concerned, “I’m a 1590s kind of girl.”
She leaned back in her chair to admire titles by the likes of Thomas Nashe, Christopher Marlowe, and William Shakespeare, as well as beloved gifts from students, and decided if she had to describe her shelves in one word, she would choose “love.”
The first shelf contains mostly overflow from home, but even those books are organized according to each time period Bennett has studied or now teaches. Among the titles are a Harry Potter action figure, an eclectic cat lamp, old props from Shakespeare plays, and a BINGO game.
Situated diagonally across her office is Bennett’s second bookshelf, which she described as more organized because of the gorgeous volumes it contains. This is where “all the action is,” she added.
A year’s worth of the “Renaissance Quarterly” journal, a complete, illustrated Shakespeare, which Bennett received for her Ph.D completion, and an extensive collection of Shakespeare variants adorn the upper few shelves.
Though her ancient, medieval, and early modern niche might intimidate students, Bennett said she enjoys reading fantasy fiction, including titles such as “Babel” by R.F. Kuang, the “Harry Potter” series, and the “All Souls” series by Deborah Harkness.
Titles like “Babel” were recommended to Bennett by her students, and she enjoys getting recommendations of their favorite titles, she said.
Along with their recommendations, Bennett’s shelves contain gifts from students. “I love my stuff - everything on the
to me, and I like to look at it,” she said.
The rest is a “hodge podge” of books she loans to students, old DVDs, her Ph.D notes, anthologies, books by transcendentalist writers, and one lonely cookbook she bought at the May Hall book sale with honorable intentions but it never made it home with her.
Her prized possession on the shelf is “the most expensive photograph I’ve ever taken,” she said. The framed photo is of the only copy of Christopher Marlowe’s play, “Doctor Faustus,” which is housed at the Bodleian Library in Oxford. “I went all the way there to go visit it,” she said.
Some material on the shelf gets rotated in or out depending on what research projects Bennett said she is working on at home. Regardless of what the books on her shelves are used for, they span both centuries and interests.
“In the framework where my mind exists, which is in a very nonlinear space - it’s all connected. … The past is prologue. … I really feel it to the core of my being that I’ve always felt since I was very young,” she said.
Bennett said she has always had an “intuitive” connection to history, beginning with her love of the transcendentalist writers. “I’ve always felt like there’s something there that provides a weird sense of comfort when I can’t make sense of this world. I also feel like it helps us be more enthusiastic about the future, whatever it’s going to be, and the unknown. I’m not fearless, but it makes me, as Mary Moody Emerson said, ‘Always do what you’re afraid to do,’” she added.
These are just two stories of two bookshelves out of hundreds across campus. The sto-
“In the framework where my mind exists, which is in a very nonlinear space - it’s all connected. … The past is prologue. … I really feel it to the core of my being that I’ve always felt since I was very young,”
- Kristen Abbott Bennett English Professor
tain about 90% of the books she considers professional, a book can make the shelf if it was “a profound book for me, if it changed the way I think. Another would be if it’s part of my work or part of my research,” she said.
A shelf of well-worn books on gender and educationNiemi’s area of specialty in her research - sits next to her office door. As she perused her stacks, Niemi said she could give a “whirlwind tour” of how each book influenced her studies and her life.
In graduate school, Niemi researched how gender affects
James Brown and “The Wager” by David Grann.
While Niemi insists she doesn’t have an office big enough to house all her favorite books, those she does have are comparable to “having old friends.”
Across the quad from Niemi’s office in Dwight Hall, English Professor Kristen Abbott Bennett’s cozy office in May Hall faces out toward State Street. Bennett has two towering bookshelves packed to the brim with thick volumes, knick-knacks, and mementos.
Bennett, a professor of ancient, medieval, and early mod-
shelf has a story,” she said.
A homemade witch’s tea, Shakespeare tea, a precious kitty soap, and numerous thankyou notes were all gifted to her by students.
On the bottom shelf, an ornate Harry Potter lunch box sits perched between stacks of books. “That’s from my mom. She died in 2002, but she didn’t really get all my reading. I don’t know if she would have loved that I’m an English professor. It’s probably telling that I didn’t embark on this path until after she was gone, but she tried, and so the Harry Potter lunch box is quite dear
ries we all have to tell are important and illuminating and something like a bookshelf, knick-knacks, laptop stickers, or clothing can represent the bridges that unite us.
Ask your peers, your professors, and other members of our community about their stories - you never know what you’ll learn.
CONNECT WITH SOPHIA OPPEDISANO soppedisano@student.framingham.edu
Bracelet making kicks off First-Gen Celebration Week
By Francisco Omar Fernandez Rodriguez Arts & Features Editor
CASA hosted the “First-Gen Student Celebration” at the Center for Inclusive Excellence (CIE) Nov. 3. It’s the first of three events for National FirstGen Celebration Week.
At the event, bracelet and button making, “Leaf Your Mark,” and ice cream were available.
Kelly Curtis, coordinator of the RAMS first-year seminar, said the event was important because it gives first-gen students a chance to celebrate their achievements.
Each year, they typically “have a day where we have crafts and some kind of treat for students to come and spend some time,” Curtis said.
“On Wednesday, we’ll be in the McCarthy Center, and that’s another celebration time where students can come and sign a commitment-to-graduate banner,” Curtis said.
She added it’s great that some students were present and working on some crafts.
It can be difficult to adjust to college life when someone comes from a family that doesn’t fully understand “what it means to walk onto a campus,” she said.
Sometimes “you just feel lost,” she added.
It’s important for first-gen students to recognize their accomplishments and think about their future, she said.
Jenna Saade, a student success coach for CASA, came up with “Leaf Your Mark,” which
is a spot where students can leave notes about who inspires and supports them, and why they decided to go to college, Curtis said.
Saade was a first-gen student from Framingham but didn’t go to FSU.
She went to college at UMass Lowell, where she was later part of their first-gen support program.
For a couple of years, she worked in the Office of Admissions at FSU before joining CASA, where she got involved in helping first-gen students.
“When I started working at CASA and knew about the GenerationOne work that they do … I was more than happy to get on board and help with that, since I know from firsthand experience the benefits
The Book Report: ‘Moby Dick’
By Kate Norrish Staff Writer
If you’re thinking, “Isn’t that the absolute chunk of a book that’s mostly how whaling ships work for dummies?” Then, yes, that is accurate, but hear me out. “Moby Dick,” published in 1851, is a surprisingly fun romp featuring an exasperated crew of sailors who didn’t realize they signed up to be stuck on the high seas taking orders from a lunatic until it was too late.
After being coaxed into signing a totally not sketchy contract by local eccentric businessmen, Bildad and Peleg, Ishmeal, along with his friend Queenpeg, and soon to be friends Starbuck, Flask, Pip, and more, end up spending many a month trying to convince the iconic Captain Ahab to shut up about the whale who ate his leg and help them collect that nice expensive spermaceti.
Speaking of which, it should be clarified that between the characters eating a dish called “whale balls,” “squeeze squeeze” squeezing out the spermaceti, and many, many other examples, Melville makes it clear that he knew exactly what he was doing by naming a book about a sperm whale “Moby Dick.”
For those wondering why on Earth someone would write that stuff in a respected book, I don’t know for certain. In fact, there is a lot in this book that is uncertain. I’ve heard people question whether or not Ishmeal is narrating the story as
a ghost, and, to tackle the sex jokes, there is an interpretation that it is because Ahab’s whale attack also made him a eunuch.
In general, the themes of this book, and how they’re given to us, are weird. “Moby Dick” is possibly better known as a cosmic horror book. Beneath the chaos of the characters losing their minds over this one stinking whale and some symbolism for stuff, this book has many moments that will make you fall silent from your giggling.
The characters constantly question the undue harm they may be causing to the natural world, which leads to a crisis of faith amongst both the Christian and Muslim characters, and as the book goes on, they all fall into the brain scrambling headspace that Ahab has been choosing to live in for years. In fact, some theorize that the whale is literally God, punishing the characters for their treatment of the natural world.
To put it short, this book has aged depressingly well in the age of climate change.
Starbuck was a highlight of this story to me. Starting out as a wide eyed, optimistic first mate, we watch the light slowly drain from his eyes as he realizes that this is not a normal whaling trip. This was never going to be a normal whaling trip, not with Ahab.
Ahab himself is done in such a way that I did not expect, and yet he is, in most ways, exactly the same as the stock character that he has become in the public consciousness. At times,
of being involved in a first-gen community and having that support system on campus,” Saade said.
The button making and “Leaf Your Mark” were additions to the usual annual events, she said.
She said being a first-gen student has both its challenges and strengths, as the students are usually more resilient.
“You should really rely on others who are there to support you every step of the way, and that’s what we’re here for,” Saade said.
Freshman finance major Jennifer Lopez said she went to the event because she wanted to meet new people.
“I’m very proud to be a first year college student because my parents didn’t get the chance to graduate and I think it’s a really big milestone in my life,” Lopez said.
She added more people should go to these events to make new experiences and meet new people.
Freshman education major Ella Costa said she decided to go with Lopez because they’re both first-gen students.
“It’s been a lot of fun so far. We’re making some pins and we put our leaf with all our inspirations for succeeding on the little tree in here,” Costa said.
She added events like these are good opportunities to network.
CONNECT WITH FRANCISCO OMAR FERNANDEZ RODRIGUEZ ffernandezrodriguez@student.framingham.edu
I actually found his obsession with this one whale to be kind of goofy.
Perhaps I was affected by the book’s constant phallic imagery, but the other characters find him annoying more than anything. And yet, there are moments that peek out, especially in the last scene of this book, that make you understand exactly what he meant, and he becomes as funny as a murder scene.
However, my favorite characters, who absolutely stole the show, were Bildad and Peleg. Because they are both aged, former captains, they can’t join in on the “fun” of sailing with Ahab. Instead, they spend their time making sure the other characters won’t break their expensive stuff, reassuring them that Ahab is totally professional and trustworthy, and giving them cheese and pickles.
They are also sure to let one of the crew members knownot anyone else, just him - that he is, under no circumstances,
allowed to do a certain adult activity during the voyage. It was a sad day when I saw that they were not going to join the rest of the characters on the boat, and that their time in the book was done.
If you want some thought provoking environmental horror, or you want a spooky tale of the high seas that invites you to laugh at AMAB anatomy, “Moby Dick” may be chunky, but if you feel its length, it will be because you don’t want it to end.
Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST
(Left) freshmen Jennifer Lopez and Ella Costa designing their leaves in CASA on Nov. 3.
Marcus Falcão / THE GATEPOST
SWAG SWAG SWAG ON II
By Liv Dunleavy Asst. Arts & Features Editor
Hi everyone, my name’s Liv and I’ve been a Belieber since 2009. I started seeking help when my friends and family noticed the delusion setting in and we had an intervention. It’s been a long road of recovery, but Justin and I are at a stage where I am totally normal about him in a way my 13-year-old self could never imagine I would ever be.
Listen, we might not agree on this, but hear me out. I’m not opposed to pleading and begging. I’ve spent 17 years passionately by this man’s side and I intend to keep it that way. The roller coaster (great song) Beliebers have been on since 2009 is never-ending and
about I don’t even know where to start. My first thought was kind of embarrassing but I think many Beliebers felt similarly. I was like, “Oh my gosh! This sounds so much like Justin Bieber!” and then I started crying. It was an indescribable feeling.
This album has clear themes, crystal clear messages laid out in lyrics directed, aimed and fired at his target audience. Most of the album can be summarized in a few categories, but the main theme is his love for his wife Hailey.
I recommend everyone pull up the album on their preferred streaming service and experience the full delight of “SWAG II” but if you are looking to save some time, I’ll help you navigate the album a bit.
He mentions how he feels the media is pushing what they want him to feel or act, mentioning his struggles of being a human very publicly and how it weighs on him.
And, again, it feels like in these short tracks Druski makes light of these topics, whether it be his mental struggles or his music style, I just don’t get the feeling of support from a track titled “THERAPY SESSION.”
But then again, I think why would Justin put this track on two of his albums if he didn’t want to, and I realize I am part of the problem and it’s none of my business.
Anywho, off of the topic of that one small thing that makes me rate a gosh darn Justin Bieber album of all things an A-, let’s talk about some niche and
song makes me feel like everything was worth it.
He has always been able to write in a way that it feels like he’s never just making up words, he means every word he says. His emotions and facial expressions show through his voice, and I don’t know if that has just been because I have been looking at his face and hearing his voice for 16 years but I swear it’s like I can see him when I listen to these tracks.
OK, OK, enough of the sappy s***. Let’s talk about some upbeat tracks you can blast in the car and feel like you’re listening to Bizzle again.
“POPPIN MY S***” is like my anthem right now. I am indeed poppin’ my s***, any bad day becomes a good day when I
is not always a smooth ride.
I’m walking into this article assuming you, as the reader, know absolutely nothing about Justin Bieber. And that’s OK! Let me fill you in on what you’ve missed since you last heard “Baby,” “Boyfriend,” “Beauty and a Beat,” or the Christmas classic “Mistletoe.”
There have been quite a few album releases since Justin left us in a hiatus in 2017 after his extremely successful “Purpose World Tour.” With “Changes” in 2020 followed by “Justice” and its successor editions in 2021, he established his presence in the music scene once again during and after the pandemic.
Bieber’s most recent album, “SWAG II,” is an amalgamation of feelings, features, and an honestly confusing mix of genres. It was released just 56 days after “SWAG,” the prequel album, and exists as the shortest period of time between any of his releases to that date. The two disc album consists of an astonishing 44 tracks in total23 new tracks alongside the 21 tracks from its sister album. There is so much to talk
First of all, just to reiterate, there are two discs in “SWAG II.” Disc 1 is the second album, the newest installment of Bieber goodness. If you are looking to go in order, start with disc 2.
I think every song on disc 2 (or “SWAG”) is worth a listen, but rapid fire, the songs most popular in social media consist of “DAISIES,” “YUKON,” and “BUTTERFLIES.”
My personal favorites from that disc include “WAY IT IS” and “FIRST PLACE.” But I wanted to mention a few notable tracks and why this album has been such a large shift and changed so much for the Biebs.
He included a few tracks that were conversations with American comedian and actor Druski. These short clips included conversations surrounding Justin’s career and feelings on that topic.
I don’t personally like these tracks as I feel Justin doesn’t get to speak his entire thoughts or really convey his whole feeling on the topic.
It feels like it is sincere, but I am really unsure if that is the point with Druski being there.
so-sweet-your-teeth-will-fallout Easter eggs.
In the song “DADZ LOVE,” written for his son, Jack, he samples a drum solo from when Justin was 2. It is a clip that has circulated the internet since forever and makes Beliebers melt every time.
When the album came out, all of us collectively sobbed into our Justin Bieber lifesized cardboard cutouts. I assume every Belieber has one? Or two?
Just me?
The second disc (“SWAG”) only scratches the surface of what Justin is capable of. His range of genres, writing credits, producing credits - I missed being in an active Bieber era. The R&B to soft rock, pop, hiphop, and a genre of songs that should be sent into space for everyone to hear. I think we should just name them “Justin Bieber songs that saved my life.”
One of those songs is called “I THINK YOU’RE SPECIAL.” I have been listening to this on repeat almost the whole time while writing this article. Every song he writes is a gift but this
hear that beat OK? And can we talk about “SPEED DEMON” now? I want to do a backflip when that song comes on, like the echolalia goes crazy. I literally don’t even know what “heat checking these chickens” means but I am doing that also. There’s just too many tracks to cover in one article, so scan the QR code in my mix to hear my top 15 tracks!
Rating: ADon’t stop Beliebing!
The summer it turned messy
By Zaynab Ahmed Staff Writer
I loved “The Summer I Turned Pretty” (TSITP). Emphasis on “loved.”
“TSITP’s” vibe in Season 1 was amazing. It had a very easy breezy summery feel to it that the second and third seasons lost.
Many of the characters were grieving and dealing with the loss of Susannah’s death, which is why it makes sense for some things to feel off for a few episodes or even an entire season.
The issue is that they didn’t bring back that light summer feel by Season 3. Actually, they were unable to bring it back. There was too much drama and tension between all the characters for them all to enjoy having a good time with each other again.
Watching Season 3, all the characters felt weird and everyone felt completely different from the first two
seasons. It didn’t take me long to figure out what had happened. These characters all felt different, because they were. There were too many time jumps in Season 3 and as an audience it throws us off. It wouldn’t have been so much of a problem if we were going through time jumps throughout the entire show. But we didn’t. Rather, we were occasionally shown flashbacks of their childhoods, or the past season’s drama.
Another issue I had was Belly’s love interests. Many people were team Jere but by Season 3 most of them switched over to Conrad. Why did this happen? In short - maturity. The levels of maturity exhibited by everyone changed, especially Conrad’s.
In the first season Conrad was very moody and wouldn’t speak to anyone. He had substance issues and was always quiet and brooding. Then by
Season 3 had a stable plan as a medical student, and he was going to therapy and working on himself. Season 1 Jeremiah was seen as very bubbly and brought life to the party. He was fun to be around and simply seemed like less drama than whatever Conrad had going on. Then by Season 3 he somehow became a dependent, clingy little child.
Belly, on the other hand, didn’t really change or mature much throughout the entire series. Susannah’s death certainly made her act off and she didn’t use the best approach to handle most situations. With the brothers, she thought she needed to be there for both of them and when she was with one, she felt guilty she wasn’t there for the other. This is what made her switch back and forth so much. What she should’ve done was not date either brother during that terrible grieving period and just have been there as a friend for both of them.
If I had to pick a brother for her to end up with,
I would pick Jeremiah because their maturity levels match each other. Conrad is far too different and mature by Season
*Waterproof covers
*Swallow quickly
*Hairstyles, casually
Fever reduction brand
Move like the Blob
French girlfriend 16. *Party noisily
17. *Something used by humans, crows and dolphins
18. *Move like a river
19. Nickname for Lincoln
20. Chess piece also called a castle 22. Mope
24. *“The Maltese Falcon” actor Peter
26. *Nobelist Morrison
28. *Arctic explorer John or actress Issa
31. Annoyed
32. “Don’t think so”
33. Citrus drink suffix
34. *Nautilus captain
36. *Hence
37. *Classic can material
38. Pesky plant
39. Kind of sandwich or cigar
40. “The very ___!”
41. *Chip in chips
42. *Information
43. *Periodontist’s concerns
44. Pull
45. Monty Python member Idle
46. “Six Feet Under” actress Taylor
48. *NYSE event
49. *Ship’s backbone
50. *Amusement park transports
52. Cryptid’s loch
54. Walk in a kiddie pool
56. Sleep phase
58. *Retain
60. *Catches some z’s
62. *___ Gay
64. Sword whose name is French for “sword”
65. Bring in
66. “Tiny, tangy crunchy candy”
67. *Attract
68. *Brouhahas
69. *Positive quality
DOWN
1. Room in a casa
2. Naval Academy freshman
3. Take apart to see the inner workings of
3 to be with Belly anymore. She and Jeremiah technically both cheated on and hurt each other, and they are just toxic together because they’re toxic people. Belly goes through both brothers a number of different times, then moves to Paris for some change. But if we’re being honest, the biggest change she experienced was cutting her hair. She should’ve left both brothers alone and found someone new that she was better matched with in Season 3, and that’s what would’ve been the perfect ending.
After analyzing the love trian - gle, I just want to leave off by saying I think the biggest crime in “TSITP” was that we didn’t get to see Cam Cameron have a good ending! After all the love the fans showed him in Season 1, we deserved to have an amazing subplot of his romance even if he wasn’t in Belly’s life anymore. I think while many of our opinions on “TSITP” may differ, it’s safe to say we all wanted the best ending for Cam Cameron.
4. Broad st.
5. “Holy” or “night” follower
6. End of two swimming pool games’ names
7. 1888 time travel novel by Edward Bellamy
8. “Orange Is the New Black” actress Aduba
9. Breaks away from defenders
10. Distraction intended to mislead
11. Liquid in a slick
12. 3 letters?
15. Leather punch
21. Grand ___ Opry
23. Salt Lake City student
25. Olympic medalist Rousey
27. Santatracking org.
29. “Farewell, mon ami!”
30. Change the price label on
34. Have because of
35. Got together
36. Protruding navel
39. Strokes lovingly
40. Speck of land, in Spanish
45. Windy City transports
46. Drug dropped in the ’60s
47. “That is ...”
51. Takes care of
53. Scraped (out)
55. Fashion designer Sui
57. Tableland
58. Church seat
59. Clean Air Act org.
61. Kung ___ chicken
63. Director Ang
Puzzle solutions are now exclusively online.
David Abe / THE GATEPOST
FALL FEST FESTIVITIES
Students participating in the donut eating contest at Fall Fest Nov. 7.
Groups of students outside Fall Fest Nov. 7.
Decorated pumpkin at Fall Fest Nov. 7.
Student pouring hot chocolate at Fall Fest Nov. 7.
Students getting their food from the ButterURBiscuit food truck at Fall Fest Nov. 7. Erina Operach participating in the donut eating contest at Fall Fest Nov. 7.
(Left) Alicia Banson, Abrianna Oullette, and Kira James with pumpkins at Fall Fest Nov. 7.
Antonio Machado / THE GATEPOST
Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST
Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST
Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST
Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST
Antonio Machado / THE GATEPOST
Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST
Spread by Associate Editor Adrien Gobin