Framingham State revising Climate Action Plan
By Sarah Daponde Editorial Staff
Framingham State is reassessing the campus’s Climate Action Plan from 2022 and preparing to publish a new plan for 2026, according to Director of Campus Sustainability and Fashion Professor Ruirui Zhang.
Framingham State has been recognized as a Green Campus since 2010, according to the University’s website, which is an acknowledgment given to a campus that has made it a priority to integrate sustainability into campus life.
President Nancy Niemi said, “It is heartening to see that there are sustainability initiatives in most every quarter of our community.”
Niemi said her personal goals for campus sustainability include adopting overall environmentally friendly practices, promoting core values of climate action and justice in the University’s decision making, and continuing to support educational opportunities for students.
Zhang said the Climate Action Plan was created in 2012 under the direction of Framingham State’s facilities and sustainability planning teams, and is updated every three years.
According to Zhang, the plan is a report that includes relevant information about sustainability activities and the future environmental goals of Framingham State.
The plan is configured by the Campus Sustainability Committee, which Zhang said is made up of people from a range of departments on campus.
The plan acts as a transparent way to share information with the community, as well as with both the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) and Second Nature of the National Carbon Community, an organization that partners with colleges and universities to help facilitate climate action.
Zhang said the goals and initiatives of the Climate Action
Political group attempts to host table on McCarthy Patio
By Sophia Oppedisano Editor-in-Chief
Two individuals representing Turning Point USA, a political nonprofit group founded by the late Charlie Kirk, attempted to host an information table on the McCarthy Patio on Oct. 21.
Buttons, candy, a prize wheel, and a tablecloth with a link to Turning Point USA’s website were displayed on the table.
In addition to advertising for Turning Point USA, one of the individuals was wearing a shirt that advertised the Leadership Institute, a nonprofit that “identifies, recruits, trains, and places conservatives in government, politics, and the media,” according to their website.
The individuals were asked to leave by the Director of Campus Events Autumn Sendzik and Assistant Director of Campus Events Susan Romani.
According to Romani, the En-
glish department sponsored a National Day on Writing event on the McCarthy Patio before the unauthorized setup of the Turning Point USA table.
“When we went down to break the tables down, a political group from off campus had seen the tables and took the advantage of setting up on the patio,” Romani said.
It is against Framingham State’s policies concerning events sponsored by outside groups for a group to “randomly set up on the patio,” she added.
Outside groups are required to reach out to Campus Events so they can fill out the required contract, pay the rental fee, and ensure insurance requirements have been met to protect Framingham State from liability, according to Romani.
“We did give [them] my email address, so they’re welcome to reach out to our department and we’ll send them the poli-
Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST
President Nancy Niemi serving french toast sticks at The Moonlight Breakfast on Oct. 17.
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. Arts & Features Editors
Sarah Daponde
Liv Dunleavy
Photos & Design Editor
Alexis Schlesinger
Illustrations Editors
Ronnie Chiu-Lin
Marcus Falcão
Staff Illustrators
David Abe
Staff Writers
Jesse Burchill
Kristel Erguiza
Paul Harrington
Dan Lima
Kate Norrish
Andrew Ramirez
Avery Slavin
Kennedy Thompson
Staff Photographers
Corban Allen
Meg Dame
Christy Howland
Advisor
Desmond McCarthy
Asst. Advisor
Elizabeth Banks
Graduate Advising Asst.
Emma Lyons
Gatepost Interview Christopher Addario Assistant
By Sophia Oppedisano Editor-in-Chief
What is your academic and professional background?
I started my journey at Salem State University. I have a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, and I worked as a resident assistant (RA) there for two years, and then I was a head RA. I fell in love with higher education and working with students, so I went to Boston College for my graduate program and got my master’s in higher education administration. During that time, I worked at Babson College as an assistant area director. Then, I came here as a resident director and I worked in Larned Hall for three years! I loved it! Now, I’m over in West Hall as the assistant director.
What do you love about working in Residence Life?
There are a lot of things, but, and this is going to sound really cheesy, but the students. In ResLife, we are very much our own department because we handle a lot, and every single day, I get to interact with students. That just makes me feel really happy to be doing the work that I’m doing, and especially working with my RAs. I get to work with them on a very close level, and seeing their transition and their growth just really makes the job really, really beneficial for me. If you boil it down, it’s definitely the students - 1,000%.
What drew you to Framingham State?
What drew me to Framingham State was the opportunity to work for a state school. Working for a state school is very different and very unique, and there’s something here that, as a professional, you don’t get at a private institution. There are some amazing students over at private institutions, but working in a state school, you just get to work with some amazing students, and you have different experiences that you don’t experience at a private institution. That’s what drove me here, because I was at Salem State, and I’m a state school student through and through. Working at Babson was just very different, and it was very eye-opening, but I was like, “I need to go back to the state school system and work there,” and then the job opened here for an RD.
Director of Residence Life
What are your hobbies or interests outside of your professional life?
Outside of my professional life, I’m a big movie head. I love watching a movie. I also love watching TV shows. I’m not very active outdoors, because, you know, I always say that I need to get a dog to become more active, but I’m a cat person - 1,000%. So it really kind of brings me to seclude myself in my house with my cat that I love deeply, but watching a movie and watching TV shows - it sounds very boring, but that’s definitely one of my favorite hobbies. I just picked up watching “Once Upon a Time” - great show. I remember when it came out, and I only watched the first season, but now I’m hooked, and I have been watching that during my time off.
Why is student leadership important?
For college students, you come here, and you’re here to get a degree, and that’s what I want every student to do. There are amazing students here who are very much determined to get their degree, but you’re not just paying for the classes - you are also paying to be involved. Getting involved on a college campus is one of the best
of Christopher Addario
things that you can do. People talk about the college experience, and they always talk about parties, and there are giant events that happen, but no, the college experience is making connections, and that’s really what it boils down to. Getting involved allows you to open the doors to have the experience that you are ultimately paying for here. Here at Framingham, we offer so many student leadership positions. When you think about resident assistants, Student Government Association, orientation leaders, or even being a part of a club, it allows you to do something outside of the classroom. I think that a lot of the time, too, especially working in ResLife, there’s this idea that to be involved, you also have to live on campus, but no, it’s open for commuters as well. I love to promote living on campus, but no, every student, whether a commuter or resident, can get involved and make the connections, because that’s how you’re going to get the student experience that everybody talks about in college life.
CONNECT WITH SOPHIA OPPEDISANO soppedisano@student.framingham.edu
On page 7 of the October 7, 2025 issue of The Gatepost, Illustrations Editor Marcus Falcão was credited for an illustration, this is incorrect. Staff Illustrator David Abe created this illustration. We apologize for this error.
Police Logs
Monday, Oct. 20 3:18 Larceny Under $1,200, FSUPD Report Taken
Tuesday, Oct. 21 9:03 Motor Vehicle Tow, Crocker Hall
Wednesday, Oct. 22 7:41 Down Tree/Wire, Maple St Athletic Fields
Wednesday, Oct. 22 3:15 Medical Emergency, Hemenway Hall Transport to Hospital
Courtesy
SGA discusses club constitution concerns
By Dylan Pichnarcik Associate Editor
SGA President César Matos raised concerns about SGA’s role in approving club constitutions at their weekly meeting on Oct. 21.
Matos said he did not believe SGA should be a part of the approval process for new and amended club constitutions.
Currently, SGA and the Center for Student Experience and
paper,” Matos said.
In response, SGA Advisor Rachel Spezia said the reason for SGA’s role in the approval process is that approved student organizations receive funding from SGA through the Student Activities Trust Fund (SATF).
“The other part of it - if you think in terms of different branches of government and a new student organization is forming and you just have one office vetting it, it’s not going
This includes creating a text line through the Framingham State Police Department to inform members of the community “in case something unsafe is happening on campus,” Piette said.
Piette said the committee is also working to set a date for SGA’s annual safety walk with the administration.
During his report, Matos discussed SGA’s recent initiative to gather information about stu-
Yubeta asked members of SGA to submit questions they would like answered by administrators.
During his report, Treasurer Khoa Bùi said he will be sending monthly reports about the status of the SATF and how much of it is left for the remainder of the year.
The SATF is used by SGA to fund all student organizations on campus.
Bùi also said the Finance
Career Development (EXP) approve the creation and amendment of all student organizations.
To receive funding from SGA and be recognized by the University, student organizations must have an approved and upto-date constitution with EXP.
Matos said he does not understand why SGA is tasked with approving constitutions because an organization’s constitution is not sent to SGA for approval until EXP signs off on it.
Matos said he believes putting constitution approvals in the hands of SGA may create conflict if SGA did not agree with EXP’s prior approval.
“They’re essentially handing it to us the second they already deem it passable. So, essentially, we’re coming in to just push
Saturday, Oct. 25
Tuesday, Oct. 28
through a review process. … It’s left on one person’s desk and that person is left saying, ‘Yes’ or ‘No,’” Spezia added.
She added SGA serves as an additional organization tasked with “scrutinizing” a constitution so that a club is open and available to all students and abides by SGA’s bylaws.
She said the process to approve constitutions will be updated in the future.
After the discussion, SGA approved two new club constitutions - Criminology Club and Volunteers of FSU.
During the announcement portion of the meeting, Safety and Security Committee Chair Nathan Piette said the committee is working to address safety and security concerns on campus.
Mostly sunny, with a high near 52.
Sunday, Oct. 26
dent perspectives in anticipation of the upcoming Administrators’ Forum.
Matos said, “I met with Glenn Cochran, [associate] vice president of Student Affairs, and discussed the SGA initiative. Two things that he noted was he believes that a good sample to reach is 100 students. I believe that we can surpass those numbers, and we’ll be able to gather satisfactory data once we surpass that number.
“I have full faith in us that we’re going to surpass that and we are going to take this data and parse through it before admin forum,” Matos said.
According to Student Trustee Luke Yubeta, Administrators’ Forum will be held Nov. 18 in conjunction with a Club Representative meeting.
A slight chance of showers after 3pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 53.
Wednesday, Oct. 29
Partly sunny, with a high near 54.
Committee approved a request for seed money for the Political Science Club which will be used for catering and events.
Matos announced two new members of SGA, Juniors Julia Pinheiro and Sophia Carvalho, who were unanimously appointed to SGA during the meeting.
The U-Rock was passed to Piette for his work as chair of the Safety and Security Committee and the U-Rock Ram, a new award which recognizes a member of SGA’s eBoard for outstanding work, was passed to Publicist Taylor Royal.
CONNECT WITH DYLAN PICHNARCIK
dpichnarcik@student.framingham.edu
Monday, Oct. 27
Mostly sunny, with a high near 52.
Thursday, Oct. 30
A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 54.
Alexis Schlesinger / THE GATEPOST
(Left) Julia Pinheiro and Sophia Carvalho being sworn in by César Matos
Sunny, with a high near 56.
Digital accessibility initiative discussed at All University meeting
By Sophia Oppedisano Editor-in-Chief
President Nancy Niemi hosted the first All University meeting of the 2025-26 academic year on Oct. 20.
Niemi said she wanted to use the occasion to discuss the University’s successes, including strategic priorities that were completed during the first year of the University’s five-year strategic plan.
“We decided today that we also wanted to highlight the things, both from our strategic plan and from around the University, that we have already accomplished and we’ve done well. So that, we figured, was a very good use of an All University meeting to show us that we’re making progress and highlighting the divisions from across our campus,” she added.
In addition to discussing completed strategic priorities, Niemi introduced a digital accessibility initiative, which will affect the entire University, she said.
Steven Courchesne, director of Academic Technology and Instructional Design with the Education Technology Office, led the portion of the meeting dedicated to discussing the digital accessibility initiative.
“I think that this is very much connected to our strategic mission. Under our core values, we talk about encouraging academic excellence, and we talk about building an inclusive and collaborative community. You see that reflected also in the mission and in specific strategic goals that we have. So this is really work that is related to achieving our core ideas as an institution,” Courchesne said.
This is not the first digital accessibility initiative at Framingham State, according to Courchesne. The Massachusetts Office of Civil Rights filed a complaint with the University in 2018 about the accessibility of its website as well as the learning management system Blackboard, which the University was using at the time, he added.
“Now again, we have an external factor that’s kind of encouraging us to do this again,” he said.
A new rule under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) will require “spaces that are currently password protected, like SharePoint or Canvas, be digitally accessible and adhere to accessibility guidelines,” by April 24, 2026, Courchesne said.
He said the primary goal with this initiative is “to remove barriers that might prevent people from being able to perceive, to navigate and to understand the information that we have located on our different platforms.”
This includes adding alternative (alt) text to images within documents, adding captions to videos, and including headings and other proper structural elements to documents “so that everybody can consume the documents and navigate them more easily,” Courchesne said.
He added faculty and staff will need to learn the skills necessary to make their password-protected spaces more accessible.
Courchesne said he is aware “this can create some anxiety,” and some faculty and staff might be “more familiar or less familiar with what’s expected.”
To help alleviate some of this anxiety, Courchesne said he
wants faculty and staff to develop their accessibility skills by attending one of the Education Technology Office’s workshops, use the accessibility resources linked in SharePoint, or meet one on one with the office.
“The Education Technology Office team loves to sit down with people and look at your course site, figure out what needs to be done, and help you to figure out how to maybe mitigate any issues that are there. And you can take that skill forward into the future,” he said.
Courchesne suggested faculty start by “prioritizing” the most important pieces of their course site, such as their syllabi.
“I think that if we focus on one or two things at a time and make gradual but continuous progress throughout the semester, by the end of it, you’ve actually accomplished a lot,” he said.
At the conclusion of Courchesne’s presentation, Niemi asked for questions.
Shelli Waetzig, chair of the Biochemistry, Chemistry, and Food Science Department, expressed concern about the April 24 deadline.
“I have so much stuff on Canvas, and I recognize that this is important work that needs to be done. … There’s a lot to learn for me because all of our stuff is chemistry and not as straightforward as putting something in Word or PowerPoint even. … There’s just a lot to be said about the deadline and how that will wrap into the only six months we have to get everything up and running,” she said.
Waetzig asked if there is any “flex” with the deadline.
Courchesne said April 24 is when the rule will come into effect, “not necessarily the day folks are going to show up to police it.
“My suggestion is to try to make it smaller and think micro. So, don’t think, ‘I have to get my entire course site completely accessible by this deadline,’ but rather, ‘I realize that this is a thing, and therefore, I
need to make continuous progress.’ So, identifying something to fix and making progress day by day, week by week, I think that’s all we can do,” he added.
Niemi added faculty and staff should not “suffer in silence. Just let somebody know so we can be together and work with it.”
Dean of Student Success and Persistence LaDonna Bridges said if a student in a specific class needs digital accessibility, “We’re going to work with you to make sure that happens,” regardless of the April 24 deadline.
“For faculty who are panicking, this is your job. It is collaborative work to do, but if you have a student in your class, we don’t get to mess around with the deadline for that,” Bridges added.
In addition to the implementation of the digital accessibility initiative, Niemi celebrated other University accomplishments, including the success of Homecoming and Family Weekend Oct. 17 and 18.
Niemi said the University is “redeveloping an official FSU Native American land acknowledgement.”
There has been success in developing policies and processes to support student success, including efforts to increase FAFSA completion, which rose by 7% this academic year, the transfer summit, and the new 30-course credit minimum, Niemi said.
She discussed the SUCCESS grant, which was awarded to CASA and allowed for the hiring of four new success coaches and CASA’s expansion into the Peirce Annex.
Niemi said the University is “working hard” with an accessibility task force, which toured campus this summer “turning over everything to make sure that even if we can’t fix it right away, we know what’s happening. That work is ongoing between this task force’s work and the campus master plan, but we are going to make sure we get
it all.”
Niemi asked staff and faculty to share the achievements in their departments or offices.
Director of Procurement and Contracts Management Natasha Bizanos-Ashe said because of the University’s new contract with Pepsi, “We now have $6,000 that goes to an internship for interns to be paid. I think they’ve split it up to two $3,000 internships, and Pepsi pays for it.”
Assistant Vice President of Human Resources Kim Dexter said, “We have been able to raise our students on-campus employment hour limit from 20 hours per week to 29 hours per week to give them more space to be able to take on some of those paid internships that they may also be doing for curricular reasons. … So I know that’s been something that for those who are employing students on campus, that’s always felt like a barrier for you and our students. So we’re really happy to be implementing that, and we’ll be sending out a broader message in the very near future.”
Criminology Professor Zeynep Gönen said she wanted to give a “shout out” to the Christa McAulliffe Center and Plantarium. “They are doing amazing work with the community, with our students in the classes,” she said.
Niemi said, “I encourage you to pat yourself, pat your division, your department, your office on the back, and take a few minutes to think about what you have accomplished, both in relation to our strategic priorities as well as just what you’ve done that we don’t even know about, that I’d love to know about.”
Alexis Schlesinger / THE GATEPOST
President Nancy Niemi speaking at the All University meeting.
Turning Point USA
cies and the procedures so they know how to move forward the next time they want to come to campus,” she said.
If the group were to reach out to Campus Events about coming back to campus, Romani said, “It would depend on what the basis of their event is. … FSU has an actual policy written out for outside rentals, and the rental event has to fall within the FSU mission guidelines for anybody to be welcomed on campus. So it would depend on what the event’s basis was.”
Sendzik said both individuals gave her and Romani resistance about leaving the patio. “They believed they had the right to set up, and they really wanted to see the policies before they made any move to essentially move off of our patio,” she added.
Sendzik called the Framingham State University Police Department (FSUPD), who arrived at the McCarthy Patio and asked the individuals to leave.
FSUPD Officer Andrew Frimpong said a report regarding this incident will not be filed. It was only a misunderstanding about public versus private property and where the group was allowed to set up, he added. Frimpong said both individuals were cooperative and left promptly after the arrival of FSUPD.
While Sendzik, Romani, and FSUPD were discussing the incident, both individuals spoke with a few Framingham State students about their table and the mission of Turning Point
USA.
Sean Canavan, a student worker with Campus Events and a witness to the incident, said he was just arriving at his scheduled shift when he noticed the table being set up.
“They just kind of set up at those tables. … It’s our job to put them away,” he said.
Mollie Oravec, another witness of the event, said she saw a “politically right-leaning table outside, setting up on campus without any prior permission, and they were trying to instigate conversations with students.”
She added she “didn’t enjoy” seeing the group on campus and did not appreciate they were acting “standoffish” when
they were asked to leave. Jerome Burke, director of the Center for Inclusive Excellence, said Turning Point USA’s presence on campus was “not on my radar.
“I think that if it is that we have outside groups coming on campus, it’s for us as a community to collectively decide what those conversations will look like, and also the impact of those conversations on our community and by and large, our students,” he said.
Jeffery Coleman, vice president for Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement, said, “I believe we have a responsibility to help create a sense of belonging for every student. Therefore, we need to
be welcoming to student organizations from all political parties. I also think that as a University, we have a duty to equip our students to be thoughtful and responsible citizens both locally and globally. To achieve this, we must cultivate an environment where people from various backgrounds, identities, and beliefs can learn from each other without compromising their personal values or beliefs.”
CONNECT WITH SOPHIA OPPEDISANO soppedisano@student.framingham.edu
Gatepost
By Izabela Gage Editorial Staff
The Framingham State Athletic Department completed phase two of its three-phase initiative to replace the equipment in the fitness center in June 2025, according to Deputy Athletic Director Carey Eggen.
The equipment installed included two treadmills, five elliptical machines, eight adjustable benches, two adjustable ab benches, two stationary bikes, a free-weight preacher curl bench, and a utility bench, according to Eggen.
Athletic Director Thomas Kelley said Matrix Fitness, a company that specializes in commercial gym equipment, designed and installed the upgraded machines for phases one and two.
Kelley said, “A lot of the equipment was breaking down, obsolete, and unrepairable. We decided to upgrade it - so here we are, and here we be.”
Eggen said, “The cost was $72,049. We submitted and were selected to complete our project utilizing Capital Adaptation and Renewal funding. Each year, the University strives to fund upgrades to our student and learning spaces. Determinations are made by reviewing identified needs and prioritizing funding during the annual budget process.”
Daily maintenance of the gym is funded through the athletic department’s trust fund budget, according to Eggen.
Eggen said there are multiple reasons the department prioritized the project. “Safety, user experience, and a competitive advantage for recruiting would be the top three in my eyes, which doesn’t even address the benefits specifically for our student-athletes.”
Kelley said it’s important that the fitness center be up to speed. “It’s mind, body, spirit. It’s part of being healthy and quality of life.”
He said after the pandemic, the number of people using the campus gym had decreased, but he hopes the upgrades will help
get it “back to where it was before the pandemic.”
Eggen said student input played an important role in the decision to move forward. “It was much needed. We heard the student voice through the Student Trustee, SGA, and our own student-athletes.”
Eggen said the athletic department is still working on finalizing its request for phase three, but the estimated installation is June of 2026.
She added she does not have a concrete answer for what phase three will entail. “However, I will be submitting a request for what we are calling ‘Phase Three Fitness Center Upgrades.’”
Kelley said, “Hopefully, we’re going to be adding a strength, conditioning, and performance coach, and we’re going to probably lean on that person to see what they think about stage three. So we’re going to meet on that, and we’ve got a little bit of time before we get to phase three.”
Senior Owen Swanbon, a goaltender for the men’s ice hockey team, said, “It’s good to see that the school is putting effort into making our athletic facilities better for our athletes and students.”
He added he thinks the improved machines will be easier to use, which will motivate more people to use the facility, and, in turn, positively impact students’ health and athletes’ performances.
Junior Charlie Karp said, “It’s always nice to have new equipment to use, and there are marked improvements in some of the new equipment.
“I think it may encourage people who otherwise wouldn’t work out to give it a try, but I doubt the number of actual gymgoers will change significantly. If people want to work out, they find a way,” he added.
He said he hopes to see a new leg press machine added in phase three, as the current one has a “weird angle and insuffi-
cient weight.”
Senior Zophie Greenwald, president of FSU’s dance team, said she thinks people will be more likely to use the free gym on campus now that there is updated equipment. “This will be more cost-effective for many students who already have a lot of other expenses in their lives and cannot or do not want to fit a gym membership into their budget.”
She added, “I do think there could honestly be a few more improvements that could be made. As someone who heavily relied on the Smith machines when at previous fitness centers, I personally wish the updates to the gym included at least one of those. I just prefer the amount of security you have in those machines as opposed to a free barbell rack with weight plates in a gym.”
Sophomore Allison Wurms, a member of the women’s lacrosse and field hockey teams, said she is more willing to use the gym on campus now that there are upgraded machines and equipment.
She added, “I think the upgrades will benefit student-athletes because they are able to get more efficient and better workouts in, which would help them build and maintain muscle throughout the offseason and during their regular seasons.”
She said the next phase should include better weighted ab machines and upgraded free weights.
Senior Trey Gayne said the gym has improved since the athletic department has made upgrades. “As a senior, it’s been better, especially because during my first year, it was rough.”
He said he’s excited there’s safer equipment to work with. “Some of those weights were like rusting off the side when I was first starting here. … It gives everybody more of a chance, including people who aren’t athletes.”
Izabela Gage / THE GATEPOST
Elliptical machines in the student fitness center.
Izabela Gage / THE GATEPOST
Cardio machines in the student fitness center.
Plan are periodically updated to align with the goals of the Massachusetts DOER and Second Nature, including an objective to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. Every new revision of the plan is based on the past plans.
Framingham State signed an agreement with the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) in 2007 to measure the greenhouse gas emissions on campus. Many universities in Massachusetts have signed it, Zhang added.
“This is not only the obligation - it is our identity,” said Zhang.
Megan Mayer, the former director of Campus Sustainability, conducted a sustainability assessment during the 2022-23 school year, which surveyed students, faculty, and staff. The information collected included what people on campus thought could be improved in the new plan.
Zhang said there would not be a new survey put out for the 2026 revision, and instead, the
was funded by a $400,000 grant from Leading by Example, according to an article published in The Gatepost on Feb. 21.
According to the Framingham State website, the solar panels will produce 800,000 kWh annually.
Another goal in the 2022 edition of the Climate Action Plan was to increase the amount of recycled waste on campus to
sprinklers on.”
According to the 2022 plan, new sensors were installed to the sprinkler system so it will automatically turn off when there is adequate moisture.
The plan stated, “This prevents the system from functioning during rainy days.”
According to the Director of Environmental Health and Safety, Maureen Fowler, the
50%. This included encouraging students to utilize the water
sprinkler system “does not work as expected.”
greenery at night because the sun absorbs it less,” he said.
Zhang said she wants the 2026 Climate Action Plan to include more digestible information and straightforward data for students to understand. The current plan is so long students do not often read it “line-byline,” said Zhang.
“Maybe make our Climate Action Plan shorter and more concise - make it almost like a PowerPoint,” she added.
Educating students on the environmental goals of the campus starts in the classroom, Zhang said.
“I think every department does something about educating students about sustainability - the environmental parts, the social parts, the economic parts - all the faculty embed that information into their curriculum,” she added.
She said she wanted the faculty to be aware of what activities are planned for the campus’ sustainability, such as campus clean-ups. She wants the information to not only be available on the Framingham State website, but also straight from the faculty.
“It is heartening to see that there are sustainability initiatives in most every quarter of our community.”
- Nancy Niemi University President
committee will continue to use information from the previous survey.
The updated initiatives, based on the 2022-23 survey, will be completed by the end of this semester, so the committee can gather data in the Spring 2026 semester to formulate the new plan and publish it in 2026, according to Zhang.
She added she has not heard of any budget cuts being made this year, despite the rescissions to environmental projects made by the federal government.
“The Trump presidency has been cutting the budget for a lot of science projects … carbon neutrality, greenhouse gas emission, solar panels - all those projects. At the federal level, there are huge changes, but at the state level, for this year, we haven’t heard anything about budget cuts for now,” said Zhang.
She said nothing has changed in the work the committee is doing, but she cannot guarantee there will not be any budget cuts in the future.
In April 2025, the University, partnered with the DOER Leading by Example Program and the PowerOptions Consortium, finished installing solar panels above Salem Lot, along with six charging spots for electric vehicles. The construction had been ongoing for two years and
bottle fountains on campus.
Twenty percent of the waste on campus was recycled in 2009, according to the 2022 plan. After the University implemented single-stream recycling and added 51 new recycling receptacles throughout campus, it increased to 30%.
In the spring of 2022, Stephanie Gray’s graphic design course partnered with Campus Sustainability to design a reusable water bottle for the University to hand out during freshman orientation.
Sophomore English major Ollie Mainguy said she was concerned about whether students were recycling on campus despite the abundance of recycling receptacles.
“I remember going past [Corinne Hall] Towers and there were just piles and piles of trash outside,” said Mainguy. She added many of the items she saw in the trash were recyclables.
Sophomore Wildlife Biology major Demri Jarvis said she wants to see more education about how to recycle properly. “I personally remove food before recycling, but I know for sure, a lot of people don’t know to do that,” she said.
Jarvis said she thought the sprinklers were another issue on campus. “On Monday, it was downpouring and I saw all the
She said the lawn irrigation system, which consists of sprinklers in the ground and battery-operated sensors on campus buildings, is controlled by an app called RainBird. When the sensors get wet enough to sense that it is raining, the sprinklers shut off, and a “red alert” notification is sent to staff via RainBird.
If the rain begins when the sprinklers are scheduled to turn on, this creates a delay in the sprinklers turning off.
Fowler said the sprinklers were winterized during the week of Oct. 15 and will not be used again until the spring. The batteries in the sensors are replaced every spring.
The water used in the sprinkler system is not measured separately from total campus water usage, so Fowler said she was unable to estimate the amount of water used on the lawn irrigation system.
The committee is currently working on reducing water use in the updated Climate Action Plan, which was also a goal in the 2022 plan, Zhang said.
Freshman Environmental Science major Corban Allen said it is important to educate people on environmental issues and Framingham State’s policies.
Allen believes the sprinklers should only operate at night. “We should be watering our
Zhang said despite the University’s efforts to update the buildings, such as adding solar panels and recycling bins, she believes students are unaware of the efforts made to make the campus more sustainable.
Sophomore Art Education major Io Phillips said, “We should have more native wildflowers and biodiversity - also clover lawns because they’re easier to take care of.”
Junior Shiba Nankya said she has been to the Green Initiative club meetings, a student-run organization dedicated to finding ways to help the environment on campus.
She wishes there was more student involvement in clubs that work toward bettering the environment, as well as more support from the University.
“I think there’s more focus on BINGO nights and all of that fun stuff. When it comes to gardening and doing things that are good for the environment, there’s less support for that,” Nankya said.
[ Editor’s Note: Corban Allen is a Staff Photographer for The Gatepost. ]
Gatepost Archives
Framily Gathering
On Oct. 17 and Oct. 18, FSU students, faculty, staff, alumni, and family members gathered on campus for Homecoming activities.
Photos by Editor-in-Chief Sophia Oppedisano, Associate Editor Adrien Gobin, and Staff Photographer Christy Howland
Spread by Photos & Design Editor Alexis Schlesinger
THE GATEPOST EDITORIAL
Don’t let things get too spooky this Halloweekend
As October begins to wind down, next weekend marks the beginning of “Halloweekend” festivities for college students across the country.
Halloweekend is an opportunity for students to get creative with their costumes and go out with friends while taking a much-deserved break from academics. Part of these celebrations may include using alcohol or marijuana.
Halloween, like Marathon Monday or the so-called Blackout Wednesday before Thanksgiving, is an opportunity for college students to catch up with friends and decompress from the stressors of school or work. While these celebrations are highly anticipated and often enjoyable, safety and awareness are still important.
There are a few ways you can keep yourself and your friends safe this Halloween.
Parties are going to be held both on and off campus. If you choose to attend a gathering on campus, Residence Life staff and the Framingham State Police Department (FSUPD) are always in the residence halls and on campus to ensure responsibility and safety.
If you are over 21 years old,
drinking socially off campus is completely acceptable. However, Framingham State is a dry campus for everybody - regardless of age.
Be aware of the guidelines laid out in the FSU RAM Student Handbook about alcohol and drugs on campus.
Even with these rules in place, there are still instances of drinking and drug use on campus. If you are in a situation on campus at which alcohol or drugs are present, use your judgement and common sense. If you choose to partake, know your limits.
In the case of an emergency, resident assistants are on call to assist in the residence halls to ensure any unsafe or disruptive situations are managed effectively for the wellbeing of resident students and their guests.
Resident assistants have a job to do. Do not be afraid to call them if you or one of your friends is in an unsafe or unhealthy situation.
According to the FSU RAM Student Handbook, if a student calls an appropriate staff member seeking medical attention for themselves or for another person, neither the reporting student nor the student for
whom the medical attention was required will be subject to a Student Conduct complaint.
If a resident assistant is called to break up a party you are attending, consider they are trying to help instead of expressing frustration toward them.
If you choose to attend a party either on or off campus, identify where you are going, what you are doing, and use common sense. Always inform someone close to you where you are going and what your plans for the evening are.
Do not accept drinks from someone if you do not know what is in them and keep your drink in your hand and watch it at all times to avoid tampering.
If you are over 21 and choose to go to a club or bar, there has been an increase in roofie incidents in Boston clubs and bars over the past few years, according to NBC Boston.
Stick together with your friends and be vigilant about keeping your drinks with you.
On or off campus, use the buddy system and make sure you aren’t alone if you are walking or taking an Uber to another location. Consider sharing your location with a friend or letting a family member or roommate
know where you are going to be so they can check in on you.
If you are planning on using drugs or alcohol, do not drive impaired or get in a vehicle with a driver who has been using drugs or drinking.
In addition to keeping yourself and your friends safe regarding drugs and alcohol, remember: a costume does not equal consent.
It is never acceptable to make inappropriate jokes, cat call anyone, or touch anyone without their consent simply because they are wearing a revealing costume or outfit.
If you are on campus and an incident regarding a breach of consent occurs, remove yourself and your friends from the situation as soon as possible and be sure to alert a resident assistant or FSUPD.
Off campus, remove yourself and your friends from any situation you feel uncomfortable in and call the police if the situation escalates.
No party is worth the risk of harm to you or your friends.
This Halloweekend is sure to be spooky, but let’s make sure it’s safe.
Use your voice and vote this election cycle
By Dylan Pichnarcik Associate Editor
Across the nation, municipalities are preparing to enter the 2025 election cycle which lasts from November to spring depending on the year and the municipality you reside in.
This includes 56 cities and towns across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, according to the Secretary of State’s website.
For young voters, these elections may not seem relevant in reshaping the country in a positive way.
However, they are incredibly important.
Change starts at the bottom, and the power to enact change is in the hands of the people.
At a time of such uncertainty and division in the nation, it can be easy to feel powerless - like what you do to support change does not actually matter. But take a step outside of that belief structure.
Voting matters - your voice matters. This election cycle, you have the opportunity to directly impact your local community by supporting a candidate, casting your vote, and using your First Amendment right. If there are no current elections occurring in your city or town - they will come up quickly. Use this time to educate yourself and prepare to cast your vote.
Local politicians drive your community. They may seem like bureaucrats tasked with handling ribbon cuttings, school committee meetings, and other events broadcast on local access television. But the work that
they do is incredibly important to the community you live in.
These roles include, but are not limited to, school commit-
choose who you want to hold power and who will shape your community - along with the country in a way that is equita-
tees who set standards for the next generation of independent thinkers who will one day lead the country. Mayors and select board members can provide sanctuary for underrepresented groups seeking safety from federal attacks. State houses of government pass laws that shape a state’s identity and reflect the beliefs of the citizens who call a state home.
You have the opportunity to
ble and just for all.
Along with your right to vote, you hold another opportunity to promote change. Your voice.
Attending a protest, rally, or social event centered around civic engagement is a cornerstone for building a stronger and more unified country. Make the signs, wave the banners, and stand united with one another for your shared beliefs in what America can and will
look like if we work together. Bring others to these events - friends, neighbors, nieces, nephews, and anyone you hold close. Show them the power of a united voice. Share your commitment to a better tomorrow with them so they know the power of their voice and the power of a collective.
Additionally, educating yourself on national, state, and local legislation will also serve you and your community.
Research a candidate, see who you align with and what they stand for. If they are currently in office, there are records publicly available for you to reflect on.
If you find it difficult to break through the legal jargon contained in meeting minutes or bills, national and local newspapers cover meetings and are tasked with simplifying the information so it is readable to the average person.
Support the free press - we’re here to be the watchdogs of the nation.
Due to the press’ role as governmental watchdogs, they are under attack. But reputable news agencies such as The New York Times, The Boston Globe, and The Washington Post have stayed true to their messages of objectivity and accountability, regardless of affiliation. This election season, take the time for change - it may not happen instantly, but every step forward is a step in the right direction.
Educate yourself, inform others, and use the power to voteit might just save our country.
Own up to not owning it
By Alexis Schlesinger Editorial Staff
Think about your favorite movie. Your favorite song. Your favorite book, TV show, or podcast. Any type of media you consume - it doesn’t matter what kind.
Do you have it?
I’m not asking if you’ve picked one out - I’m asking if you actually own your favorite media.
I’m also not asking if you have access to it.
If you “have” your favorite media on a streaming service, no, you don’t.
You don’t own that. You’re borrowing it.
Your allowance to consume what you love is contingent on your continued monetary loyalty.
Subscription-based streaming services and digital culture have completely changed our relationship with the way we consume media and our relationships with the creators of what we love.
I grew up in a house that never subscribed to streaming services. I also didn’t watch very many TV shows, but I did watch movies frequently.
As I got a little older, I definitely started to feel a little jealous of my peers who could afford streaming services. It all seemed so convenient.
The impression I got from them was they paid $10 a month to watch any movie or TV show they wanted.
Truly, any movie they could
think of. Any TV show that existed. Of course, I felt like I was missing out.
The fact there were a handful of different streaming services confused me a little bit because of this impression.
I found out eventually that streaming services weren’t all they were cracked up to be. Especially for TV shows and movies.
Every month, you’re only paying for a selection of media, chosen by whichever service you use, and if the media isn’t being consumed often enough,
services? How many of them do you pay for?
There’s three shows you want to keep up with, but they’re all exclusive to separate services.
That’s upward of $30 a month, if you have a plan that still has commercial breaks included. Upward of $45 without those.
At the very least, you’re paying $360 a year because you enjoy three different shows.
Assuming that you are watching more than just three shows or movies, it probably feels like you’re getting your money’s
it’s subject to removal.
Sure, it’s a large selection, but there’s always going to be something missing. Different companies buy out this media to offer it exclusively on their platforms, and now you’ve got to sign up for yet another subscription.
Sounds pretty inconvenient to me.
How much time do you really have to sit down and use these
worth.
Why wouldn’t it? It’s only $10 a month for hundreds of shows and movies.
How many of those are you going to get to in a month? A year? A few years?
You have to remember that you’re paying money every month to keep each individual movie, TV show, song, book, or anything else you might subscribe to.
Liv, Laf...:Liv’s spoopy season! Pt. 1
If or when you stop paying that money, you lose all of it. I keep all of my favorite movies on DVD. One of my favorites was $2 from a thrift store.
Consider, too, where your money is going. How much of your support is going directly to the creators?
The one subscription-based streaming service I do use is Spotify. I’m one of those people you’ll hardly ever see without headphones on.
Yes, of course it’s incredibly convenient. My phone is small, and I already need to carry it with me everywhere. Now, all of my favorite music is attached to it. I can play songs from any artist in any order I want.
But when I can, I purchase CDs, records, or cassette tapes from my favorite artists. I especially prefer to make this kind of purchase from a merch table at a live show.
It’s the most direct transactional support you can give to your favorite artists.
According to imusician.pro, Spotify keeps roughly 30% of the revenue artists create from their streams.
I spend $10 a month for access to music from my favorite artists.
I also spent $10, one time, on a tape of one of my favorite albums. I have it forever now, no strings attached.
Whenever I want it.
I own what I love.
Sounds pretty convenient to me.
Courtesy of Alexis Schlesinger
Campus Conversations
What is your Halloween costume?
By Dylan Pichnarcik Associate Editor and Alexis Schlesinger Editorial Staff
“I think I’m being put up to it by my girlfriend. I’m supposed to be Puss N’ Boots and she’s supposed to be Casey Soft Claws.”
-Luke Yubeta, senior
“I was thinking of going as LeBron James.”
-Lendy Narias, freshman
“I’m kind of torn. I was going to be T-Bo from ‘iCarly’ or I’ll just put a mask on and wear all black.”
-Aaron Horton, sophomore
“I haven’t figured it out yet.”
-Vincent Gauthier, sophomore
“I’m going to be Little Red Riding Hood.”
-Vanessa Correia, sophomore
“I think this year, I’d love to go as Joan of Arc. I did it last year for the Drag BINGO and it was really fun.”
-Tara Brown, junior
“I’m going to be a prisoner.”
-Tyrin MacDonald, freshman
“I didn’t even think about it yet. I do want to do something not scary, maybe from a movie.”
-Naidelly Coelho, senior
“I’m going to be the Queen of Hearts.”
-Josleiny Rodrigez, sophomore
“A fairy, I think. That’s all I’ve got with me in my dorm room right now.”
-Jay Jay Johnson, sophomore
“Goob from ‘Meet the Robinsons.’”
-Logan Lowery, junior
“Somebody said I should be Jason [Vorhees.]”
-Joseph Payne, senior
Spread AND PHOTOS by Associate Editor Adrien Gobin
SPORTS
Field hockey celebrates Senior Day with conference win
By Taylor Kimmell Asst. Sports Editor
In their annual Senior Day game, the Framingham State Rams secured a celebratory victory against the Salem State Vikings.
ing on such a special day was so amazing and so heartwarming. … It made the whole day so much more memorable.”
After their success during the first half of the game, the Rams returned to the field in high spirits.
The Rams kept up the pressure on offense, though they were unable to penetrate Salem’s defensive blockade before the quarter ended.
During the final quarter, the Vikings regained momentum. Two penalty corners, one at
rett, Perry, and Roehr. The team decorated the complex with posters and balloons, and the seniors’ families walked the players across the field, handing them flowers and acknowledging their presence on the team during past seasons.
Perry said, “My favorite part of Senior Day had to have been
ers to heartfelt notes, it was all
ful as I found it. Our coaches and vironment, and I think it’s truly
Roehr said she hopes the team will continue to “play with heart, leaving everything out on the field. Always remember why you
She added she hopes they ery moment you get with your team and on the field - it goes by
ter State and 3-1 to Rivier Oct. 21
ingham’s overall record is 3-13 and their conference
The team travels to Bridgewater State for
Hogan said, “I’m very hopeful that we will be able to ry over momentum into our busy next two
“There were a lot of things that we did well during the game that I think will heavily aid us in the next few games as long as we use those Malmquist said, “This season, we’ve gone into a lot of games as the underdog, including the “Being confident that we can dog will be really important for our final games. … I think lem gave us some of the confidence we needed,”
by Mosley and the other missing the net.
Hogan and Malmquist each contributed with another shot before Malmquist netted a goal, breaking the stalemate and earning back Framingham’s advantage.
FSU continued to dominate on offense, and with less than a minute to go before the half, senior Natalia Roehr scored a third goal, assisted by freshman Hannah Poklemba.
Roehr said the feeling of “scor-
the third quarter, with the Rams keeping the ball on Salem’s side of the 50-yard line.
Malmquist sent in a shot at 38:42, which was deflected by Mosley.
Mosley’s save bounced off the turf and right into the shinguards of a Salem player, earning the Rams a corner.
Within the next 40 seconds, Malmquist took a shot on goal, but a stick save by a Vikings defender prevented the ball from entering the net.
to run down the clock, the game ended with a score of 4-2.
This win for Senior Day was important to the team. Malmquist said, “The intensity on Senior Day is definitely different from a regular game because we really want to give the senior class something to celebrate after all their hard work this season.”
Prior to the start of the game, the coaches and younger members of the team honored Bar-
Stats sourced from fsurams.com and MASCAC.com
Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST
Football stampedes Owls in Homecoming win
Rams keep their perfect 5-0 conference streak
By Izabela Gage Sports Editor
The Framingham State Rams set the tone early and never trailed in their Homecoming win Oct. 18, defeating the Westfield State Owls 35-24 in a MASCAC matchup.
The Rams remain undefeated in the conference, 5-0, and their overall record is now 5-1.
Sophomore running back Jaheim Daniels said, “This win sets a strong tone for the rest of the season because it shows that we can handle business when we stay focused.
“It feels great to be 5-0 in the conference for a young team, but there’s still work to do,” he added.
Westfield State opened the game at its own 35-yard line, testing the Framingham defense with a steady mix of runs from their offensive line.
The Rams’ front line, anchored by linebacker Blake Barron, a senior, and defensive lineman Korrey Barron, a sophomore, quickly asserted itself.
After yielding a first down near midfield, Framingham forced a punt, halting the Owls after just 11 yards on their opening drive.
Taking over at their own 18yard line, freshman Ransford Adri and junior Scotty Brown contributed rushes for small gains, but Framingham’s first drive ended after Brown was sacked for a loss of seven.
Westfield’s Brandon Paquette fumbled on the return, and sophomore defensive end Gabe Grzyboski recovered at the Owls’ 47-yard line, giving the Rams excellent field position.
Framingham couldn’t capitalize on the turnover, though, stalling out on downs at Westfield’s 28-yard line after a short fourth-down completion.
But the defensive line continued to dominate, forcing a threeand-out on the Owls’ next series.
Moments later, the Rams began methodically moving the chains. A 36-yard connection from Brown to junior wide receiver Mathias Fowler jumpstarted a late-quarter drive.
On the next play, Brown connected with Fowler again for an 18-yard touchdown with 1:54 left in the first quarter.
Kicker Dillon Mangus, a senior, made the extra point to make it 7-0 Rams.
On the ensuing Westfield possession, quarterback Miles Foerster lost control of the ball on a run, and Framingham’s sophomore safety James Wilder pounced on it for another recovery at the Owls’ 29-yard line.
Freshman quarterback Michael Marcucella wasted no time, and on the first play of the second quarter, he fired an 18-yard touchdown pass to junior tight end Alex Maia, stretching Framingham’s lead to 14-0 just six seconds into the second quarter.
Westfield answered quickly, with a 29-yard touchdown run and a fumbled rush attempt to cap their 53-yard drive, bringing the score to 14-6.
Pinned deep at their own 5-yard line following the kickoff, the Rams responded with a composed 40-yard drive.
Daniels carried the offense with a series of powerful runs,
while Brown connected with junior wide receiver Ayden Ramirez for a first down.
But after Westfield called a timeout on fourth-and-two, the Rams came up short, turning the ball over on downs at midfield.
Westfield couldn’t take advantage of their possession, failing to work against Framingham’s swarming defense, which set the stage for another scoring drive for the Rams.
With Marcucella back under center, Framingham benefitted from a Westfield face-mask penalty that moved the ball into Owl territory. Moments later, he took off on a 22-yard scramble to the 15-yard line.
Daniels finished the job on the next play, sprinting into the end zone for a 15-yard touchdown.
Daniels said, “We knew that Westfield’s defense is aggressive, so we focused on staying disciplined with our blocking and hitting the holes hard.”
Mangus’s extra point extended the Rams’ lead to 21-6 with 5:39 left in the half.
Westfield put together a prom-
led the Owls downfield with two pass completions for a total of 50 yards, and running back Manny Mengata powered the running game with two carries for short gains.
The Owls capped the 77-yard march with a 3-yard touchdown run, trimming the deficit to 2812 after another failed conversion attempt.
But the Rams’ offense proved unstoppable. A 30-yard completion from Marcucella to sophomore wide receiver Adrian Sarrette and a series of runs by Daniels quickly pushed the Rams back into scoring position.
On first-and-17 following a holding penalty, Marcucella made his third connection of the possession - this time for a 29yard touchdown pass, extending the Framingham lead to 35-12 with 3:35 left in the third quarter.
Westfield managed to advance the ball to Framingham territory before the quarter ended, but the Rams’ defense again stood firm, forcing an incompletion on fourth down.
ising series late in the second quarter, aided by a pass interference penalty against Framingham that pushed the Owls to midfield. But a sack from defensive lineman Mitchell Purter snuffed out the drive, forcing a punt.
With just over a minute left in the half, Framingham hoped to add to its lead. Marcucella connected with Maia and Fowler for short gains, but the drive stalled near midfield.
The Rams punted with 16 seconds left, and Westfield ran out the clock, trailing 21-6 at halftime.
Framingham opened the second half right where it left off. After receiving the kickoff, Daniels picked up 6 yards on the ground before Marcucella found Ramirez for a short gain.
On third down, Marcucella connected with junior wide receiver Stephen Gallant in stride for a 64-yard touchdown, electrifying the Rams’ sideline and stretching the lead to 28-6 less than two minutes into the third quarter.
Westfield responded with its best drive of the game. Foerster
suffered another safety after a failed fourth-down snap made it 35-16 with just over six minutes left.
Westfield continued to fight.
The Owls made some successful short passes and rushes, and with a 19-yard touchdown run from wide receiver Will Brewster and a subsequent two-point conversion, they narrowed the score to 35-24 with 3:08 remaining.
But that was as close as Westfield would get. Daniels, who finished as one of the game’s most consistent contributors, closed out the win with a series of firstdown runs to drain the clock.
His 16-yard dash on thirdand-eight sealed the victory, and a Westfield unsportsmanlike conduct penalty in the final minute allowed Framingham to kneel out the game.
Marcucella led the aerial attack with three touchdown passes, while Brown contributed a first-quarter touchdown following a pass from Fowler.
Marcucella said the chemistry between the quarterbacks and the wide receivers this season has been “awesome. I love those guys. They’ve been amazing in helping me through some of my early growing pains. Saturday, specifically, they took advantage of their matchups and did what they do best - making many big plays.”
Fowler said, “The best part of this team is how deep our quarterback room is.”
He added all of the extra work the receivers and quarterbacks put in during the week forms the cohesion displayed on the field on Saturdays.
Gallant said the team has worked on limiting mistakes and having open communication between the quarterbacks and wide receivers.
He added he thinks it’s important to “get the ball around to everyone because there is a lot of talent in the receiver room.”
A pair of penalties and a sack pushed the Rams deep into their own territory, culminating in a safety that gave Westfield two points and the ball back with 11:55 remaining in the game.
The Owls appeared ready to capitalize. Foerster connected with two of Westfield’s running backs to move the chains, but a crucial red-zone turnover stalled the momentum.
After Framingham was flagged for holding on an interception return, Westfield regained possession at the Rams’ 10-yard line.
But the Rams’ defense refused to break - stopping four consecutive goal-line attempts, including a recovered fumble at the 2-yard line to deny the scoring play.
Sophomore defensive back Tyrell Fuller said, “All week, our defensive coaches have preached, ‘Just do your job.’ So, focusing on winning your individual battle on the field would naturally create those big play opportunities and they did just that.”
Pinned near their own end zone once again, Framingham
Daniels said, “It really started up front. The [offensive line] set the tone early, creating space and winning at the line of scrimmage. Once we got that rhythm, everything started to click. They just trusted their reads, stayed patient, and kept executing.
“Every week, Coach TK talks about getting better and staying consistent, and this game was a great step forward,” he added.
The Rams travel to Mass. Maritime to face the Buccaneers in a conference match Oct. 25.
Fuller said this type of work is “the standard. We worked hard all offseason for this and more. But, all of that is in vain if we don’t finish. So, we are gonna keep our 1-0 mentality each week and finish!”
Fowler said winning against Westfield shows the potential of what the team can become. “I don’t think we’ve hit our ceiling yet.”
He added, “We know there’s a target on our back and that we are going to get every opponent’s best shot, and we look forward to it.”
Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST
Stephen Gallant celebrating after catching a touchdown pass in win against Westfield St. Oct. 18.
Women’s soccer holds off Westfield in tie
By Izabela Gage Sports Editor
By Taylor Kimmell Asst. Sports Editor
The Framingham State Rams kept pace with the Westfield State Owls 1-1 in a conference matchup Oct. 18 - the first time this matchup has not resulted in a Rams’ loss in 10 years.
Sophomore Hailey Ring said she hopes this shows other MASCAC teams “we are new and improved. We haven’t beat Westfield or tied them in around 10 or 12 years, so it was a big deal for us.
“Hopefully, other teams in the conference will know to bring their A-game when they see FSU marked on their calendar,” she added.
Their conference record now stands at 3-2-1, and their overall
record is 5-7-3.
The Owls began the match with a strong push on offense, earning two consecutive corner kicks within the first two minutes.
At 6:30, the Rams brought the ball down the field, allowing Ring to take a shot on net.
After Ring’s shot missed the net, Westfield stole back possession and maintained control of the game on offense for the next 7:30.
During this period of time, sophomore goalkeeper Savannah Goba accumulated three saves.
Framingham regained offensive control with a shot from junior Ana Serrano, shortly followed by one from junior Melissa Romeiro. Westfield goalkeeper Julia Robak blocked both shots.
WSU regained possession once again with a shot at 25:34 that was saved by Goba.
During the next three minutes, the Owls earned four corner kicks, none of which they were able to capitalize on.
A minute later, the Rams brought the ball back down the field. Freshman Leiyani Buckner sent a strong pass across the net to Ring, allowing her to score Framingham’s first goal of the match.
Ring said Buckner’s positioning, as well as her well-executed pass, “was half the work if not more. All I really had to do was place the ball in the net and thankfully, I did.”
Ring attributed the Rams’ success on this play to Head Coach Michael La Francesca’s coach-
ing. He has the team work on “lots of shooting drills, and we’ve been trying to work on our runs, touches, and the way we play off the ball. He has also drilled into our brains that we can’t be selfish with the ball.”
Romeiro sent in another shot six minutes later, which was saved by Robak.
Possession swapped again, and Westfield attempted another goal, with Goba making yet another save.
At 41:03, Westfield shot on the Rams’ net once again, with the ball going wide.
FSU took back offensive control, with freshman Abigale King shooting on goal. The ball was saved by Robak, marking the last play of the first half.
The Rams started strong in the second half, with Romeiro making a shot on goal less than a minute and a half in.
In the 48th minute, Westfield’s Kiana Muratsuka broke through Framingham’s defense and found the back of the net to tie the game 1-1.
At 55:56, King sent a shot high over the net.
After four minutes of the teams fighting for possession, Buckner’s attempt was blocked, followed by a corner kick from freshman Sophia Thimm at 59:54.
In the 62nd minute, Ring tested Robak with another shot on goal, but Robak came up with the save.
The Owls earned a corner kick at 64:28, but it was unsuccessful.
Muratsuka took another shot for Westfield at 68:02, but fresh-
Men’s soccer downed by Westfield
By Avery Slavin Staff Writer
The Framingham State Rams fell to the Westfield State Owls in a close matchup Oct. 18. This brings their record to 5-8-2, and their conference record to 2-4.
Within the first two minutes, Westfield’s Dylan Wesley assisted Nick Parakilas’ shot, leading to the first point on the scoreboard.
Ten minutes later, sophomore Michael Jokic tried to catch the Rams up with a shot toward the net, but it was saved by Westfield’s goalie, Luke Theroux.
In the same minute, Captain Landon Medeiros, a junior, scored a goal assisted by Captain Kaio Santos Da Silva, also a junior.
Junior Brian Penney tried to get the Rams in the lead with an-
other shot, but it was wide.
Santos Da Silva helped get the job done with an assist from sophomore Isaiah Harris, earning the Rams their second point.
Not even two minutes later, Wesley earned a point for the Owls, tying the score.
Yuji Dasilva, a sophomore, sent the ball toward the net, only for it to be saved by Theroux.
The first half of the game ended with three unsuccessful shots from the Owls.
During the first five minutes of the second half, Parakilas scored the Owls’ third goal of the game, assisted by Paul Whalley.
The Owls attempted three more shots, two of which were saved by Framingham’s goalie, freshman Colin Holt, and one being too wide to make it in the net.
Shortly after, though, Parakilas earned Westfield their fourth point, leaving the Rams trailing by two.
Santos Da Silva made a comeback and hit the back of the net for the Rams.
Framingham and Westfield continued to send the ball back and forth, with shot attempts from Harris and junior Abdellah Eddahbi.
Parakilas took possession of the ball and scored yet another goal for the Owls.
Captain Thiago Magalhaes, a sophomore, launched the ball toward the net, but it was blocked.
He tried again, and helped Santos Da Silva send the ball straight in.
Unfortunately, that was as close as the Rams could get, as
man goalkeeper Amelia Finley made the save.
Westfield continued pressing, earning another corner kick at 70:06, but Finley and the Rams’ defense held strong.
The Owls’ offense added more pressure with back-to-back chances - one saved by Finley and the other blocked by the Rams’ defense.
WSU sent a header shot toward the goal, which was stopped once again by Finley at 73:55.
The Rams were unable to get the ball into the Owls’ defensive zone, and at 77:10, Westfield’s Morgan Berthiaume tried to find a gap in Finley’s defense, but she was unsuccessful.
Westfield’s Kiki McNary took a corner for Westfield at 84:58, followed by a shot from Berthiaume that hit the crossbar at 85:15.
The Owls took one last chance at 87:01, but fortunately went wide, and the game ended 1-1.
The Rams host the Mass. Maritime Buccaneers Oct. 25.
Ring said, “It’s going to be Senior Night at our game against Mass Maritime and there will be a lot of people there supporting us. Our energy levels will be up for sure, so hopefully., we can channel all of our excitement into Saturday’s game.
“It’s only up from here,” she added.
Stats sourced from fsurams.com and MASCAC.com
CONNECT WITH IZABELA GAGE igage@student.framingham.edu
CONNECT WITH TAYLOR KIMMELL tkimmell@student.framingham.edu
back.
the clock ran out before they could surpass the Owls’ five points.
The final score was 5-4.
Although it was such a close game, the Rams were upset with this loss.
Logan Winsor, a junior, said, “With this recent loss, it was definitely hard to keep our heads up. We have really seen a lot from the team this year and we have all the parts to be successful, but some games we do not get the result we wanted or, in my opinion, deserved.
“I think that everyone left all they had out on the field and really put their best foot forward,” he added.
Jokic said, “After a tough loss, it’s important to get into a better headspace and look to the next game. I personally like to reflect on the team’s performance and then take a look at my own performance within 24 hours of the game. This way, I can let the loss sting a little and use it to build motivation to do better.
“It’s important to think and reflect on what happened, but also pick out any good parts of the game and build on those for the next one,” he added.
Medeiros said, “You just have to look at the positives of the games. Obviously, it was not the outcome we wanted, or even expected, but the reality is that we are right there and ready to make a push for the playoffs leading up to the Mass. Maritime and Bridgewater games.”
The Rams recognized they faced some challenges in this game, but feel ready to bounce
Jokic said, “It was definitely a tough game mentally because we had moments of success that quickly ended. Being down one and then quickly scoring two, we definitely thought we were on a great track just to concede again right before halftime. It definitely knocked us down a little.”
Medeiros said, “We definitely played a good game and putting four goals past last year’s champs isn’t a small accomplishment. We just need to make sure we are more aggressive and win more 50/50 challenges with the other team. If we just made sure we were more on top of it defensively, the result could have been different.”
Regardless of this tough loss, the Rams always have each other’s backs.
Winsor said, “The boys on the team are all great. I think it’s very nice to see how people mesh together and see the relationships that have been formed so far over the season. … Whoever it may be and whenever it may be, the team is always working toward being there for each other on and off the field as a teammate and a friend. On the pitch, everybody is quick to help pick someone up if they make a mistake and it is nice to see such a positive group that is so willing to work with each other.”
The Rams take on Mass. Maritime Oct. 24.
CONNECT WITH AVERY SLAVIN aslavin1@student.framingham.edu
Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST (Left) Lily Gouveia fighting for the ball in loss against UMass Dartmouth Oct. 8.
Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST (Right) Landon Medeiros going for a header in win against Anna Maria Oct. 11.
Volleyball takes down NEC in non-conference match
By Izabela Gage Sports Editor
By Taylor Kimmell Asst. Sports Editor
The Framingham State Rams traveled to New England College Oct. 21 and overtook the Pilgrims 3-1 on their home court in a non-conference match.
This win improves the team’s overall record to 14-8.
The Rams jumped straight into action, earning the first point of the match on a kill by junior Natalie Reynolds with an assist by Captain Stella Bailey, a senior.
Two kills by the Pilgrims, as well as an attack error on Framingham, earned NEC the lead.
After an attack error by the Pilgrims, sophomore Madysen Cedrone tied the game 3-3 with a kill, assisted by Bailey.
Junior Jaimee Lowe forced two more attack errors from NEC, while junior Jamie Moniz and sophomore Sarah Medeiros contributed with kills.
Still, the Pilgrims were able to pull ahead, despite a kill by Moniz and two attack errors.
With a kill by junior Emma Dobbins, assisted by junior Anneli DiVirgilio, the Rams took back the lead 12-11.
Three kills by Reynolds, two by Dobbins, and one each from Bailey and Moniz increased Framingham’s lead, bringing the score to 21-16.
Moniz and Dobbins each contributed to the score with another kill, and, following an attack error by the Pilgrims, Medeiros sent a hard return over the net which the team was unable to return, winning the Rams the first set 25-19.
The Rams started the second set on the right foot with a kill by Cedrone.
Unfortunately, attack errors by FSU and kills by the Pilgrims earned NEC the lead.
However, kills by Cedrone and Reynolds earned the lead back for Framingham.
Several lead changes ensued over the next few plays before NEC took a commanding 17-13 lead.
Kills from Cedrone, Dobbins, and Reynolds evened the score 18-18.
After FSU pulled slightly ahead on a kill by Reynolds, the Pilgrims stole back control of the game with a kill and a service ace.
A kill by Medeiros tied the game 21-21, but a kill from NEC turned the set in their favor, tallying two kills and earning points on two attack errors to win them the set 21-25.
NEC earned the first three points of the third set off two service aces and an attack error by FSU.
Despite this, the Rams didn’t falter. Dobbins and Reynolds tallied a kill each, closing the gap to 3-2..
The Pilgrims deepened the deficit after a service error by the Rams, followed by a kill and another service ace.
The score was brought to 6-4 after a service and attack error by NEC.
Attack errors by Framingham proved costly, as the Pilgrims racked up points, with the Rams only being able to tally one kill by Lowe.
With NEC being in the lead 14-5, Moniz and the Pilgrims switched off kills for the next four plays.
The Pilgrims tallied two more points before momentum swung in favor of the Rams.
After an attack error and a bad set by NEC, a kill by Reynolds and two service aces by Beaulieu, Framingham had started to claw their way back with a score of 18-12.
The Rams let up a point after an attack error, but they didn’t lose sight of fighting for winning the set.
A kill from Cedrone gave FSU possession of the ball, and NEC struggled to hold their position, giving points to the Rams off bad sets and attack errors.
Reynolds tallied a service ace, which the Pilgrims responded to with a kill.
Subsequent kills by Medeiros and Dobbins helped the Rams to stand just one point away from the lead, 22-21.
NEC tried to stay on top, earning a point off an attack error, but three attack errors of their own gave Framingham a 24-23 lead.
Dobbins closed the set with a kill, winning the set for the Rams 25-23.
Medeiros said, “Our ability to come back from point deficits speaks a lot to our team’s character and our unwillingness to give up. Despite being down 18-7 in the third set, we all came together and decided we would clean up our play and take the set back.
“Our energy on the bench and court is also a major factor in us being able to pull through in difficult circumstances,” she added.
The Rams came to the fourth set with determination, pressuring the Pilgrims’ offense into attack errors, which gave Framingham a 3-0 lead.
Freshman Kristina SantiagoAlers earned a subsequent service ace to deepen the deficit, but NEC remained vigilant and tallied two points off attack errors by FSU.
Reynolds made a kill, but the Pilgrims responded with a service ace and a kill of their own.
Cedrone didn’t let their points
go unanswered, earning a kill.
Following a bad set by NEC, Lowe served an ace and helped Framingham to an 8-6 lead.
After both teams switched off points for the next couple of plays, the Pilgrims closed in on the Rams, with two attack errors and a service ace.
Lowe earned another kill to give the Rams some breathing room, but NEC didn’t let it go unanswered and earned one of their own.
The Rams and the Pilgrims exchanged possession of the ball for the following points, and with the score tied at 17-17, NEC took the lead with a kill and an attack error.
Framingham didn’t lose motivation, though, and after two kills from Medeiros and a service ace by Bailey, the Rams earned back the lead 20-19.
After another subsequent lead change due to two kills by NEC, each team earned a service error, bringing the score to 22-21.
The Pilgrims tried to deepen the deficit after another kill, but the Rams’ offense remained strong. A kill by Dobbins and a service ace by Santiago-Alers tied the score once again.
NEC earned a point off a service error, but Reynolds responded with her 18th kill of the match, bringing the score to 2424.
An attack error by the Pilgrims put the Rams in the position to come out on top, and Reynolds tallied her last kill, ending the set with a score of 26-24 and earning the 3-1 win for Framingham.
Reynolds said she is happy with her contributions to the win, “as it’s very important we keep building momentum at this point in the season. It was huge for us to win this game as we look to carry over this momentum to our next conference match against Westfield.”
Though they won the match, the Rams tallied 31 errors, contrasting with the Pilgrims’ 28.
Reynolds said NEC had a good front line for blocking FSU’s attacks. “Just looking for those open spots on the court and staying aggressive helped me break through them. It took some time to figure out what exactly would
work against them, but once we did, it helped us stay consistent on the offense.”
Medeiros said, “I think all of our hitters did a great job finding the floor when it counted most. I feel like we all connect very well with our setters. There is always communication between our hitters and setters about adjusting sets or strategizing what plays would make the most sense given the circumstances we are up against.”
Bailey contributed 44 assists, 19 digs, two kills, and two service aces in the four-set win.
Reynolds said, “It’s not too often middles get upwards of 50 total attacks during one game, so we are so lucky to have such a great setter who is able to find her hitters anywhere on the court.
“Moving the sets around and keeping the other team guessing and on their toes helped us tremendously. We were consistent on defense as well, which opened up multiple attacking opportunities,” she added.
The Rams faced the Owls on their home court Oct. 23, and fell to them 3-0. Their conference record now stands at 4-2 and their overall record is now 14-9.
The Rams host Gordon College and Plymouth State for a non-conference doubleheader Oct. 25.
Medeiros said the team’s biggest focus is to “keep playing cohesively as a team and to reach our full potential.”
She added, “We’ve played a lot of great volleyball recently, most notably in our game against the Coast Guard Academy. By playing these tough teams, we’re challenging ourselves to compete at a very high level, which is essential preparation for big games.”
Stats sourced from fsurams.com and MASCAC.com
Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST
(Front) Stella Bailey going for a dig in loss against Westfield St. Oct. 23.
ARTS & FEATURES
Reading with Miriam Levine during Week of Poetry
By Sarah Deponde Asst. Arts & Features Editor
The English Department kicked off the annual Alan Feldman Week of Poetry by hosting a conversation with poet and Professor Emeritus Miram Levine on Oct. 21 in the Heineman Ecumenical Center.
Levine read both published and unpublished poems, one of which contained language that Levine admitted might be offensive.
Lisa Eck, chair of the English Department, introduced the event, which she called the “keynote” event of the Week of Poetry.
Alan Feldman himself was in attendance for the reading.
“This is an especially auspicious year with the Alan Feldman Week of Poetry because Alan himself was able to join us and is right here before your eyes,” said Eck.
Eck said Feldman was a professor at Framingham State for 36 years and also acted as the chair of the English Department.
Helen Heineman, president emerita of Framingham State, former chair of the English Department, published author, and whom the Ecumenical Center was named after, was also in attendance.
Eck said it was an honor to have them back at Framingham State.
Levine taught at Framingham State as an English professor and acted as chair of the English Department, as well as coordinator of the Arts & Humanities Program. She retired in December 2003.
“It was marvelous and uplifting to be back here at Framingham State, where I taught for many years,” said Levine. She said she enjoyed attending English Professor Sam Witt’s class and hearing his students’ poetry.
Eck said Levine’s works include the memoir, “Devotion,” the novel, “In Paterson,” and her sixth collection of poetry, which she read from at the event, titled “Forget About Sleep.”
Levine is a member of the National Education Association (NEA), a grantee of the Massachusetts Artists Foundation, and a recipient of a Pushcart Prize, said Eck. Her third collection of poetry, “The Dark Opens,” was awarded the 2007 Autumn House Poetry Prize.
Copies of Levine’s books were supposed to be available to be signed by Levine at the event, but although the campus bookstore confirmed the order, the books were not able to be delivered, Eck said.
Eck introduced Patricia Horvath, English professor and published author, who conducted the conversation with Levine in an interview format she called the “author’s conversation.”
Horvath began the conversation with Levine by asking about how she recalls memories for her memoirs and poet-
ry, and how her childhood influences her writing.
“I was struck by how rich your work is with childhood recollections. Some images from ‘Devotion’ I love for the way they bring a poet’s sensibility to prose,” added Horvath.
Levine said a lot of her memoirs and poetry are influenced by real memories, and also by stories she has made up. She said writing requires “remembering” and “imagining” at the same time. She said imagining
in front of you and you’re getting into material that makes you sweat … maybe you decide, ‘Oh, I’m not going to write that’ and maybe you decide, ‘Maybe I’m going to write that,’” she added.
Horvath then directed the conversation toward the floral imagery Levine uses in much of her writing. “You’re using flowers - which sometimes we think of as decorative and celebratory - to evoke the mortal,” she added, in reference to
Clare, or the Irish poet, William Butler Yeats. “Just start reading. … They’re dying all over the place.”
After the conversation with Horvath, Levine read 14 of her own poems. She called the first eight “love poems.”
“Two of the great subjects of poetry are love and death,” she added.
The poems Levine read aloud included, “June of Roses,” “The Charioteer of Sicily,” “Union Street,” and “Waking
things is different from lyingit heightens and amps up her writing.
Levine said she hopes for moments when a memory she did not know she had catches her by surprise. “A particular detail - the church candles, the skin of my aunt - that is a germ that occurs and then it leads to perhaps an imaginative flaunt,” added Levine.
Horvath said, “The idea of not realizing that something resonates, and then decades later remembering is so provocative. The work is so richly synesthetic.”
Horvath asked Levine if she could see the “shape” of a piece she was writing before it was finished. Levine said her memoir was not a straightforward narrative, but more of a mosaic.
“It was very, very freeing to look at it in pieces. I think the Italian word for that is ‘tessera.’ That’s the plural for those little bright pieces that occur in a mosaic,” added Levine.
Levine does not usually have a clear idea how a poem will turn out until she has finished writing it. “Once I have the first line, then I can go,” she added.
Levine said she remembered learning how to make an outline for writing pieces in school, but that she does not use any kind of outline when writing poems.
She quoted Guillaume Apollinaire, a French poet, who discussed the point in a poem where it becomes “unstable,” which Levine said refers to the place in a poem where she does not know exactly where she is going with it.
“If you’ve got the blank page
a poem from “Devotions.”
Levine said flowers “speak” to her, and referenced a poem she wrote about comparing flowers to her childhood dolls.
“They have color. They have scent. They have presence. They have extraordinary beauty,” Levine added.
A student asked Levine about the abundance of bird imagery in her poetry, and Levine said it was intentional. She said observing birds is an interest of hers, but she is still learning how to “have a good eye” for them.
Horvath’s last question was about how Levine takes influence from others’ works. “You gave a talk recently on the pleasure, usefulness, and downside of copying the works of others, … so I was hoping that you could speak briefly on this idea of influence,” she said.
Everyone copies the works of others, even if they do not admit it, said Levine. When she was younger, she felt the burden of needing to be special, unusual, and even genius.
She said when reading the works of others, especially works that she loves, she hears the voices of the dead, as if the person who wrote it was there with her. Paying homage to other writers allows her to forget herself and feel connected to them.
“So, it’s been absolutely marvelous to imitate, … and when I do it, I feel that I am one among many,” added Levine.
Levine said if the audience should leave remembering any dead poet, they should start with the French poet, Louise Gluck, the English poet, John
Up the Morning After Watching Eisenstein’s Film, Ivan the Terrible.” She also read several poems about fall, including “November.”
The next poem, “Zing,” was unpublished and previously unread by the Framingham State faculty.
The poem contained several racial slurs, which Levine read aloud, including words that offensively described Jewish people, Irish people, and Black people. Levine said she was quoting “rap lyrics.”
A student asked her why she felt comfortable reading the slurs, and Levine said she did not feel comfortable. “It’s very risky for me to use that. Really risky. And I understand it could be offensive,” she said.
In response to “Zing,” Eck said, in a statement, the English Department acknowledges the racial slurs used by Levine as offensive and hurtful to many students and faculty.
She said, “While the English Department did not select this poem, which came from the poet’s unpublished work, we recognize the negative experience students had hearing it spoken in an academic space.
“We want to reassure students that spaces all around campus - from English classes to public performances hosted by the English Department, will be safe spaces for them to learn, and most importantly, be seen and heard,” she said.
Onyx Lovely / THE GATEPOST
Miriam Levine reading one of her poems for the annual Alan Feldman Week of Poetry Oct. 21.
Community gathers for BIPOC Brunch
By Francisco Omar Fernandez Rodriguez Arts & Features Editor
A BIPOC Brunch was hosted by the Division of Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement and the Office of Alumni Relations on Oct 18.
Jeffery Coleman, vice president of Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement and Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, welcomed everyone to the brunch.
“This is our second annual BIPOC alumni, student, faculty, and staff brunch, and so we’re hoping that this will be another opportunity for us to build community with one another,” he said.
President Nancy Niemi thanked everyone for coming and said she couldn’t miss the brunch.
“The work that the CIE does and that the division does is part of our DNA. It’s the essential part of who we are at Framingham,” she said.
She added that leading the University is easier when so many people share this commitment.
“It infuses the spirit of equity and justice … and it only gets better each year,” she said.
Niemi said she was thinking of “all of the folks who work daily to make equity and justice part of our work.”
She also told everyone to enjoy the food. “If you don’t leave here feeling like you gained five pounds then there’s something wrong,” she said.
Jerome Burke, director of the CIE, asked everyone to pair up with someone they don’t know and get to know them.
He said the brunch is a place where anyone from the community can connect with each other while enjoying food, and that it recognizes BIPOC.
“It’s really a space celebrating and recognizing those from our community who, for years upon years, were told that they couldn’t be at these types of institutions,” Burke said.
He said it also celebrates the growing BIPOC representation on college campuses across the country.
“Even here at FSU, we’re becoming a way more diverse student population. And we want to recognize that, want to create space to celebrate that,” he said.
The event is also a space where students can connect with alumni, staff, and faculty, he said.
He added that Niemi and the provost were talking and “mingling” with students and alumni.
“That’s also something I think that we don’t get to do on an everyday basis,” he said.
“This is a great time to unwind and really remove titles and just focus on real authentic human connections,” Burke said.
He added that people were moving table to table to get to know each other.
“Success for me is someone talking to someone that they
have not connected with before,” Burke said.
And, he hopes these events continue to grow.
“I’m hoping that there will come a year when we have to do something like this in the gym,” he said.
He said whoever didn’t come this year should go next time.
“There’s great food, there’s great opportunity to connect, and this is something that should definitely be marked on your calendar,” Burke said.
Coleman said the brunch is a way to build community and to help students connect with alumni.
The brunch is an opportunity for alumni “to share what kinds of events they like to participate in, to engage with the FSU community,” he said.
It’s also a chance for students to share what alumni-related events they’d like to see, he added.
He said creating “communities of support for students,” is always a great opportunity.
He said there’s research that shows students are more likely to stay in college and eventually graduate when they feel a sense of belonging.
About 66 people RSVP-ed, which was encouraging, he added.
Emma Laurie, the program coordinator for the CIE and Class of ’22, said she would have attended the brunch even if she wasn’t working there.
There was a better turnout this year than last year, she
The Book Report: ‘Silas Marner’
By Kate Norrish Staff Writer
According to my grandfather, “Silas Marner” was one of his least favorite books that he had to read in high school. While the book’s flowery writing style and focus on the family unit makes it violently Victorian. I also violently disagree. Written in 1861 by George Eliot - most famous for pretending to be a man in order to be respected as an author - this book features Silas. Silas is not having a good time. After being framed for killing a sick priest that he was tasked with caring for, he is excommunicated and spends all his time weaving. He then sells his creations, and hoards the money as a coping mechanism after the trauma of his excommunication.
Everything changes when an opium addict breaks into his house, and steals the money. Soon after, the man’s daughter, who is still in her toddler years, wanders into Silas’ house. What follows is a series of downright adorable misadventures as a neighbor helps Silas raise this slightly odd, but overall sweet little girl in his new home of Ravaloe - a fictional town in rural England.
When the child, Eppie (short for Hephzibah), grows up, she and her adopted father find themselves in a situation that made me angrier than a work of fiction had done before.
In realist novels, I find that I really need to like the characters for me to care about the little details that the book tells us about them. While this led to my opinions of Elliot’s most famous book - “Tess of
De’Ubervilles,” - being summed up with a shrug, “Silas Marner” succeeds in this phenomenally.
The town community is so friendly and close knit that you’ll want to move in, and Silas, despite spending a good chunk of the book in self isolation, will win you over with his protectiveness of Eppie. Silas especially relies on a local mother, Dolly Winthrope, to bond over the antics of Eppie and her son.
like the idea of me.
One of my favorite little details in this book is how calming Silas finds the rhythm of
said.
They did more outreach to students and alumni this year, and the weather was nicer, she added.
Victoria Adeyemi, an administrative assistant for Campus Events and Class of ’21, said she was invited by a professor who used to teach her when she was an undergrad.
She added she was also working at the brunch, though she’s usually not at many events.
She met someone new at the brunch and they discussed accessibility on campus, she said.
It was nice to see the staff supporting the event, she said.
Junior ASL major Eli Onyeabor said he was invited by Burke.
He’s been going to events hosted by the CIE and has “gotten to grow closer with the people of the CIE,” he said.
The food was diverse and good, he added.
He said it’s important to recognize Black and Indigenous people on campus.
“Stay Black and stay beautiful, y’all,” he said.
Graduate student Fabiam Barracks said he was invited by Burke and thought it would be a good opportunity to meet other students.
He does most of his classes online, so this was a good chance to socialize, he added.
“I think this is a great space for us to just exist and celebrate each other, especially in these difficult times,” he said.
CONNECT WITH FRANCISCO OMAR FERNANDEZ RODRIGUEZ ffernandezrodriguez@student.framingham.edu
did. In fact, the reason he names his adopted daughter ‘Hephzibah,’ is a dark moment that comes out of nowhere, and
Speaking of which, this kid, both as a little child and late in the book as a young adult, will give you a sugar high from how stinking sweet she is. And yet, she is still a realistic toddler. She has tantrums, disobeys instructions given to her, and at one point responds to being placed in Silas’ coal hold as a form of time-out by using it as a play house.
The role of age is also a major element of this book, in a way that I find fascinating, if not unique. After the book’s time skip, Silas’ development makes his humanity fully blossom, whereas several of the character interactions that Eppie has remind me of times visiting bitter relatives who only
weaving. As someone who has been doing the craft since my preschool years, I relate to it a lot. To both of us, the repetitiveness of fiber arts is a valuable source of stimulation, self-soothing, and focus.
It’s nice to see it thematically incorporated into a work of fiction so well, and these descriptions help you understand that Silas is a simple man whose collection of money does not come from a place of material desire.
Although we never find out who framed Silas, his growth and forgiveness, as both a parent and a person, make him accepted in his new community with open arms.
After all, Ravaloe cares for him far more than the church
gives us a quick glimpse into the life Silas may have dealt with before the events of the book. He is still a Christian by the end of the story, but, like in “The Color Purple,” he grows to believe that God can be easily found outside the church. I am not a mother myself, even though I would love to be one some day, but I would consider this book to be a wonderful gift to new parents and those entering childcare professions. It is a fun, slice-of-life story about the awkwardness of becoming a parent, and the antics you’re about to get into.
David Abe / THE GATEPOST
Puzzles
21. Tic-___-toe
22. Sweet’s counterpart
24. Doggone
27. Big name in skate shoes
28. Double tre
29. Stagger
31. Friend
34. Pattern for shoelaces or the starred clues’ answers (forward and backward!)
38. Piece of folklore
39. Tears into
40. Fitting
41. ___ jar
42. Flippant
43. Like someone whose curiosity is piqued
45. Genetic letters
46. Well aware of
47. Grain used to make a vegan milk
48. Piercing places
50. Bits of fish food
54. Redundant name for a seasonal ailment
56. Cunning
57. Prepare to throw a dart
59. Calculus prereq
60. Error in judgment
62. Erotic
63. *With 66-Across, Beavis’ partner
64. *With 67-Across, magnetic storage devices
65. “A likely story!”
66. Song such as Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’ “Die With a Smile”
67. Thrifty person
68. Luxurious
DOWN
1. Board meeting VIP
2. Prepped for a massage, with “up”
3. Gridiron pro
4. Narc’s org.
5. Variable
6. Spread salt on, maybe
7. Terminus
8. Reminds and reminds
9. Rocksteady pioneer Ellis whose first name is an anagram of “tonal”
10. Flies by noisily
11. Nothing but 12. Caroling mo.
15. Extenders for some tables
21. Common statistical procedure
23. Late actor Kilmer
25. Ore appraisal
26. Convertible
30. East, in Spanish
32. Spiny succulent
33. Give temporarily
34. Africa’s largest landlocked country
35. Word before “date” or “dance”
36. Descendant of Jacob
37. Diatribe
38. Try, as some food
41. Like a bad apple
43. Verbal barbs
44. Burrito portion?
46. Ball
49. Zero
51. Maker of “dopamine rush” nail polish
52. ’90s fitness system
53. Pair that loses to sevens
54. Herr’s wife
55. Earth goddess
58. Piece of folklore, maybe
59. Sched. placeholder
61. Way to watch some bouts, for short
62. Try, as a drink
Puzzle solutions are now exclusively online.
“Fall”-ing for Framingham State “Fall”-ing for Framingham State
On Oct. 18, FSU students, faculty, staff, alumni and family members attended Fall Fest.
Photos by Editor-In-Chief Sophia Oppedisano and Photos & Design Editor Alexis Schlesinger
Spread by Photos & Design Editor Alexis Schlesinger
Editor’s Note: (From Left) Avery Slavin is a Staff Writer for The Gatepost