Volume 95 • Issue 7
October 30, 2026
FSUgatepost.com
HAPPY HALLOWEEN
Marcus Falcão / THE GATEPOST
The tall tales of Framingham
Kelley Cup By Dylan Pichnarcik Before Salem End was a road, Witch Trials. returns Editor-in-Chief it was a neighborhood much After three sisters - Rebecca like Boston’s North End. Nurse, Sarah Clayes, and Mary The average commuter stuYet it does not get its name Etsy - were accused of witch- to Framingham dent dreads the walk from the parking lot on Salem End Road to the top of the hill where FSU is situated. But Salem End Road has a much longer, more sinister history than being the starting point for many unwanted leg workouts.
from a direction. Rather, it borrows a name from arguably one of the most famous and historic towns in Massachusetts - Salem. But why? Well, the residents of this section of Framingham were originally from Salem, fleeing during the 1692 - 1693
craft, only one would survive and flee to Framingham with members of their families, according to James L. Parr, co-author of “Framingham: Legends & Lore.” See TALES Page 11
A frightful feast!
By Andrew Louis Staff Writer
The Framingham State Rams hosted undefeated Mass. Maritime with one goal: bring the Kelley Cup back home. The Rams entered as underdogs, having lost two straight road games, and their momentum was thought to be at a low. Captain Tyrell Fuller, a junior, said, “We lost two games up to this point and can’t lose another. We must be physical and get turnovers.” See KELLEY Page 9
Voting to be held Nov. 3
By Dylan Pichnarcik Editor-in-Chief
Onyx Lovely / THE GATEPOST Skeletons dressed in Halloween costumes during the Dining Commons Halloween Dinner on Oct. 29.
INSIDE: OPINION 4 • SPORTS 8 • ART & FEATURES 10
Opinion FERNANDEZ pg. 5 PIETTE pg. 7
Sports FOOTBALL pg. 9 WOMEN’S SOCCER pg. 9
Arts & Features DIVA TALK pg. 11 SUGGESTIONS pg. 12
Election Day is Nov. 3, with polling locations open statewide from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. To determine your polling location, visit the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s website. In Framingham, there are 10 polling locations across the city, organized by precinct. To vote in the 2026 general election, you must be a registered voter. Registration closed 10 days before the election. To check your voter registration, visit the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s website. CONNECT WITH DYLAN PICHNARCIK
dpichnarcik@student.framingham.edu
NEWS
2 | OCTOBER 30, 2026
Gatepost Interview Kimberly Charneski
OUR STAFF Editor-in-Chief Dylan Pichnarcik Associate Editors Francisco Omar Fernandez Rodriguez
Antonio Machado By Audrey Rice Staff Writer
News Editor Avery Slavin
By Sydney Youde Staff Writer
Opinion Editor Alexis Schlesinger Sports Editor Taylor Kimmell Arts & Features Editor Sarah Daponde Photos & Design Editor Onyx Lovely Asst. Photos & Design Editor Christy Howland Illustrations Editor Tobias Cotton-Selman Copy Editor Cole Johnson Staff Illustrators Grace Doyle Abi Little Marcus Falcão Meghan Petrone Susay Toe Staff Writers Desiree Ambila Jesse Burchill Julien Fernandez Dan Lima Kate Norrish Nathan Piette Izabela Gage Heather Luster Andrea Zereski Louie Ranieri Audrey Rice Cooper Davis Sydney Youde Gracie Wyatt Sarah Parron Andrew Louis Ollie Mainguy Staff Photographers Julien Fernandez Rose Hamilton Meg Dame Advisors Desmond McCarthy Sabrina Grammatic Asst. Advisor Elizabeth Banks
@
TH E G A T E
O
Asst. Advisor of Digital Engagement Ben Watanabe
N PE
Well-Being Coordinator
T TH EGATEPOS
100 State Street McCarthy Center Room 410 Framingham, MA 01701-9101 Phone: (508) 626-4605 Fax: (508) 626-4097 gatepost@framingham.edu
What is your academic and professional background? My undergrad degree is in psychology and sociology from UConn, University of Connecticut, and I have a master’s in social work from Boston College. I’m also a certified mindfulness and meditation instructor for the Mindfulness Institute of Emerging Adults, which I teach on campus. Then, my professional background is when I was at Boston College, getting my master’s, my second-year internship was here at Framingham State in the Counseling Center, and I graduated in 2001, and I was hired in September of 2001. I work in the Counseling Center and then, last year, I took a job for Wellness and Prevention. They just made a new role called the well-being coordinator. They actually got two new roles. It used to be just one person that ran the Wellness and Prevention outreach and education program on campus. But then they decided to create a department with her as the head, Pamela Lemberg, she’s our director, and they gave her the ability to hire two coordinators who work with her. I am the well-being coordinator, and Karen Alfaro is our Wellness and Prevention coordinator. We both work in the Wellness and Prevention department. So that’s how I ended up here.
just meant to be like a brief exposure to mindfulness out in the community. Another thing I do - it’s not related to my mindfulness and meditation and relaxation necessarily, more about the movement part of our mission is called Rams on the Move. Marketing is a big part of my role. I run the Instagram, and I don’t do it alone. I have lots of help, but that’s a big part of what I do. And then I also do something called well-being one-to-ones, where I check in with students who want to go over their well-being, connect, and talk about what resources are available to them onand off-campus. It’s so they can feel like they know what’s available to them and how they can support themselves and get support from others to take care of What are some responsibilitheir well-being. ties you have in your role? As the well-being coordinator, What is your favorite part of my primary focus has to do with your role? the parts of our mission that are My favorite part is getting to connected to stress reduction, work with students, getting to connection, and helping students be around the students and help find calm on campus. My role falls them make the transition into heavily into the stress-reduction college life. It’s great. It’s an honpart, in that I do a lot of mindfulor to work with students as they ness and meditation teaching on come in for the first time, to help campus. It’s about stress reducthem kind of figure out their tion, sleep hygiene, and overall path. Helping support them to well-being, mental health, and do that, getting to be someone physical health. It is part of my who they can come to trust and job to help develop and mainwho is ready to help. That is the tain collaborative programming part that makes me feel like it’s for students, with other departan honor to do what I get to do. ments, like Counseling Center Working with the students, helpand Health Center. We’ve done ing them be successful and as programming with Athletics, healthy as they can be. Sodexo, the McAuliffe Center, SHAPE, Res Life, as well as stuWhat do you like about FSU dent-run organizations. I teach beyond your job? the MIEA class - it’s Memphis I can say this with great honInstitute for Emerging Adults. I esty because I’ve been here for teach that in classrooms, primarso long. There is no throwing ily for RAMS 101 classes. Then around the term FRAMily. It I co-lead a drop-in meditation means something. It’s real. The group Refresh, and @T called Rams T staff is just so genuine - everyHEGATEPOS that meets weekly. I do mindone truly treats this community ful moments, which is sort of a like it’s a family. The people who pop-up style, meeting students work here, the ones that I have out in the community, kind of had the benefit of encountering, mindfulness approach, where we are invested in the well-being bring out some activities, like the of every student at this school. bubbles or the hula hoops. That’s They care very much about stu-
Courtesy of Framingham State
dent success in every facet, every department, and work really hard to try to help students. Not only that, I love how invested our University is in helping students to prepare for their careers. Everyone tries so hard to make sure that students’ needs are met along the way, and that they have access to all the resources they need to prepare themselves to go the next part of the path when they leave here. And then finally, do you have any advice for FSU students? I truly believe that every student deserves to understand that they are made up of so many things. All of these factors are important and when we talk about finding your balance in life, college is such an amazing place to practice that. The resources to do so are all around you, and just maybe try to know that the University is here for you. People always say ask for help, and that’s true. Asking for help is important, but it is equally as important to accept the help, try to make use of the help, and then help someone else if you can. My last, and the most important thing I have to say is, you will hear people offer you free things around campus all the time. They’ll say this is free. You know, we do it all the time. Free this, free that. None of this is free - it’s been paid for through your tuition and fees. Please access the things that you are paying for already. It’s not free. You’ve paid for it. It’s here waiting for you to come and get it. That’s always what I tell students. It’s really all there for you. CONNECT WITH AUDREY RICE
arice1@student.framingham.edu
CONNECT WITH SYDNEY YOUDE
syoude@student.framingham.edu
Police Logs Tuesday, Oct. 27 16:11 Welfare Check Larned Hall
@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com
Tuesday, Oct. 27 21:48 Noise Complaint Normal Hill
Wednesday, Oct. 28 01:24 Safety Escort Union Lot
NEWS
OCTOBER 30, 2026 | 3
President Niemi discusses enrollment plans By Antonio Machado Associate Editor By Avery Slavin News Editor President Nancy Niemi highlighted the University’s strong enrollment numbers and emphasized the institution’s commitment to diversity and equity in the All-University Meeting on Oct. 19. Niemi said the University remains dedicated to diversity and the “connection between academic excellence and equity has been and will be the definition of Framingham State University. It is the foundation of FSU’s institutional legacy. “True academic excellence is impossible without deep institutionalized equity. If we operate from that point, we are always going to be OK, because we know where we’re working. We know where we’re going,” she added. Niemi discussed the school’s progress in meeting the goals of its Strategic Enrollment Plan, which highlights the University’s values and goals and the importance of higher education for students, and she said the University’s increases in institutional financial aid have impacted enrollment. Niemi said students having career-connected experiences is a “road being built,” and that advising has been more successful due to more communication between students and faculty, as well as advisors being more informed about actual data. Local, regional, and state connections with businesses and legislators have helped FSU advance its needs, according to Niemi. She said these partnerships have “paid off in hundreds of thousands of dollars. … We want our state to know that Framingham State is here. We might be a gem, but we’re not hidden anymore.” Niemi said the current landscape for higher education is volatile. “The financial and sociocultural realities of our students are changing, which demands that everything we’re doing, we need to get even more real about our financial fragility.” The Strategic Enrollment Plan will continue focusing on innovation for student success, in which the University will “enhance teaching and learn-
ing in ways that advance goals for racial equity and student achievement,” Niemi said. She said the one thing the University must do is “get learning right for everyone. And if we do nothing more than that, because remember, learning goes hand-in-hand with equity, if that’s all we do, which is what our job is, we will continue to be wildly successful.” Niemi said the new undergraduate student enrollment increased by over 10% this year. FSU enrolled 855 new students this year, compared to last year’s 773. Of these new students, 597 are first-time first-year students and the other 258 are transfer students. Niemi said 59% of the new students were female and 40% were male. Of the incoming class, 62% are first generation students, she said. The percentage of students of color in the incoming class is 59%, and the percentage of residential students is 80%, she said. She said 55% of Undergraduate students are living on campus, and the resident halls are 92% full. “If it feels livelier on campus, both in the day and the night, it’s true. Our students are being students, and they’re having a good time. I hear it,” Niemi said. Additionally, 64% of the new class met the criteria for the FSU Tuition Promise, she said. The FSU Tuition Promise is a program that grants a student free tuition granted their family income is less than or equal to $85,000. She said, the FSU Tuition Promise “has been an extraordinary driver, we think, because of course, we don’t have students tell us that this is exactly why they came, but as I said, it’s the closest we come to causality for some of our increased enrollment.” Niemi said that even families that would typically be considered middle-class still need aid, and it’s important to know how many students continue to rely on it. She said it will cost the school more to increase students’ financial aid, and there might have to be something given up in order to do so. “What do we give up to give more financial aid? Do we run
at a deficit? Do we ask the board for more? Do we get more from the state? Probably not. So those are decisions that will need to be made. Do we want students or do we want money? And sometimes, that’s a hard question to answer,” she said. Niemi announced the University’s retention rate, or the percentage of students who come back after their first year, is 76% for the 2025 cohort - the highest it’s been in years. The fall-to-fall persistence rate, meaning they continue until graduation, is 79%, which is the highest it’s been since before the pandemic in 2020. She said the percentage is not a perfect one-to-one match due to some students staying in their first or second year longer. Niemi said part of the strategic enrollment management work is the academic program portfolio, which asks about the “national landscape. What are other schools doing? What are universities doing? How is the national political landscape affecting what people do in academia? “It’s fine to build a nice, shiny new program, but it’s another thing to stick to our mission and figure out what our students need, what our world needs, and how we put our education and equity together to help make that happen,” she added. Niemi said the New England Commission of Higher Education is going to be working with FSU on a two-year focused evaluation report that is primarily assessing the institution. They will come back for a five-year report, and then a 10-year report. Niemi added the University continues to be a majority-minority institution. “It’s really important for us to embrace that and to know it, because it shapes everything that we do as we move towards equity.” She said, “We tend to think about equity as race and gender, and we cannot forget that accessibility and disability and student achievement are also all part of the same thing, and we continue to pay attention to those equity practices.” Niemi said the search for a new Vice President of Equity and Inclusion is underway and the position should be filled in late winter or early spring. She said the University is focusing on its community en-
gagement and the impact it has on its immediate neighbors. “We’re connecting with the region in ways we previously have not done, regional towns and partners.” Niemi said the University is focusing on relationships with businesses in the surrounding area through the RAMS rewards program. She said, “We’re giving discounts. We’re having students have discounts. All of you can have discounts. We’re making relationships with businesses in the area. We’re having businesses visit our campus, and making that barrier disappear. “They know who we are now, we’re going to keep pushing on that,” she added. The Campus Master Plan does not have the appropriate funding yet, according to Niemi, but there are components of it the school is already undertaking, such as space changes involving the bookstore, fitness center, and Rams Resource Center. The Linsley Hall redevelopment, which will eventually house faculty and staff, is “costing more than we’d like, but we’re getting it together, and that project will still happen,” Niemi said. Niemi discussed the topic of AI, saying it “would be unwise to create a unified policy for AI on the whole campus for absolutely everything. We want coherence and capability, but not conformity of use.” She said the University will not tell students and faculty how to use AI, and rather it will be left to each division and classroom depending on needs.
CONNECT WITH ANTONIO MACHADO amachado4@student.framingham.edu
CONNECT WITH AVERY SLAVIN
aslavin1@student.framingham.edu
Weather Saturday, Oct. 31 Sunny with a high near 55.
Monday, Nov. 2 Mostly sunny with a high near 70.
Wednesday, Nov. 4 Mostly sunny with a high near 66.
Sunday, Nov. 1 Sunny with a high near 60.
Tuesday, Nov. 3 Partly sunny with a high near 65.
Thursday, Nov. 5 Mostly sunny with a high near 70.
FRAMINGHAM STATE UNIVERSITY’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1932 | FSUGATEPOST.COM
4 | OCTOBER 30, 2026
THE GATEPOST EDITORIAL
It’s time to talk about resources. Where are they?
S
ituated behind West Hall, the Rams Resource Center sits unassumingly, a catch-all pantry where students can access free food, toiletries, clothes, and other essentials. But because of its location, the average student may not know about it. West Hall is one of the newest buildings on campus, and the Rams Resource Center is undoubtedly an attractive-looking space. However, aesthetics don’t matter for a center such as this. What matters more is accessibility and flexible hours. For residents, it is reasonable to assume that if they park a car in the Maynard Lot, they have passed by the center. However, blink, and you’ll miss it. The center’s only signage is a small chalkboard. Also, chances are, it might not be open when you pass. The University lists the center’s hours of operation on its website as 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesdays. On Thursdays, the hours are 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. And most shockingly, on Fridays, they are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The day before the center closes for in excess of 48 hours, the Rams Resource Center has the most limited hours of the week. This leaves students with minimal hours to stock up on necessities that will carry them through the weekend. The University website also offers a few disclaimers about the center’s hours. However, one is most troubling: “Hours may change without notice due to coverage.” Staffing is clearly an issue at the center. Why isn’t the University prioritizing hiring student workers to cover the center’s hours? If you look at other essential departments on campus, such as the Student Transportation Center, they do an excellent job recruiting students and offering them a reasonable wage of $17. If we can fund a service that brings people to the Mall, the University can certainly afford to make working at the center more attractive. If the University hires more students to staff the center, it could offer more hours so more students can access this resource. If the University invested more in staffing the center, it could also expand hours to serve students after normal working or business hours. To think you’d have better luck catching a ride to the Natick Mall than walking across campus to pick up toiletries from the Rams Resource Center exposes a jarring inequity, which makes The Gatepost Editorial Board question where the University’s priorities lie.
Also, has anyone considered drawing on the resources of the fleet of students Residence Life & Housing employs? Every Residence Hall is staffed 24/7 with student workers. There must be students looking for hours. Call on them to fill gaps in coverage. As discussions about next year’s budget begin to get underway in departments, the University’s Executive Staff and accountants should seriously consider moving money from less essential line items to strengthen the Rams Resource Center’s budget. We’ve seen in recent changes to the University infrastructure that spaces can be repurposed. Recently, the University moved the Campus Bookstore from the Athletic Center to the McCarthy Center, making way for a new general student fitness center. The space has brand-new equipment that’s even branded with the FSU Rams logo, which is completely necessary in the very likely scenario that someone questions what college fitness center they’re in. As for the old fitness center, one level above, that’s now just for athletes. To boot, the University closed the McCarthy Center game room, a space for all students, especially those who do not have a dorm room to use, in order to make space for the campus bookstore. McCarthy is obviously a better location for the Rams Resource Center. The college center is a building every student passes through. It’s centrally located, inviting, and has ample parking for commuters to use if they need to stop by the center for a quick stock up. Also, the University’s Dining Services has offices, store rooms, and the main dining concourse in the McCarthy Center. At the end of the day, or week, having the center located within a few short steps would allow for a stronger partnership with Sodexo. A partnership in which the excess food that would be wasted in the Dining Commons could be redistributed to students in need. Locating the center in a public, centrally located building such as McCarthy would make it significantly more accessible to all students. Maynard Road sits atop a hill and is a crushing walk. Why would the bottom of this hill be the best location for a center so necessary for our campus community? The average commuter will never have a reason to go underneath West Hall, or even know it houses anything other than a Residence Hall. The Gatepost Editorial Board understands West is a beautiful, new building on campus, but it’s practically off-campus housing because of its location. We, The Gatepost Editorial Board, look forward to increased coverage at the Rams Resource Center, and covering it.
Unsigned Editorials reflect the opinion of The Gatepost Editorial Board, signed Op/Eds reflect the opinion of the writer.
The Gatepost welcomes signed letters to the editor sent to gatepost@framingham.edu. All letters are subject to review. @TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com
OPINION
OCTOBER 30, 2026 | 5
FRANCISCO OMAR FERNANDEZ RODRIGUEZ COMMENTARY
Evening and night activities are not commuter-friendly College students are in me only being present for extremely busy. We’re often what I need to be there for, and working part time - or even leaving as soon as that’s full time - outside of classes, done. It’s just or we’re in some sort of club or too much of other organization. a hassle Sometimes we’re doing to keep both, on top of a courseload a Zoom that’s usually not designed for someone with our kind of schedule. Because of that, many clubs host meetings in the evening or at night, after daytime classes end. The same goes for events, such as the improv show. It’s the best time for most of the students involved. Except for those who also need to get to and from campus on top of their already Meghan Petrone / THE GATEPOST full schedules. Commuter students such as myself. Commuters need to keep in meeting running, especially mind how we’re getting to class if you only have the free halfand how we’re getting home. hour version. That takes time, and for a lot Personally, I’m lucky enough of us it doesn’t work well with to live in Framingham and these late meetings. have a family that’s generous Resident students can enough to pick me up at absurd theoretically stay out on hours in the night. Otherwise, campus as late as they want I wouldn’t even be in The and safely return to their Gatepost. dorms afterwards. Commuters The newspaper meets do not have that luxury. at 6:30 p.m. Monday and Some of us have a bus or Thursday, and copy-editing train to catch at 6 and can’t meetings on Thursday nights go to the meeting that doesn’t go on much later. If I wanted end until 8 or 9. to take the public Metrowest Zoom is sometimes offered Public Transit bus home, the as an option, but how often latest I could stay is 7:30 p.m., does it actually work? For a job and that’s cutting it close. meeting, it works just fine, but Realistically, I’d have to be at part of the fun of clubs is getting the bus stop by then, and thus to know your classmates. Does need to leave the meeting even this happen over Zoom? earlier. In my experience, joining a If circumstances at home club meeting over Zoom results were different for me, I
wouldn’t be writing this. This applies to more than The Gatepost. The Onyx meets at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays. Pokemon Club meets at the same time. So does Hilltop, and most of their shows are in the evening. The Art Club often hosts events around 6 p.m. The Gaming C l u b meets on Friday nights, and I’ve seen other events such as Poetry Open Mics take place at that general time. How many commuters are on campus on Fridays at all, much less staying or coming back here in the evening? Most people are not as fortunate as me and simply do not get the chance to be part of these groups or activities. I have several friends who fall into that category. I’d mention a club hosting a cool event or even just having a meeting, and as soon as I say the time, they get disappointed because it’s just out of reach. Whether it’s the train or work hours or simply the amount of time and effort it takes to get home and do homework, something makes the evening inaccessible for commuters. At the same time, holding these events any earlier in the day risks coinciding with classes. But here’s the difference.
Classes change from semester to semester. Someone who can’t attend meetings at the beginning of their freshman year can still get involved later on. A commuter student is much less likely to get such a change. I don’t think many of us suddenly get the chance to move onto campus. I understand that not everyone can hold their meeting at that precious 1:30 p.m. Wednesday slot where most students don’t have class, but could we consider rolling back to sometime earlier in the evening, such as 4:30 p.m.? Or make the Zoom versions not feel like you’re in the backseat of a car and the event is outside a foggy windshield? Don’t forget that commuters make up roughly half of the student body. According to the school’s official website, in Fall 2025 we made up 49% of undergraduates. Every time we hold a club meeting, activity, or event in the evening or at night we’re making it that much harder for half of the students here to attend. If you want more commuter students to get involved, consider when you’re hosting your activity. Francisco Omar Fernandez Rodriguez is a senior English major. He is an Associate Editor of The Gatepost. He can be reached at ffernandezrodriguez@ student.framingham.edu
ALEXIS SCHLESINGER COMMENTARY
Are you sure that’s not your circus? It’s cute to say “There are no stupid questions” or “There are no wrong answers,” but that isn’t true. We’ve all rolled our eyes and sighed when our peers ask a stupid question in class because they weren’t paying attention. I’m sure your professor has said to one of your classmates, “Mhm, interesting point. Anyone else?” The problem goes beyond asking questions or making jokes without trying to use your own brain first. Many people have uncomfortably laughed at a terrible, distasteful joke because they “don’t want to make anyone feel bad,” or “don’t feel like lecturing someone.” Stop prioritizing the feelings of people who don’t think about the feelings of others. You’re coddling them. No wonder they act like children with no impulse control. Speaking without thinking can have consequences that can range from simply being annoying to being outright dangerous. One of the problems here is the people who aren’t thinking before they speak. The other problem is the people on the receiving or witnessing end, who don’t say anything. The only thing worse than
someone not using their brain is watching someone not use their brain, and allowing it to happen. I’m not telling you that you should answer all questions and comments with bitterness, or tell people they’re stupid. I’m telling you to let people know that you know they’re speaking without thinking. While it’s undoubtedly true that there have always been people who speak without thinking, living in the age of the internet has normalized the concept of putting every thought in your head out to the world. It’s so easy to get on Instagram, TikTok, or any other platform, say whatever comes to mind, and post it for the masses to come across. On top of that, society as a whole is addicted to shortform content and immediate gratification. And now, with the rise of generative artificial intelligence and “chatbots,” altered or incorrect information is becoming increasingly present on the internet. All of these things combined have created the perfect storm for thoughtless behavior. If people don’t know something, they’re asking AI instead of reading books or articles, or asking their friends and family.
If people don’t like a person, they’re telling the whole world via Instagram story and blocking them instead of speaking to them in person. No need to think - just type and send. Our society, especially in America, has evolved to spend more and more time on the internet, and with internet culture becoming increasingly thoughtless and speed-driven, it seeps into our real lives. Collectively, we all have to take more time to sit with our own thoughts, and urge the people around us to do the same. Your brain is a muscle - you have to exercise it to make it stronger. And don’t you want other people’s brains to get stronger so they stop asking you those annoying, stupid questions? Don’t be afraid to tell people what they’re saying doesn’t make sense, or is wrong. It’s better for someone to be embarrassed for a few seconds, than for them to continue spreading misinformation for days, months, or years. You don’t have to be excited to answer questions that require common sense or basic listening skills. Maybe someone’s asking you something that’s already been explained several times. Ask them if they know it’s been
explained several times. Give them the answer. Tell them you will not repeat yourself. Or maybe you already said you wouldn’t be repeating yourself. Restate that boundary. Tell people when the jokes they make are insensitive or rude. Stop laughing just because you don’t feel like taking the extra minute to “lecture” someone. Maybe they listen to you, maybe they don’t. Regardless, you should be urging the people around you to care about the words they are saying, and how they affect other people. While you shouldn’t be responsible for educating every person on every topic, you should feel some kind of obligation to tell people when they’re acting or speaking carelessly. Stop letting people play stupid games if you don’t like when they win stupid prizes.
Alexis Schlesinger is a senior communication arts major. She is the Opinion Editor of The Gatepost. She can be reached at aschlesinger@student. framingham.edu
FRAMINGHAM STATE UNIVERSITY’S INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1932 | FSUGATEPOST.COM
6 | OCTOBER 30, 2026
OPINION
I still think Pluto is a planet
Susay Toe / THE GATEPOST
@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com
OPINION
OCTOBER 30, 2026 | 7
NATHAN PIETTE COMMENTARY
An argument for ranked-choice voting I want to vote for a candidate because I believe in them. That should be a fairly ordinary expectation in a democracy. Instead, American elections often come with a warning: Choose carefully, because voting for the person you want might be voting for the person with the most big-money advertising dollars. Ranked-choice voting offers a better approach. Instead of selecting one candidate, voters rank their options: first choice, second choice, third choice. In its common single-winner version, a candidate wins by receiving more than half the votes being counted. If nobody reaches that threshold, the lastplace candidate is eliminated. Their voters’ ballots transfer to their next remaining choice. The process continues until someone wins. Your backup choice counts only when your higher-rankedchoices are eliminated. You still have one vote. This is hardly an untested invention. Australia introduced preferential voting for its House of Representatives in 1918, partly to address vote splitting between competing political groups. In its first federal use, a candidate who initially received about 26% ultimately won after preferences were distributed. The first-round leader had received approximately 43%. Even when voters’ top choices didn’t win, voters were
ultimately more satisfied with ranked-choice voting, as their second or third candidate often won over their last choice. Ireland also has a long history of ranking candidates. Its parliamentary system uses a related version, single transferable vote, to fill multiple seats proportionally. Irish election law formally provided for that method in 1923. That distinction matters: ranking candidates can support different electoral systems, rather than one universal formula. Americans have experience, too. Cambridge, Massachusetts has used proportional ranked voting for municipal elections since 1941. Maine began using ranked-choice voting in 2018. We do not need to cross an ocean to see it operating. The appeal is straightforward. Voters gain more freedom to support their favorite candidate while retaining a backup. Candidates have a reason to seek support beyond their most committed followers. That second incentive interests me most. Consider a lobbying organization’s affiliated political action committee or a wealthy outside spending group. Under ordinary plurality voting, helping a favored candidate hold a loyal minority can be enough when opponents divide the remaining votes. Under ranked-choice voting, that strategy becomes less
straightforward. A candidate might lead initially and still lose because other voters consistently prefer someone else. In that situation, expensive advertising designed to mobilize a narrow base may be insufficient. A candidate also needs people willing to rank them second or third. My argument is that this could make financed campaigns less predictable and encourage candidates to build broader relationships with constituents. Attacking everyone outside your coalition becomes a risk when you might need their next preference. However, possibility is not proof. A 2024 study of Alaska’s combined nonpartisan primary and ranked-choice system found little immediate effect on campaign finance in state legislative elections. Donors can adapt, support multiple candidates, or finance messages aimed at voters’ rankings. Changing the ballot does not remove money from politics. The voting system has weaknesses too. When voters rank only candidates who are later eliminated, their ballots stop participating. A winner can therefore receive a majority of the remaining ballots without winning a majority of all ballots originally cast. Research examining 182 American elections found this
was a recurring limitation, although other mathematical failures were uncommon. That makes clear instructions, accessible ballots, and transparent counting essential. Campaign finance disclosure and enforcement remain necessary as well. I support expanding rankedchoice voting because it gives voters more room to express themselves and candidates more reason to listen. It cannot guarantee that elected officials will prioritize citizens over donors. It can make broader voter acceptance part of the path to office. Our ballots should let us say whom we believe in, whom we could accept, and whom we reject. I propose an expansion of these ideas. I think we should try nonpartisan primaries country wide. We should have multiple rounds of voting as the standard until we whittle down the pool to three candidates. We should rank further than first, second, and third, and rank every candidate in every round. Let’s make it impossible for large spending groups to influence our elections. Democracy should have room for more than our least disappointing option. Nathan Piette is a Staff Writer for The Gatepost. He is an international business major. He can be reached at npiette@ student.framingham.edu
Campus Conversations “What is your favorite movie to watch around Halloween?” By Alexis Schlesinger, Opinion Editor, Gracie Wyatt and Cooper Davis, Staff Writers
“‘Get Out.’ It’s just such a good movie.” - Ayden Giombetti, senior
“The ‘Halloween’ movie. I think Michael Myers is cool.” - Joseph Scarapicchia, junior
“The ‘Charlie Brown’ [Halloween] special.” - Anna Prado, sophomore
“‘Coraline’ - I know it’s not a scary movie, but it’s the perfect time to watch it.”
“I really like ‘Girl vs. Monster,’ and a lot of people hate on me for it, but I think it’s so cute.” - Isabella Fischer, junior
“‘The Evil Dead: Army of Darkness.’” - Jameson Miranda, freshman
- Dayanne Victoria Calmon, freshman
FRAMINGHAM STATE UNIVERSITY’S INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1932 | FSUGATEPOST.COM
8 | OCTOBER 30, 2026
Field hockey clinches overtime victory over BSU Shows support for breast cancer awareness
(Left) Hannah Poklemba defending against a Bridgewater player in overtime win on Oct. 27.
By Taylor Kimmell Sports Editor The Framingham State Rams hosted the Bridgewater State Bears Oct. 27 for their final matchup of the regular season, winning 5-4. This overtime victory improves their conference record to 5-5 and their overall record to 8-10, ranking them fourth in the conference coming into the postseason. This game meant more to the Rams than the outcome, as the team came together to celebrate survivors and support those currently impacted by breast cancer during their annual Breast Cancer Awareness Game. The team decorated the field with pink streamers, balloons, and posters that sported sayings such as “Stand Tall Against Cancer,” “No One Fights Alone,” and “Who We Play For,” the last of which was covered with the names of friends and family members who have been impacted. Volunteers stood by the field’s entrance to hand out pink ribbon pins and bracelets, and many of the players took to the field sporting pink hair ribbons, headbands, and face glitter to show their support. Freshman Sydney Walters said this game was “about playing for people who have died or are suffering through this terrible illness. Breast cancer is very strong in my family, so it’s about playing for them.” Senior Allie Harmuth said, “It’s about playing for something that’s bigger than us, bigger than our team, bigger than our school, bigger than this sport. There’s just so much bad in the world, @TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com
and sometimes, we want to bring awareness to these things.” Captain Finley Hogan, a junior, said this tradition “means the world to me and the team because we all know someone who has fought or is still fighting breast cancer. Being able to support them, even just by acknowledging their fight, is super important to us.” The Rams started the action with a shot from Captain Ashley Malmquist, a senior, 4 minutes in, which was defended by BSU’s goalkeeper, Aubrey Finn. Walters received the deflection from Finn’s save, sending in another shot. Finn blocked this one as well, but could not defend against Walters’ next shot on the following play, which found the back of the net for the first goal of the match. Bridgewater maintained steady possession of the ball for the next 7 minutes, but despite their pressure on the Rams’ goal, defensive saves by Harmuth and sophomore goalkeeper Aubrey Jenkins kept FSU in the lead. At the 12-minute mark, junior Finley Hogan sent in two shots, both blocked by Finn. Following the second shot, the Rams earned a corner, but were unable to capitalize on it. The quarter ended after a shot by BSU that was saved by Jenkins. Less than 3 minutes into the second quarter, Framingham increased its lead with a goal by Hogan. Bridgewater was able to find footing in the following few minutes, scoring their first goal at 23:16. FSU regained possession shortly after, with two shots by Hogan saved by Finn, which led
Izabela Gage / THE GATEPOST
to another goal by Walters on an Finn’s pads, but she collected the assist by Malmquist. rebound and sent it into the back The Bears brought the ball corner of the net, securing the down the field again, and, after Rams’ 5-4 victory. their first and second attempts Hogan said, “To win our last were defended by Jenkins and game is going to help our mojunior Reese Neale, they found mentum going into the postseathe back of the net to bring the son, so that’s really exciting. Begame to 3-2, the Rams still in the ing able to score the OT game lead. winner is huge and such a priviThe third quarter started with lege that my teammates helped both teams on a strong defen- me achieve.” sive streak. The Rams and Bears This goal was a big deal for traded shots and corners until, at Hogan, as it allowed her to both the 43-minute mark, Walters se- tie the record for the number of cured her third goal of the match goals scored in a season, 20, and - a hat trick for the final regular break the record for the number season game of her first season. of points in a season, 44. Both reWalters said her hat trick was cords were set by Kristen Sacco the cherry on top of an already in 2009. stellar game. “It was really fun Hogan said it “means a ton to - it was a great game, and I’m me to have achieved something just really happy to contribute to like that. … I didn’t even know the win. Bridgewater is a tough it was a possibility until halfway team.” through this season.” Bridgewater opened the fourth The Rams’ will host Fitchburg quarter with a goal in the first 40 for their first game of the MASseconds to bring the score to 4-3 CAC tournament, the date still to FSU. be determined. BSU worked to even the score, Walters said, “We’re feeling outshooting the Rams 10-3 in great. This win could move us up the following 14 minutes. Final- a seed, especially since our first ly, they found a gap, bringing the game will be on home turf, so I score to 4-4 with a last-minute think that could help us be able goal, threatening to send the to move on.” game into overtime. Harmuth said, “Obviously, we FSU attempted to score in the want to win the MASCAC. This final 10 seconds, earning a cor- next game against Fitchburg ner, but after a missed shot by is going to be really hard. We Malmquist at 59:59, it was clear played them in the first round the match would continue for an last year, and we upset them, so extra quarter. they’re going to come back hard.” BSU came into the overtime period with a strong offensive push, but their attempts to score were opposed by Jenkins. After the Rams’ defense Stats sourced from fsurams.com cleared the ball, Hogan took it and MASCAC.com and sprinted down the field for a CONNECT WITH TAYLOR KIMMELL one-on-one against Finn. Hogan’s first shot bounced off tkimmell@student.framingham.edu
SPORTS
OCTOBER 30, 2026 | 9
Football Continued from Page 1
The Rams were 2-2 in conference, facing the 4-0 conference leader, and those standings had already ruled them out of the race and picked the Buccaneers to win. The Rams had only themselves. They knew everyone doubted them, and they took the field with the mentality to “feed the faith, starve the doubt.” Framingham State won the opening toss and deferred, and Mass. Maritime wasted no time making it count. The Buccaneers marched 71 yards in seven plays, with runs of 11 and 27 yards, and a 24-yard completion to lead 7-0 with 12:40 left in the first quarter. Instead of starting sophomore quarterback Michael Marcucella, the Rams went with sophomore Anthony Gerrior. Gerrior started strong with a quick pass to junior Adrian Sarrette for 11 yards, and a Buccaneers’ facemask call added 16 more. Gerrior tried again, throwing an incompletion. The Rams went 0-3 in the passing game, forcing freshman kicker Brandon Snyder to punt. The Rams wasted no time getting their offense right back on the field. They held Mass. Maritime to three plays and 5 yards. Gerrior couldn’t find a rhythm. A run lost 2 yards, a pass fell incomplete, and on 3rd and 12, the Buccaneers’ defense got to him with a sack of 13 yards, forcing them to punt. FSU’s offense still had faith in Gerrior, but the Buccaneers were able to plow through and sack him for a loss of 13 yards, as well as a safety, pushing the score to 9-0. The Rams’ defense was forced to get back on the field with very little rest. Mass. Maritime took advantage of this and were able
Meg Dame / THE GATEPOST Ty Kelley holding the Kelley cup while being hoisted by the Framingham State football team after win against Mass. Maritime on Oct. 24. to bring the ball down to Fram- 12 plays, allowing Ty Kelley to The Buccaneers were marchingham’s 23-yard line. This al- kick a field goal, and bringing the ing down the field with few errors lowed them to settle for a field score to 12-10 in favor of Mass. until first and goal. Rams’ senior goal, bringing the score to 12-0 Maritime. Amari Williams was able to jump The Rams’ defense was work- the ball with no time left on the Mass. Maritime with 53 seconds ing on all levels to stop the clock, sealing the 18-14 win for left in the first quarter. The second quarter began the Buccaneers. The Rams held the the Rams and bringing the Kelley same way. The Rams’ offense Buccaneers’ defense to 19 all- Cup back to Framingham. still couldn’t produce. Third and purpose yards, forcing a shutout. When asked about the motivaMarcucella continued to ball tion that led to this win, Fuller 6, the Rams fumbled the ball, giving it right back to the Buc- out. At second and 4 at Mass. said, “Our motivation was getcaneers. It didn’t take long for Maritime’s 18-yard line, Marcu- ting that Kelley Cup back to Marcucella to get back into the cella completed a pass to senior where it belonged,” and so they Mathias Fowler for a touchdown did. game. He started his second drive with 12:43 left on the clock. Fuller ended the game with 10 The Rams decided to go for 2 solo tackles, a tackle for loss, a strong with 7:55 on the clock in the 2nd quarter. Pass after extra points. Ty Kelley rolled out forced fumble, and a fumble repass, he fed the ball to senior and connected with Adri, bring- covery, making him the MASCAC Ezana Zemene, and the offense ing the score to 18-12 Rams. Defensive Player of the Week. Both sides continue to get aflooked impossible to stop. Just The Rams will host Plymouth when the Buccaneers thought ter it. Mass. Maritime was able to State in a Week 7 thriller, looking they had caught up, Marcucella get another safety on Framing- to build on their momentum. hit senior Ayden Ramirez for 31 ham’s 6-yard line, putting them yards. Ransford Adri finished the up 2 points but still at a deficit, Stats sourced from fsurams.com 11-play drive with a short rush with a score of 18-14. Framingham tried to drain the and MASCAC.com for the touchdown, and junior Ty Kelley’s extra point made it 12-7. clock, but allowed Mass. MariCONNECT WITH ANDREW LOUIS The Rams started the second time to recover the ball with 1:45 alouis1@student.framingham.edu half strong, gaining 35 yards in left.
Win over Buccaneers sends men’s soccer to playoffs By Avery Slavin Editorial Staff
the net. Sophomore Tanner Lockwood continued the action and shot The Framingham State Rams the ball toward Mass. Maritime’s took the Mass. Maritime Bucca- goalie Preston Joia, who saved it. neers down in a close game Oct. Framingham’s goalie, sopho24. more Colin Holt, held a strong This brings their conference defense as well when the Bucrecord to 4-1-1 and overall re- caneers tried to score their first cord to 6-7-1. point. The Rams started strong with Four minutes later, the Buccasenior Landon Medeiros send- neers attempted to score again, ing a header shot toward the sending Holt another shot to goal within the first 5 minutes, save and directing the ball too though it strayed too far from high above the net right after. Lockwood briefly regained possession of the ball long enough to try to get the Rams on the scoreboard, but the shot was blocked. The Buccaneers were then able to send three goal attempts Holt’s way, but he didn’t let up on his defense and saved each one. Senior Jack Holt put the Rams in the lead by breaking Joia’s defense just before the 25-minute mark. Mass. Maritime tried to put a point on the board, but their next three shots were unsuccessful, two being saved by Colin Holt and the other being blocked. There was tension on the turf, but the Rams didn’t back down. Jack Holt sent the ball toward Izabela Gage / THE GATEPOST Joia, though it sailed too high to Michael Nacdougal dribbling the ball in hit the back of the net. loss against Roger Williams on Sept. 29. Senior Brian Penney tried to
help Framingham bounce back After everything that happened and score the point, but Joia the last two years with injuries stayed strong on defense. and not-so-great seasons, we The Buccaneers got the ball were finally able to bring togethaway from the Rams and shot it er a team and make the playoffs twice, but they couldn’t manage - even better, bringing a home to break Colin Holt’s defense. playoff semifinal to FramingJoia saved one more shot from ham, which is huge for us. Lockwood, and the half conclud“We’ve been working really ed with another unsuccessful hard to get these results - comshot from the Buccaneers. ing to practice every day with Mass. Maritime started the the right mindset, and not rushsecond half strong with a goal ing the process. We’re doing evattempt, but Colin Holt didn’t erything we can to be ready for let up. Friday,” he added. The Buccaneers’ offense Junior Logan Winsor said, “We proved strong, but two more need to keep the intensity high. shots still couldn’t get them on This year, energy and vibes on the scoreboard. and off the field have been high. The ball traveled back and If we continue to stack good days forth for about eight minutes on top of each other, we will have before Lockwood sent the ball exactly what we need when playtoward Joia in hopes of getting a offs start.” second point, but it didn’t get in Windsor said making the playthe net. offs as the second seed is “an inTwo header shots and two describable feeling. It feels like goal attempts from Mass. Mari- such a long time in the making, time still weren’t enough to earn and is so well earned with such them a point. hard years prior. The Buccaneers were feel“The team this year has ing the pressure. They tried four meshed well, and it’s super remore times to hit the back of the warding for all the guys to be net, but ended the game with where we are right now,” he addzero points. ed. This win earned the Rams the second seed in the MASCAC Stats sourced from fsurams.com and MASCAC.com playoffs. Senior captain Kaio Santos Da Silva said earning a spot in the CONNECT WITH AVERY SLAVIN playoffs is “really special for us. aslavin@student.framingham.edu
FRAMINGHAM STATE UNIVERSITY’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1932 | FSUGATEPOST.COM
10 | OCTOBER 30, 2026
University recognizes faculty achievements
By Francisco Omar Fernandez Rodriguez Associate Editor Six faculty members were recognized at the Distinguished Faculty & Librarian Awards Ceremony, held by CELTSS, on Oct. 21. These included English Professor Desmond McCarthy, English Professor Bartholomew Brinkman, Economics Professor Luis Rosero, Psychology Professor Margaret Obaid, Environmental Science Professor Amy Johnston, and Interdisciplinary Studies Professor Jeffrey Hartman. President Nancy Niemi said her time as a teacher and scholar in the discipline of education showed her that faculty learning and student learning are the same. This “allowed me to embrace the ways in which they benefit from each other,” Niemi said. She said the awardees spend their time and energy “investigating, questioning, and teaching” through the critical work and analyses they face in their disciplines. “I celebrate the work of those of you who are being honored tonight, and I’m honored to be your colleague,” Niemi said.
Francisco Omar Fernandez Rodriguez / THE GATEPOST
Amy Johnston, Environmental Science Professor, speaks about recieving her distinction on Oct. 21.
He said MERC, a group made up of faculty and students, works to educate decision makers. “But our scholarship has, or at least my scholarship, has shifted quite a bit into that collaboration with students,” Rosero said. He said he finds this to be more rewarding than working on “international finance or
main types of scholarship, political psychology and academic motherhood. In 2020, she struggled with being a new mother while also having to maintain her scholarship work, especially as she was pre-tenure, she said. An online group of other academic mothers was a lifeline for her, she said. That led to the formation of
said. “Some students need to be pushed. Some just need a gentle hand. And some just need a concept explained in a completely different way.” In her classes, she tries to connect science to what is going on in the world, she said. This includes talking about hurricanes and wildfires in the news. Hartman was recognized
“I celebrate the work of those of you who are being honored tonight, and I’m honored to be your colleague.” - Nancy Niemi
Framingham State President McCarthy was recognized for “Excellence in Advising & Mentoring.” Provost Kristen Porter-Utley said he had advised generations of students as advisor to The Gatepost. McCarthy thanked Acting Department Chair Lisa Eck for always being available to support him and the newspaper over the many years. He thanked English Professor Elizabeth Banks. She and McCarthy make up the journalism department and she has served as assistant advisor for The Gatepost for the last 12 years. He acknowledged Sophia Harris, Class of ’25, former editor-in-chief of The Gatepost, and current editorial director for the Essex Media Group, and Dylan Pichnarcik, editor-in-chief of The Gatepost, as recent superb mentees in his career. “Thanks again to everyone for this award, which is as much about recognizing everyone I’ve had the privilege of working with and advising at The Gatepost for over 35 years as it is about me,” McCarthy said. Rosero was recognized for “Excellence in Service.” Porter-Utley said Rosero has served on many committees and demonstrated a commitment to service throughout the University. Rosero is the co-director of the MetroWest Economic Research Center (MERC).
research recommendation.” Brinkman was also recognized for “Excellence in Service.” Porter-Utley said that through grant applications he has brought hundreds of thousands of dollars to the University’s Center for Digital Humanities, and he works as a leader in this relatively new field. Brinkman said higher education is positioned to respond to AI and how it’s growing. He said he is motivated by “the conviction that in our calls for career readiness, the humanities should not only be considered at FSU and across higher education as a whole, but must be at the core of what we do.” He talked about the five C’s for success - curiosity, courage, creativity, compassion, and communication - and gave a speech that incorporated C-word alliteration throughout to solidify the point. He said professors must make sure the students are able to connect what they learn in the classroom to the careers that are being reconfigured in the new AI landscape. Obaid was recognized for “Excellence in Scholarship/ Creative Work.” Porter-Utley said Obaid has maintained a substantial record of publications and scholarly leadership since joining the University. Obaid said she works in two
@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com
the Motherscholar Collective, a group that focuses on their academic and parental experiences as well as anti-racist teaching and climate change, she said. The organization plans to publish a book called “A Framework for Redefining Academic Life,” which focuses on “redefining knowledge and research methodology,” Obaid said. Johnston was recognized for the visiting lecturer award in “Excellence in Part-time Teaching.” Porter-Utley said Johnston’s leadership in the RAMs program, support of first-generation students, and dedication to helping students achieve their goals are remarkable. Johnston considers the start of her teaching career to be in her childhood, when her family took “field trips” and did research projects instead of traditional vacations. “Somewhere along the way, I figured out that I liked doing science, and I liked helping other people learn to do science even more,” Johnston said. Her philosophy as an educator is driven by that same idea, she added. She has spent the last eight years mentoring and advising, she said. She views this award as a recognition of her commitment to the University and to her students. Different students need different types of motivation, she
for the visiting lecturer award in “Excellence in Teaching in Continuing Education.” Porter-Utley said Hartman has been the foundation for the interdisciplinary studies program, particularly through his capstone course. Hartman said this award is about the students and what they have achieved. After teaching at the University for a while and working at public libraries for a few years, he was asked to teach a capstone seminar course in interdisciplinary studies, he said. He shared a few stories of students who had attended class in the past, had to leave because life got too difficult to continue education, and then eventually returned to finish their degree. He said he sees the determination in students who are struggling but continue to progress through their courses. “I see that they want to be here, and I talk to them about that in class all the time - that if they weren’t invested in their own education, they wouldn’t be here,” Hartman said. [ Editor’s Note: Desmond McCarthy is an Advisor, Elizabeth Banks is an Assistant Advisor, and Dylan Pichnarick is Editor-in-Chief for The Gatepost. ] CONNECT WITH FRANCISCO OMAR FERNANDEZ RODRIGUEZ
ffernandezrodriguez@student.framingham.edu
ARTS & FEATURES
Tales
Continued from Page 1
The area they would settle would come to bear the name Salem End. Parr said the reason the families chose the land that would become Framingham is unclear. However, as it was owned by Magistrate Thomas Danforth, there is a possibility, not a proven fact, that Danforth supported their efforts to escape Salem Danforth himself was a deputy governor and magistrate involved in the early witch trials, but he later became a critic. Unfortunately, for Clayes’ sisters, they would never make it to safety in Framingham, because they were hanged in Salem. “The only thing they can think of is the Thomas Danforth connection,” Parr said in an interview with The Gatepost. “You can’t prove it. I mean, he didn’t write down, ‘Sorry, I almost killed you. So here, have some land in my farms.’” During each of the women’s trials, claims of witchcraft would be publicly aired and acted upon. Parr writes that as Nurse was being questioned by Magistrate John Hathorne, members of the community announced that they had begun seizing since she entered the meeting house. Another said they saw a dark spirit - interpreted as the devil - whispering in her ear. For Clayes, she was accused
of appearing in spectral form, choking a man, and insisting he sign his soul away. Her innocence held until another community member came forward, insisting she was a “deacon” at a witch ceremony. The house built by Peter and Sarah Clayes still stands on Salem End Road. While Sarah escaped, tragedy would one day befall the Clayes family, now residing in Framingham. The great-grandson of Sarah, John Clayes, would die in a shocking way in 1777. On an overcast day, while helping purchase a horse on his Salem End farm, Clayes was struck by lightning. This tragedy would take the lives of Clayes, the other attendees, and the horse, according to Parr. Lydia Learned, a Framingham schoolteacher, later promoted the idea that God struck down the men for conducting business on the Sabbath, Parr said. Was Clayes’ death an act of God, a family curse, or just coincidence? The world may never know, but his legend will live on. Legends often come from the spoken word, and over time, details change, Parr said. Clayes was actually killed on a Tuesday. For Parr, legends like the Clayes’ are stories passed down for various reasons. He said. “Sometimes, they try to explain happenings that
they don’t understand.” Parr added every town has legends, often derived from very rational instances. Even places can inspire legend. It has been written about in early town historical guides that buried treasure belonging to the infamous Captain Kidd randomly appears on the shore of Farm Pond, only to disappear when approached. A later account written by Rev. Josiah Temple states that the treasure can be found at Learned’s Pond. His account describes a midnight ritual that will break the curse and release the treasure, according to Parr’s book. Writers have also drawn on these stories as inspiration for their own work, Including “Kidd’s Chest of Gold: A legend of Learned’s Pond,” written by Clara Agusta Trask. Trask writes, “By Learned’s Pond, tradition says, in years long gone before, The Captain Kidd who ‘sailed and sailed’ the high seas ‘er and ‘er-Who robbed and plundered all mankind, and never mercy shere, With black flag nailed against the mast, above a pirate crew, Sought out this lake, and sank within its waters calm and cold, And placed thereon the pirate’s ‘charm,’ a chest of yellow gold!” The Captain Kidd tale shows how a legend can take on new life in each retelling. Local accounts placed the pirate’s treasure at different ponds, and Clara Augusta Trask
Mariah Carey delcares... IT’S TIME! By Louie Ranieri Staff Writer Queen of Christmas Mariah Carey will declare the arrival of the Christmas season on Nov. 1 at midnight, as she has been doing for the past seven years. Mariah Carey started this cherished holiday tradition in 2019. Originally, it was just a cute video that she made because people online joked about how immediately after Halloween, Mariah would “start” Christmas and have her song “All I Want For Christmas Is You” start to climb the charts. She saw this as a promotional opportunity and ran with it, going from an edited smartphone recording to a full-blown production team behind cameras to record this iconic commencement of the holiday season. All Mariah needs to do is sing her iconic line “It’s Tiiiime.” With two words and a whistle note, Mariah Carey begins the holiday season. Last year, she partnered with Sephora and the year prior, she partnered with KAY Jewelers. This just shows the smart business side of Mariah, displaying more than her sparkling outfits and iconic high notes. Without these partnerships, it’s known that Mariah Carey makes anywhere from $2.5 million to $3 million annually just from music royalties of “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” The success of this song is truly incomparable. It has been certified 18-times platinum as well as achieved RIAA Diamond status for over 10 million
units sold and streamed. Additionally, it also reached 20 total weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, breaking the all-time record. Topping that (if it’s even possible), it has topped charts in 26 countries and surpassed 2 billion streams on Spotify. Mariah released “All I Want for Christmas Is You” in 1994 on her album “Merry Christmas.” However, the song didn’t reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 until December 2019, 25 years after its original release. Most pop songs are heavily associated with the period when they were released, but Mariah’s song has continued to attract listeners decades later. Despite the song everyone knows, Mariah has a plethora of amazing Christmas songs
Marcus Falcão / THE GATEPOST
OCTOBER 30, 2026 | 11
later made the story the subject of a poem. Parr said that is how local lore endures: “People sit around, you know, the fire and tell stories, and then they get passed on.” For students walking Salem End Road today, the neighborhood’s history is not just a tale of witches or buried treasure, but a reminder of how stories shape a place over time. Even today, legends continue to develop around the city. Parr described how a ghost story he’d invented for a tour showed up online as if it were established local lore. “I made it up. I totally made it up, and turned into a ghost story, saying that if you go down Grove Street here, you’ll see … a ghostly carriage trying to get into the gates.” He later found the story on a genealogy site. “It had my script that I had written, my story that I made up, written there as like a legend that had been around for years and years.”
CONNECT WITH DYLAN PICHNARCIK
dpichnarcik@student.framingham.edu
stated in the song. Mariah also released a soundtrack album from her Apple TV+ Special, titled “Mariah Carey’s Magical Christmas Special.” It is a medley of her greatest Christmas songs recorded for the TV special, and the arrangements within this soundtrack are truly superior. She has legendary collabs with Ariana Grande, Jennifer Hudson, Snoop Dogg, and Jermaine Dupri on this album. It is such a festive yet divacoated album, combining classic Mariah Carey Christmas songs with more of a modern take by bringing in these other household names. Ariana Grande and Jennifer Hudson’s collaboration with Mariah Carey has become a popular holiday track. They came together to deliver a mesmerizing performance of “Oh Santa!” on the TV Special that later had great success on the album. As Mariah Carey declares the start of the Christmas season and the holidays rapidly approach, I highly recommend listening to these songs whenever you feel ready to get into the Christmas spirit! I will be trying my hardest to make it past Thanksgiving without listening to the angelic holiday sounds of the one and onl Mariah Carey.
including more Christmas albums than just “Merry Christmas.” She also has an album titled “Merry Christmas II You,” (released in 2010) which I personally adore. My favorite from “Merry Christmas” is “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing / Gloria (In Excelsis Deo).” It is so beautiful and stupendously arranged, exceeding the average angelicness of any Christmas song. From “Merry Christmas II You,” my favorite has to be “When Christmas Comes.” The message is exquisite. It’s about unity and making the world a better place during Christmas time, sharing the idea that “The CONNECT WITH LOUIE RANIERI gift of love will last forever” as lranieri@student.framingham.edu
FRAMINGHAM STATE UNIVERSITY'S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1932 | FSUGATEPOST.COM
ARTS & FEATURES
12 | OCTOBER 30, 2026
SPOOKY SUGGESTIONS ‘The Descent’ By Cole Johnson Copy Editor
they can barely turn their heads is enough to put viewers on edge. Add another enI don’t like jumpscares. tity to the equation, and the It’s not because they’re terror quickly compounds. particularly frightening or Unlike movies that artlessly unpleasant. I think it’s just a throw a spotlight on an othreally lame device to instill erwise pitch-black scene, the fear that ends up being more lighting in the cave systems distracting than engaging. If is as clever and atmospheric you set off a bomb in my face as it is unnerving. Scenes are while I’m trying to follow a pretty much exclusively made story, it doesn’t prove much visible by the flashlights and beyond how little you respect flares of the cavers, further my attention span. depriving the senses. That said, there is a movThis limited visibility only ie whose usage of the tech- heightens the dread of what nique I enjoy. “The Descent,” the shadows hold. The sufforeleased in 2005, is one of cating experience beams itdisappointingly few horror self from the screen directly movies to use the technique into your brain, and it turns effectively - for the terrifying the first reveal of the antagorelease of deliberately built nist into one of the best shots tension. in horror history. The movie follows a group Don’t watch the sequel. It’s of girlfriends on a cave-div- not canon. ing expedition after the protagonist, Sarah Carter, loses her husband and child in a car crash. Unbeknownst to all but one member of the group, this cave system is uncharted, and the women quickly find themselves lost in an underground maze - but not alone. For most people, the idea of spelunking is its own horCole Johnson / THE GATEPOST ror experience. Seeing the characters squeeze themselves through cramped un- CONNECT WITH derground passages in which COLE JOHNSON
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‘Alien’ By Jesse Burchill Staff Writer
scenes with it more frightening, and those without it are all the more tense for it. This 1979 sci-fi classic, diSigourney Weaver as Elrected by Ridley Scott, focuses len Ripley remains one of the on the crew of the commercial greatest leads in the genre. towing vessel Nostromo as She’s initially a supporting they investigate a bizarre sig- character in the ensemble nal on a planet in the middle cast, but steps up as leader of nowhere. However, once as her crewmates are killed. they make contact with an ex- Even then, she never feels intraterrestrial lifeform, things vincible, and that makes the turn sharply downhill as the character even more compelalien begins hunting down ling. the crew aboard the ship. With engaging character The Nostromo’s crew all feel dynamics, a persistent sense like real coworkers, friends, of dread, and Oscar-winning and employees of a space- visuals from the first frame, based corporation - there’s a “Alien” cements itself as a sense of camaraderie between landmark in the history of the crew from their first scene sci-fi horror. together, and their conversations and arguments always feel natural, even in the sci-fi setting. The scenes of them working to stop the alien once it stows away are just as riveting as the actual scenes with the alien as things get worse, and their growing despair and conflict over how to proceed is palpable. The Xenomorph in this movie doesn’t have all that much screentime in comparison to those in the sequels, appearing the most in the last 30 minutes, but that’s all it needs to build itself up as a nigh-unstoppable predator. CONNECT WITH JESSE BURCHILL Its lack of presence makes the jcelardo@student.framingham.edu
‘Scream’
‘Donnie Darko’ By Dan Lima Staff Writer
It’s that time again. Everybody’s got their Halloween movie night plans ready to go. Some folks will want to play the good old ’80s slashers while others might want to rewatch the monster classics of the 1930s. Maybe this time, we could go for something modern instead (I mean, it’s from 2001 - that counts as modern. Right? Right??). On the occasion of its 25th anniversary this week, I would like to revisit a movie many people still have in their minds, “Donnie Darko.” This psychological thriller is remembered for many reasons. Some remember it for its unique ideas and themes, others remember it for being campy and weird, others remember it just for Gary Jules’s rendition of “Mad World” by Tears For Fears, and others remember it for that super-creepy costume. Set in October 1988, the movie follows Jake Gyllenhaal as the titular character: a sleepwalking, schizophrenic teenager plagued by visions of a macabre figure in a rabbit costume named Frank and his prophecy of the world ending
in 28 days, 6 hours, 42 minutes, and 12 seconds. Under Frank’s influence, Darko sets out to commit acts of vandalism, including flooding and arson. Throughout the movie, more bizarre occurrences happen in his life involving a jet engine, an elderly lady, and time travel. While big names like Drew Barrymore or Patrick Swayze show up on-screen, the film still maintains an indie-horror quality that is unique for its time. Despite its long development and poor box office showing, it has garnered a devoted fanbase throughout the years. It may not fit the criteria entirely, but it still has the same charm of any other horror film. Whether you prefer the theatrical cut or the director’s cut, “Donnie Darko” remains a top-notch viewing for Halloween.
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By Ollie Mainguy Staff Writer “Scream,” directed by Wes Craven, came out in 1996 and quickly became a horror classic. A movie that has wormed its way into the hearts of many is the perfect movie to put on while the leaves fall and your favorite spooky holiday rolls around. What could have been easily made into a parody, a horror movie making fun of horror movies is now a cult classic loved by fans all around the world. Ghostface, the main antagonist, can be easily recognized in pop culture and is a popular costume year after year. In my opinion, “Scream” is the perfect introduction to horror, because while it makes fun of itself in certain aspects, it’s still a slasher at heart. If you’re scared of watching horror movies, I’d recommend “Scream” 9 times out of 10. It can easily become a favorite when you look beyond the blood and gore - it’s only corn syrup, after all. “What’s your favorite scary movie?” This quote is the most well known from the franchise, still an iconic line even today in my opinion.
Well, my favorite scary movie is “Scream,” and my hope is that it becomes a gateway to watching all other sorts of horror movies this Halloween season. The franchise itself could be better, but there are so many horror movies to explore, and “Scream” could be the start of that journey.
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ARTS & FEATURES
‘The Conjuring’ By Louie Ranieri Staff Writer
the lecture. The director James Wan, (who Mrs. Warren had worked closely with to perfect some details) wanted this to honor her and pay tribute to her during her own life story instead of only being there to help guide the cast. I think this is a smart and fabulous way to pay tribute to her. It also gives the audience an Easter egg to look for in the film! It is definitely one of my all-time favorite movies! I highly suggest watching the movie, and if you’re as invested as I am, do some research and read books on the truth behind the house we all know as The Conjuring House!
“The Conjuring,” released in 2013, is a must watch for this time of year. This movie, along with the other movies in the Conjuring universe, are true stories based off of the investigations of Ed and Lorraine Warren. This is the first movie to start the Conjuring series, with the famous movie “Annabelle” to be released a year later in 2014. The movie focuses on the experiences of the Perron family as they move into a farmhouse in Harrisville, Rhode Island. With five daughters, Roger and Carolyn Perron move in, and quickly learn about the house’s disturbing history, not knowing what waits for them inside. All of the clocks in the home stop each morning at exactly 3:07 a.m. Later in the movie, Ed and Lorraine come in and uncover the significance of that time along with many other unusual things that happen throughout the movie. Grace Doyle / THE GATEPOST A fun fact about this movie is that while recording the scene where Ed and Lorraine Warren lecture at a college in North Carolina, the real Lorraine Warren, who was 85 at the time, made a quick CONNECT WITH LOUIE RANIERI cameo in the front row of lranieri@student.framingham.edu
‘Misery’ By Dylan Pichnarcik Editor-in-Chief There’s nothing better than reading a spooky novel during Halloween. This All Hallows’ Eve, curl up with “Misery” by Stephen King, a psychological thriller that will make you question ever driving alone through the woods. King’s story follows a prolific romance writer, Paul Sheldon, who in the process of wrecking his car during a snowstorm, is taken in by a local nurse, Annie Wilkes. Although Wilkes is a nurse, she’s anything but a caretaker, trapping Sheldon in her home and keeping him ill, proclaiming she loves him and is his number one fan. This novel will grab you and refuse to let you go until the very end. The world of “Misery” is slow yet terrifying, causing readers to question what tricks Wilkes has up her sleeve. “Misery” was later adapted into a film starring Kathy Bates and James Caan, and frankly, it’s not that good. Read the book and join the “movie hate club.” While this isn’t King’s
most fast-paced novel, the eerie energy surrounding Wilkes’ cabin will send a chill down any reader’s spine. Your skin will crawl once you learn what hobbling is … but you’ll have to read it and find out!
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OCTOBER 30, 2026 | 13
‘IT’ By Cooper Davis Staff Writer
characters, their experiences growing up, and their efforts to confront their fears make By Audrey Rice the movie about more than Staff Writer just a terrifying clown. These elements help balance the “IT” is the perfect mov- frightening scenes with moie choice for horror fanatics ments that viewers can conas well as people looking for nect with. a good spook! Based on the Overall, “IT” is a well-made award-winning novel by Ste- film that offers something phen King, the 2017 version for both longtime horror fans of “IT” is an exceptional mov- and those who are new to the ie for the spooky season, com- genre. Its combination of susbining terrifying horror with a pense, friendship, and comtouch of ’80s nostalgia. ing-of-age storytelling makes If you’re looking for a not- it more than just another so-scary movie and are not scary movie. too afraid of clowns, look no Whether you’re a horror fafurther! As someone who natic or someone who usually does not like scary movies, avoids the genre, “IT” might it was the perfect balance of be the perfect movie to watch good storytelling and the oc- this Halloween, especially casional jumpscare. with a large group of friends! At its core, “IT” follows a But if you think you might classic coming-of-age sto- get nightmares, make sure to ryline, blending friendship watch “It’s the Great Pumpand childhood struggles with kin, Charlie Brown” before elements of gore and su- you fall asleep! pernatural horror. The story centers on Bill Denbrough, a young boy determined to uncover the mystery behind the disappearance of his younger brother, Georgie. As Bill investigates, he joins forces with a group of friends who help him face the frightenTobias Cotton-Selman / ing events unfolding in their THE GATEPOST town. This movie dives into many CONNECT WITH COOPER DAVIS themes, some dark and some cdavis@student.framingham.edu light, which gives the movie much more depth. The CONNECT WITH AUDREY RICE friendships between the main arice@student.framingham.edu
‘Scariest House in America’ Season 3 By Francisco Omar Fernandez Rodriguez Associate Editor
region, but in this season she does four, totaling 20 houses. These houses are full of ghost stories and deadly histories, from creepy dolls and horror stories to unexplained footprints and mysterious noises. Sometimes the houses are literally in graveyards or used to be the town jail, with cells in the basement. Plus, this season she also goes on a tour in what’s known as the “Scariest Hotel in America,” as a side stop. If you’re not into horror but still want a Halloween-themed fun show to watch, “Scariest House in America” is a great and still kind of terrifying pick.
House renovation shows have always been a staple in my household. My mom likes having them on in the background as she reads a book. Naturally, I ended up watching and liking them too. But there’s one that keeps me both gasping from the fear and laughing from the absurdity of the buildings shown. “Scariest House in America” is a spinoff series featuring Retta, the same host as “Ugliest House in America,” on HGTV. The two shows follow a similar structure. Retta travels across the United States and tours ugly or scary houses. Each episode is based on one region and ends with one house in the region winning. The final episode is always the actual renovation. One final house is chosen as the ugliest, or in our case scariest, house in America. Then it Tobias Cotton-Selman / gets a complete makeover by THE GATEPOST HGTV designer Alison Victoria. The first two seasons of scary houses were already fun to watch, and the latest season continues this. The main CONNECT WITH FRANCISCO difference is that normally OMAR FERNANDEZ RODRIGUEZ ffernandezrodriguez@student. Retta tours three homes per framingham.edu
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14 | OCTOBER 30, 2026
For your next anniversary, make a scene By Nathan Piette Staff Writer This summer, I was Hercules and my girlfriend, Tara, was supposed to be my Greek Muse. We were cast to perform together in a summer camp production, but her health issues held her in the hospital instead. The show went on, but our chance to share the stage did not. For our three-year anniversary, we finally got to experience a show together. Our first time enjoying the theatre as a couple was last week at the Friday-night showing of “Operation Mincemeat” at Boston’s historic Emerson Colonial Theatre. By the end of the night, I had cried in the front row and become the subject of intense Third Reich flashlight scrutiny. Romance takes many forms. We arrived Friday night at the theatre across from Boston Common and found ourselves surrounded by chandeliers, mosaics, ornamental woodwork, and heavenly scenes across ceilings. We had never experienced such an ornate theatre, nor had we sat so close to the stage. We were front row, dead center. There would be no hiding our reactions. Before the show and during intermission, we were seated in the Diamond Lounge. Guests there received a group escort to their seats, but were the only ones who also had front row seats. They sent someone
separate to escort us. Wow. For one evening, we could pretend we were important enough to require supervision. For the walk back to the train, we could’ve used a hand as well, but with this being a dry campus, we’ll let that story lie. The secret door leading to a separate Diamond Bathroom, which let us skip that mile-long line, deserves a few rounds of applause for itself. Still, even the nicest bathroom can’t carry a musical. Fortunately, “Operation Mincemeat” carries its impressive weight on the backs of five incredibly strong cast members. The show follows a British intelligence operation during World War II that used a corpse with a fabricated identity to deceive the Nazis about Allied invasion plans. Somehow, this becomes excellent material for a musical comedy. Directed by Robert Hastie, the production makes an entire world out of five performers, rapid character changes, and surprisingly effective staging. Mariah Copeland, Katie Kleiger, Luke Antony Neville, Erin Ramirez, and Jake Bentley Young move among characters with an energy that makes the small cast feel much larger. Watching them keep the story moving is part of the entertainment. The production made excellent use of lighting, posture, and costume changes in such a high-paced environment. An
elaborate set wasn’t needed to accomplish these nuanced and hilarious scenes. That speed makes the quieter moments especially powerful. My favorite moment was Neville’s performance of “Dear Bill.” As Hester Leggatt, he delivers a song whose emotional force comes from its tenderness. The song is a story built around manufacturing a convincing identity for a dead man, and every line was delivered as if the character was recalling a real love letter she sent to a real lover lost to a war. We sat directly in front of him and cried with faces already warm from tears of joy, and now chilled from compassion. I imagine they saw us, and kept us in mind for the opening scene of the second act. The audience returned to a blacked-out theatre. Five flashlights began sweeping across us. Then, just 10 feet from me, every beam stopped directly on my face. I responded with the dignity the situation required - sipping my drink, pinky extended, and waving to my new friends. They held that moment. I kept waving. The audience laughed louder and louder for nearly a whole minute, which is a long time to maintain diplomatic relations with five suspecting flashlights. The play goes on through its farce and flash tactics until it ends in a bang that you should
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really see for yourself. After a summer when the performance we planned to share became impossible, there was something wonderful and healing about enjoying a show that uses laughter to heal such a tragic time in human history. Tara and I didn’t go the distance on our stage, but these MI5 did, and in the long run, so will we.
Rating: A+ ‘Operation Mincemeat’ chopped up five fabulous actors and a corpse into comedy and heartbreak.
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PETS OF THE WEEK - POTLUCK & GUNTHER POTLUCK BREED: ‘LUCKY’ BLACK CAT GUNTHER BREED: GREAT PYRENEES OWNER: NATHAN PIETTE,
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FUN FACT: NATHAN ADOPTED POTLUCK AFTER HIS OWN-
ER, ONE OF HIS FAMILY’S BEST FRIENDS, WENT TO JAIL FOR MURDER.
YOUR PET COULD BE THE NEXT PET OF THE WEEK! SUBMIT YOUR PET’S PHOTO TO SDAPONDE@STUDENT.FRAMINGHAM.EDU
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ARTS & FEATURES
OCTOBER 30, 2026 | 15
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