Frights, camera, action!
Graduation rate continues to fall amidst retention efforts
By Cole Johnson Staff Writer
Despite achieving retention rates on par with pre-pandemic levels, graduation rates at Framingham State have declined.
Framingham State’s first- to second-year retention rate for Fall 2025 was 74%, according to data from the Office of Institutional Research. This surpassed Fall 2024 by 3% and equaled the retention rate of Fall 2019, just before the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Massachusetts Department of Higher Education (DHE) most recently listed the average state university retention rate at 75% for 2023.
However, the most recent 2018 cohort’s graduation rate was 48%, based on a report from the Office of Institutional Research. The 2017 cohort’s graduation rate was 50%.
The most recent statewide graduation rate from the DHE’s
2017 cohort data was 56%.
Graduation rates show the percentage of first-time, fulltime students who complete a degree in six years or less. Cohorts are named for the fall semester in which the students begin their first year.
Lorretta Holloway, vice president of Student Success, said there doesn’t appear to be a correlation between higher retention rates and graduation rates at Framingham State.
“We’ve worked very hard to raise our retention rate … but it’s not manifesting in our graduation rates,” she said.
Holloway said she doesn’t expect retention rates to continue rising at the same pace. She added a major long-term goal of President Nancy Niemi for the University is 80% retention and persistence.
She said, “You have to be aspirational. Some of these things will probably not happen until
after I retire, and there’ll be certain things that, even if we start [now], it will take some momentum to build.”
Holloway identified the second-largest demographic of non-returning students as those leaving in their second year.
Holloway said the Fall 2022 and 2023 cohorts had retention rates of 71% and 72%, respectively, but had second- to thirdyear persistence rates of 56% and 57%, respectively.
“What you see overall in the research about second-year students is they don’t necessarily feel supported the way they were when they first came in. There’s a lack of purpose,” she said.
Holloway said compared to the new excitement of being a freshman or the specialized courses and internships offered to upperclassmen, the experience of a second-year student
Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST
(Right) Fashion Club President Aili Schiavoni, dressed as Spectra Vondergeist from “Monster High,” taking photos of Janae Johnson and Zora Nazzire, dressed as Mario and Luigi at the Fashion Club Halloween Party on Oct. 29.
(Center) Cathryn Cooney
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Gatepost Interview Maria Bolletino
Chair of the History Department and Director of CELTSS
By Bella Grimaldi News Editor
What is your academic and professional background?
I studied history as an undergraduate at Brown University. After graduation, I went to New Orleans, and I taught high school for two years at a public high school through the Teach for America program. And then I went to graduate school at the University of Texas at Austin, where I studied history but really focused on colonial American history and the history of race and slavery in the Atlantic world.
What drew you to Framingham State?
I really appreciate the mission of Framingham State and the people who are here enacting it. So I knew [what] I wanted because I was working through Teach for America in a public school. That was what I liked about that - what I liked about Teach for America at the time. Teach for America has some issues as an organization, so I’m not going to be a cheerleader for it. … What compelled me to be a part of it was my conviction that all people should have access to an excellent education, a free and accessible, excellent education, and Framingham State allows me to enact that conviction, that mission, at the higher-education level. And that is what drew me to it, and I knew I wanted my colleagues to be people who shared that mission, and I have found that to be the case. It was a good choice. It was my job out of graduate school, and this is my 16th year. I always forget, but I’ve been here a long time.
What led you to teaching history?
I have a passion for history. I believe everyone should have a passion for history. What I love about history is it decenters me, and it denaturalizes things that we take to be natural or given. So it provides a sense of perspective on the present by giving us a sense of what came before that shaped what we are experiencing today. But it also helps us to see that the way we are living now is not the only way we can live, that other people have lived in radically different ways. … There are some things that are kind of universal, like the impulse to love and the impulse to exploit - I’m very sorry to say as a historian of slavery.
Correction
But people have enacted those things in really different ways. It can be off-putting for some, but for me it’s enlivening, because it gives us a sense that we could remake the world. It’s up to us, in fact, to remake the world - that’s our job. And I think history provides, first of all, the sense that we can do that, because things have not always been the way they are now. They don’t have to be the way they are now. … I think that’s what’s fascinating to think about. Plus, I just think human beings are fascinating. They’re incredibly complex and contradictory and interesting. History is the study of complex and contradictory and interesting human beings.
What are your hobbies or something students wouldn’t expect about you?
I love to travel. This is one of the things I always tell my students - I try to push everyone to study abroad. We at Framingham State have done a really great job making study abroad accessible to students - all students. Just like why I wanted to become a historian, I love to see different people and how they’re living in the world. I also really love to eat a really wide variety of foods. So I like to go where I can do that. … I’m also a runner. I love to run in new places in the world, to explore them. And I run for a long time, like miles and miles, to explore new places. I also just like to walk all day long. I have maxed 21 miles in a day to just wander new places. That is my favorite thing
to do in life. I also have two kids, and I love to hang out with them. My kids are fabulous human beings, and they are a joy to me.
What advice do you have for students at Framingham State?
I’m going to try to say something people don’t normally say, because I’ve read a lot of these [interviews]. I’m going to sayread books. More and more people are not taking the time to read books, but I really and firmly believe in the power of literature and history to open up the world to people in a deep and transporting way. You have to retrain your brain to do it, because frankly, it’s not easy to read, and we have trained our brains to scan because we read mostly on screens. It takes time, and it takes effort, and it takes attention, and all of those are in short supply, especially for students. I understand that because you’re working jobs, you have family responsibilities, and you have activities you’re doing. There’s not a lot of time in your lives, and I totally and utterly understand and respect those boundaries and those limitations. But there is an unparalleled pleasure that comes from losing yourself in the world that a book creates. It’s deep, and I don’t think it can be gotten elsewhere. I’m passionate about it, and I want other people to lose themselves in books, too.
CONNECT WITH BELLA GRIMALDI igrimaldi@student.framingham.edu
In an article published in the Oct. 24 issue of The Gatepost, “SGA discusses club constitution concerns” a student name was misspelled. The article read, Julia Pinheiro, this is incorrect. The correct spelling is Jullia Pinheiro. We apologize for this error.
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Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST
State cuts University mental health grant from budget
By Dylan Pichnarcik Associate Editor
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts did not renew the State Behavioral and Mental Health grant given to the University by the Department of Higher Education (DHE) during the last two fiscal years, according to Glenn Cochran, assistant vice president of Student Affairs
The University received approximately $280,000 each of the two fiscal years, Cochran said.
Cochran said he, along with Vice President of Student Affairs Meg Nowak Borrego, Counseling Center Director Benjamin Day, and a representative from the University’s Grant Office, applied for the grant in past years.
This year, the University was not given the opportunity to reapply for the grant as it was cut from the Commonwealth’s budget, according to Cochran.
Niemi said while “the state has been generous in many ways with higher education,” the reason for the budget cut is “inexplicable,” but she said she believes it may be because of federal actions.
Niemi said it’s “hard to understand them because we’re talking about students’ mental health and well-being.”
According to Niemi, the University will use funds from the $1.3 million Supporting Urgent Community College Equity through Student Services (SUCCESS) grant awarded to FSU in December of 2024 to fund the projects started with the mental health grant moving forward.
Day said losing the funds was unfortunate but not unexpected because state budgets are subject to change year-by-year.
“Certainly, the Counseling Center [has] never … relied on extra monies to be able to meet the challenges on the University campus,” he said.
Day said a person would find it difficult to find “a group of therapists as well trained and as willing to work with the student and meet them where they are.
“The fact that it’s here, it’s free, it’s unlimited, and that a student can literally start on day one of the first year they’re here, until they graduate, and they graduate from a graduate program, and they can still be seen by someone is something that tests - that certifies - that the University believes mental health is paramount on campus, and that mental health counseling is a key component of that,” Day said.
He added, “Money doesn’t make the program - the therapists make the program. And we have the best therapists
anywhere.”
Most of the allocated funds from the grant went toward education for campus leaders regarding mental health support and first aid, including Residence Life staff, SEALS peer health educators (SEALS), orientation leaders and staff members across campus, according to Cochran.
He said the training included Question, Persuade, Refer practices, a method used for suicide prevention for Residence Life staff members and SEALS.
Additionally, the funds were used to create a new department within the Counseling, Health and Wellness Center, focused on wellness education, substance abuse, and suicide prevention, according to Pam Lehmberg, director of the Wellness Center.
“The Well” occupies two floors of Foster Hall Annex and is used as an event space for SEALS as well as an office space for two new staff members within the department, according to Lehmberg.
Funds from the grant also went toward updating Foster Hall Annex to be an office and event space. Previously, it housed an apartment available to faculty and staff, Lehmberg said.
Kim Charneski, who previously worked in the Counseling Center, now serves as the well-being coordinator for the Wellness Center and Karen Alfaro, a new hire, serves as a prevention coordinator.
Funds from the grant were also used to purchase a subscription to Togetherall - a peer-to-peer anonymous mental health resource website, according to Lehmberg.
“Certainly, we always want to promote counseling in our Health Center, but there are some students who don’t want to go to counseling. They would prefer an anonymous online platform where they can figure out the community that is going to help them get their resources met,” Lehmberg said.
She added the platform allows students to make an appointment with the on-campus Counseling Center should they choose, “but you could also do self assessments or well-being challenges or talk with people who have the same issue that you have right now.”
Lehmberg said the University is trying out Togetherall this year.
According to its website, Togetherall is a “peer-to-peer mental health support community which is available online, 24/7, and is completely anonymous so you can express yourself freely and openly. Licensed and registered mental
Saturday, Nov. 1 Sunny, with a high near 55.
Tuesday, Nov. 4 Mostly sunny, with a high near 56. Wind guests as high as 24 mph.
health practitioners, called Wall Guides, monitor the community to ensure the safety and anonymity of all members.”
According to Cochran, the University received money from the Commonwealth late in the fiscal year and used the funds to reimburse departments on campus.
“There are some things we did as direct expenditures and some things we reclassified, expenditures from other departments that qualified. … We got the money late. They told us … ‘If you’ve already spent money on things going back to July 1, that qualifies. You can reimburse yourself to those,’” Cochran said.
Along with training members of the Residence Life staff, the resident rejuvenation roomslocated in each residence hall, were funded through the grant in previous years, according to Stephanie Crane, director of Residence Life.
Each residence hall has a designated room which holds a full-body massage chair, daylight lamps, puzzles, and games which residents can utilize at any point, according to Crane.
Students can sign out the key to the room from the student desk attendant at the front entrance of each building.
Senior Lauren Martinek said they believe the Counseling, Health and Wellness Center has a “great program.”
They added providing resources related to substance abuse prevention is important because substance abuse is “going to be everywhere. People need to know how to either prevent substance abuse or at least do it safely.”
Senior Willmani Castillo said he has had positive experiences visiting the Counseling, Health and Wellness Center.
Sunday, Nov. 2 Sunny with a high near 54.
Wednesday, Nov. 5 Sunny, with a high near 55. Wind gusts as high as 20 mph.
He said expanding the resources within the center is “a pretty good direction to go in.”
Junior Paige Rainville said they visit the Counseling Center weekly.
Rainville said they “love” that the Counseling, Health and Wellness Center is expanding its support systems for students.
Rainville said they are trained in mental health first aid and suicide prevention and she appreciates that other students are being trained as well.
Senior Lexi Carlucci said she believes the Counseling, Health and Wellness Center is “amazing.”
Freshman Isaac Solano said he believes providing substance abuse support is important because “people are going to be experimenting.”
Solano added having people on campus at the Counseling, Health and Wellness Center who can assist someone who is struggling with substance abuse is positive.
Sophomore Ana Julia Ribeiro said she has had past experiences with counseling and believes “if you take care of your mind … everything else will fall into place.
She said the Counseling Center brings her “great joy.”
Ribeiro added, “As students, we can support each other and we can do great things.”
CONNECT WITH DYLAN PICHNARCIK dpichnarcik@student.framingham.edu
Monday, Nov. 3 Mostly sunny, with a high near 59.
Thursday, Nov. 6
A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 55.
Courtesy of Pam Lehmberg
Graduation rate
The SUCCESS program was created in 2021 to invest in wraparound services for students facing systemic barriers in Massachusetts colleges.
According to Holloway, the University has since funded increased support for student retention and persistence.
Holloway said the University uses a program called Starfish to compile and analyze data regarding student retention, persistence, and graduation.
The University uses dashboards to monitor persistence, as well as an enhanced dashboard to monitor retention that updates weekly, according to Holloway.
“What we’re really trying to do with digging into the data is to be able to be much more intentional with support,” she said.
“We’re trying to use some of that information to better plan and think about not just why students leave, but [about] the structures that we’re putting in place to make it easier for them to stay,” she said.
Some of the University’s larger changes include an increased number of academic advisors and student success coaches.
Holloway said these would help more popular departments better manage student advising.
“[In] some of the departments that have a lot of majors, there are some advisors who, in addition to their full-time job, have 60 to 75 advisees,” she said.
According to Holloway, these advisors’ first-year students will be advised by staff at the Advising Center to give advisors more time to concentrate on upperclassmen with more complicated schedules.
Framingham State participates in a program called the National Institute for Student Success, according to Provost Kristen Porter-Utley.
The organization is run out of Georgia State University. Porter-Utley said, “Georgia State University is a national leader in the area of student success.
Porter-Utley said faculty are currently looking at revising curricula to appeal to more students. “Departments are working constantly on thinking about, ‘Does our major and does our program resonate with students now?’”
Nowak Borrego said the grant funding also allowed for the hire of an additional career counselor in Career Services.
“We’ve changed some of our models and career services to offer more career-based guidance in the classroom, as well as outside the classroom, which we think will benefit our students who are trying to figure out what [to] do with a philosophy degree or a degree that isn’t as direct a path as some of our more professional majors,” she said.
Holloway sees the expanded
freshmen.
“The biggest, consistent problem I see with first year to second year, or even first semester to second semester, is that the students just disappear from the class in one way or another,” she said.
“I’ve seen a tremendous dropoff in the last week and a half in terms of [engagement]. And I’m trying to reach out to those students and pull them in. This is true of all of the Comp I instructors,” Lynne said.
Lynne said expectations for students haven’t been the same since the pandemic.
She said, “Executive functioning is a problem. I mean, I asked my students the second week of classes, ‘How many of you have some kind of agenda or homework system for tracking what you’re supposed to
Lynne said. Overall, Holloway said, the challenges with retention and persistence are part of a wider trend among college students.
“What we’re increasingly seeing in the state universities, which community colleges have seen all the time, is just increasing levels of need,” Holloway said.
“It’s been becoming a bigger challenge for schools like ours to be able to provide that support,” she added.
Anna Flaherty, a sophomore, said she’s had no trouble keeping up with her courses. “All the professors are really helpful, and that’s what motivates metheir motivation motivates me.”
Roman Sisson, a transfer sophomore English major, said he feels supported here. “My trip from Michigan to here is one-way. I’m starting my life all over here.”
Juniors Kendall Winston and Miranda Allicon, both studio art majors, said the campus environment can be somewhat empty after classes.
“Departments are working constantly on thinking about, ‘Does our major and does our program resonate with students now?’”
- Kristen Porter-Utley Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs
They’ve created a template to collect information - [to] understand the current situation at their institution and at other institutions now.”
Based on data strategies provided by Georgia State, Framingham State is working on building its own models for student success in order to address patterns of struggle and encourage patterns of success.
Porter-Utley expects by the end of the Spring 2026 semester, Framingham State will have its own “playbook” of student success initiatives to work from.
initiatives and support structures as a way to address struggles with persistence.
“I think it’s especially important for the second-year students, because one of the things that second-year students, or sophomore students, say is they just don’t feel seen. They don’t feel like anybody notices them,” she said.
For first-year students, the main obstacle to retention is often attendance, said Dr. Patricia Lynne, a professor and firstyear writing coordinator who teaches composition courses for
do?’ Two hands out of 18 went up.”
Some Composition I courses require an additional writing studio. Lynne said the support system of the studios helps connect students with necessary resources to succeed.
“It’s intended to simultaneously teach them academic skills so that they will succeed here, but also get them connected to the campus community, both of which are problems. The more we can get students connected, the more they will stop feeling like they don’t belong here,”
“Academically, I like it [here], but socially, there is nothing to do here on the weekends. Everybody goes home,” Winston said.
Allicon said, “I commute, so after classes, I just go straight home because there’s nothing for me to do, or I don’t want to stay for it. I feel like there needs to be something more … to keep us more engaged.”
Haley Lupien, a junior English major, said she loves it here. “I make the effort to involve myself in the community, so if you put that effort out, you get that effort back in.”
Dylan Pichnarcik / THE GATEPOST
Gwen Schutt crosses the stage at the 2025 Commencement exercises
Framingham State reviving study-abroad initiatives
By Julien Fernandez Staff Writer
Fewer Framingham State University students are studying abroad than before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Joanne Farley, director of International Student Services and Study Abroad.
She said her office is undertaking initiatives to familiarize students with new study abroad opportunities.
On Sept. 24, Farley’s office held a study abroad fair to inform students about the options they can explore with the program.
Farley said this year’s fair was successful. The fair attracted 127 students, whereas in the past it would draw 80-100 students.
“We’re trying to get into classrooms. We’re trying to just be more visible and let students know that as long as you get the grade and you get the course approved, it’s going to transfer back, so you don’t have to worry about falling behind, and also that you are able to use your financial aid to study abroad,” Farley said.
Farley said she understands why fewer students are studying abroad since the pandemic.
“I get it, because it’s anxiety-inducing if you spent two years at home and all of a sudden, I’m asking you, ‘Hey! Go spend three months in Italy!’ That can be scary to people and I get that, but it can also be life-changing,” Farley said.
Junior Marlín Polanco, who works for the study abroad office and spent a semester at Harlaxton Manor in England, said, “There’s a lot of personal growth that happens when you study abroad. It really pushes your boundaries and your idea of what you can do. I found that after I came back, I kind of learned that I’m a lot more capable than I think I am.”
Farley said 95 students studied abroad for the 2018-2019 academic year, with 30 students participating that fall semester.
In Fall 2019, 25 students traveled abroad, Farley said.
In Spring 2020, 28 students went abroad but returned home because of the pandemic. There were no students travelling abroad that summer, Farley said.
“I think COVID did quite a lot to people’s wanderlust,” Farley said.
During the 2021 academic year, 31 students studied abroad, and 54 studied abroad in the 2022 academic year, Farley said.
She said 33 students studied abroad the 2023 academic year, and 32 students studied abroad the 2024 academic year.
Farley said four students are studying abroad this fall.
“We’re really hoping to get more students to realize studying abroad is an option,” she said.
Farley said Framingham State has direct partnerships with universities abroad, but is also in contact with study-abroad providers through the University Studies Abroad Consortium (USAC).
The providers offer studyabroad opportunities in multiple countries depending on what a student is looking for beyond FSU’s partnered colleges, Farley said.
“USAC has programs starting at $8,000 for a semester with
tuition, fees, and housing. So if you want to go on a budget, we can certainly get you places that are not as expensive, but you still get the full experience. You’re not missing out on anything when it’s not as expensive,” Farley said.
Farley said that in Fall 2026, the program is hoping to enroll a class of 25 students to study at Harlaxton Manor, located in Harlaxton, Lincolnshire County, England.
Harlaxton Manor is a Victorian manor owned by the University of Evansville, and functions as a study-abroad location for foreign students, according to the Harlaxton Manor website.
According to their website, the manor is host to one of England’s largest and most unique walled gardens, which was built in the 19th century.
Polanco said, “It was around the same that I would be paying for FSU since my financial aid was able to travel with me. I didn’t have to pay much out of pocket.”
Farley said students with a 3.0 GPA or who are in the Commonwealth Honors Program are eligible to go.
“If we get 25 students, it’s only going to be $13,000 for the whole semester. This covers tuition, housing in this beautiful manor, as well as meals. A lot of study-abroad programs don’t include the meals,” Farley said.
She added FSU English Professor Alexander (Sandy) Hartwiger will be teaching at Harlaxton Manor in Fall 2026.
Hartwiger said, “I was asked to be the first faculty representative for this program. FSU has not run this as a cohort model to Harlaxton Manor before, so we’re hoping to get upward of 25 students for next fall.”
Hartwiger said he was chosen because of his prior experience in international education, traveling with students to the Dominican Republic on a faculty-led trip, and teaching students at an international boarding school in India earlier in his
career.
He said he will be teaching Contemporary Global Literature and Introduction to Global Studies.
“The hope is this will be an ongoing program and that a lot of faculty will have the opportunity to participate in it. It’s just getting it off the ground in the first year,” Hartwiger said.
Hartwiger said he intends for his class to be experiential, taking students on field trips to London and the city of Leicester.
Hartwiger said studying abroad “absolutely empowers students to take advantage of opportunities and not feel like they’re too daunting or overwhelming, that they can handle new experiences.
“It’s transformative, and now is the perfect time to do it, because once you graduate, you take on responsibilities that are hard to let go of to say, ‘I’m going to go travel for an extended period of time.’ You might take trips or vacations, but to actually live abroad becomes a little bit difficult,” Hartwiger said.
Freshman and Environmental Science major Thomas Ryan-Sutton, who plans to study abroad in Greece, said, “My goal is to do it next semester, sophomore year in the spring. That’s when my two other siblings did it … and I think that it’s earlier on in my career for environmental science. It’s easier to transfer credits and get the classes I need and I think it’s better to do it when you’re younger.”
Sophomore Emma Schor, who works for the study abroad office, said she intends to study abroad in Italy during the summer of 2026.
She said participating in the study-abroad program is a great way to experience different cultures and meet new people. “You basically get to learn what a whole other world is like and it is just so cool and so interesting.”
Farley said another opportunity for students to go abroad
is through shorter, faculty-led trips. “They are usually tied to a credited course, but you also don’t have to take the course if you just want to travel.
“If you don’t want to go for a long time or if you don’t want to go alone, it’s a great experience to start traveling. Even if you don’t take the class, you are definitely going to be learning something because it is centered on whatever the professor’s specialty is,” Farley said.
English Department Chair Lisa Eck, who has led threeweek excursions to India, said, “What gave me the confidence to attempt a faculty-led trip was my own experience as a student.”
As a college student, Eck said she spent 11 weeks in Asia, where she visited Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and mainland China.
Eck said, “I think faculty-led trips are great for a variety of students. It is especially ideal for students who have some hesitation about going abroad.”
In January 2023, Eck led her most recent excursion to India.
Eck said she led a pre-trip curriculum to inform students of the history, culture, and language of India.
“Even if people join the cohort and don’t know anyone, they will know people even before they leave. We try to build group cohesion,” Eck said.
Eck added, “In my heart of hearts, I want FSU students to go abroad for a semester. … It really is confidence-boosting.”
Eck said faculty-led trips are more immersive. She travelled with students throughout northern India and they resided in a town named Kalimpong. “You see Everest from Kalimpong. It’s just like the roof of the world.”
Eck said they visited Darjeeling in the west, to Rishikesh, a Hindu holy city, which is where The Beatles wrote “The Beatles (The White Album),” and then finally Agra, home to the Taj Mahal.
Alexis Schlesinger / THE GATEPOST
(Left) Marlín Polanco and Emma Schor tabling at the Study Abroad Fair on Sept 24.
Study-abroad initiatives
Continued from page 5
Farley said faculty-led trips are conducted during winter, spring, and summer breaks, to avoid conflicting with class time.
Each year, trips are based on faculty interest and availability, Farley said.
Upcoming trips include the Business department travelling to Panama in the spring, and the Fashion department going to Hong Kong, Japan, and Vietnam in the summer, “and you don’t have to be a business student or fashion student to go,” Farley said.
Fashion Design Professor Virginia Noon said, “A trip such as this is a jam-packed 10 days on the ground experience.”
She said students will gain access to behind-the-scenes retail operations, participate in immersive workshops with local designers, and attend unique cultural events “such as the Japanese tea ceremony and Kimono experience.”
Noon said alongside her leading the trip is Fashion Design Professor Laura Kane. “Dr. Kane polled prospective students during Spring 2025 and determined that there was a keen interest in Japan.
“To be sure, we were offering a competitive price and value for the trip. We were required by the University business office to obtain competitive quotes from two additional companies. This was an important process that assured we could offer the best value and international travel experience to students,” Noon said.
Farley said this past summer, the Art, Design & Art History department took students to Peru and studied art, architecture, and archeology.
Art Professor Ellie Krakow conducted the trip with Art History Professor Yumi Park. Park proposed the excursion to their department and it was approved, Krakow said.
Krakow said they took a group of 18 FSU students plus three faculty members to Peru.
Park said the three faculty members were Professor Sandra Sanchez, Painting Instructor Carol O’Malia, and Administrative Assistant of the Art, Design & Art History department Helen Tretiak.
Krakow said, “This trip was deeply meaningful to me. I loved having the experience of supporting students to use their creativity to deeply understand the art and architecture of another culture, and to use creative practice as a vehicle to relate to another culture. It was inspiring to get to work closely with students in this immersive experience.
“I learned so much about each student, Peru, and myself as we learned about history and the way art and architecture relate to it and got a sense of the contemporary Peruvian society,” Krakow said.
She added, “Many parts of our travels showed how intimately the past and present are connected, intertwined and impact one another in Peru.”
Krakow said on their 10-day itinerary, they went to Lima, visiting museums of contemporary and ancient Peruvian art, and Urubamba, a launching point for all the sites in the Sacred Valley, and then Machu Picchu.
Senior Studio Art major Charlotte Johndrow, who went
on the trip to Peru, said, “My favorite part of the trip was visiting Machu Picchu! I remember being taught about this ancient place when I was really young and it’s been a dream of mine to visit since. We also went to a textile shop where they taught us how they made their fabrics from the yarn all the way to a finished piece. It was incredible.”
Krakow said they went to Cusco, where they saw the Temple of the Sun, and concluded their excursion “with a day trip to the Rainbow Mountain, a mountain with various minerals that produce colored striations in the landscape. This area is a recently exposed natural wonder due to the melting of the glacier that until recently covered it.”
Johndrow said the experiences she gained were unmatched because she saw one of the seven wonders of the world in Machu Picchu, and then climbed “the Rainbow Mountains, that are 16,000 feet above sea level, using a canister of oxygen to get me there.”
She added the trip strengthened her bond with her professors and created friendships with students she had never spoken to prior.
“I’d recommend an experience like this to everyone. If people are unsure, I say, ‘If it interests you and you can afford it, go for it.’ Even if you don’t know anyone, go for yourself,” Johndrow said.
Park said, “It was incredibly rewarding to work with a friend, Ellie, and to travel with other faculty friends, Sandra, Carol, and Helen, as well as students, in a cohesive manner. We truly experienced fRAMily.”
The University also supports students who are trying to find internship experiences abroad.
Farley said in the past three years, two students completed internships abroad. In 2022, a student participated in a communications internship in London their fall semester, and this past summer, Senior Adrien Gobin completed a social media internship in Ireland.
Gobin said, “I always wanted to study abroad, or some sort of abroad program. I’m just always so busy during the semester. I have so much going on between classes and internships here at Framingham that the summer program worked really well for me. I did a two-month internship in Galway, Ireland.”
Farley said if a student comes to the program with an interest in participating in an internship abroad, “we can look up and see
what’s available for them.”
Gobin said the study abroad office was helpful in the application process for her internship.
She said, “With what I did, because I wasn’t there for longer than three months, I didn’t need a visa to go, but if I did a study-abroad program, because I was there longer than 90 days, you would need a visa.”
Farley said housing comes with a fee, but study-abroad providers usually place students in an internship and provide housing based on their major and interest.
These internships are available in the summer, but students can also take a semester and internship abroad if they want to, Farley said.
Whether a student is able to work and earn a wage abroad depends on their visa, Farley added.
Lorretta Holloway, vice president of Student Success said, “Even during the years where we had a lot of students going abroad … we didn’t have a lot of students doing internships abroad.
“We lost a lot of the momentum [since COVID]. A lot of the students who had studied abroad graduated, and I can tell you that studying abroad is wonderful all I want, but I’m old. Seriously! Students are going to pay attention to other students,” she added.
“And we had a big cohort of students who had studied abroad, who were able to be our international ambassadors … and they had a lot more success talking about going abroad and their experiences … and that cohort is gone,” Holloway said.
Holloway added the majority of students who consider interning abroad usually find it easier to instead study abroad due to the changing laws other countries have concerning internships and work visas.
“It’s difficult because of the way the world is right now,” Holloway said.
These laws impact international students and their ability to work in the United States while studying for their undergraduate and graduate degrees, Holloway said.
Holloway added in the last four years, three international exchange students spent a study abroad semester at Framingham State: one in Fall 2021, one in Spring 2024, and one in Fall 2024.
Holloway said the University tracks the number of international students enrolled each
semester without differentiating how many are new enrollees.
There were 50 international undergraduate and graduate students in Fall 2020, 45 in Spring 2021, 45 in Fall 2021, 36 in Spring 2022, 36 in Fall 2022, 34 in Spring 2023, 42 in Fall 2023, 48 in Spring 2024, and 48 in Fall 2024, Holloway said. She said she did not have the numbers for Spring 2025.
According to ucis.gov, international students have F-1 visas that allow them to enter the United States as full-time students.
Holloway said when compared to the number of students studying abroad, FSU’s number of international students remains stable.
Iris Godes, vice president of Enrollment Management, said, “As far as whether or not FSU plans to bring in more international students, I can tell you from an undergraduate admissions perspective, we do not have a strategy to recruit more international students at this time.
“However, for various reasons, both those living in the U.S. and those abroad do find us, and we’re happy to assist them in enrolling at FSU if they are able to obtain the appropriate visa,” Godes said.
Aleksandra Basova, an international student from Russia majoring in Computer Science, has been a student at FSU since Fall 2023 and hopes to earn her master’s degree as well.
She said her student visa (F1) allows her to work on campus and participate in paid and unpaid internships, but only in the field relating to her major.
“I’m glad I was able to work on campus - as an IT Service Desk technician, a Computer Science tutor, and a junior program facilitator for space-mission simulations at the McAuliffe Center - and to complete software engineering internships at a tech startup, which were amazing learning experiences.”
During her admission process, Basova said, “The [Russo-Ukrainian] war and ensuing restrictions made the process difficult, but FSU was the one institution able to process my transfer quickly, and I’m grateful for that.”
[ Editor’s Note: Adrien Gobin is an Associate Editor for The Gatepost. ]
CONNECT WITH JULIEN FERNANDEZ jfernandez6@student.framingham.edu
Courtesy of Alexander (Sandy) Hartwiger
THE GATEPOST EDITORIAL
The Gatepost stands in solidarity with The Indiana Daily Student
Indiana University’s independent, student-run newspaper, The Indiana Daily Student (IDS), was forced to leave their newsstands empty on Oct. 16 after a censorship incident that has rocked the world of student journalism.
Administrators fired the IU Media School’s Director of Student Media, Jim Rodenbush, who advised IDS, after he refused to censor news coverage, according to a letter from the editor published by IDS’ co-editors-in-chief Mia Hilkowitz and Andrew Miller.
Rodenbush said he had been repeatedly pressured to tell students to stop publishing news content and his refusal resulted in his firing. The dean of IU’s Media School wrote in a letter that Rodenbush’s termination was “due to a lack of leadership and inability to work in alignment with the university’s direction for the Student Media Plan,” according to The New York Times.
IDS journalists approached the administration for answers and, hours later, administrators fully barred IDS from publishing in print.
Print provides visibility and therefore gives power to student journalism. Taking away a newspaper’s right to print ren-
ders a paper nearly invisible to a campus community.
IU’s administration contends that halting the printing of IDS is strictly a business decision as part of a move to shift resources from print to digital media, according to The New York Times.
Regardless of this claim from IU, this is a clear attempt to censor IDS and a blatant infringement on the right to free speech and free press for student journalists.
This is not the only attack on IDS’ right to free speech this year.
In March, several members of The Gatepost Editorial Board attended the College Media Association’s Spring National College Media Convention, where we heard directly from IDS’ editor-in-chief about an incident in which the Indiana Lieutenant Governor, Micah Beckwith, attacked IDS over an illustration of President Donald Trump. He called IDS a “complete joke and waste of money” and referred to the illustration as “propoganda” in an X post.
Beckwith went so far as to threaten IDS in his post, writing, “This type of elitist leftist propaganda needs to stop or we will be happy to stop it for them.”
Student journalists are facing
some of the most egregious censorship attempts in American history.
In January, The Mercury, the student newspaper at the University of Texas at Dallas, was shut down.
Student journalists for The Mercury went on strike after the firing of their editor-in-chief, who defended news coverage of pro-Palestinian protests on campus, according to The Texas Tribune.
Penn State’s The Daily Collegian had their funding stripped for AY 2024-25 and 35 of their newsstands removed for no reason by university officials in September 2024.
Laced through all of these incidents is an underlying desire from university administrations - and, in the case of Beckwith, the government - to control student journalism rather than foster it.
As student journalists ourselves, The Gatepost Editorial Board is acutely aware of how important it is for campus communities to have access to ethical, objective, and transparent news about the state of their universities.
As we watch our peers continue to fight against intimidation, censorship, and attacks on their editorial independence,
A Black experience in a white world
By Izayah Morgan Opinions Editor
Often in my childhood, I experienced being only one of a handful of Black children in a room. However, throughout my K-12 experience, I had a range of interactions with diverse communities, including those of different races, religions, sexualities, and gender identities.
My best friend at that time was Muslim and provided both a different outlook on religion and life as a whole. Another friend who stuck by my side during a tough time in my life was a gay Black man who saw the world similarly to me but had faced homophobia on top of racism, scared to even come out to his own parents, who were conservative Jamaicans.
My experience in college has been a similar story in some aspects. While some classes have a diverse pool of students, others are majority white. This is a downside for both white students and students of color.
White students often come from an environment where most others in their communities look like them, so when they come to college, it’s a similar experience.
For students of color, it’s often worse giving them an experience that can isolate and destroy them when they are some of the only people like themselves in the pool, feeling like they are in shark-infested waters.
During my undergraduate experience, I have seen and heard
microaggressions with my own eyes and ears. For example, I have heard people say that affinity groups that are primarily serving students of color are exclusive clubs that just host parties. Or their reputation is that they are not worth pouring the resources into. These claims of-
ten come from individuals who have chosen not to be members of those groups.
It’s a similar story for groups that predominantly attract majority white students. They have the stigma of their groups being cliques and are intimidating for students of color to join.
we stand united with them.
The Gatepost will continue to be dedicated to pushing back on any attacks against free speech on campus or in our country.
In light of the government shutdown and the continued polarization in politics, it is more important than ever to have trusted local news sources that work to inform their communities on the issues happening close to home.
The free press has long been one of the most important pillars of American society for its ability to provide unbiased information to those who may not have access to it.
The Gatepost Editorial Board will continue to call out attacks against our peers and stand in solidarity with them.
We can’t let these transgressions against the press go unchallenged and turn a blind eye. If we do, who’s next?
Today, it’s Indiana. Tomorrow, it’s Texas. The next day, it might be Framingham.
No matter where censorship occurs, The Gatepost will always be here to speak up and reinforce our rights as journalists and citizens.
To the journalists at The Indiana Daily Student - keep fighting. We stand with you.
I understand the stigma from both sides and why it’s there - it’s historical, by design, and harmful. The way we interact with other groups can make Black people feel like there’s an underlying hostility between different groups.
In a white world, I feel my experiences have had an underlying current of prejudice. I have to guard myself against the traumatic experiences I have faced on campus - the microaggressions, the denial of my negative experiences and the downright egregious words people who look like me have been called.
Being Black in a space that is hostile to you will place another’s mediocrity over your Black excellence, while at the same time only propping up a select few Black people to represent a diaspora of people. It often requires you to be contemptuous in a system that at the same time puts down everyone who looks like you.
We have to remember that we do live in a bubble in Framingham State University, so things can seem well rounded, until it pops and you’re reminded how the world really works. We all suffer from biases and often, people who continue that behavior don’t get called out. Becoming more educated on race, gender, sexuality, and religion demands a time commitment but also requires you to recognize the negative traits you are exhibiting. Do the work.
Campus Conversations
“If your major were a Halloween costume, what would it be?”
By Sophia Oppedisano,
“My major is psychology, so probably Michael Myers from ‘Halloween’ because [he] just keeps coming back and he never dies, and I feel like psychology, it just keeps expanding and it never dies. “
-Laila Jenkins, senior
“My major is psychology. … Maybe a doctor - someone with a suit and tie.”
-Turnbull Sturgis, junior
Editor-in-Chief and Dylan Pichnarcik, Associate Editor
“My major is environmental science and policy, so I would be Bernie Sanders!”
-Lauren Martinek,
senior
“My major is business management, and so I would probably be a chicken or something, or a cow, because of Chick-fil-A. … That’s part of a business.”
-Fallou Koite, junior
“My major is elementary education, and I think my Halloween costume would be Ms. Frizzle.
-Miranda Olibeira, sophomore
“My major is communication arts. If I were to do a costume for my major, it would be Stephen A. Smith, because that’s my dream job. He’s a big TV personality.”
-Isaiah Alexander, junior
Liv, Laf...:Liv’s spoopy season! Pt. 2
By Avery Slavin Staff Writer
The Framingham State Rams came to a draw against the Mass. Maritime Buccaneers in a conference matchup Oct. 25.
This match brings their overall record to 6-7-4 and their conference record to 3-2-2.
The first shot of the game was by junior Ana Serrano, but it flew over the net.
Less than a minute later, Sarah Campbell, a senior, aimed for the net, but the shot was blocked.
At the six-minute mark, senior Madison Magone kicked the ball, and it sailed just outside of the net.
Campbell attempted another shot, and it was saved by Mass. Maritime goalkeeper Brady Deschamps.
A minute later, freshman Sarah Bashore’s shot was also saved by Deschamps.
The Rams couldn’t seem to slow down, and Serrano and Leiyani Buckner, a freshman, both attempted to make a goal with five seconds in between shots, but both were blocked.
Captain Cathryn Cooney, a senior, was next to try to get a point on the scoreboard for the Rams, but the ball veered wide.
Sophomore Beyonce Gray’s shot also missed the net by a few inches.
Framingham would not allow Mass. Maritime to get any action, and freshman Abigale King’s kick made the ball fly just outside of the goal.
SP RTS
Women’s soccer draws with Buccaneers on Senior Day
net.
Magone sent the ball toward the net, but the Buccaneers’ defense was too strong, leading to a blocked shot.
Thimm made her second shot of the game, but unfortunately couldn’t make it past Deschamps.
Captain Grayson Tellier, a senior, stepped up in an attempt to make the first point of the game.
Tellier didn’t let up, and she assisted Campbell in the first goal of the game, as well as her first goal as a Ram.
King tried to keep the momentum going, but shot the ball outside of the net.
Buckner attempted a goal next, but Mass. Maritime continued to hold a strong defense.
Campbell tried to throw a second point on the board in favor of the Rams, but it was shot too wide to make it into the net.
King made another attempt, but didn’t get the ball past Deschamps.
Mass. Maritime attempted
In the last few minutes of the game, Deschamps stayed focused and blocked two consecutive shots from Romeiro.
Serrano sent the ball too high to make it in the net.
Two minutes later, Thimm’s shot veered too wide.
Gray made the last goal attempt of the game, but the Rams still couldn’t break through Deschamps’ defense.
The game ended with a final score of 1-1.
Cooney said this was not the result the Rams wanted from this game.
She said, “As a captain of this team, I’ve been trying to remind the team to stay as positive as possible and to keep pushing ourselves. One thing my dad reminds me of constantly is, ‘The best form of encouragement is praise.’ Since our tie on Saturday, I’ve been trying to continue to celebrate my teammates’ little victories in practice.
“We have to keep pushing ourselves. Our season is not
going to cherish the friendships and great memories I’ve had over the past couple of years.
“I’ve met lifelong friends by being an athlete at Framingham State, and I’m very grateful for that opportunity. I love the community of people I have gained playing soccer. Senior Day really reminded me that those friendships you make on the field don’t just stop after the season ends,” she added.
Thimm said, “I’m staying motivated by focusing on how far we’ve come as a team and knowing that every game still counts. Staying confident comes from trusting our training and keeping a positive mindset, giving 100% each time we step on the field.”
Campbell said, “I want nothing more than for us to win the MASCAC tournament and continue on. I always leave my all on the field, and Senior Day has only made me even more excited to leave everything I have on the field for the rest of our season.”
Bashore and junior Melissa Romeiro both tried to get the Rams ahead, but they couldn’t get the ball past Deschamps.
Bashore stayed quick on her feet, launching the ball toward the net. The shot was blocked and, just three seconds later, she made another attempt, only for it to be saved by Deschamps.
Two minutes later, Sophia Thimm, a freshman, went for the goal, but Deschamps stayed strong on defense.
Gray and freshman Lily Gouveia’s kicks sent the ball soaring above the net.
Romeiro’s attempt to get the Rams a point was unsuccessful, the ball narrowly missing the net.
Sophomore Hailey Ring made an attempt on goal, but Deschamps wouldn’t back down, blocking the shot.
Ring tried again three minutes later at 43:36, but the ball was stopped.
This was the last shot of the first half.
Buckner started the second half with a shot within the first 15 seconds that just missed the
their first shot of the game, with freshman Amelia Finley saving it with ease.
Serrano tried to sneak the ball past Deschamps, but couldn’t break her defense.
Cooney tried next, but Deschamps fought hard to keep the ball out of the net.
Thimm’s next shot soared too high.
Thirty seconds later, Deschamps saved yet another shot from the Rams, courtesy of Romeiro.
King kicked the ball next and it flew above the net.
A minute later, she shot again, the ball going outside the net.
The Rams didn’t give up, and Serrano tried to get a point for Framingham. Deschamps didn’t give up either, and quickly grabbed the ball.
At 77:20, Buccaneer Ayla Santoro scored Mass. Maritime’s first goal on a penalty kick.
Immediately after, Santoro tried to get another point for the team, but shot too high.
Karah Deveau also attempted a shot for Mass. Maritime, but was blocked by the Rams.
King was next to attempt a goal, but it just missed the net.
over yet. We have a huge game against Bridgewater on Saturday and if we can beat them, we’ll go up to third place, which gives us a better advantage in the MASCAC tournament,” she added.
Campbell said while the result was a tie, she was happy with her Senior Day.
She said, “The juniors and underclassmen did such an amazing job of giving us seniors a phenomenal day.
“Though we tied the game, I was thrilled to score my first Framingham State goal, and the experience has only fired me up to work even harder,” she added.
She said as a senior, she is “extremely sad to be leaving this team, especially watching how quickly this program is becoming consistently strong.
“I transferred into Framingham State last year, so I wasn’t here to experience the team culture before Coach La Francesca. Watching all the work he and everyone on the team are consistently putting into creating a winning culture, I am extremely sad that I won’t be here to experience the next few seasons,” she added.
Cooney said, “As a senior, I’m
Bashore said, “I’m staying motivated by remembering all the hard work the team has put in since day one of preseason.
“Confidence comes from preparation, and our team has definitely put in the work this season. I’m focusing on finishing strong and looking forward to continuing our run into the postseason,” she added.
The next generation of Rams is excited to take on these next few years.
Bashore said, “Being in a new environment and playing with new people at a higher level has definitely made me grow as a player this season. Coming in on day one of preseason, we had 11 new players, and the team talked about how this was going to be our ‘rebuilding year.’
“Our team has grown a lot this season, not only in how we play, but also in how we connect with each other. We have faced challenges and had tough games, but those moments have helped us progress and come together,” she added.
Thimm said, “It’s been great adjusting to the team - everyone’s been really welcoming. The biggest thing I’ve learned is how important communication and teamwork are, both on and off the field.”
The Rams host the Bridgewater State Bears in a conference matchup Nov. 1.
Stats sourced from fsurams.com and MASCAC.com
CONNECT WITH AVERY SLAVIN aslavin1@student.framingham.edu
Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST
(Center) Abigale King kicking the ball in tie with Mass. Maritime Oct. 25.
Volleyball sweeps Mass. Maritime in MASCAC action
By Izabela Gage Sports Editor
By Taylor Kimmell Asst. Sports Editor
The Framingham State Rams conquered the Mass. Maritime Buccaneers 3-0 on their home court Oct. 28.
This win brings their conference record to 5-2, and their overall record to 15-11.
Junior Natalie Reynolds started the action, earning a kill to put the first point on the board, assisted by Captain Stella Bailey, a senior.
Following two block errors by the Rams, another kill by Reynolds and two by sophomore Sarah Medeiros, Framingham was in the lead.
The Buccaneers closed the gap by capitalizing on the Rams’ attack errors, but Framingham remained unfazed.
A kill by Medeiros gave possession back to the Rams, and junior Anneli DiVirgilio earned a service ace to bring the score to 8-6.
Mass. Maritime couldn’t break through Framingham’s front line, with Bailey and junior Jamie Moniz tallying another point after blocking a kill attempt.
Sophomore Madysen Cedrone found a hole in the Buccaneers’ defense, earning her first kill of the game.
DiVirgilio served another ace to deepen the deficit, and the Rams’ blockers kept the Buccaneers on their toes, causing two more attack errors to bring the score to 13-6.
Mass. Maritime gained momentum with two back-to-back kills, but Framingham did not let up.
Following another kill by Cedrone, freshman Kristina Santiago-Alers earned a service ace, which would be her first of many.
Reynolds swung decisively, breaking the Buccaneers’ defense again, putting the Rams in the lead by eight.
Santiago-Alers served two more aces, and Reynolds and Dobbins kept the front row assertive with a kill each, both assisted by Bailey.
After two more back-to-back service aces by Santiago-Alers, Mass. Maritime tallied a kill, but couldn’t capitalize on the possession change.
Reynolds earned another point for the Rams on a kill, assisted by Bailey, and a subsequent attack error by the Buccaneers brought the score to 24-9.
Mass. Maritime put one more point on the board on an attack error by Framingham, but Cedrone finished the set strong with a kill for the Rams.
The second set started with a kill by the Buccaneers, but Bailey set up Reynolds for another kill, tying the score 1-1.
An attack error by Mass. Maritime gave Framingham the lead, but it was short-lived due to an attack error by FSU.
A service error by the Buccaneers gave the Rams possession of the ball, and two back-to-back kills by Reynolds, once again both assisted by Bailey, gave them the lead 5-2.
Framingham forced another attack error for Mass. Maritime, but two kills by the Buccaneers closed the gap to 6-4.
Momentum swung back in fa-
vor of the Rams after a kill and a service ace by Reynolds.
An attack error by Mass. Maritime deepened the deficit to 9-4, and Framingham kept pushing.
Medeiros tallied a kill, and Reynolds tallied her second service ace of the match to earn a 7-point lead.
The Buccaneers remained determined, earning a kill to bring the score to 11-5.
Sophomore Sabrina Stadelman broke through Mass. Maritime’s front row, tallying another kill for FSU.
The teams switched off kills for the next three plays, but a bad set by the Buccaneers kept the Rams ahead 15-7.
Framingham let up a point on a service error, but a subsequent attack error by Mass. Maritime and a kill by Reynolds helped the Rams stay on top of offense.
The Buccaneers attempted to claw their way back with two kills and two service aces, but they let up two points on attack errors, bringing the score to 19-12.
Following a bad set by Framingham’s front row, the teams switched off kills for five points, with Reynolds, Medeiros, and Stadelman all contributing to maintain the Rams’ lead.
An attack error by Mass. Maritime put FSU within two points of winning the set.
Framingham let up a point on an attack error of their own, but Stadelman didn’t let it go unanswered and earned a kill.
The Buccaneers stayed vigilant on offense and caused another attack error by the Rams, but Reynolds finished out the second set 25-17 with a kill.
A kill by Reynolds on an assist by Bailey kicked off a stellar third set for the Rams.
After granting FSU a point on an attack error, the Buccaneers battled back, earning two points of their own to tie the score.
The dynamic duo of Reynolds and Bailey fought back to regain Framingham’s lead with a kill.
With the ball handed to FSU, junior Jaimee Lowe contributed to the score with a service ace, starting a three-point streak for the Rams, including an unassisted kill by Bailey and another two Bailey-to-Reynolds kills.
mechanism in order to. So, it was very important to set up a strong block on the line.”
Cedrone said, “It’s important to be ready for anything that could come over the net and to make sure the ball is on the way to the setter.
Lowe said reading the hitters on the opposing team is important. “If we can read what the hitters are doing, we can get a great up. If I read a hitter wrong, I know that I can trust the other five girls on the court to have my back.”
Bailey said, “Communication is key. The more we communicate before, during, and after plays the better chemistry we are able to build. It’s really important that we talk about what works and what doesn’t based on the placement of our stacks and the blockers on the other side of the court.”
Moniz said, “As the season’s gone on, we’ve definitely bonded and have been focusing on our team aspect, including team bonding, and really emphasizing picking each other up and not leaving anyone on their own island.”
Mass. Maritime’s defensive plays yielded attack errors from Framingham, earning the team two points to decrease the deficit to 7-5.
Medeiros stepped in with a kill, kickstarting the Rams’ momentum once again.
A block by Moniz and junior Emma Dobbins forced an attack error from the Buccaneers, adding another point to FSU’s side of the scoreboard.
Two more kills by Reynolds, as well as several errors from Mass. Maritime increased the Rams’ lead, bringing the score to 15-10.
A kill by Medeiros followed, and defensive plays by the Rams continued to add to their score.
Cedrone and Dobbins added two more kills, bringing Framingham’s score to 22 with the Buccaneers trailing by five.
Another error from Mass. Maritime placed Framingham within two points of winning the set as well as the match.
After a brief timeout taken by the Buccaneers, the teams returned to the court, with the Rams making quick work of the game and sealing their victory 25-17 with kills by Reynolds and Cedrone.
During the match, Reynolds earned a save percentage of .594, tallied 19 kills, and had no errors.
She said, “The mental part of volleyball is so important. I always try to keep the same mindset, whether I’m at five kills or 19, and just reset and refocus after every point.
“I’m lucky to have such a great connection with my setter, who is able to get that ball anywhere on the court for her hitters,” she added.
Bailey said, “Mixing up the sets helps our hitters, especially dominant hitters like Natalie Reynolds. It’s crucial that even if the set isn’t effective, we at least try to run something to throw off the blockers. This way, as they’re watching our hitters with the goal in mind of blocking them, they have to think about all of the potential different options and routes. It keeps the blockers on their toes!”
Moniz said, “We looked to shut down their main hitter and talked about rotating our defensive
Santiago-Alers said the team listens to each other and believes in each other, which has played a crucial role in the team’s success this season.
In the Rams’ loss against Plymouth State Oct. 25, Bailey hit a milestone of 3,000 career assists.
Bailey said accomplishing this “feels amazing! It was absolutely the goal going into the season, and I feel so thankful to have teammates who pass well and hit hard!
“All throughout my four years here, there has never been a bit of complacency. It’s always been ‘more, we can do more,’ so continuing to push for more is what I will finish the season out with!” she added.
With just two games left in the regular season, the Rams are working hard to prepare for postseason play.
Reynolds said the team sees playoffs as a “clean slate and an opportunity to beat teams we might have lost to before. We have our eyes on the prize. … We’re cleaning up some small offense and defense problems. Other than that, we’re just bringing everything we have into playoffs week.”
Medeiros said, “The team is working really hard to give the last stretch of the season everything we have, and to maintain a steady level of energy as we transition into tournament play. It’s crucial that we turn up the intensity and play aggressively in both the back row and the front row.”
The Rams host Johnson and Wales University for a non-conference matchup Nov. 4.
Cedrone said, “Our goal is to always play as a team, pick up the person next to you, and to celebrate every point.”
Stats sourced from fsurams.com and MASCAC.com
CONNECT WITH IZABELA GAGE igage@student.framingham.edu
CONNECT WITH TAYLOR KIMMELL tkimmell@student.framingham.edu
Meg Dame / THE GATEPOST
Stella Bailey setting the ball in win against Mass. Maritime Oct. 28.
CIE hosts discussion on Medicaid and SNAP
By Francisco Omar Fernandez Rodriguez Arts & Features Editor
The Center for Inclusive Excellence (CIE) hosted Diversity Dialogues “SNAP, Medicaid, & the New War on Poverty” on Oct 22.
Suzanne Curry, the director of policy initiatives at Health Care For All, and Victoria Negus, a policy advocate at the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute, spoke at the event.
The three programs Curry focused on during the discussion were Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplaces.
Curry said, “Medicaid is a state-federal partnership, so the state and the federal government need to pay into it, and it’s generally for low-income individuals and families.
“In Massachusetts, our Medicaid program is MassHealth. It’s actually our combined Medicaid and children’s health insurance program, but for simplicity’s sake, I’m just going to call it our Medicaid program,” she said.
She added it is important for historically marginalized populations to be able to access health care.
She discussed the impacts of the “One Big Beautiful Bill.”
“This was all to pay for and make permanent the Trump tax cuts,” Curry said.
One of the effects of the bill is “the largest cuts to Medicaid in the program’s history,” she said.
She said many lawfully present immigrants who used to
be eligible no longer qualify “under the federal definition. So, states wouldn’t be able to get federal reimbursement for certain lawfully present immigrants for all three programs.”
U.S. citizens and some legal permanent residents remain eligible, she said.
Eligibility for Green Card holders depends on the state they reside in and how long they’ve held their card, she added.
Federal work requirements for Medicaid are going up, which, in the past, other states have done, Curry said.
Everyone on Medicaid must work 80 hours a month, though it can be in volunteer work or education, she added.
She said more requirements mean more paperwork, which leads to people losing coverage for administrative reasons.
ACA Marketplaces can be state- or federal-based, she said. In Massachusetts, it’s state-based and called the Health Connector, she added.
One of the ACA topics under debate is enhanced premium tax credits, which are subsidies for monthly insurance costs that will end Dec. 31 unless Congress decides to extend them, Curry said.
Many people who use the ACA Marketplace will see higher premiums if these subsidies end, she added.
“SNAP is a federal nutrition program. It helps one in six residents in Massachusetts put food on the table - one in eight nationally. It is the backbone of our entire social safety net in
addition to Medicaid,” Negus said.
In Massachusetts, your income must be below 200% of the federal poverty level to receive SNAP, she said.
The average SNAP benefit is $6 a day, she added.
“It is a very woefully insufficient benefit in every single county in Massachusetts. The SNAP benefit amount doesn’t even pay for the average cost of a meal in the Commonwealth,” Negus said.
“For every bag of food [provided by] emergency food providers, … SNAP provides nine for every one of those,” Negus said.
In Massachusetts, if the shutdown doesn’t end by Oct. 31, November SNAP benefits won’t go out unless either the federal or state government intervenes, she said.
She added the federal government can release the money in their contingency fund to the states to pay for SNAP.
The bill expanded a preexisting work requirement, she added.
Non-exempt adults must prove they work, or they will lose SNAP after three months, according to the slideshow Negus presented.
Negus said, “[It] doesn’t actually matter if there’s no jobs where you live, or if you can’t get there, or you have other sort of real life challenges - you get cut off.”
Studies since 1996 have shown when people are cut off from SNAP, their employment outcomes don’t improve, she said.
The bill also cuts the option states had to waive the three month time limit in areas with insufficient jobs unless unemployment is 10% or higher, she said.
She added these include refugees, asylees, victims of trafficking, victims of domestic violence, and other legal immigrants.
“Undocumented folks have never been eligible for SNAP, despite what you might hear from our current president. They have been categorically ineligible forever,” she said.
Negus said the Department of Transitional Assistance has always gotten 50% of their cost reimbursed by the federal government. But starting this fall, that drops to 25% reimbursement.
“That’s a wonky way of saying Congress wanted to slash and burn the tools that states have to improve how the program is run by incentivizing states to shrink the dollars that they invest in running the program,” Negus said.
She added it’s appropriate for the program to be highly audited, but the majority of cases related to the PER are mistakes.
If the PER is higher than what the federal law allows, “the state has a price tag for two years, October 2027 through September 2029, and it’s non-negotiable,” Negus said.
CONNECT WITH FRANCISCO OMAR FERNANDEZ RODRIGUEZ ffernandezrodriguez@student.framingham.edu
Serving spooky at the Fashion Club Halloween Party
By Liv Dunleavy
Asst. Arts & Features Editor
Fashion Club slayed their first event this semester with a Halloween Party on Oct. 29. The event was held in Hemenway Hall and featured music, candy, mood lighting, and introductory sewing crafts. Oh, and a full-fledged official photoshoot with box lights and a professional camera.
Emma-Claire Vanderslice, Fashion Club’s vice president, is a sophomore majoring in Fashion Merchandising. She said organising the event as the vice president “[is] really just being as much of a help as I can to our president.
“[The] vice president is a very supportive role, and with a strong leader like Aili [Schiavoni], I am just trying to do my best to support her, her role, and do whatever I can to take
things off her plate.”
Vanderslice’s advice to students who are interested in the Fashion Club is to “just dive in. It’s such a welcoming group of people” she said.
“Everyone is so excited to have new people. We want to get to know you and see you. Come swing by Hemenway Hall 218 on Wednesdays at 7,” she said.
Schiavoni, Fashion Club’s president, a senior fashion design major, said, “When we came into [Fashion Club], there was a bit of a snafu. Fashion Club actually did not have an eBoard until the beginning of October. So I officially became president on Oct. 8 and [with] EXP events, they need to be planned two weeks ahead of time. So, we hit the ground running because I really wanted to have a Halloween event of some kind,” she said.
Schiavoni said, “It was a steep learning curve, especially to get it off the ground as fast as we did, but honestly, my eBoard worked absolutely fabulous. And Emily [Crossin] did all the advertising for this - she runs the Instagram.
“Janae [Johnson] and Zara [Nazaire], who are freshmen this year, [were] immediately up to the task,” she said.
Schiavoni said she needed the two to find Halloween decorations for the event while she handled other tasks. “They stepped up.”
“Emma-Claire is such a wonderful vice president. She just jumps in exactly wherever anybody is taking on a little bit too much for themselves. Wonderful teamwork,” she said.
“Oh my gosh, you don’t have to know anything about fashion,” Schiavoni said about joining the club.
“You don’t have to know anything about making clothes. You don’t even have to know a single designer or brand name. At Fashion Club, we like to have fun,” she said.
“Anybody who has an interest in this field, in any capacity, is going to find a home here. I genuinely believe that. And I want to change the mindset that Fashion Club is only for fashion students,” she said.
Nazaire, a freshman fashion merchandise major, and the treasurer of Fashion Club, said, “I want all of the freshmen not to be discouraged, because I
know that when I was running for this position, I was very scared because everybody else and my candidates were all juniors and seniors.
She added, “But I think, especially, that they should feel encouraged to run because when you start off as a freshman, people above you are going to teach you, so that way, you can take over the club eventually.
“You literally want to grasp all of the knowledge you can right now, and it’s a great resume builder,” she said.
Johnson, the secretary and a freshman in fashion merchandising, said she originally went to the Fashion Club elections to support Nazaire, and she knew they had the secretary position open, and wanted to join the club but had no intentions of joining the eBoard.
“I was like, you know what? I just joined! I went up there, gave a little speech off the top of my head and I just did it,” she said.
“I think it’s always good to just take that leap, you know?” she said.
“Because you never know what it could lead to, and I’m happy I have this opportunity of working with such amazing people on the eBoard and planning these amazing events and being behind all of this,” she said.
CONNECT WITH LIV DUNLEAVY odunleavy@student.framingham.edu
Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST Fashion Club President Aili Schiavoni photographing Sage Sampson Oct. 29.
PaRAMnormal Activity - legends of FSU ghouls and ghosts
By Dylan Pichnarcik Associate Editor
During the day Framingham State is a lively and picturesque New England college campus.
Old brownstones surround Crocker Grove, as the statue of Sam the Ram stands proudly as the colors of fall surround it. It can be hard to believe something may be lurking in the night when the full moon rises in Framingham.
Framingham State is over 185 years old - through that long history, many members of the student body have reported unexplainable occurrences at FSU.
Most of these sightings have occurred in Peirce and Horace Mann Halls - the two oldest residence halls on campus.
While Horace Mann Hall may only be just over 100 years old, according to the University website, the land it sits on is much older - and is no stranger to tragedy.
In 1914, Normal Hall, a dormitory for students and the home of the incumbent University President caught fire and subsequently burned down, according to Colleen Previte, University archivist.
Campus lore recounts that a student died in the tunnel system under Normal Hall in the tragedy and now inhabits Horace Mann as an eternal home.
According to FSU Alumna Debra Reid, who spoke to The Gatepost in an article published on Oct. 28 1994, she experienced the blankets on her bed being tugged by an unknown force.
Reid said, “I had only been in bed maybe two minutes, so I know that I was not dreaming this. Something or should I say someone, was pulling my blankets away from me.”
Similar to Reid’s experience, FSU Alumna, Lisa Oxman spoke to The Gatepost in the same article.
She said while using a Ouija board in Peirce Hall, she connected with a spirit that identified herself as “Nelly” who - while communicating via the Ouija board - repeated the same message, “fire out.”
According to The Gatepost article, the fire was caused by an issue with the building’s fireplace.
According to historical re-
cords and periodicals from the time period all students were evacuated from Normal Hall during the incident, said Previte.
“Framingham pulled together during that time and others, like residents, opened their homes to these [students] that had to leave quickly out of the fire,” she said.
In the end, who knows? Could there be a lost soul of a former FSU student roaming the buildings around Crocker Grove to this day?
Sophomore Sarah Snyder, a Horace Mann resident, claims she has seen the “figure of a woman” in one of the building’s bathroom facilities.
“I would see it multiple times … it wouldn’t be like I was looking, it would be in the corner of my eye at least three times,” she said.
Snyder said the apparition appeared to have long dark hair and wore a white dress.
Similarly, students in Peirce Hall, including Senior Aili Schiavoni, said they have heard stories of paranormal activity occurring in the buildings.
Schiavoni said she was told a rocking chair in the lobby of Peirce Hall would begin rocking on its own at approximately 1 a.m.
She added she and her friend Sophomore Sage Sampson heard a person exclaim “Hey” from different areas of the building.
Both Sampson and Schiavoni - who were in separate rooms at the time - claimed the noise came from opposite sides of the building.
Sampson said in addition to this experience with Schiavoni, she heard strange noises throughout the building and felt a “spooky” energy near one of the stairwells that lead to the building’s basement.
Another paranormal experience in Peirce Hall occurred in 2005, according to an article published by The Boston Globe on Oct. 30, 2005.
Twenty-two year old Aimee Wagner, a former FSU student, was washing her face in one of the Peirce Hall bathrooms when she noticed a “red handprint on her bare arm, as if someone had squeezed her hard.”
Wagner recounted being skeptical at first, believing she may have caused the mark in her sleep but “she put her own hand next to her arm … but the mysterious hand had longer fingers than she does,” the article read.
Who is this mysterious figure
that lurks between Peirce and Horace Mann Halls? The answer could be below our feet.
Underneath Peirce and Horace Mann are tunnels, now used by the Department of Facilities for various reasons including housing, steam pipes across campus and electrical equipment, said Ken Brasili, director of the boiler plant and utilities operation while walking through the cramped tunnels.
According to Brasili, there are tunnels connecting Peirce, Horace Mann, Crocker, and May halls, some of which have been sealed for safety reasons.
Previte said, in the past, these tunnels were regularly used by students to get between buildings without being exposed to inclement weather. These tunnels were in operation during the time the apparition known as Nelly attended FSU.
According to Brasili, he has not experienced any paranormal activity while working in the tunnels.
CONNECT WITH DYLAN PICHNARCIK dpichnarcik@student.framingham.edu
Alexis Schlesinger / THE GATEPOST
The entrance of Horace Mann Hall at night.
Dylan Pichnarcik / THE GATEPOST
A tunnel located underneath Hemenway Hall.
Celebrating the fifth year of Grande’s R&B classic ‘Positions’
By Antonio Machado Copy Editor
Coming straight out of four GRAMMY award snubs for “thank u, next,” a record-breaking album that solidified her as a paramount musician in the mainstream, Ariana Grande went almost immediately into the studio to cook up another masterpiece, her sixth studio album, “positions.”
As her third album in the span of two years, “positions” saw Grande step out of her usual rhythm in multiple ways. Grande has experienced an immense amount of trauma and hardships in her life, and she has utilized her music to navigate her feelings toward those events. This album, however, tackled a much different subject matter - sex.
“Positions” was also a departure from Grande’s usual taste of pop, flavored with a sensual R&B and a sprinkle of Hip-Hop on top, all left to bake at 808 degrees for 41 minutes.
The record was initially met with incredibly negative reviews, so much so that Grande scrapped multiple music videos and visuals she had planned for the record, she said in an interview with “Las Culturistas.”
Now, five years since its release, the record is considered one of her best ever and a must-listen in her discography.
“Positions” demonstrates why Grande is hailed as the premier pop star of the 2010s.
Her immense vocal range on this record is utilized not just as an augmentation that adds dynamics and flair to each track, but also as a storytelling tool.
Amidst the raunchy trap-pop songs are several R&B-infused ballads that delve deeply into Grande’s insecurities and her struggles with love - both carnal and romantic.
“Not yet healed or ready / should I be goin’ too steady? /
Just wanna know is love completely off the table?” Grande sings on career highlight album track, “off the table,” one of Grande’s many collaborations with The Weeknd. She exchanges her usual light, lyric soprano for a grittier, raspy belt to accompany the track’s heavy drums, while The Weeknd juxtaposes her with his quick falsettos that parallel the wistful strings.
Working alongside frequent collaborators Tommy Brown and Victoria Monét, Grande crafted an incredibly rich and sultry soundscape, endowed with luscious strings and intoxicating synths. The production on this record, vocal and instrumental, is absolutely stellar and sets it apart from any of her other albums.
Hazy synths decorate the y2k manifestation anthem “just like magic” wherein she says, “I get everything I want cause I attract it” (Glinda anyone?). The whimsical harmonies that nearly overwhelm
the main melodic line aren’t even the most charming part of the track - rather, it’s the way Grande melodically raps on what should be a pop track that’s really spellbinding.
There’s a very good reason “7 rings” is Grande’s biggest single to date - everybody loves when women rap on a pop beat. It’s the exact reason Doja Cat is also featured on this record on what could’ve easily been a Billboard Chart topping hit, “motive.”
Grande’s voice is a fullfledged instrument in and of itself. The way she tackles each melody is methodical, like she has an innate, mathematical understanding of the pop formula.
By all intents and purposes, “34+35” is a rap song. However, the way Grande effortlessly glides across the beat can only be described as a pop melody. There’s something incredibly masterful about how she accentuates every syllable that makes the giddy sex jokes incredibly sticky.
She will be the first person to tell you she has been heavily influenced by Black music, but it’s not until this album where those influences truly shine.
The simmering jazz of “my hair” is something akin to an early Mariah Carey recorddown to the final chorus being sung entirely in whistle tone.
Although “positions” is anything but coy, Grande mostly sings of her sexual desires in
a mellow, almost restrained manner.
One of Grande’s strengths is her ability to subvert expectations. The title of the track “nasty” implies it would easily be the dirtiest song on the album, but instead, it’s a rather tame love song.
Contrastingly, “love language” implies a more touching display of affection, but that’s not the touching Grande wants to do. “Baby, pardon my French, but can you speak in tongues?” she giggles.
The closing track, “pov,” is perhaps the most beautifully composed in Grande’s discography. “I wanna love me / The way that you love me,” she sings accompanied by a symphony of heartstrings.
Once dismissed, “positions” has withstood the test of time and new pop sensations. This record serves as a testament of Grande’s charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent - it’s proof not just of her mastery of her voice, but of her artistry.
SPOOKY SUGGESTIONS
‘Weapons’ ‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’
By Antonio Machado Copy Editor
As Halloween approaches, darkness falls across the land with the midnight hour close at hand, creatures crawl in search of blood to terrorize our neighborhoods, and our response? Make movies about them!
“Weapons,” helmed by “Barbarian” director Zach Cregger, was one of the best films released this year and an absolutely perfect choice to watch for a spooky movie night, as it features the scariest thing on this planet - a ginger microbang.
Featuring a star-studded cast, the film follows a concerned group of people in a small Pennsylvania town as they investigate the disappearance of all but one child of an entire elementary school class of children.
Through a kaleidoscopic narrative lens where we experience events through the perspective of different characters, Cregger delivers an intense and captivating story that will undoubtedly leave you at the edge of your seat - that is until you eventually jump back from the surprisingly frightful jumpscares!
The performances in this movie are absolutely spectacular. Julia Garner plays elementary school teacher Justine Gandy, who is trou-
bled yet caring. We’re brought to sympathize with her and also be furious because she is, frankly, rather incompetent - in the way a horror movie protagonist should be.
Amy Madigan’s kooky Aunt Gladys is a performance for the books. If it were not for the Academy’s hatred for horror movies, she would undoubtedly be a contender for “Best Supporting Actress.”
The film is not just tense horror, though, as there are plenty, plenty of comedic moments throughout that actually serve to make the scary moments even more so.
“Euphoria’s” Austin Abrams plays a comedic relief heroin addict that spends the entire film begging for money and simultaneously serves a very unexpected role in the mystery of it all.
This film is an absolute standout in the slew of horror movies that have come out this past decade, and I highly recommend anyone interested in some horror fun to check this out!
Marcus Falcão / THE GATEPOST
CONNECT WITH ANTONIO MACHADO amachado4@student.framingham.edu
‘The Halloween That Almost Wasn’t’
By Sarah Daponde Asst. Arts & Features Editor
While your friends are busy watching “Hocus Pocus” and “A Nightmare on Elm Street,” jump into the forgotten classic of “The Halloween That Almost Wasn’t” for a timeless, endearingly spooky watch.
Originally released in 1979 on ABC, “The Halloween That Almost Wasn’t” has the nostalgic vibes of a Beistle Halloween decoration and the spooky effects of an Alfred Hitchcock film.
In the special TV program, Winnie the Witch of Halloween refuses to fly over the moon anymore, which puts Halloween in danger of being canceled forever. Count Dracula, assisted by his fellow monsters, has to convince the Witch not to quit.
The most charming part of this program is most definitely the monsters.
The opening scene features Draculaiconic with his pale
skin, black robes, and severe widow’s peak - watching a news broadcast in the living room of his haunted mansion, while Igor eats popcorn by his side.
The other horror monsters arrive at his mansion one by one, each with their own moment to shine. Warren the Werewolf, Zabaar the Zombie, the Frankenstein Monster, and the Mummy are all portrayed as their classic, spooky - but not quite scary - selves.
The monsters, led by Dracula, do everything they can think of to get the Witch to fly over the moon. But in the end, help comes from a heartwarming and surprising place.
The program runs 30 minutes long - the perfect length to fit in a happy ending for everyone, as well as an unexpected disco party.
CONNECT WITH SARAH DAPONDE sdaponde@student.framingham.edu
By Jesse Burchill Staff Writer
Released on Sept. 5th, “The Conjuring: Last Rites” is the fourth “Conjuring” film and the ninth in the greater franchise.
Like its predecessors, “Last Rites” tells the story of real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren as they look into genuine supernatural phenomena and specifically focuses on their final investigation - the haunting of the Smurl family in 1986 by a demon inhabiting an antique mirror.
The movie features the couple’s daughter, Judy, in a larger role than the previous films, giving her more to do in the fight against the mirror demon and making use of the psychic abilities she inherited from her mother to help the Smurls. It’s really nice to see Judy help out more in her parents’ work, even if it’s in their last adventure.
Furthermore, Judy’s relationship with her fiancé, Tony, may be one of my favorite parts, thanks to how it serves as an effective foil to the horrors going on elsewhere in the film, avoids slowing down the pacing, and has Tony actually playing a decent role in helping the Warrens fight the mirror demon.
Like its predecessors, “Last Rites” does not skimp on the
scares. The Smurl family’s first paranormal experience after getting the mirror happens not even five minutes after it’s brought into their home, and it does not slow down from there.
The family is subject to the likes of vomiting blood and glass, several attacks from violent spirits, and ostracization from their neighbors and the media when they reach out to help in freeing themselves of the mirror demon.
In the end, “Last Rites” succeeds at being a solid installment - both as the final “Conjuring” film proper and on its own merits. It has the scares, the family drama, and one of my favorite endings in the entire series.
Ronnie Chiu-Lin / THE GATEPOST
CONNECT WITH JESSE BURCHILL jcelardo@student.framingham.edu
‘Soul Eater’
By Paul Harrington Staff Writer
“Soul Eater” isn’t exactly a show about kids trick-or-treating, but this show is a treat in itself.
This 2008 anime is deeply rooted in the supernatural and brings together a variety of characters inspired by mythology, religious scriptures, and weapons!
In this show, people can wield and also transform into weapons. Weapon wielders are referred to as “meisters” and form a deep bond with their weapons’ human counterpart.
You have Liz and Patty, the twin pistols, Soul Evans, the scythe, and Tsubaki, the multi-weapon brawler. They fight alongside Death The Kid, Maka Albarn, and Black Star, respectively. The charm of this series lies within its character design. No two characters have the same design, so it’s refreshing to see such a diverse cast of characters.
The episodes aren’t too heavy to follow and the majority of them are sure to make you laugh.
My only gripe with Soul Eater is that near the end of the show, it starts to deviate from the path that the manga took. Now, to the majority of folks, this is not the biggest thing that you’ll lose sleep over, but parts of the final act feel a little out of place when compared to the manga.
With all that said, this show is a certified Paul pick for the spooky season!
Ronnie Chiu-Lin / THE GATEPOST
CONNECT WITH PAUL HARRINGTON pharrington@student.framingham.edu
‘Calling All The Monsters’
By Liv Dunleavy Asst. Arts & Features Editor
In my attempt to find the corniest piece of spooky content, the first and only thing that came to mind was China Anne McClain’s famously catchy and never overplayed “Calling All The Monsters.”
This Disney classic has been enjoyed by many for years, almost 15 to be exact, and yet I still remember every word like it was yesterday. Sitting and watching “A.N.T. Farm,” wishing school was fun like Disney made it out to be, and then getting ready to trickor-treat as a “Monster High” character.
The song evokes a lot of memories for 2000s kids. If you’re old enough to know this song, you know just how powerful it feels to scream these lyrics at a party or in the car around spooky season.
I did extensive research in preparation for this article, and by that, I mean I listened to the song on repeat for this whole month and watched the music video as well as the “A.N.T. Farm” episode as a refresher.
Along with those throwbacks of the media, I found a second music video produced in 2021 by Disney’s girl group Thriii. Sung by the three McClain sisters, it was a remake of the original song, including a feature by Messenger.
‘The
As an avid 2010s child, I definitely enjoy the original the most, though the re-release was a fun watch and wasn’t a terrible listen. But above all, the “Calling All The Monsters” episode of “A.N.T. Farm” was a wave of nostalgia and homesickness.
It was so refreshing compared to today’s TV shows. Even though the jokes are horribly corny and the acting was downright atrocious, I still loved it.
Take my advice and rewatch your favorite Disney show this year - you won’t regret it.
Liv Dunleavy / THE GATEPOST
CONNECT WITH LIV DUNLEAVY odunleavy@student.framingham.edu
‘The House in the Cerulean Sea’
By Sophia Oppedisano Editor-in-Chief
As this Halloween creeps up on us, I decided to trade horror movies and screams for a cozy, enchanting read that is still perfectly suitable for this spooky season.
Think of it more as a monsters-under-the-bed type of scary, if you will.
Just last week, I had the incomparable experience of reading TJ Klune’s 2020 novel, “The House in the Cerulean Sea.”
The story follows Linus Baker, a by-the-book case worker who is sent to investigate an orphanage on a mysterious island housing six magical children who have been deemed dangerous by the government.
The children include the likes of Lucy (short for Lucifer, obviously), the son of the Antichrist, Talia, a fiercely protective gnome, and Chauncy, an amorphous blob who hides under Linus’s bed and has dreams of becoming a bellhop.
Linus arrives on the island fearing the children and their capabilities as well as their caretaker - the mysterious, charming Arthur Parnassus.
As Linus softens toward the children and Arthur, he sheds his fears and long-believed stereotypes that these children are dangerous and scary.
The story and its description of the orphanage, the island, and the family Arthur has built for the children are a feast for the imagination, and Linus, our loveable, honest protagonist, confronts the impossible reality of finding family in an unlikely place.
The book uses the fantastical setting to explore real-world prejudice and explores themes of fear, oppression, inclusivity, and found family.
“The House in the Cerulean Sea” is a welcome respite from horror and gore this Halloween with a story akin to a grown-up fairytale.
You might even learn a thing or two.
And don’t mind Lucy - he probably doesn’t mean it when he threatens to liquify your brain. Probably.
Liv Dunleavy / THE GATEPOST
CONNECT WITH SOPHIA OPPEDISANO soppedisano@student.framingham.edu
Rocky Horror Picture Show’ ‘The Phantom of the Opera
By Dylan Pichnarcik Associate Editor
“The Rocky Horror Picture Show” is a cinematic masterpiece that is sure to be the highlight of any fright night flick this Halloween - the film celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.
“The Rocky Horror Picture Show” is a cross between “Frankenstein” and a musical comedy, featuring performances from Tim Curry, who plays the mysterious Dr. Frank-NFurter, an alien from the planet “Transexual” in the galaxy of “Translyvania,” alongside hit musical performances including “I Can Make You a Man” and “Wise Up Janet Weiss,” a duet with Susan Sarandon, who plays, as the title screen describes, “a heroine.”
The film also includes musical appearances from rock ‘n’ roll icon Meat Loaf, who portrays the doomed Eddie.
Meat Loaf does not have a long screen presence, only appearing for one song, “Hot Patootie / Bless My Soul.”
However, my favorite song from “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” appears after Eddie’s untimely demise: “Eddie,”
performed by Jonathan Adams and the ensemble cast at a tense dinner party where the guests pressure Frank-N-Furter to tell Dr. Scott (Adams) about Eddie’s whereabouts.
To which Frank-NFurter responds, “That’s a rather tender subject,” as he offers his guests more of the evening’s entreeI’ll let that sink in.
While this film isn’t full of perfectly timed jumpscares, it is sure to make you laugh and question why you weren’t born early enough to experience the 1970s.
This Halloween, grab your friends and teach them the “Time Warp”it’s just a jump to the left, then a few random steps that will nearly drive you insane.
Marcus Falcão / THE GATEPOST
CONNECT WITH DYLAN PICHNARCIK dpichnarcik@student.framingham.edu
By Owen Glancy Arts & Features Editor
The silent era for horror cinema is mostly defined by the German Expressionist classics of the early 1920s, such as “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari” and “Nosferatu,” but to assume that all silent horror was German would obviously be phenomenally wrong.
American silent horror often focused on tales from classic literature, with the most prominent example being “The Phantom of the Opera” from 1925. This was Universal’s first major horror success, and the film for which legendary actor Lon Chaney is best known.
Chaney’s performance as the titular Phantom is the main reason to watch this film. He’s just as hypnotic and menacing as you’d want the Phantom to be, and he absolutely carries the film on his back. Chaney was also famous as the “Man of a Thousand Faces,” since he did his own make-up in every role he played, a facet of his character in this film that absolutely delivers a truly bone-chilling moment when he is finally unmasked.
Chaney is not the only
(1925)’
quality aspect, however, as the production design truly gets you lost in this French opera house, a setting the film almost never leaves. From the opulent theater itself to the creepy tunnels and sewers underneath, this setting is perfect for creating a creepy atmosphere.
“The Phantom of the Opera” is the definitive example of silent American horror cinema - an atmospheric and moody film punctuated by a phenomenal central performance and an impressive early color sequence to boot. After watching this just once, this will soon become a new Halloween essential.
Ronnie Chiu-Lin / THE GATEPOST
CONNECT WITH OWEN GLANCY oglancy@student.framingham.edu
By Owen Glancy Arts & Features Editor
“The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari” has the distinction of being the oldest film covered in Owen’s Oldies yet. It is the first silent film I’ve covered and it was released all the way back in 1920.
When this film was released, the world of cinema was at its most volatile. The major studios across the world hadn’t quite become as solidified as they would be in the 1930s, and the cinematic canon was still being established.
It truly was the era of cinematic experimentation, when artistic movements had major impacts on the world of cinema. Of all these movements, the effects of German expressionism would become the most important, something “Caligari” displays perfectly.
The warped architecture, the harsh shadows, and the macabre subject matter - all of these are staples of German expressionist paintings that found their way into the films of the 1920s. These are all very present in “Caligari,” the film that is often considered the most important German expressionist work.
Every building is slanted, windows are anything but square, and characters cast harsh, angular shadows that dominate the space. This style of production design was not just incredible for the time, but it was, and still is, incredibly influential to many filmmakers. From the noirs of the 1940s and ’50s to the gothic horror films of the 1920s and ’30s, “Caligari’s” visual influence was immediately apparent.
The film was not revolutionary for just its visuals though, as the story was also incredibly influential. It follows a man named Francis telling the story of his run-in with the mysterious Dr. Caligari, a traveling carnival man who shows off the somnambulist monster Cesare whilst secretly using him to murder his adversaries. However, Cesare falls in love with a woman, making Dr. Caligari’s plans go awry.
Both the story-within-a-flashback and monsterfalls-in-love-with-a-girl plot elements were by no means new when considering all of storytelling as a whole, but this was new for the realm of cinema. It influenced so many films that trying to name them all would be an impossible task.
“Rashomon’s” flashback-centered storytelling, “King Kong’s” tale of beauty and beast, “Double Indemnity’s” dramatic shadows, and even “Snow White and the Seven Dwarves’” occasional scary imagery are directly inspired by “Caligari.” This film truly is the zenith of so many aspects of filmmaking that it’s truly staggering. There’s
almost no movie made today that cannot in some way trace its existence back to “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari.”
With its influence in mind, some would be quick to dismiss the film as “good for the time” but not worth watching now outside of its educational value. This assessment could not be more wrong. The film is still a creepy, atmospheric, and entrancing watch, even more than 100 years after its release.
Every scene is filled to the brim with moody lighting and odd performances, transporting the viewer to the hazy realms of the protagonist’s memories. Dr. Caligari himself, played by Werner Krauss, is a hypnotic and memorable character brought to life in a way that feels incredibly ahead of its time. This is a performance that, while still having some of the si
lent-era acting quirks, feels incredibly modern in its nuances.
The film is held together by its ending, a twist that stands amongst the greats for accomplishing two things - being shockingly ahead of its time and completely re-contextualizing the entire film.
“The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari” is a film that is as phenomenal to watch as it is influential on the world of cinema as a whole. It is style and substance blended in a way that’s both masterful and incredibly approachable. If you’re someone who’s never seen a silent film or a German film, “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari” is an excellent place to start.
This film is in the public domain, meaning you can stream it for free pretty much anywhere.
The Lexicon: Don’t leave until the last set is over
By Alexis Schlesinger Editorial Staff
I’ve been telling myself for a few years that I was going to get “into the local music scene.”
I finally committed to getting myself in there this summer.
I sometimes fall into a habit of listening to the same songs over and over again, so for a long time, I’ve really wanted to start branching out. I’ve always listened to a pretty decent variety of music, but I sort of felt
like I was missing out on a lot too.
Going to live shows in Boston made it incredibly easy to find new music.
There’s a lot to be said about live music and the community that inhabits Boston and the surrounding cities.
There are shows every night, in so many different venues, at all different price points. Pick nearly any night of the week and you’ll be able to find a show to get to for $10-$15.
Courtesy of Alexis Schlesinger
Aside from the sheer amount of music - and the incredible quality of it - the most valuable part of the scene is the way everything connects.
Not only does everyone seem to know each other, but for each artist you go to see live, you could find two, three, four, or more new favorite artists. If I wrote down all the shows I went to over the summer, it wouldn’t be a list, it would be a web. Nearly every
show I went to led me to another, and oftentimes, there was only one artist on each bill I had seen before.
The first DIY show I attended, I didn’t know any of the bands. I only knew the opener’s drummer. On top of that, I only knew him from his music, not this band.
I wasn’t sure if I was going to stay past the first set either. I didn’t know anyone else.
I had nothing else going on that day though, so not only did I decide to stay for the whole show, I volunteered to set up and break down equipment.
The decision to stay was likely one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life. Before I walked back out the door, I had plans for my next show, new friends, and a new favorite venue.
I could go on forever about how each artist I’ve seen live has led me to another and all the amazing and talented people I’ve met along the way.
However, I’ve noticed that there are a lot of people who don’t share the same sentiments that I do about staying for a whole show.
Between helping out at a few DIY venues, attending a variety of local spots, and even going to a few concerts at high capacity venues, I’ve noticed a large percentage of attendees will come in late, or leave early.
Too many times, I’ve seen crowds come and go within 30 minutes, their only intention to listen to what they’re used to.
There’s even been a few instances where I’ve found myself walking out of a show with an entirely different crowd than I entered with.
This is even noticeable with mainstream artists. When I attended the Reneé Rapp concert at TD Garden on Oct. 2, roughly half the seats were empty until Rapp’s scheduled set time.
While there is value in simply “liking what you like,” you’re gaining so much more by trying out new things.
Even if you think about it in a purely monetary sense, you’re getting more for your time and money. What sounds more worth it, $30 for 30 minutes of music, or two hours?
The worst that can happen to you if you stay? You enjoy the band or artist you came for, and aren’t a fan of the others. Just don’t see the other bands again.
The best that can happen is you walk away with new music to listen to, new connections, and new concert plans for the future. You gain all of this for yourself, while simultaneously supporting the community and the music within it.
Supporting the arts is cyclical. Connections and discovery keep the arts alive.
Supporting the artists your favorite musicians choose to work with benefits everyone and will ultimately lead to more of what you want from who you love.
Whether you do it for your own benefit, or the benefit of others, stay until the last set is over.
‘The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari’
Marcus Falcão / THE GATEPOST
24. Triage sites: Abbr.
25. “Crocodile Rock” singer John
28. Donkey --> Don?
34. British noble
35. Cassettes
36. 1/500 of the Indianapolis 500
37. It’s an OK college!
38. Indian state hidden in “bass amplifier”
39. Chicago Loop loopers
40. Future’s opposite
42. Decided
43. Cheese on crackers
44. Center --> Centimeter?
46. Clamps on workbenches
47. Little lie
48. Joke
49. Mission permission
54. Back on board?
58. Dorothy’s appropriate last name
59. Agitate --> Agate?
61. Misfortunes
62. It comes with strings attached
63. Falls behind
64. Ending for “Oktober”
65. College bigwigs
66. Body part that has a cap DOWN
1. China problem
2. Late actress Anderson
3. Birthstone after sapphire
4. It’s on a laundry list of dangerous internet challenges
5. Computer command for making a paper copy 6. Snitch
7. Egyptian fertility goddess 8. Missouri River native
9. Go on a tirade
10. Proposition in geometry
11. They take a flight before they schuss
12. Neighbor of Afghanistan
13. On its way
18. Tire out
22. Goldfish or hamster
25. Split to unite?
26. Dr. Seuss character who speaks for the trees
27. Teambuilding events that have catches
28. Base for miso soup
29. Lead-in to “Downs” or “salts”
30. Car dealer’s offering
31. Salinger character who said, “I prefer stories about squalor”
32. “Dallas”matriarch Miss ___
33. Affirmatives
35. Boor’s lack
41. Hackneyed to the max
43. Bluster
45. Stomach muscles
46. Gigantic
48. Increases in muscle mass
49. End-of-theweek cheer
50. Healthy
51. Hardly at all
52. Stare with an open mouth
53. Creole vegetable
55. Obi-Wan Kenobi portrayer McGregor
56. Anger
57. Financial page inits.
60. Long, long time
Puzzle solutions are now exclusively online.
On Oct. 30, the dining hall hosted a Halloweenthemed dinner, during which staff dressed in costume.
On Oct. 29, the Fashion Club hosted a Halloween party in Hemenway Hall.
[above] Adrien Gobin / Associate Editor [left] Alexis Schlesinger / Photos & Design Editor
On Oct. 29, the FSU Dance Team [left], Psych Club [middle], and SEALS [right] hosted Halloween themed tables in the McCarthy Center lobby.
Adrien Gobin / Associate Editor
On Oct. 29, the Art Club hosted a pumpkin painting event in the dining hall.
[above, below] Adrien Gobin / Associate Editor
Spread by Alexis Schlesinger, Photos & Design Editor
Alexis Schlesinger / Photos & Design Editor