Volume 91 • Issue 2
September 23, 2022
FSUgatepost.com
Kiwibots now cruising across campus
Leighah Beausoleil / THE GATEPOST
Framingham State Kiwibot team member Jorge Bonilla, who handles operations, hosts a table with Victor Castro, who handles maintenance, giving away various prizes to students. Prizes were awarded through a game where participants attempted to throw three balls into a Kiwibot’s food compartment.
Community outraged following comments at Trustee subcommittee meetings Board of Trustees chair apologizes, vows renewed focus on anti-racism By Leighah Beausoleil Editor-in-Chief Board of Trustees Chair Kevin Foley and Trustee Mike Grilli made comments during subcommittee meetings last week that were deemed “deeply offensive,” according to President Nancy Niemi in a community-wide email Sept. 16. The first instance occurred during the Academic Affairs Subcommittee meeting Sept. 13, according to Niemi in an interview. During this meeting, Kristen Porter-Utley, provost and vice president of academic affairs, who chairs the
subcommittee, gave a presentation on her goals for the year, according to Niemi. One of the “pillars” of her goals was advancing the University’s mission to become an anti-racist institution, Niemi said. Foley “questioned whether or not the term ‘anti-racism’ was the best use of the term or could it be stated more positively - like inclusiveness or equity,” she said. Niemi explained Porter-Utley’s response to this comment. “She stated that this was a specific term that referred to a whole theory and practice of the way we behave when we’re
A vibrant welcome to FSU
By Emily Rosenberg Associate Editor
A parent waves as they wipe a tear from their eye and watch their firstborn child enter their residence hall. There’s a long line at the campus bookstore and ID office. There are signs everywhere directing people where to go, and welcoming people to campus. And in front of the McCarthy Center, there’s a booth with the smiling faces of orientation leaders and Deans inviting new and returning students to decorate the ground with chalk. Every year, New Student and Family Programs, which has been broken into
two offices following orientation, the Dean of Students, and Student Involvement organize orientation and a welcome week known as “Black and Gold Beginnings” (BGB) for new students. Black and Gold Beginnings was spread out over a week, lasting from the day first-years moved in to the last day of the first week of classes. This is unlike previous years, when it lasted the length of move-in to the first day of classes. Sara Gallegos, executive director of student experience and careers, said the Black and Gold Beginnings Planning Committee decided to stretch out the events into a welcome week due to the odd scheduling of the beginning
News KIWIBOTS pg. 3
Opinions
trying to become an institution, or an organization, that works to improve and get rid of racism and to make an equitable institution.” The second instance occurred during the Enrollment and Student Development Subcommittee meeting Sept. 14, according to Niemi. The enrollment report was presented by Niemi, and in reference to the loss of approximately 1,000 white women The Gatepost Archives over the last few years, Grilli made an “inappropriate” remark regarding the ACCOUNTABILITY pg. 6 actor Jussie Smollett, she said. COMIC pg. 7 In 2019, Smollett falsely reported a hate crime that he had staged.
See BOARD OF TRUSTEES page 4
Sports
of the academic year. The first day of school was on a Friday, which led into Labor Day. Instead, they planned a “welcome week,” which is traditional for other universities. There were approximately the same number of programs, but students had more opportunities to attend The Gatepost Archives them because they were spread out over the week, rather than overlapping. MEN’S SOCCER pg. 9 Programming included an SGA-sponsored movie night, a scavenger hunt and a tote bag decorating session with orientation leaders, a back-to-school barbeque, and more informational pro- MAZMANIAN GALLERY pg. 10-11 gramming such as “questions that need
Arts & Features
See ORIENTATION page 12
DUELING DISHES pg. 13
INSIDE: OP/ED 6 • SPORTS 8 • ARTS & FEATURES 10