September 20, 2019

THE GATEPOST Framingham State’s award-winning independent student newspaper since 1932

Volume 88 • Issue 2

September 20, 2019

FSUgatepost.com

Health Center warns students of the ‘critical’ risk level of Triple E virus

Homecoming event schedule modified to accommodate safety concerns

By Nadira Wicaksana Editor-in-Chief

On Sept. 13, the Dean of Students office sent an email to the campus community on behalf of Ilene Hofrenning, director of the Health Center, stating the City of Framingham increased the risk level for the Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) virus to “critical.”

This was an update from a previous Aug. 30 email listing the risk for EEE as “high.”

EEE, colloquially known by the nickname “Triple E,” is a virus that originates from birds, according to Hofrenning. After biting birds,

See EEE RISK page 7 Students dance with Regie Gibson at “Shakespeare Time-Traveling Speakeasy” Sept. 17.

Caroline Gordon / THE GATEPOST

“Shakespeare Time-Traveling CASA brings academic support closer to student population Speakeasy” teaches FSU “Minute Clinic” and “Thinkingstorm” community “to be” launched this semester

By Sara Senesac Asst. Arts & Features Editor The Arts & Ideas series showcased the first installment of its “Roots/ Routes” series with “Shakespeare to Hip Hop: A Performance,” featuring Regie Gibson, former National Poetry Slam Individual Champion, in the McCarthy Center Forum Sept. 17.

Kristen Abbott Bennett and Jennifer De Leon, English professors, kicked off the event with a brief introduction and explanation of how the “Shakespeare Time-Traveling Speakeasy” came to be.

De Leon, who has been a friend of Gibson’s for over a decade, described the show as “a literary concert using American musical forms as backdrop for stories, poems, songs, and humor focusing on the background, mysteries, works, and impact of the most famous writer in the world.

“I know you won’t be disappointed tonight,” she said.

News

The two main performers were Gibson and his co-star, Marlin Carey, also known by their stage names “Robin Hoodfellow” and “Horatio Everyman.” The two combined elegant vocals with intricate lyrics to remix popular rap songs into a Shakespeare history lesson.

Their voices, in combination with Mibbit Threats on bass, Matt Steinberg on drums, and Graham English on keyboard, created a unique and unforgettable performance that brought the words of William Shakespeare to life.

Hoodfellow and Everyman began the show with a “Shakespearean Mic Check.”

“This is a mic check - a mic check - a mic check - a Shakespearean mic check,” they sang. By putting their own musical twist on a basic mic check the two were able to set the tone for the performance to follow.

See SHAKESPEARE SPEAKEASY page 13

Opinions

By Donald Halsing News Editor FSU’s Center for Academic Success and Achievement (CASA) launched a new initiative this week that places student tutors in easy-to-access locations around campus.

LaDonna Bridges, associate dean of academic success at CASA, said the program is called CASA’s “Minute Clinic.”

“We’re placing academic strategy peer tutors (ASPTs) in different locations for several hours a week,” Bridges said.

Students do not need an appointment to visit the clinics. Bridges said students can “drop in” and “ask us a question.”

Allison Chisholm, academic success coordinator at CASA, said ASPTs are available at Minute Clinics to “break down assignments, or, if they have five things due next week and they just don’t know where to start,

Arts & Features

they can help them with that.”

She said ASPTs can also connect students to other resources in CASA. Bridges discussed retention of students at traditional tutoring sessions.

“People would make appointments to come in for their one-on-one peer tutoring sessions,” she said.

“They would start off strong, but they would drop off,” she added.

Chisholm said, “We found that students don’t need or don’t want to commit to an hour-a-week appointment.” She said CASA needed to “decentralize” their services and “meet the students where they are.

“That means,” she added, “seeing them in the library when they’re doing work,” and helping students if they face a “roadblock” while working in their dorms.

Chisholm said CASA has “done a couple of partnerships” with Residence Life in the past, but none involving tutors directly.

See CASA page 4

Sports

ENGAGEMENT DAY pg. 5

BORK LAZER pg. 8

“PEANUT BUTTER FALCON” pg. 11

VOLLEYBALL pg. 16

CROCKER HALL pg. 6

FAT SHAMING pg. 10

SUMMER OF SCIENCE pg. 12

LIAM’S LINEUP pg. 19

INSIDE: OP/ED 8 • ARTS & FEATURES 11 • SPORTS 16

NEWS

2 | SEPTEMBER 20, 2019

Gatepost Interview

Editorial Board

Editor-in-Chief Nadira Wicaksana Associate Editors Cara McCarthy Ashley Wall News Editor Donald Halsing Interim Asst. News Editor Evan Lee Arts & Features Editors Brennan Atkins Robert Johnson Jr. Asst. Arts & Features Editor Sara Senesac Interim Asst. Arts & Features Editor Jared Graf Entertainment Correspondent Noah Barnes Interim Fashion Correspondent Caeley Whalen Opinions Editor Thomas Maye Sports Editor Liam Gambon Asst. Sports Editor Carlos Silva Design Editor Kathleen Moore Asst. Photos Editor Ryan Feinblatt Copy Editor Gordon Rupert Asst. Copy Editor Lauren Paolini Staff Writers Leighah Beausoleil Patrick Brady Kaitlyn Cullen Lizzy Stocks Staff Photographers Caroline Gordon Advisor Dr. Desmond McCarthy Asst. Advisor Elizabeth Banks Administrative Assistant Gwenyth Swain 100 State Street McCarthy Center Room 410 Framingham, MA 01701-9101 Phone: (508) 626-4605 Fax: (508) 626-4097 gatepost@framingham.edu

@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

Constanza “Connie” Cabello

Vice president of diversity, inclusion, and community engagement

By Nadira Wicaksana Editor-in-Chief

What is your educational and professional background?

I feel like if you know me for five minutes, you’ll know that I was born in Chile. But I moved to the Boston area when I was a baby - my family immigrated here. ... I went to college, was a first-generation college student, didn’t know anything about what I was doing.

I was watching March Madness and I thought those were probably really good schools to apply to. So, I ended up going to UConn for my bachelor’s, and I got my bachelor’s in human development and family studies with a concentration in social policy and planning. When I was at UConn … one of the things I was doing was a work-study job in our student activities office. When I was there, everyone was like, “You should really consider going into higher education as a profession.” ... I got my master’s at Central Connecticut State University, and my master’s was in counseling with a focus in student development in higher education. When I was there, I did graduate internships. My first year was in student activities, but my focus was really on the multicultural center.

That’s when I really developed my passion for social justice, diversity, and inclusion. ... Fast forward, I’ve pretty much worked in New England in different student affairs professional areas, but most recently, I worked at UMass Lowell for four years in their multicultural center, and then transitioned to Stonehill College ... and worked there in their intercultural affairs office. When I left, I was actually functioning as the assistant to the president for institutional diversity, which has kind of set me up for this role.

I have also recently completed my doctorate at Northeastern. It’s an Ed.D. in organizational leadership studies.

How did you become interested in your field of study?

I always grew up in communities where there was rich racial and ethnic diversity, but also religious diversity, sexuality diversity, ability [diversity].

College was actually the first space in which I felt completely othered. That was when I really became aware of social problems, justice issues, and I think that happens for a lot of college students. You finally get to this space where you’re out of your comfort zone a little bit, and you’re like, “Whoa, there’s all these things that I’m now noticing.”

Corrections

Courtesy of Framingham State University College is when I really started to develop that passion. And I would say it was when I was in grad school. I started to say, “I can do something about this through education.” I’ve always kind of considered myself a social justice advocate who works in higher education.

I’m not sure there’s any other job in higher education I could have. I don’t think there’s any other space I could work in other than diversity, inclusion, and community engagement. … I oftentimes say the best career advice I give people is, “This idea of vocation is not only what you enjoy and what you’re good at, but also what the world needs you to do, too.” ... I really wanted to get back to the Massachusetts public school system. I just feel like that’s where equity work really happens. It was exciting to have the opportunity to come back to … particularly the students and families that public state education serves, and that’s very important to me, because that’s who I feel connected to. In terms of the level of the work, knowing that Framingham State has had a lot of racist incidents on campus and a lot of social justice issues … I was like, “You know what? This is a real opportunity.” We know there are real issues. We know there is work to be done. And even though there have been some really negative experiences, I feel the campus is ready to do some work.

What kind of initiatives are you planning and how do you think they’re going to make your time here stand out?

For me, the number one thing I’m doing - I’ve been here 10 weeks - is to listen. It’s the best thing I can do right

In last week’s issue, we incorrectly provided Interim Asst.

News Editor Evan Lee’s email as elee@student.framingham. edu on page 5. His email address is elee5@student.framingham.edu. We apologize for the error.

now. I’m getting a sense of people’s experiences and building relationships, because for me, you can’t do equity work if you don’t have relationships. I’m doing my listening tour. I’m drinking a lot of coffee - I feel like I have coffee with people all day. ... My sense of Framingham State is that there are a lot of these pockets of really good equity and diversity and inclusion work happening, but there’s not really this overarching plan that makes it come together. So, longer term, that’s something I really want to work through - how do we coordinate our efforts so we’re working toward something much bigger? The other things I’m really hoping to focus more on … I have this diversity and inclusion piece, which is focused more internally on our community and making sure it’s safe and welcoming and inclusive. The other half of my job is the community engagement piece, so working with the MetroWest area, working with good neighbors and good partners - not just inviting people here, but also getting people out in the community. Some initiatives are taking a good look at our bias education and response protocols and programs, and doing more work around prevention, rather than responding. That’s also really important to me. … Other initiatives I’m thinking through, as we become more diverse in terms of our student body, is the capacity-building of our faculty, staff, and students. That means trainings, workshops, educational opportunities we’re offering to people so that folks are prepared for that.

What are you looking forward to in particular?

I’m looking forward to learning about FSU traditions and meeting more students. The students I have met with have just been awesome and so gracious with their stories. I think I’m looking forward to being part of this community and becoming aware of our traditions and what makes us special. ... I am serious when I say I don’t want people to think that just because I’m “part of the administration” they can’t come to me.

I grew up in this field through student affairs, I’m very student-centered, and I want to be meeting with students. I hope folks know that I’m here and I’m visible. I’m on Twitter and Instagram people can follow me on that.

CONNECT WITH NADIRA WICAKSANA nwicaksana@student.framingham.edu

Police Logs Sunday, September 15 23:42 Attempt to Locate Towers Hall Call Assignment Complete

In last week’s issue, a photo accidentally obscured Carlos Silva’s sports column “The NFL’s 100th birthday party” on page 17. The column will be reprinted in this week’s issue on page Tuesday, September 17 18, and is also available on our website FSUgatepost.com. We 13:23 apologize for the error.

Medical Foster Hall In last week’s issue, we incorrectly spelled Staff Photogra- Transported to Hospital pher Caroline Gordon’s name on page 20. We apologize for the error.

Tuesday, September 17 12:45 Investigation FSU Police Dept.

Assignment Complete Tuesday, September 17 21:36 Alarm (Fire/Smoke) Linsley Hall False Alarm

NEWS

SEPTEMBER 20, 2019 | 3

SGA allocates large sum to Ski and Snowboard Club

By Ashley Wall Associate Editor

By Leighah Beausoleil Staff Writer SGA approved a funding request for the Ski and Snowboard Club at their meeting Sept. 17. The total amount allocated was $13,993.

The request, denied by Financial Committee, was brought to SGA as an appeal.

The Ski and Snowboard Club’s two-day Sunday River Trip is scheduled to occur in February 2020.

The original funding request for the trip included an overnight hotel stay, 42 tickets, 10 equipment rentals, transportation, and trip staff.

In addition to their presentation, Ski and Snowboard Club also gave three alternative options for trip pricing.

SGA President Matty Bennet then allocated five minutes to senate for questions.

Senator Olivia Rothwell asked, “If you don’t use all the rentals, do you get the money refunded?”

Richie Svopa, president of the Ski and Snowboard Club, confirmed the refund, saying, “The ski resorts are really good about that. They have [refunded] in the past.”

Rothwell also inquired about their upcoming bake sale fundraiser.

Svopa said, “This [the funding appeal] was my main priority this week.”

Rothwell replied, “It’s still early - I was just curious.”

Olivia Beverlie, acting parliamentarian and student trustee, asked if there was a possibility to move the trip to a closer location.

Members of Ski and Snowboard Club present their funding request for their overnight ski trip to SGA. Svopa said, “That would be a good option. We have always traditionally gone back to Sunday River. We have a good relationship with them.”

Rothwell moved to allocate an amount not to exceed $15,958 to Ski and Snowboard Club’s Sunday River trip due to the removal of 10 tickets.

Danielle Shaw, outreach and events coordinator, debated the amount to be allocated.

Shaw said, “I just did the math … from their original request. That would be 14.5% of our unallocated [budget]. … I believe this is too large an amount of money.”

She moved to make a formal amendment to allocate $0.

Rothwell did not approve the amendment and the motion failed.

She commended the club for having brought other options for consid-

eration and having made an effort to work with them, saying, “That’s what we have been asking of clubs - to understand our situation and work with us.

“They have brought the work to show that they are passionate about this trip. I believe that we should consider these three options before we respond,” she said.

Shaw suggested a one-night stay at a closer resort, given Sunday River has a two-night policy.

Secretary Lexi Kays asked, “If this [funding request] doesn’t pass, does the deposit for the trip that we already funded go back, or is it binding?”

Bennet clarified SGA eBoard funded Ski and Snowboard Club’s $500 deposit over the summer in anticipation of the funding request.

Ryan Feinblatt / THE GATEPOST

According SGA Advisor Sara Gallegos, Sunday River has yet to return their contract, meaning no money has currently been spent on the trip. When the resort processes their check, Ski and Snowboard Club will not be able to get their deposit back.

Bennet moved the senate vote on funding option 1, which would cover 32 tickets, 10 rentals, staff, and transportation.

Senate opposed the motion 4-3.

Bennet entertained a new motion.

Shaw moved to allocate $0, which failed. Rothwell moved to allocate $13,993, due to the removal of five tickets and five rentals.

Senate voted 5-2 in favor of the motion, which passed.

Bennet moved the meeting forward with an election timeline reminder with Kays.

Candidates’ Night took place Sept.

19. Interested students will have until Election Day, Sept. 26, to campaign.

Voting will open on RamLink Sept.

26 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. There will also be a voting station set up in the McCarthy lobby from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The senate meeting concluded with Shaw presenting the “U-Rock” award to Rothwell.

CONNECT WITH ASHLEY WALL awall1@student.framingham.edu Ryan Feinblatt / THE GATEPOST Olivia Beverlie, student trustee, and Danielle Shaw, outreach and events coordinator, discuss the funding request.

Weather

Sunday night Mostly clear, low near 60. SW winds around 10 mph.

Monday 30% chance of rain in the afternoon. High near 80. SW winds around 10, gusting to 22 mph.

Monday night 40% chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, low near 60. SW winds around 5 mph.

Tuesday 30% chance of showers in the morning.

High near 70. W winds around 5 mph.

CONNECT WITH LEIGHAH BEAUSOLEIL lbeausoleil@student.framingham.edu

Forecast provided by the National Weather Service www.weather.gov Tuesday night Wednesday night Mostly clear, with a Partly cloudy, low near low near 50. NW winds 50. S winds around 5 around 5 mph. mph.

Wednesday Sunny, high near 70.

NW winds around 5 mph.

Thursday 30% chance of showers. Otherwise, sunny, high near 70.

SW winds around 10, gusting to 20 mph.

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4 | SEPTEMBER 20, 2019

CASA

Continued from page 1 Bridges said they needed “different ways” to reach students. She said weekly meetings “work for some students, but not for a lot of students.

“Students are oftentimes very reluctant to seek help,” Bridges added.

CASA currently hosts Minute Clinics three days per week at various campus locations.

On Mondays, the clinic is in Whittemore Library from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the periodicals section on the upper mezzanine.

On Tuesdays, the clinic is in Corinne Hall Towers from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the office by the security desk.

On Wednesdays, the clinic is in the McCarthy Center student lounge from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., and the O’Connor Hall Center for Inclusive Excellence from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Bridges said the Minute Clinic is a pilot program. The first clinic was hosted Sept. 16.

Chisholm said, “We’re pushing it out on social media.

“If we find that it works,” she added, “we’ll expand.”

Bridges said, “If it works out, we’ll add more hours and divert some of our resources - that are more CASA-bound - to be more externally focused.”

Chisholm said, “We’re excited and we hope it works - we want people to utilize it.”

“Hopefully,” Bridges added, “we

@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

NEWS can steer them to the right resources or answer their question.”

CASA’s new online tutoring system launched July 1 through a link on students’ Blackboard homepages.

Chisholm said Thinkingstorm is primarily for students taking online courses, but also for students who need help “after hours” or on the weekends.

She said students can “get connected with a math, statistics, or science tutor within about two to three

48 hours.

“Usually, the turnaround time is less than 24 hours,” she added.

Even for students who visit CASA in person, Thinkingstorm is a useful tool.

Chisholm said if students need accounting help immediately, “but maybe their accounting tutor’s next hours are tomorrow,” they can make an appointment with an online tutor and get help in as little as “two hours.

“That’s simply because those folks

“It’s a very robust tutoring platform.”

- LaDonna Bridges, associate dean of academic success at CASA minutes of signing on.” Students can send in problems, screen share, and use a virtual whiteboard to communicate with professional tutors.

Other services in Thinkingstorm are appointment-based. These include accounting, economics, computer science, programming, and nursing.

Chisholm said students can make online appointments with writing tutors for “quick questions” and upload their papers for feedback.

“The option which most students use is uploading their paper,” Chisholm said, “and they can receive feedback on that whole paper within

aren’t always online like the math and science tutors are,” she said.

Bridges said the program was launched over the summer for continuing education students.

She said nursing students gave feedback, saying it was “incredibly helpful.”

Bridges said, “It’s a very robust tutoring platform.

“We’ve had e-tutoring for a while,” she said, “but we didn’t have students accessing it as often as we would have liked.”

Bridges said students are reluctant to “come into a building to seek help.” Thinkingstorm provides tutor-

ing to students wherever they might be.

Chisholm said, “We want students to utilize the tutors in CASA if it’s easy for them. This is there for students if they would prefer that, or, if they have an accounting question at 11 p.m. and we’re not open.”

Thinkingstorm replaces a previous online tutoring system, which Chisholm said was “ceasing to exist.

“That really forced us to look into some other options,” she added.

Chisholm said she is “very happy” with the utilization of Thinkingstorm so far.

CASA relies on student employees.

Bridges calls them the “backbone” of the program.

“I can give you a study tip, and encourage you to do it,” she said, “but somehow - coming from someone who has recently been there - it makes a big difference.”

Students fill roles including supplemental instruction leaders, ASPTs, and subject tutors at CASA. “We have a wealth of student academic leaders that work for us,” Bridges said, “and we’re always looking for more.”

CONNECT WITH DONALD HALSING dhalsing@student.framingham.edu

NEWS

SEPTEMBER 20, 2019 | 5

Job and club opportunities offered at Engagement Day More than 700 students attend annual event, an increase from the previous year

By Evan Lee Interim Asst. News Editor FSU hosted its annual Engagement Day Sept. 19, featuring an array of onand off-campus organizations for students to engage with in the Athletic Center gymnasium.

The annual event combines both a job fair held by Career Services and Employer Relations (CSER) and a club fair held by Student Involvement and Leadership Development (SILD).

Dawn Ross, director of CSER, said, “It was a collaboration effort between us.”

More than 700 students attended this year’s event, which was “a very big increase” from last year’s turnout of approximately 500, according to Ross.

Representatives from 54 off-campus companies, nonprofits, and government organizations made themselves available to students. Each representative offered opportunities to gain experience through volunteer work, internships, and paid positions.

The MetroWest YMCA had lots of job opportunities to share. Greg Dustin, a “School’s Out” director, listed “after-school and before-school programs, lifeguards, and activity

dents.”

She said, “Our job is to create a vibrant and socially engaged community.”

Thraen added, “The skill set that students get here, and the portfolio they can build, gives them a strong foothold in their search for a career.”

Framingham and Natick district courts offered intern positions “based on a Case Specialist I,” according to Barbara Gould-Cincotta, the head administrative assistant of the Natick District Court.

She explained student interns would be “trained in all Case Specialist duties,” and would experience a “broad range of legal and administrative matters that arise in the courthouse.”

Gould-Cincotta added, “There’s so many career paths under that roof.”

Melissa Eng, a recruiter for Wayfair - an e-commerce company - said they were hiring for the company’s first brick-and-mortar store in the Natick Mall.

Erin Gilbert, a volunteer mentor for Call2Talk - a mental health, emotional support, and suicide prevention program - said they’re “always looking for volunteers to take phone calls.”

Other organizations sought not to

“There’s a lot of opportunities for upperclassmen to seek careers.”

-Mike Tucci, senior counselors” among other opportunities for students to consider.

“The Y basically does everything,” Dustin said.

Courtney Thraen, the executive director of Downtown Framingham Inc., described the “Main Street America Model” this nonprofit uses to “respond to the needs of businesses and resi-

offer work opportunities directly, but rather to help and prepare students for work in certain industries.

Raven Williams, a program associate at Hack.Diversity, said, “We recruit, develop, and place minority technical talent into notable tech companies in the greater Boston area.”

Anna Cross, the executive director

Students showcase their table at Engagement Day.

Ryan Feinblatt / THE GATEPOST

Ryan Feinblatt / THE GATEPOST Students interact with representatives from various on- and off-campus organizations. of the MetroWest Nonprofit Network, said the organization wants to “connect students to nonprofits.”

Mike Tucci, a student who attended Engagement Day, said, “I’m happy that as a senior, they offer this to us.

“There’s a lot of opportunities for upperclassmen to seek careers,” he added.

Tucci was also impressed with the many student-run clubs on display, adding that he signed up for the Wildlife Club’s email list.

The Wildlife Club displayed casts of large reptile skulls and taxidermied animals, including an opossum and rabbit, on their table.

Gabby Suazo, the club’s president,

interest” at their table, which had several games on display. He showed the club’s email list with 36 addresses.

Along with clubs, student-run organizations hosted tables during the event as well.

SGA - the Student Government Association - raised awareness about campus issues and the ways they work to address them.

Olivia Beverlie, student trustee, said all students are welcome to voice their concerns to SGA during its weekly meetings. “We’re the main advocates for students on campus,” she said.

“We just want to make this a better place for students,” she added.

Bennet was happy with the “good

“I’ve been told many, many times that Framingham State’s fairs are the best-run fairs.”

- Dawn Ross, director of Career Services and Employer Relations said it’s “based on outdoor activities” and encourages students to learn about “wildlife issues.”

In total, 31 clubs hosted tables at the event, according to Matty Bennet, SGA president and student coordinator of events for SILD. The Nutrition Club set up a wheel at their table for students to spin. It landed on nutrition-based questions they could try to answer and then learn about afterwards.

Briana Wrubleski, the club’s president, said, “We raise awareness about healthy eating and how it affects your life.”

Mariah Farris, the vice president of M.I.S.S. - Motivation. Intersectionality.

Solidarity. Sisterhood - described the club as “a sisterhood on campus where we uplift women of color, but also welcome all allies.”

Thomas Hadrick, the secretary of Gaming Club, said there was “lots of

flow of student traffic” that showed up and described the event itself as “awesome, fantastic.”

He said, “You can have so many different ways to spend time on campus and be involved.”

Bennet added, “There was great teamwork between SILD and Career Services.”

Wendy Davis, office manager for CSER, said, “We’re all pleased with how it turned out.

“Employers walked out of here happy, students walked out with jobs, and connections were made,” she added.

Ross said, “I’ve been told many, many times that Framingham State’s fairs are the best-run fairs.”

And this one was “epic!” she said.

CONNECT WITH EVAN LEE elee5@student.framingham.edu

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NEWS

6 | SEPTEMBER 20, 2019

First phase of Crocker Hall renovations started

Upgrades include accessible bathrooms

By Jared Graf Interim Asst. Arts & Features Editor The first phase of a multi-year plan to renovate campus’ oldest building, Crocker Hall, began this summer.

The office of Susan Dargan, founding dean of social and behavioral sciences and interim dean of business, is located in the 133-year-old building.

Her support staff, as well as visiting lecturers and some of the faculty from the business departments also have offices there.

Dale Hamel, executive vice president, described the renovations to Crocker Hall as a two-phase plan spanning over three fiscal years. FSU currently has a $1.6 million budget set aside for this project.

According to Hamel, the state’s money comes from the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM), while the University’s money comes from funds borrowed with revenue bonds through the Massachusetts State College Building Authority.

“The state provides 74% of the total funding of this five-year Critical Repairs Spending Plan, and we [FSU] provide 26%,” said Hamel.

Although the Critical Repairs Spending Plan spans over a five-year period, there’s only enough funding for three years’ worth of work in Crocker Hall.

Recently, DCAMM undertook a strategic capital planning process that focused on critical repairs for state universities. The money each university receives is based on a survey taken by the firm “Sightlines.”

The survey ranked all FSU facilities and determined a net asset value (NAV) based on their condition.

Crocker Hall had a 27% NAV score the lowest of any facility on campus.

“We have the highest aggregate NAV score of the state universities,”

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said Hamel. “But obviously, there’s some that are in good shape and some that are in the ‘red category.’”

Patricia Whitney, assistant vice president of facilities operations, said that most of the work in Crocker Hall will take place over the next two summers.

The only change to Crocker Hall during the school year will be the addition of the MetroWest Economic Research Center (MERC) to the first floor. “So, that’s the only construction you’ll see going on this fall,” said Whitney.

The renovation plans with the contractor to prepare for MERC are about 95% done, according to Hamel. So far, the contractor replaced the ceiling, installed new lighting, and updated paint on the first floor to get it ready.

Luis Rosero, co-director of MERC and associate professor of economics, said, “We’re just very happy that the MetroWest Economic Research Center is being relocated to be better incorporated with the accounting, economics, and finance departments.

“We are really excited about the facilities under the same roof now. The students will be closer to us - it’s going to be great,” Rosero added.

Other than outside lighting, the current project mainly focuses on renovations to the building’s interior.

According to Whitney, the school received “multiple bids” from contractors who were interested in the project. “When we have a job like this, to meet state procurement requirements, we go out to bid,” she said. “In this case, the contractor we [chose] was the low bid and he got good references, so we continued on with him.”

The contractor had not done work on campus prior to the first phase this summer, which included an accessible gender-neutral bathroom on the first floor, an upgraded fire alarm system, and preparation work to make addi-

tional restrooms on the first floor.

“There were a couple of major things we were trying to tackle in Crocker. There were certainly things related to structural integrity and maintenance and things that would be invisible to the students, but are really important,” said Whitney.

She credited the improved handicap accessibility on the first floor as one of the hall’s major noticeable changes.

“We have one restroom on the first floor now, and by the time the next phase is done, we’ll have three restrooms on the first floor,” said Whitney. “We will have significantly improved and redone the bathrooms on the upper floors.”

One action taken to make the hall more navigable was replacing some of the hardwood floors with carpet. “The wood floors were irregular. They had high bumps in them and divots, so it’s very hard for someone with any kind of disability to maneuver,” said Whitney.

Amidst all the upgrades, an effort has been made to incorporate some of the most prominent aspects of the building into the new renovations.

The hardwood floors in the meeting room and near the main entrance were kept and refinished, and the fireplace in the entrance also remains.

“We really tried to keep the character of the building where it was possible,” Whitney said.

Another goal Whitney said the school sought for the hall was to create a suite that made it easy to locate Dargan and her support staff, as well as give students an area to sit down and wait, instead of pacing up and down hallways.

In addition, lighting in the firstfloor offices and corridors was improved. The lighting is also now wired to the emergency system - meaning if the school loses power, emergency

lights inside and on the porch would engage.

Chris Payson, a visiting lecturer for the English department who has an office on the third floor, said, “It looks nice downstairs.”

By the end of next summer, Whitney projects the completion of accessible bathrooms on the second and third floors. “We’ll have new, comfortable, accessible bathrooms on every floor.”

Regarding the main focus of the renovations, Whitney said, “We know the bathrooms are our number-one priority. But, beyond that, we’re looking at corridors and other lighting.”

Freshman Zachary Beaudet applauded the push for accessible bathrooms throughout the building, saying, “I think it’s pretty good.”

Crocker Hall was allocated $1.6 million for renovations, but much more is needed for all necessary repairs, so only the most important updates are happening.

“One of the things I think is worth mentioning is this is only a small part of what we have identified for needs in Crocker,” Whitney said. “We recognize there’s more like 8 or 9 million dollars’ worth of work we would like to eventually do.”

If given a larger budget, Whitney expressed interest in redoing the stairwells with rubber flooring, so they’re more resilient and clean.

But due to a lack of funds, the rubber flooring, along with renovations inside individual faculty and staff offices, will be put to the side for now.

“We will continue to look for funding in the coming years to do more things that we know need to be done,” Whitney said.

Although the goal for Crocker Hall is to equip every floor with accessible bathrooms, the building has no elevator.

Continued on page 7

Crocker Hall renovations

Interior renovations of Crocker Hall.

NEWS

SEPTEMBER 20, 2019 | 7

Jared Graf / THE GATEPOST

Junior Jarred Dulac said, “That doesn’t sound very handicap accessible to me.”

Senior Kelsey Waitt said, “They should focus on getting an elevator in there.”

Crocker Hall’s lack of an elevator is one of the main factors holding it back from achieving a higher NAV score.

Whitney said that in a list of needs, “This would be part of a much larger project in the building, and as we mentioned, we do not have any funding at this point.”

Senior Lauren Cohen said she thinks the accessible bathrooms are a good thing, but “there’s no elevators, so how will handicapped people get there?”

Business professor John Palabiyik, who has an office on the second floor, was also concerned, “I don’t think it’s [upper-floor handicap accessable bathrooms] logical without the elevator.”

Whitney doesn’t consider building accessible bathrooms on the second

and third floors a waste of money.

“ADA bathrooms help people with all types of needs, not just people in wheelchairs.”

Payson agreed. “Folks who are in wheelchairs wouldn’t be able to get to those, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that folks with other kinds of disabilities wouldn’t be well served by that space.”

Whitney added the cost of accessible bathrooms is “not significantly more” than traditional bathrooms, and that rebuilding the restrooms once an elevator eventually does get put in the hall would be the real waste of money.

“I think if they’re going to do it, they might as well do it right and include that space,” said Payson. “It seems like this building’s got some good bones.”

CONNECT WITH JARED GRAF jgraf@student.framingham.edu

EEE risk Continued from page 1 mosquitoes spread the virus to humans and other species such as horses, for which the virus is named.

“On the one hand, it’s extremely rare,” Hofrenning said. “There’s only been eight people in Massachusetts who have nine affected by Triple E this year.

“But on the other hand, it’s very, very dangerous,” she added.

According to information provided by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH), between 1938 and 2013, there were 100 recorded cases of EEE in the commonwealth.

“However, the mortality rate for those affected is high, and survivors often suffer severe neurological sequelae,” or pathological conditions, according to the MDPH. Of those 100 cases, 55% resulted in death.

According to University emails, symptoms of the virus include a high fever that can reach 103 to 106 degrees Fahrenheit, stiff neck, head-

ache, and lethargy.

“These symptoms show up three to 10 days after a bite from an infected mosquito,” the email states.

“Inflammation and swelling of the brain, called encephalitis, is the most dangerous and frequent serious complication.

“The disease gets worse quickly and some patients may go into a coma within a week. If you develop any of these symptoms, you should seek medical attention immediately.

There is no treatment for EEE, but supportive care can be given,” according to the email.

Hofrenning said there are no recorded cases of the virus in Framingham, but some surrounding towns have seen some severe cases - such as Sudbury, where a five-year-old girl is reported to be in “critical condition,” according to WCVB. Both the City of Framingham and the MDPH advised Massachusetts residents to follow their set recommendations to avoid mosquito bites, according to the email.

Jared Graf / THE GATEPOST

Hofrenning said this weekend’s According to Hofrenning, these homecoming events, such as the car- mosquitoes also carry the West Nile nival and the Sunset Salsa, have been Virus (WNV). However, the risk of moved to earlier time slots, as well as contracting this virus is reported relocated indoors, so as to maximize as “low” in most areas of the state, safety and minimize risk. with some cities and towns, such as “The Sunset Salsa was supposed Worcester, Boston, and Newton, reto be in Crocker Grove - which would porting a risk level of “moderate,” have been really fun - but that’s been according to the mass.gov website. moved inside DPAC,” she said.

WNV is more of a concern among These moves follow one of the the very young and elderly - “over 50 recommendations set forth by the and under 2,” according to HofrenMDPH to schedule outdoor events ning. earlier. It also advises people to “They [the mosquitoes] tend to be wear longer garments to reduce the more active between dusk and dawn amount of exposed skin, as well as - especially at dusk and especially at use insect repellent that contains dawn,” she said.

DEET - a common name for the acHofrenning added the MDPH pertive ingredient in many repellents. forms weekly tests to gauge risk lev“But the good news is ... it went els. down into the 40s last night,” HofShe said, “I don’t think people renning said. “So, the colder it gets, should be scared, and they shouldn’t the less active the mosquitos are. be worried, but they should take pre“So usually by the end of Septem- cautions.” ber, the risk is quite low. By the time we have our first frost, the risk is gone - the mosquitos are gone,” she CONNECT WITH NADIRA WICAKSANA added. nwicaksana@student.framingham.edu

FRAMINGHAM STATE UNIVERSITY’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1932 | FSUGATEPOST.COM

8 | SEPTEMBER 20, 2019

OP/ED

THE GATEPOST EDITORIAL

OP/ED

Don’t be afraid to ask for help As college students, we are really good at making last-minute deadlines, stretching our dollars out to the very last penny, and drinking copious amounts of caffeinated beverages. But we’re also bad at a lot of things - such as asking for help.

Countless students set unrealistic expectations for themselves as they begin their college journeys. Some are full of anxiety about coursework and social situations, while others are in denial about needing help in order to be successful.

Many factors affect a student’s willingness to ask for help, such as socioeconomic status, or whether a student is the first person in their family to go to college. Some might fall into the trap of becoming overly self-reliant, in the belief that once they mess up, there is no going back.

One of the most valuable lessons freshmen - and really anyone - can learn is that time goes by faster than you think, so it’s incredibly important to learn strong time management skills. This is where the Center for Academic Success and Achievement (CASA) can come in handy.

CASA supplies academic coaching and tutoring for students. Although those services are free and invaluable, students believe if they are seen going into CASA, then they will be labeled “unintelligent.”

But the student instructors employed by CASA are there for a reason. They are approachable and non-judgmental students who are there to offer academic support based on their own course experiences.

CASA also provides support for first-generation students, and its program provides specialized support for those who are the first in their family to attend college.

If you had to go through the college application process alone, file your FAFSA all by yourself, or even explain the differences between twin and twin XL mattresses to your parents - you are not alone.

Students might feel as though they can’t go and talk to someone when they need help with their personal lives, too. Due to the residual stigma from previous generations concerning mental health treatment, many people also believe mental health is not as important as physical health.

When depression and mood disorders are becoming more common among members of our generation, we can no longer overlook them.

The Health Center offers counseling, and also provides other services, such as diagnosis and treatment of injuries, referrals to specialists, and even nutrition consultations.

Also, students: keep in mind these services have been 100% covered by the student fees you pay every semester. You do not have to pay to see a counselor or a tutor.

As students, we all have a lot on our plates. Some play sports, some have dozens of lab reports or hundreds of pages of reading a night - and some even write for a student newspaper! We understand it can be hard to ask for help.

But please - take care of yourself and look out for those around you. They may be going through a tough time.

It is OK to ask for help on that lab report. It is OK to talk to someone about that person who broke your heart. It is OK to cry.

So, go ahead and email your professor you need an extension. Tell your counselor you’ve been feeling depressed. Go to CASA and say you don’t understand trigonometry worth a damn.

It’s our responsibility as an integral part of the Framingham State community to eradicate these stereotypes and create a culture of support for those just need a little help to get by.

And let’s be real - that’s everyone.

@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

Bork Laser, please stop

By Robert Johnson Jr. Arts and Features Editor It’s a Monday night, and you have the sudden urge to watch wrestling.

All of your favorite sitcoms are on hiatus, being replaced by reality competitions that generate viral discussions on the internet.

You have very few choices as to what you should do in this situation - watch wrestling or turn off the TV and do something else.

You choose to do the former, and you instantly feel something burning up within you.

A feeling of rage.

A feeling of disgust.

You tuned in at the wrong time to WWE’s “Monday Night Raw.” He’s coming down the ramp and heading into the ring. … And he has the Universal title belt again.

You groan, for things have been like this for the past four years, even if someone else won the aforementioned title belt slung over his right shoulder a month prior.

Brock Lesnar is here. Unfortunately.

Now that I set the scene, I should probably get to explaining my disdain for this one particular individual, as well as the other individuals who enable this particular individual to thrive the way he does.

Imagine this: you’re an employee at, say, a Fortune 500 company. The catch is, you’re a part-time employee and you just so happen to have a very important role within that company - say, a lead project designer.

You have the most authority. You have all the power. You’re the dominating force among all the other project designers who, given that you’re in the same company as them, you have to work in tandem with.

However, get this, you’re allowed to appear only on certain days, specifically big meetings

and staff parties, once per month.

That’s not a lot of appearances, right?

Wouldn’t you start to question why you’re not there every week?

This is the life of Lesnar, and that’s why I’m writing this out of frustration.

Thankfully, at the moment, Seth Rollins is the Universal Champion on “Raw,” which means I can watch it again without groaning my vocal cords out.

However, Rollins’ success comes with a heavy toll, especially given this past Tuesday’s events on “SmackDown,” where Lesnar - and his lead confidant, Paul Heyman - moseyed their way into the “SmackDown” Hotel and checked in, their sights on that brand’s WWE Champion, Kofi Kingston, just two days after his latest victory.

Blegh.

This encounter, inspired by the network move that “SmackDown” is going to Undertake next month - from USA Network to Fox - is, like most things related to wrestling, tied to a sweet financial deal.

I’m not sure if this is what Fox and WWE want, but this is only going to make Lesnar’s detractors want to stay away from the “blue brand,” mainly because they’re tired of watching the same stuff from Lesnar.

F-5, suplex, another F-5, another suplex.

Suplex, suplex, suplex.

Critics say John Cena is a man of “five moves?” Lesnar, in my mind’s eye, is a man of just two that, truly, make an impact.

When it comes to wrestling, especially when it is televised, that minimalism just won’t cut it for the fans.

Only dedicated, full-time workers deserve any of the company’s championships, not some part-timer who’s just trying to relive his glory days before the UFC. Then again, he doesn’t even show up for that, either.

Have an opinion?

Feel free to email it to: gatepost@framingham.edu Opinions should be approximately 500 words.

Anyone can submit.

We look forward to hearing from you!

OP/ED

SEPTEMBER 20, 2019 | 9

SMC: Social Media Consumption

By Patrick Brady Staff Writer

Overeating can cause somebody to gain weight, whereas undereating can make someone lose weight.

But each option has consequences.

If people overeat, they might become overweight or obese. And if people lose too much weight, it can lead to illness and mental problems.

As you can see, neither options are healthy diets. It’s better to eat a wholesome selection of food, rather than to become overweight or sick.

You might be wondering - what on Earth does food have to do with the overuse of social media?

The answer is simple - both are unhealthy if they are overused.

Take a minute to look around wherever you’re sitting or standing. After you get your bearings, count how many people are on their phones.

It’s a lot, right?

Throughout high school, every single time I sat down for lunch with my friends, I was mesmerized about how little we verbally communicated with each other.

Instead of talking about “Horizon: Zero Dawn” and how dabbing - don’t get me started on that one - was getting old, we commented on our friend’s new relationship status and “laughedout-loud” at the latest meme - all through the magical power of phones, not friendship.

Nowadays, people are fixated on their self worth, and in order to get that message across to others, they overuse social media to the furthest extent.

Selfies, status updates, and frequent up-to-date mental health posts are the most common ways social media users try to get themselves known to a wider group of friends.

Joy LaGrutta, coordinator of Alcohol and Drug Education, said, “Social media encourages students to communicate with friends and family through a handheld device as opposed to talking or having a face-to-face conversation.”

“Face to face is more authentic and genuine and people can misread or misunderstand communication on social media,” she added.

Just like consuming food, people get fed up with unhealthy thinking habits.

In this case, the “unhealthy” thoughts are the belief everyone is living the perfect life compared to them.

In high school, I was the exact same way. I believed if people liked my posts, then it would increase my popularity.

Also, I thought a “swag-tastic” Facebook post - as I thought of it back in high school - would guarantee me more likes and views. But that was not the case at all.

In fact, the cooler I tried to be, the fewer likes I got.

“People are seeing an alerted highlight reel versus everyday normal struggles,” on social media, said Pamela Lemberg, coordinator of Health Education. “It can contribute to students feeling that they’re more lonely and isolated than everyone else.”

I became so obsessed with how people thought of my social media profile, I started losing sleep over it.

“Why is everyone’s life so much more exciting than mine?” I would contemplate for hours upon end.

People’s lives seemed so much better than mine, due to their smiling faces and cool captions in their photos.

It was only after I quit daily social

media use, that I began to realize people’s lives weren’t better than mine. In fact, sometimes quite the opposite.

What we perceive isn’t always what we know. So, I advise you to put down your phone - or newspaper - for just a second and talk to the person across from you.

After all, what’s the worst that can happen?

loans myself. I was not willing to let myself go over $100,000 worth of debt for a degree in history.

If I had gone to my other top choice school instead of Framingham State, I would have needed to take out a loan of $40,000 per year. By the end of my four years, I would have $160,000 worth of debt, which does not include interest.

I was often told, “you can do better.” What does that even mean? I thought my goal was to commit to a school I love, not to commit to a school solely based on their popularity or their name.

It wasn’t like Framingham State was easier compared to my other choices. My course load for my ma-

jor is still rigorous and challenging, despite the university’s lack of name recognition.

I saw someone mention online the education received from a public university is not equally as good as that of a private or a well-known public university. It seemed like people had an elitist way of thinking about college and that my self worth was determined on where I chose to go to school and how “good” that school was considered.

The education that you receive during college is not based on the school you choose to attend but what you make of the education you are receiving.

So, in 2019, why is there still a stig-

ma for going to a small state school?

Because people refuse to realize that the degree that cost $40,000 is the same exact degree that cost $300,000.

To students of small state schools, have pride in your school and the fact that you are bettering yourself by going to college.

To the people who questioned my decision to choose a small state school - yes, my school might not receive as much national recognition compared to other universities. However, it is still a great and small community of hard-working students and amazing professors who dedicate their time to students like myself.

But a degree is a degree.

A degree is a degree

By McKenzie Ward Staff Writer The brutally honest truth - when you are 40 years old, no one will actually care where you went to college.

Last year, during my senior year of high school, I was so excited to have finally committed to Framingham State. I love the small history program here and I love that it is only 20 minutes away from my house so I could commute if I wanted to and save thousands. I was so thrilled until I told others that I was deciding to go to a small state school.

“You’re going to Framingham State? What about Suffolk or UMass?” someone questioned.

Some people could not understand why I chose Framingham State over the other really great and well-known, but really expensive, universities I was accepted to.

I could not understand why there was such a stigma about going to a small school like Framingham State.

It is an amazing school with dedicated professors, well-priced tuition, and a great community. I was going to college for a degree, not the name of a school.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the average cost of tuition at a private, non-profit is $44,551 per year. That is roughly double what I paid for my freshman year at Framingham State.

Most people did not understand I would be paying off all my college

FRAMINGHAM STATE UNIVERSITY’S INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1932 | FSUGATEPOST.COM

OP/ED

10 | SEPTEMBER 20, 2019

Bullying has no place in comedy Fat-shaming is not a joke

By Cara McCarthy Associate Editor If you ask any overweight person how often people make comments about the way they look, nine times out of 10, they will tell you it happens almost every day.

Whether it is a joke or not, overweight people receive daily ridicule for the way they look, often from people who know nothing about them or their stories.

Last week, comedian and talk show host Bill Maher thought it would be a good idea to make the argument, “Fat-shaming shouldn’t go away - it needs to make a comeback.”

First off - no.

Second off, there are so many reasons why fat-shaming won’t do anyone any good.

While it may seem that Maher is simply making a joke - as comedians do - telling his audience fat-shaming needs to make a comeback is bullying.

As someone who has struggled with their weight since they were 8 years old, and has been the subject of bullying since they were a kid - spe-

cifically because of their weight - this particular attack hit a nerve with me.

I know I’m fat - I’m not blind. I don’t need someone who doesn’t know me telling me to eat a salad.

Many people don’t realize there is also a line between comedy and bullying.

Maher claimed in his monologue genetics do not play a large factor in obesity. “No one comes out of the womb needing to buy two seats on the airplane,” Maher said.

Again - no.

While yes, people may have gotten a laugh out of the “joke,” the overall message he was trying to share is - at its core - bullying and degrading.

Maher’s comments have created a whirlwind of backlash from multiple outlets.

Fellow late-night talk show host, James Corden, took it upon himself to respond to Maher’s comments.

While Corden agrees with Maher that obesity is a problem - he believes Maher is going about it the wrong way.

Corden finished his eight-minute monologue by saying, “While you are encouraging people to think about

what goes into their mouths, just think a little harder about what comes out of yours.”

Obesity affects everyone in the world, but obesity is not an epidemic that attacks the “lazy and stupid” people Maher claimed it does.

According to the University of Michigan Health System, obesity is directly tied to poverty, genetics, chronic illnesses, and levels of access to healthcare and education.

Bullying someone for the way they look won’t help solve the obesity problem.

In fact, it is proven that fat-shaming makes the obesity problem worse.

In an article published by Michigan Health, fat-shaming has been shown to cause depression and heighten the risk for suicide, as well as jump start eating disorders - including anorexia and overeating.

According to the CDC, 39.8% of the country is obese.

We know we are fat, we know we have a problem - stop making us feel like we are less than human because we don’t have a BMI of 20.

By the way - according to the CDC - it has been scientifically proven that BMI is not an accurate indicator of health.

Campus Conversations How prepared are you for the school year?

By Ryan Feinblatt

“I feel semi-prepared because the world has changed and I need to adapt to this style and independence.”

-BenJamine Obianique, freshman

“I’m pretty prepared. ... The syllabi, they helped me be more prepared.”

-Connie Bodemer, junior

“I’m not prepared because high school did not get me ready for college.”

“Pretty prepared. I got everything I need for classes, and time management.”

“I’m very prepared vecayse my high school prepared me for college.”

“I feel prepared because I’m a sophomore and I picked all my classes I wanted to take.”

-John Kalton, sophomore

-Michael Barry, freshman

-Zavion Humphrey, freshman

-Constatin NganKam, freshman

Op/Ed submissions reflect the opinions of their authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of The Gatepost or its staff. @TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

ARTS & FEATURES

SEPTEMBER 20, 2019 | 11

ARTS & FEATURES “The Peanut Butter Falcon” wrestles its way into our hearts

By Brennan Atkins Arts & Features Editor

By Noah Barnes Entertainment Correspondent

Armory Films this film is the best of his career to date.

The way he is able to transform Tyler’s character from a depressed deadbeat to an inspirational friend who always has your back is magnificent.

We are excited to see what LaBeouf has to offer in the future, especially with the upcoming release of “Honey Boy,” directed by Alma Har’el, and written by none other than LaBeouf himself.

Unfortunately, indie movies such as this don’t often get the money or recognition from general audiences they deserve, and it’s a grim future for the film industry when such an amazing project can be left unseen.

If you’re looking for genuine movie experience where you go in not knowing exactly what’s going down, and come out talking about it for hours, you may have to watch out for “The Peanut Butter Falcon.”

Grade: A “The Peanut Butter Falcon” soars above anything Shia LaBeouf has done before.

ADMIT ONE

Intentional or not, it brings life to the theme of the movie, nothing can stop you from what you think is possible.

Perhaps this is why this movie doesn’t feel “fake feel-good.” Rather, it feels genuine and from a place of getting a legitimate message out there that hasn’t been tossed around Hollywood hundreds of times.

It seems as if indie movies often strive to get their voices, and messages, out to the world, but again and again, it seems as if they end in a shallow message of misery told in an overcomplicated manner. While depressing situations occur in most films, there seems to be an oversaturation of these storylines in indie films particularly.

This, on the other hand, is the awesome feel-good tale of two unlikely bros who are running for their lives while having the time of it.

It’s a simple, but timeless tale, LaBeouf seemingly fell out of the sphere of blockbuster actors, with notable movies such as “Transformers” and “Fury.” While he has been taking roles in less popular films, he hasn’t reached the same level of stardom as when he was fumbling around with a big yellow CGI robot.

LaBeouf wasn’t anything outstanding in the aforementioned movies, but it seems as if it may not have been his time just yet - as his performance in

ADMIT ONE

“The Peanut Butter Falcon,” by Tyler Nilson and Micheal Shwartz, features Zack Gottsagen as Zak, Shia LaBeouf as Tyler, and Dakota Johnson as Eleanor.

The film begins by presenting two radically different characters - Zak and Tyler.

Zak is an orphaned 22-year-old with Down syndrome, who is forced to live in a nursing home rather than with people around his age due to the unavailability of nearby care centers.

He dreams of becoming a famous wrestler, much like his hero, The Salt-Water Redneck, a wrestler from the tape he watches daily in his prison-like abode. The staff at the home mistreats Zak, even going as far as having one of the staff members call him a r*****.

Tyler is a man who is dealt a bad hand and plays an even worse bet.

He’s an illegitimate crab fisherman who has recently stolen from one of the licensed fishermen in the area.

This results in a threat of termination from his boss, and a threat against his life by the aforementioned fisherman.

We come to realize that his somber personality is the consequence of a tragic car accident in which his brother dies. We realize they were much more than just blood, but legitimate best friends who did everything together, and without his brother, Tyler is a husk of who he once was.

The two of them meet in the oddest of ways - Tyler is running for his life from the fishermen, while Zak, down to his underwear, is running from the nursing home.

Tyler is distant, but cares for Zak’s immediate safety, while Zak thinks he’s made a new best friend, even going as far as inviting him to his birthday party. When Tyler realizes the wrestling school hosted by The Salt-water Redneck is on the way to Florida - where he’s seeking sanctuary - he half-heartedly agrees to take Zak. As they have no money and are forced to do whatever to get to Florida, Tyler gives Zak two rules.

“Rule number one: don’t slow me

down. Rule number two: I’m in charge.”

At this point in the film, the directors start playing with the theme of Down syndrome as a disability, but never a deterrent to doing great things. Tyler says that he doesn’t “give a s***” about Zak’s Down syndrome, which seems very harsh, but the reality is that Tyler’s treating Zak like a “normal” human being - something no one has ever done before.

Tyler says he’s probably never going to be a basketball player or a professional swimmer, but he can be an amazing wrestler.

This sparks a passion in Zak that he’s never experienced before.

Tyler, at the same time, while not fully aware of it, is receiving the exactly what he needs right now - a friend.

He comes to realize that this is an opportunity to make his late brother proud. He can do a good deed in a life where so much seems to be going wrong. While he knows little to nothing about fighting and actually gets beaten up earlier in the film - he takes Zak under his wing and starts training him.

While they are getting into downright life-threatening situations, the audience is presented with a moral question, “Is Tyler really what’s best for Zak?” While the viewer is left to interpret the situation for themselves, Tyler shows Zak a world that he’s never going to see otherwise and to Zak, seeing the world while gaining a companion is all he could ask for.

Through many days and nights walking, training, and partaking in the late-night consumption of alcohol, they become best friends and thus, the wrestling persona, “The Peanut Butter Falcon,” is born.

Gottsagen gave a phenomenal performance playing Zak and is the sole reason this movie was made in the first place. The directors contacted Josh Brolin with a script they wrote for Gottsagen, as he always wanted to be a movie star.

Shwartz and Nilson took five years and stayed on this project because they knew how charismatic, talented, and inspiring Gottsagen is.

In many ways, it seems as if the energy Gottsagen possesses in real life translates to film almost effortlessly.

CONNECT WITH BRENNAN ATKINS batkins@student.framingham.edu CONNECT WITH NOAH BARNES nbarnes@student.framingham.edu

FRAMINGHAM STATE UNIVERSITY'S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1932 | FSUGATEPOST.COM

ARTS & FEATURES

12 | SEPTEMBER 20, 2019

Summer of science FSU students’ scientific endeavors

By Dia Kilgore Staff Writer

Courtesy

While we were busy this summer catching the bright peak of the Perseids, celebrating the anniversary of Apollo 11, and RSVPing to storm Area 51, many of us were also practicing science in our daily lives.

From the wilderness, to laboratories, and even a manufacturing plant for flavored pies, I set out to take a closer look into the unique ways FSU students have devoted themselves to a “Summer of Science.”

Senior wildlife biology major Nicole Bray found herself in Woodstock, Vermont in an ongoing effort to research invasive plant species.

She held a position at The Student Conservation Association (SCA), a non-profit group whose mission is to build the next generation of conservation leaders.

Interns have the opportunity to restore natural habitats and native plant communities by managing invasive plants in the area.

“I actually heard about the SCA in Animal Physiological Ecology class last semester!” Bray said.

Whether she’s out in the field monitoring milkweed plants for caterpillar eggs, or simply having a blast with her fellow interns, she said, “I knew I needed more experience. ... I give a lot of thanks.”

While some feel the call of the wild, others prefer to bring their research indoors. Take Joshua Rumple, class of ’19, for instance. Recent biochemistry graduate and fresh Ph.D. student at Purdue University, Rumple spent his summer as a process chemistry intern.

“Basically, we are finding better and cheaper ways to make molecules,” Rumple said. “It was rigorous, and it was cool...I was running four to six reactions a day.”

Rumple worked specifically with total kinase inhibitors, and how they relate to oncological targets. Scientists are interested in kinase inhibitors because they go after cancer cells with more precision than traditional chemotherapy treatments.

Similarly, student Amanda Martin learned that where the chemistry is, so are the solutions. At AbbVie Bioresearch Center, she worked with ligand binding assays and automation.

“It pushed me to want to pursue biomedical and pharmaceutical research following my undergrad,” she said.

As I delved deeper into the ocean of our students’ experiences, I quickly realized science appears in a myriad of jobs.

Steven Furtney, class of ’19, an employee of Hi-Way Safety Systems Inc uses mathematics and different design software in close tandem to design road signs.

“A vector is an average of where pixels are,” he explained. “That way, it creates a line that can be stretched infinitely large and never loses quality.”

His company is located in Rockland, and produces a variety of road, traffic, and safety signs. Furtney compared the relationship between mathematics and science. “Science is a method of figuring out information, and math is the medium for how we design that method.”

From Rockland, I took the road less travelled and stumbled upon the eccentric, yet tasty company that is Table Talk Pies. Located just a quick drive down I-90, the company boasts an impressive variety of pies - some notable favorites being strawberry rhubarb and the 6-inch lemon snack pie.

Senior food science major Tyler Hatfield, intern and quality engineer at Table Talk, has been working for the company since 2018 and is currently researching water content in pies. He is set to graduate after this semester. Sweet!

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CONNECT WITH DIA KILGORE dkilgore@student.framingham.edu

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@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

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ARTS & FEATURES

SEPTEMBER 20, 2019 | 13

Shakespeare speakeasy Continued from page 1 Gibson began by describing the performance, calling it “a visionary timeline so as to find evidence of Shakespeare’s continuing influence and impact.”

He explained how we all quote Shakespeare every day, through our conversations, slang, and phrases, without even realizing it.

“And if you were to bid me good riddance and send me packing, then telling everyone we both know that you wish that I were dead as a doornail/ Or that you think I am an eye-sore/A laughing stock. ... then you, you, you, and especially you, would be quoting Shakespeare!” Gibson exclaimed.

He then pointed out the irony in how Shakespeare’s drama is still cited almost every day, while his personal life remains unclear.

Gibson explained how everything we claim to know about Shakespeare today comes from his literature and poetry - texts that were written by hand.

According to Gibson, everything is written by hand that leads to human error. Human error then leads to missing information, and that leads to speculation. And when people start to speculate about a figure as prominent as William Shakespeare. “You are inevitably gonna get controversy,” he said.

In “Controversy,” Everyman and Hoodfellow rapped about the many controbersies concerning Shakespeares life. The actor said the clues to what he did can most prominently be found within his literature, asking the audience - did Shakespeare have to hide who he truly was because he wanted to avoid controversy?

This idea led into the second half of their act, which focused on Shakespeare’s life through his writing.

Gibson and Carey got the crowd excited with their remix of “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” theme song, titled “The Great William Shakespeare.”

“Now this is the story all about how one man turned the whole world upside down/and if you’d like to hear then just sit right there/I’ll tell you all about the beginning of the great William Shakespeare,” they rapped.

The song detailed how Shakespeare ended up in London, just as how the Fresh Prince ended up in Bel-Air. Hoodfellow described the “hustling bustling” London that Shakespeareinhabited.

He then comically listed off all of the qualities of London, both good and bad. “London is thyne oyster … you’d better learn to keep thyne wits about thee … because she is no joke,” Gibson said.

The two dived into the real meaning of the sonnets, which they claimed were the most “emotionally true” ofShakespeare’s work. Gibson claimed Shakespeare should be remembered not just as a playwright, but as a poet.

According to the duo, the sonnets hint at Shakespeare’s emotional turmoil and heartbreaks. “I love the sonnets because they can really tell you a lot about Shakespeare. … They are more fun when you read them autobiographically,” Gibson said.

The two then performed their own version of “Hamlet,” telling the audience to “Go Ham/Go Ham/Go Hamlet,” offering a humorous twist to the classic play.

This was followed by a remix of the song “No Diggity,” titled “Swagger,” which detailed how Henry V represented real swagger.

One of the highlights scenes from the show was The Shakespeare Character Smackdown - a rap battle that asked the audience to actively get involved and pick a side.

The theme of the battle was from “A Midsummer’s Night Dream,” in which Gibson played Oberon and Carey played Bottom.

“You know what, Oberon? It’s over mon. … My cup runneth over, but you

Caroline Gordon / THE GATEPOST Regie Gibson and Marlon Carey performing in the McCarthy Forum.

Regie Gibson dressed as Oberon, king of the faries. are overrun,” Bottom said.

“You must have been Midsummer Night Dreaming fool. … I’m so filled with Nature’s force, y’all should just call me Oberon ... Kenobi,” Oberon replied.

Though it was a close battle, the audience chose Oberon as the winner.

In the closing act, Gibson left the audience with “one penultimate offering” of Shakespeare’s philosophy “Life is lived quick, so you better live now.”

They closed by welcoming the audience to get up and dance with them to celebrate the life they are living.

The message seemed to sink in with the audience and was effective in carrying Shakespeare’s message.

Abbott Bennett said, “I think it’s brilliant. I think it’s a great way in, and one of the things I emphasize in my Shakespeare classes is that we can’t take him so seriously that we don’t enjoy it.”

Junior Erin Cook agreed.

“I thought this was an amazing opportunity to bring students something they don’t always feel interested in outside of class,” she said.

Lisa Eck, professor of English and director of the Arts & Ideas program, said she was also impressed.

“My mouth hurts from smiling,” she said. “I love the underlying idea of the different musical genres because it shows just how adaptable Shakespeare is. … I really admire what they did and how much labor went into it.”

After the show, Gibson and Carey discussed what this experience has meant to them, and what they want to

Caroline Gordon / THE GATEPOST

accomplish.

“What we are hoping for is that people don’t see Shakespeare as something of the past,” Gibson said.

“We’re not really bringing Shakespeare alive. Shakespeare is alive, and living, and breathing in what we do today. It’s just a matter of peeling back the layers and recognizing what that is.”

Carey said how one of the most important elements to him is encouraging everyone to enjoy Shakespeare, including younger generations and those who can’t always afford to see performances like this.

“When we’re in the land of emoji and LOL and BRB, ‘thee’ and ‘thou’ and ‘thus’ might not be so accessible,” Carey said.

They hope they can be a bridge to the younger generations by tying Shakespeare into their world.

Carey said that they have received local grants that have enabled them to put on performances for local schools. However, in order to do this on a grander scale, they would require national grants.

Both Gibson and Carey expressed how much they love doing these performances, and they would do this full-time if they could. As important as it is to reach success, it is also important to encourage the things that mean a lot to us.

In the words of Gibson himself, “Dance your life, because that’s the only music you will ever have.”

CONNECT WITH SARA SENESAC ssenesac@student.framingham.edu

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14 | SEPTEMBER 20, 2019

ARTS & FEATURES

Kaitlyn’s Kosmetics!

Alternative applications is all about putting your best face forward

By Kaitlyn Cullen Staff Writer Everyone has a choice of how to apply their makeup - with a brush, a sponge, or even their own hands.

I’ve tested many different applicators over the years and keep bouncing among which ones I like best. Each applicator has its own strengths and weaknesses.

Using your hands is a hit or miss.

It’s easy to do and they’re readily available for the majority of makeup-wearers. However, the cleanliness and softness varies from person to person, which inevitably affects the application process.

Using a foundation brush - while it keeps your hands clean - can cause streaking, leaving an uneven layer of makeup over your entire face.

An application sponge softens and blurs your complexion if used properly.

What many people don’t know is that you’re supposed to wet the sponge and squeeze out excess water before use for best results.

Silicone applicators are more durable, easier to clean, and don’t absorb makeup the way sponges and brushes do, allowing you to use less product for the same effect of using a brush or sponge. However, if too much product is used, you may end up with a cakey look.

While each applicator has its pros and cons, the application process requires more steps for the best look.

Your face should always be washed and moisturized before applying makeup - toner, however, is optional.

Wearing a primer under your foun-

dation also allows for a smoother application. Primer preps your skin, filling in pores to create a more even surface for foundation.

The type of foundation also affects the outcome of the look.

Liquid foundation has the most potential for streaking - even if used with a primer - but it often has a lighter feel and can be smoothed out with the proper technique.

Cream foundation provides better coverage, but is known for clogging pores and creating a cakey look.

Primer can also help solve this issue, smoothing the product for a more natural aesthetic.

More expensive products, such as airbrush foundations, are used for high-end looks. Models who are scrutinized under lights and cameras will have these products used on them,

but there are some available in retail.

Luminess Air is a company that heavily advertises its airbrush products in the style of QVC-like commercials.

I have this product, and it does what it advertises. Its foundation colors are limited and the device takes some testing to get the knack of, but it is not disappointing.

It applies smoothly and lightly, leaving you with a barely-there feeling, but if you want the best coverage, you have to use a lot of the makeup that it comes with.

Although skin type and brand quality make a difference, the biggest variant in makeup application is preference, which can only be decided by you.

CONNECT WITH KAITLYN CULLEN kcullen1@student.framingham.edu

Doom Patrol aren’t your average superheroes

By Noah Barnes Entertainment Correspondent

I don’t want it to end.

If I had one complaint about this series, it’s the exclusivity of the streaming service “DC Universe.” Thankfully, the first season will be released on Oct. 1, 2019, and will eventually come to HBO’s upcoming streaming service, “HBO Max.” “Doom Patrol” isn’t just a good comic book turned TV show - it’s a fantastic TV show in its own right. It’s an example of what a comic book adaptation should strive to be. It’s weird, unique, and full of things to say.

Characters like Superman were created with the idea of being someone to look up to, and I’ve never felt that watching the dozens of comic book

movies thrown at us over the decade.

However, “Doom Patrol,” despite trying to steer away from titles like “superhero,” left me feeling genuinely inspired.

Grade: A+ “Doom Patrol” shares the joys and sorrows of the world through a comic book lens.

ADMIT ONE

@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

Warner Bros. Television

ADMIT ONE

“Doom Patrol” is an episodic, character-driven TV adventure into the real world of mental illness and redemption, mixed with the bizarre nature of comic book absurdity.

The series stars Branden Fraser, April Bowlby, Matt Bomer, Diane Guerrero, and Jovian Wade as a group of superpowered lowlifes who have been given a second chance at life and try their best to better themselves, while also overcoming their own flaws.

I don’t want to get too in-depth about each character, because there’s too much to go over, and it should be experienced, not told.

Unlike most superhero media today - which often seems to rely on needless setup for future franchise installments and a plethora of mindless CGI fight scenes, - “Doom Patrol” is all about interaction. The series tells a self-contained story about believing, improving, and embracing who you are, no matter how weird or broken you may be.

Countless superhero movies and shows have tried to pull off a realistic take on superheroes in the modern day, and many often miss that mark, coming across more as cynical, silly, or a bizarre mixture of the two - I’m looking at you, “Batman v Superman.”

“Doom Patrol” does the opposite.

It embraces the goofiness of the world it’s in. While it takes the characters’ flaws quite seriously, it knows not to take itself too seriously, by throwing the team into a snow globe to somehow stop an eye in the sky from destroying the world.

It knows exactly what it is.

Never have I seen a show quite like this, where it always feels as if I’m both being punched in the gut and tickled in the funny bone. I laughed, I cried, I sang along to the show performing its own cover of “People Like Us” by Kelly Clarkson, and yes, I did cry.

The show thrives on the idea that nothing is as simple as “good or bad.”

Every character has their own unique tale of trauma and misfortune, some caused by themselves, others caused by the people around them - but they all have scars.

The viewer watches each of these characters make mistakes and bad decisions, and struggle to do the right thing - and it’s hard not to root for every one of them.

TV shows always have that one “fan-favorite character” who manages to steal the spotlight every time they’re on screen. With “Doom Patrol,” everyone’s the “fan-favorite.”

Despite the constant self-ridicule about its silly comic book style, everyone manages to talk and feel like real and relatable people.

Even the side characters get their fair share in the spotlight, and none of them are forgettable. It’s hard to forget characters like “Danny the Street,” a sentient genderqueer street, and “Flex Mentallo,” a proclaimed hero of the beach, who can warp reality with the flex of his muscles.

Each episode feels like its own story that can be watched by itself, but it all meshes together for one perfect seasonal arc.

I’ve finished this series five times over, and I’m still not sick of it. I just want to keep rewatching.

CONNECT WITH NOAH BARNES nbarnes@student.framingham.edu

ARTS & FEATURES

SEPTEMBER 20, 2019 | 15

Charli XCX truly goes next level with “Charli”

By Robert Johnson Arts & Features Editor “PURE FACTS: MY ALBUM IS AMAZING!!!” said Charlotte Aitchison - the woman better known as Charli XCX - in an Aug. 24 Instagram post, holding up a vinyl copy of her self-titled new album. “MAKE SURE U DO THIS [pre-order] FOR A LIFE CHANGING AUDIO/VISUAL/MENTAL BRAIN WARP OVERLOAD,” she added.

Usually, when artists call their musical works something akin to a resurrection or the invention of sliced salami, I get concerned and a little bit skeptical.

When I got the notification that “Charli” came out, I was hesitant to start listening. I was afraid I would be disappointed.

It’s a good thing I persevered, because “Charli” is a damn good album.

“Charli” is her eighth release and third studio album as an artist after several consecutive EP and mixtape releases - namely 2016’s “Vroom Vroom,” and 2017’s double serving of “Number 1 Angel” and “Pop 2.”

This also acts as a return to releasing under a major record label, teaming with Atlantic Records once again.

When you ask most people about Charli XCX, almost everyone will remember her reign on the radio from 2012 to 2014, with noteworthy appearances on Icona Pop’s “I Love It” and Iggy Azalea’s “Fancy.” She also had a

monstrous hit of her own with “Boom Clap,” thanks to the success of the film, “The Fault in Our Stars.”

That Charli XCX is gone. She has evolved wildly since those days and each track highlights this metamorphosis in grand detail.

The opening song, “Next Level Charli,” is rather repetitive - at least to the point at which if you try hard enough, you can learn the whole song - but it paints a picture that demands attention.

Charli XCX is no longer about silly love songs named after onomatopoeias - she’s about the party life and the energy those environments emit.

Following that is the album’s first guest appearance of many, “Gone,” which highlights the French singer Christine and the Queens. It’s a bass-thumping, funky romp that encapsulates the sensation of being around lots of people but feeling alone.

“1999,” alongside Troye Sivan, is a trip back in time with more ‘90s references than a T-shirt at Urban Outfitters, but it is quite the tonal shift among the first three tracks. Slow jams progressing into a dance party feels weird, but it doesn’t detract from the experience much, thankfully.

If you thought the next song was not going to have a feature, you are sorely mistaken, but “Click,” showcasing Kim Petras and rapper Tommy Cash, is a treat for any Petras fans out there. I say that because while Cash has a decent

verse, Petras’ verse steals the spotlight and the show, so much so to the point where Charli had to re-record her own lines.

“Shake It” is also noteworthy, not just because it has the most features on the album - Big Freedia, CupcakKe, Brooke Candy, and Pabllo Vittar - but also because it’s a raw and raunchy song that’s perfect for those late Saturday nights in a swanky club. The incorporation of the Louisiana bounce style for Big Freedia’s segment is just brilliant production work, and it needs to be commended.

While a large portion of the album contains features, Charli’s solo work is absurdly catchy and deeply personal. Songs such as “Official,” “I Don’t Wanna Know,” and “White Mercedes” are slow and emotional, whereas the rhythms found in “Silver Cross” are unrelenting and energetic. “Silver Cross” is, quite possibly, her best song yet.

It’s impossible to extol the virtues of Charli’s musical prowess in a short review, but let me say this: If you haven’t caught up with Charli XCX since the radio days, I highly recommend that you check this album out. You will not regret it.

ACROSS 1. Copy by outlining 6. Smooth-tongued 10. Practice for a fight 14. “The Boy Who Cried Wolf” author 15. Non-elite type?

16. “Don’t use that ___ with me!”

17. When it ___, it pours 18. Nostradamus, reputedly 19. Bit of pond scum 20. Midwest river along the Oregon Trail 22. Moved the kids to their own bedrooms?

24. Depend (on) 26. Flip-flop, e.g.

27. Shook a following sleuth?

31. Slam

32. Oak-to-be 33.Jargon 35.E.R. stats 38.Part of Miss Muffet’s diet 39.Bands of three 40.Lexicographer Webster 41. Doze, with “off” 42.Someone like Scrooge 43.“Of all the ___!”

44.Most expensive domain name ending, often 45.Reneged on a contract?

47. Nasty sort 50. Long tale of adventure 51. Erased the exam scores?

53. Home mixologist’s work space 57. Sudden impulse 58. Country that anagrams to “rain” 60. French lace-making city 61. Big ones may clash 62. Salon coloring 63. Air show maneuvers 64. Camera eye 65. “You betcha!”

66. Apprehensive feeling DOWN 1. Ballpark protector 2. “This is the ___ deal!”

3. Home of most people 4. “Mary, Mary, quite ___” 5. Beatles manager Brian

6. One may give you directions 7. Imitated Pinocchio 8. Some frozen drinks 9. Rihanna’s home country 10. Farmers market booths 11. Lively dance 12. Heavenly messenger 13. Enjoy a book 21. Building addition 23. Part of ICU 25. A long time 27. When roosters crow 28. She loved Narcissus 29. ___ the line (obeyed) 30. Like raisins 34. Injures at Pamplona 35. Dad jokes and such 36. Spelunker’s spot 37. Molt 39. Opposite of boldness 40. Denial 42. “___ Lisa” 43. British celebrity chef Lawson 44. Tender touch 46. What Caesar did second?

47. Enter a freeway 48. Goad 49. Like “The Twilight Zone” 51. Event near the end of “Hamilton” 52. “The X-Files” Agent Scully 54. Opine online 55. Swiss peaks 56. Take a breather 59.Ultimate degree

Atlantic Records

Grade: A

If “XCX World” had to get scrapped for this, it was SO worth it.

CONNECT WITH ROBERT JOHNSON JR. rjohnson10@student.framingham.edu

Puzzle solutions are now exclusively online.

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16 | SEPTEMBER 20, 2019

SPORTS

SPORTS

Volleyball takes one of two games in Saturday split

By Liam Gambon Sports Editor Framingham took on both Salve Regina and Rhode Island College in home games Sept. 14.

The first matchup came against the Salve Regina Seahawks. The Rams suffered a 0-3 straight-set loss as they never found their rhythm.

In the first game, the Rams lost their starting outside hitter to injury.

Anna Szymanski, the outside hitter who had to leave the game, led the Rams in kills for the match, so it was a tough loss for Framingham.

She injured herself when she went up for a spike and landed awkwardly upon returning to the ground.

Coach Richard Casali said, “She rolled her ankle on the play. It was an aggressive play. Things happen, unfortunately.”

After the loss, Casali and the team sat down on a staircase by the coaches’ office for a discussion.

“We had a long talk. We’re young in the season and we’re walking the fence right now,” Casali said. “Which way are we going to fall? Are we going to give up and fall on the bad side and have a bad season? Or are we going to fall on the good side and win this next game?”

After the talk, the Rams took the court again to face off against the Rhode Island College Anchormen.

The talk clearly worked, as Framingham stormed out to a 25-13 firstset win with ease.

They kept up the dominance as they took the second set by a score of 25-9.

When everything seemed to be going the Rams’ way, the Anchormen hit back with a 25-15 third-set win to close the margin.

In the fourth set, Framingham kept the lead throughout thanks to Brandee Thomas’ repeated spikes that blew past opposing defenders.

Libero Alyssa Cafarelli guarded her back and the rest of the team with numerous digs.

The two replacement starters who came in when Szymanski went down made the greatest impact for Framingham. One of them was Natalie Reed.

Toward the end of the fourth set, Rhode Island College began to push back, generating point after point.

If the Anchormen had gotten back-to-back set wins, that would have given them the advantage over Framingham heading into the final set.

But when the set was at its very end, Brandey Rodriguez stepped up.

The team racked up many late set points due to her serves, and ultimately, got the game-winning point from a play by Rodriguez.

RIC had an open shot off a return spike. Their spiker set up and hit the ball over to Framingham’s end.

When the ball was eventually falling to the ground off a one-touch hit by a Framingham blocker, it nearly hit the ground. But Rodriguez dove out of bounds and saved the ball with her hand, and the Rams scored later due to that save and won the game.

Casali said, “To be honest with you it shocked me. She does a lot of things well, but that is not her best trait. She did a great job on that play.”

He added, “This may have been her best game all year.”

Framingham won the fourth set 25-19 and the match 3-1.

The win was crucial as they were able to bounce back from a tough loss.

“It’s good because you don’t know what they’re going to do,” Casali said. “We’re very young, and you don’t know if they’re going to bounce back or if it’s just going to get worse because they’re down.”

In the end, Thomas led the Rams, as she often does, with 12 kills and 15 points.

“She was Rookie of the Year last year, and she’s just getting better and better,” Casali said.

Cafarelli led the team in digs with 14 and was followed by Emily Flaherty with 12.

Following the match, the young Rams will look to keep it up and continue winning.

SALVE REGINA 3 FRAMINGHAM STATE 0

FRAMINGHAM STATE RHODE ISLAND COLLEGE

3 1

CONNECT WITH LIAM GAMBON lgambon1@student.framingham.edu

Carlos SIlva / THE GATEPOST The FSU Volleyball team stands for the national anthem.

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SPORTS

SEPTEMBER 20, 2019 | 17

Players of the week

Framingham State Football drops to 0-2

By Dylan Thayer Staff Writer The Rams dropped their second game of the season in a rematch against Brockport State - the same team they lost 40-27 in the 2018 Division III playoffs.

The Sept.14 rematch ended in a 14-0 loss and dropped the Rams to 0-2 for the first time since the 2006 season.

Matched up with a top-ranked team, the Rams had their work cut out for them.

After a first half in which neither team was able to score, Brockport capitalized on two key interceptions off senior Adam Wojenski in the third quarter to win the contest.

The Framingham defense played a very strong game by preventing the Golden Eagles from scoring on any of their offensive possessions. They held the Golden Eagles to 326 total yards with only 95 of those going through the air.

Cully Curran led the Rams with 11 combined tackles from the defensive back position. Brockport quarterback, Freddy June, managed to break off for 112 yards on 18 carries for an outstanding clip of 6.2 yards per carry.

There were few bright spots on the Rams’ offense in a game in which they failed to score.

Wojenski and the offense failed to put points on the board, which is not going to win the team any games. He managed to throw for 170 yards on 23 out of 50 completions with three interceptions, two of which resulted in Golden Eagle touchdowns.

During the first two games he has a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 1:7, which is below his typical performance. Wojenski has been the most important piece of the Rams’ offense for all of his collegiate career, and has never thrown more than 11 interceptions in a season. Although very unlikely, he is on pace to throw 35 this season.

Austin Nunn, a Worcester State transfer, added on to his strong first showing with six receptions for 60 yards. Jacob Maher, another Worcester State transfer, who performed well in the 2017 and 2018 seasons in which he totaled 1,601 combined yards and 21 touchdowns, was once again held out of the endzone.

He finished the game with a minimal five receptions for 28 yards. The two wide receivers/tight ends have been Wojenski’s top targets through the teams’ first two showings.

The Rams look to get back on track in their first home game of the season in a MASCAC matchup with the 0-2 Westfield State Owls on Homecoming Weekend.

BROCKPORT STATE 14 FRAMINGHAM STATE 0

fsurams.com

Alyssa Cafarelli came away with twenty-four digs in Framingham’s 3-0 win against Bridgewater State.

fsurams.com

Gustavo Cassemiro scored two goals in Framingham’s 5-1 win against Lesley.

CONNECT WITH DYLAN THAYER dthayer1@student.framingham.edu

fsurams.com

Brandee Thomas recorded twelve kills in Framingham’s 3-1 win against Rhode Island College.

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18 | SEPTEMBER 20, 2019

SPORTS

NFL’s 100th birthday: success to mess

By Carlos Silva Asst. Sports Editor In a game with big-name stars like Aaron Rodgers, Davante Adams, and Khalil Mack, fans were expecting an absolute barn-burner.

What they got was the complete opposite.

The game was very-defensive minded, which normally isn’t a bad thing. However, both teams defenses shined due to horrible offense.

The game ended with a 10-3 score. However, most people turned off their TVs long before that point.

The week continued on with great success, despite the underwhelming first game.

The Saints vs. Texans and Panthers vs. Rams games were some of the high points of the week.

Each game consisted of all-around great football - terrific runs, spectacular catches, hard-hitting linebackers, and drives that had people on the edge of their couches waiting to see what would happen next.

We also got to see outstanding performances from Ravens quarterback, Lamar Jackson, and Cowboys quarterback, Dak Prescott.

Both threw for more than four touchdowns without any interceptions.

Jackson was able to silence the critics who had labeled him as a “run only guy” who could not throw the ball on a consistent basis.

The Ravens won their game by 49 points against an extremely lackluster Miami Dolphins team. Jackson finished with five touchdowns, 324 passing yards, and a perfect passer rating.

Prescott came out and dominated against a division rival and led the Dallas Cowboys to a 35-17 victory over the New York Giants.

He finished with four touchdowns, 405 passing yards, and a perfect passer rating of his own.

The major news of the week came when controversial star wide receiver Antonio Brown was cut by the Oakland Raiders.

Brown’s name has been coming up in the media all summer for a number of reasons. He refused to play due to his hatred of the new helmet designs the NFL picked out for the season, posted a confidential letter from his team on his Instagram page.

He also got into a near physically confrontation with the general manager of the Raiders, Mike Mayock.

Reports came out saying Brown had threatened to punch Mayock in the face. He proceeded to punt a football and told Mayock to “fine him” for that.

Brown’s initial issue with him stemmed from two separate fines he received from Mayock for ditching practice and walkthroughs while he was dealing grievances about the helmet issue.

ESPN’s Josina Anderson reported Brown went up to Mayock and initiated the conversation by calling the GM a “cracker,” which was the moment when things started to escalate.

After all of these events, the Raiders believed they had no choice, so they decided to release Brown.

Shortly after, Brown was in the headlines again when news broke that the reigning Super Bowl champion New England Patriots were taking a chance by signing him.

While shows such as “First Take” and “Undisputed” debated how long Brown would last for the Patriots, more news broke out about the controversial player.

This time, it was a lot more serious - Brown’s former trainer, Britney Taylor, filed a lawsuit against him for three incidents of sexual assault in 2017 and 2018.

Brown has since denied the allegation and filed a counter-sue for extortion.

While Brown’s future is unclear, what is clear is the NFL’s 100th anniversary went from being a huge celebration to having that party crashed by one of the league’s premier wide receivers.

Women’s Soccer continues early slump

By Liam Gambon Sports Editor

By Sara Senesac Editorial Staff The Rams’ women’s soccer team traveled to Franklin to take on the Dean College Bulldogs Sept. 18.

In the first 24 minutes of the match, the Bulldogs scored twice to take an early advantage.

Neither team scored again until the 70th minute when Dean College potted it’s third and final goal of the game.

Framingham would fail to score a goal in the match despite taking 29 shots with 19 on net.

The team is now 0-4-1 early in the season.

Senior Captain Stephanie Beaumont said, “We have key players who are slowly recovering from their injuries and are now able to get a few minutes on the field, which has helped, but I think once we have everyone back, we will see major changes on the field.”

A significant number of the Rams’ starters have had to sit out of games so far this season, which has contributed to their patchy record.

“I think we’ve had a rough start, especially with a lot of players injured. We are working hard at practice and getting better and better each day,” Beaumont said. “Now, all we have to do is implement the work we put into practice into our games and we will start to see a change and start winning.”

Junior Jasmine Lees said, “Not going to lie, it started off rough but each practice and game we progress. Even if we aren’t progressing record-wise, we are as a team, and that’s going to be most important as the conference games come up.”

Despite the team’s record, they are averaging a whopping 9.8 shots per game, and they have .653 shots on goal percentage. So, while the team may not be winning games, they certainly are trending in the right direction with all of their consistent shots on goal.

The team, as it is now with all the injuries, is full of starting sophomores and freshmen. Because of this, it is taking time for the team to adjust and begin winning.

Senior Samantha Beninati said, “We are a very young team this year and it took a little while to adjust, to say the least. It has been hard, but we are all working hard and progressing, and our team dynamic is much more positive.

“I think our record does not show who we really are as a team. We are strong and hardworking, and our time will come,” she said.

The Rams’ next chance to grab their first win of the season comes against conference rival Fitchburg.

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SPORTS

Men’s Soccer improves to 2-4 on the season

By Carlos Silva Asst. Sports Editor The Rams’ men’s soccer team blew out the Lesley Lynx 5-1 Sept. 13.

The Rams had their most dominant game of the season, outshooting the Lynx 30-6.

Isaac De Souza scored a chip shot over the goalie around the 17th minute to give the Rams the early lead.

Mere seconds after the first goal, the Lynx thought they had answered back right away when they shot the ball into the back of the net. The ref then blew his whistle to signal an offside call, keeping the score at 1-0.

The Rams then went on a roll when the two Nardizzi brothers, Bryce and Jared, each scored a goal to give the Rams a 3-0 lead.

The Lynx were able to respond in the 31st minute when Ben Heischuber scored the team’s only goal of the game.

Gustavo Cassemiro scored two late daggers to put the game out of reach and finalize the Rams’ second win of the season.

After the game, Coach Dean Nichols said, “The brightest part of this team has been their no-quit mentality. We have trailed five of our six matches, and everyone has continued to work through those games regardless of the score.”

Nichols added, “The main thing we need to improve on is team defense and eliminating mistakes that are contributing to us conceding goals.”

The Rams are now 2-4 on the season after the win.

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free flu vaccine clinics for fsu students, faculty and staff Tuesday, September 24th 12 - 4p.m. & Wednesday, September 25th 8 a.m - 12p.m.

Athletic Center Lobby Alcove (1st Floor) Please bring a copy of your insurance card with you.

There is no copay for receiving a flu shot. fsu health center 508-626-4900

SEPTEMBER 20, 2019 | 19

Liam’s Lineup:

NFL Week 2: The pats remain on top

By Liam Gambon Sports Editor After week two of the new NFL season, there is a lot to talk about.

The New England Patriots are still the best team in the league, especially after Antonio Brown’s impressive first game with the Pats.

The Miami Dolphins are still the worst team in the league, though things can change in the next couple of years as they have acquired multiple first-round draft picks.

And yes, Odell Beckham Jr. is still a top-five wide receiver, despite all the speculation that he could not succeed in Cleveland.

While much has stayed the same since last season, many things have changed.

Drew Brees and Ben Roethlisberger are both out of commission for a significant amount of time, which has not happened to either of them in years.

So far in the season, Aaron Rodgers is no longer a top-five quarterback.

He only has 412 yards and three touchdowns, and a 36.1 QBR, which is 24th overall for quarterbacks.

Patrick Mahomes, who is arguably one of the best quarterbacks in the league, has thrown for 821 yards so far, which is almost double the amount of Rodgers. He also has thrown seven touchdowns and has a 92.5 QBR. The gap between Rodgers and the top players this year is further away than it has ever been.

The biggest change this season, however, is Lamar Jackson’s prolific start.

Jackson did not start last season until around the end, but he had enough games to try to make an impact. He was able to throw for 1,201 yards and six touchdowns.

Through just two games this year, Jackson has thrown seven touchdowns, which is already more than all of last year. And he has also tossed for 596 yards, which is nearly half of what he threw the previous season.

Something that has stayed the same with Jackson is his running game.

He has run for 126 yards on just 19 attempts.

Jackson was already a threat on the ground, but now with his success through the air, he will be one of the most difficult-to-contain quarterbacks this season.

The Patriots are Super Bowl favorites again - however this year’s team is somewhat different The Pats arguably have their best team ever, as Tom Brady - as he has always been - is at the pinnacle of elite quarterbacks in the league, and now has powerful weapons to whom he can throw the ball. This hasn’t been the case for years.

New England won the Super Bowl last year with Julian Edelman as their only big-name receiver. But now they have Josh Gordon back from suspension, and the always-booming Antonio Brown. Not to mention, Philip Dorsett is playing out of his mind, leading the team in receiving yards with 134, while not once dropping a catch.

Gordon and Brown have both finished in the top-three for wide receivers in the past, and now that they are on the same team, either one of them - or both - can make it happen again.

While defenders are keeping an eye on the dominant Brown, Gordon is flashing past them and heading for a deep ball. And while those two are grabbing all the attention, Edelman is waiting for a short pass that he’ll turn into a 16-yard gain. This will be the tale of every game for the Pats offense.

New England seems completely unstoppable, and their defense has been a brick wall so far, shutting down both the Steelers and the Dolphins.

The defense leads the league in yards-allowed with 246 yards given up per game. They are also second in both sacks - with eight - and turnovers - with four.

The Patriots are the obvious favorites to win another Lombardi Trophy.

With so many things changing and staying the same week-to-week, it’s safe to say that NFL football is back and bustling.

@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com

PHOTOS

20 | SEPTEMBER 20, 2019

Rams V O L L E Y B A L L SERVES

Up WHAT thEY’VE GOT

Photographs by Carlos Silva/THE GATEPOST

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