Volume 95 • Issue 2
September 25, 2026
FSUgatepost.com
University resources on display during Suicide Awareness Month
Set for success
By Avery Slavin News Editor
Meg Dame / THE GATEPOST (Front) Rachel Hoerig and Kristina Santiago-Alers complete a set during a match against Curry College on Sept. 19.
In recognition of Suicide Awareness Month, the University is providing additional support to the campus community through the Health Center and SEALS. SEALS Peer Health Educators are certified in mental health first aid and trained to recognize the signs that someone may be struggling with their mental health. The SEALS student workers host tables on campus, typically in the McCarthy Center, rasing awareness about different areas of well-being such as sexual heath, mental health, and healthy drinking habits. They specialize in finding calm in the chaos of college See AWARENESS Page 4
Author shares global experiences at discussion By Francisco Omar Fernandez Rodriguez Associate Editor
Rose Hamilton / THE GATEPOST Eva Michelle Wheeler, author of “Alfacinha,” speaking in the Alumni Room, on Sept. 23.
Football tramples Corsairs with last minute interception
By Sarah Daponde Editorial Staff
The Framingham State football team beat UMass Dartmouth 23-21 in a nail-biting conference game Friday, Sept. 18. This win strengthens their record, leaving them 2-0 before their next game Saturday Sept. 26 at Bridgewater State. MASCAC named three Rams “Player of the Week” following the game. This included junior Ty Kelley for Special Teams Player of the Week, sophomore Michael Marcucella for Offensive Player of the Week, and junior Trevyon Fields for Defen-
sive Player of the Week. Fields said being named Player of the Week means a lot to him. “I’ve put in a lot of work to get to this point. … At the same time, I know I couldn’t have done it without my teammates and coaches putting me in a position to succeed,” he added. Kelley said being named Player of the Week is “awesome,” but he wants to continue to keep improving as an individual and as a team throughout the season. The Rams won the coin toss, and freshman Brandon Snyder delivered the kickoff to Dartmouth for 61 yards. See FOOTBALL Page 10
she now calls the Book Nook, she said. She writes there, and on the wall she hung some inspirational quotes. A “Meet the Author” converShe said a couple of these sation was held in the Alumni quotes include Isabel AllenRoom Sept. 23 and featured de’s “Write what should not be Eva Michelle Wheeler, an Afri- forgotten,” and Ernest Hemcan American woman and au- ingway’s “All you have to do is thor of “Alfacinha.” write one true sentence. Write The day before, she spoke the truest sentence that you about raciolinguistics, the con- know.” nection between race and linWhen the pandemic hit, guistics, at the University as Wheeler had been to Portugal well. eight times in eight years, she Wheeler shared the creative said. In that time, she also conprocess that led to writing this tinued her education. book, including the experienc“A lot of life happens in that es she had across the world. time. I had quit my job as a lawThe first draft of the memoir yer. I had started grad school, was written in July 2020, when I had graduated my PhD, I had she had extra time available started teaching as a profesdue to the COVID-19 pandem- sor - so much of my life was ic, she said. happening in conversation In her house, there is a small with these visits to Portugal,” nook under the stairwell, which Wheeler said. See AUTHOR Page 13
INSIDE: OPINION 6 • SPORTS 9 • ART & FEATURES 11
News
Opinion PIETTE pg. 7 LUSTER pg. 8
GPI pg. 2 SGA pg. 3
Sports VOLLEYBALL pg. 9 FIELD HOCKEY pg. 10
Arts & Features PETAL pg. 11 DIVA TALK pg. 12
NEWS
2 | SEPTEMBER 25, 2026
Gatepost Interview
OUR STAFF Editor-in-Chief Dylan Pichnarcik
Shubham Valand
Associate Editors
President of SGA
Francisco Omar Fernandez Rodriguez
Antonio Machado By Dylan Pichnarcik Editor-in-Chief
Copy Editor Cole Johnson News Editor Avery Slavin Opinion Editor Alexis Schlesinger Sports Editor Taylor Kimmell Arts & Features Editor Sarah Daponde Photos & Design Editor Onyx Lovely Asst. Photos & Design Editor Christy Howland Illustrations Editor Tobias Cotton-Selman
What motivates you to serve the University? I would say the support from so many students as well, like my colleagues, my friends, my family, and FSU staff members. … Of course, there are going to be people who don’t like stuff. But I’m still focusing on those people whose lives I made a change in, or if I made a project and that made a change in their life, or might improve their life at this University. It’s so many people, and their words are good. “You are doing great for the University and for the students. That keeps me going.”
Staff Illustrators Grace Doyle Abi Little Marcus Falcão Staff Writers Desiree Ambila Jesse Burchill Julien Fernandez Dan Lima Kate Norrish Nathan Piette Izabela Gage Heather Luster Andrea Zereski Louie Ranieri
SGA has grown rapidly over the last few years. What do you credit for that? When César [Matos] became the president. I would credit César for sure, because he was the one who gathered the SGA again, and he was the one who rebuilt SGA. So I always say this: César rebuilt SGA, and I’m taking the next step to let it grow more. So that’s what I would say. I would give the credit to César because he was doing so much on his own. He was handling and overseeing so many other eBoard positions as the president when he did not have the members. When I ran for the election, I was the [first] vice president after two years. I guess for the last maybe two or maybe three semesters there was no vice president in SGA.
Staff Photographers Julien Fernandez Rose Hamilton Meg Dame Advisors Desmond McCarthy Sabrina Grammatic Asst. Advisor Elizabeth Banks
TH E G A T E
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Asst. Advisor of Digital Engagement Ben Watanabe
N PE
What brought you to Framingham State? I was a student at UMass Boston. I did my freshman year at UMass Boston as a biology major. My first three classes were in the biggest lecture hall I’ve ever seen. There were like 400 students in them, and I was like, “I can’t do it here.” So I completed my freshman year, and then I decided to move to a state university. It was expensive. … I was looking for good universities, and I found Framingham State. I found how good the community is here, how supportive it is, and the good coursework that they offer. I found that through the website. I did a tour here as well. After I took the tour, I took tours for other schools nearby as well, but I was feeling more comfortable here compared to those others.
Dylan Pichnarcik / THE GATEPOST
well. But when I say changes, it’s not like changes in the University policies that already exist. But like changes in the sense of improving campus life, improving the student experience we have here. That’s why I let SGA do work on the projects, and what, as you know, SGA has done in the past, like lowering the parking prices, adding more and more water fountain stations, the water filler stations, and the accessibility door in McCarthy, changing the name of North Hall to Miles Bibb Hall, or like the donating a meal program. So I wanted to keep it going, and I plan to have a serenity space, basically like having What is your vision for the napping pods for commuter students on campus. … basically like future of SGA? My vision is basically, of having napping pods for commutcourse, to advocate for students. er students on campus, because @Tthe mainSTreason. But also I have been noticing from last That’s HEGATEPO to make changes on campus as one-and-a-half, two years that students as commuters are just
sleeping on the couches, which looks very inappropriate for the University. Second thing, they don’t have their own space to just take a nap, and as we know, the studies show how important the nap is. So when I took a survey of students, commuter students … I found out that if a commuter student need to take a nap, they have to find a corner spot on the campus where no one will come, like the library.
CONNECT WITH DYLAN PICHNARCIK
dpichnarcik@student.framingham.edu
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T TH EGATEPOS
100 State Street McCarthy Center Room 410 Framingham, MA 01701-9101 Phone: (508) 626-4605 Fax: (508) 626-4097 gatepost@framingham.edu
Monday, Sept. 21 11:33 Welfare Check Corinne Hall Towers
@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com
Tuesday, Sept. 22 2:19 Property Damage Lower Normal Hill Lot
Wednesday, Sept. 23 7:07 Roommate Concern Miles Bibb Hall
NEWS
SEPTEMBER 25, 2026 | 3
Club budgets, collaboration opportunities discussed at SGA By Avery Slavin News Editor
SGA discussed co-curricular funding and collaborations at the first Club Representative Meeting on Sept. 22. SGA President Shubham Valand began the meeting by informing the representatives of the other required sessions they must attend. If any meetings are missed by the clubs, they have a chance of getting a cut in funding. Vice President Nathan Piette encouraged the representatives to share their collaborative ideas involving other clubs on campus. Some of these ideas include a snow tubing trip with BSU and Outing Club, a Black History Month event hosted by BSU and Fashion Club, a Volunteers of FSU and Aspiring Health Professionals blood drive, and a bedazzling night with Art Club and FSAB. Piette proposed an idea about a campus-wide event involving each organization and residence halls in an FSU version of the game, “Family Feud.” He said the prizes for the event could draw in a lot of engagement considering the amount of resources that could be allocated if each club participates. Valand then did a quick review of Big Budget, explaining each club’s placement in the six groups and how it decides their allocated funds.
Gatepost Archives
and do it on an Excel spreadsheet instead. Piette said no, as the data would not be accurate, leading to discrepancies when it comes to altering the budget if needed.
WDJM, FSAB, and The Gatepost. Valand said clubs should be receiving an email within the next month about whether they’d like to change their allo-
Piette said that students pay a student activities fee that goes toward the Student Activities Trust Fund. SGA draws from these funds for activities and events. He added when clubs don’t use all their budget, it is wasted. It goes into a reserve account and can no longer be used for student activities anymore. “It is good to use the money, but you have to use it responsibly. Use it for the things you’re supposed to use it for - organize events, take good attendance, get people involved, and let’s spend the activity money. It’s for us to do fun things,” Piette said. Valand ended the meeting by reminding the club representatives the other two dates of the required club sessions, including the Administrators’ Forum following the meeting in November, where students cation groups. will have the opportunity to get Piette suggested clubs be pro- their questions answered in real active and plan most of their time by individuals like Presievents for the year in the Fall dent Nancy Niemi and other top semester even if the event does members of administration. not take place until the Spring to get an idea about how much [ Editor’s Note: Nathan funding they might need from Piette is a Staff Writer for SGA. The Gatepost. ] Valand said out of the 45-50 clubs on campus, only eight used 100 percent of their funds CONNECT WITH AVERY SLAVIN aslavin1@student.framingham.edu last year.
“Let’s spend the activity money. It’s for us to do fun things.” - Nathan Piette SGA Vice President
If a club petitions to move to a higher group, SGA will consider the number of events being held, the attendance at these events, effective communication with SGA, and the clubs themselves showing up to required events like open houses and the organization officer training. BSU President Angel De Leon asked if it were possible not to take attendance on RamLink
“If 100 people say a month before they want to go, we submit an Excel spreadsheet, and then only 30 people show up, it just wouldn’t be accurate information,” Piette said. Valand said clubs cannot move into group 1 unless they are already there, but if they run out of money, they are allowed to go to SGA to ask for extra funds. Group 1 consists of FSAB,
Weather Saturday, Sept. 26 Rain with a high near 60.
Monday, Sept. 28 Showers with a high near 60.
Wednesday, Sept. 30 Mostly sunny with a high near 70.
Sunday, Sept. 27 Rain with a high near 60.
Tuesday, Sept. 29 Mostly cloudy with a high near 70.
Thursday, Oct. 1 Mostly sunny, with a high near 75.
FRAMINGHAM STATE UNIVERSITY’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1932 | FSUGATEPOST.COM
NEWS
4 | SEPTEMBER 25, 2026
Awareness Continued from Page 1
suffer in silence, and supporting those who feel alone.” Jillian Meeker and Mikayla Malmquist - president and vice president of the club, respectively - are Morgan’s Message ambassadors themselves, along with other club officers Ashley Malmquist, Madison Bailey, and Kaitlyn Tello. “As a group, we all understand the struggles of mental health and want to help others. Morgan’s Message works to promote a better culture surrounding mental health in sports, which is a change that needs to happen,” Meeker said. For Meeker, the initiative hits close to home. She said people don’t always realize how much mental health is affected by sports. “Truthfully, most athletes I know have struggled mentally one way or another, whether it was related to their sport or not. Being able to talk about your struggles without the stig- Jillian Meeker ma can make you feel much less alone,” she said. Morgan’s Message Chapter President The FSU field hockey team hosted their inaugural game in honor of the Morgan’s Message initiative on Sept. 22. Bethge-Haynl said, “Even though we can’t change anyone’s past experiences, we can and Counseling Centers, host profit organization focused on acknowledge what they went said recognizing Suicide Prevention Month is important to their largest suicide prevention destigmatizing mental health through or are going through “reduce the stigma associat- event each April called Fresh struggles in athletes specifical- and give them support moving ly, recognizing the culture of forward.” ed with mental health and can Check Day. Lehmberg said the campushing through pain when it help students become more informed on how to help another pus-wide event is a “mental comes to sports. According to the website, person who may be struggling health promotion and suicide with suicidal thoughts. Mental prevention fair designed to help Morgan’s Message “aims to exillnesses, especially suicidal be- students connect, learn about pand the dialogue on mental havior, should not be overlooked resources, how to help one an- health by normalizing conver- CONNECT WITH AVERY SLAVIN other, and recognize that they sations, empowering those who aslavin1@student.framingham.edu or disregarded.” life, with events ranging from guided meditation on Thursdays to one-mile walks every Wednesday. Pam Lehmberg, director of wellness and prevention, said these opportunities are “low-pressure ways for students to take a break, manage stress, and focus on their well-being.” The Wellness and Prevention Center, located in the back of Foster Hall, is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Annika Bethge-Haynl, a SEALS Peer Health Educator,
Lehmberg said FSU students have access to Togetherall, an anonymous, always available, online peer-support community. According to Lehmberg, after signing up with your student email to access it, you receive an anonymous username without your identity being revealed. While it is peer-to-peer, mental health professionals monitor the conversations for safety, Lehmberg said. Staff members who work in Wellness and Prevention, collaboratively with the Health
are not alone.” She added their goal is to “make it easier for students to find resources, build healthy connections, and recognize that asking for help is a normal and important part of taking care of themselves. Asking for help can be a sign of strength.” The Framingham State athletes have also taken a stand against the negative attitudes and beliefs concerning mental health with a newfound chapter of the Morgan’s Message initiative. Morgan’s Message is a non-
“Being able to talk about your struggles without the stigma can make you feel much less alone.”
@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com
NEWS
SEPTEMBER 25, 2026 | 5
FRAMINGHAM STATE UNIVERSITY’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1932 | FSUGATEPOST.COM
6 | SEPTEMBER 25, 2026
OPINION THE GATEPOST EDITORIAL
F
Read the room on Rams Rewards
ramingham State sits proudly overlooking Route 9, just minutes from one of the state’s most important economic and hospitality hubs. Recently, the University announced a new rewards program to provide discounts to students, faculty, and staff and promote Framingham State’s presence in the city. While this is an exciting opportunity for our community and a way to benefit local businesses, The Gatepost Editorial Board questions who these rewards really benefit. The program features 24 businesses including everything from local restaurants to exercise classes to a cleaning service. Designed for students, faculty, and staff, the initiative includes small discounts at each of these businesses that can be claimed by presenting an FSU ID. In theory, the Rams Rewards Program is a fantastic initiative that gets Framingham State community members out into the city. However, if the goal is to get students accessible, worthwhile discounts, then initially, the program largely misses the mark. Many students at Framingham State work part-time or even full-time jobs in addition to their academic, familial, and for some, extracurricular or athletic obligations. Any money being earned is often not enough for a student’s disposable income. Students who work on campus are limited to 20 hours of work per week and are paid biweekly, forcing them to make small paychecks last. These students are not able to take a hot yoga class during the week - even with a free introductory class and 25 percent off purchases to follow. They are also not likely to spend $500 on furniture that wouldn’t even be allowed in their dorm rooms just for $200 off the purchase price. That’s still $300 most student don’t have. Yes, the Rams Rewards Program offers modest discounts. However, the program seems to assume students have the time, money, and transportation necessary to take advantage of these rewards. This assumption just doesn’t reflect the lived experience of our student body. For a program intended to serve the entire Framingham State population, accessibility cannot simply mean providing a discount. While discounts arguably are always good and having them available is beneficial, why develop a program that does not have students at its forefront? The discounts on furniture, contractors, and financial consultations are much more suited for faculty and staff. Because only a small number of employees actually live in Framingham, a majority of faculty and staff are less likely to patronize local businesses connected with the Rams Rewards Program. Not all students have the capability - or time - to leave campus for goods or services outside of those provided by the University. While there is accessible public transportation available in and around MetroWest, suggesting that students - especially new students - should acclimate themselves to a public bus schedule just to grab a $9 coffee is unreasonable. For first-year students, this is the first time they are on their own. Therefore, suggesting they use public transportation to
navigate a new city by themselves is not realistic. In drafting this program, was the route of the RamTram considered? None of these businesses are directly located at RamTram stops. The RamTram is the most accessible and - as it is operated by the University - the safest form of public transportation. Establishments at or near drop-off locations should be considered. Before charging students with the task of finding their way around Framingham, the University should consider how its own transportation system could connect students with businesses. If there is any money to expand this program, it should go toward supporting the transportation of students to these businesses. Even adding a “Rams Rewards Loop” to the weekly tram schedule would make this program significantly more accessible. If the University is unable to provide transportation to these businesses, why not bring the city to us? The program attempts to achieve this, welcoming businesses to the campus Dining Commons to highlight the cuisine they offer. However, if you aren’t a resident student, you pay for access to the Dining Commons out-of-pocket. So really, this part of the program is only accessible for a fee. Instead of closing these businesses off in a place where only some students can access them, the University should create a program which allows businesses to vend on campus and is easily accessible in a high-traffic location. Other ways to bring these businesses to campus would be to host an instructor in the gym’s aerobics room to provide a free class, or hold a small business fair to introduce the campus community to the city. Students would be significantly more likely to stop by the Forum and shop from these businesses than to leave campus. Or, for commuter students, pay to enter the Dining Commons just to experience a new cuisine. This program also appears to ignore FSU’s location in the city. Almost none of the businesses that are our neighbors just across Route 9 in Framingham Centre are currently a part of the program. As the closest businesses to the University, these establishments would likely be the strongest partners and friends to the University. Mad Willie’s has become a gathering place for students yearround. Athletic teams have even created a team-building exercise by walking across the Route 9 footbridge to enjoy an ice cream after practice. University Pizza - which many students involved in clubs enjoy weekly - has already proven itself as a fierce campus partner. In addition to patronizing these restaurants, students are often walking to the 24-hour CVS or the Stop & Shop to grab essentials, including study snacks, personal hygiene products, or makeup. Wouldn’t students appreciate discounts at these locations they can easily walk to rather than the other less accessible options being offered? The University should collaborate with businesses such as these. They are within walking distance from the University, open and welcoming to college students, and provide good food and essential products at a reasonable price. Students don’t always have the opportunity to come down off the hill, but that doesn’t mean we should be excluded from the community we inhabit. The City of Framingham is a vibrant and diverse place with so much to offer students. Our community is their community, and we should be a part of it. Someone just needs to connect us. In creating this discount program, the University failed to realize the point of the Rams Rewards Program. It isn’t about providing coupons. It’s about introducing two communities that already live harmoniously with one another.
Unsigned Editorials reflect the opinion of The Gatepost Editorial Board, signed Op/Eds reflect the opinion of the writer.
The Gatepost welcomes signed letters to the editor sent to gatepost@framingham.edu. All letters are subject to review. @TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com
OPINION
SEPTEMBER 25, 2026 | 7
SLAVIN AND ZERESKI - THE VERDICT
Never-ending dissapointment Price-wise, yes. The starting price of the never-ending pasta is cheaper than it would be to get a
normal entree. It’s $15.99 each for the deal, while the regular entrees our friends got were around $21. After adding protein to the never-ending pasta deal, it comes out to about the same price as the normal entree. The quality of the food was fine. It was a very average Olive Garden experience in that sense. But, as two roommates who love saving money, our general consensus from this trip is if restaurants are going to have deals and promotions like this, they should make them worth it. The whole point of a deal is
to get your bang for your buck and we feel like we didn’t. We know things aren’t and can’t be as cheap as they might’ve been in the past, but in that case, don’t market it as a steal when for most, it’s simply not. It would be a better deal if each bowl were less than one serving, so even people with smaller appetites can get at least two bowls. Overall, this did not deter us from Olive Garden in general - they just need to make some adjustments to the deal. Our verdict: Go on an empty stomach, but you probably shouldn’t expect the pasta to never end.
T OS EP AT EG TH
bowls, we would’ve at least made it to two or three different combinations of pasta shapes and sauces. We realized there’s a strategy to this, thanks to our friend who actually works there - avoid heavier pastas, like fettuccine, and stick to a less creamy sauce, like marinara. Y o u should d r i n k water so it fills you up less than other drinks, and try to avoid the breadsticks, the soup, and the salad as much as possible, which we did not have the self-control to do. Even attempting said strategy, we truly underestimated the size of the first bowl, and that was our downfall. However, after some social media research, we realized that this downfall was shared among many others across the country. The average person typically will only enjoy one bowl, sometimes not even finishing it. From videos we’ve seen, there is a shared conversation about Olive Garden’s seemingly too good to be true deal - it’s actually… not that great of a deal.
r/ ge sin hle Sc xis Ale
We went to Olive Garden this past weekend for their famous never-ending pasta, and it was… underwhelming, to say the least. The deal, including the breadsticks and the soup or salad, may be worth it for the price, but not for the experience. The soup is in a big bowl. The salad is in a bigger bowl. You’re already half-full by the time the first course of pasta comes to the table. The first bowl is served in the same-sized dish as a regular entree, which is quite filling on its own. Three out of five of us got the never-ending pasta, but only one got a second bowl - and it was left pretty much untouched. Here’s where they get you if you’re lucky enough to get to a second bowl, it comes in a significantly smaller portion. At that point, just make each bowl the same size. Why market the promotion as a way to try a bunch of combinations if a majority of guests can only eat one bowl? We all brought our meals home and were unable to really achieve the never-ending experience. They label the options as extensive so you can try everything, but you must choose wisely because it is rare to get past the first bowl. Obviously, there are people who may have bigger appetites than us, but regardless, everyone deserves that experience. If they all came in small
The Verdict is a weekly column written by Avery Slavin, news editor of The Gatepost, and Andrea Zereski. They can be reached at aslavin1@student. framingham.edu and azereski@ student.framingham.edu
NATHAN PIETTE COMMENTARY
The Duality of Citizenship Last year, something happened to me I never expected. I became a Canadian citizen. I was already an American citizen, born and raised in the United States, but Canada has always existed in my family before it ever existed on my passport. My Pépère, Québécois French for grandfather, was a Canadian citizen. On Dec. 15, 2025, Canada’s Bill C-3 went into effect. This changed the rules surrounding citizenship by descent. For people like me, born outside Canada in a later generation, that change meant something much more personal than a piece of legislation. Borders now saw me as American, and Canadian. I thought having two citizenships would feel like having two homes. That feeling is definitely there, but it feels more like I’m splitting my time between two divorced parents that live next door to each other. Mom and Dad are at war. I’m not sure which country is which, although I am sure I won’t be calling Donald Trump “daddy,” but I am sure of where this war of words started. The dispute has been building for more than a year. President Donald Trump began the current round in February 2025 by ordering additional tariffs of 25 percent on most
Canadian goods, with another 10 percent on Canadian energy products. Those tariffs were initially scheduled for Feb. 4, then delayed until March 4 while the United States evaluated Canadian measures concerning the border and fentanyl trafficking. After they took effect, the United States subsequently exempted goods that met USMCA rules of origin, leaving the additional tariffs focused largely on goods that did not qualify under the agreement. In short, the United States was mad and demanding, but unsure of why and how it should display its rage. Canada answered immediately. According to the Wall Street Journal, Ottawa imposed 25 percent tariffs on $30 billion worth of American products. The Canadian government joined in. The combined provinces totaled $155 billion in retaliation. This trade war continued
would join the conglomerate of EU countries, and subsequently change their bargaining power against the US and the world at large. They will no longer be our little sibling that has to tag along just as we demand. They would effectively rival our scale, and surpass us in mobility. Someone like me could drive across the border, enter EU territory, and travel throughout Europe like a cousin coming home. Maybe I wouldn’t come back. Maybe I would try, but I wouldn’t be welcomed. Or the US could scale back its inflammatory measures, and we could return to cooperative normalcy… maybe. One thing is for certain, I want to see peace and prosperity for all. I may just have to stay with “Mommy Mark” for a while.
Abi Little / THE GATEPOST to escalate every few weeks through August 2026. The total trade tax numbers are tariff-ying. International trade does not just exist in balance sheets. Americans and Canadians have been brought into an economic war that is just being passed on to the wallets of the citizens. I paid $1,291 to fill my homeheating oil tank last night. That will last about two months. The grand culmination of all this violent bickering has resulted in the ultimate play from Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney - the bid for Canada to join the European Union as a special “associate member.” The European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, recently voiced support for Carney’s bid, opening the door to something that would have sounded unimaginable Nathan Piette is a Staff before. This is more than a title. This Writer for The Gatepost. He is would completely change the an international business major. economics of Canada. They He can be reached at npiette@
FRAMINGHAM STATE UNIVERSITY’S INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1932 | FSUGATEPOST.COM
OPINION
8 | SEPTEMBER 25, 2026
HEATHER LUSTER COMMENTARY
Making Choices Decision paralysis seems to be something we let overtake us at some time in our lives. A single choice can feel like it is a life-changing decision that will rewrite your entire existence and way of being. This seems to be very common, but I tend to question why we organize and create categories for our decisions, minor ones and life-altering ones. We constantly make decisions every single day, from the moment we wake up to the moment we fall asleep. We decide what we’ll eat, what we’ll wear, how we’ll walk from point A to point B, what show we’ll watch, and so on. These are the minor decisions that just naturally happen. Then there are life-altering decisions that stop us dead in our tracks. Or at least they seem life-altering at the moment. For example, let’s look at starting college. You already made a decision right there. You had an option of no college, community college, a four-year program, military, certificate program, and more. But you made this decision to go to college. Which, I’m sure to some, seemed mindless, but for most, this was life-altering. Then, when you enter college, you’re expected to make a choice that directs your future and course of life - what major, what minor, what master’s program, etc. We tend to think the choice we make decides what careers are
generally available for you, and at some point in your journey, you make a decision of “This is what I want to do.” So you aim for that goal. You think you’re setting this as your life trajectory, and any other choice is not plausible. But these huge decisions are never-ending. They continue for as long as we live. We just get stuck on the ones that seem detrimental to our way of life. Then comes a time when you may change your mind, and decision paralysis re-enters the room. If I make this choice… *insert all spiraling thoughts here* Recently, I made a lifealtering decision that changed the direction of my future… again. In fact, I’ve done this a few times. When I started college, I was already labeled as a non-traditional student. I was a 23-year-old Veteran of the U.S. Navy. Up until this point, I made a decision to join the military and another decision to get out. Then I made a decision to start school, but froze at the thought of planning my entire future. I decided I was going to be a social worker, and I wanted to work with domestic violence victims. Then, three years in, here comes one single class that changed my mind - a crisis communications class I took to fill an upper-level elective. I fell in love. I was naturally good at this. I found extreme
enjoyment in every section of the class and was actually excited to complete assignments. Ultimately, I made the decision to complete my bachelor’s in Psychology and then my master’s in Communications and Public Relations. Did I fall into a decision paralysis for months on end? Yes, absolutely. I felt like I was letting my old self down. I was letting down this person who made a huge decision in the past. I was letting down the person who wanted to help people through situations like I had gone through. But, when I really sat with myself in my decision paralysis, I realized I wasn’t letting myself or any other version of myself down. I was allowing myself to peek into the current space I am in. We outgrow things, the same way we outgrew our toys when we were young. Once we realize the rest of our lives will hold a multitude of life-altering decisions, it makes it easier to be OK with any form of change or decision. Who knows, maybe you’ll make
Grace Doyle / THE GATEPOST another life-altering decision that changes your current lifealtering decision down the road. We are constantly evolving and changing in our own skin, and the sooner we accept the decisions that are coming into our lives, the sooner we can find peace and enjoyment within the decision paralysis that seems so daunting.
Heather Luster is a Staff Writer for The Gatepost. She is a psychology major. She can be reached at hluster@student. framingham.edu.
Campus Conversations “What is your most played song this month?”
By Alexis Schlesinger, Opinion Editor, and Julien Fernandez, Staff Photographer
“‘Murder On the Dance Floor.’”
“‘Lord Knows,’ by Drake.”
“‘Wait For Me,’ by Kings of Leon.”
- Lexi Beattie, senior
- Joseph Scarapicchia, junior
- John Daley, sophomore
“‘Girl From Oakland,’ by Party Next Door.”
“‘Nothin’ On You,’ by B.O.B. and Bruno Mars.”
“‘Joy,’ by Raye, Amma, and Absolutely.”
- Sophie Barbosa, freshman
- Ava Partin-Joseph, freshman
- Shawn Williams, freshman
@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com
SEPTEMBER 25, 2026 | 9
SPORTS
Volleyball defeats Curry in 3-set sweep
By Taylor Kimmell Sports Editor
In a home game Sept. 19, the Framingham State University Rams defeated the Curry College Colonels. With this 3-0 sweep, FSU’s overall record is 7-3, earning the team the top spot in the MASCAC coming into their first conference matches this week. The Rams put their first points on the board as Curry struggled to find their initial footing, unable to return the ball over the net. The Colonels tied the match on the next point, but FSU secured the next three, earning a point on a kill by Captain Natalie Reynolds, a senior, and two points on attack errors. Curry broke through for a few more points before the Rams regained momentum with kills by Captain Jamie Moniz, a senior, and freshman McKenzie Kastner, and several forced errors to bring the score to 12-5. A kill by Curry’s Morgan Kramer set the team on a hot streak, allowing them to score 7 consecutive points to tie up the score. Kills by Kastner and senior Emma Dobbins reset the Rams’ tempo. Despite two breakthroughs by the Colonels, FSU maintained steady offensive pressure, with points tallied on kills by Reynolds and senior Jaimee Lowe, as well as service aces from Lowe and sophomore Kristina Santiago-Alers. Due to a kill by Kastner and several forced attack errors, the Rams continued to rally for the remainder of the set, steadily climbing toward a 25-20 victory. Framingham’s slow start in the next set allowed Curry to accumulate an early 6-0 lead, but a Dobbins kill interrupted the streak. The Colonels’ lead increased to 9-1, but, with several forced attack errors by the Rams’ defense and kills by Reynolds and Kastner, FSU began to catch up. Framingham took a 14-11 lead with kills by Moniz, Dobbins, two by Kastner, and a service ace by Reynolds. The Rams continued to dominate on offense and defense, tallying points on kills by Kastner, Lowe, and Reynolds, and forcing several attack errors from Curry, one credited to a block by Reynolds and Kastner, to bring the score to 20-16. Despite taking a much needed time out, the Colonels failed to find their footing. FSU took advantage, going on a 5-point streak with a forced error, two kills by Reynolds, both assisted by junior Madysen Cedrone, and a pair of service aces by senior Anneli DiVirgillio, ending the second set 25-16. Dobbins, Reynolds, and Santiago-Alers led the Rams in a successful opening to the third set, earning points on two kills and a service ace, respectively. The teams traded errors, and the Colonels put up a kill and two service aces to tie the score at 4-4. The following set started a 9-point run for FSU, instigated
Meg Dame / THE GATEPOST (Right) Madysen Cedrone setting the ball for Jamie Moniz (Center) in win against Curry College on Sept. 19.
by another Reynolds kill. Lowe followed with three more kills, and DiVirgillio contributed with another pair of service aces. After the Rams forced two attack errors from Curry, they led the game 13-4. Another Curry timeout yielded two more kills from the team, but the Rams refused to let up, scoring 4 points on kills by Reynolds and Kastner and two forced attack errors. The Colonels attempted to close the gap, scoring on a kill, a service ace, and a Rams error. Kastner, however, broke their momentum with a kill assisted by Cedrone, which led into a streak of defensive success that earned FSU 3 points on Curry errors. Curry scored on two kills and a service ace, bringing the score to 21-13, still in favor of Framingham. Junior Sarah Medeiros kickstarted the Rams’ final scoring streak with a Cedrone-assisted kill. A service ace by Lowe followed on the next volley, then a Curry attack error, and finally, a matchwinning kill by Kastner, securing a 25-13 victory for FSU. Kastner said, “Curry was a very scrappy team, and they were able to keep balls alive for a long time. Longer rallies are harder to end, and they give the winning team more momentum, so having a lot of points like that was difficult. “I think we were able to capitalize on big swings and tooling the block, since Curry was able to get softer driven balls up,” she added. Lowe said, “I think we made some unforced errors that kept Curry in the game, but once we
focused on the weak spots of their and we are going to keep our eye defense and [on] our strengths, on our end goal and work as hard we were able to go on runs and as possible to get there.” shut them down.” Reynolds added, “Last year, Reynolds said when playing we made it to the championship. out-of-conference teams like This season, our goal is to be Curry, it is important to “make back there again and win it. We sure we play our game and stay beat out the seed ahead of us to clean, competitive, and aggres- make it to the championship last sive. year, so I have a feeling we’ll be “Our blocking at the net was back in the same spot again this very on today. Shutting teams year.” down offensively plays a big part Lowe said she is hoping for a for us in winning sets,” she add- championship victory and a trip ed. to the NCAA tournament to end Following Curry, the Rams her final season with FSU. “Aside have played 10 matches so far from that, the girls on this team this season, tallying seven wins are amazing teammates and peoalready. ple in general, so the relationLowe said, “We’ve played a lot ships I’ve made with these girls of difficult teams that have chal- is something I will never forget.” lenged us, making us better. We Reynolds said, “We’ve got a work hard all the time to make great group of girls - seven freshsure we are ready for MASCAC men and five seniors. We have a play.” big group graduating and a really Kastner said, “A good number big group just starting. Everyone of the games that we’ve played so gets along great - the team chemfar have been high-level competi- istry is awesome. It’s been very tion where we got to play against fun to play together.” teams with skills that we don’t Kastner said, “The best part see very often. Playing games like about playing with Framingham this has physically and mentally so far has been bonding with prepared us for conference play.” the team on and off the court. The Rams fought hard for their They’ve made the experience so first conference win, securing a much fun, and even the parts 3-2 victory at Worcester State. that aren’t fun, they’ve made enTheir current record of 1-0 in joyable. I’m really excited to start the conference and 8-3 overall conference play and see how far has FSU ranked at the top of the we can make it as a team.” MASCAC. The Rams host Salem State for In the MASCAC preseason their second conference matchup poll, Framingham was projected of the season Sept. 26. to finish third out of the conference’s eight teams. Stats sourced from fsurams.com Lowe said this ranking under- and MASCAC.com estimated the Rams’ capabilities on the court. She said, “We have a great CONNECT WITH TAYLOR KIMMELL group of girls playing this year, tkimmell@student.framingham.edu
FRAMINGHAM STATE UNIVERSITY’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1932 | FSUGATEPOST.COM
10 | SEPTEMBER 25, 2026
SPORTS
Football Dartmouth. Dartmouth’s run consisted of The Corsairs were unable to a gain of 7 yards and an out-ofgain significant yardage, and bounds pass before Framingham Framingham received a punt of began their drive from the 1939 yards to begin their drive. On yard line. the third down, a pass to MarA victorious pass 30 yards cucella was intercepted, leaving deep left to senior Mathias Fowlpossession back in the hands of er from Marcucella secured the first touchdown of the game, accompanied by a successful kick attempt by Kelley for the extra point. The first quarter soon ended 7-0 Framingham with no other points earned. The second quarter opened with an incomplete pass from Marcucella to Fowler, followed by a fumble by Marcucella recovered by Dartmouth. The Corsairs evened the score with a touchdown on third down and a good kick attempt, bringing the score to 7-7. The remainder of the second quarter passed without either team advancing their scores, and they remained tied going into the new half. The Rams kicked off the second half with an out-of-bounds punt. Framingham made a comeback in their next possession, as Gatepost Archives Marcucella threw a triumphant pass to Fowler in the endzone. The extra point was secured by Continued from Page 1
Kelley, bringing the score to 14-7 ing them to uphold the level of Framingham. success they reached last season. The Corsairs received the punt “We know teams are going to at the 31-yard line and began give us their best shot, so we have their drive to the endzone, which to come prepared,” he added. ended in a touchdown for DartMarcucella said the expectamouth. tions on their team have never The score remained 14-14 for been higher. the remainder of the third quar“We have a target on our back, ter. and we’re working as hard as we The final quarter picked up can to defend the title,” he added. quickly, and the Rams wasted no Going into their next game, he time rushing to the endzone. said the team is working on limMarcucella completed yet an- iting turnovers. other thrilling pass to Fowler for Fields said the team is focusa touchdown. Kelley’s attempt at ing on fixing the “little mistakes,” an extra point was unsuccessful, including execution and commuwith the score 20-14 in favor of nication. “We just want to keep Framingham. building as a team, stay focused, Dartmouth was awarded a and take the season one game at false-start penalty at the begin- a time.” ning of their first down, but this The Rams travel to Bridgewadid not stop the Corsairs from ter State for their next conferobtaining another touchdown. ence game on Saturday, Sept. 26. The kick attempt effectively earned them another point, leaving Framingham down 21-20. With only two minutes left on the clock, Kelley made a nail-biting kick attempt, resulting in a thrilling two-point gain for the Rams. This brought the score to 23- Stats sourced from fsurams.com 21, securing the victory for Fram- and MASCAC.com ingham. Fields said being the current CONNECT WITH SARAH DAPONDE MASCAC champions set a high sdaponde@student.framingham.edu standard for the Rams, motivat-
Field hockey stuns Salem in shutout win to keep the game scoreless. Framingham continued to control the offensive end as CapThe Framingham State Rams tain Ashley Malmquist, a senior, dominated the Vikings in a 6-0 and Captain Finley Hogan, a juconference shutout win Sep. 22. nior, took shots on the goal. This win brings their conferWalters had a shot stopped ence record to 1-1 and their over- by the Vikings’ defense before all record to 3-4. Framingham earned another After the first shot of the game penalty corner. Walters didn’t by Salem went wide less than 2 let up and took another shot, but minutes in, Framingham imme- Mosley kept the Rams from condiately put pressure on the Vi- verting. kings’ defense. The Rams carried the same Freshman Sydney Walters and pressure into the second period, sophomore Chloe Moynihan test- as Moynihan made an attempt ed Salem’s goaltender, Izzy Mos- before another penalty corner ley, within the first 3 minutes, was earned. followed by a penalty corner. Framingham dominated the The Rams continued to gener- offense, with Ashley Malmquist’s ate chances with three back-to- next shot being stopped and Hoback shots on goal, but Mosley gan sending an attempt wide. kept Framingham off the scoreThe Rams’ persistence finally board. paid off. After Walters took anA minute and a half later, the other shot on net, Hogan broke Vikings tried to find the back through to give Framingham a of the net, but junior Amanda 1-0 lead. Stackpole made a defensive save Hogan continued to try to find
the back of the net as the period providing the offensive spark as progressed before the Rams re- Framingham maintained presceived another penalty corner. sure throughout all four periods. Junior Hannah Poklemba, Hogan said, “It feels really Captain Marina Cadena, a se- good to see the results of what nior, and Hogan each followed we’ve been working on as a team with opportunities, but were un- this year. Even with the unassistsuccessful. ed goals, it was still such a team The Rams wasted little time effort to get it up the field. extending their advantage in the “Throughout the game, I tried third period. Moynihan opened to stay focused on not letting up, the period with back-to-back especially with shooting, because chances before Hogan struck their goalie, Izzy Mosley, is really again at 31:59, pushing their lead good,” she added. to 2-0. This win was Walters’ third Framingham piled on the multi-point game as a rookie. pressure with four shots on goal. She said she focuses on “trying to They earned two more penalty be in the right positions to help corners in the stretch, keeping my team in the best way I can so Salem pinned defensively. we can win.” At 40:14, Hogan scored her She added she looks to “set third goal of the game, assisted my teammates up for assists, beby Mikayla Malmquist, giving cause a great assist is the same Framingham a 3-0 advantage. feeling of scoring a goal.” Sophomore goaltender Aubrey This season, the field hockey Jenkins saved Salem’s next shot, team had Mary Nee start as head and the Rams carried their lead coach after four years working at into the final period. Regis College. The Vikings attempted to put a Hogan said, “Another key aspoint on the board, but Jenkins pect helping us make a push this saved one scoring chance, while season is our new head coach, Stackpole made another defen- Mary Nee. She’s been really great sive save. at helping us improve on a ton Walters then scored with 12 of different skills and just field minutes remaining to bring the hockey as a whole.” score to 4-0. Walters said Nee is motivating The Rams added another goal them to be the best they can be. at 51:26 when Poklemba finished Most recently, the Rams fell to off a pass from Walters, extend- the Plymouth State Panthers 5-1 ing the lead to 5-0. in a non-conference match Sept. Framingham stayed aggres- 24. sive in the final minutes. After The Rams host the Worcester Moynihan sent a shot wide, Ho- State Lancers for a conference gan found the net once again, tal- matchup Sept. 26. lying her fourth goal of the game Hogan said she hopes the moand giving the Rams a 6-point mentum “will be really positive lead. going through the rest of the seaSalem tried to break through, son.” but the shot was saved by Jenkins. Moynihan recorded FramStats sourced from fsurams.com ingham’s last shot at 59:58, but and MASCAC.com Mosley made the save. The Rams finished with a Izabela Gage / THE GATEPOST 6-0 victory, with Hogan’s ca- CONNECT WITH IZABELA GAGE (Center) Finley Hogan preparing to shoot the ball in win against Salem State on reer-high four-goal performance igage@student.framingham.edu Sept. 22. By Izabela Gage Staff Writer
@TheGatepost | FSUgatepost.com
SEPTEMBER 25, 2026 | 11
ARTS & FEATURES
petal… petal… petal…
By Antonio Machado Associate Editor
A mainstream pop artist detailing their issues with fame through their music is not a new concept - fame is notoriously a double-edged sword. But few artists reach the status of Pop Royalty that Ariana Grande has, and even fewer artists refuse to let their guard down. Caricaturized by her high ponytail, higher heels, and even higher vocal range, Ariana has reached the most important level of stardom many artists can only dream of - recognition solely through her first name - but this is simultaneously a level of stardom wherein every aspect of her life is scrutinized, likely more so than some of her other counterparts. Born in the intersection of the controversial “Wicked: For Good” press tour, wherein Grande and co-star Cynthia Erivo’s relationship was under major public scrutiny, and Grande’s “The Eternal Sunshine Tour,” where she faced intense public backlash for her thinness, Grande’s eighth studio album, “petal,” came at a very interesting point in her career. The record serves as Ariana’s attempt to bite back at the public who has relentlessly chewed her out throughout her entire career. It reads as though it would be both a literal and metaphorical “letting down of her hair,” but that’s not the reality.
After having herself be misconstrued so often, Ariana tries so hard to control the narrative around her without directly going against the grain, almost as though she were gentle-parenting her insolent fans. On the iridescent synths of “hate that i made you love,” she sings of her disdain for living under the projection of someone else’s insecurities. The true meaning Ariana wants to convey is glazed over by her gossamer voice, creating a delightful pop track which ended up as Spotify’s most streamed song of the summer. Ariana’s approach to music is often almost mathematical. Her understanding of melody and harmony are unparalleled, but on “petal,” she allows herself to be messy. The record simultaneously sounds like nothing she has ever made before and exactly like what someone would expect her music to sound like. Borrowing several aspects from shoegaze, Ariana crafts the entire album inside an experimental, otherworldly soundscape, while still retaining her signature sound. The titular track “petal” serves as the thesis of the record, wherein she sings “this record in rotation / long as she gets the ovation each night / heartbreak won’t bite / this is paradise” in a haunting falsetto atop a staggering bass. It’s a direct acknowledgement of the fact none of the hate she receives will matter as long as the music is good - and it really
is. Working alongside Swedish producer Ilya Salmanzadeh, Grande composed some of her most interesting music on this record. On the glittery UK garage of “oh well,” Grande’s ethereal harmonies lay atop these groovy synths that make all of the anxieties she’s opening up about dissolve into the ether. Ariana is at her best when she feels out of reach - as any star should be. “freak” sees Grande almost completely submerge herself in shoegaze, her voice autotuned past the point of recognition and placed directly in the middle of the mix - constantly outside of our grasp. “I won’t do what you say, freak, anytime,” she says to the people who are endlessly unsatisfied with her behavior and appearance. Prior to the release of the record, Ariana described “petal” as a “feral” album, but oftentimes, she is not necessarily angry - she’s disappointed. It creates a disconnect where audiences expect rage but are met with nuance. It’s an acknowledgement of a toxic parasocial relationship that goes both ways and her difficulties navigating its repercussions. “Keep my heels tall / my ego small / but I’m still Grande” she boasts on “like i do”
EPOST HE GAT T / o ã Falc immediately Marcus
after an intro of staccato “ah’s.” It’s exactly the caliber of sass her fans want and expect from her pop music, discordant synth stabs and ponytail whipping galore, yet the entire song reads more like a threat than a sex anthem. “You need me like I, you / ‘cause no one f**ks you like I do.” And ultimately, she’s right. Artists like her are few and far between. After 16 years in the spotlight, Ariana is finally allowing herself to grow out of the cold, unfeeling pavement women in the industry are buried in and blossom into an artist uninformed by the voices around her.
Rating: AI love it when a Pop Girl goes indie
CONNECT WITH ANTONIO MACHADO
amachado4@student.framingham.edu
“The Unknown” by Riley Sagar By Dylan Pichnarcik Editor-in-Chief Riley Sagar kept readers guessing this summer with his latest novel, “The Unknown,” which hit store shelves on Aug. 4. “The Unknown” is Sagar’s 10th novel and draws on elements from all of his previous work. It is a moderngothic page-turner that grabs you and doesn’t let you go long after you’ve read the last page. The novel follows a struggling actress, Marin Keane, who lands her first role in a major film about the mystery of the fictitious island of New Avalon in Vermont. As a part of her role, she and the crew must take a weeklong research trip to the island. New Avalon is the perfect backdrop for a New England mystery novel. It sits imposingly in the middle of a lake and, a century prior, was a hotspot for spiritual activity and mediumship. In 1926, the women who inhabited the island disappeared, leaving only five dresses hanging from a tree and the diary of one of the island’s inhabitants, Daisy Rue. Soon after arriving, Keane and the crew begin to realize something still isn’t quite right with the island, hearing strange noises in the dead of night.
After a sudden emergency leaves the cast stranded, New Avalon strikes again as disappearances start once
Marcus Falcão / THE GATEPOST
more. As the characters begin to fear for their lives, questioning whether the disappearances are the work of man or something more sinister, Keane turns to the diary of Rue, hoping it will provide answers to what might be going on. The isolation of New Avalon is one of the novel’s strongest elements. The island creates
an immediate sense of unease, cemented by the fact the cast lives as if they were 100 years in the past. Sagar uses the setting to create a sense of unease that ruminates throughout the novel, making the characters seem utterly hopeless in their situation. The brilliance of this novel comes from its slow burn - an element present throughout all of Sagar’s work. Just when the story begins to feel predictable or drawn out, Sagar’s writing hits you like a tidal wave, providing the satisfying plot twist everyone yearns for. Another recurring element in Sagar’s work is his expert use of the bookwithin-a-book. Avid fans of Sagar will recognize this technique from his prior novel, “Home Before Dark,” which follows the writer of a fictitious haunted house story and his family. In both books, we are reading passages written by the “authors.” This makes the world of Sagar’s characters come alive much more than if the protagonist were simply recounting the events. The use of Rue’s diary in “The Unknown” creates a sense
of immediacy as the present tragedy unfolds in the shadow of an infamous past. Sagar’s captivating character development is also a testament to his writing style. Each character within “The Unknown” is accessible - many readers might even see themselves in a specific character. We see their emotions and feel the rush of adrenaline they experience during climactic moments. These characters don’t simply feel like words on a page they have lives, trauma, and backgrounds readers slowly discover. The story of “The Unknown” feels timeless. As the calendar approaches October, this novel is a perfect fall read and will capture the attention of any reader interested in the supernatural.
Rating A+ Surely Sagar can do it again.
CONNECT WITH DYLAN PICHNARCIK dpichnarcik@student.framingham.edu
FRAMINGHAM STATE UNIVERSITY'S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1932 | FSUGATEPOST.COM
ARTS & FEATURES
12 | SEPTEMBER 25, 2026
‘Supergirl’ could have been By Jesse Burchill Staff Writer Released June 26, “Supergirl” is a superhero movie directed by Craig Gillepsie and starring Milly Alcock, Eve Ridley, Matthias Schoenaerts, and Jason Momoa. Based on the 2021 comic book “Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow” by Tom King, the movie features Kara Zor-El/Supergirl (Alcock) as she teams up with Ruthye Marye Knoll (Ridley) to seek revenge on Krem of the Yellow Hills (Schoenaerts), the leader of the space pirates and traffickers, the Brigands, who murdered Ruthye’s family and poisoned Kara’s dog, Krypto. However, I felt like the final product was a bit of a mixed bag. I enjoyed watching it, but even though some changes are to be expected in a movie adaptation, the changes in “Supergirl” were a bit distracting. Krem of the Yellow Hills is a much different character in the movie. He looks and acts completely different, lacks the more nuanced character traits he had in the book, murders Ruthye’s entire family instead of just her father, and is not of the same species as Ruthye, greatly changing their relationship to be both more and less personal. While Krem is still intimidating, the changes seem rather pointless and make him more generic as a villain. Several of the planets he attacks in the book are replaced with just one, which reduces the scope of his crimes, although they’re still utterly deplorable. Ruthye’s journey in the book, guided by Kara, is to recognize that murdering Krem in revenge will not relieve her of her grief. Along the way, the two gradually become friends, and when they’re stranded on a planet with a kryptonite
sun, Ruthye protects a severely weakened Kara from the dangerous local wildlife. The story culminates in Ruthye fighting Krem one-onone while Kara fights the rest of the Brigands. In the movie, Ruthye still has this arc, but the fight between her and Krem never happens, and the planet with the kryptonite sun has no life on it to defend a weakened Kara from. Furthermore, Supergirl does much of the heavy lifting in their pursuit of Krem throughout the movie - this results in Ruthye having far less to do than in the book, even though it’s her revenge story as well. Eve Ridley does give a good performance with what she has, but her character feels fairly underused in comparison to the book. The book has absolutely beautiful artwork and coloring. Artist Bilquis Everly and colorist Mat Lopes create multiple vibrant alien worlds, and every panel stands out. In comparison, the movie is very dark and drab most of the time and lacks the color palette that helped make the book so memorable. Despite the changes, I will admit that “Supergirl” still works as a decent movie. Krem is still a formidable villain, Kara and Ruthye’s relationship is fun to watch, the action is cool, and the flashbacks with Kara’s parents Zor-El and Alura were sweet. However, there were two parts of this movie that I loved and think stood out the best. The first is Jason Momoa as Czarnian bounty hunter Lobo. Momoa perfectly captures the kind of rough, gruff, and (mostly) jerkish person that is the Main Man, and his performance makes you wish he had more screentime than he actually got, given the revenge theme and that he’s also chasing a member of the Brigands.
Grace Doyle / THE GATEPOST
The second, and my favorite performance in the movie, was Milly Alcock as Supergirl. Kara begins the movie as a functional alcoholic who neglects her relationship with her cousin Superman and struggles with the trauma of losing her homeworld, home city, and parents in quick succession, while Superman was too young at the time to remember any of it. Despite this, Kara still strives to do good where she can, even at times when she can be abrasive and cynical. Her flaws are not gone at the end of the movie, but she’s working on them, and this makes her character development feel more real. Alcock sells the emotional beats of Kara’s arc perfectly, especially in her last interactions with her parents, when she retells her home’s doom to Ruthye, and when she comes to visit her cousin at the end. Even if you don’t like the rest of the movie, Alcock can easily
resonate as a great Supergirl, and I’m excited to see Alcock’s version of the character in future installments of the DCU. Ultimately, “Supergirl” is certainly serviceable as an entertaining movie with an engaging lead, but as an adaptation and a follow-up to 2025’s “Superman,” it falls short.
Rating: C Good, but not super
CONNECT WITH JESSE BURCHILL
jcelardo@student.framingham.edu
DIVA TALK: Chaka Khan is Still Every Woman By Louie Ranieri Staff Writer Music legend and Queen of Funk, Chaka Khan, released her 13th studio album, titled “CHAKZILLA,” on Sept. 18. This is her first album since “Hello Happiness” released in February 2019. The renowned diva, known for her hit songs such as “I’m Every Woman,” “Through the Fire,” “Ain’t No Body,” and “I Feel for You,” along with countless others, is now collaborating with other music legends on this album. You’ll be hearing the iconic sounds of Snoop Dogg, Sia, and Lenny Kravitz on a few new tracks. Chaka recently promoted her latest single, “Curious Subject,” from this album on “ColorsxStudios.” This is a German music platform where artists can perform and get exposure from around the globe. Chaka’s first appearance made headlines on social media when she soulfully belted her 1984 hit, “Through the Fire.” She left the world in awe and wanting more. A few weeks later, Chaka made a second appearance to sing “Curious Subject.” Chaka and her team knew exactly what they were doing
when they hooked the world into listening to her for a second time. This brought great publicity and exposure to a new song, helping promote and sell her new album. In a recent interview with “ColorsxStudios,” Chaka was asked a series of behindthe-scenes questions that I found interesting. Chaka was asked, “What informed the sound of your new album, ‘CHAKZILLA?’” She replied with, “Pop. My pop element. That’s where I started. I think this is a special CD. Not just because of the lyrics and the music and the genius behind it. Usually, when I do an album, I’m done. Next! However, on this album, I find myself, you know, listening to it, like, for enjoyment. And that’s a big deal.” Chaka was then asked, “Your new single features Snoop Dogg. What made you want to work with him?” Chaka replied, “Snoop is somebody to look up to. What a genius. I adore his brain and his work ethic. And he’s got all these great, wonderful ideas that he’s actually doing. You see him on a skateboard with a joint in his mouth … and all of a sudden, the skateboard turns into a dachshund, a dog! Cool shit!” I stayed up all night just to
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be one of the first few people to hear Chaka’s new album, and it was well worth the wait! I skipped the first three songs, since they had already been released as singles weeks and even months earlier, only listening to the new songs that were released that night. “Cool You Down,” featuring Sia, is very Sia-coated. It carries the signature sound that Sia brings into her productions. It is a very fun and fresh song, especially for Chaka’s style. The intro guitar and bass strums are classic Chaka. Then comes in a different style of pop than Chaka is known for. This song would be a favorite if it were released earlier in the summer. The theme of the song is feeling heat and cooling down, which sounds like it would be summer-related. So, in my opinion, having a summerrelated song drop almost three weeks into September, when Pumpkin Spice is everywhere you look and Halloween is in every store, I feel a disconnect with this song. It should’ve been released as one of the first three singles while the season of summer was still prominently with us. “I Know You Can” is possibly my favorite track from this album. This song is arranged
so well. I love the energy, the message, and the style of this song. It connects to Chaka’s roots in funk and pop! Chaka is very spiritual, and this song interprets her beliefs while tying in a message of trust, love, and unity with the energy that surrounds her and gives her what she needs. The following lyrics paint the picture for what this song is about: “One day, I had many things on my mind, / And I couldn’t think of one thing that I wanted to do, / I called to you and asked you to send me a sign, and you did, / So I decided to believe in you … / Yes, I know you can do it, Yes I’ll help you get through it” This song gives me a sense of security and hope. This song is like an affirmation for me, as it has a message that is uplifting and reminds me that I can do anything with the right people by my side. With only reviewing a couple songs, I would give this album four out of five stars. It is up to date, relevant, catchy, and carries Chaka’s legacy in a great light! I hope you give this album a listen and enjoy it as much as I did! CONNECT WITH LOUIE RANIERI lranieri@student.framingham.edu
ARTS & FEATURES
SEPTEMBER 25, 2026 | 13
Author Continued from Page 1
She shared some stories from “Alfacinha,” including one about her experience shopping for books in Lisbon. While there, she went to a student-run bookstore in the University of Lisbon. The man in charge welcomed her warmly while also immediately directing her to books about Africa in Portuguese, she said. At first she was confused as to why the man immediately assumed she wanted to read about Africa, she said. “Looking back, I guess I did know what was happening. What I didn’t understand at the time was the local racial logic,” Wheeler said. People in the U.S. didn’t immediately connect her to Africa just because she was Black, she said. In Portugal, it was treated as her “motherland,” she added. “Being connected to Africa like this wasn’t negative for me, but it caught me offguard,” Wheeler said. She compared it to how racists in the U.S. sometimes tell Black Americans to go back to Africa, though it was something she rarely experienced herself. She said she was more used to racial microaggressions that stereotyped her. “What I didn’t understand at the time was that the bookstore clerk, for all his best intentions, was telling me something about Portugal’s colonial past and present, about who was considered Portuguese, and who was perpetually an outsider,” Wheeler said. She didn’t originally consider writing a book about this and her other experiences in Portugal, she said. At first, Wheeler decided on writing a book about living in the Dominican Republic, where she resided for six months of graduate school, she said.
One of the experiences she had there included having to climb over an iron gate carrying groceries because everyone in the house was asleep and couldn’t let her in, she shared. Another time, she had to enter a bus through a window because of how full it was, she added. While on the island, she even developed feelings for a priest, she said. “That was the book I wanted to write. This book took me six years just to be able to sit down and write the words. That was summer 2019,” Wheeler said. Once she got that done, she felt as though she could do it again for her time in Portugal, she added. She had planned on returning to Lisbon in April 2020, but because of the pandemic that didn’t happen, she said. She said people kept asking her why she kept going back to Portugal. As of this presentation, she has been to Portugal 23 times in 14 years. “Alfacinha” was originally going to be more of a love letter to Lisbon, she said. But when people started reading it, she often got the feedback that she should lean more into the tension she mentioned. Her Portuguese friend told her about the official history of the country, she said. “I got the version of Portugal that was about the heroes and about the discoveries and about the victories,” she said. But she also went on a tour that shared the history of the transatlantic slave trade, she said. “I started to feel tension about how I can love a place that has such a troubled history,” Wheeler said. She shared that in her first chapter of her memoir, she went to an ice cream shop and the vendor asked her where her family was from and wouldn’t
Rose Hamilton / THE GATEPOST Author Eva Michelle Wheeler reading an excerpt from “Alfacinha” at a “Meet the Author” event on Sept. 23.
Rose Hamilton / THE GATEPOST Author Eva Michelle Wheeler holding a copy of “Alfacinha” at a “Meet the Author” event on Sept. 23.
take the U.S. as a real answer. The vendor kept asking what part of Africa her family was from, but all Wheeler knew was that she was from Louisiana and California, she said. Later on, in chapter four of the book, she went to Egypt as her first African country, she added. She knew her ancestors were likely from West Africa, but she still felt as though she was connecting to her motherland, she said. She went to a local vendor and told him about how she was excited to finally be on a trip to Africa, she said. The vendor asked her if she was going to Africa after Egypt, she said. While this did confuse her, she had previously felt she didn’t feel that connection she was looking for anyway, she added. This led her to thinking about what it meant to find the connection she was looking for, she said. “Do I need to find the exact place where my ancestors are from in order to feel a connection? How do I recover that information, like 300 or 400 years later?” Wheeler asked. Even ancestry DNA tests only told percentages, which didn’t translate into conversations and connections, she said. “Is home just the place where you were born? Is home the people, like the family you were born into? Or is home something or someone else?” Wheeler asked. There is also the question of whether people get to choose where their home is, or if it’s really up to the country, she said. While traveling, she realized she was in a privileged position just by being from the U.S. During her stay in Tunisia, she was in an Airbnb with her Tunisian hosts, her Libyan roommate, and a man from Tennessee, she said. They spoke about U.S. politics, which they knew out of necessity, she said. Some of
them were closed off to several parts of the world because of where they were born. They told her U.S. foreign policies have direct impacts on their lives, she said. When she was in Brazil, everyone kept getting put off by how she was a Black woman speaking European Portuguese instead of Brazilian Portuguese, she said. That was the way school taught her. They acted like it was impossible for her to be Portuguese and assumed she was just speaking weirdly, she said. “They thought I wasn’t from there, or they thought I was trying to put on airs, and [that] I was trying to connect myself to Portugal,” Wheeler said. The title of her book, “Alfacinha,” literally translates to “little lettuce,” though the word is used to describe people from Lisbon, she said. Many people would say she can’t call herself that because she wasn’t born there, she said. Wheeler said she spoke to some African-Portuguese people, who told her they don’t get to use the word either, even though they were born there.
CONNECT WITH FRANCISCO OMAR FERNANDEZ RODRIGUEZ
ffernandezrodriguez@student.framingham.edu
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ARTS & FEATURES
14 | SEPTEMBER 25, 2026
‘Project Hail Mary’ is the film the world needs right now By Kate Norrish Staff Writer When I first saw that Andy Weir’s novel, “Project Hail Mary,” was being made into a film, my first thought was “Oh cool, I loved that book.” That slowly snowballed into realizing that the book was a lot better than I remember, making me wonder if Hollywood would be able to adapt a book with such a morally complex view of humanity. “Project Hail Mary” is one of the best films I’ve ever seen. After waking up on a space ship several light years from Earth, Ryland Grace (played by Ryan Gosling) considers how he got there. This leads to a nonlinear story, cutting between him being drafted by politician Eva Stratt (Sandra Hüller) to prevent an alien microorganism called the astrophage from blocking the sun, and therefore killing most life on Earth, and him continuing his studies in space. His mission? To research a solar system that is not being affected by the organism. While Andy Weir, author of the book “Project Hail Mary,” has become famous for his ability to write hard science fiction, I would argue that he is just as skilled at cosmic hope a type of sci-fi meant to portray the beauty of life within the scale of the universe. This is something which the film boosts into an overwhelming level of emotional complexity. The role of globalism in this story cannot be emphasized enough, and I would make the bold argument that the film is better than the book. While the book was already an emotional roller
coaster, I felt every moment of this film in my soul. Every single character is extremely complex and likable. One of Grace’s first scenes shows that he works as a middle school science teacher, and everything about him screams “the fun teacher.” His ability to break down the complex science of the astrophage to Stratt is invaluable, and he is also extremely skilled in deescalating the stress of the other characters. For example, one of my
Now let’s talk about the deserved fan-favorite character. Rocky, the name Grace gives to the alien he teams up with in space, is played by puppeteer James Ortiz. Every person I’ve said this to is shocked that most of the alien’s scenes are not pure CGI. Rocky is an endlessly enjoyable character, who serves to form a funky chemistry with Grace that I have never seen before. While he may be easily frustrated, Rocky comes from
Grace Doyle / THE GATEPOST
favorite scenes in all of cinema is when he attempts to connect to Stratt without dismissing her uptight personality, leading her to sing karaoke during a party, abruptly changing the room’s tone. The writing of Stratt’s character is improved in the film. While still authoritarian, her compassion is made more obvious as she fights tooth and nail for humanity. Details such as her implied Catholic faith and struggle to understand jokes made the difficult decisions she makes throughout the film even more of a gut punch, which I did not think was possible after reading the book.
an incredibly social culture, possibly more social than humans. Therefore, after being alone on his spaceship for decades, he clings to Grace, and the excitement he portrays with his communication device is infectious, making you see human life through new eyes. He is also psychologically, as well as physically, different from humans, confused by various basic scientific and cultural concepts, while also having a near perfect memory. The only possible flaw I can see in this film is that a horrifying scene from the book taking place in Antarctica is cut. I will not give specifics, as it is a huge spoiler, but it is
somewhat famous. However, if my biggest critique is a controversial moment that those who have only seen the film would not know about, this is some scary good writing. I tried to find other things wrong with the film, but every time I thought I did, I realized that the film explained them. Even the elements they added, such as a moment where Grace and security guard Carl (Lionel Boyce) play with duct tape, and the symbolism, ranging from Grace’s quilt to the repeated use of circles in the imagery, is something I could talk about for hours. Everything about this film screams that the entire cast and crew worked their butts off to make this the best art they possibly could. While I rewatched the movie for this article, wildfires in Canada were leading to smoke in my area so bad that my eyes watered and I could taste it when I stepped outside. It really helped with my anxiety, and as an AAC user, Rocky has already become a bit of a mascot in our community. This entire story just ties together themes of environmentalism, communication, faith, and too many more to count amazingly. I have no doubt it will go down as one of the masterpieces of sci-fi filmmaking. Watch “Project Hail Mary” and prepare to experience the joy of outer space and friendship.
A+ Amaze! Amaze! Amaze! CONNECT WITH KATE NORRISH
knorrish@student.framingham.edu
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YOUR PET COULD BE THE NEXT PET OF THE WEEK!
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HER FIRST WINTER WITH MASA BIG SURPRISE!
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ARTS & FEATURES
SEPTEMBER 25, 2026 | 15
The Lexicon: Reminiscing on Summer, in Autumn By Alexis Schlesinger Editorial Staff I have been to a total of 80 shows this year, and 48 of those were between the last day of Spring 2026 classes and writing this edition of The Lexicon. I could talk for hours about the bands I saw for the first, fifth, or even 12th time between then and now, and I have, when given the opportunity. I had a lot of personal achievements this summer too, as a concert photographer and tour manager, but the people on the other side of my camera are a much more important conversation. I got my first real backstage media pass this summer. I say that because the only venue I’ve had that kind of access in with a real backstage was The Sinclair in Cambridge. I owe that opportunity to my friends in Summers in Autumn and Stringhead. Prior to their show at The Sinclair, I had only seen the two bands in basements, or other small venues. On July 28, they were larger than life. Seeing the two bands so high up on the large stage, with the big crowd and the fancy lights, was only half of it. The level of sound equipment at The Sinclair compared to everywhere else I had heard them was astonishing. Everyone in the room that night heard their music the way it’s really meant to be heard, every time.
It was just huge. There’s no other word I can think of to describe it. I was really inspired that night by the way their music completely took over the venue. It’s really something special too, seeing your friends achieve what they deserve, and I’ve been really proud and grateful to be there to witness it. On the topic of large, moving music, there’s another set from my summer I can’t leave unmentioned. The show I attended on June 26 was also in Cambridge, but not at nearly as large of a venue. I went to the Cambridge Community Center that night to see two bands I already knew and loved - Brownie Points and Ruby Red. Both were incredible as always, but I was brought to tears by the band I had never heard of before. rug, a seven-piece, folk-inspired post-rock band from Miami, is not only large in size, but in sound. Out of over 200 sets I saw this summer, I think this is the one stuck with me the most. This is the one I still think about most often. The low ceiling of the Cambridge Community Center basement could’ve been thousands of feet tall that night, the way the music swelled and filled the room. rug’s music is aching, romantic. It holds you and begs you to stay, and the love the
band members have for each other seeps into their sound. Any band that has the kind of love for each other as they do is always going to sound infinitely better. It’s even better when there are multiple bands playing the same show, or eight, that feel that same way. From Aug. 18 through Aug. 27, I had the opportunity to tour manage for two bands I absolutely adore - cellardoor and It Helps Me Sleep. The two bands had no prior connection to each other, aside from the ridiculous coincidence that a member from each had gone to School of Rock in Maryland together when they were 12. The coincidence is even more ridiculous knowing that cellardoor is from New Hampshire, and It Helps Me Sleep is from Philadelphia. Watching the bands connect over the eight shows and 10 days we spent together might have been one of my favorite parts of being on tour. They were each other’s biggest fans, always in the front row recording each other, singing along, and cheering louder than anyone else, and there was plenty of
Courtesy of Alexis Schlesinger
competition in those crowds. They both deserved it more than anything too - they’re brilliant musicians and incredible people. There is endless thanks I could give to every band I’ve ever seen for their music, and every connection I’ve made with the talented, loving people in my life and in my community. I will continue to give it every day.
CONNECT WITH ALEXIS SCHLESINGER
aschlesinger@student.framingham.edu
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PHOTOS
16 | SEPTEMBER 25, 2026
Onyx Lovely / THE GATEPOST
Rose Hamilton / THE GATEPOST
Onyx Lovely / THE GATEPOST
Spread by Photos & Design Editor Onyx Lovely, Asst. Photos & Design Editor Christy Howland
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