Volume 92 • Issue 21
April 5, 2024
Drag Queen Patty Bourrée at Drag Bingo, hosted by SGA and FSAB on April 4.
FSUgatepost.com
Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST
Dryer ignites in Towers Hall, causing evacuation By Dylan Pichnarcik Asst. News Editor The fire alarms in Corinne Hall Towers were activated due to a resident’s clothing igniting in one of the dryers in the laundry room on Monday, April 1. Residents were evacuated shortly after, according to a report by the Framingham Fire Department (FFD). According to the University Police report, University Police Officer Kelvis Nako was the first to arrive on scene, followed by Sergeant Robert Barrette. Lieutenant Matthew Brown was the officer in charge of the FFD unit dispatched to campus. After the building was evacuated,
students were directed into Hemenway Hall for the duration of the emergency, the University Police report said. According to the FFD report, the cause of the fire was either an overheated motor or the unit being overloaded by a resident. The exact cause has yet to be determined. Brown’s report stated that smoke had filled the laundry room and was circulating throughout the building up to the 11th floor. He said smoke circulated throughout the building because of an open door on the third floor. The report did not identify which door was not closed. FFD extinguished the flames, which were contained to the dryer unit. FFD then removed the clothing from the
dryer and soaked it with water outside the building, according to Brown’s report. Two ambulances were also on scene to assist two students. According to the FFD report, two students who “had leg injuries that occurred during evacuation” were transported to the hospital. According to the University’s police report, however, the students did not sustain injuries from the evacuation. Rather, the injuries were from playing basketball. The students were issued taxi vouchers to return to campus from the hospital, according to the University
Kianna Bauer, communication dispatcher for the University Police Department, was named the 2024 Phenomenal Woman for her dedication to the FSU community through her outreach events with SHAPE (Sexual Harassment & Assault Prevention and Education). “Being phenomenal is a connection between all who identify as women - it is a sisterhood of knowing the struggles, knowing the pressure, and demanding better,” said Bauer. The 17th annual Phenomenal Woman event was held in the McCarthy Fo-
rum in celebration of Women’s History Month and the many phenomenal women in the FSU community. The first winner of this award was recognized in 2007 and since then, female students, administration, and staff members have won this award. Over 40 women across campus are nominated each year by their FSU peers. The Phenomenal Woman ceremony is hosted by the Dean of Students Office and is inspired by the poem “Phenomenal Woman” by Maya Angelou. The ceremony began with an opening statement from Rachel Lucking, assistant dean for campus engagement, followed by a greeting from President Nancy Niemi.
BOT pg. 3 DANFORTH GRANT pg. 6
Opinions MISDIAGNOSING pg. 8 LETTING GO pg. 8
Sports
See TOWERS EVACUATION Page 6
Kianna Bauer named 2024 Phenomenal Woman recipient By Andrea O’Brien Staff Writer
News
According to Niemi, 62% of the fulltime employees at FSU are women and if you include part time faculty, that percentage increases to 65%. Sixty percent of students this year, graduate and undergraduate, identify as female. “Here at FSU, women are a vital source for our students’ success, and we are so lucky. I am so lucky to be amongst phenomenal women,” said Niemi. Melinda K. Stoops, former FSU administrator for 14 years including roles as assistant dean, dean of students, and associate vice president for student affairs, gave the keynote address.
See PHENOMENAL WOMAN Page 16
Dylan Pichnarcik / THE GATEPOST REGAN FEIN pg. 10 WOMEN’S LACROSSE pg. 12
Arts & Features
Meghan Spargo / THE GATEPOST MIRIAM LEVINE pg. 13 FRESH CHECK pg. 14
INSIDE: OP/ED 7 • SPORTS 10 • ARTS & FEATURES 13