Volume 93 • Issue 1
The Rams are ready!
September 20, 2024
FSUgatepost.com
Sam the Ram poses with some new friends in the McCarthy Dining Commons Sept. 18.
Alexis Schlesinger / THE GATEPOST
Fire in Miles Bibb displaces students By Dylan Pichnarcik News Editor By Kaitlin Carman Asst. News Editor Officials say Miles Bibb Hall sustained more than $100,000 in damages after a fire started in a student’s room. Miles Bibb was evacuated and temporarily closed on Aug.16. Framingham State University Police (FSUPD) and the Framingham Fire Department (FFD) are investigating the incident in order to determine the cause of the fire. The early-arrival residents on campus who occupied Miles Bibb were temporarily moved to Linsley Hall while repairs were underway.
The fire started in a student’s room on an upper floor of Miles Bibb, causing water damage throughout the building, according to the FSUPD police report. Information about the student has not yet been made public. Officer Richard Reuss of FSUPD, who was the first to arrive on the scene, heard the fire alarms at approximately 1 p.m. in Miles Bibb while assisting with traffic control for early move-in, according to a report he filed on Aug. 17. At the time, students authorized to move in were a “small number of people,” primarily “residence [life] staff and athletes,” said Glenn Cochran, director of residence life and housing.
News
According to President Nancy Niemi, the responsible individual’s identity cannot be released as any records regarding students are protected under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Niemi said she was briefed on “the whole situation since it happened.” She added, “I’m checking in with folks as needed to make sure that everything is being resolved.” According to Reuss’ report, the individual who occupied the room in Miles Bibb Hall was seen on security camera footage leaving his room at approximately 12:54 p.m., returning around 1:55 p.m.
SGA pg. 4 JJ FACEY pg. 5
Opinions PHONE BANS pg. 6 USED TO BE pg. 7
Sports
See MILES BIBB FIRE Page 3
Nipmuc Tribe honored in Henry Whittemore Library mural By Raena Hunter Doty Arts & Features Editor The Henry Whittemore Library hosted the unveiling of the new Native American land acknowledgement mural Sept. 4. The mural was created with the goal of recognizing the Indigenous Nipmuc people as the original inhabitants of the land that is now Framingham State University and building bridges with the Nipmuc community. Four student artists - Andreas Chaniotakis, Marcus Falcão, Jaclyn Gattonini, and Zoe Holland - painted the mural with guidance from Marc Cote, chair of Arts & Music. They collaborat-
ed with members of the Nipmuc community throughout to ensure a respectful depiction of the tribe. Jeffrey Coleman, vice president of Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement, welcomed the guests to the event. He explained that land acknowledgements recognize the original stewards of lands that have since been colonized. “The development of a land acknowledgement should be motivated by genuine respect and support for Native peoples,” he said, and added it’s important for land acknowledgements to involve the Native peoples they’re supposed to honor in the process of the
Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST BELLA KONDI pg. 9 development. “We desire that this land acknowl- VOLLEYBALL pg. 9 edgement mural represents the confirmation of continued connections and working relationships with the Native Nipmuc tribal community,” Coleman said. President Nancy Niemi gave the University greeting. She said the power of art is evident in the way it is used to control and dominate marginalized peoples, and because of this, it also can be used to do good. Niemi emphasized the power of collaboration between people of different Raena Hunter Doty / THE GATEPOST cultures and ages. DANIEL GREENE pg. 14 See MURAL Page 15 BEST OF SUMMER pg. 16
Arts & Features
INSIDE: OP/ED 6 • SPORTS 9 • ARTS & FEATURES 13