April 3, 2026
Volume 94 • Issue 20
FSUgatepost.com
Drag Race at Framingham State!
Former RuPaul’s Drag Race finalist Jujubee performing at FSAB’s Drag Bingo event in Dwight Hall March 30.
Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST
Nelson Peña First poet laureate of Massachusetts brings “brain-droppings” to Miriam Levine Reading de Jesús By Sarah Daponde Arts & Features Editor Framingham State hosted Regie Gibson as the chosen speaker for the annual Miriam Levine Reading in the Heineman Ecumenical Center on Wednesday, April 1. The event was co-sponsored by the Arts & Ideas series and the English Department. Jennifer De Leon, professor
of English, welcomed Gibson, “poet, performer, and educator,” to the stage. De Leon said Gibson was selected from over 100 applicants to become the first poet laureate of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. He was sworn in by Governor Maura Healey on May 30. The nominating committee concluded Gibson would become the “defining voice of
poetry and creative expression across the state,” said De Leon. Gibson is a professor at the Berklee College of Music and an instructor at Clark University. De Leon said he has worked alongside “luminaries” such as Kurt Vonnegut, Gwendolyn Brooks, and John Legend, among others. See REGIE GIBSON Page 10
Snaps for the Suit Jacket Posse!
Antonio Machado / THE GATEPOST The Suit Jacket Posse cast returning to the stage during their “Landscaping Our Bushes” show on April 1.
selected as 2026 commencement speaker By Sophia Oppedisano Editor-in-Chief By Dylan Pichnarcik Associate Editor Nelson Peña de Jesús, president of Nestlé USA’s Global Culinary Kitchen division, has been selected as the 2026 undergraduate commencement speaker. Nestlé oversees the Toll House cookie brand, made famous by Alumna Ruth Graves Wakefield, Class of 1924, who is credited as the inventor of the chocolate chip cookie. To make this decision, Dan Magazu, executive director of Marketing & Communications, said, historically, a committee of faculty, staff, administrators, and students is formed. Magazu also serves as chair of this committee. He said the committee’s process has been to seek recommendations for speakers from graduating seniors, brainstorm with the working group, and vote to produce a ranked list. This list is then submitted to President Nancy Niemi, who makes the final decision. Magazu said the speaker is not paid, however, the University does offer to pay for travel expenses. See COMMENCEMENT Page 4
INSIDE: OP/ED 5 • SPORTS 7 • ART & FEATURES 9
News GPI pg. 2 NENPA pg. 4
OP/ED BITTERSWEET pg. 5 FAILURES pg. 6
Sports SOFTBALL pg. 7 WOMEN’S LACROSSE pg. 8
Arts & Features SUSTAINABILITY pg. 9 HOPPERS pg. 10