May 9, 2025
Volume 93 • Issue 23
FSUgatepost.com
Rally at Route 9
Dylan Pichnarcik / THE GATEPOST
Members of the FSU community at the MSCA rally on May 1.
Making Framingham home Brazilian community key to downtown’s economic revival By Alain Puma Staff Writer On a typical Saturday afternoon, downtown Framingham is bustling with activity. Businesses such as restaurants, auto repair shops, cafés, pharmacies, and Latin grocery stores are all within walking distance of one another. People enter and exit the many shops and businesses that line the city streets. Smells from the local bakeries and coffee shops fill the air. According to the City of Framingham, over 70,000 people make the city their home, including a diverse population of immigrants. The city’s website estimates that about 85% of the businesses in downtown Framingham are owned by immigrants. One such business owner is Daniel Quezada, who owns Auto Aasy Repair on 9 Blandin Ave. According to Quezada, who is originally from Guatemala, the diversity of the Framingham community has been integral to the longevity of his business. “I’ve been in business here for about 22 years now. I believe that the diversity of our community has helped fuel our success,” he said. “I have American clients, Haitian clients, Brazilian clients, Guatemalan clients, Puerto Rican clients. People here just want someone they can trust with their car so that they can get back on the road,” he added. Quezada also said he believes the development projects over the past few years have contributed to all of the success his business has seen. See FRAMINGHAM Page 4
Rally protesting Trump’s attacks on higher education held at FSU ministrators gathered in front of the McCarthy Center to hear speeches from members of the Framingham State commuBy Dylan Pichnarcik nity, including faculty, staff, News Editor students, and President Nancy The Massachusetts State Col- Niemi. The group then walked lege Association (MSCA) Fram- to the pedestrian footbridge ingham Chapter held a rally on over Route 9. Prior to the rally, MSCA isMay 1 to address actions taken sued “a statement of solidarity” against higher education by the denouncing policies of and acTrump administration. Approximately 50 students, tions by the Trump administrastaff, faculty members, and ad- tion it says target marginalized communities and threaten core By Sophia Harris Editor-in-Chief
democratic and labor values. In the statement, the union, which represents faculty and librarians employed by the nine state universities, voiced support for immigrant communities, LGBTQIA+ individuals, Black, brown, and Indigenous groups, disabled individuals, and workers facing what it called increasing repression.
See TRUMP’S ATTACKS Page 3
The faces of Framingham
Dylan Pichnarcik / THE GATEPOST Julia Sartori-De Boni serves coffee at Fresscafe on Concord Street, Framingham, on May 8.
This week’s issue News TRUSTEES pg. 6 AI pg. 8
INSIDE: OP/ED 11 • SPORTS 15 • ARTS & FEATURES 20
OP/ED
Sports
PAVING YOUR PATH pg. 11 SENIOR LETTERS pg. 12
TRACK & FIELD pg. 15 MEN’S LACROSSE pg. 19
Arts & Features SECRETS pg. 22 DEAFSU pg. 23