Campus Currents

November 17, 2023 at 7 p.m.
Heineman Ecumenical Center

Pianist Jihye Chang has appeared as soloist and collaborative artist in venues throughout the United States, Canada, Korea, France, Brazil, Costa Rica, and Honduras. Her performances and recordings have been broadcast on KBS TV and KBS FM Radio Korea, PBC TV Korea, Yedang TV Korea, and Costa Rica Classical Radio, and she has appeared as a soloist with ensembles all over the world.

November 15th is National Philanthropy Day and the University is asking the community to support our Rams Resource Center!

How you can help:

On November 15, join us at the patio at the McCarthy Center (walk-by) or the Maynard parking lot (drive-by) to drop off your item(s), celebrate the Fall, and experience the power of giving!

Make a monetary gift.
Donate a needed item.
Donate a swipe from your meal plan.
Click here to send your own note of support to be given as a thank you to anyone who donated on campus.

The Rams Resource Center needs:

Winter coats
Small bottles of dish soap
Tuna meal kits / cans of tuna
Individually wrapped rolls of toilet paper
Nut Milk / Shelf Stable Milk
Healthy snacks (like trail mix

Some students have the resources to go to college. Others have financial hurdles to achieve their dream of a college education. Some have to go without. Without food. Without a place to live. Without a winter coat. Shockingly, 52% of students attending a four year university experience moderate to severe anxiety based on basic needs insecurity.

The RAMS Resource Center is a safety net connecting Rams with campus and community resources that help them secure their basic needs.

The Framingham History Center's first traveling exhibition in its 135-year history, "Making Framingham Stronger," is currently on display at FSU's Center for Inclusive Excellence in O'Connor Hall.

The exhibition was co-curated by Stacen Goldman from the Framingham History Center and three Framingham High School interns: Kaillane Gomes, Carlos Estrada, and Rose Boulay.

The exhibition is multilingual (English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Haitian Creole) and explores the history of immigration supports in Framingham from the 1800s to present-day, including in the areas of work, school, and language learning. The five-panel exhibition is complemented with three exhibit cases featuring artifacts that speak to the vibrant history of immigration in Framingham.

It will remain on display in the CIE until Monday, December 18, 2023.

Framingham State Fashion Merchandising major Sydney Sacks has helped develop a special event as part of her internship with DC Consignments in Natick that will serve as a fundraiser for the Fashion Design & Retailing Department. 

'Sip & Shop'
DC Consignments, 42 Worcester Street, Natick
Thursday, Nov. 16
4 to 7 p.m.

Join us for a fun filled night of festivities with complimentary beverages and hors d'oeuvres! A portion of the proceeds from the event will support the Fashion Design & Retailing Department. 

By Sophia Harris, publications intern

The Swiacki Children's Literature Festival has served for years as a source of inspiration for young illustrators and writers - allowing them to explore these career paths during or after their time at Framingham State, said Elizabeth Phillips Assistant Director of Alumni Relations.

Sisters Nancy and Janina Swiacki, who graduated from Framingham State in ‘68 and ‘67 were given the namesake of the Literature Festival in 2014 for being gracious donors to the event and valued members of the Framingham State Community.

Janina Swiacki said, as she was holding a stack of books from the book sale, that she hopes students will gain an “appreciation for the craft of children's literature - whether it’s the writing aspect, or the illustrating aspect,” through this event.

She added, “Through the years, some of the presenters have mentioned that it's a difficult business no matter which end you go into.”

Nancy Swiacki said she hopes students find enthusiasm for their passions and that this festival motivates them to go after their dream job no matter what that might be.

This festival welcomed over 150 guests from Framingham State and the surrounding community. The event was hosted in the McCarthy Center with two featured artists and authors - Illustrator Ekua Holmes and author/journalist Dashka Slater.

The event started with a book sale where attendees could pick from a diverse array of books illustrated by Holmes or written by Slater. There was also an opportunity to get the books signed by the two in the Mazmanian Art Gallery.

The Art Gallery was decorated with Holmes’ artwork from two separate children's books that she has illustrated. The galley also featured an exhibit on the steps of her process for creating illustrations for books.

Holmes said although she has always wanted to become an illustrator, she never thought about it as being a profitable career.

She graduated from Massachusetts College of Art in 1977, “and decided not to be an illustrator because I thought it was too hard.”

“And then years later, it turns out that I became one anyway,” Holmes said.

One day, “I had my artwork up in an ice cream store and someone came in and saw it and thought that it would be good for children's books and offered me an opportunity," Holmes added, "and I took it.”

Holmes said she hopes students who are looking for a vocation in illustrating children's books will continue to follow their passion no matter what might stand in their way. She said this passion will shine through the illustrations and, “bring a feeling to the literature.”

Junior Ben Hurney who was admiring a collage of different mediums including newspaper, paint, and paper mache from Holmes's collection, said the art makes him feel “excited” adding he can tell the creation of the art is a “pretty involved process.”

Sophomore Ellie Lynch, who was standing at a round table in the Gallery reading the artist’s statement, said her favorite part of the gallery was the “How it's Made” exhibit where Holmes outlined the steps involved in creating illustrations.

“I loved to see the behind-the-scenes of the illustrations, it is a very new perspective,” Lynch said.

Author and professor Jennifer De Leon who serves on the Festival committee said the Swiacki Literature Festival “is such a great opportunity for students to see authors and illustrators in action.”

Thursday, November 16, 2023
Location: Center for Inclusive Excellence, O’Connor Hall, 120
Time: 12:30PM- 1:30PM

It will be an open dialogue allowing all attendees to share from their own experiences and pose questions to gain deeper insights.

Monday, November 20
Stop by any time between
4:30PM - 6:00PM
McCarthy Center Patio, Framingham state University

Participants of all ages are welcome!

Use telescopes to observe the Moon, Saturn, Jupiter, and Albireo (double star)!

McAuliffe Center staff are available to answer your questions about telescopes and our Universe.