Campus Currents

Wednesday, February 22, 2017 at 7:30 PM, Dwight Performing Arts Center

Dr. John Carlos is a famous Olympic medalist from the 1968 games.  He is also well known for his humanitarian efforts.  He is the founding member of the Olympic Project for Human Rights and pushes for more representation for people of color in the Olympic Games.  He will demonstrate how athletes can use their recognition to accomplish real social change. This lecture will talk about human rights issues (especially during the 1960s when Dr. John Carlos won his medal) in conjunction with athleticism.

Thursday, February 23, 2017,  4:30 p.m., McCarthy Center, Forum

From her 1971 book Diet for a Small Planet to her most recent work World Hunger: 10 Myths in 2015, Frances Moore Lappé has exposed the root causes of hunger. Focusing on solutions, Lappé will highlight stories from around the world where people are creating what she calls “living democracies” in which people gain power over their lives. She will tie our daily food choices - reflecting U.S. public policies - to vast waste and injustice, while stressing the power we each have to contribute to solutions.

Wednesday, Feb. 22, 4:30 p.m., North Hall Commons Room

Do immigrants and refugees really want to remain permanently in their host countries, including the United States? Do they lower the wages of native-born workers? Are they a burden on social services without contributing to the country's tax revenue? Do they cause the escalation of crime where they are settled?

In this public discussion, a panel of Framingham State University faculty will bring a variety of disciplinary expertise to probe into various myths that are in circulation about the movement of migrants and refugees in the U.S. and globally.

Speakers:

Dr. Joseph Coelho, Political Science Department
Dr. Stefan Papaioannou, History Department
Dr. Lina Rincon, Sociology Department
Dr. Luis Rosero, Economic Department

Event sponsored by the Global Studies Program. For more information, e-mail Dr. Papaioannou at spapaionnou@framingham.edu or Dr. Kaan Agartan at kagartan@framingham.edu.

On Tuesday, March 7 at 7 p.m., the Framingham State University Chorus will be joined by Franco-American folk singer Josée Vachon-Cevallos in a concert of music from Quebec and France. The program will feature Vachon-Cevallos in solo songs and in arrangements made for the FSU Chorus by its director, Dr. Paul Cienniwa.

Born in Québec and raised in Maine, Vachon-Cevallos has been sharing her Franco-American upbringing for over 25 years through traditional and contemporary folksongs from Québec and Acadia and through her own compositions. Most recently she was the featured artist for the 2016 Christmas Revels.

The FSU Chorus includes students and alumni from the university and area community members. The concert is free and open to the public and will take place in the Heineman Cultural Center.

By Sarah Sousa, publications intern

Award-winning journalist Jeanne Marie Laskas answered students’ questions about her personal story of becoming a successful journalist during her visit to Framingham State last week.

There is no “ladder” to climb in journalism, Laskas said. “There is no path. … you carve your own.”

The only thing Laskas liked to do in school was write compositions. She said she was not a “driven student” and wanted to get through college by writing and never having to take tests.

Her school did not have a specific journalism program so she was forced to find her own opportunities if she wanted to write. She said she did internships in journalism with no journalism experience, but was able to learn as she went.

An internship at Philadelphia Magazine sparked her interest in journalism. “I didn’t learn much, I just learned that I loved it and that it looked like an awful lot of fun,” she said.

Laskas encouraged the students who are aspiring journalists to write about their interests. She said it is boring to write about other peoples’ interests.

Students should use technology to their advantage by posting their writing on a blog or sending submissions to online magazines and potentially gain a following of readers.  “Now, anybody who wants to publish, you go ahead and create something online. With the least bit of entrepreneurship, you can do it. You can make it,” said Laskas.

“If no one will publish it, publish it yourself,” she said.

She said she is interested in people and their stories which is why she chose to write the NFL concussion scandal. At first, she was hesitant because she was not knowledgeable enough in sports or in the medical field.

Every story “calls up a need for a different approach,” she said. She discovered she could use the story of the neuropathologist who examined the brains of the NFL players, Bennet Omalu.

Because of her interest in people and their lives, she spent time in a coal mine, learning about the people who worked there and what is going on in the mines. Her stereotypes of coal miners were challenged and through writing about the lives of coal miners she hopes her readers’ stereotypes will change too.

 “My optimism is not fake. I swear to you it is genuine,” she said.

Laskas encouraged students to be proactive about creating a following of readers. She said, “Get your voice out there and figure out who you are as a writer and figure out what matters to you, and write it.”

The Foundations program consists of an 8 week, common syllabus seminar in the fall semester only. In total, Facilitators work approximately 4 hours per week for their Foundations seminar and receive a stipend at the end of the semester. Each facilitator is also assigned a peer mentor to assist in the planning and implementation of course material. Interested parties please complete the following interest form Foundations Facilitator Interest Sheet and return to Jill Gardosik jmgardosik@framingham.edu no later than 2/24/17.

Unafraid: A Discussion on race, Immigration, and LGBTQ Equality, Thursday, 2/23, 6:30-8pm, Ecumenical Center - Through storytelling Julián Cancino will discuss the intersections of racial justice and LGTQ equality. Sponsored by Professor Xavier Guadalupe-Diaz.

Self-Defense Class, Wednesday, 3/1, 7pm-8:30pm in the Forum- Please Register by contacting Sgt. Nicholas at knicholas@framingham.edu. Sponsored by University Police.

Brave Space Series: LGBT+ 101 Workshop Wednesday, 3/8, 1:30pm-2:20pm, Center for Inclusive Excellence – Discussion led by Jace Williams. Sponsored by CIE.

Hope-in-Action: Becoming an Active Bystander, Thursday 3/9, 4:30pm-6pm in the MC Alumni Room- Discussion led by Muslim Justice League. Sponsored by Professor Patricia Sanchez-Connally, Arts and Ideas and the Council on Diversity and Inclusion.

Being a Good Sport: Educators’ Roles in Promoting Safe Athletic Environments for LGBTQ Youth, Monday, 3/20, 1:30 - 2:30 PM, Center for Inclusive Excellence- Discussion led by Scott Greenspan, M.S., Doctoral Student in School Psychology, University of Massachusetts Amherst. Sponsor by Professor James Cressey.

Brave Space Series: LGBT+ 101 Workshop Wednesday, 4/12, 1:30pm-2:20pm, Center for Inclusive Excellence – Discussion led by Jace Williams. Sponsored by CIE.

Curiosity Unleashed STEM Career Event
Tuesday, February 21, 2017, 4:30 p.m.- 6:00 p.m., MC Forum
STEM Panel—Employers will speak about the work they do  and the types of employment opportunities in their particular STEM fields.   

Speed Networking—Students will meet diverse employers to discuss their STEM career interests.
Resume Critique—Employers will do a quick resume critique of students’ resumes to help them understand how to best highlight their skills and experience in the highly competitive STEM job market.
This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
 
SAVE THE DATE: Spring Job and Internship Fair
Thursday, March 30, 2017, 4:30 p.m.- 6:00 p.m., MC Forum

Come to this great networking event! Full-time and Internship positions available.  Over 55 employers from the business, human services, non-profit, and STEM will be featured. Bring your resume. Dress professionally. Log onto your RamTrack account to view full organizations list.
This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
 
SAVE THE DATE: Reverse Career Fair
Friday, April 7, 2017, 12:00 p.m.—3:00 p.m., MC Forum

The “Reverse Career Fair” is intended for EMPLOYERS to view course work from many majors/concentrations including graphic and web design seminar classes and computer science, marketing, management and business technology majors.
 
SAVE THE DATE: MERC Education Fair
Thursday, April 20, 2017 , 9:30 a.m.- 3:30 p.m., at Boston University

Come to the largest education fair in New England -  Over 100 school systems and agencies attend!  This annual recruiting event brings together teaching candidates and school systems across the country for networking and job opportunities in public /private schools.  Must register at: www.merccareerfair.com.
 
Employer Showcase Series: (See dates and times below)
9:00AM to 6:00PM every Wednesday in the McCarthy Center Lobby

3/1/17
Noon to 3 p.m.: Beacon ABA Services
 
Alumni Advisors
One-on-one conversations and drop ins with FSU alumni to get real advice on your career related questions  —
Most Tuesdays from 1 pm—4 pm in the CSER Interview Room, MC 514 beginning February 2017.
 
2/21/17
1:00 p.m.—4:00 p.m.: PG Calc-Jen Bergstrom
3/21/17
1:00 p.m.—4:00 p.m.: Amp Agency -Serena Springstead

-Professor Leslie Starobin of the Communication Arts Department has still-life montages included in the exhibition, "Jewish Flight into China," at the Pearl S. Buck House in Perkaskie, PA.  The exhibition is open until August 31, 2017.