Campus Currents

Framingham State University is planning a weekend honoring veterans that will feature a special community collecting event with Massachusetts Secretary of Veterans Services Francisco A. Ureña.

Members of the FSU community and public are encouraged to bring photographs, letters, postcards, medals, clothing and other artifacts related to military service (weapons are not allowed) to the collecting event. These items will be photographed, scanned, and archived in the Framingham State digital repository.

“Many veterans keep items from their military service that become irreplaceable family keepsakes,” says Millie Gonzalez, the University’s Chief Officer of Diversity, Inclusion & Community Engagement. “This is an opportunity for veterans and their families to show these historic items to the community.”

This unique event is scheduled for Saturday, March 24, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the McCarthy Center Forum. On Friday, March 23rd, Framingham State will hold a Grand Opening for its Veterans Center in Crocker Annex.

“Research shows that institutions that have veteran centers have an increase in student veteran success,” says Jacki Wolf, the Coordinator of Veterans Services at FSU. “We are very excited to have this space at Framingham State to better serve the needs of our student veterans and enhance their success.”

In addition to guest speaker Secretary Ureña, the collecting event will also feature a display of artwork from the collection: Dear Dearest Mother; Still-life Montages Composed From the Keepsakes of War Veterans, by FSU Professor Leslie Starobin.

“As a proud Navy veteran from Framingham, I recognize the importance of documenting and sharing these priceless veteran artifacts with the community,” says Dawn Ross, Director of FSU’s Career Services and Employer Relations Office. “The collection will showcase military service and remind us of the sacrifice and service that the few have given to so many to defend our freedoms at home and abroad. In addition, I am overjoyed that FSU has opened a veteran’s center on campus to support and honor our heroic student veterans with a space where they can study and network with other veterans.”

This is the second time Framingham State has hosted a community collecting event. Last May, FSU partnered with the Smithsonian Institution to host an event as part of Latinos in Baseball, a multi-year collecting initiative to identify artifacts that reflect the social and cultural influence of the game on Latino communities.

Framingham State has been a Smithsonian Affiliate since 2015.

Arts & Ideas Presents, DEEJ: Inclusion Shouldn't Be a Lottery, with guest speaker DJ Savarese

Wednesday, March 21, 7 p.m.
McCarthy Center Forum

In this film, DJ Savarese shares his experiences in educational settings by challenging the misconceptions of what a non-speaking student with autism can do. Drawing upon his experience as one of the few non-speaking autistics who was included in regular education settings in K-12 and college, he shares his ideas about what full inclusion not only requires, but the potential it has to offer in changing educational climates. Mr. Savarese will be present
at the screening and will take questions during the post-screening discussion.

This Arts & Ideas event is co-sponsored by FSU's Council on Diversity and Inclusion, Office of Graduate Studies, Sociology Department, English Department, Education Department, Human Resources and FSU's Disability Affinity Group.

Free and open to the public. To reserve your seat visit: https://deejatfsu.eventbrite.com.

The Forum is wheelchair accessible. There will be ASL interpreters, microphones and the film will be closed caption.

By Allison Wharton, publications intern

Three nurses rush into a mock hospital room to attend to a patient. Machines are beeping and they begin performing CPR, while a voice overhead instructs them on procedures. This is one of the many simulations that takes place for students in the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program at Framingham State, only instead of treating humans, the patients are state-of-the-art manikins that blink, breath and respond.

The program showed off their new Clinical Simulation Lab on March 6 in Hemenway Hall. The facility includes five manikins ranging from low-fidelity to high-fidelity, ten exam areas, two hospital suites, a homecare suite and a debriefing room.

According to Dr. Cynthia Bechtel, professor and coordinator, the facility opened last year. The manikins blink, breathe and can respond to nurses.

Most of the students are training to direct and teach the simulations in colleges and hospitals.

“Nurses can practice interacting with patients. …  It takes the anxiety away,” she says. "The students are allowed to make mistakes.”

Simulations may include nurses having to deal with asthma, cardiac arrest and even end of life care. 

The nursing students showed off the two hospital suites with the high-fidelity manikins. They are operated in a control room which sits in between the suites and is concealed by one-way glass. 

One student operated a preprogrammed stimulation on a computer. As the students complete certain tasks, the operator checked it off in the program which generates a patient's response.

She also spoke into a microphone as the patient in order for nurses to practice conversation.

For instance, the patient was administered a pill to help alleviate pain but it lowered their blood pressure, so the nurses were required to perform CPR until the program operator said stop.

The system also records the simulation so nurses may debrief afterwards.

Aside from the two high-fidelity manikins, there are three low-fidelity manikins including a child and infant. Nurses practice putting on special affects makeup such as rashes or bruises.

Caroline Ferzoco was a cardiac RN for six years before deciding to come to FSU for her master’s degree. “It’s an open environment. … You are allowed to make mistakes,” she says.

Instructor Caitlin Pettengill said the best part of the facility is it “increases a nurse’s self-esteem.” Confident caregivers are better for everyone.

She explained that simulations were first used in the military. There were not enough trained doctors to teach new generations, so scientists created manikins to help educate doctors. It was then extended to be used throughout medical training.

Student Katie Kirkland, as well as several other nurses, said this type of technology was not available to her when she was training to be an RN.

“It’s the next step in medical education,” she said. 

Women's history month is a time to celebrate women and their many roles in American history. The theme this year is "Nevertheless; She Persisted" as recognized by the National Women's History Project NWHP.org.

The CIE wants to recognize and honor women who have persisted and have fought all forms of discrimination. We are excited to share our events for this month; all are welcome and encouraged to attend!

CIE Community Conversation: #MeToo Movement with Sociology Professor Elizabeth Whalley
Monday, March 19th at 1:30 pm in the CIE

Phenomenal Women Celebration
Tuesday, March 20th at 4:30 pm in the MC Forum

MISS Presents Women Crush Wednesday
Wednesday, March 21st at 1:30 pm in the CIE

MISS Carnival
Friday, March 23rd at 7 pm - 10 pm in the gym

MISS Women of Tomorrow
Sunday, March 25th from 11 am - 2 pm

Women Making History Now
Thursday, March 29th at 4 pm in the MC Forum

MISS Sister's Day Out
Saturday, March 31st 1:30 pm to 3 pm

Monday, March 26, 7 p.m., McCarthy Center Forum

As part of Women's History Month, join us for a screening of the award-winning documentary STEP, which tells the true-life story of a girls’ high-school step team against the background of the heart of Baltimore. These young women learn to laugh, love and thrive – on and off the stage – even when the world seems to work against them. Empowered by their teachers, teammates, counselors, coaches and families, they chase their ultimate dreams: to win a step championship and to be accepted into college. 

To view the trailer and learn more, visit: http://www.foxsearchlight.com/stepmovie/

Wednesday, March 28, 4:30 p.m., Heineman Ecumenical Center

Steve Moysey: The Road to Balcombe Street - The IRA Reign of Terror in London

Dr. Moysey's critically-acclaimed book on the Irish Republican Army 1974-1975 terrorist campaign in London is a gripping true story. Equally compelling and untold is the story behind the writing of the book and its journey toward the big screen. He will be joined via Skype during the talk by film producer Rebecca Brown, who will discuss creating a film based on the book.

March 29th, 2018, 4:30 p.m.
McCarthy Center, Alumni Room

Dr. Jasmin Mujanović, a researcher and consultant for a variety of international NGOs, government development agencies, and monitoring organizations, argues instead that the Balkans are on the cusp of a historic socio-political transformation. In his new book, Hunger and Fury: The Crisis of Democracy in the Balkans (published by Hurst Publishers in January 2018), Dr. Mujanović draws on a wide variety of sources, with a unique focus on local activist accounts, he argues that a period of genuine democratic transition is finally dawning, led by grassroots social movements, from Zagreb to Skopje.  Rather than pursuing ethnic strife, these new Balkan revolutionaries are confronting the 'ethnic entrepreneurs' cemented in power by the West in its efforts to stabilize the region since the mid-1990s.

April 2, 2018, 7 p.m.
Dwight Performing Arts Center

Register via Eventbrite here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/inaugural-olivia-a-davidson-voices-of-color-lecture-series-angie-thomas-tickets-42245315877

Angie Thomas is the bestselling author of young-adult novel The Hate U Give. A relevant and perfectly timed piece which highlights the stark socio-political and racial atmosphere in America today. Inspired by the #BlackLivesMatter Movement, she addresses police violence, racism, and activism through the lens of a teenage girl. The book is in the works to be made into a movie

McCarthy Dining Commons
Tuesday, March 27 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Join us for yummy food samples and chances to win raffle prizes while learning about different sustainable projects aimed to better our community. No swipe required to get into the dining hall during the time of the fair!

Thank you,
Wise Up to Waste group

March 21, 2018
11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m.
McCarthy College Center, Alumni Room

Please join us for our Spring semester event: Women, Connection & Wholeheartedness

The Women’s Affinity Group will be showing a TED talk, “The Power of Vulnerability”, given by Brené Brown, research professor at the University of Houston where she holds the Huffington Foundation – Brené Brown Endowed Chair at The Graduate College of Social Work. She studies courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathy and her research focuses on authentic leadership and wholeheartedness in families, schools, and organizations. Discussion questions to follow the video. 

We will provide a light lunch of soup, salad, bread, fruit, dessert, coffee and tea.  The hour promises to be entertaining and enlightening!

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact any of the group members: Peg Charbonnier, Meghan Maxfield, Deborah Hogan, Jennifer Hyde, Nina Ricci, and Emily Abel.

Wednesday Employer Showcase Series, McCarthy Campus Center Lobby, 9:00AM – 5:45PM:

Employers showcase their organization every Wednesday in the McCarthy Center lobby by the Welcome Desk. Their goal is to network with FSU students and recruit students for full time or internship opportunities. Stop by their table in order to learn about new internships and job opportunities!

3/21/18

Noon to 3 p.m.: Health Drive Corporation & and Massachusetts Army National Guard

3/28/18

Noon—3:00 p.m.: Salmon Health and Retirement
3 p.m. to 6 p.m.: Abercrombie & Fitch

4/4/18

Noon to 3 p.m.: U.S. Army
3:00 p.m.—6:00 p.m.: The Bridge of Central Mass. & Work Opportunities Unlimited

4/11/18

Noon—3:00 p.m.: Walker

4/18/18

Noon - 3 p.m.: RCS Learning

4/25/18

Noon– 6:00 p.m.: MetroWest YMCA Career Day

Avidia Bank Site Tour & Polished Professional Networking Event

Tuesday, March 20, 12:00 p.m.- 2:00 p.m.,

Avidia Bank, 270 Cochituate Rd., Framingham

Hear about the many opportunities in the banking industry beyond “teller” jobs, like Financial Technology jobs, Electronic Services, Marketing, Human Resources and more. Open to all majors. Preregistration required. Registration and transportation available on a first come, first serve basis. Contact the CSER Office at 205-626-4625.

Spring Job and Internship Fair

Wednesday, March 28,  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 field’s will be featured. Bring your resume. Dress professionally. Log onto your RamTrack  account to view full list of organizations.

SAVE THE DATE: MERC Education Fair

Thursday, April 19,  9:30 a.m.- 3:30 p.m., at B.U.

Come to the largest education fair in New England -  Over 100 school systems and agencies attend!  Save the date for this annual recruiting event that brings together teaching candidates and school systems across the country for networking and job opportunities in public/private schools.

Register at: www.merccareerfair.com.

Free transportation leaving FSU at 9 AM and leaving from BU at 2 PM to return to FSU. Transportation pre-registration required. Call the CSER Office at 508-626-4625.

On Campus Interviews Week – April 23 through April 27, 2018, MC514

Employers and times to be announced. Pre-Registration is required through the CSER Office. Call 508-626-4625 for more information.

-Professor Emeritus Dr. Alan Feldman’s new book of poems, The Golden Coin, has just been published by the University of Wisconsin Press (see link below). Dr. Feldman read from his book and participated in a panel, “Bread on the Waters,” focused on volunteer teaching in the community, at the Association of Writers & Writing Programs conference in Tampa last week.

https://uwpress.wisc.edu/books/5698.htm#pk