Campus Currents

April 9, 2018

Members of Transient Canvas Perform

Midday Performance Series: Transient Canvas

Don't miss the final Midday Performance of the Academic year:

April 9, 2018 at 1:30 p.m.
Heineman Ecumenical Center

Amy Advocat and Matt Sharrock have been blazing their own trail as the bass clarinet/marimba duo Transient Canvas since 2011. At FSU, the duo will present Wired, a portrait of technology’s integration into modern life. As people try to emulate computers and we build computers that emulate people, the question of who is controlling whom becomes ambiguous.

Screening of The Big Lebowski

April 9, 2018, 7 p.m.
North Hall Commons Room

The Big Lebowski (directed by Joel and Ethan Coen in 1998) epitomizes anti-authoritarian disobedience.  The film satirizes the American Dream, the class system, militarism, and Reagan-era economics.  At its center is Jeffrey "The Dude" Lebowski, an irreverent slacker who gets pulled into the criminal world and upper-class corruption due to a case of mistaken identity.  Along with two friends, he attempts to stand up for his rights as a "little man" against powerful social forces. With its anti-authoritarian perspective and its unconventional cinematic style, The Big Lebowski showcases the power of film art. English Professor Claudia Springer will introduce the film and lead a discussion afterward about the film's view of disobedience.  

Diversity Expo - Today

Come join Psi Chi to promote diversity and inclusion on campus. Free lunch and snacks available.

Monday, April 9, 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.
McCarthy Center Forum

Organizations will provide fun activities and information at all tables. Organizations include SEALS, Psychology Club, Call2Talk, LUNA, Wayside Youth and Family Support, Generation1, Pride Alliance, ASA, College Planning Center, ISTAND and more.

Spring Lyceum Speaker: Richard Beckwitt

Join us for the Spring Lyceum Lecture by Biology Professor Richard Beckwitt:

Thursday, April 12, 2018
5 p.m., McCarthy Center Forum

Genetic variation in white-tailed deer from Nantucket, MA: Was the population founded by three individuals?

White-tailed Deer Odocoileus virginianus, the common deer of eastern North America, currently number approximately 2-3000 on Nantucket Island. Although white-tailed deer remains are known from Wampanoag archeological sites on the island, few or no deer were noted by the beginning of the 20th century. In 1922 a single male deer was found swimming in Nantucket sound and brought ashore by island residents.  After a few years people on the island imported 2 female deer from Michigan as companions for the buck that was brought ashore.  This scenario implies that the thousands of deer on Nantucket are descended from these three original animals. This known history of a population is a unique situation where studies on wild vertebrate genetic bottlenecks and founder effect can be conducted.  My research students and I have been looking at patterns of genetic variation in deer from Nantucket, as well as deer from surrounding mainland areas, including Michigan.  Although preliminary results do support the hypothesis the many of the deer on Nantucket are descendants of deer from Michigan, there is evidence that some of the deer on the island are from ancestors on the New England mainland. 

8th Annual "Book-Themed" Cake Decorating Contest

All are welcome to participate in our 8th annual “Book-themed” cake decorating contest.  All you need to do is bake a cake and decorate it to represent a scene or character from a favorite book, be it a beloved children’s book or your favorite adult book. Click here to see photos from last year's event.

(Only one cake per person and no commercially decorated cakes allowed!)

The rules for the event are simple.  Register with Colleen Previte at cprevite@framingham.edu or x4648, if you wish to participate in the contest.  Bring in your “Book-themed” cake to the Henry Whittemore Library by 9 a.m., Thursday, April 12th. 

Please have your cake properly covered with clear plastic wrap or cake container.  This will be taken off when the judging commences.  Please do not put your name on your cake; you will be assigned a number for your cake submission.  (It has been useful if you bring in a copy of the book your cake is portraying, that we place next to your literary creation.)

We are allowing anyone coming through the library to judge the cakes, and they will put a token in the box of the cake they find to be the best.  The prize is merely bragging rights, a photo in our library blog, and ribbons for 1st-3rd place as well as notices for honorable mentions.

Judging will run from 9 a.m. to noon.  Winners will be announced at 12:30 p.m. or via phone/e-mail.  At that time we will cut into these delicious creations and offer them to patrons.

We hope you will consider participating in our 8th Annual Literary Cake Decorating Contest!

Thanks - Henry Whittemore Library Staff

April Bakealong at FSU

The next FSU Bakealong is scheduled for Friday, April 13, from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. in Hemenway Hall 209.

All ingredients and advice will be provided for making a classic yet easy whole wheat bread and the group will demo King Arthur's March bakealong recipe for Gruyere-Stuffed Crusty Loaves.

To reserve a spot, e-mail cwickham@framingham.edu. Sponsored by the Food and Nutrition Department.

Fresh Check Day

Fresh Check Day at Framingham State is this Wednesday, April 11, from noon to 2 p.m. in the McCarthy Center Forum.

Don't miss this fun wellness fair with therapy dogs, massage, and lots of free prizes (including a free flat screen TV). All students are welcome! Learn more at http://freshcheckday.com/schools/framingham-state-university/

Fresh Check Day is a program created by the Jordan Porco Foundation (JPF). It is an uplifting mental health promotion and suicide prevention event that includes interactive expo booths, peer-to-peer messaging, support of multiple campus departments and groups, free food, entertainment, and exciting giveaways. Fresh Check Day aims to create an approachable atmosphere where students are encouraged to engage in dialogue about mental health and helps to build a bridge between students and the mental health resources available.

Please contact Plehmberg@framingham.edu with any questions.

Angie Thomas Speaks at FSU

By Allison Wharton, publications intern

Award-winning author and activist Angie Thomas was inspired to write because she wanted to turn her art into activism. She remembers seeing Emmett Till’s face for the first time in Jet magazine in Jackson, MI when she was seven.

Till was 14-years-old when he was beaten to death and thrown in a river for allegedly whistling at a white woman in 1959. Thomas, author of the New York Times best-selling novel The Hate U Give (THUG) stated that his death was personal and that she imagined Till as her brother, cousin or potential crush.

When Thomas was in college, a second man, Oscar Grant, was shot by police in Oakland California in 2009. Like Till, Thomas took Grant’s death very personally. “I foolishly thought after Oscar Grant, it would never happen again,” she said.

She was unaware of how to describe her emotions toward her fellow students following his death. So, she chose to write a short story which was eventually turned into “The Hate U Give.”

Thomas spoke to a large audience at FSU on March 2 in DPAC as part of the Olivia A. Davidson Voices of Color Lecture series.

“I chose to make the political personal," Thomas said. "As an American, my existence is political and it feels more personal by the day.”

Thomas said she acted as two different people growing up. The one at home and the one at school – similar to THUG protagonist Starr Carter.  “I changed the way I spoke. The way I acted. … If I used the word ‘ain’t,’ I’m ignorant,” she said.

Thomas encouraged the audience to “define your activism and then act.” She warned the audience that the road to making a difference would be hard, but worth it. Empathy, for Thomas, is key to be an activist. She advises people to learn about different people – people who did not look like them.

“Get involved … It is how you become the light at the end of the tunnel,” she said.

16th Annual Preskenis Lecture

The 16th Annual Preskenis Lecture is scheduled for Wednesday, April 18th:

"From Arithmetic to Proof: Creating Mathematicians in the Elementary School Classroom” with Salem State University Professor Reva Kasman.

Traditional mathematics learning tends to begin with the presentation of a polished result which is then applied to carefully chosen illustrative examples. But this format hides the true nature of a mathematician’s work, which is creative, exploratory, messy, and meandering. Long before mathematicians prove a useful theorem, they play with examples, cultivate their intuition, and make a lot of false starts in their search for something that is plausibly true.

How does the mathematical experience change for elementary students when they function as a community of mathematicians? In this talk I will share work from a project which brings mathematical argument about the four arithmetic operations into 2nd-5th grade classrooms. We will explore what it means for young students (and their teachers) to engage in the earliest stages of creating conjectures, searching for evidence and counterexamples, and ultimately supporting their claims with representation-based proofs.

6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.   Dinner
           Support for the 2018 Preskenis Dinner provided by Sodexo
           Faculty/Staff Dining Room, 3rd Floor, D. Justin McCarthy Center

7:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.   Dr. Kasman's Presentation
           Alumni Room, 3rd Floor, D. Justin McCarthy Center

8:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.   Reception
         Sponsored by the Office of the Vice President of Academic Affairs
         Alumni Room, 3rd Floor, D. Justin McCarthy Center

For more information, and to register, visit https://www.framingham.edu/faculty/smabrouk/preskenis/annual/sixteenth.htm.

Symbiotic Earth: How Lynn Margulis Rocked the Boat and Started a Scientific Revolution

Thursday, April 19, 4:30 p.m.
DPAC
Register Here Via Eventbrite

This feature length documentary presents a portrait of the great scientist and teacher Lynn Margulis who was at the helm of a significant paradigm shift in biology that affects how we look at ourselves, evolution, and planet Earth.  More than a biography of a great scientist, more than a look at the history and politics of science, and more than an explanation of current scientific theories, this documentary offers a coherent look at a contemporary paradigm shift that affects decisions we make on a daily basis about health, nutrition and the environment.  The revolution it describes is as important and far-reaching as those of Copernicus and Darwin.  Following the screening, there will be a discussion with the film's director, John Feldman and Lynn Margulis' son and long-time writing partner, Dorion Sagan.

Open Forum: Animals and Society

SHOULD FACULTY & STAFF BE PERMITTED TO BRING PETS TO WORK?

Students in Dr. Ira Silver's Animals and Society Course are holding an open forum to hear your thoughts.

Wednesday, April 18th
North Hall Commons, 1:30 p.m.

Science on State Street

Saturday, April 21, 2018
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Don't miss the 4th Annual Science on State Street event! This year's science festival will feature:

-Lot of interactive exhibits
-Free planetarium shows
-Dynamic STEM presentations
-Fun for kids, teens and adults
-Plenty of free parking
-Food available for purchase

Learn more at http://christa.org/science-festival/

Exploring Mars' Past with Dr. John Grant

Saturday, April 21, 2018, Noon
DPAC

This year's Science on State Street festival features a special talk with Dr. John Grant from the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum: Exploring Mars' Past, the epic journey of the Spirit, Opportunity, and Curiosity Rovers.

Dr. Grant brings his passion for Mars geologic history, and 14 years of exploration and discovery as a member of the Mars rover science teams, to the Science on State Street festival stage.

Learn more at: http://christa.org/science-festival/

Nursing Department Health Fair

The students in the Nursing Department will be holding a health fair for the members of the Callahan Senior Center on Tuesday, April 10 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. in Hemenway Hall 319, and invite faculty and staff to attend. Students will offer health information, health screenings and healthy snacks. The new shingles vaccine will be available to participants age 50 and above through Walgreens.

Student Literary Awards Ceremony

Heineman Ecumenical Center
Thursday, April 19
4:30 p.m.

Join us for the annual Student Literary Awards Ceremony.

Reefer Sanity: Opposing Experts Face Off in Marijuana Debate

Join us for this interesting debate sponsored by the Health and Wellness Center:

Reefer Sanity: Opposing Experts Face Off in Marijuana Debate
Tuesday, April 24, 7 p.m., DPAC

The debate will feature two nationally renowned guests. Aaron Houston (pro) is a Colorado industry expert. He has played a big role in the national movement to legalize marijuana and is known as an advocate often speaking about the benefits of marijuana legalization. He is a capitol hill lobbyist and is often featured on the news and at national legalization events.

On the other side will be Kevin Sabet (con) who served in the Obama Administration as the Senior Advisor at the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). He has written books, and started an organization called "Smart Approaches to Marijuana." He has been instrumental in the anti-drug movement educating about the risks of marijuana - especially its impact on youth.

To learn more about our debaters, visit http://wolfmanproductions.com/marijuana-policy-debate/

Upcoming Events Sponsored by Career Services

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!

4/11/18

9:00 a.m.—Noon: Care.com and Santander
Noon—3:00 p.m.: Walker and Caviccio Greenhouses, Inc

4/18/18

9:00 a.m. – Noon: Robert Half Staffing
Noon - 3 p.m.: RCS Learning and Massachusetts State Police

4/19/18

10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Habitat for Humanity

4/25/18

9:00 a.m.—Noon: Santander
Noon– 6:00 p.m.: MetroWest YMCA Career Day

5/2/18

9 a.m. to noon: Ashland Public Schools

Habitat for Humanity MetroWest/Greater Worcester Career Day

Thursday, April 19, 10:30 a.m.—3:30 p.m., MC Lobby

Learn more about volunteer, internships and AmeriCorps opportunities with Habitat for Humanity. Build Homes, Community and Hope! Stop by the Employer Showcase

Table in the MC Lobby for more information.

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

Monday, April 23: Walgreens 9:30 a.m.— 4:30 p.m.

Tuesday, April 24: Securitas 9:30 a.m.—12:30

Wednesday, April 25: Santander 12:30 p.m.—4:30 p.m.

Thursday, April 26: Coca-Cola 10:00 a.m. — 2:00 p.m.

Friday, April 27: Ashland Public Schools 9:30 a.m.— 2:30 p.m.

Pre-Registration is required for all interviews through the CSER Office. Call 508-626-4625 for more information.

See Ramtrack for descriptions of these companies’ open opportunities.

 

Notable Accomplishments

-The Gatepost independent student newspaper was named a runner up for New England College Paper of the Year by New England Newspaper and Press (NENPA).

-Professor Emerita Catherine McLaughlin’s first novel, Blue Collars, will be published next month by Spinner Publications.  The novel is the coming-of-age story of Fiona “Finn” Kilroy and depicts life in a close-knit, working-class Irish-American family during the 1950s and 1960s. 

-As in 2016, a sculptural vessel by Dr. Derrick Te Paske (Communication Arts Department) has been juried into this year's MEMBERS BIENNIAL of the Fuller Craft Museum (Brockton). The piece is DEEP BLUE: STAR FIELD, a tall elm hollow-form with 2544 brass pins; the exhibition will run from April 14 to October 7. Additionally, Te Paske was invited to take part in a community event at the Museum on March 23. He presented a "PechaKucha" (20 slides in 5 minutes) version of his 2014 Authors/Artists talk: "Getting Physical: Why This Media Professor Loves His Chainsaw."

-Professor Sam Witt will read from his work At the Four Stories Reading Series at the Burren in Davis Square, on Monday April 30 from 6-8 pm, 247 Elm Street, Somerville MA.

Upcoming events

Women's Lacrosse vs Fitchburg State

Saturday, March 30, 2024

12:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Maple Street Field

Organized by: Athletics

Baseball vs Albertus Magnus

Monday, April 1, 2024

3:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Bowditch Field Athletic & Cultural Complex

Organized by: Athletics

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