Campus Currents

Wednesday, April 10, 2024, at 4:30 PM in Alumni Room
Zoom Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAkduuprToqHNQMw2j16RkuHx48M_0P084c

Contemporary diasporic experiences remain defined by myriad transnational crossings. How do artists address transnational identity in their work? What is the relationship between identity formation and visual culture? Moderated by FSU Professor Alexander Hartwiger, artists Jasmine Chen, Saberah Malik, and Stephen Marc will discuss the relationship between artistic practices and diasporic experience in the United States. Values in their work –a courageous synthesis of memory and the unsettling nature of diasporic existence-- find roots in bi-cultural experience. Their accounting for personal origins and ancestry display a sense of resiliency to and acknowledgment of a complex relationship with mainstream society.

Sponsors: Arts & Ideas, the Division of Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement, and Paul B. Rosenberg Fund for Museum Education

By Kaitlin Carman, Publications Intern

Sitting in a large circle, students, faculty, staff, and other united to share their experiences as first-generation college students and give words of support and advice.

Seated at the top of the circle was author and Framingham State professor Jennifer De Leon who is no stranger to the challenges faced by first-generation college students – she’s lived it and written novels that explore those realities.

De Leon discussed her book, Don’t Ask Me Where I’m From, as part of the Presenting Author Event, which was hosted by CASA and sponsored by GenOne Next Level and the Education Department in the McCarthy Forum on Mar. 27.

It tells the story of its 15-year-old first generation American LatinX protagonist, Liliana Cruz, as she navigates racism, fitting in at her new nearly all-white school, and family challenges as her father faces deportation.

De Leon shared similarities to her own experience during college where she battled with imposter syndrome and felt that she did not belong at times. But her mother’s advice helped her get through it.

 “She said, ‘Some people are born on third base. So, for them to get to home plate, they still have to move and run and work – and it’s not as far…

“We weren’t even born on the field. You have to run faster, and you have to run harder. You can get there, and you deserve to be there. Take up that space,’” said De Leon.

Jaleen Carroll, a junior, has moved to and lived in multiple places. He said as part of his survival technique, he has tried to blend into his other environments.

He said, “I didn’t try to fit in, but camouflage myself to not stand out.” He added that he felt comfortable at Framingham State.

Dr. LaDonna Bridges, Dean of Student Success and Persistence and Director of CASA, faced similar struggles during her time at Northwestern University. She said as a first-generation student, “I felt like I had to hide where I was from and what my family was like – I just found ways to never talk about my family.”

Bridges added she felt the need to even hide her accent so that she could better fit in with her peers, but at Framingham State, it is different.

She said, “What I have heard … in these spaces is that people are proud and they’re proud to tell their stories. …

 “If we can succeed in providing space for people to say, ‘This is where I come from, and I am OK with it, … then what more success can we ask for.”

The second of our two Accepted Students Rams Rising events is coming up on this Saturday, April 13!

This is our best opportunity to convince prospective students and families that Framingham State University is the top choice for their college experience. They will have the chance to meet with faculty from their anticipated major, tour our beautiful campus, meet students and hopefully become an official Ram by making their deposit. 

If you are available to help out and would like to learn more, contact admissions or click here.

Monday, April 8, 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
May Hall

View the partial solar eclipse with the McAuliffe Center! McAuliffe Center staff will show attendees how to SAFELY observe the solar eclipse through eclipse glasses and sunspotters! Join for activities, giveaways, and learning!

(Stop by McCarthy Center Lobby Table 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for solar glasses and safety tips)

April 9, 2:30-3:30: “Podcasting the Global Hispanophone: A Conversation with Gisette Rosas and Quan Zhou.” This is a Zoom event, accessible through this registration link.  Note: this event will be conducted in Spanish.

April 22, 4:30-5:30: Dr. Emily C. Burns will be delivering a lecture “Rethinking Race and American Sculpture through Digital Humanities.” This is a Zoom event, accessible through this link. 

More informaiton on both events can be found at: DigitalFramingham.org.

Untangling the Discourse: Exploring Complex Terms in the Israeli-Palestinian Context
Tuesday, April 16, 2024, 4:30 pm to 6:oo pm
Heineman Ecumenical Center

Speakers:

Dr. Aviva Chomsky is Professor of History and coordinator of Latin American Studies at Salem State University in Massachusetts.

Dr. Yasser Derwiche Djazaerly is a professor in the Humanities Department at Fitchburg State University.

Dr. Susan Massad is a Professor in the Department of Nutrition and Health Studies at Framingham State.

More information can be found here.

Join us for our first networking event hosted by the Entrepreneurship Innovation Center!

Friday, April 26, 5 p.m.
860 Worcester Road

All majors welcome! Engage in conversations on entrepreneurial equity, starting a business, and scaling up your startup with link-minded peers. Refreshments and Ram Tram Service provided. 

Register at: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=ivGKVtunQE2ln9ZP1I2zZhQg1mP20oBLh9AyCIJ06V1UMVMzUTRQT05KVU84TklSMlhKTVpOT0tOMC4u&origin=lprLink

Framingham State University's Danforth Museum and School has four upcoming events in Portuguese! At all of the events, The Danforth will have any written materials in Portuguese as well as English; and there will be Portuguese-speaking people to welcome guests, make their visit to a new place as comfortable as possible, guide them if needed, and answer any questions.

We are really excited to pilot this bilingual programming with our consistently well-attended Drop into Art and our Community Conversations through Art. The Brazilian artists who are speaking at this year's Community Conversations through Art are fabulous artists and wonderful people.

Learn more by clicking on the links below!

Bilingual Drop into Art – April 14, 2024: Vessels, Baskets, and Face Jugs

Bilingual Community Conversations through Art - April 20, 2024

Bilingual Drop into Art – May 12, 2024: Museum Blooms

Bilingual Community Conversations through Art - June 1, 2024

EARTH DAY FESTIVAL SATURDAY, APRIL 20TH, 11AM -3PM
Visit FSU's Campus Sustainability booth and dozens of others at the 12th annual
festival on the Framingham Centre Common (at Edgell Road/Vernon Street).

CLIMATE HOPE CONCERT SATURDAY, APRIL 20TH, 7PM & 8:30PM
Multiverse's annual Climate Hope Concert hosted at the McAuliffe Center
interweaves music and science to tell immersive stories of regeneration: projects
working to heal not just our atmosphere, but our biosphere and society as a whole.

FSU SUSTAINABILITY TRIVIA WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24TH, 12PM -1:30PM
Join us in the McCarthy Dining Commons to test your FSU sustainability knowledge
and win prizes to support eco-friendly living!

POLLINATOR GARDEN WALKING TOUR THURSDAY, APRIL 25TH, 2:30PM
Meet in front of the McCarthy Center for a walking tour hosted by Dr. Aviva Liebert
to learn more about the pollinator gardens on campus and how they are beneficial
to native bees and other pollinator species.

GARDEN & NEIGHBORHOOD CLEAN-UP FRIDAY, APRIL 26TH, 12:30 -2:30PM
Sign up here to join Keep Framingham Beautiful, Green Initiative, & Campus Sustainability to prep the campus garden for spring planting and help clean litter from the campus and surrounding
neighborhood. Meet outside the McCarthy Center to get supplies and instructions.

Register at: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0545ACA829A5F49-48768627-spring?useFullSite=true#/

Climate Hope Concert by Multiverse Concert Series
Saturday, April 20
LIVE performances at 7:00PM and 8:30pm
CHRISTA MCAULIFFE CENTER AT FRAMINGHAM STATE UNIVERSITY

Multiverse’s annual Climate Hope Concert interweaves music and science to tell immersive stories of regeneration: projects working to heal not just our atmosphere, but our biosphere and society as a whole.

Over the course of the show, musicians and scientists connect diverse threads together, exploring topics from sustainable polymers, coral reef restoration, urban regeneration projects and the regeneration of space, as a unifying source of wonder for our precious island earth.

We are excited to perform Climate Hope Concert in celebration of Framingham Earth Day!

Date: Saturday, April 20, 2024
Showtimes: 7:00pm and 8:30pm
Age Group: Recommended for ages 13+

Ending Ceremony on Thursday, April 25, 2024, at 4:30 PM in Alumni Room (Hybrid)
Campaign Leader: Sabrina Grammatic
Zoom Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZApc-2rrDkiHtAljHCEKKWfQiexH1-HSl6s

Overcoming personal struggles should be celebrated, but it can be difficult to share these struggles with others. Now you have the opportunity to do so! Share your story about overcoming a challenge in your life through a form (https://forms.gle/AupgnUqHFUKj2ffX6) submission and come to our in-person event April 25th at 4:30 pm in the alumni room to see other's stories and also share your own! You can be anonymous, or you can opt to speak about your experience. No matter what, know that you are courageous for sharing your triumphs!

National Library Week Events

Join the staff at Whittemore Library in celebrating National Library Week with several events:

April 8-12, 2024

ALL WEEK: Faculty/Staff Art & Craft Exhibit – April 8 – May 3, 2024

MONDAY 4/8: Cake Decorating Contest (Cakes due by 9am, Voting 9-12, Winners Announced 12:30, 12:30-2pm anyone present will eat the cakes) Lobby/Cafe

TUESDAY 4/9: Relaxing and meditative sound bath with Reiki Master Susan Clark, Rams Renew Space, 12:30pm

TUESDAY 4/9: Library Careers are for Everybody! Virtual career panel presentation/Q&A for students at Massachusetts public colleges and universities 6:00pm – 7:00pm Zoom registration link; sponsored by the Massachusetts Commonwealth Consortium of Libraries in Public Higher Education Institutions (MCCLPHEI)

WEDNESDAY 4/10: No Homework Book Club 12:30 UM14

WEDNESDAY 4/10: Student Worker Appreciation Event, Forum 1:30pm

THURSDAY 4/11: Meditation with Meghan 11:40 Rams Renew Space

FRIDAY 4/12: OER Legislative Breakfast, Alumni Room 8:00am

FRIDAY 4/12: Getting to know OER Commons and the Open Massachusetts Repository for Faculty 1pm Zoom link

WooSox Behind the Scenes Visit to Polar Park
Tuesday, April 9, 2024
Bus leaves McCarthy at noon, returns to campus at 4 p.m.
Learn more about careers with the WooSox during an employer site visit to Polar Park. Transportation and food included. 

Employer Showcase

Students, come network with employers in an informal way to learn about career and job opportunities and what they have to offer. Hosted every Wednesday in the McCarthy Center Lobby--drop by the table!

4/10/2024 12:30-2:30pm Nordstrom
4/24/2024 12:30-2:30pm
5/1/2024 12:30-2:30pm Natick Public Schools