Campus Currents

Weight Stigma in American Society: Public Health Consequences and Structural Solutions
February 24, 2020 at 4:30 p.m., Forum, McCarthy Center

Weight-based bullying, stigma, and discrimination are commonplace in our society. What impact does this have on children and adults, and what should we do about it? Dr. Rebecca Puhl will present research evidence highlighting the nature and health consequences of weight stigma, and discuss broad-level strategies to address this problem, including actions from parents, educators, health care providers, and policy-makers.

By Thomas Maye, publications intern

Massachusetts State Rep. Chris Walsh was not an expert on the struggles of navigating the special education system when a group of parents came to him demanding change.

But the parents wanted serious action, and Walsh was serious about representing the city of Framingham. They dreamed of building a center focused on providing support, education, and workshops to families and educators.

And so from that day in 2015, all the way up to his death from cancer in 2018, Walsh worked tirelessly to make ideas for the center a reality.

Rep. Jack Patrick Lewis, during the grand opening ceremony for the Chris Walsh Center for Students and Families of MetroWest on February 13th, said Walsh still spoke about how important Framingham was to him “literally days before his passing.”

House Speaker Robert DeLeo, speaking to the packed crowd of roughly 200 attendants at the McCarthy Center Forum, said, “This center is an example of how successful Chris was at representing his constituents. A group of parents approached him about their concerns in 2015, and less than five years later, the center has become a reality. And I can tell you, from my years in public life, this expedited timeline is very rare.”

On Thursday, Walsh’s family sat in the audience as the center officially opened, named in honor of the man friends, colleagues, and committee members said made the project possible.

The Walsh Center strives to serve parents and educators of three main demographics: gifted students, students with disabilities, and students with unmet needs.

Though the “floating center” does not yet have a permanent home, and will hold events in various places throughout Framingham, James Cressey, assistant professor of education at FSU, said the advisory board for the center is looking into disability-accessible locations with enough physical parking in the local area.

The center is aligned with FSU, and will have the backing of the university’s research and resources on educational issues. It will provide support groups and online resources for families, a resource library for educators, and more.

“[Many parents] don’t understand some of the basic rights your children have with an IEP,” said Gail Palmer, a member of the planning committee and a key player in bringing the idea to Walsh. “It took a long time to learn that process … Parents may still struggle, but the road won’t be so bumpy [now],” she said.

“I am his successor, and I’m trying very hard to fill those shoes by running as fast as I possibly can.”

2/25: Black Professionals in Leadership Roles: A panel discussion on diversity & inclusion compliance and diversifying the talent pipeline. Alumni Room at 4:30 p.m.

2/27: Film Discussion on the Intersection of Gender & Bias: Facilitated by Justice Resource Institute (JRI) GLASS Framingham. Center for Inclusive Excellence at 4:30 p.m.

2/29 Black Excellence in Achievement Panel & African Student Union Closing Gala: Awards, food, dance, and music to celebrate black culture. McCarthy Center Forum at 5 p.m.

Below are some upcoming family and children's workshops available at the Danforth Art School. For more information, visit https://danforth.framingham.edu/learn-create

Family Workshop

Paper Gardens
Saturday February 29 from 1-3 pm $25 per family

Inspired by the colorful ceramic sculptures by Mary Morazzi Henderson on display in the Danforth Art Museum, create your own “garden” of flowers! We will have lots of colorful papers and other fun supplies and we will show you some simple tricks to make paper flowers which will pop and burst with color on your own landscape. No experience required!

Bring the whole family or just a friend to this fun workshop. Limited to 30 participants. $25 includes up to 4 family members; additional members welcome for $5 each.

Kids’ Night Out

Back by popular demand! Choose one option or all three!

Parents, take advantage of a chance to go shopping or get a bite to eat without the kids! This is a night just for the children with us at the Danforth. We provide a fun art-making activity, a scavenger hunt, Pictionary and pizza & lemonade. Limited to 25 participants, Grades K-8.

Giant Initial Pictures
Friday, March 6, 6-9pm $25 per child

Inspired by the works on display in the museum by Jo Sandman, we will create fun effects with watercolors on paper, then cut and rip them up into HUGE letters to create our initials in a framed picture.

Crazy Collage
Friday, April 3, 6-9pm $25 per child

Have fun cutting out pictures of people in fun places and draw your own crazy scene to place them in! We will visit the photographs by Liz Albert in the museum for inspiration.

Sock Sculptures
Friday, May 1, 6-9pm $25 per child

Inspired by the fun sculptures by Lisa Barthelson in the museum, we will create our own designs using stockings, socks wire and other stuff!

FSU is committed to the development of ethical and engaged citizenship, so how should instructors go about creating an environment in which virtues like conscientiousness, accountability, and self-discipline are both expected and developed?

Please join Professors Ruirui Zhang and Joe D’Andrea on the dates below in a lunchtime discussion series about this question.

February 4, 2020 12:30-1:20pm and
February 11, 2020 12:30-1:20pm and
February 18, 2020 12:30-1:20pm and
February 25, 2020 12:30-1:20pm
CELTSS Room, Hemenway 208

Please view Episode One of the Netflix series "Daughters of Destiny" before attending the Feb. 4 discussion.

Interested in attending? Please RSVP to Joe D'Andrea at jdandrea@framingham.edu.

March 4, 2020 at 1:30 p.m., Forum, McCarthy Center

Keisha Greaves is an alumna of Framingham State and the founder of Girls Chronically Rock. She offers inspired fashion celebrating those with chronic illnesses. Greaves, who has a form of Muscular Dystrophy (MD), states that her goal is to motivate "people who may have a chronic illness like myself or may be battling anything in their life, to let them know that they rock no matter what.”

Artist Talk March 4, 2020, at 2:30 p.m., North Hall Commons Room
Gallery exhibit: Mazmanian Gallery - Feb. 24 - March 20

Mazmanian Gallery presents a solo exhibition of Gina Siepel’s artwork, which explores cultural understandings of nature, gender, and American history. This exhibit focuses on the relationship between humans and nature in eastern North America, and includes the artist’s current work-in-progress (untitled)Tree, a process-based artist and scientist collaboration.

March 24, 2020 at 4:30 p.m., Heineman Ecumenical Center

Author Grace Talusan will read from her memoir The Body Papers. A searing account of childhood sexual abuse, the book also delves into Talusan's background as a Filipino immigrant and a cancer survivor and the ways in which these experiences are linked by vulnerability and personal strength. Recipient of the 2017 Restless Book Prize for New Immigrant Writing, she teaches in the Boston area.

Wednesday Employer Showcase Series, McCarthy Campus Center Lobby, 9:00AM – 6:00PM:
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 more!

TUES.

Feb. 25
10am - 4 pm: MutualOne Bank

Feb 26
9am– 2pm: Brown University Pre-College & Summer Programs Internship & Town of Watertown
12pm-3pm: The Key Program & BU Advising Corps.
3pm-6pm: US Census 2020 & Gentle Giant Moving Company

Mar 4
9am-12pm: The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities & F45 Training Natick
12pm–3pm: Bank of America & The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities
3pm-6pm: US Census 2020

TUES
Mar 10
10am-1:30pm: MetroWest YMCA Career Day

Mar 11
9am-12pm: The Massachusetts State Police & Massachusetts Water Resources Authority
12pm-3pm: Cloud International & Farrington Nature Linc

Mar 25
9am-12pm: McAdam Financially Advanced
12pm-3pm: RCS Learning Center & UNIQLO
3pm-6pm: US Census 2020

Apr 1
9am-12pm: Ashland Public Schools
12pm-3pm: Wayland Public Schools & Little Flippers Swim School

Apr 8
12pm-3pm: College Nannies, Sitters, and Tutors

Apr 15
12pm-3pm: Mini Miracles Early Education Center & the Springfield Public Schools

Apr 22
12pm-3pm: Booster Enterprises

Apr 29
12pm-3pm: Housing Management Resources

Majors Going Mobile, Every Tuesday, through May 6, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., MC Lobby
The Career Services office showcases different majors and minors every Tuesday in the McCarthy Center lobby by the
Welcome Desk. The goal is to be available to FSU students who may have questions about their major and/or would like to have more information about which careers and internships might be available to them in their major. Stop by the table in order to learn more.

Suitable Solutions Career Professionalism Workshop, Wednesday, February 26, 1:30 p.m. -2:30 p.m., MC Alumni
Focus is on career readiness and soft skills employers are seeking for Spring Suitable Solutions participants.

YMCA Career Day, Tuesday, March 10, 10:00 a.m. -1:30 p.m., McCarthy Center Lobby
Learn about the many job and internship opportunities with the MetroWest YMCA. Meet with Y recruiters and have all your questions answered.

How to Find an Internship Workshops, Wednesdays, 3/11, 4/8 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m., MC Alumni Room
This is an interactive workshop where students gain insight into the process of internship search strategies including: self-inventory, preparation process, resume reviews, professional attire, mock interviewing, professional references, the search process, HANDSHAKE, CSER events, networking, and how to apply.

Connection Employer Site Visit, Friday, March 13, 10:30 a.m., 293 Boston Post Road, Marlborough
All majors welcome. Limited transportation provided. Call CSER for more information and to pre-register at 508-626-4625.

CHOICE Internship Info Table, 3/9, 3/23, 3/30, 12 p.m.—2:00 p.m., MC Lobby

Spring Job and Internship Fair, Wednesday, March 25, 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 fields will be featured. Bring your resume. Dress professionally. Log onto your HANDSHAKE account to view full list of organizations.

Suitable Solutions Mock Interview and Networking Day, Thursday, April 9, 3:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m., MC Forum
*Must be enrolled in the Suitable Solutions Professionalism Program. Students practice interviewing and receive feedback from professionals!

Suitable Solutions Mocktail Mixer Networking Event & Graduation, Tuesday, April 14, 5:15-7:00 p.m., MC Forum
Network with over 50 employer partners while learning about proper networking techniques and etiquette while enjoying food and “mock” tails!
Open to all students and all majors! Must pre-register through Handshake. Contact the CSER Office for more information at 508-626-4625.

MERC Education Fair, Thursday, April 23, 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! 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. Must register at: www.merccareerfair.com. Limited transportation will be provided. Must pre-register for the van by calling the CSER Office at 508-626-4625.