Campus Currents

March 31, 2025

The Salem End Solar Panel Canopy


Ribbon-Cutting and Celebration - Salem End Solar Canopy

Friday, April 4, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Ribbon Cutting in Salem End Parking Lot, followed by reception and presentation at the McAuliffe Center Planetarium

Join state and local officials and members of the FSU community as we celebrate the new solar panel canopy erected over Salem End Road Parking lot. This project substantially increases the amount of renewable energy being generated on our campus while also saving significant money on electricity costs. It was made possible through a unique public-private partnership.

A brief ribbon cutting will be followed by a reception and presentation in the planetarium. Register for the event here.

Accepted Students Reception #2 this Saturday

Saturday, April 5, 10 a.m., Check-in at McCarthy Center starting at 9:30 a.m.

Join us as we celebrate students who have been accepted to Framingham State University and encourage them to take the next step toward their admission! ASR events are crucial as we seek keep our enrollment heading in a positive trajectory going into Fall 2025. This is an opportunity to meet directly with students and families who are strongly considering Framingham State. We hope you can join us for the event!

Additional Events

Thursday, April 3, 12:30 
Alumni Room, McCarthy Center

In conjunction with FSU’s annual Climate Justice Teach-in, Rev. Vernon Walker will speak with us about his work as the Climate Justice Program Director at Clean Water Action, where he focuses on access to and just policies in support of clean water, air, and energy for marginalized communities.

Wednesday, April 2, 4:30 p.m.
Heineman Ecumenical Center

Joanna Rakoff is the bestselling author of the memoir My Salinger Year and novel A Fortunate Age. Her books have been translated into 20 languages, and the film adaptation of My Salinger Year, starring Margaret Qualley and Sigourney Weaver, opened in theaters worldwide in 2021 and is now streaming.

Wednesday, April 2, 2025,  11:45-12:45
McCarthy College Center, Alumni Room

Our theme, From Passion to Purpose, came about as a response to the difficult and uncertain times we find ourselves in. We want to focus on what brings joy and excitement into our lives, how we share this passion with others, and remind us what we do in our personal and professional lives makes a difference. Our three participants will share their personal stories of how they channeled what they love into meaningful work.  
Following the stories, we will open it up for discussion.

Community building, connecting, and sharing our stories is the Women’s Affinity group’s passion, and we are excited to continue doing so with this upcoming program!

Storytellers
Aviva Liebert: Aviva is a Biology professor, and her passion is 
the Natural World and Sustainability
Catherine Dignam: Catherine is a Chemistry professor, and her passion is Academia and Equity
Laura Kane: Laura is a Fashion Design & Retailing professor, and her passion is Apparel Design, Corsetry, and Cosplay

We provide a light lunch of soup, salad, bread, fruit, dessert, coffee, and tea at the start of the hour and the opportunity to say hello to colleagues. The hour promises to be interesting, enlightening, and delicious.

 

Friday, April 4, 2:30 to 4:30
Alumni Room, McCarthy Center

After two years of hard work, the General Education Advisory Board has proposed a NEW model for General Education at FSU. As a Liberal Arts University, our General Education curriculum says a lot about who we are and what we value. Members of the University Curriculum Committee (UCC) value YOU! To that end, the UCC will be hosting two open, hybrid meetings dedicated to discussing the proposed General Education logs and the impact they will have on our community. You are welcome to join these meetings:

CC 309 Alumni Room and via zoom (link https://zoom.us/j/94659777190)

Literary Cake Decorating Contest

All are welcome to participate in our 15th annual “Book-themed” cake decorating contest. All you need to do is bake a cake and decorate it to represent a scene or character in a beloved children’s book or your favorite adult book.

The rules for the event are simple. Register with Colleen Previte at cprevite [at] framingham.edu or x4648, if you wish to participate in the contest. Bring your “Book-themed” decorated cake to the Henry Whittemore Library foyer by 9:00 am, Monday, April 7th. Please have your cake properly covered with clear plastic wrap or a 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 would be useful if you bring in a copy of the book your cake is portraying, which we place next to your literary cake creation.)

Judging will run from 9:00 am-12:00 pm. Winners will be announced at 12:30 pm. (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 15th Annual Literary Cake Decorating Contest! Thanks - Henry Whittemore Library Staff

The CIE’s first Her-storical dance party celebrates women, community, and perseverance.

By Cas Barrett, publications intern

Iridescent streamers and students Iz Sheilds, dressed as Rosalind Franklin, and Marlee Griffin, dressed as Gloria Steinem welcomed party goers into the Center for Inclusive Excellence Thursday night for a Her-storical Dance Marty in honor of Women’s History Month. 

Students were encouraged to dress as their favorite female icon. Party goers ran to their friends as they arrived and celebrated their outfits. Various clips of related movies and tv shows played on a tv and ambiance lighting painted the room blue and red.

Griffin had proposed the idea to Jerome Burke, the Director of CIE, in honor of women’s history month. The CIE hadn't hosted a dance party before, and the event required a distinct planning period.

“We had to figure out how we could do an event that’s very fun but also paying homage to women,” Burke said. “I hope female students can look at the women that came before them and say ‘Hey, they struggled, they persevered, and they overcame. I struggle, I can preserve, and I can overcome.”

Griffin created small handmade books to help inform students of ways to fight for equity and equality while also taking care of themselves, which were displayed on a table by the entrance with a collection of stickers.

“I hope people feel empowered, and I hope they want to go out and continue feeling empowered. I wrote a zine to help people empower themselves and empower each other, grab a zine,” Griffin said.

Burke also hoped the party could be a way for students to connect with each other and form a community. “Exams are coming up so have fun. A lot of the time the way we think about university is work and studying but building networks and connections with other students that can be lifetime relationships,” Burke said

The CIE plans to continue this series of events in April while recognizing Arab American month and Asian American and Pacific Islander month.

“We’re working with our Muslim students to visit a popular mosque in Boston, and again into Boston to visit Chinatown.  We will also have a K-pop dance party in the daytime,” Burke said.