Skip to Main Content
Emerson College’s only independent, student-run newspaper since 1947

The Berkeley Beacon

Emerson College’s only independent, student-run newspaper since 1947

The Berkeley Beacon

Emerson College’s only independent, student-run newspaper since 1947

The Berkeley Beacon

Campus

Students have dinner and conversation in celebration of Holi at the Cultural Center located at 172 Tremont St. on Sunday, March 24, 2024. (Yufei Meng/Beacon Staff)

‘Holi’s about bringing color into people’s lives’: Sathi holds colorful event for Holi

By Emma Siebold, Beacon Correspondent / April 3, 2024
With colorful pigments, streamers, Bollywood music, and traditional foods, Emerson students celebrated Holi, the Hindu festival commemorating spring's beginning, in 172 Tremont on March 24. 
Emerson Trustees Ellen Calmas, left, Doug Holloway, behind, and Robert Miller, right, place an academic hood on Bernhardt at the investiture ceremony on Friday, March 22, 2024. (Ashlyn Wang/Beacon Staff)

Jay Bernhardt inaugurated as college’s 13th president

By DJ Mara, Dept. Metro Editor / March 28, 2024

President Jay M. Bernhardt was officially inaugurated as Emerson College’s 13th President at an investiture ceremony held on the morning of Friday, March...

Daniella Lopez-White performs in the Spring 2024 Southwick Recital held in the Robert J. Orchard Theater at the Paramount Center on Wednesday, March 20. (DJ Mara/Beacon Staff)

Southwick Recital takes the stage to kick off Bernhardt’s inauguration festivities

By DJ Mara, Dept. Metro Editor / March 28, 2024

Students, faculty, trustees, and community members gathered in the Robert J. Orchard Theater in the Paramount Center on Wednesday, March 20, as the...

From left, Amy Ansell, dean of Marlboro Institute for Liberal Arts & Interdisciplinary Studies, Mneesha Gellman, founder and director of Emerson Prison Initiative, and Mac Hudson, an EPI alumnus, discuss the impact of expanding access to an Emersonian education to incarcerated people in Massachusetts at the EPI alumni panel held in the Bill Bordy Theater on Wednesday, March 20, 2024. (Yufei Meng/Beacon Staff)

Bernhardt’s inauguration features Emerson Prison Initiative, emphasizes advocacy

By Katherine Cressman, Editor-at-Large / March 27, 2024

The Emerson Prison Initiative (EPI) hosted a panel on March 20 as a part of the many events leading up to the inauguration of President Jay Bernhardt.  EPI...

Emerson Professor Scott Pinkney

‘My students are my family’: Professor Pinkney leaves lasting Emerson legacy

By Bridget Frawley, Staff Writer / March 20, 2024
For Emerson professor Scott Pinkney, his proudest accolade is the success of his students.
Emerson's downtown Boston campus.

College to host webinar on Israel-Palestine conflict on March 25

By Hannah Nguyen, Editor-in-Chief / March 20, 2024
The college will be sponsoring an educational webinar for the Emerson community on March 25 that will address the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict, according to a community-wide email sent by college officials.
Attorney Carolina Avellaneda is appointed in February 2024 as Emerson's vice president and general counsel. (Naia Driscoll/Beacon Correspondent)

Emerson General Counsel Carolina Avellaneda reflects on new position as a culmination of a lifetime of work

By Bryan Hecht, Kasteel Well Bureau Chief / March 20, 2024
Attorney Carolina Avellaneda was appointed Emerson's vice president and general counsel late last month and began serving her position on March 1.
Emerson Students’ Union plans for better outreach to students and new mutual aid efforts

Emerson Students’ Union plans for better outreach to students and new mutual aid efforts

By Valentina Baez, Staff Writer / March 6, 2024
Emerson College Students’ Union (ECSU) Feb. 28 general meeting discussed final steps for the union before spring break.
International filmmaker Lydia Dean Pilcher, left, and Nejem Raheem, right, chair of the Department of Marketing Communication at Emerson College, talk about the intersection of Hollywood and sustainable development goals during the keynote panel of Emerson's annual Teach-In on Sustainability on Monday, March. 4, 2024. (Feixu Chen/Beacon Correspondent)

Emerson College’s Teach-in on Sustainability sparks creativity for an environmentally conscious future

By Valentina Baez, Staff Writer / March 6, 2024
Emerson College’s second annual Teach-In on Sustainability, the college-wide exploration of how we can contribute to a sustainable tomorrow
President Jay Bernhardt. (Ashlyn Wang/Beacon Staff)

A conversation with President Jay Bernhardt

By Olivia LeDuc, News Editor / March 6, 2024
The Beacon sat down with Bernhardt to reflect on his two semesters at Emerson, his plans to update the college’s mission through a new strategic plan, and his commitment to continuing to engage with the student body and address their needs.
Emerson Staff Union requests voluntary recognition from college for two new bargaining units

Emerson Staff Union requests voluntary recognition from college for two new bargaining units

By Olivia LeDuc, News Editor / March 6, 2024
The Emerson Staff Union (ESU) has requested the college voluntarily recognize staff in Financial Aid and Student Accounts as union members.
Emerson College to integrate AI into classrooms

SGA faces a total of $1.3 million in annual budget requests

By Katherine Cressman, Editor-at-Large / March 4, 2024

The Student Government Association will hold annual budget request meetings beginning next week, where they will meet with organizations who are requesting...

Emerson College to integrate AI into classrooms

President Bernhardt plans to integrate AI into Emerson classrooms

By Katherine Cressman, Editor-at-Large / February 28, 2024
The Student Government Association’s Feb. 25 meeting focused largely on President Jay Bernhardt’s plan to integrate artificial intelligence into Emerson’s classrooms.
Emerson disability accessibility workshop series

The Social Justice Collaborative to host a two-part disability accessibility workshop series

By Bridget Frawley, Staff Writer / February 28, 2024
To facilitate conversations about disability justice and accessibility on campus, Erin Robins, accessible design specialist in the office of the Vice President for Equity and Social Justice, is hosting two virtual workshops. 
Emerson College Student Union demands more financial aid

ECSU tuition hikes rally demands more financial aid, organization freedom

By Valentina Baez, Staff Writer / February 28, 2024
Around 30 impassioned members of the Emerson community participated in the tuition hikes rally in 2 Boylston Alley on Feb. 23
Kasteel Well students prepare to participate in the Carnival festivities.

Kasteel Well students connect with community in Carnival celebration

By Jordan Pagkalinawan, Dept. Sports Editor / February 22, 2024

While Americans geared up for Super Bowl 58, Emerson students studying abroad at Kasteel Well prepared for a different celebration—participating in the...

Katrina Kusa, a sophomore VMA major at Emerson College, is preparing for the Miss Massachusetts USA pageant. (Yufei Meng/Beacon Staff)

VMA sophomore prepares to compete in the Miss Massachusetts USA pageant

By Bridget Frawley, Staff Writer / February 21, 2024

Scrolling through TikTok in the car, Katrina Kusa saw a video about the Miss Massachusetts USA beauty pageant. She turned to her mom and asked if she thought...

ECSU town hall meeting discusses repression of student activities

ECSU town hall meeting discusses repression of student activities

By Valentina Baez, Staff Writer / February 21, 2024

The Emerson College Students’ Union (ECSU) met for a public Town Hall meeting in the 172 Tremont building on Thursday, Feb. 15, to discuss initiatives...

New Student Accessibility Services portal changes how students receive academic accommodations

New Student Accessibility Services portal changes how students receive academic accommodations

By Annie Sarlin, Dept. Kasteel Well Bureau Chief / February 21, 2024

Emerson’s Office of Student Accessibility Services (SAS) introduced an online system in the summer of 2023 called Accommodate to expedite the process...

Dr. Gregory Payne, chair of the Communication Studies Department, is in his office during an interview with the Berkeley Beacon, where he reflects on his 40th anniversary teaching at Emerson and the years ahead. (DJ Mara/Beacon Staff)

Dr. Gregory Payne celebrates his 40th anniversary of teaching Emerson ‘change agents’

By DJ Mara, Dept. Metro Editor / February 21, 2024

Dr. Gregory Payne, chair of the Communication Studies Department, celebrated his 40th anniversary of teaching at Emerson College earlier this month, a...