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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

College to provide menstrual products in all campus bathrooms

College to provide menstrual products in all campus bathrooms

By Maddie Khaw, Assistant News Editor / April 26, 2023

After years of lobbying from students, Emerson’s administration has committed to providing period products in all public restrooms on campus—including...

‘They’re logical things, but they're not human beings’: What is ChatGPT, and what should we be concerned about?

‘They’re logical things, but they’re not human beings’: What is ChatGPT, and what should we be concerned about?

By Meg Richards, Managing Editor / April 26, 2023

ChatGPT, a new artificial intelligence program that has the capability to write basically anything can write your essays for you. Emerson community members,...

Tuition hike.

Student union members react to four percent tuition increase

By Bailey Allen, Former news editor / April 19, 2023

Emerson College is set to increase the undergraduate costs of attendance by four percent for the 2023-24 academic year, prompting negative reactions from...

To mask or not to mask? Remaining mask-wearing students share their thoughts

To mask or not to mask? Remaining mask-wearing students share their thoughts

By Maddie Khaw, Assistant News Editor / April 19, 2023

Since Emerson relaxed its COVID-19 policies and removed its campus-wide mask mandate last May, the faces of many or most students have gone unmasked in...

The Office of Financial Aid in the Union Bank Building.

College to increase tuition by four percent for 2023-24 academic year

By Bailey Allen, Former news editor / April 14, 2023

Emerson College is set to increase the undergraduate costs of attendance by four percent for the 2023-24 academic year, according to a community-wide email...

Brief site crash makes registration ‘unnecessarily stressful’ for sophomores

Brief site crash makes registration ‘unnecessarily stressful’ for sophomores

By Maddie Barron and Maddie Khaw / April 12, 2023

For many, course registration is a stressful event each semester, as students scramble to log in before their classes fill up completely. This semester,...

Judee Wales Watson standing before The Judee Wales Watson Theater.

‘Stand in your truth’: Emerson unveils the Judee Wales Watson Theater

By Adri Pray, Editor-in-Chief / April 12, 2023

Emerson honored actress and alumna Judee Wales Watson ’10 last week by naming the Student Performance Center in the basement of the Little Building after...

Dr. Brent Smith. Photo credit: Twitter

Brent Smith appointed as School of Communication’s permanent dean

By Bailey Allen, Former news editor / April 12, 2023

Brent Smith will become the dean of Emerson’s School of Communication starting this summer, according to a community-wide announcement from Interim President...

First place winner Lucy Ellis.

Emerson Poetry Project hosts ‘Box of Doom’

By Olivia LeDuc, News Editor / April 12, 2023

Students gathered and laughed at TikTok and Tumblr references at Emerson Poetry Project’s biannual “Box of Doom” slam competition Monday evening. Dubbed...

Gold stole presented to newly inducted Gold Key Honor Society members.

Gold Key honor society recognizes outstanding teacher excellence and student achievement

By Shannon Garrido, Editor-in-chief / April 12, 2023

Emerson celebrated students and faculty that displayed outstanding academic achievement and teaching excellence in the 2022-23 academic year by inducting...

Students gathered in the SPC and Black Box Theater for a silent disco hosted by Emerson Mane Events.

Silence at the Disco?

By Mikaiah De La Cruz, Correspondent / April 6, 2023

Flashing lights, goofy caricatures, and dancing to a song no one but you can hear: Emerson Mane Events hosted a decades-themed silent disco event on March...

A Student Government Association meeting in spring 2020.

SGA to host spring elections at end of week

By Adri Pray and Maddie Barron / April 6, 2023

Candidates for the 2023-24 Student Government Association have spent weeks marketing their campaigns to the Emerson community, who will choose their representatives...

The Emerson Forensics Team in Tokyo

Emerson debate team wins big on international stage

By Bishop Marshall, Correspondent / April 5, 2023

This spring break, the Emerson Forensics Team traveled to Tokyo for the International Forensics Association’s Annual Speech and Debate Tournament and...

The Center for Spiritual Life.

CSL to host interfaith dinner as celebration of major religious holidays

By Olivia LeDuc, News Editor / April 5, 2023

To celebrate this week’s major religious holidays, members of the Emerson community are invited to an interfaith dinner on Friday at 7 p.m. in the college’s...

An Emerson College Police car.

Incident Journal: ECPD responds to defaced property on campus

By Maddie Khaw, Assistant News Editor / April 5, 2023

The Emerson College Police Department provides the Incident Journal to The Beacon every week. Beacon staff edit the Incident Journal for style and clarity...

EPI alum discuss their experiences at the conference.

Grads, professors discuss Emerson Prison Initiative

By Maddie Barron, Magazine Editor & Assistant Opinion Editor / March 29, 2023

The Emerson Prison Initiative held its first conference on Friday in the Bill Bordy Theater. The program, which offers incarcerated persons at the Massachusetts...

Emerson College to integrate AI into classrooms

Student organizations to submit SGA Fund for Student Impact proposals next fall

By Adri Pray, Editor-in-Chief / March 22, 2023

The Student Government Association projects student organizations will be able to submit proposals for the SGA Fund for Student Impact as soon as next...

(Rachel Choi/ Beacon Staff)

Emerson Prison Initiative to hold conference about the benefits of college in prison

By Maddie Khaw, Assistant News Editor / March 22, 2023

The Emerson Prison Initiative will hold its first conference Friday, featuring various speakers and panels discussing the statistics, benefits, and experiences...

Kasteel Well campus ends weekly testing protocol, shift to symptomatic testing only

Kasteel Well campus ends weekly testing protocol, shift to symptomatic testing only

By Maeve Lawler, Kasteel Well Bureau Chief / March 22, 2023

As of March 9, Emerson’s Kasteel Well campus no longer requires twice-a-week COVID-19 testing, according to an email sent to Kasteel Well students from...

Students plan for spring break amid lessened COVID policies

Students plan for spring break amid lessened COVID policies

By Bailey Allen, Former news editor / March 9, 2023

As spring break approaches, Emerson students have adjusted to the rollback of COVID-19 restrictions for the first time in three years—with some planning...