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

An ECPD patrol vehicle.

Incident Journal: Student struck by vehicle near Washington St.

October 21, 2020

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

Students moving out of their dorms in March 2020

Students instructed to box up belongings before leaving for winter break

By Alec Klusza, Assistant News Editor / October 21, 2020

Students living in on-campus housing will be required to box up a portion of their belongings and leave them on their beds before departing for winter...

Mediterranean restaurant Garbanzo opened on Emerson's campus in August.

Garbanzo reopens after employee tests positive for COVID-19

By Charlie McKenna / October 20, 2020

Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh’s shut down Monday came after a staffer tested positive for COVID-19, college officials announced in an email Tuesday. The...

A student walks past the Emerson College Barnes & Noble.

College official denies textbook delays as shipping issues persist

By Alec Klusza, Assistant News Editor / October 20, 2020

As excessive textbook shipment delays from Emerson’s bookstore persist, the college official responsible for overseeing the store has repeatedly insisted...

Fire trucks outside of the Little Building.

Little Building fire alarm sends residents onto Boston Common

By Andrew Brinker, Former Senior Investigative Reporter / October 19, 2020

Boston Fire responded to a fire alarm on the third floor of the Little Building at around 3:45 P.M. Tuesday. Residents evacuated onto Boston Common...

Paramount residence halls are designated as a quarantine and isolation space in the fall for ill and exposed students.

Emerson to offer on-campus housing to some students over winter break

By Dana Gerber, Former News Editor / October 17, 2020

Emerson will offer limited housing to some on-campus students during the final two weeks of the fall semester and through winter break. Fewer than 80...

Students cross the intersection of Boylston St. and Tremont St. in front of the Little Building.

Spring break formally eliminated with faculty vote

By Charlie McKenna / October 17, 2020

The full time faculty union approved an altered schedule for the upcoming spring semester Tuesday, finalizing the college’s plans to cancel spring break...

Emerson's Kasteel Well campus in Well, Netherlands.

Kasteel Well program cancelled for spring semester due to ongoing travel restrictions

By Andrew Brinker, Former Senior Investigative Reporter / October 16, 2020

The Kasteel Well study abroad program has been cancelled for the spring semester due to ongoing European Union travel restrictions on U.S. citizens. The...

Students in the lobby of the Paramount Theatre tapping in to the building before class.

First days of simplified symptom tracking process see delays at tap desks

By Andrew Brinker, Former Senior Investigative Reporter / October 15, 2020

Emerson began linking its daily symptom tracker to all student, faculty, and staff IDs Tuesday, meaning community members no longer have to display their...

The college's choice to extend the fall semester grading period was met with mixed reactions from professors

Despite full-time faculty boycott, directed study enrollment on par with previous years

By Dana Gerber, Former News Editor / October 15, 2020

Enrollment in directed study courses remains steady this semester despite several faculty members’ ongoing boycott of the classes. There are still...

Members of the IT Help Desk team work tirelessly during the first hybrid-model semester post-Covid.

How Emerson tech groups prepared professors for a hybrid semester

By Domenic Conte, Former Sports Columnist / October 14, 2020

For journalism professor Diane Mermigas, teaching in a hybrid format through a pandemic meant that she first had to play the role of a student. Throughout...

SGA at a Fall 2019 Joint Session meeting.

SGA delays executive cabinet appointments

By Diana Bravo, Former Copyeditor/Photographer / October 13, 2020

The Student Government Association held a half an hour Student Assembly meeting Tuesday and postponed two scheduled position appointments to its executive...

An ECPD patrol vehicle.

Incident Journal: Student ‘harassed’ by local business on social media

October 13, 2020

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

A Visual and Media Arts class under COVID-19 safety restrictions.

Saturday classes creating roadblocks for students, professors

By Dana Gerber, Former News Editor / October 12, 2020

Every weekend, Tim Schwab, a junior, takes the commuter rail home to Shrewsbury, Massachusetts to work as a shift supervisor at Papa Gino’s pizzeria....

Emerson's COVID-19 testing center at the corner of Kneeland Street and Harrison Ave.

Emerson COVID-19 dashboard riddled with inaccuracies, missing metrics

By Andrew Brinker, Former Senior Investigative Reporter / October 8, 2020

A review of Emerson’s reported COVID-19 data reveals severe shortcomings in the college’s dashboard, which intends to provide insight into the virus’...

The Iwasaki Library.

Pandemic opens new chapter for Iwasaki Library

By Gracie Warda and Ann E. Matica / October 7, 2020

In March, the Iwasaki Library operated as a place for students to mill around the stacks, congregate in groups to finish a project, and watch movies in...

From Left to Right: Christine Hughes, Peggy Ings, and Bill Gilligan, three of the college's 12 vice presidents.

Three vice presidents to retire before 2021

By Charlie McKenna / October 7, 2020

Three of Emerson’s 12 vice presidents will retire by the end of 2020 after opting into the college’s early retirement program.  Christine Hughes,...

An SGA meeting at the beginning of the 2019-20 academic year.

SGA members to aid in search for new associate dean

By Diana Bravo, Former Copyeditor/Photographer / October 6, 2020

The Student Government Association unanimously appointed two members to a college committee that will search for candidates to fill a newly proposed associate...

The Office of International Student Affairs.

Proposed federal rule would limit international students’ time in U.S.

By Charlie McKenna and Alec Klusza / October 6, 2020

A newly proposed U.S. Department of Homeland Security rule could limit the ability of international students to stay in the U.S. for more than four years...

Emerson College Polling Director Spencer Kimball.

Alumni panel talks first presidential debate, Trump

By Alec Klusza, Assistant News Editor / October 5, 2020

Three political commentators, each an Emerson alum, tried to make sense of the chaotic first presidential debate in a discussion panel hosted by Emerson...