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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

Coronavirus

A janitor working in the dorm hallway.

Overworked during pandemic, staff fight to have benefits reinstated

By Ann E. Matica and Camilo Fonseca / March 18, 2021

With inflated workloads, slashed benefits, and continuing tense negotiations with Emerson,  college staff members are nearing a breaking point—after...

The college illuminated Little Building with artwork and messages celebrating the graduating class of 2020 on Saturday. The display will run for two weeks.

Two Emerson classes devastated by loss of graduation ceremonies

By Frankie Rowley / March 17, 2021

For the second year in a row, Emerson will hold an online commencement ceremony in May, slashing a ritual many recent and upcoming graduates anticipated...

As someone who struggles with mental illnesses myself, I can say with complete conviction this hybrid learning model has been detrimental to my health.

Adapting to hybrid learning is a privilege

By Lucia Thorne / March 17, 2021

Trigger warning: This op-ed discusses topics related to mental illness. After a year of experimenting with new forms of learning in an attempt to simulate...

Unfortunately, collective grief comes alongside numbness. We, as a human collective, when overwhelmed with so much sorrow, seem to have an “off” switch.

Traversing grief in a pandemic

By Joshua Sokol / March 17, 2021

While scrolling through Twitter—a passive and frequent pandemic pastime—I’ll see tweets along the lines of “We survived 2020; that’s something...

What is Emerson’s interim policy for campus demonstrations? We explain.

Former student sues college over ‘insufficient’ learning experience last spring

By Chris Van Buskirk / March 17, 2021

A former student is seeking a tuition and fee refund in response to Emerson College's decision to move classes online last spring as a result of the COVID-19...

More than a year of our college experience has been lost forever, and the scary reality of graduating into a pandemic looms ahead.

A year of loss and disappointment: what the pandemic has taken from us

By Juliet Norman / March 17, 2021

I remember my last day of normalcy perfectly. I met my friend Natalie for morning coffee at The Thinking Cup, went back to my dorm to say a quick goodbye...

A sign on the window of Emerson's coronavirus testing site at Tufts Medical Center.

Emerson reports one new positive COVID-19 test

By Frankie Rowley / March 17, 2021

Emerson reported one new positive COVID-19 test on Wednesday out of the 1,238 tests administered Tuesday, leaving the college’s cumulative positive tests...

First year students left to right: Carrie Aubin, Chloe Shaar, Eva Charbonnnier, and Isabella Espejo, calling their parents about the college's decision to shut the Boston campus down.

Emerson students reflect on the moment they knew life would change

By Charlie McKenna / March 17, 2021

Six Emerson students, now a year into a first-in-a-century pandemic, recalled the moments when they realized life was not going to return to “normal”...

A sign of the COVID testing site of Emerson College and Tufts University.

Emerson students eligible for COVID-19 vaccine starting April 19

By Frankie Rowley / March 17, 2021

Emerson students are slated to be eligible to receive the coronavirus vaccine starting April 19, along with the rest of the general public.  The completed...

Emerson's testing site is located at a Tufts Medical Center facility on the corner of Harrison Ave. and Kneeland St.

Emerson reports 2 new positive COVID-19 tests, semester total nearing 100

By Dana Gerber / March 16, 2021

Emerson reported two new positive COVID-19 tests on Monday out of the 1,261 tests administered Monday, leaving the college’s cumulative positive tests...

The Office of Financial Aid in the Union Bank Building.

Emerson opens applications for second round of COVID aid

By Camilo Fonseca, Assistant News Editor / March 16, 2021

Emerson students can now apply for further financial relief from the pandemic after the college announced Monday it had received a second round of emergency...

Gov. Charlie Baker speaks to the media after receiving a flu shot at a CVS in Roslindale on September 17, 2020 in Boston, MA.

Massachusetts reports 1,004 new coronavirus cases

By Frankie Rowley and Charlie McKenna / March 15, 2021

Massachusetts reported 1,004 new coronavirus cases Monday, a decline from the 1,508 new infections reported Sunday. The death toll rose by 28.  Cases...

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker.

Massachusetts reports 1,508 new coronavirus cases

By Frankie Rowley / March 14, 2021

Massachusetts reported 1,508 new coronavirus cases Sunday, a decline from the 1,548 new infections reported Saturday. The death toll rose by 30.  Cases...

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker.

Massachusetts reports 1,548 new coronavirus cases

By Frankie Rowley / March 13, 2021

Massachusetts reported 1,548 new coronavirus cases Saturday, a decline from the 1,577 new infections reported Friday. The death toll rose by 34.  Cases...

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker

Massachusetts reports 1,577 new coronavirus cases

By Frankie Rowley / March 12, 2021

Massachusetts reported 1,577 new coronavirus cases Friday, a decline from the 1,589 new infections reported Thursday. The death toll rose by 29.  Cases...

Emerson's Los Angeles campus.

Emerson Los Angeles on track to reopen, according to county health officials

By Camilo Fonseca / March 12, 2021

Provided that COVID-19 metrics continue to trend as expected, the in-person summer program at Emerson Los Angeles should go ahead as planned, local public...

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker.

Massachusetts reports 1,589 new coronavirus cases

By Frankie Rowley / March 11, 2021

Massachusetts reported 1,589 new coronavirus cases Thursday, a rise from the 1,413 new infections reported Wednesday. The death toll rose by 42.  Cases...

Students walking along Boylston Street.

Emerson students wary of making definite summer plans due to pandemic

By Bailey Allen / March 11, 2021

With the uncertainty of the pandemic still looming, three Emerson students said they were hesitant to cement summer plans out of fear they would be upended...

Classroom 633 of the Walker Building.

Some Emerson classroom layouts fall short of six-foot distancing

By Patrick Pierce / March 11, 2021

The structure of some classrooms on Emerson’s main campus make six-foot social distancing nearly impossible—causing some students to lose faith in...

A photo of South Street Diner

Local restaurants navigate reopening under lifted restrictions

By Camilo Fonseca / March 11, 2021

The progressive relaxation of the state’s coronavirus restrictions over the past several weeks cleared the way for Emerson-area restaurants to start...