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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

Faculty Assembly to consider pass/fail option for students

Faculty Assembly to consider pass/fail option for students

By Parker Purifoy / March 31, 2020

Faculty will consider a new policy that would allow undergraduate students to choose a pass/fail option for their classes during Tuesday’s Faculty Assembly...

The ongoing construction on Boylston St., intended to expand the sidewalk into the parking lane and add benches and planters, has been delayed until at least the end of the 2020-21 academic year.

OHRE looks for creative solutions after COVID-19 hinders housing selection process

By Belen Dumont / March 30, 2020

The Housing Operations team released an updated 2020-2021 housing selection process timeline in an email Friday afternoon after the initially scheduled...

A view of Emerson's Dining Center from the Boylston Place alley.

A desolate Boston campus is the new reality for remaining students

By Dana Gerber, Assistant Enterprise News Editor / March 28, 2020

One month ago, sophomore Maximo Lawlor served as president at Phi Alpha Tau meetings, wrote for Raiz Magazine, and co-captained the tennis team. Now, he...

Senior Tatiana Melendez, pictured second from the left in the top row, said she was looking forward to celebrating Commencement with her friends.
Top Row (left to right): Jonah Puskar, Ann Zhang, Raz Moayed.
Bottom Row (left to right): Melissa Leslie, Lily Scher.

Seniors hoping to walk in May face altered plans as COVID-19 spreads

By Dana Gerber, Assistant Enterprise Editor / March 25, 2020

Senior Tatiana Melendez found out there wouldn't be a traditional 2020 Commencement weekend only a week after her ELA classes moved online and she had...

College staff member tests positive for COVID-19

College staff member tests positive for COVID-19

By Parker Purifoy, Digital Managing Editor / March 25, 2020

An Emerson staff member has tested positive for COVID-19, marking the first diagnosis within the college community, President M. Lee Pelton announced in...

President M. Lee Pelton.

College plans to issue partial credit for room and board, not tuition

By Dana Gerber, Assistant Enterprise Editor / March 19, 2020

While Emerson will be issuing partial credit for room and board charges for the spring semester due to circumstances brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic,...

Diky Melville, general manager of The Fourth Wall, said the business will suffer greatly with students leaving at the preventative measures set by Gov. Charlie Baker

Local restaurants struggle with new regulations and lack of college students

By Parker Purifoy, Digital Managing Editor / March 18, 2020

Local businesses are reeling after Gov. Charlie Baker and Mayor Martin Walsh laid out a sweeping set of regulations over the weekend that prohibits restaurants...

Students moving out of their dorms in March 2020

COVID-19 at Emerson: The Story So Far

By Dana Gerber / March 17, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has left little of Emerson College unscathed as the quickly growing public health crisis ignites action from national, state, and...

Coronavirus pandemic shuts down 39th EVVY awards

Coronavirus pandemic shuts down 39th EVVY awards

By Dana Gerber / March 16, 2020

The EVVYs canceled both of their award ceremonies for the first time in the show's 39-year history due to the public health risk surrounding the COVID-19...

A student moving out of their dorm building.

Students devastated after college decides to send them home

By Aaron J. Miller and Tomas Gonzalez / March 13, 2020

Junior Joe Davidi said he will submit a request to stay on Emerson’s Boston campus despite the college asking students to leave because of fears of him...

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.

College asks students to leave dorms, moves ELA classes online

By Parker Purifoy and Chris Van Buskirk / March 13, 2020

The college announced that all students must vacate campus residence halls in both Boston and Los Angeles by March 20—a dramatic reversal of an earlier...

Students cross the intersection of Boylston St. and Tremont St.

College in contact with students in Spain and France following travel ban

By Aaron J. Miller, Beacon Staff / March 12, 2020

Sophomore John Raffaele III woke up Thursday morning to unexpected news--the president of the United States had issued a ban on travel from Europe by non-U.S....

 

How does Emerson’s COVID-19 response compare to others’ in Massachusetts?

By Karina Sanchez / March 12, 2020

Following Gov. Charlie Baker’s declaration of a state of emergency Tuesday, a cascade of colleges and universities across the commonwealth told students...

President M. Lee Pelton responds to community unrest following COVID-19 pandemic.

Pelton responds to “unprecedented” COVID-19 uncertainty

By Dana Gerber, Assistant Enterprise Editor / March 11, 2020

President M. Lee Pelton said many answers concerning long-term extracurricular continuation, housing feasibility, summer and fall classes, and room, board,...

Emerson launches initiative to rebuild the community in upcoming academic year

Students grapple with leaving or staying on campus following COVID-19 pandemic

By Tomas Gonzalez / March 11, 2020

Sophomore Allison Valton said she was relieved when she heard she could go home for the rest of the semester. She has a skin disease that makes her more...

College considering housing refunds for Kasteel Well students leaving campus

College considering housing refunds for Kasteel Well students leaving campus

By Lara Hill / March 11, 2020

The college is currently “leaning in the direction” of providing housing refunds to Kasteel Well students planning to return home for the remainder...

The Bobbi Brown and Steven Plofker Gym

Utah Jazz players test positive for COVID-19 after team practice at Emerson

By Ethan McDowell and Aaron J. Miller / March 11, 2020

Following a Utah Jazz practice at the college’s gym on March 5, two players on the team tested positive for COVID-19, according to a statement from the...

How COVID-19 affects Emerson College

How COVID-19 affects Emerson College

By Andrew Brinker and Parker Purifoy / March 11, 2020

In a packed press conference Tuesday afternoon, Gov. Charlie Baker declared a state of emergency in Massachusetts and announced that cases of COVID-19,...

Freshman Santha Rowles said she is worried her production classes will lose value online.

A day filled with uncertainty finds students reacting to online classes

By Andrew Brinker, Aaron J. Miller and Tomas Gonzalez / March 10, 2020

A mix of emotions gripped students Tuesday evening after President M. Lee Pelton announced the transition of all classes to remote instruction following...

Students crossing the bustling Boylston/Tremont intersection.

College transitions classes online, dorms to remain open amid COVID-19 outbreak

By Parker Purifoy and Chris Van Buskirk / March 10, 2020

Emerson College joined on Tuesday a series of universities and colleges across the state that have transitioned classes online in response to the rapidly...