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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

Emerson to require boosters, additional testing for spring semester

Emerson to require boosters, additional testing for spring semester

By Vivi Smilgius / December 9, 2021

Emerson will require all community members to receive a COVID-19 booster shot prior to the spring semester amid a drastic rise in COVID-19 cases in Massachusetts...

The exterior of the COVID testing site.

Omicron, now in Massachusetts, has global spreader potential, expert says

By Vivi Smilgius and Bailey Allen / December 9, 2021

Massachusetts reported its first case of the Omicron COVID-19 variant on Saturday, renewing concerns about the spread of the virus just days before the...

The entrance to a vaccination clinic on Tremont Street.

Emerson to require booster shots for all community members before spring semester

By Lucia Thorne and Charlie McKenna / December 8, 2021

Emerson will require all students, faculty, and staff to receive a COVID-19 booster shot prior to the beginning of the spring semester, college officials...

The exterior of the Kasteel Well castle

No change in sight for Kasteel Well following Omicron variant detection in Netherlands

By Bailey Allen / December 2, 2021

Weeks after a surge in COVID-19 cases forced the Netherlands into another lockdown, the appearance of Omicron—the latest mutation of the virus—threatens...

Take-home rapid test provided by Emerson College.

Emerson students frustrated by mandated at-home rapid tests

By Frankie Rowley and Adri Pray / December 2, 2021

Emerson students reported experiencing difficulties after taking their college-mandated and provided at-home rapid COVID-19 tests in order to return to...

COVID testing site locating at 116 Harrison Avenue.

Positive COVID-19 tests rising on campus, mirroring statewide trend

By Frankie Rowley / November 18, 2021

In the ten-day period since Nov. 8, Emerson reported 13 new positive COVID-19 tests—a marked increase in overall infections mirroring worsening cases...

Emerson's Kasteel Well campus in Well, Netherlands.

Emerson students at Kasteel Well unfazed by Netherlands lockdowns

By Bailey Allen / November 18, 2021

Amid a rise in COVID cases throughout the Netherlands, Emerson students studying abroad at Kasteel Well face a three-week partial lockdown, which has limited...

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

Emerson to require students to test negative before return to campus from Thanksgiving break

By Vivi Smilgius / November 16, 2021

All students will have to provide Emerson with proof of a negative COVID-19 test prior to their return to campus from Thanksgiving break, and take another...

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

College shifts to pooled testing model

By Frankie Rowley / October 29, 2021

Emerson introduced a pooled testing model for all community members this week, a process administrators hope will streamline the college’s testing process.  “The...

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

Emerson reports ten new positives in five days

By Frankie Rowley / September 25, 2021

Emerson has reported ten new positive COVID-19 tests since Sept. 20 on the Boston campus, raising the college’s cumulative positive tests to 48.  The...

An in-person class session in the Paramount Center.

Emerson extends mask mandate indefinitely

By Frankie Rowley / September 15, 2021

In a shift of prior guidance, Emerson will not transition to a mask-optional policy on Sept. 17, instead extending the college’s requirement that all...

Erik Muurisepp sits at his desk on the fourth floor of the Walker Building.

Erik Muurisepp, Emerson’s COVID Lead and newly-promoted Associate VP, looks to future of OneEmerson

By Frankie Rowley / September 9, 2021

Erik Muurisepp received a promotion from assistant vice president to associate vice president of campus life on Sept. 4—marking a more visible role at...

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

Emerson up to 21 positive tests in first two weeks of testing

By Frankie Rowley / September 7, 2021

Through just over two weeks of fall semester COVID-19 testing, Emerson has reported 21 positive COVID-19 tests despite sky-high vaccination rates amongst...

The entrance to a vaccination clinic in downtown Boston.

96% of Emerson community fully vaccinated, college officials say

By Frankie Rowley / September 6, 2021

Nearly every member of the Emerson community is fully vaccinated for COVID-19, college officials announced last week.  Associate Vice President for...

Outside of the Emerson College Testing Center.

College reports 14 positive COVID-19 tests in week of testing

By Charlie McKenna and Camilo Fonseca / September 2, 2021

Despite the vaccine mandate for community members, Emerson has reported 14 positive COVID-19 tests in just over a week since the start of fall semester...

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

Emerson reports 12 positive COVID-19 tests in 8 days of testing

By Charlie McKenna / September 1, 2021

Emerson has reported 12 positive COVID-19 tests since the start of fall semester testing, according to the college’s dashboard—despite a vaccine mandate...

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker

Massachusetts reports average of 1,267 coronavirus cases in last seven days

By Frankie Rowley / August 23, 2021

Between Aug. 17 and Aug. 23, Massachusetts reported an average of 1,267 COVID-19 cases each day. In the same seven-day period, the death toll rose by 31. Cases...

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker

Massachusetts reports average of 1,126 coronavirus cases in last seven days

By Frankie Rowley, Deputy News Editor / August 17, 2021

Between Aug. 10 and Aug. 16, Massachusetts reported an average of 1,126 COVID-19 cases each day. In the same seven-day period, the death toll rose by 48. Cases...

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

Students required to undergo two COVID-19 tests upon move-in

By Frankie Rowley / August 10, 2021

Emerson will require two baseline COVID-19 tests for arriving students moving into on-campus housing in the fall semester, according to college officials.   The...

A COVID-19 vaccination site

Vaccination requirement extended to faculty, staff

By Camilo Fonseca, Assistant News Editor / July 30, 2021

Emerson faculty and staff must be vaccinated against COVID-19 before returning to campus in the fall, in an extension of the college’s previous directive...