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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

Emerson Encampment

People walking past Emerson College buildings on Boylston Street. (Arthur Mansavage/ Beacon Staff, File)

The college updated its protest policy. Some argue it’s a suppression of free speech.

By Bryan Hecht and Sam Shipman / September 6, 2024
Emerson unveiled a new initiative, updated its code of conduct, and released an interim policy in August, generating a wave of concern among students, faculty, and staff over free speech.
President Jay Bernhardt spoke in front of faculty about his plans for the college’s future after the fallout over pro-Palestinian protests and subsequent arrests.

Bernhardt pledges to prioritize enrollment, community building, and Emerson branding

By Hannah Nguyen / September 4, 2024

In the wake of campus turmoil last spring, President Jay Bernhardt pledged to prioritize enrollment, strengthen the community and build Emerson’s brand...

Protecting free speech and promoting dialogue are what make us Emersonians

Protecting free speech and promoting dialogue are what make us Emersonians

It has been an uneasy summer for staff and faculty at Emerson, rocked early on by a presidential communication that threatened us with layoffs.
The Little Building on a rainy day.

Emerson will house BAC students in the Little Building for one year

By Hannah Nguyen, Editor in Chief / August 1, 2024

Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to include more details about the year-long partnership. Emerson College will provide housing for Boston...

Emerson will lay off staff and faculty positions due to enrollment decline partly caused by campus protests, college says

Emerson will lay off staff and faculty positions due to enrollment decline partly caused by campus protests, college says

By Hannah Nguyen, Iselin Bratz and DJ Mara / June 22, 2024

Emerson College will lay off faculty and staff and not fill some vacant positions in response to reduced enrollment, which it said was partly caused by...

Walker Building of Emerson College

Affiliated faculty votes against no-confidence in Bernhardt

By Hannah Nguyen / May 19, 2024
With nearly 40 percent of the 280 affiliated faculty members participating in the vote, 64 members voted against the resolution, 42 voted in favor, and 10 abstained.
A student waves a Palestinian flag and holds up their hand, on which is written, “Ceasefire now.” (Rian Nelson/Beacon Staff)

Emotions split at commencement amid pro-Palestine protests

By Sam Shipman / May 18, 2024

A sense of excitement and nervousness filled the air of Agganis Arena as friends and family of Emerson graduates filed in for the 2024 Commencement Ceremony.   This...

Notice outside Emerson College’s Visitors Center explaining closures (Bryan Hecht/Beacon Staff)

College briefly halts admissions proceedings in light of arrests, students and student workers reflect on closures

By Iselin Bratz / May 15, 2024

Editor's Note: This article has been republished to include corrections and to acknowledge that admission activities were put on hold for two days and...

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

Faculty votes not to call for Bernhardt’s resignation

By Hannah Nguyen / May 13, 2024

Following a special faculty meeting on May 6, the faculty assembly voted via email not to call for President Jay Bernhardt’s resignation. Around...

A student-painted banner hangs above 2B alley pro-Palestine encampments on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. (Photo courtesy of Nick Peace)

Rupture requires repair: Where do we go from here?

By Anna Feder, Guest Author / May 13, 2024

I was there when the Emerson College encampment started. After months of being ignored by the administration, the students finally found a way to be...

A class picture in a school yard in the 1990's in Israel.

Two stories about growing up in Israel

By Illona Yosefov, Guest Author / May 8, 2024

Content warning: this article contains bloody imagery. I was in grade school when Yigal Amir, a Zionist who objected to the Oslo Accords, assassinated...

President Bernhardt speaks out on Town Hall and first year at Emerson

President Bernhardt speaks out on Town Hall and first year at Emerson

By Merritt Hughes, Co-Opinion Editor / May 6, 2024

Early Monday morning, President Jay Bernhardt shared a “Letter to the Community” addressing the April 29 Town Hall and his first year at Emerson.  Bernhardt...

Students left messages on the face of the Ansin building using sticky notes and posters, with the signatures of over 1,000 Emerson students who want ECSU to negotiate a contract with the college on their behalf. (Bryan Hecht/Beacon Staff)

On May Day, protesters gather in Boston Common, 2B Alley, and outside Emerson’s Ansin Building

Over 100 protesters marched through the Boston Common and on campus Wednesday afternoon in honor of May Day and in response to the college’s restrictions...

Photos of arrests of 118 protesters at Emerson College

Emerson Staff Union releases statement on April 25 arrests

By Merritt Hughes, Opinion / May 1, 2024

Following the arrest of 118 protesters on April 25, the Emerson Staff Union (SEIU888) condemned the violent police response, calling it “unacceptable.”  “Emerson...

Boston City Hall. (Ashlyn Wang/Beacon Staff)

Boston City Council calls for ‘immediate and permanent’ ceasefire in Gaza

By DJ Mara / May 1, 2024

The Boston City Council passed a resolution 11-2 in support of calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza at its meeting on Wednesday. Councilors Ruthzee...

Eric Alexander, chair of the Board of Trustees, yells “Back the fuck up” at Bryan Edouard, a student speaker at the town hall, on Monday, April 29, 2024. (Rian Nelson/Beacon Staff)

‘History will remember where you stand’: Students, faculty, staff testify at town hall regarding April 25 arrests

Members of the Emerson community gathered in the Semel Theater in the Tufte Building for a moderated town hall Monday morning to discuss the events...

Emerson encampment: A look at connection and chaos

A letter to Howie Carr

By Ella Mordarski, Guest Author / April 29, 2024

Dear Howie Carr,  The horrifying screams echoing up from the alley will forever be ingrained in my mind.  On April 25, 2024, I watched from...

Mayor Michelle Wu answers questions after a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the reopening of City Hall Plaza on Friday, Nov. 18, 2022. (Ashlyn Wang/Beacon Staff)

Mayor Wu cancels Harvard event following withdrawal of student sponsors due to Emerson encampment police response

By DJ Mara / April 28, 2024

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu canceled an event at Harvard University scheduled for April 30 after 11 student affinity groups sponsoring the event pulled their...

Boston City Hall. (Ashlyn Wang/Beacon Staff)

Boston city councilors react to Emerson arrests

By DJ Mara / April 27, 2024

Boston city councilors have begun to release statements following the arrests of 118 protesters on April 25 at Emerson’s “Popular University Encampment”...

Courtesy of Bradley Bird

To my fellow adults in the classrooms

By Bradley Bird, Guest Author / April 27, 2024

Dear fellow Emerson faculty,  Like many of us, I have much I'd like to say in regards to the genocide in Gaza, the college's handling of that issue,...