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

Featured

Unionized Blue Bottle Coffee baristas leaflet outside of the Newbury Street location in Boston, Mass. on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025.

Unionized Blue Bottle Coffee baristas walk out for nearly eight minutes, demand fair wages, working hours

By Maddie Barron, Magazine Editor & Assistant Opinion Editor / January 27, 2025

For 7 minutes and 59 seconds at 12:31 p.m., unionized employees at three Blue Bottle Coffee locations in Massachusetts walked out to defy decreased tip...

Nora Kate Onanian at the graduating journalism senior event on Dec. 16, 2024 (Courtesy Lu Ann Reeb)

‘A gift to know and be known by Nora’: Late journalism graduate remembered as ‘a bright light’

By Merritt Hughes, Dept. Campus Editor / January 23, 2025

The Bill Bordy Theatre was transformed into a place of collective celebration and grief Thursday evening to honor the life of Nora Kate Onanian, a...

A vendor pulls his cart of Trump merchandise towards the crowds waiting outside the Capital One Arena for President  Trump’s rally. Monday, Jan. 20, 2024. (Nick Peace/Beacon Staff)

Trump loyalists ring in a ‘golden age of America’ outside Capitol Building

By Izzy Bryars and Rian Nelson / January 23, 2025

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Huddled in groups, braving extreme cold, and bundled up in mittens and hats, supporters of President Donald Trump stared at phone screens...

A woman on the Public Garden Foot Bridge records people skating on the frozen Swan Pond below. (Nick Peace/ Beacon Staff)

Frozen over: Bostonians skate and scrimmage in the Public Garden

By Max Ardrey, Dept. Living Arts Editor / January 22, 2025

As the sky eases into perpetual gray and temperatures drop, Bostonians reclaim their favorite winter pastime: grabbing their skates and hitting the ice. While...

Come here often? Romance bookstore Lovestruck Books opens in Cambridge

Come here often? Romance bookstore Lovestruck Books opens in Cambridge

By Allison Po and Hannah Woods / January 22, 2025

Decorated with hearts and florals, romance bookstore Lovestruck Books opened to an eager public reception last week, bringing not only books but a safe...

A crowd protesting Trump's second term outside of the Massachusetts State House on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (Arthur Mansavage/ Beacon Staff)

Mass. officials react to Trump inauguration

By DJ Mara, Dept. Metro Editor / January 22, 2025

Soon after President Donald Trump was sworn in for a second term, he signed several executive orders to set his agenda into motion. Public officials across...

Ohio State halts Notre Dame’s late comeback to win national championship in newly expanded playoffs

Ohio State halts Notre Dame’s late comeback to win national championship in newly expanded playoffs

By Daniel O’Toole, Staff Writer / January 22, 2025

A decade after winning the first-ever four-team college football playoff, the Ohio State University Buckeyes defeated the University of Notre Dame Fighting...

A small crowd gathers around a speaker broadcasting President Trump’s inaugural speech on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (Rian Nelson/Beacon Staff)

Photos: Thousands gather outside Capitol after Trump Inauguration moved indoors

By Nick Peace and Rian Nelson / January 22, 2025

Thousands of people flocked to Washington, D.C., on Jan. 20 for the second presidential inauguration of Donald Trump.  Despite the freezing weather...

The Boston chapter of the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) holds a rally against the Trump administration outside the JFK Federal Building Monday afternoon. (Arthur Mansavage/ Beacon Staff)

In the freezing weather, a ‘heated struggle.’ Boston social justice groups rally on inauguration day.

By Meg Richards, Iselin Bratz and Hannah Brueske / January 21, 2025

As the polar vortex swept across the northern hemisphere on Inauguration Day, hundreds of protesters from Greater Boston social justice groups braved...

Protesters gather and drum around a fire on Jan. 4, 2025. (Yogev Toby/Beacon Staff)

Photos: Israeli anti-government protests in the weeks leading up to Gaza ceasefire deal

By Yogev Toby, Projects Editor / January 19, 2025
See photos of Israeli demonstrators in the streets of Tel Aviv in the weeks leading up to the ceasefire agreement, as they demanded an end to the war and the return of all hostages.
Junior guard Jacob Armant drives for a layup against the MIT Engineers on Jan. 16, 2025 (Rian Nelson/ Beacon Staff).

Men’s basketball ends losing skid with 87-73 win over MIT

By Jordan Pagkalinawan, Dept. Sports Editor / January 19, 2025

Four Lions landed in double figures Thursday night as the Emerson men’s basketball team beat the MIT Engineers 87-73, snapping a four-game losing streak. The...

(Courtesy Layla Palmer)

Heart to Hustle: A podcast that highlights unconventional paths to success

By Ryan Yau, Living Arts Editor / January 15, 2025

It seems today that all we see in the podcast sphere is businessmen in suits talking about their startups and degrees. Layla Palmer, a senior business...

Festival Director Summer McCall at a Boston Celtic Music Festival event. (Courtesy of Summer McCall)

Calling all Celtic fans: The Boston Celtic Music Festival returns bigger than ever

By Ryan Yau, Living Arts Editor / January 15, 2025

Celtic music is found everywhere in Boston, flowing from the Irish pubs all over the city to the concert venues year round. But this weekend, the city’s...

Families of hostages held by Hamas hold a banner calling for a ceasefire on Jan. 4, 2025. (Yogev Toby/ Beacon Staff)

As Israel and Hamas agree to ceasefire and hostage deal, some advocates demand lasting peace

By Yogev Toby, Projects Editor / January 15, 2025

TEL AVIV, Israel—Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire and hostage deal Wednesday after 15 months of fighting, negotiators from both sides announced.  The...

Daphne Bryant, founder of Dreamworldgirl Zine, in a photoshoot. (Courtesy of Emma Cahill)

How Daphne Bryant built her dream world

By Bryan Liu and Meg Richards / January 15, 2025

Dreamworldgirl, a Y2K-inspired zine celebrating girlhood’s complexities, puts women of color, queer, and plus-size women in traditionally “girly”...

Former men's basketball head coach Hank Smith (center) poses with President Jay Bernhardt, several of his former players, and family members (Courtesy of Nate Gardner).

‘We’re truly home now’: Brown-Plofker court renamed for former men’s basketball coach Hank Smith

By Jordan Pagkalinawan, Dept. Sports Editor / January 14, 2025

Former men’s basketball head coach Hank Smith took the Bobbi Brown and Steven Plofker Gym floor to a thunderous standing ovation, appearing on a court...

Mike Vrabel named 16th head coach of the New England Patriots

Mike Vrabel named 16th head coach of the New England Patriots

By Rylie Burns, Operations Managing Editor, Layout Editor & Newsletter Editor / January 12, 2025

The New England Patriots hired Mike Vrabel as the franchise’s next head coach early Sunday morning. No terms have been disclosed, but sources told...

Food For Free workers organize the Emerson dining hall donation alongside Bon Appetit District Manager Dawn Sajdyk on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024.

Over 300 pounds of food donated by Emerson to Food For Free last fall

By Sam Shipman, Kasteel Well Staff Writer / January 8, 2025

Emerson students finishing their meal in the dining hall often throw the remains of their scraps into the compost bin, but where do the seemingly endless...

Illustration Rachel Choi

New England Patriots part ways with head coach Jerod Mayo after just one season

By Rylie Burns, Operations Managing Editor, Layout Editor & Newsletter Editor / January 6, 2025

The New England Patriots fired head coach Jerod Mayo immediately following their Jan. 5 game against the Buffalo Bills. Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert...

Nora Onanian receiving her award, "Courage, Grit, and Determination in Successful Journalism Degree Completion" on December 16, 2024. Left to right: Douglas Struck, Christine Onanian, David Onanian, Nora Onanian (front).

Nora Kate Onanian, Emerson journalism student, remembered as ‘impactful’ and an ‘inspiration’ by classmates, professors

By Merritt Hughes, Dept. Campus Editor / December 27, 2024

In the early morning hours on Christmas Eve, Nora Kate Onanian, 22, an Emerson journalism student who graduated weeks ago, passed away at her house surrounded...