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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

Op-Ed

Illustration Molly Boyke

Fizz gets a downvote from me

By Ella Duggan, Content Managing Editor / 22 minutes ago

Delete Fizz.  Right now. I’m serious. If you close whatever browser you use, delete Fizz, and never open this article again, I will be happier than...

Graphic Mia McDermott

America’s campaign against autism is a travesty

By Charlie Desjardins, Dept. Opinion Editor / 32 minutes ago

On Sept. 22, the Trump administration announced that, through “gold-standard science,” autism could be traced back to taking acetaminophen—commonly...

Illustration Mia McDermott

Bad luck isn’t the devil we want it to be

By Josie Arteaga, Opinion Editor / October 1, 2025

After a long, brutal summer, Boston felt like a much-needed clean slate. After all, I was moving into the dorm I wanted with my best friends, taking classes...

Graphic Charlie Desjardins

‘The Hunting Wives’ isn’t just a drama—it’s a timely political satire

By Brooke Leila, Beacon Contributor / October 1, 2025

I was late to watching Netflix’s new hit show “The Hunting Wives” for a few reasons, but mostly because I was skeptical of its quality. I assumed...

Graphic Editorial Board

Unraveling social media’s performative outrage

By Pranati Kotamraju, Beacon Contributor / October 1, 2025

If there is one thing I’ve learned from being on social media, it’s that jokes are no longer tolerated in this society.  A simple video about a...

Illustration Mia McDermott

People aren’t talking about Gen Z’s ableism enough

By Tess Gleason, Senior Opinion Columnist / October 1, 2025

If your social media algorithm mainly consists of breaking news stories, book reviews, and cute dog videos, then chances are, like me, you probably use...

(Sam Shipman/Beacon Staff)

Kimmel is back. The First Amendment isn’t.

By Tyler Gelman, Beacon Contributor / September 24, 2025

In a country where free speech is enshrined in our Constitution and has been fiercely protected for almost 250 years, we have reached an impasse that will...

Illustration Lila Reimels

Do opposites attract? Not when it comes to politics

By Adelaide Brown, Beacon Contributor / September 17, 2025

The sexiest thing about a new relationship is the mystery. Nothing beats the anticipation and inability to predict your partner's thoughts or their next...

Graphic Ella Duggan & Josie Arteaga

Striving for heroin chic: Skinny culture has sickly side effects

By Pranati Kotamraju, Beacon Contributor / September 17, 2025

“Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels.” These were the famous words of Kate Moss, one of the most celebrated models of the ‘90s. Known for her...

Illustration Lila Reimels

Social media is ruining the college move-in experience

By Tess Gleason, Senior Opinion Columnist / September 17, 2025

College move-in has come and gone with the start of the new semester, and students across the country have settled into their new classes, dorms, and campus...

Courtesy Pete Souza

Why Hamilton continues to ‘Blow Us All Away’

By Mer Hughes, Multimedia Managing Editor / September 10, 2025

How does a bastard, orphan, son of a whore sell out theaters after being on streaming for five years? Why did former President Barack Obama record a remix...

Graphic by Charlie Desjardins

Spotify stinks. What now?

By Charlie Desjardins, Dept. Opinion Editor / September 10, 2025

Following the announcement of Spotify co-founder Daniel Ek’s $693.6 million investment in AI military drone company Helsing, I can’t say I’m too...

Graphic Madalyn Jimiera

All the world’s a stage, and today, so is your TV

By Madalyn Jimiera, Dept. Campus Editor / September 10, 2025

With the stress of schoolwork off my shoulders over the summer, I was able to dive back into one of my lifelong pleasures: theater. While I tend to stay...

A pride flag hung on a business in Doylestown, Pennsylvania on July 3, 2025. (Madalyn Jimiera / Beacon Staff)

The LGBTQ+ suicide lifeline is more than just a number

By Madalyn Jimiera, Dept. Campus Editor / July 3, 2025

988, press 3.  These are the four simple numbers that could save a queer person’s life, yet some deem them as a threat. On July 17, 2025, the...

Rafael Nadal prepares to receive Roger Federer's serve during the final of the 2006 French Open

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner actually did it. They saved tennis.

By Charlie Desjardins, Dept. Opinion Editor / June 11, 2025

It’s 3 p.m. on a sleepy Sunday in Pepperell, Massachusetts, and miracles of the human variety are happening 3,400 miles away on an orange tennis court...

Courtesy Iz Indelicato

Why won’t movie studios make movies?

By Casey Miller, Beacon Contributor / May 19, 2025

“We’re saving Hollywood,” said Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos in an interview with Variety, speaking on Netflix’s impact on movies. “Folks grew up...

The Union Bank Building on Tremont street. (Arthur Mansavage/ Beacon Staff, File Photo)

Emerson gave me an award for protest. Now they’re punishing it.

By Alexis Newman, Guest Author / April 28, 2025

In 2019, my final year of undergrad, I was honored with the Spirit of Emerson Award in recognition of advocacy, leadership, and commitment to social justice....

Photo Alec Klusza

As a freshman, Emerson’s silence about the encampment is deafening

By Josie Arteaga, Opinion Editor / April 23, 2025

It’s been a year since the Emerson encampment made national news, and it continues to haunt the college to this day. Last April, students were arrested,...

Illustration Rachel Choi

Between ghosting, gridlock, and graduation panic: Why we still hope

By Mariam Tsintsadze, Beacon Contributor / April 16, 2025

Over the weekend, I fell into a rut of watching feel-good inspirational movies. They did not work.  Halfway through “Good Will Hunting,” I realized...

A Trump supporter wearing a MAGA hat looks toward the U.S. Capitol building as Trump is sworn in for a second term. (Nick Peace/Beacon Staff)

Art will suffer at the hands of the Trump administration

By Helen Armstrong, Beacon Contributor / April 9, 2025

The Trump administration has had a public impact on every aspect of America; from tariffs, to immigration, to egg prices. But while these topics flood...