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

Opinion

The Maximilian Mutchnick Cafe.

Forsake minimalism, embrace the Max

By Ryan Yau, Living Arts Editor / September 13, 2023

The Max, formally the Maximilian Mutchnick Cafe, underwent its now-infamous remodel over the summer. Gone are the homely red tile, oil-slick couches, and...

Creative Commons

Emerson’s “support” of WGA is not enough

By Jackson Bailey, Staff Writer, Living Arts / July 2, 2023

The Writer’s Guild of America has been on strike since early May over labor disputes due to poor compensation. The strike has paused numerous film and...

Need advice? Use this barcode or visit the story highlight on our Instagram, @berkeleybeacon, and fill us in on all the deets through our anonymous form.

Looking back: Advice for incoming freshmen and sophomores

By Maddie Barron and Maddie Khaw / April 26, 2023

Dear Maddies, How has this year been for you both, navigating through freshman and sophomore year? What’s your crash course to surviving these years...

Illustration by Rachel Choi

The grind don’t stop…until the body is destroyed 

By Meg Richards and Ty Gavin / April 26, 2023

Meg I have been dancing since I was two years old. Ballet, tap, jazz, modern, contemporary—pretty much all of it. My feet have only stopped moving...

Illustration by Rachel Choi

Disney is homophobic. What’s new? 

By Rachel Choi, Multimedia Managing Editor & Chief Copyeditor / April 26, 2023

Walt Disney Studios has produced a variety of content ranging from high-budget disappointments to low-budget masterpieces; but recent shows have nothing...

Need advice? Use this barcode or visit the story highlight on our Instagram, @berkeleybeacon, and fill us in on all the deets through our anonymous form.

ADVICE: How do I know if someone is right for me?

By Maddie Barron and Maddie Khaw / April 19, 2023

Dear Maddies, I’m struggling with a new relationship, as I’m feeling some anxiety about whether this is the right person for me or not. How do you...

Corporate nihilism for a post–‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’ apocalypse

Corporate nihilism for a post–‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’ apocalypse

By Ryan Yau, Living Arts Editor / April 19, 2023

I should be stoned for enjoying “The Super Mario Bros. Movie.” The movie represents everything I dislike about contemporary children’s cinema:...

Illustration by Rachel Choi

There’s no ‘devil’s advocate’ for eugenics—you’re just bigoted

By Rachel Choi, Multimedia Managing Editor & Chief Copyeditor / April 19, 2023

The world’s population has reached eight billion and continues to grow exponentially. In response to the climate crisis and overpopulation, 21st century...

Illustration by Ryan Yau

Let’s put it bluntly: all drugs should be legal

By Meg Richards, Managing Editor / April 19, 2023

It’s 4/20, a day for the predominately white students of Emerson College to ditch class and smoke in the Boston Common, without a care in the world and...

Need advice? Use this barcode or visit the story highlight on our Instagram, @berkeleybeacon, and fill us in on all the deets through our anonymous form.

ADVICE: How do I become comfortable with solitude?

By Maddie Khaw and Maddie Barron / April 12, 2023

Dear Maddies, Ever since I started at Emerson, I’ve realized that I’m uncomfortable with doing things alone. I’m anxious to go places like the...

Illustration by Hailey Akau

Your parents don’t hate you, you’re just entitled

By Hailey Akau, Assistant Multimedia Editor and Magazine Section Editor / April 12, 2023

Ah, yes, the cool rebellious teen trope. The “nobody understands me” loner with undoubted swagger and a “fuck authority” attitude. A figure that...

Illustration by Rachel Choi

Why do we hate women in sports?

By Mariyam Quaisar, Managing Editor / April 12, 2023

On April 3, SportsCenter posted a video of Demi Bagby, a fitness influencer, throwing the first pitch at the San Diego Padres versus Arizona Diamondbacks...

Illustration by Rachel Choi

Autism isn’t a new “trend”—it’s been part of human history for millennia

By Rachel Choi, Multimedia Managing Editor & Chief Copyeditor / April 12, 2023

The idea that autism is a new and recent trend due to nefarious, external factors is cementing itself in the minds of many with terrifying speed. The anti-vaxxer...

Illustration by Rachel Choi.

Finger-Lickin’ Good? The coding of queerness as cannibalism in “Bones and All” 

By Ty Gavin / April 5, 2023

In 1846, The Donner Party, pioneers from Illinois in search of homestead in California, resorted to cannibalism as a means of survival. Decades later,...

Need advice? Use this barcode or visit the story highlight on our Instagram, @berkeleybeacon, and fill us in on all the deets through our anonymous form.

ADVICE: How do I cope with imposter syndrome?

By Maddie Barron and Maddie Khaw / April 5, 2023

Dear Maddies, I need some advice about imposter syndrome! Everywhere I turn at Emerson, everyone else seems to be doing more—and doing better—than...

Illustration by Rachel Choi

Supernatural teen drama genre takes another blow to the chest with Paramount+’s Wolf Pack

By Shannon Garrido, Editor-in-chief / April 5, 2023

The human embodiment of a downward spiral, Jeff Davis—who was also once a decently respected director and creator—has fallen victim to a culture of...

Illustration by Rachel Choi

I’m ready to talk about my feelings

By Meg Richards, Managing Editor / April 5, 2023

Throughout my life, I’ve let some questionable shit happen solely because I was afraid that I was feeling my feelings too intensely, even though all...

Illustration by Addie Winter

We Should No Longer Separate the Art from the Artist 

By Addie Winter / March 29, 2023

“I’m just separating the art from the artist,” is a phrase usually heard in defense of criticism of a certain artist that has fallen under the scrutiny...

Need advice? Use this barcode or visit the story highlight on our Instagram, @berkeleybeacon, and fill us in on all the deets through our anonymous form.

ADVICE: How do I avoid awkward encounters on campus?

By Maddie Barron and Maddie Khaw / March 29, 2023

Dear Maddies, How do I deal with seeing people I don’t like on campus? I keep seeing my enemies and exes everywhere I go.  Sincerely, Avoidant...

Illustration by Kellyn Taylor

Tornado Season and its impact on low-income communities

By Rachel Choi, Multimedia Managing Editor & Chief Copyeditor / March 29, 2023

The clouds above converge, and the sky meets with the earth. Alongside frightening thunder, lightning, hail, and winds that rip roofs from ceilings, a...