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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

Opinion

Chris Van Buskirk, Editor, The Berkeley Beacon

Letter from the Editor: The world is changing

By Chris Van Buskirk / March 13, 2020

The view from the third floor of 172 Tremont St. may not look different from only a week ago but the tone and anxiety permeating Boston is tangible.  Excuse...

Letter: Don't make decisions based on rumors

Letter: Don’t make decisions based on rumors

By Abigail Semple, SGA Executive Treasurer / March 12, 2020

Abigail Semple is the Student Government Association's executive treasurer for the 2019-2020 academic year.  Everything right now is hectic. Things...

Expectation vs Reality: The mental and emotional impact of studying abroad

Expectation vs Reality: The mental and emotional impact of studying abroad

By Lara Hill / March 11, 2020

A few weekends ago, I went bar hopping with my friends in Amsterdam. You would probably expect me to be dancing and singing to the reggaeton music playing...

"As far as I can tell, students seem to be taking two main approaches to the school’s announcement of its plans for dealing with COVID-19."

Let others cope with uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 on their own terms

By Abigail Hadfield / March 11, 2020

On Tuesday, I followed along on my phone as I flew back to Boston and watched school after school announce their plans to address the COVID-19 outbreak....

Disruptions caused by COVID-19 pandemic deserve transparency

Disruptions caused by COVID-19 pandemic deserve transparency

March 11, 2020

College officials announced Tuesday that the school will transition to classes online for the rest of the semester due to the global spread of COVID-19....

"It’s sad, really, that I’m numb to these things. So numb that when I saw the video of George Floyd’s murder, I didn’t feel surprised, angry, frustrated, or sad."

Solved: The Myth of Reverse Racism

By Melanie Curry / March 11, 2020

A few weeks ago, I scrolled on my TikTok “For You” page and stumbled across a video of a white girl claiming that every race can be racist.  I...

"I never really cared about tipping 20 percent or treating waitstaff respectfully until I found myself on the other side of the table."

Good customer etiquette empowers the service industry

By Melissa Rosales, Opinion Columnist / March 11, 2020

The quote “put yourself in someone else’s shoes” takes a hard look at empathy. Whenever I see a “Masshole" driving in Boston, I just remember...

When relationships inevitably did disintegrate pre-social media, they were more easily forgettable. Now, even if someone is no longer in my life, they are still just a few clicks away.

Strapped for Cash: The financial aid system is broken

By Juliet Norman / March 11, 2020

Every year when October rolls around, I dread filling out the application for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly known as the FAFSA.  It...

Letter: Secrecy at Marlboro College

Letter: Secrecy at Marlboro College

By Rebecca Boyden / March 9, 2020

Rebecca Boyden is a former resident of Marlboro whose father was a teacher, Dean, Trustee and Acting President at Marlboro College for over 30 years I...

Letter: Elections Shenanigans unacceptable

Letter: Elections Shenanigans unacceptable

By Brad Dye / March 9, 2020

Brad Dye graduated from Emerson College in 2006 and served as the Student Government Association's elections commissioner for three years.  As the...

Prioritize student safety amid COVID-19 concerns

Prioritize student safety amid COVID-19 concerns

By Editorial Board, The Berkeley Beacon / February 26, 2020

Kasteel Well officials announced on Feb. 24 that they canceled their planned four-day mandatory academic excursion to Milan, Italy, and barred students...

The Long Road Home: Weathering Storm Ciara back to the castle

The Long Road Home: Weathering Storm Ciara back to the castle

By Christopher Williams / February 26, 2020
A major winter storm raged across northern Europe, Feb. 9 and delayed transport back to the Netherlands as Kasteel Well students wrapped up their first independent travel weekend.
The failures of Boys Scouts of America are not failures of scouting

The failures of Boys Scouts of America are not failures of scouting

By Alexander Hahn / February 26, 2020

2020 marks the 110-year anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America. This year will also mark the first time in history a Scouting organization announced...

Everything has changed—except my love for Taylor Swift

Everything has changed—except my love for Taylor Swift

By Jess Ferguson / February 26, 2020

It was 2007, and I distinctly remember opening up my seventh birthday present: a black SanDisk MP3 player. At the time, I thought I was the coolest first-grader...

Learning to love both of my "faces"

Learning to love both of my “faces”

By Diana Bravo / February 25, 2020

When I look in the mirror, I don’t recognize the face that looks back at me as completely “mine.” Of course, I know it’s my face. I’ve never...

Sacrificing sleep should not be the norm of college life

Sacrificing sleep should not be the norm of college life

By Jocelyn Yang / February 25, 2020

The ‘college triangle’ states that students can only have two of the following: good grades, a social life, and enough sleep. The first time I saw...

We support staff members joining the union

We support staff members joining the union

By Editorial Board / February 19, 2020

This is an important year for the Emerson College Staff Union. The group plans to start renegotiating their contract with the school next spring. They...

Accepting being single as a hopeless romantic

Accepting being single as a hopeless romantic

By Reilley Djou / February 19, 2020

As a college student studying in a new city, finding relationships isn’t as easy as it seems. There are nightclubs, parties, and dating apps, but in...

Melissa Rosales / Graphic by Ally Rzesa - Beacon Staff

It’s hard to watch The Bachelor when you’re not straight

By Melissa Rosales / February 19, 2020

‘Tis the season—The Bachelor season. While I’m excited about The Bachelor, Peter Weber’s fantasy suite dates, and glad the drama of stolen champagne...

Shruti Rajkumar

My roots were only seen when they were worn by a white person

By Shruti Rajkumar / February 19, 2020

In my sophomore year of high school, I was excited to find out about a course called Asian Studies. The popular course focused on the significance of Indian...