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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

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Rossiny Julien, Melodie Vaval, Subhan Aria, Omar Osmanzai, and Mohammad Omar Rasooli, participated in the March 5 Deliberative Dialogues panel moderated by Communication Studies Professor Niko Emack. (DJ Mara/Beacon Staff)

Students from Haiti, Afghanistan headline first ‘Deliberative Dialogues’ panel

By DJ Mara, Dept. Metro Editor / 22 hours ago

The Communication Studies department hosted its first “Deliberative Dialogues” event Wednesday night, March 5, aimed at bringing diverse perspectives...

‘It's a really beautiful experience’: Muslim students observe Ramadan with help from Dining Center

‘It’s a really beautiful experience’: Muslim students observe Ramadan with help from Dining Center

By Rina Laby and Madalyn Jimiera / March 5, 2025

Around 4:15 a.m. Friday, Rokiya Elhak, president of the Muslim Student Association, awoke to a call from the organization’s vice president, Yunus Stevens,...

EBONI’s ‘Blackout Block Party’ brings food, cards, community, and music to Piano Row

EBONI’s ‘Blackout Block Party’ brings food, cards, community, and music to Piano Row

By Izzy Bryars, Staff Writer / February 26, 2025

The “Blackout Block Party” inside the Piano Row Skybox and the Bobbi Brown and Steven Plofker Gym was filled with friends, faculty, family,...

Around 20 protesters gather outside of Ansin building, glueing flyers listing their demands and hand-drawn stickers on the side of the building. (Madalyn Jimiera/ Beacon Staff)

‘Administration is forcing us to escalate.’ Boylston SJP demands revitalized protest policies, financial transparency, and divestment.

By Iselin Bratz, Madalyn Jimiera and Adri Pray / February 21, 2025

Dozens of protesters affiliated with Boylston Students for Justice in Palestine, a group of students advocating for a free Palestine, demonstrated in front...

Richard Iandoli gives a presentation on past and present LGBTQ+ migration policies (Hannah Brueske/ Beacon Staff).

International Student Affairs emphasizes visibility at LGBTQ+ migrant workshop

By Hannah Brueske, Dept. Projects Editor / February 19, 2025

Come out, come out, wherever you are.  This is the sentiment that attorney Richard Iandoli echoed in his presentation on past, present and future U.S....

A drone view of Kasteel Well between 1920 and 1940 from the Netherlands Institute for Military History / Courtesy Archief Well

From noble house to Nazi occupation to Emerson dormitory: The many lives of Kasteel Well

By Bryan Hecht, Kasteel Well Bureau Chief / February 19, 2025

Emerson will celebrate its 40th anniversary of sending students to its Kasteel Well campus in Well, Netherlands, next year. While this is a big milestone...

Emerson Colleges' Little Building and Colonial Building on Boylston Street. (Arthur Mansavage/ Beacon Staff, File)

Bernhardt affirms college’s steadfast support for transgender and international students in the face of federal challenges

By Adri Pray, Editor-in-Chief / February 19, 2025

President Jay Bernhardt on Wednesday reaffirmed Emerson’s “enduring commitment to building and sustaining an inclusive and caring community” in an...

Jibo sits on a desk in the XR-Studio

How Emerson is—and isn’t—using artificial intelligence in the classroom

By Yogev Toby, Projects Editor / February 12, 2025

On the third floor of the Ansin building, a large square outlined in blue tape is centered on the floor between a camera and a wall-sized screen. With...

Joanne Chang, the founder of  local Flour Bakery and Cafe, visited the upcoming site of her business' tenth location in the Boston Common concession stand on Feb. 10, 2025. Chang said Flour plans to be serving the bakery's classic sticky buns and bakery treats by April, and said new soft serve will follow suit when it gets warmer. (Izzy Bryars/ Beacon Staff)

Flour Bakery bringing pastries, ice cream, and more to Boston Common this Spring

By Izzy Bryars, Staff Writer / February 12, 2025

Flour Bakery + Cafe’s 10th location will open in April inside the concession stand in the oldest park in the United States—the Boston Common—which...

Students gather on the 8th floor of the Walker Building on Feb. 11, 2025. (Ryan Yau/ Beacon Staff)

Department of Communication Studies brings the gift of Three Kings Day

By Ryan Yau, Living Arts Editor / February 12, 2025

Last Tuesday, students gathered on the eighth floor of Walker Building to take turns cutting a Rosca de Reyes—a Spanish ring-shaped cake—hoping to...

(Adam Nuñez/ Beacon Correspondent)

‘We are done letting this happen’: Protesters demand an end to encampment sweeps in Massachusetts

By Adam Nuñez, Beacon Correspondent / February 5, 2025

In below freezing temperatures, around one hundred demonstrators marched along Commonwealth Avenue early on the morning of Feb. 5 demanding an end to the...

Volunteers conducting the Homeless Census in Boston on Jan. 30, 2025. (Hannah Brueske/ Beacon Staff)

Volunteers brave the cold to conduct 2025 Homeless Census

By Hannah Brueske, Dept. Projects Editor / February 5, 2025

Just after midnight on Jan. 30, 250 volunteers, equipped with backpacks filled with snacks, drinks, hand warmers, and flashlights, descended onto every...

(Abigail Hoyt/ For The Beacon)

Cooking up community: Emerson celebrates the Lunar New Year in the Dining Center

By Madalyn Jimiera and Adam Nuñez / February 4, 2025

Chatter and laughter filled the Dining Hall on Jan. 29 as aromas of vegetable dumplings, Taiwanese noodle soup, char siu pork ribs, and more echoed celebrations...

The Marlboro Institute for Liberal and Interdisciplinary Studies

Late Marlboro College professor leaves $1.5 million grant for student research

By Merritt Hughes, Dept. Campus Editor / January 29, 2025

Starting this semester, Emerson students and faculty have the opportunity to apply for research grants funded through $1.5 million left to Marlboro College...

An Emerson College banner on the side of The Colonial Building on Boylston street. (Arthur Mansavage/ Beacon Staff, File)

Emerson doubles down on commitment to protect undocumented, international students

By Yogev Toby, Projects Editor / January 26, 2025

President Donald Trump’s vows for mass deportation and expansion of immigration law enforcement powers have generated hundreds of arrests across the...

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...

Students at Emerson’s Kasteel Well campus in the Limburg, Netherlands arrived for orientation just days before Trump was sworn in (Bryan Hecht / Beacon Staff).

Some Americans said they would leave when Trump took office. Students studying abroad actually did.

Last November, late into the night, Kasteel Well students watched with bated breath as Donald Trump won the 2024 election. This semester, many said they...

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...

A cloud of smoke from the Palisades fire billows over a hill near the neighborhood of Encino on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025. (Riley Goldman/ Beacon Staff)

As the LA wildfires encroach on Southern California, ELA proceeds as planned

By Iselin Bratz, Madalyn Jimiera and Jordan Pagkalinawan / January 12, 2025

As wildfires continue to rage in Southern California this week, students, faculty, and staff expecting to start the spring semester at Emerson Los Angeles...

A 45-foot-tall white spruce in Boston Common is lit up with a fireworks display at the culmination of the annual Holiday Lights display on Dec. 5, 2024 (Bryan Hecht / Beacon Staff).

Boston, music stars, and Santa celebrate holiday tree lighting

By Bryan Hecht and Sam Shipman / December 6, 2024

Hundreds of people bundled up in thick scarves and fuzzy hats traversed bitter winds and near-freezing temperatures to gather around the 45-foot-tall...