Sept. 8, 1989
“Law school closes before it has a chance to open” by Rachel Layne, Beacon Staff
“Some 140 prospective law students were disappointed last week when Emerson canceled the opening of its proposed law school after Lowell reneged on a financing agreement.”
The front page reported how Emerson was making plans to open a new law school, but after disagreements between the company providing the lease for the proposed law building and Emerson regarding which lines of credit would be used for the building, the project was canceled.
This article was written by current adjunct Emerson professor Rachel Layne.
Sept. 30, 1993
“Library joins high-tech international community” by Stephanie Jarvis, Beacon Staff
“The internet system is a worldwide network of computers that is new this fall at the Emerson College Library.”
This front page story detailed how the Internet came to Emerson’s library in September of 1993, allowing students to access library catalogs online for the first time. The story described email, a new phenomenon to then Emerson students, as allowing “easy communication between individuals or several individuals.”
Sept 21, 1995
“Little voices from the hall” by Amanda Nichols, Beacon Staff
“Over the past two weekends, a total of 700 students have been moving and settling into the Little Building, the largest and newest of the residence halls.”
Little Building opened its doors as Emerson’s newest dormitory 30 years ago, making front page Beacon news at the time. It raised comparisons to the former accommodations in the Charlesgate and Fensgate areas, which were in operation when the college was still located on Beacon Street.
Sept 13, 2001
“The end of our generation’s Camelot” by Georgia Young, Beacon Opinion Editor
“I woke up and America was in flames. Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001 was supposed to be a normal day. I was supposed to attend my second day of fall classes. I was supposed to run around like every other over-committed college student, doing work for student organizations and starting on my first homework assignments. Instead, Tuesday brought the greatest tragedy to ever touch my generation.”
In addition to this Op-Ed, The Beacon responded to the 9/11 attack with fervent and thorough reporting, including extensive news coverage of the day itself as well as the days following. This story describes the emotional and reverberating impact that the attacks had and would have on the generation that experienced them.
Sept. 27th, 2007
“New toilets criticized in emails” by Talia Ralph, Beacon Correspondent
“Emerson’s conversion to coed bathroom has some conservative critics pining for halcyon days when bathrooms were known as ‘little boys’ and ‘little girls’ rooms.”
Gender-neutral bathrooms made their way onto campus before the fall 2007 semester. Beacon Correspondent Talia Ralph reported on the conservative outcry that the coed bathrooms caused. Although students were on board with the change, a number of right-wing bloggers wrote inflammatory articles online.
Sept. 27, 2012
“Students need to prove their political convictions” by Editorial Board
“Students at Emerson are often trained to be creative and risk-averse, many opting for professions in film, marketing, and social media. We cling to the non-traditional rungs of social hierarchy—but if we are unwilling to immerse ourselves in the world of politics, why should we expect anyone else to?”
The story urged students to get involved politically in response to that edition’s front page story, which covered a talk given by a Boston councilmember and a state representative, and the reporter noted that only 14 students attended the event. The board also encouraged students to register to vote in Massachusetts so they could vote in “2012’s most visible race,” between GOP incumbent Scott Brown and up-and-coming Democrat Elizabeth Warren.
Sept. 17, 2020
“Staff worries for health, job safety” by Ann E. Matica, Beacon Staff
“Emerson staff members are grappling with safety risks and the threat of job insecurity, as the college proceeds with a reopening plan that brought much of the community back to Boston.”
In the wake of the COVID-19 lockdown, Emerson created a re-opening plan that worried many employees returning to work in-person. Enrollment had gone up from the previous year, and COVID-19 positive test results increased in numbers since August 2020, before the school year began.
