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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

Abigail Hadfield

Abigail Hadfield, Deputy Copy Editor

Abigail Hadfield is a senior from the Philadelphia area who has been with The Beacon for all four years of their time at Emerson. They have served as an editor in the opinion and news sections and served as the Copy Managing Editor in fall 2019. They currently are in their second semester serving as the Deputy Copy Editor, and they plan to pursue a career in copy editing/writing after graduation in order to support their lifelong passion for creative writing.

Email: [email protected]

Latest from Abigail Hadfield
Protesters and counter protesters exchanged shouted insults from across the street.

Protesters square off in front of State House

By Parker Purifoy and Abigail Hadfield / June 27, 2020

Beacon Street became a no man's land between two conflicting rallies on Saturday, separated by metal barriers and rows of police. On one side, a local...

Protesters face off with police in the area of Tremont St. and Stuart St.

Timeline shows how Boston became a war zone

Peaceful protests over the police killing of George Floyd erupted into chaos late Sunday night as people set fire to a police car and looted businesses....

After former captains Cam Barth (pictured) and Kate Nelson left the team, Jared Merrifield and Tori Purcell have assumed their leadership positions.

Skunks stay connected despite abbreviated spring season

By Abigail Hadfield / April 22, 2020

When Emerson announced the college would be closing its campus and moving to online learning in March, the ultimate disc team’s spring season was about...

Career Development Center Director Carol Spector said staff members from career services have been working remotely with students who applied for free summer internship housing through the college to help them find ongoing opportunities this summer. / Photo by Emily Oliver

As pandemic worsens, the threat of unemployment looms for students

By Abigail Hadfield / April 7, 2020

Just a few weeks ago, sophomore journalism major Annie Bennett had a complete plan laid out for her summer internship and housing.  “I was going...

"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....

Farewell Column: It’s been real

Farewell Column: It’s been real

By Abigail Hadfield / December 4, 2019

When I first joined The Beacon my first semester freshman year, I never once imagined I would be where I am now, as a managing editor, writing a farewell...

Abigail Hadfield. - Graphic by Ally Rzesa / Beacon Staff

What does trans look like?

By Abigail Hadfield / November 6, 2019

As a journalist, I try to follow as many diverse voices on Twitter as possible. I follow journalists from news outlets I like, from ones I don’t like,...

The four stars of "Hysteria stare down the audience. From left to right: Meaghan Robichaud, Leah Thomas, LaWanda Hopkins, Vanessa Walters. Photo: Duncan Novak / Beacon Correspondent

Neo-Political Cowgirls perform for Lucas Flint scholarship fund

By Taina Millsap and Abigail Hadfield / November 1, 2019

On a cold, rainy night in Boston, a silent audience sat in Old South Church under dim lighting, waiting in fear while veiled figures gradually appeared...

The Philadelphia Eagles Fans of Boston Class Photo from 2018, taken outside of their current home bar, Finn McCool's Public House. Courtesy of Philadelphia Eagles Fans of Boston website.

Hadfield: Finding a home away from home in sports

By Abigail Hadfield / October 2, 2019

Growing up in a Philadelphia suburb during football season, I knew there was one rule in my family— Sundays were for the birds.  Game days were an...

Abigail Hadfield. - Graphic by Ally Rzesa / Beacon Staff

Person of Color Column: What’s in a number?

By Abigail Hadfield / October 1, 2019

My least favorite part of standardized testing has never been the test itself. For that matter, my least favorite part of starting any new job, applying...

Super Happy Fun America President John Hugo (center) and organizers Samson Racioppi (right) and Mark Sahady spoke at the Thursday night press conference. Montse Landeros / Beacon Correspondent

Parade organizers raise safety concerns following Pelton’s statement

By Abigail Hadfield / August 29, 2019

Straight Pride Parade organizer Samson Racioppi said at a press conference Thursday night that President M. Lee Pelton put parade organizers at risk by...

Emerson College President M. Lee Pelton

UPDATED: Pelton denounces Straight Pride Parade in community email

By Abigail Hadfield / August 28, 2019

President M. Lee Pelton released a statement today condemning the Straight Pride Parade scheduled to pass by Emerson’s campus on Saturday, August 31.  The...

Emerson's Title IX office.

Title IX policy review stalls under potential new federal guidance

By Abigail Hadfield / April 22, 2019

The college will not implement revisions to its sexual misconduct policy until the U.S. Department of Education issues its final regulations for federal...

Kevin Cooney, director of development at WERS, dedicated the WERS call center to late Emerson student Lucas Flint with Flint's mother Susan in attendance. Abigail Hadfield / Beacon Staff

College dedicates WERS call center to late student Lucas Flint

By Abigail Hadfield / March 30, 2019

The college held a remembrance gathering for late Emerson student Lucas Flint ‘20 in the Ansin building on Friday, followed by a dedication ceremony...

Emerson’s cost of attendance increased from $19,303 per year in 1990 to $67,832 in 2019. Cullen Granzen / Berkeley Staff

Returning students to see 4 percent tuition hike

By Abigail Hadfield / March 28, 2019

The college does not plan to end annual tuition increases, President M. Lee Pelton said in an interview. Emerson follows the national trend of rising higher...

Sienna DiMuro received her acceptance letter to Emerson on Dec. 14, 2018. Courtesy of Sienna DiMuro

High school senior accepted to Emerson after overcoming homelessness

By Abigail Hadfield / March 20, 2019

Sienna DiMuro moved into a homeless shelter during her freshman year of high school in January 2016. As a high school senior in December 2018, she received...

Susan Flint chose to establish a $1,000 scholarship in her son’s memory for students entering visual and media arts. Courtesy of Susan Flint.

College to hold memorial service for student Lucas Flint in late March

By Abigail Hadfield / March 18, 2019

The college plans to memorialize late Emerson student Lucas Flint in a service on March 29 from 3-4:30 p.m., according to a Student Government Association...

Susan Flint chose to establish a $1,000 scholarship in her son’s memory for students entering visual and media arts. Courtesy of Susan Flint.

Annual scholarship to memorialize student Lucas Flint

By Abigail Hadfield / February 14, 2019

The college established an annual $1,000 Lucas Flint Memorial Scholarship, starting in fall 2019, for incoming students after Emerson parent Kate Mueth...

Beacon Archives

Beacon Breakdown: How tuition value compares at Emerson’s three campuses

By Abigail Hadfield / February 10, 2019

Emerson students at the Boston, Los Angeles, and Kasteel Well campuses all pay the same tuition and room and board rates despite differences in semester length...

Abigail Hadfield. - Graphic by Ally Rzesa / Beacon Staff

Person of Color Column: Managing multiple identities

By Abigail Hadfield / February 5, 2019

For the first 18 years of my life, I viewed myself as white. When I came to Emerson, I realized that even though I am mixed, I could still belong to communities...

Flint grew up in East Bridgewater, Mass. Courtesy of Susan Flint.

Lucas Flint remembered as a kind-hearted, dedicated student

By Abigail Hadfield / January 14, 2019

At 15 years old, Lucas Flint performed tedious tasks at the Emerson radio station WERS as part of a volunteer program for non-Emerson students. Flint,...

Research shows studying abroad can exacerbate students’ existing mental health problems. / Illustration by Ally Rzesa

Op-ed: Weighing the mental perils of studying abroad

By Abigail Hadfield / November 12, 2018

During my first semester, nothing thrilled me more than receiving an email inviting me to apply to study at Kasteel Well. Emerson offered me the chance...

Op-ed: Emerson can’t settle for the status quo

Op-ed: Emerson can’t settle for the status quo

By Abigail Hadfield / September 9, 2018

On the first day of my freshman year, I discovered one of my suitemates was mixed race, just like me. She was one of the few people I’d met who could...

We hope to see the section grow into a place to discuss issues that impact the Emerson community in a thoughtful way. Photo Illustration by Cassandra Martinez / Beacon Staff

Op-ed: So long, farewell, and keep on writing

Emerson students love using social media to voice their complaints and opinions on campus issues, such as tuition increase, new building purchases, or...

We need to place smokers and non-smokers on the same moral ground, neither above the other for their choices surrounding drugs. Illustration by Ally Rzesa / Beacon Staff

Cannabis should not dictate creativity

By Abigail Hadfield / March 27, 2018

In my first literature course at Emerson, I read a beautiful poem by one of my classmates that impressed and moved me. When I told them how much I loved...

Beaches are littered day after day during spring break with bottles, cups, and cans left behind by college students, unconcerned about the trash they’re leaving to get swept into the ocean. Illustration: Ally Rzesa/Beacon Staff

Keep it clean on spring break

By Abigail Hadfield / February 25, 2018

Picture the iconic scenes of spring break: college students blasting music surrounded by red Solo cups, people dancing well into the night and spending...

I began measuring my accomplishments and successes against those around me and associating my intelligence, my creativity, and even my appearance with my ability to be the best at everything right away.

Just keep swimming: coping with others’ success

By Abigail Hadfield / February 14, 2018

Growing up, everyone told me I was a “gifted” child. My GPA and standardized test scores deemed me capable of changing the world. I could write...

The truth of the matter is there is no simple way to find out what exactly students' tuition goes toward.

Tuition talks are a two-way street

By Abigail Hadfield / January 18, 2018

When student protesters marched across campus and into Faculty Assembly last fall, they called for more than just a few conciliatory remarks and an email...

Cultivating a culture of biracial inclusion

By Abigail Hadfield / November 1, 2017

I was always told as a child that despite being half Lebanese, I should call myself white. My mother would make me check off “Caucasian” on school...

If Emerson wants to be a truly inclusive community, their policies need to have real-world effects.
CASSANDRA MARTINEZ / BEACON STAFF

Op-Ed: Say my name: recognizing trans identities

By Abigail Hadfield / September 27, 2017

When I first began to look at Emerson College back in my junior year of high school, a big factor influencing my choice of school was the LGBTQ culture....