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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

Latest from Anissa Gardizy
The Massachusetts State Senate passed a bill which would ban all plastic bags in the state. The house will vote on the bill next year. Anissa Gardizy / Beacon Correspondent

Mass. Senate moves forward with plastic bag ban

By Anissa Gardizy / November 22, 2019

BEACON HILL — The Massachusetts Senate passed a bill that would ban the use of plastic bags across the state on Wednesday, taking precedence over more...

The Massachusetts State House on Beacon Hill.

What to know ahead of tomorrow’s vote on a statewide plastic bag ban

By Anissa Gardizy / November 19, 2019

The Massachusetts Senate is scheduled to debate a bill that would ban single-use plastic bags across the state tomorrow.  The ban would prohibit the...

“I have been repeatedly told by my supervisor that I am expected to be in the lab working at least 60 hours a week. This is a job—graduate work is work,” Sam Levinson said. Anissa Gardizy / Beacon Correspondent

Boston-area graduate students push for unionization rights

By Anissa Gardizy / November 16, 2019

Boston-area graduate students spoke at City Hall Thursday to oppose a new federal rule that would prohibit them from unionizing.  Graduate students...

James DiSabatino relaxes in the chair of his favorite arcade game, Mario Kart, in the "barcade" attached to Roxy's. Jakob Menendez / Beacon Staff

Alum grills up success with chain of casual eateries

By Anissa Gardizy / November 6, 2019

While on tour with his younger brother’s punk band in Europe, complimentary food platters inspired James DiSabatino ‘09 to make a living off selling...

Mediterranean restaurant Garbanzo opened on Emerson's campus in August.

Mediterranean fare to replace grilled cheese and burgers on Boylston

By Anissa Gardizy / October 8, 2019

A Mediterranean franchise will open in the space formerly occupied by Griddler’s Burgers & Dogs at 134-136 Boylston St. in January, according to...

Courtesy of Jane Akiba

Community mourns the loss of renowned photographer David Akiba

By Anissa Gardizy / September 8, 2019

Jane Akiba clicked through pictures on her computer, her eyes sifting through the images of her children playing in fall leaves, sitting at the kitchen...

There are 926 new first-time students that make up this year’s incoming class. Flora Li/Beacon Staff

College acceptance rate drops to lowest in school history

By Anissa Gardizy / September 4, 2019

The college’s acceptance rate dropped for the fourth year in a row to about 33 percent as a result of increased applications, a college official said.  “I’m...

The Latinx Heritage Month celebration took place in the Lion's Den. Anissa Gardizy / Beacon Archives

College spends $2 million for 200 extra seats in Dining Center expansion

By Anissa Gardizy / September 1, 2019

The college plans to open an extension to the Dining Center at 116 Boylston St. Wednesday following the departure of the Whisky Saigon nightclub in June. The...

Protesters yell at Straight Pride Parade participants. Photo by Anissa Gardizy/Beacon Staff

Tensions flare during Boston’s Straight Pride Parade

Boston’s first Straight Pride Parade transformed the city’s downtown into scenes of contentious encounters and conflicting ideologies on Saturday.  The...

Soledad O'Brien speaking to graduates during 2019's commencement ceremony.

Sit Down with Commencement Speaker Soledad O’Brien

By Anissa Gardizy / May 12, 2019

Television journalist Soledad O’Brien delivered the college’s 2019 Commencement speech and received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters on Sunday....

Kosher foods comply with Jewish dietary guidelines for food preparation and consumption, such as avoiding eating pork or alcohol. Photo by Anissa Gardizy / Beacon Staff

Spiritual Life Director to assess kosher and halal options in Dining Center

By Anissa Gardizy / April 17, 2019

Director of Religious and Spiritual Life Julie Avis Rogers is in the process of meeting with Emerson’s food service provider about whether it can provide...

Senior Vivi Bonomie (left) and sophomore Mackenzie Thomas (right) traveled to a local courthouse to see high-profile celebrities involved in the national college admission scandal. Photo Courtesy of Mackenzie Thomas

Students’ inside joke about college admission scandal goes viral

By Anissa Gardizy / April 4, 2019

A pair of students joined a press frenzy outside of a Boston courthouse where charges from a nationwide college admissions bribery scandal were being heard...

Massachusetts Supreme Court Justices Kimberly Budd (right) and  Elspeth Cypher (left) came to the college to speak to students about their careers. Photo by Anissa Gardizy / Beacon Staff

Judges visit campus for ‘Conversation About the Law’ with students

By Anissa Gardizy / April 4, 2019

A pair of Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Judges highlighted the importance of knowing how to write well as students advance in their professional...

The new default meal plan—the Majestic Plan—comes with unlimited swipes and 150 Board Bucks.
Photo by Cullen Granzen // Beacon Staff

New default meal plan to feature unlimited swipes, fewer board bucks

By Anissa Gardizy and Tomas Gonzalez / March 27, 2019

The college changed the default meal plan to include unlimited meal swipes and 150 Board Bucks for the fall 2019 semester, according to a college official. Associate...

Beacon Archive

Walker Building facade project to cost the college an estimated $600,000

By Anissa Gardizy / March 22, 2019

The city of Boston projected it would cost the college approximately $600,000 to complete the Walker Building facade restoration project, according to...

Junior Hannah Cairo's episode of "Wheel of Fortune" airs Tuesday, March 19 at 7 p.m. EST on CBS. Photo by Xinyi Tu - Beacon Correspondent

Junior waits two years to compete on ‘Wheel of Fortune’

By Anissa Gardizy / March 19, 2019

Junior Hannah Cairo traveled to Faneuil Hall during her freshman year to see the “Wheelmobile,” a yellow, 36-foot bus searching for contestants to...

Beacon Archive.

Kasteel Well students uninjured following deadly Dutch shooting

By Anissa Gardizy / March 18, 2019

Students studying abroad at the Kasteel Well campus in the Netherlands are safe and uninjured following a deadly shooting in the Dutch city of Utrecht...

“The point and hope is that [the class] will help prepare students to write any thesis they want,” Honors College Director Wendy Walters said.

Honors program faculty remove creative project from senior thesis

By Diana Bravo and Anissa Gardizy / February 28, 2019

The college removed the option to submit a creative project as part of the honors program senior thesis for the class of 2022 and onward. All honors...

FiveThirtyEight ranked Emerson’s Polling Society as the second-most accurate pollster in the nation in 2018. Beacon Archives

School of Communication to debut new minors in fall 2019

By Anissa Gardizy / February 28, 2019

The School of Communication will debut two minors in fall 2019—one in pre-law and one in public diplomacy—and a new minor in polling is under review, according...

Members of the Portland Trail Blazers climb out of a Piano Row elevator. Photo by @meyersleonard11/Twitter

NBA team stuck in campus elevator for 30 minutes

By Anissa Gardizy / February 26, 2019

An elevator near the gym in the Piano Row residence hall trapped seven players from the NBA Portland Trail Blazers for approximately 30 minutes on Tuesday,...

Beacon Archives.

Expected opening for The Commons at 172 Tremont St. pushed to May

By Anissa Gardizy / February 22, 2019

The Commons at 172 Tremont St. will not open for use this semester contrary to the initial projection from college officials that the building would open...

Freshman Zach Waterhouse finishes a reverse layup under the net for 2 of his 17 points against Springfield in the 2019 NEWMAC semifinals.

[Photo] Fate of winter sports still up in air, targeting November decision

September 30, 2020

Freshman Zach Waterhouse finishes a reverse layup under the net for 2 of his 17 points against Springfield in the 2019 NEWMAC semifinals.

Beacon Archive.

NEWMAC semi-finals basketball game expected to draw large crowd

By Anissa Gardizy / February 21, 2019

College officials expect a large crowd to pack the Bobbi Brown and Steven Plofker Gym for the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference men’s...

archive

Vice president for real estate to leave in March

By Anissa Gardizy / February 20, 2019

Arthur Mombourquette, the college’s senior associate vice president for real estate, plans to leave the college on March 1. This will be the ninth director-level...

Anissa Gardizy / Beacon Staff

Boston Fire Department extinguishes dumpster fire behind campus

By Anissa Gardizy / February 14, 2019

The Boston Fire Department extinguished a dumpster fire in Allen’s Alley behind Little Building on Thursday after students smelled smoke in multiple...

College operates with eight director-level vacancies

College operates with eight director-level vacancies

By Anissa Gardizy / February 13, 2019

Eight director-level positions remain vacant at the college. The longest vacancy—the deputy Title IX coordinator—has been vacant for more than a year. A...

Some members of the Emerson community faced economic and emotional hardship during the 35-day partial government shutdown. Anissa Gardizy / Beacon Staff

Partial government shutdown interrupted student’s food stamps, family members’ jobs

By Anissa Gardizy / January 27, 2019

Graduate Student Kenya Hunter said she felt lucky the government partially shutdown on Dec. 22 and not any earlier because coming back home to Georgia...

The college bought 134-136 Boylston St. on May 28, 2018, for $7 million. Anissa Gardizy / Beacon Staff

College looks for healthier restaurant after Griddler’s closing

By Anissa Gardizy / January 22, 2019

Editor's Note: This article was updated on 1/23/18 to include the revenue for 134-136 Boylston St.  The college contacted various retail brokers to...

archive

Vice president of administration and finance position still vacant

By Anissa Gardizy / January 21, 2019

The vice president of administration and finance position remains vacant after the former vice president, Maureen Murphy, passed on Dec. 12. President...

Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healy joined a group of state attorneys Thursday in suing the U.S. Department of Education over  proposed Title IX regulations.

Massachusetts Attorney General sworn in at Colonial Theatre

By Anissa Gardizy / January 18, 2019

Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, a Democrat, was sworn into office on Jan. 16 at the Emerson Colonial Theatre by U.S. District Judge Rya...

Assistant Director of Housing Operations Kendra Stokes said the college is considering partnering with a storage company. Photo by Anissa Gardizy / Beacon Staff

Housing operations look for grad student after director leaves

By Anissa Gardizy / January 17, 2019

The Office of Housing and Residence Life is operating without an associate director of housing operations after the former director left the college...

The college's dining center will be providing pre-made meals to students during mandatory quarantine.

[Photo] Dining Center replaces over 2,000 mugs

By Hanna Marchesseault / January 17, 2019

The college's dining center will be providing pre-made meals to students during mandatory quarantine.

The expanded sidewalk will  include greenery, benches and bike racks.

College could extend Boylston sidewalk, expanding campus space

By Anissa Gardizy / November 29, 2018

The college aims to expand the Boylston Street sidewalk from Little Building to the M. Steinert & Sons Pianos building to improve pedestrian traffic...

Sophomore men's soccer goalkeeper David Kemp said the old turf affected the team's playing style. Photo by Anissa Gardizy / Beacon Staff

Old turf prompts $1 million Rotch Field renovations

By Anissa Gardizy / November 29, 2018

Emerson spent around $1 million on renovations to Rotch Field this summer, according to a college official. The college paid for the project through...

The women's basketball team is one of two teams impacted by Monday's decision.

[Photo] Women’s basketball looks to build on last season’s improvement

By Andrew Lin / November 16, 2018

The women's basketball team is one of two teams impacted by Monday's decision.

Resident Assistants leave Cannabis Scent notices under dorm room doors after pinpointing the smell of marijuana on a residence hall floor. Anissa Gardizy / Beacon Staff

New procedure to deal with cannabis on-campus

By Anissa Gardizy / October 18, 2018

The Office of Community Standards and Student Conduct updated the way Resident Assistants handle incidents involving the smell of cannabis in room(s) by...

Madison (left) and Mac Lynch (right) raced together in high school. Photo: Erin Nolan/Beacon Staff.

Lynch siblings reunited on cross country team

By Anissa Gardizy / September 27, 2018

In high school, the Lynch siblings raced cross country and worked at the same job. Now, Madison and Mac Lynch both run for the cross country team at Emerson...

Junior captain Grace Tepper (center, No. 8) leads the NEWMAC in kills and kills per game. Anissa Gardizy / Beacon Staff

Women’s volleyball looks to build on 2017 successes

By Anissa Gardizy / September 20, 2018

The women’s volleyball team added five new freshmen and lost one senior after missing out on the playoffs last year in the New England Women’s and...