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

Dana Gerber

Dana Gerber, News Editor

Dana Gerber  graduated in 2022. She previously served as the News Editor at The Beacon, writing and overseeing coverage spanning all areas of interest on the Emerson Campus, including breaking news and long-form deep-dive articles. She hails from Rockville, Maryland, and is a contributing writer at Bethesda Magazine, a local publication. She has also written for Cosmopolitan Magazine, Mic.com, and Boston Magazine. When she is not busy burying herself in a Google Doc, Gerber can be found pursuing freelance writing opportunities, rock climbing, or finding the best Boston thrift stores.

Latest from Dana Gerber
Senior Tatiana Melendez, pictured second from the left in the top row, said she was looking forward to celebrating Commencement with her friends.
Top Row (left to right): Jonah Puskar, Ann Zhang, Raz Moayed.
Bottom Row (left to right): Melissa Leslie, Lily Scher.

Seniors hoping to walk in May face altered plans as COVID-19 spreads

By Dana Gerber, News Editor / March 25, 2020

Senior Tatiana Melendez found out there wouldn't be a traditional 2020 Commencement weekend only a week after her ELA classes moved online and she had...

Photo credit: Ally Rzesa

How student journalism saved me during the COVID-19 crisis

By Dana Gerber, News Editor / March 20, 2020

On Friday, March 13, Emerson College announced it would close its residence halls, effectively kicking us all out of our dorms. Across campus, students...

President M. Lee Pelton.

College plans to issue partial credit for room and board, not tuition

By Dana Gerber, News Editor / March 19, 2020

While Emerson will be issuing partial credit for room and board charges for the spring semester due to circumstances brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic,...

Students moving out of their dorms in March 2020

COVID-19 at Emerson: The Story So Far

By Dana Gerber, News Editor / March 17, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has left little of Emerson College unscathed as the quickly growing public health crisis ignites action from national, state, and...

Coronavirus pandemic shuts down 39th EVVY awards

Coronavirus pandemic shuts down 39th EVVY awards

By Dana Gerber, News Editor / March 16, 2020

The EVVYs canceled both of their award ceremonies for the first time in the show's 39-year history due to the public health risk surrounding the COVID-19...

President M. Lee Pelton responds to community unrest following COVID-19 pandemic.

Pelton responds to “unprecedented” COVID-19 uncertainty

By Dana Gerber, News Editor / March 12, 2020

President M. Lee Pelton said many answers concerning long-term extracurricular continuation, housing feasibility, summer and fall classes, and room, board,...

The accessible push button was installed at the Walker Building front entrance over spring break.

College installs accessible push button at front of Walker Building

By Dana Gerber, News Editor / March 11, 2020

Over spring break, the college installed a push button on the Boylston Street entrance of the Walker Building in response to student concerns about the...

Marlboro Institute professor Nancy Allen.

Full-time faculty prepare to boycott unpaid directed studies

By Dana Gerber, News Editor / March 10, 2020

Emerson's full-time faculty union has recommended that its members stop advising directed study courses beginning fall 2020 semester unless the college...

The exterior of the Kasteel Well castle

Kasteel students to return on Friday as Coronavirus spreads in Europe

By Dana Gerber, News Editor / March 4, 2020

The college plans to send students studying at the college's Kasteel Well campus back to Boston on Friday after college officials announced earlier this...

Firefighters attempt to extinguish a fire that broke out next to Emerson Colleges Los Angeles campus.

Building burst into fire next to Emerson Los Angeles campus

By Dana Gerber, News Editor / March 2, 2020

No injuries were reported in a building fire across the street from Emerson’s Los Angeles campus Sunday, officials said.  The college instructed...

The Emerson College Student Union posted flyers around campus and invited students to call members of the Bard of trustees to oppose the increase. Photo credit: Dana Gerber

ECSU organizes phone bank to protest proposed tuition increase

By Dana Gerber, News Editor / February 19, 2020
The new student union called all the members of the Board of Trustees to voice their disapproval of the potential 3.5 percent tuition increase.
Christopher Wilson (left) and Dennis Levine (right) wait at Rock Bottom restaurant for prospective staff union members to arrive. Photo credit: Dana Gerber

Staff Union seeks new members at Valentine’s Day meet and greet

By Dana Gerber, News Editor / February 16, 2020

The Emerson College Staff Union hosted a Valentine’s Day meet-and-greet at Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery on Stuart Street Friday to chat with...

The Student Government Association at their weekly meeting. Photo credit: Charlie Mckenna

FAB allocated two appeals worth $30,000

By Dana Gerber, News Editor / February 13, 2020

The Financial Advisory Board unanimously approved two appeals requests and one budget request totaling over $30,000 in their meeting Thursday afternoon.If...

New student organization discusses disability issues on campus.

New student union helps fill disability activism void on campus

By Dana Gerber, News Editor / February 12, 2020

Sitting around bags of Hershey's chocolate in one of the fourth-floor rooms of 172 Tremont, members of the new student organization Access Student Disability...

A 1967 edition of The Berkeley Beacon, the oldest in the organizations office.

Celebrating 73 years of The Berkeley Beacon

By Domenic Conte and Dana Gerber / February 6, 2020

Seventy-three years and four days ago, The Berkeley Beacon launched its first print product under Editor-In-Chief Paul Mundt. Below the flag—which we’ve...

College identifies two student suspects in LB vandalism incident

College identifies two student suspects in LB vandalism incident

By Dana Gerber, News Editor / January 30, 2020

Emerson Police identified two students connected to derogatory vandalism found in Little Building on Jan. 26, according to a community-wide email sent...

Photo credit: Ally Rzesa

How TV brought me closer to my brother

By Dana Gerber, News Editor / January 29, 2020
Sometimes, binge watching is your only hinge.
The view of Boylston St. from The Little Building.

Derogatory graffiti found in Little Building, second incident this week

By Dana Gerber, News Editor / January 26, 2020
Rooms in the college's newest residence hall were defaced Friday with "words that have been used to demean Asians and Asian Americans," according to an email sent Sunday.
SGA Executive Treasurer Abigail Semple.

FAB votes to restrict organization’s access to ice sculptures

By Dana Gerber, News Editor / January 24, 2020
SGA Executive Treasurer Abby Semple passes motion to require "advanced permission" for ice sculptures at Thursday's meeting.
The Paramount residence hall will be used to house students potentially exposed to or ill with COVID-19 in the fall.

Paramount Lags Behind Other Residence Halls in Sustainability

By Dana Gerber, News Editor / January 16, 2020

Of all of Boston’s residence halls, The Paramount Center produces the most greenhouse gas emissions compared to its size, according to data gathered...

Beacon Archive.

On-campus food establishments receive violations following management switch

By Dana Gerber, News Editor / January 15, 2020

The Backstage Café and the Dining Center received four violations during the most recent Oct. 21, 2019 inspection, following a string of violations since...

Beacon Archive.

College begins annual Kasteel Well alumni trip after initial success

By Dana Gerber, News Editor / January 15, 2020

The college plans to introduce an annual alumni trip to the Kasteel Well Emerson campus in August following the success of a previous four-day trip, according...

Beacon Archives.

Campus Center could close early due to minimal usage after midnight

By Dana Gerber, News Editor / January 15, 2020

Operating hours of the 172 Tremont St. campus center remain in question after the college observed minimal student access past midnight.  Director...

Tatte and three other restaurants coming to campus in 2020

Tatte and three other restaurants coming to campus in 2020

By Dana Gerber, News Editor / January 10, 2020

The college announced four new restaurants coming to campus in 2020 and said they expected to finalize leases for two more in coming weeks, in an email...

Emerson Polling director Spencer Kimball at the EC Polling office / Tivara Tanudjaja

How Emerson College Polling predicts electoral trends across the nation

By Dana Gerber, News Editor / December 15, 2019

While the country gears up to vote in the upcoming primary elections, Emerson College Polling, releasing a new state poll every week and a new national...

Lifetime Marlboro College trustee Ted Wendell was one of the first donors to the ArtsEmerson program.

ArtsEmerson Donor Reflects on Time as Marlboro Trustee

By Dana Gerber, News Editor / December 4, 2019

Lifetime Marlboro College trustee Ted Wendell, 79, first found out about the Vermont college’s merger with Emerson a week before the official announcement...

Emersons Turning Point chapter hosted conservative speaker Gabriel Nadales on Wednesday. Jakob Menendez / Beacon Staff

Turning Point brings libertarian speaker Gabriel Nadales to campus

By Dana Gerber, News Editor / November 21, 2019

Emerson’s Turning Point chapter hosted libertarian speaker Gabriel Nadales Wednesday, who called for an open dialogue across the political aisle and...

The college decided to open the warehouse twice this semester, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Nov. 4 and Dec. 11. Photo by Rachel Culver / Beacon Staff

Staff vacancies restrict prop warehouse operating hours

By Dana Gerber, News Editor / November 20, 2019

The college’s prop warehouse will open for the second and final time this semester for visual and media arts students, after losing both its director...

Both students and faculty were affected when the college switched to using Workday software. Lizzie Heintz / Beacon Staff

Departments and Faculty Hit with Workday Issues

By Dana Gerber, News Editor / October 28, 2019

Faculty members experienced complications transitioning to the new Workday software since its July 1 implementation, leading to overpaid faculty members...

Dana Gerber - Graphic by Ally Rzesa / Beacon Staff

How “Fleabag” made me reevaluate my love life

By Dana Gerber, News Editor / October 15, 2019

Warning: Spoilers for the TV show “Fleabag” ahead.  In the explosive second season of “Fleabag,” the first scene features the main character...

Chassidy David works on the set of her BFA film, Missing First Period. Photo courtesy of Chassidy David

Students self-fund films in response to limited college support

By Dana Gerber, News Editor / October 6, 2019

Senior Chassidy David began producing her Bachelor of Fine Arts film as a junior in February 2019, but she quickly learned that the funds provided by the...

Janet Kolodzy appointed two new faculty advisers for WEBN after removing Marsha Della-Giustina. Matt Barrett / Beacon Staff

College removes long-time WEBN faculty advisor

By Dana Gerber, News Editor / October 1, 2019

The Journalism Department removed the faculty advisor for WEBN, Marsha Della-Giustina, after receiving student feedback from students in the program, according...

Alumna Gaby Dunn completed a co-op at The Boston Globe while at Emerson, and reflected on that experience in her new book. Courtesy of Robyn Van Swank.

Journalism alumna Gaby Dunn pens Boston-based graphic novel

By Dana Gerber, News Editor / October 1, 2019

At only nineteen years old, Gaby Dunn ‘09 spent her nights waiting at hospitals to find out the status of shooting victims or driving to the scene of...

Dining on campus will see significant alterations in the fall semester.

Dining workers secure new union contract

By Dana Gerber, News Editor / September 11, 2019

The college’s dining workers renegotiated their union contract with Bon Appétit Management Company in May 2019 to provide them with more benefits after...

Presidential candidate Andrew Yang speaks on Boston Common in the first campaign stop in his Humanity First tour. Photo by Daniel Peden / Beacon Staff

Presidential candidate Andrew Yang brings campaign to Boston Common

By Dana Gerber, News Editor / April 11, 2019

Andrew Yang, a fringe Democratic candidate for the 2020 presidential election, called for universal basic income—providing $1,000 a month to every American...

Panelist speak at Emersons Perspectives on Race and the Boston Media on March 26. Hannah Ebanks / Beacon Correspondent

Panel highlights diverse Boston voices in media

By Dana Gerber, News Editor / March 29, 2019

The School of Communication hosted a panel featuring four Boston media professionals on Tuesday, March 26 as part of its new Diverse Voices in Communication...

Weston High School senior Echezona Onwuama raps at Boston Rises first event on Feb. 21. Photo by Xinyi Tu - Beacon Correspondent

Alumnus raises Boston voices with new initiative

By Dana Gerber, News Editor / February 27, 2019

A red carpet lined the hallway leading to Center Stage this past Oscars weekend and coincided with the arrival of the performers from one of Boston’s...

Gaby Dunn ‘09 is on a book tour for her latest book release, “Bad With Money.”
Courtesy of Laura Massa Michael Priest Photography

Alumna Gaby Dunn tells all in new money memoir

By Dana Gerber, News Editor / January 31, 2019

Gaby Dunn ‘09 first appeared in the public eye as a brassy YouTube comedian. After accomplishing the goal many strive for—building a following for...