Opinions expressed in Beacon Op-Eds are not necessarily shared by the entire staff. It is the responsibility of Opinion editors to elevate each individual’s unique voice.  Emerson classrooms often...

If you’ve ever had sex, or thought about it, there are likely specific things that really turn you on. Whether you are into missionary or you aced the BDSM test, National Kink Day was the perfect reminder...

Emerson has a fetish for marginalized communities—but it does not make itself accessible to them. And with a price tag so expensive, it is impossible for Emerson to achieve the diverse environment it...

The Berkeley Beacon editorial staff is back with another edition of, “how many times will we have to say the same thing?”  Emersonians received a community-wide email on Mar. 17 by Interim President...

It is well into the spring semester of the 2021-22 academic year, and Emerson College still lacks permanent leadership.  Former President M. Lee Pelton, who took the helm of the college in 2011, left...

With students already back on campus and in-person classes officially starting on Jan. 18, COVID-19 cases are bound to continue their rise. Given the fumbled response to the surge at the end of the fall...

In the wake of yet another attack on Emerson’s Jewish community, it has become clear that the college needs to do more to combat antisemitism on campus.  On Oct. 15, antisemitic graffiti was found...

Since fall of 2017, Emerson has mandated that all students entering the college live on campus for their first six semesters, with very few exceptions granted.  Living on campus can be one of the most...

Over the past year and a half, all of us have had to learn to live with the “new normal” of Zoom classes and socially distanced classrooms. However, we upperclassmen should consider ourselves lucky....

TW: This editorial contains mentions of gun violence, homicide, and suicide.  Since the pandemic began, the U.S. has shifted much of its attention to improving public health. Despite this, an epidemic...

Since the pandemic began, millions across the globe have waited anxiously for their turn to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. It took months of trials and setbacks, but President Joseph R. Biden now expects...

Pandemic fatigue is rife around the globe after enduring more than a year of sacrifice and isolation. In the past year, we’ve been forced to give up parts of our lives as college students that we previously...

Emerson would be nothing without the hard work of its staff and faculty. They are tasked with cleaning our spaces, providing equipment for us, teaching our classes, and many other crucial responsibilities...

As college students, the driving force to get us through 8 a.m. classes, midterm exams, and the ever-rising tuition rate is the monumental closing event of our college experience: graduation. But since...

After living through a pandemic for the past year, most of us are exhausted. The extended hours of screen time, lack of contact with friends and family, and looming fear of the virus has taken a toll on...

Joe Biden took office just over a month ago, and we’re already disappointed. At a time when millions of Americans are facing illness and job insecurity, a drastic change from Trump’s presidency was...

After a year filled with tragedy, the possibility for a return to a normal, pre-pandemic life lies almost entirely in the hands of vaccines for COVID-19. Yet as the coronavirus death toll climbs higher...

Staying in isolation or quarantine after testing positive for or being exposed to COVID-19 is rarely a pleasant experience. The basic necessities like room, board, and edible food, are enough to survive...

COVID-19 has decimated countless American businesses. In 2021, many are struggling under new COVID safety regulations, which force them to reduce seating capacity and often reduce late night hours, an...

Content warning: This editorial discusses topics of depression, anxiety, suicide, and self-harm. This fall, most Emerson students dutifully followed college-mandated COVID-19 restrictions on travel...

We can all breathe a sigh of relief after President Joe Biden’s inauguration on Wednesday. The tumultuous years of former president Donald Trump’s administration are over, and now the hope for brighter...

This week feels like a much-anticipated moment is finally upon us. Emerson went almost three months without seeing a significant uptick in COVID-19 cases. For so long, it felt like we might actually make...

And just like that, President Donald Trump’s reign is over. But the work for equity? For justice? For a better world? Far from done.  Around the world, supporters of President-elect Joe Biden have...

The election may be over, but our job as students, citizens, and politically engaged people is not. In fact, voting during a presidential election year is the bare minimum. It’s important to keep...

A week from Election Day, the country stands more fractured and divided. With experts anticipating a voter-turnout tsunami and young people already reporting record breaking voting numbers, Americans are...

In the midst of midterm season, some students are still waiting on one precious class material: their textbooks.  The campus bookstore has seen severe delays this semester—so much so that people...

Since the start of the fall semester, Emerson has taken considerable action to minimize the spread of COVID-19 and prevent outbreaks on campus. Unlike other universities that have reported more than 1,000...

Testing all Emerson students weekly is both a noble goal and a requirement this year. It’s been widely proven that the most effective way to pin down the coronavirus before it spreads—or shortly after...

Throughout the summer, Emerson administration has sent students sporadic emails. In June came the announcement that campus would reopen in late August. A few weeks later, updates on tuition and then dining...

In a world toppled by the COVID-19 pandemic, Emerson administration gave students a choice: return to an altered campus and participate in a mix of in-person and online classes or opt to go fully online....

On June 1, as inklings of warm summer air crept in, a massive protest overtook the streets of Boston, just steps from Emerson’s campus. Demonstrators marched to get justice for the countless Black lives...

Last week, the school released its presidential working group draft findings, which sought to detail the sexual misconduct climate at the college through a year of review by 10 members of the Emerson community. In...

The COVID-19 pandemic has decimated every facet of life at Emerson College, making the Student Government Association's spring election more important than ever. The actions of the next executive president...

It’s been a hectic week, to say the least. There are 197 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Massachusetts as of Monday, according to public health officials. The college made the decision Friday to ask students...

Kasteel Well officials announced on Feb. 24 that they canceled their planned four-day mandatory academic excursion to Milan, Italy, and barred students from traveling outside the Netherlands until March...

This is an important year for the Emerson College Staff Union. The group plans to start renegotiating their contract with the school next spring. They held a meet-and-greet event on Feb. 14 at Rock...

On their last show of 2019, The New York Times’ podcast The Daily welcomed their very own Executive Editor Dean Baquet into the studio for an episode titled "The Lessons of 2016." In this episode,...

The Student Government Association submitted a proposal for a new Financial Equity Board this semester to advocate for the financial needs of the Emerson College student body. The proposal, written by...

Most people grow up learning how to use sensitive language surrounding different kinds of communities. We were all at one point in our lives taught how to avoid using sexist, ageist, and racist language,...

A guide released by the Emerson Office of Undergraduate Admissions to the Marlboro community on Dec. 19 states that Emerson will not pay for cost differences in housing for Marlboro College students living...

As Emerson continues to expand its academics and its campus, the Student Government Association functions as a vital pipeline among students, the administration, and the Board of Trustees. The organization...

This Wednesday, President M. Lee Pelton set foot in Marlboro College for the first time since announcing the Marlboro-Emerson merger. Emerson plans to absorb Marlboro's endowment and welcome any interested...

In a town hall last Wednesday, President M. Lee Pelton announced that Emerson College plans to merge with Marlboro College, a small liberal arts institution in southern Vermont.  The announcement of...

This Monday, the registrar’s office shut down class registration for students with 92 or more credits following a technical issue. According to an email from the registrar, Banner, the new college’s...

When The Beacon’s Editor-in-Chief Chris Van Buskirk stepped before the Student Government Association last week to present an amendment, he cited the Constitution's first amendment in his argument for...

In March, the Federal Bureau of Investigations exposed over a dozen celebrities who bought their children's acceptance into the country’s most prestigious colleges. With the help of college counseling...

The two-year vacancy in the Title IX office is finally being filled. But the hiring process for the Deputy Title IX Coordinator has brought its own shortcomings.   The position has remained vacant...

On Saturday, The Beacon reported that a group of college administrators are “discussing and finalizing policies” regarding the on-campus usage of CBD, a natural compound in cannabis. A group of...

Over the summer, the college switched their employment software from their old system, People Admin, to a new software called Workday. In the process of implementing this new system, many students employees...

On Wednesday, the college disseminated its annual Clery Report through a campus-wide email. The 57-page-long report details both the criminal offenses brought forth on all three Emerson campuses in the...

Editor's Note: Editor-in-chief Chris Van Buskirk did not contribute to or edit this editorial due to a conflict of interest.  At the Student Government Association’s Financial Advisory Board meeting...

The Boston City Council election this fall is quickly ramping up to be one of the most competitive in recent years with a total of 24 candidates running for 13 seats. Tuesday, Sept. 24 marks the Boston...

Emerson College has a long, complicated—and, at times, bleak—history with incidents of sexual misconduct and Title IX, the federal civil rights law that regulates gender-based discrimination and harassment...

At Issue: The Beacon’s story on the removal of the list of alleged abusers Our Take: Reporting with the Emerson community in mind CW/TW: This editorial addresses issues and events surrounding...

At Issue: A moment of self-reflection before we relocate Our Take: There's still work to be done Starting this fall, the Beacon will occupy a new office at 172 Tremont St. With this transition, we...

At Issue: Student involvement in Marathon Monday Our Take: Appreciate and honor the marathon   Trigger warning: This editorial addresses events that occurred at the 2013 Boston Marathon...

At issue: Updates on Emerson Today Our Take: New content introduces more conflicts of interest Recent modifications to Emerson Today, an outlet run by the college’s Marketing Communication Department, have...

At issue: 2020 Presidential Race Our take: #Pelton2020 President M. Lee Pelton officially announced his candidacy for president of the United States today, April 1, 2019. With over a year and a...

At issue: College announces 4 percent tuition increase Our take: Prioritize students' financial security over investments A college-wide email from President M. Lee Pelton on March 21 announced a...

At issue: students’ cannabis use Our take: cannabis can benefit students of age   The closest dispensary for medical and recreational cannabis will open this Saturday in Brookline. A 20-minute...

At issue: The corruption behind college acceptances Our take: Admissions cop-outs undermine the integrity of higher education   The Justice Department accused 50 wealthy parents of buying...

At issue: Black History Month on campus Our take: The college needs to formally recognize the celebration   Emerson College lacks its own formal commemoration to honor Black History Month....

At Issue: Lack of pronoun procedures in classrooms Our take: Professors should be required to ask for preferred pronouns Emerson prides itself on creating an accepting atmosphere for individuals....

At Issue: The impact of Valentine’s Day in college Our Take: Show love to everyone in your life As we celebrate Valentine’s Day, we should remind ourselves of the importance of compassion in...

At Issue: Competing on-campus organizations Our Take: We’re all in this together The college’s focus on arts and communication calls for students to have extensive, hands-on experiences in their...

At Issue: Another Patriots Super Bowl appearance Our Take: Sports fan or not, everyone can enjoy the big game This Sunday, the New England Patriots will return to the Super Bowl for the third year...

At issue: Proposed Changes to Title IX regulations Our take: Talk won’t combat new Title IX policies   Last week, we published a Beacon Breakdown on the Title IX changes proposed by Secretary...

At Issue: The livelihood of our print edition Our Take: Our print edition is a learning tool Over winter break, the publishing company that prints our weekly edition closed down their printing services....

At issue: Our fall 2018 semester Our take: We’re proud of our advancements, and we strive to do better. Last semester, we tried something new. For the first time,The Berkeley Beacon restructured...

At issue: The lack of library etiquette Our take: Please use your inside voices As due dates for papers, projects, and tests for finals loom, it seems like the entire student body will be occupying...

At issue: Student portion of the climate survey Our take: The survey is an outlet for student expression Voicing our opinions about Emerson with our friends, on social media, and in classes may feel cathartic,...

  At issue: Supporting other student organizations Our take: All of our work deserves recognition One day after a contentious midterm election, President Donald Trump and CNN reporter Jim Acosta...

At issue: The approaching midterm election Our take: Educate yourselves—then vote   Despite our activist culture, most Emerson students did not turn out at the polls during the last midterm...

At issue: Recognizing student athletes' dedication. Our take: We’re all in this together. Last Saturday, the women’s soccer team earned a spot in the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic...

At issue: Student engagement with sustainability Our take: We must do more Over a week ago, the New York Times detailed a seemingly apocalyptic future, with worsening food shortage, rampant poverty,...

At issue: Vacant Title IX lead investigator position Our take: Refusal to communicate renders ambiguity The Office of Title IX Equity and Access still does not have a lead investigator after an...

At issue: Organizing a rapid response to overwhelming events. Our take: Let’s maintain this momentum. Last Thursday, the nation watched as Dr. Christine Blasey Ford and Supreme Court Nominee Brett...

At issue: Emerson College Today updates mission Our take: Announcements and news should be separate Emerson’s communication and marketing department is revamping Emerson College Today. Now a separate...

At issue: Emerson revamps its image. Our take: Change doesn’t always mean progress. On July 9, 2018, Starbucks announced the company will slowly faze out single-use, plastic straws in favor...

At issue: Student workload increases Our take: Don’t take advantage of us Student organizations are a huge aspect of Emerson culture. And the system was pretty loose. For example, at the Beacon,...

At issue: Editorials are our perspective of campus news. Our take: Give us a chance, we’re students too. A new semester means a new editorial board. This year we’re proud to announce that our...

At issue: SGA has overseen the Beacon’s budget since 2011 Our take: For us to progress, we need our funding guaranteed Today, college newspapers across the country ran editorials under the hashtag...

At issue: Our digital-first transition Our take: Thanks for taking this wild ride with us This semester, we brought the Beacon into the 21st century by aiming to update our website daily. Every day we...

At issue: An SGA-funded scholarship for student leaders Our take: Let’s focus on the scholarships our student body demanded The college tells us our Student Services fee, an $800 annual charge,...

At issue: Too many years, too few gender neutral bathroom signs Our take: Don’t work in increments, fix this now Two years ago, Emerson installed ten gender-inclusive bathroom signs across campus—then...

At issue: SGA election is an opportunity to shake things up Our take: A one-on-one approach works best Over the last two weeks, Christopher Henderson-West’s write-in campaign for the position...

At issue: Students not surveyed in new climate survey Our take: Data is invaluable if we want to see improvement Earlier this week, the Social Justice Center released the 2017 campus climate survey...

At issue: Construction noise continues to interrupt student life Our take: Emerson owes students an explanation   Remember when the Paramount Center, with its five-minute walk to the center of...

At issue: College jargon surrounding issues of inequality Our take: Name changes don’t guarantee action This week, faculty assembly voted to create a permanent new committee on cultural competency...

At issue: Marginalized voices are speaking out Our take: The Beacon should amplify these voices No American woman has been selected as Time magazine’s Person of the Year in 80 years. Yet the publication...