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 Jess Ferguson
Everything has changed—except my love for Taylor Swift

Everything has changed—except my love for Taylor Swift

By Jess Ferguson / February 26, 2020

It was 2007, and I distinctly remember opening up my seventh birthday present: a black SanDisk MP3 player. At the time, I thought I was the coolest first-grader...

In-person conversations are essential for conflict resolution

In-person conversations are essential for conflict resolution

By Jess Ferguson / February 17, 2020

Texts are an ineffective means of resolving conflict. I was frustrated by one of my friends’ actions. She said mean things about me behind my back,...

Stop using addiction-related language for comedic effect

Stop using addiction-related language for comedic effect

By Jess Ferguson / January 20, 2020

Last January, Devour Foods, a subdivision of the Kraft Heinz Company, aired a Super Bowl commercial to promote their frozen foods. The commercial focuses...

I’ve learned that my decision to stay somewhat local—in, might I add, one of the best college cities in the U.S.—does not make me immature or overly dependent. / Illustration by Ally Rzesa

Home sweet home: Why going to college nearby can be beneficial

By Jess Ferguson / November 18, 2019

Throughout the college application process, I felt pressured to attend school somewhere far away from my home in southeastern Massachusetts. Everyone...

Making fun of these girls is a lot easier than acknowledging what is really going on here: tearing down a group of teens for having fun. / Illustration by Ally Rzesa

VSCO Girls: Why we need to stop belittling teenage girls’ interests

By Jess Ferguson / November 4, 2019

With all of the hate and prejudice in the world, who knew teenage girls wearing oversized T-shirts and scrunchies would be the bane of our society’s...

Often times, we are too caught up in our own lives—rushing to class or to work, for instance—to acknowledge others. / Illustration by Ally Rzesa

Smiles, greetings, and eye contact: How interaction humanizes the homeless

By Jess Ferguson / October 28, 2019

When I left class a few weeks ago, I noticed a homeless person on the street corner asking for money. No one did anything—they kept walking without even...

Acne has trickled its way back into my life, and I do not feel it stopping any time soon. / Illustration by Ally Rzesa

Coping with acne insecurities in college

By Jess Ferguson / October 13, 2019

Part of me thought that when I first came to college, acne would be a thing of the past. Though I have struggled with it for years, I always assumed it...