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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
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Katie Cressman

Katie Cressman, Projects Editor, Deputy Copy Chief

Katie Cressman is a junior journalism major from Bucks County, Pennsylvania, who serves as The Beacon’s Projects editor and deputy copy chief. Previously, Cressman worked as News Editor before taking a hiatus from The Beacon to complete a co-op at The Boston Globe, where she currently works as a Messenger. On campus, she is the Secretary for Xi Gamma Nu and sings in Achoired Taste. To keep up with Cressman and her reporting, visit her website, read her USA Today and Boston Globe coverage or connect with her on LinkedIn.

Latest from Katie Cressman
(Arthur Mansavage/Beacon Staff)

Four Emerson alums, hundreds of thousands in debt: The price of an Emerson education

By Katie Cressman and Meg Richards / September 25, 2025

Enlisting the help of a hacker may be Erica Hill’s best hope for resolving their student loan debt.  Hill first stumbled on the idea on the internet,...

Hundreds of demonstrators in downtown Los Angeles protested the current conflict between Israel and Iran on Saturday, June 21, urging the U.S. to not get involved. While they were marching, President Trump announced that U.S. air forces bombed three Iranian nuclear sites (Jordan Pagkalinawan / Beacon Staff)

Live Coverage: U.S. drawn in to Israel-Iran conflict

By Merritt Hughes and Katie Cressman / June 21, 2025

SGA appoints three new senators, debates attendance policy

SGA appoints three new senators, debates attendance policy

By Katie Cressman, Projects Editor, Deputy Copy Chief / November 13, 2024

The Student Government Association (SGA)’s most recent general assembly meeting saw the appointments of three new senators, the introduction of one...

Emerson reacts to Trump landslide, campus ‘devastated’

Emerson reacts to Trump landslide, campus ‘devastated’

By Katie Cressman, Iselin Bratz and Sam Shipman / November 7, 2024

Emerson community members woke up Wednesday to the news that former President Donald Trump had won the 2024 presidential election and would hold office...

Election live updates: Trump wins a second term, Harris concedes

Election live updates: Trump wins a second term, Harris concedes

By Hannah Nguyen, DJ Mara, Rylie Burns, Bryan Hecht, Katie Cressman, Sam Shipman, Jordan Pagkalinawan, Merritt Hughes, Iselin Bratz, Annie Sarlin, Rumsha Siddiqui, Arthur Mansavage and Meg Richards / November 5, 2024

Emerson Los Angeles deans visit SGA, highlight two new programs

Emerson Los Angeles deans visit SGA, highlight two new programs

By Katie Cressman and Hannah Woods / October 30, 2024
Joined by Interim Associate Dean of Campus Life Beth Moriarty, the Student Government Association’s (SGA) latest general assembly meeting included a visit from representatives of the Emerson Los Angeles (ELA) campus and the amendment to a bylaw in SGA’s constitution.
Nameplates on a table in the Jackie Liebergott Black Box theatre. (Riley Goldman/ Beacon Correspondent)

SGA holds second-ever oath ceremony, inducting new members

By Katie Cressman, Projects Editor, Deputy Copy Chief / October 23, 2024
This past weekend, family, friends, faculty, and Student Government Association (SGA) members came together for SGA’s official oath ceremony, where all members of SGA were officially inducted into their new roles. 
An attendee holding a battery candle during a prayer portion of the remembrance event at The Wang Theatre on Monday October 7, 2024. (Arthur Mansavage/ Beacon Staff)

Greater Boston’s Jewish community gathers for an Evening of Remembrance and Hope, honoring lives lost on Oct. 7

By Katie Cressman, Projects Editor, Deputy Copy Chief / October 8, 2024
In an evening filled with tears, laughter, song, and prayer, one feeling seemed to echo across the Wang Theatre on Monday night, as the Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP) of Greater Boston hosted their Evening of Remembrance and Hope.
Protesters hold signs and yell chants as they demonstrate on Storrow Drive, halting traffic on October 6, 2024 (Bryan Hecht / Beacon Staff).

Thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters halt traffic on Storrow Drive in Oct. 7 anniversary protest

By Katie Cressman and Bryan Hecht / October 7, 2024
Thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters marched from the Boston Common and through Boston on Sunday before blocking traffic and rallying outside the Israeli consulate.
Presidential Class Council Candidates (from left to right): Lauren Gumban, Jazlyn Compton, Noah Bushe Wang, and Reuben Gonzalez

Meet the first-year students running for Class Council

By Katie Cressman, Projects Editor, Deputy Copy Chief / October 7, 2024
Gearing up for the official first-year Class Council elections on Monday, many candidates appeared at the Student Government Association’s Class Council debate to campaign. 
Students watch the first and likely only vice presidential debate of the 2024 election between Ohio Sen. JD Vance and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz in the Bill Bordy Theater on October 1, 2024 (Abigail Hoyt / Beacon Correspondent).

Vance and Walz squared off for the first time in a cordial debate Tuesday night

By Bryan Hecht and Katie Cressman / October 2, 2024

Republican Sen. JD Vance and Democratic Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota took to the debate stage for the first and likely only time on Tuesday in New York City. Tuesday’s...

Emerson College to integrate AI into classrooms

SGA approves new constitution

By Katie Cressman and Hannah Woods / October 2, 2024
This year, Emerson students running for class leadership positions will not be the only voting matter on the Student Government Association’s (SGA) election ballot.
The CBS News promotional graphic for the 2024 Vice Presidential debate displayed on a laptop screen on Tuesday, Oct. 1. (Arthur Mansavage/ Beacon Staff)

As it happened: Walz and Vance had their first and likely only VP debate. Here’s what happened.

By Bryan Hecht, Katie Cressman, Jordan Pagkalinawan, Hannah Nguyen and Rylie Burns / October 1, 2024

Nadan Nair, president of the Student Government Association. (Daniel Vinicio Abreu/ Beacon Correspondent)

‘I’m very hopeful for what the year can bring’: SGA President Nandan Nair discusses the new academic year

By Katie Cressman, Projects Editor, Deputy Copy Chief / September 18, 2024
Junior Nandan Nair was elected executive president of Emerson’s Student Government Association (SGA) last spring.
Walker Building of Emerson College

Emerson updates code of community standards, outlining new policies and protocols for upcoming academic year

By Katie Cressman, Projects Editor, Deputy Copy Chief / August 24, 2024
In preparation for the upcoming school year, Emerson launched a modified code of community standards, according to an email sent from President Jay Bernhardt to the Emerson community Friday.
Students left messages on the face of the Ansin building using sticky notes and posters, with the signatures of over 1,000 Emerson students who want ECSU to negotiate a contract with the college on their behalf. (Bryan Hecht/Beacon Staff)

On May Day, protesters gather in Boston Common, 2B Alley, and outside Emerson’s Ansin Building

By Hannah Nguyen, Katie Cressman and Iselin Bratz / May 2, 2024

Over 100 protesters marched through the Boston Common and on campus Wednesday afternoon in honor of May Day and in response to the college’s restrictions...

SGA unanimously votes no confidence in Bernhardt and officially calls for his resignation

SGA unanimously votes no confidence in Bernhardt and officially calls for his resignation

By Katie Cressman, Projects Editor, Deputy Copy Chief / April 27, 2024

The Student Government Association (SGA), during its last general assembly meeting on Friday, unanimously passed a resolution calling on President Jay...

SGA to hold vote of no confidence and call for President Jay Bernhardt to resign

SGA to hold vote of no confidence and call for President Jay Bernhardt to resign

By Katie Cressman, Projects Editor, Deputy Copy Chief / April 25, 2024
Members of Emerson's Student Government Association (SGA) will hold a vote of no confidence and call for President Jay Bernhardt's resignation at their meeting on Friday, April 26 at 1 p.m. in the Bright Family Screening Room at the Paramount Center.
Boston Police Officers gathered in the Massachusetts Transportation Building on Thursday, April 25. (Nick Peace for the Beacon)

DEVELOPING STORY: The latest on 2 Boylston Place ‘Popular University Encampment’

By Sophia Pargas, Hannah Nguyen, Olivia LeDuc, DJ Mara, Merritt Hughes, Bryan Hecht, Sam Shipman, Iselin Bratz and Katie Cressman / April 25, 2024

June 18 at 2:17 p.m. - College announces future faculty and staff layoffs due to enrollment decline it says is linked to campus protests Emerson...

Emerson College to integrate AI into classrooms

Emerson votes sophomore Nandan Nair as next Executive President of SGA

By Katie Cressman, Projects Editor, Deputy Copy Chief / April 24, 2024

Next year’s Internal Affairs board will see Nandan Nair as executive president, Kayla Armbruster as executive vice president, and Oliver Katz as executive...

Emerson College to integrate AI into classrooms

‘SGA should set an example for other organizations’: SGA cuts own budget, approves annual budget requests

By Katie Cressman, Projects Editor, Deputy Copy Chief / April 14, 2024

In a shift away from last week’s meeting, which featured President Jay Bernhardt's attendance and a discussion surrounding the March 22 arrests, the...

Emerson College to integrate AI into classrooms

‘This has changed my focus’: President Bernhardt attends SGA meeting

By Katie Cressman, Projects Editor, Deputy Copy Chief / April 3, 2024
The Student Government Association (SGA) did not hold its scheduled meeting on Friday, March 22, following the arrests of 13 students outside the Cutler Majestic Theatre during President Jay Bernhardt’s inauguration.
From left, Amy Ansell, dean of Marlboro Institute for Liberal Arts & Interdisciplinary Studies, Mneesha Gellman, founder and director of Emerson Prison Initiative, and Mac Hudson, an EPI alumnus, discuss the impact of expanding access to an Emersonian education to incarcerated people in Massachusetts at the EPI alumni panel held in the Bill Bordy Theater on Wednesday, March 20, 2024. (Yufei Meng/Beacon Staff)

Bernhardt’s inauguration features Emerson Prison Initiative, emphasizes advocacy

By Katie Cressman, Projects Editor, Deputy Copy Chief / March 27, 2024

The Emerson Prison Initiative (EPI) hosted a panel on March 20 as a part of the many events leading up to the inauguration of President Jay Bernhardt.  EPI...

Emerson College to integrate AI into classrooms

SGA faces a total of $1.3 million in annual budget requests

By Katie Cressman, Projects Editor, Deputy Copy Chief / March 4, 2024

The Student Government Association will hold annual budget request meetings beginning next week, where they will meet with organizations who are requesting...

Emerson College to integrate AI into classrooms

President Bernhardt plans to integrate AI into Emerson classrooms

By Katie Cressman, Projects Editor, Deputy Copy Chief / February 28, 2024
The Student Government Association’s Feb. 25 meeting focused largely on President Jay Bernhardt’s plan to integrate artificial intelligence into Emerson’s classrooms.
Emerson College to integrate AI into classrooms

SGA debates WECB appeal, citing low appeals budget as cause for concern

By Katie Cressman, Projects Editor, Deputy Copy Chief / February 20, 2024

The Student Government Association must make difficult decisions on which budget appeals to pass before their March deadline, a fact that was undeniable...

Emerson College to integrate AI into classrooms

SGA begins approval process for annual budget request appeals

By Katie Cressman, Projects Editor, Deputy Copy Chief / February 13, 2024

In the first wave of approving annual budget request appeals, the Student Government Association’s general assembly approved two appeals to supply funds...

Emerson College to integrate AI into classrooms

SGA faces student organization appeals worth double allocated budget

By Katie Cressman, Projects Editor, Deputy Copy Chief / February 7, 2024

Nandan Nair, the Student Government Association's (SGA) executive treasurer, opened the Feb. 2 meeting with an alarming issue that will shape many of the...

“Things are looking a lot better”: Sustainability Coordinator Jacqui Moy joins Emerson’s sustainability team

“Things are looking a lot better”: Sustainability Coordinator Jacqui Moy joins Emerson’s sustainability team

By Katie Cressman, Projects Editor, Deputy Copy Chief / February 6, 2024

The Emerson Dining Hall trash cans frequently hold the wrong kind of waste. Whether it be a banana peel in the recycling bin or plastic water bottles in...