Skip to Main Content
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

Mariyam Quaisar

Mariyam Quaisar, Managing Editor

Mariyam Quaisar (she/her) is a senior journalism and BCE double major from Brookfield, Connecticut. She served as editor-in-chief and business operations. She loves to share her views on “unconventional” topics and will never turn down a steamy plate of chicken wings. 

Latest from Mariyam Quaisar
SGA to hold vote of no confidence and call for President Jay Bernhardt to resign

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

April 25, 2024

SGA Executive President Charlize Silvestrino, left, and Executive President-elect Nandan Nair, right, speak at a press conference outside the 2 Boylston...

Illustration Rachel Choi

Listen up seniors, cause this is it

By Mariyam Quaisar, Editor / April 17, 2024

Opinion editors are not responsible for agreeing or disagreeing with their writers but rather elevate each individual’s specific voice.  My four...

Illustration Rachel Choi

From silence to solidarity: Overcoming the fear of taking a stance

By Mariyam Quaisar, Managing Editor / April 3, 2024

Opinion editors are not responsible for agreeing or disagreeing with their writers but rather elevate each individual’s specific voice.  When the...

To end the first set with a win, Emerson Lions’ Chase Fagen (5) ups his offense to pass St. Regis in points during the men’s volleyball Senior Day game against St. Regis College at the Bobbi Brown and Steven Plofker gymnasium on Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Mariyam Quaisar/Beacon Staff)

Men’s Volleyball players honored at Senior Day game

By Rumsha Siddiqui and Mariyam Quaisar / March 27, 2024

The Emerson Men’s Volleyball team played their Senior Day game against Regis College on Saturday at the Bobbi Brown and Steven Plofker gymnasium. The...

Illustration Rachel Choi

Your first time: don’t let these things turn you off

By Mariyam Quaisar, Managing Editor / February 28, 2024

Opinion editors are not responsible for agreeing or disagreeing with their writers but rather elevate each individual’s specific voice. It was a random...

Illustration Rachel Choi

Hold social media platforms accountable for their continuous damage

By Mariyam Quaisar, Managing Editor / February 21, 2024

Opinion editors are not responsible for agreeing or disagreeing with their writers but rather elevate each individual’s specific voice. Trigger Warning:...

Illustration Rachel Choi

Ring, ring: Vibrate(r) on, earbuds in, getting off

By Mariyam Quaisar, Managing Editor / January 31, 2024

Opinion editors are not responsible for agreeing or disagreeing with their writers but rather elevate each individual’s specific voice. Alrighty folks,...

Illustration by Rachel Choi

Why do we hate women in sports?

By Mariyam Quaisar, Editor In-Chief / April 12, 2023

On April 3, SportsCenter posted a video of Demi Bagby, a fitness influencer, throwing the first pitch at the San Diego Padres versus Arizona Diamondbacks...

Loud Luxury, you’ve changed me

Loud Luxury, you’ve changed me

By Mariyam Quaisar, Editor-in-Chief / February 23, 2023

On Sunday, Feb. 19, a herd of exhilarated Bostonians and beyond wrapped around the block outside of House of Blues. As the line slowly but surely nudged...

Ride or die: whether you embrace the pillow or not, you’re always a princess.

Ride or die: whether you embrace the pillow or not, you’re always a princess.

By Mariyam Quaisar / February 23, 2023

Recently, Gen Z has coined a new term that accuses feminine-identifying individuals of doing the deed as those who enjoy doing the deed with minimal exertion....

Who are the core leaders behind EmersonTogether?

Letter from the Editor: On the insensitive coverage of campus tragedies

By Mariyam Quaisar / February 10, 2023

The Berkeley Beacon failed you on Friday when we hastily published a story about the passing of Brooks Walker without consideration and proper context....

"The Embrace"

MLK “The Embrace” monument unveiled on the Boston Common

By Mariyam Quaisar and Kevin Guinan / January 13, 2023

“The Embrace” memorial was revealed to the public on the Boston Common to commemorate the love and solidarity between Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and...

Illustration by Rachel Choi

Prioritize aftercare as much as your orgasm

By Mariyam Quaisar, Content Managing Editor / December 7, 2022

What do you do after having sex? Cuddle with your partner, turn away and take a nap, or worse, wipe the remnants and just scroll on your phone? The emotional...

Blue Men blew up Charles Playhouse

Blue Men blew up Charles Playhouse

By Mariyam Quaisar, Content Managing Editor, Business Managing Editor / December 7, 2022

Blue Man Group seamlessly encompasses comedic acts and thrilling music to create the perfect viewer experience. From performers banging on drums puddled...

Illustration by Hailey Akau

WNBA All-Star suffers misfortune as Russia’s scapegoat for power

By Mariyam Quaisar / November 2, 2022

An eight-time WNBA All-Star and two-time Olympic gold medalist has been in Russian custody since Feb. 17, and was sentenced to nine-and-a-half years in...

Illustration by Rachel Choi

Dracula on the streets, Frankenstein’s monster in the sheets

By Mariyam Quaisar, Content Managing Editor / October 26, 2022

Halloween brings out an aspect of peoples’ creative side that can be easily transferred to a steamy bedroom. Oct. 31 is the day to dress up in scary,...

Illustration of concussion

The NFL should reevaluate its concussion protocol

By Mariyam Quaisar / October 6, 2022

There were five minutes and fifteen seconds left in the second quarter of the game between the Miami Dolphins and the Cincinnati Bengals when the Dolphins’...

Illustration by Rachel Choi

Sex is an asset in or out of a relationship

By Mariyam Quaisar, Content Managing Editor / September 28, 2022

Sex comes in a variety of forms—we all know that—but we can all agree that there’s a difference between making love to a significant other versus...

Illustration by Hailey Akau

André should be the heartthrob of ‘Victorious,’ but Nickelodeon and its viewers are racist

By Mariyam Quaisar, Content Managing Editor / September 21, 2022

André Harris should be the heartthrob of “Victorious:” it’s as simple as that.  Since I thought up this “hot” take, I’ve asked a number...

Illustration by Rachel Choi

Twitter demands for the return of the Kohinoor back to India are well grounded

By Mariyam Quaisar, Content Managing Editor / September 15, 2022

Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Indians are demanding the return of the Kohinoor diamond, which is set in a crown made for Queen Elizabeth I....

Illustration Lucia Thorne

Season two of Bridgerton exceeds all expectations in both scandals and representation

By Mariyam Quaisar / April 6, 2022

My skin is still tingling from season two of Netflix’s Bridgerton, and I finished the new episodes almost a week ago.  While the casting of season...

War does not bring people together, it reinforces existing oppression

War does not bring people together, it reinforces existing oppression

By Mariyam Quaisar / March 17, 2022

The current war in Ukraine has left its residents in turmoil. The country’s main cities are incessantly bombed and innocent lives are being shamelessly...

Emerson's Kasteel Well campus.

Kasteel Well community feels mixed emotions about the Ukraine-Russia war

By Mariyam Quaisar / March 3, 2022

A mere 1,200 miles away from the fighting in Ukraine, students and faculty at Emerson’s Kasteel Well campus are anxiously watching history unfold as...

We need to examine the tragic history of this popular holiday

We need to examine the tragic history of this popular holiday

By Mariyam Quaisar, Kastell Well Editor / February 4, 2022

Thanksgiving is seen as a day to be grateful, to remember and honor the blessings of the past year, but many continue to willingly ignore the reality of...

It’s ok to put your orgasm first

It’s ok to put your orgasm first

By Mariyam Quaisar / January 26, 2022

The other night, I came to the realization that every time I’ve ever told a guy that I orgasmed, it’s been a lie. While these lies were never meant...

Don’t let the media affect your confidence in the bedroom

Don’t let the media affect your confidence in the bedroom

By Mariyam Quaisar / January 20, 2022

Finding and exuding confidence can be difficult due to certain societal standards and pressures that have rudely established what it means to be “attractive.”...

Tim Davis (left), Jane Lynch (middle), and Kate Flannery (right) performing "A Swinging' Little Christmas" at City Winery, with The Tony Guerrero Quintet on the instruments.

Thank you, Jane Lynch for beautifully commencing Christmas

By Mariyam Quaisar / December 9, 2021

On Wednesday Dec. 8, I walked into the City Winery with the brightest smile plastered across my face. Want to know why? Jane Lynch’s “A Swingin Little...

Dive right in, head first

Dive right in, head first

By Mariyam Quaisar / December 2, 2021

Let me tell you a story about a guy who meets a girl. They like each other, there’s sexual attraction, so eventually, they want to have some sexy time....

Emerson Stage to present ‘Marie Antoinette’ this weekend

Emerson Stage to present ‘Marie Antoinette’ this weekend

By Mariyam Quaisar / November 18, 2021

Emerson Stage will conclude its fall season with a production of “Marie Antoinette,” that aims to present audiences with a revolutionary and contemporary...

It’s OK to get attached after sex

It’s OK to get attached after sex

By Mariyam Quaisar / November 18, 2021

Losing one’s virginity is usually a powerful moment in one’s life, and it often results in feeling a strong connection to whomever they lost it to....

Stop kink shaming: all types of sex are valid

Stop kink shaming: all types of sex are valid

By Mariyam Quaisar / November 10, 2021

People have sex. That is a concept that society has come a long way in wrapping its head around, which is great. Now, society needs to wrap its head around...

Still from "Macbeth In Stride," playing at Loeb Drama Center.

New musical ‘Macbeth in Stride’ critiques Shakespearean sexism

By Mariyam Quaisar / November 4, 2021

A new musical from Obie Award winner Whitney White running in Boston examines what it means to be an ambitious, contemporary Black woman using the themes...

Super stoked to get super soaked;  We should all buy a vibrator

Super stoked to get super soaked; We should all buy a vibrator

By Mariyam Quaisar / November 4, 2021

Sept. 26. That’s the day my life changed, the day I met the best friend any girl could ever ask for.  From that first day I met him, Gavin has been...

Flyer for "The Glassblower's Daughter."

Alum writes uplifting fairytale, commenting on sexism and corruption

By Mariyam Quaisar / October 28, 2021

Fairytale “The Glassblower’s Daughter,” penned by an Emerson alum, is set in an early North American colony and follows Sandy, a teenage girl who...

One month isn’t enough to recognize the strength of those fighting breast cancer

One month isn’t enough to recognize the strength of those fighting breast cancer

By Mariyam Quaisar / October 28, 2021

On Oct. 17, I lost my aunt, Nafisa, to breast cancer. After 16 years of fighting, she was forced to give up because her body gave in, even if her conscience...

Kiran Deol, a South Asian American comedian, actress, and filmmaker.

Comedian Kiran Deol emphasizes need for diversity in comedy ahead of upcoming show

By Mariyam Quaisar / October 27, 2021

Like many industries in the US, the comedic arts are dominated by white males, making it especially noteworthy and necessary when women of color take the...

Fraternities and Colleges perpetuating a culture of abuse

Fraternities and Colleges perpetuating a culture of abuse

By Mariyam Quaisar / October 21, 2021

Trigger Warning: This article contains mentions of sexual assault and rape. On Friday, Oct. 8, a female student at the University of Delaware was kidnapped,...

Hannah Nilsson (right), Olivia Bodley (middle), Clara Livingston (left)

‘This Girl Laughs, This Girl Cries, This Girl Does Nothing’ explores self-love and individuality in whimsical world

By Mariyam Quaisar / October 21, 2021

“This Girl Laughs, This Girl Cries, This Girl Does Nothing,” the latest show in Emerson Stage’s 2021-22 season, a children’s fairytale about three...

Harassment of journalists in Kashmir is getting worse every day

Harassment of journalists in Kashmir is getting worse every day

By Mariyam Quaisar / October 14, 2021

India’s government is treating journalists in Kashmir as terrorists, and it is disproportionately affecting Muslims. From being unnecessarily arrested...

Mariyam Quaisar poses during a photoshoot.

Emerson’s promises of diversity fell short for me

By Mariyam Quaisar, Living Arts editor / October 11, 2021

TW: This story contains mentions of racism, hate speech, and strong language I decided early that whatever college I attended had to have a diverse...

"What do we have in Common" installation in the Boston Common.

‘What Do We Have In Common?’ Art Installation seeks to provoke thought

By Mariyam Quaisar / September 30, 2021

Friends of the Public Garden teamed up with NOW + THERE to celebrate their 50th anniversary with a public art piece titled “What Do We Have In Common?”...

"Hempfest" in Boston Common

Marijuana festival hits Boston Common

By Mariyam Quaisar and Bailey Allen / September 25, 2021

Emerson students grabbed their stashes and lined Boston Common on Saturday, joining the crowds gathered for a fair of marijuana and cannabis-related paraphernalia. The...

Anna Feder at the Bright Lights Film Series in 2019.

Bright Lights Film Series releases their fall 2021 program

By Mariyam Quaisar / September 21, 2021

The college’s Bright Lights Film Series announced their fall 2021 lineup on Sept. 7, featuring 12 documentary films that highlight social justice issues.  The...

Post 9/11 Islamophobia still terrifies American Muslims

Post 9/11 Islamophobia still terrifies American Muslims

By Mariyam Quaisar / September 17, 2021

After the tragic attacks on September 11, 2001, the entirety of the American population was traumatized and devastated. However, it slipped the minds of...

Cutler Majestic Theater, one of ArtEmerson’s performance venues.

[Photo] ArtsEmerson hosts first event since March 2020

By Sophia Pargas and Mariyam Quaisar / September 9, 2021

Cutler Majestic Theater, one of ArtEmerson’s performance venues.

Alum opens sustainable bridal store in Newton

Alum opens sustainable bridal store in Newton

By Mariyam Quaisar / September 7, 2021

While planning for her own wedding in 2018, alum Molly Swarttz ‘13 realized that weddings can also be eco-friendly, and after years of planning opened...

Students dining in the dining center in March 2019.

The dining hall is back to normal, and I can’t believe it

By Mariyam Quaisar / September 3, 2021

With Emerson returning to an in-person semester this fall, many pre-pandemic practices have made their triumphant return — including the dining hall,...

Vibrant art installation in 172 Tremont honors indigenous peoples

Vibrant art installation in 172 Tremont honors indigenous peoples

By Mariyam Quaisar / September 2, 2021

Students entering 172 Tremont this semester will be greeted by a new 13-foot piece of art, installed in July, that intends to signify the importance of...

People walk on Washington Street near Paramount Theater.

ArtsEmerson releases its plans and expectations for the 2021/2022 season

By Mariyam Quaisar / July 17, 2021

ArtsEmerson announced a series of in-person and virtual events for its 2021-22 season — marking the return of live events after a year of pandemic-altered...

Evan Allen and Brendan McCarthy working on the “Blind Spot” investigation

Alums part of Boston Globe’s Pulitzer Prize winning team credit Emerson for success

By Mariyam Quaisar / July 6, 2021

When Brendan McCarthy and Evan Allen graduated from Emerson, almost a decade apart, there was no way they could’ve known they would find themselves part...

A 40th annual EVVY Award

Here are the winners of the 40th annual EVVY Awards

By Mariyam Quaisar / May 7, 2021

Emerson’s 40th annual EVVY Awards are finally here. The ceremony will stream live on YouTube, starting at 7 p.m. EST, hosted by Anania Williams and Cedrick...

Alum wins first Oscar for Best Cinematography in ‘Mank’

Alum wins first Oscar for Best Cinematography in ‘Mank’

By Mariyam Quaisar / April 28, 2021

Alum Erik Messerschmidt ‘02 won his first Oscar for Best Cinematography for Mank, directed by David Fincher, at the 93rd Academy Awards this past Sunday.  Mank,...

Shaukat Ajmeri’s ‘Keepers of the Faith’ illustrates the realities of love and life

Shaukat Ajmeri’s ‘Keepers of the Faith’ illustrates the realities of love and life

By Mariyam Quaisar / April 21, 2021

“Keepers of the Faith,” published last April and written by author Shaukat Ajmeri, tells the tale of two Bohri Muslims, set in India and the United...

Police restrict the south campus gate at Boğaziçi University in Turkey.

Protesting for educational freedom, Free Literature is getting support from Emerson’s Professor Swanson

By Mariyam Quaisar and Karissa Schaefer / April 15, 2021

A group titled “Free Literature” (Serbest Yazın in Turkish), made up of students from Boğaziçi University in Turkey, have been protesting for educational...

The unwavering patriarchy in India is deeply rooted in the history of the country, and it starts with the Indian family dynamic. The husband and father is the head of a household, making sons the desired offspring, while daughters can be seen as a burden..

Femicide in India defines the country’s patriarchy

By Mariyam Quaisar / April 14, 2021

TW: This op-ed contains graphic mentions of misogyny, sexual assault, domestic abuse, and murder. On April 10, a 26-year-old woman was stabbed to death...

The Minnesota assault overturn shows that the justice system is going backward

The Minnesota assault overturn shows that the justice system is going backward

By Mariyam Quaisar / April 8, 2021

Through recent Instagram posts, I found out the state of Minnesota does not fairly investigate a sexual assault case if the victim was voluntarily intoxicated....

The unwavering patriarchy in India is deeply rooted in the history of the country, and it starts with the Indian family dynamic. The husband and father is the head of a household, making sons the desired offspring, while daughters can be seen as a burden..

There is no excuse for hate crimes against Asian Americans

By Mariyam Quaisar / March 25, 2021

The recent murder of eight people, including six of Asian descent at three different locations—a massage parlor in Acworth, GA and two spas in Atlanta,...

Still from 'A Quiet Place: Part II'.

Fifteen movies that COVID took from us by postponing their release

By Mariyam Quaisar, Deputy Lifestyle Editor / March 17, 2021

The coronavirus pandemic delayed more than 100 movies from being released in theaters in the past year, and pushed several straight to streaming platforms....

Still from the film "MINARI"

‘MINARI’ highlights the many difficulties immigrant families in America face

By Mariyam Quaisar, Deputy Lifestyle Editor / March 5, 2021

Director Lee Isaac Chung’s eye-opening film “MINARI'' left me teary-eyed. The film illustrates the struggles of a Korean American family as they are...

Emma Krug (Active), Rhiannon Melton (new members), Nicole Watkins (Active), Allie Thompson (Active)

Fraternities and Sororities forced to be creative with new member education amid COVID

By Mariyam Quaisar, Deputy Lifestyle Editor / March 2, 2021

With the daunting effects of the pandemic, new member education for fraternities and sororities has been a challenge, to say the least. With all events...

Album cover of Sunsetta's new EP "Green Line to Harvard Ave"

Student band Sunsetta drops new dance-inducing EP ‘Green Line to Harvard Ave’

By Mariyam Quaisar, Deputy Lifestyle Editor / February 24, 2021

Emerson’s very own student band Sunsetta dropped their new EP on Feb. 19 titled “Green Line to Harvard Ave,” and I immediately downloaded every song.  Sunsetta...

A client getting her tattoo on a mattress.

Emerson student launches tattoo business

By Mariyam Quaisar, Deputy Lifestyle Editor / February 17, 2021

Emerson student Trey started his own tattoo business for students called Kosher Ink, inspired by the persistent boredom imposed by the pandemic. Since...

Seventeen Valentine’s Day movies for every emotion

Seventeen Valentine’s Day movies for every emotion

By Mariyam Quaisar, Deputy Living Arts Editor / February 10, 2021

February 14 is fast approaching, and the love-filled day stirs up quite a few emotions. Luckily for you, The Beacon has a number of movie suggestions for...

The unwavering patriarchy in India is deeply rooted in the history of the country, and it starts with the Indian family dynamic. The husband and father is the head of a household, making sons the desired offspring, while daughters can be seen as a burden..

New legislation in India causes farmer protests over corporate privatization

By Mariyam Quaisar, Deputy Living Arts Editor / February 10, 2021

Since Aug. 2020, farmers in India are protesting new laws passed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi that significantly lessen government regulation around...

Actress Sadaf Asgari

Oscar qualified short film “EXAM” written and directed by alum Sonia K. Hadad

By Mariyam Quaisar / January 26, 2021

The short film “EXAM,” created by writer and director Sonia K. Hadad ‘17, qualified for an Oscar on top of 33 other awards it’s received since...

Emerson seniors Angel Salcedo and Khary Higgins hosted the first episode of 'HATE: WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?' Left to right: Miranda Andreson, Angel Salcedo, Josh Zakim, and Khary Higgins.

Team Harmony web series strives to educate and fight against hate

By Mariyam Quaisar / November 23, 2020

The international non-profit Team Harmony debuted a new web series against hate, titled “HATE: WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?,” in collaboration with Emerson’s...

My arms genuinely do feel like noodles when I go to open the dining hall door. I do think the pizza looks dry sometimes. But after great thought and a lecture from my mom, where she reminded me of the poverty-stricken streets of her hometown in India, I realized my privilege. The realities I don’t see in front of me every day—like poor families living under tarps, eating whatever they can find—are ignored when I whine about there being no croissants in the dining hall.

Take a moment and appreciate the DH food

By Mariyam Quaisar / November 14, 2020

Why are the doors to the dining hall so heavy? My noodle arms absolutely cannot handle so much weight. Why does it always smell so funky in the dining...

Patrons of Bluebikes can enjoy complementary rides to the polls on Nov. 3. Media courtesy of Bluebikes

Bluebikes offers free rides on Election Day

By Mariyam Quaisar / November 2, 2020

The Boston public bike sharing program Bluebikes is now offering free two hour rides to help voters get to the polls on Election Day.  Sponsored by...

Five E3 students created "Brownies in a jar" to sell for just $5 a piece with the baking ingredients included.

Marketing students sell $5 ‘Brownie In A Jar’ in Walker

By Mariyam Quaisar / October 26, 2020

After the closure of all campus kitchens due to COVID-19, the convenience of cooking in dorms disappeared. But worry not—a team of five Emerson students...

A poster within Little Building asking students to practice safe sex.

Go solo or go home: The only way to have sex during a pandemic

By Mariyam Quaisar / October 8, 2020

“If you’re not going to wear a mask, at least wear a condom,” posters around Emerson dorm buildings read. However, safe sex means a lot more than...