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

Xinyan Fu, Columnist

Latest from Xinyan Fu
Graphic by Christine Park.

Why the holidays are the worst time of year for some international students

January 15, 2020

It's that time of the year. With tree lights dancing and snowflakes swirling, the holiday hype starts with people shopping for Christmas decorations and...

Yes, on the surface, “A” means success, and “F” means failure. But neither of these letters explain the reasons behind a student’s performance. / Illustration by Ally Rzesa

There’s no learning in letter grades

November 6, 2019

Last semester, I took the Fundamentals of Speech Communication class everyone is required to take at Emerson. We completed several group speech presentations,...

I mostly stayed silent because I found myself unable to join discussions about how the case can affect our society and our legal system. / Illustration by Ally Rzesa

Patriotic language in class leaves international students behind

September 25, 2019

During the beginning of my first semester at Emerson, Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh and his alleged sexual misconduct were all over the news. As...

Instead of solving problems and misunderstandings, people now tend to default to an extreme and biased opinion more than ever before. / Illustration by Ally Rzesa

Is social media creating connection or ruining it?

September 11, 2019

In the early 2010s, an Egyptian man named Khaled Said was tortured to death after being held in police custody. The photo of his death quickly went viral...

Letter: Students respond to Person of Color Column: I am from Hong Kong, not China

Letter: Students respond to “Person of Color Column: I am from Hong Kong, not China”

April 24, 2019

To the Editor: Re “Person of Color Column: I am from Hong Kong, not China” (Column, April 21) The Living Arts Section recently published a Person...

Graphic by Ally Rzesa

Op-ed: American age restrictions increase students’ craving for alcohol

April 17, 2019

When I decided to study abroad in the United States I received advice about the drinking culture at American colleges. One friend, a junior at the University...

The fear of speaking up in class scarred me, and to my surprise, Im not the only one that felt barred from active class engagement. / Illustration by Ally Rzesa

Op-ed: Speaking up in class improves learning experiences

February 28, 2019

I always raised my hand in middle school with the hope of answering every question the teacher asked, but my classmates rolled their eyes when I spoke...

Despite my growing confidence towards my body, I found myself falling into another endless loop of shame. / Illustration by Ally Rzesa

Op-ed: Defining my body without cultural standards

January 28, 2019

People who have albums filled with childhood photos make me jealous. While I like reminiscing and looking through old photos, I only have a few old pictures...

Residing in close proximity with a handful of students rarely makes for a problem-free living environment, but the frustration that builds up in these living situations hinders us from living a healthy life and forming positive relationships.  / Illustration by Ally Rzesa

Op-ed: Building a bridge of empathy between student and teacher

November 29, 2018

Before the fourth grade, math was my favorite subject. I enjoyed my math classes and always participated actively. However, this all changed when a new...

With the top ranking journalism program in the country, Emerson should teach future journalists a global vision. / Illustration by Ally Rzesa

Op-ed: Opening journalists to a global mindset

October 25, 2018

I grew up as one who always sticks up for others. The older I get, the more interested I become in speaking up for social justice. Although China has...

Even though I enjoy my English name, I’ve always felt that it is just an identification code no different than my student ID number. / Illustration by Ally Rzesa

Op-ed: Abandoning my name for cultural conformity

October 2, 2018

When in a Western country, I always introduce myself as “Eliza.” Very rarely do I tell people my Chinese name, “Xinyan.” I find that most Asian...

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