Chris Van Buskirk, Former Editor-in-Chief/Emerson ‘21
Chris Van Buskirk graduated in 2021. He worked for the State House News Service and MassLive before moving on to the Boston Herald as a state house reporter in May 2023.
By Chris Van Buskirk, Former Editor-in-Chief/Emerson ‘21 March 17, 2021
A former student is seeking a tuition and fee refund in response to Emerson College's decision to move classes online last spring as a result of the COVID-19...
By Chris Van Buskirk, Former Editor-in-Chief/Emerson ‘21 June 30, 2020
It was a Tuesday around 6:50 p.m. when shots rang out across Boston Common.
Students were told to shelter in place several minutes later but a young...
Demonstrators rallied on Boston Common Wednesday afternoon to voice outrage over the killing of George Floyd and other victims of race-based police brutality....
Peaceful protests over the police killing of George Floyd erupted into chaos late Sunday night as people set fire to a police car and looted businesses....
The Beacon Magazine interviewed 16 different seniors to get their perspective on how the coronavirus pandemic upended their final year on campus. All of...
By Chris Van Buskirk, Former Editor-in-Chief/Emerson ‘21 May 10, 2020
I was in the Student Government Association office with my roommate and he went out and bought a balloon from CVS and I was doing reimbursements. It was...
By Chris Van Buskirk, Former Editor-in-Chief/Emerson ‘21 March 13, 2020
The view from the third floor of 172 Tremont St. may not look different from only a week ago but the tone and anxiety permeating Boston is tangible.
Excuse...
The college announced that all students must vacate campus residence halls in both Boston and Los Angeles by March 20—a dramatic reversal of an earlier...
Emerson College joined on Tuesday a series of universities and colleges across the state that have transitioned classes online in response to the rapidly...
In a statement released Friday, the college urged students to be vigilant in recognizing Coronavirus symptoms following two confirmed cases of the disease in the United States.
By Chris Van Buskirk, Former Editor-in-Chief/Emerson ‘21 January 22, 2020
Emerson police are investigating the source of four swastikas "scrawled" in Piano Row after a student reported the graffiti early Wednesday morning, according...
By Chris Van Buskirk, Former Editor-in-Chief/Emerson ‘21 January 22, 2020
Emerson police are investigating the incident. Read the latest updates here.
The college found four swastikas "scrawled" in Piano Row stairwells Wednesday...
By Chris Van Buskirk, Former Editor-in-Chief/Emerson ‘21 December 31, 2019
his year saw everything from the acquisition of a new college to a professional NBA team getting stuck in an elevator. With 2019 drawing to end in a few hours, senior editors at The Beacon compiled a list of their top ten stories of the year. All the lists were then averaged out to create the one here.
By Chris Van Buskirk, Former Editor-in-Chief/Emerson ‘21 December 15, 2019
Editor-in-Chief Chris Van Buskirk reflects on the fall 2019 semester, the accomplishments and failures of The Berkeley Beacon, and looks forward to holiday break and spring 2020.
Affiliated Faculty Union President Barry Marshall whispers to Emerson College's President of the American Association of University Professors Gian Lombardo...
By Chris Van Buskirk, Former Editor-in-Chief/Emerson ‘21 December 14, 2019
Emerson College President M. Lee Pelton and Marlboro College President Kevin Quigley acknowledged Saturday Emerson's desire to sell the Vermont campus.
Marlboro College President Kevin Quigley looks on as a speaker addresses an audience of Marlboro College students, alumni, and residents on Dec. 14, 2019.
By Chris Van Buskirk, Former Editor-in-Chief/Emerson ‘21 November 14, 2019
Emerson College did not purchase Marlboro College
The Vermont school donated its $30 million endowment and real estate, valued at more than $10 million,...
MARLBORO, Vt.—The rumors and talk circulated for years. General anxiety about what would happen to the future and legacy of Marlboro College lingered...
By Chris Van Buskirk, Former Editor-in-Chief/Emerson ‘21 September 26, 2019
Executive Treasurer Abigail Semple’s fee amendment that would bar some student organizations from charging participation fees follows a months-long hiring...
The college does not plan to investigate who posted a list of more than 12 students accused of sexual misconduct onto Little Building’s Boylston Street...
By Chris Van Buskirk, Former Editor-in-Chief/Emerson ‘21 April 11, 2019
Junior Abigail Semple will assume the Student Government Association executive treasurer position for the 2019–20 academic year after sophomore Joseph...
By Chris Van Buskirk, Former Editor-in-Chief/Emerson ‘21 April 9, 2019
An unidentified person assaulted an Emerson student walking towards the Boylston Place Alley on Boylston Street Monday evening, according to the Emerson...
By Chris Van Buskirk, Former Editor-in-Chief/Emerson ‘21 April 4, 2019
The Boston Fire Department extinguished a two-alarm fire that broke out in a 24-story high rise under construction next to the Wilbur Theatre at the corner...
By Chris Van Buskirk, Former Editor-in-Chief/Emerson ‘21 March 31, 2019
Freshman Brady Baca dropped out of the Student Government Association executive treasurer’s race on March 28, leaving junior Abigail Semple as the only...
By Chris Van Buskirk, Former Editor-in-Chief/Emerson ‘21 March 28, 2019
Junior Abigail Semple launched her write-in campaign and joined a contentious Student Government Association executive treasurer’s race on Tuesday as...
By Chris Van Buskirk, Former Editor-in-Chief/Emerson ‘21 March 23, 2019
New England Treatment Access opened its doors Saturday at 9 a.m. as the first dispensary to offer non-medical cannabis in the greater Boston area.
The...
By Chris Van Buskirk, Former Editor-in-Chief/Emerson ‘21 March 21, 2019
Sophomore Joseph Davidi dropped out of the spring 2019 Student Government Association executive treasurer race which leaves freshman challenger Brady Baca...
By Chris Van Buskirk, Former Editor-in-Chief/Emerson ‘21 March 17, 2019
The MBTA plans to resume Blue Line service for morning commuters on March 18 after suspending service between the Logan Airport and Wonderland stops for...
By Chris Van Buskirk, Former Editor-in-Chief/Emerson ‘21 March 16, 2019
Residents returned to the Orient Heights neighborhood in East Boston late Friday night after a massive nine-alarm fire carried smoke and toxic fumes over...
By Chris Van Buskirk, Former Editor-in-Chief/Emerson ‘21 March 14, 2019
Several Student Government Association members advocated for the college to consolidate its methods of communication to students at the March 12 Joint...
By Chris Van Buskirk, Former Editor-in-Chief/Emerson ‘21 March 13, 2019
Whisky Saigon, a nightclub that neighbors the Emerson campus, will vacate 116 Boylston St. by June 30. The college accepted an offer earlier this year...
By Chris Van Buskirk, Former Editor-in-Chief/Emerson ‘21 January 22, 2019
President M. Lee Pelton offered support for the City of Boston’s bid to become the second location for Amazon’s headquarters, according to public records...
By Chris Van Buskirk, Former Editor-in-Chief/Emerson ‘21 January 13, 2019
Interior renovations to The Commons at 172 Tremont St. tacked on $1.1 million more than the college initially anticipated, according to City of Boston...
By Chris Van Buskirk, Former Editor-in-Chief/Emerson ‘21 December 6, 2018
Student Government Association Executive President Jess Guida appointed herself as the board of trustees representative without a vote at a Sept. 18 joint...
The college offered support to students from Southern California on Thursday following a mass shooting, less than two weeks after Jewish students grappled...
By Chris Van Buskirk, Former Editor-in-Chief/Emerson ‘21 October 30, 2018
The college is expecting a final building permit authorizing all construction related tasks for The Commons at 172 Tremont St., according to a college...
By Chris Van Buskirk, Former Editor-in-Chief/Emerson ‘21 October 4, 2018
Three Emerson students clutched a banner reading “#StopKavanaugh” in front of a rally of hundreds at City Hall Plaza Monday morning. Just days before,...
By Chris Van Buskirk, Former Editor-in-Chief/Emerson ‘21 September 29, 2018
A student-led protest calling on Republican Sen. Jeff Flake to reject Judge Brett Kavanaugh is taking place at City Hall Plaza Monday.
Mayor Marty Walsh, ...
By Chris Van Buskirk, Former Editor-in-Chief/Emerson ‘21 September 29, 2018
The Faculty Assembly recognized and honored members of the Emerson community at its first meeting of the year on Tuesday.
About a dozen faculty members...
By Chris Van Buskirk, Former Editor-in-Chief/Emerson ‘21 September 28, 2018
The college canceled Senator Jeff Flake’s appearance at the Colonial Theatre Monday for Forbes 30 Under 30 event citing safety concerns surrounding a...
By Chris Van Buskirk, Former Editor-in-Chief/Emerson ‘21 September 20, 2018
The college can begin interior renovations on The Commons at 172 Tremont St. after the Boston Zoning Commission unanimously approved the new use of the...
By Chris Van Buskirk, Former Editor-in-Chief/Emerson ‘21 September 15, 2018
The Commons at 172 Tremont St. exclusively features gender-neutral bathrooms—the first building to do so—according to college officials.
The college...
By Chris Van Buskirk, Former Editor-in-Chief/Emerson ‘21 September 6, 2018
The death of visual and media arts associate Professor Robert Todd has been confirmed as a suicide, according to The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner...
By Chris Van Buskirk, Former Editor-in-Chief/Emerson ‘21 September 6, 2018
Students no longer pay for each load of laundry after the college decided to eliminate the cost.
Business Services Director Karen Dickinson said students...
By Chris Van Buskirk, Former Editor-in-Chief/Emerson ‘21 September 4, 2018
Former Professor Robert Todd was “found responsible for engaging in sexual harassment” following a Title IX investigation that took place before his...
By Chris Van Buskirk, Former Editor-in-Chief/Emerson ‘21 April 27, 2018
Musical Theatre Program Head Scott LaFeber maintains his position despite a petition released by Protesting Oppression With Educational Reform on April...
By Chris Van Buskirk, Former Editor-in-Chief/Emerson ‘21 April 19, 2018
The college received the largest single donation in its 138-year history—$4 million.
In an email to the community on April 18, President M. Lee Pelton...
By Chris Van Buskirk, Former Editor-in-Chief/Emerson ‘21 April 19, 2018
The Student Government Association introduced three expansive documents suggesting solutions to what it claims constituents view as the college’s most...
By Chris Van Buskirk, Former Editor-in-Chief/Emerson ‘21 April 12, 2018
The Student Government Association’s annual budget requests totaled $901,326, a $153,465 increase from last year.
ABR allows SGA-recognized organizations,...
By Chris Van Buskirk, Former Editor-in-Chief/Emerson ‘21 April 5, 2018
An unknown party posted flyers criticizing the Student Government Association on the door of the Multi-Purpose Room on April 3 before the organization’s...
By Chris Van Buskirk, Former Editor-in-Chief/Emerson ‘21 March 31, 2018
Student Government Association Class of 2019 President Jessica Guida garnered enough votes to win the executive president position over challenger Christopher...
By Chris Van Buskirk, Former Editor-in-Chief/Emerson ‘21 March 29, 2018
Polls for the Student Government Association election opened midnight March 28. The race for executive president pits SGA Class of 2019 President Jessica...
By Chris Van Buskirk, Former Editor-in-Chief/Emerson ‘21 March 28, 2018
Senior Matt Mogavero asked the Student Government Association to increase their involvement in the state-level gun control debate at their weekly joint...
By Chris Van Buskirk, Former Editor-in-Chief/Emerson ‘21 March 22, 2018
The Student Government Association held its elections press night for spring 2018 candidates on March 20.
Press night gives candidates a platform to...
By Chris Van Buskirk, Former Editor-in-Chief/Emerson ‘21 March 15, 2018
Freshman Eliana Ulloa said she remembers feeling her crying mother’s tight grip after mass school shootings like Sandy Hook. Ulloa felt school was no...
By Chris Van Buskirk, Former Editor-in-Chief/Emerson ‘21 March 14, 2018
The Student Government Association approved two appeals for the Communications, Politics, and Law Association and Alpha Phi Omega online via Google Forms...
By Chris Van Buskirk, Former Editor-in-Chief/Emerson ‘21 March 1, 2018
The college released the second Emerson360: Community Climate Survey, which highlighted an apparent lack of communication between senior administration...
By Chris Van Buskirk, Former Editor-in-Chief/Emerson ‘21 February 28, 2018
The Student Government Association moved candidate registration online to ease the sign-up process for their upcoming spring 2018 election.
The election...
By Chris Van Buskirk, Former Editor-in-Chief/Emerson ‘21 February 14, 2018
The Student Government Association granted appeal requests to Emerson Independent Video and Sigma Phi Theta on Feb. 13.
EIV approached the Financial...
By Chris Van Buskirk, Former Editor-in-Chief/Emerson ‘21 January 26, 2018
The college took down eCommon’s direct deposit page until further notice after two email attacks affected faculty accounts on Friday, Jan.19.
A phish,...
By Chris Van Buskirk, Former Editor-in-Chief/Emerson ‘21 January 25, 2018
The Student Government Association Executive Board faced a slew of issues in their first semester, which began with a student protest and ended with the...
By Chris Van Buskirk, Former Editor-in-Chief/Emerson ‘21 January 24, 2018
The Student Government Association appointed a new chief justice, honors commissioner, and accessibility commissioner on Tuesday, Jan. 23.
SGA unanimously...
By Chris Van Buskirk, Former Editor-in-Chief/Emerson ‘21 January 24, 2018
The Incident Journal is provided to the Beacon weekly by the Emerson College Police Department. Beacon staff edit the Incident Journal for style and clarity,...
By Chris Van Buskirk, Former Editor-in-Chief/Emerson ‘21 January 22, 2018
Center Stage faced minor water damage after a fire started in Whiskey Saigon and transferred to the cafe. The nightclub also sustained minor damage to...
By Chris Van Buskirk, Former Editor-in-Chief/Emerson ‘21 January 20, 2018
The Uncommon Project entered its second stage when the 15 story white sheet covering the Little Building was cut in half, and a new cycle of artwork...
By Chris Van Buskirk, Former Editor-in-Chief/Emerson ‘21 January 18, 2018
The college increased overall tuition by 4.5 percent, and room and board by 4.1 percent, making individual annual charges $46,016 for tuition and $17,690...
By Chris Van Buskirk, Former Editor-in-Chief/Emerson ‘21 December 7, 2017
The search for an assistant dean for campus life has been narrowed to three candidates, with a final decision expected from Associate Dean for Campus...
By Chris Van Buskirk, Former Editor-in-Chief/Emerson ‘21 November 30, 2017
President M. Lee Pelton wrote in his annual State of the College letter that the college’s failure to live up to its diversity, inclusion, and social...
By Chris Van Buskirk, Former Editor-in-Chief/Emerson ‘21 November 16, 2017
The Student Government Association discussed ways to make the Emerson mobile app more relevant to students’ daily activities at their Tuesday meeting....
By Chris Van Buskirk, Former Editor-in-Chief/Emerson ‘21 October 19, 2017
The results of the Student Government Association special election are in—with unopposed candidates Matthew Enriquez and Gregory Massimino-Garcia winning...
By Chris Van Buskirk, Former Editor-in-Chief/Emerson ‘21 October 12, 2017
The first floor of the Little Building is set to be converted to a commercial retail space as renovations to the building continue said Arthur Mombourquette,...
By Chris Van Buskirk, Former Editor-in-Chief/Emerson ‘21 October 12, 2017
As construction on the Little Building continues, Emerson smokers lack an appointed smoking area, and now flock to the Boylston Street sidewalk. A designated...
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