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

Jordan Pagkalinawan

Jordan Pagkalinawan, Kasteel Well Bureau Chief

Jordan Pagkalinawan (he/him) hails from Burbank, California, and serves as The Beacon’s Kasteel Well Bureau Chief. A sophomore journalism student with a minor in Sports Communication, he was the sports editor for the Fall 2023 semester and a sports staff writer for most of his first year. Overseeing The Beacon’s operations in the Netherlands, Jordan is committed to elevating high-quality pieces of narrative and multimedia journalism. When he isn’t working for the Beacon, Jordan can be found listening to various genres of music, playing, watching, and writing about basketball, and exploring local bookstores and cafes.

Latest from Jordan Pagkalinawan
An Instagram post announcing the return of Black Swan for the Spring 2024 semester.

Meet Black Swan, Kasteel Well’s magazine by students, for students

March 21, 2024

As Kasteel Well students approach the final weeks of their semester, they’ve likely already collected plenty of souvenirs and trinkets across Europe....

Sophomore marketing communications student Sam Switall stands in front of Il Paradiso, a canvas painting in the Grand Council Hall at the Doge’s Palace, a landmark building that was once the Doges residence and the center of the Venetian government, in Venice, Italy. (Photo courtesy of Samantha Switall)

Photos: Kasteel Well students explore Europe on travel break

March 19, 2024
Twice a semester, Emerson students at Kasteel Well go on academic excursions to various countries.
Kasteel Well students prepare to participate in the Carnival festivities.

Kasteel Well students connect with community in Carnival celebration

February 22, 2024

While Americans geared up for Super Bowl 58, Emerson students studying abroad at Kasteel Well prepared for a different celebration—participating in the...

First-year forward Guillermo Gasset Ruiz shoots against Coast Guard on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023. (Ashlyn Wang/Beacon Staff)

Men’s basketball falls to Coast Guard in NEWMAC home opener

December 14, 2023

The Emerson men’s basketball team entered their Thursday afternoon practice less than 24 hours after their NEWMAC opener, where Babson handed them their...

Emerson fans cheering on the mens basketball team during their 2022 NEWMAC Semifinals game vs. Babson.

Is Emerson a sports school?

November 30, 2023

Emerson College is known for a lot of great things—from its creative programs, outstanding alumni network, or even as the school Nancy Wheeler chooses...

Senior guard Ella Bushee (#11) goes for a layup against Endicott on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023. (Ashlyn Wang/Beacon Staff)

Women’s basketball falls to Endicott, 76-69

November 22, 2023

The Emerson women’s basketball team got off to a solid start in non-conference play. Their early highlights included a home-opening victory and history...

Senior guard Trevor Arico (5) shoots against Salem State on Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023.

Men’s basketball wins home opener, falls at Suffolk for 2-3 start

November 22, 2023

The Emerson men’s basketball team began non-conference play on Nov. 10. They came out of a weekend tournament with a 1-1 record—beating host Colby...

The Emerson mens basketball team visited the Cambridge Basketball Lab on Wednesday, Nov. 8. (Photo courtesy of Matt Meyersohn)

Men’s basketball supports youth basketball camp in Cambridge

November 15, 2023

As the Emerson men’s basketball team continued preparing for their season, they decided to take an opportunity to give back. The team spent their Wednesday...

The womens basketball team prior to their home opener vs. Colby-Sawyer on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023.

Women’s basketball defeats Colby-Sawyer in home opener, 69-66

November 13, 2023

Days following their season-opening loss to Suffolk, the Emerson women’s basketball team was ready to bounce back in their home opener against the Colby-Sawyer...

Senior midfielder Simone Barragan-Shaw (16) scores the game-winning goal against Coast Guard in the 2023 NEWMAC Semifinals.

Women’s soccer advances to NEWMAC semifinals behind 2-1 win vs. Coast Guard

November 2, 2023

The only thing scarier than Halloween night in Salem, Mass. was the Emerson women’s soccer team, who entered the postseason hungry to defend their NEWMAC...

Sophomore guard Brendan McNamara shoots over a Babson defender in the 2023 NEWMAC Semifinals

Heart over height: Men’s basketball ready for challenging season

October 19, 2023

The Emerson men’s basketball team officially began practicing this week, with a mix of new and returning players all ready to make an impact when the...

Emersons Thomas Pelino (18), left, and Theodore Bushara (5), right, try to maintain possession during the game against MIT at Rotch Playground in Boston, on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023.

Emerson ties 2-2 against NEWMAC leader MIT

October 19, 2023

The Emerson men’s soccer team faced the undefeated MIT Engineers on Saturday, Oct. 14, in a rematch of the 2022 NEWMAC Semifinals. Despite early adversity...

Emerson alum Jarred Houston ’23 goes for a layup against Worcester State on Dec. 3, 2022.

Men’s basketball alum Jarred Houston ’23 joins NBA G League as assistant coach

October 11, 2023

For those who know him, Emerson graduate Jarred Houston ‘23 lives and breathes basketball. After a decorated five-year career as a Lion—one that...

Senior forward Gina Lukoskie (#15) against the Smith Pioneers on Saturday, Sep. 16.

Women’s soccer looks forward to NEWMAC title defense

September 21, 2023

Post-Tropical Cyclone Lee was not the only storm brewing over Massachusetts over the weekend—defending NEWMAC champion Emerson women’s soccer team...

First-year forward Luke Maxwell celebrates his first career goal in the 86th minute against Wentworth.

Men’s soccer rallies to defeat Wentworth 2-0

September 14, 2023

The Emerson men’s soccer team began Tuesday’s matchup against Wentworth with momentum on their side. In the days leading up, they’d beaten Bates...

Colin (left) and Brendan McNamara (right) after their second annual MTD Tournament.

More Than Different: Men’s basketball guard hosts summer tournament for scholarships

September 14, 2023

Appreciate. Celebrate. Elevate. Those are some of the key tenets that guide More Than Different, a lifestyle brand founded by Emerson men’s basketball...

Emerson alumni and infielder Jake Hatch 23 (#15) celebrates after scoring a run against MIT on April 29. Courtesy of Anna Schoenmann

Emerson Grad Jake Hatch commits to Div. I Manhattan College

July 28, 2023

Recent graduate and infielder Jake Hatch traded Beantown for the Big Apple, announcing his commitment to the Div. I Manhattan College Jaspers on Saturday,...

The 2023 Emerson baseball team. Courtesy of Anna Schoenmann.

Baseball ends record-breaking season with two historic victories vs Springfield and MIT

May 16, 2023

On Apr. 25, the Emerson baseball team eclipsed a mark 13 years in the making, recording a program-record 16th win with an 8-2 victory over Springfield....

Emersons 14 athletics programs shone in a variety of ways in 2022-23

The Year of the Lions: Highlights from Emerson athletics’ 2022-23 season

April 27, 2023

The 2022-23 Emerson Lions have a lot to be proud of: across all 14 athletic programs, the Lions captured a bevy of accolades, including five major individual...

Emerson baseball fell 1-2 to Babson College, though notched their first-ever win over the Beavers in program history.

The dam is broken! Baseball bests Babson for first time in program history

April 19, 2023

Emerson baseball triumphed over Babson in game two of their three-game series on Saturday, marking the Lions’ first victory over the Beavers in the program’s...

Emerson baseball triumphed over Coast Guard, 7-6

Baseball walks off, falls to Coast Guard in senior day doubleheader

April 13, 2023

With the first game of Senior Day tied in the bottom of the ninth, the winning run on third base, senior catcher and co-captain Matt Nachamie stepped up...

The Lions pushed through Emmanuel to secure a spot in the GNAC semifinals.

Men’s volleyball stuns Emmanuel with Quarterfinals sweep

April 12, 2023

Days after losing to Emmanuel College in four sets, the Emerson men’s volleyball team walked into the rival school’s gym as the underdog—a No. 5...

The Emerson mens volleyball team lines up before Thursdays match-up against the Fisher Falcons.

Men’s volleyball sweeps Fisher, improves to 12-12 overall

April 11, 2023

As the playoffs inch closer, the Emerson men’s volleyball team earned their third straight win on Thursday, beating the Fisher College Falcons 3-0 and...

UConn captured the NCAA DI Championship against San Diego State

March Madness: Finals recap and future NBA prospects

April 5, 2023

At last, the madness is over.  Following a thrilling Final Four where San Diego State beat Florida Atlantic University on a buzzer-beating three, and...

March Madness: Upsets galore and glimpse into Final Four

March Madness: Upsets galore and glimpse into Final Four

March 27, 2023

Bring on the madness! The opening round of the 2023 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament saw plenty of electrifying hoops and busted brackets. Those who...

The Emerson softball team (courtesy of Claire Overton)

Emerson softball dazzles in spring break play, looks ahead to season

March 22, 2023

After a promising start to their season in Florida over spring break, the Emerson softball team is looking to build off of their success in the Sunshine...

Graduate Center Jarred Houston will be leaving Emerson as its most decorated mens basketball player.

Jarred Houston earns NEWMAC Athlete of the Year & Defensive Athlete of the Year

March 22, 2023

Emerson men’s basketball veteran Jarred Houston ended his dominant 2022-23 campaign with some notable hardware: in addition to making the All-Conference...

Graduate center Jarred Houston drives to the rim against Coast Guard.

Senior spotlights: Men’s basketball seniors and grads built winning culture

March 9, 2023

Following a historic season that saw a program-record 11 NEWMAC victories, the Emerson men’s basketball team fell to Babson in the conference championship...

Graduate center Jarred Houston throws some interference in front of a Babson Beaver. Thursdays match-up against the Beavers was Houstons last as a Lion.

Men’s basketball falls to Babson in NEWMAC semifinals

February 26, 2023

Playing at home in front of a packed house—some students were literally turned away at the doors—a spirited effort from the Emerson men’s basketball...

Mens basketball seniors and grad students line up in front of the scoreboard after a win over Springfield on Senior Night.

Seniors steal the spotlight in men’s basketball victory over Springfield

February 16, 2023

Following a gritty win over the Coast Guard Bears, the Emerson men’s basketball team took their home floor for the final time in the regular season Saturday,...

The Emerson womens basketball team leaves the court after a 73-68 win over Clark University at the Mental Health Awareness Game on Wednesday.

Emerson basketball comes together for mental health awareness games

February 9, 2023

In the middle of Emerson’s busy basketball season, Ava Salti, junior guard of women’s basketball, decided that both the men’s and women’s team...

Senior guard Max Davis scored a season-high 31 points in the Lions win.

Men’s basketball defeats WPI behind Davis’s 31 points

February 2, 2023

WPI and Emerson, sitting at No. 1 and No. 2 in the conference respectively, have built a storied history in recent years—Emerson beat WPI in the 2019...

The Lions pulled ahead of Wheaton and MIT this past week.

Men’s basketball sweeps two-game homestand after thriller v. Wheaton, improves to 10-7

January 25, 2023

The Emerson men’s basketball team looked to build off their strong start in conference play following their loss to reigning NEWMAC champions WPI on...

Levison, who plays Guard and Forward, is a DI transfer from the University of Denver.

Meet women’s basketball transfer Charlotte Levison

December 9, 2022

Junior guard Charlotte Levison transferred to Emerson from the University of Denver—an NCAA Division 1 program—this year, joining two first-year players...

Graduate center Jarred Houston makes a layup

Men’s basketball defeats Worcester State 80-72 for second straight win

December 8, 2022

Fresh off a dominant win over Plymouth State, the Lions continued the momentum with an 80-72 win over the Worcester State Lancers at the Bobbi Brown &...

Senior captain Oliver Glass led by example setting multiple personal records through the season.

Five Lions named to NEWMAC All-Sportsmanship teams

December 1, 2022

Five Emerson student-athletes were named to the NEWMAC All-Sportsmanship teams on Nov. 21, highlighting players’ efforts for fair and positive play. The...

Graduate student and guard Jarred Houston goes up for a lay-up.

Men’s basketball loses thriller to Bridgewater State 81-79

November 19, 2022

The Emerson men’s basketball team was defeated by Bridgewater State on Wednesday night in a competitive thriller, 81-79—the team’s second consecutive...

First-year PG Jacob Armant drives through the Fighting Scots defense.

Basketball doubleheader yields wins for men’s and women’s squads

November 10, 2022

The Emerson men’s and women’s basketball teams each secured season-opening victories Tuesday night—the men steamrolled Gordon College 95-51 and the...

Graduate guard Nate Martin will be rejoining the Lions along with fellow grad and center Jarred Houston (Beacon Archives)

Returning men’s basketball seniors reflect on time at Emerson

October 26, 2022

Graduates Jarred Houston and Nate Martin will return for their fifth years at Emerson, hoping to continue momentum from their appearance in the NCAA DIII...

Courtesy of Emma Sharon, MLB

Alum becomes first female broadcaster in Diamondbacks history

September 28, 2022

Looking over Dodger Stadium from the broadcasting booth on Sept. 20, Jill Gearin ‘18 made history as the first female broadcaster in Arizona Diamondbacks...

Women’s volleyball sweeps Rivier, extends winning streak to 3

Women’s volleyball sweeps Rivier, extends winning streak to 3

September 21, 2022

The Emerson women’s volleyball team claimed victory against the Rivier Raiders on Wednesday night, improving to 7-1 overall following their third sweep...