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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

Maddie Khaw

Maddie Khaw, Assistant News Editor

Maddie Khaw (she/her) is a junior journalism major from Portland, Oregon and serves as the assistant news editor for The Beacon’s citywide coverage. In addition to journalism, she is also majoring in interdisciplinary studies with a focus on race, gender, and social justice, and plays on Emerson’s women’s soccer team.

Latest from Maddie Khaw
Protesters stand on a statue in front of the Boston Public Library, holding a giant banner and chanting at the "All Out for Palestine" rally in Copley Square on Monday, October 16, 2023. (Ashlyn Wang/Beacon Staff)

Emerson faculty members plan to host teach-in on Gaza next semester

By Maddie Khaw / December 13, 2023

After a back-and-forth discussion with college administrators, a group of faculty members plans to host a teach-in on Gaza early next semester, featuring...

Members of Emerson's Esports club during their game night in the Little Building on Saturday, Dec. 2.

Emerson Esports offers community, competition, and creative practice

By Maddie Khaw, Assistant News Editor / December 7, 2023

Junior visual and media arts major Bryson Beck was hesitant to get involved with Emerson Esports when he was first recruited to join one of the organization’s...

Faculty union surpasses 135 days working off-contract as negotiations continue

Faculty union surpasses 135 days working off-contract as negotiations continue

By Maddie Khaw, Assistant News Editor / November 15, 2023

More than 135 days after their previous contract expired, members of Emerson's full-time faculty union are growing increasingly impatient as negotiations...

Jean Dolin in front of his "Portraits of Pride" exhibit. (Photo courtesy of Jean Dolin)

Museum of LGBTQ+ Art, History, and Culture to open in Boston

By Maddie Khaw / October 25, 2023

In a time when he says LGBTQ+ identities are facing hostility and erasure—specifically through book bans and anti-transgender legislation—art curator...

An Emerson College Police car.

Incident Journal: ECPD quells concerns of possible trespass, responds to larceny reports

By Maddie Khaw / October 17, 2023

The Emerson College Police Department provides the Incident Journal to The Beacon every week. Beacon staff edit the Incident Journal for style and clarity...

Need advice? Use this barcode or visit the story highlight on our Instagram, @berkeleybeacon, and fill us in on all the deets through our anonymous form.

Looking back: Advice for incoming freshmen and sophomores

By Maddie Barron and Maddie Khaw / April 26, 2023

Dear Maddies, How has this year been for you both, navigating through freshman and sophomore year? What’s your crash course to surviving these years...

College to provide menstrual products in all campus bathrooms

College to provide menstrual products in all campus bathrooms

By Maddie Khaw / April 26, 2023

After years of lobbying from students, Emerson’s administration has committed to providing period products in all public restrooms on campus—including...

Need advice? Use this barcode or visit the story highlight on our Instagram, @berkeleybeacon, and fill us in on all the deets through our anonymous form.

ADVICE: How do I know if someone is right for me?

By Maddie Barron and Maddie Khaw / April 19, 2023

Dear Maddies, I’m struggling with a new relationship, as I’m feeling some anxiety about whether this is the right person for me or not. How do you...

To mask or not to mask? Remaining mask-wearing students share their thoughts

To mask or not to mask? Remaining mask-wearing students share their thoughts

By Maddie Khaw / April 19, 2023

Since Emerson relaxed its COVID-19 policies and removed its campus-wide mask mandate last May, the faces of many or most students have gone unmasked in...

Brief site crash makes registration ‘unnecessarily stressful’ for sophomores

Brief site crash makes registration ‘unnecessarily stressful’ for sophomores

By Maddie Barron and Maddie Khaw / April 12, 2023

For many, course registration is a stressful event each semester, as students scramble to log in before their classes fill up completely. This semester,...

Need advice? Use this barcode or visit the story highlight on our Instagram, @berkeleybeacon, and fill us in on all the deets through our anonymous form.

ADVICE: How do I become comfortable with solitude?

By Maddie Khaw and Maddie Barron / April 12, 2023

Dear Maddies, Ever since I started at Emerson, I’ve realized that I’m uncomfortable with doing things alone. I’m anxious to go places like the...

Need advice? Use this barcode or visit the story highlight on our Instagram, @berkeleybeacon, and fill us in on all the deets through our anonymous form.

ADVICE: How do I cope with imposter syndrome?

By Maddie Barron and Maddie Khaw / April 5, 2023

Dear Maddies, I need some advice about imposter syndrome! Everywhere I turn at Emerson, everyone else seems to be doing more—and doing better—than...

An Emerson College Police car.

Incident Journal: ECPD responds to defaced property on campus

By Maddie Khaw / April 5, 2023

The Emerson College Police Department provides the Incident Journal to The Beacon every week. Beacon staff edit the Incident Journal for style and clarity...

Maddie Khaw's family.

Asian enough

By Maddie Khaw / April 3, 2023

I’ve felt like an imposter from a young age in both parts of my biracial identity—my whiteness and my Asianness. I’ve never felt “Asian enough,”...

Need advice? Use this barcode or visit the story highlight on our Instagram, @berkeleybeacon, and fill us in on all the deets through our anonymous form.

ADVICE: How do I avoid awkward encounters on campus?

By Maddie Barron and Maddie Khaw / March 29, 2023

Dear Maddies, How do I deal with seeing people I don’t like on campus? I keep seeing my enemies and exes everywhere I go.  Sincerely, Avoidant...

Emerson Prison Initiative to hold conference about the benefits of college in prison

Emerson Prison Initiative to hold conference about the benefits of college in prison

By Maddie Khaw / March 22, 2023

The Emerson Prison Initiative will hold its first conference Friday, featuring various speakers and panels discussing the statistics, benefits, and experiences...

A display in the Lion's Den displays influential women throughout the month of March.

Students and faculty reflect on International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month

By Maddie Khaw / March 8, 2023

International Women’s Day is a “global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.” The day falls on March...

Boston students gather to protest gun violence

Boston students gather to protest gun violence

By Maddie Khaw and Arthur Mansavage / March 2, 2023

Emerson students joined demonstrators from other Boston universities in front of the Massachusetts State House on Feb. 24 to call for stricter gun control...

Media Technologies and Production to host third annual blood drive

Media Technologies and Production to host third annual blood drive

By Olivia LeDuc and Maddie Khaw / March 1, 2023

This Friday, March 3, students can donate blood to the American Red Cross in the third annual blood drive sponsored by Emerson’s Media Technologies and...

Emerson students can listen in to "The Round Room" podcast to be informed about international news by their peers, Monica Rivera Sosa and Natalie Vasileff.

‘From students, for students’: Students create podcast to inform about international events

By Maddie Khaw / February 15, 2023

When Monica Rivera Sosa first moved to the mainland United States from Puerto Rico, she noticed that people around her didn’t seem to talk or care much...

A dancer in a rabbit mask leads the procession of lion dancers into Phillips Square.

Boston’s Chinatown honors the Year of the Rabbit with annual parade

By Maddie Khaw and Tara Nguyen / February 1, 2023

Colorful lion dancers, clanging cymbals, and authentic food filled the streets of Chinatown on Sunday as thousands gathered to celebrate the Lunar New...

Starting Feb. 1, Dumpling Daughter will operate from the grill in the Lion's Den.

‘Comforting, simple, and delicious’: Dumpling Daughter to be served on campus next month

By Maddie Khaw / January 25, 2023

Students hungry for traditional dumplings and buns soon won’t have to venture off campus for authentic Chinese cuisine; Dumpling Daughter, the college’s...

An Emerson College Police car.

Incident Journal: ECPD issues community advisory, responds to theft and larceny reports

By Maddie Khaw / December 12, 2022

The Emerson College Police Department provides the Incident Journal to The Beacon every week. Beacon staff edit the Incident Journal for style and clarity...

Students applaud Biden marijuana pardons

Students applaud Biden marijuana pardons

By Maddie Khaw / November 9, 2022

Last month, President Joe Biden pardoned thousands of people convicted of marijuana possession at the federal level. Emerson students and experts alike...

The first cohort of students graduated from MCI-Concord Sept. 27

Emerson Prison Initiative graduates first cohort of students

By Maddie Khaw / October 5, 2022

On Mondays, Robb Eason’s entry to his classroom looks a little bit different than usual. Instead of entering Walker or Tufte building and tapping...

An ECPD patrol vehicle.

Incident Journal: ECPD responds to fire alarms, provides medical assistance

By Maddie Khaw / September 26, 2022

The Emerson College Police Department provides the Incident Journal to The Beacon every week. Beacon staff edit the Incident Journal for style and clarity...

Emerson Flows, resident assistants lobby for accessible reproductive resources

Emerson Flows, resident assistants lobby for accessible reproductive resources

By Maddie Khaw / September 21, 2022

If you menstruate, you’ve probably been surprised by your period at some point and been frustrated when you don’t have period products on hand. These...

An Emerson College Police car.

ECPD provides medical assistance, responds to Housing and Residential Education

By Maddie Khaw / September 18, 2022

The Emerson College Police Department provides the Incident Journal to The Beacon every week. Beacon staff edit the Incident Journal for style and clarity...

Emerson's testing site at Tufts Medical Center.

New COVID-19 policies ‘fared well’ over the summer, set to continue this fall

By Maddie Khaw / September 7, 2022

As the fall semester begins, students return to an Emerson with the most relaxed COVID-19 policies since the start of the pandemic. Following a shift...

Students cross the intersection of Boylston St. and Tremont St. in front of the Little Building.

‘I just really fear getting COVID’: students report anxiety with updated COVID policies

By Maddie Khaw / April 20, 2022

COVID-19 precautions have enveloped Emerson’s campus since the onset of the pandemic in 2020. Masks in classrooms, mandatory weekly COVID tests, and...

Emerson's Center for Health and Wellness will merge with its Center for Psychological Services. Photo by Maddie Khaw.

ECAPS and CHW continue merging process, seek suggestions for naming new department

By Maddie Khaw / April 13, 2022

When Brendan Walker reached out to Emerson’s Counseling and Psychological Services as a first-year student, he was connected with a counselor within...

Emerson's media gallery. Photo by Maddie Khaw.

Emerson Contemporary awarded grant to improve campus art galleries

By Maeve Lawler and Maddie Khaw / March 23, 2022

Emerson received a $114,000 grant from a Massachusetts-based foundation last year, intended to help improve the art galleries of Emerson Contemporary. The...