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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

An Emerson College banner on the side of The Colonial Building on Boylston street. (Arthur Mansavage/ Beacon Staff, File)

Emerson doubles down on commitment to protect undocumented, international students

By Yogev Toby, Projects Editor / January 26, 2025

President Donald Trump’s vows for mass deportation and expansion of immigration law enforcement powers have generated hundreds of arrests across the...

Trump supporters watching the inauguration live stream outside of the U.S. Capitol on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (Rian Nelson/ Beacon Staff)

As a second Trump term unfolds, Emerson watches as future of work sponsorships, DEI hang in balance

By Adam Nuñez, Staff Writer / January 22, 2025

As former President Joe Biden peacefully transferred power to President Donald Trump on Jan. 20, Emerson community members described feelings of uncertainty,...

A crowd of roughly one thousand people stood outside the Capitol inauguration morning, echoing the president’s sentiments about a coming “golden age of America.” (Rian Nelson/Beacon Staff)

Emerson students from Republican-led states share concerns of second Trump presidency

By Merritt Hughes, Dept. Campus Editor / January 22, 2025

President Donald Trump’s first few days in office came with a slew of executive orders and policy changes. He notably declared a state of emergency at...

John McCarrick brushes snow off his car on Commonwealth Avenue. in Boston on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (Arthur Mansavage/Beacon Staff)

Photos: Overnight winter storm blankets Downtown Boston with nearly half a foot of snow

A quick but strong winter storm swept across the East Coast Sunday night bringing nearly five inches of snow to Downtown Boston.  Overnight, between...

The Emerson College visitor center on Boylston street. (Arthur Mansavage / Beacon Staff, File)

Letter from the Editor: Moving forward, together

By Adri Pray, Editor-in-Chief / January 15, 2025
The Berkeley Beacon is, and has always been, an ever-evolving community effort. 
(Iselin Bratz/ Beacon Staff)

Favoritism, blacklisting threats, and a ‘toxic culture’: Allegations of mistreatment shake Emerson Stage artistic director

By Iselin Bratz, News Editor / January 15, 2025

At a routine evening rehearsal last fall for “POTUS,” a student-led Emerson Stage production, recent graduate and on-set observational director Emma...

A cloud of smoke from the Palisades fire billows over a hill near the neighborhood of Encino on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025. (Riley Goldman/ Beacon Staff)

As the LA wildfires encroach on Southern California, ELA proceeds as planned

By Iselin Bratz, Madalyn Jimiera and Jordan Pagkalinawan / January 12, 2025

As wildfires continue to rage in Southern California this week, students, faculty, and staff expecting to start the spring semester at Emerson Los Angeles...

Haze from the Sunset Fires seen around the famed Hollywood sign on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (Riley Goldman/ For the Beacon)

Emerson Los Angeles building evacuated ‘preemptively’ due to proximity to Southern California fires

By Iselin Bratz, News Editor / January 9, 2025

The Emerson Los Angeles building was “preemptively evacuated” Wednesday night as a precaution against the growing wildfire in the Hollywood Hills,...

Food For Free workers organize the Emerson dining hall donation alongside Bon Appetit District Manager Dawn Sajdyk on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024.

Over 300 pounds of food donated by Emerson to Food For Free last fall

By Sam Shipman / January 8, 2025

Emerson students finishing their meal in the dining hall often throw the remains of their scraps into the compost bin, but where do the seemingly endless...

Students working on a set in a visual and media arts course.

Emerson’s VMA major becomes first ARRI-certified film program in New England

By Max Ardrey, Dept. Living Arts Editor / December 28, 2024

Emerson College earned an accreditation with the ARRI Certified Film School Program, a global leader in the development of film equipment and technologies,...

100 of the best photos from Beacon photographers in 2024

100 of the best photos from Beacon photographers in 2024

By Arthur Mansavage, Photography Editor / December 28, 2024

From on-campus protests to the 2024 presidential election, Beacon photographers told stories when words could not, gave unique perspectives into the...

Nora Onanian receiving her award, "Courage, Grit, and Determination in Successful Journalism Degree Completion" on December 16, 2024. Left to right: Douglas Struck, Christine Onanian, David Onanian, Nora Onanian (front).

Nora Kate Onanian, Emerson journalism student, remembered as ‘impactful’ and an ‘inspiration’ by classmates, professors

By Merritt Hughes, Dept. Campus Editor / December 27, 2024

In the early morning hours on Christmas Eve, Nora Kate Onanian, 22, an Emerson journalism student who graduated weeks ago, passed away at her house surrounded...

Presidents, union recognitions, and protests: These are the top Beacon stories of 2024

Presidents, union recognitions, and protests: These are the top Beacon stories of 2024

By DJ Mara and Adri Pray / December 27, 2024
2024 was a year marked by turbulent and unprecedented events on the local and global stage—and Emerson wasn’t spared some national moments.
The Emerson College visitor center on Boylston street. (Arthur Mansavage / Beacon Staff, File)

Emerson encourages international students to return early from winter break ahead of Trump inauguration

By Hannah Brueske, Dept. Projects Editor / December 23, 2024

The Office of International Students Affairs (OISA) is urging international Emerson students to “seriously consider” returning to the United States...

Emerson Colleges' Little Building and Colonial Building on Boylston street. (Arthur Mansavage/ Beacon Staff, File)

Emerson College declines staff union’s request to voluntarily recognize new bargain unit in the Office of the Arts

By Hannah Nguyen, Editor in Chief / December 14, 2024

The college has declined Emerson Staff Union’s request to voluntarily recognize staff in the Office of the Arts as union members. The bargaining unit...

A student holding a bunny poses for a photo during the Relaxapalooza event in the  Iwasaki Library on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (Abigail Hoyt/ Beacon Correspondent)

‘Relaxapalooza changed my life’: Iwasaki Library offers students the ultimate de-stressing event

By Hannah Brueske, Staff Writer / December 12, 2024

Two massage therapists, three bunnies, and numerous arts and crafts stations walked into Emerson’s Iwasaki Library, and Relaxapalooza was born.  Though...

Paul Dworkis poses for a photo inside of the newly completed fitness center on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. (Arthur Mansavage/ Beacon Staff)

Always ‘an Emersonian,’ Paul Dworkis, CFO, departs Emerson after five years

By Hannah Nguyen, Editor in Chief / December 12, 2024

For Paul Dworkis, being an Emersonian came almost naturally.  “I didn’t start at Emerson until December [2019], but I actually started working...

Vice President, Student Affairs Christie Anglade. (courtesy Derek Palmer for EmersonToday)

Christie Anglade named Emerson’s next vice president of student affairs

By Sam Shipman, Assistant News Editor / December 4, 2024

Christie Anglade will become the college’s next vice president of Student Affairs beginning Dec. 15, after temporarily serving the position for six...

Katrina Kusa, a sophomore VMA major at Emerson College, is preparing for the Miss Massachusetts USA pageant. (Yufei Meng/Beacon Staff)

VMA sophomore prepares to compete in the Miss Massachusetts USA pageant

By Bridget Frawley, Staff Writer / February 21, 2024

Scrolling through TikTok in the car, Katrina Kusa saw a video about the Miss Massachusetts USA beauty pageant. She turned to her mom and asked if she thought...

Nostalgic for Harvard: it's not what you think

Nostalgic for Harvard: it’s not what you think

By Bryan Liu, Assistant Opinion Editor / February 23, 2023

I hate CC100: Foundations of Speech Communications—and that has nothing to do with my teacher or my classmates; it’s me, hi, I’m the problem, it’s...