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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

The Beacon documented campus life in a year that brought a pandemic, presidential election, and nationwide civil rights movement.

2020 in review: The biggest Beacon stories from a year marked by tumult

By Diti Kohli / December 31, 2020

Call 2020 unprecedented. Isolating. Terrifying. But it’s one year no one will soon forget.  Emerson operated as normal for a few short months, abruptly...

Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker.

Massachusetts reports 6,887 new coronavirus cases, highest single day total of pandemic

By Charlie McKenna / December 31, 2020

Massachusetts reported 6,887 new coronavirus cases Thursday, a drastic rise from the 6,135 new infections reported Wednesday and the highest single-day...

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker.

Massachusetts reports 6,135 new coronavirus cases

By Charlie McKenna / December 30, 2020

Massachusetts reported 6,135 new coronavirus cases Wednesday, a drastic rise from the 3,659 new infections reported Tuesday. The death toll rose by 118. Wednesday’s...

Cameron Manning helping students move into Little Building at the beginning of the Fall 2020 semester

Emerson delays start of in-person classes, residence hall move-in schedule, citing COVID surge

By Charlie McKenna / December 30, 2020

Emerson will hold the first ten days of spring semester classes online and delay move-in to on-campus residence halls by a week, President M. Lee Pelton...

Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker.

Massachusetts reports 3,659 new coronavirus cases

By Charlie McKenna / December 29, 2020

Massachusetts reported 3,659 new coronavirus cases Tuesday, down from the 4,060 new infections reported Monday. The death toll rose by 58. The recent...

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker

Massachusetts reports 4,060 new coronavirus cases

By Charlie McKenna / December 28, 2020

Massachusetts reported 4,060 new coronavirus cases Monday, a dramatic rise from the 2,973 new infections reported Sunday. The death toll rose by 48. The...

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker.

Massachusetts reports 2,973 new coronavirus cases

By Charlie McKenna / December 27, 2020

Massachusetts reported 2,973 new coronavirus cases Sunday, marking the first time single day infections have fallen below 3,000 since Dec. 7. The state...

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker.

Massachusetts reports 7,424 new coronavirus cases

By Charlie McKenna / December 26, 2020

Massachusetts reported 7,424 new coronavirus cases and 46 deaths over a two-day period Saturday, as new infections in the state continue to hit record...

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker.

Massachusetts reports 5,655 new coronavirus cases

By Charlie McKenna / December 24, 2020

Massachusetts reported 5,655 new coronavirus cases Thursday, a dramatic rise from the 4,509 new infections reported Wednesday. The death toll rose by 76. The...

Gov. Charlie Baker speaks to the media after receiving a flu shot at a CVS in Roslindale on September 17, 2020 in Boston, MA.

Massachusetts reports 4,509 new coronavirus cases

By Charlie McKenna / December 23, 2020

Massachusetts reported 4,509 new coronavirus cases Wednesday, a dramatic rise from the 3,293 new infections reported Tuesday. The death total rose by 81. The...

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker.

Massachusetts reports 3,293 new coronavirus cases

By Charlie McKenna / December 22, 2020

Massachusetts reported 3,293 new coronavirus cases Tuesday, down from the 3,760 new infections reported Monday. The death total rose by 43. The state’s...

A worker dispensing salt along the Washington and Boylston Street intersection.

11 ways to celebrate the holiday season COVID-free

By Karissa Schaefer, Assistant Living Arts Editor / December 22, 2020

Decorating, family time, movies, shopping, and holiday food are just a few hallmarks of the holiday season. But in a normal year, no one has to account...

Governor Charlie Baker takes questions from the media at Mill City BBQ and Brew in Lowell, MA, September 23, 2020.

Massachusetts reports 3,760 new coronavirus cases

By Charlie McKenna / December 21, 2020

Massachusetts reported 3,760 new coronavirus cases Monday, down from the 4,192 new infections reported Sunday. The death total rose by 41. The state’s...

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker.

Massachusetts reports 4,162 new coronavirus cases

By Charlie McKenna / December 20, 2020

Massachusetts reported 4,162 new coronavirus cases and 60 deaths Sunday, as new infections in the state continue to hit record highs. Sunday is the...

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker.

Massachusetts reports 3,995 new coronavirus cases

By Charlie McKenna / December 19, 2020

Massachusetts reported 3,995 new coronavirus cases and 47 deaths Saturday, as new infections in the state continue to hit record highs. Saturday’s...

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker.

Massachusetts coronavirus case total surges past 300,000

By Charlie McKenna / December 18, 2020

Massachusetts reported 5,632 new coronavirus cases Friday, up significantly from the 4,985 new infections reported Thursday. The death total rose by 53. The...

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker.

Massachusetts reports 4,985 new coronavirus cases

By Charlie McKenna / December 17, 2020

Massachusetts reported 4,985 new coronavirus cases Thursday, down from the 5,450 new infections reported Wednesday. The state’s death total rose by 44. New...

Emerson's COVID-19 testing center at the corner of Kneeland Street and Harrison Ave.

Massachusetts reports 5,450 new coronavirus cases

By Charlie McKenna / December 16, 2020

Massachusetts reported 5,450 new coronavirus cases Wednesday, up from the 3,720 new infections reported Tuesday. The state’s death total rose by 71. New...

A sign on the window of Emerson's coronavirus testing site at Tufts Medical Center.

Massachusetts reports 3,720 new coronavirus cases

By Charlie McKenna / December 15, 2020

Massachusetts reported 3,720 new coronavirus cases Tuesday, down from the 3,572 new infections reported Sunday. The state’s death total rose by 55. The...

Gov. Charlie Baker speaks to the media after receiving a flu shot at a CVS in Roslindale on September 17, 2020 in Boston, MA.

Massachusetts reports 3,572 new coronavirus cases

By Charlie McKenna / December 14, 2020

Massachusetts reported 3,572 new coronavirus cases Monday, down from the 4,677 new infections reported Sunday. The state’s death total rose by 37. The...