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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

Soledad O'Brien speaking to graduates during 2019's commencement ceremony.

Emerson Class of 2020 commencement pushed to next year

By Diana Bravo / July 31, 2020

The classes of 2020 and 2021 will share a commencement weekend in May 2021, the college announced Friday Both commencement ceremonies will take place...

Who are the core leaders behind EmersonTogether?

Emerson Reopening: What we know so far

By Charlie McKenna and Diana Bravo / July 28, 2020

Over the past several months, Emerson has been slowly doling out new information on what on-campus life at the college will look like in the fall through...

We’re putting faculty and staff in danger

We’re putting faculty and staff in danger

By Editorial Board / July 28, 2020

In a world toppled by the COVID-19 pandemic, Emerson administration gave students a choice: return to an altered campus and participate in a mix of in-person...

The Emerson Los Angeles campus.

Los Angeles program forced to begin online amid coronavirus spike

By Charlie McKenna / July 26, 2020

Los Angeles County officials have not given the college’s LA campus clearance to reopen in late August as originally scheduled, forcing administrators...

I need to know that, when the lives of people with disabilities are placed in students’ hands, students will do everything in their power to keep those of us with disabilities—visible or not—safe.

Don’t be the reason someone gets COVID-19

By Greyson Acquaviva / July 25, 2020

Around this time each year since I officially entered Emerson, I’ve always found myself coming to campus with a certain worry.  As an incoming first-year...

The new restrictions could force the college to alter its reopening plan.

New state travel restrictions could throw reopening plan into disarray

By Charlie McKenna / July 24, 2020

Travelers entering Massachusetts will have to quarantine for 14 days upon their arrival unless coming from a state with a lower COVID-19 risk than Massachusetts,...

Smruti Thirunavukkarasu has been stuck in her home in Chennai, India for four months under the state’s second strict lockdown.

Smruti Thirunavukkarasu, Chennai, India

July 23, 2020

Smruti Thirunavukkarasu has been stuck in her home for four months.  Shortly after returning home to Chennai, India from Boston in March, the Indian...

Daniela Lobo-Rivera is stuck in Florida, unable to get home to her mother and step-father in Honduras who are sick with the coronavirus.

Daniela Lobo-Rivera, currently in Miami, Florida, from Tegucigalpa, Honduras

July 23, 2020

When Daniela Lobo-Rivera’s parents got sick, she couldn’t get back to them. Her home country, Honduras, halted all international flights as Emerson...

Danielle Ducharme has decided to get her racing license with the extended free time she has over the summer waiting out the coronavirus outbreak.

Danielle Ducharme, Kelowna, Canada

July 23, 2020

Danielle Ducharme is waiting out the coronavirus on a racetrack in Kelowna, Canada. With extended time at home this summer, Ducharme, her father, and...

Xinyi Tu did not remove her mask and refused to eat during her 13 hour flight from New York to Shanghai, China as she raced to outrun the coronavirus outbreak.

Xinyi (Cynthia) Tu, Suzhou, China

July 23, 2020

Xinyu Tu raced across the world to outrun the coronavirus outbreak. After her study abroad experience in the Netherlands at Kasteel Well came to an...

Chloe Chauvin is cut off from her family in China by travel restrictions. Photo courtesy of Eugene Yang.

Chloe Chauvin, currently in Wyoming, from Shanghai, China

July 23, 2020

Chloe Chauvin is stranded in the U.S. After Emerson’s March announcement that all students must immediately vacate campus residence halls, Chauvin...

Jaime Vega Troncoso after voting in the Dominican Republic presidential election against the Dominican Liberation Party, which has held power for the last 16 years.

Jaime Vega Troncoso, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

July 23, 2020

Jaime Vega Troncoso risked contracting the virus to vote in the Dominican Republic’s July election. The coronavirus hit the island country amid their...

Putthida Chalermpao said the coronavirus regulations in Thailand have not been too difficult to follow because Thai people usually wear masks and avoid contact.

Putthida (Namo) Chalermpao, Bangkok, Thailand

July 23, 2020

Putthida Chalermpao’s parents were terrified of her returning to Emerson’s Boston campus in the fall. From their home in Bangkok, Thailand, a condensed...

I did so many things to create a sense of belonging for myself in this unfamiliar country by empowering myself with knowledge and experience, only to learn that the future I wanted for so long might not even exist, and this country does not welcome people like me.

The U.S. I wanted to study in no longer exists

By Ziqi Wang / July 8, 2020

My boyfriend texted me right after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced on Monday that international students would need to leave the U.S....

College commits to hard deadline to decide fall semester options

College commits to hard deadline to decide fall semester options

By Diana Bravo, Staff Writer / May 22, 2020

A decision regarding what the fall semester will look like is expected to come by June 12, according to a community-wide email from President M. Lee Pelton...

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

Emerson COVID-19 working groups to announce fate of fall semester by July 1

By Charlie McKenna / May 14, 2020

Correction: Tim Riley, associate journalism professor and a consulting member of one of COVID-19 working groups, erroneously told The Beacon that the college...

Kaitlyn Fehr

Isolated castle or populous city: I felt safer at Kasteel Well

By Kaitlyn Fehr / April 8, 2020

On March 6, all 81 Kasteel Well students were brought back to Boston by the college due to rising concerns about the spread of COVID-19. We were told this...

Faculty vote to support pass/fail policy for undergraduate students

Faculty vote to support pass/fail policy for undergraduate students

By Parker Purifoy, Digital Managing Editor / March 31, 2020

Faculty Assembly overwhelmingly voted to support a policy that will give undergraduate students a pass/fail option for their classes during their meeting...

Emerson launches initiative to rebuild the community in upcoming academic year

Two students test positive for COVID-19 as Massachusetts cases surge

By Dana Gerber and Belen Dumont / March 31, 2020

Two Emerson students have tested positive for COVID-19 and are currently recovering in isolation at home, according to a campus-wide email sent Tuesday...

A view of Emerson's Dining Center from the Boylston Place alley.

A desolate Boston campus is the new reality for remaining students

By Dana Gerber, Assistant Enterprise News Editor / March 28, 2020

One month ago, sophomore Maximo Lawlor served as president at Phi Alpha Tau meetings, wrote for Raiz Magazine, and co-captained the tennis team. Now, he...