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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, Former Copyeditor/Photographer / 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...

Letter: What will we do with our fear?

Letter: What will we do with our fear?

By Kim McLarin, Associate Professor and Graduate Program Director / July 30, 2020

Kim McLarin is a writing, literature, and publishing associate professor and a graduate program director. Dear Emerson Community, These are frightening...

A man walking past the W Hotel on Stuart St.

W hotel to be used as temporary residence for more than 200 students

By Charlie McKenna / July 30, 2020

The college intends to house more than 200 students in the W hotel this semester, a measure being taken to accommodate social distancing on campus amid...

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 college's positivity rate sits at 0.17 percent after 576 tests.

Emerson reopening plan not affected by new Mass. regulations

By Charlie McKenna / July 27, 2020

Emerson will not adjust its reopening plan as it already satisfies new quarantine and testing regulations announced by Gov. Charlie Baker Friday, the college...

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...

Emerson's Paramount theater.

Faculty members denounce reopening plan, citing ‘glaring’ safety concerns

By Domenic Conte, Former Sports Columnist / July 25, 2020

In the month since Emerson announced its hybrid learning plan for the fall semester, a chorus of faculty voices have questioned its logistics and practicality,...

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, Staff Photographer / 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 old student mailroom in the basement of the Colonial Building.

Student mailroom to move from Colonial to Little Building

By Charlie McKenna / July 24, 2020

The college will move the mailroom out of the Colonial Building basement and into the first floor of the Little Building before the beginning of the fall...

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 24, 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 24, 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 24, 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 24, 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 24, 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 24, 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 24, 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...

College to mandate weekly self-swab COVID-19 testing for students in the fall

College to mandate weekly self-swab COVID-19 testing for students in the fall

By Andrew Brinker, Former Senior Investigative Reporter / July 16, 2020

Emerson will provide all students with weekly self-swab COVID-19 testing in the fall, along with a baseline test upon arrival to campus, a college official...

Emerson's Los Angeles campus.

ELA program in flux amid soaring case numbers in LA County

By Charlie McKenna / July 10, 2020

The Emerson Los Angeles program may begin the fall semester online and later transition to in-person classes, according to an email sent to ELA students...