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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

Illustration by Rachel Choi.

Nothing could have prepared me for the Kasteel Well culture shock

By Rumsha Siddiqui, Beacon Staff / November 15, 2023

Adjusting to a new environment is never easy. My semester studying abroad at Emerson College’s Kasteel Well campus has made that obvious. In the 1980s,...

The Berkeley Beacon releases first  diversity audit in the organization’s  75-year history

The Berkeley Beacon releases first diversity audit in the organization’s 75-year history

January 13, 2022

Since fall 2020, when The Beacon saw more than a dozen staff resignations as a result of a toxic, racially-insensitive newsroom culture, we have been working...

Kiran Deol, a South Asian American comedian, actress, and filmmaker.

Comedian Kiran Deol emphasizes need for diversity in comedy ahead of upcoming show

By Mariyam Quaisar / October 27, 2021

Like many industries in the US, the comedic arts are dominated by white males, making it especially noteworthy and necessary when women of color take the...

Mariyam Quaisar poses during a photoshoot.

Emerson’s promises of diversity fell short for me

By Mariyam Quaisar, Living Arts editor / October 11, 2021

TW: This story contains mentions of racism, hate speech, and strong language I decided early that whatever college I attended had to have a diverse...

Diti Kohli is the Editor-in-Chief of The Beacon.

Letter from the Editor: Where we’re at and what we still have to do

By Diti Kohli / November 19, 2020

The Beacon’s first print issue of the semester in early September initiated a wave of resignations from almost 20 staff members. Some felt deeply mistreated...

Former SGA Executive President Will Palauskas at an academic town hall in 2018.

SGA academic town hall tackles diversity, burnout

By Frankie Rowley / November 12, 2020

The Student Government Association’s third annual academic town hall Oct. 27 played host to discussions about diversity within several academic departments...

Black Lives Matter protestors chant as they walked up Bowdoin St. approaching the State House.

For a more equitable community (and newsroom)

By Editorial Board / June 19, 2020

On June 1, as inklings of warm summer air crept in, a massive protest overtook the streets of Boston, just steps from Emerson’s campus. Demonstrators...

In 2009, Roberts considered applying to doctorate programs when she and her cousin discovered a letter from the early 1900s at her grandmother’s house from a woman inquiring about a teaching position. Rachel Lo / Beacon Staff.

New staff member holds diversity workshops for faculty

By Ann E. Matica / November 9, 2019

In October 2017, 300 student protesters stormed a faculty assembly meeting chanting, “No more oppression, no microaggressions,” and demanding administrative...

"I mostly stayed silent because I found myself unable to join discussions about how the case can affect 'our' society and 'our' legal system." / Illustration by Ally Rzesa

Patriotic language in class leaves international students behind

By Xinyan Fu / September 25, 2019

During the beginning of my first semester at Emerson, Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh and his alleged sexual misconduct were all over the news. As...

EDITORIAL: Black History Month deserves more attention at Emerson

EDITORIAL: Black History Month deserves more attention at Emerson

By Editorial Board / February 28, 2019

At issue: Black History Month on campus Our take: The college needs to formally recognize the celebration   Emerson College lacks its own...

I know everyone I meet will not have the same interest in learning to say my name correctly. / Illustration by Ally Rzesa

Op-ed: Unfamiliar names deserve proper pronounciation

By Ziqi Wang / January 23, 2019

While working in the journalism office last week, my boss asked me to make a list of a few common sounds in Chinese names that professors might find...

While literature is a vital aspect of the major, this number of required courses is excessive for those who gravitate toward the publishing or writing side of the spectrum. / Illustration by Ally Rzesa

Major Thoughts: there’s more than the ‘L’ in WLP

By Erin Wood / January 23, 2019

I chose Emerson because the writing, literature and publishing major offers a diverse curriculum with a focus on a variety of careers in the literary...

Schools should judge students on the qualities they can control and nothing else. / Illustration by Ally Rzesa

Op-ed: Admitting students for more than their race

By Ziqi Wang / November 8, 2018

Last August, several Asian-American students who Harvard rejected during fall 2018 filed a lawsuit accusing the institution for discriminating against...

Logging on to feel less alone

Logging on to feel less alone

By Andrew Stanton / April 18, 2018

As a confused, gay teenager, lacking any support from family or peers, I did what any other young member of the LGBTQ community would—I logged onto...

Pictured above, Performing Arts Department Chair Bob Colby.

Permanent cultural committee addresses diversity and bias

By Parker Purifoy / April 9, 2018

Members of the Educational Equity and Justice Committee have focused on the bias response program and worked with the Social Justice Center to construct...

Vice President for the Social Justice Center Sylvia Spears formed a research group to find data on representation of different demographics at the college. Photo: Beacon Archives

New SJC position to handle faculty diversity training

By Parker Purifoy / April 4, 2018

The Social Justice Center and Academic Affairs are recruiting applicants for a new position aimed at helping faculty create a more inclusive classroom...

College expands overnight multicultural program

By Noel Gasca / February 11, 2018

The Office of Admissions is expanding its effort to attract more students from different cultures to campus through the Multicultural Perspective Overnight...

Consultant examines college-student communication

By Parker Purifoy / February 5, 2018

The college hired an independent consultant on a one-time contract to analyze communications between students and the administration in the wake of the...

Letter to the Editor: Student response to “What’s in a name?”

By Letter to the editor / February 1, 2018

Last week, the Berkeley Beacon editorial board published an article titled “What’s in a name?” examining recent name changes of the Educational Equity...

Editorial: What’s in a name?

Editorial: What’s in a name?

By Editorial Board / January 25, 2018

At issue: College jargon surrounding issues of inequality Our take: Name changes don’t guarantee action This week, faculty assembly voted to create...