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Beginning December 18, 2024, Beacon staff will be away from the newsroom for the Emerson College winter break. Daily news coverage will resume on January 13, 2025.
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

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...

Berkeley Beacon Archive

Letter: Emerson: why create programs you don’t want to nurture?

By Avanika Lefcowitz, Guest Author / November 13, 2024
Emerson College announced two new majors in Spring 2022: one of them titled Health and Social Change.
Illustration Rachel Choi

Incoming freshmen carry the targeted violence of last spring with us, and it recontextualizes our futures at Emerson

By Laila Ahmed, Guest Author / October 3, 2024
Late on a Thursday night in September and via phone call, two long-distance friends and I recounted the details of videos that made us cry that past week. 
A poster saying "We Stand with Caleb, Matt, Palestine, Lebanon" lies on the ground before a makeshift memorial in the Boston Garden at a vigil held by the Muslim Justice League on September 25, 2024. The vigil honored the lives of Matt Nelson, who died after self-immolated in front of Boston's Israeli consulate, and Caleb Cannon, who is in serious condition after being shot during a pro-Palestine protest in Newton. (Rian Nelson / Beacon Staff)

Media portrayal matters: A journalist’s role in reporting right now

By Merritt Hughes, Opinion Co-Editor / September 25, 2024
Journalists have always had a lot of influence when it comes to current events. Especially in this digital age of online journalism—aka X, previously Twitter—how a reporter frames a story is vital. 
Illustration Rachel Choi

We are Emerson: Grappling with attending this college

By Merritt Hughes, Opinion Co-Editor / September 18, 2024
I want to be proud of the school I attend, but that feels impossible right now. I am not happy to be so intertwined with Emerson.
The Little Building on a rainy day.

Emerson will house BAC students in the Little Building for one year

By Hannah Nguyen, Editor in Chief / August 1, 2024

Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to include more details about the year-long partnership. Emerson College will provide housing for Boston...

Who are the core leaders behind EmersonTogether?

Letter from the Editor: By the students, for the students

By Sophia Pargas / April 26, 2024
Witnessing such violence and force on my own campus—just two weeks away from leaving it forever—has truly shaken me to the core.
Windwalker Security staff stand in the alley after the College emailed the community Tuesday evening announcing their presence.

‘Popular University Encampment’ continues into third day, college calls for security presence

By Hannah Nguyen / April 24, 2024
The Emerson Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP)’s “Popular University Encampment” in 2 Boylston Alley entered its third day, with more events scheduled.
Students occupy 2B alley at Emerson College in tent encampment

‘Popular University Encampment’ in 2B alleyway enters second day, students host several events

By Hannah Nguyen / April 22, 2024
The Emerson Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP)’s “Popular University Encampment” in 2 Boylston Alley entered its second day on Monday and unveiled a day full of events, including a lecture, presentations, and a community discussion.
Students occupy 2B alley at Emerson College in tent encampment

Students occupy 2B alley, demand college to divest from Israel and call for ceasefire in Gaza

By Hannah Nguyen, Managing Editor / April 21, 2024

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.  Updated on April 22 at 12:09 a.m. Nearly 100 pro-Palestine protesters gathered Sunday evening...

An Emerson College Police car.

Emerson College among nationwide surge in student protest arrests

By Sophia Pargas and Olivia LeDuc / April 11, 2024

Editor’s Note: This story is part of a larger series surrounding the March 22 arrests. If you feel you or someone you know could be a valuable source...

Illustration Kellyn Taylor

Class of 2028, this one’s for you

By Merritt Hughes and Ella Duggan / April 10, 2024

Opinion editors are not responsible for agreeing or disagreeing with their writers but rather elevate each individual’s specific voice.  We’re...

Op-Ed: All burn, no heart

Op-Ed: All burn, no heart

By Cal Mazumder / April 3, 2024

On the verge of a good night’s rest after nearly a week of stressing over legal proceedings, academic discipline, and classes, I saw Jay Bernhardt’s...

Emerson's downtown Boston campus.

College to host webinar on Israel-Palestine conflict on March 25

By Hannah Nguyen, Managing Editor / March 20, 2024
The college will be sponsoring an educational webinar for the Emerson community on March 25 that will address the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict, according to a community-wide email sent by college officials.
Courtesy FSJP

Letter to the Editor: Faculty and Staff for Justice in Palestine stands in solidarity

By Faculty and Staff for Justice in Palestine, Guest Author / March 6, 2024

On Feb. 28, the Berkeley Beacon published a “Letter to the Editor” from Anna Feder, Emerson’s head of Film Exhibition and Festival Programs,...

Why is it so hard to talk about Palestine?

Letter to the Editor: Why is it so hard to talk about Palestine?

By Anna Feder, Guest Author / February 28, 2024
To my Emerson College community,  I want to frame this editorial by saying that I am a proud Jew.
Kasteel Well students prepare to participate in the Carnival festivities.

Kasteel Well students connect with community in Carnival celebration

By Jordan Pagkalinawan / February 22, 2024

While Americans geared up for Super Bowl 58, Emerson students studying abroad at Kasteel Well prepared for a different celebration—participating in the...

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...

Dr. Gregory Payne, chair of the Communication Studies Department, is in his office during an interview with the Berkeley Beacon, where he reflects on his 40th anniversary teaching at Emerson and the years ahead. (DJ Mara/Beacon Staff)

Dr. Gregory Payne celebrates his 40th anniversary of teaching Emerson ‘change agents’

By DJ Mara / February 21, 2024

Dr. Gregory Payne, chair of the Communication Studies Department, celebrated his 40th anniversary of teaching at Emerson College earlier this month, a...

Mass Communication and Television students in a news control room on April 7, 1986. (Photo courtesy of the Emerson College Archives & Special Collections)

Boylston, Beacons, and Broadcasting: The long and complex history of the Emerson Journalism Department

By Bryan Hecht, Assistant News Editor / February 14, 2024

The journalism major at Emerson College has become an attractive destination for media-inclined undergrads as it consistently ranks highly among college...