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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

A student moving out of their dorm building.

Students devastated after college decides to send them home

By Aaron J. Miller and Tomas Gonzalez / March 13, 2020

Junior Joe Davidi said he will submit a request to stay on Emerson’s Boston campus despite the college asking students to leave because of fears of him...

Chris Van Buskirk, Editor, The Berkeley Beacon

Letter from the Editor: The world is changing

By Chris Van Buskirk / March 13, 2020

The view from the third floor of 172 Tremont St. may not look different from only a week ago but the tone and anxiety permeating Boston is tangible.  Excuse...

First year students left to right: Carrie Aubin, Chloe Shaar, Eva Charbonnnier, and Isabella Espejo, calling their parents about the college's decision to shut the Boston campus down.

College asks students to leave dorms, moves ELA classes online

By Parker Purifoy and Chris Van Buskirk / March 13, 2020

The college announced that all students must vacate campus residence halls in both Boston and Los Angeles by March 20—a dramatic reversal of an earlier...

Latest Updates on the COVID-19 crisis

Latest Updates on the COVID-19 crisis

March 12, 2020

Friday, April 3 College implements new student employment process  The college is going to automatically pay seven hours worth of compensation per...

Expectation vs Reality: The mental and emotional impact of studying abroad

Expectation vs Reality: The mental and emotional impact of studying abroad

By Lara Hill / March 11, 2020

A few weekends ago, I went bar hopping with my friends in Amsterdam. You would probably expect me to be dancing and singing to the reggaeton music playing...

"It’s sad, really, that I’m numb to these things. So numb that when I saw the video of George Floyd’s murder, I didn’t feel surprised, angry, frustrated, or sad."

Solved: The Myth of Reverse Racism

By Melanie Curry / March 11, 2020

A few weeks ago, I scrolled on my TikTok “For You” page and stumbled across a video of a white girl claiming that every race can be racist.  I...

When relationships inevitably did disintegrate pre-social media, they were more easily forgettable. Now, even if someone is no longer in my life, they are still just a few clicks away.

Strapped for Cash: The financial aid system is broken

By Juliet Norman / March 11, 2020

Every year when October rolls around, I dread filling out the application for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly known as the FAFSA.  It...

Freshman Santha Rowles said she is worried her production classes will lose value online.

A day filled with uncertainty finds students reacting to online classes

By Andrew Brinker, Aaron J. Miller and Tomas Gonzalez / March 10, 2020

A mix of emotions gripped students Tuesday evening after President M. Lee Pelton announced the transition of all classes to remote instruction following...

LGBTQ+ activist and nuclear engineer Sam Brinton speaks at event hosted by Emerson organizations.

EAGLE and Active Minds host event on LGBTQ+ mental health

By Katiana Hoefle / March 10, 2020

Teary-eyed Emerson students sat in the Beard Room on Feb. 25 and listened to Sam Brinton, a nuclear engineer and LGBTQ+ activist, tell their “elevator...

Students crossing the bustling Boylston/Tremont intersection.

College transitions classes online, dorms to remain open amid COVID-19 outbreak

By Parker Purifoy and Chris Van Buskirk / March 10, 2020

Emerson College joined on Tuesday a series of universities and colleges across the state that have transitioned classes online in response to the rapidly...

Letter: Secrecy at Marlboro College

Letter: Secrecy at Marlboro College

By Rebecca Boyden / March 9, 2020

Rebecca Boyden is a former resident of Marlboro whose father was a teacher, Dean, Trustee and Acting President at Marlboro College for over 30 years I...

Letter: Elections Shenanigans unacceptable

Letter: Elections Shenanigans unacceptable

By Brad Dye / March 9, 2020

Brad Dye graduated from Emerson College in 2006 and served as the Student Government Association's elections commissioner for three years.  As the...

Beacon Archives

College bans travel to five countries amid COVID-19 fears

By Jacob Seitz / March 8, 2020

The college announced Sunday that it will eliminate college-funded travel to five countries in response to the rapidly spreading COVID-19, commonly known...

President M. Lee Pelton speaking to students who were forced to evacuate the Netherlands during the Spring 2020 semester after COVID-19 spread rapidly around the world. Pelton expressed support for the "Defund the Police" initiative Tuesday, saying that the police are overly militarized and the system needs overhauled, in a virtual panel with Commonwealth Magazine.

Kasteel Well students return amid Coronavirus concerns

By Katie Redefer, Kasteel Well Editor / March 6, 2020

Kasteel Well students trudged bleary-eyed through the rain at 4:00 a.m Central European Time on Friday to board a bus to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, beginning...

Beacon Archives

Pelton announces precautionary measures against coronavirus outbreak

By Andrew Brinker, Deputy Express News Editor / March 2, 2020

The college has prepared a contingency plan and will review the safety procedures of its vendors in an effort to prepare the community for the rapidly...

The college gathered all Kasteel Well students in the dining hall Monday evening to announce the cancellation of the program.

Kasteel Well students to return to Boston after outbreak of Coronavirus

By Lara Hill and Katie Redefer / March 2, 2020

WELL, NETHERLANDS—The college will send Kasteel Well students back to the Boston campus later this week due to the rapid increase in COVID-19 cases,...

Firefighters attempt to extinguish a fire that broke out next to Emerson College's Los Angeles campus.

Building burst into fire next to Emerson Los Angeles campus

By Dana Gerber / March 2, 2020

No injuries were reported in a building fire across the street from Emerson’s Los Angeles campus Sunday, officials said.  The college instructed...

Marlboro updating Title IX policies months ahead of proposed merger

Marlboro updating Title IX policies months ahead of proposed merger

By Jacob Seitz / February 28, 2020

Marlboro College is set to adopt meticulous changes to its Title IX policy, with less than 12 weeks left in what is set to be the institution’s final...

Photo credit: Jakob Menendez

Basketball shows up strong for NEWMAC Academic All-Conference

By Emily Cardona / February 26, 2020

The men’s and women’s basketball team earned 13 spots on the NEWMAC Academic All-Conference teams for the 2019-2020 season. The 13 student...

Prioritize student safety amid COVID-19 concerns

Prioritize student safety amid COVID-19 concerns

By Editorial Board, The Berkeley Beacon / February 26, 2020

Kasteel Well officials announced on Feb. 24 that they canceled their planned four-day mandatory academic excursion to Milan, Italy, and barred students...