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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

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, Dept. Metro Editor / 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, Kasteel Well Bureau Chief / 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...

Photo courtesy of Jumpstart MarComm

Emerson’s Jumpstart program provides students with early education opportunities

By Bridget Frawley, Staff Writer / February 14, 2024

Tucked between Piano Row and the Shaking Crab is the Elma Lewis Center at 148 Boylston. The office space serves as the headquarters for Jumpstart at Emerson,...

Illustration by Meg Richards.

What the hell does “The South” even mean?

By Meg Richards, Managing Editor / December 13, 2023

There are some Northeastern liberals, particularly of the wealthy and white disposition, who think their Northern-ness absolves them of any accountability,...

Illustration by Rachel Choi.

The poison of polarization: extreme political leaning undermines education

By Hailey Akau, Assistant Multimedia Editor and Magazine Section Editor / November 29, 2023

Disagreement is inevitable—especially at college. Discourse on politics, religion, sociology, and other issues inform opposing opinions. The state...

Illustration by Rachel Choi.

Emerson class discussions aren’t as enriching as professors think they are

By Editorial Board / November 8, 2023

Opinions expressed in Beacon Op-Eds are not necessarily shared by the entire staff. It is the responsibility of Opinion editors to elevate each individual’s...

Should we have school spirit?

Should we have school spirit?

By Shannon Garrido, Hadera McKay, Sasha Zirin and Hailey Akau / September 20, 2023

After the events of orientation, where eager Emerson freshmen were welcomed by shrill undergrads serenading them in their cars, it's natural for incoming...

Colin (left) and Brendan McNamara (right) after their second annual MTD Tournament.

More Than Different: Men’s basketball guard hosts summer tournament for scholarships

By Jordan Pagkalinawan, Dept. Sports Editor / September 14, 2023

Appreciate. Celebrate. Elevate. Those are some of the key tenets that guide More Than Different, a lifestyle brand founded by Emerson men’s basketball...

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Emerson’s “support” of WGA is not enough

By Jackson Bailey, Staff Writer, Living Arts / July 2, 2023

The Writer’s Guild of America has been on strike since early May over labor disputes due to poor compensation. The strike has paused numerous film and...

Emerson's 14 athletics programs shone in a variety of ways in 2022-23

The Year of the Lions: Highlights from Emerson athletics’ 2022-23 season

The 2022-23 Emerson Lions have a lot to be proud of: across all 14 athletic programs, the Lions captured a bevy of accolades, including five major individual...

Highest achieving students recognized at 12th annual ERA Awards

Highest achieving students recognized at 12th annual ERA Awards

By Meg Richards, Managing Editor / April 26, 2023

The Emerson Recognition Achievement Awards, or ERA Awards, took place in the Robert J. Orchard Theater last Friday, where students across all majors were...

Tim Gunn: Corporate, Couture, and Confidence

Tim Gunn: Corporate, Couture, and Confidence

By Clara Faulkner, Operations Managing Editor / April 12, 2023

Tim Gunn, the well-known fashion consultant and television personality, brought his humorous content and impeccable sense of style to Emerson in Tuesday’s...

Coming to Kasteel Well? Don’t pack the kitchen sink.

Coming to Kasteel Well? Don’t pack the kitchen sink.

By Maeve Lawler, Kasteel Well Bureau Chief / April 12, 2023

Are you a future Kasteel Well dweller? If the answer is yes, then you’re probably wondering how to prepare for your semester abroad. What do I pack?...

The Emerson men's volleyball team lines up before Thursday's match-up against the Fisher Falcons.

Men’s volleyball sweeps Fisher, improves to 12-12 overall

By Jordan Pagkalinawan, Dept. Sports Editor / April 11, 2023

As the playoffs inch closer, the Emerson men’s volleyball team earned their third straight win on Thursday, beating the Fisher College Falcons 3-0 and...

A brief history of Kasteel Well

A brief history of Kasteel Well

By Maeve Lawler, Kasteel Well Bureau Chief / April 5, 2023

Kasteel Well, a Dutch national monument, is a moated castle nestled in the countryside of Well, Netherlands. Each day, students cross a wide wooden bridge...

“Truman and his human”: unconditional love on campus

“Truman and his human”: unconditional love on campus

By Ashlyn Wang, Photo Editor / March 29, 2023

When Melanie Matson met Truman the Beagle-Dachshund seven-and-a-half years ago, she might have never predicted the impact they would make together. The...

Fear and Loathing in Spiderland: freshman band makes an impact on the music world of Emerson

Fear and Loathing in Spiderland: freshman band makes an impact on the music world of Emerson

By Sasha Zirin, Assistant Living Arts Editor / March 29, 2023

You just woke up for your 8 a.m. class. You’re exhausted, and you think some music will help. You scroll through the songs saved on your phone and realize,...

‘Into The Woods’:  classic fairytales with an emotional twist of modern life

‘Into The Woods’: classic fairytales with an emotional twist of modern life

By Meghan O'Brien and Jordan Elias / March 22, 2023

Fresh off of the Broadway stage, the Tony Award-winning musical “Into The Woods” began its two-week run at the Emerson Colonial Theatre on Tuesday...

Megan Mitchell as a Good Morning Emerson host in 2013

Emerson Alum, journalist, and viral TikToker: Megan Mitchell does it all

By Emma Bowen and Meg Richards / March 9, 2023

Emerson alum Megan Mitchell has built a wildly successful journalism career off of her TikTok success, bridging the gap between old and new media. She...

Boston students gather to protest gun violence

Boston students gather to protest gun violence

By Maddie Khaw and Arthur Mansavage / March 2, 2023

Emerson students joined demonstrators from other Boston universities in front of the Massachusetts State House on Feb. 24 to call for stricter gun control...