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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

Erik Muurisepp sits at his desk on the fourth floor of the Walker Building.

‘Learning to live with the virus’: Emerson reports 31 positive COVID-19 cases Tuesday

By Adri Pray / January 21, 2022

Emerson College has reported 332 positive COVID-19 cases since the start of the spring semester—the highest numbers since the beginning of the pandemic—and...

Emerson's testing site at Tufts Medical Center.

Emerson reports 301 positives two weeks into spring semester

By Adri Pray / January 18, 2022

In just two weeks since the onset of the spring 2022 semester, Emerson has reported a cumulative 301 positive COVID-19 cases. The college has administered...

Emerson students having classes.

‘Everything is out the window’: College returns to in-person learning amid unprecedented COVID surge

By Vivi Smilgius and Adri Pray / January 12, 2022

Less than a week into the spring 2022 semester, Emerson has already reported 228 positive COVID-19 tests, leading to uncertainty regarding the rest of...

Emerson's testing site at Tufts Medical Center.

Emerson surge continues as spring semester approaches

By Abigail Lee / January 7, 2022

In the week leading up to students’ return to campus, Emerson reported over 80 positive COVID-19 tests, reflecting a statewide struggle to contain the...

A sign of the COVID testing site of Emerson College and Tufts University.

Emerson issues five-day isolation and quarantine protocols amid surge

By Adri Pray / January 7, 2022

Emerson will decrease its isolation and quarantine time to five days per guidance changes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, announced...

Outside of the Emerson College Testing Center.

Emerson reports 27 positive COVID-19 tests Wednesday, bringing weekly total to 61

By Camilo Fonseca / December 16, 2021

Emerson reported 27 new positive COVID-19 tests for the second day in a row on Thursday, bringing the numbers of positive tests reported this week to a...

Emerson to require boosters, additional testing for spring semester

Emerson to require boosters, additional testing for spring semester

By Vivi Smilgius / December 9, 2021

Emerson will require all community members to receive a COVID-19 booster shot prior to the spring semester amid a drastic rise in COVID-19 cases in Massachusetts...

2021 Academic Townhall

Student government hosts annual town hall

By Vivi Smilgius / December 2, 2021

Students, staff, and faculty voiced their concerns about the college’s virtual attendance policies and discussed the college’s spring reopening plans...

Take-home rapid test provided by Emerson College.

Emerson students frustrated by mandated at-home rapid tests

By Frankie Rowley and Adri Pray / December 2, 2021

Emerson students reported experiencing difficulties after taking their college-mandated and provided at-home rapid COVID-19 tests in order to return to...

COVID testing site locating at 116 Harrison Avenue.

Positive COVID-19 tests rising on campus, mirroring statewide trend

By Frankie Rowley / November 18, 2021

In the ten-day period since Nov. 8, Emerson reported 13 new positive COVID-19 tests—a marked increase in overall infections mirroring worsening cases...

Director of Student Leadership Jason Meier

SEAL Director reflects on decade at Emerson

By Frankie Rowley / November 4, 2021

Responsible for remaking the college’s relationship to student organizations, keeping his colleagues up-to-date with pop culture, and advising the Student...

The police and fire department closed down Harrison Ave. yesterday.

Fire alarm briefly closes testing center again

By Camilo Fonseca and Frankie Rowley / November 3, 2021

Emerson’s testing center was forced to close for the second time in as many days due to a fire alarm at 116 Harrison Avenue on Wednesday morning. Boston...

Firefighters put away the water hose.

Tufts refrigerator fire closes testing center amid hazmat concerns

By Frankie Rowley, Gabriel Borges and Henrique Rocha / November 2, 2021

Emerson’s testing center was abruptly shuttered Tuesday afternoon after a fire forced the evacuation of the surrounding Tufts Medical Center complex,...

A sign of the COVID testing site of Emerson College and Tufts University.

College shifts to pooled testing model

By Frankie Rowley / October 29, 2021

Emerson introduced a pooled testing model for all community members this week, a process administrators hope will streamline the college’s testing process.  “The...

Outside of the Emerson College Testing Center.

College reports 14 positive COVID-19 tests in week of testing

By Charlie McKenna and Camilo Fonseca / September 2, 2021

Despite the vaccine mandate for community members, Emerson has reported 14 positive COVID-19 tests in just over a week since the start of fall semester...

A sign on the window of Emerson's coronavirus testing site at Tufts Medical Center.

Students required to undergo two COVID-19 tests upon move-in

By Frankie Rowley / August 10, 2021

Emerson will require two baseline COVID-19 tests for arriving students moving into on-campus housing in the fall semester, according to college officials.   The...

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker

Massachusetts reports average of 85 coronavirus cases in last seven days

By Frankie Rowley / July 11, 2021

Between July 5 and July 11, Massachusetts reported an average of 85 COVID-19 cases each day. In the same seven-day period, the death toll rose by 12. Cases...

A sign on the window of Emerson's coronavirus testing site at Tufts Medical Center.

Emerson to institute new COVID-19 protocol June 1

By Frankie Rowley / May 29, 2021

Emerson will lift a number of its COVID-19 restrictions on the Boston Campus Tuesday, including “erasing” distancing requirements in on-campus spaces,...

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker.

Massachusetts reports 472 new coronavirus cases, zero COVID-19 deaths

By Frankie Rowley / May 11, 2021

Massachusetts reported 472 new coronavirus cases Tuesday, up slightly from the 446 new infections reported Monday. The death toll rose by zero.  Tuesday’s...

The entrance to a vaccination clinic in downtown Boston.

Vaccines now available for students at Tufts Medical Center

By Dana Gerber / April 29, 2021

Students can now receive the COVID-19 vaccine at Tufts Medical Center, just over a month after the formal partnership with the hospital fell through, Emerson...