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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

Emerson College Student Union demands more financial aid

ECSU tuition hikes rally demands more financial aid, organization freedom

By Valentina Baez, Staff Writer / February 28, 2024
Around 30 impassioned members of the Emerson community participated in the tuition hikes rally in 2 Boylston Alley on Feb. 23
From top left to bottom right: Emerson alumni Sam Crimmins, André Archimbaud, Gaby Dunn, Dustin Straube, Steven Rowley and Kasey Fielding. / courtesy

Safe spaces, section 8 and student loan debt: Emerson alums say they (mostly) don’t regret the financial risk

By Vivi Smilgius / August 30, 2022

For many freshly graduated Emersonians, monthly loan payments are a harsh awakening to the real world of work—or lack thereof—as creatives. While movements...

Students organize against tuition rises and other inequalities this fall

Students organize against tuition rises and other inequalities this fall

By Abigail Lee / August 30, 2022

On April 1, Dylan Young, a then first-year visual media arts major, attended a student protest in the 2 Boylston Place alleyway. About 50 students gathered...

What is Emerson’s interim policy for campus demonstrations? We explain.

College endowment balloons amid pandemic

By Camilo Fonseca / November 11, 2021

Emerson’s investments generated a 32.7 percent return in 2021, indicating a promising future for the college despite the financial pressures of COVID-19. As...

The Office of Financial Aid in the Union Bank Building.

Tuition strike urges Emerson to redistribute funds

By Shannon Garrido / September 2, 2021

As many Emerson students might be aware, at the beginning of March it was announced that tuition will increase for all undergraduate students for the second...

The Office of Financial Aid in the Union Bank Building.

Yearly tuition increases should not become the norm

By Shannon Garrido and Lucia Thorne / March 31, 2021

On March 15, Emerson announced a “flexibility week” meant to tackle the steady decline of students’ mental health. That same week, it was announced...

The Office of Financial Aid in the Union Bank Building.

Emerson opens applications for second round of COVID aid

By Camilo Fonseca, Assistant News Editor / March 16, 2021

Emerson students can now apply for further financial relief from the pandemic after the college announced Monday it had received a second round of emergency...

Jennifer Scully '21 wearing the custom mask created for the "Shine Through" fundraiser.

‘Shine Through’ campaign raises more than $50,000 for student financial aid

By Ann E. Matica / October 28, 2020

Emerson’s “Shine Through” fundraising campaign, which gifted custom Emerson-branded facemasks to donors, raised $53,111 in unrestricted financial...

The Office of Financial Aid in the Union Bank Building.

Emerson CARES act funds, an essential pandemic-era lifeline for students, running out

By Dana Gerber / October 27, 2020

Emerson has run through almost 90 percent of the $1.3 million in federal assistance it received for emergency student grant funds, which has helped 784...

Letter: Ruthanne Madsen, VP of Enrollment, responds to Gina Martin article

Letter: Ruthanne Madsen, VP of Enrollment, responds to Gina Martin article

By Ruthanne Madsen / September 4, 2020

The Office of Financial Aid at Emerson College is devoted to providing access to education for all students with financial need. Unfortunately, inaccurate...

NOTE: ‘My father decided to cut ties with me for standing in solidarity’ with #BLM

NOTE: ‘My father decided to cut ties with me for standing in solidarity’ with #BLM

September 2, 2020

NOTE FROM THE EDITOR: The Beacon removed this story, titled “‘My father decided to cut ties with me for standing in solidarity’ with #BLM,” after...

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...

"Some students, including myself, cannot spare five dollars to a school that already does not meet our financial needs." / Illustration by Christine Park

Students shouldn’t be responsible for fueling the endowment fund

By Melanie Curry / November 8, 2019

Last week, Student Government Association Executive Treasurer Abigail Semple wrote in a letter to the editor, “At Emerson College, we have a problem.” She...

Editorial: College becomes increasingly inaccessible to students

Editorial: College becomes increasingly inaccessible to students

By Editorial Board / March 28, 2019

At issue: College announces 4 percent tuition increase Our take: Prioritize students' financial security over investments A college-wide email from...

Op-ed: Risking financial security for a coveted college education

Op-ed: Risking financial security for a coveted college education

By Emily Cardona / March 21, 2019

Low-income students, like myself, frequently get put in a position where we must put aside our basic necessities, including toiletries and food, to attend...

Sienna DiMuro received her acceptance letter to Emerson on Dec. 14, 2018. Courtesy of Sienna DiMuro

High school senior accepted to Emerson after overcoming homelessness

By Abigail Hadfield / March 20, 2019

Sienna DiMuro moved into a homeless shelter during her freshman year of high school in January 2016. As a high school senior in December 2018, she received...

Some members of the Emerson community faced economic and emotional hardship during the 35-day partial government shutdown. Anissa Gardizy / Beacon Staff

Partial government shutdown interrupted student’s food stamps, family members’ jobs

By Anissa Gardizy / January 27, 2019

Graduate Student Kenya Hunter said she felt lucky the government partially shutdown on Dec. 22 and not any earlier because coming back home to Georgia...

Op-Ed: Restitution is needed for students affected by government shutdown

Op-Ed: Restitution is needed for students affected by government shutdown

By Diti Kohli / January 16, 2019

The United States is experiencing its longest government shutdown in history—three weeks and counting. Many of us are not directly affected but the disruption...

Residing in close proximity with a handful of students rarely makes for a problem-free living environment, but the frustration that builds up in these living situations hinders us from living a healthy life and forming positive relationships.  / Illustration by Ally Rzesa

Op-ed: Merit-based aid helps the privileged, need-based aid helps all

By Ian Mandt / December 6, 2018

Ian Mandt is the executive treasurer for the Student Government Association.  In order to pay for his daughter’s semester at Emerson Los Angeles,...

Sophomore Anthony Rodriguez and junior Cassie Poirier thought Emerson didn’t have enough resources for first-generation students, so they made their own. /
Tivara Tanudjaja / Beacon Staff

Organization helps first-generation students navigate college

By Cassandre Coyer / October 25, 2018

Junior Cassie Poirier identifies as a first-generation college student, yet she didn't know what that meant or the challenges it entailed until freshman...