Emerson College's student newspaper

The Berkeley Beacon

Emerson College's student newspaper

The Berkeley Beacon

Emerson College's student newspaper

The Berkeley Beacon

Emersons Office of International Student Affairs.

Global rise in COVID-19 cases poses difficulty for international students

By Adri Pray and Gabriel Borges
January 27, 2022

Kevin Wang hasn’t visited his family in China since August. If he wants to return, he’ll have to first endure three weeks in quarantine before spending time with them. “I wanted to go back home,”...

OISA Director Andrea Popa

International students relieved by reversal of Trump-era visa policy

By Camilo Fonseca, Editor-at-large
September 9, 2021

Much of Emerson’s international student community is breathing a sigh of relief after a Trump administration rule that would have limited the amount of time international students could spend in the...

President Elect Joe Biden and Vice President Elect Kamala Harris.

Optimism of uncertainty: What the Biden-Harris victory means for international students

By Jocelyn Yang, Opinion Editor
November 9, 2020

The whole world has been waiting for this victory — for four years.  As soon as The Associated Press called that Democratic nominee Joe Biden won the electoral vote of his native Pennsylvania, pushing...

Standing at the intersection at this historic moment, I feel like I cant pursue my future plan the way I wanted.

As an international student, watching this election sparks fear

By Jocelyn Yang, Opinion Editor
November 4, 2020

Tags related to America have only trended once a while on the Chinese Twitter-like social media platform Weibo since the pandemic began. I remember seeing trending terms like "U.S. COVID-19 cases climb,"...

Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey speaks at an event advocating for student loan reform on January 13, 2017.

AG Healy calls on DHS to rescind proposed rule limiting international students’ time in the U.S.

By Charlie McKenna
October 28, 2020

Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healy and 22 additional state attorneys general, sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security Monday calling on DHS to withdraw a new proposed rule that would...

President Joe Biden

Navigating the U.S. election season as an international student

By Jocelyn Yang, Opinion Editor
October 6, 2020

“How’s the U.S. election vibe? Who do you think will win? Does any candidate pose policies that hurt China or international students?" I received this list of questions from family and close friends...

I, along with many people who study, work, or live in between these two countries, am balancing on a wobbly cultural bridge. And it also seems the once-strong international journalism community I used to aspire to be a part of is eroding.

Caught in the middle of the U.S. and China conflict as a journalist

By Jocelyn Yang, Opinion Editor
August 4, 2020

When I first landed in the U.S. during high school, the customs officer asked me what I wanted to pursue as a career. When I told him journalism, his immediate reaction was to ask me, “So you want to...

The view of Tremont St. from Emersons Walker Building.

‘I just can’t logically go back.’ Students ponder gap semesters amid pandemic

By Dana Gerber, News Editor
July 27, 2020

Last semester, visual and media arts major and rising senior Isa Moon served as president of The Girlie Project comedy troupe as she prepared for her final year at the college, the spring semester of which...

Smruti Thirunavukkarasu has been stuck in her home in Chennai, India for four months under the state’s second strict lockdown.

Smruti Thirunavukkarasu, Chennai, India

July 23, 2020

Smruti Thirunavukkarasu has been stuck in her home for four months.  Shortly after returning home to Chennai, India from Boston in March, the Indian government announced a strict nationwide lockdown...

Daniela Lobo-Rivera is stuck in Florida, unable to get home to her mother and step-father in Honduras who are sick with the coronavirus.

Daniela Lobo-Rivera, currently in Miami, Florida, from Tegucigalpa, Honduras

July 23, 2020

When Daniela Lobo-Rivera’s parents got sick, she couldn’t get back to them. Her home country, Honduras, halted all international flights as Emerson shut down campus, leaving Lobo-Rivera stuck in...

Danielle Ducharme has decided to get her racing license with the extended free time she has over the summer waiting out the coronavirus outbreak.

Danielle Ducharme, Kelowna, Canada

July 23, 2020

Danielle Ducharme is waiting out the coronavirus on a racetrack in Kelowna, Canada. With extended time at home this summer, Ducharme, her father, and brother decided to get car-racing licenses.  “I...

Xinyi Tu did not remove her mask and refused to eat during her 13 hour flight from New York to Shanghai, China as she raced to outrun the coronavirus outbreak.

Xinyi (Cynthia) Tu, Suzhou, China

July 23, 2020

Xinyu Tu raced across the world to outrun the coronavirus outbreak. After her study abroad experience in the Netherlands at Kasteel Well came to an abrupt halt, Tu had only just settled into her new...

Chloe Chauvin is cut off from her family in China by travel restrictions. Photo courtesy of Eugene Yang.

Chloe Chauvin, currently in Wyoming, from Shanghai, China

July 23, 2020

Chloe Chauvin is stranded in the U.S. After Emerson’s March announcement that all students must immediately vacate campus residence halls, Chauvin was given little time to make an impossible decision—return...

Jaime Vega Troncoso after voting in the Dominican Republic presidential election against the Dominican Liberation Party, which has held power for the last 16 years.

Jaime Vega Troncoso, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

July 23, 2020

Jaime Vega Troncoso risked contracting the virus to vote in the Dominican Republic’s July election. The coronavirus hit the island country amid their presidential election season. After being postponed...

Putthida Chalermpao said the coronavirus regulations in Thailand have not been too difficult to follow because Thai people usually wear masks and avoid contact.

Putthida (Namo) Chalermpao, Bangkok, Thailand

July 23, 2020

Putthida Chalermpao’s parents were terrified of her returning to Emerson’s Boston campus in the fall. From their home in Bangkok, Thailand, a condensed city of over 8 million people with no cases...

Students crossing the bustling Boylston/Tremont intersection.

ICE rule barring international students from online study in the U.S. lifted

By Charlie McKenna and Andrew Brinker
July 14, 2020

The Trump administration announced Tuesday afternoon that it will roll back an Immigration and Customs Enforcement Rule that would have forced international students enrolled in online course loads out...

I did so many things to create a sense of belonging for myself in this unfamiliar country by empowering myself with knowledge and experience, only to learn that the future I wanted for so long might not even exist, and this country does not welcome people like me.

The U.S. I wanted to study in no longer exists

By Ziqi Wang
July 8, 2020

My boyfriend texted me right after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced on Monday that international students would need to leave the U.S. if their university transitions to online-only...

College denounces Trump administration decision to block international students from staying in US while taking online courses

College denounces Trump administration decision to block international students from staying in US while taking online courses

By Charlie McKenna
July 8, 2020

Emerson joined local universities to condemn Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s decision to ban international students whose classes are held mostly online this fall.  ICE announced Monday that...

Emersons downtown Boston campus.

International students given option to learn online, attend partner university, or return to campus

By Charlie McKenna
July 4, 2020

Emerson will offer international students the option of taking fall courses online or at a partner university in one of five countries, according to an email sent to international students Wednesday and...

Graphic by Christine Park.

Why the holidays are the worst time of year for some international students

By Xinyan Fu, Columnist
January 15, 2020

It's that time of the year. With tree lights dancing and snowflakes swirling, the holiday hype starts with people shopping for Christmas decorations and gifts. College students are getting ready to go...

Load More Stories

Comments (0)

The Berkeley Beacon intends for this area to be used to foster healthy, thought-provoking discussion. Comments are expected to adhere to our standards and to be respectful and constructive. As such, we do not permit the use of profanity, foul language, personal attacks, or the use of language that might be interpreted as libelous. Comments are reviewed and must be approved by a moderator to ensure that they meet these standards. The Berkeley Beacon requires a valid email address. The email address will not be displayed but will be used to confirm your comments.
All The Berkeley Beacon Picks Reader Picks Sort: Newest