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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

Interim President William Gilligan.

Gilligan says goodbye: an interim president’s permanent farewell to Emerson

By Adri Pray / April 26, 2023

William Gilligan knew right away he didn’t want to be president long-term. Gilligan stepped into the interim presidency in May 2021, just weeks after...

Emerson community remembers marathon bombing 10 years later

Emerson community remembers marathon bombing 10 years later

By Bailey Allen / April 19, 2023

On April 15, 2013, 19-year-old journalism major Madeline Bilis ‘16 stood on Newbury Street with a classmate by her side and a camera, tripod, and microphone...

Dr. Jay M. Bernhardt was selected to become Emerson College's 13 president.

Dr. Jay M. Bernhardt, UT Austin communication school dean, named 13th president of Emerson College

By Bailey Allen / January 12, 2023

Dr. Jay M. Bernhardt, current dean of The University of Texas at Austin's communication college, will become Emerson College's 13th president in June,...

Emerson's media gallery. Photo by Maddie Khaw.

Emerson Contemporary awarded grant to improve campus art galleries

By Maeve Lawler and Maddie Khaw / March 23, 2022

Emerson received a $114,000 grant from a Massachusetts-based foundation last year, intended to help improve the art galleries of Emerson Contemporary. The...

Emerson College President M. Lee Pelton

Analysis: turnover following presidential departures

By Frankie Rowley / December 14, 2021

Since the departure of former President M. Lee Pelton, Emerson has seen a number of key individuals cut their ties with the college—many of them amicably,...

President M. Lee Pelton responds to community unrest following COVID-19 pandemic.

“Leaders need to know when to leave”: Pelton departs Emerson presidency for Boston Foundation

By Dana Gerber / June 1, 2021

President M. Lee Pelton’s fondest memories from his decade at the helm of Emerson are those marked by beginnings.  “The thing that even now moves...

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...

Boston's Fenway Park empty

In-person commencement to take place at Fenway Park

By Ann E. Matica and Charlie McKenna / March 30, 2021

Emerson plans to hold an in-person commencement at Fenway Park alongside the previously announced virtual ceremony, according to President M. Lee Pelton's...

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.

Emerson students reflect on the moment they knew life would change

By Charlie McKenna / March 17, 2021

Six Emerson students, now a year into a first-in-a-century pandemic, recalled the moments when they realized life was not going to return to “normal”...

Presidential Working Group sends final report to Pelton

Presidential Working Group sends final report to Pelton

By Katie Redefer / February 25, 2021

President M. Lee Pelton accepted the Presidential Working Group’s final draft of recommendations for Emerson’s Title IX processes on Tuesday—a draft...

A Visual and Media Arts class under COVID-19 safety restrictions.

Another semester of hybrid learning garners disappointment

The college’s plan to extend “flex” learning, a mix of virtual and in-person classes, into the fall 2021 semester was met with a mix of approval...

Students working in a control room for a visual and media arts course.

Emerson announces continuation of hybrid learning through Fall 2021

By Dana Gerber / February 22, 2021

Emerson will continue its “flex learning” program through the Fall 2021 semester, President M. Lee Pelton announced in a Monday morning email.  Fall...

President M. Lee Pelton.

Emerson taps Storbeck Search to find President Lee Pelton’s replacement

By Dana Gerber and Frankie Rowley / January 22, 2021

Emerson tapped Storbeck Search, an executive search firm that specializes in leadership hiring for education and nonprofits, to assist the board of trustees...

Cameron Manning helping students move into Little Building at the beginning of the Fall 2020 semester

“Everyone’s upset and annoyed”: Students voice frustrations with the move-in pushback

By Camilo Fonseca / January 8, 2021

Some Emerson students have been left frustrated and confused following the college’s weeklong delay in residential move-in, an announcement that came...

President M. Lee Pelton responds to community unrest following COVID-19 pandemic.

President Pelton condemns capitol siege in letter

By Frankie Rowley / January 6, 2021

President M. Lee Pelton condemned Wednesday’s siege of the United States Capitol building, a last-ditch effort by Trump loyalists to overturn the results...

Title IX working group takes questions before finalizing recommendations

Title IX working group takes questions before finalizing recommendations

By Katie Redefer / December 9, 2020

The Presidential Working Group addressed questions from the Emerson community about its revised draft of findings about the college’s Title IX processes...

The outside of the Title IX office in the Massachusetts Transportation Building.

Title IX working group presents minimal changes in second draft of recommendations

By Katie Redefer, Co-Living Arts Editor / December 2, 2020

The Presidential Working Group that is responsible for reviewing Emerson’s sexual misconduct policy made minimal changes to its initial suggestions in...

President M. Lee Pelton.

Pelton examines pandemic, ‘flex’ learning, and the future in annual State of the College address

By Diana Bravo / November 23, 2020

Amid a spiraling pandemic that Emerson administrators once warned may financially devastate the college, President M. Lee Pelton released his annual State...

The college's positivity rate sits at 0.17 percent after 576 tests.

Emerson reports 0.17 percent positive COVID-19 test rate out of 576 tests

By Charlie McKenna / August 20, 2020

Tufts Medical Center has administered 576 COVID-19 tests on Emerson community members to date, President M. Lee Pelton announced in an email Thursday afternoon. One...

Who are the core leaders behind EmersonTogether?

Emerson Reopening: What we know so far

By Charlie McKenna and Diana Bravo / July 28, 2020

Over the past several months, Emerson has been slowly doling out new information on what on-campus life at the college will look like in the fall through...