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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

Vice President for Equity and Social Justice Sylvia Spears.

Departing social justice chair urges more equitable campus

By Frankie Rowley, Assistant News Editor / August 3, 2021

Vice President for Equity and Inclusion Sylvia Spears is set to embark on a new adventure at College Unbound, helping shape what the newly-accredited degree-completion...

Letter: Advice for students about to graduate? Join a union

Letter: Advice for students about to graduate? Join a union

By Illona Yosefov / April 27, 2021

Illona Yosefov ([email protected]) is an Instructional Technologist at Emerson. When she's not busy helping faculty build their Canvas courses,...

SGA at a Fall 2019 Joint Session meeting.

SGA pushes for alternative spring break amid burnout concerns

By Frankie Rowley / March 6, 2021

Students are championing the Student Government Association’s “Week of Rest” initiative, which calls for an alternative spring break in response...

Valentina Amaro holds up a #ThisIsEmerson sign during the walk out.

Emerson administration, faculty, and staff respond to Emerson Students of Color Week of Action demands

By Ann E. Matica and Diti Kohli / February 14, 2021

Emerson administrators said they would meet with students of color virtually in an effort to create a more equitable environment in an email sent on Feb....

Katie Redefer is a senior journalism major and the Editor-in-Chief of The Berkeley Beacon.

Letter from the Editor: The case for a fair and equitable Beacon

By Katie Redefer / January 21, 2021

Last semester, after The Beacon drew a wave of public criticisms and staff resignations, it made me question everything I know about journalism. Prior...

SGA at a Fall 2019 Joint Session meeting.

SGA appoints three students to new Student Experience Senate

By Diana Bravo / September 3, 2020

In the first Student Assembly meeting of the new semester, the Student Government Association made a series of appointments to fill vacancies across different...

In 2009, Roberts considered applying to doctorate programs when she and her cousin discovered a letter from the early 1900s at her grandmother’s house from a woman inquiring about a teaching position. Rachel Lo / Beacon Staff.

New staff member holds diversity workshops for faculty

By Ann E. Matica / November 9, 2019

In October 2017, 300 student protesters stormed a faculty assembly meeting chanting, “No more oppression, no microaggressions,” and demanding administrative...

Vice President for the Social Justice Center Sylvia Spears formed a research group to find data on representation of different demographics at the college. Photo: Beacon Archives

Social Justice Center forms committee to research biases at college

February 21, 2019

By Abigail Hadfield and Maya Gacina A committee formed of Social Justice Center members and one student gathered to research institutional racism...

Senior appointed to inaugural SGA POWER commissioner

Senior appointed to inaugural SGA POWER commissioner

By Diana Bravo / December 7, 2018

The Student Government Association unanimously approved senior Alexis Fernander as the first Protesting Oppression with Educational Reform commissioner...

EDITORIAL: Taking advantage of your student voice

EDITORIAL: Taking advantage of your student voice

By Editorial Board / November 15, 2018

At issue: Student portion of the climate survey Our take: The survey is an outlet for student expression Voicing our opinions about Emerson with our...

SGA votes to propose POWER commissioner on fall ballots

SGA votes to propose POWER commissioner on fall ballots

By Diana Bravo / November 7, 2018

The Student Government Association approved potential amendments to the SGA constitution including the ability to appoint a new non-voting member from...

The college, POWER representatives, and undergraduate orientation leaders selected the online course DiversityEdu to provide cultural competency training to first-time students.

Cultural competency training required for incoming students

By Stefania Lugli / September 24, 2018

The college required incoming students to complete a cultural competency online training course known as DiversityEdu after a year of student-led protest...

Freshman Cindy Tsai wrote "The Nuances of Racism in Theatre School." Photo courtesy of Tsai.

POWER demands immediate removal of musical theater head

By Chris Van Buskirk / April 27, 2018

Musical Theatre Program Head Scott LaFeber maintains his position despite a petition released by Protesting Oppression With Educational Reform on April...

LETTER: SGA Executive Treasurer Ian Mandt responds to "Don't ask students to fund scholarships"

LETTER: SGA Executive Treasurer Ian Mandt responds to “Don’t ask students to fund scholarships”

By Letter to the editor / April 15, 2018

Following the release of the editorial “Don’t ask students to fund scholarships,” I wanted to provide some clarifying information that we were not...

EDITORIAL: Don't ask students to fund scholarships

EDITORIAL: Don’t ask students to fund scholarships

By Editorial Board / April 12, 2018

At issue: An SGA-funded scholarship for student leaders Our take: Let’s focus on the scholarships our student body demanded The college tells us...

Pictured above, Performing Arts Department Chair Bob Colby.

Permanent cultural committee addresses diversity and bias

By Parker Purifoy / April 8, 2018

Members of the Educational Equity and Justice Committee have focused on the bias response program and worked with the Social Justice Center to construct...

Vice President for the Social Justice Center Sylvia Spears formed a research group to find data on representation of different demographics at the college. Photo: Beacon Archives

New SJC position to handle faculty diversity training

By Parker Purifoy / April 4, 2018

The Social Justice Center and Academic Affairs are recruiting applicants for a new position aimed at helping faculty create a more inclusive classroom...

POWER posted posters around campus of quotes from students and faculty before the forum. Photo: Kyle Labe / Beacon Staff

POWER hosts forum, listens to student concerns

By Natalie Busch / March 25, 2018

Protesting Oppression With Educational Reform held two student forums on Thursday and Friday last week. Five of the organization’s senators updated students...

Adding a new course objective and a textbook chapter on ethics, or including a few token readings by diverse authors and speakers, is not enough. Photo Illustration by Cassandra Martinez / Beacon Staff

College needs to add cultural competency to the curriculum

By Lucie Pereira / March 14, 2018

There is only one course that all Emerson undergraduate students must take before they graduate. It’s not research writing or history or world culture—it’s...

SGA Board of Trustees Representative Raz Moayed plans to deliver a presentation based on student concerns to the Board of Trustees on March 9. Chris Van Buskirk // Berkeley Beacon

SGA discusses plan for Board of Trustees meeting

By Chris Van Buskirk / February 7, 2018

The Student Government Association’s Board of Trustee representative wanted to know if SGA members had seen any change in their respective programs...