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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

Illustration by Rachel Choi

I’m ready to talk about my feelings

By Meg Richards, Assistant Opinion Editor / April 5, 2023

Throughout my life, I’ve let some questionable shit happen solely because I was afraid that I was feeling my feelings too intensely, even though all...

Deep Fake AI Pornography is Sexual Assault and Here’s Why

Deep Fake AI Pornography is Sexual Assault and Here’s Why

By Em Vitale, Beacon Correspondent / March 2, 2023

In late January, Twitch streamer Brandon Ewing, known by his online alias “Atrioc,” was exposed during one of his live streams for paying for and watching...

Phi Alpha Tau hopes to change culture after 18-month hiatus

Phi Alpha Tau hopes to change culture after 18-month hiatus

By Vivi Smilgius / January 27, 2022

Content Warning: This article contains mentions of sexual assault.  Phi Alpha Tau will return to action this semester, marking the end of the fraternity’s...

Jefferson Fietek's Anoka County MN mugshot

Former professor sentenced to 30 years for sexual assault

By Frankie Rowley and Charlie McKenna / November 18, 2021

Jefferson Fietek, a convicted sex offender who briefly served as a professor in Emerson’s Performing Arts Department, was sentenced to 30 years in prison...

Fraternities and Colleges perpetuating a culture of abuse

Fraternities and Colleges perpetuating a culture of abuse

By Mariyam Quaisar / October 21, 2021

Trigger Warning: This article contains mentions of sexual assault and rape. On Friday, Oct. 8, a female student at the University of Delaware was kidnapped,...

Jefferson Fietek's Anoka County MN mugshot

‘I feel relief that he will not be able to harm anyone else;’ Victims of former performing arts professor speak out

By Frankie Rowley / September 2, 2021

For the victims of former Emerson professor, Jefferson Fietek, his arrest was a bittersweet moment. They expressed relief seeing their childhood abuser...

The Minnesota assault overturn shows that the justice system is going backward

The Minnesota assault overturn shows that the justice system is going backward

By Mariyam Quaisar / April 8, 2021

Through recent Instagram posts, I found out the state of Minnesota does not fairly investigate a sexual assault case if the victim was voluntarily intoxicated....

The Boston Public Garden.

Police arrest suspect in Public Garden assault

By Charlie McKenna and Diana Bravo / November 19, 2020

Boston Police arrested a man Wednesday in connection to an alleged assault in the Public Garden last week. Francisco Romero, 38, was charged with aggravated...

The Boston Public Garden.

Boston Police report attempted sexual assault in Public Garden

By Dana Gerber / September 28, 2020

A woman reported an alleged assault with attempt to rape in the Public Garden early Monday morning, Boston Police said. The woman said a man put his...

The Title IX office has been located within the Social Justice Center since 2014 after an external group of lawyers examined the college's Title IX policies and practices.

Everything you need to know about the updated Title IX policy

By Diti Kohli, Katie Redefer and Parker Purifoy / August 31, 2020

A college committee of administrators, faculty, and students released an updated Title IX policy establishing the college’s altered process for handling...

Students cross the intersection of Boylston St. and Tremont St. in front of the Little Building.

Former professor under investigation for multiple sexual assault allegations

By Andrew Brinker / June 30, 2020

The Anoka County Sheriff’s Office is investigating former Assistant Professor Jefferson Fietek for multiple reports of sexual assault, according...

Jackson Davis is the subject of multiple public sexual misconduct allegations on Twitter.

Emerson alum suspended from NowThis after sexual misconduct allegations

By Diti Kohli and Parker Purifoy / June 30, 2020

A slew of sexual misconduct allegations against Jackson Davis ‘17 posted on Twitter prompted NowThis News to suspend him from his position, days before...

Emerson's Title IX office.

College needs outside experts to make desired change to Title IX policy

By Editorial Board / May 12, 2020

Last week, the school released its presidential working group draft findings, which sought to detail the sexual misconduct climate at the college through...

Beacon Archives

Title IX hiring process failed to involve students enough

By Editorial Board / October 16, 2019

The two-year vacancy in the Title IX office is finally being filled. But the hiring process for the Deputy Title IX Coordinator has brought its own shortcomings.   The...

Vice President for Equity and Social Justice Sylvia Spears.

Spears recognizes statistical discrepancies in Clery Report

By Belen Dumont / September 26, 2019

The Emerson College Police Department released the college’s annual Clery Report on Wednesday, which a college official said provides an incomplete picture...

Beacon Archives

Students deserve transparent sexual assault statistics

By Editorial Board / September 25, 2019

On Wednesday, the college disseminated its annual Clery Report through a campus-wide email. The 57-page-long report details both the criminal offenses...

Grace Griffin - Graphic By Ally Rzesa / Berkeley Beacon Staff

Head Over Feels: Anthems of my recovery

By Grace Griffin / September 9, 2019

*Content Warning: This article discusses themes of violence, trauma, and sexual assault. The first time I heard a musical artist sing openly about sexual...

Editorial: Merging our identity as students and journalists in the Beacon’s recent coverage

Editorial: Merging our identity as students and journalists in the Beacon’s recent coverage

By Editorial Board / April 19, 2019

At Issue: The Beacon’s story on the removal of the list of alleged abusers Our Take: Reporting with the Emerson community in mind CW/TW: This...

EDITORIAL: Title IX changes require action, transparency from administration

EDITORIAL: Title IX changes require action, transparency from administration

By Editorial Board / January 25, 2019

At issue: Proposed Changes to Title IX regulations Our take: Talk won’t combat new Title IX policies   Last week, we published a Beacon...