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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

Tuition hike.

Student union members react to four percent tuition increase

By Bailey Allen / April 19, 2023

Emerson College is set to increase the undergraduate costs of attendance by four percent for the 2023-24 academic year, prompting negative reactions from...

College rescinds collective vandalism charges after student pressure

College rescinds collective vandalism charges after student pressure

By Bailey Allen and Sabrina Lam / March 2, 2023

The college has dropped its plan to collectively charge Little Building residents a $16,000 vandalism fee in the face of staunch opposition from its student...

Emerson's downtown Boston campus.

Emerson College Students’ Union holds second meeting, formulates long-term objectives

By Ashlyn Wang / September 13, 2022

The Emerson College Students' Union held its second general meeting on Sunday to formulate strategies for the union's programs, services, and long-term...

The Emerson Staff Union demonstrates outside of Piano Row following the Faculty Institute.

Emerson Staff Union demonstration demands cost-of-living adjustment, equitable conditions

By Adri Pray and Hannah Nguyen / September 5, 2022

Conversation about the staff union buzzed Thursday morning as faculty members entered the Bobbi Brown and Steven Plofker Gym for the 2022 Faculty Institute....

Jennifer Vandever

Letter: ELA faculty call for fair wages, benefits in contract negotiations

By Jennifer Vandever, President of ELAF-AAUP / January 20, 2022

Every semester Emerson College students move from Boston to Los Angeles to take part in the Emerson LA program. As graduating seniors, most are understandably...

Michelle Wu greets supporters after winning the mayoral election on Nov. 2.

Wu sworn in as mayor, pushes widespread reform

By Abigail Lee, Beacon Correspondent / November 18, 2021

Michelle Wu was sworn in as mayor Tuesday, ushering in a new era for the city of Boston as the former city councilor became the city’s first woman and...

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,...

Marlboro Institute professor Nancy Allen.

Full-time faculty prepare to boycott unpaid directed studies

By Dana Gerber / March 10, 2020

Emerson's full-time faculty union has recommended that its members stop advising directed study courses beginning fall 2020 semester unless the college...

SEIU members hold up Valentine's cards inviting staff members to an event on Feb. 14. Tivara Tanudjaja

Emerson Staff Union Hosts Valentine’s Meet and Greet

By Melissa Rosales / February 24, 2020

On this week’s episode of The Beacon, we speak with the Emerson Staff Union, with producer Melissa Rosales, Christopher Wilson, a union member from the...

We support staff members joining the union

We support staff members joining the union

By Editorial Board / February 20, 2020

This is an important year for the Emerson College Staff Union. The group plans to start renegotiating their contract with the school next spring. They...

Christopher Wilson (left) and Dennis Levine (right) wait at Rock Bottom restaurant for prospective staff union members to arrive. Photo credit: Dana Gerber

Staff Union seeks new members at Valentine’s Day meet and greet

By Dana Gerber / February 16, 2020

The Emerson College Staff Union hosted a Valentine’s Day meet-and-greet at Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery on Stuart Street Friday to chat with...

Affiliated Faculty Union President Barry Marshall whispers to Emerson College's President of the American Association of University Professors Gian Lombardo during Thursday's faculty council meeting.

Union representatives join President’s Council for duration of Marlboro negotiations

By Parker Purifoy / January 20, 2020

President M. Lee Pelton added two faculty union leaders to the President’s Council in December for the duration of the Marlboro merger negotiations following...

What choice are parents left with if they or their child suffers from a minor sickness that continues past the mandated 12 weeks in Emerson’s current policy? / Illustration by Ally Rzesa

Op-ed: Parental leave policies don’t support families’ needs

By Diti Kohli / March 27, 2019

Teary-eyed and six months pregnant, Emerson program manager Nicole Martignetti held her belly gently. After quietly shutting her office door, she recalled...

ECPD purchased 22 bullet-resistant vests in December 2018. Photo by Hongyu Liu / Beacon Correspondent

ECPD gears up officers with bullet-resistant vests

By Hongyu Liu / March 25, 2019

The Emerson College Police Department gradually started purchasing and wearing bullet-resistant vests in December 2018 following a request from police...

Marriott workers on strike march through Tremont Street.  Photo by Shafaq Patel/Beacon Staff

Striking Marriott workers protest on Tremont Street

By Shafaq Patel / October 12, 2018

More than 100 Marriott Hotel workers marched through Tremont Street and protested at the intersection of Tremont and Stuart street as part of their ongoing...

Union members negotiating their collective bargaining agreement last semester. Photo: Beacon Archive.

College hires known union-busting law firm

By Riane Roldan / October 11, 2018

The college retained a new law firm for outside counsel this summer, according to college officials.   Jackson Lewis, a national law firm which specializes...

Staff union charges college with unfair labor charges

Staff union charges college with unfair labor charges

By Max Reyes / April 16, 2018

Emerson’s staff union filed unfair labor practice charges against the college this past March. Service Employees International Union 888 issued a...

Union members wore picture frames featuring descriptions of the issues they face. Photo courtesy of Estelle Ticktin

Union members invite prospective students to picture themselves working at Emerson

By Max Reyes / February 28, 2018

Members of the college’s staff union gathered outside of the Cutler Majestic Theatre on Saturday morning wearing stylized picture frames around...

Union members negotiating their collective bargaining agreement last semester. Photo: Beacon Archive.

Union staff claims college stalling negotiations

By Max Reyes / December 7, 2017

Between 40 and 50 college staff union members waited in the cramped hallways outside of the union’s office in 145 Tremont St. to greet Emerson administrative...

Editorial: Staff salaries are more important than real estate

By Editorial Board / November 9, 2017

At issue: Building acquisition amid union negotiations Our take: Now is not the time to snag another property The college announced their decision to...