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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 Rachel Choi

They never cared about us anyway.

By Pilialoha Gaudiello, Beacon Contributor / November 13, 2024

“Voting is your civic duty.” It’s a phrase we’ve heard ever since we were in elementary school. From a young age, we are taught to participate...

Graphic Rachel Choi

What’s really behind college students’ election anxiety?

By Hannah Hughes, Beacon Contributor / November 7, 2024

It’s hard to believe that Election Day came so quickly, after months of waiting. As proud as I am to have voted, I can’t help but feel this pit in...

Mass. voters approve ballot measures on removal of MCAS requirement, Legislature audit, and ride-hail unionization

Mass. voters approve ballot measures on removal of MCAS requirement, Legislature audit, and ride-hail unionization

By Rylie Burns / November 6, 2024

Mass. ballots included five ballot measures this year. After receiving official election results, voters approved the removal of the Massachusetts Comprehensive...

Illustration Rachel Choi

‘My vote does not matter.’ Except it does. Now, more than ever.

By Tess Gleason, Beacon Contributor / November 4, 2024
“My vote does not matter.” This sentiment is often present in political discourse, especially as we approach the presidential election. It’s a phrase I heard my own boyfriend say on the phone the other day.
Can we meme our way to the presidency?

Can we meme our way to the presidency?

By Meg Richards, Beacon Correspondent / July 25, 2024

I found out Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential race from a meme. I was at the movie theater with my best friend, Camille, watching “Maxxxine”...

Illustration Kellyn Taylor

A relic of political stagnation: The Electoral College

By Rachel Choi, Illustration / March 20, 2024

Opinion editors are not responsible for agreeing or disagreeing with their writers but rather elevate each individual’s specific voice.  Imagine...

The Massachusetts State House on Beacon Hill.

Expanded voting protections at risk in Massachusetts

By Justin Chen and Camilo Fonseca / December 12, 2021

Several pandemic-era voting reforms in Massachusetts are slated to expire next week after dying on Beacon Hill, bringing an end to a period of increased...

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker.

Massachusetts voters knock down ranked-choice voting in failed ballot question

By Frankie Rowley / November 5, 2020

Massachusetts voters shot down ballot question two on Tuesday, which would have implemented a ranked choice voting system for select primary and general...

Voters enter the Boston City Hall polling place to vote on Election Day Nov. 4.

In-person polls drew thousands of Boston voters Tuesday

By Charlie McKenna / November 3, 2020

Thousands of Massachusetts voters flocked to the polls Tuesday to cast their ballots for president in an election tempered by the coronavirus pandemic...

A polling place at City Hall on Election Day Nov. 3, 2020.

Voting initiatives, mail-in experiences, and a new Supreme Court justice: Election Day on campus

By Drew Ascione, Maximo Aguilar Lawlor and Sophia Boyce / November 3, 2020

In today's special election edition of The 172 Review, host Drew Ascione sat down with Beacon reporter Camilo Fonseca to talk about student...

Two members of the student organization Earth Emerson.

Student organizations push political engagement on Election Day

By Ann E. Matica / November 3, 2020

Cultural, spiritual, and advocacy student organizations on campus are preparing to host Election Day events tonight that will center around self-care,...

Tris Arthur dropping off her absentee ballot application in the mailbox outside of the Colonial Theater.

As the election begins, the college gets-out-the-vote

By Camilo Fonseca / November 3, 2020

In the lead up to Election Day, Emerson’s Office of Student Engagement and Leadership established an outreach campaign this semester to encourage students...

Known on his profile for his butterfly clips and bicycle, Hand makes his followers laugh with mainly comedy content.

Two students front @tiktokforbiden ahead of Election Day

By Shawna Konieczny / October 28, 2020

Sophomore Austin Hand used his half a million TikTok followers to help establish TikTokers For Biden, an account rallying young voters behind Democratic...

Each generation likes to believe that they are the best generation so far. They will be the ones to change the system, that impacts the world the most. For this election that might just ring true.

Bring the online push for democracy to the polls

By Sabine Waldeck / October 28, 2020

Many people highly anticipate Election Day. Each and every voter sits staring at their TV screen, hoping they did enough for their candidate to win. This...

Four Emerson students made their way through the cold and rain to vote in the 2018 midterm elections. Stefania Lugli / Beacon Staff

Make Election Day an academic holiday once and for all

By Editorial Board / October 27, 2020

A week from Election Day, the country stands more fractured and divided. With experts anticipating a voter-turnout tsunami and young people already reporting...

Mail-in voting is still not accessible for everyone

Mail-in voting is still not accessible for everyone

By Jacob Seitz / September 19, 2020

This election season, a vast majority of the American population is likely going to vote by mail. The COVID-19 pandemic has upended just about everything...

"When anyone casts their ballot in a normal year, they are fulfilling their civic responsibility as an American citizen. But this November, for the first time in a long time, there is a pandemic plaguing the U.S. during a presidential election." Illustration by Laura King

Mail-in voting is easy. Here’s why you should do it.

By Robbie Shinder / September 15, 2020

What does it mean to vote? When anyone casts their ballot in a normal year, they are fulfilling their civic responsibility as an American citizen. But...

An SGA meeting at the beginning of the 2019-20 academic year.

Almost four hundred students elect 13 SGA candidates for next fall

By Charlie McKenna / May 8, 2020

The Student Government Association released its spring general election results Monday, revealing an extremely close race for the organization’s executive...

A spring 2020 Student Government Association meeting

Students vote to approve new, wide-ranging SGA constitution

By Andrew Brinker / April 23, 2020

A new constitution for the Student Government Association was officially ratified Tuesday, drastically altering the fundamental operations and direction...

SGA delayed voting on the Financial Equity Board for the third meeting in a row. Photo credit: Montse Landeros

SGA delays Financial Equity Board vote for third time

By Dana Gerber / February 6, 2020

The Student Government Association held an “auxiliary” Joint Session meeting late Wednesday night in a last-minute effort to push Executive...