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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 of student surrounded by symbols representing different majors

Switching majors at Emerson College: what it’s like and how to navigate the process

By Gabel Strickland / November 1, 2022

Laurel Frisbee, who attended Emerson from 2018 to 2019, switched majors four times during her first year. She went from journalism to writing, literature,...

Writing, literature, and publishing professor Jerald Walker won the Annual Massachusetts Book Award for his nonfiction work.

WLP professor Jerald Walker’s ‘How to Make a Slave and other essays’ wins the Annual Massachusetts Book Award for nonfiction

By Margarita Ivanova / December 9, 2021

Writing, literature and publishing professor Jerald Walker brought home the Massachusetts Book Award for nonfiction this year for his essay collection...

The Marlboro Institute for Liberal and Interdisciplinary Studies

Emerson launches ‘cluster hire’ for intersectional studies

By Vivi Smilgius / November 11, 2021

A new “cluster hire” initiative at Emerson aims to recruit faculty for newly-created positions in the Visual and Media Arts and Writing, Literature...

Creative writing professor appointed interim dean of graduate and professional studies

Creative writing professor appointed interim dean of graduate and professional studies

By Frankie Rowley / November 1, 2021

Creative writing professor Kim McLarin, who leads the college’s MFA in popular fiction writing and publishing, is set to become the interim dean of graduate...

Emerson's Walker Building.

New winter term classes draw positive reviews from students and faculty

By Frankie Rowley / January 18, 2021

Emerson’s first winter term earned praise from students and faculty alike, who shared positive experiences about the accelerated classes that spanned...

What is Emerson’s interim policy for campus demonstrations? We explain.

College rejects graduate students’ petition to reverse class schedule changes

By Alec Klusza / January 18, 2021

The college rejected a petition signed by 15 Writing, Literature, and Publishing graduate students to reverse academic scheduling changes planned for the...

Alum Stephanie Kent ‘10 and her husband Logan Smalley wrote the novel 'The Call Me Ishmael Phone Book,' an interactive guide to book recommendations and local book stores across the U.S.

Alum creates interactive phone book for bibliophiles everywhere

By Shawna Konieczny, Staff Writer / November 30, 2020

Stephanie Kent ‘10 and her husband, Logan Smalley, share a deep love for books. This mutual interest is what sparked the idea for their newly published...

Katie Lacadie, a senior writing literature and publishing major, was one of two students to have their manuscript selected by Undergraduate Students for Publishing. Her manuscript, along with senior Clarah Grossman's, will be published in December of this year.

Pub Club announces semesterly student manuscript winners

By Karissa Schaefer / October 28, 2020

Come December, Emerson students will be able to read about a medieval woman who fights societal constraints in the name of friendship and a love story...

Junior Antonio Weathers wrote 'Bird Folk,' an anthology about the African-American experience in America and at Emerson. - Photo by Xinyi Tu / Beacon Staff

Pub Club to release students’ books about adulthood and racial differences in America

By Katiana Hoefle / April 16, 2019

Junior Antonio Weathers wrote poetry to pass time during classes—sometimes writing only single words or stanzas. His compiled work then became Bird Folk,...

While literature is a vital aspect of the major, this number of required courses is excessive for those who gravitate toward the publishing or writing side of the spectrum. / Illustration by Ally Rzesa

Major Thoughts: there’s more than the ‘L’ in WLP

By Erin Wood / January 23, 2019

I chose Emerson because the writing, literature and publishing major offers a diverse curriculum with a focus on a variety of careers in the literary...

Planning a class schedule can stress students out, especially with limited course options. / Illustration by Ally Rzesa

Op-ed: Students advocate for curriculum modifications

November 8, 2018

Planning a class schedule can stress students out, especially with limited course options. To understand what specific issues students face with course...

Students now have $10 in printing credits after an SGA initiative called for more credits. Kathryn Killmeyer / Beacon Correspondent

Printing credit doubles following SGA initiative

By Cynthia Tu / September 23, 2018

Students received an extra $5 in print credits per semester after a Student Government Association initiative. SGA Executive President Jessica Guida...

Owen Elphick is the youngest writer to be published in The Hartford Courant's Poet's Corner. Photo: Cassandra Martinez/ Beacon Staff

Owen Elphick pens way into Poet’s Corner

By Stephanie Shih / February 1, 2018

The largest daily newspaper in Connecticut recently published eight of Owen Elphick’s poems in its monthly Poet’s Corner column, making the sophomore...

With an expansive world of uplifting and impactful literature available, professors need to present students with more diverse literature.
Cassandra Martinez / Beacon Staff

Black and brown and not read all over

By Cassandra Martinez / November 15, 2017

Last year, I took a novel-into-film class that did not feature a single book written by or about a woman or person of color. The only character of color...