This semester proved to be one of the most challenging that members of The Beacon have faced in some time. With the onset of COVID-19, our newsroom was forced to work from all across the world. Yet even in the face of such a daunting situation, the editors, reporters, photographers, designers, copy editors, and staff members have strived to provide the Emerson College community with the latest news and information.

With that in mind, I am proud to present the first edition of The Beacon Magazine—a venture into the world of long form reporting, introspective thought pieces, and outstanding photography. While there are many magazines at the college, The Beacon Magazine will serve as a place where students can take part in shaping a bold new venture with roots in one of the oldest publications on campus.

Our first edition honors the class of 2020, whose year was cut short by a pandemic wreaking havoc on the world. Despite this, they still managed to complete the year and graduate. This class will be remembered for their perseverance and courage. I hope that this edition of The Beacon Magazine will play a small part in preserving their legacy.

As we look ahead to the fall semester, expect a 16-page publication printed on the first day of every month that students are in school. The editors at The Beacon hope to attract more students to our organization and reach an audience that wouldn’t otherwise read our valuable work.

This has certainly been a crazy semester and I can only imagine what will come next. However, through all of it The Beacon will continue to produce outstanding student journalism and serve its readers both on and off campus.

I welcome any suggestions, comments, or concerns to [email protected].

Sincerely,

Chris Van Buskirk,
Editor-in-Chief, The Berkeley Beacon