Thursday, February 14, 2013

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Student Newspaper of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts

For more content, visit online at: beacon.mcla.edu Volume 77 ◆ Issue 3

North Adams, Mass.

Th u r s d ay, F e b rua r y 1 4 , 2 0 1 3

Open mic night rocks Sullivan Lounge

Faculty, students discuss Black History Month By Ryan Flynn

Senior News Editor

Photo by Shauna Dacus/Beacon Staff

Adam Tobin sings a Bob Dylan cover as well as an original at the open mic night Thursday, Feb. 7 hosted by Spires, Inter-Greek Council (IGC), and Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP).

Huffington Post writer, religion columnist to give diversity lecture Irene Monroe to explore interconnection impacts on college campuses

Photo Courtesy of mcla.edu

By Haley Costen A&E Writer

Irene Monroe, Huffington Post writer and syndicated queer religion columnist, will present a lecture at the College called “Debunking the Notion of a Hierarchy of Oppressions” at 7 p.m. on Feb. 28 in Murdock 218. The lecture is sponsored by Bisexuals, Gays, Lesbians and Allies Making a Difference (BGLAD),

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and according to BGLAD Vice President Andrew McNamara, will explore the impact of gender, race, class, and intersectionality, a concept used to describe ways in which oppressive institutions are interconnected, on a college campus. There is a student reception on the same day in Murdock 208 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. which will function as a workshop in order to let students get inside Monroe’s brain, according to McNamara. “The lecture will give people a greater idea of the concept of intersectionality and how it impacts identity, identification, and community building,” BGLAD President Kali Yomota-Kurland said in an email interview. “Students who go to the reception can expect to get a more personal experience with Irene and talk one-on-one about social issues and their impact on college campuses.”

On Monroe’s website she states, “As a religion columnist I try to inform the public of the role religion plays in discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people.” Monroe wrote an award-winning essay titled “Louis Farrakhan’s Ministry of Misogyny and Homophobia”; has been profiled in “O, Oprah Magazine”; and received the Harvard University Certificate of Distinction in Teaching several times, according to her website. “I think she’ll show anyone who goes that diversity is more than race,” said BGLAD treasurer Devon Monroe. “The things she’s talking about play a big role in what diversity is.” The lecture is co-sponsored by the Multicultural Center, Academic Affairs, the Diversity Task Force, and Sociology and Anthropology Departments. BGLAD is expecting a large audience for the event.

Black Student Union (BSU) members and the College’s faculty alike met to discuss topics including post-racism, general activism, and the importance of educating children on the meaning of Black History Month. The gathering provided an opportunity for interested students to hear what faculty had to say about Black History Month. Faculty, such as Professor of sociology Ingrid Castro, emphasized looking at the concept of racism. “We need to look at racism as a whole as opposed to certain populations,” she said. History professor Frances Jones-Sneed also gave her input of how important it is to teach young students about black history and the Civil Rights Movement. She noted it is a problem that some children are not learning this information. “I think we have a population of students grades K through 12 who still don’t know about Black History Month,” she said. More than anything, everyone emphasized planning Black History Month events at the College. A number of activities and events had been planned for Friday, Feb. 8, but were cancelled due to the inconvenience of Snowstorm Nemo. Events, such as a soul food dinner planned to be hosted by BSU in the Centennial Room, were rescheduled for tomorrow. BSU had originally intended on having a guest chef but she

Photo by Dennise Carranza/Beacon Staff

Professor Ingrid Castro (left), BSU President Asia Andrews (center left), BSU Secretary Esther Cazeau (center right), Professor Jones-Sneed (right) at the Black History Month Conversation.

Tremblay shares her four year endeavors

Spires, IGC, and SSDP join for open mic

Five AAUW panelists share their personal stories with the students

Senior guard tells of her basketball experiences

Students showed off their talents Thursday, Feb. 7

News, page 2

Sports, page 8

Arts & Entertainment, page 7

Women’s Center discusses gender pay gap

couldn’t make it due to the snowstorm. Spoken Word Specialist Jamel N. Adams was also scheduled to come in Friday, Feb. 8 to perform, but he will now be coming tomorrow. BSU President Asia Andrews noted that other events will be hosted throughout the month, such as a workshop where Black leaders and achievers will counsel students and conduct activities on being prepared for graduating college. “I think it will provide a wonderful opportunity for leaders on this campus,” she said. Andrews also passed out tickets to attendees for the soul food dinner. Professors and active BSU members discussed how important it is to spread awareness throughout the year, as opposed to condensing everything into just one month. “It’s important to not just focus on February,” Andrews said. She encouraged people to sprinkle awareness of these issues throughout the year. Jones-Sneed said that they will be celebrating both the 150 year anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation and the 50 year anniversary of the march in Washington D.C. Jones-Sneed also encouraged students to attend BSU meetings as well as read books on racism and civil rights. She also recommended students read “The New Jim Crow” by Michelle Alexander, a book which discusses the current penal system.

News 2-5 Arts & Entertainment 6-7 Sports 8-9 Campus Comment 10 Fun & Games 11 Photo Essay 12


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News

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Public Safety Logs Sunday, February 3 2:05 p.m.- Public Safety responded to a call on Montana Street. Peace was restored. Monday, February 4 2: 53 p.m.-Public Safety responded to a motor vehicle accident in the Bowman Hall Parking Lot. Tuesday, February 5 5:36 a.m.- Public Safety responded to medical call made in Hoosac Hall. 9:58 p.m.- Public Safety responded to a harassment report in the Campus Center. Wednesday, February 6 9:32 a.m- Public Safety responded to vandalism report filed in Campus Center. Thursday, February 7 9:50 p.m.- Public Safety reports campus closing. 10:54 p.m.- Public Safety responded to a forgery report on Ashland St. Friday, February 8 7:54 p.m.- Public Safety respond to unwanted guest on Ashland St., no action was required. Saturday, February 9 12:33 a.m.- Public Saftey respond to a disturbance in Hoosac Hall, peace is restored. 12:52 a.m.- Public Safety respond to disturbing the peace on Montana St., peace restored. 1:00 a.m- Public Safety responded to disturbance in Hoosac Hall, no action was required.

Beacon.mcla.edu

Environuts to protest Keystone XL By Chris Goodell Staff Writer

The Student Government Associated (SGA) voted Monday night to approve a supplemental budget request of $600 for the Environuts. According to Environuts Treasurer Nick Arena, the money will fund a trip for 12 students to partner with Williams College in travelling to Washington, D.C. on Sunday for an environmental protest. “We’re going to protest the Keystone XL pipeline, which [would stretch] from Alberta, Canada all the way across the [United States],” Arena said. According to Treasurer James Wetzel, the Budget and Finance Committee recommended to approve the supplemental budget request. The senate voted to approve the request with eight voting in favor, two opposing, and one abstaining. Some senators questioned whether the request qualified as a new initiative that should be funded by the SGA. Senators Stephan Rochefort and Isaiah Butler, the two opposing votes, were weary of setting a precedent of providing money for clubs that do not qualify for supplemental funding. “It would set a very poor precedent,” Butler said, adding that he thought this case did not qualify as a new initiative or an emergency situation.

SGA President Jason Brown, while noting that he was once President of the Environuts, pointed out that the SGA approved supplemental funding when the group traveled to Washington, D.C. for a similar protest in November 2011. “It’s a great opportunity to have a group of our students go down to the nation’s capital and have our voices heard,” Wetzel said. Winter Week Executive Vice President Kate Moore revealed the schedule for SGA’s annual Winter Week, set to begin Monday, and last until Saturday, Feb. 23. Student Leadership Conference Due to the weekend snowstorm, the annual Student Leadership Conference, scheduled for Feb. 9, has been postponed until Sunday, March 24. SGA adviser Jenn Craig has contacted those who were scheduled to present at the original conference and at this time is not looking for any new programs. “We had a full schedule of programs,” Craig said. If some presenters cannot make the new date, however, it may be opened up for new program ideas.

Photo by Kacie Clark/ Beacon Staff

Treasurer James Wetzel discusses budget allocations. Senator resignation Brown announced that senator Yvonne Camacho has resigned from the SGA. Brown read her resignation letter, which cited time commitments as her reason for leaving her position. “It has been a pleasure serving with all of you,” the letter read. “I do not have the time that is needed to dedicate to this position.”

Women’s Center looks at disparate pay By Nick Arena

Managing Editor The Susan B. Anthony Women’s Center began its three part series on pay equity with “Gender Pay Gap: The Long and Winding Road Toward Parity Wednesday Feb. 6. The event debuted in Murdock 218. It was organized with the Bennington, VT branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) and told the story of five women whose lives were impacted by disparate pay and job discrimination. The five panelists were AnnMarie Duchon, associate director of Accommodation Services at UMass Amherst; AAUW member Margaret Howland; Gudrun Hutchins, former employee of Sprague Electric; Judy Murphy, former employee of the Time Inc.; and Lea Newman, former professor of English at MCLA back when it was still North Adams State College. The event was moderated by Julie Mackaman, AAUW Bennington, VT branch president. “Women today are still paid less than their male counterparts

for doing the same work,” Mackaman said. She opened the panel discussion with a challenge for the audience to find related themes in each of their five stories. The stories span from the 1920s to the present date. The stories began with Howland’s account of her Aunt Mary, introducing the first theme of the night: pay discrimination. “We think that toward the end of the year she was earning $5000 a year,” Howland said. She added that the average male in the same position as her aunt would have made twice as much. The other themes included revolved a lot around why pay discrimination exists and the negative effects it causes. In Newman’s story, for example, simply being married left her at a disadvantage. “[According to the administration] I didn’t need the money, because I was the wife of a successful bread winner,” she said. On the other end we can see how the pay gap affects women in the long run. According to the panel, a huge issue that takes awhile to see is the loss of money

received throughout the entirety of one’s career. Duchon faced similar issues in the workplace with a higher paid and equally qualified male coworker. After going on maternity leave, she returned to find that not only had the pay gap between her and her coworker had gotten wider, but that he had been encouraged to renegotiate his salary and she was never offered the chance. Her story ended on a happier note: her current pay is now equal to her male coworkers. However, she only received pay retroactive through Dec. 2011. “I had lost over $12 thousand in wages in comparison with my coworker[s],” she said. According to the panel and their stories, things have gotten better, but are long from being fixed. Women are still graduating into a pay gap, the panel warned. “Among full-time workers one year out of college, women earned an average of just over $35 thousand, while men working full time earned an average of nearly $43 thousand,” according to a study done by the AAUW. “This

means that women earned 82 percent of the pay earned by men in their graduating class.” Stories such as Murphy’s “Women of Time,” a group of women that fought for workplace equality, were tailor-made to inspire young women to not fall prey to the gap. The women of the panel had a bit of personal advice to add into the evening. “After the job offer comes, ask for more money,” Hutchins said. The women of the panel strongly encouraged researching potential employers prior to accepting the job, primarily looking for past discrimination lawsuits. They reminded the crowd to be wary about personal information that employers might take advantage of. “Don’t volunteer any personal or family information, on your resume or in an interview,” Hutchins added. The last bit of advice they gave was to never stop fighting for the cause, and that young women should never be afraid to advocate for themselves.

Weekend Weather 2/14 - 2/17 Thursday, February 14

Friday, February 15

Saturday, February 16

Sunday, February 17

Sunny High: 41° Low: 29° Precip. Chance: 20%

Showers High: 27° Low: 40° Precip. Chance: 40%

Snow Showers High: 26° Low: 12° Precip. Chance: 40%

Rain/Snow High: 20° Low: 1° Precip. Chance: 20%

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News

Thursday, February 14, 2013

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Graduation, find out what comes after By Jack Guerino Staff Writer

Faculty will address students during the upcoming Post Graduate Workshop and deliver presentations focused on options, programs, and tips to better equip graduating students. Christopher Himes, science, technology, engineering, & math (STEM) Program Manager, Ojae Michal Beale, consultant of the Susan B. Anthony Women's Center, and Web Communications Manager Roberta McCulloch-Dews will present students with possible opportunities and strategies to better and more confidently peruse their lives after college. “I want people to come and take advantage of the opportunity,” Himes said. “It's bringing together three people with very different career and academic backgrounds and who knows what type of information is going to come out of that.” Christopher Himes is very familiar with graduate school and graduate programs and has worked for universities in biological research. He now works on science outreach, education, and support programs on campus. Himes will focus his lecture on academic careers as well as aspects of applying to and entering a graduate program. “I'm probably going to talk about what it's like to apply to grad school, how to find a graduate program you are interested in, and maybe the differences between a masters degree and a PhD and what they mean,” Himes explained. “I would also like to discuss what student life is like as a graduate student.”

Christopher Himes intends to present an open lecture where students can participate in the presentation and ask questions. “I want it to be a conversation and have it be led by the audience; the people that are there and have the questions and concerns,” Himes explained. Himes also said his lecture would present very functional information like how to find internships and create a more effective resume. Roberta McCulloch-Dew will also be presenting at the workshop and plans to use her diverse career background to aid students. She has worked as a print journalist and in marketing communications. After she was laid off during the economic recession she continued to freelance until she started her own communications company. “My career certainly didn't take a straight path, but every success and challenge has made me who I am today,” said McCulloch-Dew in an email exchange. McCulloch-Dew looks to use her own life experience to aid graduating students. “I hope they can glean insight from my experience and then reflect on their own path,” McCulloch-Dew said. “Perhaps, there are things that they haven't thought about before.” “I would hope that they'd gain a fresh perspective.” Although the economic environment remains unstable, the workshop looks to create optimism and give confidence to discouraged students. “You have to be an optimist and do everything you can,” Himes added. “Instead of applying to 20

jobs when you graduate maybe you have to apply to 80.” McCulloch-Dew also believes students can still find success in the challenging job market. “Businesses and organizations are still looking for innovators,” McCulloch-Dew said. “But if students do find that there are a dearth of opportunities in their desired area, this may be a signal to consider a new opportunity.” With a challenging landscape

“I want students to know that the path to success isn’t linear, far from it.” -Roberta McCulloch-Dew for graduating students, the workshop looks to help equip students with tools that will make them more competitive in the job market. “Flexibility and keeping an open mind is key in the current job market,” McCulloch-Dew said. Himes believes that the job market will always be competitive and students need to make themselves as valuable as they can no matter what the economic terrain is. “If you are moving into a career path there is always going be competition regardless of what the economy is doing,” added Himes.

Not only will the workshop focus on career building, but also discovery of careers for students who are unsure of what they want to do with their futures. “While it seems obvious in the moment, a graduating senior is so busy and it’s hard to think about where you’re going to be in ten years when you don't know where you’re going be in two months,” Himes said. Himes explained that job discovery does not have to follow a strict path. “I think it's important to see that it's not a linear path into your career,” said Himes. “You should view your career path as trying stuff that you like because hopefully you will find the thing you are really passionate about.” McCulloch-Dew also believes that career success does not need to follow a strict path. “I want students to know that the path to success isn't linear, far from it,” McCulloch-Dew said. “Chances are the first job after college may not be that soughtafter dream job; however, it is a stepping stone” Along with this, she sees flexibility in the job market as a critical aspect in creating a fruitful career. “Many times graduates will leave their first job because it's not what they envisioned,” explained McCulloch-Dew. “It's very important to look at each job or opportunity as an essential cog in the wheel.” The workshop will take place at 7:00 pm in Murdock Hall, room 218.

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Black History Month Schedule February 15:

Guest Speaker: Jamel Adams A diversity workshop Murdock 218, 3:15 p.m.

Soul Food Dinner

Guest Chef Velma McAdoo Centienal Room, 4:45 p.m.

Valentine Coffee Shop

Featuring Jamel Adams Sulivan Lounge, 8:00 p.m.

Cupid’s Playground Party

Sponsered by Slam Poetry

Venable Gym, 11 p.m- 2 a.m.

February 20: Post Graduate Workshop

“What am I going to do” Murdock 218, 7:00 p.m.

February 22: Allegrettos Gospel Concert

Church St. Center, 7:00 p.m.

Old School to New School Party Sponsered by BSU

Venable Gym, 11 p.m- 2 a.m.

February 23: Allegrettos Gospel Concert

Church St. Center, 5:00 p.m.

Public Safety updates emergency guidelines By Andrew Hodgson Staff Writer

On Feb. 1 MCLA Police chief Joseph Charon announced via First Class that he had updated the Emergency Quick Guide on the College website based on recommendations published by the Department of Homeland Security. The update is part of ongoing efforts by Charon and the College’s critical incident response team to keep the campus community up to date on the latest law enforcement recommendations on dealing with “active shooter” situations. “As a part of ongoing education I recently learned that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) came out with these new recommendations on how to respond to an active shooter,” Charon said. The Homeland Security Active Shooter Booklet, available in full at the Emergency Quick Guide, can be found here: h t t p : / / w w w. m c l a . e d u / S t u d e nt _ L i f e / p u b l i c s a f e t y /

emergencyresponseguidelines/ The Booklet includes recommendations on what to do in case of an active shooter. The first step is evacuating the area of the shooter, if at all possible. The second step is to hide and shelter oneself from the shooter. The third step is one that Homeland Security has recently added, according to Charon, taking on a potential attacker in an attempt to disable them to protect the lives of others. The College’s Critical Incident Response Team is composed of Charon and members of the College’s facilities department as well as faculty. President Mary Grant also works closely with the team to keep the campus updated on safety issues. “The last recommendation is the relatively new part [of the booklet] and what was found was that people who are facing shooters have two choices, they either become a hopeless victim and surrender to the situation, or commit to action and try to save their life or the lives of others,” Charon said.

Charon stresses that this is only a last-resort scenario. The goal with bringing this new recommendation to the campus web site was to raise awareness; something Charon says is always on Public Safety’s agenda. Nonetheless DHS research has indicated that when faceto-face with an active shooter, many people either fold under the pressure and surrender or take action. To Charon it’s an easy choice. “It just makes sense that committing to some kind of action is better than surrendering," he said. “It’s human nature that if you live in a safe environment where you’re rarely exposed to serious violent crimes that you might become complacent with how you conduct yourself so we always try to keep people somewhere in the middle where you’re paying attention and keeping yourself safe.” Charon stresses individual awareness and a community approach when it comes to safety, admitting that incidents like these happen very quickly and

the action taken by individuals before police arrive on the scene are important. To help prepare for the worstcase scenarios, Charon and the Critical Incident Response Team have also introduced a program called BE SAFE in which every campus building has a PDF file that shows every detail about the building as well as aerial photographs and key personnel information. Using this system, any agency reporting to an incident on campus can be briefed on any campus building in seconds. “In light of these new recommendations I thought it would be appropriate to go to our emergency guide and make those updates and offer people a chance to read that material (the booklet) on their own and take it into their personal safety practices,” Charon said. For more information on Photo by Dennise Caranza /Beacon Staff active shooter preparedness visit Blue light emergancy towers, the Department of Homeland are used to contact Public Safty. Security website: http://www.dhs. gov/active-shooter-preparedness.


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Thursday, February 14, 2013

News

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North Korea conducts third controversial nuke test Associated Press PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) - Defying U.N. warnings, North Korea on Tuesday conducted its third nuclear test in the remote, snowy northeast, taking a crucial step toward its goal of building a bomb small enough to be fitted on a missile capable of striking the United States. North Korea said the atomic test was merely its “first response’’ to what it called U.S. threats, and said it will continue with unspecified “second and third measures of greater intensity’’ if Washington maintains its hostility. The underground test, which set off powerful seismic waves, drew immediate condemnation from Washington, the U.N. and others. Even its only major ally, China, summoned the North’s ambassador for a dressing-down. President Barack Obama, who was scheduled to give a State of the Union address later Tuesday, said nuclear tests “do not make North Korea more secure.’’ Instead, North Korea has “increasingly isolated and impoverished its people through its ill-advised pursuit of weapons of mass destruction,’’ he said in a statement. But the Obama administration’s options for a response are limited, and a U.S. military strike is highly unlikely. In an emergency session, the U.N. Security Council unanimously said the test poses “a clear threat to international peace and security’’ and pledged further action. U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice called the test “highly provocative’’ and said the North’s continued work on its nuclear and missile programs threatens regional and international peace and security and “the security of a number of countries including the United States.’’ “They will not be tolerated,’’ she said, “and they will be met with North Korea’s increasing isolation

and pressure under United Nations sanctions.’’ It remains to be seen, however, whether China will sign on to any new, binding global sanctions. Beijing, Pyongyang’s primary trading partner, has resisted measures that would cut off North Korea’s economy completely. China expressed firm opposition to Tuesday’s test but called for a calm response by all sides. Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi summoned North Korea’s ambassador and delivered a “stern representation’’ and demanded that North Korea “swiftly return to the correct channel of dialogue and negotiation,’’ the ministry said in a statement. The test was a defiant North Korean response to U.N. orders that it shut down its atomic activity or face more sanctions and international isolation. It will likely draw more sanctions from the United States and other countries at a time when North Korea is trying to rebuild its moribund economy and expand its engagement with the outside world. Several U.N. resolutions bar North Korea from conducting nuclear or missile tests because the Security Council considers Pyongyang a would-be proliferator of weapons of mass destruction and its nuclear testing a threat to international peace and stability. North Korea dismisses that as a double standard, and claims the right to build nuclear weapons as a defense against the United States, which it has seen as Enemy No. 1 since the 195053 Korean War. The U.S. stations more than 28,000 troops in South Korea to protect its ally. Tuesday’s test is North Korea’s first since young leader Kim Jong Un took power of a country long estranged from the West. The test will likely be portrayed in North Korea as a strong move to defend the nation against foreign aggression, particularly from the U.S. “The test was conducted in a

safe and perfect way on a high level, with the use of a smaller and light A-bomb, unlike the previous ones, yet with great explosive power,’’ North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency said. The U.N. Security Council recently punished North Korea for a rocket launch in December that the U.N. and Washington called a cover for a banned long-range missile test. Pyongyang said it was a peaceful launch of a satellite into space. In condemning that launch, the council demanded a stop to future launches and ordered North Korea to respect a ban on nuclear activity - or face “significant action’’ by the U.N. The timing of Tuesday’s test is significant. It came hours before Obama’s speech and only days before the Saturday birthday of Kim Jong Un’s father, late leader Kim Jong Il, whose memory North Korean propaganda has repeatedly linked to the country’s nuclear ambitions. This year also marks the 60th anniversary of the signing of the armistice that ended the 1950-53 Korean War, and in late February South Korean President-elect Park Geun-hye will be inaugurated. In Pyongyang, where it was snowing Tuesday, North Koreans gathered around televisions to watch a 3 p.m. TV broadcast announcing the nuclear test. The test shows the world that North Korea is a “nuclear weapons state that no one can irritate,’’ Kim Mun Chol, a 42-year-old Pyongyang citizen, told The Associated Press in the North Korean capital. “Now we have nothing to be afraid of in the world.’’ The National Intelligence Service in Seoul told lawmakers that North Korea may conduct an additional nuclear test and test-launch a ballistic missile in response to U.N. talks about imposing more sanctions, according to the office of South Korean lawmaker Jung Chung-rae, who attended the private meeting.

Analysts have also previously speculated that Pyongyang might conduct multiple tests, possibly of plutonium and uranium devices. North Korea is estimated to have enough weaponized plutonium for four to eight bombs, according to American nuclear scientist Siegfried Hecker. It wasn’t immediately clear to outside experts whether the device exploded Tuesday was small enough to fit on a missile, and whether it was fueled by plutonium or highly enriched uranium. A successful test would take North Korean scientists a step closer to building a nuclear warhead that can reach U.S. shores _ seen as the ultimate goal of North Korea’s nuclear program.

“This latest test and any further nuclear testing could provide North Korean scientists with additional information for nuclear warhead designs...” In 2006 and 2009, North Korea is believed to have tested devices made of plutonium. But in 2010, Pyongyang revealed a program to enrich uranium, which would give the country a second source of bomb-making materials - a worrying development for the United States and its allies. “This latest test and any further nuclear testing could provide North Korean scientists with additional information for nuclear warhead designs small enough to fit on top of its ballistic missiles,’’ Daryl Kimball and Greg Thielmann wrote on the private Arms Control Association’s blog. “However, it is likely that additional testing would be needed for North Korea to field either a plutonium or enriched

uranium weapon.’’ Uranium would be a worry because plutonium facilities are large and produce detectable radiation, making it easier for outsiders to find and monitor. However, uranium centrifuges can be hidden from satellites, drones and nuclear inspectors in caves, tunnels and other hardto-reach places. Highly enriched uranium also is easier than plutonium to engineer into a weapon. Monitoring stations in South Korea detected an earthquake in the North with a magnitude of 4.9 and the South’s Defense Ministry said that corresponds to an estimated explosive yield of 6-7 kilotons. The yields of the North’s 2006 and 2009 tests were estimated at 1 kiloton and 2 to 6 kilotons, respectively, spokesman Kim Min-seok said. By comparison, U.S. nuclear bombs that flattened Nagasaki and Hiroshima during World War II were estimated at 13 kilotons and 22 kilotons, respectively, Kim said. The test is a product of North Korea’s military-first, or songun, policy, and shows Kim Jong Un is running the country much as his father did, said Daniel Pinkston of the International Crisis Group think tank. The other part of a credible North Korean nuclear deterrent is its missile program. While it has capable short and mediumrange missiles, it has struggled in tests of technology for long-range missiles needed to carry bombs to the United States, although it successfully launched the satellite in December. North Korea isn’t close to having a nuclear bomb it can use on the United States or its allies. Instead, Hecker said in a posting on Stanford University’s website, “it wants to hold U.S. interests at risk of a nuclear attack to deter us from regime change and to create international leverage and diplomatic maneuvering room.’’

Hudson River flood more with higher seas levels Associated Press ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - More flooded roads, washed out train lines, parks underwater - it sounds like the dire post-Sandy warnings about the New York City region’s future. But the same sorts of issues loom over the towns along the Hudson River. Since Superstorm Sandy sent a storm surge of around 6 feet up the river, local officials and advocates have focused more intently on identifying vulnerable places along the Hudson River and figuring out if anything can be done to protect lives and property. Scenic Hudson, a conservation group working with river communities, will soon debut interactive maps that will allow users to see where high tide could reach in the future from Yonkers to Troy, based on

projected sea-rise levels. “We often forget to think of all the Hudson riverfront communities as being coastal communities, but they are,’’ said Sacha Spector, Scenic Hudson’s director of conservation science. “And they’re going to face many of the same kinds of coastal hazards that the coasts of Long Island and New Jersey face.’’ The 150 miles of Hudson River between New York Harbor and Troy is an estuary in sync with the ocean’s tides. If severe weather events become more common and ocean levels rise, as many scientists project, land along that tidal stretch of river will be vulnerable, too. Sandy provided a taste of what a future of higher water and fiercer storms could be like on the river. While Hudson River flooding was nowhere near as destructive as it was along the

ocean, the river lapped up on Newburgh’s waterfront and there were evacuations by a tributary in Kingston, where a sewer plant was flooded. In Ossining, a boat was deposited on the rail tracks. Farther south in Westchester County in Irvington, parkland between the railroad tracks and the river was submerged. “That entire area was under approximately 3 to 4 feet of water,’’ said village administrator Lawrence Schopfer, who said some businesses in the area were also flooded. Looming threats involve not only the possibility of more frequent severe rains, but the risk that rising sea levels will swell the Hudson and extend its flood plain. A December 2010 task force report to the Legislature projected potential sea level increases of 1 to 9 inches in the mid-Hudson Valley and Capital Region, with higher jumps farther south. By

the 2080s, the river’s rise could be measured in feet. A big rise could threaten riverside development in the suburbs north of New York City and the greener spaces farther north. The riverside rail lines running from Manhattan to Albany that carry Metro-North commuters, Amtrak passengers and freight could be affected. Rising seas also could push upriver the salt front - the boundary between freshwater and seawater - which would threaten drinking water drawn from the river. Spector said Scenic Hudson also will add maps that will show how rising waters would affect wildlife habitats along the river, like the tidal wetlands of Tivoli Bays near Rhinebeck and RamsHorn-Livingston Sanctuary, a freshwater tidal swamp near Catskill that Scenic Hudson coowns with the National Audubon

Society. The interactive Scenic Hudson maps, which will be posted on the Web in a couple of weeks, are part of a broader effort by the group, which also includes co-leading the Kingston Waterfront Flooding Task Force, a private-state group that will identify vulnerable buildings and properties and come up with mitigation plans. Kingston Mayor Shayne Gallo said a seawall is one option, though that would be costly. In Irvington, Schopfer said they have to approach the problem with the idea that more floods will happen again. “We don’t have a magic solution for it,’’ Schopfer said. ”You can’t relocate a park, you’re not going to just walk away from it and stop using it because of this. You probably can’t raise them... so there’s not a heck of a lot you can do.’’


News

Thursday, February 14, 2013

beacon.mcla.edu

Top US cardinal ‘shocked’ by pope’s resignation Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) - News of the pope’s resignation was a big surprise Monday even for the most prominent Roman Catholic prelate in the United States _ the cardinal who leads the nation’s bishops. New York’s Cardinal Timothy Dolan was saying his prayers at 6 a.m. when his spokesman called to say ``the rumor is from Rome that Pope Benedict XVI announced his resignation.’’ He didn’t believe it, the cardinal said, and ``both of us chuckled, because we heard rumors like that before and didn’t take them seriously.’’ But it was true. “I have to be honest, I’m as shocked and as startled as all of you,’’ Dolan told reporters at his residence near St. Patrick’s Cathedral in the heart of midtown Manhattan. Worshippers who streamed into the soaring neo-Gothic cathedral were equally surprised, offering personal views on the departing pope that ranged from admiration to near-indifference. “I’ll remember him not for himself, I’ll remember him more for `after John Paul II’ _ he came after Pope John Paul II,’’ said Juan Carlos Lombera, 35, a Mexicanborn business executive. “I guess he was kind of a transition pope,’’ said

Lombera, who prays daily to the sculpted Virgin of Guadalupe near the main altar. By contrast, Manhattan public relations executive Marie Oates said she considers Joseph Ratzinger a wonderful pope who from the beginning of his papacy in 2005 was frank about the huge burden it placed on him personally. By resigning, ``he’s showing that you don’t have to stay when you feel debilitated and not up to the task,’’ she said as she left a morning Mass. ``And I think we are in a new age when people live much longer, and the demands are excruciating.’’ She’s among 2.6 million faithful in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York, which excludes the 1.4 million Catholics in Brooklyn and parts of Queens. Nearby Long Island has another 1.5 million under the Diocese of Rockville Centre. Together, that gives metropolitan New York the biggest number of Catholics in any U.S. urban area _ 5.5 million. The Los Angeles Archdiocese is the largest in the United States, with 4.6 million members. “I love him so much,’’ Dolan, 63, said of the pope who made the New York archbishop a cardinal just last year. The two men have known each other since Dolan was rector of the Pontifical North American Col-

lege in Rome from 1994 until 2001. But after the first papal resignation in nearly 600 years, ``my affection and my admiration for Pope Benedict XVI has skyrocketed ... because of his humility,’’ Dolan said. “I don’t have any insider information,’’ Dolan said, ``but I would presume that his esteem for the office as the successor of St. Peter is so high that in all humility he simply said, `I can’t do it anymore, and it would be best for the church and for me if I would step aside.’’’ Like the 85-year-old pope, Dolan is considered a religious conservative who fiercely opposes abortion, birth control and same-sex marriage. Dolan was asked whether he considers himself ``papabile’’ _ an Italian word meaning ``pope-able,’’ commonly used by cardinals for someone who stands a chance of becoming pope. The cardinal shot back jokingly at a reporter crouching to stay clear of TV cameras, ``Is that why you’re kneeling?’’ Turning serious, he said it’s “highly improbable’’ he could become pope now. More realistically, how did he feel about being called on to pick the next one? Dolan didn’t hesitate: “It’s awesome. ... And I’m thinking, my, oh my!’’

dress, what she’ll wear to the opera,’’ he said. His vintage-inspired day looks only hinted at the baroque architecture and romantic drama that Siriano is known for because, he said, he wanted them to represent the beginning of a deepening dream. They evoke many eras, from the 1940s to the 1960s, and were mostly separates of turtlenecks paired with loose leather trousers and faux fur vests in muted colors such as white, black and camel. One ensemble included a pointed-toe flat in a penny loafer style, a surprise inclusion given fashion’s love for the high heel. Siriano explained it as a way to ensure its wearability, and also because he “wanted it to be a bit more demure, a bit simple.’’ It was a smart commercial

move, given that the collection’s shoes will be sold at the budget footwear Payless Shoes and a variety of heel heights will likely sell better. Other shoes in the collection ran toward the more baroque architecture that Siriano likes, with some looking a bit like “jewelry,’’ he said. They were bootie heels and heeled penny loafers with gold trim, echoing the filigree that anchored many of the evening dresses that closed the show. The metallic trim was a nod to the interiors of the Mariinsky Theater, Siriano said. “I like mixing stuff that’s gold or opulent or from the 1800s with something that’s maybe ‘20s or ‘40s,’’ he said, a reference to the slim skirt shapes and kneelength skirts from his day looks.

Christian Siriano visits Russian opera for fall Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) - Christian Siriano is going to the opera. The ``Project Runway’’ alum used the Russian opera as the inspiration for his fall runway show at New York Fashion Week, though he has never seen the Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg in person. He instead used a book of Russian opera houses as reference, and filled in the rest with his imagination. “I didn’t go there, so that’s why it’s all about the dream _ my interpretation,’’ Siriano said after the show on Saturday. The girl wearing this collection, he said, was on her way to see the Russian opera. “I wanted it to be a story of what she wears during the day, what she’ll wear for a cocktail

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Photo Courtesy of CNN.com.

Former Pope Benedict XVI.

The Met: Live in HD Returns to The Clark with Rigoletto Press Release

of the kinds of events that happen in Rigoletto.” Approximate running time is 180 minutes. About the Clark Set amidst 140 acres in the Berkshires, the Clark is one of the few major art museums that also serves as a leading international center for research and scholarship. The Clark presents public and education programs and organizes groundbreaking exhibitions that advance new scholarship. The Clark’s research and academic programs include an international fellowship program and conferences. Together with Williams College, the Clark sponsors one of the nation’s leading master’s programs in art history. The Clark receives support from the Massachusetts Cultural Council. The Clark is located at 225 South Street in Williamstown, Massachusetts. The galleries are open daily in July and August (open Tuesday through Sunday from September through June), 10 am to 5 pm. Admission is $15 June 1 through October 31; free November through May; and free year-round for Clark members, children 18 and younger, and students with valid ID.

Williamstown, Mass. - A modern twist on Verdi’s classic Rigoletto comes to the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute as part of its Met: Live in HD series on Saturday, February 16 at 12:55 pm. Tickets are $25 ($22 members; $18 students) and may be ordered online or by calling 413-458 0MET (458 - 0638). Rising Italian conductor Michele Mariotti leads the new production of Rigoletto, seen in a new staging by the Tony Award-winning director Michael Mayer in his Met debut. Mayer’s approach transports the story from sixteenth-century Italy to Las Vegas in 1960, with a cast led by Željko Lucic in the title role, Diana Damrau as his daughter, Gilda, Piotr Beczala as the Duke of Mantua, Štefan Kocán as the assassin Sparafucile, and Oksana Volkova in her Met debut as Sparafucile’s seductive sister, Maddalena. The fast-paced storyline involves everything from seduction and abduction to murder and revenge. “I’ve tried to imagine a recent world that captures the decadence of the Duke’s palace, where the participants are in pursuit of power, money, and beauty,” Mayer says. “Las Vegas in the ‘60s is such a world, where a For more information, kind of prankster energy could go bad it’s the epitome visit clarkart.edu or call 413 458 2303.


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Arts & Entertainment

Thursday, February 14, 2013

The Smiths: a charming band, indeed by Shannen Adamites A&E Editor The Smiths have a bad reputation for falling into the hands of Zooey Deschanel wannabes and whiny hipster kids. Either that, or people just think Morrissey is an overdramatic, first generation emo kid with a large jaw and a really weird voice. Disregarding the haters, The Smiths are my favorite band and I love Morrissey. He is completely aware of the fact he’s absurd, a bit of a narcissist, and a ruthless critic, but instead of trying to hide it, he embraces it. He does not care whatsoever. The Smiths paved the way for indie music as we know it. In a decade when sparkly new-wave bands dominated the British mainstream, The Smiths went out of their way to counteract that movement with a clever combination of confusing melancholy and blatant sarcasm against societal standards. Morrissey was always considered to be a peculiar guy. He wasn’t very social, not much is known about his personal life, and he just did his own thing, regardless of what others thought of him. After gaining some commercial success, he once danced and pranced around the stage of a British television show, shamelessly grooving to the beat of “This Charming Man” with a rose in his mouth, instead of lip-syncing at the request of producers. Unfortunately, the band was relatively short-lived as success brought tension. Their lead guitarist, Johnny Marr, was on the verge of alcoholism, and Morrissey, for the lack of a better way of putting it, became a bit of a diva. And by a bit, I mean Marr, who was his best bud, described him as being “musically inflexible.” He became extremely frustrated with his inability to cooperate. As a result, they broke apart in 1987, and arguments over dividing performance/recording royalties among Marr, Morrissey and the rest of the band caused a bit of controversy, but not enough to soil their reputations. They don’t plan on reuniting anytime soon, if ever. Morrissey joked he’d consider a reunion fora large sum of money, but even that is unlikely. Excuse me while I go cry in a corner. Morrissey’s still touring to this day, though, playing huge, soldout shows. He continues to sing about hopeless romances and depressing life situations, as well as advocating vegetarianism and animal rights. He still publicly criticizes popular culture (and disregards potential PR catastrophes), and he’s still, more or less, a charming man.

Beacon.mcla.edu

Spires: poets, artists, and lyric lovers unite

by Michael Feloni A&E Writer

While there are many clubs and organizations on campus focused on physical activity or social topics, there is also a group focused on showcasing student artwork and writing in a creative, collaborative environment, This group is none other than Spires, the College’s student Literary and Arts magazine. “Spires is the literary and art magazine on campus, however, we consider ourselves more than that,” Chris Hantman, published poet and member of Spires, said in an interview. “We’re more of a collective of people hoping to provide a healthy environment for art at our school.” Hantman, who has recently published his own anthology of short stories and poetry, “Ruffled Feathers and Sharpened Claws,” said that he loves the open mic nights as a platform to display work and meet other students and poets. “We host an open mic night once a month as well as a movie night,” Hantman said. “… with the movie typically literary or art themed.” The first two movies were Allen Ginsberg’s “Howl” and “Dead Poets Society.” “Being an editor has given me the chance to immerse myself in all this great work MCLA students are producing in a way that, I think, is different than picking up the finished magazine,” Kaylie Sweet, an editor of Spires, said. Sweet also continued to say that being an editor has given her a better understanding of the art process. “It’s more than just being inspired and producing something,” Sweet continued, “But also about the complete lack of control one

Photo by Shauna Dacus/Beacon Staff Spires E-board members from left: Lauren Coffey, Christopher Hantman, and Madelyn Gardner has once it’s out in the world, you the student body. She also hoped to host another open mic night “I personally love working with know?” Spires because it provides me an Sweet concluded that being a outlet to share my creative writ“It’s more than part of Spires has encouraged her ing,” Hantman said. “Spires has to submit her own work and that just being also given me a glimpse into the the magazine has abled her to be inspired and publishing world as a publisher as open to all forms of expression. well as an applicant. Experience, I producing The group is set up with editors, believe, is invaluable.” writers, regular members, and of something, but Spires accepts unlimited subcourse an Editor-in-Chief. missions from students at also about the “Last semester we did a special Students open mic called Featured Poets complete lack of mclaspires@gmail.com. are encouraged to submit poetry, Open Mic,” Lauren Coffey, Edicontrol one has artwork, photography, and prose tor-in-Chief of Spires, said. “We before tomorrow’s deadline. once it’s out in got poets from Northampton to come and read some of the work the world” that they’ve published themselves, Follow us on Twitter! along with students here reading some of their poetry.” -Kaylie Sweet Coffey continued to say that @BeaconMCLA_AE Spires has held more events to try before the end of the semester and and get more recognition from publishing of the magazine.

Winter Week Events!

Ready for Valentines Day?

Y f f Y

Sponsored by the Student Government Association

Monday, Feb. 18

5:00 p.m. - Outdoor Club: “Survival Skills” - CC324A

9:00 p.m. - Political Science Club & History Club: “Movie Night: Frost/ Nixon” - Sullivan Lounge

Comedian Keith Alberstadt Sullivan Lounge

Thursday, Feb. 21

12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. - InterGreek Council: “Pie a Pines Guy!” - The Marketplace

Tuesday, Feb. 19

5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. - SGA: “Make a Milkshake” - The Marketplace

10:00 p.m. - SGA: “Midnight Skate” - Peter W. Foote Vietnam Veterans Memorial Rink. Vans leave in front of the townhouses at 9:45 p.m.

7:00 p.m. - SSDP: “Know Yo ur Rights Discussion” - Bowman 209

7:00 p.m. - Inter-Greek Council: “Movie Night” - Sullivan Lounge

Wednesday, Feb. 20

11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. - SAC: “Airbrush Blankets” - The Marketplace

11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. - InterGreek Council: “Can Drive” - The Marketplace 9:00 p.m. - SAC Comedy Stop:

Friday, Feb. 22

2:00 p.m. - The Mathmatics Society: “Graph Theory and Carbon Molecules” - Sullivan Lounge 7:00 p.m. - Allegrettos: “Gospel Concert” - Church Street Center

Saturday, Feb. 23

5:00 p.m. - Allegrettos: “Gospel Concert” - Church Street Center

Get festive with some fabulously romantic events! Thursday, Feb. 14

11:00 a.m. - 2 p.m. , 4:00 p.m. - 7 p.m. Valentines Day Gala Tabling The Marketplace

Friday, Feb. 15

11:00 a.m. - 2 p.m. , 4:00 p.m. - 7 p.m. Valentines Day Gala Tabling The Marketplace 8:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Slam Poetry Club Valentines Coffee Shop Sullivan Lounge

11 p.m. - 2 a.m. Slam Poetry Club Valentines Party “Cupids Playground” Venable Gym

Saturday Feb. 16 9:00 p.m. - Midnight Valentines Day Gala Holiday Inn


Thursday, February 14, 2013

Arts & Entertainment

beacon.mcla.edu

Clubs host open mic night

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Spires, Inter-Greek Council, and Students for Sensible Drug Policy to put on monthly performances by Kaylie Warner A&E Writer

Above: Mike Vogt plays a song. Below from left: Erinn Rayno, Walter Bouchard, Chris Hantman perform original pieces.

Photos by Shauna Daucus/Beacon Staff

Students gathered in Sullivan Lounge to showcase their original works and arrangements in what is now scheduled to be a monthly open mic night sponsored by Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP), Spires, and Inner Greek Council (IGC). While people filed through the door and looked for a place to sit, President of SSDP Mike Vogt welcomed everyone and encouraged them to grab some pizza. “You all asked for more open mic nights so we are here to give you more,” he said to the audience just before the first performer came on. Senior Walter Bouchard opened up the night with a poem about his late grandfather. When he finished, he tipped his hat to the audience with a crooked smile. One student performed a song about his love for the actress Emma Stone, which received a lot of laughs from audience members. He admitted that performing his own work is a leap for him. Senior Colby Durand performed his stand up comedy and tried out some new material. Junior Adam Tobin sat down with his guitar and performed a Bob Dylan song. He then decided to play an original. “You all came here to feel some-

thing,” he began. “I’m going to try to get you to feel something.” The piece received a long roar of applause from the audience. Junior Chris Hantman, the president of IGC, PR chair for Spires, and Secretary for SSDP, read from his poetry book. Jessica Sweeney, a 2011 graduate of the College, returned from Hadley, Mass. to read her poetry. Sweeney was one of the featured poets in Spires last semester. She said she enjoyed being back and is proud to be an alumna. Freshman Erinn Rayno sang and played her guitar. “Singing is a family thing for me and a way to have a good time,” she said. Freshman Alex Hicks-Courant went up to the mic twice during the night to perform a few original pieces of spoken word. “I just performed at The Parlor Café,” he said. “I love to do this.” Vogt was extremely proud of the turn out and the diversity of the performances and the people who showed up, who were not just students but also members of the community. The night ended with a performance by some students and non-students as they all sang and played guitar together. Open mic nights will take place on the first Thursday of every month in Sullivan Lounge at 7 p.m.

Varied winners at Grammy Awards

Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Unlike last year, when the Grammys became the Adele show, each of the leading nominees in a diverse and eclectic field got a chance to bask in the spotlight of music’s biggest night. Fun., whose anthemic and semidark jam “We Are Young’’ dominated the charts in 2012, won song of the year. Gotye’s massive and oddball pop hit, “Somebody I Used to Know,’’ picked up record of the year. And folk-rockers Mumford & Sons won album of the year for their platinum-selling “Babel.’’ Fun. also won best new artist, besting Frank Ocean in an upset. The Recording Academy had a clear message at its 55th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday night: There are a lot of top acts today with both mainstream appeal and an edge to their music, and the academy was happy to spread the love. “One after the other, it was like, ‘And the Black Keys...,’ so I think we just sort of resigned ourselves to like, last year was Adele’s year and this year would be the Black Keys,’’ said lead singer Marcus Mumford, who thought his band would lose album of the year to the Black Keys. Then Mumford added in a

loud scream once he learned they won: “It’s (expletive) awesome!’’ Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys, the night’s big winner with four trophies, was one of six acts with the most nominations - six each. He won non-classical producer of the year, while the Black Keys earned the best rock album, song and performance honors. “Thank you to our families and everybody in Akron, Ohio, and everybody in Nashville,’’ the band’s drummer, Patrick Carney, said. The Black Keys dominated the rock category, while Jay-Z and Kanye West did the same in the rap area. But the pop, country and R&B categories were a reflection of the top four honors, with no single act dominating. Winners in those categories ranged from Adele to Paul McCartney, Carrie Underwood to the Zac Brown Band, and Usher to Miguel. Ocean, Mumford & Sons, JayZ, Kanye West and fun. were also the top nominees of the night, and they won multiple Grammys. But Ocean, who was anticipated to win best new artist, won two trophies and was restricted to the urban categories. It was another year the Grammys dissed a rap or R&B artist from the top awards. Last year, West lost in an upset and in 2011 it

was Eminem. Ocean’s official studio debut, “channel ORANGE,’’ did win best urban contemporary album. He also won best rap/sung collaboration for “No Church In the Wild’’ with West, Jay-Z and TheDream. But the R&B singer released one of the year’s most critically revered albums last year, which made several best-of-the-year lists. He also made headlines when he revealed his first love was a man shortly before the album’s release. Ocean’s loss to fun. for best new artist was a shock, but the band’s win was understood. The pop-rock trio had two of the year’s biggest hits with “We Are Young’’ and “Some Nights.’’ Their sophomore album, “Some Nights,’’ is also near-platinum. “Making music for 12 years, you don’t think you’ll get Grammy-nominated,’’ lead singer Nate Ruess said backstage. “Radio and mainstream just kind of picked up on [us] and it feels good for us after 12 years of people kind of just ignoring you and always feeling like you’re kind of the bridesmaid.’’ Like Fun., Gotye had a monstrous hit with the Kimbra-assisted “Somebody that I Used to Know,’’ and it won record of the year and best pop duo/group collaboration. His album, “Making

Mirrors,’’ won best alternative music album. Gotye’s three wins were joined by Black Keys, West, Jay-Z and Skrillex, who picked up the same

trophies he won last year. Double winners included Ocean, fun., Mumford & Sons, Chick Corea, Esperanza Spalding and Matt Redman.


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Sports

Thursday, February 14, 2013

By Ariana Tourangeau Sports Editor

After a long, drawn out, lockout for the National Hockey League, the NHL and NHLPA are about to go back to the boardrooms to have discussions again, according to CBS Sports. I don’t know about all of you, but as a Hockey fan I hope that this doesn’t effect this season or any future seasons. All I want to do is watch Hockey, but that seems like it may be a little difficult. This time the NHL and the NHLPA will discuss realignment in the league that will go into effect in the 2013-2014 season. According to the New York Post, last winter the league unofficially announced that they would realign into a four-conference set up for this season. The plan includes two eightteam conferences (conferences A and B) and two seven-team conferences (conferences C and D) with the top four teams in each qualifying for playoffs. The only problem with this was the league failed to run this plan by the NHLPA before announcing it, so the PA wouldn’t sign off on it. Sounds to me like this could have worked effectively, but the NHLPA would have preferred a heads up, like anyone would, before the announcement was made. Because of this, the league is trying it again. This time, according to the New York Post, “the union must approve any such change in working conditions. Deputy Commissioner, Bill Daly, told the post “approval must not be unreasonably withheld.” Daly said they are working on a realignment plan for next season, which will remain the same, but “it has not been finalized or approved by the Board of Governors yet.” The difference between this and the lockout is, if both sides are present and an agreement is made and then passed onto the board, then this should go along relatively painlessly. The only issue with the realignment plan is the playoff structure that is proposed. This, according to CBS Sports, “could be a point of contention if it hasn’t changed.” NHLPA Executive Director, Don Fehr, told the post “If they present the same type of fourconference structure but have the information for us to review regarding scheduling and travel, and have a different playoff format, that can ameliorate our concerns in that area, we’ll take it from there,” Fehr said. If those issues aren’t discussed it could bring about conflict in the NHL and possibly turn out to be another “lockout” type situation. Hopefully, for all you Hockey fans, including myself, they work through these kinks, so we can all watch our hockey teams.

Beacon.mcla.edu

Senior Lucy Tremblay progresses to new heights By Nick Swanson

Sports Writer During a normal day, Tremblay sat back comfortably relaxed in grey sweats and an orange hat wearing a calm smile. According to Tremblay, this look keeps her open-minded and ready for what the future holds. This is the last semester of her college experience. Tremblay is completing a business major as well as a starting shooting guard for the Women’s Basketball team. Along the journey, her occupational dreams have led her in the direction of starting a non-profit organization that will benefit children. “Lucy is becoming a strong team leader, she does her part in being vocal and working with the team that overall helps everyone,” Coach Holly McGovern said. Tremblay reached her career 1,000 point mark on Dec. 7, 2012 to join the milestone club. Also, on that night, she scored 39 points total against the University of St. Joseph. Numerous aspects contribute to Tremblay’s ambitions on and off the basketball court. “We were all really proud and happy for her accomplishment,

because it is really difficult to achieve that level of play and many do not even come close to getting 1,000 points,” teammate Danielle Beauchamp said. “My most memorable time was when we won the MASCAC championship my freshmen year against Amherst College with

“They really molded me and pushed me into the right direction of becoming a better player.” only four conference play wins,” Tremblay said. Also during her freshmen year, Tremblay was awarded Rookie of the Year trophy. “I came into the college game with some of the best seniors and juniors on the team like Chelsey Burke who is assistant coach now and Jade Prickett,” Tremblay said. “They really molded me and pushed me into the right direction of becoming a better

Women’s Basketball still skidding

player.” Off the court, Tremblay is also recognized as a supervisor for intramural sports and treasurer for the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). On top of that, she is working for other events this semester such as “MCLA Presents” and the leadership conference. Currently, Tremblay is enrolled in two seminar classes and managing her business degree towards event planning, marketing, and sports management. “When college ends for me, I am going to backpack through different parts of Europe and think exactly how I want to go about planning my future,” Tremblay said. The European trip will consist of going to places such as Italy, England, Spain, and other countries, which will give a plethora of experience towards other cultures. Tremblay also Photo by Jess Gamari/Beacon Staff aspires to attend a professional Senior guard Lucy Tremblay basketball camp overseas if it is speeds down the court in game possible. aginst Westfield St. “She has so much passion “Lucy has a lot of talent that and heart that it is obvious why everyone looks up to her and deserves even more progress and the other seniors on the team accomplishments even further for stability,” Beauchamp said. down the line.”

Scores, Schedules and Standings Scores

By Nick Swanson

Sports Writer The Women’s Basketball team lost their game 74-63 against the Framingham St. Rams, which was postponed due to winter storm Nemo until Sunday. The Trailblazers now fall deeper into an 11-game losing streak. They have not had a win yet in the MASCAC conference. They now have an overall record of 8-15. Only one game remains in their season. Lucy Tremblay and Mariah Brown each scored 16 points during the game. Tremblay scored 4-of-6 attempted 3-pointers and Brown was 7-for13 from inside the paint, but their strong performances could not stop Framingham from coming out on top. “Mariah did well with transitioning,” Coach Holly McGovern, said. “She was constantly on the right ground and helped the possibility of coming back remain.” The game started off strong, within minutes back-to-back 3-pointers had the score at 11-11. The teams continued back and forth prompting lead exchanges numerous times. The first half ended at a close margin of 30-29, the Ram’s holding the lead. “Tonight the team had a lot of trouble getting our rebounds and

a few had difficulties getting back where they needed to be on the court, but it is not endurance that slows us, it is just mindset,” McGovern, said. Sophomore guard Danielle Beauchamp agrees. “We need to have a full game of intensity, even though we do work hard, the team has to keep the excitement and our ambition high to finish the season,” she said. The Trailblazers had previously faced the Rams on Jan. 17 and lost by 24 points. The recent game ended with a smaller 11 point deficit, meaning improvements have been made. However, the improvements were not able to withstand the Ram’s defensive strategy. Framingham stole the ball more than twice as many times as the Trailblazers, and recovered more rebounds, thus leading to their victory. “Now the tournament is currently out of our hands, but we will need to play extremely well to even come close to making it,” McGovern, said. The Trailblazers will play their final game of the season at home against Bridgewater St. on Saturday, beginning at 1 p.m

Womens Basketball 2/12 at Fitchburg L, 71-63

Mens Basketball 2/12 at Fitchburg L, 65-57

Schedule

Women’s Basketball Men’s Basketball 2/16 Bridgewater St. @MCLA 2/16 Bridgewater St. @MCLA 1:00p.m. 3:00p.m.

Standings Women’s Basketball CONF OVERALL Bridgewater St. 9-1 19-3 Worcester St. 8-2 12-11 Westfield St. 8-3 16-8 Framingham St. 6-6 13-10 Fitchburg St. 3-7 10-12 Salem St. 3-7 10-13 MCLA 0-11 8-16

Men’s Basketball CONF OVERALL Westfield St. 9-2 20-4 MCLA 8-3 12-12 Salem St. 6-4 14-9 Fitchburg St. 5-5 3-8 Worcester St. 4-6 11-12 Bridgewater St. 4-6 10-12 Framingham St. 1-11 8-17


Sports

Thursday, February 14, 2013

beacon.mcla.edu

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Intramurals offers range of activities Kobe, what Basketball tournaments and flag football to come in spring By Justine Cozza Sports Writer

Students and staff are joining together to compile teams to compete in intramural sports (IM) of all kinds. With IMs being one of the oldest programs on campus, it has expanded to include a wide range of activities. Adam Hildabrand, MCLA Intramural Director and Men’s Soccer Coach, oversees the program. As director for 4 years, Hildabrand has been expanding the program to get more faculty and staff involved. “One of the most critical factors for the IMs program is to get activities out there for everyone to enjoy,” Hildabrand said. “Nothing helps you blow off steam better than playing a sport you love.” IM’s programs are organized so that people of all ages and abilities can participate in the activities offered. MCLA students, faculty, and staff are eligible to participate in any and all games offered. The schedules are created in advance and team captains are responsible for contacting their players about game times. “The intramural program is great because it brings people together,” Student Supervisor Drew Webster explained.

“Not only is it a good time for everyone involved, but it helps players bond and branch out.” Student supervisors are responsible for making decisions regarding internal and recreation programs offered at MCLA. Student supervisors can be seen at tables in the marketplace promoting IMs, and offering information about the program. “The program gives students who played a high school sport, current athletes, and typical students who just want to play sports a chance to stay active, healthy, and have fun,” Student Supervisor Shawn Willis explained. “It’s also gives athletes a chance to stay active during their off season.” The intramural program traditionally has a large variety of sports and activities for students and staff to pick from. These activities include dodge ball, floor hockey, wiffleball, and many others. Despite a large list of activities offered, student supervisors are constantly looking for new, fun games for all to enjoy. IMs is offering free ice skating on Tuesday nights throughout the spring semester to the first 50 MCLA students who arrive. Basketball tournaments and flag football will also be introduced this spring.

By Chris Oxholm Sports Writer

Photo By Jack Guerino/Beacon Staff

Adam Hildabrand, MCLA Intramural Director and Men’s Soccer Coach Team signups used to be more information, go to www. done by paper, but are now done imleagues.com/mcla. online. To make a team or get

Men’s Basketball second place in MASCAC By Ariana Tourangeau Sports Editor

After a tough loss to Westfield, the Trailblazers came back strong, beating Framingham St. 65-56 on Sunday. This brought the team to a tie with Westfield in MASCAC, which changed on Tuesday when the team fell to Fitchburg St. 65-57. Despite the losses and the tie with Westfield, junior and Co-

“The loss last Tuesday brought us closer together.” -Ray Viches captain Ray Viches feels the team is stronger than ever. “The loss last Tuesday brought us closer together,” Viches said. According to Viches the team has never been this close, and he feels it is the main contribution to their success this season. “The

season is going really well so far,” he said. “We are more together in these last 11 games than ever.” Junior John Jones agrees with his teammate that their heart is what helps them excel. “I play hard because they believe in me and for that I give it my all on the court as if it were my last game,” Jones said. It may have been a rough start in the beginning, but as the season goes on the team becomes stronger and proves themselves at every game. “We are playing as a team and trusting each other. In the beginning we weren’t doing that at all,” Viches said. The team connected on an emotional level after the losses to Westfield and Fitchburg, and now has only one thing on their minds: victory. “We were torn apart emotionally after we lost; we knew we should have won, but didn’t,” Viches explained. The loss increased their teamwork and their desire to finish out the season strong. Jones feels the team will remain confident in their last home game and entering playoffs. “If we keep practicing everyday and going hard at each other then I don’t see us losing again,” Jones said. The game on Saturday will

happened?

Photo by Kayla Degnan/Beacon Staff

Sophomore Ruben DelRosario gains height against Westfield player. be focused on the Trailblazer home, and season game of their seniors as they play their last college career.

Before the NBA season started, the Los Angeles Lakers couldn’t have been more feared. Now 17 weeks into the season, it seems any team in the NBA would want to play the Lakers in their regularly scheduled nationally televised games. As if having Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, and Metta Worldpeace on the roster wasn’t enough, the Lakers added NBA superstars Steve Nash and Dwight Howard. In the past 5 years, NBA teams like the Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat have made superstar rosters and won championships. However for LA, the story doesn’t look like it will end the same. The five man superstar crew didn’t win until the fourth game this season and the pattern continues. Right now the Lakers sit with a losing record of 24-27 overall, and at 4-4 in their division. Nonetheless, the Lakers need to improve their game play soon and fast, otherwise they could be looking at a playoff-less season, an event comparable to the New York Yankees not making it to October. But what is causing this dilemma? It can’t be the players faults entirely. Five NBA superstars on the same team should have figured out their problems by now. Some fingers are pointing toward Coach Mike D’Antoni. Although D’Antoni was awarded a Head Coach of the Year award in 2005, he hasn’t proved its merit to his team. He has been frowned on by fans for moves like benching Pau Gasol for Earl Clark. Just last week the Lakers played the Charlotte Bobcats (11-39), statistically the worst team in the NBA right now, and were down 53-41 in the first half. They ended up coming back and beating the Bobcats 100-93, but there is no reason why Kobe Bryant alone should lose to the Bobcats. The Los Angeles Clippers, on the other hand, are outstanding this year. They are 35-17 and in the process of clinching the division with a record of 7-4. They have been a suffering team for years, but now it seems as if the city of LA may be trading one team for another. Steve Nash joined the Lakers in what may be his last season, hoping to earn his first NBA Championship. But by the way things look for the Lakers right now it seems that the 39-year-old may have to retire without one. It’s a sad thing to watch such great players fall, but these things happen in sports. The Boston Red Sox went 86 years without a championship and the Detroit Lions have never won a Super Bowl. All the Lakers fans out there should buckle up, because the team may be approaching a bumpy road.


10

Campus Comment

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Beacon.mcla.edu

What are you doing for Valentine’s Day?

“Hosting a swingers party!”

-Kevin Hill-Williams ‘15

“Hoping my mom will be okay at her flower shop in Boston. I won’t be doing anything.”

-Vasilis Kostantinidis ,2015

“Trying to make my girl as happy as I can. I’ll shower her with love.”

“Catching a plane to Frederick, Maryland to see my girlfriend.”

-Chris McCann ,2015

-Dyllon ,2015

Compiled by Jess Gamari/Beacon staff

FINANCIAL AID ANNOUNCEMENTS IT’S TIME TO REAPPLY FOR FINANCIAL AID FOR 2013-2014!!

MARCH 1ST PRIORITY DATE!! LOG ONTO www.mcla.edu/aid COMPLETE THE 13-14 INSTITUTIONAL APPLICATION FOR AID AND LINK TO THE FAFSA TO COMPLETE THE FEDERAL FORM. FILE EARLY AND DON’T MISS OUT ON MONEY!!! ANY QUESTIONS, CONTACT THE FAO AT 662-5219

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The Beacon is published Thursdays during the academic year and is distributed free to the College community. The Beacon is funded by the Student Government Association, the English/Communications department and from ad revenues. Contact information: News desk number: 413-662-5535 Business number: 413-662-5404 E-mail: Beacon@mcla.edu Web site: beacon.mcla.edu Office: Mark Hopkins Hall, room 111 Mission Statement The Beacon strives to provide timely and accurate news of campus and local events. Editorials Policy Unsigned editorials that appear on these pages reflect the views of The Beacon’s editorial board. Signed columns and commentaries that appear on these pages reflect the views of the writers. Letters Policy The Beacon welcomes Letters to the Editor. Deadline is noon on Mondays for that week’s newspaper.

-Romario Joseph ,2014

“I’ll be sleeping under a heart blanket with cream-filled chocolates covering my body.”

The Beacon

“Nothing, maybe throwing a Valentine’s Day party.”

-Charlie Marquis, 2016

Letters should be kept to 500 words or less and are subject to editing for grammar and content. The Beacon will not publish anonymous or libelous letters. Letters must be signed by the writer and include a phone number. Letters may be dropped off at the office or e-mailed to Beacon@mcla.edu. Contributions Policy The Beacon accepts stories, photos, and opinion pieces for publication. Submissions should be dropped off at the office by Monday at noon or e-mailed to Beacon@mcla.edu. Advertising Policy The Beacon reserves the right not to publish any advertisement it deems to be libelous, false. or in bad taste.

Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief Aya Lanzoni Sports Editor Ariana Tourangeau

Business Manager Lauren Coffey* Web Editor Ken Rodriguez

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Photographers

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Design Team

Jess Gamari* Michael Feloni* Jennifer Nault Videographers

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Thursday, February 14, 2013

Fun & Games

beacon.mcla.edu

“Helping students forget assignments since 2007!”

Valentine’s Day!

11

Weekly Horoscopes Aries: March 21-April 19 Your social energy is fun and flirty – and you may surprise someone who thought they had you pegged! Now is a great time to hang out with your crush or a new romantic partner. Taurus: April 20-May 20 You find yourself slipping into some odd behavior today – but it’s not so bad that you have to keep restraints on. You’re just a little less cautious than usual, and it could lead somewhere fun! Gemini: May 21-June 21 Your social energy is abuzz with all the new people coming into your life – even if many of them are online! You don’t really care, as long as you get to keep chattering and showing off. Cancer: June 22-July22 Your to-do list seems to have doubled in length overnight – what can you do? Try to get some help from friends or family, or see if you can delegate anything to an intern (or teenager) in your life. Leo: July 23-Aug. 22 You need help – but there’s no shame in that! Just make sure that you ask the right people, or that you are surrounded by teammates you know you can count on. Things are looking up! Virgo: Aug. 23-Sept. 22 Everyone seems to be speaking at once today, so make sure that you are as clear as can be. If someone only gets to hear part of what you have to say, aren’t they likely to get the wrong idea? Libra: Sept. 23-Oct. 22 Try to speak up today – you’ve got some deep issues that need resolution, and they aren’t going anywhere without some serious communication. It may be a family thing or it could be work-related, but it’s vital.

Across 3. A major component to a successful relationship 6. A movie and dinner 7. The symbol of love and emotion 8. You see many of these on Valentines Day 11. A gift that shines 12. Goes great with a hug

Down 1. Shoots arrows that make people fall in love 2. Eternal 4. An emotion of strong affection 5. A girl's best friend 8. When you like someone, you have a ___ on them 9. Intense love 10. Roses are red violets are blue

Scorpio: Oct. 23-Nov. 21 You see something that seems too good to be true – so do what you can to avoid buying it or taking the risk. It’s likely a scam or something with hidden costs, and you have to play it safe now. Sagittarius: Nov. 22-Dec. 21 You may have a full schedule today – and if not, watch out for interruptions and sudden invitations! At least some of them are sure to be fun, but you may have to say no now and then. Capricorn: Dec. 22-Jan. 19 Too much chatter is sure to keep anything useful from getting done today – so make sure you turn off your ringer when appropriate and find other ways to keep your mind focused. Aquarius: Jan. 20-Feb. 18 You meet someone today who shares many of your interests – and possibly more! If you’re looking for love, this could be a good match, so ask all the right questions and remember to be yourself. Pisces: Feb. 19-March 20 Things are moving a little too quickly for you right now, so make sure that you’re anchored and getting all the help you need. Things are sure to settle down in the very near future. Horoscopes courtesy of Yahoo.com


12

Photo Essay

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Red and pink glitter hearts hang in a window display at I Got Goodies on 73 Main St.

Beacon.mcla.edu

Cynthia Martin, right owner of Quadland’s Flower Shop, and Nancy Boyer arrange rose boquets. Martin said her business has recieved “quite a few orders” for this Valentine’s season.

Love is in the Air By Jess Gamari

Director of Student Development Celia Norcross and Junior Takeya Lee prepare Valentines for Peer Advisors on behalf of Student Development.

Junior Anthony Cancilla opens his mailbox on Wednesday to find an immitation rose from a secret admirer.

E-board members of the proposed Arts Association Club advertise with free cookies, candy, and fortune readings from cootie-catchers.

I Got Goodies encourages everyone to purchase chocolates and candy for sweethearts and friends. Chocolate covered strawberriehave been popular.


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