March 28, 2013 - Issue 8

Student Newspaper of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts

For more content, visit online at: beacon.mcla.edu

North Adams, Mass.

Volume 77 ◆ Issue 8

Th u r s d ay, M a r c h 2 8 , 2 0 1 3

College to Wishes come true in “Into the Woods” Accreditation to begin open take $125K forum process budget cut

By Nick Arena

Managing Editor

By Jack Guerino Staff Writer

MCLA will take a $125,000 cut from its operating budget during the present fiscal year, due to state spending cuts.

According to Jim Stakenas, vice president of administration and finance, the college will remain largely unaffected.

“We have a very good budget process,” Stakenas said. “We are particularly cognoscente about what we need on the academic side because we are all about academics, and having a very thoughtful budget process allows us a little breathing room when something like this happens.”

Massachusetts will cut spending, as well as pull money from reserves, in order to close $540 million gap in the budget. These cuts, known as the 9C State Budget Cut, will include a 1 percent reduction in many state and public institutions.

Stakenas said that because of great attention to spending, the school will only see minimal changes.

“Any cut to our budget means we have to rethink expenditures, and we do our budgets very conservatively,” Stakenas said. “We often plan to have some resources in case we get a cut from the state, so I do not think any department is going to see any adverse effect from this cut.”

Stakenas explained where they planned to combat the money lost through the spending cuts.

“We’ve asked for all of the vice presidents to look for 1 percent in their budgets and during the course of every year, you have resignations, retirements, and unfilled positions,” Stakenas said. “So the expectation is that we will make it up by what discretionary spending we have between now and untill the end of the year, as well as vacant positions.”

Stakenas said that although the school will remain mostly untouched by the cuts, it is still unfortunate that the school will not receive the money.

“Every resource we have is a valuable resource, and there is always more we can do,” Stakenas said. “We could have used it for next year’s budget, to buy some new equipment, or to make CUTS, continued on 3

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Photo by Kayla Degnan/Beacon Staff

The cast of “Into the Woods” joins in song to celebrate the end of scene one.

Students reflect on travel courses

By Ryan Flynn

Senior News Editor Several students went to Spain, Ireland, and Japan over spring break as a part of this semesters’ travel courses. After weeks of learning about a country’s history, art, and culture, they finally had the opportunity to apply and truly experience what they had learned in the classroom.

NEASC, continued on 3

Photo courtesy of Rebecca McCauley/ Special to the Beacon

Spain Under the supervision and guidance of Spanish and course professor Graziana Ramsden, the 16 participating students spent three nights in the city of Madrid and three nights in Barcelona. Junior Adam Tobin noted that visiting the two cities were both very unique experiences.

“They both had their perks,” he said. “Barcelona was more beautiful. It’s an old style classic city.

Madrid was less crowded. There was more room and it was big like New York City.”

In Barcelona, one of the highlights was a tour of the city focused on the famous architecture of Antoni Gaudi, who according to Ramsden, is considered the national architect of Spain. In Madrid, students had the opportunity to view and analyze the famous Picasso painting Guernica. Other experiences included seeing the

Professor discusses molecules Brown Bag Lectures continue with Emily Maher’s work News, page 5

MCLA is coming upon the final stages of its New England Association of Schools and Colleges accreditation process, and the next step is a series of town hall style meetings.

The meetings will begin at SGA’s meeting on April 8. The draft of the final report, which will be presented during the NEASC visit in November, is ready to be reviewed, according to Director of Student Development Celia Norcross.

“All the chairs have done a great job of talking to people on campus and involving their committees and now they’ve submitted these writing pieces and now we’re in the review stage of all of that, making it all weave together, making sure that the story is really telling what we want to see about ourselves,” Norcross said.

The process up until this point has involved 11 different chairs, each with their own committees, performing a study process to make sure the College is meeting with the 11 standards put forward

by NEASC.

Students in Anthony Daly’s travel course to Ireland stand before the Wicklow Mountains in Ireland.

SGA budget estimates ‘fiscally conservative’

By Chris Goodell Staff Writer

Photo by Jess Gamari/ Beacon Staff

The view on the other side of the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge in Northern Ireland off the North Atlantic Ocean.

Royal Palace in Madrid, shopping real life, their facial expressions in Plaza de Sol, and seeing Span- are priceless for me,” she said. ish musical performances.

While students enjoyed the Ramsden shared that seeing culture of Spain, they also had an the students react to seeing fa- opportunity to get a real-life view mous aspects of Spain after learn- of the hardships and protests curing about them in the classroom rently going on in the country. was really rewarding.

According to Tobin, the protests “When they actually see it in TRAVEL, continued on 4

Medicine Man to per- Senior pitcher strives form at The Parlor Cafe for excellence Senior Tyson Luneau’s band will perform with others at 7:30 p.m.

Ainsley McDonald hopes to build a strong team

Arts & Entertainment, page 6

Sports, page 9

The Budget and Finance Committee (BFC) recommended Monday night to draw upon more than $60,000 of the Student Government Association (SGA) reserve funds to allocate toward club budgets.

Treasurer James Wetzel presented the BFC’s recommendations for the fiscal year 2014 budget, which totaled $436,121, including club budgets, the SGA operating budget, and $8,000 in supplemental and emergency funds.

This total is more than $60,000 greater than the projected revenues from student activity fees. According to Wetzel, an estimated 1,400 full-time students will contribute approximately $373,800 in revenue.

SGA, continued on 2

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, March 28, 2013

Public Safety Logs Tuesday, March 19 7:54 p.m. - Public Safety responded to a call of a wellbeing check in Flagg Townhouse Apartments, referred to other campus.

Wednesday, March 20 1:17 a.m. - Public Safety responded to a vehicle lockout in the Hoosac Hall student parking lot, services were rendered.

Thursday, March 21 11:46 a.m. - Public Safety responded to assist a citizen in the Flagg Townhouse Apartment lot, actions were completed.

Friday, March 22 1:30 a.m. - Public Safety responded to parking issue in Hoosac Hall student parking lot, warning was issued.

11:30 a.m. - Public Safety responded to a missing person report in Berkshire Towers, services were rendered.

3:52 p.m. - Public Safety responded to medical call in Hoosac Hall, person was transported to the hospital.

6:05 p.m. - Public Safety responded to a vandalism report in the Church Street Center lot, report was filed.

6:23 p.m. - Public Safety responded to a supervisory alarm in the Flagg Townhouse Apartments, alarm was accidental.

11:46 p.m. - Public Safety responded to suspicious activity in the Flagg Townhouse Apartments, no actions were required.

Saturday, March 23 8:18 p.m. - Public Safety responded to suspicious activities in the Flagg Townhouse Apartment lot, incident was investigated.

Beacon.mcla.edu

Keynote speaker, degree recipients announced for 114th Commencement

MCLA will celebrate its 114th Commencement exercises on Saturday, May 18, beginning at 11 a.m., in the Amsler Campus Center Gymnasium.

This year’s keynote speaker will be Diane Patrick, First Lady of Massachusetts, a lawyer, domestic violence advocate, educator and community volunteer, who will receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree.

Also receiving honorary degrees this year will be Elizabeth Coleman Ph.D., president of Bennington College, who will receive an honorary Doctor of Humanities; John “Jack” Downing, president and chief executive officer of Soldier On, who will receive an honorary Doctor of Public Service; and Mardi Crane-Godreau ’98 Ph.D., a member of the faculty at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, who will receive an honorary Doctor of Science.

In recognition of their awards, the honorary degree recipients will have books placed in the College’s Freel Library in their names.

President Mary K. Grant said

she is pleased to recognize the achievements of these remarkable individuals, all of whom eagerly anticipate being part of this year’s celebration.

“We will be delighted to hear from Diane Patrick, whose distinguished law career and long record of public service establishes her as an inspirational role model and civic leader. We are thrilled to honor her, along with Liz Coleman, Jack Downing and Mardi Crane-Godreau,” Grant said. “The achievements and many contributions to Berkshire County, the country, and the world of these remarkable individuals reflect the character and spirit of the accomplished, dedicated and engaged members of the Class of 2013, whom we also will celebrate.”

The College’s Board of Trustees Chair Steve Crowe also applauded those who will be honored.

“Mrs. Patrick’s public service and dedication to her community make her the perfect choice as this year’s keynote speaker,” Crowe said. “As president of Bennington College, Liz Coleman’s

Photo Courtesy of Bernadette Lupo

The First Lady of Massachusetts, Diane Patrick, will be this year’s keynote speaker. organizational restructuring re- Mardi Crane-Godreau graduated invigorated the campus’s educa- with her second degree from the tional mission. Through his work College, which led her to a preswith Soldier On, Jack Downing tigious career in medicine as an has provided homes, hope, and educator and cancer researcher.” dignity to our region’s homeless For more information, go to veterans. And, 30 years after earn- www.mcla.edu/commencement. ing her first bachelor’s degree,

Budget process begins with ‘goal in mind’ SGA, continued from 1 Each student pays $300 in student activity fees, with a collection rate of 89 percent, Wetzel said.

“What we’ve provided is the most fiscally conservative estimate we have,” President Jason Brown said. He and Wetzel noted that the estimate of 1,400 students is on the lowest end of projections.

“There is no better investment in the student body than to invest in clubs,” Brown added.

According to Wetzel, the difference between the estimated revenues and the recommended budget amount will be drawn from the SGA reserve fund, which maintains a $100,000 minimum.

Brown said at the March 18 SGA meeting that the reserve fund is estimated to be $240,000 at the end of this fiscal year. This amount has been accrued through unspent club funds and cash donations over the last 15 years.

“We started [the budget pro-

cess] with a goal in mind, and that was to maximize the utilization of the student activity fee,” Brown said.

Senators Stephan Rochefort, Catt Chaput, and Isaiah Butler voiced their opposition to using reserve funds, questioning whether such a large portion of this reserve fund should be spent on one year’s club budget allocation.

“There are better uses of this money,” Rochefort said. “Maybe we should spend this money on something for the students for the next 15 years.”

“I don’t think that this is a sustainable thing to be doing,” Chaput added. “I want [the funds] to be spent on something that is going to benefit the College long term.”

The BFC stressed that the recommendation is extremely conservative and that the exact amount of revenues will not be known until fees are collected next year.

“This amount, although it seems high, is not a definite,” said BFC member Josh Nitti. The projection of 1,400 students for next year is the bare minimum estimate, he said.

If the senate votes against the BFC’s recommendation and chooses not to draw from the reserve funds, the BFC will be forced to cut each club’s budget by an additional 15 percent in order to reduce the amount to be allocated, Brown said.

Senate Chair Brendan Peltier was against cutting club budgets any further, saying that such a blanket cut would be devastating to many clubs, particularly smaller clubs, whose budgets have already been reduced to their bare minimum.

“This money pulled from the reserve is from student activity fees,” Peltier said, arguing that the funds should be used for the benefit of students. He said many clubs and events would be unable to function if the 15 percent bud-

get cut took effect.

“What’s the point of [the money] sitting in a bank when it’s supposed to be used for student activities?” Wetzel added.

According to Wetzel, approximately 70 percent of clubs saw their budget increase from last year. The Student Activities Council received the largest recommendation at $107,700, although this was almost $10,000 less than their budget from the past year.

Performance groups Dance Company and Harlequin received recommendations of $23,450 and $21,150, respectively. The Allegrettos, coming off a fourth place finish in a recent international a capella competition, received a recommendation of $8,322, nearly $6,000 more than they were allotted last year.

The budget recommendation will be voted on by the senate during the April 1 meeting at 7 p.m. in Murdock 218. SGA meetings are open to the public.

Weekend Weather 3/28 - 3/31 Thursday, March 28

Friday, March 29

Saturday, March 30

Sunday, March 31

Showers High: 48° Low: 28° Precip. Chance: 40%

Showers High: 46° Low: 28° Precip. Chance: 20%

Partly Cloudy High: 46° Low: 28° Precip. Chance: 0%

Partly Cloudy High: 50° Low: 31° Precip. Chance: 0%

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News

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Garrick considers shared urban space in Green Living Series

Photo by Shauna Dacus/Beacon Staff

Norman Garrick, UConn Civil and Environmental professor, talks about infrastructure and travel.

By Andrew Hodgson Staff Writer

Last Thursday’s Green Living Seminar brought Norman Garrick, professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at University of Connecticut, to share his vision about the future of how people think about infrastructure and travel using designed “shared spaces” to replace urban intersections and roadways.

Garrick emphasized the need for Americans to envision a traffic experience based on what he calls “context time.” Most roadways in America today are based on what Garrick referred to as “system time.”

System time is based on strict controls. If someone were to ignore the system signal of a redlight at an intersection the results would be disastrous.

Context time uses social interaction rather than systematic rules and instructional signs to control traffic. Garrick and engineers developing shared space designs see traffic control as a social contract and not a legal nightmare. Traffic circles and lane-free roads replace traffic lights and outlined bike lanes.

“What is important is not speed so much, what is important is being able to get from A to B in a short time, it is not the same thing,” Garrick said.

Garrick presented a view that many civil engineers are beginning to share: that traffic systems in urban settings, like intersections, can be well designed, aesthetically pleasing places where the behavior of the people in the intersection dictates the traffic flow, not signage.

“What is important about shared space is that it will force us to start thinking of the underlying assumptions that we have about street and highway design,” Garrick explained about the nature of the shift proponents of shared

space would like to see.

Since the proliferation of automobiles in the 1920s and 30s, America’s roads have been about moving high volumes of vehicles. Garrick and like-minded engineers are beginning to see transportation and travel infrastructure as more than a means to move cars.

Garrick hopes the new generation of civil engineers and citizens will develop a different mindset, “People of my generation and maybe some of you also, grew up with the idea that streets were for cars, and really shared space is reversing that idea,” he said.

Dutch engineer Hans Monderman first developed the idea of shared space and that designs can dictate behavior and has been one of the biggest advocates of changing how people think about their travel experience.

Engineers like Monderman have implemented their new approaches in many cities in Europe and the UK. For instance, a sidewalk on a block in Kensington Square London crosses one lane of traffic, and takes a 90 degree turn, naturally using the design of the sidewalk to force pedestrians to face oncoming traffic, and thus without a sign be more aware of their situation. Without the strict presence of stop signs and traffic lights, cars, bicyclists and pedestrians can interact on a situational basis.

In this new age of transportation, the cultural idea of transporting people must be changed at the base level, according to Garrick.

“The social, environmental, and economic impacts [of transportation] are totally forgotten about, which is surprising in a country which claims to be about capitalism,” Garrick noted about American civil engineering.

The American ideal is the great highway, and the assumption that

signs and lights are paramount to drivers’ safety. Shared space designs trust in the community to act in one another’s best interest on the road.

Garrick relayed a story of a friend who was driving in a Drachten, Netherlands shared space for the first time. He described his friends’ terror as he encountered a road that didn’t tell him what to do in bold, highlighter-yellow letters.

If the changes Garrick envisions are put into effect, one can imagine these culture shock moments would become commonplace in American society.

Garrick told the story of the origins of the “jay-walker.” The term initially began as an insult to enforce the ethos of the road being for cars and pedestrians to be secondary priority. This is just one example of how the strict idea of system time has taken over our entire world’s idea of traffic.

Beacon.mcla.edu

NEASC to put together reports NEASC, continued from 1 “[The standards] are essentially qualitative criteria that measure the institution’s current state of educational effectiveness,” according to the NEASC’s website.

The 11 committees have put together individual reports, which have been weaved together in the first draft, according to Norcross.

“The town hall dates are a way for us to involve the whole community to look at this very draft document and ask if this really resonates with them, does this sound like us, and we have the opportunity to have some conversation,” she said. “It’s open to students, it’s open to faculty and staff.

Anyone in the MCLA community can come to these meetings, they can come to all of them or they can come to one of them.”

The meetings are a very important piece to the accreditation process, she added. However, students need not worry if they cannot attend the meetings, the document will be online and it will have a section for comments.

“The challenge for us will be getting students really invested and interested, because they’re so busy with classes and they’re so interested in their productions and everything that is going on for them, but this is such a big piece of them,” she said. “We want to make sure that they get a chance to review it.”

Norcross hopes to have the document online by April 5.

She said that every comment will be addressed, even if only a single student holds that opinion.

“Let’s say that something is missing from our report and one student mentions it. Let’s say it’s CSSE, they want to talk about the transition of CSSE or they want to talk about how it’s been helpful or not, we look at it more as a topic and how it weaves into the story and if it’s a to-do list piece,” she said.

She added that only comments

relevant to the accreditation will be added to the report, but that every comment will be seriously looked at.

“Every comment a student says will have some kind of work to follow up with, there won’t be any that are dismissed,” she said.

Senior and SGA President Jason Brown said that SGA is preparing for its NEASC meeting. “[The meeting] will be really tailored towards the students, because it is an SGA meeting, it is a public forum where students can voice their opinions and their concerns,” he said. “I’ve invited the NEASC team to that meeting as well as to come to one of the SGA cabinet meetings, so my cabinet and I will be well informed on the matter so we can share that with our constituents.”

He continued that this is an excellent opportunity for students to have their voices heard about the future of the College.

“This is a great opportunity to invest in the future of our institution and to get educated about who we are as an institution, our core values and our mission, and an opportunity to reflect on who we are as an institution and offer suggestions to make us a better institution,” he said. “That is something as a student that is very exciting. You don’t have that opportunity everyday, so I would encourage people to really jump up on that.”

According to Norcross, the meeting agendas do consist of a quick introduction by the NEASC committee with information about the discussion, but the main point is getting feedback from students.

“We want those comments. We want opinions. We want people to look at it and say ‘yes this is us’, or tell us that we’re really missing the boat on this.”

She added that the links to all of the information will be up on the College’s website soon.

State budget gap hits MCLA CUTS, continued from 1 repairs.”

He added that he feels it is important for students to see improvements on campus so they know their investments are being put to use. The spending cut only reduces the schools ability to do this.

“You have noticed the improvements at Berkshire towers, the improvements at Hoosac Hall, the improvements at the Campus

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Center, and you see a science building going up on campus,” Stakenas said. “We want to make sure students feel like they, too, are making an investment toward their education.”

The budget gap is partially blamed on the uncertainty of the ‘fiscal cliff ’ which occurred in January.

Along with this, the sequestration and the federal government’s failure to address it could also cause problems for students. This

would lead to mandatory budget cuts which would affect student’s financial aid.

“The biggest amount of recourses we get from the federal government is financial aid, and because the financial aid dollars are already allotted for this year, we won’t have any affect this year,” Stakenas said. “However, we aren’t sure about next year and how students will be affected by it.”

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News

Thursday, March 28, 2013

College prepares for Undergraduate Research Conference

By Nick Arena

Managing Editor With the abstracts entered, the eleventh annual MCLA Undergraduate Research Conference is entering the final stages of planning.

According to Biology Professor Ann Billetz, the conference, which will take place on Thursday, April 18, goes through a planning process that nearly spans the entire year.

“We actually have an undergraduate research advisory board that meets year round,” Billetz said. “That encompasses not only the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges Conference, but it also covers the honors conference, the national undergraduate research conference, and our conference as well. In some ways we’re almost working on the conference year round, but it really gears up in the spring time.”

She continued that the earlier process typically encompasses the selection of a keynote speaker for the conference. The speaker is always an alumni of the College, and is typically currently in or has graduated from graduate school.

“We try to have someone who is in that phase where they’ve moved into a degree program, they’ve got a little bit under their belt, but they’re still somebody who graduated a couple of years ago, [someone people will remember as a student here],” she said. “It’s actually someone talking to you directly, ‘I was in your seat two years ago and here I am in grad school, and these are all of the things I’ve gotten out of it.’”

She added that last year the keynote speaker portion became much more accessible to students, when an informal chat for students only with the speaker was added to the agenda.

“Three years ago the speaker who came was a psych major and [has taken] a lot of biology

Photo by Kacie Clark/Beacon Staff

Psychology Professor Maria Bartini, director of the Undergraduate Research Conference, discusses the event. courses, so he was giving us feedback and he said he really wished he could’ve had the chance to sit down with more people,” she said.

While the exact schedule for presentations is currently being pieced together, Maria Bartini, professor of psychology and director of the Undergraduate Research Program, said that the general platform should be the same as last year’s.

“It’s looking to be the same number of presentations as last year,” Bartini said.

The broad schedule is currently: poster presentations at 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., papers and special sessions at 9:30

a.m., lunch from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., and the meet the speaker session immediately following, according to Bartini.

While it is expected that there will be around 200 presentations, Billetz remarked that the conference has evolved quite a bit in 11 years.

“We went from three disciplines in the very first conference where we had 19 people, to over 200 people spanning pretty much all of the disciplines on campus,” Billetz said. “It makes us proud because we started this, when we did the first one we had it in Sullivan

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Apply on-line at www.mcla.edu/aid

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Students explore world over break TRAVEL, continued from 1 were almost a daily occurrence was visiting the ancient Irish and the poverty in Spain was monastery Glendalough.

“You feel so connected to quite upsetting.

“It makes your heart sink nature and history there,” she said. “You don’t get that here.” looking at it,” he said.

Daly went on to say that he According to Ramsden, it’s a very important time in Spain does not plan on teaching the course again for maybe another due to economic pain.

“We had a lot of encounters three years, but DeGuerre was with protests because this is a glad to have been a part of it.

“I just feel like the trip and crucial time for Spain,” she said.

Tobin stated that overall, studying abroad in general going abroad is a very important are experiences I’d encourage anyone to try,” she said. aspect of life.

“It’s about getting out there and looking at how people live Japan their lives and the diversity of Students who traveled to this world,” he said. “If you don’t appreciate diversity then you’re Japan got a taste of four different cities: Kyoto, Hiroshima, Tokyo, just stuck in your own ways.”

Ramsden noted that for and Kanaza. Kailai Huang, head some students, this trip was an of the History Department and incentive to spend an entire Japan travel course professor, stated that a big goal of the trip semester abroad. was for students to experience the mixture of Japanese tradition Ireland and cutting edge technology that Students who traveled to surrounds the country.

“I want to expose students to Ireland received a unique this mixture of tradition and experience as they visited not modernity, ” he said. one, but two countries, according Some of the modern aspects to History professor Anthony included the incredibly fast Daly, instructor of the Ireland Japanese bullet trains that the travel course. The 21 students eight students traveled on in went to the cities of Derry and order to get from one place Belfast, which are a part of Great to another and the futuristic Britain, and the city of Dublin, which is a part of the Republic of buildings in powerful Japanese cities such as Tokyo.

Ireland.

While students experienced “Being in two countries in a the economic and political week and seeing two different power in Tokyo, they also got to cultures is really interesting for experience Japanese culture in Americans,” he said. cities such as Kanaza, where they In Belfast, the students stayed at a traditional hotel and went on what’s called a “Black attended a customary banquet.

Cab Tour,” in which tourists In Hiroshima, students reflect on the war between the reflected on the bombing of the Catholics and Protestants. Daly city during World War II. noted that Catholic taxi drivers “That gave them the provided insight on the Catholic opportunity to think about those memorials in the city, while Protestant taxi drivers provided issues: nuclear weapons and insight on the Protestant peace,” Huang said.

Sophomore Ciara Gerena said memorials. Daly noted that this that some of her favorite parts of aspect of the city and the history the trip were traditions, such as of Ireland in general were really the Lantern Festival, an event in fascinating for students. the marketplace in Kyoto where “It’s interesting for students to art constructed out of flowers be in a place where it was violent were displayed and performers for 10 to 20 years,” he said. entertained attendees while In Derry, which has been a surrounded by lit lanterns. walled in city since the 1600’s, She also said that she enjoyed they went on a tour on the visiting the Sakura Temple structure and history of the walls in Tokyo, where there was the surround it. a beautiful outside display Students visited the former of cherry blossom trees and prison during the 1910 rebellion, Buddha statues.

Kilmainham Gaol, in Dublin.

She also shared that a big part On the other hand, students of her trip was bonding with the also experienced the infamously other students. She even shared exciting night life of the city. that her and two others got the Junior Kristcha DeGuerre noted same tattoo, an alchemy symbol. that she found the people of “It’s a reminder for the trip Dublin to be the most hospitable. and a friendship symbol, ” she “I felt that the people in the said.

Republic were friendlier,” she Huang noted that his said. students will be presenting Daly emphasized that while their experiences during the students spent a lot of time in the upcoming Undergraduate city, they also saw quite a bit of the scenic countryside that Ireland Research Conference (URC) in has to offer. DeGuerre shared April. that one of her favorite parts of the trip was in the countryside

News

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Physics professor presents research

By Ryan Flynn Senior News Editor

Emily Maher, physics professor and experimental physicist, addressed students and faculty, discussing tiny particles called neutrinos and her research on them with MINERvA. Maher spoke about how neutrinos are tiny, invisible particles that nobody would ever know of without a physicist’s research.

“We have neutrinos fly through us every second and we don’t even notice,” she said.

She shared that a person radiates 4,000 neutrinos per second.

Maher has been working with MINERvA since 2007, working with 80 nuclear physicists from 21 different institutions and seven different countries in order to measure the actual mass of neutrinos, and has discovered their ability for communication.

“I’m working on a project called MINERvA and we work at Fermilab,” she said. “We want to measure how often they react.

Maher noted this had originally been an unknown project when it was launched, but their research on neutrinos was named one of the top 10 breakthroughs of 2012 in Physics World magazine Three students conducted research and worked with Fermilab.

Senior Physics major Mike Testa was paid to work in the lab for two months and noted that this was a great experience for him.

“It gave me a lot of confidence as

Beacon.mcla.edu

5

URC generates a large crowd

a scientist because I was treated as an equal by these people I considered gods of the field,” he said.

Testa said this opportunity gave him the potential to flourish.

“If you look for opportunities at MCLA you’ll find them,” he said.

Maher went into the hard work she and her colleagues had put in.

She shared that their lab is half a mile underground and how everyone wears steel boots and construction hats. She stated that for her, the hard work always pays off.

“We are scientists and we want to understand the things that have yet to be explained,” she said.

The lecture was a part of the Brown Bag lectures offered at the school. Paul Lesage, associate dean of academic affairs, said he attends the lectures to both show support and learn.

“As an associate dean I’m supporting the faculty,” he said. “At the same time, I get an opportunity to learn something new and something completely out of my area of expertise.”

LeSage complimented Maher’s ability to simplify something complicated.

“Professor Emily Maher explained her research in particle physics so that it became quite understandable,” he said.

Maher also noted that MINERvA is ongoing and that they hope to release three papers within the next year. The lecture took place in the Fitzpatrick room in Murdock hall.

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Lounge and it was only posters.”

She added that the Chelsey Burke, member of the Advancement Department, has done a great deal to help the planning process.

“Chelsey, through advancement, has organized all of the rooms, and she organized the luncheon. Thankfully, all of that is done by advancement so we don’t have to do that as faculty members,” Billetz said, recalling when she and Bartini facilitated everything, including the food.

With the planning coming toward the end, Billetz added her thoughts on the importance of the URC in a liberal arts education.

“Doing independent research, no matter what your major is, is a big difference from just taking courses, no matter how you look at it,” she said. “Being able to learn material and take tests is very different from being able

“Doing independent research, no matter what your major is, is a big difference from just taking courses, no matter how you look at it.” ~Anne Billetz

Photo by Kacie Clark/Beacon Staff

Professor Anne Billetz of the Biology Department, and associate director of the Undergraduate Research Conference, talks about the changes to this year’s conference. to develop a project, carry out a the keynote presentation and project, and having to deal with lunch, and gain an appreciation things when you don’t know of the conference experience as how they work.” one of sharing and interaction,” She continued that the according to the College’s interdisciplinary aspect of the website. conference is very important Bartini added that she to every student’s liberal arts is pleased to see that the education. conference has become such a “We suggest that students big part of the College. participate as presenters in a “It’s great to see that the maximum of two sessions, which conference is in everyone’s will allow all student presenters conscience,” she said. the opportunity to explore the According to Bartini, the offerings of their peers, enjoy presentation schedule should be

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College places on honor roll for community service In recognition of its commitment to volunteering, service-learning, and civic engagement, the College recently was named to the 2013 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS).

President Mary K. Grant said the College is pleased to be recognized by CNCS for the good work that MCLA students, faculty and staff are engaged in

throughout the Berkshires, and beyond.

“MCLA has a long history of volunteerism, civic engagement and service-learning, which strengthens our community.

This work prepares our students to be active leaders, who will make a difference in their communities once they graduate and begin lives of responsible citizenship through meaningful service,” Grant said.

The College’s program of community service includes

its annual Community Day of Service, which started in 1992.

Throughout the year, students are involved in numerous other efforts, such as volunteer work at the Louison House in Adams and with the Friendship Center, a food distribution pantry in North Adams. Each year, a group of students embark on an Alternate Spring Break through MCLA’s Center for Service and Citizenship.

Last year, students found themselves first responders to

a tornado in the mountains of Appalachia and participated in front-line tornado relief work. Earlier this month, they returned to the region to provide mentoring to high school students at The David School in David, KY. Students also lend their time and skills to work with the local community youth in a variety of programs. These programs include Write Stuff, a mentoring program through which students help middle school

youth to improve their writing.

In addition, students support youth in enrichment programs at the Adams Youth Center.

CNCS has administered the award since 2006 and manages the program in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, as well as the American Council on Education and Campus Compact.

6

Arts & Entertainment

Thursday, March 28, 2012

By Shannen Adamites A&E Editor

A farewell to Tigers Jaw

Tigers Jaw defined my summer.

They initiated my vinyl-collecting obsession. When it was too hot to sleep, I stayed up and spun their ‘Two Worlds’ LP. I even went out of my way to spend some extra money on a limited edition second pressing of their self-titled LP this fall.

They helped me get through a period of intense anxiety and confusion over the summer.

Their words were relieving, and their melodies were comforting.

I saw them for the first time in June 2012 at a tiny venue in Pennsylvania. The venue wasnoted for kicking off the careers for them and the PA. punk band, Title Fight, was holding its last show before closing and relocating to a different area of town.

Two local hardcore and poppunk acts, and Ceremony, a hardcore punk band from California, opened for them. A friendly, feisty atmosphere took hold of the venue through each and every performance. When Tigers Jaw took the stage, the crowd went absolutely nuts.

I had never been to a show with that much energy. I felt a rush of adrenaline and excitement amidst the sea of sweaty teenagers, moshing, thrashing and bouncing along to their distinctively upbeat, emo-indierock sound.

The crowd sang at the top of their lungs when they played “Never Saw It Coming,” an acoustic tune with relatable lyrics and group vocals. It was almost as if a room full of strangers bonded together for that one moment.

I officially became a Tigers Jaw fan after this show.

I saw them again at a tiny venue in Holyoke, Mass. Some southern New England poppunk bands opened for them.

Half way through their set, the crowd got incredibly rowdy and a crowd surfer kicked a girl in the head. She fell to the ground, convulsing. The remainder of their set was cancelled before the paramedics arrived.

Tigers Jaw puts on a phenomenal live show, and their recorded material is the perfect thing to listen to on an off day. They seamlessly mix melancholy with sunny-sounding instrumentals, tight harmonies, and a ridiculous high energy.

On March 21, Brianna Collins, the keyboardist, announced on Tumblr that they will take a hiatus after their summer tour.

I’ll miss this band so much, but alas, all good things must come to an end at some point.

Beacon.mcla.edu

Elizabeth Mullen: story teller extraordinaire

By Haley Costen A&E Writer

Elizabeth Mullen always loved stories.

She once sought out a career in book publishing, and even looked into culinary schools to pursue pastry arts. Storytelling, however led the senior to major in Fine and Performing Arts and minor in English.

“Theater was the most comprehensive way I could see learning the parts of a story and working well as a team,” Mullen said. “A lot of the theater concepts you can directly apply to any business situation. A lot more employers are looking for people who think outside of the box, get results by a deadline, and work in a creative team; that’s basically what theater is about.”

Mullen, who has been involved with every performance group on campus, except for Theatre Lab, knows exactly what theater is about.

She participated in Yorick’s “Romeo and Juliet,” the Main Stage productions of “Lysistrata” and “A Delightful Quarantine,” and has been a part of every Harlequin Musical Revue since her first year at the College.

Not only does Mullen take onstage roles, but she’s also a big part of the back stage crew. Along with her two parts in “A Delightful Quarantine,” she was Makeup Head and one of the paint charges. She will be doing makeup for “The Tempest,” and expects to be helping with lighting in the upcoming “Agamemnon” show.

Mullen is the president of her class, editor in chief of the year book, and will choreograph for Dance Company in the Spring.

She describes herself as a “general helping hand.” She gives an easygoing smile and shrugs in her grey T-shirt, adding, “I’m really

excited about all the stuff I get to do. I like helping people.”

Mullen has been in plays since third grade. She found influences in her family and through her other interests.

“When I was little I always put on shows for my nana, and made up stories to tell her. She would just completely embrace it, and really encourage me to be more creative,” Mullen said. “I found improv when I was in junior high and I just couldn’t get away from it. It was like ‘Oh, this makes sense. I can strive here!’”

Mullen laughed at the thought of having time to do things between her various activities. “Uh, like homework?” she joked, but added that watching movies, standup comedy, and listening to blues music are passions of hers.

In elementary school while other girls were listening to Spice Girls, Mullen said she was accumulating an interest in blues and be-bop.

“I’m happy I brought that back into my life, because it’s definitely relaxing me more,” she said.

Mullen plays a huge role in the theatre productions at the College, even though going here was not her original plan. She calls the circumstances that led her to MCLA, a “strange series of events.”

After graduating from high school in Abbington, Mass., Mullen learned that after paying tuition along with room and board for Westfield State, she was on a waiting list for housing until her sophomore year, leaving her with a three hour commute to classes every day.

According to Mullen, a breeze blew in through the window of her den after the phone call with Westfield, lifting the paper that listed all the schools that accepted MCAS scholarships. She and her

Photo by Dennise Carranza/Beacon Staff

Mullen is very involved with her major, clubs and class activites. family hadn’t realized the paper had a back side, which listed MCLA. “Within five days I had found, applied, and got into this school,” Mullen said, adding that Celia Norcross told her personally of her acceptance and now knows her family and asks about her sister.

“As much as we might gripe about how they don’t shovel the walks when it snows or whatever, [the College] is still my knight in shining armor. They saved me from being a homeless, unemployed student,” she said with a laugh.

Mullen has solid plans after

graduation. She’s been accepted to the Disney College Program, a paid internship program through the Disney parks. She will be working through the dining program Quick Service, and has been interested in the program since seeing an advertisement on her first college tour in her junior year of high school.

“I’m really excited that I finally have a chance to go do it,” she said, adding how grateful she is for the support of her friends, family, and everyone in the program.

“It’s a really nice feeling to be like ‘I want this’ and to have everyone else want it for you, too,” she said.

Medicine Man to perform at Parlor

By Shannen Adamites A&E Editor Medicine Man, a project started by senior Tyson Luneau, will perform a free, all-ages concert at The Parlor this Saturday. Doors open at 7:30 p.m., and the show begins at 8:00 p.m.

Three other local rock/poppunk groups will perform along side Medicine Man for their second to last show.

Medicine Man is a Berkshire County based emo/alternative rock band with a sound inspired by various underground mid/ late 1990s acts such as The Get Up Kids, Mineral, My Photo by Alexander Butfilowski Bloody Valentine, and Hum. Above: Luneau performs Currently, the band has one with Medicine Man. This will EP, ‘MMXII,’ which is available be his band’s second to last for purchase on their BandCamp show before he moves out to and BigCartel websites. Luneau Oklahoma over the summer. said the tapes and CDs are

completely made by hand.

Luneau recently accepted a job with Teach for America, an organization aimed to provide education to low-income children living in rural and urban areas.

“I will be moving to Oklahoma in June to teach social studies,” he said.

Because of his new career path, Medicine Man, which has been active for almost a year, will disband.

Despite this, the band will release one more independently released EP, which will be available for digital download.

Luneau, who is no stranger to makeshift venues, is very excited to play at The Parlor.

“It’s a great spot close to the College with really cool owners,” he said. “I like

playing at smaller venues for their more intimate settings.”

Along with cafes, Luneau has also performed in basements, skate parks, and other locally owned spaces.

“I’ve basically played everywhere imaginable except for an arena,” he joked.

Luneau encourages everyone to stop by, grab a coffee, and listen to a unique form of music with a very diverse line-up.

“My life motto is ‘try new things,’” he said. “The worst that could possibly happen is you walk away saying, ‘that’s not my thing.’

Most people aren’t familiar with this type of music, but it’s free, right across from the townhouses, and other great local bands are playing as well, so it’s definitely worth coming out to see.”

Arts & Entertainment

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Beacon.mcla.edu

7

Review: Wonder in the “Woods” Harlequin’s 11th performance enchants audience with talent, soul, and magic

By Kaylie Warner A&E Writer

Queens of noise: Female-fronted heavy metal bands take over the world

Heavy Metal has changed a lot since the 1970’s. It still remains predominantly a man’s world, and it is more acceptable for men to be in heavy metal bands than women. Heavy metal is raw, wild, and loud, and these women are far from passive and submissive. Female fronted heavy metal bands are on the rise now more than ever and they have a lot to say.

Maria Brink, originally from Albany, moved to Los Angeles where the band In This Moment was born. They released their debut album ‘Beautiful Tragedy’ in 2007. Her screams rocked the heavy metal world.

She unleashed her pain towards her dead-beat father, drug addicted mother, and cursed those who sexually abused her growing up.

In the song “Daddy’s Falling Angel,” she addressed the pain she felt when her father left, and blames him for the abuse she endured.

Her lyrics are painful and cut like a knife. Her screams often sound like she is crying and you can feel her pain. She is relatable and a voice for women who have been walked on. In This Moment just released their third album Blood and are rising up in fame.

Songs to download: “Adrenalize me” “Blood” “Her kiss” Also from Los Angeles, Otep Shamaya and her band named after herself, Otep, made their debut in 2000 and immediately struck controversy. Otep’s music was scrutinized as being hateful and discriminatory to men.

The song, “Menocide” created more controversy with the lyrics, “Infectious human waste, forefather, cancer, hunter, prostate gods, killer, killer, a testosterone feeding drone, multiplying, multiplying hungry clones.”

However, we have seen time and time again, how often men in heavy metal write songs about killing women and even engaging in necrophilia and it is hardly brought to the public attention as misogynistic.

However, when a woman writes an angry song about a man, it is immediately deemed inappropriate and controversial.

Her lyrics are full of rage and she evokes that in her lyrics as well as her voice. She bellows, growls, and snarls. She wears devil horns on stage and often her middle finger is out.

Otep is what metal is all about.

Photo by Kayla Degnan /Beacon Staff

From left: Ben Balon, Jackie Coughlin, and Aimee Hudon sing and act through their magical adventure in Sondheim’s musical.

by Kaylie Warner A&E Writer Venable Theatre was packed Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday nights, while Harlequin took audience members on a journey, deep “Into the Woods.”

“Into the Woods” is a musical

by Stephen Sondheim that intertwines the plot of seven Brothers Grimm fairy tales.

Directed by senior Jonathan Kinney, the play follows the story of a Baker (Ben Balon) and his wife (Jackie Coughlin) who work with a witch to lift a curse that will allow them to have children.

In order to break the curse, theyt must gather various items from the different fairytales like “Cinderella,” (Courtney McClaren) “Little Red Riding Hood,” (Jasmine Garcia) “Jack and the

Beanstalk (Gregory Wilson),” and “Rapunzel.” (Michaela Carpenter) Abstracts were used to show the Big Bad Wolf ’s (Zack Botkin) stomach, birds, and Jack’s cow, Milky White played by Aimee Hudon.

The abstracts and worked well together to demonstrate elements of the play that would have been difficult to convey to an audience unfamiliar with the musical.

Kinney was extremely pleased with the cast and the audience.

“They are a fantastic cast but they were missing a bit of that crazy that I wanted them to have.

The audience definitely brought that out of them,” he said.

The performers visibly put their heart and soul into their performances. While they remembered all their lines, they

Parlor to feature slam poetry

by Shannen Adamites A&E Editor The Parlor will restart its slam poetry competition tonight at 8:00 p.m., with sign-ups starting at 7:00 p.m. The event is free, but a donation of $2 or $3 is appreciated to help pay the poets.

According to the cafe’s website, if the event proves to be a success, the competition will continue on the third Thursday of every month. All are welcome to participate.

Poets need three pieces of orignal work and should arrive early to sign up and go over the rules.

No costumes or props are allowed, and the competition will run in a tournament-like style.

In other words, 14 poets will start out in round one. The top eight will move on to round two, and the top scorers from the first two rounds will perform in the finals. The highest possible score is 30 points, and the highest and lowest scores will be dropped.

Audience members are encouraged to show their support by clapping, cheering, and interacting with the judges and poets.

The Parlor is located on 303 Ashland Street, across from the Townhouses.

For more information, visit their website at http://theparlorcafe.com/calendar.

also played with improvisation at times to create some funny moments.

There were some technical issues with the microphones, but the actors handled it well. The audience constantly laughed and interacted with the actors, leaving few moments of silence.

Everyone seemed to be having a great time.

During intermission, a local group of young, homeschooled children were discussing the musical amongst themselves.

“It seems very relaxed and well put together. We loved Cinderella and the baker’s wife,” one of them said.

Britney Gerber, who played The Witch was also an audience favorite in her role as the witch.

She shook the house with her cackles and powerful, sharp and steady voice.

Students marveled at the musical after it ended.

“The set up was great and the way they integrated the abstracts was done well. I loved the scenes with the princes,” junior Elizabeth Brisebois said.

Sophomore Emma Wright was also pleasantly surprised by the performance.

“It was unexpected and wonderful, I had not seen ‘Into the Woods’ before, so coming into it, I wasn’t sure what to expect,” Wright said.

Music director Jay Cottle was also pleased with the performance and he enjoyed working with such a great cast of talented musicians.

Jacqueline Coughlin was very modest at the praise she was receiving.

“I feel incredible right now,” she said, with a captivating smile.

8

Sports

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Beacon.mcla.edu

Baseball drops two losses to SUNYIT in double-header Chris Oxholm Sports Writer

By Ariana Tourangeau Sports Editor

Messy brackets due to upsets I don’t know about all of you, but my March Madness bracket is all a mess because a No. 15 seed team beat a No. 2 seed team.

I think it’s awesome that Florida Gulf Coast somehow beat Georgetown, is playing like one of the best teams in the league, and could possibly make it far, but this is just an example as to why it is called March Madness.

FGCU is making history.

They are the first No. 15 seed team to make the sweet 16. To me, that is amazing and I don’t know where they got all this fire from, but now they’re on cloud nine running on pure adrenaline.

In 75 years no No. 15 seed has ever won two games, according to ESPN writer Dana O’Neil. Now we just have to see how long they will last.

O’neil wrote, “in the past two years, three No. 15 seeds have won their first round games,” but they never made it past that. FGCU beat both Georgetown (No. 2) and San Diego State University (No. 7) by 10 points. That’s not just winning by a little, it’s more than that, which shows they have potential to go further.

Florida Gulf Coast wasn’t the only team to upset in the tournament. No. 13 seed LaSalle Knocked off No. 4 seed Kansas State and went on to beat Ole Miss. No. 14 seed Harvard Crimson beat No. 3 seed New Mexico 68-62, but couldn’t make it past Arizona to advance in the tournament.

Although there were other upsets, no upset will compare to the one that FGCU pulled off. Part of the craziness of March Madness is picking who you think will win and watching it get messed up.

Just because a team had a great season and is a top seed doesn’t guarantee them a spot in the final four, or even the sweet 16. It is how they perform in every game up until that point, and Florida Gulf Coast is performing exactly how they should if they want a spot in the final four.

Obviously, they weren’t in my bracket because I didn’t see that one coming, but I think it’s great they have made it this far.

I just hope they don’t ruin my final four predictions. From here on out every loss will be an upset as the tournament gets down to the wire, we just have to see who is willing to hold on the longest.

The day after a disappointing rain cancellation, Men’s Baseball went to State University New York Institute of Technology (SUNYIT) only to come up short against the Wildcats in Sunday’s double-header.

Game one was dominated by the Wildcats. Winning 8-3, they blew through the Trailblazers despite MCLA’s effort to more than double the Wildcat’s strikeouts. The Trailblazers came up short again in game two losing 1-0.

“We played two hard-fought games and unfortunately

came up on the losing end,” sophomore Chase Preite said, the leading hitter of both games.

Preite had four hits for the day, and junior Cody Weaver managed to knock one hit into play along with five strike-outs in two innings. In game two, sophomore Tyler Benoit was able to crank out four strikeouts but let the only run of the game in during the first inning.

The Wildcats pitchers were saved by their fielders’ efforts in the first game, totaling only four strike-outs in seven innings giving up 12 hits.

During game two, pitcher Daniel Wiecek of the Wildcats had a successful day throwing

seven strike-outs and only giving up five hits while playing all seven innings.

The Trailblazers biggest problem was getting their basemen back home.

“We left a lot of runners on base during the day which makes it very difficult to come out with the win,” Preite said, “but that's baseball I guess. [We’ve] gota to learn from it, make some adjustments, and move on.”

In their 8-3 loss the Trailblazers had 32 at bats, and 12 hits topping the Wildcats who only had 24 at bats and 8 hits. The Trailblazers struggled to earn RBIs, leaving 12 runners stranded, Preite stated.

The Trailblazers welcome MASCAC opponent Fitchburg State Falcons tomorrow for a double-header at home.

This will be the first time the two colleges have seen each other since the MASCAC basketball finals, where the Falcons upset the Trailblazers to bring home what could have been hard-earned title.

The Falcons have also played SUNYIT this season in a doubleheader, winning game one 10-4, and losing game two 7-3.

The first MCLA vs. Fitchburg game will begin at 2 p.m. tomorrow, the second starts at 4:30 p.m.

President Obama honors NHL and MLS champions at White House MCT Campus WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama, a basketball devotee, displayed his soccer prowess and hockey knowledge Tuesday as he honored the National Hockey League Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings and Major League Soccer champ Los Angeles Galaxy at the White House.

The president bounced a silver-colored soccer ball — a gift from the Galaxy, along with a white team jersey — off his head as cameras clicked to capture the shot.

“I hope you guys caught that,” Obama quipped. “That doesn’t happen very often.”

The president may have headed a soccer ball, but Darryl Sutter, the no-nonsense coach of the Kings, may have bent the president’s ear on a touchy U.S.-Canada border issue: the Keystone XL pipeline.

“I’m gonna ask him about it — damn rights I am,” Sutter told Toronto’s Globe and Mail newspaper before the White House event.

Sutter, who as a crafty, crusty player and later a coach was

unafraid to get in the faces of opponents or teammates, owns a large ranch in western Canada’s Alberta province and is a staunch supporter of the pipeline.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest said he didn’t know whether Sutter had brought up the pipeline issue. Earnest added that the White House wouldn’t comment on private conversations Obama had with the two teams before the celebration event.

The president and Sutter appeared all smiles in the East Room of the White House as the Kings stood next to a wellpolished Stanley Cup and the Galaxy players by a glistening MLS Cup trophy.

For the Galaxy, it was a repeat visit to the White House as league champs. For the Kings, it was unexpected and newfound territory. They squeaked into the playoffs last season as the eighth and final seed in their conference and became the lowest seed ever to win the Stanley Cup. “America found out that Southern California actually has some pretty intense hockey fans,” Obama said. “So I’m going to be a good sport — these guys pointed

IM to begin after Easter Drew Webster

Special to the Beacon Intramurals Session IV begins Monday following the Easter weekend. This session’s games include basketball, dodgeball and the Tailgate Extravaganza, which consists of three traditional lawn sports: Kan Jam, Cornhole and Ladder Ball.

Intramurals is also hosting a 3v3 basketball tournament Saturday in the Campus Center Gymnasium. The tournament will begin at 3 p.m. and con-

clude at 5:30 p.m. Only one male varsity player and two women’s varsity players are allowed per team.

White water rafting, offered this semester, will take place Saturday, May 4 on the Deerfield River.

Paper rosters will be available in the marketplace to sign up for any of these sports or activities. Please return these to the Intramural office in the Campus Center room 315, or sign up online at www.imleagues.com.

Photo by MCT Campus

U.S. President Barack Obama juggles with a soccer ball as he welcomes the Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings and the Major League Soccer champion LA Galaxy to the White House. out that they beat my (Chicago) Blackhawks last night. I will also say that, given this season how rare it is to beat the Blackhawks, I want to congratulate them for that as well.”

Obama praised both teams for their involvement in the community, particularly with underprivileged children.

“They’re changing lives.

They’re making a difference,” the president said. “As Coach (Bruce) Arena of the Galaxy says, ‘The soccer is very much

secondary. If we can have an impact on the lives of young kids, we want to be part of that.’ “ Witnessing Tuesday’s event were children from the NHL’s “Hockey Is for Everyone” programs, the MLS WORKS community outreach initiative, the U.S. Soccer Foundation’s Soccer for Success, the L.A. Galaxy Foundation, the Kings Care Foundation and America SCORES, a soccer-oriented after-school and education initiative.

Sports

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Beacon.mcla.edu

Senior Ainsley MacDonald: A leader on the horizon Nicholas Swanson Sports Writer

Photo by Jack Guerino/Beacon Staff

Softball Captain Ainsley MacDonald stresses the importance of having good chemistry between teamates.

Big East and CBS reach new TV deal

Senior Ainsley MacDonald sat relaxed wearing a positive smile while she studied for a class toward her degree in Biology.

She is currently a captain and pitcher for the Women’s Softball team, and spoke intuitively about her memorable years playing for the Trailblazers.

“I am so glad that I made the decision to stay on this team. It has been a great experience that I will always remember,” MacDonald said.

MacDonald has played Softball for the Trailblazers since she transferred as a sophomore.

Last semester, MacDonald was the only captain for softball and dealt with the pressure of building a new team that included eight freshmen and two sophomore transfers. As the team developed they progressed to become what they are today.

She now works to better the team with new Co-captain Kendra Hobbs.

“Ainsley was able to establish a fluent chemistry between the new members of the team when she was an incoming captain, by that her confidence and leadership traits were noticed greatly,” Coach Mike Ameen said.

Ameen said that MacDonald dedicated a lot of time to communicate with her teammates and build a friendly bond on and off the field. He noted that it helped improve the team and her knowledge of the game.

Men’s Tennis falls behind on the road

MCT Campus

Justine Cozza

The soon-to-be-renamed Big East Conference announced Tuesday that it has an agreement with longtime partner CBS Sports to televise men’s basketball games through the 2019-20 season.

Financial terms of the agreement were not announced.

“We are delighted to be extending the historic and successful relationship that we have enjoyed with CBS Sports since 1983,” Big East president Mike Aresco said in a statement. “This agreement further illustrates the excitement and anticipation that surround the reinvention of our conference, and it will provide our fans across the country the opportunity to watch our games on network television.”

The league will have up to 12 appearances per season on CBS Sports. Half of those television appearances will be conference matchups. CBS Sports also retains the right to have the first selections to all games involving conference teams.

Temple will join the conference for all sports on July 1. The Owls rejoined the Big East as a football member this past season.

The Men’s Tennis team played Saturday, March 23 at Rhode Island College (RIC) and Sunday March 24 at Thomas College, losing both matches with the final results 8-1 and 7-2.

The team is now 0-3 overall and 0-1 in the North Atlantic Conference (NAC).

According to the MCLA Athletics website, RIC’s Anchormen led doubles across the board to jump out ahead of MCLA (0-2) early in the contest. RIC junior Alex Werchadlo and freshman Ben Proctor won (8-5) at No. 1 doubles, while RIC sophomore Mike McCaffrey and junior Matt Collins won No. 2 doubles (8-1), continuing the streak. RIC junior Ted James and freshman Cory Duquette won in No. 3 doubles (8-0).

Werchadlo (6-0, 6-1) held off senior Daniel Nesti at No. 1 singles, while sophomore Taylor Krowitz tallied the lone victory of the day for the Trailblazers at No. 2 singles (6-2, 2-6, 1-0 [10-4]).

“We were playing in 30 degree weather with consistent 20 mph

Sports Writer

winds,” Nesti said. “That is a death wish for any tennis player.”

According to the MCLA Athletics website, Thomas College Thomas, now 2-2 and 1-0 NAC, was able to secure their first conference victory 7-2 at the Harold Alfond Athletic Center on Sunday. Tyler Small led the Terriers, going a perfect 6-0 in both games of No. 2 singles, and teaming up with Caleb Mora in doubles winning 8-0. Eric Morin got the victory in No. 1 singles 5-0. Evan Boudrea and Jonte Roussel also helped Thomas College score wins in singles.

Sophomore Taylor Krowitz was able to pick up a win for MCLA in No. 3 doubles (5-7, 6-4, 10-7), while getting the win in No. 1 doubles alongside Dan Nesti 9-8, and 7-4.

“We have a lot of fight in us,” Krowitz said. “We need to work on consistency and keeping the rallies going.”

The tennis team is scheduled to host Green Mountain College on Thursday, April 4 at 3:30 p.m. For more information on the team’s schedule or stats of the games, go to http://athletics.mcla.edu/ sports/mten/index.

9

“The team may be young, but everyone plays the best they can, that shows potential and evidence that they are going down the right path,” MacDonald said.

The team’s tight-knit relationship helps push them forward.

“The team is so close now, they do so well working with each other that it makes it easier to improve what is needed,” MacDonald said.

MacDonald explained that it is especially important to have a good relationship between the pitcher and catcher.

“Ainsley is one of my good friends now as well as an amazing captain. She has helped me so much when practicing, she is there for me all the time, and during a game we pick each other up when struggling,” freshmen catcher Tanelle Ciempa said.

“As a captain, Ainsley has shown major progress, to the point where individuals have come up and commented on how great she is, but the main reason she will be successful are here leadership qualities,” Ameen said.

After college, MacDonald will take a year to do clinical work before applying to a physicians’ assistant school. She hopes to become a doctor. She would also like to become a pitching coach.

“The position of pitching coach would fit her very well, considering she is meticulous about her own mechanics. Passing those skills on will lead [others] in the right direction,” Ameen said.

Schedule

Scores

Baseball: 3/29 Fitchburg State @ MCLA 2:00p.m. and 4:30p.m.

Baseball:

4/2 Union @ MCLA 3:30p.m.

4/3 Williams College 4:00p.m.

3/24 SUNYIT L, 8-3 L, 1-0 Tennis: 3/23 Rhode Island L, 8-1 3/24 Thomas College L, 7-2 L, 8-1

Softball: 3/29 Fitchburg State @ MCLA 2:00p.m. and 4:00p.m.

4/1 Bay Path @ MCLA 3:30p.m. and 5:30p.m.

Tennis: 4/4 Green Mountain @ MCLA 3:30p.m.

Softball: 3/27 Sage 3:00p.m. and 5:00p.m.

Final scores were not available as of press time.

Standings Softball: Overall: 4-8 Conference: 0-0

Tennis: Overall: 0-3 Conference: 0-1

Baseball: Overall: 1-9 Conference: 0-0

10

Opinion

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Beacon.mcla.edu

What do you think about the Spring Concert choice for this year?

“It’s a good choice, I plan on going.”

“I’ve never heard of them. I’m not planning on going.”

-Brittany Gallacher, ‘16

-Esther Cazeau, ‘13

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“I might go, I just don’t know anything about them.”

“I love the Spring Concert choice.

Yes, I am planning on going.”

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Signed columns and commentaries that appear on these pages reflect the views of the writers.

-JonDavid Shetler, ‘15

-Kellie Gryszowka, ‘16

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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.

“I don’t think anything of it. I don’t know about the band.”

“I think it’ll be good. I’ve heard a lot of people are excited about it.

Probably a lot of people will go to it.”

-Sean Kealleher, ‘16

-Thamer Jean-Fedestin, ‘14

Compiled by Shauna Dacus/Beacon staff

Commentary

Fast Food: Give the people what they want!

Each day between 4:30 and 7 p.m. it’s been become more and more apparent that students are sick of eating ARAMARK all the time. Not Ryan Flynn to bash the food Senior News service that keeps Editor stomachs full, but students get sick of the food they’re eating at any school.

Dinner decisions are becoming tougher and tougher each day as even Subway gets old. While five dollar foot longs are appealing to the poor college student attempting to conserve their declining balance, a person can only eat so many Subway clubs, melts, and yes, even Chicken Bacon Ranches.

It is a popular belief that the students voted on Taco Bell as opposed to Subway. If this is the case, this is a breach on democracy. This may sound dramatic, but if majority rules, then majority rules. If the school did not intend on bringing Taco Bell to this small liberal arts college community, then it shouldn’t have been a voting option; no one likes a tease.

Of course, with Taco Bell, there’s the issue of health. Obviously a diet of 5-layer burritos every day would take freshman fifteen to a whole other level. Still both the administration and students can’t blame their health on the school.

Everyone controls what they put in their own body. If the school voted

on Taco Bell, and someone is disgusted by greasy fast food, than tough luck; don’t eat it.

Subway also has been known to use processed meats with artificial ingredients. Yeah, you can lose weight eating Veggie Delights with no cheese and wheat bread every day, but a lot of what Subway has to offer isn’t very healthy. A daily foot long Big Philly Cheesesteak comes out to 1,000 calories without supplemental toppings. No one can blame their ever-growing gut on a chain restaurant when they’re eating a sandwich like that.

It would be the same with Taco Bell; if you can’t see your feet anymore, stop eating cheesy gordita (which means fat lady by the way) crunches every night at three in the morning.

With Subway, it’s probable that a decision was made based on price.

As several colleges offer a Subway shop, they’re probably cheaper to bring on than a much less common fast food restaurant such as Taco Bell. Subway is the largest international fast food restaurant, so it’s not really surprising.

Regardless, everyone can agree that Subway is better than nothing at all. Still, if Taco Bell was in fact voted by the students, this does show to some degree that students are not getting what they want.

While high schools are becoming stricter and stricter with food regulations, I think most would hope that angry parents of legal adults won’t come blabbering to the school because their kid is eating too much fast food by choice.

Commentary

#SocMedia and the future of journalism O v e r spring break, I went to the National College Media Ass o ciation (CMA) Convention in NYC for three Aya Lanzoni days. My life in Editor-in-Chief terms of journalism was changed drastically.

Surrounded by other editorsin-chief, managing editors, writers, photographers, and media students alike, I learned a lot about myself and others. One of the workshops that had the most impact on how I view journalism today was from Columbia University’s Chief Digital Officer, Sree Sreenivasan.

I didn’t realize that social media is quickly becoming a large part of how journalists find stories and use the networks in a particular way. Sreenivasan spoke mostly of Twitter and how to use it to a journalists’ advantage, but also how Facebook can be a tool for journalists.

According to Sreenivasan, social media can help journalists and media users to find stories and sources, as well as connect with readers in new ways.

Over break, I actually livetweeted from The Beacon’s editor-in-chief twitter, @BeaconMCLA_EIC, about the revealing of the new pope for the Catholic Church. If you had asked me a few years ago if I

could see myself doing this, or if Twitter had anything to do with news at all, I would have replied with an absolute “no.” I now find myself attempting to constantly update the Twitter and Facebook pages alongside my web editor.

One important thing I learned from Sreenivasan when using social media: if you’re bad at social media, you’re going to be bad unless you try to improve.

But if you’re good at social media, you’re going to be great.

Constant updates are important though, because audiences feed off of news and current events.

It’s also important because the world and audiences are updating, too.

As a graduating senior this semester, I have to go out and apply what I’ve learned over the past four years to the “real world.” But our generation is also the one where times are changing. We’re stuck in the middle of a transition, and not just with journalism.

Is social media now taking over journalism and the way we get our news? Probably. Maybe.

Perhaps. Call me traditional, but I like to go out and pick up a printed copy of a newspaper, then refer to the digital print edition if I have to or simply if I don’t have time. One day print news will most likely cease to exist (which I must admit, makes me a little sad). So will news eventually have a hashtag?

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Thursday, March 28, 2013 FOR RELEASE MARCH 24, 2013

Fun & Games

Beacon.mcla.edu

11

THE TV CROSSWORD The almighty search for service at MCLA

by Jacqueline E. Mathews

Cartoon by Jackie Coughlin

Want to be a part of the Beacon

Staff?

Come in and apply today!

ACROSS 1 “Green __” 6 Goodman of “Dancing With the Stars” 9 “Do You Hear What __?”; song on a Christmas carol album 10 Martin or McQueen 12 Ray’s wife on “Everybody Loves Raymond” 13 Cook leftovers 14 Coach __ Parseghian 15 Goldfish in “Pinocchio” 16 Mike __ of “Saturday Night Live” 19 Actor Damon 23 Lead role on “Boy Meets World” 24 Zone 25 Lorne of “Bonanza” 28 Crime series for Nathan Fillion 30 Make, as a salary 31 “The Big __ Theory” 32 “__ ’70s Show” 33 __ Gras; annual celebration 34 Fleur-de-lis 36 Sandwich variety, for short 39 Journalist Mitchell 42 Ms. O’Donnell Solution to Last Week’s Puzzle

(c) 2013 Tribune Media Services, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

44 “__ Up”; short-lived Leah Remini sitcom 45 “Home __”; Macaulay Culkin movie 46 “Rachael __” 47 Kelly and Hackman DOWN 1 Grand opera by Verdi 2 “The Sonny and __ Comedy Hour” 3 Star of “Malibu Country” 4 Hearing organ 5 Mexican Mrs. 6 Marvin or Majors 7 Zsa Zsa’s sister 8 Butterfly catcher’s need 10 “__ Spot Run”; movie for David Arquette 11 Actor on “Criminal Minds” 13 Initials for author Stevenson 15 “Boys Don’t __”; Hilary Swank film 17 Hither and __; in many places 18 Prior to, in poetry 20 Mr. Linkletter 21 __ Aviv, Israel 22 Edison’s monogram 25 “__ Smart” 26 Cheerleader’s cry 27 Historical period 28 “__ 54, Where Are You?” 29 “Parks __ Recreation” 31 College degrees, often: abbr.

33 Farrow or Kirshner 35 “The __ Skelton Hour” 37 “Whose __ Is It Anyway?”

38 Pegs for Phil Mickelson 39 Ghana’s continent: abbr.

40 Long or Peeples 41 Arid 42 “__ Doll”; hit song for The Four Seasons 43 “Grand __ Opry”

Arts and Entertainment writers!

Sports writers!

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Videographer!

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Staff writers!

To get an application, stop outside of the Beacon office in Mark Hopkins 111. *Applicants must have taken Writing and Reporting the News I Photographers: Intro to Black and White Photography

Applications due by April 1st.

12

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Photo Essay

Beacon.mcla.edu

Freshman Christopher Cozzaglio represents his Italian roots with a plate of pasta in Venable Gym.

From left, senior David Camillo, freshman Elizabeth Diaz, and senior Dary Burgos learn about the Dominican Republic at the All Around the World Event last Friday night.

Sophomore Ciara Genera displays her photos from her recent experience in Japan.

*Cultures Collide* Photos by Dennise Carranza

Freshman Wilnalis Mercado Perez, left, and her sister sophomore Valerie Mercado Perez show off their traditional plena costumes from La Isla del Encanto.

ALANA Club Council at their first cultural night, All Around the World. From left, Multicultural Center Coordintor Thomas Alexander, Freshman Aysha del Valle , sophomore Piterson Allen, Zizhe Pan, exchange student, freshman Jafreisi Pena Baez, Jin Huang, exchange student, and sophomore Juan Luis Andujar enjoy a night of learning.

Freshman Giovani Dulcio performed a traditional Ghanian dance.