October 12, 2017 Vol. 85 Issue 4

Volume 85

T hu r s day , O c tob e r 12, 2017

Emmy-winner, author Pitts headlines Hardman Lecture

photo from WikimediaCommons

MCLA will be hosting the national correspondent on Oct. 18 in the Church Street Center.

The previous three speakers were Abderrahim Foukara, Joy Reid, and Nicholas Kristof.

Pitts follows in the footsteps of Abderrahim Foukara, Joy Reid and Nicholas Kristof

BY COREY MITCHELLLABRIE STAFF WRITER Byron Pitts, news anchor and chief national correspondent for ABC, is coming to MCLA for this fall’s Hardman Lecture Series.

His talk will take place at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 18 in the Church Street Center.

“He rose very quickly to the top of our lists,” said professor Zachary Finch.

“He’s such an inspiring story teller and really embodies the principles of journalism. He says that he wants to give voice to the voiceless.”

Professor Finch is one of two individuals who work to find candidates for the lectures, working alongside Professor Joseph Ebiware as Hardman Co-Scholars.

They get together every spring to find new and exciting people for the series.

“We confer with other members of the College Community, in particularly with the Dean of Academic Affairs, and we begin by brainstorming a list of possible names, and by soliciting names from our colleagues as well.”

Pitts worked for CBS before becoming chief national correspondent for ABC. There, he performed many impressive feats of journalism including acting as their lead correspondent at Ground Zero following the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center; he won an Emmy for his coverage.

Pitts has authored two books, an autobiography called “Step Out On Nothing” and “Be the One,” which tells the stories of six young individuals succeeding in near impossible situations. MCLA’s bookstore will be featuring both

of them alongside a special book signing after the talk.

“Once I knew he was coming, I got copies of his books for the office,” Jenna Ware said. “I read them both. I thought his autobiography was fascinating.”

Ware works in MCLA’s Office of Institutional Advancement as the coordinator of special events and conference planning. She works on facilitating and establishing special events for the College like the Hardman Lecture Series.

“What I thought was really amazing about his autobiography was that it was structured like news stories,” she said. “It’s not a normal flow, it’s like someone making an in-depth newscast. It’s great.”

“His own life story is very compelling,” professor Finch said. “We also heard

Pitts page 4

Issue 4

SGA Seeks Feedback on New Chairs in Effort to promote diversity

BY HANNAH SNELL STAFF WRITER At the Sep. 18 Student Government Association (SGA) meeting, it was announced the Senate was working on developing two new chairs: a Multicultural chair and a LGBTQIA+ chair.

The idea for the two new chairs started over the summer during SGA President Samantha Giffen’s internship at Williams College. In her research, Giffen noticed Williams, along with many other colleges, had “diversity” chairs in their student governments.

Originally an idea to implement a diversity chair, the two new chairs would be the equivalent of other senate seats, such as the Athlete Chair and the Commuter Chair, representing those communities.

Giffen began drafting the idea over the summer, reaching out to administration such as Director of Student Development Celia Norcross, Assistant Director of Student Activities and ALANA Coordinator Michael Obasohan and Coordinator of Women’s Center and Identity & Gender Equality (IGE) Resource Center Amanda Beckwith. In addition, Giffen contacted student organizations, specifically the Queer Student Union (QSU) and different African, Latino, Asian, Native American (ALANA) organizations, for feedback.

This semester, Giffen and the SGA E-Board plan on meeting with various student groups and gathering as much student input as possible. If the plan is wellreceived and the Senate decides to go forward with the idea, an amendment would then need to be made to that part of the constitution.

“If you just take a sample of 20 random students, that’s not going to be representative of the community. We need these specific voices if there’s going to be any progress at all,” Victoria Rodriguez, vice president of QSU, said. “I went to many SGA meetings last year because I thought our voices need to be heard, but, not everyone feels comfortable coming.

There needs to be somebody comfortable in that position to speak out.”

Falyn Elhard, co-president of QSU, was initially skeptical of the proposal. However, they have reported that Giffen has been responding “very well” to their concerns.

“We went back and forth with her a lot, bringing up our concerns. One thing that I appreciated was that they seemed like they ultimately wanted to do things right,” Elhard said.

Over the summer, in addition to drafting the idea for the two new chairs: Giffen, Parliamentarian Jacob Vitali and the rest of the SGA E-Board re-drafted the Constitution, making several significant changes.

“We were looking for ways to make the Constitution more inclusive, transparent, make sure things were accountable,” Giffen said.

“One of our biggest focuses was on how SGA can be more inclusive, diverse and representative of the body. . .because, it’s been told historically that we haven’t been representative of the student body.

“The position is just one of the many things that we’re trying to do to address it,” she added.

In addition to the two new chairs, Giffen and SGA PR Chair Nick Bassett reported that the Senate is using social media and other strategies to make SGA more accessible to all students.

According to Bassett, SGA hopes to eventually offer live streams of SGA meetings on Facebook. In addition, “Senator Spotlights,” profiles of students senators will be posted on the SGA Facebook page in an effort to connect SGA to the rest of the student body.

“We want to try to find a way to make meetings have as much student input as possible and get as much student input as possible,” Bassett said.

An open forum for all MCLA students will also be offered at the SGA meeting on Oct. 30.

“Just over 20 percent of students here are students of color,” Elhard said. “Not only do we want to encourage more diverse voices to come here, but we want them to stay here, to feel comfortable here.”

CAMPUSNEWS

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Oct. 12, 2017 Vol. 85 Issue 4

MCLA’s Fall Community Day of Service produces 300 hours of volunteer work under cloudy skies

The annual service day saw over 100 students and staff work together to clean up the community

BY JOSEPH CAREW EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Amidst occasional mists of rain and cloudy skies, the combined efforts of MCLA students and community members worked to accomplish the eighth Fall Day of Service.

The volunteers attended a breakfast in Venable Gym before hearing some words from prominent members of the campus and city community. Mayor Richard Alcombright spoke on the relationship between MCLA and the city of North Adams while President James Birge emphasized the importance of community work.

The organizers of the event, Spencer Moser, director of the Center for Service, and Christopher Hantman, the community engagement coordinator, both spoke of the work done in years past and the origins of the Day of Service.

“The Fall Day of Service has been going for eight years and the spring day for 26,” said Hantman. “[The

photo by Mitchell Chapman

Mayor Richard Alcombright spoke to the volunteers just before they began their day of service. Alcombright stressed the importance of volunteer work.

Fall Day of Service] was created out of a student desire to have a day during both semesters.”

After an early assemblage of students and MCLA community members, buses

and vans brought these volunteers to about 15 sites across North Adams; from the reservoir to the campus of MCLA, the volunteers worked on a wide variety of jobs.

“Gardening at the YMCA, cleaning a park at Mohawk Forest, landscaping at the spruces, trash removal of the North Adams walking loop, Central Radio cleanup, a workshop/dialogue

on privilege, cleaning at the Berkshire Food Project, and more,” Hantman said.

The Central Radio location was home to five television sets, several rugs, and a stray couch. Students here moved the large items out into the street where North Adams’ employees could grab and properly dispose of them. All small trash items went into bags that sat alongside the television sets and rugs.

“It is an opportunity for a big impact to happen on our community. With 120+ people volunteering for 2 1/2 hours, that’s over 300 hours of service! This is also an opportunity for us to give back to community partners that do so much to support our community,” Hantman said.

“This is also a favorite event of many students because everyone is there to make a difference, and that energy and love is palpable in the room!”

With just over 120 people in attendance this semester, the Fall Day of Service seems to be a successful tradition.

1st District Primary Election sees Barrett take next step Check out our Beacon Web News coverage of this week’s primary election online. The Democratic candidates who faced off for the 1st Berkshire District seat in this primary election, from left to right, are Stephanie Bosley, John Barrett, Lisa Blackmer and Kevin Towle.

Our Executive Producer, Samanatha Kniskern, and her team constantly produce quality content so check out their videos on our website, theonlinebeacon.com or on their YouTube page.

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Oct. 12, 2017 Vol. 85 Issue 4

NATIONALNEWS

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Wooden canoe found in Florida could be linked to the 1600s

By Lisa J. Huriash Sun Sentinel (TNS) FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. _ Florida researchers may be closer to figuring out the mysterious origin of an old canoe that surfaced after Hurricane Irma.

Using a technique known as radiocarbon dating, archaeologists recently determined the wood used to create the vessel could date to the 1600s.

“A find like this is always exciting, especially when it represents something completely unlike the types of canoes previously discovered,” said Paul N. Backhouse, director of the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum at the Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation, and Tribal Historic Preservation Office.

The canoe likely “had quite a biography during its lifespan,” he said.

A photographer scouting for damage after Irma made the discovery in the city of Cocoa, about 35 miles east of Orlando, near the Kennedy Space Center.

Randy “Shots” Lathrop

photo from MCT Campus

A canoe, likely hundreds of years old, was found in Florida and now researchers are trying to determine its origin. said he snapped a photo of the vessel with his phone and texted it to his friend, an underwater archaeologist, to make sure he found something of value.

On Thursday, state officials loaded it onto a truck, “tucked it in” safely and took it to Tallahassee. Officials are beginning a process to make sure the canoe doesn’t deteriorate before it is memorialized in a museum.

State officials said radiocarbon dating showed there’s a 50 percent chance that the wood used to make the canoe dates to the 1600s.

Meanwhile, the paint and wire nails found on it might indicate that the canoe itself wasn’t built _ and used _ until the 1800s or 1900s.

There’s a smaller chance the canoe dates between 1760 to 1818.

“The mystery is still not

solved. It’s only starting,” Lathrop said. “I’d certainly like to learn more about it.”

The canoe certainly has caught the attention of the Seminole Tribe of Florida, Backhouse said. “The dating, construction and other details of the canoe are unusual and intriguing,” said Backhouse.

Sarah Revell, spokeswoman for the Florida Department of State, won’t yet

guess where it came from.

“Until we do a more thorough analysis of the construction techniques and consult with the Seminole tribe and other tribes, we can’t be sure at this time if the canoe was associated with any particular tribe,” she said.

Revell said the canoe is destined for a museum _ eventually.

“It could take a year or longer to complete the preservation process,” she said.

Though such canoes are considered rare, they have been found across the state through the decades.

“Florida has the highest concentration of dugout canoes in the world,” Revell said. “We have more than 400 documented dugout canoes in our state. Each canoe is important in that it adds to our database and helps fill out the picture of how people used these canoes over thousands of years.”

Lathrop said he is thrilled he was part of it all. “I’m glad we could save it,” he said.

House to add $36.5 billion for hurricane relief, Puerto Rico aid

By Kevin Whitelaw Bloomberg News (TNS) WASHINGTON _ House lawmakers unveiled a bill Tuesday night that would provide $36.5 billion in emergency funding for hurricane and wildfire relief requested by the Trump administration.

With Congress under pressure to provide urgent help to storm victims in Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico, the House measure includes $18.7 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s disaster relief fund, as well as $16 billion to replenish the nation’s flood insurance program.

The legislation would also give

Puerto Rico access to a $4.9 billion low-interest Treasury loan so it doesn’t run out of cash as the island recovers. That funding is needed to help the territory pay government salaries and other expenses after Oct. 31. The bill is expected to be voted on by the full House later this week and then taken up by the Senate as early as next week.

“These funds are vital right now, in the near term, to get the aid where it is needed most,” House Appropriations Chairman Rodney Frelinghuysen said in a statement. “However, the recovery in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Texas and Florida will be

ongoing, and more assistance will be required in the near future.”

Congress needs to act quickly, particularly when it comes to flood insurance. The National Flood Insurance Program needs additional funding to cover claims from all the recent storms.

The loan authority for Puerto Rico is also a needed financial lifeline for the U.S. territory of 3.4 million people that’s been operating in bankruptcy since May, which makes

it difficult _ if not impossible _ for the government to borrow on its own.

With the island still recovering from the storm, much of the economy there has ground to a halt, radically curtailing the government’s tax collections. Puerto Rico’s treasury secretary, Raul Maldonado, said last week that the territory faces a government shutdown on Oct. 31 that would halt its hurricane recovery

Puerto Rico page 4

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Oct. 12, 2017 Vol. 85 Issue 4

IMF’s view brightens: Takeaways from World Economic Outlook

By Andrew Mayeda Bloomberg News (TNS) WASHINGTON _ The International Monetary Fund lifted its global growth forecast amid a broad global recovery. But the fund is urging policymakers to take action now to boost economic potential. Here are five takeaways from the fund’s World Economic Outlook: NO RUSH TO TIGHTEN The IMF devotes considerable space to the persistence of low inflation in advanced economies, a trend that has baffled central bankers. In short, the fund doesn’t see the rush to raise rates, given that inflation remains below central-bank targets in many countries. The IMF downgraded its global inflation forecast for both this year and next, partly due to lower-than-expected oil prices.

PART-TIME WORK CURBING WAGES Conventional measures such as the unemployment rate explain most of the wage slowdown in countries where joblessness remains above levels during the Great Recession, the IMF found. But where the unemployment rate has fallen below the pre-recession average, involuntary part-time employment also appears to be weighing on wage growth. There could be more slack in the job market than captured by headline unemploy-

Graphic from MCT Campus

Chart of the IMF’s projection for world economic growth. ment, meaning central banks such as the Fed may have to look at other gauges of labor market tightness.

U.S. TAX REFORM NOT THE BASE CASE President Donald Trump and Republican leaders in Congress may

Puerto Rico from page 3 that would halt its hurricane recovery efforts if Congress doesn’t intervene.

The package includes a $150 million advance that covers the matching-funds requirement from the commonwealth, an administration official said. It would be available for easing short-term expenses such as payroll and pension payments, though not for debt service on bonds.

The devastation wrought by Hurricane Maria is threatening to exaggerate the financial crisis that had already pushed the island into a series of record-setting defaults

find a way to turn their tax reforms into law, but the IMF isn’t betting on it. The U.S. growth forecast assumes no boost from fiscal stimulus. The fund may be playing it safe after being whipsawed by politics in Washington. Just before Trump took

office in January, the IMF added a fiscal boost to its U.S. forecast from the then president-elect’s proposals.

But in June, the fund cut its U.S. outlook, removing assumptions that the administration will reduce taxes and increase infrastructure spending.

ANOTHER WARNING ON CHINA’S DEBT The IMF raised its outlook for China’s growth this year and next. But the reasons for the upgrade may not all be good news: the fund is now assuming a slower rebalancing of the Chinese economy toward services and consumption, as well as a higher debt trajectory and diminished fiscal space to respond to a crisis. All of which, the IMF warns, imply a higher risk of a “sharp” slowdown in China’s growth.

JAPAN MOST AT RISK OF RECESSION The IMF puts the probably of a recession in Japan within the next year at just under 40 percent. Still, the risk dropped from April, and the overall global picture is looking better, with the chance of a downturn also down in the euro area and a group of five big Latin American countries. The risk of a U.S. recession rose slightly from April and now stands at slightly less than 25 percent.

Pitts from page 1 on its $74 billion of debt. The scale of the damage, which has left most of the island without electricity nearly three weeks after the storm, has caused Puerto Rico bond prices to tumble as investors speculate they’re likely to recoup even less of their investments.

One notable omission from the funding measure is additional funding for the Community Development Block Grant Program at the Department of Housing and Urban Development, which a bipartisan group of Texas lawmakers had asked to be included in this measure.

that he’s a tremendous public speaker, that he’s very charismatic, very outgoing and really holds the audience.”

The subject of Pitts’s talk is “Mass Media and Democratic Governance: The American Experience.” He’s anticipated to speak on both their relationship and the clear differences between them.

“I love opportunities for the whole College to come together,” Finch said. “Whether it’s a speaker, a theatrical performance or a community engagement event. I think it’s nice for students to get out of the classroom and engage in some of the pro-

gramming we do.”

After reading his books Ware said, “To say he’s nice is kind of bland. He seems like a really full person. He’s had difficulties and hardship in life.

He’s had people who supported him, people who put him down. And he’s sort of come through all these difficulties and found real success in life.”

“If you have any doubt at all about whether to go,” said Finch. “You should say, ‘Yes, I’m going to go,’ It’s only an hour of your evening, but you’re going to emerge from this lecture motivated, and refreshed and inspired. That I can guarantee.”

Weekend Weather Thursday, October 12

Friday, October 13

Saturday, October 14

Sunday, October 15

Mostly sunny High: 62° Low: 35° Precip. Chance: 2%

Mix of clouds and sun High: 63° Low: 51° Precip. Chance: 16%

Cloudy High: 73° Low: 57° Precip. Chance: 25%

Warm; Partly Cloudy High: 74° Low: 53° Precip. Chance: 25% Images from WikimediaCommons

FEATURES North Adams’ Director of Community Events Suzy Helme

Life as a local community organizer

5 MCLA Student Profile

BY MITCHELL CHAPMAN FEATURES EDITOR From the Fall Foliage Parade to Winterfest to the Eagle Street Beach Party, there has been one woman at the helm of these North Adams events for the last three years — Suzy Helme, the city’s director of community events.

For Helme, much of what she does focuses on continuing traditions rather than trying to draw in tourists.

Many of the annual events she organizes have been going on for decades and have a reputation for bringing the community together — a community MCLA is a part of.

“I personally have seen more collaboration with MCLA in the last year,” she said. “But not just MCLA. MoCA, the city and the College have worked harder to be supportive of each other’s events.”

The city looks for more ways to get the student body involved in the city, most recently through last year’s Levitt AMP and this year’s Colegrove Park concert series, though Helme admits it has been hit or miss.

“We would love to engage students more — and it has to be something more than just meeting them,” Helme said. “We need to attract new people and think of ways to keep young people here.”

While Helme is not a Berkshires native, she’s lived in North Adams for over a decade. Prior to accepting her position as the city’s director of community events, she owned and operated Shima Boutique, an infant and toddler clothing and toys store that operated on North Adams’ Main and Eagle streets between 2008 and 2015. She was also an active member of the Northern Berkshire County Coalition, an organization that organizes workshops, youth programs, family support programs, and more.

Her favorite part of North Adams is the community, and her favorite part of her job is the people she gets to meet.

She and her husband are from Brooklyn, which Helme describes as having a tightknit community feel despite its large population. As such, they wanted to live in a place with that same sense of community, but where they believed they could make an impact. For them, North Adams was that community.

Because her job deals with not only event organization but also promotion, Helme describes her job as not being the same any two days. Coming up, the city is organizing a tree lighting ceremony the day before Thanksgiving that anyone is welcome to attend, though the city is ap-

Photo provided by Eric Rodriguez-Millan

Freshman Eric Rodriguez-Millan comes to MCLA through the baseball team, and hopes to become a doctor.

From Puerto Rico to MCLA

BY MEGHAN COOK FEATURES WRITER

Photo provided by Suzy Helme

While Helme has been a long-time North Adams resident, she has only been the city’s director of community events for three years. Previously, she was the owner of Shima Boutique, an infant and toddler clothing and toys store that operated on North Adams’ Main and Eagle streets between 2008 and 2015.

Beacon file photo

Helme’s office deals with a wide variety of events, from the Fall Foliage Parade to Winterfest DownStreet Art. Helme’s favorite part of her job is interacting and meeting with people, as no two days on the job are the same.

“We would love to engage students more — and it has to be something more than just meeting them. We need to attract new people and think of ways to keep young people here.”

Suzy Helme

proaching the point in which its events begin to slow down.

“May through October is crazy,” she said. “We’re at the point where it starts to slow down, where we can regroup and start planning for the next year, which is nice.”

Afterward, the city will be putting their efforts towards planning next Febru-

ary’s Winterfest.

Per MCLA’s involvement with the community, Helme had praise to give. “[MCLA’s] Community Day of Service is amazing,” she said. “I’m also excited to see FIGMENT come back.”

Though, as Helme admits, there is still plenty of room to bridge the gap between MCLA and North Adams.

Eric Rodriguez-Millan came to school in August to start his freshman year knowing it would not be until December that he gets to see his family again. While that is the case for a lot of students, Eric has a bit farther of a journey.

From Puerto Rico to North Carolina to North Adams, Eric Rodriguez-Millan has found his way to MCLA. “I was recruited as a pitcher by my baseball coach,” explains Eric. “But I also saw pictures of [MCLA] online and loved the small community.”

Eric took to MCLA’s small size and tight-knit community immediately. In addition to small classes and quick walks to class and the gym, he also enjoys the closeness of his new baseball team.

“They are like brothers to me,” Eric said. “The upperclassmen know what it’s like to have been freshman, and they immediately took me in.”

Making varsity his junior year after arriving at his new school in North Carolina, he says he has been playing baseball from the age of three.

“Being from another part of the world Eric brings a different energy to practice that everyone feeds off of. Getting to know him over the past few weeks gives you another perspective of the world,” says Ryan Ruef, a freshman and fellow baseball player.

Eric came to college with the dream of becoming a doctor and is a biology pre-medical student.

“We moved to North Carolina to get a better education for me and good jobs for my parents,” Eric explained.

“Now I can continue that at MCLA. I’m here to do this for me and my dreams.”

Living in the town of Garner, N.C., Eric has about a 12 hour drive to get back to his mom and dad, but even farther is where most of his family is – in Puerto Rico.

“I lived in Puerto Rico for the first 16 years of my life,” Eric explained. “The majority of my family still lives there.

We take vacations to go see them when we can.”

With the onslaught of damage caused by Hurricane Maria, the latest hurricane, he is worried about his family.

“I’m really sad about it. I didn’t hear anything from my family [in Puerto Rico] for a whole day,” Eric explained.

“They’re all okay physically, but they don’t have power.

It’s so tough with water right now, and it’s all so hard.”

Eric has had contact with some of his cousins and his mother keeps him updated on his family down in Puerto Rico as much as she can.

“My dad was down there before the storm hit,” Eric said. “He’s home now, but his plane was delayed for an entire week.”

Knowing his family is safe, however, has allowed Eric to move forward with his life at MCLA. “I am experiencing new things,” Eric said. “I am a pretty social person so I talk to a lot of people, and the small community is great.”

Students with homes far from MCLA seem drawn to the small student body, but out-of-state students come to the school for other reasons.

“I got a grant that was obviously appealing,” explains Stacey Gonzalez, a former MCLA student. “But when I Googled schools in Massachusetts, I think I just liked the blue and yellow colors!”

Gonzalez came to MCLA from El Paso, Texas for her junior year of college, but was unable to return for this semester.

“My financial aid did not get processed correctly, so I couldn’t afford it anymore,” explained Gonzalez. “I miss my friends and the school so much.”

According to Eric, his love for the baseball team and aspirations of being a doctor are driving him to complete his four years here at MCLA before continuing on to medical school.

“I think my dream school is Duke Medical in North Carolina,” says Eric. “I think I want to be cardiothoracic surgeon.”

6

Arts & Entertainment

Fashion Club brings new energy, style

By Brianna Lamb A&E Writer With all the organizations and events on campus, it can sometimes be difficult to get your club’s voice heard. That is the goal of Fashion Club, a group on campus determined to spread the word about what they have in store this year.

Fashion Club’s official name is the Fashion Student Organization but its president, junior Amanda Romanelli, prefers the informal name.

“We are simply a group of students who love fashion,” said Romanelli. “The ‘student organization’ part just doesn’t make sense for us.”

The club’s main goal is to put on fashion shows at the Design Lab on Main Street. Last semester was the first time the club was able to do this, and they expect to be having more shows in the future due to its success.

Their next show is planned for Dec. 7 and Dec. 8. The club also plans to include more fashionoriented activities during general meetings.

“Last meeting, we learned how to distress denim and had a small photo shoot,” Romanelli said. “Each meeting, we will have workshops like this, as well as photo shoots, so the photographers in our club can learn how to photograph

people.”

The club has existed for quite a while at MCLA, though its membership in the past was very low, with the E-board members being the only designers. With so few members, the club relied on the student body to assist them when models were needed for their shows.

The club became inactive for a few semesters, but started to build itself back up last semester.

President Romanelli and Vice President Zach Benjamin are determined to show what the club is capable of.

Despite the growth and improvement the club has shown, the budget has not improved. The club attended various SGA meetings last semester in the hope of increasing their budget to accommodate new members and events.

“When we heard that our budget went from an already extremely low budget to an even lower one, we felt more than defeated,” said Romanelli.

At that point, the club grew from 0 to 25 members and struggled to clothe people for the fashion show, with a budget of $13 per person, for a full outfit.

“I know we can make things work, but it is truly unfair.

How could they see the club

succeeding if they gave us even less money than last year?” said Romanelli, hoping to appeal to SGA this coming year.

Despite the budget setback, the club does find ways to add funds for their shows.

A clothing sale held in the Campus Center and sponsored by the Fashion Club will take place this semester. The club will be selling some of their clothing from their past show in order to raise money.

Overall, the club hopes to make itself more of a presence on campus and to students this year.

Fashion shows are the first priority, with club members hoping to get a bigger turnout than last year. Workshops during general meetings are another way the club hopes to bring new members into the club.

“They invite people that aren’t participating in the show to be a part of the club,” said Romanelli. “Overall, we just want people to know the club exists and show that we have some really talented people working with us.”

Fashion Club’s meetings this semester are held at 7 p.m. on Thursdays in Bowman 319 and Romanelli encourages all who are interested to attend.

Humble Digs to return to North Adams Oct. 14

By Emma Monahan A&E Editor Humble Digs, a band that MCLA students may not have heard of, will be preforming at Gallery 51 on Oct. 14 at 7 p.m.

Jake Slater began the project back in the summer of 2014; the rest of the band formed in early 2016.

“I had a bunch of crazy psychrock my old band recorded that I sent to a guy making a psychedelic compilation on Reddit, and instead of picking those, he went with this quirky, sort of dreamy melancholy acoustic one on my Soundcloud,” said Slater. “So I started favoring that kind of sound.”

Slater, who plays guitar and also sings, is accompanied by: George Condon on guitar, Henry Condon and Riley Feeney on bass and vocals and Matt Twaddle on keys. With five solid members, they also bring out people that they know to join.

“It makes it fun and fresh, while also helping develop my voice as an author, having a diverse set of people to channel songs through while still attaining a sense of stylistic consistency,” said Slater.

Hailing from Amherst, this isn’t the first time the band has made their way to the

SereniTea Café Review

Not just tea, waffles too

photo by Nora Hones

You can get a Belgin waffle at SereniTea Cafe.

By Nora Hones A&E Writer With an array of options from breakfast to lunch, or just a coffee or a nightcap, SereniTea Cafe is a destination MCLA students should take advantage of.

SereniTea Cafe has many reasonably priced menu options to pick from, including Belgian waffles, omelets, paninis, custom sandwich options, salads, desserts and bar food.

They also serve coffee, tea, and smoothies. The menu is very accommodating for vegetarians and vegans. SereniTea Cafe has also started putting on events throughout the week.

“We want to be an event place,” said Leanne Hamilton, the owner of SereniTea Cafe, when explaining why they’ve started putting on so many events. With its location on Ashland Street across from Flagg Townhouses, it’s an easy place for students to get out and do something without having to go far.

But if students aren’t looking

to go out to drink or attend events, it is also a good place for a quick bite to eat, or as a place where you can go to sit down and do some homework.

With slight pop music playing in the background and mellow atmosphere during the day, it can be a good destination for concentrating or relaxing.

My housemate and I ordered pumpkin ice chai lattes, which were half off, due to a weekly special. We also ordered coconut Belgian waffles, topped with cinnamon sugar, whipped cream, and maple syrup. All of these items were top notch.

SereniTea Cafe has their menu up on their Facebook page, as well as a list of events, including Friday Trivia Night, from 8 p.m. - midnight, Karaoke Night, on every first and third Saturday of the month, from 8 p.m. - midnight Game Night, on Oct. 14, from 8 p.m. - midnight.

SereniTea Cafe accepts Blazer Bucks as a payment option.

Upcoming Events photo by Andrew from massphotographers

Humble Digs to perform at Gallery 51 on Oct. 14.

Berkshires. They also performed in Vermont, New York and other towns within the Amherst area.

What’s going to pull you to their show on Oct. 14? According to Slater, there’s nothing specific that makes them stand out, but that the people like what they hear from them.

“I think we jam and explore idioms indie bands don’t really try as often, while at the same time don’t really focus on making the ‘sickest groove’ or mind-melting solos,” said Slater.

“Everything I try and write I feel like sounds mystical yet mundane.”

Humble Digs just finished up a number of shows that took

place over the summer, not calling it a “tour” per say, but Slater said that gigs outside of the Pioneer Valley can be a hit or miss.

“What’s wrong with the occasional weekend road trip?”

At Gallery 51, Humble Digs will be playing new songs.

“North Adams is a fun place to play,” said Slater, “It has such a great art community.

I’ve spent weekends with the Common Folk crew a few times over the summer and they are personable people who really foster sometime special.”

Tickets to the show are $5.

Their new record will be released in early 2018.

Spooky Sundae’s Thurs. Oct. 12 4 p.m.

CC Marketplace

Talk w. Keith A. Wallace Thurs. Oct. 12 5:30 p.m.

Murdock 218

Passing Strange Fri. 13 & Sat. 14 8 p.m.

Venable Theater

Hardman Leacture Wed. Oct. 18 7 p.m.

Church Street Auditorium Illistration by pixabay

Arts & Entertainment

7

This Is: LP

By Nora Hones A&E Writer Laura Pergolizzi, more commonly known by her stage name LP, isn’t a household name but that may change in the future.

The alternative singersongwriter hit the charts in eight countries with her single “Lost on You” over this last year, and the song even went quadruple Platinum in Italy.

LP has been around for a long time. Maybe she isn’t known by name, but she’s the method behind the madness in many popular songs including Rihanna’s “Cheers (Drink To That),” which actually featured LP herself doing the vocal hook. Christina Aguilera’s song “Beautiful People,” Cher Lloyd’s song “Human” and the Backstreet Boys’ “Love Will Keep You Up All Night” are a few others LP co-wrote or wrote entirely.

“If there’s one thing I’ve learned with all aspects of my career, whether it’s with a manager or an agent or a label or whoever, they’ve got to think you’re the shit. They’ve got to really believe in it. I find that good, fruitful things come from that,” said LP in an interview she did with Billboard back in 2014, when talking about her long ride to recognition and success.

LP has been in the music industry for a long time. Her debut album, “Heart-Shaped Scar” was released back in 2001. Her second album, “Suburban Sprawl & Alcohol”, was released in 2004.

Neither album got that much traction, however, the song “Wasted” off of “Suburban Sprawl & Alcohol”, was used as the theme song for the show South of Nowhere.

It wasn’t until LP’s single “Into the Wild” that she really started to get recognition for her work. The song was used in a Citibank national television advertisement campaign in 2011. Then, in 2012, she released the five song EP “Into the Wild: Live” at EastWest Studios.

In 2014, she released her third full-length studio album: Forever for Now. Then, in June 2016, the five song EP “Death Valley” was released. It included the hit songs “Lost on You” and “Muddy Waters,” the latter of which was featured as the last song in the season finale of the fourth season of “Orange is the New Black” and the former of which rocked its way up in the charts. Her most recent release is her fourth full length album, “Lost on You”, in December 2016.

LP has been slowly building

LP was featured as artist of the week in Vogue of May 2012. up momentum in the industry for the last 16 years, but it wasn’t until this past year that she was really making the charts.

She’s been all over the world for her Lost on You tour, which started in Spring of 2017 and won’t be ending until March of 2018, as of right now.

People always talk about breakout artists and how they suddenly have a hit single, but we don’t hear much about the

leg work it takes to get there.

Most people don’t become sensations overnight.

The commitment and love for what they are doing is what gets them there, and LP is a beautiful example. She worked hard to get to where she is and she deserves it, not just because she paid her dues but because she’s a fabulous musician what’s not quite like anyone else out in the industry.

photo by Michel Comte

photo from Genius

LP’s “Lost In You”

SPORTS

8

Oct. 12, 2017 Vol. 85 Issue 4

Women’s Tennis routed by #1 Ranked CSC in NAC playoffs

BY BRADY GEROW SPORTS EDITOR The Colby Sawyer College Chargers women’s tennis team defeated the MCLA Trailblazers 9-0 in the semifinals of the NAC (North Atlantic Conference) playoffs on Friday, Oct. 7.

Later that day, the Chargers won its sixth straight NAC championship over Husson University, defending its title.

The Chargers took no time retiring the Trailblazers in the NAC playoffs last Friday, only letting the Blazers score four points over the entirety of the match, singles and doubles.

The number one match in singles saw Colby Sawyer’s ace Ashley Woodside pitted against the Blazers’ top player Mariza Sfakianaki.

Woodside has never lost a conference match in her three seasons with Colby Sawyer, singles or doubles,

and Sfakianaki was unable to change that. The previous NEAC East Player of the year retired Sfakianaki in two straight sets 6-0, 6-1.

The top doubles game of the match saw Woodside paired with freshman teammate Yashu Yang, matched against MCLA’s Sfakianaki and junior teammate Sam Gawron.

Woodside and Yang had only dropped one doubles match over the course of the season. That trend continued as Woodside and Yang retired Sfakianaki and Gawron with a decisive 8-2 victory.

The Chargers had no problem getting through the rest of singles, as their top four singles players, including Woodside, Yashu, senior Evelyn Miller, and junior Aislinn O’Connor hadn’t dropped a single singles match all season.

Yashu, Miller, and O’Connor

photo by MCLA Athletics

MCLA senior Mele Enomoto reached a career milestone of 1,000 digs as a Trailblazer. Enomoto recorded a match best 16 digs in the 3-0 loss to the Williams College Ephs. all recorded 6-0, 6-0 wins leading to a clean sweep of the singles matches after

the Chargers’ bottom two players notched 6-0, 6-0 wins, as well.

After Woodside and Yang handled Sfakianaki and Gawron in the first doubles match, the team of O’Connor and Miller defeated the Blazers duo of sophomore Briana Higgins and senior Ashley Juskhas 8-1 for a solid 8-0 match lead going into the final match of the contest.

With the match secured, the duo of seniors Christine Hill and Lauren Blanchard pushed past the Blazers duo of freshman Lauren Kexel and senior Katherine Grill for an 8-0 victory in the set and a 9-0 sweep for the match.

The Trailblazers finished the season at 4-6 with a 4-3 record in the NAC, ranking them fourth. The Chargers improved to 11-0 on the year with this win and 7-0 in the conference, ranking them the number one team in the NAC.

Women’s Soccer Wows with MCLA Women’s Vollyball defeated at win 2-0 against Cobleskill

BY JEFFREY MAYOTTE SPORTS WRITER The MCLA women’s soccer team won their first game this season with a 2-0 victory over the SUNY Cobleskill Tigers on Oct. 4. The Trailblazers advance to 1-8 on the season while the Tigers remain on a losing streak at 0-9.

The Trailblazers started off strong and dominated the field with controlled passing and relentless shots on goal.

This continued for the first 23 minutes until a shot by MCLA’s Aleah Sangiovanni slipped by Cobleskill goalie Samantha Springstead. This was Sangiovanni’s second goal of the season and was assisted

by Britt Whitford. The score remained at 1-0 for the first half.

MCLA continued to play in the Tigers’ half of the field.

Despite the persistent pressure, the score remained the same.

MCLA’s Caitlyn Maloney broke through the defense and put the ball past Springstead photo from MCLA Athletics to place the Trailblazers in a MCLA freshman Caitlyn Maloney (White) battling for a ball in a comfortable 2-0 lead before game earlier this year. Maloney scored the second goal of the their victory. game in MCLA’s victory.

The Trailblazers had a total of 39 shots on goal, while the a total of 15 saves while MCLA kicks while Cobleskill had only Tigers had only one shot on goalie Megan Richardson had two. goal from a penalty kick by 0.

MCLA’s next game will take Caroline Wetsel. Cobleskill MCLA drew 13 fouls while place at Fitchburg State on goalie Samantha Springstead Cobleskill drew only five. Saturday, where they will see if caught, blocked, and grabbed MCLA also had eight corner a winning streak can continue.

Sage 3-0

BY JEFFREY MAYOTTE SPORTS WRITER Sage College defeated the MCLA women’s volleyball team in three sets on Wednesday, Oct. 4.

In the beginning of the first set, both teams traded points back and forth. The Gators then managed an average five point lead against the Trailblazers in the middle of the set. After a number of kill shots from MCLA and service errors from Sage, MCLA caught up to 16-17. However, the Gators fought back to secure the set by 25-17.

After the first defeat, the Trailblazers continued to stay strong, but fell short in the second set by 19-25. The Gators took the final set 25-13 for victory that night.

MCLA had a record .010 hit rate while Sage thrived on a .111 hit rate. The Gators also made 56 digs for the game while MCLA made 48, with 13 from Mele Enomoto and 10 from Michelle Laga. Missy Schneiderman of the Gators had the same amount of digs as Enomoto.

Michelle Laga also scored the first and only ace for MCLA. Meanwhile, the Gators scored 13 service aces with Missy Schneiderman contributing four. MCLA’s Brooke Queripel scored seven kills out of 22 for the game and Sage’s Jessica Carrozzi scored eight kills.

photo by MCLA Athletics

MCLA sophomore Brooke Queripel (White) returning a ball in a match earlier this season while senior Mele Enomoto (Black) prepares to defend the return. MCLA fell 3-0 to Sage.

In the non-conference action, the Trailblazers fell behind to 5-13 while the Gators moved up to 6-16 on the season.

The Trailblazers will face off against Castleton on Thursday, Oct. 12.

Oct. 12, 2017 Vol. 85 Issue 4

SPORTS

Trailblazers Downed 5-0 by Framingham in MASCAC play

BY BRADY GEROW SPORTS EDITOR The Framingham State men’s soccer team defeated the MCLA Trailblazers 3-0 at Maple Street Field on Saturday, Oct. 7.

The Rams were at a clear advantage during the first half, but nothing significant occurred until the 42nd minute of play, when Issac De Souza netted one of two of his goals of the game.

The Rams dominated in the first half of play recording a 17 to four shot advantage in the half as well as only committing four fouls to the Blazers’ 13.

The Rams also had a severe 5-0 edge in corner kicks in the half, despite only netting one goal.

The Blazers were put at

a disadvantage very early in the second half of play.

Only five minutes into the half, Ken Stahovish corralled a 40-yard lead pass from De Souza and chipped it over the crashing keeper Kamron Anderson.

Only five minutes passed before the Rams scored again, when De Souza scored his second goal of the game off a cross from Pedro Santos. From that point on, the Rams rode out their three goal lead to eventually claim the 3-0 victory over the Blazers.

The Blazers played a better second half, but were still unable to score any goals. The Blazers had an advantage in corner kicks 5-2 and saves 5-0. The Blazers were down where

9

SCORE BOARD MCLA Men’s Soccer MCLA (0), Framingham State (2) Kamron Anderson (MCLA)

Blk

10 Saves2 Pts, 7 Reb, 4 Ast, 3 Stl, 1 Blk

Isaac De Souza (Rams)

2 Goals, 1 Assist, 8 Shots, 6 SOGts, 3 Reb, 4 Ast, 2 photo by MCLA Athletics

MCLA junior Tyler Callahan taking a shot in a game earlier this year.

MCLA Women’s Soccer

it mattered, however, with a shot differential of 12-5 in favor of the Rams. The Blazers only recorded one shot on goal in their nine shots over the course of the game. Two yellow cards were given over the course of the game; one card was given to Blazer Colin Rousseau and the other to

MCLA (2), Framingham State (1)

Ram Eugene Osei.

The Trailblazers, now 3-9 overall and 1-3 in the MASCAC, will face off at home with Fitchburg State on Friday, Oct. 13. The Rams, now 7-6 overall and 3-1 in the MASCAC, will travel to Mass. Maritime for a league match on the same day.

Predictions for the upcoming MLB Postseason Throughout the NFL, the “early The offense that Adam Gase has season” hype has mostly settled in, repeatedly blasted as being “garbage” and we have a fairly decent has been directed by the former idea of where a number Chicago Bear this season. of teams are going to be Miami may be 2-2, but the two progressing as the season ungames they’ve won have been folds. Around this time, some despite Jay Cutler as opposed teams are already talking to because of him. In particudraft and how they will build lar, Cutler struggled mightily in Andrew the team’s recent 16-10 victory themselves for the future, while others have Super Bowl Baillargeon over Tennessee, completing aspirations. It’s also around less than 50% of his passes and The Call this point in the season when throwing for under 100 yards. positions begin to change It won’t happen immediately, hands. Coaches on the hot seat get but look for the longtime backup Matt burned, the backup player comes Moore to take over, especially if Micalling for the helm of the duties, ami remains in a position to contend and rosters begin to change to reflect for a playoff berth. the team’s position on their current Ben McAdoo, head coach New state of affairs. Unfortunately, many York Giants players and coaches do end up losFollowing the team’s disastrous ing their jobs around this part of the 0-5 start, it would seem that the season, and I want to try to buffer the Giants’ season is essentially already surprise and potential pained outcries over following fast starts from their by forecasting who will go, and better division rivals. A major culprit for yet, who will stay. their struggles, outside of injuries, has Who will go: been head coach Ben McAdoo, whose Deshone Kizer, QB Cleveland offense, his selling point when he got Browns the job originally, has been extremely Kizer is certainly not going to be lackluster this season. It was ugly durreleased, but after another abysmal ing their week one loss to Dallas, but performance in the team’s lackluster it reached an all time low during the 17-14 defeat at the hands of the New team’s 27-22 defeat at home to their York Jets, Kizer’s time as a starter is, formerly fellow winless Los Angeles at least for the moment, over. After Chargers. Having lost the team’s being benched to start the second starting receivers to injury, with Odell half, Kizer’s former understudy in Beckham Jr. possibly missing the rest Kevin Hogan proved to be an immedi- of the season, coupled with their run ate upgrade. Although Hogan threw game, on track to produce all time an interception, he led the Browns lows in multiple major categories, the on two touchdown drives, one which Giants would be wise to turn away featured him throwing a beautiful 21 from McAdoo to turn a new leaf next yard TD pass to David Njoku for the season. rookie tight end’s first career score.

Who will stay: Hogan certainly isn’t projected to Hue Jackson, head coach be the long term answer, meaning Cleveland Browns Cleveland will likely return to Kizer Despite making multiple catain the future, but with fans depletstrophically poor decisions in Cleveing and boycotting the team in ever land’s 17-14 loss to the Jets, Hue growing numbers, the Browns can’t Jackson will undoubtedly survive with afford to continue to lose games while his job intact, if only for the remainaffording Kizer time to figure his way der of the season, as the Browns limp through his many errors as a player. to another extremely subpar season.

Jay Cutler, QB Miami DolJimmy Haslam’s supposed undying phins loyalty to retaining a head coach for

two seasons is Jackson’s only saving grace, as any other organization in the league would have dismissed Jackson by now. With a 1-20 since taking over in Cleveland, Jackson will have no trouble finding a job upon his inevitable dismissal down the road.

However, it will be as an offensive coordinator, a position which he enjoyed success with in Cincinnati, and not as a head coach.

Tyrod Taylor, QB Buffalo Bills Despite turning in another disappointing performance in Buffalo’s loss to the Bengals, there is no doubt the Bills will continue to feed starts to Tyrod Taylor. While the dual threat hasn’t provided much relief in the box score, the Bills simply don’t have any option ready to challenge Taylor for the role quite yet, and the team’s successful 3-2 start calls for equilibrium within the team’s core. If the Bills begin to slide out of the playoff picture, it is possible they could turn to Nathan Peterman in the last month of the season, but as long as they remain competitive, look for Taylor to remain behind center this season.

Blake Bortles, QB Jacksonville Jaguars Blake Bortles, much like Tyrod Taylor, has failed to impress at any point this season. In particular, he went missing during the team’s 30-9 upset blowout victory over Pittsburgh, throwing for just 95 yards and an interception. Much like Taylor, Bortles’ only serious competition for his position lies within the aging Chad Henne, meaning that Jacksonville will more than likely keep Bortles in his position this season. Unlike Buffalo, Jacksonville does not have a young, exciting prospect QB on their roster, so Bortles will likely continue to receive starting reps even if Jacksonville falls out of contention this season.

Andrew Baillargeon is the host of The Call, a weekly program broadcasted by WJJW. Tune in on Sundays from 7-10 PM. Listeners can also tune in via 91.1 WJJW or our website, http:// www.mcla.edu/Student_Life/studentmedia/ wjjw/.

Kayla Baker (MCLA)

16 Pts, 7 Reb, 1 Stl

1 Goal, 2 Shots, 2 SOGPts, 4 Reb, 2 Ast, 1 Stl

Kaleigh Pallotta (Rams)

1 Assist, 1 Shots, 1 SOG

MCLA Women’s Volleyball MCLA (1), Westfield State (3) Brooke Queripel (MCLA) 11 Kills, 18 Digs 10-12. 100 yds, 0 TD

Natasha Belardo (Owls)

17 Kills, 7 Digs Rec, 67 yds, 1 TD

NFL Chiefs (42), Texans (34) Alex Smith (Chiefs) 29-37, 324 Yards, 3 TD15 Pts, 5 Reb, 1 Ast, 2 Stl,

Deshaun Watson (Texans)

16-31, 261 Yards, 5 TD15 Pts, 1 Reb, 1 Stl

NFL

Jaguars (30), Steelers (9)

Leonard Fournette (Jags)

Pts, 3 Reb, 2 Stl, 2 Blk

28 Car, 181 YDS, 2 TD

Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers) 33-55, 312 YDS, 5 INT

MLB ALDS New York Yankees (7),Cleveland Indians (4) Brett Gardner (NYY) 2-4, 1 Run, 1 RBI1 Pts, 8 Ast, 2 Stl

Carlos Santana (Cleveland) 1-4, 1 Run, 2 RBI, HR28 Pts, 22 Reb, 3 Ast

OPINION

10

Featured Photo

This Twilight Zone-esque photo, shot by Andy Pelico, is an impressive display of the depth of field possible with an Iphone camera.

Are you a student with a passion for photography? If you would like to see your photo featured in a future issue of the Beacon, please email your submissions to our Photography Editor Ron Leja at rl2670@mcla.edu

To The Late Tom Petty Tom Petty. Many people at a brewery my parents and know this name, and al- I enjoyed. though I may be over a week No one complained late in honoring him, it though, and although I apdoesn’t matter, because the preciated Petty as a musirock legend will always be a cian, it wasn’t until after his favorite to those who enjoy death that I started listening music. to his music on my own. I I first heard the news of recognized songs that Petty’s cardiac army dad would play in rest when I was sitthe background, or ting in a Barnes and songs that I knew but Noble working on didn’t realize he persome homework. formed.

My phone’s news That seems to be a app alerted me, and common thing with Emma I instantly texted musicians after they Monahan pass. We become so my dad.

“Damn that’s too Arts & Emma engulfed with their bad,” he replied. An legacy and influence hour later, I had to on music that they text him about his passing. had. Their songs become That night I Facetimed my number ones again, being parents, “RIP Tom Petty!” I shown to a new generation. shouted.

I can’t be the only 21 year “I never got to see him old who has heard of Tom live,” my dad replied.

Petty, and I certainly can’t Tom Petty brought joy be the only one who knows into my family’s lives, espe- of him because of their parcially during the really good ents. times. He was someone that But this isn’t about how my dad thoroughly enjoyed, artist that our parents lisalways talking about and ten to aren’t popular anyturning on his music on a more, because that’s not Friday afternoon, or on the true. Sure, some millennials ride home from an evening don’t know who Tom Petty,

Lionel Richie, or Hall and Oates are, but I guarantee their favorite artists do.

We are the generation who bring the oldies back to life, and it’s because of who influence us. My Nana and Grampy always had this oldies station on when I was a kid that would play Frank Sinatra, Sam Cooke, and Dean Martin, and come sophomore year of college when I was going through a very stressful time, I turned to Sinatra and his friends.

They would soothe my soul and calm me down with their gentle, or even raspy, voices, bringing me home.

So to Mr. Tom Petty, who I never saw, but had an influence on my life, who brought joy to my family, and will continue to make an impact on generations to come, may you rest in peace, and bring some more amazing music to Heaven.

Oct. 12, 2017 Vol. 85 Issue 4

Civility is key on a small campus With a campus the size someone criticism is a of MCLA, you see and much different scenario know a vast majority of your peers. Of course, than putting them down. there are corners of the There is definitly a right campus you might never way and a wrong way of experience, but because there are so few of us, offering someone critichances are, you’ll encism – we’re all here to counter everylearn, nobody expects one in at least your graduanybody to be perfect, ating class at and no one should be some point. ashamed of not being In college and life in general, Mitchell perfect. there will alLet us reinstitute the ways be drama. Chapman There will be Not on My golden rule, and it’s Watch circumstances underlying principle, in which people which is respect. It’s do not agree, where discourse gets very easy for everyone on heated, but it is always campus to separate into important to remain civil, above all else, espe- their own little groups, cially on a small campus. and be bound to them Burning a bridge with no matter what individuanother individual, or community, should al- als do. It’s easy to have ways be the last resort these various factions to resolving a conflict, and not the first one. within MCLA to even war This is especially true in with each other, but we close relationships, be it must always recognize a friendship or relationthat all boundaries we ship.

And it can be hard, es- place are purely artificial pecially in the moment, and therefore, subject to and due to how contemporary culture is right change. now, that programs each And people screw and every one of us to instantly share our reac- up. All the time. Notions and opinions to the body reading this hasn’t world via social media, screwed up before. We’re and what we lose in this instantaneous publish- all imperfect human being environment is often- ings, trying to live the times our internal editor. best possible lives we The voice that stops us from posting something can, on this insignificant we shouldn’t, that main- speck circling the sun, tains civility through even the most extreme of that just so happened to circumstances. be in the right place at Unfortunately, this has the right time for life to spilled into our public discourse. Part of this take form and eventually has to do with maturity, evolve into us. but it definitely makes At the end of the day, one wonder: Where has the golden rule gone? petty drama doesn’t matAnd more importanty: ter, and you won’t even Why has it gone?

On a small campus, remember it by the time this is a rule you cannot you graduate. What does afford not to follow, for if matter are the friendyou are known for treating others badly, word ships and relationships, will spread like wildfire, both professionally and and you will face immenon professionally, that diate social consequencyou build and maintain es.

To some extent, some while you are here. Few are hyper-aware of this to the point where it is disagreements are worth detrimental.

Offering losing someone over.

Oct. 12, 2017 Vol. 85 Issue 4

OPINION

Editorial: Letter from the Editor Last Tuesday our website, theonlinebeacon.com was hacked, effectively trapping a portion of our content on an unreachable website.

Having the newspaper’s website go down for an extended period of time is bad enough, but this event also impacted the physical paper. As readers may have noticed, we used a substantial amount of outside articles in Issue three. The Beacon tends to focus more on local content written by our own staff and, as Editor-in-Chief, I wanted to provide some context for our readers.

One of hardest hits was the Sports Section: all of the stories written by our sports editor and writer were unreachable until days after our deadline. We typically focus on Trailblazer games and, to those who are looking for coverage of last week’s games, all content that was slated for that issue will be available on our website Thursday, Oct. 12. This week, our Sports staff covered the most recent games, and therefore, had no room to fit our previous week’s content.

The same can be said for any other content that was unavailable for print last week. With each story we write, there is a significant amount of time and effort. There’s the shaping of the angle to take for the story, the interviewing time and then taking all the information gathered and forming it into one coherent article.

But that only includes what the writers do for each piece.

Copy editors work on the story after it is submitted and, with the writer and photographers, polish up the piece and get it ready for print.

Then there’s the design. Deciding where the story should be placed in the newspaper and struggling to fit it in among the other pieces. So when Thursday comes along, and the piece isn’t in the paper, it feels as though all the combined efforts have been for naught. Therefore, we are actively getting any prior content back up on the website for your viewing pleasure.

For that reason, you may read an article or two in this issue that

didn’t make it into the previous issue or may see an article online that is from last week. The people who worked on these pieces shouldn’t be punished because of a hacker with little better to do than ruin other people’s weeks. I just wanted to provide an explanation and a little context for you, the reader, so that we keep the lines of communication clear. I believe the newspaper should be held accountable for its mistakes and should be open and honest with its public, which is why I decided to write this short letter.

I would also like to say that we have brought the website back online and have removed anything dangerous that was left there. In the future, we will have measures in place to prevent any similar disaster from reoccurring. I thank you for your patience with us and hope to continue to serve the campus and the community to the best of my ability.

Best, Joseph Carew Editor-in-Chief

Reviving the Revival: Bringing back the dead Let’s talk about revivals, shall returning this past week, many we? They’ve been making a comeviewers are excited for the shows back more and more, and that’s return, even if you never watched probably because TV executives it. can’t come up with their Then there are the disapown shows. Fan favorpointments, whether it’s a ites like “Will & Grace,” movie or TV show. When “Dirty “Curb Your EnthusiDancing” was revived as a TV asm,” and “Dynasty” are movie back in May, some fans all coming back, whethwere excited (not me), but er with the same cast or in the end, the ABC musical Emma a whole new one. flopped, big time. I don’t think There’s a love/hate Monahan I read one positive review. relationship one can Arts & Emma Another thing that TV fanathave with revivals, ics see a lot of is the continuaand that may be detertion of a show, which can also mined by whether you enjoyed the fall into the revival category, like show or not. With “Will & Grace” “Will & Grace.”

Take “Gilmore Girls” for example. This show, like many others, ended so abruptly that fans didn’t get the answer that they wanted in the end. So, years later, that TV network or another (in this case Netflix), pick it back up to give the fans what they want. Then 99 percent of the time, that ending ends with a cliffhanger.

Why do they do this to us?!

Money is probably the main reason, and views of course, but then there’s also that little glimmer of hope that the show will come back once again (still waiting for that Gilmore Girls news, Netflix).

The Beacon is published Thursdays during the academic year and is distributed to the MCLA community.

The Beacon is funded by the Student Government Association, the English/ Communications department and ad revenue. Single copies are free and additional copies can be purchased at 50 cents each. If you wish to purchase additional copies, please contact a member of staff.

Contact News desk number: 413-662-5535 Business number: 413-662-5204 Email: beacon@mcla.edu Website: theonlinebeacon.com Office: Mark Hopkins Hall, room 111

Policies Letters: The Beacon welcomes Letters to the Editor and columns on issues of interest to the campus. Deadlines are 11:59 p.m. Sunday. Strive for 500 words or less.

Editorial: Unsigned editorials that appear in these pages reflect the views of The Beacon. Signed columns and commentary pieces reflect the views of their writers.

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Executive Board Editor-in-Chief Joseph Carew

Features Editor

A & E Editor

Mitchell Chapman

Emma Monahan

Copy Chief

But what about the roads and infrstructure?

A beautiful, windy byway. Crisp, those roads are in poor condition fall air and no other cars in sight. according to the American Society The subtle twists and turns make of Civil Engineers (ASCE). Worse for an incredible journey until the still, there are 31 states that have bliss is blown apart by an enoran even worse percentage of poor mous pothole. roads. The ASCE rated America’s Roads are the founroads at a D saying, “Ameridation for a good ca’s roads are often crowded, experience in a car. frequently in poor condition, A freshly paved and chronically underfunded, and smooth road with a are becoming more dangerlittle character can go a ous,” on their website. tremendous way toward The country is rapidly evolvturning you into a car ing and its tax code should Joseph fanatic. But it takes just as well. That 18.4 cent fedCarew one pothole to push all eral gasoline tax hasn’t been WheelSpin your happy experiences touched since 1993 and the rise out of the window. of extremely efficient vehicles But why was there a and electric cars means less pothole in the first place? money coming in to pay for our This state’s gasoline tax is 26.5 country’s infrastructure needs. cents per gallon of gasoline. CouThis leads to a precarious situpled with the federal gas tax of 18.4 ation: any increase in taxation on cents per gallon, our 36,423 total gasoline is going to affect the price miles of public roads are relatively per gallon and inevitably affect cheap in comparison to the rest consumers, but something has to of the country. Yet 16 percent of change to better balance the fund-

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ing gap for the country’s infrastructure.

The idea of charging electric vehicles a fee for road usage is already being implemented in a few states. This is a portion of the automotive industry that is likely to increase in size in the coming decades, but any type of increase in cost may negatively impact its natural growth. Still, establishing some sort of road use tax on electric vehicles seems to be a necessity if there is to be any work done to improve our roads. Taking this avenue of change may even move the country to a system of charging people per mile driven rather than per gallon of gasoline. But how are we going to accurately track miles driven without invading the privacy of the driver? Whatever the solution, something has to be done about the pothole-plagued roads of the United States. Until then, I’m going to keep my secret list of wellmaintained roads a secret.

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PHOTO JOURNAL Beacon Pets

Members of the Beacon staff have submitted photos of their furry friends to share with our readers. Pets play an important role in our day-to-day lives. We care for them, and in return they provide us with a sense of companionship through demonstrations of unrivaled loyalty. Their presence can help reduce anxiety, pick us up when we’re feeling down and help to promote a healthy mental state.

Photo by Ron Leja

Psycho is Ron Leja's 4-year-old tabby cat. He enjoys watching birds from the window sill, his favorite spot in the house.

Photo by Alyssa Call

Max is Alyssa Call's 2-year-old Chihuahua-Jack Russell mix who loves to play fetch.

Photo by Samantha Giffen

This ball of fluff is Ginger, a Lhasa apso puppy belonging to Samantha Giffen.

Photo by Emma Monahan

Bray, Emma Monahan’s 4 year old tabby, relaxing after a succesful chipmunk hunt!

Joseph Carew’s kitten, Cuffs, finds interest in anything and everything. He enjoys exploring, hiding, and staring in to nothingess.

Photo by Joseph Carew

Photo by Nicholas Webb

Chloe, the 4 year old Maine Coon was a Christmas gift for Nick Webb.

Chakra, a Shih Tzu Bichon Frise mix, is Samantha Giffen’s 6 year old companion and best friend.

Photo by Samantha Giffen