March 14, 2018 Vol. 88 Issue 6

TheOnlineBeacon.com

Thursday, March 14, 2019

Volume 88 • Issue 6

MCLA Pittsfield

New Location Expands Offerings

PHOTO BY COREY MITCHELL-LABRIE

Dean of Academic Operations Deborah Foss, State Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier, Pittsfield Mayor Linda Tyer, Trustees Chairwoman Denise Marshall, MCLA President James Birge, North Adams Mayor Thomas Bernard, and state Sen. Adam Hinds cut the ribbon at MCLA’s new Pittsfield location on Tuesday. The location will serve graduate students and continuing education students.

BY COREY MITCHELL-LABRIE SENIOR NEWS EDITOR MCLA finally hosted the ribbon cutting ceremony for its newest location in Pittsfield this week. After a month’s delay due to inclement weather, the ceremony was greeted Tuesday with clear skies, big smiles and the soft scent of spring on the breeze.

The location, branded as MCLA Pittsfield, shares a building with 1Berkshires, an organization focused on economic growth and development in the region.

“The branding of MCLA Pittsfield [is] very important because we’re in Pittsfield and we want people to know,” said Paul Petritis, associate dean of graduate and continuing education. “I just love it, it’s a great city and we’re very fortunate to provide degree, Masters and graduate programs there.”

A number of MCLA’s administration were in attendance including: President James Birge, Academic Operations Dean Deborah Foss, and Marketing and Communications Director Bernadette Alden.

“We know that sometimes transportation in Berkshire County can be a challenge for finding education or work, and so it’s important for us to be in Pittsfield, which is the county seat and the largest city in Berkshire County,” Birge said.

“I’m really proud of the work that we do. To be able to be agile enough to come to a place like Pittsfield, to renovate this space so that we can have really good learning spaces, is indicative of the commitment that MCLA’s people have to the importance of acquiring and accessing education,” Birge said.

Mayors from both North Adams and Pittsfield gave speeches to the gathered audience, sharing their excitement toward the location and its expected impact on Berkshire County.

“I’m excited to be here as MCLA cuts this ribbon on its latest location because it is the continuation of a long-standing partnership and a long-standing collaboration through education between our cities and throughout our region,” North Adams Mayor Thomas Bernard said in his speech.

“I think we all know that education is the key to our economic destiny here in Berkshire County and that MCLA’s presence in Pittsfield will help students to continue, to complete, and to compete as we build the future of our county,” Bernard continued.

The main focus of MCLA’s newest Pittsfield location will center on degree continuation programs. These are specially designed courses that follow separate time frames than courses in North Adams but follow the same basic milestones and syllabi.

“A lot of the important work we’re doing right now is preparing our residents, people who live here now and future generations for new economies, new job opportunities, and we’re going have to invest in training programs including college-level programs or vocational training programs,” Pittsfield Mayor Linda Tyer said.

“I’m so impressed by the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and all of the things that it represents as an academic institution for the people of Pitts-

the College, departments, facilities, the president, and we feel that every day,” Petritis said.

Also speaking at the event was MCLA Pittsfield student Mike Steben.

Steben, who came to the event alongside his wife and child, participated as part of MCLA Pittsfield’s degree continuation program in their Interdisciplinary Studies major with a concentration in Business Leadership.

He had attended Berkshire Community College, but following a job pro-

“I’m so impressed by the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and all of the things that it represents as an academic institution for the people of Pittsfield and the Berkshires,” — Pittsfield Mayor Linda Tyer field and the Berkshires,” Tyer said.

Petritis expressed a direct desire for MCLA Pittsfield to be a model the Berkshire community could use to learn important employment-based skills. Working alongside MassHire and other colleges, such as Berkshire Community College, help enhance the area’s economic development.

“Our division, continuing education, gets tremendous support from

motion, he decided to participate in MCLA’s degree completion program when he found he lacked certain skills necessary to the position. Steben stated that it was difficult to compare his experiences from BCC and MCLA. “I think that BCC prepared me for the work I would ultimately do here at MCLA as an adult,” Steben said.

PITTSFIELD, Page 4

News

TheOnlineBeacon.com

2

Bookstore

Houston, We Don’t Have a Problem

BY JOHN MORRISEY STAFF WRITER

The MCLA community members welcomed William Houston Taylor III Thursday, March 7, as MCLA’s new bookstore manager, offering a raffle giveaway and free pizza for those who attended the meet-and-greet.

Taylor’s new position has been a revolving door in recent years, yet he plans to dig into his new role and provide the stability that has been missing.

“Now that we have a manager, we are starting to right the ship,” Bookstore Team Leader Jason Davingnon said. “The day-to-day [managerial] aspects are getting done and, after four months of being the only key holder [and acting manager] and working open to close, I am relieved.”

Taylor described Massachusetts’ strong educational reputation as being one of the driving forces that spurred his relocation from Tennessee to the Berkshires to take on this new role.

“All the dominos just fell the right way and I ended

up being exactly where I wanted to be [when this job opened up],” Taylor said.

Taylor moved into his new position Feb. 19 after being hired by MCLA Bookstore’s partner, Follett. Follett is an Illinois-based company, providing a wide network of bookstores and vendors from across the country with educational materials for more than 140 years.

“I started in August with a manager in training program through Follett, which is the third-party company that runs this bookstore, and I worked with them in Cleveland, Tennessee, and helped run the Cleveland State Community College bookstore,” Taylor said.

As a graduate of Southern Adventist University, which is similar in size to MCLA, Taylor is familiar with what small schools have to offer and looks forward to making the MCLA community stronger.

“The transition here has been as smooth as it can be seeing how they have not had a manager here in three months, and before that, we had like I think eight man-

PHOTO BY COREY MITHCELL-LABRIE

Julie Castagna, left, with the new bookstore manager William Houston Taylor, right. agers in five years,” Taylor said. “I have tried not to make too many promises and I am just taking it a day at a time.”

According to Taylor, he worked with problem stores within Starbucks before teaming with Follett. Taylor believes that experience

gives him an advantage when it comes to getting the MCLA bookstore to where he thinks it should be.

“It has been interesting since we did not have anyone to really guide us, all of us are transitioning, but we are getting there,” said Julie Castagna, MCLA alumna

and bookstore employee.

Taylor strongly believes creating an environment of trust between the consumer and the retailer is important, and he hopes to develop that relationship with his feet now firmly planted in the MCLA community.

Green Living Seminar

Composting: Creating Connections, Renewing Resources

BY MAYA MCFADDEN STAFF WRITER Continuing into its 13th year, last week’s Green Living Seminar introduced Trevor Mance, owner of TAM Waste Management, Recycling and Composting; following this year’s theme for the seminar, Sustainable Food and Farming.

The Green Living series is a collaboration between MCLA’s Berkshire Environmental Resource Center and the environmental studies department.

Mance was introduced by Elena Traister, professor of environmental studies, who helped to organize the series.

Mance’s talk, “Closing the Loop: Composting Food Waste,” focused on his company’s composting service, which is one of three services it provides. The event was held Thursday, March 7, in the Feigenbaum Center for Science and Innovation Room 121.

Approximately 20 students and community members gathered for Mance’s presentation. He discussed his daily work at TAM, as well as some tips for com-

posting and its significance regarding the environment and sustainable living.

“We have to see the value of composting,” Mance said.

“It’s more than just soil; it’s more than just saving money or spending a little bit extra; it trickles down into all of these other facets of the structure of our society.”

The commercial compost facility, TAM, is based in Bennington, Vermont, and began operating in 2014. According to Mance, TAM is a medium-sized commercial composter.

“TAM is proud to be a local company, proud to employ local folks and most of all, proud to serve our customers,” as stated on the company’s website.

According to the website, TAM successfully processed 465 tons of food scrap in its opening year.

Mance has been involved in the waste and recycling industry for 23 years. According to Mance, the company has approximately 70 employees and composts in Massachusetts and New York, as well as locally in Vermont.

“In the past, all TAM recycling was shipped to a sorting

PHOTO BY MAYA MCFADDEN

Trevor A. Mance began his work with waste management while still a senior at Mount Anthony Union High School. He worked at the Town of Shaftsbury Landfill on weekends in 1996. facility in New York State.

Now, these jobs stay in the local community, helping build the local economy,” as stated on the company’s website.

Of the company’s three industries, Mance said that composting is the least profitable.

He described TAM Composting as a “labor of love.”

Throughout his presentation, Mance discussed some

composting basics and answered questions. A few basics discussed included heating in composting, the carbon to nitrogen ratio, and moisture content.

The carbon to nitrogen ratio is 4:1, while the moisture content for water in composting is 65 percent.

TAM Organics accepts a variety of materials for com-

posting, providing a downloadable reference sheet of a guide to recycling and compost sorting on its website.

Mance said that TAM Organics is the primary composting industry for Crane Company in Dalton, Massachusetts.

According to TAM’s website, since the inception of TAM’s compost project, the state of Vermont has mandated complete removal of organics from the waste stream by 2020.

The benefits of composting mentioned by Mance are that the industry supports the economy, creates relationships between industries, sequesters carbon in topsoil and reduces the use of chemical fertilizers.

“The key component to any organics program or business is seeing the garbage go down and seeing the composting go up,” Mance said.

With his main focus on composting, Mance further encouraged the importance of composting by stating, “Everyone’s got garbage.”

A takeaway Mance hoped for the audience was the ability to see the value in environmental projects.

News

Mar. 14, 2019

TheOnlineBeacon.com

3

Public Safety President Birge Reflects on Outreach Starts SVC Closure and Transfers with MERC SGA

BY NATE BIRON STAFF WRITER

PHOTO BY MAYA MCFADDEN

Officer Gary Van Bramer, left, and Margareth Antonio, ‘19, right.

BY COREY MITCHELL-LABRIE SENIOR NEWS WRITER Public Safety began its community outreach series with a luncheon event Tuesday in collaboration with the Multicultural Educational Research Center.

“This really was about developing relationships with students and Public Safety officers,” Chief Diversity Officer Christopher MacDonald-Dennis said. “For a beginning event, this was good.”

Only six students attended the event with the invitation emails for it only sent to members of MERC. The lunch was meant as a way for students to better connect with various members of Public Safety. Along with MacDonald-Dennis, Celia Norcross, assistant dean of students, and MERC Coordinator Michael Obasohan were also in attendance.

Director of Public Safety Daniel Colonno spoke about a divide between the students and the officers, which he hoped this community outreach series would help alleviate.

“I think it [the event] went

very well,” Officer Robert ‘Sam’ Hungate said. “I met a lot of students I didn’t know. I think we helped bridge the gap a little bit and I think it can develop into a great program.”

“I think better relationships and an open line of communication with students, faculty and staff,” Hungate said when asked about what Public Safety was hoping to get out of the series.

“When I came here a year ago I realized there were estranged relations with students and Public Safety and I knew that Public Safety had tried to do different things,” MacDonald-Dennis said.

MacDonald-Dennis had spoken with students who experienced difficulty in understanding Public Safety members, which helped prompt the series’ inception.

The next event in the series will be a Circle Talk. This would be an opportunity for students to meet with officers to talk about specific topics revolving around the College and will take place Thursday, March 28, at 5 p.m. in Sullivan Lounge.

Check out your local college radio station

We broadcast from 8 a.m. to midnight almost every day

This week SGA welcomed President James Birge to reflect on Southern Vermont College’s closure and the effect it will have on MCLA’s campus, as well as to clear up any confusion.

When speaking about SVC’s closure, Birge mentioned that it is important that the transition between MCLA and SVC be painless and trouble-free.

“At this point, I think as of this morning we have 70 students from SVC who applied for admission that we have accepted,” Birge said.

“Three of those accepted have already made deposits on their accounts to come here.”

Birge also reflected on the impact this influx of SVC students would have on MCLA and its current students.

“I first and foremost say that if they come here they are MCLA students,” Birge said. “It will have a negligible effect on the students’ daily lives.”

Coordinating Vice President Dean Little ’21 asked Birge what the future is for MCLA in reference to the closures of many other colleges due to decreased enrollment. Birge promptly stated that “we will never be in that situation.”

“I think that we have a strong academic reputation; it shows in some of the rankings we have received in the last year,” Birge said. “I think our footprint is also different than SVC and other institutions. Plus we have some great resources that most other smaller schools

PHOTO BY NATHAN BIRON

President James Birge speaks to SGA Monday night about the closure of, and student transfers from, Southern Vermont College in Bennington. do not have, including the state Legislature behind us who help us significantly.”

SGA also addressed the naming of the school mascot with Dot Houston, associate athletic director for administration and compliance/senior women’s administrator (SWA), who was also invited to Monday’s meeting.

The next step in the process is to name the mascot.

“Lots of young children look up to this mascot and it would be great to have that name and also for it to be on the back of the jersey as well.

Students have until Sunday, March 24, to submit name suggestions for the mascot.

During the open forum, daily issues about resources for students were addressed.

Senate Secretary Connor Ogborn ’19 talked about last

week’s issue of The Beacon, providing his clarification to the SGA article on the hybrid and online class removals.

“I talked to faculty about it today and they’re still saying that they are not having hybrid or online classes for the fall, but there still might be something for the spring semester,” Ogborn said.

The seat for SGA Parliamentarian is still vacant for students who are interested in the position.

SGA members also stressed the importance of the outreach they are doing within the campus community.

With the end of the semester quickly approaching, reaching out for more involvement is a good way for SGA to make its mark on campus.

SGA meets Mondays in Murdock 218 at 7 p.m.

City Council

Wait Continues on Mohawk Theater Vote

BY JAKE VITALI EDITOR-IN-CHEIF North Adams City Council voted again to postpone a vote on whether Mayor Thomas Bernard would be allowed to issue a Request for Proposals for the Mohawk Theater on Main St. After being referred to the Community Development Committee, the committee convened Wednesday, March 6, and the conversation focused on what conditions the council may be able to impose on the sale.

“What we identified as our ideal course of action would

be to postpone until an RFP process has been concluded through the Mayor’s office” said City Councilor Benjamin Lamb, who chairs the Community Development Committee.

Lamb added that Mayor Thomas Bernard is waiting for legal counsel to provide additional input on the process. The city council is now reviewing the plan that would see Bernard bring the winner of the RFP process before them, with a vote authorizing a purchase and sale agreement.

“I do know that the mayor is waiting on legal coun-

sel to review that suggestion to make sure it is in compliance everywhere it needs to be in compliance,” Lamb said.

Lamb spoke about why he felt it would be better to postpone the matter once again, citing concern that it could not come before the city council again without consideration.

“The reason for postponing rather than voting on this particular order up and down right now is because we don’t know 100 percent that legally that’s the way to go and if we vote that order down as it currently stands and if we vote

CITY COUNCIL, Page 4

News

Mar. 14, 2019

TheOnlineBeacon.com

4

CITY COUNCIL From Page 3

that order down as it currently stands, it ends up in the situation where it can’t come back to council unless there’s extenuating circumstances,” Lamb said.

Bernard had originally requested that city council declare the property “no longer needed for municipal use” during his State of the City address on Jan. 31 and would have proceeded with issuing an RFP. Bernard originally would not have brought the winner before councilors unless a bid came in at the property’s assessed price of $446,000.

The Mohawk theater has only opened once for a Johnny Cash tribute show in 2012. As discussed at the last city council meeting, the theater is essentially mothballed with the interior stripped back to the wooden studs.

Tuesday’s city council meeting also saw the council address a nuisance property on 45 Edgewood Rd. which the council voted to postpone under the first meeting of June.

Resident Kathryn Ferrara expressed her concern over the property and the harm it has caused to her own. Ferrara has spent over $400 to have her car fixed from flying shingles, which she also has to pick up from her driveway on a regular basis.

Councilor Jason LaForest said that the building would undergo a significant process of renovation to make the property livable. Ben Svenson, a principal player in the creation of the Tourists Hotel, is behind the investment, which LaForest is pleased by.

In addition, the council voted with unanimously to authorize Barbara Malkas, North Adams public

PHOTO BY JAKE VITALI

From left to right: Paul Hopkins, Joshua Moran, Rebecca Cohen, and Benjamin Lamb discussing the Mohawk Theater and whether or not Mayor Thomas Bernard would be allowed to proceed with a RFP for the mothballed movie-house. schools superintendent, to submit a Statement of Interest for Greylock Elementary School. This SOI would go towards improving the school’s technology and Americans with Disabilities Act compliance. However, submitting an SOI does not require the city to enter into any agreements or commit to any projects.

The meeting ended with a heated exchange between Council President Keith Bona and Councillor Rebecca Cohen. Cohen used the Councilor’s

Concerns portion of the agenda to address the issue of city residents not being able to speak during the meeting outside of the Hearing of Visitors and Open Forum sections.

This issue limits voices in the government and hinders productivity, in Cohen’s opinion.

“Counilor Cohen, just so you know, we’ve heard this,” Bona said.

“It’s still one of my councilor’s concerns so I’d like to be able to read that into the record,” Cohen said.

“There is something about redundancy,” Bona said.

“Point of order, Mr. President, I believe the councilor has a right to speak,” LaForest excalimed.

“When it comes to saying the same thing every week, and I’m not,” Bona said. “Fine, go ahead.”

Cohen proceeded to make her case.

North Adams City Council meets the second and fourth Tuesday of every month at 7:30 p.m. in City Hall at 10 Main St.

PITTSFIELD

Left, entrance way to the 1Berkshire building where MCLA Pittsfield is now located at 66 Allen St. The building was previously a fire station and later served as the location for the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce.

From Page 1 When asked about his current studies, he made the point: “Make the time, approach your studies with seriousness and dedication. There’s moments where we question, ‘Can I do this? Should I be doing this?’, and the answer is resounding ‘Yes.’ You can and you should.”

“I’d like to say that everybody has a journey, and those journeys are personal in nature, and the relationships we form along the way are meaningful,” Steben said. “Take the time to enjoy this [college] experience.”

Courses can require incredible amounts of commitment and, according to Petritis, some courses have students working on them for 21 hours per week; although, these also finish within a seven-week period.

MCLA has utilized Pittsfield locations for graduate programs as far back as 2008 when they began using the upstairs of the Intermodal Center. Programs included subjects such as English, history and mathematics, as well as the use of a variety of classroom methods, including hybrid online models.

The Pittsfield location was once again moved in 2015 when MCLA relocated to

Below, Board of Trustees Chairwoman Denise Marshall prepares admissions materials as she awaits the opening of the new location.

PHOTOS BY COREY MITCHELL-LABRIE

the Silvio O. Conte Federal Building. Because the space was owned by the government, according to Petritis, students and faculty had to go through security akin to TSA screening to enter. The new facility, located at 66 Allen Street, has been in use since August 2018.

“I think this rounds out offerings for us,” Birge said.

“Of course, we’re always committed to our students

and faculty and staff in North Adams. That’s our base; it will always be our base.”

One thing people at the event especially wanted was to create was a sense of connection between the two campuses. While MCLA Pittsfield students might visit North Adams for important College events, they rarely have interactions with MCLA students in North Adams.

“It’s important for students on this campus [North

Adams] to know that MCLA Pittsfield is part of the MCLA campus. We really want people to drop in and see the place,” Petritis said.

“This [MCLA Pittsfield] just extends the quality of education to people that might not have it otherwise because they couldn’t get to North Adams,” Birge said.

“It’s also the case that it might open up some opportunities for current students

who are studying on campus, but who are from Pittsfield, to do summer course work. Even during the academic year they may think about coming down here.”

Features

TheOnlineBeacon.com

5

Writer-in-Residence Joanna Ruocco Explores ‘Tonal Ranges’ of Narration

BY TESSA SESTITO STAFF WRITER On Wednesday night, March 6, this semester’s Writer-in-Residence speaker Joanna Ruocco read select passages of her works, illustrating her “tonal range” of narration between the fantastic and the grotesque.

“I don’t plot things out or really think about the story in terms of how I would put language on something I want to describe happening,” Ruocco said when asked by an audience member about her writing style.

“I tend to follow a train of thought or follow the language as it moves, so something like the sounds of the words or the shapes of the words or the tonal environment that they set up, and then I let that guide me through,” Ruocco continued.

English/communications professor Caren Beilin, along with fellow professor Zack Finch, hosted the event. The reading event was part of Ruocco’s two-day visit to the College; the first day included the event, and her second day was spent in classrooms further interacting with students.

According to Finch, Beilin was the primary force behind inviting Ruocco to speak at the College. Beilin has been a fan of Ruocco since graduate school.

The two finally met in 2012 after Beilin asked Ruocco to write a blurb for Beilin’s novel. Beilin’s strong connection to Ruocco spurred her visit to campus.

“When I read her [Joanna’s] work I feel alive,” Beilin said. “Her sentences are full of life.”

Beilin’s class, Writing the Novella, integrates Ruocco’s works into the curriculum; like “Another Governess / The Least Blacksmith: A Diptych,” which Ruocco read an excerpt from.

“Particularly on her [Joanna’s] novella ‘Another Governess,’ I once wrote, ‘It reads like text stitched on bloody rags, slowly made. Each word carefully killed and wrapped up for dragging and unwrapped in a barn and sewn

PHOTO BY KENNY OLCHOWSKI

Joanna Ruocco reading from her novel “Another Governess / The Least Blacksmith: A Diptych.” into a rag,’” said Beilin during her introduction of Ruocco at the event.

Ruocco began by reading select passages from “Another Governess,” followed by a fairytale-like work entitled “Joseph and the Witch,” and then finished with her response to a photograph titled “Acid Park,” which is also the name of her story.

“I’m going to read just a little bit from ‘Another Governess’ because why not start gross and dark and move from there,” said Ruocco before her reading ensued.

Ruocco is an assistant professor of English at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She is also: Chair of the Board of Directors of Fiction Collective Two (FC2), an

independent, student-run press; faculty sponsor of the monthly Creative Writing Salon Series; and co-director of the Dillon Johnston Writers Reading Series.

A few notable published works of Ruocco’s include: “The Week” (The Elephants of British Columbia Press, 2017); “Dan” (Dorothy, 2014); “Another Governess / The Least Blacksmith” (FC2 / University of Alabama Press, 2012); and “A Compendium of Domestic Incidents” (Noemi Press, 2011).

Ruocco is also an author of romance novels, publishing under various pseudonyms such as Joanna Lowell, “Dark Season”; Alessandra Shahbaz, “Ghazal in the Moonlight, Midnight Flame”; and Toni Jones, “No Secrets in Spandex.”

Before reading her last work, Ruocco provided background information explaining how she was approached by the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University to write a story in response to one of the artworks in their collection, “Southern Accent.” She chose to respond to “Acid Park” by Burt Uzzle, a photograph of Vollis Simpson’s giant pinwheels made out of scrap metal.

“He [Simpson] built these pinwheels that were like 20 feet high, out of scrap metal, and they were all crazy colors and he had them just by his house,” said Ruocco when introducing her last reading. “This photograph shows these pinwheels in the mist, and there was something about the scrap, manic quality of it that I was like, ‘I can respond to the mood of that.’”

Ruocco said she read her story at the museum among Southern patrons of the arts.

“The mean age was like 97, all the ladies wore hats, and I’m the person from the North that wrote this story and it’s going to ruin everyone’s night,” Ruocco explained. “It did; they hated it.”

In the Q&A section of the event,

Ruocco was asked to explain the pinwheel in her story, “Acid Park.”

“For this story, I thought about a train of thought, and then what a pinwheel of thought is,” Ruocco explained. “It [the story] just keeps returning to the speculation about my future boyfriend.”

“I get centrifugal and centripetal force confused, but maybe both at once; like a teacup, you’re going to the outside but you’re also getting sucked into the middle. So, thinking about how that torsional movement creates a narrative,” Ruocco continued.

Julianne Clarke ‘20 and Victoria Muñoz ‘19 were attendees at the event who enjoyed Ruocco’s readings.

Clarke, a student in Beilin’s Writing the Novella class, was exposed to Ruocco’s writing prior to the event. Although Muñoz has not read Ruocco’s works, she still appreciated the event.

“It was cool to hear new material and also hear material I read in her book,” Clarke said. “I love that MCLA has a literary scene because it gives me an opportunity to see and hear people who are doing what I hope to do one day.”

“I really enjoyed her last short story,” Muñoz said. “I thought the way she used humor was refreshing. I also like how engaged she was with students during the Q&A.” Based on Ruocco’s reading, both Clarke and Muñoz said that they would attend future events hosted by the College, seeing it as a positive reflection of what the College has to offer.

“I think this event creates a positive culture around the arts for MCLA. I like that we have readings to choose from since there are so many different types of events you could go to in a week,” Muñoz continued. “I have been to readings in the past and I would go again because I find them interesting.”

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

TheOnlineBeacon.com

6

Gender Roles, Sexuality and Identity in MCLA Theatre’s Production of ‘Cloud 9’

BY SABRINA DAMMS A&E WRITER MCLA Theatre kicked off their production of Caryl Churchill’s “Cloud 9” Friday, March 8. Venable Theatre was full of laughs at the comedy and shock factor of the play that has been considered “experimental and subversive” as it demonstrates the struggles of gender roles, sexuality and identity in society.

The play, starring Alex Aleksandrov, John Archer, Charlotte Donnelly, Victoria Gentile, Amanda Gilmore, Declan McDermott, Eric Robbins and Morrison Robblee, follows a stereotypical, Victorian-era family with traditional values living in colonial Africa as they struggle with ideas of gender roles, sexuality and identity.

In her production, director Laura Standley wants students to look at and understand these struggles.

“The challenge of figuring out your personal identity is the biggest struggle of our lives, and it’s complicated,” Standley said. “The problem of misogyny plays deep in our culture.”

In the first act of the play, we are introduced to the family and characters who are struggling with abiding by these Victorian ideals. A son struggles with his gen-

PHOTO BY SABRINA DAMMS

Pictured left to right: Morrison Robblee, Victoria Gentile and John Archer-Harvey performing in Act 1 of “Cloud 9.” der and sexuality; a mother grapples with gender roles; a misogynistic father looks down on women; an old-fashioned grandmother tries to enforce societal roles on her daughter and grandchildren; and a servant watches the family’s interactions, reporting these ex-

changes to the misogynistic father and causing trouble.

The second act starts off many years later in 1979 London. At the time, homosexuality had been decriminalized and “women’s liberation was on the verge of taking big strides.” The family can finally live their

lives in a manner that is true to themselves. This act introduces the audience to a daughter — too young to have prominence in the first act — who is now struggling with her sexuality and role as a woman in this society.

Many students enjoyed the comical nature of the play

and loved the message that it was trying to portray.

Tyler Rockenfield ‘20 especially loves the message of the play and believes in the importance of sharing it. As an openly gay student with a gender-neutral style, Rockenfield has a deep understanding of Victorian-era ideals and the struggles with issues of gender and sexuality people continue to experience today.

“The play has a shock factor to it that helps portray its message. The play is progressive and needs to be shown,” Rockenfield said. “Victorian-era gender roles and sexuality should get out of our society. The fact that these relationships [in the play] are scandalous is a comedy in itself because they shouldn’t be.”

Bethany Maloy ‘21 also shares Rockenfield and Standley’s views on the importance of the play’s message and would consider seeing the play again.

“A lot of other schools should incorporate it [the play] because of the message of being yourself,” Maloy said. “It was interesting to see people being themselves and what they are going through because it shows reality.”

Be sure to catch MCLA Theatre’s final performance of “Cloud 9” tonight at 8 p.m.

New MASS MoCA Exhibit ‘Mind of the Mound’

BY JENNIFER VANBRAMER A&E EDITOR Artist Trenton Doyle Hancock brought his “Moundverse” world to life at MASS MoCA with the opening of his solo exhibit, “Mind of the Mound: Critical Mass,” Saturday, March 9.

As Hancock’s largest-ever museum exhibition, lifesized structures known as “mounds” can be seen upon exploring Building 5 at MASS MoCA. Growing up in Paris, Texas, with a family of Baptist ministers and missionaries, Hancock spent a majority of his life supplementing his religious upbringing with comic books, horror films and Greek mythology.

Walking into this exhibit felt like being part of some real-life Candyland board game, especially with the floor decorated with bright rainbow-colored squares that lead through the space. Three different mounds of various sizes were

PHOTO BY JENNIFER VANBRAMER

Artist Trenton Doyle Hancock’s “Mind of the Mound” exhibit is now on display in Building 5 at MASS MoCA. created by Hancock to represent peaceful creatures, meant to help us see the world in a more colorful way.

The first mound, “Mound Museum,” pays homage to Claes Oldenburg’s “Mouse Museum.” When entering this

structure, one could recognize that it’s filled with several iconic, pop culture objects that Hancock selected from his vast toy collection.

The second mound, “Junior Mound,” has an exterior covered in puzzles of Hancock’s

paintings. If one dares to step past the pink curtains at the entrance of this structure, they would see inside the display of a video, “What the Bringback Brought,” in which Hancock himself is kidnapped by Bringbacks. Bringbacks can

be described as “humanoid creatures” that are furry, have abnormally large eyes, and yet have no mouths.

The third and final mound, “Mound #1 and the Color Crop Experience,” is a smaller structure than the previous two mounds. This creation is made out of a thick black and white striped carpet with large, magenta spots and topped with a clown-like head.

Other structures featured in the exhibit are “Halloween House,” a replica of Hancock’s grandmother’s house; “Trenton’s Toy Aisle,” that holds several classic board games and toys you probably played with as a child; and many more.

Taking up two different levels, Hancock’s exhibit invites people of all ages to step inside and explore his giant mound structures Check out “Mind of the Mound” currently on display now in Building 5 at MASS MoCA.

Mar. 14, 2019

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

TheOnlineBeacon.com

7

SAC Hosts First Annual Talent Show

BY SALI BAH A&E WRITER On Saturday, March 9, excited students and faculty filled up the Church Street Center Social Hall for the first Annual Talent Show, sponsored by SAC, Birge Club, Yorick, Dance Company and Cheer Squad.

The show’s 15 contestants showcased a range of performances, including: reciting poetry, dancing, singing, comedic acts, a physics demonstration and “a special surprise.”

Michelle Frost ‘22 won first place with her rendition of “She Used to Be Mine” by Waitress Cast, and Dominique Stevenson-Pope ‘20 snagged fan favorite and second place with her stand-up comedy act about her struggles with dating.

The room was lively as people waited in anticipation for the show to begin.

The turnout was much bigger than expected. Host Ericka Lucia kicked off the night, introducing herself by rapping on a funky instrumental.

English/communications professor Paul LeSage and business administration professor Tom Whalen were asked to perform their musical stylings at the event.

“We’re going to set the bar really low for you guys,” said Whalen before perform-

ing an acoustic set of Bowling for Soup’s “1985” and “I’ll Be There for You” by The Rembrandts.

“It’s so great to be asked to do something like this because we had a lot of fun playing. We play for our classes; we’re also in a union band where we play some songs, but this is one of the bigger audiences we’ve had, so this is really nice,” said LeSage who has been playing guitar since he was 24.

“The talent out here is fantastic and it’s a lot of fun to be up there,” LeSage continued. “I was kind of nervous though, I was working on this chord all day, I didn’t hit it on time, but that’s just how it goes.”

Tarah Valin ‘22 recited her piece titled “Sidechicks,” and Hannah Pimenta ‘20 performed an original poem titled “Razors and Roses.”

Both poems were received well by audience members.

The judges for the evening included: Cathy Holbrook, vice president of student affairs; Theresa O’Bryant, dean of student success and engagement; and RPS Maintainer Scott Siciliano.

Victoria Fischer ‘21 and Alex Campbell ‘22 both performed original songs. The “special surprise” during the event was Corey Powers ‘19 showing the audience how he puts his hair into a ponytail.

PHOTO BY KENNY OLCHOWSKI

MCLA professors Paul LeSage, left, and Tom Whalen, right, performing an acoustic set together to open the show.

The positive and supportive energy during the event was felt by audience members and the judges.

“I thought it was really great, everyone did a really nice job, everyone had really good energy, and I really like the crowd,” O’Bryant said. “I think they are really supportive of their fellow students, can’t beat that.”

Christopher Gamble, ‘22 wowed the crowd with his

physics show. Gamble created thunder and making a volunteer spin, involuntarily.

“I had done stuff like this in the past for little sibs weekend,” Gamble said.

“Jordan [DeGaetano] approached me and said it’d be really cool if I did this, so I put this thing together.”

The night also included dancing from Tierey Moore ‘22, Eva Rae Moser, daughter of Volunteer Center Coordi-

nator Spencer Moser, and her friend Lilliana Pisano.

“I think the show was a really good way of showcasing the talent in the community,” Brianna Christie ‘22 said. “I enjoyed seeing my peers perform.”

After the show, it was announced that musical artist Bryce Vine would be the headliner for SAC’s Spring Concert. Be on the lookout for the date of the concert.

Review

‘Captain Marvel’: Worth Seeing, But Should be Be er

BY NATALIA GIACOMOZZI SPECIAL TO THE BEACON On the March 7 edition of “The Late Late Show with James Corden,” Brie Larson and Samuel L. Jackson sang “7 Rings” by Ariana Grande, a segment that previewed the chemistry interwoven in “Captain Marvel.”

Opening on International Women’s Day, Marvel Studios wants to send a message to audiences with “Captain Marvel” since it is the 21st feature within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

Nearly two years since the MCU’s first female villain debuted in “Thor: Ragnarok,” the spotlight is finally on a female superhero. “Captain Marvel,” the last movie before “Avengers: Endgame,” is a mixed bag of sorts — a convoluted plot driven by strong performances and ‘90s pop culture.

Brie Larson is outstanding as Carol Danvers, a member of the intergalactic Kree species who are at war with the shape-shifting Skrulls. A

PHOTO FROM IMDB.COM

“Captain Marvel,” starring actress Brie Larson, was released on March 8. mission goes awry, propelling Carol into a Blockbuster Video. It’s on Earth where Carol learns of her humanity, solving the puzzle of her mysterious past on Earth.

She turns into Captain Marvel due to a power that has resonated in previous Mar-

vel films, and Larson brings a chip-on-the-shoulder attitude to Carol, paralleling pre-serum Steve Rogers.

Armed with a lightning-like glow around her hand and a dose of sarcasm, Larson ensures that Captain Marvel does not need to be

compared to anyone. Carol Danvers struggles but always gets back up. She knows she is different, but takes advantage of who she is, whether she is fighting in space or training for the Air Force.

Larson told USA Today that in preparation for the role, she committed to deadlifting more than 200 pounds and hip-thrusting 400 pounds.

Her hard work has paid off, demonstrating to audiences that Captain Marvel can be taken just as seriously as any other superhero.

Along for the adventure are younger and two-eyed Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson, hidden under de-aging technology) and Maria (Lashana Lynch), a friend from the Air Force. Both characters thrive as guides and sidekicks of Captain Marvel, but it’s Captain Marvel’s cat, Goose, that acts as the movie’s primary comic relief. The script, written by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, does not include a lot of a younger Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg, who hasn’t appeared in a Marvel mov-

ie since 2012’s “The Avengers”), but utilizes him in the movie’s conclusion.

The plot ranges from sequences in space, on Earth, and in Captain Marvel’s mind like a rollercoaster, not giving enough context about what is happening. The greater significance of the war between the Kree and the Skrulls is overlooked, and the characters who live on Earth seem unconcerned with continuing intergalactic threats.

With less than 50 days until “Avengers: Endgame,” “Captain Marvel” is a pit stop worth making because of Larson’s performance.

Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige has said that Captain Marvel is the most powerful Avenger, and as much as Larson shines, “Captain Marvel” promotes a message of empowering women and not relying on just one person.

Just take a look at what has happened in the past 100 years.

“Captain Marvel,”directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, is in theaters now.

Sports

TheOnlineBeacon.com

8

New Dominates in Trailblazers’ Sweep of Mount Saint Vincent, Baseball improves to 2-3

BY BRADY GEROW SPORTS CO-EDITOR Yaphank, N.Y. - The MCLA Trailblazers’ baseball team completed a two-game sweep of the College of Mount Saint Vincent Dolphins 5-1 and 5-4 Saturday, March 9. This was the first win behind a complete game on the mound from senior pitcher Bobby New.

Game One

The first game of the day was controlled solely by New as he racked up nine strikeouts, while only allowing three hits and one earned run over seven innings of play.

The offense started things off for the Blazers. Senior Jeff Bink was able to reach base on an error and eventually steal second to get a runner in scoring position with only one out.

After advancing to third on a groundout, Bink was driven in on a single to right from freshman Dan Buchanan for the first run of the game.

Following Buchanan’s single, Dolphins pitcher Amir Nitowski hit a batter and walked the following two batters to score Buchanan on walks and give the Blazers a 2-0 lead after the first inning.

With the offense having put up two runs to start the game, New went to work with a 1-2-3 inning to start the game and get his crew back on offense.

With a man on first, Bink came up big with a triple to center field that scored freshman Austin Rachiele from first to make the score 3-0 after two innings.

New saw his only bump in the game in the second inning. Following a strikeout of the lead batter, another batter hit with a pitch by New eventually advanced to second on a pass ball.

Following another strikeout, New gave up an RBI single to right center field to sophomore Pedro Fortoso allowing the Dolphins to get on the board and cut the

PHOTO FROM MCLA ATHLETICS

MCLA Senior pitcher Bobby New throwing in a game last season. New was dominant in the first game of the double-header, pitching a complete game while recording nine strikeouts with a 1.29 ERA. New allowed only three hits and one run in the team’s 5-1 win over the College of Mount Saint Vincent. In the second game of the double-header, New closed the game pitching the final inning recording three straight strikeouts to secure a 5-4 comeback win for the Trailblazers. deficit to two.

New would let up one more hit in the inning but allowed no more runs to score before ending the inning.

Other than the fourth inning, where New gave up his final hit of the game, the senior pitcher was lights-out recording 1-2-3 innings for the rest of the game.

The Blazers were able to put up two security runs in the sixth inning

PHOTO FROM MCLA ATHLETICS

MCLA junior pitcher Shawn James pitching in a game last season. James took the mound to start game two of the double-header against the College of Mount Saint Vincent. James had a rough start, giving up four runs on four hits, one being a home-run, in the opening inning. Before being pulled in the third inning, James allowed no more runs to score past the first inning, and recorded three strikeouts in his time on the mound. The Trailblazers eventually got the win 5-4 to complete the sweep.

behind an RBI double from Rachiele followed by a single from Bink to drive Rachiele in.

New’s final line for the game was 7.0 innings pitched, three hits allowed, one earned run and nine strikeouts to secure the Blazers’ first win of the year, 5-1.

Game Two

The following game saw the Blazers’ offense having to claw back from a fourrun deficit early in the game capped off by a seventh-inning RBI single from MCLA junior Christian Seariac, leading to a 5-4 victory and a sweep on the day.

Much different from the first game, the Blazers had to rely on their offense to get it done, as junior pitcher Shawn James gave up four runs on four hits in the opening inning.

The Dolphins got it going fast, as lead-off hitter sophomore Matt DiNorcia ripped a double to the right-center field gap putting him in scoring position right away.

DiNorcia eventually advanced to third on a wild pitch and was driven in on a single from freshman Eric Zimmermann.

James gave up another single to junior Anthony Nocero that was followed by a big three-run home run from freshman Michael Grisanti to put the dolphins up 4-0 early in the contest.

After a rough first inning, James and the rest of the pitching staff were solid.

James would go on to complete 2.1 more innings. He allowed no more runs, no hits, two strikeouts, and one walk before being taken out early in the fourth inning.

Replacing James, were senior Brendan Kelly and freshman Mike Urbanski who each threw for an inning. Kelly gave up one hit, walked three and struck out two while Urbanski allowed no hits, no walks, and recorded no strikeouts in his

1-2-3 inning.

Urbanski was followed by New who finished out the final inning of the game in similar fashion to his performance in game one. New slammed the door shut with three straight strike-outs to secure the 5-4 comeback win.

On the offensive end, the Blazers were paced by junior outfielders Joe Toledo and Seariac who combined for three of the team’s five hits, and four of the team’s five RBI’s.

Before Seariac’s late-game heroics, Toledo was at the front of the offensive push to get the Blazers back in the game.

After the Dolphins’ big first inning, Toledo recorded a sacrifice-fly to knock in the first run of the game for the Blazers.

Following a run being walked in, Toledo came back to the plate with bases loaded in the fourth. Toledo delivered a single to left field that would allow two more runs to score, narrowing the once four-run deficit to tie at four with three innings left to play.

After a quiet fifth and sixth inning from both teams, Seariac recorded his game-winning single in his last at-bat of the game to give the Blazers a 5-4 lead before New closed out the win.

Seariac went 2-3 in the win with a run scored, an RBI and a walk. Toledo was big in the win, going 1-3 with three RBIs in the game.

The Trailblazers improved to 2-3 following the wins, as they head south for their annual Florida trip where they play their first game against Purchase College Friday, March 15. The Dolphins dropped to 0-2 on the season with the losses, but following a win against Delaware Valley University are now 1-2 going into today’s game against Gettysburg College.

Sports

Mar. 14, 2019

TheOnlineBeacon.com

9

SCORE BOARD MCLA Tennis MCLA (7), Northern Vermont-Johnson (4) Nick Castle/Samantha Gawron (MCLA) def. Patrick Bell/Colin Compagna (NVUJ) 8-1 Mohamed Mahrous/Briana Higgins (MCLA) def. Donell Shaw/Javon Daniels (NVUJ) 8-2

MLB Spring Training

Detroit Tigers (4), Boston Red Sox (3)

Mike Miller (BOS) 2 AB, 1 R, 2 H, 1 RBI

Jordy Mercer (DET) 3 AB, 1 R, 1 H, 2 RBIs

MLB Spring Training New York Yankees (8), Baltimore Orioles (7)

PHOTO BY MCLA ATHLETICS

Junior defender Samantha Schwanter (right) averages 14 groundballs, two draw controls, seven caused turnovers and shoots 50 percent on

Aaron Judge (NYY)

Women’s Lacrosse Loses in Season Opener

3 AB, 1 R, 1 H, 2 RBIs

BY JABARI SHAKIR SPORTS CO-EDITOR

3 AB, 2 R, 2 H, 4 RBIs

The Trailblazers’ women’s lacrosse team hosted its first home game of the season Sunday, resulting in a loss; the final score was 187.

The Trailblazers’ record drops to 0-1, while Elms College moves up to 2-0.

The Trailblazers were led by junior attacker Kim Granito scoring five goals out of six shot attempts.

She also had six groundballs, five draw controls and four turnovers.

Following Granito, freshman middle-fielder Sara Tomkiewicz scored two goals out of a total of three shot attempts. She also had three groundballs, one draw control and two turnovers.

MCLA’s goalie, sophomore Shannon Prouty, defended against 30 shots and had 12 saves.The Trailblazers ended with 13 shots, 21 ground balls, eight draw controls, 30 turnovers and five caused turnovers.

The score in the first half was 13-

6. Elms College scored its first point from a free position shot made by senior attacker Vanessa Vurno, and fouled by Granito. Vurno scored her third goal of the season.

Elms scored another goal from junior midfielder Haley Richard’s free position shot after another MCLA foul.

MCLA finally took the board with a free position shot made by freshman midfielder Sara Tomkiewicz, who was fouled by Elms.

With 21:32 on the clock in the first half, MCLA failed a clear attempt, causing a turnover by junior defender Samantha Schwanter and Richard.

Vurno scored another goal, her fourth of the season, putting Elms at a 3-1 lead. MCLA was left in a five-minute scoring drought while Elms extended its lead to 6-1: two shots were made by Richard and one by Vurno.

In the second half, Granito scored the final goal for MCLA by a clear

attempt. Elms then took over the game, scoring four goals: two by Richard and one by junior attacker and midfielder Reilly Jodoin.

Elms College finished with six assists, 35 shots attempted out of 30 shots on goal, 26 ground balls, 19 draw controls, 21 turnovers and 13 caused turnovers.

Richard led Elms College with seven goals, one assist, seven draw controls, seven ground balls and four turnovers.

Her teammate Vurno continued with four goals, four assists, three ground balls and six turnovers.

Next, freshman midfielder Allie Zadworny had three goals, one assist, five ground balls, six draw controls and two turnovers.

Elms’ goalie, sophomore Emily Huber, defended against eight shots and had one save.

The next home game for the Blazers’ women’s lacrosse team is Thursday, March 14, at 6 p.m. against Sage.

Austin Hays (BAL)

NBA

Philadelphia 76ers (106), Cleveland Cavaliers (99)

Ben Simmons (76ERS) 26 PTS, 10 REB, 8 AST

Collin Sexton (CAVS) 26 PTS, 2 REB, 1 AST

NHL

Boston Bruins (4), Columbus Blue Jackets (7)

Boone Jenner (CBJ) 3 Goals, 3 Points

Brad Marchand (BOS) 2 Goals, 1 AST, 1 Point

Intramurals Sport Weekly Feature: Kan Jam TEAMS: WINS: LOSSES:

Disc Tall YA Losers El Presidente Erica Li Chuckers Boys YEET

Grilled Cheesers

4 2 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 2 2 2 2 2

NHL

Pittsburgh Penguins (5), Washington Capitals (3)

Jakub Vrana (WSH) 2 Goals, 2 Points

Sidney Crosby (PIT) 2 Goals, 2 Points

Opinion

TheOnlineBeacon.com

Should Video Game Developers Unionize?

BY RON LEJA EDITOR-AT-LARGE

Game development is a tough job. As fans, the idea of taking part in the creation of some of our favorite games and franchises is undeniably appealing. After all, games tend to spark our own creativity and, as a result, they’ve come to shape some of the most passionate and prolific communities around.

Check out any number of reddit subs dedicated to a singular game, and you’re bound to see numerous threads created by fans pitching ideas about how their game of choice could grow, change or be expanded upon.

Fans are passionate and, as such, dream of making a substantial impact on the games they love.

But is the experience really all fun and games?

The truth is that the video game industry is incredibly demanding. Listen to or read through enough developer interviews about the process of making their game, and you’re bound to find several mentions of the term “crunch.”

Crunch is the period of time in which developers must adhere to a strict work schedule in order to achieve development goals and ultimately hit their title’s expected release date.

During crunch time, it isn’t uncommon for developers to work upward of 60 to 80 hour work -weeks. They give up their weekends, skip lunch daily, and may even go so far as to live in the office — like renown game developer Hideo Kojima — all to make that deadline. Furthermore, the crunch period can fluctuate from developer to developer, lasting several weeks or even several months at a time and occurring multiple times over the course of a game’s life span.

The industry is also quite unstable and risky. Game development is a multimillion dollar business, meaning that producing a flop can prove extremely damaging, with many companies unable to offset more than two or three poor releases due to the sheer cost of development.

As a result, it’s actually a pretty scary time to be involved in game development. The men and women who spend countless hours creating the worlds that we love to get lost in are not only overworked and grossly underpaid compared to their bosses, but in many cases they lack job security.

This year alone there have been a number of substantial

layoffs from several studios and publishers. Just last week, Activision Blizzard released a report stating they would be laying off around 800 employees.

Last month, Liz Shuler, secretary-treasurer of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), wrote an open-ended letter to video game news website Kotaku addressing those who work in the game development industry about the growing concerns they face.

She explained that it is nothing short of a stunning accomplishment to be a part of an industry that acquired $43 billion from sales in 2018, 3.6 times more than the film industry’s record-breaking box office. It’s an accomplishment that should ensure they each are rewarded fairly for the work they do, but as it stands, they are not.

She writes: “My question is this: what have you gotten in return? While you’re putting in crunch time, your bosses are ringing the opening bell on Wall Street. While you’re creating some of the most groundbreaking products of our time, they’re pocketing billions. While you’re fighting through exhaustion and putting your soul into a game, Bobby Kotick and Andrew Wilson are toasting to “their” success. They get rich. They get notoriety. They get to be crowned visionaries and regarded as pioneers. What do you get?“ This letter has led to an ongoing discussion about whether or not game developers should unionize, and I for one think it would be in the best interest of not only the developers but also the fans.

Looking back at this past year, the market was littered with big-name titles that weren’t only disappointing but were released in a state that honestly felt like a slap in the face to consumers and fans of these studios and their franchises who have continued to show their support year after year, purchase after purchase.

Looking back on games like “Mass Effect,” “Andromeda,” “Fallout 76,” “Sea of Thieves,” “Call of Duty: WWII,” and most recently “Anthem,” these games were released in states that felt unfinished. Plagued by a number of issues — be it poor frame

Want to write a guest column?

rates, janky and buggy animations, or a complete lack of substantial content — it is apparent these titles that should have been great simply weren’t given ample development time.

It’s my opinion that creativity should never be rushed, and I think I speak for most gamers when I say that I would rather a game come out six months ahead of its expected release date if it means developers will have the time to iron out all the kinks. In fact, as a consumer, I would rather a company take as much time as possible to ensure that the product I’m getting on Day One is polished, playable and worth my money.

If the gaming industry unionizes, it could potentially ensure that the passion and artistry of the game design process can be fully utilized again. We’ve hit a point in video game history where the companies involved, in many cases, seem to be more interested in making money than actually delivering a worthwhile experience for consumers.

If they did, would they run their workers ragged the way they do? Or would they be more understanding of the needs of their employees, to include the time necessary to perfect their work? Could they not soften their expectations in regard to release windows, work hours and employee pay and benefits, especially when troves of consumers are expressing displeasure for their products?

Of course they could; but as it stands, the powers that be, to be frank, just don’t seem to care about anything other than getting their games out. The quicker the game is out, the quicker they can attempt to shove loot boxes and microtransactions down our throats.

This practice of releasing games as minimally viable products — where they are so far removed from the standard that consumers have come to expect — isn’t going to work. If anything, it’s just going to continue to hurt sales and potentially result in more layoffs.

That being said, I think now, without question, is the time for developers to come together and fix the industry; not just for themselves, but for all of us.

I think it’s time for a change.

10

LeBron James vs.

Michael Jordan: Who is Greater?

Although they have not been mathematically eliminated, the Los Angeles Lakers are 8.5 games out of a playoff berth with 16 games left to play.

Two of their players, Brandon InANDREW gram and Lonzo BAILLARGEON Ball, have been THE CALL shut down for the season and LeBron James will reportedly operate on a minutes restriction for the rest of the season. Reasonably speaking, the 10th-seeded Lakers’ season is likely over.

Barring an unforeseen miracle, it will be just the second time in James’s career — first since 2004 — where he did not make the playoffs. It will also snap James’s streak of making eight consecutive NBA Finals appearances, a feat he achieved as a member of the Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers.

Of course, this is the time of year where the “LeBron James versus Michael Jordan” debate begins to heat up. Who is the best player between the two? LeBron James has all the records but Michael Jordan has more rings and acquired them more efficiently by losing fewer Finals appearances to get them than James did. Depending on how much value you place on statistical milestones or rings, your answer is likely straightforward.

But that’s just the thing — how much value do we place in James’s statuses as a 15time All-Star, 12-time First Team all pro and four-time MVP award-winner? What about Jordan’s six rings? Is it also fair to include the fact that Jordan continues to contribute to the game in his position as owner of the Charlotte Hornets?

All of these questions yield nothing but subjective answers. The truth is that both men are, and were, great, and both have insanely decorated resumes. We would be fortunate to see greatness the likes of what James and Jordan brought to the game ever again. Therefore, this debate is, and always will be, pointless.Out of 100 NBA fans, 50 will say Jordan is better than James and vice versa. They have both found success in the NBA in different ways, and it is impossible to weigh, compare and contrast their impact on the game individually. If anything, the general public may be interested in anointing them as “co-GOATs,” so to speak, because that is simply how great they have both been.

Even if James happens to win more championships than Jordan did, and even if James also gets into ownership and eventually achieves everything Jordan did, you will still be unable to truly, objectively point to James as being better. There will always be the argument that maybe we should weigh Jordan’s accomplishments more because he did it in a different, presumably “tougher” era of basketball.

The point is, neither side has a clear path to victory in debating it. Instead of bothering with the debate, it feasibly makes more sense to simply appreciate the greatness we are now witnessing. Overall, this is a healthier, more positive mindset.

If interested, contact Jake Vitali at jv1339@mcla.edu or Nicholas Bassett at nb3227@mcla.edu

Opinion

Mar. 14, 2019

TheOnlineBeacon.com

11

Editorial

Taking the Work Out of Applying Recently, a scandal has surfaced in the higher education world of well-to-do parents paying off admissions offices and other institutions in colleges and high schools to benefit their children and help them get into better colleges.

According to an NPR article published Tuesday, March 12, “The parents allegedly paid a consultant who then fabricated academic and athletic credentials and arranged bribes to help get their children into prestigious universities.”

The NPR article also reported that at a news conference on Tuesday in Boston, U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts Andrew Lelling said that 33 parents “paid enormous sums” in an attempt to ensure that their child’s acceptance into prestigious universities like Stanford and Yale. They would send money to entities controlled by a California man named William Rick Singer and, in return, would be given false records and false scores on important tests such as the SAT and ACT. It’s a story like this that deters students from ever trying to continue on to higher education and push hard to try and get to the “reach schools.”

There are some students who spend months preparing for their ACT and SAT tests and then retake them, writing and rewriting their college essays, all in an attempt to look as appealing as possible to the colleges to which they are applying. Then they can find out that they didn’t get into the schools they were hoping to attend; it can be a devastating blow and it throws their plan of what they’re going to do after high school completely off-course.

Then a report like this comes to light and shows that there are parents and students who are able to cheat the system and get in to whatever school they want with the flourish of a pen and cashing of a check. How are people supposed to trust the higher education system and these prestigious schools?

It is not just a problem that affects those who are try-

ing to utilize their study skills to get through admissions. The aforementioned NPR piece quoted Lelling detailing an example of the corruption in the form of former Yale women’s soccer coach Rudy Meredith.

Meredith took $400,000 to designate a potential student as a recruit for the team, which would boost the student’s admission prospects, despite the fact that the student didn’t play the sport competitively.

By Meredith accepting this bribe and falsifying records she not only gave the students an unfair advantage over others, but additionally undermines other applicants who have worked and practiced their sport for years. Students spend their middle and high school sport careers working on their performance and making sure they are always improving due to the fact that Division One sports are so competitive.

At the end of all of this there is the issue of accountability. According to NPR’s “Up First” Podcast from Wednesday, March 13, the students who have been accepted and are attending schools have yet to be dismissed from the schools and it is unsure what will happen to them. In most of the cases, the students were not involved; the parents were doing this on their own.

The colleges are also claiming to be the victims and have not been charged and are cooperating with the investigation. Coaches and other staff members have been put on leave or fired. Meanwhile, the parents who are members of the rich and famous are being charged and held on a bail amount likely considered as chump change. What can be highlighted here is whether or not something is being learned from all of this.

There have always been ways for people to earn favor with admissions either by donating for buildings or utilization of legacy programs. This scandal has exposed the problems when applying for prestigious colleges, and now the challenge will be to see if they can learn from them and if they can keep problems like this from happening again.

Speaking on Club Collaborations If you’re a part of a club or organization, you’ve probably heard of the term cosponsorship. In its true sense, cosponsorship is the partnership of two or more clubs or organizations to develop the concept behind an event and a “plan of attack” with clearly defined responsibilities to make ensure success.

There is always going to be a scenario where one side contributes more in one category or another — whether it is money, volunteers or event promotion — but that should not detract from the spirit of partnership. A partnership is about utilizing each other’s varying strengths for a common purpose.

It’s why you look for partners with different skill sets than your own.

When thought about strategically, cosponsorship is a great concept that expands the reach of both parties involved. It forces clubs and organizations to have different perspectives and think outside of its bubble, pooling resources to create the type of event seldom seen on campus. It provides members involved in smaller clubs and organizations the opportunity to gain the needed experience of what goes into making a largescale event happen.

However, the integrity of cosponsorship can be easily compromised by clubs and organizations that take the “my way or the

highway” approach, shutting out a partner’s voices and refusing to include them in the creative process.

In some cases, cosponsorship has boiled down to the largest party involved taking full credit for the event or neglecting to give smaller parties equal billing, and relegating the latter’s involvement to that of menial grunt work. This can easily build animosity and leave groups feeling skeptical about future collaborative endeavors.

JAKE VITALI ACCORDING TO ME Just because smaller groups don’t have access to the same levels of funding, have not existed on campus for the same length of time, or that are struggling with fluctuating membership, doesn’t mean that these organizations are at the mercy of a larger one. Even the smallest voices can contribute something impressively large to

the conversation.

Additionally, it’s important to remember that when cosponsoring with another club or organization, there needs to be a level of respect offered to the leadership on the other side. Just because there is a solid creative framework doesn’t mean that people enter into a partnership without emotions. In addition to their contributions, people want to feel they are valued and their concerns will be heard. If presented the choice between collaborating with an organization that has a great event but sees no true value in your services or one that treats you as a valued partner but has a less-than-great event, I will sign on to be a valued partner every single time.

With the pool of money SGA has available to fund club budgets set to decrease by nearly $100,000 next year, cosponsorship is going to be a necessary tool for all clubs and organizations. While it is unfortunate that smaller groups find themselves in a position of needing to lean on larger groups to stay afloat — and it’s a scenario nobody wants to be in — it could be an opportunity to see an unprecedented level of collaboration among groups that don’t commonly work together, and a new wave of events that break us away from some of the most tired traditions.

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

The Beacon is a designated public forum and content is determined by student staff members. 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 staff member.

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.

Contribution: The Beacon accepts stories, photos and opinion pieces. Submit to beacon@mcla.edu.

Advertising: The Beacon reserves the right to not publish any advertisement it deems libelous, false or in bad taste.

Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief Jake Vitali

Managing Editor Nicholas Bassett

A & E Editor Jennifer VanBramer

Senior News Editor

Co-Sports Editors

Corey Mitchell-Labrie

Brady Gerow Jabari Shakir

Editor-at-Large Ron Leja

Copy Chief

Website Editor

Elizabeth Haight

Andrew Clarke

BWN Executive Producer Karen Canela

Staff Staff Writers Maya McFadden Tessa Sestito Nathan Biron John Morrissey

A&E Writers Salimatu Bah Sabrina Damms

Copy Editor

Tessa Sestito

BWN Reporters Andrew Strout Ally Thienel Erika Lucia Julia Teixeira Shunquell Dennis

Columnist

Andrew Baillargeon Nora Hones

Photographer Kenny Olchowski

Adviser Shawn McIntosh

Mar. 14, 2019

IN OTHER BEACON NEWS

MCLA Has Talent Photos by Ron Leja & Kenny Olchowski

12