October 17, 2019 Vol. 90 Issue 5

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Thursday, October 17, 2019

Volume 90 • Issue 5

BT Lot Wall To Be Fixed

BY TESSA SESTITO EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Section of the BT wall collapsed last May. Still in disrepair five months later.

PHOTO BY TESSA SESTITO

A section of the rock wall in the Berkshire Towers parking lot is still down, with scattered boulders and loose dirt surrounding it, after collapsing nearly five months ago.

“I know it’s been an inconvenience and I’ll certainly apologize to the students that have been affected,” said Lawrence Behan, vice president of administration and finance. “I know it’s only eight spaces, but I know given that this lot has been restricted, it certainly has been an inconvenience, so we’ll work on getting this cleaned up in the next month.”

Behan admits that fixes, at

least temporary ones, could’ve been done sooner and takes responsibility.

“I’ll take ownership for that, we probably should’ve addressed it sooner, but we have a pretty small crew as you might imagine,” Behan said.

“We’ve got the major projects that are going on here; the campus center, the centennial room was certainly the first priority. We had commencement and then we started the projects and, you know, the summer kind of gets away from you, but we probably should’ve at least cleaned up a little bit earlier, I’ll admit.”

According to Behan, the

BT Wall, Page 8

MCLA to Celebrate 125th Anniversary With a Variety of Events in the Spring

BY COREY MITCHELL-LABRIE MANAGING EDITOR This year marked MCLA’s 125th anniversary in providing public education in the Berkshires. Celebrations are currently in the works, mainly starting this spring, and focusing more around the college’s mission than a simple party.

“To start throwing lavish parties and doing all this stuff to celebrate is not what this is all about,” said Robert Ziomek, vice president of institutional advancement.

“The 125th is about celebrating the educational piece and our mission for service and aces. I think that’s the first and most important thing to think about.”

The first step in celebrating the College was needing to acknowledge it, according to Ziomek.

“That’s why we have the banners and why we [the 125th celebration logos] are at [the bottom of] every email that goes out,” Ziomek said.

“The key pieces for us are around the service around continued dialogue and then some fundraising, just trying to put it in that context.”

Several new projects are being piloted by the institutional advancement office in recognition of the anniversary, including a possible new twist to spring day of service,

a new talk series called “Bold Conversations,” and special formal under the temporary name, “The Event.”

“I’m trying to get away from the word ‘Gala’ because it’s overused,” Ziomek said. “So right now we’re just calling it MCLA’s 125th ‘The Event.’

We probably will come out with a different name once we get everything in place.”

The office has also been gearing a program called “125 Faces”, an online commemoration for various people that have proven significance to the college. Nominations for the honors are free for anyone to submit on the MCLA website.

So far these include Frederick Bressette, founder of the theatre department and Harlequin society in 1946, Denise Marshal, board of trustees chairperson, and Mary Grant, the first MCLA alumna to serve as MCLA’s president.

Ziomek’s plans for this upcoming Spring Day of Service is focused on bringing MCLA into the wider New England community.

“We’re going to take the Spring Day of Service, and we’re going to make it a National Day of Service,” Ziomek said. “We’re working with class agents and others, mostly around New England and New York, to have projects, or similar projects, for service;

PHOTO BY JAKE VITALI

To commemorate the college’s 125th anniversary, banners were draped on the front of Murdock Hall. happening not just here in North Adams, but maybe in Boston, maybe in Springfield, maybe in New York city or

Long Island.”

The office is currently in talks with several groups including MCLA alumni and

organizations like Habitat for Humanity.

125th, Page 8

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SSI

Single Student Turnout for 2nd Session

BY BRIAN RHODES STAFF WRITER The second information session about last spring’s Student Satisfactory Inventory (SSI) results met on Thursday, Oct. 8, with Kaley Norsworthy ’21 as the only student present outside of college media.

“I meant to go to the first session, but it just slipped to the back of my mind,” Norsworthy said following the meeting. “On Monday I read the article in the Beacon and saw that there was another session, so I decided to try and go.”

Catherine Holbrook, vice president of student affairs and organizer of both sessions; Gina Puc, dean of enrollment management and community relations; Heather Quire, assistant to the vice president of student affairs; Barbara Chaput, director of human resources; and Dianne Manning, director of residential programs and services were all present.

Norsworthy brought up several personal concerns during the session, including issues with MCLA’s residency requirement, student parking passes and other policy

PHOTO BY BRIAN RHODES

Pictured left to right: Kaley Norsworthy ‘21; Barbara Chaput, director of human resources; Gina Puc, dean of enrollment management and community relations; Heather Quire, assistant to the vice president of student affairs; and Catherine Holbrook, vice president of student affairs and organizer of both SSI Information Sessions. issues. One major issue according to Norsworthy, who comes from out of state, is the lottery system that currently determines which students get a parking pass.

“I understand that there’s not a lot of spaces on campus, but some people just can’t have a vehicle picked up,” Norsworthy said. “With the lottery process now, people who live 20 minutes away get parking passes, and I don’t know if I can bring a

vehicle to school.”

Holbrook addressed these issues and explained that the survey has initiated a plan for administrators to have more direct communication with students. SSI information sessions are a part of this plan, as well as increased open office hours for various administrators, the “You Said, We Did” campaign and student feedback boards in several places across campus.

“These listening sessions

were a part of that, to get feedback about what we might have missed in the survey,” Holbrook said.

Along with this plan, administrators will also be making additional effort to attend events across campus, according to Holbrook.

“Folks on executive staff are making a point of attending student events so that students can see us,” Holbrook said. “When you do have something you wanna

talk about, you might feel more comfortable doing that [at a student event].”

According to Holbrook, the “You Said, We Did” campaign, which placed posters across campus notifying students of actions the college is taking in response to the SSI survey, has had mixed results.

“I’ve had some students say that they have seen them and other students say they haven’t seen anything at all,” Holbrook said. “I don’t think it has been as successful as we want it to be, but it’s something we’re going to keep getting out.”

Holbrook added that the Centennial Room and the upcoming Fitness Center renovations should help remedy concerns with student spaces.

“Since I [spend a lot of time in] the Campus Center, I know it’s not the most comfortable place to hang out; there’s not a lot of lounge space there,” Holbrook said.

“We had been addressing this since before the survey, but it sort of reinforced what we know.”

Students can view the results of the SSI survey, as well as an executive report discussing it, on their MCLA Portal under the “Everyone” section.

Environmental Protection Seminar

Orenstein and BEAT Work to Preserve Our Environment

BY HANS RESIGNAC STAFF WRITER Elizabeth Orenstein, the Educational and Outreach Coordinator for the Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT), spoke at MCLA’s Environmental Protection Seminar last Thursday, Oct. 10, hosted by the biology department.

Orenstein was invited by Assistant Professor of Biology Eric Doucette to come speak about BEAT and its efforts to ensure that wildlife and humans can coexist together in the Berkshire area.

“We [BEAT] do all sorts of things,” Orenstien said. “From educational outreach, to environmental watchdogging and advocacy to environmental stewardship.”

BEAT is a non-profit organization based in the Berkshires, with a mission to promote and protect the area’s wildlife and natural systems.

Orenstein works on a variety of projects and initiatives with BEAT. Currently, she gives talks and discussions, works with schools and students, and runs a free tree planting program in Pittsfield, which plants trees professionally for free, among other things.

This was Orenstein’s first time speaking at MCLA. Her hope was to “get people interested in the environment, interested in what is locally available to do on a very tangible and manageable scale,” Orenstein said.

“BEAT’s moto is protecting the environment and wildlife,” Orenstein added.

One project she’s currently working on for BEAT is “Pittsfield’s Greening the Gateway City Program,” a free program where they will pro-

fessionally plant trees for citizens.

“Trees increase moods and test scores, decreases crime by 12 percent in Baltimore and increases home values” Orenstein said. “Trees are really amazing.”

BEAT also takes part in local wildlife tracking, monitoring frequency and locations of roadkill.

“This can be the big roadkill spots, where deer and foxes get hit,” Orenstein said. “It could also be small roadkill spots where salamanders get hit.”

“Sometimes towns supply us with data [on the roadkills], sometimes people call us,” Orenstein added.

In particular, she described how BEAT members help salamanders cross roads in high roadkill areas during their migrations. They go out during the wettest and most rainy times of the year with reflective safety gear to shepherd the salamanders to safety.

BEAT also helps in the surveillance and maintenance of Pittsfield’s storm drains and culverts, pipes that go under a road so streams can run through.

Orenstein also discussed storm water outposts, shedding light on the importance of keeping them clean because they dump into our streams and rivers.

“We [BEAT] were just part of an initiative to do this in Pittsfield,” Orenstien said.

Orenstein attended University of King’s College in Nova Scotia where she studied art and history. She decided to continue her education later on at Goddard College where she studied botany.

According to Orenstein, her interest in botany started with “Botanical Illustration.” Botanical Il-

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PHOTO BY HANS RESIGNAC

Elizabeth Orenstein, the educational and outreach coordinator for BEAT, spoke about BEAT and its efforts to ensure that wildlife and humans can coexist together in the Berkshires at MCLA’s Environmental Protection Seminar Thursday, Oct. 10.

lustration is an art of depicting details, form and color of plant species, often in water color paintings.

The Environmental Protection Seminar gives people the opportunity to volunteer as well as share information with others. BEAT is open to volunteers and more information can be found at www.thebeatnews.org.

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Hardman Journalist

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Plank Illustrates the Future of Patriarchy

BY TAYLOR SCARVER STAFF WRITER This semester’s Hardman Journalist Liz Plank spoke last Thursday, Oct. 10, on gender in today’s society, how much society relies on the social construct, how feminism has

affected her life, and the future of patriarchy.

“If you think about how deeply rooted gender is in our society, it’s like air that we breathe,” Plank said. “No one really thinks about oxygen even though they’re breathing it all day long, but

PHOTO BY JAKE VITALI

Liz Plank talking to students before her lecture in the Church Street Center. Students asked many questions about her past and what they can do to become better in their field of journalism.

if someone were to take away that oxygen you’d realize quickly how much you depended on it.”

“Without filling out a checked box saying you are either male or female, it’s hard to get things such as a passport and health insurance,” Plank added.

Plank began her lecture by talking about her early life.

Her parents raised her and her sister without the restrictions of gender. This mentality led her sister and herself, at seven years old, to create a feminist web series.

This series included one of Plank’s favorite characters, a strong businesswoman, where one day she was sexually harassed at her job as a fashion model and took matters into her own hands and farted on her abuser.

According to Plank, when things get stressful, she always thinks back to this character and how powerful she was.

Plank grew up in Quebec, Canada and attended McGill University where she studied women’s studies and international development. She then attended the London School of Economics (LSE) where she received her Master’s degree in policy with an emphasis in global gender politics.

During her time at LSE, Plank found out that the Amateur International Boxing Association had created a rule that female boxers must wear skirts while boxing for the London Olympic Games in 2012 and it didn’t sit well with her.

“I started a petition and wrote an article about the petition and it went viral and the decision was overturned,” Plank said. “It was my first gateway to understanding media space and how I could infuse my ideas and see things happen.”

Vox Media, an interest news site, reached out to Plank to host a series documenting the 2016 presidential election, called 2016ish, and now works at Vox as a senior producer and political correspondent.

“It’s interesting when you work in a certain industry where you get to meet the people you looked up to and your mentors on a personal level, you start to realize everyone has the same worries and challenges,” Plank said.

Plank also spoke about her first book, “For the Love of Men: A New Vision for Mindful Masculinity.”

The lecture, which took place at Church Street Cen-

ter, was open to the public but mainly attended by students and faculty. Before the lecture, Plank also attended a Q&A session in Murdock 218 where students were able to ask questions about her.

During the talk, she selected two audience members to play the “Breadwinner” game where Plank gave a study about gender equality and stereotypes with different answers and participants must guess the right answer.

Plank concluded her lecture with a self-written, fictional ‘news report’ from the future where patriarchy has taken over the nation and has now created a dystopia.

The new was for the year 2095, where Ivanka Trump became president, creating patriarchal laws for men such as mandatory protein shakes, the banning of male masturbation to save children and a three-day waiting period for men that want to hug. The story was meant to illustrate just how dangerous the impact of a patriarchal society can be.

After the lecture, Plank held a book signing along with a reception for her book at the bottom floor of the Feigenbaum Center for Science and Innovation.

Writer in Residence

Plum Advises Young Writers To Not Give Up

BY NATALIA GIACOMOZZI STAFF WRITER

The Fall 2019 Writer in Residence Hilary Plum read excerpts from her work and answered questions at Gallery 51 Monday, Oct. 7, in an open event.

Plum read from her book, “Strawberry Fields,” a fictional novel about the endeavors of a journalist and an investigator, describing its central theme of making connections.

“Writing [Strawberry Fields] was like reading a newspaper, because a newspaper, and the news, can be disorienting,” she said.

Although Plum grew up in the Berkshires, she currently teaches writing at Cleveland State University and co-directs the Cleveland State Poetry Center. She is also an editor at Rescue Press, an independent publishing firm based in Iowa City, Iowa.

“It’s very special to me to be in Western Massachusetts,” Plum said.

At the event, Plum also read an excerpt from her

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Hilary Plum, left, with English & Communications Professor Caren Beilin, right, at Plum’s reading Monday night, Oct. 7, at Gallery 51. memoir, “Watchfires,” which won the 2018 Great Lakes Colleges Association Award for Creative Non-Fiction, and chronicled her relationship with a sick loved one.

According to Plum, she wanted to ponder what kind of experience illness is and how people make choices

about life and death.

Zachary Finch, professor of creative writing and literary studies, began the Writer in Residence series in 2014, his first year at MCLA. Each semester, the creative writing faculty in the English Depart-

Plum, Page 8

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Identity & Gender Equality Resource Center

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National Coming Out Day Celebration Gets High Turnout

BY MAYA MCFADDEN FEATURES EDITOR For the 31st anniversary of National Coming Out Day, the Identity and Gender Equality Resource Center (IGE) had nearly 70 participants visit its table advocating for the continuing fight for equality for the LGBTQIA+ community which has historically faced unjust discrimination for coming out.

At the table, visitors were able to write or take handwritten inspirational notes addressed to LGBTQIA+ community members validating the struggle of coming out and a paper chain of positivity and support was created.

Campus community members joined IGE representatives like Lilly Broman ’20, a work-study student for IGE and the president of the Queer Student Union (QSU), as they tabled from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

National Coming Out Day can offer the LGBTQIA+ community with a dedicated day to come out with their sexual orientation, according to Broman.

“The struggle to find the right time is overwhelming but National Coming Out Day lets people know that when they are ready, they have a national community of

Students visited the information table to show their support as LGBTQIA+ community members and allies. support,” Broman said.

National Coming Out Day celebrates the anniversary of the national march on Washington for LGBTQIA+ rights.

The Human Rights Campaign website states, “We first observed National Coming Out Day as a reminder that one of our most basic tools is the power of coming out.”

A variety of LGBTQIA+ pride flags were also offered to campus community mem-

bers that visited the table.

IGE also used the celebration as an opportunity to provide information on marginalized gender, sexual, and romantic identities.

Ian Crombie ‘23 also tabled for the IGE during the event.

“It’s a way for us to celebrate a life-changing event,” Crombie said.

For some, however, the day of celebration was appreciated, but harder to resonate

with. Nadia Tenorio ’20 said she did not have the choice to come out years ago but instead was outed unwillingly.

“The day is beautiful, but I think it is also important to take that time to raise awareness of outing someone and the effects it can cause,” Tenorio said.

On National Coming Out Day, it is especially important to recognize those who have not come out, according to

PHOTO BY MAYA MCFADDEN

The support chain and insirpational notes will be displayed in the Identity & Gender Equality Resource Center in room 321 of the Campus Center.

Check out this week’s episode of Beacon Web News on YouTube or MCLA-TV on Philo!

PHOTO BY MAYA MCFADDEN

Margareth Antonio ’20.

“I’ve always felt out and like I could choose love whatever it looked like to me,” Antonio said. “But it’s not like that for everyone, most people never get to come out and some are faced with violence and negativity.”

During the tabling, Broman and Crombie were approached by Kathryn Morgan, the head guidance counselor at Drury High School who asked them about the College’s resources for the LGBTQIA+ community.

Morgan asked in regard to a transgender high school student she works with who is currently considering attending MCLA in the future.

Broman, Crombie, and the guidance counselor talked about campus resources ranging from Residential Programs and Services (RPS) to Health Services.

“I think that what your generation of queer students is doing, is saving lives,” Morgan said.

Don’Jea Smith ’20 said she hopes that National Coming Out Day is the first step to a more just society for the LGBTQIA+ community.

“National Coming Out Day gives normalization to people who are queer,” Smith said.

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Susan B. Anthony Women’s Center

Campaigns Raise Awareness for Domestic Violence Month Events

BY LISE MANSARAY FEATURES WRITER In honor of October as domestic violence month, the Women’s Center has been hosting events like the Say Something: Red Flag Campaign and the It’s On Us Campaign to raise awareness about domestic and dating violence, as well as sexual assault, and ways to help prevent it.

“It’s a scary but true fact that 11.2 percent of students face rape or sexual assault, and even though not always but sometimes, domestic violence is related to sexual assault,” said Amanda Beckwith, coordinator of the Women’s Center and the Identity and Gender Equality Research Center.

“The ‘It’s On Us’ campaign, like the Red Flag Campaign, is an active bystander approach to preventing both sexual assault and domestic violence.”

The Center’s most recent project, Say Something: Red Flag Campaign, was created in 2005 to help bring awareness and prevent dating violence.

“The Say Something: Flag Campaign, is about stepping up and being an active bystander, like when someone sees a red flag about dating violence in a friend’s relationship,” Beckwith said.

To promote the campaign, flyers have been posted around campus with useful information to help students notice the signs of an unhealthy relationship. The flyers also include additional resources such as MCLA’s Title IX website.

“Domestic violence is often hard to talk about, so putting these posters around campus gives an opportunity for people to get knowledge of some of these red flags,” Beckwith said. “Someone may not think

“It’s a scary but true fact that 11.2 percent of students face rape or sexual assault, and even though not always but sometimes, domestic violence is related to sexual assault.”

that, their partner getting jealous when they are with other people, is a red flag. But it is a red flag of dating violence.”

The flyers on campus serve an educational purpose to help students learn the red flags of dating violence and how to take the necessary precautions when noticed. According to Beckwith, students should be familiar with this kind of information due to its relevance

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on college campuses.

Next week the Campus Center will host the It’s On Us Campaign, for a weeklong event. Beckwith wants to encourage students to take a pledge against sexual violence.

The event will been held in the marketplace starting Monday, Oct. 21, and will continue until Friday, Oct. 25. Students have the opportunity

to sign a pledge on a cutout that will later be hung in the marketplace. MCLA Athletics has also contributed to this event with an It’s On Us video they made that will be played during the event. Free T-shirts will be given away to participants.

It’s On Us is a national campaign for students to get a chance to be a part of the nationwide commitment to raise awareness of the prevention of sexual violence.

According to Beckwith, it’s important for the Women’s Center to take on this topic during Sexual Violence Awareness Month because someone needs to talk about it.

“I want people to know that they are not alone,” Beckwith said. “I want them to know the resources that are out there and by resources, I mean on campus and off-campus.”

Student Summer Internships

D’Abreau Takes Steps Toward PT Career

BY MAYA MCFADDEN FEATURES EDITOR For a portion of her summer, Arrionna D’Abreau ’21 focused in on her aspiring career by shadowing a physical therapist (PT) and a physical therapist assistant (PTA) at Comeback Physical Therapy.

While in her hometown Stoughton, Mass., D’Abreau spent approximately 20 hours during the month of August getting a first-hand look at the kind of work PTA’s do and an orthopedic physical therapist.

Anthony Napolitano, internship and employer relations coordinator at Career Development, helped D’Abreau to get in touch with her top choice, Comeback Physical Therapy.

D’Abreau majors in health science with a concentration in pre-physical therapy and has a minor in anthropology.

Growing up, D’Abreau was an active athlete and was interested in the healing process for injuries that occurred for athletes and others. From this interest, and her goal to help people of all ages, D’Abreau developed her passion for physical therapy.

“I want to know that I’m making a big difference,”

D’Abreau said.

During her time shadowing, D’Abreau prepped with the PTA’s and PT’s before patients came in for their appointments by working with the patient paperwork, sat in with PT’s during their patient one-on-one evaluations, and learned how to make heating pads for the patients.

According to D’Abreau, the summer experience put her classroom experience to work, specifically what she learned in her anatomy course during the spring semester this year.

“I am still trying to figure out what kind of physical therapy I want to practice, but one thing I do know is this is the field for me,” D’Abreau said.

D’Abreau enjoyed watching the PT’s interact with the patients daily but the experience steered her away from orthopedic physical therapy. In hope of working with unique treatments, D’Abreau said she hopes to do another shadowing or internship experience with both neurological and pediatric physical therapists.

“For each unique injury, disease, or disorder I will have a unique experience because each person is different and I can’t wait for that,” D’Abreau said.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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‘Miss Julie’ Kicks Off MCLA Theatre’s Fall 2019 Season

BY JENNIFER VANBRAMER A&E EDITOR MCLA Theatre’s fall season will kick off with a production of August Strindberg’s “Miss Julie” tomorrow night, Oct. 18, at 8 p.m. in Venable Theater.

Presented in a new version by David Eldridge from a literal translation by Charlotte Barslund, the play will be directed by adjunct faculty member David Lane.

“Miss Julie is a play of grimaces, of masks, played out in the style of naturalism but heaped with the symbolic, where the stage itself is a window to the unconscious realm of human experience, pulling back the veil of reality, exploring the restlessness of unsatisfied fantasy,” said Lane in a press release.

“Miss Julie” tells the story of the Count’s beautiful daughter, Miss Julie, who feels trapped and alone, while his handsome and rebellious footman, Jean, feels frustrated with his position.

In the course of an evening, a passion is ignited that soon spirals out of control.

Strindberg’s 1889 masterpiece, which caused such a scandal when first produced that it was banned, is now hugely popular for its viscerally honest portrait of

PHOTO BY CRYSTA C. PHOTOGRAPHY

Director, David Lane (left), works with actors of “Miss Julie” to prepare final touches before tomorrow night’s opening. the class system and human sexuality.

Stage manager, Mikayla Gocinski ‘20, said in an email, “I am very excited to see the show actually come together. I have seen this show performed now more than I can count on both my hands but there is nothing like seeing the final product with an audience who willingly came to see the show.”

“Everyone should come see Miss Julie because there are so many students and faculty that have worked incredibly hard on this show for six weeks straight, even on holidays where we do not have class,” Gocinski added. “Everyone that is apart of this show are so passionate about their role in this show and theatre in general. Miss Julie is a very unique show that the com-

munity will have to come see why.”

The production will also feature scenic design by Assistant Professor of Theatre Jeremy Winchester, costume design by Declan McDermott ’21, and lighting design by Jarret Garland ’20.

“The process has been really fulfilling. I personally find it refreshing to battle with how the world itself

works yet still apply the idea of theatre magic into my design,” said Garland in a press release. “The research for the show has allowed me to explore tons of different beautiful night and morning skies that reflect and bolster the story and which I’m excited to put on stage for the audience.”

“It has been really interesting to see how the designs and collaborations can highlight and emphasize the important themes of the show,” McDermott said in the press release. “We have been bringing in a lot of influences on how the contemporary ties in with the past, and there’s going to be a lot of interesting concepts coming from both the time period of the show and themes of today.”

“Miss Julie” will be shown Friday, Oct. 18, Saturday, Oct. 19, as well as Friday, Oct. 25, and Saturday, Oct. 26, at 8 p.m., with additional showings Saturday, Oct. 19, and Sunday, Oct. 27, at 2 p.m. A talk back with the actors and creative team will be held after the evening show taking place Saturday, Oct. 26.

All performances will take place on campus in Venable Theater and tickets can be reserved at mcla.ticketleap.com/miss-julie/.

Global Film Series Returns to Campus

BY JENNIFER VANBRAMER A&E EDITOR Now in its fourth year, the Global Film Series returns this fall semester with two recently released films, “Rafiki” and “Shoplifters.”

The first film, “Rafiki,” will be shown tonight, Oct. 17, at 6 p.m. in room 218 of Murdock Hall. The second film, “Shoplifters,” will play Wednesday, Nov. 13, at 6 p.m. also in room 218 of Murdock Hall.

Back in 2015, the Global Film Series was created

by Jenna Sciuto, associate professor of English and Communications, who was inspired by one of her teaching assistants in her Global Anglophone Language and Literature class.

“The Global Film Series started out as an opportunity for me to introduce my class to different forms of cultural production beyond just straight up novels that which we usually work with in class,” Sciuto said. “Since

PHOTO FROM IMDB.COM

Re-released in April 2019, “Rafiki” shines a light on LGBTQ+ rights in Kenya.

[2015], it’s been a rotation [of many people] suggesting films [for the series].”

Directed by Wanuri Kahlu, “Rafiki” is a 2018 Kenyan drama that tells a story about two Kenyan women, Kena and Ziki, who are longing to be something more. Despite the political rivalry between their families, the pair resist and remain close friends who support each other to pursue their dreams in a conservative society. When romance blossoms, the two are forced to choose between being happy or staying safe.

“We were planning to screen [Rafiki] last year but it got re-released and the rights made it complicated to [do so] in the spring,” Sciuto said. “For sure, it was the first on the list for the fall [semester].”

“Rafiki” is a film that challenges deep-rooted cynicism about same-sex relationships among people living in the country of Kenya.

“The director [of Rafiki]

has spoken about working towards a new image of Africa in the past and how the single story you get of Africa focuses in on poverty,” Sciuto said. “She wants to write back to that and develop a new story that is more positive in nature.”

The movie, “Rafiki,” stars actresses Samantha Mugatsia, Neville Misati and Nice Githinji, along with over 20 other cast members.

“I think this film [Rafiki] is an important one to bring different narratives to light that perhaps aren’t focused on in mainstream media or in the mainstream film industry,” Sciuto said. “I also like the focus on LGBTQ+ issues, specifically in Kenya with what’s happening currently in our nation as well I think there are some parallels to be drawn.”

After the showing of the movie, a brief talkback will take place allowing students, faculty, and staff the

Film Series, Page 8

Oct. 17, 2019

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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New Entertainment Venue HiLo North Adams Opens Up Downtown

BY SABRINA DAMMS A&E WRITER HiLo North Adams is a new live music venue that is bringing music, comedy, and entertainment to North Adams.

Co-owners Glenn Maloney and Brian Miksic opened the music venue in early September after completing many renovations to the historic building that was formerly the Quinn’s Wallpaper and Paint Store for most of the last hundred years.

After working extensively with the family who ran the Quinn’s Wallpaper and Paint Store, Maloney and Miksic settled on the name HiLo because of the red diamond logo that had the name HiLo on it in historic photographs of the building.

The logo was from a previous paint company that went out of business in the late 30s to the early 40s.

“We were searching for a name that was historically relevant to the city and to the building itself,” Miksic said in a phone interview.

“The historical side is very important to us.”

Most of the shows that HiLo puts on are all-age shows which opens the various events up to a variety of different people. HiLo allows college students and community members to broaden their horizons when it comes to music.

“I think they should have the experience of seeing these acts,” Miksic said. “The only place, often, you can ever see these acts is in an establishment like this.”

HiLo’s broad selection of music genres when it comes to choosing performers gives people the opportunity to explore the different types of music that are out there.

“We want to be as broad as possible when it comes to genre and who can come to these shows because we want people to experience these things,” Miksic said. “We don’t want to be a typical roadhouse bar.”

“We want to be a place where people can feel comfortable, come into and see shows,” Miksic added. “My kids have been to the shows here my partner’s kids have been to shows here so that is very important.”

The music industry only shows a small percentage of performers out there. Music venues, like HiLo, hold many performances from good artists who have not been as lucky to make it in the mainstream music industry but have still been able to make a decent living touring these venues.

“In the music industry what you hear on the radio is the top half of a percent and there is all the rest of the music out there,” Miksic said. “A lot of it is really good because at one point it just takes luck to break through all the way.”

“But there are many bands that make a decent living traveling around playing clubs that seat 300 to 1000 people,” Miksic continued.

“You have to go out there to see them otherwise you might never experience it.”

Listening to music is such an emotional experience that a person will remember for the rest of their life. For Miksic, music has always been a big part of his life.

As time passes music brings back moments from the past because music epitomizes these moments for him.

“Music has always been a big part of my life,” Miksic said. “I play guitar to my kids every night since they have been on earth so it means a lot to me, my wife, and my children.”

“I want to bring it to everyone else because it can make you happy, it can also make you cry, it can make you sad, it can make you explore all of these feelings,” Miksic added. “The more people [who] experience this live, the better.”

Besides holding music performances, HiLo will also be hosting other events for the community. In the coming weeks, HiLo will be hosting several city council candidate forums, in association with MCLA, for the run-ups to the local election.

“We have space for that. We want to be a community space not just for music, comedy, and events but for all those different items,” Miksic said.

HiLo is open every day from 5 p.m until 1 a.m and is located at 55 Union Street in downtown North Adams.

PHOTOS BY JAKE VITALI

Multicultural musical ensemble based in New York, Lady Moon and The Eclipse, performed at HiLo North Adams last Friday night, Oct. 12.

* THURSDAY, OCT. 17 - GLOBAL FILM SERIES: RAFIKI MURDOCK HALL 218 6 P.M. * FRIDAY, OCT. 18 - LIBRARY TEA & TALK FREEL LIBRARY 3 TO 4 P.M.

* SATURDAY, OCT. 19 - FAMILY CARNIVAL & CHOWDERFEST VENABLE HALL, GYMNASIUM 11 A.M. TO 3 P.M. - SAC’S TRIP TO THE GREAT ESCAPE OFF CAMPUS 3 TO 11 P.M.

News

Oct. 17, 2019

Abortion Medication to be Available at California’s College Health Centers Under New Law

BY MELODY GUTIERREZ STAFF WRITER LOS ANGELES TIMES SACRAMENTO — California will become the first state in the nation to require public universities to provide access to abortion pills on campus under a bill signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday.

Senate Bill 24 by state Sen. Connie Leyva (D-Chino) will go into effect in 2023, with the University of California and California State University systems required to offer students medical abortions. A medical abortion is a nonsurgical way to terminate a pregnancy that involves taking two prescription pills hours apart during a woman’s first 10 weeks of pregnancy to induce a miscarriage. It is different than the morning-after pill, which releases a high dose of a synthetic hormone found in birth control pills that delays or stops the release of an egg.

“As other states and the federal government go backward, restricting reproductive freedom, in California we are moving forward, expanding access and reaffirming a woman’s right to choose,” Newsom said in a written statement.

“We’re removing barriers to reproductive health -- increasing access on college campuses and using technology to modernize how patients interact with providers.”

University healthcare centers currently refer students

to off-campus facilities for abortion services when requested. Supporters of the bill said students, particularly those without cars, have a difficult time getting to off-campus health facilities or paying for the cost of the medication.

A 2018 study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health estimated that 322 to 519 students at California’s public universities seek medical abortions each month.

The average cost of a medical abortion was $604 and 62% of students were more than 30 minutes away from the closest abortion facility when using public transportation.

“The clinic closest to my campus was almost 11 miles away and a 45-minute bus ride one way,” said Zoe Murray, a recent UC Santa Barbara graduate who sought an abortion three years ago while she was a sophomore at the school. “Not every student has a car on campus and certainly not every student can afford to miss classes, their jobs or their families for that much time.”

Last year, then-Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed a similar measure, saying the bill was “not necessary” because abortion services were “widely available” to students at off-campus clinics. After Brown’s veto, Newsom — then the state’s lieutenant governor and in the midst of his gubernatorial campaign — said he would have signed Leyva’s bill.

The bill requires the use of

PLUM

From Page 3 ment decide on one writer to invite for the Writer in Residence Series. The writer then spends two or three days visiting MCLA. Past visiting writers have included Stephen Dunn, Kazim Ali, Mary Ruefle, Brian Teare, and Dwayne Reginald Betts.

These writer public readings have been and continue to be well attended. Finch noted that MCLA has provided vans for transportation as a way of getting students to want to attend Gallery 51.

“We often fill up all 50 seats at the gallery and it’s standing room only,” Finch stated in an email.

Finch noted that Plum’s role as an editor was an opportunity for students interested

125TH

From Page 1 “That way we’re showing we’re doing things for others,” Ziomek said. “We’re having conversations with the leaders of those, Habitat for Humanity’s projects, and we’re hoping we’ll partner with Habitat.”

A new talk series is also launching off of the 125th cel-

$10.3 million that has been raised from private donors to pay for operating costs. Newsom’s Department of Finance opposed SB 24, saying private funds were likely to fall short of what would be needed to offer services at the 34 public universities in the state. Student health centers at public universities in the state already offer gynecological exams, birth control, pregnancy counseling and other healthcare, but not abortion services.

“In a time when states across our country are rolling back women’s healthcare and access to abortion, California continues to lead the nation to protect every individual’s right to choose,” Leyva said in a statement.

The bill was opposed by conservative and religious groups. In an open letter, Bishop Jaime Soto, president of the California Catholic Conference, urged all Catholics and other Christians to pray for SB 24 to be defeated in order to protect “infants and young college-age women from the scourge of abortion.”

Newsom also signed legislation that streamlines access to birth control medication provided by Planned Parenthood, allowing women to be prescribed the drugs through an app on a smartphone. Prior to the signing of the bill, the assumption was that California law required use of videoconferencing for long-distance prescriptions.

in careers in publishing to meet someone in their footsteps. He believed students could connect with a “cross-genre writer still writing toward the beginning of her career.”

Plum answered several questions from the attendees before leaving the podium.

When asked about advice on writing, Plum said, “I think of novels as a family of sentences, and you get to move them [the sentences] around.”

Plum followed up by stating that as her career progresses, she does not find writing to be any easier.

“You have to keep doing it to get better,” Plum said. “Just keep doing it, don’t make it any bigger than it has to be.”

Copies of the books she presented at the reading were available for purchase at the doors of Gallery 51, along with apple cider donuts.

ebrations to bring in smaller, closed groups discussions on important topics to North Adams and the Berkshire area.

“We’re putting together this new series primarily for alumni but also for others who want to be involved in different places, some here in the Berkshires and some outside them, called ‘Bold Conversations,’” Ziomek said.

The topics of the talks would

be chosen by select hosts, with anything ranging from student debt and poverty, to world issues and current events.

“Then we invite an intimate group,” Ziomek said. “A ‘Bold Conversation’ can’t be had with hundreds of people, they host it in their home or a restaurant, maybe a couple on campus, as we go into starting the second semester, maybe even happening in January.”

TheOnlineBeacon.com

FILM SERIES From Page 6

opportunity to discuss various aspects of the film and the topics that it brings up.

When asked why someone should come to the Global Film Series, Sciuto said, “It’s just a good opportunity to expose students to a different type or style of art, but also to create community around events like this. Typically the same students are interested in these types of films and narratives [so] it’s a great place to center that community.”

Later in the semester, the 2018 Japanese drama, “Shoplifters,” directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda will be

WALL

From Page 1 College has finally received some quotes for the permanent repair of the wall over the last month. Quotes have ranged from $50,000 to $100,000, but Behan believes the cost will be around $70,000-$75,000.

“We just want to make sure we get the right contractor to get it done and to assess whether or not there may be other pieces of that wall that need to come down temporarily.”

Part of the reason why the wall has not been fixed was due to waiting on quotes to come in, which came in over the last month, according to Behan.

“Small jobs like that, it’s hard to get contractors to come and look at them to give quotes,” Behan said. “A lot of these masons are working on very large projects, and we don’t have the expertise inhouse to do that, so getting folks to come out and look at small jobs, that’s what takes some of the time.”

“We didn’t anticipate that the quotes were going to be that high and I think that’s kind of why it’s been sitting the way it is, but we recognize that we have to open up those spaces and we’ll try to create some sort of a temporary repair,” Behan added.

The area has caution tape on the ground around it, fallen dividers in the spaces around the boulders from the wall, and takes up eight of the parking spaces in the lot.

“We saw a lot of rain late winter and spring, so we believe that it was the rain that caused some of the soil to loosen on the hill,” Behan said.

“It’s a little bit more than just kind of putting the stones back in there just because of the volume of the hill that sits behind it. There’s a lot of pressure that sits on that, so we want to make sure it’s done right.”

Currently, the College is working on putting together a temporary fix for the wall, according to Behan.

“We’ve been looking at

8

shown as part of the Global Film Series. This movie focuses on a nonbiological family that relies on shoplifting to cope with their lives of poverty. It features actors and actresses Lily Franky, Sakura Andô, Kirin Kiki, and many more.

“I’m looking forward to sharing [these] film[s] with others,” Sciuto added. “One thing different with this film series is I tried to stay current with the films [I chose] just to mix it up a little.”

The Global Film Series will be split into two different nights of movies, one of which is happening tonight with “Rafiki” and the other with “Shoplifters” on Nov. 13. These events both start at 6 p.m. in room 218 of Murdock Hall. ways that we can affect some temporary repairs and permanent repairs. We’ve received some quotes, finally,” Behan said. “The permanent repairs are a little bit expensive, so, we’re looking at other options to temporarily, maybe plywood, open up some of the spaces.”

As for the current state of the wall, the boulders that block parking spaces, Behan explained why they have yet to be moved.

“We left the boulders there because some of the masons would want to use the existing boulders to keep the look and feel the way that it was before it got damaged by the rain,” Behan said. “We’re probably going to take those offsite and store those and maybe use plywood to keep the hill at bay.”

Behan does not consider the rock wall to be a safety issue and wants to wait until he can access the facilities budget to find the money for the repairs.

“It’s a matter of we thought we were going to be able to get to it, but once we saw some of the quotes, [we realized] it doesn’t really fit kind of in our repair budget right now,” Behan said. “I want to see if any money can free up towards the end of the year.

I don’t think we’ll probably look at a permanent repair until the springtime because it’s the end of the fiscal year and I’ll be able to see if we’ve received any savings in the facilities budget for repairs of that nature.”

Although permanent repairs will have to wait until next semester, Behan projects that the temporary fix to the wall will happen soon.

“I would say by the end of this month, or early November, this should be taken care of,” Behan said. “I apologize, it probably should’ve been addressed, but we wanted to leave things intact until we could see if we could find money in the budget to address it in this early part of the academic year. We’ve just got some other projects that I think are taking priority over that.”

Sports

TheOnlineBeacon.com

Men’s Soccer

Salve Regina Beats Trailblazers 4-1, MCLA Now 3-9 Overall

BY JOHN MORRISEY SPORTS WRITER

Women’s Cross Country Westfield State - 23rd Oct. 12 Julie Gambill - 20:38.4 (75th)

Next: @ Western New England Oct. 19

Men’s Cross Country Westfield State - Incomplete Records Oct. 12

Next: @ Western New England Oct. 19

Men’s Soccer MCLA (1), Worcester State (0) Oct. 12 1st - 30:58 - Andrew Nygard (MCLA) PHOTO BY JOHN MORRISEY

Defenders James Lambert ‘23 and David Jamina ‘23 were kept on their toes as Salve Regina held possession of the ball on MCLA’s side of the field for most of the game. that we are playing well but we have not physically recovered yet from Saturday.”

“Every game and match is an opportunity to grow and get better,” Hildebrand added.

This loss follows the team’s win Saturday, Oct. 12, over Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MSCAC) rival Worcester State University 1-0.

“It [the win] was monumental,” Hildebrand stated in an email.

Saturday’s victory put MCLA into the win column for the first time with-

in conference play and improved their conference record to 1-3.

Edge was credited with the shutout victory and defended the 20 shots directed at the net and 4 on goal without a problem.

The Trailblazers’ goal against Worcester came from Andrew Nygard ’21, who found pay dirt just past the 30-minute mark of the first period.

Currently, the team’s overall record stands at 3-9. The Trailblazers will face off against MASCAC opponent Westfield State University Friday, Oct. 18, at Shewcraft field.

MCLA (1), Salve Regina (4) Oct. 14 1st - 26:36 - Noah Medeiros (Salve Regina) 1st - 37:33 - Alessandro Oggiano (Salve Regina) 2nd - 63:20 - Rich Ventura (Salve Regina) 2nd - 70:29 - Ryan Wanek (MCLA) 2nd - 87:39 - Dana Sundell (Salve Regina)

Next: vs. Westfield State Oct. 18, 6:00 p.m. @ Keene State Oct. 23, 7:00 p.m.

Women’s Soccer MCLA (3), SUNY Cobleskill (2) Oct. 9

Women’s Soccer

Close Match Against Worcester Makes Trailblazer’s Record 0-4 in Conference The women’s soccer team pulled a 3-2 win against SUNY Cobleskill Wednesday, Oct. 9, and came up short during the weekend, losing a close game against Worcester State University 1-0 Saturday, Oct. 12.

In the game against Cobleskill, the Trailblazers had 19 shots on goal, with 14 of those being shots on goal.

This was double of Worcester’s shots on goal, 7, with a total of 17 shots. 8 of MCLA’s shots on goal came from Cetera Moore ’21, who scored in the 27th minute with an assist by Madeline Gibney ’22.

Cobleskill was able to take the lead in the first half, with Chloe Antalek’s shot from Ana Post’s cross in the 7th minute and Post’s goal in the 38th minute.

In the 80th minute of the second half, MCLA’s Alyssa

SCORE BOARD

Hannah Poplawski - 22:11.2 (133rd)

The MCLA men’s soccer team found themselves overwhelmed by visiting Salve Regina Monday, Oct. 14, at Shewcraft Field, losing 4-1.

“They were playing one of the best teams in New England,” Coach Adam Hildebrand stated in an email. “I can play a cream puff schedule and you could say the defense had great chemistry, but instead we played Salve Regina who are a great opponent who will get us prepared for league play.”

For the Trailblazers, the rallying cry for their game against Salve Regina came from Sam Edge ’23 early and often with yells for the team to “wake up” and “figure it out.”

With the Trailblazers struggling to communicate assignments and close holes on defense, Regina jumped out to an early lead in the first half and kept the ball on MCLA’s side of the field for most of the match.

Coming late in the second period, Ryan Wanek ’20 drilled a penalty shot into the back of the net putting MCLA on the board at the 70th minute mark.

However, it did not take long for Regina to respond with yet another goal in the closing minutes of the contest when Dana Sundell ’19 slipped his shot past Edge with less than 3 minutes to play.

“We [had just] played a very hard successful match against Worcester State on Saturday - 2 days previous,” Hildebrand stated in an email. “I just put things into perspective [for them]

BY COREY MITCHELLLABRIE MANAGING EDITOR

9

Porter ‘23 tied up the game with her goal, which was assisted by Natalia Gerena ‘23.

For just two minutes left in the game, Gibney scored MCLA’s final goal of the game with a penalty kick, lifting the Trailblazers to a 3-2 victory over Cobleskill.

Against Worcester, the Trailblazers unfortunately weren’t able to score a goal and finished an aggressive match in the 1-0 game.

MCLA Goalkeeper Megan Richardson ‘20 saved 17 of the 18 shots of goal Worcester had during the course of the game, while her team was only managed to have two shots, only one of which was on goal, against Worcester. Worcester finished the game with a total of 38 shots.

Currently, the Trailblazers hold on overall record of 2-10-1 and 0-4 in conference.

The Trailblazers will travel Saturday, Oct. 19, to face off against Westfield State University at 12:00 p.m.

1st - 7:34 - Chloe Antalek (SUNY Cobleskill) 1st - 27:34 - Cetera Moore (MCLA) 1st - 38:16 - Ana Post (SUNY Cobleskill) 2nd - 80:39 - Alyssa Porter (MCLA) 2nd - 87:57 - Madeline Gibney (MCLA)

MCLA (0), Worcester State (1) Oct. 12 1st - 19:52 - Megan Gurlitz (Worcester St.)

Next: @ Westfield State Oct. 19, 12:00 p.m. vs. Hartwick Oct. 22, 6:00 p.m.

Women’s Volleyball MCLA (3), Eastern Conn. State (2) MCLA (0), Keene State (3) Oct. 12 MCLA (2), Framingham State (3) Oct. 15

Next: vs. Salem State Oct. 19, 12:00 p.m.

PHOTO BY MCLA ATHLETICS

Miranda Weissman ‘21 facing off against Worcester’s Madison Rotti ‘21 in last weekend’s game.

vs. St. Joseph’s (Conn.)

Oct. 19, 4:00 p.m. @ Worcester State Oct. 23, 7:00 p.m.

Opinion

TheOnlineBeacon.com

10

Life Prompts New Outlook on Mental Health

JAKE VITALI A SLICE OF AMERICANA Two years ago, today, my life unexpectedly changed forever as I suffered a traumatic brain injury in a car crash about two miles from campus.

The collision thrust my body forward, causing my head to bounce off the windshield. I landed in my seat and for a solid minute wasn’t sure what to do, I was conscious and aware of my surroundings but I couldn’t think, I couldn’t move, I was in complete shock.

However, I seemed fine in the aftermath. I cracked jokes with first responders, refused medical treatment, and found a ride back to campus since my car was totaled. That night I did a last-minute show on WJJW where I made light of the situation.

It wasn’t until the next morning that I woke up with what felt like the worst hangover of my life. I couldn’t see straight, my head was pounding, and the nausea was overwhelming. I struggled to keep up with basic conversations. My neck and back ached. I kept retelling the same things over and over again, unaware that I had already told it before to the same people.

Two days later, as symptoms worsened, I went to the emergency room. I learned I had a cerebral contusion and a concussion. But a diagnosis when it comes to head injuries doesn’t change much, as there are no immediate cures.

It is a frustrating process of resting and attempting things you enjoy in small doses. Even binge-watch your favorite shows or listening to your favorite records as you recuperate can seem like a daunting task.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1.5 million Americans sustain a traumatic brain injury every year. Every year Americans will die from traumatic brain injuries and an estimated 80 to 90,000 Americans will experience the onset of a longterm disability.

So often it feels that when head trauma is discussed in the media, it is in the context of professional athletes.

However, head trauma can happen to anyone and little attention is paid to the general public and how it affects their ability to live normal lives.

I lied to myself and everyone around me and came back after only 10 days resting at home because I thought that pushing through the pain would allow me to forget about how awful I truly felt and maybe, just maybe, allow me to return to a normal life faster.

I put myself under enormous pressure to catch up and keep up with assignments and tests. The emotional anxiety was like someone stepping on my chest and only occasionally letting me gasp for air. The invisible symptoms of migraines, memory loss, and nausea all made it seem to others that I was now fine. But I wasn’t.

I had to reduce my involvement in any extracurriculars. I resigned from the Student Government Association Executive Board and withdrew from my weekly radio show, the thing which for so long had been a sense of comfort for me in difficult days. Even basic audio editing brought on migraines and I remember breaking down in tears looking out of the WJJW production room window as I saw people playing games on Taconic lawn.

When you’re dealing with pain nobody can see it is easy for people to not recognize the pain that you’re in. Add

in the fact that you’re withdrawn from life’s simpler pleasures and it is easy to become bitter and lash out at the world around you. I experienced the worst depression of my life.

People I had considered close friends abandoned me because they thought that I was a burden, while others were bewildered that I wasn’t my usual jubilant, lighthearted, and often-optimistic self that they’d grown accustomed to. The friends who stayed with me weren’t always the ones I expected to be there, and to this day I cherish my relationship with them.

Even two years later, I can recognize that I am not the same person that I was before the accident. However, instead of being angry I have learned to accept that and to embrace it. Chasing after a part of you that’s already gone is only going to inhibit your own growth and weigh you down.

Those worst days of my life after the accident taught me the importance of priorities. Rather than getting caught in up daily minutia, I have learned to see and strive for bigger picture objectives. If it means my homework doesn’t get finished and I have a chance to see my favorite band play a gig, or if I show up late somewhere because I spent that time helping somebody become a better radio personality, I’m okay with that.

It also taught me about the importance of your own mental health and that it is okay to seek help when you may think you need it—something that is especially important as we head into midterms and the last half of the semester.

I had spent so much of my life trying to hide from feelings of depression and anxiety, bottling them up inside, because I never thought that I had the right to feel that way. I come from a loving family, was raised in the middle class, have been blessed with good health, and have had experiences few others may get in a lifetime. Yet, hiding from these feelings just exacerbated my feelings of loneliness.

People like to tell you that you’re not alone, but it takes courage to access the resources that you need. Sometimes it takes somebody offering a hand to take that first step. Talking about what you are experiencing can be terrifying, but it can also be freeing.

Depression and anxiety are more common than one may recognize. In a study conducted by Christopher Murray and Alan Lopez titled “Global Burden of Disease: A Comprehensive Assessment of Mortality and Disability from Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors in 1990 and Projected to 2020,” it was projected that unipolar major depression would most likely become the second most common disease across the globe in 2020.

1 in 6 adults will experience depression at some point in their life, as reported by the CDC. 41.6% of college students will experience anxiety and 36.4% will experience depression, according to the American Psychological Association. Depression and anxiety can come on at any time and for any reason, it does not have to be because of a major traumatic event, and at times I have found myself experiencing these symptoms in normal, everyday life.

During any given week, I still experience on average one migraine, but they’ve become more manageable with medication and recognizing the symptoms when they start so that they don’t completely interrupt my ability to accomplish daily tasks. I still struggle with short-term memory.

Above all else, I am grateful for the appreciation of life that the accident afforded me. While it is easy to wish that this had never happened, I appreciate the newfound ability to live in the present and appreciate what is happening before my eyes I’m grateful to have been able to bounce back as well as I have and do things in spite of all of the hurdles that were placed in front of me.

And, two years later, I’m grateful to have finally found to strength to talk about the worst days of my life.

Lecture Failed Journalistic Expectations Last Thursday, MCLA held the annual Hardman Lecture Series which hosted writer and activist Liz Plank.

Liz is an award-winning journalist and also the executive producer at Vox Media for her show “Divided States of Women.”

Her lecture, “Modern Feminism: It’s Not Just About Women,” was a great inside look on feminism today and how to help give voice to those who cannot be heard. While her lecture discussed feminism and problematic issues of 2019, there was little to no mention of journalism or the field in general.

The Hardman Lecture Series is known to be focused on the field of journalism, teaching students how they can get their start in the field.

Plank was eager to share that even though she has worked in some journalistic aspects, she felt she was more of an activist than a journalist.

In fall 2018, MCLA hosted Maria Hinojosa who talked about her work with the LatinX community and how she became a journalist. Hinojosa’s talk saw a higher attendance than

Plank’s lecture.

Hannah Noel, Hardman coordinator and assistant professor of multi-ethnic studies & the digital humanities, shared the process of choosing the speaker.

“Myself and professor Finch had certain criteria when choosing the speaker,” Noel said. “We wanted someone that had a good journalistic view and also knowledge in digital media, but also someone who could speak to the students on a more personal level.”

Noel also added that the decision was based off the size of their budget and the time frame they were given to work with. She also mentioned that since first-year students didn’t have to attend the Hardman event, numbers were slightly lower than in the past.

As an English, and more specifically journalism, student, this lecture series is essential to the institution showing students that the College cares about the importance of journalism in general. In today’s world, the importance of journalism is ex-

NATHAN BIRON DON’T JUDGE ME tensive due to the rising problem of “fake news.”

This is also key to providing new or incoming students with exposure to people outside of the community, bringing in people who have worked out in the field to help students make their future decisions intelligently.

Journalism is straying more and more away from what it really means to report “hard news.”

Having Hardman speakers who discuss journalism and answer students’ questions is essential, not just for the student but for the classes attending and the public who receive context as to why the speaker became a journalist in the first place.

During her speech, Plank ended the talk with a game that needed two audience members to join her on stage to participate. This part is where the speech went extremely off topic and did not involve journalism in any way. Plank focused more on her activist work than her journalism writing.

The Hardman Lecture Series is set to host journalists who have extensive experience in the field, otherwise what the lecture series stands for gets changed. The significance of that could mean less popularity in the future or not being being able to get anyone to attend.

In future, the importance of having speakers who work in journalism is huge for journalism students to know how, and where they can begin their career.

Opinion

Oct. 17, 2019

I See You Have a College Degree... Is That It? At the end of four years, what will that degree hanging on your wall actually mean? Will it guarantee that you’ll land a successful job?

That you’re prepared for the “real world” the day you walk the stage?

Unfortunately, going to college doesn’t equate to getting a good job anymore. Having a degree proves you were able to stick with something for four years, and that’s it.

Several decades ago, the United States’ educational system was simple, and it worked. A college degree was affordable (although it was arguably still expensive, it was nowhere near as expensive as it is now) and graduates could easily secure offers for higher-paying jobs by means of earning the necessary degrees.

We now face a quite different world. A college degree is no longer acting as a stepping stone to securing a better job and a better life.

Students have to do it all in order to get as close as they can to achieving their goals. They have to be a part of campus, joining clubs or extra-curricular activities. Graduating with honors is preferable, and fairly high grades is a necessity.

What about internships or handson work experience? It’s a must.

After four years of pushing yourself, trying to do every little thing that will help you stand out on a resume, you graduate and enter the workforce with a degree... and unfortunately, that’s no longer enough for employers.

Most hiring managers know the piece of paper doesn’t mean much when it comes to success in the workplace. All four years amount to a checkmark in a box for “degree earned.” It’s becoming increasingly common for companies to make hiring decisions based primarily on three factors, experience level, portfolio, and personality―none of which have anything to do with a traditional four-year degree.

Earning straight A’s in calculus is impressive, but it doesn’t directly apply to 99 percent of daily tasks in the business world. Managers want to know about experiences

TESSA SESTITO NOT FOR THE BETTER and training that pertain to the job at hand.

They also want results, proof of your ability to do the work as seen in a well-presented portfolio and solid endorsements. New college grads often have only a transcript and a few senior projects as proof, and that simply isn’t enough anymore.

Just as important is the applicant’s personality, their value system. Before making a hiring decision, a manager wants to learn whether the prospective employee would be a good fit for the team and the company culture. Will they be responsible? Punctual? How do they communicate? Soft skills are just as important as hard skills when it comes to successfully integrating and growing in a corporate job, however, very little of the college experience focuses on these soft skills.

If you aren’t able to set yourself apart from other candidates in the workforce, it may take time to find a job. However, that doesn’t stop the mounting student-loan debt.

The unfortunate truth is that student-loan debt now outpaces mortgage and credit-card debt combined in the United States. The total amount of student loan debt in the U.S. adds up to $1.56 trillion.

This isn’t as shocking when you think about the ludicrous increases to tuition year after year, as well as the interest of these loans that build up over time.

Yet, a college degree is still thought of as an absolute necessity. It’s been ingrained in us that, “You’ve got to go to college if you want a middle-class job.”

Millennials listened and acted accordingly, like an older sibling that acts as the experiment child for younger generations (Gen Z) to follow. They’re now the most educated generation in U.S. history.

According to The Wall Street Journal, approximately 40% of those between the ages 25 and 37 hold at least a bachelor’s degree, compared to 25% of baby boomers and 30% of Gen Xers at the same age.

However, they’re being hit the hardest by student debt. Student debt borrowers are struggling to make ends meet.

According to Pew Research Center, 21% of employed adults between the ages of 25 and 39 with at least a bachelor’s degree and outstanding student loans work more than one job, and just 27% of young college graduates with student loans say they are living comfortably, compared to 45% of college graduates of a similar age without outstanding loans.

This debt kills dreams. Young adults are delaying major life milestones due to the sheer mental weight of college debt. They’re putting off buying a reliable vehicle or a first home, waiting to get married or have children, and shelving any hopes of traveling to experience new places and cultures.

They’re pushing the pause button on living their lives until they have a better handle on managing their debt. That could be well into their forties when they’ve built up a career and repaired their credit ratings. Unfortunately, many college graduates never have the means to pay back all the debt they accumulated to pursue higher learning.

The hard fact is that even after four (very expensive) years, many graduates are unprepared for the job market. Times have changed.

Why hasn’t our education system?

Something has to change.

TheOnlineBeacon.com

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Adams Rambles Onward Photos By Jake Vitali

On Monday, thousands of hikers and many canine companions ascended Mount Greylock for the 52nd annual Greylock Ramble organized

by ProAdams, a local volunteer organization.

Shuttles were provided in Adams, dropping hikers at the base of the Cheshire Harbor Trail which is about 6.6 miles round trip.

The summit of Mount Greylock is 3,491 feet above sea level and provides breathtaking views of five states including Massachusetts, Vermont, New York, New Hampshire and Connecticut.

At the top of the mountain is the Veterans Memorial Tower, a beacon built in honor of lost soldiers from Massachusetts in World War 1 and subsequent conflicts.

This year hikers were greeted with favorable conditions, whereas it has been cold and rainy the previous three years.