February 15, 2018 Vol. 86 Issue 3

T hu r s day , F e b rua ry 15, 2018

Volume 86

Issue 3

“Show Me Democracy” Screening

Activism and working for change

BY MAYA MCFADDEN STAFF WRITER The Multicultural Education Resource Center’s (MERC) first film screening for Black History Month had a total audience turnout of 38 students and community members for the showing of the documentary “Show Me Democracy” on Feb. 8.

Michael Obasohan, assistant director of diversity programs, introduced Karina Arango and Brittany Ferrell, two college graduates and activists from Missouri who appear in the documentary, for a Q&A after the film screening in the Church Street Center Auditorium.

The 2016 documentary followed seven St. Louis college students’ efforts and demands to fight for justice through policy and protest for the black and immigrant communities.

After the screening, Arango and Ferrell opened the floor to questions about the film, activism, and democracy.

In the film, Ferrell said she did not think it was effective to direct profanities at police officials because “we fight so they can see the humanity in us” and participating in such unreasonable acts only sheds negative light on the black community.

Referring to this moment in the film, a student asked, “When setting up a protest, how do you set boundaries for those involved to ensure it is successful?”

“I no longer censor people in their anger,” Ferrell answered. “We move through this world being censored enough. I think the only boundaries to consider are safety and making sure everyone involved is on key with the overall message.”

Many students made comments, thanking both Arango and Ferrell for their dedication and hard work, and for their eye-opening points made throughout the film.

“I was once one of those white women who would ask what I can do to be an ally to those fighting for their

photo by Maya McFadden

The film was shown on Feb. 8 in the Church Street Center. rights and from this film I realized I can help with my privilege because I have access to higher-up people who can tap into changing the system for the better,”

WinterFest

a North Adams resident commented.

“Sometimes you must get out of the way and invite a brown person to those private settings, so they can

just speak,” Ferrell replied in response to the idea of what those with privilege can do to be an ally. “I feel like that alone will do a lot.”

Democracy page 2

Campus Center Staircase

North Adams set to host ice sculpting, Chowder Cook-Off

Concerns of leak prompt stair closure

BY JACOB VITALI A&E WRITER

BY MITCHELL CHAPMAN BUSINESS MANAGER

Rain, snowfall or shine, the North Adams tourism board is set to continue its annual tradition of WinterFest this Saturday.

The event will begin at 9 a.m. and feature ice sculpting on Eagle Street and Main Street, sledding at Colegrove Park (weather permitting) and a community conversation at the Design Lab on Main Street.

Another exciting part of the day looks to be the return of WinterFest’s Annual Chowder Cook-Off taking place at 87 Main St. from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.

“The Chowder Cook-Off has been a staple event for almost every year,” explained Suzy Helme, director of community events for the city of North Adams, in an email. This is her third year running the event.

Several popular restaurants will be participating, including Boston SeaFoods Restaurant, Gramercy Bistro, Freight Yard Pub, The Hub, Mingo’s Sports Bar and Grill, North Adams

Commons and Ramunto’s.

The day will also offer a farmer and artisan market from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 66 Main St. where patrons can find an assortment of home

decorations, toys, jewelry, knitwear, food and alcoholic beverages.

There will also be horse-drawn carriage rides available for free

WinterFest page 2

photo courtesy of Suzy Helme

The Daly family enjoying last year’s winterfest.

On Jan. 17, Campus Police Chief Daniel Colonno sent out a safety alert detailing “some unevenness in the walkway and patio area” outside the Campus Center, leading to the closure of the stairs and patio, as well as bookstore entrance of the Campus Center, the Venable side door, and the stairs leading to the patio outside the Campus Center gym.

This unevenness, according to Vice President of Administration and Finance and Acting Director of Facilities Lawrence Behan, is a depression in the subsurface of the patio, created by erosion, and has caused some water leakage that needs to be addressed.

“The water leak will be repaired within the next 7-10 days when a new main water line is run into Venable Hall and activated, thus allowing the city to shut off the main water line currently feeding Venable that has the leak,

most likely caused by the severe sub-zero temperatures last month,” Behan said in a provided statement Monday.

Once the new water line is installed, the patio area will be evaluated and a plan to stabilize the area and effect repairs will be underway. According to Behan, it might require a phased approach: Stabilize to allow foot traffic and then remediate with a new patio area in the spring/ summer when weather conditions are more favorable.

A temporary fix might also be implemented until a more permanent fix can be issued later. There are no plans to demolish and replace the staircase to the patio area.

The College chose to place a new line over finding and repairing the leak because it will allow them to keep Venable Hall open during the semester, which sits adjacent to the Campus Center and houses the Venable Theater, Venable Gym, and Commuter Lounge, in addition to classroom space and other facilities.

Staircase page 2

CAMPUSNEWS

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Feb. 15, 2018 Vol. 86 Issue 3

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tial replacement of turkey burgers instead of chicken twice a week.

Other topics included improving on the special “vegan item of the day” and overall freshness of the food. Opinions were also shared about expanding selections at POD locations with members of the Gallery stating desires for raw meat and vegetable options.

It was also announced that Berkshire Tower’s A-Board had withdrawn their previous request of $2000 for “The Gala” event. Parliamentarian Dean Allen Little ’21 stated issues related to time management.

MassPIRG was also happy

as

standing there doing the activity and he said, ‘I think we should face all the blocks upside down on the word that’s negative. That way we just build up and bury the problem’.”

This remark was met with shocked and surprised faces by the SGA as the BSU continued explaining their stance against the current administration and encouraging the SGA to take action.

“I don’t feel like I’m here to thrive anymore,” said Smith.

“I feel like I’m surviving on this campus.”

At the meeting, Senator Andrew Baillargeon ’19 produced the results of the Food Committee meeting on Feb. 7. With it comes the poten-

M

“The Gallery” is the term dubbed to the general public seating place within official courthouses, halls and at college Student Government Association (SGA) meetings.

Toward the end of each SGA meeting, the group enters Open Forum where the general conversation is opened to members of the public.

It is here the Black Student Union (BSU) decided to make their voices heard.

“We made a point to cancel one of our meetings and to, as a unit, attend an SGA meeting in response to the lack of unity, community,

and diversity on campus,” said Don’Jea Smith ’19.

Smith was one of several of BSU’s E-board members in attendance. Several accounts of different racial issues were presented, and one in particular that caught attention was a recent event experienced by BSU member Dee Davis ’19.

“It was like building blocks,” said Davis. “There were words written on them like ‘prejudice,’ ‘red-lining,’ or negative or racial charged words, and it said ‘Try and build a wall without using the words that have negative, racial stereotypes, or slurs, or whatever on them.’”

“And the president of our college,” she went on, “Was

N IO AT

BY COREY MITCHELLLABRIE STAFF WRITER

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SGA confronted by Black Student Union

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to share a decisive win in their statewide campaign when last week Dunkin’ Donuts pledged to phase out all use of styrofoam cups by 2020.

The Student Government Association meets in Murdock 218 on Mondays at 7 p.m. The meetings are open to all students.

Democracy from page 1 Another student asked what Arango and Ferrell would add to the film to touch on recent issues such as the 2016 presidential election.

“I would include an emphasis on intersectionality and the historical context of American immigration because the roots of this country are bloody and dark,” said Arango.

“I would want to give context to the history of America,” Ferrell said. “America is not this shiny thing that just happened to be tarnished recently by Donald Trump.”

“It was hard to watch but good

to watch,” said MCLA senior Adazae Shepherd-Edwards.

“The largest takeaway I got was that everyone has a place in the movement to positively contribute, they just have to focus in on finding it.”

Obasohan asked Arango and Ferrell the final question, “What do you hope our community takes away from the film and its ideas?”

“I hope what you would get out of this film, simply put, is to educate yourself and those around you. A part of being educated is sharing it so we can flourish,” Arango answered.

WinterFest from page 1 starting at MountainOne at 93 Main St. from 1-3 p.m.

For those who enjoy skating, there will be free skating offered from 2-4 p.m. at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Rink. If you do not own skates, you can also rent a pair for free.

Saturday’s events are expected to go on, even if there is more snow and rain in the forecast.

“Saturday’s activities happen regardless of the weather. It’s a

“I’d like for people to take away that there is plenty of work to be done all around the world, don’t think injustice is just in Missouri,” Ferrell answered.

MERC will be having another movie screening, showing “Higher Learning” on Feb. 28, which will be followed with a discussion with the campus conversations on race group.

Obasohan said he believes films like “Show Me Democracy” and “Higher Learning” are beneficial because they touch on sensitive and realistic topics which lead to conversations.

celebration of winter so really, with the exception of many feet of snow or a state of emergency with a travel ban, Saturday will be filled with activity,” explained Helme.

New to the event this year is a collaboration with MCLA’s diversity programs and Multicultural Education Resource Center.

“New to the event this year are the free admission to the Museum of Dog (if it is able to open on time),

photo by Maya McFadden

The crowd of students and members of the community were able to discuss the film immediately after.

and the Community Conversation led by MCLA’s diversity programs & Multicultural Education Center. We’re very excited that Michael Obasohan reached out to us for this collaboration to integrate MCLA’s Black History Month events into WinterFest,” said Helme.

While events Saturday will go on regardless of weather, all events Sunday at Windsor Lake have been cancelled due to recent rain and

warmer temperatures.

“The weather really has to be right for activities to take place up at the lake,” Helme explained.

The day would have consisted of sledding, ice skating on the lake, cross country skiing, and snowshoeing.

The event is sponsored by Greylock Federal Credit Union, MountainOne, The Green and First Hartford Realty.

This marks 21 years that the city has put on this event.

The only downtime for Venable Hall should be a few hours, as its water will be shut off in order for it to connect with the new line. The alternative — searching and attempting to repair the leak — would have put Venable out of commission for weeks.

Addressing the fencing that was placed along both staircase entrances, as well as the entrance to the bookstore, Behan confirmed that it was installed to “keep all foot traffic out of the area.” Previously, the area was closed off by only sawhorses, caution tape and signs.

“To be clear, the staircase is not compromised nor in any disrepair,” he said. “The water leak is underground, beneath the patio at the top of the stairs in that area behind Venable. We deemed it prudent to close off the area as a noticeable depres-

sion was forming, buckling the asphalt patio in the immediate area of the water leak. The water leak should be repaired within the next 10 days or so. New pipes will be run from the area near the intersection of Hoosac Hall and Smith House – that grassy area that runs adjacent to the stairs next to the ramp to the mailroom.

The new line will enter Venable Hall in the ceiling near the mailroom, and run down to the area at the bottom of the stairs outside the mailroom – down the main water room in Venable – next to the Venable gym doors.”

Behan said that he cannot provide a timeframe for the reopening of the staircase and patio area until the ground beneath the patio area is assessed, which will determine how compromised the area is.

Staircase from page 1

photo by Mitchell Chapman

The stairway leading into Venable and the Campus Center have been off-limits to students and faculty for weeks.

Feb. 15, 2018 Vol. 86 Issue 3

NATIONALNEWS

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White House releases budget, forecasts a decade of mounting debt

BY CHRISTI PARSONS Tribune Wahsington Bureau WASHINGTON - The Trump administration proposed a spending plan Monday that projects deficits as far as the eye can see, giving up the longtime Republican goal of a balanced budget to champion a spending plan replete with cash for a host of military programs and some domestic ones the president’s supporters might admire.

The budget calls for about $716 billion in annual defense spending, more than $100 billion above the level Trump requested last year. Add in the tax cuts Republicans pushed through in December and the extra spending Congress approved just last week, and the result is a flood of red ink projected to send the national debt ever higher.

Trump’s budget anticipates deficits throughout the next 10 years even if Congress were to approve some $3 trillion in cuts over that same time period that he’s proposing for a wide range of federal programs. Both parties already rejected most of those cuts last year and have shown little interest in pursuing them.

The deficits persist even though the White House is forecasting extremely optimistic levels of economic growth.

If growth falls short of those projections -most economists think it will deficits would be higher still.

As a result, the budget marks something of a milestone - the Trump administration’s abandonment of the

photos from MCT Campus

President Donald Trump’s fiscal year 2019 budget proposals are being delivered to the House Budget Committee on Monday, Feb. 12, 2018 at the Longworth building on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. (Olivier Douliery/Abaca Press/TNS)

quest for budget balance that the Republican Party has claimed as a guiding light for years, at least rhetorically.

In reality, deficits have often soared under Republican presidents as the party has put cutting taxes ahead of balancing budgets on its list of priorities. In the past, however, Republican administrations have taken pains to at least come up with a budget that would balance on paper.

The budget unveiling led off with the administration’s infrastructure plan, released with a statement from the president promising to build gleaming new roads, bridges and highways “all across our land.”

Despite the bold promise, the plan involves a relatively small amount of new federal spending - $200 billion offset, at least partially, by cuts to other programs. The administration claims the new money would spur some $1.5 trillion in infrastructure investments from state, local and private sources, but that would depend to a large degree on the willingness of local and state officials to raise taxes for transportation projects.

“Washington no longer will be a roadblock to progress,” Trump told a group of state and local officials gathered at the White House.

Progress, as laid out in the budget, means building and spending on projects important to Trump’s core supporters. The president proposes investment in popular causes including fighting the opioid epidemic and bolstering medical care for veterans.

He is also asking for $1.6 billion to build 65 miles of border wall in the Rio Grande Valley in south Texas, just one installment of the larger border wall promise that helped propel him to the Oval Office. He also proposed pouring more money into immigration enforcement.

But Trump’s plan also defines progress as cutting programs that many of his voters don’t like, including climatechange research at the Environmental Protection Agency and programs under the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.

He also once again is proposing to eliminate federal money for a number of longtime conservative targets, including the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Congress brushed aside those ideas last year.

His budget would slash almost $700 billion in federal health care spending

that helps low- and moderate-income Americans who rely on insurance marketplaces created by the 2010 health care law.

As Republicans proposed last year, the plan would replace much existing health care spending with grants to states, allowing each one to craft its own health program. Similar proposals last year failed in the Senate, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has indicated that the chamber won’t consider another run at Obamacare this year.

The spending blueprint also outlines nearly $1.5 trillion in cuts over the next decade to Medicaid, the government health plan for the poor - another proposal that was rejected in Congress last year.

The administration said the sweeping reductions reflect a goal to cut regulation and “empower patients and doctors.” Independent studies, as well as evaluations by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, however, have projected that cuts of that magnitude would leave tens of millions of Americans without health coverage.

One illustration of the gap between the budget and congressional reality: Last week, as administration officials were putting the final touches on their spending plan, lawmakers reached a

Are you an SGA Club?

Your first ad in the paper is on the house!

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bipartisan budget deal that included an agreement to raise spending on both military and domestic programs over the next two years. Congress is highly unlikely to throw out its own decisions in favor of embracing those of the president.

Trump’s budget director, Mick Mulvaney, acknowledged as much in the letter he sent to House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., transmitting the budget Monday. The administration doesn’t believe the new spending decisions “comport with its vision” for the role and size of the government, Mulvaney wrote.

Ryan was circumspect.

“This budget lays out a thoughtful, detailed and responsible blueprint for achieving our shared agenda,” he said Monday.

The unlikely cuts are just part of what makes Monday’s budget partially fiction. The spending plan also assumes that the country’s economic growth will surge to greater than 3 percent this year and stay above that level for several years to come - a projection most economists think is optimistic.

The CBO estimates that the gross domestic product will expand at somewhere around 2 percent a year over the coming years.

NATIONALNEWS

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Feb. 15, 2018 Vol. 86 Issue 3

A week in history: Justinian to Rockwell February 15th

706 – Byzantine emperor Justinian II has his predecessors Leontios and Tiberios III publicly executed in the Hippodrome of Constantinople.

1898 – The battleship USS Maine explodes and sinks in Havana harbor in Cuba, killing 274. This event leads the United States to declare war on Spain.

1942 – The Fall of Singapore. Following an assault by Japanese forces, the British General Arthur Percival surrenders. About 80,000 Indian, United Kingdom and Australian soldiers become prisoners of war, the largest surrender of British-led military personnel in history.

1972 – Jaromír Jágr, Czech ice hockey player, is born.

February 17th

624 – Wu Zetian, Chinese consort to Emperor Gaozong of Tang, afterwards ruled as a regent and then as the empress of the Zhou dynasty is born.

1801 – An electoral tie between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr is resolved when Jefferson is elected President of the United States and Burr, Vice President by the United States House of Representatives.

February 18th

1861 – With Italian unification almost complete, Victor Emmanuel II of Piedmont, Savoy and Sardinia assumes the title of King of Italy.

1885 – Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain is published in the United States.

1965 – The Gambia becomes independent from the United Kingdom 1965 – Dr. Dre, American rapper, producer, and actor, is born.

1564 – Michelangelo, Italian sculptor and painter dies.

February 19th

February 16th

1852 – Studebaker Brothers wagon company, precursor of the automobile manufacturer, is established.

1959 – Fidel Castro becomes Premier of Cuba after dictator Fulgencio Batista was overthrown on January 1.

the end of the Siege of Paris during the Franco-Prussian War. 1933 – Newsweek magazine is first published.

1991 – Ed Sheeran, English singersongwriter, guitarist, and producer is born.

Photos from WikimediaCommons

The official potrait of President Thomas Jefferson 1871 – The victorious Prussian Army parades through Paris, France, after

1940 – Smokey Robinson, American singer-songwriter and producer is born.

1942 – World War II: United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs executive order 9066, allowing the United States military to relocate Japanese Americans to internment

Weekend Weather

Thursday, February 15

Rainy and cloudy High: 49° Low: 41° Precip. Chance: 55%

camps.

1945 – World War II: Battle of Iwo Jima: About 30,000 United States Marines land on the island of Iwo Jima.

February 20th

1933 – The Congress of the United States proposes the Twenty-first Amendment to the United States Constitution that will end Prohibition in the United States.

1943 – The Saturday Evening Post publishes the first of Norman Rockwell’s Four Freedoms in support of United States President Franklin Roosevelt’s 1941 State of the Union address theme of Four Freedoms.

February 21st

1797 – A force of 1,400 French soldiers invaded Britain at Fishguard in support of the Society of United Irishmen. They were defeated by 500 British reservists.

1916 – World War I: In France, the Battle of Verdun begins.

1925 – The New Yorker publishes its first issue.

“They’re the best band I’ve ever heard.” — Justin Vernon of Bon Iver

Friday, February 16

Morning Showers High: 47° Low: 12° Precip. Chance: 60%

Saturday, February 17 Sunday, February 18

WORK-IN-PROGRESS: LIVE MUSIC

POLIÇA/ STARGAZE Thursday, February 15, 8pm

HUNTER CENTER | $10 STUDENTS | $18 ADVANCE $25 DAY OF | $35 PREFERRED

Some Sun High: 30° Low: 20° Precip. Chance: 5%

Partly Cloudy High: 37° Low: 21° Precip. Chance: 6%

TICKETS: massmoca.org or 413.MoCA.111 | North Adams, Mass.

Tune in to Your Radio Station!

Celebrating 45 Years of Great Radio.

FEATURES

5

Environmental Department

Pizza seminars hosted every Tuesday

BY MEGHAN COOK FEATURES EDITOR Every Tuesday students entering the CSI building can follow the delicious smell of pizza up the second floor to the Environment Studies suite. There they will find not only pizza, but also an informative student presentation or seminar in the environmental field.

While the allure to some may be the sumptuous pizza provided, these weekly presentations are fascinating in their own right.

“They are open to everyone, but probably of most interest to ENVI majors,” says Elena Traister, head of the environmental department. “Anyone who attends and finds them interesting might think about majoring in ENVI!” According to Traister the seminars were regular approximately 10 years ago, but the budget for the department was too small to provide lunch each week.

“We recently requested Photo provided by Nicole Laudon additional funds to be able Pizza is provided by the Environmental Department every Tuesday as a part of the lunchtime seminars to revive the ENVI pizza lunches,” explains Traister.

“When our request was ap- bination of students pre- students in the environmen- enson who presented on her summer of 2017 down proved, we started up the senting recent research and tal major. internships experiences, as Some of the presenters are in Alabama completing an seminars again.” well as career development themselves ENVI alumni internship for the Research Traister heads up these talks, and graduate school who come back to talk about Experience for Undergradulectures, taking the time to program information.

There their grad school experiates program at Samford ask students to present and have also been presentaence and/or opportunities University in Birmingham. promoting the presentations by local institutions in their current line of work.

Her research was focused on tions via email. that traditionally offer emOne recent presentation salamanders, lizards, and According to Traister, the ployment opportunities for was from junior Kaylyn Swturtles and required many seminars consist of a com-

long, hot days of field work.

“A big way [the seminars] help students is simply informing them about what opportunities exist for students to get professional/ hands-on experience during their time at MCLA,” says Traister. “It’s also just nice for ENVI students and faculty to check in with each other once a week and hear about what interesting projects folks are working on.”

While the environmental studies department offers these small suite-sized presentations on Tuesday, the department is also continuing with their annual Green Living Seminar lecture series. Every semester the Green Living Seminars focus on a different topic in sustainability and the environmental field.

In collaboration with the MCLA Berkshire Environmental Resource Center, the environmental department has dubbed this year’s theme to be “Sustainability and the Role of Technology.” The series goes for 11 weeks and takes place in the CSI building Room 121 beginning at 5:30pm.

The Tuesday pizza lunches are not always speakers ands presenters. The department has also given workshops on how to properly make a cover letter and resume for students. Workshops and experiences like this allow all majors to prepare for life after college.

Freel Library

Reading up on black history

BY LISE MANSARAY FEATURES WRITER

As a part of Black History Month, the MCLA Freel Library is showcasing a variety of books ranging on topics such as the Black Lives Matter movement, the evolution of hip hop and the Black Panther movement.

Standing next to the circulation desk on the main floor of the library is an entire bookshelf highlighting different topics for Black History Month. The library’s goal is to help contribute to creating an inclusive

and welcoming environment here on campus.

“We just wanted to show the diversity of the collection and show that the library wants to represent enough people as possible,” said Alishia Alther, the library supervisor.

“This month’s feature is important because MCLA should be able to showcase and present all the unique different cultures and history,” said Steven Stengel, library employee.

“To make a more diverse and inclusive environment, it starts with education.”

Photo provided by Meghan Cook

Library bookcase showcasing books in celebration of Black History Month.

Inclusiveness and representation is something the campus tries to focus on, as clubs such as the Black Student Union (BSU) and African, Latino, Asian, Native American Club (ALANA) have worked together in improving that. In the future, the library plans to reach out to those clubs and others in helping pick out books for the library’s showcasing.

“In the future, we plan on reaching out to student groups on campus,” Alther said.

This year they picked out the selection of books through collaboration with other staff members.

“We just picked some of the most recent titles we had and contemporary stuff we thought would be interesting highlighting things like the Black Lives Matter movement,” Alther said.

The library keeps the bookcase by the circulation desk stocked with different books in correlation and celebration to the month or season.

In November 2017, books on Native Americans lined the main shelf and were also behind glass cases all throughout the three floors of the library. The cases are kept ajar so students may still access the books.

After Black History Month ends,

students can still read about books regarding black history all year round.

“We have an E-section where they can search which is like U.S. history with things such as the Black Panthers, and you can go into other sections of slavery or black literature,” said Alther. “We also have research guides on the library website.”

The library will feature topics such as LGBTQ History, Native American Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, and more in the coming months.

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Arts & Entertainment

Black History Month events to spark conversation

BY EMMA MONAHAN A&E EDITOR

The Multicultural Education Resource Center (MERC) is in full swing this February, hosting multiple events to celebrate and educate students about Black History Month.

Michael Obasohan, assistant director of diversity programs and the Multicultural Education Resource Center, explained how important these events are, and how MERC is able to create conversations with them.

“These are events that would spark dialog,” he said.

“That was my go-to, to get people talking in a way that we touch on different things within social injustices that are happening.”

What Obasohan and MERC really want to do is show students what it felt like to be a person of color during the civil rights movement. All last week, students were able to participate and view events during the Black in Time week.

As the kickoff to the whole month’s events, Obasohan didn’t just want to show members of the community what discrimination was like during the movement, but also to celebrate people of color.

“I also wanted to celebrate the success of the students

on campus, and I wanted to get faculty and staff members who look like our students of color to get talking, and also collaborate with other institutions,” said Obasohan about collaborating with Williams College and Berkshire Community College.

Senior Mikaela SerranoMoore, a business administration major, was the one who came up with the Black In Time events. She stated in an email how she came up with the event.

“My mind works very fast in terms of programming, sometimes too fast. The title of the event was something I came up with on a whim and then I was able to, from there, come up with events that would be insightful, creative, and interactive.”

During this month, the Women of Color Dinner and the Men of Color Dinner will be held by invite only.

The point of the dinners, Obasohan said, is to celebrate the success of the students.

Obasohan plans to invite alumni back to the campus, in a role model fashion.

“Really it’s about a brotherhood,” Obasohan said about the Men of Color Initiative, “who are academically succeeding, mentors to each other.”

Other events that are being

held by MERC are multiple movie viewings, including “The Wood” on Feb. 21. On Feb. 8, there was a showing of “Show Me Democracy,” where the director and actors of the film visited the school after the film.

Obasohan explained that these types of events are very important at a college campus, and hopes in the future to have more departments involved with the events, as well as not only celebrating during February.

“We have to know our history,” he said, “and I think we’re a lot more open to conversations than in the past. It’s important to educate everyone on that because we don’t want to fall back into old habits. By doing this and educating students on different pivotal moments, this will inform people of color of where they came from and the progress of where we are now and also inform other students of what students of color have been through, this is why they’re feeling this way, and how can we create an atmosphere where we can talk about it and push forward.”

Serrano-Moore also commented on the importance of these events.

“The civil rights movement isn’t only a part of black history but part of American history and it deserves to be

This Is: Adrian Aardvark

photo by Jerry Cadieux

Adrian Aardvark will perform at Design Lab on Friday.

BY JAKE VITALI A&E WRITER Adrian Aardvark is a band from Plattsburgh, New York that combines elements of folk, grunge, and psychedelic rock.

On the band’s Facebook page they describe themselves as having “a unique brand of rock and roll that is highly energetic, completed with costumes, theatrics, introspective lyrics, and solid grooves.”

The quartet is comprised of songwriter and vocalist Christopher Jay Stott-

Rigsbee, violinist Shannon Stott-Rigsbee, upright bassist Catherine Harrison-Wurster, and drummer Christopher Lee Shacklett.

Outside of music, the band has taken up charitable causes. Christopher Jay is a supporter of Donate Life America, an organization which encourages eye, organ, and tissue donations. In 2014, he donated 65 percent of his liver to HarrisonWurster’s father and was successful in saving his life.

The band has also taken the term “like family” to a new level. Christopher Jay

and Shannon married in 2015. Christopher Lee has also moved in with the StottRigsbees.

The band has used their website to speak out against the FCC’s repeal of Net Neutrality back in December 2017, citing concerns over new listeners finding their and other underground artists’ music.

Politics has also been a theme in the band’s music, in addition to learning from painful experiences.

The band released a digital album titled “AMERICAN AARDVARK” in November 2013 and two shorter releases, “When History Repeats Itself” and “Bones Positive,” in the summer of 2014, each available on Bandcamp. Each of the releases can be enjoyed for free.

This spring they will release a new project titled “Debut Album.” At this time, there is no official release date.

Adrian Aardvark will be playing this Friday at the Design Lab at 7 p.m. here in North Adams. The event will also feature performances from SCHMAVE, Winnebago Vacation, and Melanie Glenn.

photo courtesy of Michael Obasohan

Multiple events will be held during the month to celebrate Black History Month. recognized and celebrated just like we celebrate the Fourth of July. People of color have gone through too much and are still going through

too much but it’s important to recognize the steps that have been taken for people of color to be where we are today.”

Upcoming Events: Feb. 15: “Girls Trip” Viewing 7:30-9:30 p.m. Sullivan Lounge

Feb. 16: GAYme Night with IGE 7-8 p.m. Sullivan Lounge

Feb. 17: Barn Babies with SAC 6-8 p.m. Venable Gym

Feb. 15: Student Cook Off 4:30-6 p.m. Marketplace

Arts & Entertainment

7

Barn Babies to return, SAC’s schedule vamps up with new events

BY WYATT MINEAU A&E WRITER If you’re a fan of baby animals and giving them affection, having distractions from the work and humdrum of your college semester, or just like feeling that warm fuzzy feeling in your gut, then the Student Activities Council (SAC) has just the solution for you.

Barn Babies will be returning to campus Saturday, Feb. 17, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Venable Gym. Joseph Bellas, the Saturday Night Spotlight chairmen, said, “Barn Babies is kind of like a petting zoo, but with cute baby barn animals!”

Students can once again come and interact with the various baby animals available for the event, pet them, hold them, feed them, and play with them.

The usual barn babies

will be showing up at this year’s event, including goats, puppies, kittens, bunnies and pigs.

Any students who were previously awarded a SAC “Skip the Line at Barn Babies” pass will have an opportunity to use them.

SAC is hosting this event in an effort to get students engaged in their community on-campus.

Because of the popularity of the event from last semester, it has returned, and SAC hopes it will return in the future.

SAC has a whole schedule outlined for the coming semester, with events such as Amazing Erik the illusionist later this month, a popcorn bar in March, and comedian Ben Seidman in April, all of which have been made possible thanks to funding SAC received from SGA. You can follow SAC on their Facebook page.

photos by Emma Monahan

Last spring, Barn Babies took place in Venable Gym featuring puppies, kittens, bunnies, and goats. The same animals will be featured for some cuddles, as well as pigs.

Digital Wheat Paste celebrates one year

BY BRIANNA LAMB A&E WRITER

North Adams-based music blog Digital Wheat Paste (DWP) has come a long way in the year since Editorial Director Francesca Olsen created it.

To celebrate this anniversary, DWP has organized a show at the Design Lab on Feb. 16.

The show will feature SCHMAVE, Winnebago Vacation, Adrian Aardvark,

and Forks of Buffalo, as each band appeared in DWP in some way over the past year.

It seems as though Olsen was destined to start the local music blog, growing up in the very active music scene of Poughkeepsie, New York. In high school, she interviewed bands and wrote reviews for Skratch Magazine, which was published in California, giving her early experience with this type of work.

photo from Francesca Olsen

Adrian Aardvark will be performing alongside Winnebago Vacation and SCHMAVE.

DWP originally started as a way to signal-boost the music scene in Western Massachusetts, Southern Vermont, and Eastern New York, but because the DIY music scene is such a small world, it has grown to include articles and content about music from many places outside of these areas.

“I just really like this kind of underground/counterculture thing, and it fits so well in North Adams,” said Olsen. “I think creating a space to write about up-and-coming bands, or just stuff I like that isn’t widely known, is something I will always really want to do.”

Olsen got the first taste of validation for her work when the music blog hit 5,000 page views within the first few months of its launch. Knowing that even though many similar types of music blogs exist, there is still room for and a need for DWP makes Olsen want to keep nurturing the project.

While highlighting local and lesser-known bands is one of the focuses of the blog, Olsen also highlights another goal.

“As a woman musician I really believe in shining a light on other women and non-men doing interesting things, and I’ve been able to do that in a big way with our coverage.

Plus, most of our contributors are women,” Olsen said. “We definitely still write about male musicians, but in a subculture where that is and has been the norm for decades, it’s great to highlight all kinds of people’s projects.”

A new series, where nonmale musicians write about three non-male musicians who are long-term inspirations for them, started off with a lot of engagement, and Olsen hopes to keep that engagement up for the duration of DWP. The upcoming show’s bands have all been featured in the music blog and have some big connections to the world of indie music.

SCHMAVE of New Paltz, New York recently opened for The Districts. Another New Paltz band, Winnebago Vacation, is the project of Eli Frank, a member of the touring band Teenage Halloween, which has a cult following. Adrian Aardvark of Plattsburgh, New York had Brendon Massei, a huge underground star, record their new album. Forks of Buffalo is a North Adamsbased one-man band with a guitar and synthesizer sound.

The show is open to all ages, with a no drugs or alcohol environment, welcoming to everyone who wants to hear the music.

Doors will be open for the show at 7 p.m. on Feb. 16 at the Design Lab downtown, and while a $5-10 admission fee is suggested (with all proceeds going to the musicians), Olsen makes it clear that no one will be turned away for lack of ability to pay.

“I love doing editorial work, I love coming up with new feature ideas and I love reviewing an inbox full of emails from earnest, creative people. I really enjoy discovering new music

and making new connections through DWP,” Olsen said.

Olsen also expressed a desire to reach out to MCLA students who would be interested in writing for the blog. If interested, feel free to contact Francesca Olsen at digitalwheatpaste@gmail.com.

Two big steps forward recently happened for DWP. The blog started a partnership with Boston Hassle, which covers New England scene and DIY topics.

DWP will be running Western Massachusetts show highlights there and contributing stories about local music that stands out in a special way, bridging the gap between the eastern and western parts of the state.

The music blog now also has Spotify, featuring an all-time favorites playlist of 21 bands who have appeared in DWP. Olsen will be adding new artists to new playlists on a monthly basis.

Digital Wheat Paste has some plans to grow in the future.

In addition to maintaining a manageable rate of growth, Olsen hopes to use DWP as a way to interview some of her favorite musicians, and add more video content. Some live sessions and a YouTube channel may also be coming soon.

For more information about the upcoming show, visit the Facebook event page, and to see what’s happening in the music blog, find Digital Wheat Paste on Facebook, Twitter, and their website at digitalwheatpaste. com.

8

SPORTS

Feb. 15, 2018 Vol. 86 Issue 3

Exciting rematch ends in Pingelski and Gawron scoring 23 points

BY JABARI SHAKIR SPORTS WRITER MCLA senior Courtney Pingelski and junior Samantha Gawron scored an astounding 23 points in an exciting home game rematch against the Fitchburg State Falcons on Wednesday, Feb. 7 at 5:30 pm. Despite this effort, the Trailblazers came up short and were defeated by the Falcons 81-76.

Their first encounter was on Jan. 18 when the Trailblazers came out with the win 82-53.

Moreover, Pingelski put on a wonderful show with her second double-double this season. She had 24 points and 10 rebounds.

Pingelski had seven rebounds and two assists, while Gawron finished with six rebounds, two steals, and one block. Kylah Langston also completed with 17 points, four rebounds, and one steal. Pingelski shot 8-10 (80 percent) from the field, 60 percent from the three-point line, and 5-6 (83 percent) from the free throw line.

Coach Loren Stock knows all the strengths and weaknesses of each player on her team.

Speaking about Pingelski, Stock chuckled and said, "She is a sharpshooter when she is on, it is hard to stop that one."

The Blazers overall ended with 33 rebounds, 15 assists, eight steals, and two blocks.

They shot 43.9 percent (2966) from the floor, 8-19 (42.1 percent) from behind the arc and 66.7 percent (10-15) from the free-throw line. In addition, they had 28 points

photo by MCLA Athletics

MCLA junior Samantha Gawron going for a layup in a game earlier this season. Gawron and fellow teammate senior Courtney Pingelski both dropped 23 points in the teams 81-76 loss to the Fitchburg State Falcons. in the paint and six bench points.

However, the Falcons had an extraordinary game making an effortless comeback in the third quarter.

They concluded with 43.5 (30-69) field goal percentage, 43.8 (14-32) three-point percentage, and 7-12 (58.3 percent) from the free-throw line. They continued to strive for 46 rebounds, 17 assists, 22 points in the paint and 34 bench points.

Mikaela Mitchell led the Falcons with 21 points, seven rebounds, one steal and one block. Likewise, Micheala McTomney scored a doubledouble with 17 rebounds, 13 points, four assists, two

steals and one block. Angelina Marazzi recorded 18 points, two boards, three steals and two assists. Emma Thomson put up 14 points, four rebounds, and two assists.

During the pre-game, Coach Stock knew what her team needed to do in order to come away with the win.

"I think the main thing across the last couple of games, we definitely need to take care of the ball, we cannot force turnovers, but we have to run them off the three-point line, and own the boards," Stock said.

Furthermore, Stock talked about senior Emily Moulton's injury and whether she would play that night.

"Having her reinjure it is unfortunate, but right now it is her senior year, so we are trying to keep her at bay obviously she is not 100 percent," Stock explained.

Coach Stock went into more detail on how the athletic training department is working with her diligently to get her 125 percent healthy and back on the court.

"We are trying to do the best, I am working very closely with Matt, the athletic trainer who has been great, it just depends how she is feeling because the swelling is still significant," Coach Stock mentioned.

Moulton returned after her painful ankle injury that

occurred over the winter break. She is in progress, but her coach and team were glad to see her on the court again.

She had three rebounds and one assist.

At the end of the first half, MCLA led an eight-point lead at halftime thanks to Langston hitting a wide-open jumper with 11 seconds left before the half. Pingelski led her team with 12 points, one rebound, and one assist. Gawron had 11 points, three boards, and two steals. Langston had 11 points and three rebounds.

For the Falcons, they were led by Thomson with 12 points and two rebounds, and Mitchell and Marazzi scored five points. Mitchell also added three rebounds to the stat sheet. McTomney scored four points, and added 10 rebounds, two assists and one steal.

In the fourth quarter with 6:19 left, the Falcons took their largest lead in the whole game with a 13 point deficit.

The score was 72-59. Marazzi scored a jump shot from the free-throw line while assisted and rebounded by McTomney.

With 39 seconds left, Mitchell hit three heartbreaking free throws to send the Trailblazers walking home with a loss.

The Fitchburg Falcons record is now 7-15 overall and 1-8 in the MASCAC while MCLA is 6-16 overall and 2-8 in their conference. The Blazers' last home game of the season is Saturday, Feb. 17 against Framingham State at 1:00 p.m.

Yearsley and Conquest lead Trailblazers through close 79-75 win over Fitchburg St.

BY BRADY GEROW SPORTS EDITOR Behind freshman Noah Yearsley's second half surge and senior Adam Conquest's consistent play, the MCLA Trailblazers men's basketball team was able to defeat Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletics Conference (MASCAC) opponent the Fitchburg State Falcons in a home game on Thursday, Feb. 8.

The second half of play was where the 'Blazers were most productive in the team's win. They entered the second half down 36-28 after a rough first half. In the opening 10 minutes of play the Falcons got out to a 16 point lead going up 25-9 on the 'Blazers.

The 'Blazers were able to get it close enough entering the second half of play where Yearsley took over, scoring 16 of his game-high 19 points in the second half of play.

Yearsley came up big late in the game as Fitchburg hit three free

throws to put the Falcons up 72-71 with just 1:20 left to play. Yearsley came in clutch on the next offensive possession grabbing an offensive rebound, then getting to the corner to drain a three to give MCLA the lead back at 74-72.

Fitchburg's Jonathan Perez later missed a good look that would've tied the game at 74 but the 'Blazers came down with the rebound, forcing the Falcons to start fouling. Although the 'Blazers only made three of six free throws in the last 30 seconds it was enough to hold onto the lead and squeeze out the 79-75 victory.

Yearsley had a solid night as he went 8-13 from the floor and 3-7 from beyond the arc. Yearsley added four rebounds one assists and two steals and blocks in the winning effort.

Yearsley was supported by Conquest's consistent night as he recorded a double-double with 17 point and rebounds with two blocks

and a steal on the defensive end.

Senior Keiland Cross ended with 11 points, but added six rebounds and assists in the win.

The Falcons were led by Nicholas Tracy's team-high 19 point night. He went 8-11 from the field, but battled second half foul trouble. Tracy added seven rebounds, three assists, and three steals. Perez added 12 points off the bench while Brandon Harris and Charles Doss each had 10 points.

The Falcons are back in action Saturday, Feb. 17 as they face off against Bridgewater State on their senior day and final game of the regular season.

The 'Blazers next game is also Saturday as they look to face off against MASCAC opponent Framingham State in their final regular season game this year in the Amsler Campus Center Gym at 3 p.m.

photo by MCLA Athletics

MCLA freshman Noah Yearsley driving to the lane and passing in a game earlier this season. Yearsley ended last Thursday's game with 19 points to lead the team, and added four rebounds, an assist and two steals and blocks in the win.

SPORTS Offensive troubles lead MCLA to 70-62 defeat to Pine Manor College Feb. 15, 2018 Vol. 86 Issue 3

SCORE BOARD MCLA Men’s Basketball MCLA (62), Pine Manor (70)

BY BRADY GEROW SPORTS EDITOR Led by a strong defense and 15 points from both Jamel Hamans and Louis Savage, the Pine Manor Gators were able to defeat the Trailblazers men’s basketball team 70-62 on Saturday, Feb. 10 in a game played at Williams College.

The full court pressure of the Gators proved to be the biggest factor in the game, as they were able to force the ‘Blazers to commit 15 turnovers in just the first half. The ‘Blazers committed 27 turnovers in total and had a hard time keeping the ball secure all night.

The Gators only built up a small lead going into the half despite the amount of turnovers they forced.

The Gators were up 33-28 when the half way mark was reached, and went into the locker room with a solid first half in the books.

The Gators opened up their largest lead of the night with around nine

9

Adam Conquest (MCLA) 13 Pts, 7 Reb, 1 Ast, 1 StlReb, 4 Ast, 3 Stl, 1 Blk

Louis Savage (Pin Manor)

15 Pts, 10 Reb, 2 Ast, 3 Stl

MCLA Women’s Basketball MCLA (76), Fitchburg St. (81) photo by MCLA Athletics

MCLA senior Adam Conquest going up for a layup in a game earlier this season.

Conquest finished the loss to Pine Manor with 13 points seven rebounds and an assist. minutes left to play when they went up 13 points with the score at 53-40.

Over the next six minutes of play the ‘Blazers were only able to get the lead down to nine points.

With 2:50 left to play in the game and the score at 63-52, the ‘Blazers went on a frantic 10-2 run to cut the lead down to 6562 with just a minute left to play. The ‘Blazers were ultimately unable to complete the comeback as

they never scored another point in the last minute of playing time.

The ‘Blazers were led by senior Adam Conquest’s team-high of 13 points.

He notched 7 rebounds in the loss. Freshman Noah Yearsley was the only other Trailblazer in double figures with 10 points.

Hamans and Savage led the way for the Gators with 15 points a piece in the win.

Savage added 10 rebounds, two assists, three steals

and a block to his stat-line in the win.

The Gators are now 1013 on the season and look for another win as they face off with Regis College on Thursday, Feb. 15.

The ‘Blazers, now 8-14 on the year, look to face off with conference opponent Framingham State in their final regular season game at home on Saturday, Feb. 17 in the Amsler Campus Center Gym.

New look Cavaliers throttle the Celtics: what does this mean for Boston’s NBA team?

This past Sunday, Boston Celtcourt. All told, the Celtics have been ics fans were treated to the long struggling lately as a whole, and it awaited and seemingly overdue has caused the Toronto Raptors to ceremonious retiring of usurp the team in the Atlantic legend Paul Pierce’s jersey Division and the Eastern Confernumber. Donning the ence as a whole, quietly stealing nickname “The Truth” the No. 1 seed away from the throughout his time Celtics, who had held it for much with the Celtics, it was a of the season to this point. glorious sight to behold, Yet, where was General Manone that many, including Andrew ager Danny Ainge at the trade Pierce himself, will cher- Baillargeon deadline? Granted, he was active ish for a long time. during the offseason for certain The Call And yet, what was the when he acquired Kyrie Irving, a highlight on such a spemove proving to pay dividends. cial day? With the CleveHowever, this is a Celtics team land Cavaliers, a team who bullied noticeably lacking in depth and the Celtics in last year’s Eastern clearly not ready to compete in a Conference Finals and a team who lengthy best-of-seven series with the is still causing these Celtics to be daunting Golden State Warriors in overlooked, despite being several the West, the star-studded Houston games behind them in the standRockets, and even the Cleveland ings, coming to town, it should have Cavaliers, a team who has had its been an energetic duel between the own share of struggles this season. two top teams in the East, especially For many years, the Celtics have on such a special day. been “the team on the rise,” a team Yet, it was not. Reminiscent of that lacked star power but had a phelast year’s playoff series between nomenal arsenal of role players and the teams, Cleveland dominated arguably a top coach in today’s game every aspect of the game on Bosin Brad Stevens. Acquiring Kyrie Irton’s court. Leading by as many as ving patches this issue up somewhat, thirty points, the Cavaliers took a but it will ultimately prove not to be double-digit lead into the halftime enough. The Rockets, a team which locker room and never looked back. already had James Harden among Cleveland’s new trade deadline a sturdy roster, got Chris Paul into acquisitions in Jordan Clarkson, the fray for even more star power George Hill, Larry Nance Jr. and during the offseason. The Warriors Rodney Hood, along with the usual have had multiple super stars on cast and crew including LeBron their roster, including Steph Curry, James and co. thoroughly embarKlay Thompson, Kevin Durant, and rassed the Celtics regardless of the Draymond Green. Their depth is men Coach Brad Stevens had on the incredibly impressive as well. The

Cleveland Cavaliers themselves have never avoided the media spotlight, and this is usually because the team loads up on talent. This past trade deadline was especially indicative of that, when the team acquired six new players, four of which figuring to be highly impactful, to aid them moving forward.

Yet, the Celtics did what they’ve been known to do at the trade deadline; they sat on their hands.

They’ve been impressive for yet another season in the regular season, but without a roster of experienced players and with a roster lacking in depth and, comparatively, star power, this is an effort that will once again go to waste come playoff time. Danny Ainge has been a phenomenal GM for the Celtics so far, but he has failed time and time again to push the team over the hump of reaching the Finals for the first time since Paul Pierce was still playing alongside the Big Three of old. Ainge took a large step forward when he leaped on a deal to acquire Kyrie Irving, but more needs to be done. This especially becomes the case if Irving should leave the team following the conclusion of the 2018-2019 season, when he becomes a free agent.

The Celtics made a good move to sign Greg Monroe, but it won’t be enough. Until they get with the times, take a risk and spend a bit of money to build a more impressive, talent-laden team, this will continue to happen again and again, year in, year out.

Courtney Pingelski (MCLA)

16 Pts, 7 Reb, 1 Stl

23 Pts, 7 Reb, 2 Ast Blk

Angelina Marazzi (Fitchburg St.) 18 Pts, 2 Reb, 2 Ast, 3 Stl3 Reb, 4 Ast, 2 Blk

NBA

Miami Heat (112), Toronto Raptors (115)

Goran Dragic (Heat) 28 PTS, 2 REB, 4 AST 10-12. 100 yds, 0 TD

Kyle Lowry (Raptors)

22 PTS, 4 REB, 8 AST

NBA

Houston Rockets (126), Minnesota Timberwolves(108)

James Harden (Rockets) 34 PTS, 6 REB, 13 ASTReb, 1 Ast, 2 Stl,

Karl-Anthony Towns (Timberwolves) 35 PTS, 12 REB, 3 AST

NHL

Calgary Flames (2), Boston Bruins (5)

Patrice Bergeron (Bruins) 2 Goals, 6 SOG

Sam Bennett (Flames) 1 Goal, 3 SOG

NHL Chicago Blackhawks (2), Vegas Golden Knights (5) David Perron (Golden Knights) 1 Goal, 1 Ast, 3 SOGs, 8 Ast, 2 Stl

Alex DeBrincat (Blackhawks) 1 Goal, 1 Ast, 2 SOGts, 22 Reb,

3 Ast

OPINION

10

Why new cars aren’t making us safer

BY KAI HOLL SPECEAL TO THE BEACON

Maybe it’s because I’m a sucker for old and vintage technology, or maybe it’s because I’m an old soul, but either way, I’m scared of modern cars. I mean, cars being made these days have automatic emergency breaking, and blind spot detectors, and my uncle’s new 2017 Chrysler has a feature where it can detect if you’re drifting while driving and correct your position all by itself by pushing you back into line.

These features amaze me, because they’re incredibly complex and the people who designed them are geniuses. But in my opinion, you should feel a little cautious while driving, no matter where you are; you shouldn’t feel completely calm and relaxed, because if you do, you might not be as alert to other drivers making mistakes or pedestrians crossing the road. With these new features, you may end up feeling super relaxed and safe, and I think this can spell out some serious danger.

A theory known as risk compensation suggests that people typically adjust their behaviour based on the perceived level of risk. So, if you sense a greater risk while driving, for instance, you become more careful; whereas if you feel more protected, and perceive low levels of risk, you act less carefully.

This theory is supported by the fact that, although making wearing seat belts mandatory in

cars decreased fatalities among drivers wearing them, the number of fatalities among other individuals, such as bicyclists and pedestrians, actually increased.

Indeed, when the UK made seat belt wearing mandatory in 1986, reports found that fatalities to drivers dropped by 460 a year, but fatalities to pedestrians increased by 135/yr and fatalities to cyclists by 40/yr.

This may be due to the fact that since belted drivers therefore perceive a lower level of risk, they aren’t as careful driving because they know the seatbelts will protect them. This careless driving is likely to be the cause for this increase in pedestrian and cyclist fatalities.

I’m not saying we shouldn’t wear seat belts while driving; instead, I’m saying that, with these statistics in mind, maybe it’s good to feel unsafe while driving.

New safety features, such as automatic braking systems, are expected to become standard on all U.S. vehicles in the near future. But their introduction may make people feel so safe that they don’t even pay attention to what’s ahead of them on the road. They may text while driving, look for something in their car, or just not keep their eyes on the road, because their reasoning will be “if anything comes up in front of my car, my car will automatically stop and save me.”

But, the vital thing is that automatic braking systems do not work 100 percent of the time in all makes and models of cars.

AAA found that “two-thirds of Americans familiar with the technology believe that automatic emergency braking systems are designed to avoid crashes without driver intervention” but that “the reality is that today’s systems vary greatly in performance, and many are not designed to stop a moving car.”

Since it’s apparent many people believe that automatic emergency braking can stop a moving car on a dime, it could happen that they’ll be texting on their phone, a pedestrian will cross the street, and despite the driver believing their car will automatically stop, it understandably won’t, and the pedestrian will get fatally hit.

Today, where people are becoming more and more distracted while driving and more and more cars are being made with systems that incorrectly lead people to place complete trust in them, I’m worried that people will drive a lot less carefully, and more pedestrians and cyclists will become fatally or severely injured.

This is why I’m afraid of new cars, with their high-tech safety features, becoming the norm on the roads in the near future.

Because of the risk compensation theory, it is understandable to conclude that new cars are at some degree more dangerous than older models. Maybe feeling unsafe while driving just might make you—and others— safer in the long run.

Feb. 15, 2018 Vol. 86 Issue 3

Comic

New business models aren’t always better

In business, innovation often meets only one brand of phone, such as the Apple practicality, often on not-so-good terms. store, have become popular and financially With a business, you have a bottom line, and feasible in the last ten years. Had this been sometimes the most traditional, tried-and2005, I would probably pick up a phone true models of doing business end up being at a large retailer, such as Best Buy or the the most successful, depending on what area now greatly diminished but still breathing you are focusing on. That is not to say that RadioShack. On one end, these stores can be innovation can’t produce amazing super convenient for those that have results – on the contrary, it often does the specific brand of phone they’re – but being creative and different for selling, but their business model is the sake of being creative and different such that inspires sparse visits, and isn’t something you can always rely their inventories (especially in recent on. years) are usually modest in order Compare the ride services Uber to accommodate for a minimalist and Lyft to traditional taxi cabs, for aesthetic that was popularized with Mitchell the release of the iPod, and later the example. While Uber and Lyft might Chapman iPhone. As a result, their workers occasionally produce a superior user None experience and, indeed, is much more become super specialized in one flexible for the drivers that work for of your area of tech, which could become both companies in terms of hours, business obsolete in only a few months. This both services (especially in rural setis very different from a Best Buy tings) can be far less reliable than the or even RadioShack, whose large local taxi company that has set shifts drivers inventories and variety of products inspire have to work (Uber and Lyft allow drivers to multiple visits of different natures, meaning work whenever it is convenient for them). more business and more areas of expertise My mind drifts to the notion of how their employees have to be versed in. physical cell phone stores that focus on Especially with new, “innovative” business

Who Took it Best?

Are you a student with a passion for photography?

If you would like to see your photo featured in a future issue of the Beacon, please email your submissions, along with a brief description, to our Editor-in-Chief Joseph Carew at jc2824@mcla.edu.

models, it is always important to be critical. Sometimes the new ways are not better, they’re just different, or maybe they’re better in some ways, but worse in others. Look at the job of a YouTuber versus a traditional broadcast journalist, for instance. YouTube does allow for several different types of content that could not exist prior (some of this was because of innovations in uploading live action video to the internet; prior to this, flash animation was king), and does offer far more opportunities than its traditional media counterpart — television. But YouTube is far less stable than traditional broadcast stations, with large scandals coming out of the site seemingly every month that negatively affect how creators can earn money off of ads, and YouTube is always making radical, broad-sweeping changes to the site, with little to no notice. In 2012, for instance, the site changed its algorithm that dictates what videos it will feature from views to minutes watched, meaning that long-form works like livestreams and half hour movie reviews flourished, while highly-crafted flash animations that might be only a few minutes long suffered, and flash animation, which

once dominated the internet because of their small file sizes (before 2005, it was really difficult to even upload live action video, let alone watch it), have yet to fully recover. In fact, many flash animators simply gave up, or transitioned to live action video.

It’s also common for new models of business to do everything in their power to avoid basic costs of doing business, particularly with employee compensation. Companies like Google think that they are exempt from paying health insurance for YouTube creators. Uber is no different, even when drivers work for them full-time. To be clear, in most cases this is legal – in Uber’s case, drivers are technically independent contractors, and not full-on employees – but whatever the legal jargon or loopholes, it does not change the fact that their jobs and services often are a step down from, rather than an improvement on, the tried-and-true traditional models.

But like most things, this picture is not black and white, and like the world, new business models are nuanced. Still, as we go forward, it is something to consider.

For all our future and past stories make sure to check out theonlinebeacon.com

OPINION

Feb. 15, 2018 Vol. 86 Issue 3

11

Editorial

The Olympics: a place for amateurs We want to preface this by saying that we have loved the Olympics, Summer or Winter doesn’t matter.

We’ll watch them no matter what.

And different people have different opinions on this rule, but we are still firm believers that the Olympics were better when they only welcomed amateur athletes to their ranks.

This debate recently started to arise again when the US hockey team discovered that they were going to have to rely exclusively on amateur players and retired NHL players.

In the days of yore when the Olympics weren’t televised and slathered in sponsorships, the IOC held much stricter rules around athletes receiving money for playing. They were supposed to be playing out of love for the sport, not for a paycheck.

In a CNN article by Bob Greene, he cites Avery Brundage, the fifth president of the IOC from 1952-1972, who held firmly to what he called the “amateur code” even during the fantastic growth of television popularity.

Greene goes on to quote from a 1955 speech of Brundage’s, where he says: “We can only rely on the support of those who believe in the principles of fair play and sportsmanship embodied in the amateur code in our efforts to prevent the Games from being used by individuals, organizations or nations for ulterior motives.”

This means that those playing should not be receiving money for

their efforts.

But once Brundage was gone, there was a strong shift by the IOC towards utilizing the Olympics as a moneymaking opportunity. They could use sponsorships to gain professional athletes. Which, in turn, would up their viewership, people would tune in to see the best and strongest. By the end of the 1980s professionalizing the event had gained full traction.

When the change came not many viewers had issues with it, and why would they? Athletes getting paid to play a sport they show prestige in, it wasn’t a completely new concept and people wanted to see the best in a chosen sport go at it.

But therein lies the problem. By allowing the professionals in any given sport to complete you take away some of the suspense that comes with the game. When people watched the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, everyone knew – the players included – that the Dream Team was going to win in basketball. Referencing Greene again, he cites that anyone who spent some time around the athletes would notice that they weren’t exactly nervous and Michael Jordan spent chunks of his time playing golf and cards.

Because of the shift in who is allowed to play in the Olympics, there will never again be a time like in the 1980 Lake Placid games, the “Do you believe in miracles?” hockey

team. Sticking with hockey, everyone knows Canada has it in the bag every time, in the past four Winter Olympics they’ve won seven gold medals in ice hockey, they live and breathe the sport and you’ll be hard-pressed to find a team that’ll beat away all of those pros.

So for those of you who care enough to have made it this far you might wonder how this issue might be fixed. Greene says, that the surest way to drive away the marketers and merchandisers and therefore the pros would be for the IOC to add a line to their charter.

“The Olympics shall not be televised.”

However, we like watching them too much and if the day comes want to be able to see the new miracles for them to not be on TV. And none of us are big business people so we’re not going to say that we know the perfect way for this to happen, but what we think needs to happen is that there need to be regulations as there once was for athletes and if they can take money for playing a sport. What does “amateur” mean to the IOC? Let them keep taking in sponsorships but maybe with more of a focus on health and athletics, not McDonalds and whoever gives the biggest checks. We can start there and see where that leads us.

My question is, how do these people come up with these names? Was Jenner just watching TV one day and the weather man said, “It’s going to get really stormy Saturday afternoon” and she had an epiphany?

One time I had a conversation with my mom about these crazy names, and she simply said, “If you ever named your child something crazy, I’ll call them something else.”

I seriously want to go

into the head of a celebrity and figure out why they think these names are cool. North, Apple, Bear, Rocket, Blue… Blue!?

Someone please help me understand. I like the names Hayley and Patrick, my sister wants classic Irish names like Brigid and Declan. Not Bear.

I don’t think I’ve ever even met someone who has an interesting name.

So, if you’re out there, lucky you.

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It’s a Boy! It’s a Girl! Their Name is... Bear?

Everyone and their ously holding a pig. mother must know by I’m not here to write now that Kylie about Kylie Jenner Jenner had her and her crazy lifebaby. Now, I’m style. In fact, I’m not going to lie, not here to write the Kardashian/ about her family at Jenner clan fasciall. That was just nates me, mainly an opening. What I because they’re really want to talk Emma stupid sometimes Monahan about is the crazy and watching their Arts & Emma baby names that show is highly encelebrities pick. tertaining. NothJenner named ing will make me laugh her daughter Stormi… harder than Kylie yell- Sounds more like an aling, “Is that a chicken?!” bum her boyfriend Travis when her mother is obvi- Scott might title.

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Executive Board Editor-in-Chief Joseph Carew

Features Editor

A & E Editor

Meghan Cook

Emma Monahan

Copy Chief

Sports Editor

Mary Kate Lynch

Brady Gerow

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Mitchell Chapman

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Columnist Andrew Baillargeon

Feb. 15, 2018 Vol. 86 Issue 3

12

IN OTHER BEACON NEWS Last Week’s Crossword Answers

We appologize for any spelling errors.

Down: Across: 1. Beacon 2. Cuba 3. Birge 7. Beta Lambda Beta 4. Bound 11. Phi Upslon Phi 5. Trailblazer 9. Paul LeSage 6. MASS MoCA 12. Aramark 8. Yorick 13. Greylock 10. Spires 14. WJJW

This week in audio...

After one semester studying Political Science and Public Policy, Zebulon Hildreth decided to pursue his passion. He withdrew from school, loaded his car, and moved to Lowell, Massachusetts to become a train dispatcher for Pan Am Railways, headquartered in the neighboring town of Billerica.

In this collaboration between WJJW, 91.1 FM and The Beacon, I interviewed Hildreth on his decision to pursue this new career and about what makes railroad unique to the Berkshires.

The full audio feature can be found at theonlinebeacon.com.

Tribune News Service

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