Nov. 29, 2018 Vol. 87 Issue 10 by MCLA Beacon

Volume 87

Thursday, November 29, 2018

Issue 10

North Adams Gets Lit ... AGAIN BY EMILY GABERT SPECIAL TO THE BEACON

One by one, thousands of twinkling lights illuminated the city of North Adams as families shouted for Santa Claus to come out during the annual tree lighting ceremony that took place Nov. 21. Community members braved the cold and wind to partake in the tradition as children eagerly waited for the arrival of Saint Nicholas and his bags full of goodies. Thousands of people are estimated to show up for the event each year to help ring in the upcoming holiday season according to Suzy Helme, the city’s event coordinator. The tree lighting was moved to the night before Thanksgiving about 10 years ago, as a number of people return home for the holiday and it gives families a chance to all be able to participate in the festivities. Two holiday trees stand tall in the city for the Christmas season. One of them is stationed between the First Congregational and First Baptist Churches at Church and East Main Streets, and the second near Subway on the west end of Main Street. The festivities unfolded at the tree between both churches.

Lit, Page 2

Photo by Ron Leja

North Adams locals braved frigid weather to attend the annual tree lighting ceremony outside of the First Baptist church on Main Street.

High School Senior Pursues Full-Time College Schedule BY MAYA MCFADDEN SENIOR NEWS EDITOR “Coming here was actually a huge step in my education,” said 17-year-old, Isabella Nicastro of Williamstown, Massachusetts. Currently, Nicastro is spending her senior year taking college-level courses at MCLA to complete her Mount Greylock Regional High School career. Nicastro was introduced to MCLA’s dual enrollment program her freshman year. She said because her high school requires a biology course as a prerequisite for its anatomy and physiology course, she decided to take the course at MCLA during the summer. With a passion for the medical field, Nicastro said her appreciation of education was restored

after taking her first course with Ann Billetz, MCLA professor of biology. Before MCLA Nicastro said she was going through a period where she felt out of place and unmotivated during her high school freshman year, “I kind of hit a block in high school where I stopped caring and the social dynamic was really hard for me,” Nicastro said. The dual enrollment program is meant to strengthen a high school student’s college applications, help them to explore academic fields of interest and earn college credit at no cost, said Joshua Mendel, director of recruitment and outreach, a division of graduate and continuing education. “When colleges see that she [Nicastro] has

done dual enrollment work and has college experience while in high school it’s going to elevate her application in the admissions process and put her in line for acceptability at most institutions,” Mendel said. Nicastro was described as mature and driven by Mendel. As a result of Nicastro’s success in her MCLA courses in the past, Mendel was both confident and impressed when she reached out to admissions to spend her entire last year of high school at the College. “Balancing college work with a high school schedule can be very tricky and she handles it very well, she’s very professional and very mature,” Mendel said. Both Mendel and

Schedule, page 2

Photo by Maya McFadden

Students from both MCLA and Williams attended MCLA’s first-ever Women of Color Dinner, Feb. 15, 2018.

MCLA Announces The Women of Color Initiative BY SOPHIE PLAYER STAFF WRITER MCLA is introducing a new organization, the Women of Color Initiative, to cater to the needs of women of color on campus and provide them with better opportunities. The organization was created by Michael Obasohan in order to provide a safe environment for women of color on campus to speak about their experiences and work toward their goals.

“We wanted to have a group who could understand what it is like to live as a woman of color,” said Women of Color Initiative chapter head and senior Eve Marie Weeks. Weeks is one of two chapter heads, alongside Maya McFadden. “I believe that our campus really needs something like this for women of color to feel accepted and to get to know each other on campus, instead of just walking past each

Initiative, page 2

CAMPUSNEWS

2 Lit, From page 1 In keeping with the spirit of Thanksgiving, Mayor Tom Bernard kicked off the ceremony by giving thanks to all of those who helped make the festivities possible. This was his first year leading the tree lighting as he was just elected into office at the end of last year and started his mayoral duties at the beginning of 2018. He thanked the Wright family — Ann Marie, Lisa, and Kristen — of Clarksburg for donating both Christmas trees that are standing tall on both ends of Main Street. They were donated in memory of their father, Dr. M. Peter Wright, who was a longtime educator in the community, Bernard told the crowd. Mayor Bernard went on to thank city workers who helped make the ceremony possible, including Mitchell Meranti and other staff of Wire and Alarm who helped find the trees and get them installed. The Fire Department, Public Services, and partners in community organizations were also thanked for the

Photo by Ron Leja

Mayor Tom Bernard kicked off the event by thanking all those who helped to create a festive, enjoyable ceremony for the North Adams community. year-round services they provide to the city — along with other city staff members. Sponsors for the event were

thanked, including First Baptist Church, Berkshire Bank, MountainOne Bank, Greylock Federal Credit Union,

take a course during the summer sessions, Mendel said. The program is funded by a state grant that the College applies for each year. “We try to find ways to utilize the grant very creatively to allow several students access to getting free college credentials,” Mendel said. Nicastro was required to also provide a letter from her high school principal before being granted the opportunity to start her full-time college career early. When her senior year came around this year, Nicastro and her guidance counselor realized she had not only completed all but her final senior English requirement but also had completed all of the high school’s math and science courses. Nicastro applied early decision to Boston University which she described as her “dream school.” While enjoying her time

at MCLA, Nicastro hopes to attend a large university with prominent medical programs. She has applied to Boston College, University of Massachusetts Amherst, University of Pennsylvania, Georgetown University, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. This semester, Nicastro is taking calculus 1, developmental psychology, college writing 1, and a general chemistry lab. Mendel said that an average of about two to three students does their senior year at MCLA each year. Along with Nicastro, there is one other high school student from Drury High School attending MCLA full-time for their senior year. “There’s no better way I could’ve spent my senior year and I’m really glad that I got the opportunity to come and experience this school first.”

Schedule, from page 1 Nicastro said that the dual enrollment program will save her time and money in her future education. With a supportive family, Nicastro said her grandfather was a significant part of establishing her passion and motivation for learning. “I learned so much from him and he got me really passionate about education,” Nicastro said. Nicastro’s grandfather, Anthony Nicastro was a former professor of Romance languages at MCLA and recently retired from Williams College Center for Foreign Languages, Literatures and Cultures. Typically, the College’s dual enrollment program only offers one course during its fall and spring course openings to high school seniors, requires a recommendation from the student’s guidance counselor, and they must have a strong academic standing. Juniors are able to

Initiative, From page 1 other in the halls. It’s about creating friendships and opportunities,” Weeks said. Obasohan is also the founder of the Men of Color Initiative, which brings men of color together to work toward success. These initiatives are part of a larger effort by Williams College and the Berkshires to provide better opportunities for people of color in higher education. Women of Color has some goals and initiatives in mind to create a better campus environment for all students. “Some of our goals is to start a Big Sister program here on campus between the up-

per classes and the freshman so we can help them in any way possible and create a bond,” Weeks said. “We are planning to do community service, and even do a collaboration with the Men of Color.” The Men and Women of Color Initiatives are part of the greater ALANA organization that focuses on multiculturalism and diversity on campus. ALANA’s other clubs and organizations include the Black Student Union (BSU), Asian Club, Latin American Society, Multicultural Student Society and several more. The Women of Color Initiative meets every other Tuesday at 6 p.m.

Nov. 29, 2018 Vol. 87 Issue 10

Cascade School Supplies, Mass MoCA and many others. “The nights are getting colder, they’re getting darker, but that just means our hearts need to be warmer and brighter for all of us — for our friends and neighbors,” Mayor Bernard said. “We can all bring a little more kindness, bring a little more joy — so let’s do that this holiday season.” He then led the city to do a practice countdown to light the tree and to bring out Santa. The practice round went quickly and in seconds, the crowd echoed as the young and the old counted down from five — splashing the tree in red and the town in the yellow hue from the lightbulbs. The Drury Band began to play holiday tunes as they started on their march down Main Street with Santa Claus following closely behind them, as well as a group of bikers decked out in festive attire to match their decorated bikes. A large crowd of children and their parents formed around Santa, with each ea-

gerly waiting for one of the 500 goodie bags. The event followed its traditional nature of the countdown and handout of goodie bags by Santa. Not too much changes each year, Helme said, but they did add a bikearound to follow the Drury band and Santa last year. Much like the annual tradition of the tree lighting ceremony, attendees return each year to participate in the celebration. Sara Moulton, of North Adams, comes to the event every year with her husband and their two children, Weston and Abby. “They actually ride their bikes in the Downtown Bike Around that helps increase bike awareness in North Adams,” Moulton said. “So we do that throughout the summer; this is actually our last ride [of the season]. The kids ride their bikes and then we end here and we get presents from Santa.” The family has been coming to the tree lighting ceremony ever since Abby was born. Sara Moulton said it’s a “great family event” that helps bring the community together.

Creator of ‘SpongeBob SquarePants’ dies at 57 BY CHRISTIE D’ZURILLA LOS ANGELES TIMES Stephen Hillenburg, the creator of the hit animated Nickelodeon series “SpongeBob SquarePants, died Monday after battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. He was 57. “He was a beloved friend and long-time creative partner to everyone at Nickelodeon, and our hearts go out to his entire family,” the cartoon network said in a statement Tuesday confirming his death. “Steve imbued ‘SpongeBob SquarePants’ with a unique sense of humor and innocence that has brought joy to generations of kids and families everywhere,” the statement added. “His utterly original characters and the world of Bikini Bottom will long stand as a reminder of the value of optimism, friendship and the limitless power of imagination.” SpongeBob, Patrick, Squidward, Mr. Krabs, Sandy Cheeks, Plankton, Pearl Krabs, Mrs. Puff, Larry the Lobster and the rest of the world of Bikini Bottom premiered in May 1999 and began a full run that July, capturing the imagination of kids young and old off the bat. While youngsters watched with their families, college students went their own way with Saturday-night viewing parties. Tom Kenny, the actor who voices the show’s titular character, paid tribute to Hillenburg in an acceptance speech at this year’s Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Awards in April.

Nov. 29, 2018 Vol. 87 Issue 10

NEWS

Meet SGA’s Special Election Candidates

Three Candidates appear on ballot to fill 22 vacant seats between Class Council, Senate, and E-Board BY JAKE VITALI MANAGING EDITOR This coming Tuesday and Wednesday the Student Government Association (SGA) will hold a special election to fill vacant positions on the Senate and Class Councils. Voting is available via SGA Voting on Canvas and members of the SGA will be tabling both days of the election. There are three candidates on the ballot, all of whom are uncontested. However, write-in candidates can still claim any position on the ballot. According to Parliamentarian Duncan Hay, a write-in candidate needs 20 votes before counting begins. There are currently 19 vacancies, which only a write-in candidate can take. Senator-at-Large (4) Class of 2019 Representative (2) Class of 2020 Representative (1) Class of 2021 Representative (2) Class of 2022 Representative (2) Class of 2019 Secretary Class of 2020 President, Vice President, Secretary Class of 2021 President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary According to Hay, results will be available Wednesday night. All candidates were asked the same three questions and to provide a headshot. You can find their answers, edited only for formatting, below.

I feel like people should vote for me because I know how to manage money. I have been managing my own income and I have previously helped my family with budget planning and stuff, so I feel like I have a lot of experience with money management and so they should vote for me, but they should also vote for whoever they genuinely believe deserves the position.

Moira Mathieu, candidate for Class of 2019 Treasurer

photo courtesy of Angelie Castor

Angelie Castor is one of three candidates on the special election ballot, hoping to become the Class of 2022 Treasurer.

Angelie Castor, candidate for Class of 2022 Treasurer

Do you have any prior leadership experience? I have been vice president of Television and Film Society for two years as well as teaching classes at my former schools, chaperoning field trips and planning and running an indoor youth archery league for 5-18 year-olds. I also mastered my babysitting skills at 12 and have had a steady set of kids to watch since then. I also have trained and taught new employees at my job that I have worked at for six years.

Do you have any prior leadership experience? I was in a peer leadership position in high school where we had to teach incoming freshman about safe relationships, peer pressuring and the difference between an abusive or non-abusive relationship.

What do you want to accomplish in office? I want to help bring our class together as most of us do not know each other. As well as help plan and keep our senior days on-budget and make it an experience we will never forget.

What do you want to accomplish in office? I want to help give back to my class as a member. I remember in high school my class didn’t have a lot of money for our senior year and we struggled with doing the things we wanted, and so I want to change that cycle. I want to be able to help the class of 2022 manage their budget and have enough [money] for our senior year.

Why should people vote for you? I am a very organized person and I am always open for fun and new ideas that people have to better our class community and make our senior year worth all the struggles that we had to overcome on our way to where we are today!

Why should people vote for you?

Corey Powers will also appear on the ballot as candidate for Class of 2019 Vice President. He did not respond to The Beacon’s request for comment.

SGA

Lack of Underclassmen Involvement May Hinder Progress Moving Forward BY RON LEJA EDITOR-IN-CHIEF As the Fall 2018 semester reaches its end, the future of the Student Government Association is looking regrettably bleak. Many of the current representatives are currently seniors who plan on graduating by the end of the spring 2019 semester, and while SGA continues to make an effort to spark student interest, a lack of engagement by underclassmen could ultimately hinder their progress towards future endeavors. Three unopposed candidates will be running in next week’s special election to fill vacant positions on the Senate and Class councils, leaving 19 positions vacant. Of these positions, the class of 2020 is currently without a President, Vice President and Secretary, while the class of 2021 lacks all the aforementioned positions and a Treasurer. While it is possible for write-in candidates to take any of these positons, they will need to acquire a minimum of 20 votes to be eligible. Parliamentarian Duncan Hay did mention that while several students did retrieve the appropriate paper-work needed to run, very few actually submitted it. Several members went on to say that some students have voiced concerns with the time requirement that SGA demands, which they believe may keep students from getting involved. As it stands, SGA members are expected to make a weekly 5 hour requirement to take part in various SGA-related tasks. “I don’t think the time requirement alone is nec-

Parliamentarian Duncan Hay did mention that while several students did retrieve the appropriate paperwork needed to run, very few actually submitted it. essarily what keeps students from getting involved,” Senate Chair Fabby Bogardus-Street ’20 said. “I think it’s more of a matter of people actually wanting to be a part of this. If they want to work with student government, they will find their way here.” Several ideas as to how to bolster student involvement were thrown around — from future SGA members being able to acquire credit hours, to students actually getting paid for their service. While most seemed to agree that these types of benefits could potentially draw people in, the likelihood of either occurring seemed pretty slim. On a brighter note, the SGA Whine and Dine event announced several weeks ago will take place from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 6 in the Campus Center marketplace. The event will give students a chance to not only meet with SGA members, but to voice any and all campus-related concerns that they may have. SGA is also preparing to re-implement there reusable mug program. While specifics are still very much in the air, SGA is hoping to work with Aramark to allow for a discount on coffee, to be given

to all reusable mug owners. Several mugs may potentially be available at the Whine and Dine event, though nothing was made definitive at this time. The final SGA Meeting of the semester will be held on Monday in Murdock Hall room 218 at 7:00 p.m.

News

Nov. 29, 2018 Vol. 87 Issue 10

Immigration

A Border Clash Turns Deadly BY KATE LINTHICUM LOS ANGELES TIMES

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras — Henry Diaz Reyes and about 1,500 other Central American migrants had just pushed past Guatemalan authorities and onto a border bridge to Mexico. Mexican federal police were waiting for them in riot gear. The official border entry was closed, police said. The migrants shouted obscenities and hurled rocks at the police, who responded by launching tear gas. As the Oct. 28 scuffle escalated, projectiles started whizzing through the air. One struck Diaz, who fell to the ground, bleeding from his head. Rescuers rushed him to a hospital, where the 26-year-old was declared dead. "He had so many plans," said his half-sister, Glenda Reyes, who lives in Florida. Plans to work in the U.S. and have his son learn English. Plans to reunite with family members who had made the journey north and were finally living comfortable lives. "They took them," Reyes said. Large-scale confrontations on Mexico's southern border were unheard of until last month. In the past, Mexican immigration agents regularly deported Central Americans in the country illegally, but usually after intercepting individuals or small groups well inside Mexico at checkpoints along highways or railroad tracks. That changed in the runup to the U.S. midterm elec-

Photo from Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times/TNS

Felina Banegas, 74, is the grandmother of Henry Diaz Reyes, who was killed after joining the caravan in Honduras headed to the United States. Reyes was killed during a mele with Mexican police on the Guatemalan-Mexico border. His grandmother raised him. tion, when President Donald Trump began referring to migrant caravans as invasions and threatened to withhold aid from Mexico and Central American nations that failed to stop them. In response, Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto ordered hundreds of federal police to the southern border — putting them on a collision course with the groups of migrants mainly from Honduras that were heading north through Guatemala. It is unclear what training or instructions the police on

the border bridge had received. Dozens of migrants and 10 police officers were injured the day Diaz was killed. An autopsy performed by Guatemalan authorities found that Diaz died from a traumatic brain injury. Mexican authorities have said police fired only tear gas. Found at the scene, however, were casings that two law enforcement experts said appeared to be from powerful projectiles that are designed to penetrate doors or other barriers and release chemical irritants — but not to

be fired at people. The experts based their opinions, made independently, on two images of casings — one taken by a photographer working for the Los Angeles Times who was several feet from Diaz when he collapsed, the other captured by a journalist working for another outlet and uploaded to YouTube. Manufactured by Combined Systems Inc., which is based in Jamestown, Pa., the projectiles are meant to be used during "specific tactical situations" such as hostage

scenarios, according to the product specifications. The company warns users to "exercise extreme care and caution to minimize the possibility of this projectile striking a human." The company did not respond to repeated requests for comment. "It shouldn't be used for crowd control at all," said a weapons expert at Omega Research Foundation, a nonprofit that tracks police and military use of weapons. The expert could not be named because of company policy. The other expert, Ara Marcen Naval, a human rights advocate at Amnesty International, said that firing such projectiles into a crowd "breaches international human rights law and standards" that specify when law enforcement officials can use force and how much. A Mexican official who spoke on the condition of anonymity denied that federal police had fired such projectiles and said police do not use any products made by Combined Systems Inc. Asked where the projectiles may have come from, the official said: "We do not have that information." Human rights groups and journalists have documented past use of the same projectiles by police, including against crowds that demonstrated when Pena Nieto was sworn into office in 2012. The day after Diaz was killed, the rest of the migrants he was traveling with waded across the Suchiate River illegally and continued their journey north mostly unimpeded by Mexican authorities.

Khashoggi Killing

Turkey Accuses Trump of 'Turning a Blind Eye' BY NABIH BULOS LOS ANGELES TIMES AMMAN, Jordan — For months, Turkish officials have been leaking gruesome details surrounding Jamal Khashoggi's death as a counter to President Donald Trump's moves to absolve Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Trump ally thought to be behind the Saudi journalist's slaying. But Ankara took a more direct approach on Friday, with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu slamming Trump for "turning a blind eye" in Khashoggi's death, and accusing him of putting money above human values. Trump's statements in support of the prince mean that the president is saying, in essence, "'Whatever happens, I will turn a blind eye,'" Cavusoglu said in an interview Friday with CNN's Turkish affiliate, CNN Turk. "This is not the right approach. Money is not everything. ... We shouldn't abandon our humanitarian values." Cavusoglu's rebuke echoes those from other Turkish officials, who have described as comical an exclamation-point-filled message from the president concerning reports that the prince ordered Khashoggi's slaying.

"Maybe he did, maybe he didn't," Trump wrote on Tuesday in a rambling 633-word message, later adding, "In any case, our relationship is with Saudi Arabia." He also thanked the kingdom for its support against Iran and "keeping oil prices at reasonable levels." "Very simply it is called America First!" concluded Trump's message. Khashoggi, a onetime Saudi government insider who left the kingdom last year and became a U.S. resident and Washington Post columnist, disappeared after entering the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, on Oct. 2. It soon emerged that the journalist had been ambushed by a 15-man hit team dispatched from Riyadh, who killed and then dismembered Khashoggi before covering up his death. Meanwhile, Saudi officials' version of the events has changed from shrill denial to insistence that the slaying was a "rogue operation," a rendition gone wrong that happened without the prince's authorization. But skeptics, including some of Trump's top allies in the U.S., say attacking such a high-profile figure could not have happened without the crown prince's permission. Cavusoglu's comments come a day after Trump

again came to the prince's defense, dismissing a CIA assessment that the de facto Saudi leader had been involved in Khashoggi's death as "feelings." "No, they didn't conclude. They did not come to a conclusion. They have feelings certain ways," Trump said in a meeting with reporters at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Thursday. He also doubled down on the idea that it didn't matter to the U.S.-Saudi relationship, repeating his now routine assertion that defense contracts worth hundreds of billions of dollars are at stake. "As I said, maybe he did, maybe he didn't. But I will say very strongly that it's a very important ally, and if we go by a certain standard, we won't be able to have allies with almost any country," Trump said. "Do people really want me to give up hundreds of thousands of jobs?" Trump's dismissal is likely to embolden other leaders attending the G-20 summit in Argentina next week and where the prince is scheduled to make an appearance. Cavusoglu said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan would accept a meeting with the prince if the latter requested it. "Of course, there's no reason not to meet bin Salman. Of course, it is up to our president," Cavusoglu said.

FEATURES

Nov. 29, 2018 Vol. 87 Issue 10

Supreme Court Considers if Prohibition of ‘Excessive Fines’ Apllies in All States BY DAVID G. SAVAGE LOS ANGELES TIMES WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court on Wednesday took up a case from Indiana to settle a question that might seem obvious to some: Does the ban on "excessive fines" in the Bill of Rights apply to states? The Eighth Amendment to the Constitution, which prohibits "cruel and unusual punishments," also says "excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed." But last year, the Indiana Supreme Court upheld the state's seizure of a $42,000 Land Rover from a man who made two small drug sales valued at under $400. It rejected his claim that this was "excessive" and ruled the Eighth Amendment did not protect him. That decision ran into sharp skepticism Wednesday from the justices. Justice Neil M. Gorsuch said the court had struggled in the 1940s over whether all parts of the Bill of Rights applied equally to states and localities _ or were "incorporated" into the 14th Amendment, as the court said. But that fight, he said, was settled long ago. "Here we are still litigating over incorporation today? Really?" Gorsuch said to Indiana state solicitor Thomas Fisher. The state's lawyer refused to back down and insisted a state's seizure of private property was its business, not a question of federal law. Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh agreed with Gorsuch. "Isn't it too late in the day to argue a right is not incorporated?" he said, meaning it applies to the states as well as the federal government. By the end of an hour, it was clear that the court would rule for Tyson Timbs, the Indiana man who lost his Land Rov-

er, and hold that the Constitution protected him from an excessive fine. But it is not clear he will ultimately win. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. said the court would probably send the case back to the Indiana courts to decide whether this forfeiture was indeed excessive and unjust. Wednesday's argument revived a question that has a long history before the high court and divided the justices during the middle decades of the 20th century. The first 10 amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified in 1791 and begin with the words: "Congress shall make no law ... ." The many familiar rights listed include the freedom of speech and the press, the free exercise of religion, the right to bear arms, the right to a jury trial and the freedom from "unreasonable searches and seizures." But these protections for individuals did not go far. In the early 19th century, the court said these rights applied only to actions of the then-tiny federal government, not to states or local authorities, including police. After the Civil War, the Reconstruction Congress adopted the 14th Amendment to protect individuals from their states. It said, "No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States, nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty or property without due process of law." The first clause on "privileges or immunities" has meant surprisingly little, thanks to a peculiar 1873 ruling holding it did not provide "any additional protection" for individuals. But the second clause became the most important in the Constitution.

photo by Olivier Douliery/Abaca Press/TNS

The Supreme Court of the United States in Washington, D.C., on September 25, 2018. In a step-by-step process from the 1930s through the 1960s, the Supreme Court decided that nearly all the fundamental rights cited in the Bill of Rights were included or "incorporated" in the protection for "liberty" and "due process of law" in the 14th Amendment. But it has never specifically ruled on the "excessive fee" clause. These days, most Americans would assume their constitutional rights are the same, whether they encounter a federal agent, a state official or a local police officer. But when Timbs was told his $42,000 Land Rover could be seized by Indiana, he learned that part of the Bill of Rights did not protect him. He had been arrested for two drug sales to police informants that were valued at $385. He contested the state's sei-

zure of his car on the grounds it was an "excessive fine" and "grossly disproportionate" to his crime. He lost last year in the Indiana Supreme Court. "We conclude the excessive fines clause does not bar the state from forfeiting defendant's vehicle because the United States Supreme Court has not held the clause applies to the states through the 14th Amendment," wrote Justice Geoffrey Slaughter. His opinion noted the high court had suggested the excessive fines were probably unconstitutional, but had not said so directly. The appeal from Timbs has united groups across the ideological spectrum from the ACLU to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, all of them urging the court to clearly rule that all parts of the Eighth Amendment apply across the country.

Tech Leaders Fight Housing Shortage Bloomberg to Give $1.8 BY MARISA KENDALL THE MERCURY NEWS Three local tech companies will donate a total of $20 million to build affordable homes in the Bay Area, a step forward for activists who have long been urging Silicon Valley, and its money, to take a more active role in solving the region's drastic housing shortage. Cisco on Tuesday pledged $10 million to nonprofit Housing Trust Silicon Valley, and LinkedIn and Mountain View-based data storage company Pure Storage each pledged $5 million. The money will go toward building homes for the Bay Area's low-income families via the Housing Trust's TECH Fund, which launched last year as a way for local employers and philanthropists to help ease the housing crisis. "TECH Fund has now passed $50 million, laid the groundwork for 1,500 affordable homes, and momentum is building in our efforts," Julie Mahowald, acting CEO of Housing Trust Silicon Valley, wrote in a news release. "Imagine how much further we can go if more organizations step in." Tuesday's contributions come as Bay Area officials, developers and nonprofits are struggling to build enough homes to reverse

a dire housing shortage that has driven prices to staggering heights and forced many residents to flee the region. Residents often blame Silicon Valley's booming tech economy, but many other complex factors, including local government policies and neighborhood sentiment, also contribute to the housing shortage. So far, TECH Fund money has been used to get 15 residential developments off the ground throughout Silicon Valley, including a 70-unit complex on W. El Camino Real and a 93-unit complex on La Avenida Avenue in Mountain View. LinkedIn and Cisco are second-time donors _ each previously donated $10 million to the TECH Fund last year. Separately, Cisco also pledged $50 million to fight homelessness in Silicon Valley in March, Facebook has raised nearly $20 million for affordable housing through its Catalyst Housing Fund, and Salesforce has made multiple donations to fight homelessness in the Bay Area. "We're committed to playing our part in solving the challenge of affordable housing," Charles Giancarlo, chairman and CEO of Pure Storage, wrote in a news release. "As a Bay Area company, we believe we have a responsibility to help tackle the local housing crisis head-on."

Billion for Scholarships BY COLIN CAMPBELL THE BALTIMORE SUN BALTIMORE-Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg will give $1.8 billion in scholarship money to Johns Hopkins University, the largest gift to any academic institution in U.S. history. The gift, announced Sunday, will be spent exclusively for low- and middle-income scholarships, allowing the university to permanently offer needblind admissions and eliminating the need for student loans in financial aid packages. “America is at its best when we reward people based on the quality of their work, not the size of their pocketbook,” Bloomberg wrote in a New York Times op-ed. “Denying students entry to a college based on their ability to pay undermines equal opportunity. It perpetuates intergenerational poverty. And it strikes at the heart of the Amer-

ican dream: the idea that every person, from every community, has the chance to rise based on merit.” The gift, he wrote, “will allow the school to offer more generous scholarships. It will ease the burden of student debt for many graduates. And it will help open up the American dream to more young people.” Bloomberg, who is a Hopkins alum and considering a run for president in 2020, had already donated $6.4 billion to philanthropic causes. The gift more than doubles the $1.5 billion he has already given to Hopkins, whose School of Public Health bears his name. In addition to allowing the university to admit the highest-achieving students, regardless of their ability to pay, the gift will replace student loans in financial aid packages with scholarships that are not required to be repaid, beginning in fall 2019, the university said.

Arts & Entertainment

“Macbeth” Returns for Second Time BY JENNIFER VANBRAMER A&E WRITER MCLA Theatre’s production of William Shakespeare’s classic tragedy, “Macbeth,” will have its opening night this Friday, Nov. 30 at 8 p.m. “Macbeth” explores the damaging physical and psychological effects of political ambition on those who seek power for its own sake. The story begins when three witches tell Macbeth some surprising prophecies. Macbeth hatches a plan to murder the king and claim the throne for himself. Provoked by his wife and preoccupied with greed, Macbeth begins a tragic descent into madness. “The play features an experimental intimate setting. We are focusing on the connections between the audience and actors within the story,” said co-director and assistant professor of theatre Laura Standley, in a press release. “As the play unfolds, the audience will find themselves immersed in the action.” Currently a sophomore at MCLA, Lindsey Rosa is the stage manager for this year’s production of “Macbeth.” She has been a part of the theatre department ever since she was a freshman, taking on roles in the box office, electrics team, and being an assistant stage manager. “I look forward to seeing our opening night,” Rosa said, who responded via e-mail. “This cast has worked so hard in a short amount of time and I am proud for how far we have come.” Rosa has been involved with six previous productions with MCLA Theatre, including “Passing Strange,” “Tartuffe,” “Rhinoceros,” and “Into the Woods.” “This production of Macbeth is not your average Shake-

speare show,” Rosa said. “The moment the audience enters the theater, they will feel it and the experience is unlike any typical theater experience.” Rachel Grzelak, a senior at MCLA, is playing the role of Lady Macbeth and this is actually the very first time she will be a part of a Shakespeare show. “[Lady Macbeth] is dark and twisted in ways that I have never explored,” Grzelak said. “I am excited to just take on this iconic role and I hope to do it justice.” Grzelak became a theatre major at MCLA during her second semester of her freshmen year and three years into it, she has taken on roles such as Janna in “RIOT” and Daisy in “Rhinoceros.” “Expect to have chills run down your spine, this is a creepy show,” Grzelak said. “Expect to feel like part of the same reality the characters are in.” Also a senior, Mitchell McCauley is playing the lead role as Macbeth. He has been involved with the theatre department since his first semester as a freshman. “The richness of the character is exciting,” McCauley said. “I am honored to share the stage with so many other actors who have played the role before me.” McCauley has also taken on several roles in past productions at MCLA including “Dog Sees God,” “Romeo and Juliet,” “Noises Off,” “Our Country’s Good,” “Tartuffe,” and “Into the Woods.” “I think people should go see [Macbeth] so they can catch the relevancy from the historical piece and connect it to our modern era,” McCauley said. “Expect a very intimate experience.” Be sure to catch “Macbeth” in Venable Theatre Nov. 30,

Photo taken by Chelsea Sutherland

Mitchell McCauley will be playing Macbeth in MCLA Theatre’s production of “Macbeth.” Dec. 1, 7, and 8 at 8 p.m., and Dec. 1 and 9 at 2 p.m. A talkback will be hosted after the

8 p.m. show Dec. 8. For more information or to reserve tickets, you can call the box of-

fice at (413)-662-5123 or visit https://mcla.ticketleap.com/ macbeth/.

“Outlaw King”: A Historical Action Drama Worth Seeing BY NORA HONES A&E EDITOR On Nov. 9, Netflix released the historical action drama, “Outlaw King,” after its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival Sep. 6. The film is about Robert the Bruce, portrayed by Chris Pine, the 14th-century Scottish lord who had a claim to the Scottish crown and launched a guerrilla warfare against the English army to try to take Scotland back. The film was written, produced and directed by David Mackenzie along with other co-writers and co-producer Gillian Berrie. It stars Chris Pine as mentioned above, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Florence Pugh, Billy Howle, Tony Curran, Callan Mulvey, Stephen Dillane and Alan Cooney. As someone who just saw the cover for this film in their suggested feed

Photo Provided by Wikipidia

Chris Pine (center) in “Outlaw King.” on Netflix, it turned out better than I expected. It was more action movie than I would usually watch, but it was

good and had a followable plot. One of the biggest points for me that made it a film worth watching

was the scenery of the rolling hills of Scotland and — even though it really only had one female main character — she was portrayed as being strong, independent and loyal with a sense of being equal with Robert the Bruce throughout the film which, in period pieces like this, is a rarity. Elizabeth de Burgh, played by Florence Pugh, is the second wife of Robert the Bruce in a marriage arranged by Edward I of England, who was her godfather at the surrendering of Scotland. Elizabeth de Burgh ends up being the unspoken hero of the movie to me personally. She sides with Robert the Bruce, risking everything when she barely even knows him when he decides to try to take back Scotland. Throughout the movie, she protects

Outlaw King, Page 8

Arts & Entertainment WJJW Second Fall Concert Brings Bigger Acts than Ever Before

BY NORA HONES A&E EDITOR MCLA’s student radio station, 91.1 FM WJJW, is known for its fall and spring concerts throughout campus and surrounding areas, but its E-Board this year has stepped away from the usual protocols, offering more concerts with bigger acts than ever before. WJJW’s second fall concert is Dec. 1 featuring Laura Stevenson, Long Neck and Don't Blow It performing at the Parlor Café just off campus. “There’s going to be a lot of variety, but just like WJJW’s programming, there is going to be a lot of variation in the show itself,” Vice President Luke O'Brien explained. This variety O’Brien touches on comes from how different each act's musical style is in the upcoming show. With Don't Blow It being a ska band, Long Neck being an indie rock group, and Laura Stevenson an indie and folk musician — formerly a member of indie-ska collective, Bomb the Music Industry — the concert is going to be a lot of different sounds complimenting each other, the station and the venue. “Laura Stevenson was almost meant to play the Parlor,” O’Brien stated in complete earnest. Anyone who has attended the Parlor Café and knows her music can understand why this venue was made for her; their vibes just fit. O'Brien explained that the E-Board decided to implement multiple shows during the semester from a promotion standpoint to get their name out there. There seems to be a stark difference where people either know the station and listen to it religiously or they don’t even know it exists. The first show acts as a way for the station to draw people in and make them aware of the station before big shows, like their upcoming show with names like Laura Stevenson. Along with the many shifts the E-Board has made to make their concert series a bigger and better experience they have started charging for their show, but for good reason. “We sank a lot of resources into this show to get it as close to perfect as possible, everything from choosing the right venue to the event sounds to lighting, and of course paying the artists for their magnificent work,” said WJJW President Jake Vitali via email. Vitali continued to say, “We don't want this to be a onetime thing, the $5 you pay at the door is going to get reinvested for our shows in the

Photo taken by Christopher Hainey

Laura Stevenson formerly a member of indie-ska collective, Bomb the Music Industry and has the hit singles “Master of Art” and “Runner.”

Photo taken from Don’t Blow It’s Facebook

Don’t Blow it, a mix of ska, hard rock, and progressive rock from Billerica, MA. spring. We want to bring the acts that students want to see and we think this is helping to put ourselves in that position.” Vitali also pushed forward the fact that the entire E-board worked very hard to make this concert happen but that O’Brien and Public Relations Chair Teresa Leahy were pivotal in getting the acts they have for this concert. O’Brien explained they reached out to a couple of dif-

ferent acts and either they or their management said they would get back to WJJW and although O'Brien and Leahy were the ones most on the music outreach front of the effort, the rest of the E-board was just as necessary in making this show happen. Between keeping them in check on the budget to finding good performers for the show, it wouldn’t have been possible without the entire board's hard work.

Photo taken from Long Necks’s Facebook

Long Neck, lo-fi, folk, indie, power pop from Jersey City, NJ. The concert takes place at the Parlor Café Dec. 1 with doors opening at 7 p.m. The cost at the door is $5, with music beginning at 7:30 p.m. For more information on WJJW visit their website or for more

information on the event visit their Facebook event. Disclaimer: Jake Vitali is the Managing Editor for the Beacon and Nora Hones has a radio show on WJJW station.

Arts & Entertainment

Ashland Street Project Space

Local Artist Hosts Open Mic Poetry BY WYATT MINEAU A&E WRITER It was a chilly night Nov. 15. Snow was littering the ground, the sky was dark, and spirits were high, so it was a perfect night for some poetry. Tavish Costello, a local author and artist, must have known this as he opened the rented Ashland Street Project space for this reason. Less than a block away from Main Street in North Adams, the Ashland Street Project Space is a rentable community space for all sorts of events, and on the night of Nov. 15 it served that purpose as a small, cozy room to come into and enjoy open poetry with fellow poetry enthusiasts (and a bit of alcohol). The space seemed a little off-kilter, decorated with knick-knacks, and seating ranged from simple wooden stools to a full couch in the front row. Upon opening, the space was somewhat empty, with only a few people, including Costello himself, but as the night went on, the room filled more and more, until it was almost impossible to find an open seat. A great turn-out considering

Photo by Wyatt Mineau

Tavish Costello, the brains behind the Open Mic Night, reading a selected work. the limited parking, location and the chilly weather outside. As expected, the night opened with poetry from a variety of local artists, Costello included. Some highlights of the first round of poetry included a sonnet about a clown named, “Puddles” — a YouTube character — and a customer service survey, complete with audience participation. When asked his favorite

part of doing open mic poetry, Costello, the brains behind this and multiple other open mic poetry nights, said, “Hearing what people come with, y’know? That’s my favorite part, I’m blown literally every time I come by what somebody is reading. It’s like, ‘wow.’ Besides me, nobody reads stuff that other people wrote, they come with their own writings.” “I’m really excited to hear what people have, like local-

ly,” Costello added. After a first go-through of poetry, a short break was held, and one could tell from the happy chatter and cheerful atmosphere that space was very inviting, warm and welcoming, even to those who didn’t read, who may very well not be authors. Then a second reading period, which featured a couple comedic sonnets about applying mathematics tables to day-to-day life — like how much time a person “should” spend showering every month — and another about being a “bibliosexual,” enjoying reading more than social interactions taken to comedic extremes. As mentioned, the atmosphere was very inviting, and this was no doubt encouraged by the open refrigerator filled with beer. Audience interjections were common, conversations were casual, and signing up was as simple as telling Costello you were interested in reading. The event couldn’t have been more casual if it tried, which worked in its favor. It was a ton of fun to just listen and absorb the poetry, sonnets, and writings of these talented authors, in an incredi-

bly welcoming atmosphere. When asked about future events, Costello responded, “If this space stays open, and I probably will try and affiliate with the Parlor Cafe. We’ll see.” He was also able to give some tips on hopeful authors and poets-to-be. “One of the main things is, y’know, look out for poets. Look up the greats, check out the contemporary poets — Kate Tempest, Dean Young — there are so many good poets out there, you know what I mean? So many greats, so many contemporary ones. That’s one of the main things, become familiarized with what’s out there already. ” “But that’s not to say you can’t intuit what to write, y’know. If you’ve got an idea, write it down. If you don’t write it down, it disappears into the ether, which is fine too, but that’s what’s cool about these things. People remember stuff or they write it down. It’s about retaining that and reciting it amongst people, that’s what makes the connection.” Check out the facebook page for Ashland Street Project Space to keep up-to-date with future events.

Outlaw King, from page 6 his daughter from his first wife at all costs, refuses an annulment from Edward I of England after being captured by him, and decides to stick with Robert the Bruce even though the likelihood of him succeeding is slim to none. Robert the Bruce is also a big part in this equality between them. Pugh isn’t ready to consummate the marriage and he’s more than OK with waiting. He never talks down to her like she’s stupid, and once she tells him she knows of his plans and supports him in the takeover, they act more as partners than you usually see in films like this. Without trying to give too much of what happened in the film away, I can say I was pleasantly

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surprised by the quality acting, which can always be a little hit-or-miss with Netflix shows and with the historical film not just following the tropes of making women the arm candy of men with few other usages. The number of gory war scenes and gory torture scenes wasn’t really my cup of tea, but it worked well with the historical aspect of the film, considering those are the type of things that would happen in that time period, taking place in the year 1304. Overall, “Outlaw King” is a film worth watching if a historical action drama is your cup of tea, especially since it’s on Netflix and has a run time of only 121 minutes.

OPINION

Nov. 29, 2018 Vol. 87 Issue 10

SGA Sucks, So Let’s Fix It On Tuesday and Wednesday, the Student Government Association (SGA) will hold a special election in an attempt to fill vacancies. While three candidates will appear on the ballot, there are still 20 vacancies, one at each level of the organization. For an organization which oversees a budget of almost $400,000, low participation is something SGA must take radical steps to address. As the student voice in college governance, SGA is in a position to speak truth to power and help solve some of the key issues plaguing this institution. Yet SGA has routinely failed to be a part of some of the most critical discussions on campus. Conversations about the enrollment crisis, the College’s struggle to retain students, how to assist in diversity and inclusivity efforts, and the role MCLA should play in the outside community should be at the forefront of a discussion. When SGA spends the bulk of their Monday meeting time discussing a reusable coffee mug program or planning a recruitment event in the public eye, it’s easy to forget just how powerful this organization can be. If SGA was publicizing these conversations in advance and hosting them on a routine basis, people may feel more inclined to arrive on a Monday night. Yet even when there have been difficult conversations, it always seems that it turns into somebody on SGA talking to somebody in administration. These are conversations students could easily have on their own, and if SGA used their position to hold those in power accountable, it would live up to the, “Government,” part of their name. While SGA has made some strides in

JAKE VITALI ACCORDING TO ME the area of making meetings less intimidating, the ugly skeleton of the past remains. Conversation is still guided by the SGA Senate chair, who decides when an individual gets to speak. Open forum, the portion where gallery members are allowed to speak, has been added to the start of the meeting, but it has done nothing to reduce time spent talking in circles and sharing the consensus agreement among the body. Time spent talking in circles, rehashing the same talking points, is frustrating for gallery members who are there to introduce new topics and see the results SGA is supposed to deliver. SGA has loosened its GPA requirements, opening up SGA for a new class of leaders. Yet the organization continues to maintain its high number of required signatures to appear on the ballot. One hundred signatures are required, along with two running mates to form a presidential ticket. Sixty are needed to be a Senator, and 40 are required to be a class officer. If these requirements were cut in half, we may see candidates returning completed nomination papers, and

we may begin to see competition return to elections. SGA also needs to consider the optics of how they approach certain things. Earlier this semester, SGA attempted to hold an inter-club dialogue meeting on a Friday night. Not only were many club leaders absent, and understandably so, the meeting was held in the College’s only lecture hall. Rather than dialogue, it felt like participants were being lectured at when the goal was supposed to be recognizing us as equal partners. In addition, it’s time for SGA to address its lesser-known branch, Class Council. Class Council has no legitimate role in the student governance process. Its members don’t get to vote on critical motions that impact members of the classes they are supposed to represent. Outside of the treasurer, who serves on Budget Finance Committee, there is no enforcement of the committee component of the job. Instead, Class Councils should act as a grassroots branch of SGA, designed to get the true pulse on student issues and engage with more students. Allow the class councils to handle internal committees and be the liaisons to administrators, freeing Senators and E-boards to focus on policy. As of right now, the only value class councils provide is to plan senior days and fundraise for trips. This responsibility could easily be redistributed to a committee within SGA and funded with excess money in the organization’s operating budget. If SGA is open to criticism and willing to accept that they need to improve, its best days will lie ahead. Failure to do so will result in consequences all of us will have to accept.

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

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Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief

Editorial

Ron Leja

Why is Parking Still a Problem? MCLA needs to address their lack of parking. It’s a topic that has been griped about time and time again, and one that continues to pose a problem for both commuter and resident students alike. For commuters in particular, it can prove to be a daily stress inducer if you just so happen to have classes at peak hours. When those hours are? Who knows —they seem to change with the ebb and flow of each passing semester. Regardless, most commuter students have, at one point or another, found themselves gripping the steering wheel in frustration as they wander from parking lot to parking lot in search of an open spot. Rest assured, they’ll find one — it might just be over in the Church Street parking area. Does this amount to the end of the world? No, but it is annoyingly inconvenient. The winter seasons can prove especially difficult once we’ve been hit with a foot or two of snow, as plowing in the lots has been known to block off spots that are typically available during the fall and spring For residents of the Flagg Townhouses, lack of parking means that they’re subjected to a ridiculous raffle system to determine who get a parking space. Those students who don’t manage to acquire a parking space, for one reason or another, have to instead park on the street. Normally this isn’t an issue, but from November through April the city of North Adams puts their annual parking ban into effect, at which point these students need to apply to park at the municipal lots downtown or go through the hassle of paying frats for parking spaces. It’s an asinine solution that really, no

student should have to accept. Visitors to the school also pose an issue, as all visitors are told to park in the dirt lot across from the Shapiro house, a lot that is intended for commuters. A lack of enrollment this year may be a topic of concern for the administration, but for students, it proves to be more of a godsend. As it stands, the school doesn’t have enough parking as is, so how can they expect to accommodate for even more people? What MCLA needs is a parking structure. It’s an idea that has been bounced around for years, and one that we feel most students and faculty would be prone to agree on. Whenever the lack of parking gets brought up to administration, it seems like the go-to answer is all too often, “Well, there is only so much land on which we can expand.” If MCLA can’t increase the size of the current parking lots, why not then build upon them? A legitimate parking structure, built over the residential lots by Hoosac Tower, could prove to be a much-appreciated convenience for the MCLA community as a whole. While it may not be the most convenient place to park for everyone, it could potentially allow students to at least keep their cars on campus and would ultimately alleviate many of the known parking issues that they face. According to RSMeans, a company that evaluates the cost of various construction projects, the average price of a five-story parking garage comes out to be just over $8.5 million. For the record, the CSI building was $54 million project. If efforts can be made to come up with that sort of money for a building that only benefits particular students surely they can come up with a fraction of that to benefit us all.

Managing Editor

A & E Editor

Jake Vitali

Nora Hones

Sports Editor

Senior News Editor Maya McFadden

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Gabby Kernozek

Elizabeth Haight

BWN Executive Producer Julia Teixeira

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Staff Writers

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A&E Writers

Wyatt Mineau Jen VanBramer

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BWN Reporters Karina Mattera Andrew Strout Ally Thienel Shunquell Dennis Victoria Weichel Erika Lucia

Advisers Shawn McIntosh Qian Wang

SPORTS

Nov. 29, 2018 Vol. 87 Issue 10

WJJW Presents

Laura Stevenson

Photo by MCLA Athletics

Freshman Shannon Carney scores a total 12 points, three steals, and five rebounds this season in the first five games.

MCLA’s Pride Night Celebration Ends in Women’s Basketball Loss BY JABARI SHAKIR SPORTS EDITOR Middlebury remains undefeated after they handed a tough loss to the MCLA Trailblazers 92-33. The loss moves MCLA to fifth in the MASCAC conference with an overall record of 3-2. The Panthers overall record this season is 4-0 as they move on to play Sage tonight at 6 p.m. The Trailblazers finished with 23 rebounds, four assists, four steals, and two blocks. The Trailblazers had the lowest scoring game this season with 33 points. In the first half, the score was 40-17, leaving MCLA trailing at a 23-point deficit. No player on the Trailblazers scored over seven points. Senior guard Courtney Pingelski had a season-low six points, four rebounds, and one steal while shooting 1-8 from the field, 4-4 from the free throw and 0-4 from the three-point arc. Senior forward Samantha Gawron scored six points, two rebounds, and one assist. Senior guard McKenzie Robinson scored seven

points, five rebounds, and one assist. She shot 3-13 from the court, 0-1 from the free throw line and 1-4 from three-point range. Coach Loren Stock recognizes her team’s struggles during this game and uses her past coaching experience in order to bounce-back from the loss. “I would say 'Rome was not built in a day,' that’s a knowledgeable piece that I use,” Stock said. “When I put something in, I expect it to click and I know it takes years in coaching, that it will take some time to develop,” Stock said. Middlebury completed with a total of 53 rebounds, 26 assists, 10 steals, and two blocks. Junior forward Maya Davis had 19 points, two rebounds, and three assists. Sophomore guard Emily Wander scored 14 points, two rebounds, one assist, and one steal. Their teammate junior guard Kira Waldman finished with 12 points, five rebounds, three assists, and two steals. The Trailblazers head to Utica this evening at 5 p.m.

Don’t Blow It Long Neck

The Parlor Cafe 303 Ashland Street Saturday December 1st Doors at 7:00 PM

$5 Entry

Nov. 29, 2018 Vol. 87 Issue 10

SPORTS

Women in Professional Football — Why is This a Gray Area?

Photo by Jabari Shakir

SAAC E-board and Coach Loren Stock came up with several great ideas to impvove attendance of all sports.

Pushing Accountability BY JABARI SHAKIR SPORTS EDITOR Women’s basketball coach Loren Stock and the SAAC E-board emphasized enforcing student-athletes to attend upcoming community service projects and pushed for team and SAAC pride while asking teammates for support at all meetings. Coach Stock is very committed to making improvements to SAAC for the rest of the school year, in order to build confidence, satisfaction, fulfillment and the sense of achievement. “The overall buy-in and pride, letting them feel that it is their voice—it’s their committee to speak freely and openly about anything that they would like to speak about, and just making it to be their own is important,” Stock said. Coach Stock and the E-board were very upset about the buy-in and attendance during the previous and current meetings and questioned why student-athletes were not participating

collectively and consistently at every meeting. They strongly expressed how to create fun examples to make SAAC fun and to hype their committee. They talked about a point system for each team, and every team that attends the most SAAC meetings with the most points gets a prize. They are ready to make a statement with SAAC on-campus with community service projects, campus-wide activities, and events. Some community service activities include clinics at the YMCA, soup kitchen volunteering, and fundraising for each sport. On Tuesday, Nov. 27, SAAC hosted Pride Night during the Women’s basketball game against Middlebury. The night was a success, consisting of inspirational quotes at halftime with everyone wearing their whiteout pride shirts to support their community. The next SAAC meeting will be held Tuesday, Dec. 11 in Sullivan Lounge at noon.

Check out Check out the MCLA upcoming Beacon basketball channel on Youtube features and for this week’s player profiles for edition of Beacon Web this basketball News, coming season in soon to MCLA-TV on upcoming issues! Philo!

ecently, the head-coach-deprived Cleveland Browns were, according to ESPN reporters Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport, entertaining the thought of interviewing former United States Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice to try to fill their vacancy. If hired, Rice would ANDREW BAILLARGEON become the first feTHE CALL male head coach in NFL history. Not just that, never before has a female even been interviewed for the position, so the interview merely happening would create a milestone. Shortly after this report came out, both Rice and the Browns dismissed it, both expressing respect and admiration for one another (Rice is a Browns fan, after all) but both suggesting that an interview would not transpire. The Browns have had a very, very poor history of head coaching in the 21st century. They recently endured a head coach, Hue Jackson, who may go down as the worst coach in NFL history, having the second worst record out of every coach to have ever coached at least 40 games (219 out of 220 such coaches). Under Jackson, the Browns went through a 0-16 record last year, a 1-31 record over Jackson's first two full seasons, and overall went 3-36-1 under his guidance. Since Jackson's departure, the Browns have been noticeably better with interim head coach Gregg Williams, going 2-1 with two blowout wins over formidable foes, Atlanta Falcons and Cincinnati Bengals. When I think of what constitutes a 'good coach' at the professional level, I think of a smart, respectable, knowledgeable leader who can make fast, critical decisions, knows the game of football to an obsessive extent and is adept at micromanaging their team at each and every practice, game, and general team function. Gender, sex, ethnicity and race do not have any influence on a coach's ability to do all of those things. Could Condoleeza Rice have possessed those traits? Only General Manager John Dorsey would be able to make that decision, had an interview taken place. Yet, the potential setup stirred a serious amount of controversy, with the Browns being mocked and ridiculed for the mere thought of having a 'woman' head coach. Well, Hue Jackson, the male, ended up being one of the worst coaches ever. Without knowing Condoleeza Rice's background in football, I can pretty confidently assert that she would not have been as dismal as Jackson was in his two and one-half years with the team, seeing as how she assuredly has a functioning brain, something Jackson seemed to lack at times in his tenure with the Browns. Looking beyond Rice, there are plenty of women who are smart, respectable, knowledgeable leaders, capable of making fast, critical decisions, and there are certainly plenty of women who follow football to all sorts of extents, from casual to obsessive and everywhere in between. The NFL, above all else, is a business. It exists to make money, which is usually done by having a successful, entertaining football team that can compete with the rest of the league week in, week out. Generally, regardless of who your coach is, if your favorite team's coach is helping your team to succeed, you are probably satisfied with it. If your favorite team is having a bad year, you probably aren't so happy, and neither of these sentiments would be different depending on your team's coaches' gender, sex, ethnicity or race. There isn't a single aspect of being a successful coach, general manager, or anything on the sidelines of a football game that women, men, or any other gender are incapable of inherently doing. As a country, let's please drop that barbaric, patriarchal way of thinking.

Nov. 29, 2018 Vol. 87 Issue 10

Winter In the Berkshires photos by Ron Leja