April 19, 2018 Vol. 86 Issue 11

T hu r s day , A p r i l 19, 2018

Volume 86

Issue 11 Green Living Seminar

Whales, drones, and a Snotbot

BY FABIENNE BOGARDUS-STREET STAFF WRITER

Photo from MCLA.edu

Students at last year’s Undergraduate Research Conference presented on a variety of topics.

16th Undergraduate Research Conference

BY COREY MITCHELLLABRIE STAFF WRITER

The Undergraduate Research Conference (URC) at MCLA is an annual event that showcases student-led research and projects.

“I know some of my students that are presenting have been preparing since the fall,” said Jenna Sciuto, associate chair of undergraduate research. “It’s actually coming out of classes from the fall. I think other students as well, from other disciplines, are building off material from the fall.”

The efforts of 248 students and 45 faculty members went into this year’s URC. A wide variety of presentations were included all over campus, from formal PowerPoints

and carefully constructed posters to performances and even a historic walking tour.

“We have a special session this year,” Sciuto said.

“It’s called ‘The History of MCLA’s People,’ which is coming out of a course with Katherine Carroll and we’ve included a map in the actual URC program.”

“They’ve designed this walking tour,” said Justin Golub, chair of undergraduate research. “It’s a self-guided walking tour where you get to visit different sites and it features the first AfricanAmerican to graduate from MCLA, it has the history of Venable Hall.”

Most students begin work on their URC project during the fall semester, working continuously up until the actual event in the spring.

“Some did research last year that they’re presenting this year,” Golub said. “Some did research in the fall. So the amount of time students prepare probably varies depending on the project they’re working on.”

The entire day is filled with scheduled blocks for the conference and all classes are canceled for the day. Students are encouraged to attend some talks, not just for curiosity’s sake, but also to show support for their peers.

“I think every department on campus, every academic department, has students presenting,” Golub said.

“Poster and paper presentations, there’s two performances, they’ll be in the afternoon sessions.”

URC page 3

The Green Living Seminar series continued with its last presentation of the semester, “Studying Whales Using Drones: The Ocean Alliance’s Snotbot,” by Iain Kerr, CEO of Ocean Alliance.

“Iain Kerr not only provided us a view of how technology is being used to better understand and protect whales, but I hope his ending point will be taken to heart,” said Elena Traister, associate professor of environmental science. “Oceans and people are intimately connected.

Reminding people to care about protecting the ocean is the first step to safeguarding its future.”

Kerr began the lecture by showing a picture of the earth from space and saying, “This is planet ocean, we do not live on planet Earth.”

Earth is 71 percent water and 64 percent of that is considered high seas or international waters. Kerr’s main point was that humanity’s future is in our ocean as is our survival.

“Technically almost half of the earth’s surface belongs to no one or everyone,” Kerr said.

As a consequence of human activities, whales are facing more threats than ever before. Some factors are chemical pollution, bycatch,

entanglement, ship strikes, habitat loss, noise pollution, climate change and acoustic bleaching. Kerr showed an example of endangered right whales off of Boston, showing scientific technology resulting in ecological risks.

The following whale populations are endangered currently: bowhead whales, gray whales, Arabian Sea humpback whales, Southern right whales, North Pacific right whales, North Atlantic right whales, Bryde’s whales, Antarctic blue whales and sperm whales.

Kerr discussed “Voyages of the Odyssey,” an Ocean Alliance boat trip circumnavigating the globe from 20002006. They covered about 87,000 nautical miles in five and a half years. One part of this trip included measuring the amount of tissue mercury levels in sperm whales.

Ocean Alliance is a nonprofit organization founded in 1971 by Roger Payne that develops research techniques and creates conservation and education initiatives to protect whales and their habitats.

The Snotbot, a drone made to collect snot from whales without harassing them, was developed over a five-year span. In 2011, it was just an idea before turning into an Olin College project called the snotshot, followed by the first trial at sea and a full trial offshore. In 2015, a Kick-

Green Living page 2

Journalist-in-Residence

Smith talks importance of local journalism

BY MAYA MCFADDEN STAFF WRITER

Jenn Smith, The Berkshire Eagle’s community engagement editor and education reporter, spent April 10 and 11 on MCLA’s campus as this semester’s Hardman Journalist-inResidence.

Smith spent Tuesday visiting classes, students and faculty and gave her public lecture, “Preserving Local Journalism: Why Your News, Your Views, Your Voice Matters,” at noon on Wednesday in Murdock Hall’s Sammer Dennis Room.

Smith discussed how she grew up and gained an interest in journalism. She started with her high school newspaper, taking on a lead-

ership role as a sophomore. Smith aimed to enhance her school paper’s reputation and student involvement.

“I created a product that made people listen, that made people think, and that made people value themselves,” said Smith.

Smith attended Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communications and interned at the Syracuse New Times.

After graduating, Smith returned to Pittsfield and worked three jobs. Smith served at the former Dakota Steakhouse and was a substitute teacher in addition to being a news clerk and obituary writer at The Berkshire Eagle.

“It’s almost an escape from myself,” Smith said. “I get to sit with

other people’s lives and walk through other people’s days, at the best of times and the worst of times.”

Writing obituaries and being in the newsroom was beneficial to learning the skills of good journalism for Smith.

“I learned how to be resourceful and a lot about accountability,” Smith said.

In 2005, Smith began working fulltime at The Berkshire Eagle. Smith said that in an office with few women, when she started she was the only female reporter. She was also one of very few people of color.

“I really connected with her with interest in a field where there isn’t a lot of females and different ethnici-

Smith page 2

photo from Rae Ross

Jenn Smith is a reporter for The Berkshire Eagle.

CAMPUSNEWS

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April 19, 2018 Vol. 86 Issue 11

Disappointment and hope: Cullen talks Northern Ireland and Brexit

BY JOSEPH CAREW EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Twenty years from the Good Friday Agreement and Northern Ireland continues to struggle with integration of its population according to Boston Globe Columnist Kevin Cullen. With the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union, uncertainty also reigns over what the border will look like between the North and South.

“I can tell you that no one, not one single person I have talked to in the North of Ireland believes Theresa May,” Cullen said. “She just doesn’t have any credibility particularly with the nationalist side.”

This mistrust of the prime minister of the United Kingdom leads to a borderline guessing game when it comes to the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. At the moment there is essentially no border. While driving in between the two, Cullen’s phone kept switching between the provider of the North and the South.

“It actually did it a couple of times so we were crossing these places and you wouldn’t know you were crossing the border. There was no border,” Cullen said.

The fear is that the border will harden and unease will turn to hostility again. This comes as Northern Ireland looks back on the 20 years of peace between the Protestant and Catholic populations.

“As George Mitchell said, ‘the Good Friday Agreement created peace which created the space for reconciliation to happen’ but I think, by any objective measure it has not. Certainly not to the extent that you would hope in 20 years of peace,” Cullen said. “I came away more disappointed than I thought I would be.”

Cullen sees little spaces for both communities to come together; there are still few spots of integration.

“The vast majority of people in Northern Ireland still live in neighborhoods where almost everybody is like them. They are either unionist Protestant or Catholic nationalist and that hasn’t changed in the last 20 years,” Cullen said.

One of the key points in the Good Friday Agreement was this drive for unity, which has yet to truly come to fruition. The integrated education movement hasn’t done much to combine the two populations. The percentage of people attending integrated schools has increased by only 3

photo courtesy of mcla.edu

Kevin Cullen is a columnist for the Boston Globe.

percent in these two decades.

This doesn’t mean that hard times will come again though. The country’s youth seem to be moving away from the divisions that have plagued it for hundreds of years.

“The hope or the promise that I got coming out of there is that young people particularly seem determined to really move this forward,” Cullen said.

“They do believe in reconciliation and they do believe that they have to do more than just sit in their neighborhoods and not mix with the other side.”

Smith from page 1 ties,” said freshman Dalaina Yamawaki.

A benefit of these identities, Smith said, is she is often a person who immigrants and people of color feel safe reaching out to.

“She really motivated me to pursue my interest in investigative journalism today,” Yamawaki said.

As an Eagle reporter, Smith has covered topics such as education, entertainment and politics.

One student asked, “When you get sensitive cases, how do you disconnect and step back to look at the bigger picture?”

“You realize you’re human and that it’s okay to be vulnerable,” Smith said. “It’s okay

Time is key in this land of long memories. The Troubles saw the death of over 3000 people and the injury of countless more.

“If you go back 20 years ago, when the Good Friday Agreement happened, anybody who was of the age of say 15-20 at that time would have known some of the bad stuff that happened or might have happened to a member of their family…so we need more separation, we need to have this greater distance from the conflict,” Cullen said.

While reflecting on his coverage of this tumultuous time in Northern Ireland, Cullen recalled the promise of the Good Friday Agreement. One day, while walking down the steps of Stormont, home to the government of Northern Ireland, Cullen saw Martin McGuinness helping an ailing Ian Paisley down the steps.

“It was an extraordinary moment to look at that. This guy who used to be one of the most hardcore members of the IRA…was there being so tender to Ian Paisley who had sentenced an awful lot of Protestant kids to a life of servitude by getting them to kill Catholics,” Cullen said. “It was just remarkable. And that to me was the promise of the Good Friday Agreement.”

Green Living from page 1 to share those stories and it’s okay to learn from them and keep talking about it and never forget.”

Smith discussed her coverage of national crises such as the Boston Marathon bombing and the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.

“It made me a better journalist because I learned to approach someone from a human perspective at their worst moment,” Smith said.

Smith continues to promote conversations within the community on social issues.

According to The Berkshire Eagle, in response to the February shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Smith put together a

Consider joining Beacon Web News as well!

public panel forum in March to discuss solutions for gun violence, school shootings and gun safety.

Many students and faculty agreed that Smith’s residence was both beneficial and influential.

“She really motivated me when she visited two of my classes and was really open to having a conversation and answering all my questions,” Yamawaki said.

According to the MCLA notable speakers page, the lecture series aims to provide community members with the opportunity to speak with current journalists and is supported by the Hardman Family Endowment.

starter was created and the first snotbot expedition began in Patagonia.

“I really appreciated that Iain Kerr brought the actual snotbot and sampling equipment so that we could see up close how it all worked,” Traister said. “I was also really surprised and amused to learn about how he raised funds for his research by running a Kickstarter campaign for which he made a short promotional film with ‘Star Trek’s’ Patrick Stewart.”

In 2016 the second and third snotbot expeditions took place in the Sea of Cortez and Alaska. There were multiple forms of data col-

Students are welcome to apply to any positions!

Editors, writers, designers, photographers, copy editors, etc..

lected including biological data, photogrammetry, tracking, behavior and abundance surveys.

The seventh and most recent expedition, which began in March at San Ignacio Lagoon and Loreto, featured a growing team, new drones to test and new goals based on previous findings.

This lecture concluded the 11-part series with the theme of “Sustainability and the Role of Technology,” presented by the environmental studies department and the MCLA Berkshire Environmental Resource Center.

Applications are now open!

April 19, 2018 Vol. 86 Issue 11

NATIONALNEWS

3

Supreme Court

Split on whether online sellers must collect sales taxes across U.S.

By David G. Savage Tribune Washington Bureau WASHINGTON- The Supreme Court took up a huge sales tax case on Tuesday with the expectation it was ready to bring online shopping under the same rules that apply to ordinary retailers.

But that outcome was less certain after Tuesday’s argument. The justices were clearly divided, but in unusual coalitions of conservatives and liberals.

One side said Congress, not the courts, should set the rules for taxing interstate commerce.

At issue is a 1992 ruling involving mail-order catalogs when the justices found that states may not require outof-state mailers to collect sales taxes on behalf of their residents.

Now, in the era of online shopping, that decision in Quill v. North Dakota is said to cost states and municipalities between $8 billion and $13 billion a year in lost tax revenue.

Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and Justices Samuel A. Alito Jr. and Elena Kagan said Congress is better suited to devise a new system. Roberts worried that requiring people who run their own websites to collect sales taxes for an estimated 12,000 taxing jurisdictions across the nation would be overly burdensome. There needs to be a minimum threshold, he said.

Kagan added, “Congress can craft a compromise in a way that we cannot.”

Justice Sonia Sotomayor said she is worried that “overturning precedents will

photo from TNS

Members of the U.S. Supreme Court pose for a group photograph at the Supreme Court building on June 1, 2017, in Washington, D.C. Front row, seated from left, Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Associate Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, Chief Justice of the United States John G. Roberts, Associate Justice Clarence Thomas, and Associate Justice Stephen Breyer. Standing behind from left, Associate Justice Elena Kagan, Associate Justice Samuel Alito Jr., Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor, and Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch. (Olivier Douliery/Abaca Press/ TNS) create a massive amount of he asked.

For online shoppers across Justice Stephen G. Breyer, the U.S., the court’s decision lawsuits.”

But Justice Ruth Bader who could hold the deciding could mean higher prices, alGinsburg said it should not vote, asked questions about though many large internet be left to Congress to grapple the costs and burdens of col- sellers, including Amazon, with the court’s previous de- lecting sales taxes, but he did have already been collecting cision. “If time and changing not signal he was leaning one sales taxes in recent years. conditions have rendered way or the other.

Traditional brick-and-morThe case, South Dakota tar retailers believe the case (the Quill decision) obsolete, why should the court say: v. Wayfair, began when the is about fairness. They have Well, we’ll let Congress fix state passed a law requiring had to collect taxes on all of retailers who do more than their sales, while shoppers it?”

Justice Anthony Kennedy $100,000 worth of business knew they could often pay agreed that the Quill ruling there to collect its 4.5 percent less by buying the same prodwas “incorrect” and should sales tax, even if they were lo- ucts online. be overruled. And Justice cated in other states. PredictState and local governNeil M. Gorsuch said it was ably, the law was struck down ments see online sales as a unfair to traditional retailers as unconstitutional based on source of needed revenue. who must collect sales taxes. the Quill decision.

Last year, the Government But the high court then Accountability Office esti“Why should this court favor a particular business model voted to hear the state’s argu- mated these governments that relies not on brick and ment that the Quill decision were losing $13 billion a year mortar but on mail order?” should be overruled. in uncollected sales taxes. A

FINANCIAL AID ANNOUNCEMENT

URC from page 1 “We’re doing the art exhibit and dessert reception, which is new this year,” Sciuto said, “as a new culminating event to the conference that involves beverages and food.”

Presentations for the URC began with the first round starting at 9:30 a.m. and the final exhibit closing around 5:15 p.m.

“This year we have the most students ever,” Sciuto said. “I kind of wish I could clone myself to be at multiple sessions. There’s going to be some tough decisions to make. I’m excited to see

group called the Marketplace Fairness Coalition said the loss was much higher and could be as much as $33 billion a year.

In 1992, the justices ruled the Constitution bars a state from requiring a catalog seller in, say, Maine from collecting the sales taxes owed by a shopper in California.

This rule was based in part on the notion that if the catalog company in Maine had no “physical presence” in California, it did not use the state’s roads and resources, and had no obligation to support it.

But South Dakota and 41 other states, including California, are urging the court to overturn the “physical presence” rule. Their lawyers argued the rule is outdated and unfair in an era of internet shopping. They were joined by a lawyer for the Trump administration who said Quill should be overruled.

Defenders of the current system say small merchants, like a craft shop or a bookstore, would face an unfair burden if they are required to collect sales taxes for not just states, but for more than 10,000 cities, counties and other taxing jurisdictions across the nation.

The California state sales tax is 7.25 percent, and cities and counties may add to that.

Los Angeles County adds 2.25 percent, for a total of 9.5 percent.

South Dakota’s lawyers also say that better software has made it easy to calculate the correct sales tax for an online consumer.

the creative writing session because usually my sessions run at the same time so I haven’t been able to be at one of those before.”

“If you’re interested in research or maybe participating in research somewhere down the line,” Golub said, “you should know what opportunities are out there and this is a great showcase for what opportunities exist.

Plus there’s free breakfast beforehand, so you’re missing out on free food.”

ATTENTION GRADUATING SENIORS!

IF YOU BORROWED STUDENT LOANS WHILE AT MCLA, YOU WILL NEED TO COMPLETE ON-LINE EXIT COUNSELING. DON’T WAIT!!

KEEP AN EYE ON YOUR MCLA EMAIL FOR MORE INFORMATION!!

WORLDNEWS

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April 19, 2018 Vol. 86 Issue 11

A week in history: throwback images April 19th

1770 – Captain James Cook, still holding the rank of lieutenant, sights the eastern coast of what is now Australia.

1770 – Marie Antoinette marries Louis XVI of France in a proxy wedding.

1971 – Charles Manson is sentenced to death (later commuted to life imprisonment) for conspiracy in the Tate–LaBianca murders.

April 20th

1775 – American Revolutionary War: The Siege of Boston begins, following the battles at Lexington and Concord.

1861 – American Civil War: Robert E. Lee resigns his commission in the United States Army in order to command the forces of the state of Virginia.

1947 – Christian X of Denmark dies.

April 23rd

A 1680 map of the modern day area known as Turkey.

Thursday, April 19

Snow High: 39° Low: 30° Precip. Chance: 93%

1920 – The Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) is founded in Ankara. The assembly denounces the government of Sultan Mehmed VI and announces the preparation of a temporary constitution.

1968 – Vietnam War: Student protesters at Columbia University in New York City take over administration buildings and shut down the university.

April 21st

753 BC – Romulus founds Rome (traditional date).

1836 – Texas Revolution: The Battle of San Jacinto: Republic of Texas forces under Sam Houston defeat troops under Mexican General Antonio López de Santa Anna.

1982 – Baseball: Rollie Fingers of the Milwaukee Brewers becomes the first pitcher to record 300 saves.

A plan of the city of Boston circa 1777.

April 24th

1800 – The United States Library of Congress is established when President John Adams signs legislation to appropriate $5,000 to purchase “such books as may be necessary for the use of Congress.”

1957 – Suez Crisis: The Suez Canal is reopened following the introduction of UNEF peacekeepers to the region.

April 22nd

1864 – The U.S. Congress passes the Coinage Act of 1864 that mandates that the inscription In God We Trust be placed on all coins minted as United States currency.

1948 – Arab–Israeli War: Haifa, a major port of Israel, is captured from Arab forces.

1954 – Red Scare: Witnesses begin testifying and live television coverage of the Army– McCarthy hearings begins.

April 25th

1898 – Spanish–American War: The United States declares war on Spain.

1901 – New York becomes the first U.S. state to require automobile license plates.

1960 – The United States Navy submarine USS Triton Images from WikimediaCommons completes the first submerged An image of the USS Maine circumnavigation of the globe. before it exploded in Havana Harbor.

Weekend Weather Friday, April 20

Mostly Cloudy High: 41° Low: 27° Precip. Chance: 20%

Saturday, April 21

Partly Cloudy High: 47° Low: 22° Precip. Chance: 10%

Are you an SGA Club?

Your first ad in the paper is on the house!

Contact Business Manager Mitchell Chapman at mc7368@mcla.edu for details

Sunday, April 22

Sunny High: 52° Low: 27° Precip. Chance: 5%

April 19, 2018 Vol. 86 Issue 11

FEATURES

5

Meet RA Jake: One of RPS’s most honorable employees

BY LISE MANSARAY FEATURES WRITER Jacob Boillat is a senior at MCLA, who you can usually spot in his red uniform. Since 2015, Boillat has worked as an employee of Residential Programs and Services (RPS) and received recognition for his outstanding work.

“Jake has been a very important member of the RPS staff,” said Dianne Manning, director of RPS. “He is always willing to go above and beyond his required job responsibilities.”

Boillat’s interest first struck during his freshman year of college. He was president of the Berkshire Towers Advisory Board. It was there where he gained experience programming for the building and helping improve residence living experience. The position inspired him to pursue a higher position as a Resident Advisor (RA).

Through his hard work and dedication, Boillat was provided additional opportunities and experiences that not every RA has achieved. Last year, he applied to be an RA for the third time.

“I wanted to return to the position because of the enjoyment and success I have had as an RA,” said Boillat. “I enjoyed building community and using my resources for educational, impactful programs.”

Through that application process and interview, there he was offered the new position as a senior resident advisor, a position that has not been offered in about five years.

Photo provided by MCLA NRHH

Jake Boillat accepting an award for Outstanding Service from RD Brendan Cody.

Working in residential life is not something Boillat only enjoys, but something he wishes to pursue as a career. His position as senior resident advisor is just one of the steps he has taken to build his career.

“Throughout the summer the RPS admins and staff members talked to me asking how I wanted to build this position into something that would help my future career goals,” Boillat said. “These discussions then led to me being on the admin duty rotation.”

“As we created the position, we tried to put together some job responsibilities that would put him ahead of

the typical undergraduate seeking a residence director position,” Manning added. “[We] gave him supervision of some things an RD would typically do like advise the Flagg Townhouse Advisory Board and manage the townhouse weekly apartment inspection process.”

Despite all his responsibilities, Boillat manages to keep up with them through organization and studying. “[I handle these responsibilities by] making sure I stay up to date with my knowledge about the campus and my position,” said Bolliat. “I use a planner to schedule everything I do out

and read the student handbook to keep the community guidelines fresh for my RA responsibilities.”

Boillat believes MCLA has helped prepare him and supported him in pursuing his career.

“I have learned to work with difficult people, difficult situations and how to remain unbiased while developing myself and others,” Boillat said.

“I have been fortunate enough to have an abundance of support throughout many departments on campus and this has only helped.”

Boillat looks forward to his future career and feels comfortable having received the training and support at MCLA. “My favorite part about what I do is making people enjoy living on campus,” said Boillat. “Every once in a while, I receive a thank you or see a moment where the work I have done has benefited some students.”

Photo provided by Jake Boillat

A close up of Jake Boillat’s certificate for his service.

Katie Mancini is on a mission to educate

BY MEGHAN COOK FEATURES EDITOR The Undergraduate Research Conference (URC) offers students the opportunity to showcase their projects, research and presentations of all sorts. Katie Mancini seized this opportunity to educate her peers and community about her research into the U.S. water crisis.

“A lot of people don’t even know that this is an issue here in the United States,” Mancini said. “Water usage and clean water are a real problem.”

According to Mancini, the U.S. is consuming and using water at an unsustainable rate. The agricultural industry is one of the top consumers of water, as well as one of the top contaminators. Runoff from the fields and animals can get into groundwater or other bodies of water.

“Because of pollution as the population increases the amount of clean water decreases,” Mancini explained.

As a junior majoring in biology with a concentration in pre-medical sciences, her interest in the water crisis is unique. Mancini took a course last fall that introduced her to the topic.

“Katie did an independent study with me last fall on environmental justice where she wrote this research paper,” said Susan Edgerton, co-director of the honors program and professor of interdisciplinary studies. “We read widely and touched many topics and stories regarding environmental justice. Katie settled on the topic for her paper based on her own greatest interest at the time.”

As not only a member of the honors program, but vice president of the Honors Student Representative Council, Mancini needed an honors course for the fall.

“Susan had not yet taught Environmental Justice, so using me as a sort of guinea pig we figured out how to best structure the course around readings and projects,” Mancini said. “I was not aware of the water crisis and was immediately interested by it.”

According to Mancini’s soccer coach, Deb Raber, her enthusiasm and dedication in the classroom is reflected in her team leadership. “[Katie] is a top-notch student, on the academic side she helps her teammates with questions for classes,” said Raber. “She sets the bar high for the academic expectations in the women’s soccer program.”

Mancini has been a part of MCLA’s women’s soccer team as well as the honors program since her freshman year. Other extracurriculars include being a residence area security monitor in the dormitories and a student instructor for Introduction to Chemistry courses.

“I didn’t know about the water issue in the U.S. so I figured not many other people did either,” Mancini explained. “Not only the water crisis, but learning of the uneven distribution of consequences.”

According to Mancini, the effects of water pollution and contamination are largely felt by people living in poorer communities. Wealthier people and communities can afford to have clean water pumped to them, whereas less wealthy people suffer the consequences.

“After all this research I have discovered that it does tie into my concentration as well,” Mancini said.

“As a doctor knowing where someone lives and what water conditions they are living with can help with a diagnosis. If you know they live in a contaminated community lead poisoning could be a feasible option.”

The preparation for this topic consisted of a semester-long project resulting in a 22 page research paper. After the paper was finished,

Edgerton recommended that Mancini present at the URC. “It was easy to make the decision to submit an abstract and present,” Mancini said. “I had already done the work and this is an important topic that not a lot of people are aware of.”

Mancini’s hard work has resulted in a poster and presentation that she is excited to share with the MCLA community.

“I am very satisfied with Katie’s work and believe it should be widely read,” Edgerton said. ”The poster she produced is fabulous, she [did] a great job.”

Photo provided by Katie Mancini

Katie Mancini in MCLA’s Freel Library.

6

Arts & Entertainment

Glam rock ‘Hamlet’ was a hit

BY JACOB VITALI A&E WRITER This past weekend, Yorick put on a performance of “Hamlet” that was engaging and interesting for audiences who love William Shakespeare’s work and even those who hate it.

At the center of the play were standout performances from largely first-time actors.

Justin O’Connor delivered a commanding performance as King Claudius. O’Connor played the role with an authoritative and, at times, intimidating presence while delivering his lines with a brazen confidence that could lead one to believe that he was indeed royalty.

Claudius is an antagonistic character in the play and O’Connor was able to make the audience root against him.

Senior Brianna Lamb played the role of Hamlet.

Lamb was one of the play’s most seasoned performers, having experience in various Yorick and Harlequin productions. She provided

an emotional depth to the character that allowed the audience to easily understand the character’s complex emotions, in addition to showing off a more sarcastic side of Hamlet.

The integration of David Bowie came in the form of using his music throughout the play.

In one of his roles as the Gravedigger, sophomore Jacob Valenti sang “Please, Mr. Gravedigger” by Bowie himself.

Valenti sang in a British accent and his performance was reminiscent of Bowie’s

photo from FreeStockPhotos

original. The song was a seemingly perfect moment of convergence between Shakespeare and Bowie’s worlds.

For Valenti, his favorite part of performing in the show was appreciating literature in a new way.

“My favorite part of the play was being able to bring my love for literature to a new level which I’d never experienced before,” Valenti said.

The other place that the convergence between the worlds occurred was with the makeup and costumes. Characters wore an assortment of styles common in the 1980s ranging from beanies and flannels to long overcoats, Converse sneakers and hoodies.

There was an abundance of shine and glitter seen throughout the play. The most eccentric example of a glam-rock costume was perhaps worn by Laertes, played by freshman Austin Sirois who started the play wearing a dress shirt, slacks and suspenders

photo by Jacob Vitali

From left to right: freshman Austin Sirois as Laertes, freshman Emily Johnson as Gertrude, junior Justin O’Connor as Claudius and freshman Shon Loftus as Osric. but returned near the end wearing a red leather jacket, black leather pants and a glitter turtleneck.

There was also some comic relief from the characters Rosencrantz, played by Andrew Pietrykowski, and Guildenstern, played by Melissa Sirikan.

These characters are dishonest but also bumbling in nature and Pietrykowski and Sirikan

had good stage chemistry that complimented each other well.

“Hamlet” is traditionally over four hours in length, but co-directors Lee Skerry and Claire Harrison did an effective job cutting the play down to a shorter runtime that did not overstay its welcome and did not compromise significant plot points.

Jenna Sciuto writes a new chapter in life

BY EMMA MONAHAN A&E EDITOR Writing a book is never easy, and building on an idea that has been brewing for some time can seem to take forever to accomplish. For English/ Communications professor Jenna Sciuto, though, it all came out of the blue.

What started as a graduate school paper has now turned into a book entitled “Policing Intimacy: Law, Sexuality, and the Color Line in TwentiethCentury Hemispheric American Literature.”

Sciuto discussed her topic, which is an expansion of a talk she gave at the Southern American Studies Association Conference entitled “Racial Ambiguity: Bootlegging and Plantation Hierarchies in Faulkner.”

“I’m putting literature from

photo from mcla.edu

Sciuto teaches three classes at MCLA, as well as helping plan the URC. different space in conversation with each other and tracing threads of sexual policing, sexual violence, questions of intimacy, gender relationships throughout a number of texts,” Sciuto explained.

Sciuto teaches many of these topics in her classes, especially her Global Anglophone Language and Litera-

ture course, where students read novels about countries with a history of colonization, from “Heart of Darkness” to “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao.” “I’m trying to situate it historically, starting with the 1930s and 1940s, and the plantation writing, first coming out of Mississippi, which had a very specific colonial history, mostly Anglophone,” Sciuto said, “and then shifting from there to look at a very different space, Louisiana, at the same time period, but looking at the different ways race was constructed in Louisiana versus Mississippi at that time as well as the different colonial histories.”

This topic has always interested Sciuto, and it is clear in the way she discusses and teaches it. She talks about it easily, and although the book

won’t be published for another year or two, she’s proud of what she’s accomplished so far. “[From there] I go to Haiti in the same period, 1930s, which is actually more similar to Louisiana, just having that shared colonial history of French/Spanish,” Sciuto explained. “Then I leap forward and consider the rest of the 20th century in Haiti and also the Dominican Republic, and what happens to sexuality under dictatorship, so looking at the effects of the Trujillo regime and also the others.”

While her book will be nonfiction, Sciuto thinks there’s something interesting about telling stories of events like the Trujillo regime in a fictional way, like in “Oscar Wao.” “Something about history that can’t be told in another

April 19: Undergraduate Research Conference | 8:30 a.m. - 5

way fascinates me,” Sciuto said.

Instead of the typical process of a writer approaching a publisher, the opposite happened to Sciuto. When she gave her talk on racial ambiguity, the publisher she is now working with was in attendance, and soon after reached out to ask if she had a book based on the material she presented. The book is due to the publisher, University Press of Mississippi, by January.

It’s not the most common way to have a book published, but writers will take what they can get in that sense.

Many students may be interested in what it takes to get published or to try writing a book. Sciuto’s advice? Have confidence in yourself and if you have something to say, write it.

April 19: Treat Yo Self w. ANA | 8-9 p.m. Campus Center 324A

p.m. Multiple Locations

April 20:

April 21:

PaintU | 9 p.m. - 12 a.m.

Big Prize Bingo |

Church Street Center Social

8 p.m. - 10 p.m.Venable Gym

Hall

April 21:

April 22:

Cystic Fibrosis 5K | 10

SAC Day Trip to NYC | 8

a.m. Feigenbaum Center for

a.m. - 11:30 p.m. Sign ups in

Science and Innovation

CC312

Arts & Entertainment

7

The Gray Comma: finishing the semester with a night of artistry

This Is: Anderson East

BY WYATT MINEAU A&E WRITER

Anderson East is an upand-coming singer from Athens, Alabama. His music crosses southern soul, rhythm and blues, rock and Americana. At times he draws comparisons to Sam Cooke.

East has been performing since the seventh grade and began writing and performing his own music in high school while teaching himself to play the piano.

In 2015, East released his major-label debut record, “Delilah,” for Low Country Sound with producer Dave Cobb, who has also produced for more known artists including Chris Stapleton and Sturgill Simpson.

“Delilah” was based on the bible’s seventh book, “Book of Judges,” which features the story of Samson and Delilah. East compared the story to the record’s theme being the woman that saved the crumbling man.

The record showed promise for East and showed the makings of what would become his signature emotionally deep lyrics, a gravelly voice and brassy overtones.

In 2018, East released his album “Encore” and showed a greater level of emotions, tones and textures in his music.

On the song “King for a Day,” East sings about a stubborn kind of love,

On a chilly and windy afternoon, the walk down to Main Street was well worth the runny nose. Both students and North Adams community members spent the evening not only enjoying works by published authors Kathline Carr and Shira Dentz, but also having a chance to share their own pieces.

In the little corner of 49 Main St. that the Design Lab occupies, there was an impressive turnout for the Gray Comma series. Almost every seat was filled before the reading and more people arrived as the night went on.

Snacks were provided and books by both authors were available to purchase. The night began with a rundown of the schedule from Zachary Finch, an English/Communications professor who helped create the Gray Comma series.

Carr read poems from her published work “Miraculum Monstrum,” which won the 2015 Clarissa Dalloway Book Prize. The audience was entranced by her poems, hanging onto every word.

After Carr, Shira Dentz came to the podium. Her published works include “how do i net thee,” “door of thin skins” and “black seeds on a white dish.” Before she started, she showed some of her unique poems that were printed reading left to right

photo by Wyatt Mineau

Kathline Carr reading from her book, “Miraculum Monstrum.” from the bottom left corner of the book to the top left, as well as a pinecone-shaped poem aptly titled “Pinecone.”

She even drew some images in the air as she spoke for certain poems that were included in the book to give a better visual representation of her work.

“We’ve been inviting local and regional writers as featured artists and they’ll read during the first half, then we open to open mic for the second half,” Finch said. “It both allows for exposure to new writers, and a community building project, particularly for students who are writing actively, taking writing classes, it’s nice to try to finish something, to read it aloud in front of other people. You learn a lot, you build courage, you feel very good about yourself.”

After Dentz finished her last

poem, the podium was opened up to those who showed interest. While they were hot off the heels of published and critically-acclaimed authors, the MCLA students and community members did not disappoint. They clearly held potential and artistic talent and were just as captivating and engaging as Carr and Dentz, as well as brave enough to take the podium in the first place. Coming out of the Design Lab, one fact became clear: North Adams is no slouch when it comes to aspiring artistic and poetic talent.

“I like the idea of getting students downtown and helping to revitalize Main Street,” Finch said. “It probably decreases the amount of students that could come, but at the same time it probably encourages local community members, so I think it’s a give-and-take.”

While this event marked the conclusion of the Gray Comma readings for the semester, there is hope for a continuation of the series in the future.

“We are applying for funding to make it possible,” Finch said. “It’s coordinated and run by me and Cynthia who is a local poet and teacher and activist. We both think that it’s a good idea and we should move it forward.”

If you’re interested in future Gray Comma events, check out their Facebook page.

BY JACOB VITALI A&E WRITER

photo from Wikimedia Commons

Anderson East combines a variety of genres with his music, most notably soul, rhythm and blues, and rock. while on the wild ride of “Girlfriend” he sings about the art of seduction with strong horns and guitar.

The piano-based ballad “House is a Building” philosophizes on material comfort and companionship.

In addition to his solo releases, East co-wrote and performed the hit song “What Would It Take?” for the “Fifty Shades Darker” soundtrack. The soundtrack debuted on the Billboard Hot 200 chart.

East dated country singer Miranda Lambert for two years and wrote songs for her 2016 album, “The Weight of These Wings.”

The couple separated earlier this month.

East is currently on a world tour promoting the “Encore” record.

FPA goes ‘Into the Woods’ for final show of the season

BY BRIANNA LAMB A&E WRITER

MCLA’s Fine and Performing Arts (FPA) department will conclude its “We The People” season with their performance of Stephen Sondheim’s “Into the Woods,” exploring what happens after “happily ever after” in the intertwined stories of traditional fairy tales.

The show, directed by Assistant Professor of Theatre Jeremy Winchester, explores the conflict between generations and highlights the power of banding together across different age gaps to strike down adversity.

“How do we square the thing we thought we wanted with the daily reality of it? Princes are rich and handsome, but rich and handsome doesn’t guarantee kindness and love,” said Winchester, explaining the vision of the show.

Alex Sasso, assistant director and senior at MCLA, also shared her vision of the play’s message.

“It’s about things not being clear cut or simple to answer,

photos by Maggie Winslow

Students rehearsing for “Into the Woods.” the greater good versus personal Tom Truss III will portray the need, and trying to do the right Narrator and Mysterious Man, thing anyway,” Sasso said. alongside the student cast.

Not only is the crossThis production of “Into generational theme present in the Woods” also emphasizes the script, but it is also seen in togetherness in the face of the actual production and the hardship. work that goes into it. Several Stephen Sondheim wrote this student designers are working piece 30 years ago when the together with professors in AIDS epidemic was at its peak. order to make this performance “They didn’t know what come to life. In addition, would happen next, which Associate Professor of Theatre loved one would be taken Laura Standley will portray the next. Society had just begun, Witch and Dance Coordinator barely, to accept gay people as

deserving members of society,” Winchester said. “By banding together, we found ways to navigate those difficult times and challenges. We now face new challenges–emboldened racism, creeping fascism, and rampant greed and corruption.”

Under this season’s unified theme, “Into the Woods” will be brought to the stage to represent the hardships and fears of the modern day, mirroring Sondheim’s goal 30 years before.

MCLA theatre program’s adaptation of “Into the Woods” by Stephen Sondheim will be shown April 20, 21, 27 and 28 at 8 p.m. and April 21 and 29 at 2 p.m. A talkback will be hosted after the 8 p.m. show on April 28. Performances will take place in Venable Theater on the MCLA campus.

For more information or to reserve tickets, please call the box office at (413)-662-5123 or visit mcla.ticketleap.com.

SPORTS

8

April 19, 2018 Vol. 86 Issue 11

MCLA softball cruises past Mass.

Maritime for third and fourth straight wins

BY BRADY GEROW SPORTS EDITOR The Trailblazers softball team defeated the Mass. Maritime Academy Buccaneers 9-3 and 10-5 in a doubleheader behind solid bats throughout both games on a road trip to Buzzards Bay on Saturday, April 14.

Game one of the doubleheader saw a back and forth battle between the two lineups. Although the game only saw three lead changes, until the top half of the fifth inning, the game was up in the air for either team.

MCLA sophomore Kara Adams started the scoring for the 'Blazers with her single in the first that brought home junior Kaitlyn Berghela, who had walked and then stolen second, for an early 1-0 lead.

The Buccaneers then took a brief lead with two runs in the second inning off Adams, who started on the mound for the 'Blazers. Adams got back in the mix on offense the next inning with a single to left centerfield that brought in sophomore Kayla Baker to tie the game at 2-2.

photo by MCLA Athletics

MCLA sophomore Kara Adams pitching in a game this year. Adams recorded the win in game one of the doubleheader on the mound as she went 3.2 innings, gave up six hits, walked two batters, and struck out one. Adams was held responsible for two of the three runs that were scored while she was on the mound in the 9-3 win in game one.

Sophomore Nevada Nelsen the game out of reach with five 3-1 after the first inning despite followed Adams with a two- runs in the fifth inning to give the similar start on offense.

RBI single of her own to put the final score of 9-3.

Despite giving up three runs the score at 4-2 in favor of the Game two of the doubleheader in the first, 'Blazers starting 'Blazers. The Buccaneers scored saw the 'Blazers offense show its pitcher freshman Samantha one more run the next inning, ability to be consistent as they Feinstein recovered to pitch a but were shut out from there. scored in all but two innings of complete game, recording five The 'Blazers proceeded to put the game. The 'Blazers trailed Ks and giving up eight hits and

Trailblazers pick up low scoring win after 12 inning loss in doubleheader

BY JABARI SHAKIR SPORTS WRITER The Trailblazers baseball team bounced back from a 12 inning loss in a low-scoring first game to split the doubleheader against the Mass. Maritime Buccaneers. The Buccaneers took the first game 4-3 and the Trailblazers won the second game 2-1.

The Buccaneers hosted at Hendy Field in Buzzards Bay and their record is now 1210, 5-1 MASCAC while the Trailblazers are now 9-9-1, 2-31 MASCAC. In game one, senior ace pitcher Liam Nolan threw for eight innings while allowing three runs, three errors, two walks and six strikeouts.

Shortstop Jeff Bink had two hits with two RBIs and one walk, followed by centerfielder Christian Seariac with two hits, one run and two walks out of four total at-bats.

The Trailblazers finished the game with a total of 40 at-bats, eight hits, two RBIs, five walks and nine strikeouts.

Coach Gladu realizes how his team uses inspiration and intellectual toughness to prove to everyone that they are not an easy win.

"The motivation itself can come from that mental strength

photo by MCLA Athletics

MCLA junior Bobby New throwing a pitch in the doubleheader against Mass. Maritime. New pitched a complete game in the second contest allowing only three hits and one run in his performance. The Trailblazers lost the first game 4-3 and won the second 2-1. that they have to have; they want to show the conference that they are not the scratching post that they were three years ago," Gladu said.

The Bucs totaled with 42 atbats, 12 hits, three RBIs, five walks and 10 strikeouts. Pitcher Mason Ashburn led his team for five total innings pitched, six hits, two errors, four walks and three strikeouts.

In the nightcap, Bobby New threw for seven total innings, six strikeouts, one error, one run and three hits. The Buccaneers pitcher was John Teehan who ended with four hits, one error,

four walks and seven strikeouts.

New recognizes how baseball has made him the person his is today, gives him something to strive and to work hard for, and keeps him enthusiastic as a captain.

"It keeps me grounded; it gives me something to work for, it keeps me motivated, to keep my grades up in the classroom.

It also transformed me into a natural leader on and off the field," New said.

The Trailblazers next doubleheader game will be on Thursday, April 19 against the Bridgewater State Bears.

four earned runs in the seveninning performance.

The 'Blazers responded with a three-run inning in the top of the second behind junior L'rae Brundige's tworun single and sophomore Kaylyn Holliday's RBI double. Berghela's RBI triple in the fourth increased the lead to 5-3 while an unearned run in the fifth inning put the 'Blazers up 6-3 going into the final two innings.

The Buccaneers were able to score one run in response in the fifth, but a four-run spurt in the sixth inning, which featured a two-RBI triple from Adams, put the 'Blazers in a comfortable spot to finish the game.

The Buccaneers fell to 2-14 overall with the losses, and are now 0-6 in the conference.

The 'Blazers improved to 6-12 with the wins, and have now won their past two doubleheaders and their last four games. The 'Blazers are back in action Thursday, April 19 as they face off with league opponent Bridgewater State in a doubleheader at home with games at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Lancers force Trailblazers to add another loss to the 5-game losing streak

BY JABARI SHAKIR SPORTS WRITER The Worcester State Lancers added another loss to the lacrosse team's five-game losing streak on Tuesday, April 17 at 7 p.m. with a final score of 144. The Trailblazers record dropped to 1-6, 0-4 MASCAC while the Lancers moved up to 7-6, 2-2 MASCAC. The Trailblazers were led by senior Mackenzie Cutler, followed by junior Rachel Green and sophomore Kim Granito. Cutler continued to lead by example and scored the first two points at the end of the first half. Lacrosse prepared Cutler to branch out more and become an influential role model for her teammates.

"It taught me to be more of a leader; it brought me out of my shell, but being a captain this year has taught me how to teach people, demanding, and be a better leader and teammate on and off the field," Cutler said.

Cutler finished with two goals out of two shots, four draw controls and one turnover. Green had

one goal out of one shot she made at the end of the second half, one assist and three turnovers. Granito ended with one goal out of four shots, three shots on goal, one ground ball, four draw controls, five turnovers and two caused turnovers.

The Trailblazers ended with a total of one assist, seven shots, ten ground balls, nine draw controls, 23 turnovers and three caused turnovers.

The Lancers finished with 10 assists, 24 shots attempted, 22 shots on goal, 27 ground balls, 11 draw controls, 16 turnovers and 12 caused turnovers.

Alexis Vecchiarelli led the Lancers with five goals, two assists, five shots on goal and one ground ball.

Her teammate Kelly Austin continued with two goals, three assists, two shots on goal, one ground ball, one draw control, two turnovers and two caused turnovers.

The Trailblazers will continue to try to break their losing streak against Mass.

Maritime at 6 p.m on Friday, April 20.

SPORTS

April 19, 2018 Vol. 86 Issue 11

9

Castle and Mahrous lead MCLA men’s tennis past Castleton in 5-4 comeback

BY BRADY GEROW SPORTS EDITOR MCLA sophomores Nick Castle and Mohamed Mahrous led the comeback as the men’s tennis team pulled off a 5-4 win over the Castleton University Spartans in a home match on Saturday, April 14.

The ‘Blazers went into the final two singles matches of the contest down 4-3 to the Spartans. Neither Castle or Mahrous could lose if the ‘Blazers wanted to continue their two-game win streak following the team’s 0-3 start.

Aaron Goldsmith was the only other singles player to win for a match for the ‘Blazers. Goldsmith defeated Castleton’s Quentin Barthe 6-2, 6-4 in the top singles match.

The ‘Blazers then saw senior Jared Freeman and freshmen Charles Najimy and Matt Bluteau all get dropped in straight sets to their Spartan counterparts.

Castle was up in the fifth singles match with the pressure on in a win or go home scenario. With the match score at 4-3, if Castle

lost the match up against Oskar Eriksson, the ‘Blazers would’ve lost the contest.

Castle dropped the first set 2-6 and things weren’t looking great.

Castle was able to rally and win the second set 6-4 before winning the match with a 6-3 win in the final set.

Castle’s win put the score at 4-4 and put the pressure on Mahrous and Spartan Ethan Cameron-Vaupel in an all or nothing situation.

Mahrous’ match started in similar fashion to Castle’s as he dropped the first set to CameronVaupel 3-6.

With the pressure on, Mahrous was able to rally together and win the second set 6-4 and continued the momentum with a 6-2 win in the final set, giving the ‘Blazers the comeback win.

After taking the hard loss, the Spartans dropped to 5-4 overall and are 2-2 in the league.

With the win, the ‘Blazers are now 3-3 on the season and have won three straight matches after opening the season 0-3. The ‘Blazers return to action on Friday,

SCORE BOARD MCLA Softball MCLA (10), Mass. Maritime (5) Kara Adams (MCLA) 2-4, 3 RBI’s, 2 Runs, 3B

Jill Corazzini (Maritime) 1-4, 2 RBI’s, Run

MCLA Baseball photo by MCLA Athletics

MCLA sophomore Mohamed Mahrous about to return a ball in a match this season. Mahrous was the last line of defense for the Trailblazers as he defeated Castleton’s Ethan Cameron-Vaupel in the final contest of the match. The ‘Blazers were tied with Castleton 4-4 before Mahrous’ win to decide the match and secure the 5-4 win.

MCLA (2), Mass. Maritime (1) Brett LaBonte (MCLA) 1-1, Run, BB

Billy Keane (Maritime) 1-2, RunAst, 2 Blk 16 Pts, 7 Reb, 1 Stl

April 20 when they travel to ColbySawyer College to play a make-up game from earlier in the season.

Mock NFL Draft: The suspense is nearly over!

It’s been an unusual NFL 2. The New York Giants offseason, much more spontawill select Josh Rosen, neous and erratic than usual. quarterback out of UCLA In particular, this year’s draft Perhaps the only truly safe has hundreds, if not thousands prediction to be made here, of ways it could feasibly the only way the end up. Unlike most years, Giants go elsewhere there’s no “obvious” selecis if the Browns tion for even the top 10, let take Rosen first, alone five or, of course, #1. which would simply Yet, this article will try to, prompt the Giants in a nutshell, predict who to take Sam Darwill be picked, and where.

Andrew nold instead. Rosen For the sake of compress- Baillargeon will be the heir to ing this article, explanation the Eli Manning The Call and detail have been prothrone. Simply put, vided for the first 10 picks. this is a fantastic 1. The Cleveland time and place for Browns will select Sam Rosen to fall into. This is a winDarnold, quarterback out win sequence of events for both of USC sides; the Giants get their QB Here we go again. The and Rosen ends up in a pretty Browns take yet another QB solid, stable position with a who they hope to FINALLY decent team. name “the man.” Long has 3. The New York Jets Cleveland searched for a will select Josh Allen, franchise QB to finally give quarterback out of Wyothe win-starved team and fans ming alike a competitive team. The Another pretty straightforsearch continues here with ward selection. The Bryce Petty the man who is undoubtedly and Christian Hackenberg the best QB in this draft class. experiments have failed, and Darnold’s raw talent and skill this is the Jets’ method of not are through the roof. He is as only confessing to this sin, but cut and dried of a legitimate repenting and being forgiven pocket passer as they come, for committing it, by having with the awareness and speed a much more talented QB fall to manage the pocket effecinto their lap here. tively, and the arm to make his 4. The Cleveland Browns throws count. What’s best is, will select Minkah Fitzhe doesn’t need to worry about patrick, cornerback out of starting immediately: the Alabama Browns have the veteran QB Saquon Barkley is a pretty Tyrod Taylor, who can not only tempting prediction, but provide a steady stopgap while the 51-49 in Fitzpatrick’s Darnold develops, but can also favor here lies within Cleveaid in said developing, acting land General Manager John as a mentor for the (hopefully) Dorsey. Dorsey has a history future franchise QB. of deferring on running backs

with high picks (for a recent example, see Kareem Hunt with the Kansas City Chiefs) and because the team shipped solid CB Jason McCourty out and has a need at the position, Fitzpatrick makes plenty of sense here.

5. The Denver Broncos will select Bradley Chubb, defensive end out of North Carolina State Oh boy, is that Denver defense looking intimidating if they make this pick. Adding Chubb to an already elite pass rush will cause opposing quarterbacks to be constantly running for their lives. It’s an even better pick when you consider that Denver acquired Case Keenum in free agency, removing their need to go quarterback (or trade up to get one).

6. The Indianapolis Colts will select Saquon Barkley, running back out of Penn State Indianapolis isn’t quite ready to turn the starting RB role over to Marlon Mack, and they make that very clear with this selection. Arguably the most explosive, talented player in the entire draft will pair with a (hopefully) healthy Andrew Luck to return Indianapolis to the playoff conversation. Opposing defenses will have their work cut out for them for sure.

7. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will select Derwin James, safety out of Florida State A glaring position of need, the Buccaneers will use this pick to stack their needy defense. In a division quickly becoming the most competi-

tive in all of football, the Bucs really need to get this pick right if they want to stay in the hunt. James represents a safe, sturdy, productive pick that will be ready to contribute from Day 1.

8. The Chicago Bears will select Calvin Ridley, wide receiver out of Alabama The Bears continue to help Mitch Trubisky develop and address a critical need by giving him a major playmaker to work with. This pick is so painfully obvious for the Bears to make, provided that Ridley is still available here, that it would be blasphemous for them to do anything else.

9. The San Francisco 49ers will select Quenton Nelson, lineman out of Notre Dame Shoring up the offensive line, giving their newly donned franchise QB a bit more protection, and avoiding any risks by taking the safe, simple player.

What’s not to like?

10. The Oakland Raiders will select Vita Vea, defensive tackle out of Washington With Khalil Mack regressing somewhat last year, the Oakland’s pass rush suffered in a big way. They also regressed significantly in the run stopping department. Vea can be a major roadblock toward opposing offenses in both regards, and will be welcomed with open arms.

11. Miami - Tremaine Edwards, linebacker out of Virginia Tech 12. Buffalo - Baker Mayfield, QB out of Oklahoma

13. Washington - Denzel Ward, CB out of Ohio State 14. Green Bay - Marcus Davenport, DE out of UTSA 15. Arizona - Lamar Jackson, QB out of Louisville 16. Baltimore - Rashaan Evans, linebacker out of Alabama 17. Los Angeles Chargers - Leighton Vander Esch, OLB out of Boise State 18. Seattle - Mike McGlinchey, OT out of Notre Dame 19. Dallas - Roquan Smith, ILB out of Georgia 20. Detroit - Da’Ron Payne, DT out of Alabama 21. Cincinnati - James Daniels, OC out of Iowa 22. Buffalo - Jaire Alexander, CB out of Louisville 23. New England - Mason Rudolph, QB out of Oklahoma State 24. Carolina - Harold Landry, DE out of Boston College 25. Tennessee - D.J. Moore, WR out of Maryland 26. Atlanta - Taven Bryan, DT out of Florida 27. New Orleans - Joshua Jackson, CB out of Iowa 28. Pittsburgh - Sam Hubbard, DE out of Ohio State 29. Jacksonville - Courtland Sutton, WR out of SMU 30. Minnesota - Connor Williams, OT out of Texas 31. New England - Kolton Miller, OT out of UCLA 32. Philadelphia - Dallas Goedert, TE out of South Dakota State

OPINION

10

Editor’s note:

View from the Bridge

The adjacent piece, known as View from the Bridge, is the first installment in a series of columns written by or about students between the ages of 16 and 70 who are pursuing their HiSet/GED, high school diploma certification. Linda E. Neville is an ELA Instructor in the Northern Berkshire Adult Basic Education Program that operates at MCLA.

Comic

April 19, 2018 Vol. 86 Issue 11

Jurea Dawson

By Linda E. Neville with Layce Bator, Adan Lama, Jurea Dawson, Debbie Linton

Jurea Dawson, a part-time student, taking business courses at MCLA, is also a plant-based chef who has her own culinary cooking school. Her path to good health and an education has not been easy. She was a dialysis patient for 19 years, finally receiving a transplant kidney in 2012. No matter what she endured, she had a goal in mind that she wanted to achieve. Persistence and the support of a loving family has helped her continue on her path.

Homeschooled all her life, Dawson decided to continue her education to better herself when a flyer about the Northern Berkshire Adult Basic Education (NBABE) program at MCLA caught her eye.

This led to a meeting with Thelma Marguiles, coordinator of the NBABE program, housed in the lower level of Freel Library. Jurea enrolled in the program in 2014, obtaining her HiSet Certification in 2015.

In January, 2017, after her father died, Dawson enrolled in her first business course to help her mother and sister run their family business: The Voice in The Wilderness, a health education center, in Savoy. She found juggling the requirements of college and following and teaching about healthy eating to be a challenge.

She returned to NBABE to develop writing for college skills and is currently enrolled in Bridge to College and Career Writing with Instructor Linda E. Neville, but will be back in an MCLA business class in the fall.

Eating healthy has always been a way of life for Dawson. Layce Bator, a student at NBABE, asked her how it felt as a kid to not eat what other kids were eating.

Dawson recounted: “I must have been four years old when my mother decided to follow a plantbased diet. Being home-schooled, I didn’t think too much about it because I didn’t see other options.

It paid off, though, when I had the problem with my kidney. Even though I was sick, my lifestyle kept me relatively well throughout my illness.”

“What would you say to people who suggest we, as humans are carnivores, aren’t we supposed to eat meat, fish, chicken?”

Dawson told us that the digestive tract in humans is 30 feet in length. Our body temperature is 98.6. If we eat plant-based foods, preferably raw, they usually pass through the body within 24 hours.

These types of food are fibrous and filled with enzymes. However, if we eat cooked meat, enzymes are needed to break down this type of food and it takes sometimes up to 72 hours to completely digest and process. Just think of what happens to this “food” at this temperature for this length of time?

Dawson explained: “Choosing to eat a plant-based diet requires time for preparation. I keep soups, washed and diced or sliced vegetables and fruits in the freezer for my ‘go to foods’. It is difficult for college students who don’t have the time or the habit of preparing raw foods to eat healthy; but it is so worth it!”

Two cookbooks published by “Dawson: Real Food Recipes” (revised 2009) and “More Real Food Recipes” (2006) offer techniques and recipes on eating healthy.

Currently, she has a class of five teenagers at her family’s health education center who are taking her culinary class.

For more information on Jurea Dawson’s culinary classes or to purchase her cookbooks, her website is: http://www.jdrealfoodz.

My take on Citizens United Ever since the landmark case Citi- Sachs or Koch Industries. From a zens United v. FEC, compurely business standpoint, panies and wealthy inCitizens United is a great dividuals have been able thing, allowing businesses to to directly donate to the essentially buy favorable legcampaign finances of poliislation that can help them ticians, creating inherent prosper, but you have to note conflicts of interests when that that definition of business these politicians are draftis completely separated from ing and voting on legislaMitchell morality. tion that affects them. It For example, from a purely Chapman business perspective, dereguhas also created a system in which politicians have None of your lation that would allow compabusiness incentive to favor those nies to dump chemicals whose that have wealth over the disposal would otherwise be vast majority of American citizens. costly into a public lake is a great This week, I want to look at Citi- thing, saving the company thousands zens United through a business lens, or even millions of dollars, while the because I feel like so few have ex- people that come into contact with plored the devil’s advocate aspect of that lake pay the price. Thankfully, this case (that, and this is a series of we have laws and an entire environbusiness-related columns). mental agency that make such unCitizens United allows businesses ethical chemical disposal practices to get heard, specifically the wealthi- not at all financially feasibly (see est percentage of them. Smaller busi- G.E.’s continued fight with the EPA nesses can band together through over the pollution of the Housatonic other organizations, but they don’t River, if you want a local example). stand a chance against a Goldman Also keep in mind that many busi-

nesses think incredibly short term, especially those connected to the fossil fuel industry, sacrificing longterm prosperity for disgustingly huge short-term profits.

Should businesses be allowed to have their voices heard and have an impact on legislation? Of course, just like any entity who has a stake in this country does, but that’s why we have lobbyists. Money is not a form of speech, and corporations are not people. They’re organizations that benefit people, for sure, and businesses should have an opportunity to prosper, so long as they do not pose a threat or great disadvantage to the public.

Is it wrong to let corporations donate to political campaigns? Absolutely. Business can’t just be about business, and those that think it is leave themselves open to backlash and consequences, especially when they remove themselves from the communities they operate in, as well as ethics and basic human morality. What we are experiencing right

now is not only a polarization where wealthy businesses have more of a say in our democracy than the real, living, breathing people that democracy was created to serve, but also of other businesses. If you’re not a Wal-Mart or a Monsanto, your issues might not be priorities in the eyes of our elected officials.

There is some hope, although a complete turnover of Citizens United is unlikely. We live in an age where information can spread like a wildfire, and grassroots campaigns can go viral without having millions of dollars backing them. And political activism is strong in this country.

Overall, my take on Citizens United is that it encourages companies to push for legislation in a very powerful and demeaning way, legislation that is often morally ambiguous and ethically questionable — leading to what I call “dirty money;” that is, money earned by questionable means, which should be avoided, especially when you’re a large corporation.

OPINION

April 19, 2018 Vol. 86 Issue 11

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Editorial

Lessons and debates On Friday, April 13, The Beacon, Beacon Web News and WJJW hosted a debate between Student Government Association (SGA) presidential candidates Declan Nolan and Andrew Baillargeon. We have received a few questions and concerns on some of the questions asked, the production of the debate as a whole and on members of the panel who asked the candidates questions.

This is an editorial in which we are providing context to some of the choices that were made. It is unusual to have an editorial be on the same topic as letters to the editor because it can seem like we require the last word or we are trying to dismiss all criticism.

In this instance there were legitimate concerns addressed and we wanted to provide what information we could.

Goal We began this idea years ago, seeking to increase interest and participation in elections on campus, in SGA in general and in student media as well.

Inexperience and Timing As far as we know this was the first-ever debate held by The Beacon and with that inexperience came some issues. We decided to go ahead with the debate with only about a week and a half of preparation time, which rushed some of our decisions. While this timeframe may seem lengthy, it proved difficult to manage for those who were involved. This inevitably led to rushing each step which created room for error.

Now that we have some experience under our belts it should make things go smoother in the future.

Questions We were conscious of the fact that the debate needed to be unbiased. We realized afterward that some questions seemed particularly charged and how one of the panelist’s histories with the candidates may be perceived as a bias. This was completely unintentional and was the result of a focus on getting the three major student media organizations to work together on this event. In

the future we will make sure to either fully disclose possible conflicts of interest or, preferably, not include those who have such potential conflicts.

Introductions We gave both candidates equal opportunity to work on an intro video with us and when one candidate did not create one, we chose to allow the completed one anyway. Both were given the chance to come to the TV studio to make a 60 second video that would be produced and edited for them. Each candidate was also given the chance to have promotional photos taken of them for graphics.

Audience Questions We encouraged students to submit questions but only received one email in time for the debate. We always want as many voices as possible in debates and tried to accomplish this. We can acknowledge though that more time would permit more responses and more voices and we will seek to correct it in the future.

After watching the SGA presidential debate this evening, I feel that it is my duty as a student to express my concern with the program.

I felt that Andrew Baillargeon and his ticket were poorly represented in the opening credits of the program and that the questions he was personally asked were biased against him and his ticket. The panel also seemed biased against Andrew and that was made clear on the program. Jacob Vitali has a clear conflict of interest with An-

drew, that occurred this semester, and should have been excluded from the panel.

Declan Nolan was also referred to as Senator Nolan, which is inaccurate as he has not served on SGA this academic year.

I feel that there were more important things for the candidates to be asked about then how they felt about how the current E-board does their job and while I understand that everyone had the opportunity to submit questions for the candidates, this was not clearly advertised and lacked a sense of

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Letters to the Editor To whom it may concern:

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

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inclusion. Finally, even if the questions asked were the only ones submitted, I feel that someone should have been responsible for either asking Declan similar questions, or replacing the biased questions against Andrew.

Overall I feel that this debate shed no light on who the candidates actually are and what they stand for- which is the purpose of the debate.

Sincerely, Edith Sherburne

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

Executive Board Editor-in-Chief Joseph Carew

Features Editor

A & E Editor

Meghan Cook

Emma Monahan

Sports Editor

Copy Chief Mary Kate Lynch

Brady Gerow

Design Editor

Business Manager

Nicholas Bassett

Mitchell Chapman

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Hello, I am writing you to express my discontent with the SGA debate video and beacon web news. I feel that the debate was extremely bias just based on the fact that the questions asked to Andrew were targeting him right from the start, compared to the questions Declan was asked.

There was a clear conflict of interest between Jake Vitali and Andrew this year within SGA. This showed up within multiple questions asked throughout the program. For example: the question Maggie asked Andrew about how E-Boards claim he is difficult to work with. Soon after he finished answering, Declan was asked a very easy untargeted question.

This broadcast reminded of Fox News and I don’t think you want that kind of representation. There were many false claims and negatively portrayed your network, SGA and the election itself. While

I am on the fence of who to vote for, it is sad to see how one sided this debate was.

Lastly, I know that anyone could have asked a question, but it was poorly advertised and also, I think the questions should have been filtered to remain unbiased and to come from members of the campus community who are not involved with the candidates running for SGA. Many students are upset with the representation of this program and how it was directed. While this election may not seem important to some, it does affect the student body directly and should be an even, unbiased, well represented debate.

It did not serve its intended purpose!

Thank you, Jacob Boillat

Samantha Kniskern

Staff Audio Reporters Photographers Jacob Vitali

Rae Ross

Copy Editors

A&E Writers Jacob Vitali Brianna Lamb Wyatt Mineau

Nicholas Webb Aryel Brosnan

Staff Writers

Sports Writer Jabari Shakir

Fabienne Bogardus-Street Corey Mitchell-Labrie Maya McFadden

Features Writer Lise Mansaray

Adviser

Shawn McIntosh

Columnist Andrew Baillargeon

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IN OTHER NEWS

April. 19, 2018 Vol. 86 Issue 11

Boston Playoffs Schedule THURSDAY – 4/19

Bruins at Maple Leafs; Game 4 starting 7 p.m.

FRIDAY – 4/20

Celtics at Bucks; Game 3 starting 9:30 p.m.

SATURDAY – 4/21

Maple Leafs at Bruins; Game 5 starting 8 p.m.

SUNDAY – 4/22

Celtics at Bucks; Game 4 starting 1 p.m.

MONDAY – 4/23

Bruins at Maple Leafs; Game 6 starting TBD

TUESDAY – 4/24

Bucks at Celtics; Game 5 starting TBD

WEDNESDAY – 4/25

Maple Leafs at Bruins; Game 7 starting TBD

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