November 14, 2019 Vol. 90 Issue 9

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Thursday, November 14, 2019

Cell Tower Close To Completion BY NATALIA GIACOMOZZI STAFF WRITER Despite a nearly two-month delay, installation of the new Verizon cell tower on top of the Amsler Center Campus is almost complete. In September, The Beacon reported that installation was scheduled to be finished by the end of the month. Ian Bergeron, associate dean of information technology, said in an email that complications with Verizon had briefly delayed the progress. “[That] was due to the difficulty Verizon faced locating an ideal path to run the fiber optic connections,” Bergeron said. “The route of these cables passes overhead, underground, and through many different properties, requiring use agreements from multiple entities.” According to Bergeron, the installation will be completed by the end of November. “We will make an announcement as soon as the towers are activated,” Bergeron said.

Bergeron explained that cell coverage should be “more than adequate” throughout campus after installation is complete. “[MCLA] is a full cell site in a relatively small area,” Bergeron said. “If service is inadequate, then I expect Verizon will remedy it.” Bergeron noted that the installation of the cell tower has been in development for more than three years. “It was initiated due to campus interest in a more robust cell signal,” Bergeron said. About three years ago, MCLA sent out a request for proposals (RFP) to the closet major cell carriers to gain interest in bringing better cell service to campus. The only response to the RFP came from Verizon. According to Bergeron, MCLA is not paying for the installation and annual repair fees. “Companies that were to respond to the RFP would need to install a cell tower at their cost,” Bergeron said.

Cell Tower, Page 8

Volume 90 • Issue 9

Cops Raise Funds For Special Olympics

PHOTO BY COREY MITCHELL-LABRIE

Mark Dunn, Special Olympic Althete, volunteered at the North Adams Cop On Top! event, collecting money from passersby at Walmart. See story on Page 2.

Day of Dialogue

Workshops Educate Campus Community On Diverse, Inclusive Ways Of Learning BY COREY MITCHELL-LABRIE MANAGING EDITOR MCLA’s second annual Day of Dialogue on Thursday, Nov. 7, saw an expanded schedule over last year and packed sessions run by students, faculty, and staff throughout the day. “The day of dialogue is a suspended day of classes where students, faculty, staff, community members and alum, can come together and participate on workshops and sessions that really allow us to come across differences to learn about diversity equity and inclusion,” Chief Diversity Officer Christopher McDonald-Dennis said. “It’s really for the en-

tire community,” McDonald-Dennis added. “It’s for students especially this year, [themed] around ‘Educating for a Diverse Community.’ I really want students to know about the different opportunities that exist on campus to learn about diversity and diverse ways of learning.” Dominique Stevenson-Pope ‘20 was one of three students who ran the morning workshop “Black Feminism Then & Now.” “In feminist history, and in the history of females in America specifically, black women leaders tend to be left out of the conversation,” Stevenson-Pope said. “They [older white feminists] had black women rarely in their rallies

[suffrage and otherwise] and when they did they were segregated from the rally.” “In the aspect of discrimination especially towards black women, it is more than just a one-on-one interaction,” Stevenson-Pope added. “We see this a lot especially recently, hair discrimination, in the workplace or in education saying, ‘Oh, you can work for our company; but you can’t have dreads, you can’t have braids, you can’t wear your hair natural.’” Keynote speaker Tracey Benson, assistant professor of educational leadership at University of North Carolina – Charlotte, discussed “Leading for Racial Equity in Schools” during the lunch

PHOTO BY COREY MITCHELL-LABRIE

Students in “Black Feminism Then & Now” engaging in group discussions during the talk.

PHOTO BY COREY MITCHELL-LABRIE

Guangzhi Huang adresses audience in “Teaching Diversity From A Global Perspective.” and keynote event that took place in the Campus Center Gym at noon. “Along racial lines, the demographics of the population in North Adams and Pittsfield, Lanesborough, Williamstown, they’re shifting and changing but there hasn’t been a lot of attention, real deep attention, to how to make it a more welcoming and inclusive space,” Benson said. During his talk, Benson prompted several small group discussions including sharing the first times audi-

ence members learned about sociological differences and how they have learned to cope with outside opinions. Benson considers Berkshire County as a second home after moving here in 2008, serving as an administrator in Pittsfield and then a principal at Pittsfield High School. “Being a person of color living here I’ve experienced lot of overt and covert racism throughout the time I was here [and] in Pittsfield

Dialogue, Page 8


News

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Cop on Top! Event Raises Funds For Berkshire Special Olympics

BY COREY MITCHELL-LABRIE MANAGING EDITOR Police, firefighters, and EMT gathered atop Walmart’s front overhang Saturday, Nov. 9, for their fundraising event “Cop on Top!” All money gathered was funneled to helping the Berkshire County’s Special Olympics. The event was piloted by the efforts of Deputy Jacob Gaylord of the Berkshire Country Sheriff’s Office, and Investigator John Bassi of the Pittsfield Police Department. Both are co-state representatives for the Massachusetts Special Olympics. “It directly impacts Berkshire country because most of our athletes actually live in Cheshire, Adams, and North Adams,” Gaylord said. “This is just a massive fundraiser with an auction, merchandise and food to sell.” Emergency vehicles were stationed all around the Walmart entrance, with a firetruck ladder leading to the overhang where police and other emergency personnel watched the event from above. “When I heard about it, I was actually the first volunteer,” said Tim Granger, a volunteer who helped collect money at the Walmart entrance. “We’re donating money to the Special Olympics, you know,” Granger said. “For the athletes, the volunteers, the all the food. That’s most-

PHOTO BY COREY MITCHELL-LABRIE

From left to right: Jacqueline Lemaire, Officer Bobbie Jo Briggs, Deputy Jacob Gaylord, Tim Granger, Standing in front of Walmart for the Cop On Top! event ly what this is all about.” Joining in on the event were members of the Williamstown Police Department, North Adams Police Department, and MCLA Public Safety. The College’s Sergeant Justin Biasin joined in with the event, along with Officer Gary Van Bramer, and Officer Sam Hungate. “Last years we’ve raised a substantial amount of money,” Biasin said. “We have a great partnership with Walmart there’s a lot of agencies from Berkshire County

here, from both fire and EMS, and police obviously. On par, I think we have more turnout in terms of volunteers this year than we did last year. More agencies represented.” “One of the coolest things,” Granger said. “Is seeing all the volunteers, and all the policemen, and firefighters, and EMT here as well.” This year saw the utilization of Walmart’s front overhanging space instead of the upper top roof of the building. “With the top roof, it’s dangerous, there’s a back-

drop,” Biasin said. “If you slip or something you’re gonna take a pretty substantial fall so to keep everybody safe and have it more accessible for people that want to participate. [We’re going to be] standing on the roof and showing support.” Biasin, along with the other members of MCLA Public Safety, helped man the south entrance to the parking lot and helped gather donations from people driving in and out of the lot. “It’s a great fundraiser,”

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Biasin said. “It gets exposure to the Special Olympics in Berkshire County, and how important it is.” “It gets people to see the athletes that benefit from the fundraising that is done, and its good way for the community to engage their law enforcement and first respondents in a casual way and have good conversation,” Biasin added. “It’s a good time for everybody.” In addition to the general bucket gatherers, the event also hosted an auction and raffle for various toys, and local prizes collected by Deputy Gaylod and others. “We went around to all the mom and pop businesses in Northern Berkshire Country and the reason why we did that is [for the] people who love here and call this home,” Gaylord said. “We were able to get a ton of donations, about two grand worth of donations. We got [stuff] from restaurants, Ronnie’s Cycle, auto parts shops, all over the place.” “I wanna bring the community back together up here,” Gaylord added. “As a community, we gotta stick together and help about. The goal of raising money today is there, but I really what to see the community come out and support us.” The next Cop on Top! Event is happening Saturday, Dec. 7, and Sunday, Dec. 8, starting at 8:00 a.m. at the Pittsfield Walmart.

Film Festival Encourages Student Creativity BY NATHAN BIRON SENIOR NEWS EDITOR

The English & Communications Department is sponsoring its first film festival, an opportunity for students to show the films they created. The deadline for submitting a film is Friday, Nov. 22. All types of films are welcomed with some students having already submitted genres including comedy, horror, and a music video. The submission requirements for films are that it should be no longer that 20 minutes in duration, and have minimal sexual content, violence, blood, and gore. All people who contributed to the film must be credited at the end. All films can be submitted to Jennifer Dermady, office manager of the English & Communications department, either by email or hard copy of the film delivered to her office in Mark Hopkins Room 105. Symantha Kehr ‘21, English & Communications major and social media intern for the department, started the film series this semester. “I wanted to create this film festival to help exhibit all the creative

film work of the MCLA student,” Kehr said. “This idea came to me over the summer because I wanted students to have an outlet to show the other side of students and shown off their creativity.” “I wanted to do something big for students and let them know they there is a way to show off their hard work to an audience,” Kehr added. “A big goal of this to me is also to show their work to hopefully an open public audience which will also have a bigger importance to the film festival.” Films that are selected by the department will be played at the North Adams Movieplex in the Spring Semester. “We will be offering transportation from MCLA to the North Adams Movieplex so everyone can enjoy the films,” Dermandy stated in an email. According to Dermandy, a representative for each film will give an introduction before their film is shown. Dermady added that the department wanted to create a film festival to help exhibit all the creative film work of the MCLA students. She hopes this will be a successful event and will continue for many more years to come. According to Kehr, this event will

PHOTO TAKEN FROM MCLA WEBSITE

Submissions for the Film Festival are due by Friday, Nov. 22. offer students a chance to receive feedback from the public and help them improve their film making skills. “Since we are a small school, this is also important for students to get

their work out there on a bigger scale and not just show it to their professors and be done with it,” Kehr said.

Film Series, Page 8


News

Nov. 14, 2019

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Former MCLA President Comstock Explains Mary Grant Accepts Senior Title IX Process Admin Position at BSU BY COREY MITCHELL-LABRIE MANAGING EDITOR

BY BEACON STAFF Former MCLA President Mary Grant has accepted a senior administrative position at Bridgewater State University (BSU). Grant will join BSU in January, ending her two-year career as leader of the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the U.S. Senate. The announcement of Grant’s departure was made Tuesday. “It’s been an opportunity of a lifetime to lead the Kennedy Institute,” said Grant in a statement from the institute. “I have had the privilege to work with an extraordinary staff whose expertise and creativity make it possible for us to have the success we have had and a board that is passionate about the mission and the success of the institute. The work has never been more important.” According to the statement, Grant will join as senior administrative fellow for civics and social justice, heading the university’s Martin Richard Institute for Social Justice. “[I’m] excited by the opportunity to work on issues of equity, social justice and civic engagement that have been at the core of my professional career,” said Grant in a

Title IX Panel

PHOTO TAKEN FROM THE BERKSHIRE EAGLE

Mary K. Grant, former MCLA president, pictured here speaking during convocation exercises at the Church Street Center in North Adams in September 2014. Grant is stepping down as the head of the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for Social Justice to take a position with Bridgewater State University. statement by BSU. The institute was named in honor of Martin Richard, the youngest victim of the 2013 bombing of the Boston Marathon, whose parents, Bill and Denise Richard, are BSU alumni. According to The Berkshire Eagle, the institute oversees the creation of programs working to expand high-quality education for all children. It has done so through initiatives like the Bridge Partnership, which is tasked with increasing high school graduation and college attendance rates for

low-income students who live in the Gateway Cities of Brockton and New Bedford. “I have admired for years the extraordinary work Bridgewater State University is doing in these areas and am honored to lead the institute named in Martin’s honor,” Grant said. “I look forward to joining with faculty, staff and other stakeholders in building upon what has already been accomplished.” According to a statement by Bill and Denise Richard, the family know Grant and have

Grant, Page 8

How MCLA’s sexual assault investigation processes are performed through reporting, communication, and respect was explained at a Title IX panel Friday, Nov 8. The panel was hosted by Nicole Comstock, director of Title IX and Equal Opportunity. “Everything starts as a report,” Comstock said. “A report is any information that MCLA gets about a specific incident or rumors about an incident. It’s pretty general, it’s pretty broad, and depending on what that information is what will make us take our next step.” “If we have very general information we may just share between the administrators to look out for additional safety concerns or things like that,” Comstock added. “If it’s specific we will reach out to the individuals involved to get more information to see if they want to pursue an additional investigation either criminally or through Title IX.” Only six student attended the discussion panel in Murdock Hall Room 218 and included Public Safety Chief Daniel Colonno Catherine Holbrook, vice president of student affairs, and Celia Norcross, assistant dean of

students and interim student conduct coordinator. Dianne Manning, director of residential programs and services, and Chief Diversity Officer Christopher McDonald-Dennis were in the gallery. Aside from numerical data for the College’s Clery report, the Title IX office rarely discloses information to Public Safety. “To be respectful of the wishes of the survivor, the information, in general, is shared, but we don’t know any specifics truly as far as names and [other] specifics of what the case we’re investigating,” Colonno said. “What it does for us, [while] it doesn’t give us specifics, but we may be aware of something criminally that we can share with Nicole in Title IX,” Colonno added. “If she’s aware of certain things and shares general things with us, we can start to see if there is a pattern. Even though we don’t know, ‘who.’” During the panel, Comstock stressed the importance of reporting all instances of sexual violence to “responsible employees,” campus staff and faculty, meaning that they have to report the instance to her in the Title IX office. “There’s different options

Title IX, Page 8

Suspect Arrested, Arraigned, And Remanded In Sexual Assault Case Friday, Nov. 8, a suspect in the campus burglary and sexual assault investigation was arrested by Boston police. In an email sent to the campus community Friday night, Public Safety Chief Daniel Colonno explained that Public Safety secured an arrest warrant from the Northern Berkshire District Court Friday, Nov. 1, for the suspect: 21-year-old Khryin McCarthy of East Boston, Mass. According to Colonno, McCarthy’s attorney entered not guilty pleas on his behalf and he was remanded to the Berkshire County jail on Nov. 8. McCarthy was due back in court Wednesday, Nov. 13, but his case hadn’t been heard by deadline. In cooperation with the Boston Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police

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Fugitive Taskforce, McCarthy was arrested on charges of aggravated rape in Boston Thursday, Nov. 7 at 4:25 p.m., according to Boston Deparment Police News. “Upon investigating the sexual assault the formal charge under Massachusetts general law was aggravated rape,” Colonno said. The Massachusetts General Law defines aggravated rape under Section 39 as “Sexual intercourse or unnatural sexual intercourse by a person with another person who is compelled to submit by force and against his will or by threat of bodily injury; and either such sexual intercourse or unnatural sexual intercourse results in or is committed with acts resulting in serious bodily injury, or is committed by a joint enterprise, or is committed during the commission or attempted commission of an offense.”

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The Write Stuff Program Benefits Youth and Student Volunteers BY MAYA MCFADDEN FEATURES EDITOR

The Volunteer Center’s, Write Stuff program is continuing to help fifth and sixth graders to gain a new perspective of creative writing while giving student volunteers the opportunity to mentor and lead. This semester’s group of 14 students are working with program coordinator Tarah Valin ‘22 and four to five student volunteers to learn that writing is not a form of punishment. The program was established 10 years ago according to Spencer Moser, director of the Volunteer Center. “There’s more to writing than just academic writing,” Valin said. Valin also participated in coordinating the program last year. During the spring semester,Valin took a new approach to the program by creating a blog with the students. The idea came to her when thinking about the huge impact digital media and the internet have on the youth today. “We’re moving into a time where if you want to write you have to get creative because people are pulling away from buying literature,” Valin said. “You have to know how to use the internet and be comfortable with putting your work out there.” Providing a blog for students allowed them to access their

own writing at home, which Valin said was an appreciated addition for parents who could see their student’s work. “I’m just trying to get them to write and not be afraid of it,” she said. The weekly program is going into its fourth week and is hosted every Wednesday from 3:30-4:30 p.m. According to Valin, each week’s activity aims to be a different way for students to express themselves and gives them the opportunity to share their unique perspectives. Students’ projects have varied from getting to know you poems, spooky short stories, and blackout poetry. Since the group is mostly comprised of loud and rambunctious fifth-graders, Valin works to cater the activities to the student’s interest each week. “Not every activity is going to click immediately or at all sometimes,” Valin said. “It’s hard but important to work to keep them excited.” The student participants come from Brayton Elementary School and Greylock Elementary School. Initially, Valin was interested in the program a year ago as an education major looking for any kind of classroom experience. She also has a personal interest in creative writing and is a Sunday school teacher for fifth graders. Although Valin is no longer an education major, she still

PHOTO PROVIDED BY TARAH VALIN

Last year’s after school program partnered each elementary student with a student volunteer to establish mentor relationships and to build the students confidence with their creative writing. enjoys working with the program because she can watch the student’s confidence in their work build. It wasn’t until fifth grade that Valin discovered her love for writing and it became a hobby for her. Up until then, Valin only saw writing as a dread during school.

“I’ve learned over time that it doesn’t always have to be about teaching them specific skills but to instead just provide a safe space for them to express themselves however that looks,” Valin said. As program coordinator, Valin must cater her class schedule to the program’s

“...it doesn’t always have to be about teaching them specific skills but to instead just provide a safe space for them to express themselves however that looks.”

meeting times. She also organizes the weekly activities that are then facilitated by the student volunteers and her. At the start of the semester, she tabled to recruit volunteers for the program. According to Valin, many students this semester are less excited about partner work, but many enjoy sharing their work after each activity. The program has provided her with the opportunity to learn leadership skills, classroom management skills, and to be empathetic to the differing student backgrounds. Since joining the program Valin has been able to have fun with the students and build bonds of mentorship with the community.

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Winter Blitz

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MCLA Partners with Williams, Bennington to Keep the Chill Out “It’s a lifechanging experience that is so worth the stress because the families are so grateful.”

BY MAYA MCFADDEN FEATURES EDITOR MCLA students will volunteer their Saturday morning and afternoon on Nov. 16 to give back to the Berkshire community for Winter Blitz, a one-day community service event established by Williams College 12 years ago. Winter Blitz is a student-led volunteer initiative hosted by Williams in partnership with Bennington College and MCLA. Participating students are trained to weatherize homes by installing window kits, door sweeps, hot water pipe insulation, and energy-efficient light bulbs then do so in teams across the county each year. Weatherizing is the process of making a house or building more resistant to cold weather conditions. The student volunteers are trained the day of, in how to install the insulation kits, door sweeps, and caulking. Student coordinator Paula Kingsbury-Evans ’22 has spent this semester preparing for the upcoming day while working alongside Christopher Hantman, community engagement coordinator for the volunteer center. This will be Kingsbury-Evans’ sec-

ond year as the student-coordinator for MCLA. Each partnering institution assigns a student coordinator for the annual project to help with organizing. Kingsbury-Evans also worked with Meaghan Murphy ’22, a work-study student for the volunteer center. Kingsbury-Evans was responsible for advertising the event to student volunteers, attending meetings with representatives from the other institution to discuss the process of the project, reserving the College vans, and calling the homeowners who

registered to have their home weatherized to confirm their availability and interest. In the past, the initiative has assisted community members who cannot weatherize themselves. As the program expands each year, the initiative sees many returners each winter. “Weatherizing homes saves money and energy for the residents and contributes to broader energy conservation efforts. It also helps foster connections between students and local residents,” according to the Williams website. Kingsbury-Evans looks forward to another year of not only going out into the community to help but meeting other students from nearby institutions. “Our schools are so close but we aren’t always interacting so it’s great to do something with other colleges in the area,” Kingsbury-Evans said. During the planning process, Kingsbury-Evans said the program coordinators from each institution had some difficulty arranging meeting times that worked for them and so compared to last year’s planning there was a lack of planning meetings. Kingsbury-Evans had also hoped to create a committee made up of stu-

dents to market the initiative to the campus community but due to a lack of expressed interest, the idea was put off. Being the student coordinator, Kingsbury-Evans’ day will begin around 7 a.m. while the volunteers will to arrive for training and a welcome around 9 a.m. at Williams College. Kingsbury-Evans will help to lead the training on Saturday for the volunteers. After the training teams of three to four people will be transported to the homes that applied for the initiative. Each team is often assigned to work on one home in either Massachusetts or Vermont. “It’s beneficial as a student in general because the whole thing is a learning process from the actual physical work to your interactions with the families,” Kingsbury-Evans said. According to Kingsbury-Evans, the Winter Blitz initiative is funded by a grant for Williams’s environmental program. At the end of the day-long event, the student volunteers are provided with a pizza party celebration. “It’s a life-changing experience that is so worth the stress because the families are so grateful,” Kingsbury-Evans said.

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MCLA Theatre’s ‘Sweet Charity’ Musical Opens Tomorrow Night BY JENNIFER VANBRAMER A&E EDITOR MCLA Theatre’s second production of the fall semester, “Sweet Charity,” opens tomorrow night, Nov. 15, at 8 p.m. in Venable Theater. “Sweet Charity” is a musical adaptation of the Federico Fellini film “The Nights of Cabiria” and book by Neil Simon, featuring music by Cy Coleman and lyrics by Dorothy Fields. The show follows a diehard romantic dancehall girl, Charity Hope Valentine, who navigates her way through misfortune in life and love, and highlights the emotional predicament that women in poverty face as they strive for a life of personal freedom, dignity, and respect. “Sweet Charity is about a young woman who is trying to find something better,” stage manager Makayla Keeney ’21 stated in an email. “There is some romance in the show, as Charity seeks to find the right guy; someone who can help her escape and give her something better.” “There’s definitely more that the show discusses, but to me, the search for something more is the biggest message of the show,” Keeney added. This fun, light-hearted musical features 11 MCLA actors in total and will showcase incredible movement sequences and dance numbers throughout the performance, according to Keeney. “Our choreography team has done a wonderful job with the dances, and I think

PHOTO FROM MCLA TICKET LEAP WEBSITE

MCLA Theatre’s musical, “Sweet Charity” is set to open tomorrow night, Nov. 15 at 8 p.m. in Venable Theater. the audience is going to be pleasantly surprised,” Keeney said. “A different approach to the choreography was taken with this show,

and I’m excited to have people see it.” “Sweet Charity is going to make everyone want to get up on stage and dance

with the actors. From beginning to end, you can tell that everyone is having a good time,” Keeney added. “There is a lot to be

had from watching people doing something they love, and having fun while doing it. It’s important to go see things that make you dance and smile, and I think Sweet Charity does that.” The production is directed by associate professor of theatre Laura Standley, with scenic and lighting designs by assistant professor of theatre Jeremy Winchester and costume design by newest fine and performing arts (FPA) department faculty member Michaela Petrovich. “People should come to see this show to have a fun time and maybe even get their brains thinking about the expectations placed upon them, so they can stand up for themselves,” Keeney said. “I really hope that a lot of people come to see this show.” “Sweet Charity” will be shown Friday, Nov. 15, and Saturday, Nov. 16, as well as Friday, Nov. 22, and Saturday, Nov. 23, at 8 p.m. Additional showings will take place Saturday, Nov. 16, and Sunday, Nov. 24, at 2 p.m. An alumni gathering will occur after tomorrow night’s show. “Even if you don’t like theatre too much, I recommend coming to see Sweet Charity,” Keeney said. “Not only is it a fun show, but you would be supporting everyone involved for all their hard work.” All performances will take place on campus in Venable Theater and tickets can be reserved at mcla.ticketleap. com/sweet-charity/.

Disney Karaoke Party with SAC Happening Saturday BY JENNIFER VANBRAMER A&E EDITOR MCLA’s Student Activities Council (SAC) will be hosting a Disney-themed Karaoke Party this Saturday, Nov. 16, at 8 p.m. in Sullivan Lounge. This free, fun night of singing and dancing along to Disney music will be one of SAC’s first events run by one of their general members, Amanda Purello ‘23, who was eager to host her very own event on campus. “I realized that I loved the energy and the excitement of a karaoke party, and I was unsatisfied by the current amount of them so I set out to make my own,” Purello said in an email.

“I asked Crystal [Wojcik], the president of SAC how to make it happen [and] she told me that as a general member I could make suggestions for events or even run my own. There was a week with nothing planned [so] the rest, as they say, was history,” she said. SAC President Crystal Wojcik ‘21 has been supporting Purello’s idea since it was brought to the club’s attention. “[Amanda] has created this event out of an idea she had, and we as a club have been able to support her and help her make it come to life,” Wojcik said in an email. “Our entire Executive Board is very proud of [her], and we hope more general mem-

bers will want to become just as involved in planning out their own events as well!” When SAC hosted karaoke nights in the past, they had never set a theme upon them. Initially, when Purello first started creating this event she too had no theme planned until Wojcik suggested that having one would make people more interested. “I could only come up with a Christmas theme, but it was much too early for that,” Purello said. “Crystal was the one who came up with the idea of a Disney theme [and] remembering how much people loved Disney songs I immediately agreed.” “The Disney theme is unique because all of the

songs played will be [from] Disney and many students grew up watching Disney shows and movies,” Wojcik said. “We are looking forward to seeing our fellow students take a break from homework and studying for a couple of hours [to] join us in singing the Disney songs we all grew up loving.” Snacks and drinks will be provided at the event and prizes will also be given out to people who come sing a song during the night. To get students involved, SAC has created a banner that hangs in the Campus Center Marketplace and will also be advertising on social media. “We encourage all students to come out to this event to enjoy a night of

singing, laughter, and fun,” Wojcik said. “We look forward to seeing individuals show off their singing abilities, friend groups duetting together, and also the brave souls who are willing to sing with someone new!” Purello encourages people to come and participate in the festivities. “Singing at the top of your lungs is fun, and a really good stress reliever!” Purello said. “It’s just so much fun to do things like this [and] I want to share this fun with other people.” All students are encouraged and welcomed to attend SAC’s Disney-themed Karaoke Party this Saturday night, Nov. 16, at 8 p.m. in Sullivan Lounge.


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Nov. 14, 2019

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MCLA’s Yorick Group Brings ‘A Night of Scenes’ to Campus BY SABRINA DAMMS A&E WRITER MCLA’s Yorick brought Shakespeare’s works to life through a contemporary lens during its “A Night of Scenes” Friday, Nov. 8. The event consisted of selected scenes from four of Shakespeare’s works: “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” directed by Arthur Cox ‘21; “Richard III” and “Two Gentlemen of Verona,” directed by TJ Jones ‘20; and an Anthology of scenes from “Romeo and Juliet,” directed by Iris McPherson ‘20. The night also consisted of three monologues from “Julius Caesar,” “Macbeth,” and “Romeo and Juliet,” performed by Cox, Rachel Bartlett ‘20, and Hannah Pimenta ‘20 respectively. Many students and community members came to support their friends and loved ones, enjoying the words of Shakespeare while indulging in refreshments provided by Yorick. From the beginning of the Night of Scenes experience, the energy of the room was nothing but friendly. Sociable ushers guided attendees to their tables and groups of students sat next to each other. The journey of the show is one full of twists and turns with some performers referring to their notes while performing on stage. “I noticed a couple times that people had to have their lines in front of them,” Amanda Beres ‘21 said following the show. “I am not saying that that was not okay because honestly Shakespeare is a hard thing to learn [and] it’s hard to memorize that language.” Despite the show starting out shaky in the beginning, the cast and crew came together and put on a memorable show. There were many things that audience members enjoyed about the Shakespeare performances. Many praising the movement,

PHOTO BY SABRINA DAMMS

MCLA’s Yorick put on “A Night of Scenes” with four of Shakespeare’s plays featuring 14 actors and actresses last Friday night at the Church Street Center. make-up, and gender-fluid contemporary costumes. “The movement was great, the costumes were really good, and the makeup was great,” Beres said. “I have always been a fan of Shakespeare for as long as I can remember.” “I thought they did very well with all the language and how they performed,” Beres added. “For me, the costumes themselves could have been a little more in with the period with the pieces that they performed but I also understand that what Yorick tries to do is bring Shakespeare to modern day and make it more engaging and interesting to those who may not have wanted to engage with it before.” Many audience members agreed on the importance of Shakespeare’s work and was pleased to see his work performed.

* THURSDAY NOV. 14 - ANNA TIVEL & MAYA DEVITRY CONCERT HILO NORTH ADAMS 7 P.M. - MASS MOCA CONCERTS SIMI STONE 7 P.M. PARSONSFIELD 7:30 P.M.

“I hope people took the fact that Shakespeare is still alive and even though you might not understand all of it at the beginning, there is still a lot of value in the words that he says,” Joshua Curtiss ‘23 said. “There is a lot of comedy, there is a lot of lessons you can learn, and there are a lot of techniques that he forces the actors to try to work with that they may not have to work with in other mediums.” Shakespeare’s work has grown in importance throughout time and has stayed relevant. The fluent style makes it accessible to any time period and makes it easy for people to relate to it. Cox, who directed “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” believes Shakespeare transcends time with its wide variety of interpretations. “Shakespeare is open to in-

terpretation to style,” Cox said. “The glory of it is that you can set it to any time period.” Yorick works hard to take Shakespeare’s pieces to make it accessible and understandable to a ride range of people. The cast put their all into their performances to give the best representation of Shakespeare’s characters. Attendee Neo Valentin ‘22 loves the raw emotions that comes from Shakespeare’s characters and wants to see it conveyed more by the actors. “Shakespeare’s lines evoke a lot of emotion and a lot of pain [as] each character has something that they are struggling with at all times,” Valentin said. “If they just bring that out a little more and go the extra step to convey the struggle of each character instead of just getting on stage and saying lines [would]

really let us see the nitty gritty rawness of these characters that Shakespeare created.” Jones, who directed “Richard III” and “Two Gentlemen of Verona,” credits the entire ensemble of people who were able to successfully pull off Night of Scenes. “This semester’s actors, crew, and staff have all put so much work into the show we have created here, many performing multiple roles both on stage and behind the scenes,” Jones wrote in his director’s notes. “All have put effort into our Night of Scenes, but more that they have all each and every one put so much passion into everything that you will see here tonight.” To find out when you can experience more of Shakespeare’s work you can follow MCLA’s Yorick Facebook page to see when they will be hosting other events.

- SWEET CHARITY OPENING NIGHT VENABLE THEATER 8 P.M.

- SAC’S DISNEY KARAOKE PARTY SULLIVAN LOUNGE 8 P.M. - ARTISTS AS ADVOCATES MASS MOCA 8 P.M. - REBEL BEAT SOUND SYSTEM DANCE PARTY HILO NORTH ADAMS 8 P.M.

* SATURDAY, NOV. 16 - SWEET CHARITY PERFORMANCES VENABLE THEATER 2 P.M. & 8 P.M.

* WEDNESDAY, NOV. 20 - THE NEIGHBORLIES AWARDS CHURCH STREET CENTER 5 TO 7 P.M.

* FRIDAY, NOV. 15


News

Nov. 14, 2019

FILM SERIES From Page 2

“The most exciting part of this to me is to hopefully see satisfaction from students and having that work being shown off to a live audience and letting students express their creativity to others.” Kehr and Dermady are working very closely on having the North Adams Movieplex open to everyone and help advertise for the event. Kehr mentioned that to help with advertising with the event, the two are getting local high schools in-

volved with the film festival. “Having high schools getting involved will hopefully get students to come to MCLA and pursue this type of career in the future,” Kehr said. “I hope students will use this feedback to their advantage later in their life.” After the selected films are shown, the audience will vote on which films were the best. Winners will be announce at the end of the film festival, and will receive prizes. More information about the event can be found on the English & Communications department page of the MCLA website.

CELL TOWER From Page 1

“Cell companies often build sites on properties that they do not own to expand their coverage area.” The cell tower will bolster service only for Verizon users. Hannah McCormick ’22, who uses AT&T as her carrier, thought the tower was unhelpful in the long run. “Only a certain number of people use Verizon for their phone plan, and now people [without Verizon] are going to have to change their cell carrier or find a new way to communicate,” McCormick said. McCormick noted that she mostly communicates with people through the Facebook Messenger App. “I think the school should work towards ways of expanding the service of other cell carriers,” McCormick said.

DIALOGUE From Page 1

and Williamstown,” Benson said. “Not explicitly burning crosses and folks marching, but being one of very few black men I was assumed that, I was never recognized as a principal if I wasn’t in my suit.” Guangzhi Huang, assistant

TITLE IX

From Page 3 for reporting,” Comstock explained. “We have confidential reporting which means that it would not leave that room so if you go for example to counseling services or health services and you report something to them they’re not going to report it back to me.” The Title IX office is located on the top floor of Venable Hall near the Commuter and Veteran lounges. There, Comstock operates with Title IX officers and

McCormick suggested that after the cell tower installation is completed, the school should make sure the tower is working correctly and use the tower’s progress as a turning point in possibly bringing other cell carriers to campus. Though hopeful for reliable service from Verizon, Bergeron said that the IT department will still recommend that the community use the MCLA Wi-Fi network. “It provides a faster, more economical connection than cellular,” Bergeron said. “Having options for connectivity is always a good idea.” Bergeron also suggested that users should enable Wi-Fi calling for their carrier. “This technology will give you multiple options for phone calls no matter where you are,” Bergeron said. Bergeron noted that the Tech HelpDesk in Murdock Hall will help students and faculty determine if their phone is capable of Wi-Fi calling and help locate their carrier’s instructions in enabling Wi-Fi calling.

professor of interdisciplinary studies, presented the morning workshop “Teaching Diversity From A Global Perspective” along with Muhamad Junaid, assistant professor of sociology, anthropology, and social work. “I think it went very well,” Huang said. “I have an audience who sent me an email thanking me and saying how much they were inspired.”

For his portion, Huang talked about issues of global xenophobia and racism, using China as an example. “I think I did not have a good grasp on time and I went too quick and glossed over some details that would help flesh out my presentation,” Huang said. “But I enjoyed it a lot and it was a productive session in my opinion.”

TheOnlineBeacon.com Public Safety to deal with reports brought to her by students, staff, and faculty. “One of the things I hear a lot is that I’m not visible enough on campus,” Comstock said. “Which is really difficult because I’m usually in my office taking meetings with people. But I’m going to be making more of an effort to make sure that I am more publicly available and visible to people.” Students in the audience asked several questions about how MCLA’s staff train and prepare for instances of sexual violence,

GRANT

From Page 3 worked with her in the past. “We look forward to working with her in the years to come as we take the Martin Richard Institute to the next level,” the two said in the statement. In a news feature by BSU student Brian Benson entitled “Visionary Set to Lead,” BSU President Frederick W. Clark along with Karim Ismaili, provost and vice president for academic affairs, expressed their excitement for Grant to join their staff. “It is a remarkable opportunity to bring someone of her caliber and experience to lead our social justice and civics education initiatives at BSU and the university’s community engagement in those areas,” they said. “Throughout her career, Mary has provided dynamic leadership, drove innovation, initiated major new programs and secured substantial resources that have moved her institutions forward. We an-

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expressing concern about what particular things happen to keep their mission of safety clear. “Our campus is no different than any other campus nationwide,” Norcross said. “We’re all challenged at the moment with understating how we, as a community, keep ourselves safe and how we also react to others when they intrude on that appropriation of safety.” “The priority of our students being safe is first and foremost to everybody in this room and people on this community,” Norcross said. ticipate her providing the same leadership in making Bridgewater State University a national leader in advancing social justice and expanding civics education and engagement.” Art Buckland will replace Grant, taking on the position of interim executive director for the Edward M. Kenney Institute, beginning Wednesday. “Mary Grant has performed extraordinary work for the Edward M. Kennedy Institute,” said James J. Karam, chairman of the institute’s board of directors. “She deepened our partnerships, helped raise our civic education profile, and positioned our young and dynamic organization well for the future.” Established in 2015, the Edward M. Kennedy Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan civic education organization. It was envisioned by Senator Kennedy to educate future generations about the role of the U.S. Senate in our democracy, encourage civic participation and inspire a new generation of leaders.

West Hollywood School Administrator Embroiled In College Admissions Scandal Pleads Guilty BY MATTHEW ORMSETH STAFF WRITER LOS ANGELES TIMES

The administrator of a small West Hollywood school where the rich and powerful went to rig their children’s college entrance exams pleaded guilty in a Boston courtroom Wednesday to conspiracy to commit racketeering. Igor Dvorskiy, a resident of Sherman Oaks, acknowledged that he pocketed nearly $150,000 from William “Rick” Singer, a Newport Beach consultant at the center of the college admissions scandal, and in return allowed Singer to run a test-fixing scam out of his school for years. “I can make scores happen,” Singer boasted to a Greenwich lawyer on a wiretapped phone call, “and nobody on the planet can get scores to happen.” His secret: He arranged for his clients’ children to take their exams at Dvorskiy’s West Hollywood College Preparatory School, where Dvorskiy

allowed Singer’s Harvard-educated accomplice, Mark Riddell, to either feed them the answers or correct their tests once they’d finished. Singer’s clients paid $15,000 to $75,000 per test, of which Dvorskiy typically took $10,000, prosecutors said. Singer allegedly ran a similar scam out of a public high school in Houston, where he bribed a teacher’s assistant, Niki Williams, to turn a blind eye to the cheating, according to an indictment charging Williams with conspiracy to commit racketeering. Williams has pleaded not guilty. Singer and Riddell pleaded guilty to an array of felonies earlier this year, and are awaiting sentencing. From March 2017 through February 2019, Dvorskiy on 11 occasions allowed Singer to fix ACT and SAT exams at his school, for which he was compensated nearly $150,000, Leslie Wright, an assistant U.S. attorney, said in court Wednesday. Dvorskiy allowed not only Riddell to

tamper with exams taken at his school, but a second proctor as well, Wright said. She didn’t identify the proctor, who hasn’t been charged. “Any disagreement of those facts?” asked U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani. “No, your honor,” Dvorskiy said quietly. His sentencing is set for Feb. 7. Dvorskiy has also agreed to cooperate with prosecutors and testify at trial, if called. The government will likely try to use Dvorskiy to buttress its argument that Singer and his clientele were entangled in a single criminal conspiracy, with the aim of defrauding the companies that administer the SAT and ACT exams of their employees’ honest work. As a test administrator, trusted with certifying that the exams taken at his school were filled out properly, Dvorskiy deprived the testing companies of his honest employment when he chose to take bribes and help Singer rig exams, prosecutors reasoned. If prosecutors decide Dvorskiy sup-

plied them with useful information or testimony, they have agreed to recommend a sentence below the range laid out in his plea deal, which calls for 24 to 30 months in prison. He has also agreed to forfeit $149,540 — the sum he collected from the scheme, prosecutors say. Dvorskiy, who was arrested in March, initially pleaded not guilty. He reversed his plea last month. Four parents charged in the case followed suit: Douglas Hodge, the former chief executive of bond manager Pimco; Michelle Janavs, a Newport Beach philanthropist whose family invented the Hot Pocket; Manuel Henriquez, a Bay Area venture capitalist; and Henriquez’s wife, Elizabeth, all pleaded guilty last month to conspiracy to commit fraud and money laundering. Prosecutors had threatened to indict the four, along with another 15 parents who had maintained their innocence, on a third felony count of federal program bribery if they didn’t reverse their not-guilty pleas.


Sports

TheOnlineBeacon.com

Men’s Basketball

MCLA Splits Season Opener at NVU Invitational BY JOHN MORRISEY SPORTS WRITER

The MCLA Men’s basketball team lost Saturday, Nov. 9, to Norther Vermont University (NVU) - Lyndon 95-88 after opening the season with a 77-63 victory over NVU - Johnson Friday, Nov. 8, leaving them 1-1 in the Northern Vermont Classic this past weekend. The Trailblazers found themselves trailing NVU - Lyndon at halftime by nine and let that lead grow to 15 early in the second half before surging back to cut the lead to three with just over seven minutes to play. MCLA watched NVU - Lyndon

PHOTO TAKEN FROM MCLA ATHLETICS

Mike DeMartinis ‘21, pictured here in a game against SVU last season, led MCLA in assists against NVU - Johnson.

counter with an eight-point rush of their own and were never able to draw closer than five points the rest of the way. The Trailblazers were led by the strong play of Ki-Shawn Monroe ’20 who scored 18 and recorded four assists and Marius Turner ’21 contributed with a team-high of eight rebounds in the contest. Chris Becker ’23 provided 16 points despite only playing 11 minutes and Bright Afful ‘21 contributed mightily from the bench going 4-5 from the floor and making one free throw along with Hayden Bird ‘21 who went 3-5 with two free throws furthering the strong bench play of MCLA. In the opening game of the season Friday night the Trailblazers followed the lead of Noah Yearsly ’21 who scored 21 coming off the bench in conjunction with the strong play of Mike Demartinas ‘21 who racked up 17 points and a team high of three assists in toppling NVU - Johnson. Nick Escabi ’21 hit the boards hard in the opening game grabbing 13 of MCLA’s 45 rebounds helping the Trailblazers find victory. Quentin Gittens ’23 made his presence known instantly with the team this week earning Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Rookie of the Week honors after averaging 8.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game over the opening weekend against the two NVU teams. Gittens started both contests for the Trailblazers and is not a stranger to the area having attended Taconic High School last year and is a welcomed addition to the team.

Women’s Cross Country

Next: @ Bowdoin - NCAA Regionals Nov. 16

Men’s Cross Country Nov. 16

Men’s Basketball MCLA (77), Northern VermontJohnson (63) Nov. 8 Noah Yearsley - 21 Points Nick Escabi - 13 Rebounds Mike DeMartinis - 3 Assists

MCLA (88), Northern VermontLyndon (95) Nov. 9 Ki-Shawn Monroe - 18 Points Marius Turner - 8 Rebounds Ki-Shawn Monroe - 4 Assists PHOTO TAKEN FROM MCLA ATHLETICS

Noah Yearsley ‘21, pictured here in a game against Fitchburg State his freshman year, scored 21 points for MCLA in their game against NVU - Johnson this past weekend.

MCLA plays at Western New England University Friday, Nov. 15, as they take on the Golden Bears in the Western New England Tournament. Their opponent for Saturday’s game has yet to be determined. The Trailblazers home opener is set for Saturday, Nov. 23, at noon when they take on Becker College.

Trailblazers Lose First Game Of The Season To Springfield College BY BRIAN RHODES STAFF WRITER

PHOTO TAKEN FROM MCLA ATHLETICS

Kylah Langston ‘20, pictured here in a match against Worcester State last season, scored 14 of MCLA’s 37 points over the weekend. to work on now going into [SUNY] Cobleskill,” Kylah Langston ‘20 said. Langston led by scoring 14 of the team’s 37 points, the only Trailblazer to score in double figures. Langston recognized that the team roster is significantly altered compared to last season and adjustments can and will be made. “Last game allowed us to feel our new team chemistry,” Langston said. “Our team is now dominant with

SCORE BOARD

Next: @ Bowdoin - NCAA Regionals

Women’s Basketball

MCLA women’s basketball opened its season Saturday, Nov. 9, with a 37-74 loss to Springfield College. A seven-point first quarter from MCLA allowed Springfield to take an early 17-point lead, which expanded to 39 by the end of the third quarter. Springfield shot 35.1% from the field, compared to the Trailblazer’s 27.3%. Springfield also took 22 more shots total, with a higher percentage of them coming from three-point range. The trailblazers got to the line only four times, going 5-8 on free-throw attempts. Springfield went 12-15 on free-throw attempts. The trailblazers’s 24 turnovers lead to 19 Springfield points. The trailblazers managed to get seven points off of 10 Springfield turnovers. “We got dominated on the boards and our turnovers were high, but we now know what we need

9

freshmen and transfers who will definitely help us throughout our season.” Hayley Jones ‘21 led the trailblazers in rebounding with seven, all of which were defensive rebounds. Jones’s rebounding lessened Springfield’s 52-38 rebound advantage for the game. Despite the loss, Jones was able to take away some positives from the game, like scoring 15 points in the fourth quarter, outscoring Springfield by two points.

“Most of the positive things came out towards the end of the game,” Jones said. “Our energy picked up a lot on and off the court. The bench was energetic and it made the players on the court step up in a lot of ways.” This energy, Jones said, is something that the team needs to build on. “We have the talent and the mindset, we just gotta keep up the energy for the whole 40 minutes of the game,” Jones said. The women’s first home game of the season will be against SUNY Cobleskill Wednesday, Nov. 13. Langston hopes the team can come back and pull out a win at home. “Opening at home will be beneficial for us seeing that it’s our home court and we play best on our floor,” Langston said. “We’re looking for our first win on Wednesday and opening at home will boost our energy.” Head Coach Loren Stock did not respond to an email requesting comment.

Next: @ Western New England University Nov. 15, 8:00 p.m. vs. TBA @ Western New England University Nov. 16, TBA @ Castleton University Nov. 19, 7:00 p.m.

Women’s Basketball MCLA (37), Springfield College (74) Nov. 9 Kylah Langston - 14 Points Hayley Jones - 7 Rebounds Kylah Langston - 1 Assist Erika Ryan - 1 Assist Emily Burke - 1 Assist Brooke DiGennaro - 1 Assist Shannon Carney - 1 Assist

MCLA — SUNY Cobleskill (Wed.) Nov. 13 Next: @ Williams College Nov. 16, 6:00 p.m. @ Mount Holyoke College Nov. 20, 6:00 p.m.

Women’s Volleyball MASCAC Semi Finals MCLA (0), Westfield State (3) Nov. 7 Kelly Moczulski - 8 Kills Reagan Scattergood - 3 Blocks Houa Xiong - 14 Digs Kelly Moczulski - 1 Service Ace

Read more about your Trailblazers, featuring coverage of winter sports at Athletics.mcla.edu


Opinion

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10

Editorial

No Apology Needed For Good Journalism

On Sunday, The Daily Northwestern, the student newspaper at Northwestern University, published an apology online for its coverage of a Northwestern University College Republicans event where former Attorney General Jeff Sessions spoke, as well as a protest of the event. The apology, which starts off by stating “Last week, The Daily was not the paper that Northwestern students deserve,” references “mistakes” made in regards to photo coverage of the event, student reporters contacting fellow students via text message to ask if they’d be willing to be interviewed, and identifying a protester who was quoted. However, such “mistakes” are not mistakes at all. In terms of photo coverage of the protest and event, The Daily states, “Some protesters found photos posted to reporters’ Twitter accounts retraumatizing and invasive” and subsequently took down the photos. This wasn’t necessary. Being that the event and protest were held in a public setting, people are allowed to take photos of anyone and anything that is happening. It’s not an invasion of privacy if someone is choosing to step into a public setting and stand up for what they believe in. The Daily continued on, stating, “While our goal is to document history and spread information, nothing is more important than ensuring that our fellow students feel safe — and in situations like this, that they are benefitting from our coverage rather than being actively harmed by it.”

The newsworthiness of the event is obvious – former Attorney General Jeff Sessions, a public figure, speaking at a public event that is being publicly protested. Any harm done to the students photographed is not caused by the photo coverage. Students waived their right to privacy the minute they stepped into the public eye to protest the event. The issue of invasion of privacy was also brought up in The Daily’s apology for student reporters contacting fellow students via text message to ask if they’d be willing to be interviewed. As The Daily states, “Some of our staff members who were covering the event used Northwestern’s directory to obtain phone numbers for students beforehand and texted them to ask if they’d be willing to be interviewed.” The Northwestern directory is open to all students, and if a phone number is included alongside a person’s name in that directory, then it is not an invasion of privacy. Granted, the safest bet would’ve been to email students or talk to them in person, but merely texting and asking for an interview is not an invasion of privacy. Finally, The Daily addresses their choice to remove the name of a protester initially quoted in their article on the protest. The Daily states, “Any information The Daily provides about the protest can be used against the participating students — while some universities grant am-

nesty to student protesters, Northwestern does not.” Northwestern students know this policy is in place (hopefully) and chose to attend a protest in spite of it. If you’re choosing to go against the College’s policy on an issue, then you have to be ready to have the ramifications of your actions. You cannot expect a newspaper outlet to not cover a newsworthy event, and especially if you choose to comment on the event, it’s ridiculous to expect the newspaper to not attribute that quote. If a source requests that their name be removed, that is up to the newspaper to decide whether they want to respect the wishes of the source. Sources are not able to retroactively take back anything they said on the record, so it’s a matter of morality, not legality. In The Daily’s opinion, they “failed to consider our impact in our reporting surrounding Jeff Sessions.” Covering and reporting on newsworthy events is the foundation of good journalism. Apologizing for accurate coverage isn’t needed, and shouldn’t be given. Newspapers, whether student-run or not, should stand by their reporting skills and coverage. If a mistake is made, such as incorrect attributions or spelling, a correction occurs. Otherwise, apologies should not be made just to please others. Accurate reporting is accurate reporting, and asking news outlets to go against their journalist integrity so that people are not upset is utterly ridiculous.

Life After Collegiate Sports Is What You Make It If student-athletes in their senior years were asked “Who am I?” their immediate responses would include teammates, possibly team captains, and of course student-athletes. But once their seasons finish, effectively ending their collegiate sports careers, what else are they? According to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), out of all the students who play high school sports (roughly 7.4 million athletes), 2% will earn a college scholarship. Out of those (about 460,000 in the NCAA), fewer than 2% will go pro. The other 98% are left to their own devices to figure out what is next, which can be a daunting reality for athletes who have spent their entire lives operating within a very regimented schedule dedicated to their sports. After a few short months that defines their last season, student-athletes have to turn in their uniforms and put away their equipment for the last time, not having any choice but to think outside of their sports. This difficulty is not defined by a certain level of competition. Whether Division I or Division III, playing sports at a highly competitive level ends for many student-athletes. Even student-athletes who already possess a post-college game plan face a learning curve when their playing days are done. While finding a job commands the focus of most upcoming graduates, the transition to life after competition generates other lifestyle changes unrelated to resumes, interviews and a new workready wardrobe. UCLA Hall of Fame softball player and coach Sue Enquist, who is now a performance consultant for colleges and businesses, says making this transition into the real world is a mental challenge for everyone. She believes it’s imperative that athletes “really understand that you don’t ever real-

ly have peace of mind when you go out in the workforce, and understand you’re a work in progress.” You have to “be comfortable in being uncomfortable with that.” The road is different for everyone. Eating habits may need to be adjusted when calorie-annihilating team workouts cease. Motivation to exercise may be harder to muster without encouragement from a coach. For many former student-athletes, the challenge is not only learning how to stay fit in a new lifestyle but also coping with a new sense of loss. Some level of anxiety, sadness or insecurity may be hard to avoid as they shed the athlete label — something they have worn proudly over years of dedication to their sports. This identity crisis hits almost every student-athlete. According to a study by the NCAA, three out of four former student-athletes report experiencing difficulty retiring from competitive sport. There’s a fork in the road for them: either wallow in the pain and continue to look back at the closed door, or take what they learned as an athlete, accept the challenge and fight to reinvent themselves. Experts agree student-athletes benefit when they think—and step—outside of the athletics bubble before they say goodbye to their sports. The less their identity revolves solely around being a student-athlete, the less of a shock it will be when that identity expires. However, diversifying their experiences and interests beyond athletics doesn’t mean downplaying the role of sports. Even though student-athletes are told their sport doesn’t define who they are as a person, it’s hard to ignore all the different skills, life lessons, and experiences they go through during their sports career that has shaped them into the person they are today. There’s so much that happens

TESSA SESTITO NOT FOR THE BETTER through sports that is unique to athletes, and there are things that are still a part of who an athlete is; those will never be taken away. The transition into former athlete does not have to have a negative connotation; it’s redefining what that new title means in your life. Once an athlete, always an athlete. Sue Gordon, former Duke women’s basketball player and current deputy director for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, believes “Everything that made you a success at your sport is what will make you a success in any endeavor if you call on it.” Research shows that student-athletes, especially females, are well equipped to handle life’s challenges. An EY/ESPNW survey of 400 female corporate executives discovered that 94% played a sport and nearly two-thirds (61%) attributed their athletic participation to their professional success. A U.S. Department of Education report said high school athletes are more likely than non-athletes to attend college and receive degrees. Former student-athletes are more likely to be thriving in a number of areas of their well-being compared to non-student-athletes, including pur-

pose, community, and social well-being, according to a Gallup poll taken by former student-athletes. Student-athletes are far more prepared to tackle the real world than they think they are. Carey Goodman, former Duke women’s soccer player and assistant director of athletics development at William & Mary, emphasizes that “You already have all of the skills to conquer the working world: time management, effective communication, work ethic, teamwork. Be confident in yourself. Follow your passion, even if it leads you down an unconventional path.” Although the days of competing are over, what they’ve learned and developed as a player will help them move into the next phase of their lives. On behalf of the senior class of student-athletes, here’s some advice for our fellow student-athletes: First, enjoy the ride. It goes by quickly. Second, make the best of your college experience and try hard every single damn day, whether it’s in class, practice or during competition. The saying “how you practice is how you will play” will apply to your post-athletic life. Third, figure out what you’re most passionate about other than your sport. For some, this answer won’t come easy so be prepared to put in the work and explore. Do you love people? Do you love numbers? Do you want to stay in sports? The proverb is true: Once you discover your next passion, you’ll never have to “work” another day in your life. And finally, trust yourself. This journey won’t be easy, but everything you need to make that leap from college athletics is in you. Just because you can’t see these skills doesn’t mean they don’t exist. Remember what it was like to have faith in yourself and your team when you were on the field or court? It’s the same concept. You just have to trust that it’s all there.


Nov. 14, 2019

Opinion

TheOnlineBeacon.com

11

The First Annual JVMA Awards On Wednesday night the Country Music Awards took place highlighting the best in today’s popular country music. These records are often nominated because of their mass appeal, commercial viability, and radio airplay. However since 2019 is almost over, I wanted to take a moment to launch the first (and quite likely only ever) Jake Vitali Music Association Awards to highlight some of the most overlooked and under-appreciated artists, records, and songs from 2019 thus far.

Female Artist of the Year: Yola

2019 has been Yola’s year thus far, her debut record “Walk Through Fire” was released to critical acclaim in Feb. with NPR music critic Brittany McKenna wrote “It’s the work of an artist sure to stun audiences for years to come.” The album was born out of personal turmoil as she survived a house fire and escaped an abusive relationship. However, her music emanates a great deal of vulnerability and also empowerment. From the opening track “Faraway Look” you get the sense that Yola has stories to tell and that you as the listener want to hear what she has to say. There’s no hiding the country influence in her music with prominent steel guitar and fiddle on tracks, but Yola’s voice is a beautiful mix of gospel and folk influence. It feels genuine and cohesive, whereas such crossover projects can often feel disjointed. In addition, Yola’s rise to fame is much needed for a genre that often lacks diverse voices. Her success demonstrates that people are not only ready to hear from, but desire, diverse voices.

Male Artist of the Year: Cody Jinks

Cody Jinks shined in Oct. with not just one, but two stellar releases. On Oct. 11 he released “After the Fire” and on Oct. 18 he released “The Wanting” - at one point competing with himself in the iTunes country music rankings. Offering a long deep into his soul by examining his best and worst personality traits, his albums were a recognition of which aspects of his personality that he chooses to give into. “After the Fire” saw Jinks try to maintain the moral high ground, while “The Wanting” saw Jinks ad-

Kenya to Minneapolis, Minnesota out of a love of Bob Dylan and desire to make music. After his initial success, he released “Tales of America, A Second Coming” which features previously unheard songs and covers of David Bowie’s “I’m Afraid of Americans” and Neil Young’s “Heart of Gold.”

Best New Artist: Michaela Anne JAKE VITALI A SLICE OF AMERICANA dress his personal struggles. These albums were a massive collaborative undertaking with many of the songs being written by artists from the independent country scene in Texas, with the likes of Paul Cauthen, Ward Davis, Jaida Dreyer, Tennessee Jet, and Rebecca Jinks co-writing or writing many of the tracks. Yet, it seems Jinks people knew him best to collaborate with as these songs contain a biting amount of truth and authenticity. Jinks has a very classic voice for country music, reminiscent of Randy Travis. Accompanied by very classic country instrumentation and beats, he is at his best. With the teeth that his lyrics possess, especially on cuts off of “The Wanting” like “Which One I Feed” he demonstrates he is a true modern day troubadour.

Michaela Anne stepped onto the stage in Sept. with her record “Desert Dove” and it’s success was a surprise she could have never imagined. The title-track was inspired by a stripper that Anne met in a bar one evening and the album addresses themes of femininity, gender, submission, and desire. Her songs are pensive and deal with complex interpersonal issues. “Somebody New” is a song dealing with the difficulty of falling in love with somebody new while you’re in love with somebody else and rather than pointing fingers, it’s a recognition that there’s messy feelings on all sides when something like that happens. “By Our Design” grapples with self and societal expectations, success, and laying roots. Perhaps the only thing more powerful than the songs themselves is Anne’s voice. It’s the kind of voice that when you first hear it, it instantly hooks you in. Her accompanying band also offers a very radio-ready sound.

Album of the Year: “Tales of Song of the Year: “All Your’n” America” by J.S. Ondara by Tyler Childers J.S. Ondara burst onto the scene with “Tales of America” in Feb. and since then, the acclaim for the record has only continued to grow - for good reason too. Ondara’s record is easily one of the most pure and soulful of the year. His introspective lens, writing about America as an immigrant offers a perspective that folk music has been missing. Ondara’s ability to sing falsetto sees the artist singing in notes that are not only beautiful, but leave listeners hanging onto every word. The record contains a delicate balance of songs about love and songs about issues facing the country, sometimes hinting at both. He sees both sides of the American dream from ecstasy to terror and believes the American spirit will ultimately prevail through these difficult times. Ondara moved from Nairobi,

When you hear a great song, you know it instantly. From the opening notes on “All Your’n” with the funky piano and complimentary fiddle coupled with a 70’s-esque production, the song offers a surprisingly psychedelic experience. What further makes this song a top choice for 2019 is the way Childers is able to turn a phrase like “the Goddess in my Days Inn pen, the muse I ain’t refusing” or his ability to paint a picture with “Driving through the roadwork/oh the work they took forever on.” But what makes this song stick in your ears is the chorus. The way Childers voice brings together the hook of “So I’ll love you till my lungs give out/ I ain’t lyin’/ I’m all your’n and you’re all mine” has that ability to lodge itself in your head for days to come.

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Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief Tessa Sestito

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Nov. 14, 2019

Moonlight Madness

Moonlight Madness featured games like Telephone, Tag, and Dodgeball for students from each class to compete in and earn class points. The night also had performances by Cheerleading Club, Dance Co., and Nexxus. By the end of the night, the Class of 2020 won. Photos by Jake Vitali

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