TheOnlineBeacon.com
Thursday, October 24, 2019
Volume 90 • Issue 6
Wi-Fi Issues One Week After The Storm Continue Despite Fixes
BY BRIAN RHODES STAFF WRITER Students are still having issues with Wi-Fi in the residence areas despite the upgrades made over the summer. Several students in Berkshire Towers (BT), Hoosac Hall, and the Townhouses have reported slow and intermittent Wi-Fi connection. BT resident Rachel Mancour ’19 voiced her displeasure with the service, pointing to connection and speed at the problem. “It’s very annoying,” Mancour said. “The speeds are inconsistent and sometimes it will go off for a couple of minutes or even hours.” Murdock Hall’s Computer HelpDeck urges students to approach them for assistance, but students have been unwilling to to visit lately according to Ian Bergeron, associate dean of information technology. “The biggest problem we have in this is the communication from students, we’re not getting it,” Bergeron said. “We hear from a handful of students when I think there are more out there who need help.” Instead of going to the HelpDesk to fix their Wi-Fi
problems, some students are using Wi-Fi hotspots from their phones to get a connection, like Mancour. “A lot of people use Wi-Fi hotspots [instead of BlazerNet],” Mancour said. “Sometimes I’ll look at the available Wi-Fi networks and I’ll see multiple hotspots.” According to Bergeron, Wi-Fi hotspots and other networking devices such as signal boosters and extenders can cause interference with BlazerNet, causing problems for multiple students. “We find that there’s a lot of inexpensive devices out there that provide Wi-Fi or extend Wi-Fi or promise to do all sorts of things with it,” Bergeron said. “They don’t necessarily work the way you’d expect when you’d connect them to a network like [BlazerNet], and they cause more problems than they’re worth.” When asked why she had not contacted the HelpDesk yet, Mancour said that she feels discouraged because of how widespread the Wi-Fi problems are. “It’s a whole building problem,” Mancour said. “I don’t know how they could help anyone individually if everyone is experiencing the problems.”
PHOTO BY NICHOLAS WEBB
A branch from a Norway maple, near Smith house, broke off in a wind storm on Thursday, Oct. 17. The tree did not cause damage to any surrounding property. Like Mancour, Hoosac Hall resident Laura Corsi ’22 has experienced problems with the Wi-Fi. Corsi was not able to use her laptop for the first month of the semester due to connectivity issues, forcing her to resort to other means of accomplishing her assignments. “This semester, I racked up my phone bill because I couldn’t get connected to the Wi-Fi no matter what I did, so I just used my data,” Corsi said. “I didn’t use my laptop; I used my phone for everything.” After a month of Wi-Fi issues, Corsi went to the Help-
Desk and received help in fixing the issue. “[The HelpDesk] is how I finally got connected to WiFi,” Corsi said. Bergeron and Bean argue that not going to the HelpDesk intensifies the problem, claiming they cannot easily fix an issue if there is no communication about it from students. “Every call that has come into the HelpDesk regarding Wi-Fi has either been addressed and we have a resolution, or we’re waiting on the student to tell us if what we did worked or didn’t,” Bergeron said.
“That’s what we’re here for,” Bergeron added. “Once you call the HelpDesk, we’re not gonna let this go until we have your problem solved.” Townhouse resident Jenna Berg ’22 has also had issues with Wi-Fi reliability, experiencing connection issues with certain devices. “I have noticed that in the residence areas, the WiFi works better on my laptop, but almost never on my phone,” Berg said. Rather than going to the HelpDesk, Berg chooses to
Wi-Fi, Page 8
Fall Family Weekend
Students, Families Reunite For Fun Weekend BY NATALIA GIACOMOZZI STAFF WRITER
PHOTO BY NATALIA GIOCOMOZZI
Students with their families attending Family Fest over the weekend . This was the first time students met with their families since move-in day this semester.
MCLA’s annual Fall Family Weekend came into full swing from Friday, Oct. 18, to Sunday, Oct. 20, bringing students and their families together on campus for the first time since Move-In Weekend. Events ranged from viewing the theater department’s production of the play “Miss Julie” to attending the Family Carnival and Chowderfest in Venable Gym. The Students Activities Council (SAC) also hosted Nugz Night, a buffet that served chicken nuggets from various local eateries. Director of Student Activities Jenn Labbance was unavailable for comment. For Chloe Mascitelli ’22, her favorite part of Family Weekend was the mechanical pumpkin—a festive spin on a me-
chanical bull—present at the Family Carnival and ChowderFest Saturday, Oct. 19. “It was a lot of fun and my whole family did it together,” Mascitelli said. “However, I thought the carnival as a whole was weird for younger kids.” For future Family Weekends, Chloe suggested more activities and events for siblings in middle school and high school. The carnival included tables for drawing arts and crafts, laser tag, an area for posing for pictures taken by SAC, and well as free chowder and mechanical pumpkin. According to Bradly O’Dell ’22, the Student Government Association (SGA) was responsible for providing the chowder, whereas SAC was responsible for organizing the activities in Venable. Bradley noted that at some point during the carnival, he even tested out the mechanical
bull for himself. “Overall, the events sponsored by both SAC and SGA had been created as family-oriented and fun for all ages,” Bradley said. SGA President Dean Little ’21 did not respond for comments. The MCLA website provided a schedule of events on campus and a list of places to visit off campus. Suggested places to visit included Mass MOCA, the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, Whitney’s Farm Market in Cheshire, and the Mt. Greylock State Reservation in Lanesborough. Families were able to register online for Family Weekend and were encouraged to donate clothes to the school’s clothing drive for the North Adams community, in the Campus Center Marketplace once they arrived on campus.
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SGA
Academic Affairs Explains New Changes to Current Core Curriculum BY NATHAN BIRON SENIOR NEWS EDITOR SGA hosted Adrienne Wootters, the current interim vice president of academic affairs, and Ely Janis, dean of academic affairs, Monday, Oct. 21, to discuss changes to the core curriculum and what will be happening in the next few semesters with each and every major. Chief Daniel Colonno and Sergeant Justin Biasin were also there to discuss the initiatives and changes that they’re going to make in the future. Wootters gave a brief summary of some changes being made to the current curriculum at the College. “After looking at all the majors, we knew that there had to be some changes made in order for things to run smoothly,” Wootters said. Wootters added that transparency is key to being more helpful on campus, hoping transparency, along with availability to talk, would change some of the issues on campus. She went on to explain that there will be a more in depth look at what classes are essential to the requirements and which are the ones that need to be prioritized for the upper classmen close to graduation. “There will also be some
more classes that will be able to be translated and applied to real life situations,” Wootters said. Janis shared the same views and thoughts as Wootters on this subject matter, adding that there will also be more honors classes in the future. “With more honor students wanting to take honors classes, or the new incoming freshman that want to take honors course will now be able to,” Janis said. “Like Dr. Wootters said, these Heritage courses that are being added to the new core curriculum aim to be able to be used after school is over,” Janis continued. “We are also trying to work with other state colleges to simplify the transfer of credits and having students finish out their college degree at MCLA.” Wootters also explained that with the Davis grant, students from other institutions will have a much easier time transitioning to MCLA to finish their degree. “Overall, with these new changes, I think there will be good things to come out of this new integrated system,” Wootters said. Colonno was in attendance accompanied by Biasin to discuss the summary of his Clery report along with upcoming events that
PHOTO BY NATHAN BIRON
Public Safety Sergeant Justin Biasin, left, and Cheif Daniel Colonno, right, discuss future initiatives and plans that are going to be happening on campus. are planned with Public Safety and the community. Colonno mentioned that the last Coffee with Cops was a great success to come out of it. The next Coffee with Cops is scheduled for tomorrow, Oct. 25. The Public Safety Facebook page is updated regularly with events and news straight from Public Safety. “There was lots of positive
feedback from students at the last event and we hope to have more students show this time as well,” Colonno said. Colonno added that the Cop on Top event helped produce $10,000 last year to help fundraise the Special Olympics and reinvest back into Berkshire County. Biasin focused on new programs that could be a possibility with the help of
the SGA board. “One of the suggested programs that hopefully will occur is a self-defense course that can teach you how to defend yourself in dire situations,” Biasin said. “There are lots of great opportunities that could be a new thing to the campus all we need is your support and also support from the students as well.”
Career Development
LIVE MUSIC
JENNY SCHEINMAN & ALLISON MILLER’S PARLOUR GAME
Saturday, October 26, 8pm CLUB B10 | $15 STUDENTS | $18 ADVANCE $28 DAY OF | $44 PREFERRED
TICKETS: massmoca.org or 413.MoCA.111 | North Adams, Mass.
Alumni, Career Development to Co-Sponsor Career Panels MCLA’s Career Development and alumni are co-sponsoring four sessions of discussion panels focusing on different types of career fields students can seek out after graduation. The first event, focusing on careers in communication, will be held Monday, Oct. 28. On Tuesday, Oct. 29, the panel will discuss careers involving education. Wednesday, Oct. 30, will look at careers in the STEM field. The final panel will occur the following Monday, Nov. 4, and will focus on business careers. All four events will be located in Bowman Hall Room 206 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. The panel on careers in communications will teach students how to build their network, and hear from
alumni on the experiences they had so far. The panel will include communications professionals Emily Dessingue ‘14, Jennifer Huberdeau ‘00, Makayla-Courtney McGeeney ‘16, Sarah Murphy ‘15, Kristin M. Nichols ‘01, and Katie Rosa ‘10.’ The education career panel will focus on the ways you can find jobs out in the field and how students should market themselves. The featured professionals will include Cherly M. Boillat ‘89 (M.Ed. ‘97), Sharon Connors (M.Ed. ‘18), Ama Bemma Adwetewa-Badu ‘15, Sarah Murphy ‘15, and Jessica Sokol ‘07. The panel discussion for STEM careers will allow students to hear from STEM graduates and provide networking opportunities. Fea-
tured panels will include STEM professionals Mary M. McNamara-Cullinane ‘86, Veronica Torres Martin ‘18, and Daniel Nesti ‘13. The last panel will discuss careers within the business field, featuring panelists Lisa Blackmer ‘99 (MBA ‘18), Mike Callahan ‘09, Darius Griffin (MBA ‘17), Brianne O’Rourke ‘17, and Jessica Wojcik ‘16 (MBA ‘18). Students interested in pursuing the business profession will have the chance to ask panelists how they were able to find jobs after graduation. These discussions are a great opportunity for students to get their foot in the door for before they graduate, as well as the chance to increase their network connections that will be benefitial later in life.
News
Oct. 24, 2019
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North Adams City Council Candidates 2019
BY COREY MITCHELL-LABRIE MANAGING EDITOR The following candidates did not repond to inquiries fron The Beacon. Information and photos below were acquired from Berkshire Eagle Website
Keith Bona Bona, 51 years old, is running as a independent candidate and is the current president of the city council. He wants to target blight, the quality degradation of homes and buildings, support public safety and health programs, and work on education. His list of concerns also includes addressing the local opioid problem, and encouraging tourists and visitors downtown. Bona has lived in North Adams for 30 years and owns the downtown antique store, the Berkshire Emporium. He has taken office nine terms on the council, his first starting at only 23 years old.
Robert Cardimino Cardimino is an 83-year-old independent candidate who has been attending city council meeting since the 1970’s. He wants address the diminishing number of businesses in the city and the limited communication avenues between the council and the public, specifically at the public town meetings themselves. Cardimino is an outspoken U.S. Navy veteran starting service around the mid 1950’s and has verbally admitted to participating in the Korean conflict. He has never assumed public office before, but is a regular attendant of city council meetings.
Roger Eurbin
Eurbin, 78 years old, is a independent candidate running for his first term on the city council. He specifically wants to work on improving the city’s community resources and the general quality of life for its citizens. He has noted that he’d like to see the city council become more open when it comes to public interest. Eurbin is a North Adams native, joined in the Navy for eight years and served two tours in Vietnam. As part of the Cemetery Commission and as the veterans’ grave officer, he has made significant contributions to help in the restoration of Hillside Cemetery.
He has served in full and per diem positions as a nurse since 2012, and taught French at various public schools in North Adams. LaForest has served as director of faith formation for the five Catholic parishes in North Adams that later merged into Saint Elizabeth of Hungary Parish and, in 2018, assumed the role of executive director for the Hoosic River Revival program.
Ben Lamb
Paul Hopkins Hopkins is an independent candidate and a 58-year-old native of North Adams. Currently serving his first term on the council, Hopkins particularly looks forward to addressing the issue of city blight, i.e. letting homes and other buildings fall into disrepair. Hopkins also looks to create a new bike path for the city to aid in community and recreational development. He has served on the North Adams Planning Board, the North Adams Redevelopment Authority, and the Community and Economic Development Advisory Board. He has significant experience in community relations from decades of work at North Adams Regional Hospital and the Berkshire Broadcasting Co. (WMNB/WNAW).
Lamb, 33 years old, is a Democratic candidate for city council, and an alumnus of MCLA. Currently serving his fourth term on the council, Lamb seeks to work on the public transport system, helping the city’s at-risk population and improving education. He also wants to help with the rebirth of the Mohawk Theatre downtown, bolster economic development and preserve the natural aspect of the city. Lamb is currently the director of economic development for 1Berkshire. He has previously worked at Drury High School as a guidance counselor, and worked in the student life office of Williams College.
Robert Moulton Jr.
Jason LaForest LaForest is a 43-year-old alumnus of MCLA, and a Democrat running for city council. Currently serving his first term on the council, LaForest looks forward to strengthening the bond between North Adams and the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art and MCLA.
Moulton is a 62-year-old independent candidate running for his sixth term on the council. He notably ran in the 2016 elections as a mayoral candidate against current Mayor Tom Bernard. Focusing on the city’s infrastructure, Moulton looks to improve the city’s schools, roads and sidewalks. He intends on using the Mohawk theatre, MASSMoCA, and MCLA to help with increasing city traffic. Moulton has lived in North Adams his whole life and has worked as an EMT for the Northern Berkshire Ambulance Service for 40 years, and its president for the last 13 years.
Pete Oleskiewicz Oleskiewicz, 51 years old, is a independent andidatefor his first term on the city council. He hopes to improve on police and fire department work conditions serve on the city’s Public Safety Committee. Oleskiewicz is a native of North Adams and operates as the current owner of the Desperados restaurant downtown on Eagle Street. While he has never taken public office before, he hopes to operate as a new voice of the people during a new growth period for the city and particularly because of the small number of incumbents running this time around.
Bryan Sapienza Sapienza is a 57-year-old native of North Adams running as a bipartisan candidate for city council. He’s looking to work on improving the relationships between native residents and new arrivals to the city. He wants to aid the city’s growth, while also maintaining those aspects that make it unique. Sapienza is a commissioner on the North Adams Public Arts Commission, but hasn’t taken public office before. He has considerable experience in technician works and electronics, having worked at the Yankee Atomic Electric Co. and K-M Motor Sales.
Ronald Sheldon Sheldon, 64 years old, is running for his first term as a city councilor. He wants to look into improving community relations and to make it the city more accessible for everyone, in-
cluding the handicapped and elderly. Sheldon is a native of North Adams. He works at Goodwill in the downtown area, as a tutor at MCLA, and an active volunteer. He’s currently on the finance board of North Adams’ food pantry. This marks as his first bout for public office with hopes revolving around aiding everyone in the community.
Jessica Sweeney Sweeney is a 30-year-old resident of North Adams, having moved here in 2007, and is running as a independent candidate. She hopes to bring a new voice to the council centered on the city’s younger population and bringing it into official conversations. Sweeney is the founder and former executive director of the ROOTS Teen Center, owner/director of the Common Folk Artist Collective, and director of O Positive Festival North Adams. This would be her first term on the city council as she has never taken public office before.
Wayne J. Wilkinson Wilkinson is a 68-year-old incumbent seeking reelection for the city council. He seeks to be reelected for another term in order to continue work on helping the city through a transitional phase of growth. Wilkinson has been on the council twice before, winning seats in the 2013 and 2017 elections. He owns Wilkinson Appraisal Associates Inc. and majorly supported taxation of marijuana in his 2017 bid for council seat. He’s lived in North Adams for 44 years and has served on the North Adams Planning Board for 10 years and the North Adams Redevelopment Authority for five years.
Marie T. Harpin & Lisa Blackmer, Page 8
Features
TheOnlineBeacon.com
No Prior Notice of Renovations Inconveniences Some Performers
BY MAYA MCFADDEN FEATURES EDITOR Due to the ongoing Campus Center renovations to the former pool area, access to the Campus Center dance complex has been closed off, leaving performance courses and clubs with only the Venable dance studio to use. Currently, the available time slots for the Venable studio are filled by about 12 different performance groups. Some of the groups using the complex said they were not given any notice that the Campus Center complex would be closed off for the semester until August. Associate professor of theatre Laura Standley teaches the physical theatre course Topics in Theatre Production, THEA-379, and uses the Venable studio for four hours Mondays through Thursdays each week. Though these courses were given priority for scheduling, a public notice about the Campus Center complex’s closing would have helped professors like Standley, whose course is putting on the dance musical Sweet Charity this semester. “Had I known the dance room was going to be down we might not have chosen to do this musical this semester,” Standley said. Standley chose the show for her course in April. However, according to Standley, she didn’t find out about the renovation’s closing of the Campus Center complex until August, and by that time it was too late to change the performance. “We just make it work,” Standley said. Courses such as Intermediate-Acting, Self Defense for Women, and Yoga ll were prioritized for the complex’s schedule at the start of the semester. “We need the space just as much as they [performing arts] do, if not more,” NEXXUS Treasurer Abigail Dumo ’20 said. NEXXUS is one group that was not able to find agreeable times to book practice in the Venable complex due to this late notice. Currently, the group is sharing space in the Church Street Center auditorium and social hall with the cheerleading club. The two groups switch between the auditorium stage and the social hall depending on each day. According to NEXXUS Vice President Stevelyn Desire ’20 and Dumo, the Church Street Center is not an adequate place for the team to practice because the floors are hard,
there are no mirrors, and the room doesn’t have an accessible sound system. The team has to provide their own portable speakers for practice. The NEXXUS E-board also lacks an adequate place to practice, and is currently using the first floor lobby of Bowman Hall. This year’s team of NEXXUS is its largest ever in the past four years with 27 members. “Some members are less willing to go because of the weather or inconvenience of getting to the church street center,” Desire said. Although NEXXUS is able to use the auditorium stage on some days, it becomes more difficult because not all of the team members can fit on the stage at once. “Church Street is not made for stepping,” Desire said. “We are just making it work.” Due to high winds and rain that occurred last Thursday, Oct. 17, Dumo said she struggled to make it to the Church Street Center for practice. “I can’t imagine how hard it’s going to be during the wintertime,” Dumo said. Both Dumo and Desire agreed that the College has a lack of practice performance spaces. “Even when we would be in the campus center complex there were still times that people would have noise complaints,” Dumo said. At the social hall, the team struggles to feel ‘at place’ because the times of some of their practices interfere with music courses, according to Desire. “We feel like we’re interfering, because it is their space,” Desire said. Currently, NEXXUS is practicing to perform for a long lineup of events such as Midnight Madness, the dance company show, the annual teacher vs. student game, and Campus Center Take Over. NEXXUS has participated and placed in many competitions over the years and has connections with other colleges such as the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Williams College. In 2018, the group won club of the year with only seven members, according to Dumo. “We represent this school well, on and off-campus,” Dumo said. “We deserve a decent space and to be supported because we are successful.” Right now, Standley’s theatre course and dance company rehearsals have secured the largest time blocks in the Venable complex. Eight times currently remain on the posted schedule.
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PHOTO BY MAYA MCFADDEN
“For your saftey, these corridors are closed while the renovation project continues. Pardon our appearence while we improve this facilty for the MCLA community,” reads a sign outside of the campus center renovation areas. Margareth Antonio ’20 is one of few individuals with consistently scheduled time at the Venable complex for her “Afro Dance with Marg” dance group. She has been schedule from 5 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. Monday through Thursday each week since mid-September. “I just took whatever I could get and made the time work for me,” Antonio said. In the past, NEXXUS had an established practice time
of 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Now, the group only practices three days a week. “We have no fourth day to meet like we usually do but we are still being asked to do the same amount of performance work; and even more than previous years,” Desire said. Both Desire and Dumo hope to see the communication about the state of the renovations from College
administration to clubs like NEXXUS improve. “This institutional lack of communication makes the club run not as efficiently as it should,” Desire said. In the past, the College has failed to inform the club of events that happen at the center which limits practice times further, according to Desire. NEXXUS is often asked to perform at college events, and specifically ones for prospective students.
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Oct. 24, 2019
Southern Vermont College
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Transfer Senior, Aliesha Thomas Unexpectedly Finds New Home BY LISE MANSARAY FEATURES WRITER After Southern Vermont College’s closure at the end of May, former SVC students have adjusted well to MCLA this fall. MCLA was one of the few schools part of a transferal “Teach-Out” program with SVC, in addition to Norwich University and Castleton University. Former SVC student Aliesha Thomas, class of 2020, believed that MCLA was the best option out of the other schools that were offered. “MCLA being so transparent and helpful made it so much easier going above and beyond compared to a few of the other schools that were offered to attend,” Thomas said. “When I first got here I wasn’t really excited. Being here for a month and a half now, I’ve learned to love the school.” “SVC students were more
PHOTO PROVIDED BY ALIESHA THOMAS
Despite a hesitant start, Aliesha Thomas ‘20 transfered to MCLA as a buisness major and after nearly two months of adjusting she found a place in the academic and social community on campus. sheltered, I’d say, being that it was a smaller campus,” Thomas continued. “I could understand why there were shuttles provided for us 7 days a week. The shuttle here at MCLA only operates on Sunday, Monday, Friday and
Saturdays. MCLA is more open to different ideas since it is a liberal arts college, which I love.” She particularly favors the educational aspect of MCLA. “I feel like what I’m learning here will really help me in the
future,” Thomas continued. “Special shout outs to Dr. Chali Nondo, one of my professors, and my advisor Thomas Whalen.” SVC shut down due to low enrollment numbers. According to a Mass Live article, enrollment was once at 500 students in 2012, but dropped significantly by the time of its closure, carrying only about 340 students. The low enrollment led to financial issues, leading the school to eventually shut down. A transfer agreement between MCLA and SVC allowed underclassmen to finish their degrees here for roughly the same cost they were paying previously. According to a Bennington Banner article, MCLA set up a website to assist SVC students who wanted to transfer here. MCLA representatives were also sent on SVC’s campus to aid and inform students. Thomas first learned SVC was shutting down through faculty in the Business department. “First and foremost the business majors of the school
knew first,” Thomas said. “The faculty informed all of the business students first because they wanted us to still remain strong and lead by example.” Shortly thereafter, all students were notified through email that the school was shutting down. Following that news, SVC Administration tried to provide students with resources to make their transfer process smoother. “SVC did provide us additional resources,” Thomas said. “I could remember that since the news had been released to students, faculty from the admissions office took the extra step by reaching out to schools that took some of the students’ interest. That consisted of getting their academic criteria to complete a major, calling to possibly gain a connection and taking someone’s number of values from the school or even help think of alternatives, if students weren’t satisfied with what they have found.”
Student Entrepreneurs
Giovanni Arana; Scientist By Day, Designer By Night BY MAYA MCFADDEN FEATURES EDITOR Despite college academics as a large time-consuming commitment, Giovanni Arana ’21 also dedicates a significant portion of his time to a self-made clothing brand known as “Giovanni Alexander Apparel.” In only a year, Arana has released the start of two lines from Giovanni Alexander Apparel called “Undifined” and “Suave,” while at the same time being
PHOTO PROVIDED BY GIOVANNI ARANA
About eight fashion club members modeled Giovanni Arana’s first Undifined release.
a double major in physics and biology with a concentration in biotechnology. Having an eye for fashion since high school, Arana said people gave him the nickname “Suave” after he won the best-dressed yearbook superlative. “I saw it as a way of expression, and it made me feel good,” Arana said. Arana looks to fashion figures like A$AP Rocky for creativity and confidence to wear unique clothing items. “I keep up with a lot of people in the fashion industry who are people of color because it’s not really common for their creativity to be acknowledged,” Arana said. A few others Arana looks up to include Jerry Lorenzo, the founder of “Fear of God,” Kerby Jean-Raymond, founder of Pyer Moss, and Virgil Abloh, artistic director of Louis Vuitton and chief executive officer of the brand Off-White. Arana first began establishing his brand in October 2018 while a sophomore at MCLA. Last year during the fall semester, Arana showcased his “Undifined” collection during the fashion club’s fashion show. “I joined fashion club to push myself and to make myself get it done,” Arana said. The ‘Undifined’ line’s first inspirations came to Arana when he was
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a sophomore in high school during a math class. “When I would see the undefined expression in math I decided to incorporate it but with a different meaning,” he said. Arana spells “Undifined’ differently for his line to symbolize uniqueness. “It shows people that no one can define who you are,” Arana mentioned. The first piece for his “Undifined’” line was released in February. Most recently, he released the first piece of his “Suave” line in August. The process of designing, producing, and marketing is tough mentioned Arana. He has taught himself how to use software products like Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator to make his designs. He also handmade his font for his “Undifined” shirts. During high school, he also was a part of the “Possible Project” at his school. In this program, he learned some key skills of being an entrepreneur such as brainstorming, how to pitch an idea, and logo making. Arana’s brands currently include street wear style shirts in a variety of sizes. “Anybody can wear the shirts, I see them as unisex,” Arana said. Arana aims to help people be comfortable with who they are. “I want people who wear suave to be confident in themselves,” he said.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY GIOVANNI ARANA
With his concentration in biotechnology Giovanni Arana is thinking about purssuing a career with making prosthetic limbs Despite his interested in fashion during high school, Arana did not think about going to college for it because he feared of focusing on something that wasn’t a traditional career to his family. Arana is currently working on adding more clothing items to his two released lines. “Hopefully one day it will get to the point where my clothing line becomes my full time,” he said.
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
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Review
MCLA Theatre’s ‘Miss Julie’ Explores Class, Identity, and Femininity BY SABRINA DAMMS A&E WRITER MCLA Theatre has kicked off its first showing of the play “Miss Julie,” giving a contemporary look at the idea of the class system in the 1880s and how it is still prevalent in today’s society while also looking at it through a feministic lens. The show, starring Amanda Gilmore ‘20, John Archer-Harvey ‘22, Charlotte Donnelly ‘21, Rachel Bartlett ‘20, and Bee Kelsey ‘23, brings the audience close to the characters and the story. “I liked how it showed a feministic side of Miss Julie [and how] it was like a mix of time periods,” said Alana O’Connor ‘22 after the show. The show follows a young woman, Miss Julie, as she contemplates her past, identity and place in society. She is a spunky girl who rejects her high status and spends most of her time with her staff, feeling closer to them than her own family. Julie falls in love with one of her s t a f f members, Jean, high ambitions who has in life and wishes to have the authorit y
and position that Julie was born into. This ambition, at times, makes Jean cruel to Julie in their affair. The complex power struggle between these two characters challenges the stereotypical and patriarchal views of women during this time period. “I saw more of the class struggles,” Lindsey Rosa ‘21 said. “Women were a lot more independent than people realized and it was really cool to see that.” The play’s small cast brings the audience into the world of these characters, offering a better display of this power struggle. “I thought it was interesting how you could tell so much story with so few actors,” Isaiah Moore ‘22 said. The lighting and design of the show also made an impact on the audience and helped transform the narrative.
The window-like display made it seem as though you were looking into the world of “Miss Julie.” “I love how beautiful it was, the lighting and design,” Rosa said. “It really felt you were immersed in the space.” Although the design of the stage separated the audience from the characters, the small cast had a great amount of chemistry with one another and offered the audience insight into the complexities of this world. “This production has such a small cast which allows our audience to be more closely connected to the story and the characters themselves,” said Gilmore, who played Miss Julie in the show. Archer-Harvey, who plays the antagonist, Jean, explained how the cast is great to play off of because of the different energies they bring to the production. The real-life friendships of the cast members also made acting in this production a comfortable experience, especially since they are working on such emotional and complex ideas, according to Archer-Harvey. “I think I am commore fortable pushing
emotional extremes,” Gilmore said. “I have grown in the authenticity in my performances.” Archer-Harvey explained how the production looks at hopes, dreams, and fears. The emotion-heavy content of the production complicated the characters’ situation and made it so that even the antagonist can be sympathized with. These ambitions that the antagonist has made it easier for the audience to relate to this character. Archer-Harvey had to learn to understand his character in order to demonstrate how no one wants to be the bad guy in their mind. The performance juggled a complex and emotionally dense narrative tha that class challenged the ideas of class, identity, and femininity. “Mis Showings for “Miss fo Julie” will continue for Sat Friday, Oct. 25, and Satp.m urday, Oct. 26, at 8 p.m., as well as Sunday, Oct Oct. 27, at 2 p.m. PHOTO BY DAVID LANE LAN
Charlotte Donnell Donnelly (left) and John Joh Archer-Harvey Archer-Harve (right) in “Miss “Mis Julie” oon opening nigh night, Oct. 18 18.
25th Annual Boo Bash Happening Monday in Venable Gym BY JENNIFER VANBRAMER A&E EDITOR MCLA’s Residential Program and Services (RPS) and the Volunteer Center will be hosting their 25th annual Boo Bash on Monday, Oct. 28 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Venable Hall Gymnasium. Boo Bash is put on every fall as a way to bring the campus and community together as MCLA students, faculty, and families of the Berkshires can come play Halloween games, get candy, and participate in different activities. Early on in the formation of Boo Bash, the event took place in all three residential areas. People would go from one to another with trick-or-treating at BT, a party at Hoosac Hall, and a haunted house at the Flagg Townhouses, for example. In the last few years, Boo Bash was moved to the basement level of Church Street Center. According to resident assistant (RA) Taylor Pickup ‘21, Boo Bash brings the College and the surrounding community together. “Last year’s turnout was pretty awesome,” Pickup
said. “Boo Bash is just one of the best events because it gives our college community the opportunity to create bonds with the city’s community.” All are welcome to attend Boo Bash including children, grandchildren, and relatives of campus faculty and staff. Dressing up in costumes is recommended but not required. “[This year] I’m definitely most looking forward to seeing all of the kids dressed up, seeing the joy on their faces and getting to help make the night special,” Pickup said. “I think people should attend Boo Bash because it’s truly a great, fun experience for both the families, as well as for us college kids,” Pickup added. Volunteers are needed from 12 to 9 p.m. Monday, Oct. 28, for Boo Bash, but you do not need to be available to help the whole time. To sign up to be a volunteer at this year’s Boo Bash, you can email resident director (RD) Brendan Cody at brendan.cody@mcla. edu with your availability. “Just by going to this event, you could make such an impact on a child without even knowing, and to me, that’s such a heartwarming feeling,” Pickup said.
PHOTO BY SOPHIE PLAYER
Boo Bash was held at the Church Street Center last fall.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Oct. 24, 2019
TheOnlineBeacon.com
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WJJW to Host 2nd Annual Unplugged Show Tonight BY JENNIFER VANBRAMER A&E EDITOR Happening tonight, Oct. 24, at 8 p.m. in the CSI Atrium, WJJW will host its second annual unplugged show with performances from singer-songwriters Prateek and Tegan Taylor. “WJJW Unplugged” is a free event curated by members of the radio station’s E-board and showcases a night of acoustic music. Boston-based artist, Prateek, has been described as “not just any guy with a guitar” by The Boston Globe. He recorded his debut EP, “Walking in My Sleep,” with only his guitar and two microphones in an attempt to emulate Bob Dylan’s earliest work in the music industry. “I first found out about Prateek this past summer when I was interning for 92.5 The River in Boston,” said WJJW President Jake Vitali ‘20 in a statement. “I was reviewing submissions for the Homegrown Showcase and he had submitted music, I was absolutely blown away with his lyrical prowess.” Since the release of that EP in 2016, Prateek’s music has evolved to incorporate gritty electric guitars, silvery backing vocals and lush strings all draped around his own soulful, powerful voice. Prateek has been a Kerrville Folk Festival New Folk Finalist and has been nominated for Singer-Songwriter of the Year at both the New England Music Awards and the Boston Music Awards. “When we began thinking about an acoustic show, Jake [Vitali] suggested [Prateek] right away,” said WJJW Secretary Sam Olson ‘21 in an email. “Jake reached out to Prateek, [who] was interested [in coming to perform at the show].” “We’re really excited he’s coming all the way to North
PHOTO COURTESY OF JAKE VITALI
Prateek is a singer-songwriter from Boston who will be one of the performers at ‘WJJW Unplugged’ tonight at 8 p.m. in the CSI Atrium. Adams to play for us,” Olson added. “Prateek’s music is folky, fun, and unique. He speaks honestly and soulfully, not to mention he’s a great guitarist!” Prateek’s music has been played on radio stations across the nation including Sirius XM, 98.9 WERS, and 92.5 The River. His most recent 2019 EP, “All You Do Is Drown,” is available wherever digital music is sold or streamed. WJJW’s show will also feature local singer-songwriter Tegan Taylor, who studied contemporary music and songwriting at a university in Nashville, Tennessee, and now plays locally around the Berkshires. “We hope to see lots of students come out and enjoy a couple hours of awesome music and to encour-
age them to listen to WJJW for more content like this,” Olson said. “It’s going to be a lot of fun and both the artists have really awesome music, plus it’s free! There’s no reason not to come out and enjoy the night.” This is not the first time WJJW has hosted an unplugged show before and it won’t be the last, according to Olson. “While we have done shows like this before, these artists are unlike any we’ve had perform,” Olson said. “If you enjoy folk, indie, acoustic music, or just want to see what it’s all about, come see the show!” “WJJW Unplugged” will take place tonight at 8 p.m. in the CSI Atrium with performances by Prateek and Tegan Taylor. This event is free for all to attend.
PHOTO COURTESY OF JAKE VITALI
Local singer-songwriter Tegan Taylor will also perform at ‘WJJW Unplugged.’
* SUNDAY, OCT. 27 - IZZY HELTAI CONCERT HILO NORTH ADAMS 7 P.M. * MONDAY, OCT. 28
* THURSDAY, OCT. 24 - WJJW UNPLUGGED SHOW CSI ATRIUM 8 P.M. * FRIDAY, OCT. 25 - IGE MOVIE NIGHT SULLIVAN LOUNGE 7 P.M.
* SATURDAY, OCT. 26 - HALLOWEEN CARTOON MOVIE NIGHT FREEL LIBRARY 7 P.M. - SAC’S GYM OF TERROR VENABLE GYM 9 TO 10:30 P.M.
- ONCE UPON A DREAM WITH MCLA ALLEGRETTOS CHURCH STREET CENTER 1 P.M. - SAC’S GYM OF TERROR VENABLE GYM 8 TO 11 P.M.
- MCLA BOO BASH VENABLE GYM 12 TO 9 P.M. * WEDNESDAY, OCT. 30 - WOMEN’S CENTER WEDNESDAY CAMPUS CENTER ROOM 323 3 TO 4 P.M.
News
Oct. 17, 2019
City Council Elections
TheOnlineBeacon.com
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Marie Harpin Looking to Serve 2nd Term BY COREY MITCHELL-LABRIE MANAGING EDITOR Marie Harpin is a North Adams city councilor looking for reelection in the 2019 election season. An alumna of MCLA back when it was North Adams State College, she hopes to use her experience and expertise in various business fields to bring about positive local change. When asked about her particular strengths, Harpin noted her background in finance that started as a business degree at North Adams State College. “I have over 25 years experience in accounting and finance and I have a couple different industries I’ve worked in,” Harpin said. “I’ve worked in retail, finance, now I’m in the energy business so i think i have a very well rounded business background and thats probably my biggest asset.” Harpin has already accomplished much for the city on during her first
term in public office and looks forward to what she can do for the city continuing as a council member. “I was on the finance committee the first year and this year, my second year, I was chair of the finance committee,” Harpin said. “So that’s something I’d like to continue with.” “We’d like to review the fees in the entire city,” Harpin added. “What fees we charge for public safety, construction, parking, any [other] kinds of fees that the city charges we want to do a review of.” She has also been an advocate for the city’s green energy programs like the organization Green NA. She currently works in an energy field that encompasses wind plants like the ones up on the nearby Florida Mountain and in Searsburg, Vermont. Harpin said that she didn’t always want to go into politics, but that her life did get an early kickstart from her own mother who was on the local city council. “My mom was on the city council
PHOTO FROM THE BERKSHIRE EAGLE
Marie Hairpin is looking for reelection for this 2019 election season.
for 16 years, so we always had political conversations growing up,” Harpin said. “I always had the interest both nationally and locally. I remember going out in junior high school and doing the census and those
types of things.” Pursuing a career in business, it wasn’t until after her two sons grew up that she decided to enter public office. “I went right to work in my early 20’s in the business field, I worked at KB Toys for 10 years where I worked in operations and finance; that was in Pittsfield,” Harpin said. “In 2008, the finance industry kind of collapsed and I lost my job and that’s when i got into the energy field where I am now.” Harpin is a North Adams native, with one of her son is a reserve officer with the North Adams police department and the other works at Williams College. “They have their jobs and are actually taking college classes as well,” Harpin said. “Between the three of us we all have busy schedules between jobs, and school, and council so we’re all going own own way.” Harpin hopes to continue her work on city council with a second term and strives to better the quality of life for its citizens.
City Council Elections
WI-FI
BY COREY MITCHELL-LABRIE MANAGING EDITOR
seek advice from others for help with connectivity problems. “I don’t go to the HelpDesk,” Berg said. “I usually call my dad if I have any technical difficulties.” According to Bergeron, the HelpDesk has put out news notices asking students with Wi-Fi problems to come and get help. He plans to explore more avenues of communication, such as a live chat.
Lisa Blackmer Seeks 6th Term On City Council Lisa Blackmer is looking for reelection this Fall 2019 election season for North Adams. The MCLA alumna looks to continue a long period of supporting North Adams through use of her business background. “I understand municipal government, municipal finance and procurement laws,” Blackmer said. “I think that’s a real asset in making decisions and trying to improve things at the city council level. I also have a diverse background in different types of jobs I’ve had so I understand how the different industries operate and what they need from the community.” Blackmer has been considerably involved in the public office, acting in a range of positions and jobs. According to the Berkshire Eagle, she’s also worked in human resources, event planning, hospitality, tourism and as an administrator and assistant town accountant. “I’m the treasurer and tax collector in the town of Buckland and I have a background in finance and budgeting,” Blackmer said. “I served on the finance committee. We have a capital plan but we need to work on getting the word out with what it is.” When asked about her future plans, Blackmer’s main goals outside of pure finances
PHOTO FROM THE BERKSHIRE EAGLE
Lisa Blackmer has been a city council member for the past five terms and is seeking reelection for her sixth term for this 2019 election season. included green movements to reduce public waste. “What I’d like to see is, they’ve tried to do a [plastic] bag ban in the last two years, in the last term,” Blackmer said. “So that didn’t go through, but what I would like to see is work on a styrofoam ban, I think that’s a good first step.” Blackmer has been a significant participant on the city council for years, taking up positions such as both president and vice president, and has held chairs on the majority of the council’s committees, these being Community Development, Finance, and Public Safety Committees. “I served as the first person on the first school council, which came about around ’93,” Blackmer said. “So I kinda got my feet into government at that point.” Blackmer has served on the city council for five
terms, her first bid being in 2007 marking the start in a non-consecutive decade total of service to North Adams, a city she never initially planned to settle down in. “When we moved here the plan was, ‘How are we going to get out of a three year variable mortgage?’ because we wanted to move back to the Pioneer Valley where our families were,” Blackmer said. “But then we were here, our kids were involved and we felt in love with the community and the city, and we stayed.” Blackmer is a 33-year resident of North Adams and has received her master’s degree in business administration from MCLA. “I have also just finished up a certificate, master’s level certificate, from Suffolk University in municipal leadership,” Blackmer said.
From Page 1
“We try to use the HelpDesk to push out notifications to people about significant network issues,” Bean said. “Sometimes these things get reported; the only way we know about them is if someone says something.” Bergeon said that the upgrades made to the network over the summer are only the first step to improvement, the next step is mutual communication when issues arise. “We still have room to grow, but we can’t do it alone,” Bergeron said.
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Sports
TheOnlineBeacon.com
Men’s Cross Country
Trailblazers Face Low Numbers BY COREY MITCHELL-LABRIE MANAGING EDITOR
The number of men’s cross country team members has diminished significantly with only three remaining from its starting roster of seven: Theodore Jones ’20, Thomas Cook ’23, and Isaac Sibley ’23. In order to place in meets and get on the scoreboard, both men’s and women’s cross country teams normally need five members. Since the core of the men’s team is too little, they have only officially scored once. “We’ve been trying,” Jones said. “But when you only have a core base of three it’s really hard to get on the scoreboard because we need five to run.” Both men’s and women’s teams have been recruiting athletes from other sports to run in meets in order to get on the scoreboard. The women’s cross country team has been successful in finding student athletes, while the men’s team has only experienced a few temporary runners. “I think the only meet that the men’s team has had five runners at has been UMass Dartmouth,” Jones said. “When the school year started officially we had seven runners on the rosters but more than a few ‘no-shows’ who decided that they were too busy or just not interested enough to continue even though they had committed to the team.” “Having to rely on other sports, while it’s wonderful when they can come through for you, they can’t always. So we do our best, but this season’s been rough,” Jones added. While the men’s team was grateful for the temporary contributions to their roster, they have not had any significant participants since the UMass Dartmouth meet in late September. “The two runners from that meet [at UMass Dartmouth] came from baseball,” Sibley said. “I think the athletic
SCORE BOARD
Women’s Cross Country Western New England - 15th (438) Oct. 19 Julie Gambill - (52) Hannah Poplawski - (70) Jenna Berg - (100) Domenica Gomez - (104) Hunter Schrade - (112)
Next: @ MASCAC Championships Nov. 2
Men’s Cross Country
PHOTO TAKEN FROM MCLA ATHLETICS
Theodore Jones, left, and Issac Sibley, right, are the only runners for Men’s Cross Country. trainer had something to do with it. That was our only full team meet so far.” According to Sibley, one of the team’s core runners, Cook, sustained an injury during one of the meets. With him out for the remainder of the season, the team will have only two dedicated members to finish the rest of the meets. Despite this season’s numbers, the team looks forward to the upcoming meets and the following season, with the prospect of gaining new runners. “I got roped into cross country my freshmen year,” Jones said. “I didn’t plan on doing it but when the year started one of the runners from the team came up to me and told me I was going to run cross country for the men’s team and then that happened.” “I had no running experience before I started I was literally just thrown into the sport as a little baby freshman and I was bad, but I’ve been working and improving,” Jones added. “I am now,
as a senior, where one should be as like a decent mid-freshmen/sophomore level, so I’m okay.” Jones went on to describe his own experiences with the team and praise his coach Abigail Wright, who co-coaches both the men’s and women’s teams, for really pushing them to achieve their goals. “I had like a four-year goal of hoping to run a five mile race in under 30 minutes, but that’s turned into a season goal now.” Sibley said. “I’ve seen recently that I’m running 33:55 [five mile] races and I’m not tired.” Both men’s and women’s cross country teams are open to any athletes who’d be willing to participate in their meets, and anyone looking to join the roster next year. “If you think you can do it, you can do it,” Jones said. “If you think you can’t do it, you’d be surprised. I didn’t think I’d be able to run much more than a mile, maybe a mile and a quarter, I do 8k’s [now].”
Women’s Volleyball
Team Sweeps Doubleheader On Senior Day BY JOHN MORRISEY SPORTS WRITER The women’s volleyball team returned to the win column Saturday, Oct. 19, by overtaking the Salem State Vikings 3-0 in the early game, and again against the St. Joseph Blue Jays in the late game, winning 3-0, concluding their doubleheader at home in the Campus Center Gym. MCLA was led by the strong play of Ahna Schlaefer ’22 and Reagan Scattergood ’22, who both recorded 10 kills in the opening game. Captain Tessa Sestito ‘20 was all over the court, providing 37 assists, while Natasha Stewart ‘21 and rookie standout Kelly Moczulski ‘23 each did their part, earning 37 digs between the themselves. The Trailblazers disposed of the Vikings in straight sets: 25-16, 25-18, and 25-10. Sestito was honored before the game for senior day and for all the hard work she has contributed throughout
9
PHOTO TAKEN FROM MCLA ATHLETICS
Middle hitter Kelsey LaFreniere earned 9 kills over the weekend. her four years with the team. “It was bittersweet being the only senior playing in the game [for MCLA], but the girls were super supportive, and it was humbling to have them do so much for me,” Sestito said. “The day exceeded my expectations.” A giant banner honoring Sestito on senior day could not be missed along the back wall of the gym; along with
her parents and the fatheads of their daughter dancing court side. In the second game, the Trailblazers picked up right where they left off, taking the Blue Jays in straight sets: 2516, 25-19, and 25-16. Sestito was again a major factor providing 32 assists along with 4 kills. Moczulski continued her strong play against the Blue
Jays recording 8 kills while Scattergood and Schlaefer each grabbed 7 of their own. Moczulski was honored for the seventh week in a row as the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Rookie of the Week. This makes her the recipient for every week, excluding the first week, of the fall 2019 season. With 218 kills just this season, Moczulski is currently tied for second place in the league for total kills, third for kills per set, tenth for total digs, and third in serving aces per set. The Trailblazers have made themselves into a formidable opponent and despite last week’s loss to Framingham State University in 5 sets, they find themselves with a record of 3-2 in conference play and 15-8 overall. MCLA will travel to Plymouth State University Saturday, Oct. 26, for a doubleheader against Castleton University at 2 p.m. and Plymouth State at 4 p.m.
Westfield New England Incomplete Records Oct. 19 Isaac Sibley - 34:14 (145th) Theodore Jones - 36:25 (161st)
Next: @ MASCAC Championships Nov. 2
Men’s Soccer MCLA (1), Westfield State (2) Oct. 18 1st - 32:46 - Paul Soucy (Westfield St.) 2nd - 48:23 - Ryan Morais (Westfield St.) 2nd - 51:25 - Issa Jalloh (MCLA)
MCLA — Keene State (Wed.) Oct. 23 Next: vs. Mass Maritime Oct. 25, 6:00 p.m. vs. Pine Manor Oct. 29, 6:00 p.m.
Women’s Soccer MCLA (0), Westfield State (8) Oct. 19 Megan Richardson - 14 saves (MCLA)
MCLA (0), Hartwick (3) Oct. 22 Megan Richardson - 8 saves (MCLA)
Next: @ Mass Maritime Oct. 26, 1:00 p.m. @ Utica Oct. 30, 7:00 p.m.
Women’s Volleyball MCLA (3), Salem State (0) MCLA (3), St. Joseph’s (Conn.) (0) Oct. 19 MCLA — Worcester State (Wed.) Oct. 23 Next: vs. Castleton @ Plymouth State Oct. 26, 2:00 p.m.
@ Plymouth State Oct. 26, 4:00 p.m. vs. SUNY Cobleskill Oct. 29, 6:00 p.m.
Opinion
TheOnlineBeacon.com
10
Technology Dependency Controls Our Lives Will someone born in 2019 ever use a physical map to navigate the best driving route from New York City to a small town in Massachusetts? Will they be able to memorize a phone number other than their own? Will they grow up to be smarter because their mind is no longer cluttered with mundane facts and the processes that technology is now able to do for us? Conclusive studies have not occurred yet to determine answers to these questions, but people are beginning to see how spending every waking moment within reach of Internet-connected devices is affecting our lives. Years before, we as a society never had a technology that we use so intensively, and for so many different things, as phones and tablets nowadays. The most complicated part of picking up a cell phone was finding a fast yet steady rhythm to dialing on a rotary phone. Our brains are now kept in a constant state of overload, always distracted by new bits of information that is easily accessible at the tips of our fingers. It’s human nature to want to take it all in. In earlier civilizations, knowing everything that was going on in the environment was essential to human survival. Now, constant connection to the Internet via smartphones and laptops has changed long-established rhythms of human thinking. There used to be times when we were socializing and learning from the people and the world around us and times when we were alone with our thoughts. However, we’ve placed such an importance on technology early on that we become so technologically dependent (and subsequently, technologically savvy) that children as young as three are using it for learning and educational purposes (along with gaming). As one gets older, the
reasons change from merely educational and pleasure to social, academic and professional uses. As a result, we now struggle to develop thought processes like contemplative thought, reflective thought and introspective thought. It becomes very hard to translate information into rich, highly connected memories that ultimately make us intelligent. As phones became multi-functional, our digital devices turned into memory partners — we’re able to make room for new information in our brains when we store and access other information digitally. However, too much “digital offloading” can lead to us missing out on the mental connections that make us more creative and intelligent, preventing us from developing the same sort of expertise as we would otherwise. A study published in Nature Communications in 2017 found that certain parts of the brain actually switch off or become less active when drivers used GPS to navigate the streets of London compared to those who relied on memory. Essentially, using a GPS navigation system to get to your destination “switches off” parts of the brain that would otherwise be used to simulate different routes. The dependency on our cell phones also comes from the mobile phone industry itself. In the late 90s, companies like Ericsson, Palm, and Nokia worked on developing a more multi-functional cell phone, a smartphone, so that consumers could have “everything under the sun” in one device (instead of the traditional two devices people grew accustomed to, cell phone and personal digital assistant, or PDA). RIM’s Blackberry became the smartphone that everyone wanted at the turn of the millennium, even taking on the unofficial name of “Crackberry.” Of course, Apple stepped in a few years after and completely changed the industry. The iPhone was a rev-
TESSA SESTITO NOT FOR THE BETTER olutionary product that not only broke the mold but also set an entirely new paradigm for computer-based phones. Today’s technically advanced cell phones are capable of not only receiving and placing phone calls, but storing data, taking pictures, and can even be used to track your health and wellness to name just a few of the available options. As the capacity and capability of our phones increased, so did their attractiveness and our subsequent dependency on them. Since then, companies like Google and Samsung have been competing with Apple on the continuous releases of new and improved smartphones that not only increase in price but have decreased in reliability and durability. Granted, early developments of such high-tech smartphones in the early 2000s had to sacrifice some features consumers were used to like battery life that could last for days on end. But other areas, like a phone’s durability and longevity, were purposefully weakened so that consumers would have to buy new phones more frequently. Now our digital devices, the lives we put in the palm of our hand, are dependent on the manufacturers.
Hardware in smartphones should be designed to last for a higher number of years, and software should also remain valid for at least three years, with the inclusion of patches for bugs and security issues. Currently, it’s far too easy for manufacturers to pass on updates to the underlying operating system. For example, Google’s development of Android is streaking ahead, with Android 5.1 being worked on and bug fixes for Android 5.2 already in place. Yet for the majority of people on older cell phone models, the chances of even Android 5.0 arriving in the near future is slim. Even Google has noted that security updates to older versions of Android are being stopped. Apple, for instance, has similar issues. As the company began producing iPhone 5, iPhone 6, etc., the iOS versions and updates understandably increased as well. When the iPhone 6 was released with its iOS counterpart, the iOS was able to run on hardware reaching back to iPhone 4S. However, the advances in hardware meant that the chipset and technical specifications of the iPhone 4S running iOS 8 is hobbled at best and crippled at worst. This led to the perpetual mentality that we’re still trapped in today: time to update if you want to make the best use of the latest software. Consumers either forced to continuous buy the latest smartphone, whether they want to or not because eventually, their phone will become outdated and obsolete. This never-ending cycle of buying new electronic devices, whether phones, laptops, tablets, etc., allows our dependence on technology to continue to the point of obsession. Resisting the appeal of newer devices is difficult on its own, but making it so that we cannot live without technology that is more than a year or two old—now that’s just unfair.
Why We Need the Second Amendment The importance of protecting the Second Amendment is crucial to the Constitution and civilian life; not just for protection against others, but to also protect ourselves from government tyranny. However, I am the first to admit that gun background checks are still far from perfect and this has led to problems. The Second amendment states “A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” The right to bear arms is a person’s right to possess firearms for their own personal defense. The Second amendment brings forth strong opinions, and is often misunderstood. Not only is this right for personal protection, but to also protect the country against a government mistreating the people. It was created because of our colonial past under England’s rule. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), in 2017 there were 39,773 deaths due to gun violence. About 60% of these incidents are suicides, but it also includes murders
NATHAN BIRON DON’T JUDGE ME and other gun-related deaths. I believe that the number of these deaths can be reduced if we had a more rigorous process for allowing people who could qualify to own a firearm. The selection process in the United States for one to carry firearms has been drastically abused for many years because some states do not require background checks while it is required in other states. Not having background checks lead to the wrong
people owning guns which in turn cause more violence. As a hunter and strong supporter in the Second Amendment, I believe the importance of background checks is crucial to getting guns out of the wrong hands. In Massachusetts, everyone must go to their local police station and answer questions from the chief of police before even being considered to own a license to carry (LTC). Personal and safety questions continue into the gun store which include any mental health issues, felonies and other crimes. Anyone with any felonies or serious misdemeanor charges will not be able to own firearms in Massachusetts. Plus, any diagnosis of mental illness will prevent the sale and ownership of a firearm. Even with all these steps, some people slip through the cracks. One of the major problems that prevents the government from stopping gun violence is easy access gun shows across the country. At these gun shows, private sellers arrive to sell their own guns to potential customers. The problem is background checks are not performed at these events. Since
they are private sellers, they do not have to to look into someone’s past, which is a huge problem. With the gray areas in gun shows, there is also the issue of what mental health is and what is classified as mental illness issue. I believe only professional medical diagnoses should be used to determine mental fitness. The system needs to stay this strict if we, the people, want our daily lives to be safer. Not having the Second Amendment will also abolish hunting and the ability to survive on your own. As a hunter, the thought of not being able to put food on the table of your family is a tough thing to think about. Hunting has been key in human survival all throughout time. If the world collapses, people will have no means of getting food in the wilderness. Having the Second Amendment is very important to a successful country and personal protection. This fear of not being able to defend yourself when in danger is a frightening thought. Owning an LTC will surely limit the chances of one being a victim of a crime or assault.
Opinion
Oct. 24, 2019
TheOnlineBeacon.com
11
Editorial
Students Need Connectivity Wi-Fi and cellular connections are too important in today’s society. We have placed an emphasis on it for not only social purposes, but academic as well. A student can possibly operate on a modern campus without one, but without both makes it nearly impossible. Whether it’s a paper that needs to be typed, not written, or a group presentation, technology is woven into our everyday lives as students. Students on campus are now having to face this dilemma with not only the Wi-Fi connectivity issues around campus, but also the cellular reception. At the beginning of the semester, the College announced the major improvements made to campus, including improvements made to the Wi-Fi and a Verizon cell tower that would be up and running shortly thereafter. However, so far both “improvements” have fallen short. The Verizon cell tower has yet to be online, offering little help to anyone on campus who uses the company as their cellular provider, but Verizon users are not the only ones experiencing poor cellular reception. Within a day, one can easily have a signal on one end of the classroom and yet no service or Wi-Fi on the other end. Or even in a single location, Wi-Fi and cellular reception can simply switch from a strong signal to weak within seconds. In 2019, we expect the modern conveniences of reli-
able network connectivity and reception, especially when it is announced by the College as something that is improved and should be looked forward to. There have not been any announcements made thus far by the College regarding the Wi-Fi connectivity issues (although the College might not be aware of how widespread these are) or the installation and subsequent usage of the cell tower that is expected. Without Wi-Fi or cellular reception, electronic devices are rendered almost useless. Students could accomplish work on the school computers, available in the library and various computer labs on campus, but those options aren’t helpful when writing a last-minute paper that needs to be submitted to Canvas, or printed out and turned in. There is a solution that would still allow students access to the internet—the Ethernet ports that are available in dorm rooms and other buildings on campus. Granted, it’s not the best option, nor the most convenient, but it’s an option. All of these buildings are hardwired for internet, so why not use it? Students would have to go out and buy an Ethernet cable and possibly an Ethernet/USB adapter. Regardless of the alternatives, the fact of the matter is that students were lead to believe that Wi-Fi and cellular reception (for Verizon users) would improve throughout campus. This has not been the case.
‘The Great Depresh’ is the Comedy We’ve Been Needing
JAKE VITALI A SLICE OF AMERICANA Gary Gullman’s new stand-up comedy special goes beyond just providing a quick laugh—it’s a surprisingly honest and beautiful conversation about mental health. At a time when our understanding of mental health and depression is improving but still not where it should be, Gulman is a welcome force for breaking stigma and allowing others, especially other men, to come forward with their own stories. He’s an accomplished comedian with a knack for hooking audiences on just about anything. After all, Gulman’s signature routine is one where he recounts a (made up) documentary of how all 50 states got their two letter abbreviations. “The Great Depresh” sees Gulman maintain the same formula that has got him this far. This time he closely examines himself through stories of how he was a sensitive boy in childhood, to observations on millennial culture and why he appreciates it more so than the culture surrounding Generation X. A self-proclaimed proponent of participation trophies, Gulman’s emphasis on being kind to one another and not tolerating bullying as his parent’s generation did is refreshing to see. When many stand up specials are released bashing millennials and comics longing for the good old days, seeing somebody
who doesn’t feel the need to conform to society’s standards of masculinity is a welcome change of pace. “The Great Depresh” was born out of a two-year hiatus from performing during which Gullman battled crippling depression so bad that he moved back to his hometown and slept in his childhood bedroom in Peabody, Mass. His life was in complete ruins, he couldn’t work and he couldn’t perform. By Gullman’s own admission, he took a camp counselor job in nearby Beverly Mass. because he assumed that he would never be able to return to performing. Gullman admits in the special that for the formative years of his life, mental health wasn’t taken seriously. “The only antidepressant that we had access to in the 1970’s and 80’s was ‘snap out of it’ and ‘what have you got to be depressed about?’” Gulman joked. As Gulman battled his ‘downward spiral’ he was admitted to a New York City area mental hospital where he spent three weeks for treatment resistant depression. As he tells the stories from his time at the hospital, we get the biggest laughs from the special, but we also get the most insight into his condition and just how badly he was suffering. Unable to string together a cohesive thought and having exhausted other options like medication, Gulman began receiving electroconvulsive therapy. While the name sounds terrifying, even more so than its predecessor electroshock therapy, it did provide him the relief that he needed within three treatments. No longer afraid to talk about needing treatment, Gulman also offers some powerful punchlines talking about his relationship with medication, which he still takes for his condition. Interspersed throughout the special are moments with Gulman and the people who, in essence, saved his life. In one powerful scene, his mother Barbara she discusses how her son was a happy child and always laughing. Barbara shares that she could have never seen her son’s issues forming while the
scene is juxtaposed with Gulman revisiting his second grade story “The Lonely Tree” about a tree who was bullied. Throughout his life, Gullman was a sensitive person who was constantly in a position of having to act tougher than he really was. He played high school football and got a scholarship to play at Boston College. But he was miserable every second of the way. In a powerful scene with comedian peer Robert Kelly, the pair discusses how they viewed misery to be a necessary component of their comedy. Kelly expresses that when things went exactly as planned, it didn’t feel appropriate and expressed the fear that different things which could make him happy like being married and having a family would make him less funny. In essence, Kelly and Gulman felt that comedy and misery went hand in hand with one another. These ideas, of course, are not exclusive to Kelly or Gulman. Comedians have been known to experience mental health conditions throughout history. Richard Pryor, Robin Williams, Ellen DeGeneres, and Sarah Silverman all spoke about having experienced a mental health condition and the Laugh Factory, a famous comedy club in Los Angeles, features an in-house psychologist. Out of his pain comes a stand-up special that is not only gut-wrenchingly funny, but important and informative to watch. It’s the kind of force for good that allows people to come forward and talk about their own experiences, which Gulman has stated in multiple interviews has been the reaction to his special. Gulman’s ability to speak on the issue in an honest way that takes aim at himself allows the viewer to connect with him. His humor is self-deprecating at times but it also provides you with the sense that he is healing as he is on stage. Thankfully, Gulman was able to get the help that he needed and allowed himself to share this with the world. Now, we just need more voices willing to take this humanizing approach.
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Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief Tessa Sestito
Managing Editor Corey Mitchell-Labrie
Senior News Editor Nathan Biron
A & E Editor Jennifer VanBramer
Features Editor Maya McFadden
Editor-at-Large Jake Vitali
BWN Executive Producer Julia Teixeira
Staff Staff Writers Natalia Giacomozzi Taylor Scarver
Brian Rhodes Hans Resignac
Features Writer
A&E Writer
Lise Mansaray
Sabrina Damms
Sports Writer John Morrisey
BWN Reporters Symantha Kehr Jabari Shakir
Robert Wehry Rosedolphe Ambroise
Advisers Shawn McIntosh Jim Niedbalski
Oct. 24, 2019
Autumn Colors Set Campus Ablaze
Photos by Nicholas Webb
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