TheOnlineBeacon.com
Thursday, February 28, 2019
Volume 88 • Issue 1
Mohawk Theater Proposal Delayed
At urging of Barrett, councilors, RFP debate referred to committee BY JAKE VITALI EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
PHOTO BY JAKE VITALI
State Representative John Barrett III came to the city council meeting on Tuesday night to express that he would like to see the council refer the mayor’s proposal to issue a Request for Proposals on the Mohawk Theater to committee.
Back to the Table
Faculty union enters latest round of contract negotiations BY JAKE VITALI EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Two months into 2019, faculty and librarians represented through Massachusetts State College Association (MSCA) remain without a funded Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). On Feb. 20, MSCA’s board of directors, which is formed by chapter presidents and directors, met with the Council of Presidents (COP), a committee consisting of the nine state college system presidents, to begin bargaining. The core of the issue at play is course equivalencies, which Graziana Ramsden, professor of modern languages and MCLA MSCA chapter president, describes as payment for high impact practices. “One of the things that we asked at bargaining last year was for colleagues who teach labs, or those ‘high impact practices’ that we call, for example, independent study, practica for education, radio practicum, to be paid on a one-to-one scale,” Ramsden said. According to Section XII of the current CBA, these modes of instruction, which are one credit hour in theory, are not paid as such and vary depending on the practice. Faculty members currently receive
0.17 credit hours for every one student in Cooperative Education, one credit hour for up to three students in fieldwork supervision and internships, 0.25 credit hours for one student in Independent and Directed Study, one credit hour for up to two students under Student Teaching Supervision, 0.5 credit hours for one student in Honors Thesis Supervision, and one credit for one student in Graduate Thesis Supervision. “We want faculty to be paid fairly for the work that we do,” Ramsden said, highlighting that doing so provides an incentive for faculty members to take on the additional workload. The return to bargaining was first requested by the COP after the state comptroller’s office estimated that the contract was approximately $7.5 million above MSCA’s and COP’s estimations. The Framingham State University student newspaper, The Gatepost, reported earlier this month that the Board of Higher Education (BHE) was only authorized a 2 percent labor increase per contract. Bargainers interpreted this as a 2 percent salary increase, which was granted in the new CBA. Due to the project cost of the contract, the state’s refusal to fund it, and what
CONTRACT, Page 4
North Adams City Council voted 6-3 Tuesday to refer the mayor’s request to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Mohawk Theater on Main Street to the Community Development committee. State Rep. John Barrett III spoke during the Hearing of Visitors section at the beginning of the meeting on the vote to grant Mayor Tom Bernard permission to move forward with the RFP. Barrett urged the council to send the decision to Community Development before making a final decision, pointing to work that was done on the theater during his administration. “There was a plan in place, they say there’s no plans,” Barrett said. “The restoration of the marquee happened, I believe, the same weekend we opened Mass MoCA to the city. We proved to the people of the city that we were building our future, not our past.”
Barrett commented on the work done at Western Gateway Heritage State Park while he was in office, and pointed out that he continued with the work started during Richard Lamb’s administration. “It’s like me saying that we’ll stop the building of the Heritage Park when I came into office because the Lamb administration started it; that didn’t happen, we built upon it and we learned from it,” Barrett said. “I want to see that marquee lit up again,” said Barrett, who was mayor during the sign’s first restoration project. While Barrett laid out a hopeful vision of the theater, Building Inspector William Meranti presented a different vision. “In general, the building has been, for lack of a better term, mothballed,” Meranti said. Meranti pointed toward a new roof that was put over the marquee last year because of rain making its way
MOHAWK, Page 4
Winds Reach 70 mph
PHOTO BY KENNY OLCHOWSKI
Students held onto their hats and clenched tight to loose belongings Monday as strong wind gusts swept through campus and northern Berkshire County. The strong winds approached the hurricane status of 74 mph and brought down powerlines, trees, billboards and even people. In addition, there were multiple power outages reported throughout the county, prompting school closures. See story, page 4.
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SGA
APRs, Budget Meetings, and Community Outreach BY COREY MITCHELL-LABRIE SENIOR NEWS EDITOR
At the Student Government Association’s (SGA) Monday meeting, SGA President Declan Nolan ’19 announced the resignation of Sen. Amanda Botelho ’20 through email communication. Nolan also discussed SGA’s meeting with President Birge last Thursday regarding APR removals and their effect on faculty and student programs. “So we tried to get the president to agree to have, to create a committee where academic affairs talks to students before making big decisions like this,” Nolan said. According to Nolan, Birge was supposed to message an update to Nolan earlier this week, but no such contact was made. “Half of the professors I was supposed to talk to about this told me that they didn’t want student government to get involved in this issue, that
it was strictly a faculty issue that they were dealing with,” Coordinating Vice President Dean Little ‘21 said. Several members continued to express concern over the matter, and it was ultimately agreed that SGA would be approaching the problem in as careful a strategic manner as possible. “The way that I would imagine that, is having a committee with Vice President Williams, possibly Dean Foss, and just talking with students about the decisions that they’re making,” Nolan said. SGA Budget Finance Committee (BFC) stated that the amount of money to be given out to clubs would be less than what had been given in previous years. With nine student clubs already late with their budget proposals and the deadline for club budgets already passed, SGA looks on with trepidation to the semester ahead. These student clubs include Gaming Alliance, Arts
Management Club, Film Club and the Cape Veridian Student Alliance. SGA Budget Finance Committee (BFC) began one-on-one meetings with clubs Wednesday, Feb. 20; though as of Monday, very few clubs had actually signed up. Without these meetings, the BFC will base club budgets solely on spreadsheets received. Clubs have until March 13 to book a meeting with BFC. “As a committee, we’re evaluating all options of what we can do moving forward, how much we can take from the reserve account, how long that would be able to last,” Little said Sen. Andrew Baillargeon ’19 heavily advocated the use of SGA’s reserve account to fund club budgets. As a result, Baillargeon faced pushback from Little since the proposed resolution would only provide a short-term solution to the problem. Baillargeon furthered his argument by stating that dipping
into the reserve budget would help SGA rapport among clubs and the College community. “Nobody comes to our meetings except for budgets and that special occurrence with radio practicum a while back,” Baillargeon said. “So people already really don’t like us.” Plans for SGA outreach was also brought up in the meeting. Citing the “Whine and Cheese” and “Free Late Nite” events in the fall, one suggestion for this semester was a milkshake bar. “It did give us a lot of information to work with, mostly that people didn’t really know who we were, what we did and that we were SAC,” Little said. Moving forward, SGA hopes to reunite itself with students on campus as their next round of elections approaches. The Student Government Association meets in Murdock 218 Mondays at 7 p.m.
Green Living Sparks Interest In City Communities
BY NATHAN BIRON STAFF WRITER
MCLA’s Green Living Seminar hosted Lydia Sisson, who showed the community how to make change within their own lives and how to improve city communities with fresh food and new opportunities. Sisson, founding co-director of Mill City Grows, shared her company’s ideas and future plans to make Lowell, Massachusetts, and the surrounding cities healthier. “As soon as I left college, I knew farming is something I wanted to do and participate in and I knew that was going to be my tool of change,” Sisson said. Mill City Grows was founded in 2011 by Sisson and Francey Slater, founding co-director. Their model for success is based on three main factors: grassroots organizing, practical education, and ability to form strategic partnerships that ensure success for the future. Since its beginnings, the company has added seven new community gardens throughout the greater Lowell area, with 199 garden plots, serving over 400 people. Within those community gardens, Sisson has created a “Mobile Market” system where food is brought to con-
sumers as another way to get fresh food to everyone in the area. This, in turn, removes a burden from those who otherwise would not be able to make it to the store. “It’s a farm stand on wheels where we go all over the city to distribute our food at affordable prices,” Sisson said. “Some of our main stops include hospitals, health centers and senior centers.” The Mobile Market only operates from June through October, while the indoor store located in Lowell runs all year. “Everyone has food history,” says Sisson. “There are tons and tons of people passing by everyday wanting to discuss food with us. When we brought the food closer to the people, it gets people talking on that subject and things start to move much more quickly in the community.” The company’s statement, “growing a healthy community through urban food production and food access in Lowell,” demonstrates the commitment the owners have for providing help to local communities by any means possible. “I would like to see a garden in all parts of the city by our 10-year anniversary,” Sisson continued. “We’re not really ever thinking that urban farms will grow enough food for
PHOTO BY NATHAN BIRON
Lydia Sisson, co-founder of Mill City Grows, discussisng progress towards food production in the Lowell area. people to eat, but what we are thinking is that the closer the food is to people, the more curious and engaged people are going to be about food.” Since the drug epidemic is not slowing down, Sisson wants to use the resources she has to try and change people’s
lives by “prescribing food as medicine” and promoting a healthier lifestyle. With the recent Market Garden Program starting, Sisson wants to let families and others know that, in order to create a better living environment, the goal is “to increase communi-
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ty access to healthy, fresh food through the development of urban food production and distribution networks.” To find out more about Mill City Grows and their efforts, check out their Facebook page or contact Lydia Sisson at lydia@millcitygrows.org.
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‘Inspiring the Future’ Dinner Brings People of Color Together BY COREY MITCHELL-LABRIE SENIOR NEWS EDITOR The Women of Color and Men of Color Initiatives hosted the “Inspiring the Future” dinner Feb. 21 at the Church Street Social Hall, offering MCLA community members the opportunity to celebrate people of color and inspire culture and outreach in the larger world. “Too often we [people of color] are told, outside, that we don’t do academics, that’s not for us. They’ll give us a ball, they’ll let us sing, they’ll let us dance,” Chief Diversity Officer Christopher MacDonald-Dennis said. “But they don’t often know that we are brilliant.” The dinner had notable attendees: President Birge; Michael Obasohan, assistant director of diversity programs and Multicultural Education Center; Celia Norcross, assistant dean of students; and Theresa M. O’Bryant, dean of student success and engagement. “We know it’s not easy being here in North Adams, in rural Berkshire county,” MacDonald-Dennis said. “We don’t often see each other, we feel isolated. We wonder, ‘Did I really make the right decision to come
here?’ and this is a place to say, ‘Yes, we did.’” Shirley Edgerton, former MCLA trustee and Master of Education recipient, was invited to speak at the dinner about the considerable contributions black icons have accomplished in the world. “Your presence here at MCLA is a testimony to your brilliance and creativity,” Edgerton said. “We stand upon the shoulders of greatness, from your biological family members to those brave, intelligent and determined geniuses who opened doors for each of us. So we can go where no man or women has gone before.” “I believe armed with education, the wise words of your mentors and the experience that’s being provided by this institution and other higher education institutions — this generation is equipped to further the mission, ‘to eliminate inequities,’” Edgerton continued. The food for the night featured a distinct Creole theme with a wide range of options for various palate preferences. Entertainment was provided by the Allegrettos Gospel Choir, along with a special performance by several students from the Men of Color Initiative.
PHOTO BY COREY MITCHELL-LABRIE
Shirley Edgerton, former MCLA trustee and Master of Education recipient, spoke at the “Inspiring the Future” dinner.
MCLA Literary Series takes over Gallery 51 BY COREY MITCHELL-LABRIE SENIOR NEWS EDITOR MCLA has seen an impressive lineup of speakers and readers on campus, and this spring semester, Anna Maria Hong and Julianna Spallholz are joining that list. The two women came to North Adams as part of MCLA’s Literary Reading Series that took place Feb. 26 at Gallery 51. The reading was put together with the help of MCLA’s English/communications department, and prominently by professor Zack Finch, who also attended. “One of the ideas of this reading was that we had the suspicion that we are surrounded by writers,” Finch said. “To the south was Juliana, to the north was Anna Maria, and so we just thought we would declare North Adams to kind of an open city.” “I was so excited to read with Anna Maria, again as it turns out, for the first time in about 12 years. We met, as it turns out, in Seattle a while ago,” Spallholz said. Spallholz read one of her short stories entitled “Sermon,” published in “Fourteen Hills,” a literary journal at San Francisco State University. “Sermon” speaks to the experiences of a young girl and her love and obsession with a manipulative cult
leader. Her book of prose, “The State of Kansas,” was published by GenPop in 2012. “I didn’t know you guys [MCLA] did a reading series here,” Spalloz said. “I knew that Zach was around but I’d never met him in person. I got an email from him inviting me to this reading.” The event was open to the public, with books from both speakers available for purchase at the entrance. Students who wanted to go to the reading were provided a shuttle from campus. “We wanted to convene downtown, get students onto Main Street,” Finch said. “And Gallery 51 is this College-owned space that’s very beautiful. and there’s art on the walls and we like to sort of situate creative writing within the landscape of visual art.” Spallholz, an author of short stories, was a former editor for Tarpaulin Sky Press based in Grafton, Vermont. Currently, she works as a professor of English at Berkshire Community College. “I think North Adams is very exciting. It has such cool downtown things going on, and gallery spaces. An ‘Arts Forward’ kind of town,” Spallholz said enthusiastically. Hong read poems from her first book, “Age of Glass”; the namesake poem from the
PHOTO BY COREY MITCHELL-LABRIE
Julianna Spalloz (left) and Anna Maria Hong (right), were the two readers at the Literary Reading Series at Gallery 51. forthcoming “Fablesque”; and from her novella, “H&G,” a “post-post-modern” reimagination of the classic “Hansel and Gretel,” retelling the tale with “G’s” powerfully resilient survival of childhood trauma. “There are opportunities for us as authors of color to invest more, and as women as feminists,” Hong said. “You can push against a sort of patriarchal canvas, and the very European can-
vas, by investing more of your own story in there.” Hong is a literary faculty member at Bennington College, as well as a member of the Belladonna* Collaborative board of directors, an organization that promotes feminism and women writers. She has won several awards including the “A Room of Her Own Foundation Clarissa Dalloway Prize” and the “Tupelo Press Berkshire Prize.”
“I had heard of the event in my novella writing class and my poetry workshop,” August Stowers ‘19 said. “I thought it was a really great event, the two readers were very enthusiastic.” “I thought it was great,” Finch said. “I thought it was a real evening where people got to hear two different writers, got to hear a couple nice introductions, a really wonderful opportunity to listen closely to these two writers.”
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Strong Winds Roll Through Campus SimpsonScarborough to College Branding Strategy
BY JAKE VITALI EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Students held onto their hats and clenched tight to loose belongings Monday as strong wind gusts swept through campus and northern Berkshire County. Power lines were down and outages were reported. Throughout New York and Western Massachusetts there were an estimated 40,000 National Grid customers without power. Winds reached 69 mph in Adams according to the National Weather Service. The National Weather Service considers hur-
ricane status winds at 74 mph. In an article from the Berkshire Eagle, it was reported that two people were knocked off their feet and sent to Berkshire Medical Center where they were treated with minor injuries. IBerkshires reported that on Tuesday several trees were down in Williamstown, including along Route 2 where Massachusetts meets New York. Mount Greylock Regional School in Williamstown closed at 1:15 p.m. on Monday due to a power outage and remains closed at press time, although power has since been restored to the building.
MOHAWK From Page 1
inside, while the theater’s main body is bare bones. “The theater itself is essentially gutted back to the studs and the brick, all the systems are removed,” said Meranti, speaking of the building’s heating system. Meranti went on to add that minimal life safety systems are in place, including installed fire alarms and light-up exit signs. While a new roof was put above the marquee last year, the roof over the main body was installed close to a decade ago. “I think the roof that was done on the main body of the building is reaching its life expectancy now or if not beyond,” Meranti said. Barrett stepped in and said that the roof had a 10year guarantee. “I don’t want to argue with you, but you’re wrong,” Meranti countered. According to Bernard, there have been at least five studies since 1998 on what the theater could be used
Hold Two Town Hall Events BY JAKE VITALI EDITOR-IN-CHIEF On March 6 and 7 SimpsonScarborough will offer two Town Hall events designed to teach faculty and staff about the College’s new branding and how it can be implemented in different departments and projects. In an email sent to faculty and staff by Bernadette Alden, director of marketing and communications, Alden said that the marketing firm received nearly 3,000 responses to their research surveys.
In the same email, Alden wrote “SimpsonScarborough developed a brand strategy to help us increase awareness, reputation, and preference for MCLA, and to align the institution for a stronger future. Based on the brand strategy, two creative concepts were developed to frame and unify MCLA’s storytelling through a combination of messaging, tone, and graphic design.” The surveys helped create a creative concept that is already being implemented in various posters and handouts the College provides.
for and how much it would cost. Bernard added that he had been a part of some of the studies that were conducted prior to becoming mayor. “I absolutely agree with the premise that the Mohawk can be an anchor for the downtown and for the community and I think the time is right, as I said the last time, to see if there is a private interest prepared to act on that,” Bernard said. Councilor Paul Hopkins asked Bernard if he would be willing to offer the city council say in the RFP process. Bernard promised to report back to the council, but added that the RFP process is one that his office has final say over. “I’m not going to the terms and conditions of a Purchase and Sale Agreement that doesn’t exist because it is a next step to an RFP that hasn’t been issued,” Bernard said. The council voted 6-3 to refer the proposed RFP to committee: councilors Rebecca Cohen, Joshua Moran, and Wayne Wilkinson voting ‘no’; and Benjamin Lamb, Paul Hopkins, Jason LaForest, Marie Harpin, Eric Buddington and Keith Bona voting ‘yes.’ The committee is hoping to meet before the coun-
cil’s next meeting, March 13, or another delay may occur before a vote is taken on whether the mayor will be allowed to move forward with the process. The mayor first announced his intent to issue an RFP for the vacant theater during his State of the City speech in January. In addition to the Mohawk Theater debate, Tuesday’s meeting saw Jason Wood sworn in as a permanent police lieutenant, after previously serving as an acting lieutenant. Many members of the city’s police department were present to welcome him to the force in his new capacity. During the open forum portion of the meeting, Councilor Rebecca Cohen expressed a desire to allow public comment on agenda items once again, after Robert Smith and Robert Cardimino again voiced their displeasure with the new rules. Councilor Jason LaForest joined Cohen in expressing a desire to see public comment return, citing the near-capacity gallery there for the Mohawk Theater discussion. North Adams City Council meets the second and fourth Tuesday of every month at 7:30 p.m. in City Hall at 10 Main St.
CONTRACT From Page 1
“The funniest night you will ever have at the ballet.” — The Sunday Times
LES BALLETS TROCKADERO de MONTE CARLO CO-PRESENTED with JACOB’S PILLOW
Saturday, March 2, 8pm HUNTER CENTER | $20 STUDENTS | $40 ADVANCE $55 DAY OF | $75 PREFERRED This program is supported in part by the Irene Hunter Fund for Dance at MASS MoCA in association with Jacob’s Pillow.
MUSEUM HOURS: 11am–5pm, closed Tuesdays | North Adams, Mass. | massmoca.org
Ramsden believes is an overestimation by the comptroller’s office, it was not ratified. “This cost estimation has thrown everything off and it has taken forever to find a way to find some numbers to make the numbers be realistic as opposed to this overestimated quote made by an office that does have anything to do with the state universities, our local, or general budget,” Ramsden said. The return to negotiation will see MSCA and the COP reviewing the math to find where it went wrong in the calculations. Although those ‘high impact practices’ that are not currently paid on a one-to-one ratio will not disappear, there remains the chance they could revert to being paid based on the current breakdown. For Ramsden, the concern is on the contract being a larger indictment about funding for state colleges. “This is a time of austerity, this is a time when public education is under attack, and my sense is that public education at the level that we do it in Massachusetts is secondary,” Ramsden said, pointing to the decrease in funding received from the state government.
CORRECTIONS
The Town Hall events will take place in Murdock Hall room 218. The one on March 6 will take place 3 to 4 p.m. and the March 7 Town Hall will take place 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. These events were originally supposed to be held in February but had to be postponed due to weather concerns. SimpsonScarborough’s branding efforts were guided by a committee consisting of members of the campus community. People interested in attending should contact Bernadette Alden on Office 365. for more information.
While negotiations continue, Ramsden is concerned that the supposed misestimation will leave other items bargained for on the table, including raises that the union was promised. “I don’t want to lose anything that we have bargained, just because somebody did an overestimated calculation that we have tried repeatedly to show it’s way too much, this is not what we are, this is not what we have estimated that the cost is,” Ramsden said. The tentative agreement that was agreed to in April 2018 was ratified in June 2018 and signed by Massachusetts Higher Education Commissioner Carlos Santiago in July. However, the agreement was submitted to the governor for funding approximately four months after the Aug. 15 deadline, and as The Beacon reported in October, a grievance was filed against the COP and faculty members returned to work-to-rule. With another bargaining session scheduled, faculty and librarians will continue showing up to work in hopes that a deal is finalized and funded soon. The Beacon attempted to contact President Birge for comment, but was informed by his Executive Assistant Lisa Lescarbeau that “President Birge will not comment during active negotiations.”
In last week’s issue of the Beacon, the story Students Express Concern for Future of Minor, Lily Ulfelder and Natalie Hughes’ graduation years were switched. In addition, the article did not properly contextualize the final quotes in the story, making it seem that a meeting in which students did not feel much was explained about the WGSS minor was held by Dr. Castro, when in fact the meeting was held by V.P. Williams. The Beacon apologizes for the error.
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MCLA Trailblazing a New Path to the Clark JOHN MORRISSEY STAFF WRITER The Clark Art Institute is set to unveil its Clark Trailblazers program this fall, giving MCLA students further incentive to frequent the museum beyond its currently free admission. The Clark Trailblazers will create a rewards program for those students who attend the museum on a regular basis. This program was first unveiled five years ago to Williams College students and has successfully attracted more students to attend the museum while rewarding them for taking time to view what the Clark has to offer. “There have been positive influences with Williams College students and their Clark Cows program, which have resulted in greater numbers [of students] coming through the museum,” said Caedy Shultz-Loomis, membership director of the Clark. “We are still working out the exact details in terms of all the benefits we will have for the Clark Trailblazers, but I do know it will utilize a punch card with giveaways when we start it in the fall.” To celebrate the addition of the MCLA community to the internship program, the Clark held a Student Gallery Opening Saturday, Feb. 16, for “Turner and Constable: The Inhabited Landscape,” hosted by MCLA student
PHOTO BY JOHN MORRISSEY
Commonly known as “the Clark”, The Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute’s collection mainly consists of European and American paintings, sculpture, prints, drawings, photographs and decorative arts from the fourteenth to the early twentieth century. Luke O’Brien ’19. “This was a special occasion for the students to check out the exhibit firsthand and feel the experience of an upscale activity,” O’Brien said. Students from both MCLA and Williams College attended the private event which featured several speakers, a jazz
band and a private curator for attendees. “I work in the advancement department at the Clark and my job has primarily been to work on developing a membership program [Trailblazers] for MCLA students, so it was a very nice pleasant evening with a nice ambiance throughout the whole thing,” O’Brien
said when speaking about the event. In addition to the Clark Trailblazers, the Clark also invited MCLA students to the Rodgers Internship Program this year, which was previously exclusive to Williams College students. David Rodgers, Williams College alumni and founder of the internship program, opened the internship to MCLA students this past fall. The first MCLA students selected for this internship are O’Brien and Danielle Prestogomo ’19. Prestogomo, who works in the Clark’s education department, is responsible for a variety of tasks, including preparing materials for an event and emailing newsletters to local schools about the Clark’s free family programming. “My favorite part of this job is that it’s not just one thing, but a bunch of little things here and there. I enjoy staffing the art-making events that happen over the weekends,” Prestogomo said. “First Free Sundays and our Start with Art program bring in a lot of adults and children who want to make art.” “It is great to see families come together to create artwork together,” Prestogomo continued. “This job has made me realize the importance of creating spaces like these events for communities.”
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Women’s History Month, March Events BY SABRINA DAMMS A&E WRITER In celebration of Women’s History Month, the Susan B. Anthony Women’s Center will be providing activities for the MCLA campus throughout March. These events will include four tabling events, two guest speakers and a movie night. Amanda Beckwith, coordinator of the women’s center and the identity and gender equality resource center, said the goal of these activities is to “help shine a light on women and all they have given and will give to history.” “Women’s History Month Tabling” will be the first event taking place Friday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Campus Center Marketplace. This event will have posters and displays informing students of the told and untold stories of women throughout history. On Monday, the women’s center will be having a “Feminism To Me Is” tabling event 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Marketplace. “Feminism To Me Is” is an international annual event in which students are encouraged to write on a piece of paper what feminism means to them. The first guest speaker, Ginetta Candelario, will appear Wednesday, March 6, at 7 p.m. in Murdock 218 to lead the discussion “Dominican Transnational Feminisms.” Her talk will focus on the history of feminism and the
Dominican background, especially in regard to American history, due to the influence the histories have on one another. Candelario, a professor of
sociology and Latin american and Latino/a studies at Smith College, is also the author of “Black Behind the Ears: Dominican Racial Identity from Museums to Beauty Shops.”
Her work received the 2008 Best Book Award from the New England Council of Latin American Studies Association, as well as the 2009 Best Book Award from the Latino Studies Section of the Latin American Studies. “I hope students will participate, especially with the speakers we have coming in,” Beckwith said. “I want people to understand the importance of Women’s History Month.” International Women’s Day will be celebrated Friday, March 8, with a tabling event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Marketplace. This event will celebrate the stories of women throughout history. “It is important to recognize people’s differences and opinions,” Beckwith said. “There will be a variety of stories from different women in history, including LGBTQ stories that may not have been seen.” Following the International Women’s Day tabling, the women’s center will be hosting a “Hidden Figures Movie Night.” The movie “Hidden Figures” will play at 7 p.m in Sullivan Lounge. The film reveals the untold stories of three African-American women whose intellects were essential during astronaut John Glenn’s launch into orbit: Katherine Johnson played by Taraji P. Henson; Dorothy Vaughan played by Octavia Spencer; and Mary Jackson played by Janelle Monáe. “The film is a modern, powerful story of women with
powerful female roles,” Beckwith said. “It is one of those untold stories people don’t think about.” On Wednesday, March 27, the Women’s Center will be having another event on the third floor of the Campus Center in room 323 for “Women’s Center Wednesday.” During this event, there will be a discussion on women in history. Greta LaFleur, a professor in American studies at Yale University, will be the second and final guest speaker for Women’s History Month. She will be hosting her lecture Thursday, March 28, at 7 p.m in Murdock 218. LaFluer is also the author of “The Natural History of Sexuality in Early America.” “I want people to take in as much knowledge as they can because this is a subsection of women’s history,” said MCLA junior Alexter Shand, who has been organizing the event with LaFleur. “It is important to be exposed to different parts of women’s history.” During this hourlong discussion, LaFleur will be focusing on gender, transgender history and transgender politics. She will be sharing some new writing she has been working on as well as discussing how recent history has affected transgender policy issues over the last five years. Come celebrate Women’s History Month with MCLA’s Women’s Center in March by checking out all of the different events open to everyone.
It’s a (W)RAP at ‘10x10 Real Art Party’ BY JENNIFER VANBRAMER A&E EDITOR Hosted at the Berkshire Museum in downtown Pittsfield, the “10x10 Real Art Party” (10x10 RAP) took place Thursday evening, Feb. 21. The 10x10 RAP show featured 115 pieces of artwork, all of which were 10-inchby-10-inch in size, of various mediums created by local and regional artists from across the Berkshires. From watercolor paintings and hand-drawn works to framed photographs and ceramic creations, there was a work of art fit for every person’s interest. The show had a great turnout from the community, with the Crane Room of the museum crowded wallto-wall. “We have been doing this show for almost five years,” said Carrie Wright, Berkshire Art Association (BAA) board of directors member, who co-hosted this year’s 10x10 RAP with Jayme Kurland. “Our mission is to connect art-
PHOTO BY JENNIFER VANBRAMER
A total of 115 pieces were displayed during 10x10 RAP at the Berkshire Museum in downtown Pittsfield. ists and the community together in order to inspire creativity and increase access to the visual arts,” Wright continued. The 10x10 RAP is a highly popular event that takes place during Pittsfield’s annual 10x10 Festival. Proceeds from 10x10 RAP will benefit the BAA’s college fellowships, art field trip grants for Berkshire
schools, and free admission for art students to local museums. “This show is a way to have fun while fundraising,” Wright said. “Not only do you walk away with a piece of original art but you could meet the actual artist — it is a way to encourage emerging artists to donate their work as
well as experienced artists to give back to the community.” Those who came to the show were able to spend an hour before the name drawing occurred looking at the variety of works that were on display. If someone purchased an “ARTIX” for $25 in advance or right before the show, they were busy
checking off which pieces they wanted to take home from a list that provided information on every work of art in the show as well as who created it. “To donate art no matter who you are or what type of artist you are, you will be giving students an experience that they might not have had,” Wright said. “You will have fun and feel good being a part of the BAA no matter who you are!” The name drawing started as the event progressed into the night. Many people were anticipating their name to be called first, giving them the opportunity to choose a work of art from their list of favorites. One by one, as names were called, the room filled with cheers as excited ticket holders were finally able to pick a piece of their favorite art off the walls. “The 10x10 RAP has been around since the Storefront Artists days,” Wright said. “It really gave downtown Pittsfield life again!”
Feb. 28, 2019
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
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Valentine’s Day (V-Day) Gala BY SALI BAH A&E WRITER Although Valentine’s Day had passed, love was still in the air Saturday at the Church Street Center Social Hall. The V-Day Gala, hosted by the Berkshire Towers’ (BT) advisory board, was complete with cheese and chocolate fondue, transforming the hall into a beautiful night in Paris for attendees. All proceeds (the $1 entrance fee) went to a student scholarship known as “On the Rise.” This scholarship is given to a freshman student who exudes good behavior, is a helpful and positive member of the community and will return the following semester as an on-campus resident. BT Residence Director Brendan Cody explained how Residential Programs and Services (RPS) started this scholarship. “The On the Rise scholarship is an initiative RPS is working on right now,” Cody commented. “We are in the process of endowing this scholarship, so we’re raising money to put it into the fund and then once we get to a certain amount we can start giving applications out to students who are worthy of it.” “Our goal is to raise a minimum of $50 to go toward the scholarship, so we’re hoping for a minimum of 50 students
PHOTO BY SALI BAH
Many students attended the V-Day Gala this past weekend at the Church Street Center Social Hall. but we were prepared for anywhere from 70-100,” Cody continued. “I think it’s a good idea to raise money, although there is not a lot of people interested in it. I really like the food and the photo booth,” MCLA freshman Scath Bogard said. Aramark catered the event, providing options such as
cheese and chocolate fondue, choices of dip, chicken Alfredo, cookies, and a mock “cocktail bar.” “We had some assistance from the Townhouse and Hoosac Hall advisory boards,” Cody said. “They both sponsored our mocktails bar which we have in the back corner. It is really awesome that they
were able to help us out.” Around 9:30 p.m., the lights were turned off and everyone was on the floor dancing to classic songs, like the “Cha Cha Slide” by DJ Casper, and new hits, such as “Never Getting Older” by The Chainsmokers. The music was curated by the attendees with the student
DJ taking requests all night using Spotify. This dance is usually held in BT and exclusive to BT residents. However, this was the first year in a while since the event was last held, so admittance was open to all students. The dance was well-attended with each table was filled with students.
Ski Club Shredding Hills on Killington Mountain BY JENNIFER VANBRAMER A&E EDITOR MCLA’s Ski Club has been very active this semester traveling across the Berkshires and beyond, especially with how much snow the Northeast has received these past few months. ”Ski Club is all about making getting on the mountain as easy as possible,” Ski Club president Christopher Gamble said via email. “No other club on campus does what we do. We provide students an opportunity to learn a new skill, and to go beyond their comfort zone, all in a safe environment for free!” Gamble wrote in an email. Ski Club provides lift tickets, transportation, skis and boards for members to rent for free. They also offer lessons, often given by E-Board members. Occasionally they will schedule a pre-paid trip for beginners to receive lessons from an instructor who works for the mountain’s ski lodge they travel to. “We love spreading the love of skiing and snow-
PHOTO BY BRENNA CERNIGLIA
Ski Club president Christopher Gamble riding the slopes down Killington Mountain on a recent ski trip. boarding to the MCLA community,” said Kaitlin Gevry, Ski Club vice president, in an email. “Skiing is my favorite wintertime activity and I have a passion for outdoor recreation.” Earlier this month, Ski Club enjoyed a trip to the largest
ski area in the Eastern United States, Killington Mountain Resort and Ski Area, located in south-central Vermont. Killington Peak has the second highest summit in the Green Mountains, with the largest vertical drop in New England at, 3,050 feet.
“The weather conditions were great and we really enjoyed the day,” Gevry said. “Getting out there, riding with your friends, and having a good time is what it’s all about.” Gamble and Gevry are both seniors and have been in-
volved with Ski Club since their freshman year. They have each enjoyed being a part of the club. ”When I am teaching someone to ski and they start to get it I usually see it in their eyes when they reach the bottom before I inevitably hear them say ‘that was awesome,’” Gamble said. Ski Club accepts members from all levels of experience — whether a person has never skied before or is an expert, they are welcome to join. ”Skiing became a fact of life, something I took for granted growing up so the opportunity to share something so unique and exhilarating with people who haven’t tried it before was something I could not turn down,” Gamble said. Ski Club has weekly ski trips every Saturday and will be returning to the slopes of Vermont’s Killington Mountain March 9. If anyone is interested in becoming a member of Ski Club, they can join the MCLA Ski Club Facebook group or reach out to Christopher Gamble by email at cg3315@ mcla.edu.
Sports
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2019 Men’s Baseball Preview BY JABARI SHAKIR SPORTS CO-EDITOR
The men's baseball team is preparing for their season opener this weekend. The Trailblazers hope to improve their performance and record over last year. Last season the Blazers lost to Framingham State 8-3 in the first round of the playoffs. They are expected to finish seventh, according to the MASCAC preseason poll. Coach Mike Gladu uses the MASCAC poll placement as motivation to strive harder than other teams to prove others wrong about their team. "I use it for fuel, I wish they put us eighth because then we prove more people wrong," he said. "I appreciate that they are picking us seventh, that only fuels the fire and raises the expectation for our guys," Gladu said. The overall record last season was 13-15-1 and in-conference record, 6-7-1. Coach Gladu is most excited about his team's camaraderie and deep bond that has been created during the off-season."Just the team, this is good chemistry, it is a good group," Gladu said. "This is a close unit and they have the flexibility, they ride each other but ten minutes later they are hugging each other.""Those are tangibles you cannot replace, so they have strong chemistry
The Trailblazers finished with an overall batting average of .270, on-base percentage of .368 and scored 133 runs. and they want to win," Gladu continued. The four seniors graduating after this season are shortstop Jeff Bink, pitcher Bobby New, pitcher Brendan Kelly and catcher Antonio Archina. Last season, Bink finished with a batting average of .349, 21 runs batted in, nine stolen bases, an on-base percentage of .381 and a slugging percentage of .472. New finished with 40 strike-
Clippers Keep Climbing BY ANDREW GREIF LOS ANGELES TIMES The outcome no longer in doubt Monday night, Doc Rivers grabbed the officials’ attention, then the crowd’s. Rivers called a timeout with 9.4 seconds to play in a 121-112 Los Angeles Clippers victory over the Dallas Mavericks. He then walked to midcourt, grabbed the public address announcer’s microphone and exhorted a sellout Staples Center crowd wondering what has happening to stand and acknowledge Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki in what could be the seventh-leading scorer in NBA history’s final appearance in the arena against the Clippers. “Let’s go!” Rivers shouted, an edge in his otherwise raspy voice. “Let’s go!” Standing inside the paint in front of the Mavericks bench, Nowitzki saluted Rivers, then flashed a thumbs up. Play resumed, the crowd stayed standing as the clock ran out and the Clippers (34-28) secured a critical victory in a critical stretch that put them alone in seventh place in the Western Conference standings.
Making his way through waves of well-wishers at the end was Nowitzki, who has yet to declare whether he will return for a 22nd NBA season. Eventually he reached Rivers, and they hugged. “One of the greatest things I’ve ever seen,” Dallas coach Rick Carlisle called the gesture, and the cheers that resulted from it were the loudest of the night. But not far behind, in terms of decibels, was the noise generated by every dunk, block and biceps flex by Clippers forward Montrezl Harrell. Harrell scored 32 points, making 14 of 17 shots to go with five rebounds, five assists and two blocks. Another reserve, Lou Williams, added 21 points and 10 assists to help the Clippers outscore Dallas (2634) by six points in the fourth quarter. The Clippers are 16-0 at home when leading after three quarters. “I thought he dominated his position,” Williams said. “One of those games where we needed him and I thought he came out and played tremendous for us.” Nowitzki scored 12 points in 25 minutes.
outs, an earned run average of 4.76 while pitching 45 innings and finishing with a record of 4-3. Kelly finished with 12 strikeouts and an earned run average of 3.57 while pitching 17 innings with a record of 4-1. Finally, Archina finished with a batting average of .179, three runs batted in, an on-base percentage of .289 and a slugging percentage of .205. Coach Gladu is glad that his team has gained an under-
standing of the playoffs and will use that knowledge to their benefit throughout the season."Experience is good for me. that's important; the leadership that we have, we made it," Gladu said. "We bounced out of the first round. Our approach is to go farther into the playoffs, to go until we cannot go anymore and compete to that very first pitch until the last one." Coach Gladu wants to focus
PHOTO BY MCLA ATHLETICS
on errors and free plays this season since he did not get a chance to do so last season."We did a good job last year of not giving away free bases, not walking guys, but that truly is going to be the key this year trying to get that lower," Gladu said. "Our walks per nine innings has to go down." The Trailblazers will play their first home game against the Framingham State Rams on Friday, March 29, at 3 p.m.
Feb. 28, 2019
Sports
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Golf Program Without a Coach BY BRADY GEROW SPORTS CO-EDITOR After being named the head coach of MCLA’s men’s golf program in August 2017, Peter Egazarian has now resigned his position as head coach and withdrawn from the program as a whole. After taking over the program in 2017, Egazarian had a rocky opening season at the helm of the program. Despite finishing third in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Championships and third in the first round of the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) Championship, Egazarian’s team was unable to finish in the top end of any other tournament that season. Although the team saw improvement in those specific events, the team experienced little improvement in their annual tournaments dropping two spots in the Williams Invitational and falling back a single spot from the previous year in the Cobleskill Invitational. As of now, a new head coach has not yet been hired to replace Egazarian. MCLA athletic director Laura Mooney and her staff are working toward a solution. ”I am not at liberty to discuss personnel matters at the moment,” Mooney said. “What I can say is that we will make a decision later this spring and look to have someone in place.” With the golf season’s average start date beginning in September, the athletics staff will have plenty of time to find a good fit to fill Egazarian’s place. Despite the vast amount of time, Egazarian will not be easily replaced. Egazarian is a class “A” PGA professional who had been the head teach-
SCORE BOARD NBA Boston Celtics (95), Toronto Raptors (118) Jaylen Brown (Bos) 10 PTS, 8 REB, 4 AST
Pascal Siakam (Tor) 25 PTS, 8 REB, 2 AST
NBA PHOTO FROM MCLA ATHLETICS
Former MCLA Golf Coach Peter Egazarian (middle) accepting his Northeast New York PGA section Player Development Award from actor Christopher McDonald (left) in April of 2018. ing professional at Taconic Golf Club in Williamstown for two years before getting the head coaching position at MCLA. The loss of such a decorated individual came as a surprise to some of the program’s golfers as well. “Overall [I was] a little surprised, I didn’t really sense any indicators that could foresee the resignation,” said MCLA junior golfer Reese Dwyer. “It always felt like there was a good relationship between the team and coach whether it be individually or the team as a whole.” Beyond that, Egazarian’s experience in the golf world is unquestionable. Egazarian also served as the head professional at Wahconah Country Club in Dalton, Massachusetts, for two years. Also known for his teaching ability, Egazarian has been a presenter at numerous golf shows and conventions,
including the Western Massachusetts Golf Expo in March 2017. ”The knowledge he had of the game as well as fundamentals made it possible for us to succeed beyond our expectations.” said Dwyer. The cause behind Egazarian’s resignation is still unknown to players as well as the public. During his time at MCLA Egazarian earned the Northeast New York PGA section Player Development Award, an award designed to recognize a PGA professional for extraordinary and exemplary contributions and achievements in the area of player development. Despite losing a decorated professional such as Egazarian, Director Mooney and her staff will have plenty of time to find a suitable fit for the program and its future goals.
2019 MCLA Softball Preview BY BRADY GEROW SPORTS CO-EDITOR The MCLA Trailblazers women’s softball team will begin the season with their annual trip to Florida, playing 10 games against 10 different schools over a seven-day span to prepare for the season ahead. The Trailblazers look to build off a rough season last year after completing the season at 6-22. The Trailblazers will be led by interim co-head coaches Ashley Ciepiela and Amanda Meczywor who were given the jobs late last year. Ciepiela and Meczywor look to lead the team back to the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) tournament that the Blazers have failed to make since 2016 when they were outed in the first round by Westfield State. After losing outfielder Francesca Belli ‘18 to attrition, the Blazers are armed to improve from last year’s down season. With 11 of the 13 current team members having played on last year’s squad, the Blazers should be comfortable with their lineup and look to improve across the board with some experience in their favor. Among the biggest returners for the Blazers is junior infielder Kaylyn Holliday, who batted .337 and lead the team in runs (15), home runs (3) and RBIs (15) in her first year on the roster last season. Joining Holliday as key returners are senior outfielder Kaitlyn Berghela and sophomore pitcher Morgan Watson. Berghela had a great offensive season last year, recording team highs
9
Oklahoma City Thunder (112), Denver Nuggets (121)
Nikola Jokic (Den) 36 PTS, 9 REB, 10 AST
Russell Westbrook (OKC) 22 PTS, 14 REB, 9 ASTAst, 2 Blk 16 Pts, 7 Reb, 1 Stl
NHL
Boston Bruins (4), San Jose Sharks (1)
Brad Marchand (Bos) 1 Goal, 2 Ast, 4 Shots, +2 +/10-12. 100 yds, 0 TD
Logan Couture (San Jose) 1 Goal, 4 Shots, -2 +/-
NHL
Calgary Flames (1), New York Islanders (14)
Mikael Backlund (Cal) 1 Goal, 6 Shots Stl,
Josh Bailey (NY) 1 Goal, 2 Shots
MLB Spring Training
New York Mets (3), Atlanta Braves (4)
William Contreras (Braves) 1-2, 1 Run, 2 RBI, HR PHOTO FROM MCLA ATHLETICS
The MCLA softball team meeting junior infielder Kaylyn Holliday (14) at home plate following one of her three home runs last season. Holliday recorded two of her three home runs last season during the teams annual Florida trip, and will look to do the same this year as the team begins play on March 15 in Leesburg, Fla. where they will take on The University of Mount Union to start the year.
Luis Guillorme (Mets)
in average (.344), on-base percentage (.392) and slugging percentage (.500). With Berghela in her final season, her numbers on the offensive end will be important for the team’s success. Watson is coming off a good offensive year, but a rocky season on the mound last year. Watson recorded a .323 batting average in her 31 plate appearances last season. Watson scored one run and recorded three RBI’s over last season on offense. Watson’s performance on the mound last season was rough, despite being in line with the rest of the Blazers’ pitching staff. She accumulated a
MLB Spring Training
1-5 record in seven appearances with 13 strikeouts and a 6.71 earned run average (ERA). With Watson, Holliday and Berghela armed to lead the Blazers’ offense, the program’s pitching staff will need to improve from last year’s team ERA of 6.53 if they want to support their offensive unit. The Blazers will begin their season March 15 as they head south for their annual trip to Leesburg and Clermont, Florida. They will face off against the University of Mount Union Raiders and the Plattsburgh State Cardinals on the opening day of the trip.
2-3, 1 Run
Houston Astros (2), Miami Marlins (4)
Myles Straw (Hou) 1-4, KAst, 2 Stl
Jon Berti (Mia) 1-1, 1 Run, 2B2 Reb, 3 Ast
Opinion
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10
The Woes of ‘Anthem’ and the Games-as-a-Service Model BY RON LEJA EDITOR-AT-LARGE
When Bioware Edmonton’s “Anthem” was first teased at E3 2014, I was admittedly excited. The title looked, for lack of a better word, amazing. Gamers were told they were witnessing actual gameplay of a rocket-powered mech suit leaping from a tower, only to take flight across a beautifully rendered open world that seemed not only expansive horizontally, but offered a level of verticality unlike anything we’ve seen from the video game industry thus far. At the same time, I knew better than to let pretty graphics, especially those showcased as an initial reveal, win me over. After all, “Anthem” is published by none other than Electronic Arts (EA), a company whose business models as of late seem geared more toward creating systems that ask consumers to cough up more and more money for cosmetic items rather than produce stellar content right out of the gate. Against my better judgment, I joined thousands of players in the world of “Anthem” last week. Having put nearly 50 hours into the game, I’m sad to say that “Anthem” isn’t what anyone was hoping for. Despite being marketed as a looter-shooter, the gear in
“Anthem” is outright lacking. The number of different weapons is below what many would consider the bare minimum for this genre of game. Potential modifiers that should make the pursuit of gear feel rewarding are bland and generic. Each of the four classes, or javelins as they are referred to in-game, have only four armor sets a piece — one of which is only available if you pre-ordered the “Legion of Dawn” version of the game for an additional amount. Cosmetically, there are very few options by which to make your character look unique. As someone who thoroughly enjoys RPGs and MMOs of this nature, I think I’m justified in stating that part of the fun in these types of games is taking the time to create a character that feels like a reflection of your own tastes. But that isn’t possible in “Anthem,” at least not yet. It’s my opinion that “Anthem” suffers as a result of the games-as-a-service business model that has sprung up over the past few years.
The idea is simple enough: create an ever-evolving world through a steady release of downloadable content. By consistently releasing new things to do, places to explore and items to acquire, gamers will feel incentivized to keep playing the game for months, if not years to come. The problem with games-asa-service is that it has apparently led developers to believe they are justified in releasing titles that are incredibly barebones at launch. Rare’s “Sea of Thieves,” Bungie’s “Destiny,” and Massive Entertainment’s “The Division” all took on this business model and ultimately suffered poor initial release scores as a result. In my opinion, publishers like EA hope their titles manage to garner the same level of popularity as Blizzard’s “World of Warcraft” franchise by offering gamers an experience that is constantly evolving, allowing them to sink hours into their games and, most importantly, requiring them to spend a whole lot of money.
What they fail to realize, however, is that the original, or “vanilla,” “World of Warcraft” still contained enough content to keep players engaged until its first major expansion. The system worked for “World of Warcraft” because the original title felt like a full-fledged game. The aforementioned titles certainly were lacking in content at launch, but having seen how poorly those titles scored as a result, “Anthem” should have taken the model in a different direction. Instead, it offers even less. As a consumer, it doesn’t feel “good” to drop $60 on what is supposedly a triple-A title sporting a budget well into the millions, only to find out that the game lacks enough content to keep me invested for more than a week — especially when the market is currently brimming with cheaper indie titles that sport a polish and sense of passion that seems to be missing from so many big-budget games of late. Yes, future content releases
eventually led to a boost in the consistent number of players for “Destiny” and “The Division,” but their original shortcomings still managed to turn a whole slew of potential players off to these franchises entirely, ultimately resulting in fewer sales. In this type of scenario, no one wins. What I’m getting at is this: you only get one chance to make a first impression. Such is the case in our daily lives, and the same holds true for games. As the industry has grown and evolved over time, so have the expectations from consumers. When those expectations aren’t met time and time again, the relationship between developer and player is tarnished, to the point that future titles may not be given so much as a second glance. The issue isn’t that the games-as-a-service model is a bad route to take; far from it. I would go so far as to argue that it’s a model that many gamers genuinely approve of. The idea that a game I enjoy can thrive for years to come will always be a plus in my book, as it will for many gamers. Regardless, the promise of consistent content is not a means by which to deviate so harshly from the standard that the community has come to expect from a full retail priced game.
Kareem Hunt and Colin Kaepernick
The NFL’s Social and Moral Atmospheric Failures While everyone at this point knows who Colin Kaepernick is, many might not be familiar with the name Kareem Hunt. Hunt is a running back in the NFL, formerly of the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs released Kareem Hunt after he was found on video physically abusing his girlfriend, while also lying to the organization about it. Presumably, he will have to go through a lengthy suspension (think six games, similar to Ezekiel Elliot) before he can see the field again. But, ethically speaking, Hunt should either never see the field again or he should be forced to undergo lengthy counseling and rehabilitation at some point before he should again be allowed to play. However, this will likely not happen. He will serve his presumed in-theworks suspension, and then he will have a new home playing in front of thousands of the most passionate fans in football. I’m talking about playing for the Cleveland Browns, who sought the “buy low” opportunity on Hunt’s head and penned him to a one year, $1 million deal. Meanwhile, Colin Kaepernick practically “won” his collusion lawsuit
ANDREW BAILLARGEON THE CALL against the NFL, a lawsuit predicated around the notion that Kaepernick believed teams around the NFL were conspiring against him because he kneeled during the national anthem, and in doing so, became the essential “leader” of that epidemic. While the NFL and Kaepernick, in actuality, reached a settlement in court, this should only be viewed as a victory for Kaepernick. Consider that even the greatest quarterback to ever play the game, Tom Brady, lost to the NFL in court after over a year of battling his four-game suspension for the infamous “Deflategate” scandal. The NFL has a reputa-
tion of being very aggressive in court, so the fact that they had to reach a settlement with Kaepernick suggests that Kaepernick had a mounting pile of ammunition against the NFL in his collusion case. Just so we’re keeping track of what’s what here: Kareem Hunt found his way back into football less than two months after being found to have lied to his team about physically abusing his girlfriend. Meanwhile, Colin Kaepernick kneeled for the national anthem to protest police brutality against minorities, and that has largely proven to be the catalyst for ending his career. This isn’t the first time talent has overridden integrity. There have been many instances where talented players in the NFL have found their way onto rosters, even in spite of harrowing red flags around them. That doesn’t make it any less despicable though. The Chiefs did the right thing, an act which unfortunately may have cost them a chance to reach and possibly win this year’s Super Bowl. Having narrowly lost to the Patriots in the AFC Championship game, a game where Kansas City couldn’t get much from
their running game without Hunt, the sentiment of “no good deed goes unpunished” rings loud and clear. Unfortunately, this could serve to deter franchises in the future from doing the right thing. Kareem Hunt doesn’t need to be barred from playing football forever after his first offense, but it needs to be taken a lot more seriously. Remember when Josh Gordon received numerous lengthy suspensions because he smoked marijuana? Why can’t that happen to domestic abusers as well? In addition to the suspension he’ll no doubt have to serve soon, Hunt should be mandated into counseling or rehabilitation of some sort. Suspensions in this context are mere slaps on the wrist, but since the NFL doesn’t have much other recourse, they could at least make these suspensions lengthier to deter teams from signing these abusers right away. It’s no wonder why this is a problem, as players have little to deter them from committing these heinous acts. After all, if they’re talented enough, they’ll stay in the NFL anyway, right?
Opinion
Feb. 28, 2019
TheOnlineBeacon.com
11
Editorial
Let Her Come Home
This past weekend the Trump administration announced that Hoda Muthana would not be allowed to return to the United States. Muthana left the U.S. in 2014, using money intended for her tuition at the University of Alabama at Birmingham to fly to Turkey, where she then traveled to Syria and twice married fighters for the Islamic State. After the caliphate’s collapse, Muthana fled to a refugee camp where she expressed remorse for her actions and a desire to return home to help de-radicalize other Americans that find themselves in the same position. ISIS has a long track record of recruiting teenagers, especially young women, luring them to join their movement. They target those from difficult home lives, those searching for their own identity, young adults looking to rebel and social outcasts with the promise of a better life. The life promised is one of supposed riches and influence with strongholds over oil reserves and banks. It is portrayed as fighting for a just cause, an opportunity to
connect closer with God, and for others, it is simply a status symbol. Muthana was one of many teenagers duped into thinking that the life she saw on social media was the right one for her to pursue. As she has described, she was “brainwashed” by the propaganda she was subjected too. What Muthana did was shortsighted and unquestionably wrong. There is no debate that she should receive prison time for denouncing her country — and people have a right to be angry, especially those affected directly by the ongoing war on terror. However, she must be allowed to return home. Whether she is a citizen of this country or not remains open for interpretation. Regardless of her status, refusing her re-entry to the country is aiding the enemy whether we want to admit it or not. By treating her the way the Trump administration is, denying Muthana citizenship, seeks to only further ISIS’s message that the U.S. has no room for the Muslim faith and that the only way to fight back is by joining their cause. While Muthana was one young
adult duped into falling for ISIS’s propaganda, the last thing our nation should seek to do is allow ISIS the tools necessary to corrupt more young minds. Furthermore, Muthana could prove to be a valuable resource in the ongoing efforts to stop the radicalization of American teenagers. There is a repeated pattern of terrorist organizations using social media to target young, impressionable adults. While efforts are underway to de-platform them, more can be done to educate those targeted of the realities behind jihadi promises. We know the types of teenagers that are prone to fall victim to ISIS propaganda on social media, but it seems we still lack an understanding as to why they fall for it and why they choose to act upon it. Someone who has fallen victim to those very methods may be able to help educate us as to what makes ISIS’s online presence so powerful. The first step to defeating an enemy is to understand the game they are playing, allowing us to then beat them at their own game.
Hidden Gem: Renee’s Diner Review NORA HONES COLUMNIST
Usually when students on the MCLA campus talk about going to a diner, they are referring to The Moonlight Diner in Williamstown. Unbeknownst to them, there is a hidden gem of a diner right around the corner, Renee’s Diner. Renee’s is located at 780 Massachusetts Ave. in North Adams, just a six-minute drive from campus or a 45-minute walk for the really bold. With its white and blue sign sitting
just around a turn, it’s easy to almost drive past. Nevertheless, it’s a diner you don’t want to miss out on. Renee’s has that good diner quality with a smalltown feel and prices both you and your wallet will appreciate. From Belgian waffles covered in whipped cream and assorted berries to grilled cheese the size of your head, it’s got it all. The menu includes classic breakfast options as well as lunch, including multiple vegetarian options and veggie burgers. When you walk into
PHOTO BY NORA HONES
Home fries, Belgian waffles and coffee at Renee’s Diner.
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Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief Jake Vitali
this small diner, there are around 12 or so tables and just one waitress happy to greet you. Despite its size, it’s generally busy even on a late Wednesday morning. With mellow music, including Fleetwood Mac — which is, as always, a welcome surprise to me in any dining establishment — it’s the perfect place for a good, quick breakfast or lunch with friends or a special someone. The tables seat four (often pushed together for larger groups) with paper placemats advertising local businesses around the North Adams area. During the warmer months, there is a fairly large patio for pleasant outdoor dining. One of the only down-
sides to Renee’s experience is the absence of classic diner booths and jukeboxes. There’s something about a booth at a diner that is just more comfortable and sought after, when it comes right down to it. But for what Renee’s is lacking in booths, it makes up for in quality — quality service, quality food and a total quality experience. It’s a place I will surely be making the rounds to again. Renee’s is definitely worth stopping by and checking out. They’re open Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Sunday, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Make sure you bring cash though since it’s a cash-only establishment!
Want to write a guest column? If interested, contact Jake Vitali at jv1339@mcla. edu or Nicholas Bassett at nb3227@mcla.edu
Managing Editor Nicholas Bassett
A & E Editor Jennifer VanBramer
Senior News Editor
Co-Sports Editors
Corey Mitchell-Labrie
Brady Gerow Jabari Shakir
Editor-at-Large Ron Leja
Copy Chief
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Elizabeth Haight
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Staff Staff Writers Maya McFadden Tessa Sestito Nathan Biron John Morrissey
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Copy Editor
Tessa Sestito
BWN Reporters Andrew Strout Ally Thienel Erika Lucia Julia Teixeira Shunquell Dennis
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Andrew Baillargeon Nora Hones
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Adviser Shawn McIntosh
Feb. 28, 2019
IN OTHER BEACON NEWS
Lettor to the Editor
Quality of Aramark To the Editor:
I write to you to call attention to a concern that does not only affect me, but is something that concerns many of my peers. One of the biggest complaints on campus is revolved around the very limited and unsatisfactory food offerings. Aramark is one of the largest food caterers not only among college campuses but other institutions and events. With that in mind, Aramark’s food quality ranges on a wide spectrum. MCLA happens to fall on the lower end of that food-quality spectrum. Students have experienced everything between undercooked and overcooked meals. A number of students have even reported not feeling well after eating in the cafeteria, yet still nothing has been done. This poor quality of food shows the lack of care for
students and their health. This becomes most difficult for students who have dietary restrictions as options are even more limited for them in terms of gluten-free or vegan diet. As students we are expected to depend on the cafeteria as our main food source on campus, however, we are not satisfied by the food that’s served. It’s important for administration to hear students out regarding food quality when thousands of dollars are invested in our meal plans. Something needs to be done to improve the quality of food on campus in order to improve students experience here on campus. Thank you for your time and attention. Sincerely, Lise Mansaray MCLA Student Class of 2020
Upcoming Dates to Know: March 3: SAC Musical Bingo March 9: SAC Talent Show March 12: IGE Cookies and Raffle Event March 14: Espresso Yourself Meet and Greet March 14: Counciling Services Social Connections March 22: Undergraduate Research Conference abstract submission deadline
Editorial Cartoons
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