Fall 16, issue 9

For more content, visit online at: Beacon.MCLA.edu

Beacon@MCLA.Edu 413-662-5535 Mark Hopkins Room 111

Volume 83 ◆ Issue 9

Th u r s d ay, N o v e m b e r 1 7 , 2 0 1 6

11 SGA: How the Vadnais lecture to address climate change money works Inside

2

Narcan is worth having

7

Mary Ruefle reading at G51

By Mitchell Chapman Managing Editor

Photos from bookjacketbios.blogspot.com and Amazon

Harris published “Returning North with the Spring,” which documents his 2012 retrace of Edwin Teale’s 1947 journey documented in the seminol work “North with the Spring.”

This year’s installment named after Harris’s book, “Returning North with the Spring”

By Mitchell Chapman Managing Editor

Climate change poses a serious threat to the well-being of our planet. Tonight, Dr. John Harris, executive director of the Monadnock Institute of Nature, Place and Culture at Franklin Pierce University, will present a lecture about precisely this at 7 p.m. in 218 Murdock Hall. It is free and open to the public.

The lecture is part of the annual

Elizabeth and Lawrence Vadnais E nv i r o n m e nt a l Issues Lecture, which is named after a former North Adams State College professor and his wife. While Harris at the College, Professor Vadnais founded and ran the Center for Resourceful Living from 1975-1981. The

program was described as “highly experimental,” teaching students sustainability practices gleaned from local farmers.

Harris’s entry in the lecture series is titled “Returning North with the Spring,” and is expected to address the negative impact fossil fuels have on our climate. He has held his position at Franklin Pierce VADNAIS Continued to page 5

How are faculty coping post election?

By Harmony Birch Editor-in-Chief

Last Wednesday a dark cloud seemed to have fallen over MCLA. Classes were canceled, opinions, confessions, and criticism littered our Facebook news feeds. One truth resonated: Donald Trump was the winner of the 2016 presidential election.

For many students this was the first presidential election they were eligible to vote in-- but what of our mentors, those we look to for guidance and wisdom? What

was the faculty’s response to this historic election?

Psychology professor Maria Bartini was disappointed.

Originally a Bernie Sanders supporter, she later hopped on the Hillary Clinton bandwagon.

Bartini remembers being “distraught” over the 2000 Al Gore versus George Bush election.

She remembers rationalizing it to herself and questioning, “how bad can things get?” Eight years later she is regretting those words.

During this election cycle she, like many others, found herself

continually appalled by the comments Trump made.

“The big thing that I want to be doing is focusing on what I can control,” Bartini said.

She noted that today the simple desire for wanting equal rights has become, “politicized.” As a developmental psychologist she noted that there is a large disparity in our country, and it impacts people of differing religious, socio-economic, and racial backgrounds.

FACULTY Continued to page 11

When the SGA allocates a budget for any given fiscal year, it is done before that year is in effect. This can cause issues, as it forces SGA to predict the future.

For example, this year’s budget was allocated based on an expected drop in enrollment that never happened. In the 2015-16 school year, enrollment was down, but it bounced back in 2016-17 “We cannot predict the amount of students coming in every year so we base the club budgets off of an estimate on the upcoming enrollment,” SGA Treasurer Kayla LaVoice said. “If the amount of students who actually enroll is over our estimate, the amount clubs get does not go up. This also

President’s letter to the Editor

means that if enrollment is less then the amount we estimated that we will not pull money from the club budgets. By doing it this way the club knows exactly what its budget is for the upcoming year!”

According to LaVoice, any extra money not allocated to a specific club, such as money that came as a result of SGA having more money to work with, is allocated to the SGA supplemental budget, which is used for programming, emergencies, and big projects on campus revolving around student life and student activities.

At the end of the fiscal year, if the supplemental budget is not used, that money goes into a reserve fund for special SGA projects.

SGA MONEY Continued to page 3

Come together, get uncomfortable, MCLA

By Nick Tardive

Staff Writer Grey clouds and rain came, cascading down on a somber day in North Adams.

Students, faculty and administrators gathered around the Amsler Campus Center Marketplace, as opposed to the Quad like originally planned. Although it was an event formally under the Latin American Society sphere, the rally was not under the guise of one club for one demographic.

This was a rally for unity, shared accountability, persistence and self-love. From the top down, almost every speaker called on the campus community to embrace those who feel alienated and terrified by the election of Donald J. Trump as President of the United States.

“Hatred is a cancer that can only be cured by understanding and unquestionable love,” Kyle Oxx, a student who identifies as transgender, said.

Don’Jea Smith called on the people at the rally to make MCLA uncomfortable until some sort of change is made. Many other students

who spoke also pointed out that change had to come first on the campus, among the community, so that the community could spread the love and change back home wherever that happens to be.

“We have to start calling out the bad, and calling out the unfair,” Smith said. “We have to call out everybody: professors, administrators, until we are all on equal ground.”

She spoke out against the school’s Diversity Task Force, calling it a failure. Smith claimed that, by the time students of color had learned about the task force, a board and student task force had already been created. Smith admitted that she feared the school’s Diversity Task Force would listen to the problems of the students, and simply not act.

Smith’s friend, Dee Davis, went on to deliver an emotional address that bordered on speech and poem. By the end, she was tearful, attempting to hold back the fear and disgust and instead replace it with peace and unity.

RALLY Continued to page 11

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Thursday, November 17, 2016

A Shakespearean tragedy

By Nick Tardive Staff Writer

During the meeting, President Williams announced that he wished to begin his proposed “listening tour” soon, listening to the voices of everybody on campus, in-

cluding LGBTQA groups, such as the Queer Student Union, people of color and more.

Williams, in an Academic Policy Committee report, announced that small changes were being made to the major/minor form. Along with the All College Committee, a consensus was reached that too many signatures were required for the form, and that changes would include making it necessary only for a student and department chair to sign the form in order for it to be processed.

Coordinating Vice President Samantha Giffen announced that the first two of the hydration stations had been installed on campus. One was placed on the first floor of Mark Hopkins, while the other was placed in the Amsler Campus Center near the athletic facility. Hydration stations still have to be added in the Feigenbaum Center for Science and Innovation, as well as another in the campus center.

Senator Jacob Vitali announced that the Curriculum Committee met only to approve the minutes from their last meeting, as it and All College still had discrepancies regarding the addition of new theatre minor courses.

Campus Police will now carry Narcan and have been trained in its use

By Nick Tardive Staff Writer

Daniel Colonno, MCLA’s Director of Public Safety, told a Beacon reporter on Nov. 10 that the campus police are working on procuring Naloxone, also known as Narcan, for their officers to administer in case of an overdose on or around the College campus.

Officers have already gone through training with staff at the Berkshire Medical Center (BMC) to properly administer the treatment, and plans for implementation have already been laid out. All public safety has to wait for now is the Narcan itself.

Naloxone is a drug used to reverse the effects of an opiate overdose, which tends to slow or completely halt a person’s ability to breathe.

Narcan can be administered either through intramuscular injection, or via nasal spray. Police officers and firefighters in North Adams are trained to carry Narcan, as Berkshire County is known to be swept up in the state’s overarching opioid epidemic. According to an op-ed published by newly-elected state Senator Adam Hinds over the summer, opioid-related deaths increased nine times in the Berkshires between 2002 and 2014. In that same time, unintentional opioid overdoses in the state of Massachusetts tripled.

“I think Narcan is great,” Colonno said. “Any tool in our toolbox we can have to use to help people is a tool worth having.”

Although it was Catherine Hol-

Student Affairs meeting tackles smoke free

By Harmony Birch Editor-in-Chief

Catherine Holbrook, vice president of Student Affairs, brought up the idea of pushing back the campus-wide smokefree date from Fall 2017 to Fall 2018 at the Thursday Nov. 10 student affairs meeting.

The administration and trustee board have been discussing smoke-free initiatives for a while.

There are 23 smoke-free colleges in Massachusetts and MCLA hopes to join their ranks. However, Holbrook felt sympathetic to student smokers who are required to live on campus for three years, and thinks the shift should be gradual.

A survey on campus found that 1/3 of survey takers wanted to eliminate smoking completely from campus, 1/3 wanted to keep the current policy, and 1/3 were neutral.

The need for an enforcement system was also brought up. The school has trouble enforcing even it’s current restrictions on smoking.

The survey found 22 percent of the campus population identified as smokers.

The topic of how the school intended to regulate marijua-

Beacon.MCLA.edu

Narcan: a “tool worth having”

SGA: Tragedy struck SGA on Monday night, as Parliamentarian Jess Lovellette’s chair broke and collapsed underneath her as she attempted to sit back down.

The traumatic event came after Senator Maggie Allen attempted to motion for a vote on the ratification of Yorick’s amended constitution.

Lovellette waited, squatting inches above the chair, for Allen to make a mistake.

Allen had admitted that she was a little rusty with the whole motioning business, and Lovellette was prepared. She wasn’t prepared, however, for the fall out that would come from her fervor for parliamentarian procedure and rules.

SGA fell silent for several moments as Lovellette fell into a spell of laughter, red in the face from either lack of air or embarrassment.

“Please laugh,” Lovellette pleaded, drawing parallels to the failed presidential campaign of Jeb Bush, who begged his audience to clap at a rally in New Hampshire at the beginning of the 2016 primary campaigns.

In the end, SGA unanimously voted to ratify Yorick’s amended constitution.

Campus News

na now that it will be legal to smoke in Massachusetts was also brought up by Buffy Lord. Holbrook assured Lord that the campus would have to follow federal regulations and so it would not be legal to smoke on campus but that there’d be smoking education for the campus community about all substances.

Of going smoke-free, Holbrook questioned, “is it too aggressive?”

The survey also found that current students were more opposed to a smoke-free campus than prospective students.

If the campus were to go smoke-free Holbrook said the school would look into having facilities maintain the sidewalks close to campus.

The committee also brought up the idea of opening a satellite smoking clinic on campus once a week that would be open to all campus community members.

The committee expressed more sympathy for student smokers but less for faculty members because other businesses also keep smoke-free residences.

Anecdotally the committee noticed that more people seemed to be using the designated smoking areas. The only area that they thought needed to be changed

was the smoking area right outside the library because the smoke gets inside.

The committee played around with the idea of campaign posters. Birge suggested one saying, “do you know that most MCLA students don’t smoke?”

They also brought up the need to be sensitive to ARAMARK employees, adding that they’d have to be included on any smoking task force and would be welcomed into to the satellite smoking clinic. The main objective was educating the campus on smoking and giving them a reasonable amount of time and accommodation before going completely smoke free.

The committee also discussed the campus reaction to the election.

Both Susan Gold and Buffy Lord thanked Birge for his letter Wednesday to the campus community sympathizing with people who were upset about the outcome of the election but also with being mindful of the diverse opinions that exist on campus.

Holbrook and Birge cited existing conversations and safe spaces taking place on campus.

STUDENT AFFAIRS Continued to page 11

brook, the vice president of Student Affairs, who brought up public safety’s Narcan initiative, she did point out that it was Colonno’s idea in the first place. Holbrook mentioned that, while opiates do not seem to be a problem on MCLA’s campus, two of its “sister schools”, Framingham and Bridgewater State, both had a freshman on campus overdose last year.

Throughout the interview, Colonno was adamant that policing was simply about law enforcement; it didn’t matter if the laws were right and effective or wrong and harmful - so long as the law is the law, police offers had to be objective and unquestioning in their enforcement.

He did admit that overdoses are an entirely different matter.

“At that point in time, you don’t get to choose, ‘Oh, you’re a drug user, you’re a drug addict, we’re not going to help you,’” Colonno said.

“That is unacceptable. At that point in time, if we can make a difference in somebody’s life...it’s not about law enforcement. It’s about saving a life.”

Both Holbrook and Colonno could not testify to the seriousness of the issue within North Adams personally. However, Colonno spoke about his previous experiences as a police officer working in the innercity area of Albany, New York, which has a large problem with open-air drug markets.

“Open-air drug markets operate in geographically well defined areas at identifiable times so buyers and sellers can locate one another with ease. A variety of drugs may be sold, most commonly to include heroin,

crack, cocaine, and marijuana,” according to Alex Harocopos and Mike Hough, published in the Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) report, published back in January of 2005.

Holbrook pointed out that community-engagement and changing the way people stigmatize drug addicts is a major initiative of the state’s Republican Governor, Charlie Baker. Back in March, 2014, the “Act relative to substance abuse, treatment, education and prevention” was passed unanimously by both chambers of the state legislature and signed into law by Baker. Among other things, the bill became the nation’s first law to establish a seven day limit on first-time opiate prescriptions. “[Baker] has brought together health professionals across the state regarding this epidemic, and the state is working very closely with communities and and local emergency response personnel to be sure that Narcan is widely available,” said Holbrook.

As part of Baker’s initiative, Holbrook said that MCLA has partnered with the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition (NBCC), a group trying to “improve the quality of life for people in Northern Berkshire by organizing, supporting and empowering the community.” One of their goals is to tackle the opioid epidemic across the whole of the county. Along with the aide of the College, NBCC helped the BMC add several new detox beds in their clinic recently.

Beyond the Beacon Compiled from MCT Campus

Island Nations fear climate change The United Nations climate change talks will come to an end on Friday in Morocco and the big outcome of the talks is that Island nations are in danger. If the climate rises even two more degrees Island nations won’t be able to survive. The UN agreed that developed nations would contribute $100 billion a year to combat climate change.

Electric vehicles take over automotive industry Electric vehicles in the U.S. account for 1 percent of cars. This isn’t stopping car companies from rolling out new electric options. At the Los Angeles Trade show tons of models are expected to be unveiled.

Russ Mitchel from the Los Angeles Times says automakers are “aggressively pushing their electric cars.”

This push comes to accommodate new federal regulations on fuel.

Human Rights violations performed against ISIS Human Rights Watch has proclaimed that they have pictures and videos of Islamic security forces

executing, mutilating and dragging bodies of Islamic State Fighters. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi denied the allegations claiming it was Iraqi citizens who had performed these acts against the militants.

Cruz being considered for Attorney General Tuesday November 15, Ted Cruz met Donald Trump at Trump Tower to discuss the job of Attorney General. Cruz fought for the republican nomination during the primaries. He and Trump did not get along during the primaries. Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, was initially considered as attorney general but is now being discussed for a state secretary position.

Russia makes peace with Aleppo Russia is launching a new offense attack on Syrian Rebels. In the past Russia’s efforts have been at odds with the Obama administration’s efforts to back rebels. Russia along with the Syrian government has declared a truce with Aleppo following Tuesday’s massive civilian casualty count.

Campus News

Thursday, November 17, 2016

Beacon.MCLA.edu

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Senior Yamileyka Rojas announced as Margaret Hart Scholarship winner

By Mitchell Chapman Managing Editor

The Berkshire Cultural Resource Center (BCRC) announced the Margaret A. Hart Scholarship Concert headliner, along with the Scholarship winner. This year’s winner is senior Yamileyka Rojas, whom The Beacon covered earlier this year for releasing a book of poetry that is for sale at the College bookstore.

“It is because of this scholarship that I was able to continue my education and realize that what I can bring to the table in my community is valuable and worthy of recognition,” Rojas said. “I plan to continue pursing my goals and dreams and instilling in others that desire to make a difference and lead by example.”

Rojas is currently the Secretary of the Latin American Society (LAS), which sponsored a #NotMyPresident rally Tuesday in the Quad with

Arrest made at library

By Reagan Smith

Special to the Beacon Christopher Hurlbut of North Adams was arrested Saturday afternoon at Freel Library. Campus Police Officers responded to the library after Hurlbut was recognized for having a warrant for his arrest.

“The individual was not from MCLA campus,” Police Chief Dan Colonno said. “We knew he was on campus property and he had a warrant out for a previous OUI, that’s why we arrested him.”

According to Hurlbut’s file at the North Berkshire District Court, he was issued probation and a 90-day suspension of his license during his court hearing on March 9. Hurlbut was charged with Operating Under the Influence (OUI) and two traffic violations. He pleaded guilty to the OUI, and the court found sufficient evidence to prove he had committed the traffic violations.

His probation, originally expected to end by 2017, was extended when he did not appear for his probation hearing. Hurlbut was ordered to remain alcohol-free and be subject to alcohol screenings. After Hurlbut’s probation agreement was violated, it was issued to end in 2018. Additionally, he was ordered to be subject to drug screenings and to enter a detox program for substance abuse.

The warrant for Hurlbut’s arrest, based on the violation, was issued Oct. 19 and served Saturday, Nov. 12.

Debate Club, designed “to show solidarity with those negatively affected by the election of Donald Trump.”

The LAS also offered election therapy to those who will be negat ively affected by Tr u m p’s presidency.

She is also a member of Rojas the National Society for Leadership and Success, and has participated in the Alumni Association’s Phonathon event. According to the Alumni Association, she worked on the Phonathon because of how it helps students by providing them with financial aid.

“I was admitted to the College with financial support from the school, and wanted to show my appreciation by contributing to the

endeavors that provide other students benefit from the same types of opportunities I have received,” Rojas told the Alumni Association.

Rojas hopes to get her masters degree in publication design and marketing after she graduates from MCLA. She is also a transfer student from Mount Wachusett Community College in Gardener, Mass., where she received the Aspasia Anastos Memorial Award from the MWCC foundation.

While at Mount Wachusett, Rojas published a few articles in their student newspaper, which served as an early start to her aspirations in the writing industry.

She has also participated in WriteStuff, an after-school program for elementary kids coordinated by the MCLA Center for Service, and the Adams Youth Center, in which she mentored students by helping them with homework and various activities.

For her writing, she maintains a blog: http://ylr-poetry.tumblr. com/. She posts under the pseudodyn, “y.l.r.,” which is what she published her book under. Her book and the blog are linked, with her blog hosting consistent poetry updates and poems, some of which will be featured in her next book. Rojas revealed earlier in the semester that her book “body: one in a trilogy” will have a part two, mostly made up of poems that didn’t make it into the first “body” book, as well as ideas that have been ruminating in her head since the book’s release. “body: one in a trilogy” was written in a single summer, and was written, edited, and designed

by Rojas herself, and published through the self-publishing company CreateSpace. Rojas created the book on virtually no budget, and as such did not buy any of

the professional packages CreateSpace offers.

Her book can be purchased at https://www.amazon.com/bodytrinity-y-l-r/dp/153558131X/ref= sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=14791617 55&sr=8-1&keywords=y.l.r.+body or through the college bookstore.

At 40 pages, its dollar price on Amazon is listed as $8 for a paperback and $5 for the Kindle ebook.

The Margaret A. Hart Scholarship honors Margaret A. Hart of the Class of 1935, who was the first student of color to graduate from North Adams Normal School, which would later become MCLA. Hart earned a master’s degree from Columbia Teachers College at Columbia University in New York, and had a long career in education in the Berkshires. Margaret Hart was the first black teacher in the Pittsfield Public School system and Reid Middle School’s library is also named after her.

Inside the Veterans Resource Center

By Emily Gabert

Staff/Features Writer Veterans Day is a time when the country takes a moment to appreciate those who have served bravely for the United States.

Many colleges offer special veteran services for their students to help ease their transition into college. At MCLA, there is a Veteran Resource Center located on the third floor of Venable Hall.

Our society expects teenagers to go down the college path, but not everybody takes this traditional route right out of high school. A lot of individuals take gap years, and some decide to take a leap and join the military before going off to college.

Joseph “Joe” Melillo of the graduating class of 2016 was actively involved with the Veteran Resource Center as a student. He was there for the grand opening in the spring of 2013.

“I participated in a work study in the Veteran’s Center through the VA (U.S. Department of VetSGA MONEY Continued from page 3 “The supplemental budget is for clubs to request funds for emergency funding, special requests, and new initiatives,” LaVoice said. “Clubs can fill out a form during the year to request money from the supplemental budget. It then has to be approved by the BFC and the senate. We understand that when requesting a budget the year before a club cannot 100 percent predict what they will need.”

When asked about the reverse situation, if the enrollment figure is lower than what SGA projected it to be, LaVoice guaranteed that

eran Affairs),” Melillo said. “It was rewarding being able to arrange meetings between staff and other veterans that led to unique problems being solved, and veteran’s being able to interact with the staff on a one on one basis.”

The space is a special area reserved for the 17 veteran students enrolled at the college where they can do their work and talk to other students who have shared the similar experiences of being in the service. The space includes computers, and TV, coffee machine, fridge, and desks. It also provides veteran students with support to help them achieve their academic goals and career goals, as well.

The center requires a special key code given to veteran students to gain access to the area.

As a student Melillo said he spent time in between classes at the center hanging out with other student veterans while also being able to get his work done in this area. He even said that besides studying he also used the area as a space for when he needed to get

away from everything else. As a nontraditional student, Melillo said it could be tough to relate to other peers.

“Being a student veteran has unique challenges. Being an older student is hard enough as it is, not really being able to easily relate to the people around you,” Melillo explained, “but when you add the experiences that the average veteran might go through, it pulls you that much further away from your peers.”

Melillo found himself frustrated when he was in class at times. He found that while he would be trying hard to learn and pay attention, the other students around him would not be taking their studies seriously.

As somebody who decided to go to school much later than the average college student, Melillo found himself to be much more motivated to learn than some of his classmates, due to the fact that college is usually the “logical step” that many young adults take after high school. He was there directly

on his own freewill and on his account to learn the skills needed for his chosen career path, Computer Science. Melillo mentioned that this was another issue that other veteran students faced as well.

“While this was absolutely a challenge,” Melillo said, “the skills I learned in the military made me capable of dealing with minor issues like that and pushing forward.”

Melillo found the Veteran Student Resource Center to be quite beneficial during his time as a veteran college student; he’s appreciative to the college for having a unique area for student veterans. “[The Veteran Resource Center] was a valuable asset that made my time at MCLA significantly easier,” Melillo said. “The staff is involved in the meetings, as well as those that contributed to the creation of the Veteran’s Resource Center, and did a great thing for the school and the ever growing veteran community.”

they would not take funds away from clubs. In this scenario, money from the reserve budget for supplement club budgets would be allocated for emergency money.

When allocating the SGA budget, the student government looks at the following factors:

throw?

share costs.”

According to LaVoice, clubs can co-sponsor in two ways: with SGA, or with another club. There are cosponsoring forms in the SGA office. or clubs can email Coordinating Vice President Samantha Giffen to ask for one. these forms are for co-sponshorships with SGA or an SGA-affiliated club.

“If a club is looking for ways to get funds they can always email me and I am more then happy to brainstorm ideas with them,” LaVoice said.

Kayla LaVoice can be reached through Office 365. Amanda Schuler can be reached at the SGA office in the Amsler Campus Center.

A detailed list of what money the club needs and what it will be used for.

How the club has spent their money in the last year.

If the club has been working on fundraising What type of events does the club

Do they co-sponsor events with SGA or other clubs?

Does the SGA or campus already have what the club is requesting?

Is the requested amount appropriate?

In the event that a club’s allocated budget is lower than expected, LaVoice left readers with these key tips: “The best way is to fund raise, there are really creative ways to do this that not only make money for the club but also act as an advertisement,” she said. “Cosponsoring is another great way to

4

Thursday, November 17, 2016

Opinion & Editorial

The Beacon

Editorial

Our thoughts on the Hastings article and Trump The biggest events last week in The Beacon world were as follows: Donald Trump won the presidential election, and we published a controversial story.

Last week The Beacon chose to publish a story we knew would stir controversy among the MCLA community. Since then we’ve heard both positive and negative feedback, everything from, “this is what real journalists do,” to “you guys should have focused more on election coverage,” to “isn’t working for the Advancement office and writing a story about it a conflict of interest?” and many theories about the well being of the school and what’s to come.

We published this story because we failed as journalists in our first attempt at writing about Hastings’ departure from the College to bring a full and balanced story. It is our job as journalists, even college journalists, to expose truth. We aim here to continue our work as a check and balance for those in power. That, in its simplest form, is why the media exists.

We also felt the post-election melancholy especially hard, not just because of the results, but because journalism as an institution seemed to fail the country.

The majority of media outlets and election polls predicted a different outcome. This election

Beacon.MCLA.edu

reaffirmed for us as young journalists the importance of giving everyone a voice and of trying our best to avoid bias. It also reaffirmed our choice to publish last week’s Hastings article.

Unlike the press during the election we aim to tell all perspectives of every story, to give everyone a voice, and to question the accepted knowledge of the establishment.

We as a paper and as journalists do not have a stance on the Hastings situation, but we do hear the frustration coming from different sides and from the campus community as a whole.

So we ask you to remain calm.

Much like many people’s disap-

pointment with President-elect Donald Trump, there is little that can be done without full knowledge of what’s to come.

The best ways to implement change is to focus on what you can control-- if there’s something going on on campus that you dislike. Have those conversations with the people in power, give them a chance to respond. All change begins somewhere, and like we saw at the rally on Tuesday, people can come together and create movements to change the tide of just about anything.

It’s our job to expose truths, and we pledge to give you all of the information we can--it’s your job to act.

“How do you feel about the results of the election?”

The Beacon is published Thursdays during the academic year and is distributed free to the College’s community. The Beacon is funded by the Student Government Association, the English/Communications department, and ad revenues. Single copies are free, additional copies may be purchased at 50 cents each.

Contact information: News desk number: 413-662-5535 Business number: 413-662-5404 Email: Beacon@mcla.edu Web site: beacon.mcla.edu Office: Mark Hopkins Hall, room 111 Mission Statement The Beacon strives to provide timely and accurate news of campus and local events.

Editorials Policy Unsigned editorials that appear on these pages reflect the views of The Beacon’s editorial board.

Signed columns and commentaries that appear on these pages reflect the views of the writers.

Letters Policy The Beacon welcomes Letters to the Editor. Deadline is noon on Mondays for that week’s newspaper.

Letters should be kept to 500 words or less and are subject to editing for grammar and content. The Beacon will not publish anonymous or libelous letters.

Letters must be signed by the writer and include a phone number. Letters may be dropped off at the office or emailed to Beacon@mcla.edu.

Contributions Policy The Beacon accepts stories, photos, and opinion pieces for publication.

Submissions should be dropped off at the office by Monday at noon or emailed to Beacon@mcla.edu.

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

Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief Harmony Birch Web Editor Managing Editor Jake Mendel Mitchell Chapman Design Editor Adam Sams A&E Editor Features Editor Jon Hoel Joseph Carew Copy Chief Buisness Lauren Levite Manager Photography Editor Reagan Smith Domonique Ackley

“My biggest concern is the lack of predictability, we’ve seen him say one thing and change. His lack of consistency is concerning.”

-Madeleine McKeon, 2019

“This is a monumental chance to come together and work for peace, with the same force as the 1960’s.”

- Nate “Bill” Buchanan, 2017

“I am disappointed and upset about the election results. I understand there is nothing I can do, but I will try to do what I can to civilly challenge, the upcoming administration.”

-Alex Stuart, 2018

Video Editor Dan Wohler

Staff

Staff Writers Emily Gabert Nick Tardive Kelsey Kistner Sports Writer

Brady Gerow

Photographers and Videographers Shunquell Dennis Sam Kniskern

Cartoonist

Samwise Fox

A&E Writers Ronald Leja Chris Riemer Emma Monahan

Copy Editors

Advisers

Ayrel Brosnan Nick Webb

Jenifer Augur Shawn McIntosh

Online at: Beacon.MCLA.edu

Facebook.com/MCLABeacon Twitter.com/TheBeacon_MCLA

“After a week to calm down, it’s a good thing for minorities, so they can help get involved.

It’s more important to work with us and not to us. Great things happen, when people are collectively angry, like during the 1960’s during the Civil Rights Movement.”

-Amber Harris, 2018

“I think this entire election season has been a exhibition of the failure of the two party system and the Electoral College. My prediction is that the results from this will lead to political change and movement. It will lead to a more ethical system.”

-Rachel Terlizzi, 2019

Photos by Emily Gabert

“I found it interesting because it was tight election throughout its course. We have the right to vote for who we want and the majority of the country voted for who they wanted. We need to accept it and move on. I don’t think anybody is right or wrong.”

-Robbie Gair, 2019

Opinion & Editorial

Thursday, November 17, 2016

Beacon.MCLA.edu

XKCD

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Joseph Carew Features Editor

Formula 1 nears end A Curious Case of Mitchell Chapman

Managing Editor

It was March of this year when I wrote about the first race of the Formula 1 season.

The season was just starting and I was a hopeful, young lad who was fairly optimistic for my beloved Ferrari. Now, with the Brazilian Grand Prix completed and only one race remaining, I would like to travel back to that column and analyze if I’m a fool.

Okay, some of the things I got wrong include the resurgence of Ferrari in the constructor’s championship. The team had 13 podium finishes, which is pretty good, but without a win after achieving three last year, Ferrari looks at this season as a failure. They have finished third in the constructor championship regardless of where they place at the last race, a step back from last year. Worse still, their lead driver, Sebastian Vettel, could drop down to fifth in the driver standings unless he puts on a strong show to finish VADNAIS Continued as director of the Monadnock Institute since 1996, and has assisted in the production of five documentary films.

Harris’s Vadnais lecture shares the name of his recently published book, which retraces the 1947 journey of naturalist Edwin Way Teale. According to a newsletter released by the Monadnock Institute, the journey described in the book was made possible by a Whiting Foundation grant, and took place between February 20, 2012, and June 21, 2012 on his first sabbatical.

On his journey, Harris was able to revisit every sight Teale visited, observing the exact same wild life and flora 65 years later, sometimes

the season.

I failed to mention Red Bull as a serious contender and their two wins and 16 podiums prove that I grossly underestimated them. To be fair, no one could have predicted the rise of 19 year old Max Verstappen, who took the sport by storm when he moved teams and captured his first ever victory.

I predicted the American Formula 1 team Haas would have a good season and I suppose it wasn’t terrible, but eight in the constructor championship eight retirements and never finishing higher than fifth isn’t exactly good. I did say that they could fight for a win, but that was quite foolish.

What can I say? I was hopeful but horribly incorrect. Their season went from great to disastrous, and now it looks as though one of their drivers, Esteban Gutierrez, will be leaving the team. His zero points this season and five retirements in

on the exact same day Teale had, to compliment and expand the original work.

Harris assessed seasonal changes in plant, bird, and animal species, contemplating the role climate destabilization might play in these alterations proved to be the chance of a lifetime, according to the newsletter. Harris presented his original remarks from the trip on June 6, 2012 at the John Burroughs Conference in Oneonta, New York. His print account came out four years later, and was designed to mirror and compliment Teale’s original format. Teale’s original book “North with the Spring” became a best seller and its sequel “Wandering Through Winter” won a Pulitzer Prize, making Teale

the 20 races has created a sour atmosphere and both are going their separate ways.

All right, I did include that Mercedes would be dominant and with 18 wins in 20 races and the constructors and the drivers’ championship already locked up, a total fool I may not be. Mercedes spent much of the preseason time on reliability and this worked wonders for half of their two driver lineup.

Lewis Hamilton, the defending champion had much worse luck than his teammate who still leads the championship race.

Overall, the year has been relatively eventful and my predictions and beliefs were either completely wrong or a little right. So I will make one more: Nico Rosberg will be the next Formula 1 world champion in two weeks time with a victory in Abu Dhabi. Check back with me in the future to either tell me I’m right or mock me.

one of the most celebrated nature writers of his time.

Harris holds a Ph. D. in English from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and has been a faculty member in the English and American Studies Department at Franklin Pierce University since 1994. His research has appeared in The New York Times, The Chicago Tribune, The Boston Globe, and the Keene Sentinel.

The Elizabeth and Lawrence Vadnais Environmental Issues Lecture is made possible by the Vadnais Endowment. The series has existed since the 2004-2005 school year.

REDRUM

Arguing about art How to be an effective critic As an art critic, I’ve been asked countless times why I can’t just shut up and enjoy a piece of art.

It’s meant to entertain, anyways.

To some extent, this sentiment makes sense. Many people view art, particular in the medium of video and video games, in their free time. It is a leisure activity.

For many Americans, their interaction with art stops beyond that point; there is no nuanced discussion, and when you bring nuanced discussion in spaces where there was previously none, you risk bringing some unwanted discoveries into the conversation.

Looking at art from a wide perspective, what does it accomplish? It does not feed the hungry, it does not fill the coffers of the poor, and for many, it does not have serious ramifications on their lives. It intellectually stimulates, and very often not for very long.

Of course there are those few examples of art that people carry with them that can help dictate the course of their very life. For a musician, this might be Mozart.

For a gamer, this might be Pacman. For a theatre practitioner, this might be Ibsen. However, it is unfair to discuss the value of art discussion based on these very

few masterpieces.

Nuanced discussion definitely has a place in society, but it should be able to be opted out of, yet it should be encouraged by society as a whole. A more educated public is beneficial to humanity as a whole, and will assist in the ever growing trend of intellectual progress that we. at times, seem to forget is happening, especially in the age of Donald Trump.

Art opens the mind in ways few things can. Those who wish to make it for a living are very aware of this, and as such are in constant indirect conversation with their critics and their audience.

A textbook can show you the world as it is. Art can show you the world as it should be. It can show you why life is worth living, or it could show you the hypocrisy of contemporary society. Art doesn’t even need words; certain mediums can play to the language of our ears, or the language of our eyes, connecting with us on a deep emotional level.

Or not. Not all art is perfect, or good art, but it is worth talking about. Gained knowledge and intellectual discovery can do you no harm.

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Thursday, november 17 2016

Arts & Entertainment

Beacon.MCLA.edu

Tangina Stone will bring soulful pop to the Margaret Hart Concert Series

By Emma Monahan A&E Writer

On Nov. 19, the Berkshire Cultural Resource Center (BCRC), will present rock-soul artist Tangina Stone as a part of the Margaret Hart ’35 Scholarship Concert Series. Stone is from Canton, OH and currently resides in Brooklyn, NY, and her sound connects with people of all genres, ranging from R&B to pop, rock to soft acoustic. Stone will be able to provide multiple platforms of entertainment to the MCLA community.

Her 2014 debut EP “The Fall” is a perfect example of all the genres she is part of. Its opener, “Cops,” brings in a mix of pop vocals with a jazz/rock background, mixing the three wonderfully. The lyrics tell a story of a toxic relationship and getting out of it. Many of Stone’s lyrics are relatable. Her most popular song, “Suntan,” has the most listens on Spotify. It is a classic love song, but in a way different; it’s not that catchy pop song that you hear on the radio

Photo by Alex Bienaime

Tangina Stone’s music has an interesting, diverse transfusion of pop, R&B, rock and jazz. every hour.

“So now you come along bringing me summer/Your love so bright you’re giving me a suntan,” she sings.

Okayplayer, an urban music

website, said she “she represents a sound that harkens back to an era where the sound came from a pure and honest place.”

Her 2015 song “Wasn’t Love Café” talks about love that you

thought was real when really it wasn’t. Her live performance of the song posted on her YouTube channel in April 2015 shows the vocal power you hear on her recordings, which helps new

listeners know that she’s the real deal and not some coming of age pop artist that is drowned out in auto-tune.

Backed with a three piece band, Stone tends to seem comfortable at the mic, but her voice does all of the performing. She uses her hands to tell the stories she’s singing, and to interact with the audience, something that really gets a crowd into the music.

For those who like Emeli Sandé, Leona Lewis, and Ella Eyre, Stone is an artist that many students will enjoy at the Hart Concert Series. Her soulful voice and childlike wonder as she performs is something to look forward to.

Stone will be performing at the Church Street Center on Nov. 19 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $3 for students and general admission is $12. All box office sales will support the Margaret Hart ‘35 Scholarship Fund in honor of Ms. Hart, who was the first student of color to graduate from MCLA, then known as the North Adams Normal School.

FPA excels with its feminist “Henry V”

Professor Laura Standley directs MCLA theater veterans in all-female interpretation of Shakespeare’s historic drama of war, leadership and hegemony

By Jon Hoel

The cast are all veterans of the MCLA theater scene, like seniors Brianna McDermott and Erin D’Entremont, who have both seen numerous key roles in the last few seasons, as well as juniors Julie Castagna and Joslyn Eaddy.

“It’s so intricate—if I have one student who couldn’t make a rehearsal we can’t run it. Once you get to a certain point, you need everybody.

It’s been a challenge,” said Standley.

“Henry V” opened Wednesday, Nov. 16 and will run for five performances.

A&E Editor

Continuing the powerful and pointed focus on women in theater this year, Laura Standley, professor of acting and drama, brings an allfemale cast to Shakespeare’s historic war play, “Henry V”.

“Henry V” opened yesterday evening, Nov. 16 and will continue for several evenings and a matinee this weekend.

The works of Shakespeare have been around for a little while, going on five centuries, actually. For the vast majority of that time, due to the unequivocally patriarchal nature of performance theater in Western Europe, it was male-dominated.

That’s changed, of course, and now we have diverse and radical modern interpretations of Shakespeare all over the world, including at home in our FPA department at MCLA. “There’s an important conversation going on in theater right now about expanding opportunities for women,” said Standley.

“As part of our mission, we want to bring the MCLA community a variety of genres to get a complete exposure to

HENRY V SHOWTIMES:

all the possibilities theater has to offer. This in particular seemed like a way for us to give female students this chance they’ve never had before.”

The massive play contains more than 50 characters, of all which will be portrayed by nine actresses, a complex and intriguing premise.

To anyone who has seen performances at MCLA over

the past few seasons, most of these faces will be familiar.

The titular Henry is played by senior Crysta Cheverie, who you may remember for her excellent performance in the fall 2015 production of “Romeo and Juliet”.

Why “Henry V”? “‘Henry V’ is a play about leadership and power,” explained Standley. “For women—especially with this

election and everything—the world has this conflict of how we see women in leadership positions, do we even see that as a possibility? I have so many really talented female students right now and I felt like we weren’t offering them enough opportunities.”

The cast is made up of nearly all upperclassmen and seems one of the strongest of the past few productions.

Nov. 17 (8 p.m.)

Nov. 18 (8 p.m.)

Nov. 19 (2 p.m.)

Nov. 19 (8 p.m.)

Ticket prices: MCLA Students $5 NON-MCLA Students $10 MCLA Faculty/Staff $10 MCLA Alumni $12 General Admission $15

Thursday, november 17 2016

Arts & Entertainment

Beacon.MCLA.edu

Renowned poet Mary Ruefle reads to packed audience at Gallery 51

By Chris Reimer A&E Writer

Mary Ruefle is a bird, not an ornithologist. Or so she says.

However, the acclaimed poet and essayist’s reading at Gallery 51 on Saturday contained as many ruminations on the craft of writing as it did poems and prose pieces. If not an ornithologist, then an unusually introspective bird.

Ruefle has been awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship and a William Carlos Williams Award for her poetry, and her prose has been published in The Kenyon Review, The Next American Essay, and others. For someone so renowned, she was remarkably friendly and laid back, hanging around before and after the event to chat and sign books.

With a dreamy and noninflected tone during the poetry reading, Ruefle also had a great sense of humor, which was most evident during the banter between readings.

At one point, prefacing a certain poem, she asked the crowd if it was anybody’s birthday. It turned out not to be anyone’s birthday.

Ruefle skipped the poem.

Also—the contact page on Ruefle’s retro-chic HTML website,

Photo by Jon Hoel / The Beacon

Mary Ruefle, who teaches at Vermont College of Fine Arts, read from her vast collection of poetry and prose. which consists of the following statement: “Surprise! I do not actually own a computer. The only way to contact me is by contacting my press, Wave Books, or by running into someone I know personally on the street.”

After placing a gently-ticking

pocketwatch on the podium, Ruefle launched into a stack of poems, which covered topics such as folk art (“Grandma Moses”) J.D. Salinger (“Pyrite”) and the Superbowl (“Superbowl”). She also read some of her essays, a letter/memoir from PEN’s prison writing contest by writer

Christopher Myers, and a list of writing exercises from an old textbook she found.

The reading was well-attended, and the audience was prepared with thoughtful questions for the post-reading Q&A. Ruefle was asked what she writes about, and how she goes

7

about doing it. She responded that as far as her poetry goes, she is not overly concerned with conveying some sort of great understanding.

“I am following my mind,” Ruefle said. “Sometimes it’s not thinking, but it’s still taking a journey.”

With “what” and “how” out of the way, it was only a matter of time before someone asked “why?”

“What’s more important than subject to me is that writing makes me happier than any other human activity,” Ruefle said.

One curious attendee asked whether Ruefle kept a journal, unwittingly bringing up the topic of a possible future publication.

“I don’t have time to write in a journal, so I’m writing a fake journal,” she said, to audience laughter. “It’ll be my next book.”

It’s unclear whether Ruefle was joking, but if not—you heard it here first.

On writer’s block, Ruefle’s advice is to go with the flow and wait it out.

“You think it’s a rut but there’s no such thing as a rut,” she said.

“It’s your job to stay alive long enough to see that things come in waves… You really are working, you just don’t know it.”

Marvel’s “Doctor Strange” is a mind-bender

By Ron Leja A&E Writer

The rise of super hero blockbusters over the past several years has arguably began to have weight on movie goers. Every year, a slew of films pertaining to both the Marvel and DC comic book universes are released, and in many ways, each film is similar to those that came before it. Marvel’s latest entry, “Doctor Strange,” is structured very much like any other super hero flick from the past decade, but somehow manages to come off as wonderfully odd, providing a mind bending visual experience that is so strange that you just have to see it to believe it.

Benedict Cumberbatch takes on the leading role as Doctor Stephen Strange, a highly revered neurosurgeon with an incredibly steady hand, a deep understanding of the human body, and a noticeable arrogance.

While driving home one night, Strange is involved in a nearfatal car accident, mangling his hands and causing severe nerve damage that brings his career to a screeching halt.

Unable to cope with the idea that his career is very much over, Strange manages to drain his bank account dry while trying to fix his body. Upon hearing of

a crippled man who regained his ability to walk, Strange tracks him down and learns of Kamar-Taj, a city in Nepal where a mysterious character known as the ancient one resides. With the promise that the ancient one will be able to help, Strange spends the last of his funds seeking their wisdom.

What Strange finds is not a man or woman of medicine though, but a spiritual master who quickly helps him to forget everything that he knows about the natural realm and the way the body heals itself. With one punch, she separates Strange’s soul from his body, sending it shooting through universes and dimensions in an impressive display of CGI that one really needs to see to believe.

The CGI throughout “Doctor Strange” is easily the biggest draw of the film. The world in which “Doctor Strange” resides, a world of alternate realms of consciousness, magical artifacts and impressive displays of magic, have allowed for Marvel’s artist to create something truly unique, and unlike anything we’ve seen before.

Scenes of twisting skyscrapers folding and bending in to themselves and continuously regenerating segments of architecture are reminiscent of the movie “Inception,” but are,

creatively speaking, so surreal and abstract that one cannot help but to be impressed. They do not feel rehashed, but instead stand out all their own. Scenes which are heavily constructed through CGI have a trippy vibe to them, and appear to have been inspired by the art of optical illusions.

Unfortunately, both the story being told and the characters presented throughout Doctor Strange falls victim to the typical tropes of a super hero film.

Doctor Strange is another super hero origin tale, in which a cocky soon to be hero falls from his high horse, loses everything, and then is built from the ground up in to a true hero. While it is understandable why Marvel doesn’t try to change up it’s formula, the repetitiveness of the genre can make the viewing experience feel stale. Regardless, the lack of new direction should be expected by now.

Everything else that “Doctor Strange” has to offer is both fresh and enjoyable. The very nature of the “Doctor Strange” series is bound to open up the Marvel Universe to a slew of different, fantastic worlds outside of the typical inner-city atmosphere that most super hero stories are set in. The fight scenes in particular are made even more entertaining when the laws of time, space and

Photo via Disney Studios

“Doctor Strange” is the latest in the expansive Marvel cinematic universe, the 14th film in the second phase of their movie adaptations. physics are no longer an issue.

Characters run up walls, spin and stretch hallways, manifest weapons from thin air and even go so far as to turn entire cities upside down.

Overall, “Doctor Strange” is a

welcomed addition to the Marvel movie universe. Whether you are a fan of the super hero genre or not, there is enough visually appeal throughout the film that it can be enjoyed by both fans and newcomers with ease.

Features 8 New Student Conduct Coordinator stays positive Thursday, November 17, 2016

Beacon.MCLA.edu

By Joseph Carew Features Editor

On the third floor of the Amsler Campus Center near the Student Government Office resides an unassuming door.

Inside, the room lacks a sense of being lived in, creating a feeling of fresh change in the air. This office is home to the College’s new Coordinator of Student Conduct and Community Engagement, a rambling man by the name of Brian Gallagher.

“I was born in Illinois but I’ve moved kind of all my life,” Gallagher said. “I have five library cards currently in Massachusetts.”

He joins MCLA from Pakistan, explaining why his office is uncluttered: his things haven’t come yet from Karachi, where he was Associate Director of Student Life at Habib University. Though his stuff is somewhere between Boston Harbor and Pakistan, Gallagher is very much here.

“I think when you are the type of person that moves around a lot you develop relationships that can be cultivated over time, and you learn how to invest when you’re present, and how to be completely present when you’re present,” Gallagher said.

“Really understanding what that relationship is all about, what the connection is all about, how you can learn from that person, how can that person learn from you and you focus on being there.”

He stresses the importance of being present with whomever you are with at the moment. This goes into the jobs he has had in his life. A retired teacher, Gallagher focused on the connections with the students in the variety of subjects he has taught.

“I mean I think the reason I’m in education in general, whether it’s teaching or whether it’s the work that I do now, it’s about… helping students to develop

Photo by Domonique Ackley/The Beacon

The new Coordinator of Student Conduct and Community Engagement , Brian Gallagher, joins the College from Habib University in Karachi, Pakistan. critical thinking skills and to become more aware of their surroundings,” Gallagher said.

“More globally aware.”

He stresses that across disciplines and subjects, teaching and interactions with others should be about developing connections and establishing healthy communication.

“It’s not about the A plus B equals whatever, it’s about the conversation that you’re having with students,” he said.

Teaching Egyptian history provided Gallagher the opportunity to see the impact his teaching had on his students.

His class built a mummy over about six weeks and he saw their

eyes grow when it came time to continue the build. Dealing with this aspect of history meant discussing so much more than just what this pharaoh did.

His students were fascinated by the assignment and Gallagher saw this as an opportunity to bring in other important topics. The construction of a sarcophagus leads to a conversation on life and death, mortality, and how people are remembered after they are gone.

“It’s really about the students saying ‘why do I care?’” he said.

The importance of establishing and sustaining those connections is something he has taken with him around the globe. Regardless

of where he is in the world, be it Europe, Asia, the Middle East, or North America, life to Gallagher has been about living in the moment.

One of his passions in life has been traveling around the globe. Seeing different places and planning new trips forces Gallagher to think critically and solve interesting problems.

“I think it’s the process of solving puzzles. The puzzle is where are we going, how are we going to get there, what are we going to do there,” Gallagher said.

“And some of that puzzle happens on travel website whatever or travel book whatever and some of that puzzle happens when you get

off the train in some little town you sort of remember reading about in a book somewhere, but you’re not quite sure why you got there and the name of the train station doesn’t quite look like the name you wrote down, now what?”

Gallagher notes that this can be achieved by going to Sri Lanka or even Adams, Massachusetts.

Now in the Berkshires, Gallagher will do what he always does: build connections with people and treat those who come into his office with respect.

“It’s quiet, which is nice but I think everywhere that I’ve lived you get used to your new normal and you find the parts that you are excited about and the parts that you’re not excited about and you decide, I mean you control your attitude about it,” Gallagher said.

“Do I want to dwell on how much you know North Adams doesn’t have a professional hockey team?

I could spend all day on that if I wanted to or I could dwell on the fact that North Adams has really beautiful graveyards and a couple different places to go grocery shopping. There’s like five different places you could buy groceries within a 10-15 minute drive, like that’s great.”

By focusing on the positive aspects of where you live, whether it is the fact that North Adams has MASS MoCA or that the music scene here is great, you can alter the negative perspective of you may have of your home.

“You think about how close you are to Vermont, how close you are to New York and how close you are to a variety of different things,” he said. “And then there’s this great college here.”

And at that college, Gallagher brings that drive to stay positive with him to work every day.

GALLAGHER Continued on Page 9

16 years ago: A tumultuous election and unity

By Joseph Carew Features Editor

“Bush confident he’ll win Florida” reads a headline of the Thursday, Nov. 9, 2000 issue of the Beacon. One of the most controversial elections in recent history, the Bush-Gore decision came down to the state of Florida.

“That’s where Florida’s 25 electoral votes come in. Gore has 260 of the 270 votes needed, Bush 246. If Bush wins Florida, he’ll have 271 – one more than needed to secure the presidency,” reads the Associated Press article in the Beacon.

It didn’t make the front cover.

A recount vote is issued for a presidential election and it was on page three. That’s because the headline on page one reads: “Faculty gets campus attention” and details a picket line set up in support of a “fair and equitable contract” for the state faculty and

librarians. The College’s events were, for better or worse, the top priority for the front page and national news was moved back.

Last week’s Beacon upheld that tradition with election commentary on pages four and five and an important story on campus news at the forefront.

Faculty had been without a contract for three years and were working to improve salaries and renegotiate the process of achieving tenure and it had appeared that the Beacon had wrongly wrote about a firing of a former Vice President. Both stories directly impacted the students and members of the College, but are sixteen years apart.

The next week’s issue (Thursday, Nov. 16, 2000) provides another look back at campus news in opposition to national news and the unity displayed on campus.

“Faculty holds teach-in today,”

“Rallying against Hate,” “Election Woes Continue,” all appear above the fold in this issue. Sixteen years before the campus held a rally to come together and protect one another, MCLA held a Stop the Hate Rally, and both the modern and past were moved in-doors because of rain.

The teach-in was a moment when Faculty held a gathering in Bowman 101 to discuss the contract situation with students and get their opinions on the matter. The ties between the students and faculty run deep in this campus and continue as shown by their response to worries expressed by students immediately post-election.

“Today, we should all be thankful that we don’t live somewhere else. No matter what our personal feelings about our country, this is the most stable and secure Democracy on the planet,” reads the Editorial from the same

Photo by Joseph Carew/The Beacon

The Beacon from Nov. 9, 2000 stressing the important issues on campus. issue in 2000 while last week’s editorial headline read: “Canada won’t solve our problems.”

It would seem the e-board in that time shared some of the paper’s convictions today about the importance of improving

from within.

Acknowledging our College’s past allows the Beacon and the members of this community to draw parallels and better understand how we can all move forward.

Campus Life

Thursday, November 17, 2016

The IGC Continues its Community Involvement photo from piupsilonpi.org

By Kelsey Kistner Staff Writer

Although small in numbers, the Inter-Greek Council (IGC) continues to make meaningful impacts in the MCLA and local communities by participating in multiple school and local projects. Philanthropy events, also referred to as community service, are its primary focus.

The IGC participated in the Fall Day of Service, and will participate in Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week and MLK Day of Service. The council engages in other community service in the meantime, such as raising money for breast cancer and cystic fibrosis.

Nia Scott, President of IGC, discussed how she hopes the IGC is seen on campus.

“We want people to see that we do things on campus,” she said.

“We are serious about our grades and we are serious about doing philanthropies for the community, so we have been trying to put our name back out there.”

The IGC is affiliated with one sorority, Beta Lambda, and one fraternity, Pi Upsilon Pi (Pines).

Beacon.MCLA.edu

9

Campus Safety Log Monday, Nov. 7 4:16p.m. – Responded to a Medical Call at Campus Police station.

10:01p.m. - Filed report on Larceny / Forgery / Fraud on campus.

Tuesday, Nov. 8 10:09a.m. – Filed report on Vandalism in the Amsler Campus Center.

11:01a.m. – Rendered services to a 911 Hang-up Call from 100 Porter Street.

11:28a.m. – Transported subject to hospital from the Wellness Center.

5:09p.m. – Investigated Suspicious Activity in Athletic

Complex.

11:13p.m. – Filed report on a Drug Offense in Hoosac Hall.

Wednesday, Nov. 9 1:00p.m. – Filed report on Suspicious Activity in the Amsler Campus Center.

3:41p.m. – Responded to a Medical Call from Murdock Hall.

Friday, Nov. 11 12:56a.m. – Investigated a Disturbance on 8 Montana Street.

Saturday, Nov. 12 1:53p.m. – Closed case on Suspicious Activity at Freel Library. Made an arrest of Christopher Hurlbut.

photo from the Beacon Archives

According to Scott, the IGC allows these two groups to work together in a more cohesive way to accomplish their collective fundraising goals and of philanthropies.

Each group participates in a main fundraising campaign for a specific cause. Courtney Johnson, President of Beta Lambda, explained its campaign.

“The main thing we do is fundraise for breast cancer awareness usually at the end of the semester or year,” Johnson said. “We either give it to an organization that helps women with breast cancer, or to a specific woman affected.

Depending on how much money is raise we sometimes do certain events, too.”

Pines organizes an annual 5k in the spring to raise money for cystic fibrosis. The fraternity picks a sponsor child, usually from the Berkshires, to donate all the proceeds to.

In the meantime, members of each group participate in local and school community service events throughout the school year.

This fall Pines has participated in Fall Day of Service, Boo Bash, and FreshGrass. In the upcom-

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ing weeks they are volunteering at the Berkshire Food Project and the Louison House.

Daniel Schenkel, president of Pines, feels strongly about the work his fraternity is doing. As a graduating senior, he hopes his work and effort continues.

“My goal was to get us to do as much philanthropies as possible, rush as hard as we could to get a lot of new brothers, and I’ve really seen it start to shape up,” Schenkel said. “Before I graduate I really want to make a lasting impression on the ideals that I pledged into of doing a large number of volunteering and staying connected with the community.”

According to Johnson, Beta Lambda holds the same goals of volunteering as much as possible and remaining connected to the community.

Beta Lambda and Pines currently have five members each.

Another common objective of both groups is to increase their numbers. With more members the IGC would be able to raise more money, be more active in the community, and be a stronger unit on campus.

GALLAGHER Continued from page 8 “And again it’s all about the attitude you show up every day with. Show up positive, you’re going to have a good day,” he said. “And I think it’s about realizing that, like I’m never mad at anybody, it’s not what I’m here for, I’m here to discuss a decision that someone made, the person is not a bad person it’s the thing that happened that’s probably unfortunate.”

Gallagher suggests that the action doesn’t represent the person as a whole and, in his line of work, he lets the students know that.

“So for me again it’s all about the relationships and the connections and having a conversation with somebody and saying: ‘yeah you did X okay let’s put that over there, let’s talk about you and how, yes X influences you, we get that, but that is not you, that is a part of you.’”

After a few months at the College, Gallagher seems to be liking it. His prior experience with students gave him a good sense of what the position would entail and allows him to positively impact students lives.

Those who are brought to him or seek his advice may not be in the brightest of moods but he does his best to separate the person from the action.

“Yeah, you made a bad choice last week. Okay let’s talk about what’s next and I think for me that’s where the conduct process can help students really do that critical thinking, really understand that situation that they’re in and also where they are going and really figure out how to be that life-long learner who is going to make good decisions.”

He wants people to live as lifelong learners, to understand their actions don’t always define them and that success in life comes from always learning. Brian Gallagher, new Coordinator of Student Conduct and Community Engagement, tries to bring positivity to a sometimes pessimistic and dark world.

Correction In last week’s article “Math Professor Patrick Dragon has been replaced” it was incorrectly reported that he was fired when in fact he resigned. We regret the error.

Sports 10 Women’s basketball has a new head coach Thursday, November 17, 2016

photo from athletics.mcla.edu

By Brady Gerow Sports Writer

MCLA Women’s Basketball Trailblazers have been predicted to finish in fifth place in the MASCAC this season, one spot lower than their fourth place finish last season.

All the players are hoping to crush this prediction with the addition of their new coach.

First-year coach Loren Stock is starting her career with a good group of returning players.

The Trailblazers are looking to build off of their 14-13 season of last year, when they made it to semifinals before being bested by Westfield State.

“It has been a whirlwind, a

positive one,” Stock said. “It feels like I just got on campus yesterday and have just kind of been hitting the ground running.”

Stock is implementing a new offense with the team, as well as a few other things like “a new culture” as she calls it.

The Trailblazers should have no problem starting up right where they left off.

Stock is being dealt all six of the teams leading scorers from last year’s team.

“All of my seniors and a few of my juniors have been taking the lead,” Stock said. “...listening to where I want to take the program and just leading by example.”

Leading the charge for the seniors this year is Kayla Hotaling. She led the team

Baseball hits the music industry

By Jake Mendel

‘Go Cubs Go’ in Billboard’s top 40

Web Editor

Sports are fun. Experts can predict whatever they want, using different types of stats that don’t make any sense are fun, but they can’t predict the future (take that Nate Silver). Sports give people a reason to come together and can often uplift entire communities.

It is always interesting how different aspects of culture can be effected by each other. For instance, the Chicago Cubs won their first world series in 108 years, coincidentally, the same amount of stitches on a baseball, but I digress. The entire city of Chicago, more importantly, the state of Illinois, got to celebrate the victory together.

Fans were so excited, the song

‘Go, Cubs, Go’ was played 2.5 million times via streaming. For the first time since it’s release in 1984, it cracked the Pop Digital Song Sales chart at No. 21.

It is interesting how one team’s anthem can become relevant across the country just because of its success. In a world where most of the ‘popular music’ is created by ‘popular artists,’ it is fun to see these catchy tunes from the past sneak it’s way into relevance.

Enjoy it Cubs fans, because as they say, “They’re singing Go, Cubs, Go! Go, Cubs Go! Hey Chicago, what do you say? The Cubs are gonna win today.”

in scoring, rebounding, and blocked shots last year. Hotaling is also a contender to reach the 1000 point milestone after having averaged 11.9 points per game last season. “[I’m] just looking to build off of last year,” Hotaling said. “...Take the experience that comes with having so many returners and just really build off of last year.”

Hotaling is looked at to be the center of this years team.

“Kayla has been great,” Stock said. “I do expect her to lead by example, setting the example for my younger post players to get in there and get after it.”

Despite the pressure, Hotaling will have a solid group around her. With eight of the 16 players being juniors and seniors, the team will have no lack of guidance from experienced players.

The Blazers were only gifted two newcomers in freshmen Erika Ryan and Kylah Langston.

Ryan and Langston will have lots of experience leading them on their first journey of collegiate women’s basketball.

The Blazers will begin their season on Tuesday Nov. 15 with an away game at SUNY Cobleskill.

Beacon.MCLA.edu

photo from athletics.mcla.edu

Men’s basketball hopes to improve records

By Brady Gerow Sports Writer

Facing their third coaching change in three years, the MCLA Trailblazers Men’s Basketball team looks to improve upon last years season.

Coach Derek Shell took over the program in August and replaced interim head coach Anthony Skiffington.

“We’re really trying to build a program here,” Shell said. “... we’re working very hard, and there’s gonna be some bumps but I think were heading in the right direction.”

The Blazers have a lot of work to do. Returning are only two of the teams seven top scorers from last season. Of those players, Pittsfield native Joe Wiggins is looked upon to lead the team.

“I’m just gonna go by the roles I was taught last year,” Wiggins said. “Be patient with the program, stay on track, and lead

these guys on the right path.”

The team is being led by only three seniors this year, four fewer than they were supposed to have returning from last year.

The 6-19 result to last years season, as well as the coaching change, led to a lot of players not returning, as well as some players having transferred.

MCLA has a few newcomers to the program that look to be promising. Keiland Cross, Nolan Bird, and Joe Murray join as three freshman this year. The Blazers are looking for good production from Cross, Bird, and Murray alike. The new talent in the program may be just what the Trailblazers need to get the new program rolling in the 2016-2017 season.

The Blazers will open the season with five straight road games.

The first game of the year being against Lyndon State on Tuesday Nov. 15.

Best and worst of NFL at halfway mark of 2016 season

By Bob Glauber Newsday (TNS)

Halfway through an NFL season with the usual mix of drama, intrigue and _ OK, way too many boring matchups that have turned off television viewers _ a look at the best and worst from 2016: MVP: Derek Carr, QB, Raiders: Tom Brady may wind up with the award by the end of the season and Matt Ryan is making a strong push, too, but Carr earns our nod at the midway point.

He’s carrying the 6-2 Raiders on his back with 17 touchdowns and three interceptions and a bunch of clutch performances. Carr’s play is especially noteworthy in light of the Raiders’ woefully underachieving defense.

COACH OF YEAR: Bill Belichick, Patriots: Sometimes we take Belichick’s brilliance for granted because he has been so great for so long. But getting to 3-1 without Tom Brady and setting the stage for Brady’s return

from suspension could prove to be the difference maker in a potential Super Bowl run, especially if the Patriots wind up with home-field advantage in the AFC playoffs.

COMEBACK PLAYER: Matt Ryan, QB, Falcons. After producing some of the weakest numbers of his career in 2015, including just 21 touchdown passes and 16 interceptions, Ryan has dominated so far this season with 23 TDs and just four picks. If the Falcons really are a different team than the one that faded to black the second half of last year, then Ryan will be the difference.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER: Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Cowboys. He plays behind the best offensive line in football, but Elliott has been spectacular nonetheless, and might be the single biggest reason the Cowboys are in good shape for a playoff run. With 799 yards in seven games, he’s on pace for 1,825 yards, which would break Eric Dickerson’s rookie record of 1,808.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER: Von

Miller, LB, Broncos. The successful transition from an aging Peyton Manning to an inexperienced Trevor Siemian is done in large part because of Denver’s great defense. Miller is a generational defensive player who makes it all work.

OFFENSIVE ROOKIE: Elliott.

DEFENSIVE ROOKIE: Joey Bosa, DE, Chargers. A training camp holdout didn’t help, but it’s obvious Bosa has the kind of speed and burst that only a handful of prospects possess. He plays for a team that needs plenty of help around him, but Bosa is a franchise building block.

ASSISTANT COACH: Bob Sutton, Chiefs defensive coordinator. The Chiefs are still without their best pass rusher, Justin Houston, but Sutton has done terrific work in allowing opponents a combined 137 points.

He’s one of the least appreciated assistants in the business, but the NFL coaching fraternity knows how good he is. Sutton is to the Chiefs what Rod Marinelli is to NFL HALFWAY RESULTS Continued on page 11

News

Thursday, November 17, 2016 NFL HALFWAY RESULTS Continued from page 10 points. He’s one of the least appreciated assistants in the business, but the NFL coaching fraternity knows how good he is. Sutton is to the Chiefs what Rod Marinelli is to the Cowboys.

IDENTITY CRISIS: The NFL’s flagging television ratings have been a huge story so far this season, with plenty of reasons put forth for the drop: poor quarterback play, poor prime time matchups, oversaturation of the product with games on Sunday, Monday and Thursday, protests during the national anthem, concerns about concussions and other dangers associated with the sport, and the presidential election. The election will be over on Tuesday, and divisional races are beginning to heat up, so we’ll see if this is an anomaly or the start of a legitimate downward trend.

RISING STAR: Marcus Peters, CB, Chiefs. The secondyear defender leads the NFL with five interceptions and is a big reason the Chiefs have survived the injury-related absences of star pass rusher Justin Houston and running back Jamaal Charles.

FALLING STAR: Darrelle Revis, CB, Jets. At 31, he’s in severe decline and teams that once shied away from throwing in his direction are now targeting him as the Jets’ weak link.

BIGGEST SURPRISE: Cowboys. With Tony Romo suffering yet another injury during the preseason, the Cowboys looked to be in trouble. But rookie quarterback Dak Prescott has been terrific in Romo’s absence, and the Cowboys may have found their quarterback of the future.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: Jaguars. This was supposed to be the year team owner Shahid Khan’s patience paid off, but the Jaguars have been total flops yet again. Blake Bortles has regressed, the offseason spending spree on free agents like Chris Ivory, Malik Jackson and Tashaun Gipson was a bust, and the Jaguars will soon be looking to replace Gus Bradley.

STUDENT AFFAIRS Continued from page 2 IGC and the Women’s Center were open over the weekend for students to come in and process their feelings.

Admissions Ambassadors were encouraging to process how they felt before Saturday’s open house.

“The hallmark,” Birge said, “is that even though we transition power we still have power to be political actors.” He said students had asked him whether or not it was okay to protest. Both him and Holbrook asserted that peaceful demonstrations would be supported on campus.

“For students to raise their voices is a good thing,” Birge said.

Beacon.MCLA.edu

Letter to the editor:

11

Birge responds to “gag order” story Dear Editor, I write to correct two significant misstatements in the November 10, 2016 story regarding Mary Hastings, a short-term, eleven week former employee of the College.

Ms. Hastings correctly informed your reporter about some of the reasons her service was ended by the College (“inadequate leadership, inappropriate communication with internal and external parties, comments of a sexual nature and use of profanity”).

However, Ms. Hastings told the reporter the College instructed her to fire five employees of the Office of Advancement, and then discharged her after she refused. This is incorrect. Neither Vice President Richardello nor I ever gave such a direction. In actuality, we tried to empower Ms. Hastings to lead the Office’s staff and effectively expand our network of donors and friends of the College.

Equally inaccurate, but more offensive, is

FACULTY Continued from page 1 Gender inequality, in particular, is an issue that’s always been on Bartini’s radar.

As a young girl interested in athletics she was used to finding herself among only a few girls in her leagues.

Still she acknowledges that even she has some implicit biases regarding gender.

Her son has a pair of flower pajama’s and Bartini recalls a conversation with her husband where she referred to the clothes as her son’s “girly pajamas.”

Bartini says it’s important to be aware of those biases and as an educator in the Trump era she says it’s her duty to especially educate students on bias.

She’s in support of the protests that have come about as a stand for diversity in America, but is concerned about protests that have grown violent.

“We can’t change the outcome with more violence, we need to try to get away from hate,” Bartini said.

Things aren’t all cheery for those who voted for Trump either.

Biology Professor Jerry Smosky doesn’t describe himself as being particularly invested in politics.

While he describes Donald Trump as being “crude,” there was one trait that really appealed to him about the Trump campaign, that he had the potential to, “ blow up the Republican party.”

Smosky definitely seems to lean more conservatively but he, like much of America, has been dissapointed with the Republican party. He describes them as “cowards” who never seem to make good on their promises. After the 2012 election he thought he was done with voting. This election cycle, however he felt he had to make an exception.

Smosky also was formerly a

the statement that I would have to fire the “entire campus” for swearing and speaking badly about coworkers. From the moment that I first stepped on to the MCLA campus, I have been genuinely impressed with the manner in which the campus community respectfully and kindly supports students, staff and faculty. We are dedicated to the creation and preservation of an environment that is free of unlawful harassment and is conducive to learning and working. I strongly disagree that the entire campus engages in or condones the inappropriate behavior that led to the decision to terminate the service of Ms. Hastings.

To protect its relationships with donors and other friends of the College, and to assist Ms. Hastings in moving on, the College offered Ms. Hastings a separation agreement.

That agreement also would have prevented her from using private and proprietary information such as donor lists. In addition,

Sanders supporter, not because him and Sanders agreed on the issues but because he like Sanders’ character.

“We’re the same age, we were both born in Long Island, we’re both crusty old foagies, and I liked the idea that he stood for something,” Smosky said.

Smosky said he feels sympathy for those who are worried about the election results. He feels badly that his daughter-in-law from Chile is worried about deportation, and he left his Trump pin at home when he went to work last Wednesday.

He knows that being a white man born in the states, he has the luxury of being more invested in the outcome of the Patriots game than the outcome of the election.

He thinks Trump ended up winning because many people, like him, were sick of the political game being played in DC, and because the Democrats chose a bad candidate.

Smosky is in support of American’s rights to protest, remembering fondly his time as an undergrad participating in civil rights protests.

“It takes time to heal,” he said of the protests.

However, he does think it’s wise to wait and see what Trump does before getting too upset.

Already Trump has backed off of some of his campaign promises, Smosky pointed out.

He also verified that he (and he supposed the same was true for most of Trumps supporters) didn’t think Trump would as a president actually go through with mass deportations or building a wall.

“Since the eighth up to January 20 it’s all speculation,” Smosky said.

What can students do?

Regardless of who you voted for, Bartini says the best thing to do it pay attention, get news from multiple outlets, get involved in social issues, and read information from both sides.

both parties would have agreed not to disparage the other. This sort of contractual protection is commonplace, as Ms. Hastings’ own lawyer acknowledges in the story. The parties did not reach an agreement, however.

Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is a welcoming, engaged and vital community of students, employees, donors and friends.

We strive to preserve an open and respectful environment for everyone. As Ms. Hastings learned during her very brief employment, we will not continue a relationship with a person who does not demonstrate these values.

I now look forward to focusing upon the successes of our students, faculty and the entire MCLA community.

Very truly yours, James F. Birge, Ph.D. President

RALLY Continued from page 1 “It is not normal to hate a kind of person,” Davis said to a roar of approval. “That is a sickness. So I beseech all of you to love, love as hard as you can.”

Davis called for MCLA to embrace not just the fire within the people as individuals, but the fire inside the entire campus. Togetherness above all. Adazae Shepherd-Edwards gave a rousing speech from her perspective as an AfricanAmerican woman. She pointed out that it was impossible to change the color of her skin or her womanhood overnight.

Shepherd-Edwards went on to call on the LGBTQA community, Muslims, Latinos and Latinas to share accountability in checking the power and policy of a President Trump.

The rally was poetic in nature, using the fear and uncertainty of the recent election to harness the healing power of unity. E.D Bibbons was one of the first people to stand up, and they immediately set the tone with a strong spoken-word speech.

“To love in front of the faces who want to see you burn is the greatest victory of all,” Bibbons, who simply goes by E.D, said.

Ian Sullivan, a gay man and video game lover, stood up and spoke about the quick 180 in the way minority groups are treated immediately following Trump’s electoral victory.

“If you hear somebody say faggot, or even triggered, in poor taste, tell them no,” Sullivan said. “If we all make the difference, everyone will make the difference.”

One of the last people to speak, but perhaps the most electrifying speaker, was Bryanna Bradley. She stood in front of the crowd, even as some commotion began to overtake the crowd, and pleaded for people to be proud to be themselves.

“You were born in this body, you were created in this body,” Bradley said. “Do not let people come in and try to invade your space. Use your body, use your mind. Because it is powerful.”

Speaking of a need for comfort within one’s own skin, Bradley pleaded for everybody in the crowd to accept themselves, in order to accept all others around them.

Even though the rally was coming to a close at this point, those attending were overtaken

by Bradley’s powerful words and her composure as a public speaker.

SGA President Tim Williams, who identifies as gay, was proud of the MCLA community’s ability to come together in an attempt to make a statement.

“It means a lot to see solidarity for the gay community, people of color, LGBTQA people,” Williams said. “As SGA President it is important that people are getting involved in the community.”

The rally was not without incident, however. Peter Chase, a senior computer science major, had several heated exchanges with people in the crowd who believed he was disrespecting the event. There was no violence, but the threat was there. Chase was eventually showed out the door, but returned for a short period.

“Everyone is talking about how they feel so scared and threatened, and they can’t even see the irony in verbally and physically harassing someone because they’re smiling,” said Chase.

Chase admitted that he was indeed laughing because a speaker admitted that she had not been able to complete homework assignments due to Trump’s victory on Nov. 8.

12

Photo Essay

Thursday, November 17, 2016

Lee Skerry, junior, shows great emotion as Ophelia in Yorick’s production of “Hamlet “on Saturday night.

Beacon.MCLA.edu

Joe Sabin, junior, Tim Downs, sophomore, and Sebastian Phillips, freshman, create a comical atmosphere among the crowd with their playwithin-a-play of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

Yorick's Second Annual Banquet and Auction

Sophomores Kevin Mcgrath and Tim Downs play Gloucester and Edmund in “King Lear.”

Claire Harrison, junior, enjoys the masquerade theme before the banquet begins.

Joe Sabin, junior, as Thisbe mourns for the loss of Pyramus played by Sebastian Phiips, freshman.

Photos By Domonique Ackley

Mitchell McCauley, sophomore, playing Sir Toby Belch, fell for the enticing plan of Maria played by Joslyn Eaddy, junior.