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Volume 83 ◆ Issue 7
Th u r s d ay, N o v e m b e r 3 , 2 0 1 6
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Inside
SSDP on Question 4
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New Spires Website
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Men’s Soccer defeats falcons
ARAMARK animal welfare petition circulates By Kelsey Kistner Staff Writer
The Humane League, an international farm animal protection organization, has created a petition against ARAMARK, the second largest food company in the United States, urging them to create a more impactful animal welfare policy that improves the wellbeing of chickens raised for meat. This petition outlines the “abuse” chickens raised for ARAMARK’s supply chains are subjected to. It states that ARAMARK “offers no protection for these gentle, sensitive birds.” “The Humane League works to reduce the suffering of animals living on factory farms,” Taylor Ford, corporate campaigns manager at The Humane League, said. “As a nonprofit seeking to have the largest impact possible, we are now advocating for chickens raised for meat, as they represent the majority of farmed animals abused for food.” This petition is part of a larger campaign launched by The Humane League against
Photo by Domonique Ackley/The Beacon
Chicken sandwhiches served during Sunday’s lunch. ARAMARK in September to “end its support of some of the worst abuses against chickens.” The campaign asks ARAMARK
to implement a three-part policy that would reduce unnatural breeding, create better living environments, and improve
slaughter methods. “In addition to being one of the largest companies to commit to purchase only cage-free eggs
in the United States by 2020, we are actively working to address animal welfare related to the growing conditions for chickens raised by our suppliers,” said Karen Cutler, vice president of Corporate Communications at ARAMARK. Cutler explained that this campaign falsely claims that ARAMARK does not have policies to protect these chickens and referred to their Animal Welfare Principles and Policy available through ARAMARK’s website. The policy states “ARAMARK suppliers must strive for an environment that is consistent with the “five freedoms” of animal welfare developed by the Farm Animal Welfare Committee (FAWC) of the United Kingdom.” The five freedoms outline living conditions for animals raised for meat. For example, the first one is defined as freedom from thirst, hunger and malnutrition. The Humane League’s campaign press release claims ARAMARK responded to the ARAMARK Continued on page 3
Political commentator Cokie Roberts The Berkshire talking tonight at Campus Center By Harmony Birch Editor-in-Chief
This year’s 6th Annual Michael S. and Kitty Dukakis Public Policy Lecture is all about the 2016 election and the electoral college. Mary Martha Corinne Morrison Claiborne Roberts best known as “Cokie,” is kicking this year’s lecture series off. Roberts is a political commentator who’s been working for NPR since 1992. Roberts mother was Lindy Boggs, the first woman from Louisiana to be elected congresswoman. Her father was also a congressman of Louisiana. Roberts went on to become Congressional Correspondent, and now works on Morning Edition. Professor David Cupery said Roberts was chosen because of student interest in the election. “People are disillusioned with the news they see. We wanted to tap into student interest in the election and get students further engaged,” Cupery said. In addition to her work on NPR Roberts also works for Abc as a political commentator. “These were two networks that a lot of people were exposed to; we want someone with name recognition,” Cupery said.
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Cokie Roberts Roberts was chosen according to Cupery because she has important insight into how the electoral system works and because she was a woman. The Public Policy board tries to keep speakers diverse, according to Cupery. “That’s a priority that we have every year,” Cupery said. She was
also chosen for her insight into the election. Cupery says his students are very invested in the outcome. He describes his students as both curious and apprehensive about what political forecast Roberts might give them. They’re looking for someone to sort the mess out for them. “They’re excited. Maybe excited is an overly positive way of looking at it. I think they’re a little bit scared as well,” Cupery said. Throughout the 2016 election Roberts has been particularly critical of Presidential candidate Donald Trump. Her anti-Trump column co written with her husband, Steve Roberts in the Topeka Capital Journal even warranted an article about Cokie Roberts’s role in NPR because traditionally fulltime staff are not allowed to make their political views public. “She hasn’t been a Trump fan so much, but I’m not sure many political commentators are,” professor Samantha Pettey said. Roberts will be lecturing in the Amsler Campus Center Gym tonight at 7 p.m. The event is open to the public. A student Q&A will be held earlier at 3:30 p.m. in the Center for Science and Innovation room 121.
Food Project needs your help By Mitchell Chapman Managing Editor
The Berkshire Food Project holds a community meal Monday through Friday, serving between 80 and 100 people every day. However, volunteering has been low in the last year. “We’ve been doing this for over 30 years,” Valeris Schwarz, executive director of Berkshire Food Project, said. “We hold the meals at the dining hall in the 1st Congregational Church in North Adams.” According to Schwarz, the Food Project needs people for food preparation, serving, and cleanup. The community meals happen between 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., with serving happening around noon. The organization particularly needs people to stick around for serving and cleanup. “A lot of people leave after preparation,” Schwarz said. “Tuesdays and Fridays volunteering is particularly low.” The Berkshire Food Project has a core team of about 3-4 members, with 10-13 people volunteering in total. With low volunteering, this has dangerously stretched out the core team. “My goal is to have [the core volunteer] people come in only once or twice a week, as opposed to the three to five days some of them are doing,” Schwarz said. “The ideal number of volunteers per day for what we are would be between 8 to 10. We’re not there yet.” BERKSHIRE FOOD Continued on page 3
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SSDP: “Education, not incarceration” Why Students For Sensible Drug Policy Are Voting “Yes” On Question #4 By Hannah Snell
Special to the Beacon On this coming election day, there is more at stake than just Hillary or Trump. Massachusetts residents will be voting on ballot initiatives including whether or not to put the cap on charter schools, conditions for farm animals, slot machine gaming, and recreational marijuana use. The Students For Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) chapter at MCLA will be voting “yes” on Question 4, a ballot initiative which would legalize recreational marijuana use for adults 21-years-old and up. The SSDP contemplated different strategies to involve MCLA students in this step against the War on Drugs. This ballot initiative is one the organization feels strongly about, and its current priority this fall is ensuring its passage. “Yes on four is important to us because it is a huge step in a more progressive approach to drug policy in Massachusetts,” said SSDP Vice President Julia Daly. “As we have seen from other states that have done this, it is good for the economy, and it lowers the amount of people going to prison for cannabis use, which is proven safer than use of substances like tobacco and alcohol.” If Question 4 is passed, it will be regulated by the state in a similar way to alcohol. The state will be able to tax it, regulate its production, and ensure that the facilities are safe. Smoking marijuana or other cannabis usage in public will also be prohibited, similar to alcoholic beverages, according to Regulate Massachusetts. SSDP is hoping that a “yes” on Question 4 will make marijuana usage safer for those who choose to take it and that it will have a positive impact on the state’s socio-economic
climate. focused club. Regulate Neither of those Massachusetts things are true,” argues if the Daly comstate votes “yes” mented. “Inon Question 4, stead of people it will help the asking us about state fight the the club, we are opioid crisis, often met with despite arguside glances, ments that marand eye rolls ijuana is a “gate[at open houses way” drug. The and campus term “gateway events], espedrug” refers to cially by parsubstances that ents.” lead to usage There are of other, more also many misdangerous subconceptions stances and adthat the SSDP diction. believe affect “[If Quespublic opinion tion 4 is passed] of Question 4. Anyone can “It’s not just grow their own an issue of kids marijuana and who want to Photo by Harmony Birch/The Beacon smoke pot. It’s cities can set up businesses to Nick Tardive, Students for a Sensible Drug Policy’s (SSDP) PR chair, an issue of the give it to people showcases his support for Question 4. prison system, who don’t want feminism, and added. “Things that people were to grow it on police brutality,” their own. This way it’s safer because worried about, like youth use, have said Casamassima. “We want to you know what you’re getting,” said shown no increase.” work on educating people on the inMedical marijuana is currently tersectionality of the War on Drugs SSDP President Milena Casamassina. “A lot of people think that it’s legal in Massachusetts, but residents and bring people together to share a gateway drug, but it’s really more have still found that access to it is dif- their experience.” ficult and limited. because of the market that it’s in.” Even if Massachusetts votes “yes” “One thing that is a big issue is on Question 4 this November, CasaIf Question 4 is passed, Massachusetts will join states that current- that we have medical marijuana, massima acknowledges that the ly have legalized recreational mari- but you kinda have to jump through fight is still not over for the SSDP. juana, including Colorado, Oregon, hoops to get it,” remarked Casamas“Whether or not it is passed, there sina on the problems with the cur- is still work to be done,” CasamasAlaska and Washington. “If we look at states like Colorado rent legislation. sima said. “Will dispensaries actuPublic perception of the organiza- ally be created? Will the bill be foland Washington, where recreational use of cannabis is legal, we see de- tion and its values has continued to lowed?” creases in violent crime, fiscal ben- be a recurring roadblock. SSDP is a national organi“People hear ‘Students for Sen- zation that believes in taking efits, and Colorado has even seen tax dollars going to things like new sible Drug Policy’ and automatically a holistic approach to fightschools instead of putting people in think that we are either the ‘drug ing the War on Drugs, such as jail for marijuana possession,” Daly club’ or that we are an abstinence- identifying the root of the issue
and recognizing it as a complex, intersectional problem. The organization is not “pro-drugs” or “anti-drugs,” but merely “proeducation,” according to Casamassima, as well as the official SSDP mission statement. The SSDP has worked to educate students about various types of substances and their effects, as well as the issues with the current criminal justice system in America. “One thing that we highlight is that people will use drugs. Sensible drug policy is one where the end goal is not to eliminate drugs completely,” noted Casamassina. “A sensible approach would be educating people, helping people, and keeping them safe if they do decide to take drugs. One of our main sayings is ‘education, not incarceration.’” Safety and education are issues the organization takes very seriously, as proved by past initiatives. The SSDP chapter at MCLA has been responsible for policy changes, such as the Good Samaritan Policy (GPS). “The GPS prioritizes calling for help in a drug or alcohol related emergency on campus over punishment,” explained Daly. “If you think you or a friend’s life is in danger because of drug or alcohol consumption, there will not be disciplinary action taken if you call for help.” For the upcoming school year, the SSDP is planning on participating in MCLA’s annual Day of Service as a campus organization. There is also speculation about possible fundraisers, such as open-mic events and hosting speakers.
SGA: Public safety, committee conundrum By Nick Tardive Staff Writer
Public Safety Officer Josh Thomas came to SGA’s meeting on Monday to discuss the recent string of robberies committed on campus, as well as to advertise the Guardian app. “This incident did take place in a dormitory,” Thomas said, “Always lock your rooms. The incidents that do occur are opportunists.” Early last week, MCLA student Wesley Melo and Justin Perez of Roxbury, Melo’s guest, were arrested for burglary and possession of stolen property. Thomas explained that, in many cases, on-campus thefts spawn when students watch peers, test doorknobs, etc., so that they don’t have to go out of their way to rob someone. The officer urged students to lock doors, close windows and always have their keys on them.
“Just be cognizant of what’s going on around you,” He said, “And don’t be afraid to speak up. You guys are the ones who help us out the most. We rely on the student body to help us help you.” Thomas also implored the students to download the Guardian app, which he said was how campus safety was tipped off regarding the college burglaries. He said that tips could be anonymous, although generally it is better for the officers to have a person to speak to in order to further investi-
gate a tip. Guardian can be used not just to alert the police, but any family or friends a person would want notified in case of an emergency. Jake Vitali, the Class of 2020’s Class Representative, inquired as to whether or not the school might consider changing its oncampus guest policy. Thomas admitted that he believes the incident was an isolated one, and that the screening process for guests could be an invasion of privacy. During the meeting, Senator Allen pointed out that although Treasurer LaVoice had announced the Budget Finance Committee was meeting Wednesday at 7 pm in the SGA office, on a sheet being passed around the time was listed as 6 pm. LaVoice admitted that she pushed back the meeting time because members had not been attending the meetings.
“Committees are important,” SGA Adviser Jenn Craig said, “You are elected to be in this position, so you have to make sure that you are going.” LaVoice announced that the Budget Finance Committee had finished a re-design of the supplemental budget request forms. Although the contents are the same, the layout is different. President Williams announced that Lever Inc. is in talks with the College to install raspberry pi computers that would measure smart phone usage on campus. Lever has been spending the past few years looking at foot traffic brought into North Adams and Williamstown by FreshGrass and other local music festivals. On Thursday, the Michael and Kitty Dukakis Lecture series will feature journalist and author Cokie Roberts. The question and answer is at 3:30
pm in the Feigenbaum Center for Science and Innovation room 121, while the lecture itself will be in the Campus Center Gym at 7 pm. Also on Thursday is the Campus Conversations on Race in Sullivan Lounge at 8 pm. SAC will be screening Captain America: Civil War, also in Sullivan Lounge at 8 pm. Senator John J. Kelly has been doing his best to mockingly block the formal motion to adjourn. At the beginning of the semester, his nay vote stood, in a snarky solitude. Each meeting he seems to get more people to vote no in jest, to the point where Adviser Craig had to warn people that “once a motion fails, you can’t make the same motion.” Williams pleaded to be given executive power so SGA could adjourn regardless, in case the joke went too far by accident.
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Thursday, November 3, 2016
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BERKSHIRE FOOD Continued from page 1
Photo by Domonique Ackley/The Beacon
Photo by Emily Gabert/The Beacon
Berkshire Towers received much-needed new furniture last year.
Upgrades are coming to Berkshire Towers By Emily Gabert
Staff/Features Writer Berkshire Towers will soon have new bathrooms, lighting, fire sprinklers and suite doors in time for the upcoming 20172018 academic school year. These upcoming renovations are funded by the Massachusetts State College Building Authority (MSCBA). The College will be receiving about $2 million from the organization. MSCBA helps fund renovations for nine schools across the state of Massachusetts, MCLA being one of them. Money for the program is entirely funded by rent and fees paid to institutions by students. The organization also refurbishes dining, athletics, parking and other student space according to their website. “The summer of 2017 will be the third year of a three-year renovation project on the residential floors of Berkshire Towers,” explained Dianne Manning, director of Residential Programs and Services (RPS). “In 2015 we did all the suite lounges and replaced all the suite lounge furniture. In 2016, this past summer, we renovated all the hallways. Both the suite lounge renovations and hallway renovations we put in new LED lighting and it included raising all the fire sprinkler pipes under the ceiling. The third phase of this program is addressing the bathrooms.” New vanities, sinks, mirrors and lighting will embellish all residential bathrooms in the residence hall. Toilet stalls will also now match the shower stalls. The goal of these cosmetic changes is to help liven up Berkshire Towers and to make it more appealing for students to live in. Manning reported that she has heard some word in the past of the building feeling “claustrophobic.” She works with the RPS advisory board to find out feedback from students on what they think of residential buildings. In 2014 students got to help pick out furniture for Berkshire Towers that was brought and shown to the school by furniture vendors. “Once this renovation is over, we’ve pretty much renovated everything there needs to be renovated except for the elevator lob-
bies,” said Manning. “One other thing that we’re doing, apart of this renovation this summer, is we’re changing the suite doors so that they have a little glass area [on the door] instead of being a solid door like they are now.” The model suite on the first floor of the A tower has a sneak peek into the renovations for the whole building. The door already sports the new glass window for suite doors, and the bathrooms are already updated. The model suite is usually the suite shown to students when they go on tour of MCLA’s campus. In the future, Manning hopes to fix up the elevators and fix the lighting; renovating the actual dorm room is on the list, too. Manning looks at renovations as “a balance of time and money.” Manning hinted that there are a lot of “behind the scenes” projects going on, too. Mechanical rooms are receiving upgrades and the fire alarms are on schedule to be replaced. “I call those things the less ‘sexy’ projects….students are always appreciate of the changes in the living environment, but it’s also important to make sure those things that they don’t think about, turn on the water and it’s hot or flush the toilet and it flushes, that those things are also taken care of as well,” she said. The last major upgrade the building got was back in about 2008. There was originally no common area downstairs for students to socialize, so it was added to make the building more open. Right now, Berkshire Towers has roughly 280 students. This is many more than the residence hall had last year. “When we have that little window put in the suite door, that means you can have your door closed,” Manning said, “and still look and see ‘oh my friends in the lounge, I’m going to go in there’ as opposed to just seeing a solid door. I think that will bring the floor together more because it won’t be like there’s three apartments, which is kind of the way it appears right now. It will just make it more social, I think.”
ARAMARK commonly serves chicken patties. ARAMARK of working with growers to Continued from page 1 determine how to stop abuse while being able to supply the campaign by recognizing issues large purchasing volumes it in the poultry industry “while still requires. Jamien Meservey, the vice refusing to take clear action… Though ARAMARK announced president of the MCLA Wildlife its policy earlier this year, the Society club, explained the corporation has not presented difficulty in stopping this abuse. “Everyone is aware of it but a plan or timeline for when it will implement its vague welfare no one actually sees it so no one is that concerned,” Meservey initiatives.” According to Ford, chickens said. “It’s hard to break through should be treated with the amount speculation and convince people this is really happening.” of respect given to cats and dogs. According to Meservey, these malpractices “I feel strongly that it is ceasing ARAMARK’s responsibility, as a expands further than petitions provider of food for thousands of and campaigns. “It is also a socioeconomic students, to work towards more humane treatment of animals,” he issue and at this point in time with the economy it is not feasible, as said. Aramark supplies much as I would like it to be,” she documentation titled Broiler said. “These malpractices are used Chicken Facts that addresses to produce more food to keep the this statements. It reads “We price low so everyone can afford are actively working with meat.” Meservey explained that we poultry suppliers to develop specific timelines for improving have to analyze the deeper aspects of this issue, like socioeconomics conditions for broiler chickens.” Cutler explained that and population, before any real ARAMARK is in the process difference can be made.
On Oct. 22, The Berkshire Eagle published an article detailing the nonprofit’s struggle, titled “When the helpers need help.” According to Schwarz, since that article was published, the Food Project has gained three or four volunteers. “People responded quickly,” she said. However, there is still more work to be done, as in addition to low volunteer numbers, the organization is $15,000 behind in fundraising. However, the Food Project is incapable of fundraising for itself at the time of publication due to a blackout period in fundraising; a measure put in place so that the Food Project does not end up competing with organizations like the Berkshire United Way. Students can fund-raise for the Food Project. Schwarz encouraged students to be creative, citing events Williams College has done for the Food Project, ranging from an ice cream social for hunger to an empty bowl event, to a basketball game with sponsors inc. collaboration with the campus sports teams. Schwarz encouraged students interested in volunteering to contact her through 413-664-7378. On Nov. 21., The Berkshire Food Project is also making a community Thanksgiving dinner, and are looking for groups to help with preparation and cleanup. Volunteers will stay between 3 and 7:30 p.m. There will also be extra preparation for this meal Nov. 20, from 2-4 p.m., in which volunteers will peel potatoes.
Know the facts before voting for Question 4 By Mitchell Chapman Managing Editor
Question 4 on the Massachusetts presidential ballot would legalize recreational marijuana for individuals 21 years or older, something many see as long overdue. “It’s time to get this over with,” Massachusetts State Senator Will Brownsberger said in a statement. “The prohibition approach to the control of marijuana use just has not worked.” A significant number of legislatures counter the proposal, specifically Governor Charlie Baker and Mayor Marty Walsh. Both have spear-headed an anti-marijuana campaign entitled “Campaign for a Safe and Healthy Massachusetts.” “The marijuana industry stripped control away from homeowners and communities under Question 4 because they knew that people do not want pot shops in their own neighborhoods,” the campaign wrote in a statement. “Under Question 4, local communities and homeowners are given significantly less ability to restrict the number or location of marijuana businesses than we have seen in the Massachusetts casino
law, the medical marijuana law, and even marijuana legalization laws in other states.” Restrictions and health concerns are key to the anti-marijuana campaign. For example, Walsh has tried to tie marijuana to alcohol abuse. “This is a very personal issue. I’ve been in the recovery community myself for over 20 years,” Walsh said at the news conference. “Alcohol got me into that community, but for a lot of other people, smoking marijuana started that journey into addiction.” According to drugabuse.gov, marijuana use can be linked to use of other substances, but most marijuana users do not go on to use harder drugs. Hemp, a cannabis sativa plant with low THC (marijuana plants are cannabis sativa plants with high THC concentrations), also has many industrial uses, including fabric, plastic and paper, which has incentived companies in these industries to spread false information about marijuana and the cannabis plant in general. For instance, the Berkshire United Way recently published an article claiming that marijuana negatively affects IQ, citing a single University of Oregon study from 2012. However, this study
failed to take into account other possible environmental factors that negatively affect IQ. A 2016 study from Cornell University found no link between marijuana and lessened IQ, finding a similar drop over time between users and non-users alike. The Berkshire United Way lists Onyx Specialty Papers and SABIC (a plastics company with strong ties to the middle east) among their “leading corporate investors.” The Beacon encourages readers to consider any conflict of interest a source might have when considering their claims. Medical marijuana is already legal in Massachusetts, but it has faced many roadblocks including supply shortages and lack of dispensaries. Legal red tape has made it difficult for dispensary owners to make a profit and for medical marijuana card holders to find the product they need. A “Yes” vote on Question 4 would alleviate most of these problems, but by doing so would allow anyone of age to buy and sell marijuana, which will cause some growing pains as new industries are fully realized in the state. A “No” vote would perpetuate the current problems medical marijuana has, while continuing prohibition.
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Editorial
The Beacon
Internet Safety—no room for error Cartoonist Randall Munroe recently remarked that “through 20 years of effort, we’ve successfully trained everyone to use passwords that are hard for humans to remember, but easy for computers to guess.” 12 Characters. Numbers and symbols, lower-case, upper. It’s a stressful but a necessary task in this day and age. Online security seems like an almost antiquated thought now, six years after “Catfish” first premiered, and 13 years after myspace appeared online, it is as pertinent as ever that you always exercise caution when you make friends online. According to a study conducted by Pew Research Center For Teen Relationships, more than 57 percent of all teens have made friends online. In the internet era, people get married after meeting online. But scrutiny is always wise. Even at MCLA there have been multiple instances
of catfishing in the last few semesters, one as recent as this fall. While it is fairly difficult to deduce the validity of these things, there
2014 more than 500 million account passwords were stolen. Yahoo said it believed a “state-sponsored actor” or, an individual acting on
To avoid being catfished, hacked, or otherwise endangered by the internet, protect your personal information. seems to be some general agreement that they do happen. On a more disturbing note, there are more abhorrent grievances occurring on the internet than at the personal level—over the last five years more than 500 million passwords have been hacked in huge data breaches from email and various corporate and consumer username sites. The largest was Yahoo in September, who admitted that in late
behalf of or contracted by the government was behind the act. That’s kind of outrageous, but in the age of ballot voting hacking, DNC corroboration scandals and a Donald J. Trump presidential campaign, it’s not that shocking anymore. To avoid being catfished, hacked, or otherwise endangered by the internet, protect your personal information by keeping trackers at bay through browser apps like Ghosterly.
Be sure to change up your password every six months, don’t leave yourself logged in on public computers, and don’t accept friend requests from people you don’t know. While Tindering, Okay Cupiding, or otherwise getting your online dating game on make sure you don’t send money to your potential SO’s, or give them personal information. People without social media accounts, or with exceptionally low social media connections, are likely to be fake. Also look out for people who look like models, with only modelworthy shots. Don’t forget to be weary of anyone who likes you too much too fast, no one’s love can be that genuine or real. You don’t have to be a computer programmer, but being computer literate is a must in today’s complex cyber land. At least, don’t use your pets’ names as passwords.
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.
“What were your plans for Halloween?”
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 Video Editor Dan Wohler
Staff
Staff Writers Emily Gabert Nick Tardive Kelsey Kistner
“Took my daughter trick or treating” - Ashley Levesque, Subway
“I watched horror movies.” - Caleb Giard, 2020
“I worked, all day” - Erin Hartwig, ARAMARK
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
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Facebook.com/MCLABeacon Twitter.com/TheBeacon_MCLA “I dressed up as a greaser and went out with a couple of my buddies to Boston” - Joe Wiggins, 2018
“ I handed out candy back home.” - Macie Terrel, 2020
Photos by Shunquell Dennis
“I ate candy.” - Victoria Papetti,2020
Opinion & Editorial
Thursday, November 3, 2016
By Samwise Fox
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Joseph Carew Features Editor
Mitchell Chapman
Managing Editor
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Curious Case of
REDRUM
Will the Nintendo Switch be the death of the 3DS? Nintendo has recently unveiled their ninth generation console, the Nintendo Switch, which seeks to be a hybrid between a mobile device and a dedicated home console. The upcoming console will use game cards instead of discs, and resembles a tablet, which might put Nintendo’s DS line of handheld consoles in an awkward position. When the Switch is on the go, it aims to emulate a tablet gaming experience, with the only major difference being the detachable button controllers that come with the console. The Switch will have a major advantage over the iPad when it comes out, being that it is built for gaming by the most successful handheld console creators of all time, but might lack when it comes to other applications, given Nintendo’s past insistence of limiting
their devices to first party apps. That being said, the Nintendo 3DS is far from a tablet gaming experience. Every Nintendo DS console has always included two small screens; one being a touch screen, one not, with immovable, dedicated buttons for quick and convenient gaming on the go. It can fit in your pocket, and has just enough processing power for games to look good on its small screens, but not enough to drive up the price, unlike the still struggling PS Vita. The DS has also been virtually unchallenged during its entire lifetime, with its best opponent being the PSP. Though it is true that iOS might’ve stolen some of the 3DS’s thunder, iOS devices aren’t made for gaming first; they’re designed to accommodate for a million apps, but not to specifically run any of
those apps well. As such, an average iOS game in no way equates to an average 3DS game, as iOS is severely limited by memory and as a result, oversimplification. If anything, the Switch might function more like a large 3DS when on the go, but in no way will replace it. Nintendo President Tatsumi Kimishima has told Bloomberg that the company will continue to develop 3DS software after the Switch is out, stressing the difference between the two consoles and citing how the 3DS has sold over 60 million units worldwide. Will the next 3DS sell 60 million units? Probably not, especially if it shares a great deal of titles with the Switch, but it might not remain the solid base of Nintendo that it currently is.
Automotive journalist’s and autonomous cars
It would seem inevitable that all cars will become fully autonomous. Within the automotive industry there already are technologies that assist in driving like braking-assist, cruise control, and short-range autonomous driving. On top of this there are major car companies that are working on and successfully testing fully autonomous vehicles and have been for years. Even companies outside the realm of cars like Google are working with the technology. As with any new advance, however, there will be skepticism and distrust on the part of the media and the public. Deserved or not it is a fact of life, but apparently not to Tesla CEO Elon Musk. While discussing coverage of a recent autonomous car crash that resulted in the death of the driver Musk said: “One of the things I should mention that frankly has been quite disturbing to me is the degree of media coverage of Autopilot crashes, which are basically almost none relative to the paucity of media coverage of the 1.2 million people that die every year in manual crashes. [It is] something that I think does not reflect well upon the media. It really doesn’t. Because, and really you need to think carefully about this, because if, in writing some article that’s
negative, you effectively dissuade people from using an autonomous vehicle, you’re killing people.” There’s a lot to unpack there but his point is well taken. To Musk self-driving cars are inherently safer than traditional models. Therefore any misrepresentation of their overall safety affects people’s opinions directly and forces them into a more dangerous car. But there always will be crashes, especially with this new technology. “And despite aggressive risk management, autonomous vehicles will no doubt be involved in crashes that could jeopardize consumer and regulator acceptance,” writes Christopher E. Borroni-Bird and Lawrence D. Burns in the August 2016 issue of Car and Driver. I agree with Musk that driverless cars will be inevitable and most likely safer but at this moment in time, when they are still a new technology, they have and deserve much more coverage than traditional cars. It is the journalist’s responsibility to cover any new advancement and the benefits and consequences that come with it. In short, journalists have to cover these crashes and to best ensure that the media doesn’t focus too much on your autonomous cars, Mr. Musk, make sure they don’t crash.
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Thursday, november 3, 2016
Arts & Entertainment
Beacon.MCLA.edu
The Harlequin Revue displays student talent
Musical theater medley brought a strong show of force from a large and laudable ensemble
By Emma Monhan A&E Review
This past Saturday, MCLA’s musical theater group, Harlequin, showcased their annual fall revue for the community. The two act show, consisting of 23 pieces in total, included comical performances, bittersweet senior solos, and catchy show tunes, all from a variety of musicals spanning 50 years, from “Cabaret” to “In The Heights”. Each number was directed by a different student, adding to the variety of vision and performance. The show’s opening number, “Hey Good Lookin” from “Dogfight”, was one of the pieces that had a comedic side, which is something students in the crowd enjoyed. Shouts from the audience were heard as their friends took stage, especially during the more raunchy moves. Newcomers Devin Gibbs,
Nate Abell, and Sebastian Phillips were all able to show off their talent in “96,000” from “In The Heights”, which was the final piece of the night, consisting of not only singing, but rap as well, making it a crowd pleaser. Almost 20 new club members showed off their vocals. Nine senior solos took the stage that night, too. Victoria Fernadez’s performance of “Fabulous Baby” from “Sister Act” was the first of the night, and her vocals were clean and powerful, just as the song was. Breana Gladu brought in the humor, though, with her performance of ”I’m Not Pregnant, I’m Just Fat” from “R.R.R.E.D a Secret Musical”, leaving the audience laughing and cheering her on as she sang about cookies and cakes. Another senior solo that stood out was “Breathe” from “In The Heights” by senior Virvioly Valdez, with the help from Fernadez, Gladu, and junior Joslyn Eaddy, who sang backup in Spanish, which added
a wonderful cultural touch. The use of background singers was more common this year, also being used in Fernadez’s solo with seniors Brianna McDermott and Valdez. McDermott’s was the last solo of the night. The comical piece “When You Got It, Flaunt It” from “The Producers,” which also featured Dan Wohler and Conner Noblit, was marked by McDermott’s spot on Russian accent. And although there were many performances that truly captured the audience’s attention, it was Lee Skerry and Tim Downs duet of “Seventeen” from “Heathers” that really stood out Saturday night. Both Skerry and Downs had amazing chemistry throughout their performance, and their vocals together were outstanding. Harlequin has always been able to bring a smile to ones face and Saturday night they did just that. The spring musical will take place in March 2017.
The show’s opening number “Hey Good Lookin’” from “Dogfight”.
Rojas’s “body: one in a trinity” review A senior’s intimate and minimalist poetry colleaction with topics from admiration to reverence. By Ron Leja A&E Writer
“body: One in a Trinity” is a sublime treasure hidden beneath a simple design. At first glance, the book may not seem like much: A plain, glossy white with the word “body” scrawled in cursive across its face and made up of a mere 38 pages. But the poetry within, though minimal in it’s presentation, speaks volumes to the lovers and dreamers in all of us, providing a surreal type of imagery that perfectly encapsulates the ebb and flow of romance. Comprised of 33 short poems of the contemporary free verse variety, senior Yamileyka Rojas’s first published book of poetry touches primarily on concepts of love and relationships, love lost, the feelings those experiences bring about and the resulting after effect. Rojas manages to embellish emotions, fears and doubts that we have all felt at one time or another throughout our romantic endeavors, in a way that is both beautifully written and enlightening despite it’s simplicity. Rojas has been noted as stating that the theme of the book is one of balance, but arguably not in a typical sense.
Photo By Ron Leja / The Beacon
Yamileyka Rojas’s book of poetry, “body: one in a trinity,” published this year, is now available for sale at the MCLA bookstore. To find balance, in this case, seems to be the act of finding admiration for the human spirit, and learning to revere the parts of us that help us rise and overcome.
The introduction is itself a poem, and aims to establish this theme. She writes, “Written to the part of you that you so desire for someone else to hold. Written to the part of you that
keeps your heart beating, even after the strings have snapped.” While the receptivity of some of the poems do seem to fall within the realm of female perception, more so than men,
the subject matter is relatable to anyone who has lived and learned through loving and losing others. While poems such as “When You Say You’re Mine” and “Where We Left Off ” definitely envelop feeling of new found love and love lost from a female perspective, others are more general. The poems themselves are kept short and sweet, some only amounting to a few words a piece, but that in turn helps to really drive home the messages and lessons that Rojas writes about. The feelings that she expresses through her poetry are by no means simple, but are described in a way that is not only poetic and deep, but easily comprehended. The book’s only drawback is that it is admittedly short. Most readers will easily blaze through its entirety in a matter of minutes. However, the artistry of Rojas’s poetic capabilities is thought provoking, and will most likely leave readers looking over her poems several times before deciding to put the book down. The poems themselves are comprehensible, and beautiful in their openness. Overall, Rojas first published work is something genuine and engrossing, and most definitely deserving of admiration.
Thursday, november 3 2016
Arts & Entertainment
Beacon.MCLA.edu
7
Photo from Polyvinyl
American Football Album to hear series no. 5
By Jonathan Hoel A&E Editor
Photo By Domonique Ackley / The Beacon
“Spires:” moving into 2017 Literary arts magazine’s new website promotes a range of student work.
By Chris Riemer A&E Writer
For student artists at MCLA, the first opportunity to have work published may come in the form of “Spires”, an annual literary arts magazine that has promoted the best creative writing and visual art from the College since 2001. The magazine is going through some transitions for its 2017 edition, including some developments to the “Spires” website that have been planned since last year. “Spires” adviser Zach Finch emphasized that while the print edition and website share some similarities, the two mediums have different objectives. “The online platform will not be simply a simulacrum of the print edition,” Finch clarified. “The [e-board] intends to publish a wider variety of material online, first of all, possibly including essay reviews on creative writing, music, and art openings; an editor’s blog; profiles of students doing creative works on campus; video documents of performances, interviews with writers-in-residence, that kind of thing. But also, the website will publish new material on a ‘rolling’ basis, ideally every week or two.” “It’s exciting what they’re planning to do with ‘Spires’ and I see great potential for new writing venues for our students,” said Shawn McIntosh, assistant professor of digital journalism
Design by Shannon Cahill
and English/communications (Full disclosure Shawn McIntosh is one of the Beacon advisers). “It will give students more opportunities to get published.” If you couldn’t care less about a fancy website, and just want another attractive and welldesigned book to add to your collection, don’t fear: the quality of the print edition will not be compromised. However, the club’s focus is on promoting their work online, where it will have greater exposure to the increasing numbers of readers who get most of their literature on the internet. The name “Spires” comes from North Adams’s common nickname “the city of spires,”
because of the many buildings with spires in town (including one which was just demolished at the corner of Church and Eagle Street). Publishing fairly regularly, the new website will likely be a much more inclusive platform than the physical copy, which will function as a sort of Greatest Hits collection from the academic year. “Some of the work published on the website will indeed be considered for inclusion in the year-end print journal as well,” Finch noted. The most major change is that the print edition will no longer contain photographs. A hard version without photos will avoid the prohibitive expense of printing photos, while leaving more room for poetry and prose. “We decided to make the print version text-only to keep it sleeker and more traditional,” Shannon Cahill, “Spires” president, explained. “We’ve put art in the publication in the past, however, the cost and process used to put color photos into the magazine is expensive and we don’t get the flexibility with it that we want. We decided to suffer the loss of printed art in order to preserve the essence of the art by keeping it online.” The website will still feature visual art from students. The “Spires” physical version will be released in spring—you can keep up at mclaspires.com.
Over the past decade or so there has been an immersion of a new meta of album construct—the long awaited release. Often, when they finally come out, they are ultimately revealed or criticized for being over-thought or being unable to live up to the mammoth expectations. Some prime examples of this—Guns ‘N Roses “Chinese Democracy” 15 years in the making, My Bloody Valentine’s “m b v” 16 years in the making, were both regarded as disappointed and underwhelming. On the positive side of things, Frank Ocean’s “Blonde” or Fiona Apple’s ”The Idler Wheel…” were both years in the making but lived up to the hype surrounding their productions. Now, 17 years later, American Football has returned with their second LP following their self-titled debut in 1999. The Midwestern scene pioneered a particular vein of intricate instrumentation and classically pronounced emo melody and lyricism—bands like Joan of Arc, Mineral, Texas is the Reason, and—famously—Cap’n Jazz. Cap’n Jazz was formed in Chicago, by the Kinsella brothers—Mike and Tim. While Cap’n Jazz became successful within the scene in Chicago, it was always Tim’s band; Mike was just the drummer. American Football was a trio, formed by Mike Kinsella with drummer/trumpeter Steve Lamos and guitarist Steve Holmes. Their first album has been championed as massively influential to future emo bands as well as a huge success in its own right. The album is iconic for its lengthy and complex riffs and bizarre tunings. Shortly after its release, the band broke up, never really intending to go on a tour. In the years that followed, the acclaimed album’s reputation
grew and grew, leading to the eventual reunion tour in 2014. Another album was inevitable. Now, “American Football” the second, a slightly shorter album than their first effort and dizzied from nearly two decades of additional influence is here and as eloquently put by journalist Ian Cohen, possibly the most anticpiated emo album of all time. Kinsella’s continued his music career in the years since their first record, releasing records under the pseudonym owen. The owen records have been quiet, still focused on the complex guitar work American Football was so well-regarded for, but this time acoustic. The new album definitely acknowledges the softer tone of the owen albums—not that American Football was ever that hardened. Songs like “Where Are We Now?” and “Give Me The Gun” are very owen, lush and as enchanting as the best of his work from his solo efforts. Perhaps the best moment on the new record is the album’s leadoff single “I’ve Been Lost For So Long” a song as paradigmatic of the American Football aesthetic as could possibly be written. Kinsella opens the song bluntly, singing “If you need me, don’t. You can’t trust a man who can’t find his way home.” Of course, the primary worry with the record is the maturity. The lyricism of the original record is befitting for a couple guys in college, weary from heartache and depression. Here we have Kinsella at 39, whose lyricism has matured considerably since 1999. Does he come back into his American Football hat or carry on his current lyrical style? A little of both. Both albums are misty-eyed and wistful, crafting a very specific vein of emotion, a nostalgic and dreary return to it, but with the nuance and poise of veteran musicians attempting something new. It fails at this occasionally, but mostly is a success, and always an enjoyable one.
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Thursday, November 3, 2016
Features
Student reflects on life By Joseph Carew Features Editor
He was there at the fall of Saigon in 1975, at the US embassy in Beirut when it was bombed in 1983, and he has seen and done things no one will ever repeat. Senior Robin MacDonald looks to graduate MCLA this semester and add this degree to his impressive life resumé. “[I] served at the fall of Vietnam on a hospital ship,” MacDonald said. “I was at sea and seeing Saigon fall, you see all these refugees coming on board desperately on ship.” MacDonald joined the navy straight out of high school He didn’t know exactly what he wanted his life to become and so decided to spend his time on the ocean crossing the globe. “I loved to travel and it had been a great education. They offered the benefits and I decided to become a hospital corpsman because I wanted to heal,” MacDonald said. Part of his inspiration for joining the navy was his father, who had been a corpsman in the air force as well as the army before him as a field medic and a paratrooper. And so he found himself on the USS Sanctuary, the USS America, and the USS LaSalle through his navy career. He spent time traveling the eastern coast of the United States, through the Panama Canal and in the Mediterranean as well as the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean. “We had to keep it always clean if we were going to the Iranian port because the Shah might come to visit,” MacDonald said. “The Shah was a great guy. Very gentlemanly, he spoke perfect English, he was just a great guy.” Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was the Shahanshah, or Shah, of Iran from 1941 to 1979. His reign was ended in 1979 after a revolution was staged and an Islamic Republic was instituted. “The Japanese Emperor, President of Australia, the King of Malaysia,” MacDonald said. “We were always meeting VIPs; you had to always keep your ship clean. It was kind of prestigious because you were just sailing around to different ports, Malaysia and Singapore and Thailand.” After several years at sea visiting these exciting and tense places in the world, MacDonald returned to the land at the embassy in Beirut in order to help the marines there. “That’s where the bombing happened,” Macdonald said. “I was outside going to the dispensary, everything blew up, I got a shrapnel wound in the spine, it got removed two years later.” This event, considered the beginning of Islamist attacks on US targets, came in the wake of US intervention in the Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990). “I still get [some] nightmares, I still have some flashbacks, I’m not too good with hot weather,” he said. This is when his life began
Beacon.MCLA.edu
Norman Rockwell Museum discount By Joseph Carew Features Editor
Photo by Joseph Carew/The Beacon
Senior Robin MacDonald looks to graduate in December and has travelled around the globe. anew. Having been assigned caused another shift in focus. to work a naval hospital in His gut told him to return to Portsmouth, Virginia he decided school and to begin healing with to take reserve time to return to medicine again. He has always Cape Cod where it all began. followed his gut and rarely has “I decided to go back to the that led him wrong. cape and I was doing reserve “And I went to Berkshire time, two years, and went into the Community College (BCC) and Cape Cod Community College studied to become a massage (CCCC) to study to become a therapist,” MacDonald said. medical assistant,” MacDonald The advice of another professor said. allowed him to see a possible But he had already healed combination of the two pillars in through medicine and it was his life: music and medicine. time for a change. Encouraged “They’re both healing tools,” by a professor at the college, Dr. MacDonald said. Kidd, Robin dove into music and Music therapy ushered in the performing. third and most recent phase in his “He got me into the chorus, life. One in which he earned his the chamber choir, he kept saying certificate at BCC and transferred ‘come on, you got this talent, to MCLA in 2014, bringing don’t do what you did before,’” with him a life of experiences. MacDonald said. “I mean, that MacDonald knows Greek, was totally different. I was trying Hebrew, Arabic, Korea, Farsi and to adjust to a college life, which I English. found very difficult. I had more “I’m happily married, I’m conflicts with my professors who due to graduate in December,” were, in their time, anti-war, and MacDonald said. it was hard to adjust.” Being happily married and Music provided an outlet for soon to be a graduate, MacDonald him and he decided to pursue seems to have rebuilt a new life music from this point on at from that $50 in 1998, but coming CCCC. In a way music and his back to a university this time performances healed the wounds was difficult. Even some of the within MacDonald, completely professors are the same age as his changing his perspective. children making the experience Working in radio and pursuing an almost lonely one. music proved to be the best “Well I wish I could talk way for him to live until his life to somebody my own age,” changed again. It was 1998 and he MacDonald said. “But there’s a was left heartbroken. lot of respect here for the elder “My mother put me out here students.” with $50 in my pocket, no car But he holds little regrets about and my dad’s jacket and a room his life to this point. Through at the Y,” MacDonald said. “I everything he has done, Robin worked part time at WUPE and MacDonald has worked to heal then I did mostly retail. I learned his fellow man and woman just how to program a cell phone, sell like his father. a satellite dish, set a table, sell “A mentor of mine said that dishware…” there are things that I’ve done And then twelve years ago his which nobody else has done or father past away. The man had never will do in their lives,” he been an incredible impact in said. MacDonald’s life and the shock
Tucked into the woods of Stockbridge resides an unassuming museum on the top of a hill. Small statues poke out of the ground as you make you way up to the main building, a church-like structure with an all-white exterior. Through French doors and beside large columns, the entrance provides a first look at some of Norman Rockwell’s most famous pieces. The Norman Rockwell Museum is located in Stockbridge, MA and costs $10 for college students with ID. The exhibitions offer visitors the chance to see some of the painter’s most famous pieces in a quaint and warm atmosphere. Rockwell, the official state artist of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, tried to paint the portrait of life in the United States for decades. Rockwell was born in the late 19th century and spent his entire life creating. Having spent his life in New York State and Arlington, Vt., Rockwell moved to Stockbridge, Mass. in 1953. He eventually left his studio to a trust with the Old Corner House Stockbridge Historical Society. This became the Normal Rockwell Museum. The main room features “Stockbridge Main Street at Christmas” along with “Boy with Baby Carriage” and “No Swimming,” the latter two being some of his earlier Saturday Evening Post pieces. The entire building doesn’t take up more space than the average house, but is filled with some of the artist’s most impactful paintings.
The museum is open daily between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on weekdays and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends and holidays. Gallery talks start at 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. These talks give attendees a brief history of the painter and last twenty minutes.
Exhibitions
The exhibition “Presidents, Politics, and the Pen: The Influential Art of Thomas Nast” is also at the museum and will be view able through Dec. 4. Nast was an American caricaturist and editorial cartoonist whose pieces for numerous elections in the late 19th century are hung about the walls in chronological order. The examples of his works are typically from the magazine Harper’s Weekly and feature some of the most famous politicians of the day in brutally satirical ways. Norman Rockwell’s “323 ‘Saturday Evening Post’ Covers” - Some of the most iconic portrayals of life in the United States are present in this collection.
Upcoming
“Hanna-Barbera:The Architects of Saturday Morning” will be in the museum starting Nov. 12 and running through May 29, 2017. This exhibit will be “the first museum exhibition on the world’s most successful animation partnership,” according to nrm.org. The artists behind The Flintstones, The Jetsons and Scooby-Doo will make up this exhibit. Norman Rockwell’s “Home for the Holidays” will open at the museum on Nov. 22, 2016 and run through Jan. 29, 2017.
Photos by Joseph Carew/ The Beacon
Above: Visitors enjoy Norman Rockwell’s “Main Street.” Below: The Norman Rockwell Museum is open to visitors from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Campus Life
Thursday, November 3, 2016
Beacon.MCLA.edu
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Campus Safety Log
photo from beyondiam.com
“The Martian” book review By Lauren Levite Copy Chief
Book Club spent the first half of the semester reading “The Martian” by Andy Weir. When the Ares 3 mission crew has to evacuate Mars due to a storm, their botanist Mark Watney gets violently swept away by flying debris. Rather than risk the lives of everyone else, Commander Lewis is forced to declare him dead and leave as planned. Only, Watney is still alive and is now stranded on a barren planet with a food supply meant to last 60 days. The next mission to Mars is four years away, and all communication to Earth left with the spaceship. So the only thing left for Watney to do is, in his own words, “science the shit out of this.” Watney’s humor is the best thing about this book. It is the only way his character knows
how to deal with such a desperate situation and keeps him afloat when surviving gets hard. Various chapters from NASA’s scientists keep the dangerous reality of the situation constantly in the reader’s focus while also providing a break from Watney’s stream of consciousness point of view. A few members disliked the amount of science Weir incorporated into the book. It is not a matter of the science being unnecessary—it is certainly an important aspect of the story—but when Watney talks for three pages about the intensive math he performed to figure out how many calories he needed to eat to keep from starving, it become an arduous read. However, this should not deter anyone from picking up a copy at the library or the club’s book sale at the end of the semester. “The Martian” is
FINANCIAL AID ANNOUNCEMENT
a fantastic read for everyone, whether you are a fan of sci-fi or not. And the best part? There’s a great movie adaption to go along with it. Book Club will be showing Ridley Scott’s 2015 “The Martian” starring Matt Damon tomorrow in Sullivan Lounge at 6 p.m. Snacks will be provided! Meetings are Monday at 7 p.m. in Bowman 206. If you’d like to learn more, contact Lauren Levite on Outlook or visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ mclabookclub. Book Club’s next read will be “Every Day” by David Levithan. Extra copies are available. *If you would like to see your club with its own column, contact us at Beacon@mcla.edu. Disclaimer: Lauren Levite is both the president of Book Club and Copy Chief of the Beacon
Monday, Oct. 24 12:44 a.m. – Arrested subject(s) for suspicious activity on campus, charged them with having open warrants and receiving stolen property. Refer To Arrest: 16-11-AR in Public Safety Log, also refer to incident: 16-338OF. 1:23 a.m. – Arrested subject(s) after investigation on stolen property. 3:50 p.m. – Transported subject to hospital after responding to a medical call from Murdock Hall. Tuesday, Oct. 25 12:51 a.m. – Followed up on previous investigation in Hoosac Hall. Logged as unsuccessful. 11:04 a.m. – Received information on a 911 Hangup Call from Bowman Hall. 7:56 p.m. – Rendered services for suspicious activity in the Academic Quad. Wednesday, Oct. 26 4:13 p.m. – Filed report on a medical call from the Amsler Campus Center. Thursday, Oct. 27 8:29 a.m. – Rendered CORRECTIONS from Issue 6 Thursday, October 27 * On page one, in Harmony Birtch’s article about the Marketing digital intiaitive article Bernadette Alden wasn’t referencing the campaign as a double-edged sword, but rather the location. A few Strategic Planning Committee Member names were spelled incorrectly: Adrienne Wootters and Jake Eberwein. * On page 10 Jake Mendel’s column “Daily Fantasy” entitled “The worst two weeks of the
services for the Advancement Office burglary alarm. 5:11 p.m. – Filed report on a motor vehicle accident on Pleasant Street. 6:16 p.m. – Closed case on a safety hazard on MCLA Campus. 6:21 p.m. – Closed case on a safety hazard in the Hoosac Hall Resident Parking Lot. 6:42 p.m. – Investigated a 911 Hang-up Call from the Advancement Office. 7:00 p.m. – Referred a safety hazard in Murdock Hall Lot to other campus. Friday, Oct. 28 2:57 a.m. – Responded to a medical call from Berkshire Towers. 11:56 p.m. – Rendered services to a medical call from Hoosac Hall. Saturday, Oct. 29 3:04 a.m. – Transported subject from Public Safety for conduct violation. 8:41 p.m. – Closed case on suspicious activity in the Athletic Complex. 10:52 p.m. – Filed report on suspicious activity in the Center for Science and Innovation. year” the column was cut off, midsentence. The full article is available online at beacon.mcla. edu. * On page one, in the article about Senator Elizabeth Warren’s endorsement of Adam Hinds, the accompanying photographs of the two were not properly attributed. Warren’s photo was from her twitter profile, Hinds’ photo is credited to Eric Korenman Please email any errors in the paper to Beacon@mcla.edu
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FAFSA Update For 2017-2018! Complete Your 17-18 FAFSA Starting Oct. 1st! Make Sure You Complete It Early Financial Aid Will Be Awarded On A First Come, First Serve Basis. SPRING REGISTRATION IS HAPPENING SOON! CHECK WITH THE FINANCIAL AID OFFICE AND STUDENT ACCOUNTS FOR ANY HOLDS ON YOUR ACCOUNT! SCHOLARSHIP SEARCHES! APPLY ONLINE AT WWW.STUDENTSCHOLARSHIPS.ORG ALSO, REGISTER ON FASTWEB.COM FOR MORE FREE SCHOLARSHIP SEARCHES!
Wednesday, Nov. 16 at 6:30 p.m. in Murdock 218
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Thursday, November 3, 2016
Sports
Beacon.MCLA.edu
photo by Ron Leja/The Beacon
The senior class after, defeating the other classmen in tug of war, proudly displaying the winners trophy as well as their camaraderie and school spirit.
Midnight Madness: Trailblazer Pride By Brady Gerow and Lauren Levite
Sports Writer & Copy Chief Every year, Midnight Madness kicks off the men and women’s basketball season with a peprally type of event to celebrate the teams. With everything from tug-of-war to screaming wars between the graduating classes, Midnight Madness certainly
lived up to its name. The night started off with a performance from the NeXXus step team. The team’s returning performers stomped first, which segued into the introduction of the crew’s new members to cheers from the crowd. This was followed directly by a performance from the Cheer Squad, boasting an impressive acrobatic ability. Dance Company closed out the performances with a large group
Daily Fantasy:
Three ‘streaming’ running backs
By Jake Mendel Web Editor
The term ‘streaming’ is not often used for Daily Fantasy, but it should be. To ‘stream’ a position is often used in actual fantasy leagues. Streaming is when you don’t draft a position necessarily well, so instead you just look on the waiver wire for the best match-ups. This is a very good way to be successful, only if you stay on top of your waiver wire. When playing Daily Fantasy, you are streaming a new team each week. While you may want to target the better players, Daily Fantasy is about playing the best match-ups, so here are three running backs who may be stream-able in regular leagues who should still be looked at in Daily Fantasy. Charcandrick West $4,400- Last season when Jamaal Charles was dealing with his injuries, West was
the one who came out to replace him, not Spencer Ware. With Ware currently dealing with concussion issues, West suddenly becomes an interesting play in Andy Reid’s offense. Last week, he ran the ball 14 times for 52 yards. That would only improve if West got an entire week practicing with the first team. Mike Gillislee $4,100- Everyone in the NFL knew that LeSean McCoy should not have been in the game against the Dolphins two weeks ago. With that being said, Rex Ryan still played them and as a result, he is dealing with injury concerns. Gillislee is likely to start again for the Bills this week after a solid outing against the Patriots. He also caught all three of his targets in the passing game, giving his game another boost. Tim Hightower $4,000- Both Mark Ingram and Hightower fumbled in Sunday’s game, but since Hightower’s was recovered by the Saints, he didn’t finish with the same fate as Ingram, on the bench. Hightower took over in the “running back by committee” in which the Saints are going to use for the rest of the season. Ride the hot hand before it gets cold, especially when that hand just rushed for 100 yards and is about to play the 49ers.
number of exciting moves. Class competed against class with games like tug-of-war, team obstacle courses and, of course, basketball. The seniors proved themselves to have the toughest spirit with volunteers from the crowd pulling through to first place in a suspenseful dance-off and the tug-of-war. In the end, the Class of 2017 even beat the sophomores in a wild scream off. “Midnight Madness is always
a great time,” said senior Sara Williams. “I think it’s more fun for the seniors, because we know there will never be another.” The senior’s good night continued with a raffle for a free senior week package, a nominal value of up to $100. At the end of the night, Class President Tim Williams announced the winner to be Colleen Regal, who excitedly claimed her prize. Besides the seniors, the freshman class was the other
story of the night when it came to the games. Having won the hot-shot game, they came close behind the seniors in almost every match, placing second overall for the night. The Trailblazers’ basketball teams will both start their seasons on Nov. 15 with away games. The men travel to Lyndon State, while the women go to SUNY Cobleskill in search of their first wins of the season.
Men’s Soccer defeats Albertus Magnus Falcons 3-0
photo from athletics.mcla.edu
By Brady Gerow Sports Writer
Behind a career night from senior Anthony Basile, the men’s soccer team was able to take down the Albertus Magnus Falcons at Shewcraft Field on Tuesday Oct. 25. Late in the first half of play, Basile turned on the jets and never looked back.
The 41st minute of play is where Basile would begin his night, heading in a high cross from Khalil Kareh. “I’m not one to shy away from any aggressive play,” said Basile. “If anything I embrace it because it makes me want to play harder to earn the win.” It was this type of aggressive play that led Basile to his career 4-goal night. Basile claimed his hat-trick only two minutes into the
second half of play, giving the Trailblazers a comfortable 3-0 lead. “We have come a long way since the year started,” said Basile. “…With that said, all the credit goes to the team as everyone did their part to earn a big win.” With the help from his teammates, Basile was able to net his team leading tenth goal late in the game. On the other end of the field, junior keeper Kameron Anderson led the defense with three saves. The defense only had one breakdown the entire game. Falcon’s midfielder Matt Mueller converted a pass from midfielder Kaj Djonne into the Falcon’s only goal. Despite the breakdown in the 53rd minute of play, the Trailblazers backfield was a brick-wall. The Trailblazers are now 8-7-1 after dropping a tough 1-0 game to Framingham St. on senior night. MCLA has claimed the fourth seed in the MASCAC playoffs.
News
Thursday, November 3, 2016
MCLA’s student body shows off their school spirit at Midnight Madness on Wednesday night.
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The MCLA Cheer Squad riled up the crowd with an impressive display of dance moves.
Midnight Madness Photos By Ron Leja
Juniors battled seniors in a friendly game of tug of war.
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The men’s basketball team exploded on to the gym floor to the cheers of their fellow classmates.
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Thursday, November 3, 2016
Photo Essay
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Peter Pan raised his glass to not growing up with his lost boys on Saturday night in Church Street Center.
Harlequin's 14th Annual Musical Revue Photos By Domonique Ackley
“Freedom from The Unauthorized Autobiography of Samantha Brown” (top left) was performed by junior Maggie Winslow, senior Brianna McDermott, and junior Alex Sasso with perfect chemistry. Junior Lee Skerry and sophomore Tim Downs’s duet of “Seventeen” (middle left) drew tears from onlookers. “Hey Good Lookin’” (lower left) broke gender norms within most musicals. “Rock Star” (bottom middle) gave a rocker’s edge to politics that moved the audience with underlining bass this weekend. Senior Virvioly Valdez’s solo of “Breath” (bottom right) left no air in the audiences lungs with her emotional performance. “All About the Green from The Wedding Singer” (right middle) created a different view of Wall Street. Senior Sebastián Conrad sang “I Don’t Care” (top right) with deep melancholy in Act 2.