Fall 2016 issue 4 by MCLA Beacon

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

Volume 83 ◆ Issue 4

Th u r s d ay, O c t o b e r 1 3 , 2 0 1 6

Inside

Sam Gomez race this Sunday

The Best of Everything

Owls defeat Trailblazers

Hardman Speaker to discuss media portrayals of Islam By Harmony Birch Editor-in-Chief

Photo by Domonique Ackley/The Beacon

Senator Ben Downing, center, at his final meeting with the North County Cares Coalition. Downing is not seeking re-election.

Farewell, Sen. Downing By Nick Tardive Staff Writer

After 10 years in politics, Senator Ben Downing has somehow maintained his brutal modesty and honesty. In his final meeting with the North County Cares Coalition (NCCC), Downing and his constituents didn’t pull any punches. The “farewell” was less than that; it was business as usual, as members of the group

brought up their desire for the restoration of a functioning hospital in North Adams- as well as issues regarding public transit and the opioid crisis in Berkshire County. Downing didn’t seem to have wanted it any other way. “I want to thank you all,” Downing told NCCC members, “for continuing to organize and advocate in your community. Even if you don’t see results…it’s important.” Ever the opportunist, Downing

took the objective, middleof-the-road approach during the discussion. He praised the NCCC members for advocating and putting pressure on elected officials and local leaders, while reminding the group that those they are pressuring are people as well – people with good hearts who might not always be able to act or legislate how they might like. Elizabeth Manns, one of the meeting’s few attendees and an

employee at MCLA, expressed complete satisfaction with the work Downing has done as State Senator. She praised his willingness to meet with constituents, even if he had to be the bearer of bad news. As someone who voted for Downing every year since 2006, Manns did not regret her decision at all. The confidence North County’s DOWNING Continued on Page 3

No laughing matter: clowns on campus By Lauren Levite, Emily Gabert, Emma Monnahan, and Reagan Smith Copy Chief, Staff/Features Writer, A&E Writer, and Special to The Beacon

The New York Times reported that creepy clown sightings first began to surface all the way back in August starting in Greenville County, South

Carolina. Residents began to report about clowns trying to lure children into the woods with candy and money. Clown sightings began to spread from South Carolina and have steadily climbed their way up to the northeastern side of the United States, making their determined way into the Berkshires. Time Magazine’s website published that at least

a dozen of states have reported sightings. The Berkshire Eagle reported that the Adams Police Department responded to a clown sighting on the Ashuwillticook Trail, which is a couple hundred yards away from the police station. The officer who responded to the call found no clowns. Social medias like Yik

Yak and Twitter reported a sighting of a group of individuals dressed as clowns at the Cumberland Farms on Ashland Street around 11 p.m. on Oct. 3. Nothing pertaining to the sighting was reported in police logs. A student also reported on CLOWNS Continued on Page 3

Police Chief Daniel Colonno talks on campus burglaries By Mitchell Chapman Managing Editor

According to this year’s Clery report, on-campus burglaries more than doubled in 2015, from four in 2014 to 11 in 2015. Public Safety Chief of Police Daniel Colonno elaborated on these numbers. “Five of the reported 11 ‘On Campus Burglaries’ [in 2015]

were in residence areas and while students often state that their dorms/townhouses were secured, campus police did not find any signs of forced entry,” he said. “Leading to the inference that the rooms were left unsecured by the occupant(s).” In addition, Colonno noted that five of 2015’s burglaries were committed by a single individual,

who stole electronic devices from “unsecured and unattended common areas around campus.” “People are reminded not to leave their valuables unattended and unsecured,” Colonno said. “As an aside this individual was arrested and charged by campus police and the New York State police.” According to Colonno, traditional items ripe for theft

include cell phones, laptops, ocasionally clothing, as well as money and bank cards; essentially anything of value that is portable and easily concealed. Colonno noted that the Flagg townhouses are notably less secure than Hoosac Hall and Berkshire Towers. BURGLARIES Continued on Page 2

In the United States we live in what English professor Zack Finch refers to as a “media bubble.” How often do you think about the lives of people in different countries with different cultures? News and popular Foukara culture is centered in American-centric views and perspectives. “I think a lot of Americans, even if you are fluent in our own media landscape, we tend not to think globally in our media coverage,” Finch said. Abderrahim Foukara is this year’s Hardman scholar. Foukara is the chief of Al Jazeera Satellite Channel’s Washington, D.C. bureau. Al Jazeera is a primarily Arab channel owned by the country Qatar. It broadcasts several channels in multiple languages. Finch and English professor Joseph Ebiware choose each semester’s Hardman scholars. Ebiware describes it as a balance between finding someone students are interested in and someone whose background provides students with information they need. “The ultimate purpose is for students and the community at large to get valuable information about things that occur,” Ebiware said. “We take time to make sure the event is meaningful and relevant to students and the community.” Foukara is host of the show “Min Washington,” a weekly broadcast that focuses on DC and American politics and its effect on the Middle East and Northern Africa. In a time where we risk being uninformed, and where tensions in the Middle East are only relevant because the perceived threats they could enact on American soil, Finch and Ebiware saw a dire need for an unbiased but informed perspective. “Here in the United States the discourse around Islam has been contentious to say the least. The media coverage of Islam tends to be extremely reductive,” Finch said. Ebiware agreed that Foukara’s perspective would give community members a more transatlantic lens. “We wanted to focus on the way media unwittingly plays on influencing the minds of people,” Ebiware said.

Thursday, October 13, 2016

Campus News

Beacon.MCLA.edu

Sunday: Campus prepares for annual Sam Gomez Road Race This year, students can win $100 for an SGA affiliated club or their class council

By Mitchell Chapman Managing Editor

The 39th annual Sam Gomez Road race will be held this Sunday at 11:30 a.m., and there is plenty of time to get involved. The race has a $15 entry fee. All proceeds will benefit the Pittsfield Boys and Girls Club, according to SGA Executive Vice President (EVP) Shannon Esposito. Esposito, who is coordinating the event, is one of two new faces behind it all. “This is a big year for the race because we are starting fresh with new people,” she said. “Dianne Collins has retired so we have a new SGA Office Manager Amanda Schuler and this is my very first time on Student Government’s Executive Board. So it is both of our first times planning this and are ready to take on this yearly tradition.” When running for EVP last spring under the WilliamsEsposito-Giffen, or “Be More” ticket, one of her goals was to make the Sam Gomez race “her very own.”

According to Esposito, anyone can get involved with the race by printing and filling out a form found on SGA’s website, found through mcla.edu. Students can also stop by Schuler’s office on the third floor of the Amsler Campus Center to fill out the sheet, which the SGA is highly incentivising. “Students can get a discounted rate of $5 when they sign up with Amanda,” Esposito said. “[Another thing] we are doing this year is if you run/walk in the race, and sign up with Amanda you can represent your SGA club or class council. By doing that we will put the club or class you are representing into a hat and one club or class will win $100 towards their budget this year. It is a great incentive to get students to run to help support this great cause.” Students who wish to represent their club in the race are limited to one club, however, and they are required to be present the day of the race. The offer stands until 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, which is when registration ends. “My main goal for this year’s

Photo from mcla.edu

race is more student interaction,” Esposito said. “Last year we only had two students run in the race, which is sad because it was yet again for an amazing cause. This year with the club incentive we are having more and more students sign up every day. My expectation for the day of is to just have fun benefiting this amazing cause.”

SGA general election results are in With only three contests, eight seats remain vacant

By Mitchell Chapman

Senate at Large

Managing Editor

Last Tuesday and Wednesday, students voted for members of the Student Government Association, and the results are in. 12 candidates entered going into Tuesday, and ten made it out. Seven positions had no official candidate, with no write-in candidate to take their place. As such, the following seats are and will remain empty this semester: Class of 2017 Representative (two seats), Class of 2018 Representative (two seats), Class of 2019 Representative, Class of 2020 Treasurer, and Class of 2020 Secretary. Freshmen Tyler Roberts was elected to the Class of 2020 Senate, but The Beacon has reason to believe that he is no longer attending the institution. “Thank-you to MCLA; and all the faculty and students there for such an amazing experience,” he posted via social media. “I’m sad for having to leave before getting to know more of you and growing closer to those whom I’m already acquainted with, but my place in life is somewhere else right now.” Roberts and SGA President Tim Williams did not answer The Beacon when asked about Roberts’ status at the institution. There were three contests dur-

Yahya Can Abanoz Robert Gair Class of 2017 Vice President Jessica Lovellette ing this semester’s election: one for the Class of 2017 vice president, one for Class of 2018 treasurer, and one for the Class of 2020 presidency. SGA Parliamentarian Jessica Lovelette beat the incumbent, Bridget Forson, for the Class of 2017 vice presidential seat; Student Trustee and former SGA Treasurer Brianna O’Rourke beat former Class of 2018 Treasurer Alex Switzer; and freshman Nia Little beat Jacob Vitali for the Class of 2020 presidency (Vitali was elected as the Class of 2020’s only confirmed senate representative). “I am so excited to have been elected as treasurer of the class of 2018 and I look forward to doing lots of fundraising,” O’Rourke said on the victory. “My first goal is to increase the population of students at our class meetings and events!” Little and Lovelette did not respond to The Beacon’s inquiry for comment. The full election results are as follows:

Class of 2017 Treasurer Siobhan Greene Class of 2018 Treasurer Brianne O’Rourke Class of 2018 Secretary Mackenzie Cutler Class of 2020 Representative Jacob Vitali Class of 2020 President Nia Little Class of 2020 Vice President Alexter Shand Due to Columbus Day, there was no SGA meeting this week, meaning these new members will be sworn in this Monday, when they will assume their respective duties.

According to the MCLA athletics page, the Sam Gomez Road Race is named after Dr. Sam Gomez, who was inducted into the College’s hall of fame for his work as a Cross Country Coach. Those interested in participating in the event can sign up through http://berkshirerunningcenter-com.3dcartstores. BURGLARIES Continued from Page 1 “I will say that there is some protection in depth to Hoosac Hall and Berkshire Towers just by the very nature of building security and access control; having to prox card in, having Resident Area Security Monitors assigned to access control points coupled with locking individual dorm rooms,” Colonno said. “This makes it difficult for someone who doesn’t belong to gain access and to move undetected around the building.” As the townhouses to do not have this feature, Colonno described that residence area as “a more appealing target to would-be burglars.” However, these burglaries are very preventable, and it starts with us. Colonno provided a list of key safety tips to prevent future burglaries from happening: • Be good roommates to one another and secure your doors, carry your keys and access control ID cards. • Do not lend your keys to anyone and if you loose your room keys please notify Campus Police and RPS. • Keep first and ground floor windows shut and locked. • When you host a party or

com/Sam-Gomez-Classic5K_p_26.html. According to the online form, the first 100 people who sign up will get Sam Gomez race t-shirts, but the sizes are not guaranteed. The race is approximately 3.1 miles, with water stations at the 2 mile marker and the finish line. Walkers are welcome to participate.

Commonly stolen items on campus •cell phones •laptops •clothing (occasional) •credit/debit cards •video game systems •wallets Anything that is portable and of value is an attractive item for burglars.

gathering, shut and lock non-common areas so people cannot go in to areas where they do not belong and keep uninvited guests out, as they may be “casing” your residence for valuables and security weaknesses. • If you see something then say something and call Campus Police! • While in Berkshire Towers and Hoosac Hall do not let anyone piggyback off of your card swipe--let everyone card in on their own. Public Safety can be reached at 413-662-5100.

Campus News

Thursday, October 13, 2016

Beacon.MCLA.edu DOWNING Continued from Page 1

Beacon file photo

Debate Club in session, last spring. Debate Club is entering it’s second semester as an official SGA-affiliated club. It will be eligiable to submit a club budget for the next fiscal year.

Debate Club wins club of the month By Kelsey Kistner Staff Writer

The SGA continuation of Club of the Month was awarded to Debate Club in September. According to Samantha Giffen, Coordinating Vice President (CVP) of SGA, they had multiple nominations with very good descriptions as to why they should win, specifically the debate viewing they put on for the first presidential debate. Over 40 students attended. Being a new club, Giffen is excited they are doing so well. Winners in the past include the Wildlife Society, Book Club, Latin American Society, and Political Science Club. MCLA has over 50 clubs, giving students the opportunity to be involved in a number of interests. SGA puts on Club of the Month to honor the different organizations on campus. Giffen is the head of the nominations. “SGA is the organization in charge of of all clubs and organizations on campus, so we started club of the month just as a way to give recognition to clubs for all

that they do for the campus community,” Giffen said. Being CVP, Giffen’s job is to work with clubs, find new ways to recognize them, and increase their interaction with each other. She finds Club of the Month the perfect opportunity to do just that. The nomination link is sent to all the club e-board members, and posted on SGA social media pages. Nominations are submitted through a Google form where students can give the name of the club and reasons why they should win. “I usually base it off on how many people nominate this club and also the reason as to why they picked that club,” Giffen said. “If it comes down to it where there are two selected that have really good descriptions I bring it up to a few other SGA members to make it more objective and unbiased and so I have other opinions.” As of right now, when the winner is chosen, Giffen sends an email to all the clubs announcing the choice and the reasons why. Giffen has recently brought up to SGA E-board members that

she feels winners should receive a prize. “I want to get something for them more tangible,” Giffen said. “I know we have some extra supplies in the SGA office that we might use as prizes that were given out from leadership conferences or banquets in the past. We are still in the brain storming process.” Giffen explained that even though it would be nice for the winners to receive a prize, that is not what she wants clubs to strive for. Instead it is more of an incentive or another way to encourage them to continue doing the great things they are doing. The Alumni Association of MCLA suggested the idea of honoring a club every month to SGA several years ago. They thought of offering a prize to the winner, wanting another way for the alumni to interact with the current students. This suggestion was not acted upon until Kelsey McGonigle, the former CVP, initiated it last year. After McGonigle graduated, Giffen continued the tradition.

Question 1 proposes slot machines at horse tracks By Harmony Birch Editor-in-Chief

Horse racing may seem antiquated, but in Massachusetts the sport only caught ground in 1935 with the Suffolk Downs race track. It is precisely this track where Question 1, a legislative ballot measure authored by Eugene McCain, a member of the Horse Racing Jobs and Education Committee, would allow a slot parlor to open. MCcain has bought a plot of land near the Suffolk’s Downs track—though Suffolk Downs CEO Chip Tuttle told WBUR

that McCain’s purchase had nothing to with his support of Question 1. Question 1 comes five years after Massachusetts voted to allow casinos. Since 2011 however, the casino business has seen little revenue or job growth. In September, WBUR reported that 52 percent of voters said they’d vote no against the question. Proponents of Question 1 say the slot house will open up more job opportunities in Massachusetts, and will benefit the horse racing industry. $1 out of $5 collected will be given to the

states horse racing industry. There are three horse racing tracks in Massachusetts. Horse racing, however, is a industry. The New York Times wrote an expose on the conditions hoses must endure during horse racing. Opponents argue that no benefits have yet been seen from allowing casinos in Massachusetts. They also argue that McCain is abusing the ballot question process.The Wall Street Journal reported in 2014 that the recent casino trend in the North East was creating more supply than demand.

constituents have put in Senator Downing is considerable, and it’s hard to find someone who feels let down by their representative. “I don’t always agree with you,” Mike Wilbur told Downing after the meeting, “but you’re honest.” Downing has been Berkshire County’s representative in the Massachusetts State Senate since 2006 when he won a seat as a 25-year-old, upstart politician. He never wanted to be in the field longer than a decade, and 10 years later he prepares for an early retirement from politics. As a married man, the Senator looks forward to starting a family and finding a job somewhere in the private sector – preferably with a company working with renewable resources. As a Senator, Downing is most proud of his work with clean energy around the county. “In a speech in Florida, Al Gore cited the fact that there are more solar installations and jobs in Massachusetts than in Florida, which is ‘The Sunshine State’,” Downing said. “That means a lot to me.” However, Downing isn’t entirely satisfied with the work that he is leaving behind. As one of his major policy initiatives, the Senator has been trying to bring Broadband access to the entire county for the past 10 years. While Downing will leave the job unfinished, he believes that the initiative is being left in good hands. The Mass Broadband Institute and CLOWNS Continued from Page 1 social media of an arrest of an individual dressed as a clown on MCLA campus. Public Safety said that the incident was taken care by an outside agent, but there is nothing in the North Adams police log to suggest the city police were involved. Still, panic continues to manifest. A Facebook post in MCLA’s Class of 2019 group reported that students were in the quad looking for clowns “just to make people aware.” “I am unaware of any of our students searching for people dressed as clowns on our campus,” Daniel Colonno, director of Public Safety, commented. “I would suggest that people refrain from such activity.” During the supposed clown incident on campus, Merrimack College, located in North Andover, Mass., had a similar incident. Students were posting on social media that a clown was in one of the dormitories, Monican Centre, with a rifle. “It was scary,” said Merrimack freshman Gianna Ferrini. “There were texts and calls all coming in from the school at

Photo by Domonique Ackley/The Beacon

Senator Ben Downing adressed the coalition. He has endorsed Adam Hinds as his replacement. Wired West will be teaming up to bring a better, faster internet service to the masses in the western part of the state. As somebody who entered elected office at a very young age, Downing had some advice for those who might want to follow in his footsteps and join politics. “Your youth, what some people might point to and call inexperience, is your greatest asset,” Downing said. “The public is hungry for energetic leadership…generally speaking, young people have an energy and an idealism that voters want. So don’t be told to wait in line, don’t be told to wait your turn. If you’re willing to do the work, and willing to learn, go for it.” the same time as texts from your friends and family as they were hearing the news. RA’s and police officers were patrolling and telling people to make sure they stayed in their rooms.” With a new remake of the move “IT,” a novel by famed author Stephen King, coming in 2017, some have speculated whether or not this is some sort of promotional tie-in to the horror movie. A Warner Brother’s spokesman told CNN that there is “absolutely no connection” between the film and the recent hysteria. King himself took to twitter and asked people to “cool down the clown hysteria.” Syracuse.com published a piece about how the “Clown Lives Matter” has emerged from the frenzy. The movement hopes to change the public’s view on clowns. “#clownlivesmatter” has gathered a wave of reaction on Twitter: supporters of the circus performers, and those who believe it degrades the Black Lives Matter movement. Professional clowns and their allies plan to have a peaceful walk in Tuscon, Arizona on Oct. 15. Those who participate have been asked to dress in full clown attire, makeup and all.

Thursday, October 13, 2016

Opinion & Editorial

Beacon.MCLA.edu

Editorial

The Beacon

Mass hysteria is the monster you should fear Leaves change, sending our peeping hearts soaring, pumpkin spice lattes are brewing, getting us ready to dawn the Uggs/yoga pants combo, and Halloween is creeping closer, delighting the dark insidious part of our souls. Perhaps this is why clowns have taken seize of the nation, or at least that what seems to be happening. With every Facebook post, with every clown lives matter hashtag, and with every article appearing even in the no-sillybusiness publications like The New York Times. What is Mass Hysteria, and is it the real culprit to our creepy circus filled nightmares? Last Wednesday, MCLA went up in a frizzy with its own clown sighting. Public Safety found no evidence that

this sighting was real but urged students as usual to be aware of

When it comes to the clown epidemic, mass hysteria

“The BBC reports that from 1972 to 1990 “killer clowns,” made up only 0.0088% of the murders in the United States.” their surroundings, walk with buddies at night, download the Guardian app and keep their residences locked. MCLA has seen the effects of mass hysteria before with last year’s Berkshire Tower evacuation, and though our supposed clown sightings were short lived they serve as a reminder to keep calm and rational in the face of terror.

isn’t the driving cause but a factor propelling us forward in to a Stephen King dystopia. There are people in the United States dressing as clowns and aiming to scare people. There are social media pages threatening schools. How much of it should we take seriously? The BBC reports that

from 1972 to 1990 “killer clowns,” made up only 0.0088% of the murders in the United States. The major problem with the clown epidemic is the lack of information and the question of what’s real and not real. It’s a blend of a fantasy and horror coming to life. So we at The Beacon urge students to keep calm, breathe, don’t go out looking for clowns, and not to let your fears get the best of you. Worrying about clowns won’t help. Acting normally and living your life will. The more fear, the more sightings, the more excuse for disturbed individuals to capitalize on fear. The likelihood of a clown hurting you is slimmer than car crashes, death by cow, or dysentery. Channel you inner final girl, the monster is fear, and you can and will survive it.

“What excites you most about fall?”

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 Video Editor Dan Wohler

Staff

“Hot chocolate and the Fiber Arts Club meeting up again.” -Breanna Castor, 2019

“Hot apple cider.” -Erin Carney, 2019

“I’m

pretty hyped Halloween.” -Tim Downs, 2019

for

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

“I’m most excited for the weather always being so perfect; the fashion because it’s the best, and the foliage because it reminds me of home.” -Danielle Lee Nolan, 2019

“I guess I’m most excited about it cooling off after the long summer we’ve had.” -Jeff Mason, 2017

Photos by Emily Gabert

“The view of the Berkshires. Everything turns orange and red. While you’re driving through those mountains you’ll see so many leaves, and a whole bunch of mellow colors.” -Andy Pelico, 2018

Opinion & Editorial

Thursday, October 13, 2016

Beacon.MCLA.edu

Columns

HATE THIS

Harmony Birch Editor-in-Chief

Let’s talk about mental health

Millennialves i Sinking with grace: Republicans s s i M By Nick Tardive Staff Writer

To the Republicans denouncing Donald Trump for his disgusting statements regarding sexually assaulting women: you’re far too late. You passed up every chance to dump this demagogical, sociopathic amalgamation of spray-tanned waste and ego. When he opened his campaign by calling Mexicans “rapists and murderers;” When he accepted the nomination to the tune of Big Brother policing; When he called for a ban on the entry of Muslims; When he called a former Miss Universe “Miss Piggy;” When he admitted to gaming the system while denigrating those who do the same. All of that and you stuck by his side. Every single time Donald opens up his mouth, he says something that nobody in this country should think is okay. So no, Speaker Ryan. Not you, Ms. Ayotte, who called Donald a “role model” shortly before this latest scandal. Not even you, Senator McCain, a victim of Trump’s stupidity in his own right. You can’t act like this incident was too much. Because you’ve spent every other second of your freetime defending Donald Trump for the benefit of the Republican Party. (note: Ryan hasn’t officially withdrawn his endorsement of Trump, but he’s doing everything in

his power to quietly draw support away from Trump and focus on Congressional races, so he’s being lumped into this category) But Donald Trump is the Republican Party. His existence as the nominee for President alone is the validation of his hateful, halfassed ideas through the fading essence of the Party of Lincoln. His trickle-down, his suffocation of basic human rights for minorities, women, the poor, his love of law and order - these aren’t Trump things. These are Republican things. The main players within the GOP have had 100 chances to denounce Donald Trump, simply for being unable to close that prolapsed prostate he calls a mouth. Now, as the election grows closer, Republicans realize they have to get out. The ship is sinking, fast. The goal is to win. That spraytanned conglomerate of ignorance won’t win. If you consider the situation, though, Mike Pence’s suppression of women’s rights are more oppressive than Donald Trump saying he could “grab women by the pussy”...which is mortifying. Mike Pence, in Congress, cosponsored a bill that would limit federal funding for abortions to women who suffered from “forcible rape”. Yes. If you’re having Todd Akin “Legitimate Rape” flashbacks,

it is the same thing. Pence, as Governor of Indiana, signed into law a bill that requires aborted or miscarried fetuses to be cremated or buried. Pence, who said he’d see Roe v. Wade in the “ash heap of history.” Pence, ostensibly through his actions, doesn’t seem too far off from Trump regarding women’s rights. So no. Now is not the time to be morally opposed to Trump. Now is the time for you to save face. This is nothing more than members of the party trying to get the hell out before they get whooped. They don’t regret the words that left Donald’s mouth. The only thing they regret is that their idiot of a nominee got caught on tape saying it. To the members of the Republican Establishment: The ship is sinking, and the lifeboats are gone. Sink with some decency. Even Giuliani and Christie have enough sense to bow their heads in shame and take their paycheck. It is far too late to pull out now, “Grand” Old Party. You all continued to endorse him as he said awful thing after awful thing. None of you batted an eyelash or wavered for a second. This is not where you get to draw the line.

The other day I took a Psychology Today quiz that diagnosed me with the following: Bipolar disorder, manic depressive disorder, depression, generalized anxiety, panic attacks, and PTSD. The only disorder I seemed to be safe from was substance abuse. Five million college students are said to suffer from mental illness according the National Association for Mental Illnesses. With midterm’s right around the corner, it’s safe to assume that counseling services is seeing an increase in students. Millennials are the crazy generation. Is it just a byproduct of increased medicine and healthcare? Is it a result of over diagnosis? Are millennials really more mentally ill, and if so, why, because we’re coddled and weak, or because our environment is significantly more stressful? In 2014 Psychology Today suggested that millennials, particularly millennials in college, have seen the highest amounts of stress and psychopathy than any other group. The publication also reported that sexual assault and sleep deprivation has increased. While it makes sense that in a digital age and increasingly difficult education system and rough job market students would report higher levels of stress. Reports of alcohol abuse and sexual assault increases

don’t add up. Due to destigmatizing assault victims it’s likely more people are reporting when these incidents happen to them, and due to recent mental health destigmitization it’s also likely that us millennials are more okay with self-reporting our mental illnesses. There are problems with selfassessments however. It is unlikely that at this time I’m experiencing Bipolar disorder, manic depressive disorder, depression, generalized anxiety, panic attacks, and PTSD. What’s likely is that I like many people have a tendency towards one disorder that mimics others. If you’re feeling stressed or unwell, do talk about it—sure, it might add to the millennial mentally ill growth, but also means that you’re brave enough to talk about something that likely everyone is experiencing in some shape or form. The more you talk about it the more likely we are to understand your experiences, and the less likely you are to be misdiagnosed or to suffer through the experience alone. Whether you struggle with a disorder that impacts your life severely, or you’re having a smaller crises equivalent to a mental health cold—the best medicine is letting the people who care about you in and finding support.

Arts & Entertainment 6 Benjamin Clementine featured at MASS MoCA Thursday, october 13, 2016

Beacon.MCLA.edu

Hand-picked by Nick Cave, Clementine will be performing after the opening of Cave’s “Until” this Saturday, Oct. 15 at the Hunter Center. By Chris Riemer

in his past, Clementine refuses to let his songs be defined by the difficulties he’s endured. His lyrics are personal—sometimes very direct, and sometimes more enigmatic. His vocal style alternates between a baritone low-key hum, rapid spoken word, and a pained splitting yell. If you’re looking to get a feel for his musical style, try some of the videos of his live performances. The somewhat improvisationalseeming song structures come through best when he’s on stage. The opening of Nick Cave’s “Until” exhibit begins at 5:30 p.m. and ends at 7:00 p.m. It’s free for students and museum members, and $8 otherwise.

A&E Writer

Fancy a change of pace from stumbling around Blackinton every weekend? This Saturday, consider attending the opening of Nick Cave’s tremendous new exhibit “Until” at MASS MoCA. It’s free for MCLA students, and a rare opportunity to see an acclaimed contemporary artist at work on a groundbreaking installation on gun violence, inequality and race and gender politics. If you’ve got a bit of extra cash, stick around afterwards. Immediately following the opening, there will be a performance, hand-selected by Cave, by the Mercury Prize-winning artist Benjamin Clementine. London’s Benjamin Clementine is lauded by fans and critics for his stellar live performances, Until recently, Clementine energy and stage presence. Benjamin has been Europe’s best-kept own as a musician until moving to Paris as popularity. Clementine’s performance secret. He is a brilliant songwriter and a teenager. He lived there alone, homeless Recently, Clementine has been recognized is at 8:30 p.m.; it’s $16 for idiosyncratic lyricist, with an ear finely before he began supporting himself by for his work on the soundtrack of students and $26 for others. attuned to strange vocal and piano busking on street corners. Burberry’s ads for their new fragrance, If you’re planning on going, melodies. His songs sound a bit different, After a few years of writing and Mr. Burberry, and for his Mercury Prizepurchase tickets in advance: but always feel right. performing, Clementine broke through, winning 2015 album “At Least For Now.” day-of tickets will Clementine obsessed over the piano found a manager and began to rise in Although there were many obstacles run you $33. as a child, but didn’t fully come into his

“The Best of Everything” gives us all the best

Photo by Rona Jaffe

By Emma Monahan A&E Writer

In today’s society, women are stilled oppressed; they don’t have equal rights with men and face many challenges every day. This is a fact, something that everyone can agree with without looking it up on Google. In the FPA’s production of “The Best of Everything,” we see how our society hasn’t changed much from the ways of the 1950’s. Brianna McDermott, a senior at MCLA who is a double major in arts management and theater, is the director of the department’s first show of the season, and although opening night is right around the corner, McDermott seemed at ease while talking about the show. “I feel really good about the show so far, and I hope the actors can attest to that as well,” she said while laughing.

Set in the 1950’s, “The Best of Everything”, which was a novel written by Rona Jaffe in 1958, then adapted into a movie in 1959, and finally a play in 2012. the show follows Caroline Bender (played by Alex Sasso) as she receives her first secretary job after being broken up with by her fiancé. She meets many different characters in the work place, women who are married with kids and happy with their lives, and others that are so driven they don’t need a man. “There’s really no strong plot line, it’s really character based. It’s more of an exploration of the time period then like an actual story to follow,” said McDermott. Junior Maggie Winslow plays Caroline’s friend April Morrison in the play. “I like how it’s about a girl squad,” said Winslow. One thing McDermott and the cast love about the play is the message that it presents, how there are still struggles that women face today, even if they seem

minor. “A lot of the message that it explores can be transferred to our culture today. It’s not as outwardly prominent as it was in the 50’s, but I think a lot of the things that’s surprising is to see how much of it actually carries over today,” said McDermott, “and just making people think how much has actually changed, and I think out school is very liberal and I think those types of messages come across very strong here.” On Friday night, the cast and crew began tech week where they run through the show using production, lighting, sound, etc. and have the chance to see the play altogether in order to make it perfect. “I think that we all worked really well together and very collaboratively,” said McDermott. “That was something that I stressed from the very beginning, because I am a student, and I wanted all of my peers to also have a say in what was going on. So I think that is how we’ve all worked so well together; we’ve kind of pooled all of our ideas and then we’ll decide what is best for the character and what’s best for the show.” where they run through the show using production, lighting, sound, etc. and have the chance to see the play altogether in order to make it perfect. “I think that we all worked really well together and very collaboratively,” said McDermott. “That was something that I stressed from the very beginning, because I am a student, and I wanted all of my peers to also have a say in what was going on. So I think that is how we’ve all worked so well together; we’ve kind of pooled all of our ideas and then we’ll decide what is best for the character and what’s best for the show.” Junior Ariella Lafontant said during the first night of tech that, “Everything

happens so fast, so it feels like a whirlwind, but went really well.” With a cast that consist of 11 people, nine of them being women, it was the perfect play to use their female dominated group. McDermott really wanted to utilize the women that are in FPA, and “The Best of Everything” as well as the upcoming “Henry V” in November, values that. MCLA students can catch “The Best of Everything” Oct. 13-15 at 8 p.m., as well as 2 p.m. on Saturday. Tickets are available online at mcla.ticketleap.com.

MCLA Fine and Performing Arts Department and Theater Clubs 2016 - 2017 schedule:

“The Best of Everything” Oct. 12 – 15

“Harlequin Fall Revue” Oct. 28 - 29

“Yorick Banquet” Nov. 12

“Henry V.”

Nov. 16 – 19

“Riot”

March 1- 4, 2017

“Our Country’s Good” April 26 – 29, 2017

Thursday, october 13, 2016

Arts & Entertainment

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Photo from HBO

HBO’s “Westworld” is the new sheriff in town

HBO banks on the new sci-fi western “Westworld” to become their next biggest hit since Game of Thrones By Ron Leja A&E Writer

HBO is renowned for producing some of television’s most widely acclaimed series to date. With the ever popular “Game of Thrones” reaching its last two seasons, it’s time for another cinematic epic to take the reins. “Westworld” is a sci-fi western thriller that delivers the same level of cinematic polish that viewers have come to expect from the HBO network. Produced by J.J Abrams and directed by Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy, “Westworld” is the re-imagining of the 1973 film written and directed by the American writer Michael Crichton, most notably known for his novel “Jurassic Park.” Both stories share clear similarities. Both take place in a technologically advanced, utopian theme park for which they are duly named, control of their exhibits are lost, and drama ensues. “Westworld” is the complex recreation of the American frontier by park owner Dr. Robert Ford, played by Anthony Hopkins. Using machines that almost resemble advance 3D printers, Dr. Ford has produced a myriad of state of the art androids that inhabit the park. The androids, dubbed hosts, both look and act like early pioneers, and live out preprogrammed narratives on a day to day basis that they believe to be their reality. For a hefty price, humans are given the opportunity to interact with the hosts as they see fit, allowing them to live out the ultimate wild west fantasy with little to no boundaries. Interactions may be civil, but are often violent, and even sexual in nature. The hosts are incredibly advanced marvels of technology. They are practically indistinguishable from humans in both their appearance and spectrum of emotions.

They go so far as to bleed when harmed, which makes the acts committed against them all too real, and helps to drive one of the shows overarching themes: issues of human nature. Each day ends with a park-wide reset, the results of which leave the hosts with no recollection of the day’s events. Life in the park is untamed. Without consequence, visitors are driven to do things that play to man’s deepest, darkest fantasies. Hosts can be killed and mistreated, taken advantage of, and at the end of the day all is forgotten. Trouble lingers on the

horizon, however, as an error in a recent software update causes some of the hosts to recall fragments of traumatic encounters with park guests. While this impending conflict hasn’t reached fruition yet, it becomes fairly evident that the show is heading towards a host uprising, a robot versus humans scenario akin to movies such as “The Terminator” or “I, Robot”. There’s a lot going on in “Westworld”. Much like “Game of Thrones”, there are plenty of characters, each with their own agenda and side-stories, and multiple ideas and concepts at work. It may appear confusing at first, especially when events from one day reoccur in the next, but familiar character archetypes of the spaghetti western genre help set a familiar stage for viewers, making each of their stories

easier to follow. Dolores Abernathy, the oldest host, played by Evan Rachel Wood, is the sweet farmer’s daughter. Maeve Millay, played by Thandie Newton, is the sassy owner of the local brothel. Ed Harris plays a sadistic outlaw-type, while James Marsden takes on the role of Teddy Flood, the mysterious hero and love interest of Dolores, just to name a few. Admittedly enough, the show is ridden with typical western clichés and sexual and racial stereotypes, but they are easily forgiven. After all, the allure of Westworld is the promise of a Wild West experience. The park itself is meant to encompass the stylistic criteria of a spaghetti western: crude, dusty and provocative. The show is a superb balance of thought provoking context and over-the top, gunslinging action scenes. However, viewers are subtly reminded from time to time that the park is in fact part of a highly advanced, civilized future. In one scene, Soundgarden’s “Black Hole Sun,” is played on an old time piano while a gunfight breaks out in the parks saloon. Several of the shows actors, primarily those playing host characters, give stellar performances that really make the viewer forget that the person on screen isn’t an android. When a host is shut down or displaying symptoms of the update error, the way their faces eventually freeze, wide eyed and jaw dropped, is both sudden and uncanny, very much how one would expect a malfunctioning automaton to act. “Westworld’s” pilot episode premiered on Oct. 2, 2016. As reported by Deadline, 1.96 million total viewers watched the series debut, with a 0.8 rating among adults 18-49. The first season is comprised of nine episodes, with a second season currently in the works.

Conor Oberst

Photo from Nonesuch Records

Albums to hear series no. 3 By Jon Hoel A&E Editor

The wonder boy is back. Elegiac Omaha singersongwriter, known best by his towering pseudonym Bright Eyes, Conor Oberst returns with his new album “Ruminations” his second for Nonesuch Records. The album is a misty run-in with demons of Oberst’s past, tackling mass-graves, Ronald Reagan and St. Dymphna, an Irish Christian saint. In his 22-year career, Oberst has repetitively dealt with being labeled as “The New Dylan” an uncomfortable categorization for any young folk singer, and one that many of this generation have had to be forced to endure. Beck, Ryan Adams, Father John Misty, The Tallest Man on Earth and others have had to deal with this terrifying comparison as well. But more so than ever before, the labeling is valid for Oberst here, who channels Dylan alongside other mainstay influences like Townes Van Zandt, Frankie Miller and John Prine. Nearly every song on the record features harmonica and the Dylanist combination of abstract hyperbole with raw autobiographic detail and pop culture reference. Oberst is always at his best when he’s put in the vulnerable position, and he really plays it to a tee on this record. He isn’t cutting corners with honesty in his writing either—he’s newly-married and seems to be tackling with some of the most distressing subject matter in his career yet. The track “Gossamer Thin” is very telling. On his last solo record, 2014’s “Upside Down Mountain” Oberst sang that “freedom is the opposite of love,” now it’s “[it’s] hard but they must risk it all for love.” The A-side of this album in general feels very progressed lyrically. The piano on the album is definitely the centerpiece however. Oberst has always been primarily a guitarist. He has had piano tracks on many of his

albums as Bright Eyes stretching back to the early 2000s. But it’s been far and few between. Here nearly every single track has Oberst playing piano, and it really works out, these ballads are some of the best he’s ever written. “A Little Uncanny” is classic Oberst, he takes a few jabs at the Reagan years, but also pays tribute to several deceased idols, including Oliver Sacks and Sylvia Plath. Some of Oberst’s fanbase has grown distant from him since early 2000s. Indeed, many in their mid-to-late-20s seem to prefer his earlier more emo and indie records to his more folky and country albums he is putting out now. That’s valid, because those records are very valid—but it’s missing the point of his maturity as an artist. When Oberst sings on tracks like “Next of Kin” and “Till St. Dymphna Kicks Us Out” it sounds like the music he has been waiting to write his entire life. True, “Counting Sheep” does not have the sing-along potential of early Bright Eyes hits like “Lover I Don’t Have to Love” or “Four Winds”, but this is certainly not a singalong record. “Ruminations” is a subtle album. In a press release for the album, Oberst said: “Winter in Omaha can have a paralyzing effect on a person but in this case it worked in my favor. I was just staying up late every night playing piano and watching the snow pile up outside the window. Next thing I knew I had burned through all the firewood in the garage and had more than enough songs for a record. I recorded them quick to get them down but then it just felt right to leave them alone.” That is a very accurate description of how the record sounds. The songs are tight— concise and seem to be speaking more abstractly and delicately. What he’s doing on this record really works, check it out.

Features 8 The China Experience travel course aims to help build connections throughout Shanghai Thursday, October 13, 2016

By Emily Gabert

Staff/Features Writer Building a connection that expands across the globe while also allowing students to experience a new culture is the objective of MCLA’s travel course to China. The course, taught and directed by business professor Ben Khan, is being offered in the upcoming spring semester with applications due by Oct. 20. Twelve spots are waiting to be filled. Although students will be exposed to businesses in China, Khan encourages students of any academic background to consider this course. The China Experience Travel Course has been going on for the past twelve years and is in memory of Khan’s son, Solomon. “[The trip is] an outstanding experience that helps enrich [students’] education, with cross cultural education,” Khan explained. “It helps build good US citizens.” Scholarships are available to help fund travel courses. The MCLA website has a complete listing of scholarships available; there is a $6,000 subsidy available to help interested students in being able to afford the trip. The class gives student three credits for an upper-level course, no matter their academic major. The trip runs over a course

of twelve days. The group will leave on March 9 and return to the United States on March 19. Students visit three major areas in China, exposing them to the different areas that the country has to offer. They first arrive in Beijing and spend a few days exploring the city, before flying to Xian, and then spend their remaining days in Shanghai. In Beijing students will be given a tour in the city, with their group getting to view Tian An Men Square and various other shops in the city, while also getting to view ancient Hutong neighborhoods, garnering history of the capital of China. They will even get to take a cable car up to see the Great Wall of China followed by watching “The Legend of the Kung Fu Performance” at the Red Theatre, exposing students to martial arts. “Students should develop sensitivity to China and their culture,” Khan said, “...it’s a very powerful and positive experience, but also very unique.” Xian is one of the oldest cities in China and the capital of the Shaanix province in northwest China. The city is rich with history. The group will stop at museums and see the terracotta warriors located outside of the tomb of the Emperor Qin Shi Huang that have been sitting there for over 2,000 years. In Shanghai, students will spend their first day visiting museums

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photo from wikimediacommons

The China Experience course will visit historical sites such as The Summer Palace (above), the Great Wall of China, and Forbidden City. and other historical spots in the city, and an acrobatics show. In the following days, the students will get to visit the Shanghai University of International Business and Economics. Students will experiences tours of different businesses and get to view official meetings with production plant executives. The Shanghai Stock Market is another aspect of Chinese business that students will get to experience. A tour of the World Trade Organization

(WTO) Consultation Center in Shanghai will also be on their list of activities, along with getting to meet the Vice President of the WTO Center. Connections will also be created in Shanghai. Students will get to visit the university and have a time to mingle with students. While interacting with one another, American and Chinese cultures meet face to face, and each student learns more about the world in just one conversation.

Khan finds aspects like this on the trip to be the most valuable learning experience one can get, and can also help one grow. “Students do not come back as the person they were before going on the trip,” Khan said. “It really helps them discover who they are as a person.” Khan encourages anyone who is interested in the trip to email him on Office 360 or to visit his office in Bowman Hall 211 to learn more information.

New History Professor returns to Massachusetts

By Ron Leja/TheBeacon

Professor Pettey teaches Campaigns and Elections this semester among other courses. with the faculty and advisors at Massachusetts after spending five By Joseph Carew UMass Dartmouth, where she years in Texas achieving her PhD Features Editor earned her bachelor’s degree, at the University of North Texas Product of Fall River, Professor and wanted to find a place with a (UNT). Having grown up in New England, Pettey found Texas quite Samantha Pettey joins the College similar close atmosphere. “Which also made me want different from where she grew up. to give back to the State College to come to a small school where “It was kind of a political shock and University system that gave I think you get a very different at first, I think the culture is just her so much. relationship with students and very different like coming from “I always felt like I wanted to faculty when you have that small Massachusetts where you kind of give back to [the State College ratio, ” Pettey said. “I think it just just walk with your head down and University system] in some creates a really good learning and, there, my neighbors would way too,” Pettey said. “I mean, I environment for students. ” always say hey, ” Pettey said. “But if benefitted well from it.” Professor Pettey returns to anything it made me a bit more of Pettey had a close relationship

a communitarian. I feel like I am much friendlier to people since being down there. I did come back here and started calling people sir and ma’am and I got shut down real quick.” She noted the existence of Southern hospitality and the dramatic effects snow would have on the area. “I liked it though, they couldn’t handle snow,” Pettey said. “We would have like just a week off of school if it snowed.” She wanted to return to her home state, though, and MCLA presented her with a small college atmosphere and an open position. “I really wanted to come back to Massachusetts and New England and I remember coming for my on-campus interview and just, I loved it,” Pettey said. “I loved the students, I loved the faculty, the administration, everybody was really welcoming and it was just a really great environment that I would want to work in.” Pettey’s teaching roots date back to when she became a teaching assistant while an undergraduate at UMass Dartmouth. She carried that on to the University of Rhode Island (URI) where they had her doing teaching recitations and she was teaching regularly. “I taught like four times a week in these breakout sessions with students and I just really kind of fell in love with the interaction

with the students and helping them learn,” Pettey said. “I never looked back.” She went on to teach her own courses at the University of North Texas and that was when the idea of becoming a teacher was solidified in her mind. She then saw that she could combine her interest in politics and teaching with an open position here at MCLA. “I teach American politics classes and so this semester I’m teaching the intro classes, which is part of the core, and then I’m also teaching Campaigns and Elections, and US Political Institutions,” Pettey said. Pettey says her classes are enjoyable, especially Campaigns and Elections, since the country is in the midst of an election cycle. Her interests are more focused on an area of research she has focused on. “When I was looking at grad programs I realized I was very interested in the population of people who kind of aren’t involved in politics so like women, minorities,” Pettey said. “And UNT had a really good program for faculty working on minorities in politics so I went there, met with faculty and really liked them, I thought I fit well so I made the decision to move to Texas.” Petty is one of 11 new falculty members, double the number of new falcuilty last year.

Campus Life

Thursday, October 13, 2016

Letter to the editor:

Residence halls need central air MCLA is budding into a vibrant and updated campus; however, there is one major issue that leaves the school in the dark ages. There is no central air in any of the residence areas. Berkshire Towers, Hoosac Hall, and the Flagg Townhouse Apartments are home to a majority of the MCLA students. These areas sit and bake in the sun all day, resulting in an unbearable internal temperature. These areas are the students’ homes, not just where they work or go to class, but where they live, and where they should feel comfortable. Many residents cannot sleep, get sick, and cannot function happily due to the heat, making this a serious problem that needs to be addressed.

Installing central air in all three residential areas is a large financial task, but it is one that is necessary. Many of the other buildings on campus have central air, and they are not areas that are open 24/7, nor are they where people live. In looking at the financial obligations of adding central air, the operating costs may not even be that much higher than what they are currently, as students presently leave multiple fans running all day to combat the heat. Power that would be being saved if a switch to central air was made. The most obvious solution to this problem would be for the school to install central air in the residence areas; but there are other options if that is

not plausible. The first being that MCLA could provide personal AC units for each room. The college could also look into instituting an additional Room and Board fee for students to help cover the cost of central air, or personal AC units. Lastly, MCLA could simply allow students to bring their own AC units, as currently only specific expensive models are allowed, and fans. MCLA residence areas are in desperate need of a solution, it is just unsafe and uncomfortable to have students living in buildings that are so hot. Thank you for your time. Best, Taylar Jackson

“Sounds like Nina Simone’s brother steps into an elegant French café, sits down at the piano and tears open a vein.” – Rolling Stone

Live Music

BENJAMIN CLEMENTINE Saturday, October 15, 8:30pm HUNTER CENTER $16 STUDENTS | $26 ADVANCE $33 DAY OF | $45 PREFERRED Join us for the opening reception for Nick Cave’s Until, 5:30–7pm

TICKETS: massmoca.org or 413.662.2111 87 Marshall Street, North Adams, Mass.

HARDMAN LECTURE SERIES

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Campus Safety Log Monday, Oct. 3. 2016 11:57a.m. – Rendered services for community caretaking at Freel Library. 2:45p.m. – Fixed alarm trouble in the Flagg Townhouses. 6:56p.m. – Investigated suspicious activity at the Church Street Center Monday evening. 8:57p.m. – Completed directed patrols to Hoosac Hall Monday night. 9:38p.m. – Assisted another agency Monday night on Church Street. 10:36p.m. – Investigated suspicious activity in Hoosac Hall. 11:47p.m. – Investigated suspicious activity in Hoosac Hall, but reported activity was not found. Tuesday, Oct. 4. 2016 1:27a.m. – Handled suspicious activity on Ashland Street early Tuesday morning. 9:58a.m. – Received 911 hang-up call from Mark Hopkins Hall. No action required. 11:28a.m. – Escorted funds from Gallery 51 to be deposited in the bank. 6:37p.m. – Completed directed patrols to the Campus Center. 7:33p.m. – Received 911 hang-up call from accidental alarm in the Advancement Office. 8:07p.m. – Warned subject involved in suspicious activity on Church Street. Wednesday, Oct. 5. 2016 4:13a.m. – Received an anonymous tip from the Guardian app. pertaining to Hoosac Hall. Activity not found. 8:36a.m. – Responded to accidental alarm in the Flagg

Townhouses. 12:46p.m. – Received 911 hang-up call from Mark Hopkins Hall. No action was required. 5:02p.m. – Completed investigation with North Adams Police Department. 9:51p.m. – Filed report on Larceny / Forgery / Fraud in Venable Hall. 10:49p.m. – Filed report on a hate crime. Thursday, Oct. 6. 2016 8:42a.m. – Filed report on vandalism in Church Street Center. 4:07p.m. – Completed investigation at 43 Montana Street. 10:47p.m. – Responded to medical call. Services rendered. Friday, Oct. 7. 2016 7:01p.m. – Filed report on Larceny / Forgery / Fraud in Venable Hall. 10:04p.m. – Received a direct panic call from the Guardian app. Saturday, Oct. 8. 2016 12:10a.m. – Transported subject involved in alcohol offense from Hoosac Hall. 3:42a.m. – Responded to report of alcohol offense. No action required. 9:31p.m. – Responded to medical call from Berkshire Towers. Subject was transported to hospital. Sunday, Oct. 9. 2016 12:15a.m. – Investigated disturbance on campus. 1:51a.m. – Responded to medical call on campus. Subject was transported to hospital. 10:39a.m. – Rendered services on a follow up investigation on Summer Street.

MEDIA PORTR AYAL OF ISL AM

ABDERRAHIM FOUKARA

Al Jazeera’s Washington DC Bureau Chief and host of Min Washington

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 7:00 PM CHU RCH S T REET CENT ER

FINANCIAL AID ANNOUNCEMENT 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.

Eleanor Furst Roberts Auditorium

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. The Hardman Lecture Series is made possible through the generosity of the Hardman Family Endowment. Fourkara’s appearance arranged through Gotham Artists.

MASS A CH U S E T T S CO LLE GE O F L IBE RAL ART S

in the Ber kshires

375 Church Street, North Adams, MA 413 662 5224 MCLA.EDU

SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY: BIG Y SCHOLARSHIP: DEADLINE FEB. 1ST. apply at www.bigy.com/community/scholarships

Thursday, October 13. 2016

Sports

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Owls fly away with the win

Photo from athletics.mcla.edu

Golden Bears maul Trailblazers By Brady Gerow Sports Writer

In a struggle to keep the playoff dreams alive, the MCLA Women’s Tennis team nearly swept opponent Thomas College 8-1 on Oct. 1 at the Bennington Tennis Center. The Trailblazers started the match with great pace. Juniors Emily Deaso and Mariza Sfakianaki battled to an 8-6 win starting the match off on a good note for the MCLA squad. This set the tone for the entire Trailblazer team, with the freshman duo of Briana Higgins and Sarah Hachadourian taking an 8-4 win over the opposing pair.

MCLA’s squad then turned up the tempo even more. The duo comprised of senior Anna Despart and sophomore Sam Garwon were next to the court. They cruised past the opposing Thomas duo having scored an 8-0 shut-out for the Trailblazers. This pace from Garwon and Despart carried over into the singles sets, where MCLA won all but one of their sets. The singles sets began with Sfakianaki defeating Thomas’s Lindsey Allen in commanding fashion with a final scoreline of 8-2. In the third singles set of the match, Despart cruised to another 8-2 victory over Amelia Guimond of Thomas. The final three sets of the

match all resulted in sweeps in favor of the MCLA squad. Garwon, Higgins, and senior Shelby Gauthier all won their matches to help the Trailblazers cruise to the win. Deaso was the only Trailblazer to lose a set in the singles section of the match, but the 2015 all NAC singles competitor has only dropped four sets all year. This match was of high importance for the Trailblazers, as it was what they needed to keep the playoff dream alive. A team that was unable to make the playoffs last year is looking to make its return after a year away from postseason play. MCLA, now 6-5, faced off against Husson University on Sunday and scored a loss.

Daily Fantasy: The trends are out there... find them By Jake Mendel Web Editor

Thank you Sammy Coates, thank you very much. Coates is in his second year and a good receiver on a very deep Pittsburgh Steelers depth chart. Because of him, I was able to walk away from Draft Kings this weekend being in the money in all my leagues. Coates started the game with a 72 yard touchdown against the New York Jets and it was easy to see coming... kind of. The Revis-less Jets against the high-powered offense of the Steelers made it seem pretty obvious to play someone like Antonio Brown, but, there are millions of people thinking like that. Coates doesn’t get a lot of volume with all the weapons in the offense, but his yards per reception is through the roof. As a result, he had his first two touchdowns of the week,

these are the players you want to play. The same goes for the oneand-only Martellus Bennett. With Tom Brady back, every player in that offense becomes a must-start in fantasy. Only one team has ever had two tight ends go over 800 yards and it was the New England Patriots. With Gronk being Gronk, even when injured, he still becomes a major concern for defenses and as a result Bennett was slept on. Not only was he slept on for one touchdown, or two touchdowns, but three touchdowns. It was pretty easy to see this coming, especially against the Cleveland Browns. When putting together your line-ups, coaching never gets talked about, but it should. How a team prepares tells us more than any statistic. That is why people from Draft Kings got in trouble for going into Fan Duel and winning tournaments, because they knew the game plans, or the insider trading info. Sadly for us, unless you

know a camera man from teams, this won’t be much help for you. But, it doesn’t mean we can’t figure out coaching trends. Looking at numbers are great, but players play differently, or get a different amount of attention depending on the coach. For instance, we don’t know what Patriot player will have the huge week, but we can make an educated guess on what Steelers players are in line to have a big game. So when looking at trends, numbers are great, but it is only half of the equation. Stats tell us what happened, but looking deeper at coaching and play calling can tell us what is going to happen.

By Brady Gerow Sports Writer

A strong second and third set from the Keene State College Owls Volleyball team led them to a 3-2 match win over the MCLA Trailblazers in the Amsler Campus Center Gym Thursday, Oct. 6. MCLA came out of the gates strong in the first set of the match. The Blazers only trailed in the beginning of the set before turning on the jets. MCLA started the set down 2-0, but would continue to go on a six point scoring streak. Setting the pace of the set early, the Blazers then cruised to a 14-8 lead early on. The Owls didn’t give up easily, though, bringing it back to within three towards the end with a 22-19 Trailblazer lead. Though that was the closest the Blazers allowed them to get, closing the set out with a 25-20 set win. It was the third and fourth sets that gave the match its excitement. Both sets ended with a final score of 25-21, one set being won by each team. Both sets were very back and forth, with no team stringing together more than four points in a row between both sets. Despite the close sets later in the match, the second set was

where the Owls gained their momentum. The Owls cruised to a convincing 25-6 set win over the Blazers. The Owls offense strived off of a strong performance from junior setter Katie Cunningham who led the team with 43 assists. Owls’ junior outside hitter Rachel Lamica and junior middle blocker Courtney Collins led the attack with 15 kills a piece. After battling back to win two straight sets, the Owls failed to close the match and the series would be tied at 2-2. The Blazers failed to close out the match with a convincing 15-7 set score. The Trailblazer offense was led by senior outside hitter Allison Clark. Clark recorded 18 kills and 12 digs, having gained the double-double for the match. Clark was helped by sophomore setter Beatrice Lechler who recorded 23 on the night, followed by a respectable 15 assists from freshman setter Tessa Sestito. The Blazers, now 10-12, took a win from Johnson St. and a loss from Wells College in a double header this past Saturday. Keene College improved to 11-7 and will face off against Western Connecticut State and Bridgewater State in a doubleheader in Western Connecticut territory.

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Sports

Thursday, October 13, 2016

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Ryder Cup results in US victory By Joseph Carew Features Editor

The United States pulled off their first victory in eight years at the 2016 Ryder cup, the biennial men’s golf competition between Europe and the United States. The team’s twelfth man and final Captain’s pick, Ryan Moore, secured the victory by defeating Lee Westwood in their singles match. He put up 2.5 points during the Cup but the United States team relied more on depth than individual heroics as all twelve American players scored at least a point. The United States team pulled off a 17-11 victory over Europe at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Minnesota from Sept. 30 to Oct. 2. Patrick Reed, the number seven player in the world according to owgr.com, led the United States by capturing 3.5 points followed closely by Brandt Snedeker and Brooks Koepka who both tallied three points. Davis Love III captained the winning team and now has an even record (1-1) whilst leading a Ryder Cup team. His previous stint as captain saw the United States team let slip a 10-6 lead

in the 2012 event of the same name. Darren Clarke, the captain of team Europe, worked in rookies with Ryder Cup veterans like Rory McIlroy and Henrik Stenson but couldn’t seem to get off the back foot all weekend. The competition saw some of the world’s best golfers face off over three days. Day one featured four foursomes playing alternate shot (one golf ball played by both teammates alternating shots) and four fourball (the better score between you and your teammate is recorded) matches. By the end of this the United States had managed to pull ahead early by earning four wins (and therefore, four points) in alternate shot but saw the Europeans regain their composure and climb back to make it a 5-3 lead for the US. The second day followed the same format as the first and seemed to show a European comeback was inevitable as the gap decreased from just 6.5 to 5.5 US over Europe. The afternoon however saw victories by American golfers J.B. Holmes and Ryan Moore, Phil Mickelson and Matt Kuchar, and Patrick Reed and Jordan Spieth,

resulting in a 9.5 to 6.5 lead for the United States. The third and penultimate day revolved around 12 singles matches with the Europeans needing to earn seven and a half more points to win and the United States requiring just five more. Since Europe had won the previous Cup, 14 points was their goal while the US needed 14.5 to take it away. It took seven matches for the weekend to be decided. Patrick Reed took down the recent FedEx Cup Champion and the number three player in the world according to owgr.org, Rory McIlroy in the first match but the Europeans climbed back with victories by Henrik Stenson, Thomas Pieters and Rafael Cabrera-Bello. Even with astounding performances by rookie Thomas Pieters who scored the most points and didn’t lose a single match, the American’s depth proved too much and the final session resulted in 7.5 more points for the US, pushing them well past the needed 14.5. One of the brighter stars throughout the cup proved to be Phil Mickelson who had 10 birdies and a bogey in his final 18 holes.

Happy 50th to the

North Adams State College Class of 1966!

Happy Alumni Weekend! from The Beacon

For the NHL, a fine skate of affairs By Helene Elliott Los Angeles Times (TNS)

LOS ANGELES—Let’s enjoy this peaceful time in the National Hockey League, this happy interlude between lockouts, the last great days of the Original 30 Era before the first puck is dropped to welcome the still-tobe-named Las Vegas franchise. When the season begins Wednesday, the NHL will celebrate the 100th anniversary of its founding and the 50th anniversary of its first major expansion, which doubled the league’s size from six teams to 12 for the 1967-68 campaign. The men who gathered at a Montreal hotel in November 1917 to form the NHL from the ashes of the National Hockey Assn. couldn’t have envisioned what the league looks like now, with teams based in California, Florida and Texas and another to launch in Las Vegas for the 2017-18 season. “At nearly 100 we have never been stronger, better, younger and never been faster and have never had a brighter, more diverse future,” Commissioner Gary Bettman said during the World Cup of Hockey, a rare instance of cooperation between the league and the NHL Players’ Association on an event staged to generate new revenues and promote the game internationally. “The constant, through the decades of good times and bad, through eras of peace and

prosperity, in periods of conflict and hardship, through all the generations since 1917, is that the great game of hockey — NHL hockey — has grown and strengthened and represents a truly global presence.” Reviews on the World Cup were mixed. A lack of competitive balance and the early exit of Team USA contributed to low TV ratings in the United States despite ESPN’s return to televising hockey, but TV ratings were strong in Canada even if Toronto’s Air Canada Centre was never filled or buzzing. The contrived Team North America, stocked with players 23 years old and younger from Canada and the U.S., became an unexpected attraction because of its breathtaking speed and skill. We could dream, if only briefly, about seeing that kind of creativity in the NHL if coaches gave players free rein and didn’t mold them into defense-first machines. In addition, Team Europe — a mix of players who had represented eight nations — reminded everyone about the value of team bonding while becoming a surprise finalist and giving Canada a reasonable challenge in the finals. But for the Kings, who lost winger Marian Gaborik to a broken foot, and the Dallas Stars, who lost forward Tyler Seguin to a fractured heel, sending players to a 2020 World Cup and other international events might not

seem like a great idea. Whether NHL players will participate in the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, is expected to be settled by the end of the calendar year in negotiations involving executives of the NHL, NHLPA, International Olympic Committee, and the International Ice Hockey Federation. Players want to go, but the league is balking at the IOC’s refusal to continue paying costs of about $15 million for transportation, insurance and accommodations of NHL personnel. And many owners still don’t like shutting down for two weeks during the middle of the season in order for players to represent their homelands in the Olympics when the NHL gets no money from that. But those issues are separate from the upcoming season, one that features relative stability for the NHL’s business operations (aside from the fall of the Canadian dollar) and the assurance of labor peace through the 2019-20 season. While it’s logical for the NHL to look beyond its geographic borders for new revenues and audiences, it’s imperative that it addresses a number of nagging issues at home. The most prominent of those issues is the stagnation of scoring, which has remained low despite the introduction of rule changes and tweaks intended to boost goal production. Teams combined last season to score an average

of 5.337 goals per game, down from 6.051 in the 2005-06 season (The numbers exclude shootout goals.). A plan to streamline goaltenders’ equipment by limiting the dimensions of their pants and chest protectors this season had to be delayed because manufacturers were late in delivering prototypes to be tested, but those changes alone, when implemented, probably won’t make much difference. Goalies, once the worst athletes on their teams, are now among the best, and there’s no rolling back the years of specialized coaching they’ve received and still get. Playing on the wider, international-size ice isn’t the answer, either. Because there’s not enough scoring talent to go around, it’s easier for coaches to try to neutralize opponents’ skilled players than to ask their own players to raise their games. There are no easy answers, but maybe the recent leaguewide trend toward speed over muscle will continue and will lead to more scoring. Defending champion Pittsburgh, San Jose, Tampa Bay and others thrived by emphasizing speed, and it’s likely that other teams will try to copy that formula as much as they can. The promise of seeing more speed is among the reasons to look forward to the new season. There will be four outdoor games, the Detroit Red Wings will bid farewell to Joe Louis Arena — which will be replaced by Little Caesars Arena — the Edmonton

Oilers will inaugurate gleaming, new Rogers Place, and the league will celebrate its centennial season with events that evoke the past while its teams introduce the stars of the future. We will miss Vincent Lecavalier, who retired, and Pavel Datsyuk, who returned to Russia, but kids such as Toronto’s Auston Matthews, Edmonton’s Connor McDavid, Winnipeg’s Patrik Laine and Calgary’s Matthew Tkachuk, among others, will continue the annual replenishment of talent that sustains the NHL, flawed though it may be.

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Photo Essay

Thursday, October 13, 2016

Pamela Mears performed at the Levittamp Concert on Sunday; her music covered a plethora of different social issues.

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John Davis played at the Boom Room this weekend in Pittsfield, creating a humrous atmosphere.

Expanding Beyond Your Campus Photos By Domonique Ackley & Emily Gabert Downtown construction is being made on the First Congregational Church in North Adams.

Chad Tarves of Dalton entertained the audience with his original songwriting following John Davis’s act on Friday.

Milwaukee native Peter Mulvey, rocks the stage at Colgrove Park immersing the audience with folk music.

Shelley Chamberlin and Michelle Daly’s “Everything I Need Told You Secrets Too Beautiful To Keep” opened in September at Gallery 51.