The Beacon
Student Newspaper of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts North Adams, Mass.
For more content, visit online at: theonlinebeacon.com Volume 76 ◆ Issue 11
Th u r s d ay, D e c e m b e r 6 , 2 0 1 2
Students plan service trip to Liberia
Photo by Dennise Carranza/Beacon staff
Adam Tobin, Aloysius Street, and James Wetzel helped organize a trip to West Africa.
By Ryan Flynn Staff Writer
During the 2013 Winter Break, students will travel to Liberia, Africa to help struggling youth and citizens. The program is sponsored by the Population Caring Organization, a national humanitarian effort working in West Africa. Students have been working closely with Emmanuel Dolo, president of the Population Caring Organization, in order to make this trip happen. Students embarking on this trip will aid Liberian citizens with things such as teaching literacy, attending peace-making workshops,
and working with government officials, community leaders, and religious leaders on making Liberia a better place to live. Sophomore Aloysius Street, a Student Government Association (SGA) senator, said he’s trying his best to receive donations from people and local businesses alike in order to cut costs. “I’m looking for donations,” he said. “So if there are any organizations that would give money, it will be really beneficial for both us and the school.” Street said as of right now, there are seven students confirmed to go, most of whom are active SGA members including Senator Adam
Dance Company premieres tonight For full story, see page 9
Tobin and Treasurer James Wetzel. Wetzel emphasized how this trip could be life changing and really rewarding for both students and the Liberian community. “Many people wait around a lifetime for an experience that changes them,” he said. “This is one of them.” Adam Tobin said he feels this is a great opportunity to give back to those less fortunate for both himself and others. “I would say that this is a rare opportunity to get out of your own sheltered life and expand your understanding of the world around you, all the while helping out a brother in the process,” he said.
Image courtesy of www.cia.gov
Liberia is on the West Coast of Africa. Liberia is a war-ridden area, so scholarships as well. students would be working pri“We would also like the school to marily to make citizens’ living situ- sponsor us through a scholarship ations easier. because this could be an opportuStreet said that he’s really looking nity that MCLA could support anforward to this opportunity. nually, which in my mind, would “We’ll get experience out of the be a very respectful gesture,” he United States and in a country that said. is very affected by war,” he said. Students going to Liberia have to More than anything all three stu- pay $2,000, which will cover transdents emphasized how important portation, housing, medical needs, donations are as they currently meals, and any other additional have no financial backing. costs. The trip’s estimated depar“We are raising money through ture time is Dec. 15. donations of family, friends, and Involved students are also lookcommunity members who are in- ing for a teacher to sponsor this terested,” Wetzel said. program and accompany them on Tobin said they are hoping for the the trip. According to Street, they school to sponsor them through have not found one yet.
Students gear up for the Dance Company show during rehearsal on Monday night. Photo by Dennise Carranza/Beacon staff
College seeks to improve handicap access By Haley Costen Staff Writer
Photo by Jess Gamari/Beacon staff
While most buildings have handicapped accessible doorways, not all are easily navigable for people on crutches or in wheelchairs.
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The founders of the College over 100 years ago were not attentive of people with disabilities when designing what would later become a small liberal arts school. However, the administration today wants to build fully accessible buildings to serve people who have disabilities. “I think we have appropriate handicapped access,” James Stakenas, vice president of Administration and Finance, said carefully behind the round table in his office last week. “Is it as good as it can be? No. But it’s because we’ve inherited old buildings.”
Murdock Hall is the oldest building on campus, where construction started in 1894 as part of the North Adams Normal School. A past article in The Beacon written by Michelle LeBlanc focused on the 2005 renovations to the building; a self-service elevator was not installed until 1960. Murdock Hall is now fully accessible; however, students who have experienced injuries that make them temporarily disabled have expressed issues with the building. “You have to wait 10 minutes just for the elevator to come,” said Sarah Lieneck, a junior. “I [have] to leave 15 minutes early to get to class on time.”
RA applications are now available
Concussions more common than in past
Harlequin performs annual revue
Students can contact Emily Schiavoni for more information
Students should be aware of the symptoms, experts say
Show features musical comedy, solos, and a brief striptease
Sports, page 7
Arts & Entertainment, page 10
News, page 4
Earlier this semester, Lieneck tore her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) for a second time and was confined to crutches for nearly three weeks. She said getting to Murdock Hall was the most difficult building to reach from her townhouse, because to get to it she would need to go through Venable Hall or up a hill. Another old building that is a potential problem for students who are disabled or temporarily disabled is Mark Hopkins Hall, which opened in 1913, according to Freel Library’s archivists’ historical timeline of the College. ACCESS, continued on page 5 News 2-5, 14 Sports 6-8 Arts & Entertainment 9-11 National/World News 12 Campus Opinion 13 Fun & Games 15 Photo Essay 16
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Thursday, December 6, 2012
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Doctors call for marijuana guidelines Associated Press BOSTON (AP) _ The Massachusetts Medical Society is calling on the state to develop a clear set of regulations and guidelines for implementation of medical marijuana in the state. A ballot question approved by voters last month will allow doctors to recommend marijuana for patients with certain conditions, including cancer, AIDS and glaucoma. The law would establish up to 35 nonprofit marijuana dispensaries around the state. The medical society, which represents about 24,000 Massachusetts physicians, is promising to work with the state Department of Public Health and Board of Registration in Medicine to establish rules for doctors. The organization, which opposed the ballot question, said it would advocate that marijuana registration cards only be provided after a determination is made that a patient’s pain or symptoms cannot be treated with conventional therapies.
Mississippi school seeks random drug testing Associated Press VICKSBURG, Miss. (AP) _ A policy that would allow the Vicksburg Warren School District to randomly drug test any student who drives to campus has failed in a vote by the school board. The Vicksburg Post reports that the proposal failed Thursday on a 2-2 vote. Two board members abstained. Under the proposal, any student applying for a parking pass to either of two high schools could be randomly tested. Students in seventh grade or higher who participate in any extracurricular activities are currently subject to random testing. Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Swinford previously cited safety concerns about students using drugs or alcohol and operating vehicles on campus. The school can now randomly test any student involved in extracurricular activities or who appears intoxicated on school property or at any school function.
Photo by Chris Goodell/Beacon staff
President Jason Brown, standing right, addresses the senate during Monday night’s meeting.
Group looks to raise drug abuse awareness By Chris Goodell Editor-in-Chief
The Student Athletic Advisory Committee (SAAC) is trying to gain support for a substance abuse awareness initiative known as the Project Purple. The Project Purple was started by Chris Herren, a former NBA player who struggled with substance abuse and spoke at the College in September. “He taught us that [substance abuse] is a disease that affected him throughout his life and his athletic career,” said SAAC coadvisor Kaylyn Smith. Smith, SAAC President Joe Duncan, and Senator Alyson Stolz addressed the Student Government Association (SGA) Monday night, outlining their plans to “go purple” in January and asked for support from the student population in raising awareness. According to Smith, SAAC wants to get as many players, coaches, referees, and fans as possible to don purple during the home men’s and women’s basketball games against conference foe Framingham State on Jan. 17. She added that the fan sporting the most purple
will win a prize. Smith also asked SGA to consider partnering with SAAC in helping to fund the purchase of purple T-shirts through the Project Purple, the proceeds of which will benefit substance abuse awareness. “All that money goes to somebody who needs the help,” Smith said.
“Addiction is something that exists in our community, whether we’re aware of it or not.” - Jason Brown “People are suffering from [substance abuse] and there aren’t always resources to get the people the help they need,” she added. SGA President Jason Brown said he will consult his executive board over the next week to consider what role SGA might play in helping support the ini-
tiative. “Addiction is something that exists in our community, whether we’re aware of it or not,” Brown said. Senator Adam Tobin suggested that perhaps the two groups could also work to support local substance abuse awareness efforts or rehabilitation centers. Leadership Conference Advisor Jenn Craig announced that the College is still looking for submissions for the annual Student Leadership Conference on Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013. “We still need programs and we really like students to present workshops,” Craig said. The deadline for submissions is Friday, Dec. 7. The link for program submissions was sent out in an email via Announcements for Students on FirstClass. A list of suggested topics includes budgeting and finance, conflict mediation, fundraising, résumé building, and several others. Students with questions regarding the Leadership Conference are encouraged to contact Craig or Townhouse Residence Director Nicole LeBlanc.
Committee Updates Senator Evan Pirnie updated SGA on the Academic Policies Committee’s approval of changes to the course overload system. “Sixteen [credits] and up counts as an overload, but there are different phases for each part,” he said. According to Pirnie, taking 16 to 18 credits counts as course overload but requires no special approval. Taking 19 credits will require the approval of a student’s academic advisor, while 20 or more credits will require the approval of the academic advisor, department chair, and dean of Academic Affairs. Senator Stephan Rochefort said the All College Committee has approved a research assistant position to count as a course in the Sociology, Anthropology & Social Work department. “This used to be part of an independent study,” Rochefort said. “This shows to graduate schools that students have been included in research assistantship.” He added that the committee also approved a change requiring instructor approval for the News Editing Practicum so that writers for The Beacon have taken the necessary prerequisites.
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Thursday, December 6, 2012
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Intern conducts research on student engagement
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By Nick Arena Staff Writer
The Office of Institutional Research, Assessment and Planning offered an internship this semester, giving one student the opportunity to work in survey research. Alexandra Elwell, a senior, has spent the fall semester analyzing survey data, contacting recipients, and designing a focus group. “It was designed for her, we have not done that before in this office,” said Kristina Bendikas, associate dean for Assessment and Planning. “We really wanted to try to do something like this, because we thought it would be such a good opportunity for a student, and it would be a win-win situation because we would also be able to have a student to provide student input.” Elwell said the internship originated from her interest in survey research and focus groups, and was re-worked to provide her with the full educational benefit of an internship. “The internship will provide the student with hands-on experience in special projects pertaining to student learning outcomes and engagement assessment,” reads the internship’s documentation. Some of the surveys Elwell worked with were the five-year alumni survey, where the Col-
Photo by Jess Gamari/Beacon staff
Environmentalist Stephen Cowell addresses Murdock 218 on Tuesday night. Photo courtesy of Alexandra Elwell
Senior Alexandra Elwell. lege follows-up with alumni five years after their graduation, and the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE), a national survey that involves surveying freshmen and seniors about their college experiences. According to Elwell and Bendikas, a question on the NSSE survey is what inspired Elwell’s focus group. “The NSSE survey results were showing that students were very satisfied and engaged in a number of ways and yet there was one question that said how would you rate your overall experience and that was much lower,” Bendikas said. “She was finding this disconnect and she thought that it might come from how students interpret overall experience.” Elwell said she wanted to measure how students decide what about the College affects their educational experience. ELWELL, continued on page 14
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Environmentalist envisions a post-fossil-fuel economy By Marc Latour Staff Writer
Stephen L. Cowell, chairman and CEO of Conservations Services Group, said their 25-year renewable energy plan is an international plan. “We’ve got a 25-year window at best,” he said. “We can fix the problem here, and then we can export those solutions to countries that need them.” The window Cowell is concerned with is “a window to come up with what the postfossil-fuel economy is going to look like,” he said. “Can fossil fuels last forever? What’s the real limit?” he asked. Energy prices and their effects on the economic meltdown were central to Cowell’s motivation. He showed figures stating a 15 percent drop in the average American’s disposable income starting ten years ago during the year 2002–2003. Since then, the percentage of a salary devoted to heating the average American home has risen from 3.5 percent to 8.5 percent. “Retail gas prices have an eerie relationship with mortgage delinquencies,” Cowell said. “What’s sucking down our energy is our buildings.” Building energy consumption is more than twice as high as transportation’s energy consumption, according to Cowells graphs, but the problem is fix-
able, he said. “We can reduce the energy consumption by 40 percent in every house in America,” he said. Cowell’s own home has a reduced energy consumption of 90 percent, he explained. His house has no heating system, no fireplace and no chimney. He makes sure the light gets in and relies on insulation. Cowell connected the unsustainable energy use to global warming, melting ice shelves, and rising sea levels. “The Greenland Ice Sheet is melting three times faster than our predictions,” he said. Glacier National Park’s glaciers are receding – shrinking, according to Cowell. He showed past and present photos of an ice sheet in the park which has turned into a lake. “The U.S. — we – can buy our way out of problems. We can put up levies in front of Manhattan but Bangladesh can’t. You’d be surprised how many people live a foot below sea level.” Cowell demonstrated the foot-difference with his hands to help drive his point home. Cowell argued against the assumption economic growth must be accompanied by increased energy consumption. His group has been working to change this assumption since its inception in 1984, he said. They are working against, “consumption, consumption, consumption.”
“[We need to] break the curve of economic development increasing energy consumption,” he said. “If we do it we can succeed.” “We’re starting at a place where we really have to be non-complacent,” he said. “We’ve got 30 years down, and have 30 years to go.” With this continued effort, Cowell is confident “we’re going to lower our [energy] consumption as our economy grows.” “I’ve got a couple grandkids. I’d really like them to grow up in an environment that is successful,” he said. Cowell is not a fan of nuclear energy, he explained, but a bridge may be needed between fossil fuels and renewable energy. “Nuclear [energy] may be a last resort,” he said. “That’s a hard one for me to get over in any way shape or form, but we may need a backup plan if we can’t get off fossil fuels fast enough.” Founded in 1984 as a nonprofit group, Cowell said Conservation Services Group wasn’t going to look to Washington for funding. “We’ve never sought grants or donations,” he said. “We planned to make it by the bootstraps.” The Conservations Services Group now has 800 staff members for 7,000 field jobs, according to his presentation. They’ve served over 3 million homes and facilities.
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Thursday, December 6, 2012
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Resident Advisor applications now available By Amy Cubello Staff Writer
Applications to become a Resident Advisor (RA) for the 2013-2014 school year are now available. The deadline for applications is Jan. 31, 2013. Emily Schiavoni, assistant to the director of Residential Programs and Services (RPS), said there are requirements students must meet for the position. Interested students must have a current GPA of at least 2.2 and be registered as a full-time undergraduate student, she said. Students must have Photo by Takeya Lee/Beacon staff successfully completed 15 credits, have The current Townhouse RAs attend a weekly staff meeting. on-campus living experience, a desire
College looks to upgrade technology Staff Writer
TECH, continued on page 14
life,” she said. Hebard added that becoming an RA helps students make connections with others.The student leader position builds friendships and allows students to take on a leadership role on campus, she said. “I think someone would want to be an RA to reap the benefits of a leadership position,” she said. “You learn many useful skills and get to flex your creative muscle. It’s really a great opportunity and it looks fantastic on your resume.” Students interested in becoming an RA for the 2013-2014 school year can email Schiavoni via FirstClass with any questions.
Lounge area with couches and T.V.s Large assortment of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
By Jack Guerino
Information Technology (IT) looks to completely upgrade the technology and computers on campus no later than July. The IT department is experimenting with a new computer system known as thin clients. The thin clients would allow students to access their computer from any thin client on campus, as well as get access to software they do not have on their own personal machines or tablet. The thin clients are small, inexpensive computers able to relay a virtual computer from a central processor. The thin clients are small computer towers that function similarly to any other desktop machine, but they use a virtual operating system of the user’s choice. This technology would be used in the computer labs. They only need minimal power and hardware to access the central processor that transmits the virtual operating system. However, all computers and tablets will have the same functions as the thin clients and will have access to the central computer. Chief Information Officer Curt King explained the functions of the thin clients. “All the processing is done in a central machine; you can get your operating system from anywhere and any device. You don’t have to go to a lab; you can get a windows image over whatever you are using,” King said. The thin clients would change the way computer labs on campus function, he said. “The computer lab can be anywhere, you can work anywhere with software you don’t have,” King said. The thin clients are more cost effective and only need a minimum amount of power to run a virtual machine, he said. “We are determined to keep the price of education down for students, this technology will do that,” King said. King explained that the thin clients cost a third of the price of a normal computer and need little maintenance because all the main work is done in the central machine. This means that upgrades just need to take place in the central unit. The thin clients would also be more energy efficient, he said. “They only use 8 watts of energy,” King said. He added that the machines used now use up to 80 to 200 watts of power and do not last as long as the thin clients. The IT department is now experimenting with the thin clients in the computer labs and virtualizing the software used on campus. “We are at a tipping point…and people are getting on board,” King said. He said they have all the licenses needed and just need to make sure all the important software on campus is compatible with newer versions of Windows and virtualization.
to develop critical leadership skills and have an interest in building supportive communities within residence areas, she added. The benefits of being an RA include bi-weekly installments of $300, which accumulates to $6,000. Interviews for candidates take place with the current Resident Directors of the residence buildings. Alexa Hebard, a junior, is currently an RA in Berkshire Towers. She encouraged students to put themselves out there and become a leader. “I love being an RA. It feels great to be able to help people out and be a part of a very important time in a person’s
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Thursday, December 6, 2012
College receives grant for pay equity By Kayla Degnan Staff Writer
The College is one of nine schools selected to receive a grant from the American Association of University Women (AAUW). This year’s theme is pay equity. Recent studies conducted by the AAUW concluded a pay gap inequity between men and women’s salaries. OjaeMichal Beale, director of the Women’s Center, and Janine Desgres, assistant director and coordinator of Career Services, co-wrote a grant which led to the Women’s Center receiving $5,000 through AAUW’s college/university partnership program, Campus Action Project (CAP). CAP allows student leaders and faculty members to facilitate programs on campus that educate the student body and local community on leadership skills, while working to improve academic and career outcomes. Beale and Desgres must now begin working with students to raise awareness about pay equity and the earnings of men and women and how this affects them as they look to buy homes, make investments, and handle other financial responsibilities. According to President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign released on June 21, “women [are] being paid 77 cents on the dollar for doing the same work as men. Sarah Jane Glynn and Audrey Powers from the Center for American Progress wrote, “In 1967, women only earned about 58 cents to a man’s dollar... if progress continues at its current rate, it will take 45 years to eradicate the wage gap.” In order to educate the campus and the community, the Women’s Center is planning to hang flyers and host an advocacy campaign, organize a leadership seminar, and work with the Girls Inc., program at the Gladys Allen Brigham Community Center in Pittsfield, Mass. Girls Inc. is a multi-service organization which works to transform young girls into confident and independent individuals. The College will be teaching young girls the importance of leadership skills and confidence to further themselves in education and in a work environment. Beale said encouraging young girls to major in a subject that interests them will take away the pressure to major in a subject in the typically women dominated fields. The Women’s Center will work with the Girls Inc., program to educate self-expression and self-worth, as well as to teach the girls about leadership to raise confidence. PAY GAP, continued on page 14
Photo by Jess Gamari/Beacon staff
Venable Hall has handicap doors leading into the third floor. ACCESS, continued from page 1 The building, which holds many English classes and advisors’ offices, has a handicap paddle that opens an entrance, but does not have an elevator that allows access to the upper or lower levels of the building. Stakenas said Mark Hopkins is not in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). “The law provides ‘program access,’” he said, explaining that for buildings like Mark Hopkins that do not have ramps or elevators, disabled students can have the location of their classes changed or can meet with their advisor in another room, provided that all the materials needed for a classroom environment were supplied. Sophomore Lyndsey Johnson had to use crutches last year for about two weeks after getting tendonitis in her ankle. She found she had the most difficulty traveling from her dorm room in Berkshire Towers to Bowman Hall. “It was the hardest to get to and not a friendly trip for people with crutches,” she said. However, one of her biggest issues was with the elevators. “They’re not labeled very well. In
Bowman there is an elevator, but there’s no label anywhere. It’s also very old and scary.” The fall 2013 renovations of Bowman Hall should change things. Stakenas has plans for the building in his office on display and said access will improve with renovations. The entrance will have a vestibule, which, he said, will be easier for wheelchairs, and the exit will have a ramp off of Montana Street near handicapped parking spots. Stakenas realizes that both side entrances lead directly to stairs and decided to shift focus on fixing the front and rear entrances as much as possible. In addition to renovations on entrances, there will be a new elevator and new toilets in the bathrooms with handicapped access. Stakenas also said there will be bigger doorways. “We’re following the building codes and paying attention to access needs” he said. While students like Lieneck and Johnson expressed their difficulty with crutches, freshman Morgan McCarthy was optimistic about the handicap access on campus. McCarthy was born with spastic diplegia cerebral palsy, a condition that affects her muscles and
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College plans renovations to improve handicap accessibility gives her poor balance. She uses a motorized wheelchair to travel on campus. “For the most part it’s good,” McCarthy said about her experience with access at the College. “They’re good about keeping up with the maintenance, and the kids are nice enough to work around it.” McCarthy’s older sister graduated from MCLA years ago and she said she was aware of campus conditions when she applied to the College. McCarthy hasn’t taken a class in the one not fully accessible building, Mark Hopkins Hall, but
“We’re following the building codes and paying attention to access needs.” - Jim Stakenas said her professors have said they are flexible. The biggest problem McCarthy has experienced so far is with the handicap paddles that open the doors. Stakenas said this problem is from the overuse of this feature by people who are not disabled. McCarthy said after telling fa-
cilities or Public Safety about the problem, it is normally fixed within the time it takes for her to go to a 50 minute class and come back. “I chose this school more so because the student body and the professors are willing to help,” McCarthy said. “Most of the time I’m independent, but when there’s a problem, there’s usually someone around to help.” McCarthy said President Mary Grant checks in with her often and asks about what she can do to help. Grant is currently working on fixing a path that leads to Hoosac Hall. It leads from the Amsler Campus Center down to a stone wall in front of Hoosac Hall where it abruptly ends, not providing a steady path for a wheelchair. “I would like to continue to talk to my friends and not have to split off through the Campus Center,” said McCarthy, who lives in Hoosac Hall. The path is just a small renovation among the many that are planned for the College in upcoming years. Along with Bowman, the Center for Science and Innovation will be fully accessible. Stakenas said the idea is eventually to renovate all the buildings.
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Thursday, December 6, 2012
Sports
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Mentor program gives athletes support problem, you can be damn sure I’ll be watching them.” Mentors do have to report the athletes when they get in trouble, Harris added. Jim Moriarty, mentor for the women’s basketball team, said the program is working out well.
By Chris Oxholm Sports Writer
For student athletes life is always about time management. Practices, travelling to games, classes, clubs, other activities dominate their calenders. Sometimes it seems overwhelming. In response to recognizing the stress of attending college and playing sports among everything else in life, the Athletic department has partnered with faculty to create a mentor program for students. The program is designed so each sports team has a faculty member who oversees the athletes not only academically, but in any way the student needs. “I’m another resource,” Chemistry Professor Robert Harris said. He is the mentor for the baseball team. “They come to me when they don’t know where to go, when their having problems with grades, getting in trouble, etc. [It’s] somewhere to go when they feel lost.” Harris has been mentoring the baseball team since the program began. Harris said he spends time with these students going over their work. It’s easier for these
“If I have an athlete with an academic problem, you can be damn sure I’ll be watching.” - Robert Harris
Photo by Andrew Hodgson/ Beacon Staff
Professor Robert Harris is a faculty mentor to athletes. student athletes to approach him rather than their coach or teachers, he said. “Basically, I’m a friendly face
for the team,” he said. “I’m someone they can comfortably talk to about anything. But if I have an athlete with an academic
“This program is about getting faculty involved with the teams to establish relationships you wouldn’t normally see in the class,” he said. These relationships, based on caring rather than obligation are what give players the level of comfort that a coach or one of their professor’s might not be able to provide. Moriarty has a lot of experience with both basketball teams at the College, acting as the assistant coach of both the men’s and the women’s teams at one point.
He is currently working with Lucy Tremblay, and has nothing but kind words for her. “Lucy is a four-year starter and very active on and off the court,” he said. “We’ve developed a relationship where we’re comfortable about her problems with academics and sports.” Basketball has the longest season of any other sport at the College. Moriarty said he knows to stick by his players throughout the season. the trust built between mentors and students can be both comforting, and a way for the mentor to hold students responsable. However, use of a mentor is not required. Some athletes are able to keep their busy lives in control without a faculty mentor. Those that do chose not to make use of the program still know that it is there to help them even if they haven’t had a mentor for their first three years and decide to meet with one as a senior. “Some athletes I’ve never met; some I meet with every week,” Harris said. For more information on the faculty mentoring program for student athletes, contact Athletic Director Scott Nichols via FirstClass.
Tragedy in the NFL brings perspective, and backlash Andrew Hodgson Sports Editor
This week was yet another wake up call for America that the players in our beloved NFL have troubles of their own. They are not supermen. An incident started when Kansas City police were called Saturday morning to the home of Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher’s girlfriend. Her mother reported to police that her daughter had been shot several times. Later in the morning, Belcher allegedly went to Arrowhead Stadium to thank his general manager and coach Romeo Cordell, and went into the parking lot. As police pulled into the lot on a tip about a gunman at the facility, Belcher put a gun to his head and took his own life. The couple had an infant child and supposedly was going through a rough patch. Belcher, a native of Long Island, played college ball at Maine. He joined the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent and
worked his way onto the starting lineup. This season he has started in every game, earning 33 total tackles for the Chiefs. The suicide of NFL great Junior Seau last season rocked the NFL and led to questions concerning head injuries and mental illness. This unfortunate incident will highlight the humanity of the NFL. We put these men on pedestals as gods, masters of the universe. Why not when they get paid to play a children’s game to the delight of bloodthirsty throngs of violence junkies? But these men have to go home just like we do. They have bills, girlfriends, kids, wives. And they have demons. In 2009, a similar incident involving Steve “Air” McNair left the league rattled. The shooting of Sean Taylor in 2007 was the result of a home invasion, not domestic dispute. While it hasn’t been found that more violent incidents involve NFL players than the wider demographics of people they represent, often times a glamorized league can show us the faults in our society. The NFL is heating up with playoffs approaching, though
the Kansas City Chiefs will not be contenders to win their division or a wild-card berth. But this incident can do something important; allow fans to see their favorite players as humans. With Fantasy Football at an all-time high popularity, we become desensitized. Players are objects which succeed or fail in helping us win our own game. Well maybe terrible incidents like this can make everyone take a step back and realize that sometimes there are more important things than football. The Chiefs played their scheduled game on Sunday, besting the Carolina Panthers 27-21. The tragedy has prompted all kinds of dialogue in the sports media, which peaked when during the halftime show of the Sunday Night Football, commentator Bob Costas denounced the sports cliché that tragedy “puts everything in perspective” and instead chose to use another empty cliché, blame the guns. He ended his speech by quoting a Kansas City writer who said, “If Javon Belcher didn’t possess a gun, he and Cassandra Perkins
would both be alive today.” Costas knowingly tapped into the passion on both sides of the gun control issue. One side, infamously endorsed by the National Rifle Association, holds a famous platform that “guns don’t kill people, people kill people.” The other side argues that gun possession makes people more likely to choose violence over nonviolence. Bob Costas is a great sports commentator, but contending that in a domestic dispute a gun is somehow the only violent option at peoples’ disposal is ridiculous. In most kitchens you can find a knife, an equally deadly tool. Politics and sports are very similar, one of my favorite writers, Hunter S. Thompson married the two subjects flawlessly (with an ESPN.com column to boot). That said, thinking of guns as a different issue than, say, alcohol is foolish. Both are age-restricted in our country. Both kill many people a year. Both, when used safely by the 99% of Americans that use them, are relatively harmless.
Costas compromised himself here in my eyes. Sports writers can express opinions, but when filling the capacity of a commentator, the political views should be kept hidden if at all possible. Just the way Costas approached the issue tells everyone that he is antigun possession. Which is a fine opinion, but since I disagree vehemently with his position, he has compromised his neutrality to me. But I’m old school myself. We don’t use perspective clichés in vain, we use them because the human experience is full of tragedy and pain, as well as joy. Being reminded of the darker side of life when something tragic happens isn’t some vain knee-jerk cultural cliché, it is how humans contextualize tragic events. Guns aren’t some incas e-murder-is-called-for option, they are tools. The only person using wornout clichés while chastising the rest of us for not overhauling society every time something is misused to harm someone is Bob Costas, and it just shows that he has no intention on keeping his opinions off the air.
Sports
Thursday, December 6, 2012
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Concussion Discussion
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Nearly a dozen students per year affected by head trauma By Kelsey Marini
Special to the Beacon You can live without an appendix or a kidney, but you need a brain. The word “concussion” has become a buzz-word in sports in the last decade, and studies researching the effects of concussions have dramatically increased. Science is finding that concussions are more common than doctors previously thought, and not just in the NFL. It is not just athletes who should be informed about damaging brain cells. Anyone can get a concussion from a sports event, a car accident, or even a seemingly minor fall. A concussion is a traumatic blow to the head that causes the brain to move or shake, hitting the skull. Those who suffer from a concussion experience symptoms differently, but need to take precautions when recovering. A concussion may have long term effects if it is not taken care of correctly or if the patient suffers a second blow. Second impacts can cause early dementia or depression, and can even be fatal. Athletic Trainer Matthew Boillat deals with sports injuries with a strong focus on concussions. Boillat said there have been approximately 10 cases of moderate to severe concussions in MCLA Athletics this year. “There [are not] any more than previous years, it is just being recognized more because of research,” Boillat said.
Photo by Andrew Hodgson/ Beacon staff
Athletic Trainer Matthew Boillat assists with the recovery process for sports injuries. When dealing with a concussion, it is important to know the symptoms, which happen after the initial impact. Blurred vision, headache, and nausea are a few of the symptoms that occur almost instantly after impact. Lack of focus, concentration and sleeping problems can also occur. A person with a concussion should take the matter seriously, Boillat said. A muscle tear or broken bone’s recovery can be accurately assessed. A concussion, on the other hand, is harder to decipher whether it is healing properly. “A concussion is nothing to mess around with, students are welcome to see me if they have any questions about the injury
or healing process,” Boillat said. Once it is clear that a person has a concussion, certain steps and tests are used to measure the healing process. For the athletes at MCLA, Boillat keeps a close watch on their recovery. Sophomore Samantha Barbarotta experienced her first concussion this past volleyball season. During warm-ups at a Bridgewater game, Barbarotta was accidently hit in the head with a volleyball. The impact was hard enough to have her neck snap back and shake her brain. “Every person experiences different symptoms based on their physicality and how they were hit,” Boillat said. Barbarotta said she experienced headaches, neck
pain, irritability, difficulty concentrating and remembering and a sensitivity to light and noise. The sophomore sat on the side lines for a few weeks to heal. Every day during the recovery process, Barbarotta filled out a SCAT2 sheet to keep track of her symptoms and had Boillat perform cranial sacral work on her neck. Once the symptoms cleared up, she was told by Boillat to keep physical activity at a minimum. Concussions usually occur on the field or during sports, but their symptoms are most often felt in the classroom for student athletes. Some of her symptoms made it difficult for Barbarotta to concentrate in class. She
addressed her teachers about the concussion to make sure they understood what she was going through. “My advice to students would be to address the issue directly with professors. My professors were very understanding for the most part and they really helped in accommodating me the best they could,” Barbarotta said. Concussions are not just a problem in collegiate sports. In the world of professional sports, concussions have been an issue for quite some time. In the National Football League (NFL), a class-action law suit has been filed on behalf of retired and active players who claimed the League did not take concussions seriously in the past and put it’s players at risk. Now, with the vast amount of information available about the seriousness of concussions, doctors are starting to see a correlation between head trauma and self-mutilation and suicide. Boston University (BU) has been leading the way in concussion research, and believes that professional football players who receive many concussions during their career are much more prone to suicide after they leave. Junior Seau’s death is directly related to many concussions received while playing the game of football. They based this evidence off of another former player, Dave Duerson, who shot himself in the chest and left a note telling scientists that he shot himself to preserve his head for scientific research.
Tremblay nears career mark as women’s basketball falls to Union
By Maci Estrella Sports Writer
Tuesday night the Trailblazers visited Union College. Though both teams played hard, two players rose above the rest to make the game a one-on-one test of wills. Union’s stand-out sophomore forward Kate Thompson effortlessly put up an impressive 32 points and 16 rebounds. The double-double gave Union the push they needed. Not to be outdone MCLA senior guard Lucy Tremblay earned a season high 25 points. Tremblay is now just 15 points shy of the 1,000 point mark for her career. Union was able to gain a tenpoint advantage at half-time and killed the Trailblazers in the paint, with a 40-18 point advantage in the painted area.
The Trailblazers made a run in the second half, but Union held out to hold on to the 7469 win. The Trailblazers record drops to 3-3 with the nonconference loss. On Saturday MCLA fell in the finals of the Optimist Invitational to Salisbury with a close score of 74-68. The team had a rocky first half with Salisbury taking a 21 point lead, and the score at 29-8 in the opening period. MCLA stepped their game up in the second half with captain Tremblay scoring 18 points, and Kaitlyn Chenevert, a senior, and Danielle Scolpino, a junior, adding ten points each. The team had one lead in the game with a score of 68-67 and only had two minutes of playing time left. Salisbury tied the game with a free throw and after Scolpino missed a threepointer Salisbury hit a layup and regained the lead.
“We battled back from a 21 point deficit in the first half and we couldn’t hit a shot,” Tremblay said. “That’s what killed us. The second half we played with so much heart and enthusiasm, but we just didn’t convert in the end.” MCLA chipped away at their deficit, while Salisbury held a double digit lead for most of the second half. MCLA got into some foul trouble allowing Salisbury to get four free throws in the last 33 seconds of the game, earning Salisbury the victory. “It was like a series of unfortunate events,” Chenevert said. “Lucy picked up her fourth foul on a really tough call and we both had four fouls so the coach had to take us out.” While MCLA did play an intense game, and ended with a team score of 37 rebounds and 45 points in the second half alone, the players agree they
still have work to do. “I think one thing we need to focus on is consistency,” Chenevert said. “When shots aren’t falling we have to be able to lock down defensively.” On Friday, Nov. 30, the women’s team played against Lehman and stole the game with a three point lead. The win brought their season to a 3-1 and allowed them to face the tournament hosts in the finals the following day. In the second half the players met impressive game highs and some played their best games to date. Scolpino scored 20 points including four three-pointers, one of which was the game winning shot at the last minute. She also had five rebounds, three assists, and four steals. “My shots weren’t really falling in the first half,” she said. “I knew I needed to focus on them in the second half and
get something going right away, and it felt great.” Sophomore Danielle Beauchamp also had her best game scoring 19 points, and eight rebounds in only 17 minutes of playing time. Tremblay finished the game with a double-double effort of 13 points and a career high 15 rebounds, and Chenevert finished with 15 points as well. Even though MCLA got the win, the players did agree that they did not play their best game. “It was a sloppy game for us but a win is definitely a win,” Tremblay said. “Dani [Scolpino] and Danielle [Beauchamp] both stepped up for us; it got us ready to come out strong on Saturday.” The Trailblazers host St. Joseph tomorrow night and hope to get back on track in front of the home crowd.
Sports 8 Men’s basketball splits games at tournament Thursday, December 6, 2012
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Photo by Dennise Carranza/Beacon staff
Junior John Jones drives to the hoop in a game against Wesleyan University.
The Trailblazers come out of the tournament 1-1 this past weekend, leaving the team 1-4. By Ariana Tourangeau Sports Writer
The men’s basketball team played in the Tri-State Shootout at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) over the weekend and came out with one win and one loss. The Trailblazers bested Southern Vermont with a final score of 98-86, giving the team their much-needed first win. Captain Vernon Cross led the team with 21 points. Freshman Paul Maurice and sophomore Ruben DelRosario each contributed 14 points for the team. The Trailblazers had a double-digit lead for most of the game and shot an impressive 48 percent of the game while defensively, they held Southern Vermont to 39 percent from the field. On Sunday, the team looked to build in it’s success against tournament host RPI. The Trailblazers controlled the tempo of the game through the first half, leading RPI 53-39 at the break. The team maintained their lead into the second half, up 69-54 with 14 minutes left to
play. The game was tight. The score 78-77, in favor of MCLA with five minutes left in the game. RPI made a massive push in the remaining few minutes, forcing turnovers and robbing MCLA of the offensive chances that came so easily earlier in the game. The game came down to the wire, with RPI completing the comeback, upsetting the Trailblazers with a loss of 92-87. The loss drops the Trailblazers to 1-4 on the season. This was due to the Trailblazers’ carelessness with the ball at times. RPI caused 27 turnovers; their defensive stand at the end put them over the top. Senior guard Bilal Shabazz led the team with 18 points. Vernon Cross added 13 points of his own. The pair was named to the All-Tournament team for their performances over the weekend. The team will play SUNY Canton, at home, on Saturday at 2 p.m.
Photo by Dennise Carranza/Beacon staff
Sophomore Mike Muller makes contact, and the basket.
Arts & Entertainment
Thursday, December 6, 2012
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Dance Company builds anticipation before performance
Photo by Dennise Carranza/Beacon staff
Members of MCLA’s Dance Company rehearse for their show, which opens tonight at 8 p.m. in Venable Theatre.
By Shannen Adamites A&E Writer
It’s that time of year again. MCLA’s Dance Company’s fall semester performance will take to Venable Theatre’s stage Dec. 8, 9 and 10 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $2 for everyone. Dance Company shows have a tendency to sell out very quickly, so it is highly recommended to
reserve tickets in advanced. To reserve, call the box office at 413662-5123. Co-presidents Emily Dessingue and Makalya Lemaire are pleased to present a wide variety of dance styles to this show, including hiphop, modern, lyrical, belly dance/ hip-hop fusion, and a Cape Verdian-inspired dance. “Everything is very theatrical this year,” Dessingue said. “A lot
of the dances are very expressive and feature a lot of distinct characters.” Dessingue’s “Hip-Hop Diner” dance, she mentioned, will feature her dancers using various props to carry out her energetic, dinerthemed piece. “This is my last dance for the year,” she said. “I’m hoping to bring back some new inspiration after coming back from Australia,
but this is probably my best piece I’ve choreographed so far. I’m really excited for it.” Lemaire, a graduating senior, plans to leave Dance Company with a bang rather than a whisper. “A lot of graduating choreographers like to create really sad farewell pieces,” she said. “I’m doing something more fun and personalized, instead.” Lemaire’s Scooby-Doo-themed
dance represents her favorite childhood pastime. “I wanted to make a Dance Company episode of Scooby-Doo,” she said. “Every college kid’s got their own guilty pleasure, and I wanted to incorporate that nostalgia into a really fun dance.” Both Dessingue and Lemaire hope the audience has as much fun watching the performances as they did choreographing them.
‘99 Cents and Up’ exhibition opens at Gallery 51 By Haley Costen A&E Writer
A line of about 20 art lovers braved the cold, waiting patiently outside Gallery 51 for the “99 Cents and Up” exhibition to officially open its doors on Thursday, Nov. 28. “It wasn’t Walmart at midnight, but there was much better stuff,” said Jonathan Secor, director of Special Programs at the College and manager of Gallery 51.
Secor added that the first customer to buy a piece was a student from the College who purchased a painting for $99.99. Part of North Adams Hometown Holidays, this was Gallery 51’s fourth annual “99 Cents and Up” show. The installment is an “initiative of the North Adams Office of Tourism and Community Events and Develop North Adams to encourage the community to shop locally and benefit from in-
Dolls crafted from wood burning by Claire Fox.
house products,” according to the exhibition’s Facebook page. The show features an array of items. Viewers snacked on chips and salsa and checked out pieces like pink feline plush toys with armpit and pubic hair called “Lovecats,” glass art by Josh Simpson, and a series of green and blue prints made by Visual Arts Professor Melanie Mowinski. The prices were as varied as the art itself. Some small baubles were 99 cents; a few framed
Dina Noto’s feline plush toys.
photographs were priced at about $50, while smiling toaster key chains were $9. A few art series were sold out within the first half of the threehour long opening. Many graduates of the College had art for sale in the show, including Kristen Parker, Andrew Davis, Danielle Christenson and Pam Buchanan. In addition to featuring handcrafted lanterns on display, Parker, who was once the assistant
manager of Gallery 51 and an intern while studying at the College, co-organized the show with Davis. “It’s really chaotic but the artists have been great,” Parker said, taking a break from the crowd at the back desk. “I end up buying something every year. I’ll end up doing my Christmas shopping here.” Art can be purchased from the exhibition until Dec. 31.
‘99 Cents and Up’ is on display until Dec. 31.
A mannequin beckons shoppers to come in and browse. Daniel Dieter Weissbrodt crafts Original buttons featuring lifes natural partners are earrings from recycled game pieces. hand-drawn by Sarah Haze. Photos by Jess Gamari/ Beacon Staff
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Thursday, December 6, 2012
Arts & Entertainment
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The Pirates of Penzance meet Elle Woods and Rocky Horror
By Shannen Adamites A&E Writer
Harlequin, the College’s musical theatre club, showed their audience what they do best during their 11th annual musical revue. The club featured an hour and a half of musical comedy, unique solos, quirky concepts, and even a bit of a strip tease. After a brief introduction from the E-board, senior Jimmy Dunn introduced the first piece, scantily clad in cut-off denim shorts and a cropped, plaid button-down shirt. Junior and Harlequin copresident, Brittney Gerber, featured “A Bushel and a Peck” from “Guys and Dolls,” with a cast of bubbly girls in matching plaid and denim cut offs, lead by junior Josh Lapierre. Lapierre demonstrated a wide array of quirky characters throughout the course of the show, from a seductive UPS deliveryman, to the naïve Le Fou in “Gaston,” to dressing in drag in Gerber’s number. His versatile voice and ability to perform several distinct characters made him a truly memorable cast member and performer. Sophomore Lance Ruggiero debuted his first directed piece to the stage, featuring “Goin’ Back to Hogwarts” from the YouTube musical sensation, “A Very Potter Musical.” “My favorite part of directing would have to be working with such talented people and seeing them use those talents to turn words on paper into a beautiful display on stage,” Ruggiero said.
“I could not be more proud of my cast.” Sophomore Shaun LeBlanc played an exceptional Harry Potter and showed off his vocal range and belting talents. Seniors Brycen Waters and Jackie Coughlin, who played Albus Dumbledore and Draco Malfoy, stole the show with their strong, over-the-top personalities and dramatic entrances. Ruggiero’s abilities as a first-time director were very promising; the large cast exemplified exceptional character work and strong group vocals. Senior Mary Marcil definitely stole the first act with her piece, “With Cat-Like Tread, We Pray Upon Our Steal” from “The Pirates of Penzance.” A rowdy cast of manly men, plus senior Aimee Hudon, who managed to add her own sassy flair to the piece, brought a surge of energy to the auditorium. Audience members cheered and clapped to the catchy number, especially during a hilarious chorus line and strip tease. Other notable pieces included “Gaston” from “Beauty and the Beast,” which showcased senior Joel Praino’s vocal talent where he sounded very much like Disney’s Gaston, Josh Lapierre’s “I’m a Big Girl Now” from “Hairspray,” featuring a cast of sassy ladies, and senior Lizzy Mullen’s solo from “[title of show],” “A Way Back to Then.” Mullen said, “I chose the song by simply stumbling across it over the summer and realizing that the lyrics were extremely close to my own story in theatre.” Her poignant song choice along with her sweet and
charming voice made this solo a nice break from the high energy group numbers and an adorable, emotional farewell to the club. “[Harlequin] truly was the turning point for my MCLA career,” she said. “Harlequin made me love MCLA, and this song just seemed like the perfect thank you card to them.” Act II opened with senior Jay Cottle’s rendition of “Up the Ladder to the Roof ” from “Everyday Rapture.” Sophomore Ben Balon played a depressed alcoholic, and Veronica Gibson, Melody Rolph, and Harlequin Treasurer, Micky Olivier, provided beautiful gospel vocals, and never faltered despite the complexity of the music. Pianist and sophomore Jacob Fennell took a contemporary spin to “Do You Hear the People Sing” from “Les Miserables,” alluding to the current gay rights movement. A strong ensemble, simple choreography, and organized blocking made this number particularly striking and powerful. Sophomore and Harlequin secretary Courtney McLaren brought the sass and cuteness with “The Bend and Snap” from “Legally Blonde.” Senior Katie Fitzgerald directed “The Cell Block Tango” from “Chicago,” incorporating a cast of fierce murders, dapper looking men, and sultry choreography and vocals. Senior and Harlequin copresident, Jon Kinney performed an a-cappella rendition of “Guido’s Song” from “Nine.” He said Guido is a character he can identify with very well, and the complex nature of the song represents several aspects of his
Photo by Takeya Lee/Beacon staff
Seniors Joel Praino and James Dunn perform a scene from ‘The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.’ own personality. The Revue closed with Gerber’s “Time Warp” from “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.”
resemblances to the film’s characters while still providing their own uniqueness to the number.
The enormous cast worked exceptionally well together and provided an immense amount of energy; they left audience members bobbing their heads and mouthing the words. Gibson and sophomore Cory Flood, who played Magenta and Riff Raff, bore striking
With the exception of a few sound issues, particularly with some voices getting lost within the walls of the auditorium, the show maintained a high level of energy and featured a plethora of strong singers, promising directors, and exceptional actors.
Whats going on around campus?! Dance Company performs Dec. 6 through 8 in Venable Theatre at 8 p.m. Tickets are $2 for all attendees. Reserve tickets at (413) 662-5123. On Saturday, Dec. 8 the Slam Poetry club will be throwing an Awarness Party in Venebal Gym from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. There will be a Slam Poetry reading on Sunday, Dec. 9 from 7 to 8 p.m. in Sullivan Lounge. Check out the full story of Broawdway’s Next H!t Musical on page 11 Photos by Takeya Lee/Beacon Staff
On Thursday, Dec. 6 at 8 p.m., the Blazin’ Hot Comedy Show will be in Sullivan Lounge. From Dec. 10 through 11 visit the Marketplace in the Campus Center to get your holiday gifts wrapped for free. The event takes place from 4:30 to to 7:30 p.m. Take the chance to learn about this new, and upcoming club. On Wednesday, Dec. 12 from 4 to 6 p.m. you can make your own gingerbread house in Sullivan Lounge. On Thursday, Dec. 13 Dala will return to the College for a second performance in Church Street Center at 7:30 p.m. Melody Rolph, a junior, will open for the duo. Come enjoy an abundance of events before going home for winter break.
Arts & Entertainment
Thursday, December 6, 2012
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‘My Arm’ hits audience hard By Aya Lanzoni A&E Writer
“I’m going to hold my breath until I die.”
Tano Holmes A&E Editor
Green Energy is Good Energy!
A
s the Hoosac Wind Project reaches completion, controversy arises over the true value of green energy. It is clear that human impact is the driving force of climate change, and that the Earth in general is getting warmer. Two years ago, when a study came out proving the Earth was, on average, one degree warmer than 100 years ago and is set to be four degrees warmer by the end of the century, many skeptics raised an eyebrow and scoffed at such a miniscule increase. But let’s put that number into perspective. When the human body is one degree warmer, you have a borderline fever; two degrees and you’re sick; and three degrees is quite serious. Four four degrees might require hospitalization. The world is sick and getting worse, and we need to do everything we can to change it. Even as I write this, the temperature is 50 degrees in December! According to The Weather Channel, this weel across America, temperatures have tied or broken 1,600 daily records. Humans aren’t going to decrease their demands for energy, especially in this technology and travel-dependent era. So what we need to do is create and maintain green energy initiatives like the Hoosac Wind Project, so we can have energy and not destroy our planet while doing so. However, there are those who resist the change because of the appearance of wind turbines and how they affect the natural scenery, but what they do not mention is how much uglier coal burning smoke stacks are, or how hurricanes like Sandy, which where all but unheard of in our region before the last 20 years, do a lot more destruction to local scenery and homes. We are coming to a key point in human history. We have hurt Mother Earth terribly, and we are continuing to do so even though we have the facts to tell us to stop and the resources to do it. Mother Earth is striking back. Hurricanes and other storm systems are increasing in strength and range all over the world. Sea level rises as the ice caps melt, sentencing many of the world’s sea level cities to a watery grave within the next century. Droughts become more pronounced in some of the world’s poorest regions, such as the Sahel in Africa. Are we going to live out our consumerist fantasies that negate us of all responsibility? Or are we going to realize that we have a chance to stop this travesty, and support green initiatives now?
The house lights go out. On the movie screen, a young boy runs across a yard. The lights go back up, and Tim Crouch, codirector of “My Arm” with Karl James, stands center stage staring at the audience with his hands folded together. Written and performed by Crouch, “My Arm” mesmerized the Mass. MoCA audience Saturday night. Crouch, dressed in a plain light-blue button up and jeans, went around the dim-lit room at Club B-10 collecting a few ordinary and everyday objects to use during his performance: a shoe, pills, cards, photos of loved ones, IDs, and more. “My Arm” was the first play written by Crouch. It tells the story of a man who lived with his arm
above his head for 30 years. “With the authenticity and detail of a firstperson autobiography… it is a completely honest, convincing piece of theatre performed by someone who never lifts his arm above his head, not once,” reads the program’s flyer. The performance is largely told through the use of film and the animation of everyday objects from the audience, becoming the icons of the story. It is “a study of bloodymindedness, modern art, and how the things we do when we’re ten years old stick with us for life.” The stage was simple: a movie screen behind the stage, a television on one end and a table with the objects on the other end of the stage, with a video camera set up to film the objects that would be used. Crouch moved over to the table and began telling his story. He moved a figure into a
sitting position under the camera, bringing a set of car keys next to the figure. “This is me watching TV,” he said, staring straight ahead. “And this is my brother, Antony,” he added, gesturing to the keys. Crouch told his story through anecdotes, using the audience’s objects to represent other people within the story, such as a paintbrush as his father and an apple as his mother’s car. Photos of loved ones became people Crouch met throughout the story of his life. “I had ended and the rest of the world began.” One summer night when Crouch was 10 years old, he told the audience, his brother challenged him to raise his arm over his head and Crouch complied. Time had passed, and he kept his arm up because he was proud of his achievement of four days and wanted to avoid a sense of failure. So he kept
his arm up for many years after that night. Crouch became known as “the boy with the arm.” His achievement in the story got him recognized by people, some becoming upset and some embracing his arm. His parents said he was possessed and needed an exorcism, while his brother’s artistic friend Simon, represented through a shoe under the camera and whose motto was “Art is anything you can get away with,” was intrigued. Crouch continued to go on tangents about people he met and small anecdotes that added to the performance, such as when he told how his mother died, or when his family put him into a center for children who experienced trauma because of his arm. Elizabeth Greenfield and Jane Burns, employees at Mass. MoCA, enjoyed the performance. “We had asked him to tell us three words to describe
‘My Arm,’ and he said, ‘simple, complicated, and playful,’” Greenfield said. “It all makes sense now.” “Mass. MoCA is visual and performing arts. [‘My Arm’] felt appropriate to be here at MoCA,” Burns said. “Crouch is a wonderful performer and storyteller.” Robin Maltz and Rob Camarata, residents of Northampton, came all the way to MoCA to see Crouch perform. “[‘My Arm’] leaves you with a lot to think about,” Maltz said. “I really like Crouch. I like the way he creates a world mainly through his voice,” Camarata said. “What I love is that he makes me feel disturbed through the silence and little movements. You’re forced into his world.” Crouch’s verisimilitude throughout made the story a remarkable one. Raising his arm began as “a questionable act of will, but became more like a fact of life,” he said.
Students ‘Hazed’ at Church Street Center
Photo byTakeya Lee/Beacon staff
Robert Grant of Broadway’s Next H!t Musical performs ‘I’m a Pretty Princess’ at Chuch Street Center.
By Michael Feloni A&E Writer
Nearly 200 people came together at the Church Street Center auditorium to witness “Broadway’s Next H!t Musical,” a completely improvised musical performance group from New York City. Prior to entering the auditorium, which was filled with sounds of free-form jazz, event-goers were asked to write down the name of a humorous musical number title and toss it into a fishbowl. These titles would later be chosen at random by the performers as hit numbers from fictional musicals. Before the main show began Harlequin presented a preview of their Musical Revue. The show was set up as a mock awards show, much like the Tony Awards. However, in this case, they were the “Phony Awards.” The cast created a scene from the fabricated musical based solely on whatever title selection the actor made from the fishbowl. Judging from the uproarious laughter from the audience, the cast did it well. Very well.
Every song was backed by the piano stylings of Eric March who, like the rest of the cast, improvised everything presented in the musical numbers. Such songs included the stereotype transcending, “I’m a Pretty Princess” from the hit musical, Castle on a Hill; the passionate and love-struck ballad “The Floor is Lava, it’s Hot like You”, from the musical, Kalekemaka (Kah-lee-kee-mahkah), and “99¢ and Up,” a jazzy number about discounted children from the musical, “Adoption Agency.” Then the unicorn showed up. The final musical selection was the song “Electric Fire-breathing Unicorn Experience” from the hard-hitting musical, “Hazed.” The song featured a young fraternity hopeful who has to endure the horror of a fire-breathing unicorn burning his face off as a test of brotherhood at Alpha Kappa Thigh. At the end of the four acts, the emcee for the night, Greg Triggs, announced that the audience would have to choose which musical won the coveted Phony Awards. Instead of votes, the
winner was determined by how loud the applause was when Triggs listed the names of the songs. “Hazed” won by a mile. While Triggs entertained the audience and discussed the everyday life of living in Western Massachusetts, the rest of the cast went back stage and changed into their costumes for a full presentation of the musical “Hazed.” After going through three rites of passage to get into Alpha Kappa Thigh, Heath Bar Cliff, the main protagonist of Hazed, finally gets the girl of his dreams, Stacey, who then takes over as the head fraternity brother. Overall, the audience enjoyed the show and even took a moment to reenact the “Electric Firebreathing Unicorn Experience” choreography, which was selected by The Beacon’s own Takeya Lee. A Moment with Mary Marcil “We all had a wonderful time,” said Mary Marcil, a Harlequin director. “Some members of Harlequin were able to partake in a workshop with Rob Grant [a cast member] and we all worked on
group music improv and learned a lot.” While most of the audience left after the final bow, the event didn’t end when the house lights went up. “The cast came out and talked to the audience for quite some time,” Marcil said. “We all shared our stories about theater, and improv, and how exciting it is to have something like this come to the school.” According to Marcil, the cast of Broadway’s Next H!t Musical did their research on the College and the surrounding community as material for their show. The actors made references to Blackinton Street, the Pitcher’s Mound Pub a.k.a. The Mound, and even threw a joke out to the arming of the campus police. “It was so exciting to see a lot of what we had just learned right up there on the stage,” Marcil said. “It was so clever and you could tell how close all of the actors were with each other to build off of each other so successfully.” Marcil didn’t fail to mention the cast of Broadway’s Next H!t Musical told her she was their favorite audience member.
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Thursday, December 6, 2012
National/World News
theonlinebeacon.com
Five states to increase class time in some schools Associated Press
Open your notebooks and sharpen your pencils. School for thousands of public school students is about to get quite a bit longer. Five states announced Monday that they will add at least 300 hours of learning time to the calendar in some schools starting in 2013. Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York and Tennessee will take part in the initiative, which is intended to boost student achievement and make U.S. schools more competitive on a global level. The three-year pilot program will affect almost 20,000 students in 40 schools, with long-term hopes of expanding the program to include additional schools especially those that serve lowincome communities. Schools, working in concert with districts, parents and teachers, will decide whether to make the school day longer, add more days to the school year or both. All told, education officials expect to provide nearly 6 million
more student learning hours next year. “I'm convinced the kind of results we'll see over the next couple of years I think will compel the country to act in a very different way,'' said Education Secretary Arne Duncan. A mix of federal, state and district funds will cover the costs of expanded learning time, with the Ford Foundation and the National Center on Time & Learning also chipping in resources. In Massachusetts, the program builds on the state's existing expanded-learning program. In Connecticut, Gov. Dannel Malloy is hailing it as a natural outgrowth of an education reform law the state passed in May that included about $100 million in new funding, much of it to help the neediest schools. Spending more time in the classroom, officials said, will give students access to a more well-rounded curriculum that includes arts and music, individualized help for students who fall behind and opportunities to reinforce critical math and sci-
ence skills. “That extra time with their teachers or within a structured setting means all the world,'' said Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper. “It means it allows them to continue the momentum they had the day before. It means they don't slip back over the summer. It allows them to really deliver.'' The project comes as educators across the U.S. struggle to identify the best ways to strengthen a public education system that many fear has fallen behind other nations. Student testing, teacher evaluations, charter schools and voucher programs join longer school days on the list of reforms that have been put forward with varying degrees of success. The report from the center, which advocates for extending instruction time, cites research suggesting students who spend more hours learning perform better. One such study, from Harvard economist Roland Fryer, argues that of all the factors affecting educational outcomes, two are the best predictors of success: intensive tutoring and
above the surrounding hills. “We have inherited this legend from our ancestors, and we keep it alive for the younger generations.'' Vampire legends have played a prominent part in the Balkans for centuries - most prominently Dracula from Romania's Transylvania region. In the 18th century, the legends sometimes triggered mass hysteria and even public executions of those accused of being vampires. Sava Savanovic, described by the Zarozje villagers as Serbia's first vampire, reputedly drank the blood of those who came to the small shack in the dense oak tree forest to mill their grain on the clear mountain Rogatica river. The wooden mill collapsed a few months ago - allegedly angering the vampire, who is now looking for a new place to hang his cape. Some locals claim they can hear steps cracking dry forest leaves and strange sounds coming from the rocky mountain peaks where the vampire was purportedly killed with a sharp stake that pierced his heart - but managed to survive in spirit as a butterfly. “One should always remain calm, it's important not to frighten him, you shouldn't make fun
of him,'' said villager Mico Matic, 56, whose house is not far from the collapsed mill. “He is just one of the neighbors, you do your best to be on friendly terms with him,'' he said with a wry smile, displaying garlic from both of his trouser pockets. Some locals say it's easy for strangers to laugh at them, but they truly believe. “Five people have recently died one after another in our small community, one hanging himself,'' said Miodrag Vujetic, a local municipal council member. “This is not by accident.'' Vujetic, however, said that “whatever is true about Sava,'' locals should use the legend to promote tourism. “If Romanians could profit on the Dracula legend with the tourists visiting Transylvania, why can't we do the same with Sava?'' Richard Sugg, a lecturer in Renaissance Studies at the U.K.'s University of Durham and an expert on the vampire legends, said the fear could be very real. Stress can bring on nightmares, which makes people's feelings of dread even worse. “The tourists think it is fun and the Serbian locals think it's terrifying,'' he said.
adding at least 300 hours to the standard school calendar. More classroom time has long been a priority for Duncan, who warned a congressional committee in May 2009 - just months after becoming education secretary - that American students were at a disadvantage compared to their peers in India and China. That same year, he suggested schools should be open six or seven days per week and should run 11 or 12 months out of the year. “I think this is the kernels of a national movement,'' he said Monday as he announced the initiative. But not everyone agrees that shorter school days are to blame. A report last year from the National School Boards Association's Center for Public Education disputed the notion that American schools have fallen behind in classroom time, pointing out that students in highperforming countries like South Korea, Finland and Japan actually spend less time in school than most U.S. students. The broader push to extend
classroom time could also run up against concerns from teachers unions. Longer school days became a major sticking point in a seven-day teachers strike in September in Chicago. Mayor Rahm Emanuel eventually won an extension of the school day but paid the price in other concessions granted to teachers. Just over 1,000 U.S. schools already operate on expanded schedules, an increase of 53 percent over 2009, according to a report being released Monday in connection with the announcement by the National Center on Time & Learning. The nonprofit group said more schools should follow suit but stressed that expanded learning time isn't the right strategy for every school. Some of the funds required to add 300 or more hours to the school calendar will come from shifting resources from existing federal programs, making use of the flexibility granted by waivers to No Child Left Behind. All five states taking part in the initiative have received waivers from the Education Department.
Vampire on the loose in Serbia? Mars rover Curiosity: Associated Press
Get your garlic, crosses and stakes ready: a bloodsucking vampire is on the loose. Or so say villagers in the tiny western Serbian hamlet of Zarozje, nestled between lush green mountain slopes and spooky thick forests. They say rumors that a legendary vampire ghost has awakened are spreading fear - and a potential tourist opportunity - through the remote village. A local council warned villagers to put garlic in their pockets and place wooden crosses in their rooms to ward off vampires, although it appeared designed more to attract visitors to the impoverished region bordering Bosnia. Many of the villagers are aware that Sava Savanovic, Serbia's most famous vampire, is a fairy tale. Still, they say, better to take it seriously than risk succumbing to the vampire's fangs. “The story of Sava Savanovic is a legend, but strange things did occur in these parts back in the old days,'' said 55-year-old housewife Milka Prokic, holding a string of garlic in one hand and a large wooden stake in another, as an appropriately moody mist rose
No surprise in first soil test Associated Press
Results are in from the first test of Martian soil by the rover Curiosity: So far, there is no definitive evidence that the red planet has the chemical ingredients to support life. Scientists said Monday a scoop of sandy soil analyzed by the rover's chemistry lab contained water and a mix of chemicals, but not the complex carbon-based compounds considered necessary for microbial life. The latest findings reported at a meeting of the American Geophysical Union meeting in San Francisco came from an instrument aboard the six-wheel rover that baked the soil and analyzed the gases released. Curiosity landed in Gale Crater near the Martian equator in August on a two-year mission to study whether the environment on Mars could have been favorable for life. The dirt at Curiosity's landing site appeared similar to that found in regions visited by other Mars spacecraft, scientists said. It con-
tained water, sulfur and possibly perchlorate, a compound made up of oxygen and chlorine. NASA's Phoenix lander, which touched down near the Martian arctic, previously found perchlorate in the soil. The rover did find a simple carbon compound, but scientists have yet to determine whether it's native to the red planet, or came from elsewhere. Scientists think the best chance of finding complex carbon is at Mount Sharp, a 3-mile-high (5-kilometerhigh) mountain rising from the crater floor. Curiosity won't trek there until early next year. A comment two weeks ago by the mission's chief scientist led to speculation that Curiosity had made a major discovery that would be announced Monday. But NASA last week said that wasn't the case. The rover is the most sophisticated spacecraft sent to Mars. The rover Opportunity has been exploring craters in Mars' southern hemisphere since 2004. Opportunity's twin, Spirit, fell silent in 2010 after getting stuck in a sand trap.
Obama’s defense pick could come sooner than expected Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) _ President Barack Obama could name his next defense secretary in December, far sooner than expected and perhaps in a high-powered package announcement with his choice for secretary of state, several senior administration officials tell The Associated Press. The personnel moves, coupled with Obama’s coming choice for a new leader of the Central Intel-
ligence Agency, will be viewed by U.S. allies and enemies alike as signal of how he will pursue national security in a second term. All of his choices will be subject to Senate confirmation, which itself is a significant factor in his decisions. The top names under consideration for defense secretary are former Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel, former top Pentagon official Michele Flournoy, Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton Carter and Democratic Sen. John Kerry.
Among those, Kerry is seen as desiring the secretary of state’s job more. While Obama has made no final decisions on Cabinet vacancies, announcements could come as soon as next week. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has made clear he did not intend to stay for a second term but he has never publicly discussed the timing of his departure, widely thought to be down the road in 2013. Yet Obama’s thinking on
Panetta’s replacement has quietly advanced, aided by a strong list of candidates, officials said. One senior U.S. official said Panetta is expected to stay on the job at least through the Jan 21 inauguration ceremony for Obama, another sign that the president is close to naming a new defense chief. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss internal White House thinking.
Far more political attention has centered on the chief diplomatic job of secretary of state. Obama is believed almost certain to pick Kerry or U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice, with Obama’s considerations of his choice so closely held that even members of his innermost circle are asking each other which way he may go. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has long announced her plans to leave and hopes to do so soon.
Campus Comment
Thursday, December 6, 2012
theonlinebeacon.com
If you could study abroad, which country would you choose? “Spain, because it is one of the most diverse countries in Europe. I love their National Soccer. And the majority of the Spanish people are friendly towards visitors and do not resent tourists or international students.”
“I actually studied abroad this summer in Belize and I chose this country because it has an excellent anthropology [studies] which complemented my minor.”
-Anyelin Antigua, 2014
-Aloysius Street, 2015
“Ukraine, it’s by all my European friends.”
“I [would] choose Ireland. It seems like an amazing country with a wonderful culture and I hear it is beautiful. I know it would be an incredible experience.” -Jacquitta Ferguson, 2013
-Caleb Laude, 2013
“I would like to visit Italy because I am interested in Italian food. I would also like like to embrace their culture too. I want to play professional basketball in Italy.”
“France, especially Paris. I love the culture there and it attracts me a lot.”
-Tyshawn McGee, 2014
-Ruben DelRosario, 2015
Compiled by Siyun Wu/Beacon staff
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Thursday, December 6, 2012
News
theonlinebeacon.com
Group seeks drug education reform By Lauren Coffey
Special to The Beacon Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) has hundreds of chapters in colleges across the country. The MCLA chapter was founded by Mike Vogt, a junior, in 2010, and gained national affiliation with the grassroots organization during the fall semester of 2011. Since then, the group has held successful events such as their recent open mic night in collaboration with the Inter-Greek Council. Earlier this year, some members attended an SSDP conference held at Brown University. Since 1998, SSDP has been growing and networking not just nationally, but internationally as well, with chapters in countries all over the world, such as Canada, Columbia, Mexico, Ireland, Australia, and Nigeria. According to its mission statement, the student-led organization aims to get young people actively participating in the political process to change the failing policies that the “War on Drugs” has employed, and put less harmful and more sensible policies in place. One of the main goals of SSDP is to implement alternative drugeducation plans. SSDP believes the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program and the “Just Say No” campaign, initiated by Nancy Reagan in the
1980’s, has not been successful. “Those programs are mainly fear-based,” said Ruth Vital, a junior and vice president of the MCLA chapter of SSDP. President Mike Vogt nodded in agreement in a recent interview, adding, “There are alternatives to just abstinence.” At the SSDP conference, Vogt found that many chapters of SSDP are working with professionals in both education and psychology to develop and implement new and more “honest” ways of drug education. SSDP is not alone in this opinion. on the D.A.R.E. program. “I didn’t really take my D.A.R.E. officer very seriously. They made out every drug to be the worst thing ever, as if all drugs would kill you, even alcohol,” said Kayla Victor, a junior. “But since adults drank openly, it seemed like what they were telling us just wasn’t true.” In 1998, the University of Maryland submitted a report to The National Institute of Justice on a study done on D.A.R.E. graduates. It was found that those who had graduated from the D.A.R.E. program were significantly more likely to smoke tobacco, drink alcohol, and use illegal drugs. Marsha Rosenbaum, head of the West Coast Lindesmith Center, a drug policy reform organization, stated in a previous Village Voice article, “In D.A.R.E.’s worldview,
Marlboro Light cigarettes, Bacardi rum, and a drag from a joint are all equally dangerous. For that matter, so is snorting a few lines of cocaine. It isn’t really education, its indoctrination.” These programs, failed or not, have all sprouted from the 40-year-long War on Drugs, originally declared by the Nixon administration in 1971. One of SSDP’s other main goals is to get students actively involved with changing the policies implemented by the war on drugs.
“Right now we are collaborating with other groups to try and implement the Good Samaritan policy here at the College.” - Mike Vogt “Legalization of marijuana is just one of the many steps,” Vogt said, “and though Washington and Colorado passed the bill, it is still likely to be stalled as much as possible by the federal government, and probably here in Massachusetts as well.” The recent election brought on a lot of state policy changes,
making marijuana legal for recreational use in Colorado and Washington, and legal for medicinal use in some states such as Massachusetts and Connecticut. This only means legalization on a state level; under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), marijuana possession is still a federal offense. One of SSDP’s recent events brought a member an organization called the Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP), to lecture on the War on Drugs. LEAP, consists of current and former members of law enforcement who are speaking out against the failed drug policies in the United States. According to the presentation (and statistics easily obtainable by the general public), the War on Drugs has resulted in the incarcerations of one million Americans per year, with over 225,000 of those arrests being for cannabis possession. As of 2004, more than half of all prisoners in the country were serving time for non-violent, drug-related crimes. LEAP, along with SSDP, believes that if the government were to take control of the drug market away from drug dealers and criminals and regulate it properly, it would be less costly, less harmful, and more effective. According to an article by the Associated Press in 2010, The U.S. has spent more than one trillion on the War on
Drugs with little to no effect. The article included an interview with U.S. drug czar Gil Kerlikowske. “In the grand scheme, it has not been successful. Forty years later, the concern about drugs and drug problems, is, if anything, magnified, intensified,” he said. As for our own chapter of SSDP, Vogt and Vital are working on a slightly smaller scale. “Right now we are collaborating with other groups to try and implement the Good Samaritan policy here at the College,” Vogt said. The Good Samaritan policy, already enacted on many college campuses, is also known as the Medical Amnesty policy. It allows students to call for help if they, or a friend, has an alcohol related emergency, without fear of retribution for underage drinking on on-campus alcohol possession. Vogt said it may be awhile before the policy gets any recognition unless students get more involved. “It runs deeper than just the president and vice president [of SSDP)]” he said. “We’re all activists, we’re in this together. If the College knows there is a lot of support, these changes might happen faster.” For more information on MCLA’s chapter of SSDP, contact Mike Vogt via FirstClass, or email ssdpmcla@gmail.com.
IT department plans for campus upgrades
TECH, continued from page 4
King added that he has done this type of upgrade at larger schools he has worked at, and the results were impressive. “I have done this to 3,000 machines before and I know the benefits,” King said. Computer Science Professor Mike Dalton said the current state of the College’s computers is not acceptable. “We have no open computer labs for students to use. The computers in classrooms are
barely adequate to fulfill the needs of our students,” Dalton said in an email exchange. “The school needs newer computers and more open computer labs thats students can use; not classrooms students can use if a class isn’t going on,” he added. The school currently runs on Windows XP, which was released in 2001. Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8 have all been released, but the school has kept Windows XP as its main operating system.
Freshman Max May said Windows XP, although dependable, is outdated. “XP is fine but we are living in the past and a lot of people are probably more comfortable on Windows 7,” May said. The school has a license for Windows products so cost is not the issue. King explained that the issue with upgrading Windows is compatibility. “Windows XP is a very stable platform and all the software needed on campus runs on it,” King said. If the programs
teachers and students depend on are not compatible with a newer version of Windows, an upgrade could cause problems. Computer science major Roger Simpson described Windows XP as satisfactory. “The continued use of Windows XP is seen as a negative by some, but its longevity and reliability are a mark of quality,” Simpson said. Windows released Windows 8, its newest operating system, in August of 2012, yet the school remains hesitant to go forward
with the upgrade. However, with the technological upgrades underway, a newer version of Windows can be expected. King added that the IT department is in the process of figuring out if the school will be an exclusively Windows 8 campus. The IT department looks to have all decisions completely made before the Science Center is finished. “We want to make sure the science center has the newest technology in it,” King said.
Intern researches College receives grant amid student engagement national inequality in pay
ELWELL, continued from page 3
“What offices do students have issues with?” Elwell asked. “What offices do students love? [What] departments do students love? What makes this college unique? What if they could define an overall experience? One of my questions was: how does what you imagined college to be like compare with now that you’re at the end of your four years.” She added that while she is currently compiling the finished data for her report on the focus group, that the results were positive and she learned quite a bit about how different students gauge an educational experience.
“They had a lot of really good information and a lot of different stories,” she said. While Elwell primarily worked on surveys, she said it all led up to her focus group which was what she truly wanted to do with the internship. “The internship that she’s doing was 95 percent working on the surveys and then she had the time to do one of these focus groups, which I hope we will be able to continue in some way going forward,” Bendikas said. There is currently no final decision as to whether or not this internship will be offered again. However, Bendikas said she hopes it will be made permanent.
PAY GAP, continued from page 5
Beale explained that the younger generation, if educated, has the ability to make a difference in the future. Freshman Alexandra Kadell is an example of a young woman in this generation working to make a difference. Kadell added a leadership minor due to the influence of the Introduction to Leadership course offered at the College. “If people can teach younger girls the quality and abilities that leaders possess and really give them the confidence to lead others, the more women will be seen leading society,” Kadell said. “We have to start looking at each other
equally and take a stand on equal pay for women by educating . . . woman and young girls become strong influential leaders.”
“If people can teach younger girls... the confidence to lead others, then more women will be seen leading society.” - Alexandra Kadell AAUW has been a national nonprofit organization since 1881 and has been fighting for pay equity since 1913. With over 1,000 branches over the country, AAUW works to provide break-
throughs for girls and women. “AAUW advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research,” states the AAUW’s mission statement. AAUW studies showed that men typically major in STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), and get higher-paying jobs; whereas women are encouraged to get a degree in education and social work and go on to receive lower paying jobs. “I believe in the mission for breaking barriers for women and girls and helping advance them in the workplace,” said Julie Mackaman, an AAUW member since 1996.
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Fun & Games
theonlinebeacon.com
Where are you off to?...
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Cartoon by Jackie Coughlin
Weekly Horoscopes Aries: March 21-April 19 You should take better care of yourself – though that’s hardly unique! You do have uniquely focused energy today, though, so you should be able to follow through on even the loftiest of health goals! Taurus: April 20-May 20 You’re seeking out the company of others, even if you don’t see it that way. Somehow, your energy just craves attention, or at least companionship. It’s a great day to meet new people! Gemini: May 21-June 21 Try to figure out what’s really going on today – it’s not as hard as you might think! In fact, your ability to understand little details and how they add up is sure to make your day go a lot better. Cancer: June 22-July22 Your social energy is drawing others in – so make sure that you’re ready for a busy day! Even if it’s mostly online, you should still find that things are more interesting when you’re with others. Leo: July 23-Aug. 22 What’s next? You are in the best possible position to make important decisions about how to face the next year or two (and beyond). If things aren’t working, make sure that you’re willing to change them. Virgo: Aug. 23-Sept. 22 Your energy is too good to keep on a leash, so get started on something new and bold today. It could be a new job, a new romantic campaign or just a new commitment to hitting the gym regularly. Libra: Sept. 23-Oct. 22 You need to listen to that little voice within you – even if what it says sounds insane! Well, if it’s telling you to burn things or otherwise wreak havoc, you may need help, but other than that, anything goes! Scorpio: Oct. 23-Nov. 21 You’ve got secrets within secrets, so make sure that your energy is up for keeping them today. You may find that your people are trying to get you to spill, but you can stand firm if you want. Sagittarius: Nov. 22-Dec. 21 You just can’t handle rules today – unless you’re making them, that is! If you’re the boss, all should go well, but if not, you may need to take some time off or find a quiet space of your own. Capricorn: Dec. 22-Jan. 19 You should find that things go more or less your way today, even if you feel a bit uneasy. Your gift for planning is paying off in a big way, and things should settle down for you very soon. Aquarius: Jan. 20-Feb. 18 Sometimes you can’t trust your eyes and ears – so ask big questions and maintain your skepticism for longer than usual to see if you can figure out what is really going on. It’s not as hard as it seems! Pisces: Feb. 19-March 20 Don’t stress out about today’s big weirdness – you are sure to figure it all out later! It’s a good time for you to try to make your move, but you don’t have to think about it too hard. Horoscopes courtesy of Yahoo.com
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Thursday, December 6, 2012
Photo Essay
theonlinebeacon.com
Holiday wreaths hang throughout the campus, including the gates.
All Decked Out Photos by Jess Gamari
The trees on either end of Main Street are about 40 years old, according to the rings on their trunks, and are lit with thousands of colorful lights.
The bookstore gets into the holiday spirit with window decals.
“Shop North Adams” is the city’s campaign to encourage people to shop locally.
I Got Goodies, a candy shop at 73 Main St., showcases their candy and handmade treats in a window display adorned with Santas and snowmen.
The North Adams Transcript and the Advocate display holiday photos and Christmas decorations.
The Local, located at 67 Main St., is open on Tuesday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner.